Green Tips

  • Take shorter showers, every 2 min. equals 10 gallons of water saved.
  • Set thermostat one degree higher for in summer and one degree lower in winter to save $100/year.
  • Recycle-if everyone separated paper, plastic, glass and aluminum and recycled, we would decrease landfill waste by 75%.
  • Compost in the kitchen-fruits, scraps, coffee grounds are great for the garden.
  • Only run full loads in the dishwasher to save 7300 gallons of water per year.
  • Save leftovers resulting in enough food to feed 1.35 million US homeless children.
  • Turn off water while brushing your teeth to save 1.5 billion gallons a year in the US.
  • Flush one time less per day to save 4.5 gallons of water daily.
  • If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed unless a fire is lit.
  • Stop junk mail in its’ tracks by going to www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist.
  • Change light bulbs as old ones burn out.
  • Clean lint screen on dryer each time or better yet, use an outdoor line.
  • Only wash clothing in cold water to save energy.
  • Wrap your hot water heater with an insulated hot water blanket and set thermostat at 120 degrees.
  • Limit the time that your car idles after starting.
  • Use automatic car washing as opposed to hand washing at home to save water.
  • Cut your grass to a 2” height and leave clippings on lawn.
  • Don’t buy books, go to the library or swap with friends.
  • Download music instead of purchasing CDs.
  • Rent DVDs instead of buying them.
  • Skip gift wrap & use newspapers or old maps.
  • Send electronic invitations.
  • Share a newspaper subscription with a friend.
  • Take home leftover food from restaurants.
  • If you purchase soda, get a paper cup.
  • Unplug your television when not in use.
  • Use power strips whenever possible.
  • Buy laptops as opposed to PCs if possible.
  • Change your Laptop/PC’s power options to automatically use the least possible amount of energy
  • Walk, ride a bike, or carpool when you can.
  • Resale textbooks when you are finished with them.
  • Be sure to place your copier on stand-by mode.
  • Turn off lights when natural daylight is available.
  • Use space fans instead of air conditioning (air conditioners are the 2nd largest energy users).
  • Use fewer plastic bags and reuse them.
  • Donate used sporting goods for a tax write off and to save room in landfills.
  • Try purchasing used sporting equipment. This could save Americans $250 million/yr.
  • Refill water bottles. If 2 of 3 people did, it would save as many bottles as there are people in the US.
  • Don’t take at ATM receipt. They are one of the top sources of litter in the US.
  • Go with paperless statements from companies that you have accounts with.
  • Buy only used or antique furniture. The price will be lower and some new furniture depletes forests.
  • Grow a garden, or participate in a community garden. Container gardens are a great option for those with limited space!
  • Consider a low-flow toilet.
  • Consider a “greywater” system (the reusing of water from your laundry, dishwashing, and bathing) for watering your garden and flowers.
  • Buy locally made products and produce.