Many utility companies offer energy that is produced by renewable resources, which can be purchased as a percent of total energy used or in blocks of kilowatts. Buying green energy supports the development and use of renewable resources while helping reduce global warming!
About 47% of the average household's annual energy bills stem from heating and cooling. Every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer will reduce air conditioning bills by about 2%. Lowering the temperature by one degree in winter will save you 3% on heating bills. A programmable thermostat starts about $30 and produces an annual savings of about $100.
Don't even bother if you are broiling, roasting or baking a dish that will cook for an hour or more and when roasting meats or baking casseroles, turn off the oven 10-15 minutes before cooking time runs out and your food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity. By reducing the time your oven is on by one hour per year, you'll save an average of 2 kWh of energy!
Energy audits evaluate your home and look for ways to improve energy efficiency. You can hire a professional, or in some areas your gas or electric utility will do the audit for you. Inspectors often use thermography and other technologies to evaluate hidden leaks and insulation problems.
Whether it’s Frisbee, badminton or a game of touch football, a little friendly competition is a great way to pass the afternoon.
Plug electronic equipment into power strips, and turn off power strips at the end of the day! You don't have to mess with tangled cords, and can be ready to go with the flip of a switch.
Purchase paper products with a certified recycled content, and high proportion of postconsumer content. Avoid chlorine-bleached paper wherever possible. Recycled paper tends to be cheaper and easier to make, plus you save some trees along the way!
You can get refurbs for a steal, often for less than 50% of the retail price! Before they're resold to the public, they go through an intense defect-testing process and the warranties usually remain intact, so you can save money and help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills!
More than 15 billion batteries are thrown away each year, which stacked end to end could stretch to and from the moon! And the number of batteries disposed continues to grow, as consumers are utilizing more electronic devices. Save money and resources by using rechargeable batteries, many of which can be reused up to 1,000 times!
If you have a diesel car or truck, look for a fueling station that offers a biodiesel blend and drive greener! There are currently more than 1,000 such stations across the country and more popping up every day. Diesel engines are up to 40% more fuel-efficient than gasoline ones, and biodiesel emits 78% less CO2 than petroleum diesel, as well as less carbon monoxide.
Cut down on pollution and energy by choosing ground transportation for your deliveries! Whenever possible, go with ground transportation instead of rush air delivery for your mailing needs. On average, ground shipping is more than six times more energy efficient than air. Plan ahead so overnight or next day air shipping doesn’t become a necessity. This will also help save on additional rush delivery costs and burn less fossil fuel per shipment!