How You Can Help

Be Less Wasteful

• Use a razor with a replaceable blade, rather than a disposable razor.
• Use a mug for your every day coffee, rather than a Styrofoam cup every day.
• Use washable dishes, rather than disposable ones.
• Use a real camera, rather than a disposable one.
• Use sponges or a cloth towel, rather than napkins or paper towels.
• Use cloth diapers, (will save you about $600 dollars a year - per child!)
• Buy juice in big containers, rather than single servings.
• Buy bottled water in a big jug, rather than single bottles.
• Buy reusable batteries (will save you about $200 dollars a year!)
• Put a water filled 2-liter pop bottle in the tank of your toilet (saves 2 liters of water every flush!)
• Bring your own bag to the market, reuse previous ones and opt for no bag at all.

You can support recycling even more by purchasing items in bulk, with the less amount of packaging and with the highest percentage of recycled material; this usually can be found printed on the back of the product.

Switch to Harmless Products

• Glass alternative: 50/50 vinegar and water or full club soda in spray bottle.
• Drain alternative: 1/4 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup vinegar. Allow to foam then flush w/boiling water.
• Bleach alternative: Borax or white vinegar or baking soda and water mixture.
• Furniture polish: One teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice in a quart of water.
• Metal polish: Olive oil for brass, baby oil for chrome. Soak silver in baking soda and boiling water.
• Disinfectant: Two tablespoons borax, quarter cup lemon juice and two cups hot water.

Learn how you can replace what you purchase with eco-friendly and animal friendly products at www.caringconsumer.com and www.worldwise.com. (There are many more resources out there as well!)

Conserve Energy

Contact your local energy and gas company; most will provide FREE no-cost weatherization and furnace repair or replacement services for qualified limited-income customers such as:

• Ceiling insulation
• Door weather-stripping
• Caulking
• Low flow shower heads
• Water heater blankets
• Evaporative cooler covers and A/C covers
• Switch and outlet gaskets and covers
• Pipe insulation
• Faucet aerators
• Minor repairs to exterior doors and/or windows
• Furnace repair or replacement services (homeowners only)
• Energy Education

Tips

• Set air conditioning at 78°F when it 's hot and heating at 68°F when it's cold); can help save up to 20%
• Avoid lighting an empty room and take advantage of natural light whenever possible. Turn off unneeded lights
• Use appliances wisely. To help prevent electricity outages, use major appliances after 7 p.m.
• Replace standard incandescent light bulbs w/compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save 75% in costs
• Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use
• Take steps to cut water use such as installing faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and low-flush toilets
• A 5° higher setting on your air conditioning thermostat will save about 10% on cooling costs
• Buy ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment - they're up to 40% more efficient. Turn your water heater down to 120°, and to the lowest setting when away
• Reduce air conditioning costs by using fans, keep windows/doors shut and closing shades during the day
• Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with CFLs instead of overhead lights
• Enable "power management" on computers and turn them off at night. (Laptops use up 90% less energy)
• When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of energy use in a washer goes to water heating
• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded
• Make sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint filter after every load

Good Investment Recommendations

• Install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat away from natural cool and hot spots
• Add weather stripping around windows and doors to reduce drafts
• Use caulking to seal around ducts, plumbing and any other openings in walls, floors and ceilings
• Seal larger gaps that cannot be covered with caulk with expanding foam
• By insulating ceilings, walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces and basements, you reduce heating/cooling costs
• Install fireplace inserts or wood stoves into an existing fireplace
• Replace heating equipment (15 yrs + old) w/ new ENERGY STAR qualified models (15% more efficient)
• Install high efficiency windows, which are 40% more efficient than standard windows

Research Additional Conservation Options! Hybrid vehicles, mass transportation, bicycling - rather than gasoline dependent vehicles. Alternative energies - such as solar and wind.