green living tips
Small changes in day to day habits and choices can save energy, water and other natural resources. Here are some tips that are simple, and can make a difference.
Energy Saving Tips | Computer Energy Saving Tips | Water Saving Tips | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | Fuel Saving Tips
Energy Saving Tips (sources: US Department of Energy, EPA, EnergyStar.gov)
- Use the Energy Star program to find energy efficient products for your home. (www.energystar.gov)
- The right (appliance) choices can save families about 30% ($400 a year) while reducing our emissions (www.epa.gov)
- Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room. (www.epa.gov)
- Use the microwave to cook small meals. It uses less power than an oven. (www.epa.gov)
- Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. Contact your power supplier to see if it is available. (www.epa.gov)
- Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired. (www.epa.gov)
- Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can. (www.epa.gov)
- Insulate your home, water heater and pipes. (www.epa.gov)
- Keep in mind that every (road) trip adds to air pollution. (www.italladdsup.gov)
- Seal home air leaks that cause uncomfortable drafts and add insulation. (www.energystar.gov)
- Change your air filter regularly, install a programmable thermostat, seal your heating and cooling ducts (www.energystar.gov)
- Choose ENERGY STAR qualified products.They use less energy and save money. (www.energystar.gov)
- A whole-house assessment by a contractor can uncover your home's performance problems. (www.energystar.gov)
- Purchase energy-efficient products and operate them efficiently. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- A renewable energy system can be used to supply some or all of your electricity needs. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Calculating your electricity needs is the first step in the process of investigating renewable energy. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Artificial lighting consumes almost 15% of a household's electricity use. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Use of new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in homes by 50%-75%. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Reduce lighting energy use by selecting lighting and sources that use energy more efficiently. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- You can save energy by turning off lights when they're not needed. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Save around 10% a year on heating and cooling bills by turning your thermostat back 10-15 degrees for 8 hrs. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Energy-efficient windows, doors, skylights can help lower a home's heating, cooling, and lighting costs. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Always look for the EnergyStar and EnergyGuide labels when shopping for home appliances. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Don't over-dry your clothes. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.Wash and dry full loads. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Look for a clothes dryer with moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the dryer as clothes are dry. (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. (www.eere.energy.gov)
Computer Energy Saving Tips (www.eere.energy.gov)
- Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktops.
- Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
- Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.
- Turn off your personal computer when you're away from your PC for 20 minutes or more.
- Turn off both your CPU and the monitor if you will be away for two hours or more.
Water Saving Tips (www.epa.gov)
- In the bathroom: do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
- Take short showers instead of tub baths.
- Turn off the water while soaping or shampooing.
- If you must use a tub, close the drain before turning on the water and fill the tub only half full.
- Bathe small children together.
- In the bathroom: never use your toilet as a waste basket.
- Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin. Use a vegetable brush.
- Do not use water to defrost frozen foods; thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
- Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.
- If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting. (www.eere.energy.gov)
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (www.epa.gov)
- Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
- Buy and use only what you need.
- Buy products with less packaging and reuse boxes as much as possible.
- Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.
- Repair items as much as possible.
- Use durable coffee mugs.
- Use cloth napkins or towels.
- Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
- Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
- Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
- Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants.
Fuel Saving Tips (www.fueleconomy.gov)
- Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas.
- Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
- Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.
- Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones.
- An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%.
- If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage whenever possible.
- Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it.
- Consider using public transit if it is available and convenient for you.
- A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent.
- If possible, take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs.
