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Five fun ways to 'Go Electric'

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Harmeet
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USA: Becoming part of the ‘Electric Revolution' is easier than you think, and with a few simple steps you can decrease your carbon footprint, have fun and save money.

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Whether you're headed back to school or back to work, it is a perfect time to turn over a new eco-conscious leaf and think about how your behaviors impact you and the world around you. As you are gearing up to enjoy the changing weather and your outdoor space this season, here are a few suggestions to follow for an enjoyable autumn you can feel good about.

Simplify your electronics. One easy thing you can do is to install a "smart power strip". Traditional power strips are a cheap way to add more electrical outlets to your home, but they also bring along bad baggage and a tendency for people to not shut down their electronic equipment. However, a smart power strip will reduce your power usage by shutting down your electronic gadgets when they are not in use. If your computer room glows like a Christmas tree at night, you should know that those sneaky little lights could consume 5-10 percent of your household energy consumption. So get out there and invest in a smart power strip - you will not need those electronic gadgets when you are out enjoying the beautiful weather anyway.

Enjoy the cool weather and keep your yard looking great this fall by using an electric lawn mower. Finally there are some solid alternatives to gas mowers on the market today. Electric mowers eliminate the need for gas and oil, are effortless to start and maintain, run quieter and produce a much smaller carbon footprint than the old-style gas mowers. When it comes to electric mowers, you have two options, a corded mower or a cordless mower that has a battery.

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The corded variety boasts unlimited power, but your area is limited to the length of cord. The battery operated electric mowers tend to be heavier and are limited in the amount of power that is stored in the battery. There are also a few models that run on either a cord or on a rechargeable battery, the choice is yours. Make the switch from stinky.

Walk, bike or better yet, invest in an e-Scooter, like the Vectrix VX-1. You are sure to look great showing off on this all electric, zero-emission vehicles. The VX-1 doesn't need gas or oil, so you NEVER have to make a pit stop at the gas station. One favorite feature of the Vectrix VX-1 is that it plugs into any 220/110V standard outlet to charge the battery.

You can hit the beach in style... and quickly because the Vectrix VX-1 rapidly accelerates to a top speed of 50mph in as little as 6.0 seconds. Plus you can save a few bucks on your transportation costs because this hot little number doesn't require much maintenance and boasts near-silent operation for reduced sound pollution.

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Go solar with a universal solar cell phone charger. These nifty gadgets are compact and easy to use and are great for power on the go on a sunny day. The cooler falltime weather is great for camping, backpacking, picnicking, hiking and enjoying the great outdoors. Now outdoor adventurers don't have to worry about being out of town and out of touch with the help of a solar cell phone charger. When used in direct sunlight they can power up a dead cell phone in about an hour and keep users in touch with friends and family. For those who absolutely must stay ‘plugged in' this fall there are also solar chargers for iPad, iPhone's and iPods.

Invest in rechargeable batteries. If you are tired of always looking for more AA or AAA batteries to power up your remotes, toys, computer components and everything else under the sun you can have them at the ready by keeping them charged up on an easy to use battery recharger. Just plug in the battery charger in your wall outlet and you can re-charge multiple batteries at once and always have your household batteries ready to power up your gadgets.

Other easy ways to go electric this fall include seeking out the most energy-efficient models of major appliances like ranges, ovens, washers and dryers. Most new appliances come with a yellow EnergyGuide label, which, like mileage ratings on cars, shows its consumption in terms of kWh per year.

Also look for Energy Star rated products. When you are recycling your old refrigerators contact your local city-recycling center, many offer cash incentives for switching out your old appliances for new energy saving units. By following these simple and fun electric suggestions, you are sure to get the most out of your fall, unclutter your life and feel good about yourself.

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