- Start small if you have to. Small changes do add up. Change out a couple of light bulbs at a time or one faucet at a time.
- Check with your local electric company. Mine offers freebies one time a year. One year I got a electronic programmable thermostat. Another year I got CFL's (energy efficient light bulbs for $.99 ea, window plastic to help insulate about 9 windows, a furnace filter and a low flow shower head. The light bulbs were the only cost. They may also have deals on home energy audits or rebates.
- Check into the rebates for your state for solar power or any other new energy alternatives. Each state is different. There may be federal tax advantages also.
- Recycle. I found that having my recycle bins in my kitchen was much easier for my partner and I to use than if they were in the garage out of the way, so I found a 2 drawer plastic storage system at a discount store and got 2 of them so that I could stack them. I bought a $1.79 can of spray paint to match my decor and sprayed the drawers. I added some stick on letters to each drawer for tin cans, bottles, aluminum and plastic. Now I just carry the individual bin out to the curb when it is full or add it to the regular recycle container in the garage. Having it handy in the kitchen helps my partner, who is not eco friendly, at least try to recycle a little more. I had priced out stacking recyle bins online for alot more money than I was willing to spend.
- Save a couple of your liquid laundry detergent bottles. I will be posting a recipe for homemade liquid laundry detergent that works great.
- Turn your thermostat down.
- Unplug any unused or seldom used electronic items. It can be helpful to put them on power outlet strips so you just have to flip the switch. Modern electronic equipment still uses power even when it is turned off. It is just sitting in a standby mode.
- If you are blessed with alot of sun, try your hand at solar cooking or solar dehydrating.
- Try going without TV. Read a book, play a new game, go for a walk, work in your garden, or go visit someone. The possibilities are endless.
- Save your used wax candle stubs and try making your own candles. You will just need some new wicks, a mold or 2 if you want to mold them (cardboard milk or juice carton, etc--be creative), maybe some essential oil to scent them with, a pencil or other dowel to hang the wicks from, maybe a coffee can or two to melt the wax in). You can also experiment with imbedding flowers or shells into the wax for decoration. Could make a great gift.
Recycling -
electronic goods
- computers, printers and hardware:
- Pass it on. The simplest solution to recycling your old computer. Ask at a local school or put a notice on a community bulletin board offering your computer free for the taking. Many people without a computer will still find use with the word processor and basic programs.
- National Cristina Foundation (US only) - in the US, working computers can be donated to this nonprofit organization, which provides computer technology to people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons.
- eBay's Rethink Initiative helps consumers and businesses learn about the different product disposition alternatives, such as recycling and refurbishing. Options are available for both working computers and obsolete or non-working computers.
- Share the Technology Computer Recycling Project - provides a searchable national computer donation database to connect computer donors and charities seeking donations.
- HP Recycle - for a small fee, you can have old computer equipment picked up for recycling. 'Coupon' points are available from HP towards future purchases.
- TechSoup - has compiled a comprehensive body of information to promote computer recycling and reuse. This site provides resources for those who would like to donate hardware, those who would like to acquire recycled hardware, and refurbishers.
- cell phones and rechargeable batteries:
- Office Depot will collect, free of charge, all old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries for recycling, including Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead (Pb) weighing less than 2 lbs/1 kg. These batteries are also commonly found in other portable office electronics products including cordless phones, laptop computers, PDAs, digital cameras, and portable printers.
- Collective Good - how to donate cell phones or other PDAs to the charity of your choice.
- Cell For Cash - this company will pay you for the value of a reusable cell phone.
- Sprint Project Connect - check here for the nearest Sprint Store location to recycle wireless phones and help raise funds for people with disabilities.
- Staples Store Locations - cell phones, PDAs, pagers, and rechargeable batteries are accepted at Staples stores for reuse/recycling by the CollectiveGood organization.
- ReCellular - a global leader in the collection and recycling of cell phones. This service also provides a free online Data Eraser that removes all personal information from your cell phone prior to recycling.
home recycling tips -
- visit your local recycling center and find out what meterials they accept for recycling. Then set up your bins accordingly.To find the recycling center nearest you, call: 1 800-CLEANUP
- put storage bins in place - The key to a successful home recycling program is the storage bin setup. Once you learn which materials your local recycling center accepts, set up a corresponding storage bin system. The garage is a good place to locate the bins; if using an open car port the lids will need to be covered to secure the contents from pests and wind. Once your system is set up, recycling is easy!
- use plastic bags or totes to store materials for recycling. Paper bags can be leaky, and rip easily. Try to use smaller containers, as they will be easier to lift when full.
- label recycling bins to ensure materials are separated correctly.
- clean bottles and tins before putting in the recycling bin. This prevents flies both at home and the recycling station.
- choose products with the highest percentage of "post-consumer" recycled content
Two types of recycled materials are used in manufacturing products and packaging:
pre-consumer - often referred to as mill scraps recycled internally at manufacturing plants.
post-consumer - returned by consumers, through recycling programs, to the manufacturing process.
25 ways to conserve water at home and yard
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks
A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
- Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket
Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue or other small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.
- Check your toilets for leaks
Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
- Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks
Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
- Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators
Inexpensive water-saving low-flow shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to install. Also, long, hot showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off. "Low-flow" means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
You can easily install a ShowerStart showerhead, or add a ShowerStart converter to existing showerheads, which automatically pauses a running shower once it gets warm.
Also, all household faucets should be fit with aerators. This single best home water conservation method is also the cheapest!
- Put plastic bottles or float booster in your toilet tank
To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. Or, buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster. This may save ten or more gallons of water per day. Be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
For new installations, consider buying "low flush" toilets, which use 1 to 2 gallons per flush instead of the usual 3 to 5 gallons. Replacing an 18 liter per flush toilet with an ultra-low volume (ULV) 6 liter flush model represents a 70% savings in water flushed and will cut indoor water use by about 30%
- Insulate your water pipes.
It's easy and inexpensive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
- Take shorter showers.
One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
- Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush
There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
- Rinse your razor in the sink
Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.
- Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads
Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. Most makers of dishwashing soap recomend not pre-rinsing dishes which is a big water savings.
With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse. For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load. Replace old clothes washers. New Energy Star rated washers use 35 - 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer.
- Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal units
In-sink 'garburators' require lots of water to operate properly, and also add considerably to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to maintenance problems. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste.
- 13. When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing
If your have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a panful of hot water. Dual-swivel aerators are available to make this easier. If using a dishwasher, there is usually no need to pre-rinse the dishes.
- Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables
Just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water. Use a dual-setting aerator.
- Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge.
Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful. Store drinking water in the fridge in a safe drinking bottle.
water conservation in the yard and garden...
- Plant drought-resistant lawns, shrubs and plants
If you are planting a new lawn, or overseeding an existing lawn, use drought-resistant grasses such as the new "Eco-Lawn".
Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species. Replace herbaceous perennial borders with native plants. Native plants will use less water and be more resistant to local plant diseases. Consider applying the principles of xeriscape for a low-maintenance, drought resistant yard.
Plant slopes with plants that will retain water and help reduce runoff.
Group plants according to their watering needs.
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants
Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth. Adding 2 - 4 inches of organic material such as compost or bark mulch will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture. Press the mulch down around the dripline of each plant to form a slight depression which will prevent or minimize water runoff.
- Don't water the gutter
Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days.
- Water your lawn only when it needs it
A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Letting the grass grow taller (to 3") will also promote water retention in the soil.
- Deep-soak your lawn
When watering the lawn, do it long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems. Put an empty tuna can on your lawn - when it's full, you've watered about the right amount.
- Water during the early parts of the day; avoid watering when it's windy
Early morning is generally better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early watering, and late watering, also reduce water loss to evaporation. Watering early in the day is also the best defence against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water when it's windy - wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed evaporation.
- Add organic matter and use efficient watering systems for shrubs, flower beds and lawns
Adding organic material to your soil will help increase its absorption and water retention. Areas which are already planted can be 'top dressed' with compost or organic matter.
You can greatly reduce the amount of water used for shrubs, beds and lawns by:
- the strategic placement of soaker hoses
- installing a rain barrel water catchment system
- installing a simple drip-irrigation system
Avoid over-watering plants and shrubs, as this can actually diminish plant health and cause yellowing of the leaves.
When hand watering, use a variable spray nozzle for targeted watering.
- Don't run the hose while washing your car
Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing - this simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water. Better yet, use a waterless car washing system; there are several brands, such as EcoTouch, which are now on the market.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
- Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings
Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they're not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors. Check frequently to keep them drip-free. Use hose washers at spigots and hose connections to eliminate leaks.
|
