Earth Friendly Tips for the Home

Pick low hanging fruit first. Foam strips and caulking in strategic places can save heating and cooling bills up to 30%. view entry > | edit entry >

Use a crock pot instead of simmering on the stove top, and save a ton of energy. view entry > | edit entry >

Use your microwave when you can when reheating food. It uses 20% of the energy that your oven uses to do the same job. view entry > | edit entry >

If you use an air conditioner, clean the air filter every week or two when you're using it a lot. view entry > | edit entry >

Set your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees F. view entry > | edit entry >

Old school fireplaces are aesthetic, but they pipe an incredible amount of hot air straight out of your chimney. Not efficient! Direct-vent, sealed-combustion gas fireplaces are way better -- they… view entry > | edit entry >

Don't leave your computer on -- put it to sleep. The resultant energy savings call really add up, plus it will prolong your monitor and cpu's lives. view entry > | edit entry >

Let your dishwasher do its thang. Simply scrape the food of your plateware (don't rinse or soak), and it'll get clean. Hopefully. view entry > | edit entry >

Yes, clothes dryers are much more convenient and time saving. But if you're motivated, your line dried clothes will last longer (less wear in the drying process) and smell fantastic. view entry > | edit entry >

90% of the energy consumed by a washing machine that is on a warm or hot setting is used in heating up the water temperature *before* it even goes into the machine. Solution: wash your clothes with… view entry > | edit entry >

It's estimated that an average of 5% of your total household energy use is from appliances and chargers that are plugged in but not being used. Anything that has a little light or a little digital… view entry > | edit entry >

This tip is self explanatory. Sometimes it's hard to give up something like a long luxurious shower :( view entry > | edit entry >

A good low flow showerhead will not actually deprive you of the joy of a good shower -- it will, however, more effectively distribute less water over time. view entry > | edit entry >

Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air from air conditioning, and reverse the direction in the winter to recirculate hot air downwards. view entry > | edit entry >

Not only does recycling alter the waste stream, but it also saves energy. One aluminum can recycled saves the enough energy to run a TV or computer for three hours. view entry > | edit entry >

Set your thermostat to a lower temperature at night. It might be a bit nippy when you run to the toilet, but the warm feeling in your heart will more than compensate. view entry > | edit entry >

Eliminate air drafts coming in through windows, the bottom of doors, etc. view entry > | edit entry >

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are incredibly energy efficient compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. According to the Energy Star website: "If every American home replaced just one light bulb… view entry > | edit entry >

This helps conserve water. view entry > | edit entry >

Side loading tumble-action washing machines use approximately 50% less water and 30-40% less energy per load than top-loading machines. view entry > | edit entry >

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Refrigerators use more energy than any other appliance in your household. view entry > | edit entry >

This will cause less heat loss of water as it travels from your hot water heater to the faucet. view entry > | edit entry >

Acquire a natural gas-powered dryer if you can, they are much more efficient. view entry > | edit entry >

High-efficiency water heaters can save you money, and conserve energy. view entry > | edit entry >

Air conditioners are much more efficient than they were 10 or 15 years ago; as much as 50% more so. view entry > | edit entry >

No need to hose down your sidewalk or driveway. Save water by using a broom instead. view entry > | edit entry >

No need to use running water while you scrape pots and pans clean. Let them soak, and then clean them quickly and easily later. view entry > | edit entry >

This is fairly simple: put some food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak, and could be wasting a lot of water over time (hundreds of gallons per month). view entry > | edit entry >

Purchase a low-flow toilet, or retrofit yours. In Europe, many toilets dual-flush, one flushes less; one flushes a bit more, depending on your needs. You can retrofit your current toilet by filling a… view entry > | edit entry >

Fill up a small glass and rinse your mouth with that. view entry > | edit entry >