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Step 2: Building

Energy from renewable sources. Sign a contract with a supplier of energy from renewable sources.

Energy-efficient equipment.
These are appliances with high energy efficiency ratings. The highest energy class is A +++. It is worth checking electronic appliances for the Energy Star labels. Energy Star is a programme promoting energy efficient products. It defines maximum power consumption levels in three modes: on, standby and off.

Movement sensors.
Lights (e.g. energy efficient lamps) are turned  on for a period of time after movement is detected. This system works well in places which are used frequently but for a short time, such as staircases, corridors and toilets. Installing sensors in taps similarly allows for a reduction in water consumption.

Collecting rainwater. Due to climate change, we increasingly experience intense downpours, during which tens of litres of water may fall on each square metre. At the same time, a significant amount of it does not penetrate the soil and does not supply groundwater. Taking these circumstances into account, it is worth collecting and storing rainwater in appropriate tanks. It can be used for various purposes. The simplest one is watering plants in the building or in the garden. The tanks can be connected to a system that purifies the water and delivers it to the toilet. You can also consider setting up a rain garden that keeps the water in the ground. In this way, it does not evaporate and regulates the temperature and humidity in a given area (it reduces the ‘urban heat island’ effect). The garden can also be an element of a water playground. [see: NATURE]

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