Green Tips from Clear2O®
Join the CFL.
Swap out those energy-sapping traditional light bulbs (called incandescents)
for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). CFLs can save up to 75 percent of the
initial lighting energy, and they last much longer than incandescents. Don't be
put off by the higher purchase price; CFLs provide a timely payback,
particularly in lights that stay on for long periods of time.
Worried that CFL light will appear too blue? Look for the newer "soft white"
CFLs, which are rated at a temperature of 3000 Kelvin (K) and emit a warmer
light.
Idling gets you zero miles per gallon.
When you idle your engine, you waste gas, add to pollution, and produce
unhealthy car exhaust. Here's a good rule-of-thumb: if you're going to be parked
for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine. In fact, ten seconds of idling
can use more fuel than just turning off the engine and restarting it.
When you start your car, simply turn the key. It's not necessary to step down
on the accelerator.
Flower power from your shower.
Keep a watering can in your bathroom near the shower. As you're running the
water to get it warm, catch the cool water in the can. Less water down the
drain, more fresh water for your thirsty plants.
Check out your bathroom for other water conservation opportunities, like
using low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. And remember to turn off the
water while you brush your teeth.
Go paperless.
Whenever you can, request electronic statements from banks, credit card
companies, utilities, and stores. Arrange to make payments online. Consider
subscribing to the online versions of your daily newspaper and magazines, too.
The new wireless reading devices are truly remarkable. You can have your
daily paper auto-delivered each morning and your favorite books downloaded in
seconds.
Is your chimney a wind tunnel?
Wind tunnels may be great for Lance Armstrong's cycling practice, but it's a
drag when your open chimney turns into one. Chimneys are specially designed for
smoke to escape, so when they're open they're letting warm air out, day and
night. When your fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.
If you burn logs, your chimney should be checked professionally each year for
creosote, the potentially dangerous buildup of carbon materials from
wood-burning fires.
Pack your car to go grocery shopping.
Besides your shopping list, there are several other things you should take
with you to the supermarket. Don't forget to pack your reusable cloth or paper
shopping bags. (Some stores offer an incentive for using your own bags.) If your
market has a recycling center, take along any bottles, cans, or other items that
are recycled in your community, and return them there.
Some local curbside recycling programs accept plastic grocery bags; if yours
doesn't, your grocery store probably will. Recycled plastic bags can be made
into lumber, trashcan liners, or new plastic bags.
A plug for unplugging.
Anything plugged into an electrical outlet uses energy, including chargers
for cell phones, toys, and cameras�even when the electronic device itself isn't
there being charged. Electric companies advise that unplugging anything you are
not using can reduce energy consumption and your electric bill by 10 to 20
percent.
Game consoles are reported to use $1 billion worth of energy each year. Turn
yours off when not in use, or take advantage of the auto-shutdown feature on
newer models.
Give laundry the cold shoulder.
Check whether your favorite brand of detergent has a formula made to work in
cold water. Besides reducing the need to heat water for washing clothes,
cold-water formulas can actually help keep your clothes looking new and bright
longer. Make sure you have a full load before running your washing machine.
If it's time for you to buy a new washer, consider the new high efficiency
models. They can save up to 50 percent on your energy and water usage.
Forget dishpan hands.
Today's modern dishwashers actually use less energy and less water than it
takes to wash dishes by hand. Just remember to run the dishwasher only when it
is full, and turn the setting to air or cool dry rather than heat dry to save
even more energy.
Take a moment to read your dishwasher's user manual to learn how to load the
racks for maximum cleaning power.
Water plants less and watch them thrive.
By now you probably know that it's best to water your outdoor plants at night
to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. But did you also know that by
identifying which plants are appropriate for your climate and planting those,
you can actually reduce the need to water them as often?
The Web sites of local universities with agriculture or horticulture programs
can often be good resources for information on native plants.
Inflation that's good for the economy.
Make it a point to regularly check your automobile tires. Keeping them
properly inflated not only improves your fuel economy, it also makes for a safer
ride and reduced wear-and-tear on the tires themselves.
As the driver, there's plenty you can do to improve the fuel economy of your
vehicle. Practice predictive driving so that you will not have to slam on the
brakes as often, and you'll find you've reduced fuel usage and increased the
life of your brakes.
It's called junk mail for a reason.
The amount of paper junk mail sent each year is enormous, and nearly half of
it is discarded without ever being opened. Reduce waste and save trees by
eliminating mail you don't want to receive. Investigate registering with the
Direct Marketing Association to list yourself with its mail preference service.
Try calling the toll-free number of the catalogs you no longer wish to
receive and ask them to remove your name from their mailing list.
Cook small.
Next time you automatically go to turn on your oven or broiler, think about
whether there's a smaller appliance that may work instead to cook your food more
efficiently. A toaster uses less energy than an oven, and a crock-pot may be a
better option to simmer food than a pot on the stovetop.
Consider investing in an indoor contact grill such as the George Foreman
Grill in the size you need to grill meals from small to large.
Ask to be audited!
What are the most important things you can do to make your home more
energy-efficient? Ask your local electric or gas company. Many utilities offer
home energy audits for free or at a discount. They can help you identify
conditions such as air leaks that can be easily sealed to save on energy bills.
When you call, you can also ask your power company whether you can designate
that some or all of your energy comes from green sources such as wind, solar, or
geothermal.
Idling gets you zero miles per gallon.
When you idle your engine, you waste gas, add to pollution, and produce
unhealthy car exhaust. Here's a good rule-of-thumb: if you're going to be parked
for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine. In fact, ten seconds of idling
can use more fuel than just turning off the engine and restarting it.
When you start your car, simply turn the key. It's not necessary to step down
on the accelerator.
Flower power from your shower.
Keep a watering can in your bathroom near the shower. As you're running the
water to get it warm, catch the cool water in the can. Less water down the
drain, more fresh water for your thirsty plants.
Check out your bathroom for other water conservation opportunities, like
using low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets. And remember to turn off the
water while you brush your teeth.
Go paperless.
Whenever you can, request electronic statements from banks, credit card
companies, utilities, and stores. Arrange to make payments online. Consider
subscribing to the online versions of your daily newspaper and magazines, too.
The new wireless reading devices are truly remarkable. You can have your
daily paper auto-delivered each morning and your favorite books downloaded in
seconds.
Is your chimney a wind tunnel?
Wind tunnels may be great for Lance Armstrong's cycling practice, but it's a
drag when your open chimney turns into one. Chimneys are specially designed for
smoke to escape, so when they're open they're letting warm air out, day and
night. When your fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.
If you burn logs, your chimney should be checked professionally each year for
creosote, the potentially dangerous buildup of carbon materials from
wood-burning fires.
Pack your car to go grocery shopping.
Besides your shopping list, there are several other things you should take
with you to the supermarket. Don't forget to pack your reusable cloth or paper
shopping bags. (Some stores offer an incentive for using your own bags.) If your
market has a recycling center, take along any bottles, cans, or other items that
are recycled in your community, and return them there.
Some local curbside recycling programs accept plastic grocery bags; if yours
doesn't, your grocery store probably will. Recycled plastic bags can be made
into lumber, trashcan liners, or new plastic bags.
A plug for unplugging.
Anything plugged into an electrical outlet uses energy, including chargers
for cell phones, toys, and cameras�even when the electronic device itself isn't
there being charged. Electric companies advise that unplugging anything you are
not using can reduce energy consumption and your electric bill by 10 to 20
percent.
Game consoles are reported to use $1 billion worth of energy each year. Turn
yours off when not in use, or take advantage of the auto-shutdown feature on
newer models.
Give laundry the cold shoulder.
Check whether your favorite brand of detergent has a formula made to work in
cold water. Besides reducing the need to heat water for washing clothes,
cold-water formulas can actually help keep your clothes looking new and bright
longer. Make sure you have a full load before running your washing machine.
If it's time for you to buy a new washer, consider the new high efficiency
models. They can save up to 50 percent on your energy and water usage.
Forget dishpan hands.
Today's modern dishwashers actually use less energy and less water than it
takes to wash dishes by hand. Just remember to run the dishwasher only when it
is full, and turn the setting to air or cool dry rather than heat dry to save
even more energy.
Take a moment to read your dishwasher's user manual to learn how to load the
racks for maximum cleaning power.
Water plants less and watch them thrive.
By now you probably know that it's best to water your outdoor plants at night
to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. But did you also know that by
identifying which plants are appropriate for your climate and planting those,
you can actually reduce the need to water them as often?
The Web sites of local universities with agriculture or horticulture programs
can often be good resources for information on native plants.
Inflation that's good for the economy.
Make it a point to regularly check your automobile tires. Keeping them
properly inflated not only improves your fuel economy, it also makes for a safer
ride and reduced wear-and-tear on the tires themselves.
As the driver, there's plenty you can do to improve the fuel economy of your
vehicle. Practice predictive driving so that you will not have to slam on the
brakes as often, and you'll find you've reduced fuel usage and increased the
life of your brakes.
It's called junk mail for a reason.
The amount of paper junk mail sent each year is enormous, and nearly half of
it is discarded without ever being opened. Reduce waste and save trees by
eliminating mail you don't want to receive. Investigate registering with the
Direct Marketing Association to list yourself with its mail preference service.
Try calling the toll-free number of the catalogs you no longer wish to
receive and ask them to remove your name from their mailing list.
Cook small.
Next time you automatically go to turn on your oven or broiler, think about
whether there's a smaller appliance that may work instead to cook your food more
efficiently. A toaster uses less energy than an oven, and a crock-pot may be a
better option to simmer food than a pot on the stovetop.
Consider investing in an indoor contact grill such as the George Foreman
Grill in the size you need to grill meals from small to large.
Ask to be audited!
What are the most important things you can do to make your home more
energy-efficient? Ask your local electric or gas company. Many utilities offer
home energy audits for free or at a discount. They can help you identify
conditions such as air leaks that can be easily sealed to save on energy bills.
When you call, you can also ask your power company whether you can designate
that some or all of your energy comes from green sources such as wind, solar, or
geothermal.