You CAN make a difference, everyday, with things as simple as…

Recycle! With curbside pick-up available in so many areas plus recycling centers located in convenient spots in and around town, there’s no reason not to. Another benefit is that our children learn from our example and it will be even more vital for future generations to recycle.

Replace burnt out light bulbs with CFLs – Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs. They cost a bit more upfront, but use fewer watts of energy and last up to ten times longer than incandescents. Just imagine – if every American home replaced their five most frequently used lights or the bulbs in them with ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR, we would prevent the greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from more than 8 million cars.

Concerning water use in the home, set your water heater to 120 degrees, wash clothes in cold water, wash full loads of dishes, repair leaky faucets, take showers instead of baths.

Laundry Time! When it’s nice outside, hang your clothes out to dry. When you are using your dryer, try to dry loads in succession. An already warm dryer uses less energy.

Adjust your thermostat settings. In the summer, set your thermostat at the highest comfortable setting and supplement your air conditioning with ceiling fans. With ceiling fans in use, it’s possible to set your thermostat 3-4 degrees higher and still feel just as cool. In the winter, program your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting, and drop that even lower during the day, if the house is empty (pets don’t count – they have fur!). Setting your thermostat back 10 degrees at night can save 10-20% in heating costs.

When investing in new appliances, check the SEER rating. This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio – the higher the number, the better.

The key to landscaping is first of all, using native plants, and then placing them on the east and west sides of your home. This will increase shade and can lessen the need for your air conditioning to run, which saves energy and money.