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Go Green: Reduce waste during the holidays and parties
Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Tell store clerks you don’t need a bag for small or oversized purchases.
Instead of throwing away wrapping paper on Christmas morning, shred it and use for packing material for future mail items or gifts. Recycle old newspapers by making rolled paper logs for your fireplace. Roll newspaper sheets around a broom stick until your log is the desired size, and then soak your log thoroughly in water. Dry the log overnight and use like ordinary wood. Always follow proper safety precautions when burning anything around your home.
After the holidays, look for ways to recycle or reuse your tree instead of just sending it to a landfill. Check with your community solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees. Or the best possible solution to the Christmas tree issues is to buy a planted tree that you can plant in your yard or local park after the holiday.
Energy-efficient electronics save money and help protect the planet
Look for home or office electronic products with the Energy Star label when you shop. Many electronics use energy even when they’re “off” to power continuous features like clock displays or remote controls. Replacing old items with energy-efficient models can save over 25 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, and save money on your energy bills.
Stay Warm, Lower Your Bills and Help the Environment
As the seasons begin to change your family migrates indoors for the winter, a lot of energy can be wasted to keep your family and your home comfortable. Between 40 and 70% of all home energy is wasted, but we could save about half of that by buying efficient appliances and taking energy-saving measures.
And here are some inexpensive solutions to consider:
Cover your air conditioner: If you can’t remove your window unit, consider covering it both inside and out. Besides protecting your air-conditioning unit, these covers also help keep cold air from entering your home through the space around the air-conditioner and can be a great way to lower utility bills.
Keep it sealed up: Examine doors and windows for air leaks. Sealing small air leaks is a cheap do-it-yourself project that anyone can undertake, to save money. Small spaces and gaps around windows and pipes and wires entering the home create energy wasting drafts that can cut the efficiency of your heating system. Most caulking products cost under $10; rope caulk, one of the easiest types to apply, sells for about $4 for 40 or 50 feet.
Create a tight seal around all your windows to reduce heated and cooled air from escaping outside.
Weatherstrips are plastic, foam, felt or rubber strips that fit around window and door frames with a self-adhesive backing. Prices vary, but average about $5 per window or door.
Check the attic for proper insulation, homes loose more heat through the roof than anywhere else. Most local utilities will give a free energy evaluation for your home.
Block drafts: Draft blockers are foam plates that fit behind light switches and electrical outlets to reduce drafts that enter through those spaces. You can get a packet of 10 for about $3 and they’re easy to install with just a screwdriver.
Upgrade your thermostat: Changing your thermostat to a programmable one allows you to control the temperature in your home at different times of the day without you being home. Keep the heat off when you’re out of the house and set it to turn back up before you get home. Some also have a second set of settings for weekends, when people usually spend more time at home. The thermostats range from $90 to $175, but can save 12% or more on your energy bill and pay for itself within three years.
Reflective Window Film: Place these thin, plastic sheets directly on the inside of window panes and glass doors. The film reflects inside heat back into your home, reducing the amount that is conducted outside through windows. The film costs about $10 a window and is easy to put on — it adheres to the window directly, or with the help of water from a spray bottle.
Storm Window Kits: It can be expensive to have storm windows installed throughout your house, but there is a less-expensive way to weatherproof home windows. Storm window kits consist of plastic film or sheets to cover the window. Attaching the plastic is done with tape or tacks. Prices range from about $3 to $10 per window.
More Tips for Weathering the Winter
Winterize your vehicle by checking your air filter and fluid levels, checking tires for tread wear and proper inflation, and checking the condition of your windshield wipers. Ensuring your vehicle is ready for weather changes will reduce damage, which prevents waste from broken parts, and will keep you safe on the road.
E-cycling Electronic Gear You No Longer Use
When you get that 50 inch LCD TV for Christmas, will you throw your old boob tube out in the garbage or will you recycle? And with new technology introduced every day-more powerful computers, HDTVs, and combination wireless phone and internet, think of how much old technology will be filling the landfills after the holidays.
The EPA has launched a campaign to get the word out about opportunities to reuse and recycle your old computers, TVs, and cell phones. Many electronic stores, like Best Buy, have recycling bins for old electronics.
