By Mary Nichols 
Secretary of Resources and Chair, California Biodiversity Council

The upcoming meeting of the Biodiversity Council will discuss the important issue of watersheds, but California is experiencing a different kind of watershed these days. I am referring, of course, to the challenge we face in the arena of energy.

California continues to experience electrical shortages and rolling blackouts throughout the State. To reduce the risk of power outages, the most important thing we can do in the short term is reduce our demand for electricity and use energy more efficiently.

The Governor and leaders of the California Legislature are working with utility companies, generators, and consumer groups to fashion long–term solutions for reliable and affordable electricity. The State has already implemented a plan to reduce consumption by at least 8 percent across the board. The members of the California Biodiversity Council have an important role to play right now.

We in California have the power of nearly 35 million people and are the sixth largest economy in the world. By reducing our electricity demand we can help avoid shortages and high energy bills. All you have to do is FLEX YOUR POWER.

I know that all organizations associated with the Council are devoted to protecting and preserving California’s rich natural resources. Energy efficiency and conservation go a long way towards maintaining our rich environmental heritage.

Below you will find simple things that consumers, businesses, and children and teachers can do to help reduce energy consumption. I encourage you to spread the important message of energy conservation, and the associated actions, to your own organizations. Working together, we can reduce demand, cut energy costs, and protect our precious natural resources.

• Turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or below. Reduce settings to 55 degrees before going to sleep or when away for the day. (For each 1 degree, you’ll save up to 5 percent on your heating costs.)

• Turn off non–essential lights and appliances.

• Avoid running large appliances such as washers, dryers, and electric ovens during peak demand hours from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00    a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Close shades at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.

• Buy Energy Star appliances, products, and lights.

• Turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or below. Reduce settings to 55 degrees at the end of the day.

• Turn off all unnecessary lights, especially in unused offices and conference rooms, and turn down remaining lighting levels where possible.

• Set computers, monitors, printers, copiers, and other business equipment to their energy saving feature, and turn them off at the end of the day.

• Minimize energy usage during peak demand hours from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Buy Energy Star appliances, products, and lights.

• Choose an energy monitor for your classroom every week who will make sure that energy is being used properly.

• Start an "Energy Patrol" at school and at home. Check out the California Energy Commission’s website (www.energy.ca.gov/education) for more ideas.

• At home, hold a ribbon up to the edges of windows and doors. If it blows, you’ve found a leak. Tell your parents.

• When you leave the room, turn off the light.