Here are a more simple ways to be green around the house:
Remove the Lint
Very simply, removing lint from the dryer reduces its energy use. Clean out your dryer's lint filter before each use and you can cut down on your energy bill, dry your clothes more quickly, and reduce your home's fire hazards. To even further increase your energy savings and decrease the risk of fire, have your dryer vent cleaned at least annually.
Keep It Cold
Use cold water for the washing machine. About 90% of the energy used to run a washin
g machine goes toward heating the water. Afraid your jeans won't get clean in cold water? No worries. Many modern detergents are specifically formulated to work well in cold water.
Plastic Bags Are So Old School
Get reusable bags for the grocery store and the dry cleaner. Unlike many other materials, plastic doesn’t fully biodegrade. A plastic bag, cap, or lid instead breaks into increasingly smaller pieces that accumulate in our waterways, environment, and body!
Cut Down on Paper
Stop junk mail. All that unwanted paper takes resources to produce, deliver, and recycle or discard. DMAchoice, a mail preference service offered by the Association of National Advertisers, says registering can reduce prospect promotional mail by about 80%.
The online registration fee is $8 for 10 years. Be patient, though. It can take some time for the mail to taper off. You can also create an account with Catalog Choice which will remove you from catalog mailing lists.
Get It Clean
Use natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda or seek out natural brands in stores. Companies like Seventh Generation and Method have great products. There are so many choices available now!
Get Rid of Paper Towels
Yep. Next time your kitchen counter is wet, reach for a cloth instead of a paper towel. You'll save a lot of paper, including the small, green kind that fits in your wallet! Dishcloths and cotton tea towels are thicker and can hold more water than paper towels. Or if you just can't bear to get rid of paper towels altogether, go with recycled and non-chlorine-bleached paper towels.
Thermostat Control
A few degrees can make a difference! In warmer months, each degree you raise your thermostat can reduce cooling costs by approximately 1% to 3%. The same is true in winter: lowering the thermostat by just a degree or two can help reduce heating costs. And keep lamps, TVs, and other heat-producing appliances away from your thermostat. Their heat can fool the thermostat into thinking the room is warmer than it really is and cause your air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
Get the Star
When it’s time to replace an appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerators are about 9% more energy efficient than models that simply meet the federal minimum standards. And if your refrigerator is more than 15 years old, ENERGY STAR estimates it could be costing you about $95 more per year to operate. Saving energy saves money too!
