Living Room
- Unplug objects when not in use. Plugs continue to draw current even when not turned on; the equivalent of one 100 watt bulb burning non-stop!
- Opt for LCD over plasma televisions. A plasma television, even when not in use consumes as much energy as your refrigerator!
- Install hardwood, tile or cork floors. Carpeting traps dust, mites and mold. Carpet glue, fibers and backing can contain off-gas volatile organic compounds (vocs)
- If you love carpet, buy hepa filters for your vacuum cleaner, they can clean & filter up to 99% of allergens. Vacuum thoroughly and often.
Laundry Room
- Buy front loading washers and dryers with moisture sensors. Front loaders consume 40 gallons less of water per load than top loaders.
- 90% of the energy that washers use comes from heating the water. Wash clothes on cold/cold.
- Wait for full loads
- Hang dry if possible. If not, have moisture sensor dryer that can turn itself off as soon as it senses the correct moisture level.
- Use plant-based detergents, not petroleum-based. Plant-based detergents are non-toxic.
- Instead of bleach, try using a product that features oxygen or peroxide as the active agent. Bleach contaminates ground water.
Bathroom
- The toilet is the biggest water waster. If your toilet was made pre 1993, it uses 8 gallons to flush, toilets after 1993 use 1.6/flush. You can usually find the manufacturing date stamped in the porcelain inside the tank. Replace toilets with post 1993 models if possible.
- Plumbing leaks account for 14% of water bill. Check you fixtures thoroughly and make sure to tighten any faucets after use.
- Install a low-flow showerhead and save 50% of water used in the shower. Baths use much more water than showers; keep these to a minimum.
Bedroom
- Replace all incandescent bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs.) They last 10x longer and use only 25% of the energy a normal lightbulb uses. Try buying the “warm white” or “soft white” bulbs that simulate incandescent light qualities.
- Look for Low-VOC paints for your rooms that are plant based. These emit much less toxic gas than their regular counterpart. Most major brands now have a low-VOC option.
- Buy an organic mattress. Besides being easily recyclable and biodegradable, opting for an organic cotton mattress with natural latex will not off-gas VOCs.
Kitchen
- Choose a top or bottom freezer refrigerator. Side-by-sides use 20% more energy. Keep freezer temp at 0 degrees and keep refrigerator at 40 degrees for maximum efficiency.
- Bake dishes together in the over to save heat and time. Try not to open the oven door, it can lose up to 50 degrees of heat in a couple of seconds.
- Use a microwave where possible…it uses 85% less energy than a range!!
- If shopping for a new cooktop, opt for induction instead of gas or electric.
- Only run dishwasher when full and let dishes air dry.
Seal House
- For every degree you turn the thermostat down in the winter you are saving 3% of your gas bill, every degree warmer in the summer, same 3%.
- Change furnace filters monthly.
- Seal all ducting, wires, pipes and cracks.
- Close door to closets, no need to heat or cool those!
- 1/3 of air comes in through walls, ceilings or cracks. Add insulation to crawl space and attic. Use recycled cotton, soybean or cellulose insulators.
- Decrease fireplace use as much as possible.
