Do not defrost in the microwave

Erg (Sand Desert), Mauritania
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

Renewable energy - from the sun, wind, the heat under the earth's crust, waterfalls, tides, the growing of vegetables, or the recycling of waste - is infinite. Harnessing it produces little or no waste or pollution emissions. In countries like Germany, government officials have recognized the benefits of investing quickly and heavily in these technologies and already 12% of their national energy supply comes from renewable energy production, with future targets to triple this as well as cut down electricity use by 11%.

Rather than adding to your electricity bill by using the microwave to defrost your food, remember to take food out of the freezer earlier and let it defrost at room temperature.

- from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth', by Philippe Bourseiller