Conserve at Home

Doing a few little things can make a big difference. Going green is easier than you think.
Here’s a list of ten things you can do right now to help protect the environment and preserve natural resources:

1. Recycle. It’s free. And it’s easy. Need we say more?

2. Pay attention to how you use water. Turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. Consider installing water-saver shower heads.

3. Turn off lights when you’re not in the room. Replace standard light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs). They last 10 times longer than a standard bulb and use at least two-thirds less energy.

4. Replace your air filters on a regular basis. It is time to change the filter when you hold it up to the light and the light is obscured by captured dust and dirt particles. Changing air filters on a regular basis will save energy, increase comfort in your home, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

5. Fix dripping faucets and leaky toilets. According to the EPA, a leaky toilet could waste up to 200 gallons of water a day.

6. Get a programmable thermostat so you aren’t wasting energy when not at home. When you go to bed, lower the thermostat setting.

7. Use a push mower that consumes no fossil fuels and doesn’t emit greenhouse gases. Plus, you’ll get a good workout.

8. Cold air naturally settles downward, so aim the vents of room air conditioners upward. And for central air conditioning systems, adjust the registers so the air is blowing up toward the ceiling.

9. If you won’t be home for a few days, turn the thermostat to its lowest setting. If there’s no danger of pipes freezing or other household items being damaged, turn the heating/cooling system off completely.

10. Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day. Early morning is best.

These are just a few little things you can do to make a difference.