How many times have you driven down a street, only to see somebody's sprinkler system going full blast ? in a rainstorm? Little things do make a difference to our planet. Just by being aware of what we do (or don't do) can help us take a big strain off our environment. Here are 10 simple things you can do to help save money, resources, and give your planet a breather.
Most people leave their computers running all the time. If you switch yours off, you can save an extra $75 a year in electricity bills. While you're at it, switch off your lights when you leave the room for another big savings.
Deep, infrequent waterings keep your lawn and garden healthy, as long as you do it in the early morning. Running your sprinkler on a hot afternoon is throwing money away into thin air, since much of it simply evaporates.
Bringing reusable bags with you to the grocery store can keep trash out of landfills. Plastic molecules hardly break down, so the less we use, the better off we all are.
Composting is easy, and great for your garden. Just add some yard waste, some vegetable table scraps, a little dirt and water, and you're set. You'll have great organic amendments for your garden, and you'll keep stuff out of your local landfill.
Deck planking made of old milk jugs, insulation made from jeans, lawn products that contain recycled newspapers. There are plenty of everyday items on the market that use recycled materials. The more we buy them, the greater the market will be, and the less waste we'll have to deal with.
The stuff that's grown, baked, or built down the road from you didn't have to travel thousands of miles to reach you. Buying them saves a lot of energy. Also, you'll be helping to give people close by a chance to succeed in life.
There's nothing like the smell of laundry dried in the sun. Drying your clothes outside can save you a couple of dollars' worth of electricity by staying away from the dryer. If every household in the country did that, we would save enough electricity to mothball every one of our nuclear power plants.
You don't need a warm or cool house when you're not in it. And when you are, shave off a degree or two. By dialing down in the winter and up in the summer, you'll save big bucks and big kilowatts.
Keep your tires inflated to save gas. If you drop your speed to 60 from 65, you'll save 5% on your fuel. From 75 mph, you'll save 20%. Also put in a clean air filter and save up to another 10%. If your car is properly tuned up, you can save a whopping 44%.
Running toilets and dripping faucets can waste thousands of gallons a year. Tighten them up, and keep more money n your pocket. Mother Earth will thank you, too.
You probably have some good tips for conserving resources and keeping things natural. Why not share them? Just jot your thoughts down in our blog forum here.
