ENERGY SAVING TIPS

HOW CAN WE HELP??Why Do We Need to Save Energy?You've probably heard the grown-ups in your house say "Turn off the light!" or "Close the refrigerator door!" Have you ever wondered why?Energy is there whenever we need it, so it's easy to forget where it comes from, or how much it costs.It all adds upEvery year, we use more energy than we did the year before. In fact, the amount of energy Americans use has doubled about every 20 years.All of that energy adds up, and much of it is wasted by using too much or not using it wisely.

Energy isn't free. The grown-ups in your house pay for the all the electricity you use. So wasting energy is the same as wasting money - and we know that's not a good idea!Wasting energy isn't good for the environment either. Most of the energy sources we depend on, like coal and natural gas, can't be replaced - once we use them up, they're gone forever. Another problem is that most forms of energy can cause pollution.How you can helpIt might seem like kids can't do much to help. But every time you turn off a light bulb or close the refrigerator door, you're saving energy.You can also help by reminding grown-ups to turn the heat down in the winter, buy energy-smart light bulbs and use appliances the right way.There are lots of easy ways to save energy at home - and all those energy-savers add up to a big impact on the environment.To get started, trythe top ten rules for saving energy. The grown-ups in your house can help!Then you can test your energy smarts by visiting our energy-smart house.You already know that recycling helps keep tons of waste out of our landfills. But did you know that recycling helps save energy, too?The products we recycle, like pop cans, newspapers, glass and cardboard, are used to make new products.Companies that make new products from recycled material use 30 percent less energy. That's because they don't have to process the raw materials from scratch.For example, a company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, called Cedar River Paper makes cardboard boxes by recycling paper products from all over the Midwest.If Cedar River Paper didn't use recycled materials, they'd use up a lot of a trees - and a lot of energy to cut them down, transport them hundreds of miles and grind them into paper pulp.How can you help?Everything you recycle at home and school helps save energy and the environment - so keep up the good work!You can keep doing good when you're buying things too. The next time you go to the store with your mom or dad, keep an eye out for products that say "Made from recycled..." on the package.And one more earth-friendly tip: be sure look for products that don't have a lot of extra packaging. It takes a lot of extra energy to make shrink-wrap, bubble paper and styrofoam peanuts - and most of it can't be recycled.

Reference: http://www.safetyathome.com/environmental-safety/environmental-safety-articles/energy-conservation-facts-that-may-surprise-you/Energy Eye-Opener: Wasting water needlessly uses electricity. In large cities, the biggest draw on electricity is supplying water to residents and cleaning up the water after it has been used. Take a good look at your water bill every month. Unusually high use could mean you have an undetected leak. Energy Eye-Opener: Refrigerators and freezers consume about a sixth of all electricity in a typical American home, using more electricity than any other single household appliance.1 If possible, move your refrigerator away from the wall, stove, dishwasher and heat vents to help it perform more efficiently.2 Energy Eye-Opener: A six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste more than 40 percent of the stoves energy3. Use pots the same size as your burners. Use lids when possible so you can cook at a lower temperature. Energy Eye-Opener: Some water heater thermostats come preset to 140 degrees, which can cost you more money. Make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees.4 This is also recommended to help prevent accidental scalding and burns from water that is too hot especially important with little ones around. Energy Eye-Opener: About 90 percent of the electricity used by everyday incandescent bulbs is lost as heat. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They provide just as much light with one-fourth the energy.5 Energy Eye-Opener: As much as half the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Use duct or foil tape to seal the seams and connections of your heating and cooling ducts, especially the ones running through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement or garage. Wrap them in insulation while youre at it; you could improve your systems energy efficiency by as much as 20 percent.6 Energy Eye-Opener: An open fireplace damper can let up to eight percent of heat from your furnace go up the chimney. Close the damper in summer and when you dont have a fire burning in winter.7 Energy Eye-Opener: Devices such as modems and other networking boxes draw power anytime they are plugged in. Plug your computer, modem and other electronic devices into a power strip so you can turn them all off when youre not using them.8 This also goes for small appliances in the kitchen that are constantly drawing energy while plugged in. Make sure all power strips are UL Listed. Energy Eye-Opener: Laptop computers draw 15 to 25 Watts of electricity during regular use, compared to 150 Watts for a conventional desktop computer and monitor. If youve got both, use your laptop first. When you upgrade, go with a laptop, and take your old computer to an e-waste recycling station. Many electronics retailers now offer take back programs.9

ENERGY TIPS:Reference: http://www.safetyathome.com/environmental-safety/environmental-safety-articles/100-easy-ways-to-live-greener/1. Carry reusable bags with you anytime you shop. 2. Recycle just one more thing each week. 3. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). 4. Skip bottled water, use filtered tap water. 5. Decorate with plants to improve air quality. 6. Add a low-flow showerhead. 7. Turn down the thermostat. 8. Unplug chargers and appliances when youre not using them. 9. Recycle electronics through e-waste collection programs. 10. Sign up for recall alerts at recalls.gov. 11. Take shorter showers. 12. Plant bee-loving plants (sunflowers geraniums, pumpkins, blackberries, rosemary, sage, honeysuckle). 13. Share toys with another mom when your child outgrows them. 14. Use the microwave or the toaster oven to cook small meals to save energy. 15. Turn off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth. 16. Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool. 17. Scrape rather than rinse dishes before loading into the dishwasher. 18. Repair leaky toilets, which can waste 200 gallons of water a day. 19. Sweep outside instead of using a hose. 20. Use durable coffee mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam cups. 21. Use cloth napkins and hand towels. 22. Set your water heater to 120 degrees also a good rule of thumb to help prevent burns. 23. Buy paper products, like toilet paper, made from recycled paper. 24. Compost food scraps, grass, yard clippings and dead plants. 25. Change heating and cooling system filters every month. 26. Install a programmable thermostat if youre away from home for set periods of time every day. 27. Insulate your home, pipes and water heater. 28. Buy unbleached coffee filters. 29. Use rags instead of paper towels to wipe up spills. 30. Buy biodegradable wax paper. 31. Buy eggs in cardboard cartons instead of foam packaging. 32. Use low-phosphate detergent or phosphate-free laundry detergent. 33. Use a little less detergent than manufacturers recommend. 34. Keep car tires properly inflated to save gas and tire life. 35. Have your tires rotated and balanced every 6,000-8,000 miles. 36. Buy cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers, which can take 500 years to decompose. 37. Give kids a lunch box or insulated cooler for lunch instead of a paper or plastic sack. 38. In cafeterias and fast food restaurants, take only the napkins, straws, condiments and plastic drink tops you plan to use. 39. Print and copy on both sides of paper when possible. 40. Save files and e-mails electronically and dont print out hard copies unless you have to. 41. If you are leaving a room for more than 15 minutes, turn off the lights. 42. Carpool to school, sporting events and shopping. 43. Turn trash such as Popsicle sticks, newspapers and used office paper into craft projects. 44. Wash and reuse sandwich baggies and other plastic bags. 45. Donate your old computer to a community or senior citizens center. 46. When you replace your cell phone, donate it or pass it on to a new user. 47. Dont air condition an empty room. 48. Walk, ride your bike or take public transportation. 49. Pay your bills online. 50. Dry towels and clothes on a rack instead of in the dryer. 51. Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot. 52. Drive the speed limit. 53. Before buying new items, check online sites for gently used options. 54. Collect rainwater to water your houseplants and garden. 55. Make rags out of old towels and t-shirts. 56. Adjust your refrigerator temperature to 37F and the freezer to 0F. 57. Swap out one meat dish for a veggie dish each week. 58. If the line at the drive-thru is long, park and go in. 59. Use a push lawn mower instead of a power model. 60. Plant native flowers and shrubs that need less fertilizer and pesticides. 61. Replace the air filters in your car regularly. 62. Install dimmer switches. 63. Wrap an insulation blanket around your water heater. 64. Get off junk mail lists at dmachoice.org. 65. Buy concentrated laundry detergent to save packaging. 66. Dust the coils underneath and on the back of your refrigerator. 67. Combine the weeks errands into one trip. 68. Support local farmers by shopping at the farmers market or curb stands. 69. Buy unbleached paper. 70. Plant perennials instead of annuals in the garden. 71. Turn on the ceiling fan instead of the air conditioner. 72. Turn off your heaters pilot light in the summer. 73. Fill a jar with water and put it in your toilet tank so you use less water with each flush. 74. Reuse wrapping paper or use newspaper paper to wrap presents. 75. Read the newspaper online. 76. Dont litter. 77. Avoid aerosol spray cans. 78. Buy items you use frequently in bulk. 79. Take extra stuff out of your car trunk to save gas. 80. In public restrooms, use the warm-air hand dryer instead of paper towels. 81. Buy remanufactured ink and toner cartridges. 82. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load. 83. Rent or borrow seldom-used items such as chain saws, ladders and party decorations. 84. Take your car to a carwash instead of washing it in the driveway. 85. Use the library instead of buying books and DVDs. 86. Have a clothing swap party. 87. Dont preheat the oven or open it during cooking. 88. Opt out of receiving phone books and Yellow Pages. 89. Send e-cards in place of the traditional paper variety. 90. Use bar soap instead of liquid to save packaging and costs. 91. Skip the treadmill and walk or run outside instead. 92. Have your paycheck direct deposited. 93. Make your own cleaning supplies with non-toxic ingredients, such as baking soda and vinegar. 94. Download music and software instead of buying it on discs. 95. Opt for glass bottles instead of aluminum cans when you buy beverages. 96. Every time you toss something out, challenge yourself to think about how it might impact the planet, and see if you can think of ways to lower its impact, or buy less next time. 97. When remodeling, pick low-VOC paints and carpeting, light colored roofing, and windows and insulation with a high R-Value. 98. Plant shade trees by your home. 99. When remodeling install dual flush toilets and heating systems that heat from the floor up, instead of pushing air down. 100. Take only what you need.