The phrase “going green” is everywhere. From politics and fashion, to the news and technology, the message to “go green” has become part of the daily dialogue. If you’re uncertain where to start, the following tips are both simple and practical to begin going green.
Save Energy and Water:
-
Appliances and equipment that are plugged into an outlet continue to draw power even when turned off. Plug appliances and electronic equipment into power strips instead, then turn off power strips when not in use.
-
Replace air filters at least every three months. Blocked filters can result in higher energy costs and HVAC system damage.
-
Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees. Doing so will continue keeping the water hot, and lower your energy bill.
-
Operate the washing machine and dishwasher only for full loads. You may even want to skip the pre-rinse for dishes.
-
Install a low flow shower head. Shower heads that put out less than three gallons of water per minute maintain the pressure, while conserving water.
Improve the Air Quality:
- Tuning up vehicles and keeping tires inflated will increase the life of the vehicle, provide better gas mileage, and reduce vehicle emissions.
- Car pool, or use public transportation. Fewer cars on the road results in fewer emissions, and more parking spaces!
- Refrain from topping off the gas tank. Topping off releases gas vapors into the air, cancelling the benefit of the pump’s anti-pollution devices.
In Your Home:
- Recycle cardboard, aluminum cans, plastics, and paper products by placing them in the blue recycling container provided by your waste hauler.
- Consider switching to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which use two-thirds less energy and last ten times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
- Reuse plastic bags, or buy a reusable bag at the grocery store. The amount of oil it would take to make just fourteen plastic bags would run your car for one mile!
- Cancel unsolicited mail. It reduces energy waste, saves paper and eliminates trash.