ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- Use fluorescent light bulbs.
- Upgrade to dimmer switches to save energy and nearly double the lifespan of your bulbs.
- Unplug or switch off power strips for small appliances and electronics when not in use.
- Always clean the lint filter on the clothes dryer after each use; a clogged filter will reduce dryer performance.
- Install a programmable thermostat to save on heating and cooling bills. You can set the thermostat according to your household’s lifestyle patterns, and avoid wasting energy when no one is home.
- Keep your chimney’s flue closed when not in use.
- Wash only full loads, in cold water whenever possible. If you are washing a small load of clothing, be sure to change the load setting.
Save up to 33%—as much as $200 annually—on heating and cooling bills by installing a programmable thermostat and setting it to 78° during the day and 72° at night.
WATER WISE
- Utilize highly efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances. Install WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets.
- Wash only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. If you are washing a small load of clothing, be sure to change the load setting. Use cold water settings whenever possible.
- Take advantage of your dishwasher’s “eco” setting to reduce water use.
- Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands, and take shorter showers.
- Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of day to avoid evaporation; early morning is best.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean outdoor areas.
- Learn to reuse and recycle. Don’t pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as cleaning or watering plants.
- Fix leaky faucets or running toilets, which can save approximately 20 gallons of water per day.
HEALTHY HOME
- Regularly maintain your heating and cooling system to avoid the build-up of dust and moisture.
- Use non-toxic cleaning products.
- Add household sponges to the dishwasher before you run it to keep them clean.
- Be aware of what goes down the drain. Harmful chemicals in cleaning solutions can contaminate groundwater systems, harming animals and even other people.
- Use paints with lower levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
- Clean or replace filters in your furnace.
- Install mold-resistant carpet pads.
- Install a water filtration system to remove contaminants and sediment, and eliminate chlorine taste and odor.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector, since the odorless, colorless gas is impossible to detect otherwise.
- Use biodegradable shampoos and soaps, and buy rechargeable batteries. Leaking mercury from used batteries can contaminate water systems.
SUSTAINABLE SOURCES
- Reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.
- Install Corian® countertops, which contain 6% to 13% recycled content.
- Choose carpets that contain recycled or recyclable content like Anso and Nylon 6 face fiber.
- Select shelving, cabinets and interior doors made from recycled wood particles.
A “Greener” Home Can Add Green to Your Home’s Value!
Many homebuyers are looking for and recognize the long term value of environmentally friendly homes. Here are some easier ways to add “green” value to your own home:
- Buy Energy Star rated energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
- Add a recycling center to your kitchen, mudroom, or garage.
- Use “low maintenance” recycled products for your next project such as a deck.
- Consider more sustainable flooring options such as bamboo or cork.
- Improve your insulation and replace or repair older windows and doors.
- Plant more trees for cooling shade and curb appeal.
Green Living Guide
Here are many ways you, as an individual, can step a little lighter on the Earth. One of the simplest things you can do is to remember to “reduce, reuse and recycle.”
REDUCE: Here are a few questions you can ask yourself before you buy: Do I, or the other person I am buying this for, really need this? Is there another product which would do the same thing but more sustainable? Will this last a long time? Do I know how this item was made and under what circumstances? Are the materials used to make this renewable and have they been harvested in a sustainable manner?
REUSE: When we buy, we should buy items which are durable, we should maintain them, and have them repaired when necessary. If we practice this, many things cannot only last a lifetime, but can be passed along from generation to generation. If something is truly unusable for tits original purpose, try to be creative and think of how else it might be used. When you are done with it, think of whether someone else might be able to use it as well.
RECYCLE: Rather than throwing an item out when neither you nor anyone else can make use of it, have it recycled. And while recycling is not perfect – it requires energy and the process of changing something into something else often produces by-products – it is better than sending goods to the landfill or having them incinerated. Find out what types of materials can be recycled in your area.
Ingredients for Green Cleaning
Protecting and preserving the environment starts right in your own home. Here are some items that will not only save you money, but are also safer for you, those you care about and for the environment.
PURE SOAP – Soap biodegrades safely and completely, and is non-toxic. Make sure that you use soap without synthetic, scents, colors or other additives. Even phosphate-free biodegradable laundry detergent contributes to water pollution.
VINEGAR (Five Percent Acetic Acid) – Vinegar is a mild disinfectant which cuts grease, cleans glass, deodorizes and removes calcium deposits, stains and wax build-up.
EUCALYPTUS OIL – Eucalyptus oil is a good disinfectant and deodorizer. It gets rid of some stains, like ink and grease, kills and repels some insects and even attacks rust.
WASHING SODA (SODIUM CARBONATE) – A key ingredient for washing clothes, washing sods grease, removes stains, disinfects and softens water. Washing soda should not be used on aluminum.
BAKING SODA (BICARBONATE OF SODA) – Baking soda works well as an abrasive in alternative recipes. Baking soda also deodorizes, removes stains, polishes and softens fabrics.
Painting Your Home “Green”
No matter what color you paint your next room, think about painting it “green.” Using these paints and finishes, which are water soluble as well, are an easy way to improve your indoor air quality.
- Low or Zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) products are less harmful and cost-effective. They are now easy to find at most major home and paint stores.
- Natural paints are even less toxic and are made with ingredients such as minerals, clay, and bees’ wax.
- Painting furniture or doing restoration? Look for natural or organic wood finishes and citrus oil based strippers.
GO GREEN IN THE BATHROOM
60 percent of a home’s water consumption takes place in the bathroom, according to the California Urban Water Conservation Council.
8 WAYS TO SAVE WATER WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME
- Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.
- Fill a milk jug with stones and place it in your toilet tank to displace water.
- Dig up an egg timer from your kitchen and use it to cut showers down to 5 minutes.
- Turn off the water while shaving.
- Fix toilet and faucet leaks immediately.
- Don’t use your toilet as a trash can.
- Collect “warm-up” water to irrigate your lawn and flowerbeds.
- Conserve energy. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that 47 gallons of water are lost for every kilowatt-hour of power generated by coal power plants.
YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: A carbon footprint (noun) is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organization or location at a given time.*
Here are some tips to reducing your own carbon footprint. There are many websites that will help calculate your footprint for you.
- Turn down your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter, and raise it from 72 to 73 in the summer
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s full and on its energy saver mode
- Wash clothes in cold water rather than hot
- Keep your tires properly inflated
- Plug electronics into power strip and turn off when not in use
- Insulate your water heater
- Caulk and weather strip your home
- Take the bus to work one day a week
- Clean your refrigerator coils and defrost it regularly
- Replace one 70 watt bulb with a 9 watt LED
* Carbon footprint: Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English
