Change a light bulb. There's a reason every Tom, Dick and Greeney article preaches this change. It's the easiest thing to do and the easiest way to save energy and money. CFLs use about 75% less energy and last ten times longer. [Check]
Unplug things that glow. I think most people know this one. Even electronics and appliances that are not in use, continue to draw power. Anything that has an LED that glows even after you turn it off is a so-called vampire. So unplug cell phone chargers, printers, computers and entertainment switches. A good idea is to do it in one shot with a power surge protector. [Good one! Have to implement]
Recycle your electronics. Americans threw out a whopping 5.5 billion pounds of electronics such as TVs, stereos, cell phones, and computers in 2005. The impact on our earth? Millions of pounds of chemicals ended up in the ground. Now Americans can collect their electronics in one box and drop it off at an "electronics recycling" center in their area. Visit mygreenelectronics.org. [Check]
Audit your energy. BHG recommends hiring a certified home auditor to help you curb consumption and save more energy and money. A list of auditors certified by the nonprofit Residential Energy Services Network can be found at http://www.resnet.us/. The savings will appear in the monthly electric bill from month to month and year to year. [Not sure if I agree with this step. With an abundance of information and resources, hoemowners can start with a checkist, like this one, and make changes on own. I'll skip]
Support local farmers. If your food could talk it would tell quite a tale. Typical grocery store food travels 1,500 miles [see my posting "Does Your Plate have more Passport Stamps than You?"] adding to fossil fuel burning and higher carbon emissions. [Hmm, takes more gas to drive to local farm market. Have to skip]
Fix that drip. Repairing a leaky toilet can save you $30 a year. This may not sound like much until you realize its 73,000 gallons. Household water consumption has increased by 200% since 1950 even though the population has grown by only 90%. Fixing a leaky faucet or toilet can make the difference. [Check]
Leave your grass clippings which adds nitrogen to the soil and discourages weed seeds from germinating. You'll need less fertilizer and herbicide. Less clippings also means less landfills. [My condo association makes those decisions--I could recommend, but it adds to fleas and ticks for most dogs who roll and play in the grass. Skip]
Look for the Label. When it's time to replace a household appliance, choose a product with an Energy Star label. Sponsored by the EPA and the Dept. of Energy, the Energy Star program rates products from light bulbs to kitchen appliances. [Check]
Wash full loads. The average family of four consumes up to 21,000 gallons of water for laundry and 1,500 gallons for dishwashing. Most of the energy consumed goes toward heating the water. Combining half loads, choosing short cycles, and using cold or warm rather than hot water in the clothes washer racks up savings. [As a single person, it's challenging to wait for full load of dirty clothes. Can't go to work in tank tops and shorts. Or can I? ]
Work the critters. What? Your backyard is an ecosystem. Birds eat insects but they need trees and shurbs for cover and nesting. Some insects are beautiful and beneficial. Ladybugs aren't just cute, they are voracious eaters of aphids. [What is an aphid? Good question! Definition: small soft-bodied homopterous insects that suck the juices of plants]Sound easy enough? I think so. It may not sound exciting until you see your electric bill decrease. I have to say the money I invested in a new Air Conditioning unit, window shades for my sunroom, and switching from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs has significantly reduced my electric bill this year. The Return of Investment is quicker than anticipated. Going Green pays back in Green!
No comments:
Post a Comment