Hoping to go green in the new year? Here are some ideas to get you started!
TURN OFF ENERGY VAMPIRES
Even when turned off, electronics like TVs and chargers may still use standby power while
plugged in. This can lead to unnecessary energy waste. In fact, leaving these energy vampires
plugged in costs the average home $100 per year. You can prevent this energy waste by using a
smart strip, a power strip that automatically switches off devices when not in use.
CHOOSE NON-TOXIC AND RECYCLE THE REST!
Many of our cleaning products use harmful chemicals. To keep ourselves and the environment
safe, we can buy less toxic alternatives or create our own — the EPA’s “Safer Choice” website is
a great source to find out more. And, if you have products you are looking to get rid of, make
sure to bring them to the nearest Hazardous Waste Center to dispose of them safely.
KEEP FOOD WASTE TO A MINIMUM
About one-third of the world’s food goes to waste, over half of which happens at the consumer
level. This waste impacts our environment to such an extent that if food waste was represented as
a country, it would be the third largest polluter in the world. To help reduce food waste, you can
be more mindful of how much you purchase at a time, and, if you want to make an even bigger
impact, compost your food scraps.
CHANGE YOUR LIGHTBULB
By replacing one 60-watt incandescent bulb with a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL), you can
save $30 on energy costs over the bulb’s lifespan. If each household in the United States
replaced one regular bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate the pollution equivalent to taking one
million cars off the road.