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Every day you and I use resources and produce waste. According to Campaign Earth, "Americans make up only 4% of the world's population, yet we consume nearly 26% of its resources." All of us need to think of ways to reduce what we consume. Simple steps can produce huge results. Here are some eco-friendly choices you can make.
Your Home
Purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
Replace your incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescents that produce less heat, use one-third the electricity of standard bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. LED lights are even more efficient than fluorescent lights.
Use less hot water
Take shorter showers and only run your dishwasher and washing machine when you have full loads. A low-flow shower head can save up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year. Insulating your hot water tank and keeping the temperature at or below 120 degrees will save energy and lower your bills. You can also insulate the pipes coming out of your water heater.
Insulate and weatherize your home
Heating and cooling account for 50-70 percent of the energy consumed in an average American home. Adequate home insulation reduces your energy use and makes your home more comfortable by helping you retain heat in the winter and fend off heat in the summer. Weather strip and caulk around windows, doors and any wall penetrations to save additional energy dollars.
Choose Energy Star® appliances
When purchasing a new appliance, consider both the purchase price and the energy savings. Energy StarŪ products meet a high level of energy efficiency, resulting in long-term energy savings.
Install a programmable thermostat
You can easily install a programmable thermostat that will automatically lower the temperature when no one is home or when everyone is sleeping, saving energy and money. This device costs about $50 and can be installed in about 15 minutes.
Turn off electronic devices
Save energy and trim your energy bills by turning off computers, televisions, lights and other electronic devices when they are not in use.
Adjust your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer
To save energy and lower your energy bills, set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher in the summer and 68 degrees or lower in the winter.
Clean or replace furnace and air conditioner filters
A dirty filter can significantly reduce the efficiency of your furnace or air conditioner. Clean your filters monthly during times of high usage.
Buy locally grown and produced food
Buying food products locally saves transportation costs, ensures freshness, reduces pollution and keeps food dollars in the local economy. A trip to the local farmers' market is fun and inexpensive.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Practicing the 3Rs saves energy, natural resources and landfill space. Check out books, CDs, videos and magazines at the library. Hold a garage sale. Donate used items to a charity or thrift store. Repair broken items instead of buying new products. Recycle paper, bottles and cans. Carry a reusable bag and refuse plastic bags.
Avoid heavily packaged products
By purchasing products with the least amount of packaging you will save money, preserve our natural resources and reduce the amount of waste that ends up at landfills.
Clean your home with natural products
Almost everything can be safely cleaned with lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda or Borax.
Buy "green" power
You can choose to pay a premium on your electric bill to cover the extra cost of purchasing clean, renewable energy.
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