Home
Lifestyle
Recycling
Utilities
1. Switch to CFLs
Replace traditional incandescent lightbulbs with low energy, low heat and long lasting compact flourescent light bulbs.
2. Program your Thermostat
Get a programmable thermostat so when you're not home, the temperature in your house is closer to the outdoor temperature, saving energy.Turning your thermostat down 2 degrees in the winter saves 52 pound of carbon dioxide a month. You won't even notice.
3. Plug Air Leaks
Ensuring that temperature controlled air can't escape and outdoor air can't get into your home will allow you to spend less energy on AC and heat. Check around windows and doors, and install a draft stopper in your fireplace.
4. Reduce Water Use
Add aerators to sink faucets and switch to low-flow shower heads.
Adding native plants to your yard will use less water than higher-maintenence turf grass.
5. Unplug ChargersIf you're not charging something, take the plug out of the wall. Energy continues to go through these cords regardless of use. Likewise, unplug appliances you aren't using. Easy solution? Use a power strip for your chargers. Just flick the off switch.
6. Insulate When you insulate your water heater, it'll take less energy to heat your water, and save about 130 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Along the same lines, insulate your basement, attic and crawlspaces.
7. Wash Cool, Line DryWashing your clothes on cold water when possible saves up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Run your dryer half as often by line drying as much as you can. It's probably better for your jeans anyways.
Decor
1. Recycled Furniture
Fancier word? Antique! Buy buying used furniture you're keeping it out of a landfill and cutting down on timber felling and emissions associated with furniture manufacture.
2. Healthy Paint
Use low- or no-VOC paint. VOCs emit gas harmful to your health and the environment.
Bathroom
1. Turn off the water
Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth! Use an egg timer to limit showers.
2. Toilet Tricks
Displace water in your toilet tank by putting in a milk jug filled with stones. Don't use your toilet as a trash can.
3. Reuse Water
Collect "warm-up" water from your shower to water your plants with. Research greywater systems - they send sink and shower water through your toilet.
Greening Your Lifestyle
1. Buy Local
Shopping at farmers markets and other locally sourced markets reduces fossil fuesl required for transportation and paper and plastic required for packaging.
2. Carpool, Use Public Transport, Walk or Bike
Do you make the same commute every day? Carpooling with just one coworker can cut your emissions by half, and biking can cut them entirely. If you do drive, make sure your tires are properly inflated to make your car as efficient as possible, and try to avoid rush hour traffic - idling is an excellent way to release emissions.
3. Turn Off Lights
Make it a habit. When you leave a room, turn off the lights. Easy.
4. Waterbottles
Hydration is insanely important, and you wont forget to do it if you're carrying around a reusuable water bottle. Worried about water quality? Filters are pretty inexpensive. If you work in an office, use a mug or a glass for your beverages rather than disposable containers. Many coffeeshops offer discounts when you bring in your travel mug.
5. Group Your Errands
Keep lists of the errands you need to run and try and do them all at once so you're not making separate trips out. You'll save time - and gas.
1. Know your Local Recycling Program
Know if you need to separate your recycling, what you can recycle, etc. For example, at GW you don't need to separate your recyclables (which includes glass, paper and plastic) but you do need to be sure that your recyclabes are in a CLEAR bag. Make sure your recycling gets to the recycling plant.
2. Reuse/Repurpose
Find alternate uses for cardboard, glass, cans. Use your exe's old t-shirts as dust rags. Sell and shop on websties like Ebay or Craigslist. Check out Freeecycle. Flea markets and vintage shops are filled with good (and cheap!) finds.
3. Recycle for Charity
Donate usuable things you don't want rather than throwing them away. Gently used books, furniture and clothing can all find new homes at places like the salvation army. Plus, you get a tax write off.
4. E-cycling
Don't throw away electronics! Call your local recycling facility and ask where they can be safely recycled.
5. Return
A lot of things can be brought back for reuse. Most drycleaners will take back wire hangers. Get canvas bags you can keep bringing to the store with you. Many grocery stores even have bins to collect plastic bags. Book clubs, libraries and movie rentals cut down on product creation.
