Going Green(er)

One of my goals for the New Year is to live a 'greener' life. I consider myself fairly environmentally aware already, but there is always more you can do once you educate yourself, right? So, it is with that thought in mind, that I am approaching life in 2008.

One of the things that will help my cause is a new page-a-day calendar. It is one of those calendars that you keep on your bedside table or desk, and each day you tear off a new page. The calendar that I chose for this year is about going green....a bit ironic, I know. But at least the pages are meant to be flipped over and used for note paper afterwards. :)

I plan to post some of the best tips on my blog each day, so all of you can benefit from the information too.

Since I am a bit behind (as usual), you will have a few tips to read today.

1) Maintain your appliances according to manufacturers' instructions. They'll last longer and may be more efficient. Keeping the coils on the back of your fridge clean can reduce the unit's electricity consumption 6 percent or more. Also, be sure to clean the lint filter on your dryer after every load.

2) Grow your own garden. "If we grew most of our food close to home, we'd use far less energy in the process, helping ward off climate change." - Bill McKibben

3) Print documents only when you really need a hard copy; keep a stack of scrap paper handy for use when printing drafts and personal documents.

4) Your community may be one of many that chips up Christmas trees for residents. Instead of contributing to the forest of dead trees left at curbside to be hauled off to the landfill, take your tree to a designated tree-recycling station-and carry home a bag of fragrant mulch.

5) Modern automobiles need only about 30 seconds of warm-up time to run properly in cold weather. Though it may be tempting to blast the heater before you get in, keep in mind that warming up the car on a cold morning gives you a mileage per gallon of zero.

6) Turn off the tap while you shave, brush your teeth or wash your hands. You can save 10 gallons or more each morning by doing so.

7) Install foam draft blockers behind electrical cover plates on outside walls and see lower energy bills.

8) Bring your own reusable basket or mesh bags to the supermarket instead of using paper or plastic. If you shop once per week, in five years you will have kept anywhere from 250 to 1000 grocery bags out of our landfills.

Another tidbit that I have learned recently is to unplug small appliances when they are not in use. Even if they are not turned on, but they remain plugged into the wall, they use what is called 'stand-by power'. This contributes to energy consumption and an increase in your bill!

Well, I'm signing off for now....gotta save some power. :)