Inside Your Home
Light up your life with the sun! Artificial lighting makes up about 15% of a household’s electricity use. During the day, use the sunlight from windows to brighten the room and give your lights a break. Also, switch it up… replace those inefficient incandescent bulbs with long-lasting, high efficiency compact fluorescents. For an illuminating look at lighting and home energy issues, visit here.
Be shower savvy! Switch to an ultra low-flow showerhead. This could save you as much as 2.5 gallons every minute you shower. Take shorter showers --try to keep them to less than five minutes. When taking a bath, start filling the tub with the drain already plugged, instead of waiting first for the water to get warm. Adjust the temperature as the tub begins to fill. Perhaps, take a short shower instead of a bath. While a five minute shower uses 12 to 25 gallons of water, a full tub requires about 70 gallons. For a river’s worth of water conservation insights,visit here.
Amp up your appliances! When buying new appliances, compare energy efficiency ratings and annual operating costs. Look for the energy star logo. But there are plenty of ways to save watts with your existing appliances. Run washing machines, clothes dryers, and dishwashers with a full load. Periodically vacuum your refrigerator coils. Make sure you turn off lights, air conditioners, radios, etc. when you leave the house. Appliances such as televisions and microwaves use energy even when they are turned off, so unplug them when leaving for long periods of time. Try washing your clothes on the gentle cycle -the motor won't have to work as hard. Use cold water for washing and rinsing clothes to reduce electricity usage. Give the dryer a rest and let nature do the work - use a clothesline. Get energized about saving electricity here.
Go on an energy diet! A programmable thermostat can better regulate the temperature in your home and decrease energy use by automatically turning on and off the heat/air conditioner in the mornings and at night. Turn down the thermostats. Install plastic window energy conservation kits in the winter to reduce the cold air coming in from the outside. Beef up the insulation in your walls and attic. Buy green energy or consider installing a more efficient and earth-friendly heating and cooling system. For a cool look at green energy resources, visit here.
Be your own clean machine! Make your own household cleaning products. For instance, baking soda is an all-purpose cleaner especially effective on glass coffee pots and glassware and for removing red-wine stains from carpeting. A baking soda paste (made with water) can shine stainless steel and silver, and remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Substitute a vegetable-based liquid soap for the water, add a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender), and clean sinks, countertops, toilets and tubs. Lemon juice can be used as a bleaching agent on clothing and to remove grease from your stove and countertops. Corn starch can be used to deodorize carpet. Find a cupboard full of natural home cleaning recipes here or look for vegetable-based cleaning products at a store near you.
Furnish for the future! Buy wood that has been sustainably-harvested. Look for certification from the Forest Stewardship Council. Support local artisans and furniture manufacturers. Adorn your interior with items made from reclaimed or salvaged materials. From barnwood and old wine barrels, there are vendors with products that can make yesterday look like tomorrow.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle! Don’t buy it if you don’t need it. Avoid excessive packaging. Stop junk mail. Reduce the amount of wasted paper in junk mail by registering online for the national Do Not Mail list. Use rags for clean-up, not paper towels. Use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones. Write school or business notes on the back of scrap paper. Take a lunch box instead of bags. Donate unwanted clothes and household goods to charity. Avoid buying aerosol cans; they can’t be reused or recycled. Use containers to store food in your refrigerator instead of saran wrap or aluminum foil. Buy in bulk if it decreases the amount of packaging. Compost food scraps. Purchase reusable razors. Use rechargeable batteries. Take your own canvas shopping bag to the grocery store. Buy products made from recycled materials. Wrap gifts in newspaper, magazines, or old posters. Don't throw away paints, solvents, used motor oil or other household chemicals, take them to a county or community hazardous waste collection day. For more information on the “three R’s”. Locate a recycling center in your hometown.
© 2007 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources