Simple, Low Cost Ways to Go Green around the House

• Repair leaky faucets. One drop per second from a leaky faucet can waste as much as 10 gallons of water each week.
• Plant a tree to help shade your house. A well-designed landscape not only can add beauty to your home but it also can reduce your heating and cooling costs.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with new compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy, and they last 10 times longer.
• Install low flow showerheads, faucets and toilets. Using a low-flow toilet can save Americans 2.1 trillion gallons of water and $113 million nationwide everyday.
• Rather than using disposable paper towels, use rags, sponges, or towels for cleaning or to clean up messes.
• Turn down the thermostat. Lowering the thermostat by just one degree can reduce heating energy costs by about four percent.
• Make your own cleaning supplies with ingredients you have around the house rather than relying on products that contain harsh chemicals. For example, use lemon juice to remove mildew and use cornstarch to deodorize carpet. For an effective drain cleaner combine baking soda and vinegar then flush with boiling water.
• Purchase energy efficient appliances. Today's major appliances use half the energy of a model from 10 years ago.
• Recycle packing and shipping materials. Choose products that are biodegradable or recyclable.
• Use cold water in the washing machine. Hot water won't get the clothes any cleaner, and it wastes a lot of energy.
• As much as you can, combine your errands to reduce the amount of overall driving you're doing.

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