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Check here every month for energy saving tips to save you money and reduce greenhouse emissions: August
2008: Increase your fuel efficiency by 5 to 10 % by avoiding jack rabbit starts and hard braking! We all are watching
our gas mileage these days; if we can change our habits gradually, we'll all use less gas and run our cars with less impact
to our atmosphere. Want more fuel saving advice? Check out this link: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut10.shtm
(scroll down to see the tips)
May 2008: Save water when watering! Watering your lawn in midday is a far more
inefficient use of water than doing it overnight, at dawn or dusk. Water will absorb more fully at those times. Also, check
to make sure your sprinklers are hitting the lawn they are supposed to water. Very often, we water our lawns more than is
necessary. Check with your city or municipality to see if they offer free irrigation audits. Many do.
March
2008: Get a programmable thermostat! The government site EnergyStar.gov (a guide to high efficiency appliances and more)
says that lowering your heat overnight and while you're at work can save you $150 a year in heating bills. That makes
the small investment (about $35) more than worth it; and you're not wasting as much energy either.
January
2008: Stop getting junk mail. Junk mail sucks anyway, and when you figure that trees are actually being cut down for this
crap, it's even worse. Stop getting it by following the simple steps at www.ecocycle.org. Look on the left side of
the page for "Stop Junk Mail."
November 2007: Hit the switch. This is old school green. Remember
what your parents said: when you leave a room, turn off the light! Like many tips, this is not only a good eco practice,
it will save you money, too. What I try to remember is that for every light burning, somewhere, there's oil or coal burning
to produce that electricity. Turn em off if you don't need em!
October 2007: Bag the bags! When you shop
for groceries, clothes, household stuff or whatever: BRING YOUR OWN BAG! Plastic bags are such a waste, often not getting
recycled and taking lots of resources to produce. Paper bags aren't much better because trees must be cut down to make
them. Solution? Buy 2 or 3 canvas bags and bring them wherever you shop.
August 2007: Cut down on bottled water.
We all need it from time to time, but regular use of bottled water is an environmental nuisance. It takes energy to make
the bottle, to transport it to the store and more often than not, the plastic doesn't get recycled. Use a filter at your
sink if you need to and save our landfills and Earth from all the waste.
July 2007: Use cold water to wash
your clothes! Almost all your clothes don't need hot water to be cleaned. It takes a lot of energy to heat water, so
do your wallet and the environment a favor and use the cold water cycle 99% of the time you do laundry.
June
2007: When facing a line at the drive thru, park it! Going into the restaurant to order will save you gas and time. Also,
when waiting at a train crossing: TURN OFF YOUR ENGINE! No sense in burning gas if you will be waiting a few minutes. Save
some gas, save the planet!
May 2007: Replace at least one incandescent lightbulb with a compact florescent.
If every house in America did this, the reduction in greenhouse emissions would be tremendous! So, if you can, replace a
bunch. You'll reduce your electric bill and the energy it takes to light your home.
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