| Are you concerned about global warming? Have | | | | 3. Clean up latex paint with water, but do not |
| you thought about what you can do to improve | | | | rinse the water down the drain or dispose in your |
| the environment in your community? How your | | | | yard. Take the clean-up water to a household |
| home can help save our planet? Perhaps you've | | | | hazardous waste facility. |
| thought the problems are too big, too complex - | | | | 4. Keep lids closed on paint containers when not in |
| and what you do makes no difference. | | | | use. |
| Think again! Each small step you take can improve | | | | 5. Use stripping products that contain no volatile |
| water and air quality in your neighborhood, each | | | | solvents. |
| thing you do to improve the environment in your | | | | 6. Use low-VOC cleaning solvents. |
| home can help save our planet. | | | | 7. Store used rags in closed container. |
| Start by making a list of ways your home can | | | | 8. Avoid open burning - compost your yard |
| help save our planet. For starters, here are fifty | | | | waste. |
| ways your home can help save our planet. Many | | | | 9. Check your wood-burning stove to make sure |
| of these actions will save you money as well. | | | | it is operating efficiently. |
| Clean water | | | | 10. Maintain your oil furnace to make sure it is |
| | | | operating efficiently. |
| 1. Use environmentally-friendly household cleaning | | | | Energy savings |
| products. | | | | |
| 2. Use phosphate-free dishwasher and laundry | | | | 1. In wintertime, turn thermostat down at night - |
| detergent. | | | | better yet, install a programmable thermostat. |
| 3. Minimize use of garbage disposal. | | | | 2. Turn thermostat to an energy-saving |
| 4. Recycle waste materials. | | | | temperature when you leave home. |
| 5. Minimize use of herbicides and pesticides. | | | | 3. Naturally cool your home with breezes through |
| 6. Don't dispose of toxic household products by | | | | open windows and doors. |
| burying them in your yard - take them to a | | | | 4. Plant trees for shade, but make sure that |
| household hazardous waste disposal facility. | | | | shade does not prevent use of solar power |
| 7. Use non-toxic roof and deck cleaners. | | | | panels. |
| 8. Use non-toxic paints and coatings. | | | | 5. Make sure your home has enough insulation in |
| 9. Landscape for clean water - minimize runoff | | | | the ceiling, lower floor if over a crawl space, and |
| from hard surfaces - consider rain gardens that | | | | walls. |
| collect rainwater and allow it to percolate into the | | | | 6. Check for air leaks at windows and doors - add |
| soil. | | | | insulation stripping as needed. |
| 10. Plant trees and shrubs that help filter runoff | | | | 7. Purchase only Energy-Star certified appliances. |
| from your yard. | | | | 8. Wrap hot water heater with an insulation |
| Water conservation | | | | blanket designed for that purpose. |
| | | | 9. Insulate attic and fan openings in the ceiling. |
| 1. Check every your entire water system to be | | | | 10. Use energy-saving lamps: compact-fluorescent |
| sure that your it is leak-free. | | | | (CFL) or light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps. |
| 2. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food | | | | Renewable energy |
| coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color | | | | |
| will appear within 30 minutes. | | | | 1. Check with your electric utility to determine its |
| 3. Replace old toilets with efficient 1.6gal/flush | | | | carbon footprint - or how much of their power is |
| models. | | | | generated using carbon fuels such as coal and oil. |
| 4. Minimize water use as much as possible in | | | | 2. Some states allow energy "supply choice" -- |
| bathing, showering, laundering, washing hands and | | | | you choose your energy commodity supplier. |
| dishes. | | | | Consider choosing the supplier with the smallest |
| 5. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes | | | | carbon footprint. |
| washers only when they are fully loaded or | | | | 3. Solar energy is a free resource - open window |
| properly set the water level for the size of load | | | | shades and let the sunshine warm your home in |
| you are using. | | | | wintertime. |
| 6. Install water-saving aerators on faucets and | | | | 4. Install solar-powered attic fans and garden |
| flow regulators on showers. | | | | lights. |
| 7. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water | | | | 5. Build an inexpensive solar panel to power small |
| faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up. | | | | appliances and learn the basics of solar power |
| You'll also save energy. | | | | generation. |
| 8. Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, | | | | 6. Does your home have a large south-facing, |
| ground covers, shrubs and trees. They do not | | | | unshaded rooftop? If so consider installing a solar |
| need to be watered frequently and will likely | | | | power system. |
| survive a dry period without any watering. | | | | 7. Wind energy is a free resource - open windows |
| 9. Minimize lawn watering. | | | | and doors and let the breezes cool your home in |
| 10. Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for lawn | | | | summertime. |
| and garden watering. | | | | 8. Build an inexpensive wind power turbine to |
| Clean Air | | | | power small appliances and learn the basics of |
| | | | wind power generation. |
| 1. Choose paints and coatings with the lowest | | | | 9. Does your home have a large open area with |
| possible amount of volatile organic compounds for | | | | available wind? If so consider installing a wind |
| your project. (VOC evaporates from paint and | | | | turbine. |
| contributes to smog.) | | | | 10. Small inexpensive efficient wind turbines will |
| 2. If you live in a smog-prone area, try to avoid | | | | soon be available. Stay tuned! |
| painting during summertime peak smog periods. | | | | |