News
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April 22, 2009
Carter's 10 Tips for Going Green that Can Save You Green
Carter shared with the Chicago Tribune 10 tips to make your home greener and save money while you're at it:
1.) Fix what you can't replace. If you can't afford the newest in eco-friendly appliances, minor DIY repairs can help you save a bundle and consume less. Just fixing your leaking faucets can save you 10 percent on your water bill.
2.) Be fridge smart. Your fridge is one of the biggest energy users in your home. If your fridge was made before 1990 you should replace it--you are wasting more money in energy costs than it would take to replace your fridge with an Energy Star model. Other quick fridge efficiency tips include: Wait for leftovers to cool before you put them in the fridge, and fill it up; a fuller fridge runs more efficiently.
3.) Use your microwave instead of your oven whenever possible. This will save you up to 50 percent in energy costs for cooking.
4.) Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load. Let the dishes air-dry instead of using the heat cycle. An average dishwasher costs $60 to $100 per year to run.
5.) Ditch the paper towels. Paper towels create 30,000 tons of costly waste yearly in the U.S. Switch from conventional towels to reusable versions such as microfiber rags. If you must purchase paper towels, buy the kind made from recycled paper. If every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100 percent recycled ones, we could save 544,000 trees.
6.) Try to use natural gas to power your home. It burns cleaner and is more efficient. It takes twice as long to dry clothes with an electrical dryer than with a gas dryer.
7.) Turn off your computer at night. You'll lose some time booting up, but you'll save energy and more money if you turn your computer off at the end of each day. It will also reduce wear and tear on your hardware, extending its life.
8.) Clean the air naturally. Plants are great (and cheap) all-natural air purifiers. Some even specialize in the removal of certain irritants. For example, azaleas are great at removing formaldehyde and ammonia. Ask your local nursery what types of plants you should be looking for to help combat specific allergens.
9.) Install a rain barrel and catch pennies from heaven. You can purchase a rain barrel for as little as $60. This is a great way to conserve water by using the best sprinkler system ever created--good old rain. A rain barrel not only captures clean water to use in your garden, it also helps reduce the amount of run-off, which can cause fertilizers and pesticides to end up in our rivers, lakes, and streams.
10.) Use less water when you flush. If you own an older toilet and can't upgrade to a newer low-flow or dual flush toilet (the eco-friendliest of options), a simple plastic bottle will come in handy. Instead of throwing the bottle into a landfill (where it will sit for 1,000-plus years), fill it with water, recap it, and place it in the tank. You'll reduce your flush by 1-2 gallons (compared to 7 gallons in a standard toilet) and save on the water bill.
Source: Chicago Tribune
