Welcome to the Green Corner!

Many people are trying to "Go Green", whether to save the planet or just to save some money. Some people aren't sure what to do to live greener. Some have started, but are looking for more to do.

Whatever your reasons for 'going green', it will save you money, help you live healthier, and help the environment.

Here's a list of some things you can do to make your life 'greener'. Some of these can cost a lot up front, but will save you money in the long run. Some are very cheap or free. Some will take little time to do. Others may be a weekend project (a few may be longer than a weekend, depending on your situation). Going green does not have to be done all at once. Every change, no matter how small, helps. Start with the cheap & free ones, and work your way up to the more expensive and time-consuming ones. Or, just pick & choose which are right for you.

You can find recipes for homemade cleaners here.

1. Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter & a few degrees higher in the summer.

2. Change or clean furnace and air conditioner filters every other month

3. Have heating and air conditioning systems checked every six months

4. Turn furnace down when using the fireplace

5. Keep vents & radiators free of dust & don’t cover them with appliances or furniture

6. Close vents in unused rooms

7. Keep heat-emitting appliances away from the thermostat. Also, make sure the thermostat isn’t too close to windows, drafty areas of the home, or in direct sunlight.

8. Get a programmable thermostat (preferably Energy Star compliant)

9. Open windows & use ceiling fans instead of A/C

10. On humid days, try using a dehumidifier instead of A/C. Humidity makes it feel hotter than it really is, so lowering the humidity will make it feel cooler in your house. Don’t use dehumidifier & A/C together since A/C acts as a dehumidifier

11. On really hot days & during the hottest part of the day, keep windows, doors, & curtains closed to keep out sunlight & it’s natural heat

12. In winter, open curtains to let in the sunlight & it’s natural heat

13. Don’t use dishwasher, stove, or oven during hottest part of the day because they emit heat (making it even hotter in your kitchen)

14. Keep oven door closed while cooking

15. Pre-heat less, pre-heating is often unnecessary

16. Don’t water your lawn & garden during the middle of the day when it will evaporate faster, water in the early morning or evening

17. Plant drought-tolerant, native plants

18. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. Keep in mind - they have a small amount of mercury in them, so be careful not to break them. Also, some have complained they make migraines worse. I recommend trying them in one room first, instead of buying for the whole house at once.

19. Turn off lights when you leave the room

20. Install motion sensors on outdoor lights

21. Install dimmer switches (don’t use dimmer switches with compact fluorescent lights, they flicker when not turned all the way up)

22. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use. Things that have small lights on them (cell phone chargers, coffee pots with clocks, DVD players, etc.) drain electricity even when not in use. You could also plug them into a power strip & shut the power strip off.

23. Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot.

24. Hang clothes on clothes line to dry

25. Always wash a full load of laundry & (if using a dryer) always dry a full load

26. Don’t over dry clothes, if the dryer has an ‘energy saver’ setting, use it

27. Clean lint trap before each load

28. Dry heavier laundry (towels, jeans) separate from lighter fabrics, that way the whole load will be dry at the same time

29. Take showers instead of baths, 10 minutes should be plenty of time

30. Install a low-flow shower head

31. Install a faucet aerator on each faucet

32. Get a low-flow toilet or a dual flush system (2 flush options)

33. Fill a plastic bottle with sand or rocks & place in tank (if don’t have low-flow or dual flush)

34. Turn off sink while brushing your teeth (guys – turn off sink while shaving)

35. Regularly check pipes & faucets for leaks, fix any leaks right away

36. Drain about a quart of water from your water heater to help remove sediment build-up, this should be done 4 times a year

37. Wrap water heater in an insulating jacket

38. Insulate hot-water pipes

39. Get a tankless water heater

40. When washing dishes by hand - don’t wash under running water, instead fill the sink (unless washing just a few dishes); stack dishes in clean, empty sink & rinse all at once

41. Always run the dishwasher with a full load

42. Use the ‘energy saver’ setting on dishwasher (if it has one) or ‘light wash’ setting

43. Don’t use heated dry, instead open door a bit & let air dry

44. Walk or ride a bike whenever possible, when not possible – consider public transportation or carpooling

45. Keep your car well tuned & in good running condition

46. Combine errands to one or two trips each week

47. Shop on-line

48. Get a Hybrid or FFV (flexible fuel vehicle)

49. Get a reusable water bottle & a water filter instead of buying bottled water or using a water cooler (I use a Brita pitcher because the filter we had that attached to the faucet caused the faucet to leak from built-up pressure)

50. Lower the temp of your water heater to 110°F (130° if you have a dishwasher)

51. Get a rain barrel & use the collected water to wash your car or water your lawn & flowers

52. Place your refrigerator away from heat-emitting appliances (dishwasher, oven), vents, and out of direct sunlight (the heat makes it work harder)

53. Keep fridge set between 37° & 40°F & freezer between 0° & 5°F

54. Turn on ‘energy saver’ switch in fridge (if has one)

55. Check fridge & freezer door seals by closing on a sheet of paper, you should feel some resistance pulling paper out. If not, replace seals

56. Clean fridge coils regularly

57. Organize fridge & freezer so food is easily located, this saves time so door isn’t open as long

58. Keep fridge & freezer full but not overcrowded

59. Buy fruits & veggies in season

60. Shop at local farmer’s market

61. Grow your own fruits, veggies, and herbs

62. Eat homemade instead of convenience foods – it tastes better, is healthier, & is better for the environment

63. Buy recyclable & recycle

64. Buy recycled

65. Save up to buy quality, it lasts longer & saves you money in the long run

66. Buy cloth bags to use when shopping. If you do get paper or plastic bags at stores, recycle them. Paper bags can hold paper & cardboard for recycling. Many stores have bins to collect plastic bags for recycling.

67. Stop junk mail. Contact companies & ask to be taken off their mailing list (this also saves you time in sorting through your mail)

68. Use lunchboxes & reusable plastic containers instead of paper bags & sandwich bags or plastic wrap

69. Use real silverware & dishes & cloth napkins instead of disposable ones (even for parties)

70. Use cloth diapers

71. Switch to paperless bills & pay bills on-line

72. Use rechargeable batteries

73. Don’t use screen savers, use sleep mode instead

74. Keep swimming pool covered to prevent evaporation

75. Keep waterbeds made, blankets help hold in the heat

76. Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use

77. Invest in solar panels or a personal wind turbine

78. Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry cleaned

79. Keep cell hones, computers & other electronics as long as possible. When you do get rid of them, donate or recycle them

80. Check for & fix leaks or gaps in doors & windows

81. Replace cracked window pains

82. Make sure your house is properly insulated

83. Replace your gas-powered mower with an electric one. Better yet, get a reel mower

84. Leave grass clippings on the lawn, they decompose quickly & work as natural fertilizer

85. Compost – leaves, other yard waste, & food waste (not meat) can be composted. Dog & cat waste can be composted, but compost containing them should not be used in fruit, vegetable, or herb gardens

86. Take used motor oil to nearest auto parts store to be recycled

87. Check the yellow pages for places in the city to recycle other things – tires, coolant, appliances, etc.

88. Take disposable batteries, oil-based paint, & light bulbs to your local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center

89. Make your own household cleaners. In addition to helping the environment, your home will be healthier & you’ll save money.

90. Replace your appliances with Energy Star appliances. I’m not saying rush out & replace them all right now, just as they need to be replaced go for Energy Star.