Greening At Home
Greening at home keeps more of the "green" at home: inefficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning units, windows leaking conditioned air, and appliances devour energy.
This is money out of your pocket, and it's bad for the environment: the electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home — almost 8500 Btu's annually for an average home, puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.
Tips to help get you started:
- Seal your home
Check ductwork, windows and doors for air leaks: use weatherstripping and caulk to stop drafts. Make sure you have sufficient insulation; you could save up to 20% on heating bills during winter and cooling in summer. Check the North American Insulation Manufacturer's Association website for guidance on insulation at naima.org.- Tuneup Your HVAC System
Clean air filters regularly and have your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor to save energy and increase comfort at home. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.- When It's Time To Replace That Old Appliance...
Look for products with an ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR-qualified products are available in more than 40 product categories, including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances. If your local utility supports appliance recycling, find out how you can participate.- Routine Appliance Maintenance
Check refrigerator coils regularly, especially during the summer. Dirty coils on the back or bottom of the fridge make the unit work harder which uses more energy – and raises your energy bill. Also check to make sure the door seals properly so cold air doesn't leak; a door hinge adjustment may be needed, or a new gasket if hinge adjustment doesn't solve the problem. Before performing any maintenance, TURN OFF & UNPLUG the appliance!- Be Water Wise
Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water. Don't let water run while shaving or brushing teeth. Repair leaky faucets and toilets promptly. These simple actions can help households save hundreds of gallons of water each month: saving water, especially hot water, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.- Unplug It
Did you know that your battery charger uses energy while plugged into the wall even when you’re not using it to charge your phone, laptop, or PDA? Unplug your appliances when not in use. Adjust power management settings for your computer to conserve energy. Consider using a power strip that can be turned off when you're done using your computers, printers, wireless routers and other electronics. Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.- Replace Low-Efficiency Lightbulbs
Replace incandescent bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). Check the package to match the bulb type with your fixture to get the best performance and life from the CFL. Please dispose of properly, as many CFLs contain small amounts of mercury.
Click here for EPA fact sheet on CFLs- Use Renewable Energy
Solar energy can be used to heat homes, buildings, water, and to make electricity. Today, more than 200,000 houses in the United States take advantage of the sun's energy. Find out about renewable energy incentives in your state: http://www.dsireusa.org/More Smart Tips To Green Your Life:
- Buy Seasonal Produce
Organic food is kinder to the earth. Did you know that thirty percent of the fossil fuel used on farms goes into the making of fertilizers?
Get greener by buying items grown or produced within 100 miles and you’ll reduce the amount of diesel fuel needed to ship food. You can get fresher food and help small-scale agriculture by shopping at neighborhood farmers’ markets.- Think Before you drive…
Save energy by carpooling, taking public transportation, riding a bike, or walking. Another way to reduce your carbon emissions is to combine errands when you do drive. Driving smart will lower the total number of miles you drive each year; you'll save on fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.- Cars & Renewable Fuels
Before buying a new or used vehicle, check out the EPA green buying guide: http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/. Highly fuel efficient cars, hybrids, and vehicles that use cleaner alternative fuels help reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Reduce pollution from your current vehicle by getting regular tune-ups and making sure your tires are properly inflated to achieve your vehicle’s optimal gas mileage.- Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and newspapers. Support recycling by purchasing items that are reusable and/or recyclable. When you recycle, you send less trash to the landfill and you help save resources that would be used in manufacturing non-recycled products.- Spread The Word!
Talk with your family and friends about climate change. Let them know the ways you’re changing your lifestyle to help prevent more climate changes.- What's My Carbon Footprint? click here to visit our carbon calculator