Steps almost everyone can take
1.Do an energy audit to see where you use energy. Go to www.energystar.gov and click on Home Energy Analysis
2.Control the “Phantom†or “Vampire†loads. These are tiny uses of electricity that happen 24 hours a day each and everyday. The clock in the microwave, the VCR and yes, the TV set.
3.Wash your windows & remove screens in the fall as it will allow for up to a 35% increase in the amount of sun light and heat coming into a room.
4.Keep the refrigerator full. Refrigerators that are full are more efficient. Make ice if your freezer is empty, to help fill it up. Finally, don’t leave your refrigerator door open.
5.Always make more food than you plan to use and freeze it for later use. Remember that leftovers take less energy to heat on top of the stove than in the oven.
6.Install Compact Fluorescent Bulbs EVERYWHERE. Each bulb can save you up to $55 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Make sure you recycle them when they wear out as they have small amounts of mercury in them.
7.Lose the split ends and air dry your hair
8. Install and use a Solar Clothes Dryer (Clothes line for the technology challenged) Electric clothes dryers account for nearly 6% of an average power bill and wear your clothes out faster. In winter months, an inside drying rack or line also doubles as a humidifier.
9.Wear your slippers in the winter. If your feet are cold, you are cold
10.Buy local in-season organic food. Buying salad greens grown 3,000 miles away uses significant energy in both production & transportation.
11. Wait till 8:00 pm as power made during the day costs more to make than power made at night. While we all pay an average cost, day time use drives up costs for everyone.
12. Recycle & reuse – it always takes less energy to reuse and recycle.
13. If you live in a rural or semi-rural area, compost food scrapes. Almost 50% of all garbage is estimated to be organic waste. It is heavy to move and requires significant energy and resources to dispose of compared to a small composter in your backyard.
14. Use a Pressure Cooker, which saves time and energy. It also locks nutrition into the food.
15. Right-size the water in the teakettle & use lids when cooking
16. No lawn, little lawn, organic lawn. Running a lawn mower for an hour produces the same pollution as driving a car nearly 100 miles. Plant a garden and enjoy fresh local produce.
17. Rake the lawn, lose the leaf blower and save on the gym membership.
18. ALWAYS buy Energy Star Appliances – Always
19. Turn it off – computer – lights – kill switch
20.Use hand-powered items over electric (like hand-powered can openers)
21.Install low-flow water faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms as it takes a great deal of energy to move & heat water.
22. Clean under the Refrigerator twice a year, change the filters on the air conditioner and furnace annually. Dirty filters require more energy.
23.When painting, select lighter colors with a high Light Reflective Value (LRV) Black = 5%, White = 90%. This allows more light to bounce around a room so you need less lighting. It also makes the room feel bigger.
24.Sign up for Clean Energy at www.sterlingplanet.com
25.Don’t wait. Start today & encourage your family, friends and neighbors to also take action.
