Going Green

 Here a few tips that I've gathered over the past year on "Going Green" You will be amazed how the "little things" help so much. Give it a try.

Unplug appliances and lamps in unused guest bedrooms. Wait `til the company comes.

Use pine needles for mulch.  They smell great.

Close the vents in the attic.  Save heat and a/c.

Put a faucet on the drain pipe of your central air unit. You can collect as much as 10 gallons of water from the condensation on really hot, humid days. I use it to water my plants and clean my floors.

When you see that red light in the distance, take your foot off the brake and coast to the light.  You may not have to brake or very minimally.

Print everything you can double sided!

Make and use an outdoor compost.

Use old comforters as dog beds.

Dust off your old Crock Pot and start cooking meals in it again.. You will save alot of energy this way instead of using your oven.

Spend the extra money now and buy refillable printer ink cartridges.

Exchange your incandescent light bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescents. They last longer, use less energy and save money.

Those clunky power adaptors draw energy from the wall all the time. Unplug them individually or attach them to a power strip and turn off the whole switch when you're not using them. About 75% of all electricity in a home comes from appliances that are turned off, but are still plugged in.

Most food we eat travels thousands of miles before it ends up in our kitchen. Save energy by purchasing local produce. It's also fresher.

Cancel all junk mail. Register for e-newsletters instead of mailings.

Instead of using disposable batteries try the rechargeable ones. That will save the average family about 21 batteries a year.

When running errands, do as much as you can in one trip.  Also, try to catch a ride with a friend when heading out for the night.

Take your old newspapers, plastic bottles & cans to a local recycling center.