When your incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CFLs use 2/3 less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and last 10 times longer. Making this upgrade saves you money and saves energy.
Plastic bags are doing serious damage to our oceans and wildlife, as well as just making an eyesore on our streets. Many communities around the country are actually banning the use of plastic bags because of litter problems. When going to the store, consider bagging your own groceries in cloth, reusable bags. Many stores sell reusable bags and charge to provide plastic grocery bags.
Electronics become outdated very quickly. To insure you are responsible with your gadgets, practice the following:
Despite the fact that 70% of the world is covered by water, you should conserve all that you can. Turn off the water faucet when brushing your teeth and shaving. Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full; avoid small, partial loads. Cleaning your driveway or sidewalk by hosing it down with water wastes at least 80 gallons of water every time; Use a broom instead.
A few degrees difference in temperature can make all the difference in both your energy savings and your financial savings. In the summer, raise your thermostat two degrees. In the winter, lower your thermostat two degrees. You'll not likely notice the difference in temperature, but you'll sure notice the benefit when your utility bill arrives! Use a ceiling fan to cool off a room or house. It consumes about the same amount of energy as a 60-watt bulb (about 98% less energy than most air conditioners).
Carpool, ride the bus, use public transportation, or bike to work. Better yet, see if your company can institute a telecommuting program (if it does not already have one). Save fuel and time by planning ahead and consolidating errands into one trip. Also, go to certain, far away stores less frequently.
Keep your tires inflated to the appropriate air pressure level to extend the life of your tires and give you better gas mileage. Drive the speed limit.
Pay your bills online, saving paper, time, and postage. As the price of paper cards and postage increases, consider emailing e-cards instead of mailing them out. Email documents and information instead of printing and mailing them. Whenever possible, save documents on your computer or on a disk instead of as a print copy in your filing cabinet.
Clotheslines are making a comeback. Dry your clothes on the line instead of in the dryer; they'll smell better and you'll save money. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins; they can be used repeatedly and thrown in with your weekly load of towels. Make your own less-toxic cleaning alternatives using baking soda, soap, and vinegar. Open the doors and windows to let the fresh air in and germs and smells out. Indoor air quality is often times worse than the air outside.
If, like many people, a computer is your central tool at work, optimizing the energy settings for your computer and other devices can be a major energy saver. Also, make sure to shut it down when you leave for the day (not just putting it in sleep mode). Plug hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch, and turn off all items at once (make sure to power down inkjet printers before killing the power-they need to seal their cartridges). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they're needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.
Even in the digital age, we still consume enormous amounts of paper, too much of which gets used once and then tossed or recycled. The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them. Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters.
When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Even recycled paper gobbles up a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing. When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper.
Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If your employer allows you to telecommute (even some of the time), hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home. If your employer does not have telecommuting programs, discuss and work with them to initiate one. Also, consider the possibility of working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a compressed work-week), this change cuts the energy and time spent on commuting by 20% and giving you some lovely three-day weekends.
If you do have to go to the workplace, ease some of this strain of fuel usage and carbon emissions by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination any of these. If there's no good way to phase out your car, consider getting a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle, or scooter or at least a car with an extremely high fuel efficiency rating.
You might be amazed how sharp work clothes from thrift stores can look. If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry-cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local green dry cleaner.
You might be amazed how sharp work clothes from thrift stores can look. If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry-cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local green dry cleaner.
16. Buy Only What You Need
Plain and simple-don't over purchase. However, when buying items that you use daily or in large quantities, consider buying in bulk. You will save money and packaging. Consider splitting bulk purchases with friends to get that savings but not the full quantity of the purchase. Sometimes we can't always use 50 rolls of paper towels.
17. Recycle!
Recycle, reuse, and properly dispose of all materials. Everything from plastic bags to construction materials. But, recycling is not just limited to the cans, glass, and paper we go though everyday. If you're upgrading your house, don't forget to look for recycling and reuse programs for your household items, such as windows, doors, tile, etc
Don't forget the last step in the recycling loop: buy recycled! In order for recycling to be sustainable, we need to purchase and use recycled-content materials. Look for and purchase post-consumer recycled content packaging and products whenever possible.