Friday, July 4

  • Go Green

Maintain the right temperature in your refrigerator and freezer. Refrigerators can use up to 20 percent of the total electricity in your home. The refrigerator should be set between 38ºF (3ºC) and 42ºF (6ºC). The freezer should be set between 0ºF (-31ºC) and 5ºF (-26ºC).
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Wash clothes in cold water. Use cold temperature detergents, and always have a full load. Also, 15 minutes of presoaking and 5 minutes of agitation get clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of agitation.
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Shut computers off at night. A computer or printer can use over 100 watts of power. When replacing computers, purchase new energy-efficient models that use less energy
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Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs in light fixtures used the most. The normal incandescent bulbs we're all used to are not very energy efficient. Compact fluorescent bulbs use about 25 percent of the energy and can last 10 times as long.
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Add energy-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators. These can reduce the amount of water released from a tap by up to 50 percent, which means less hot water needs to be heated. Turn faucets off when not using the water. Running water non-stop during shaving or brushing teeth is wasteful. Turn on the faucet when necessary and save thousands of gallons of water a year plus energy needed to heat it.
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Replace appliances with energy-efficient models. When old models wear out, replace them with appliances that have earned the Energy Star label.
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Wash only full loads in the dishwasher.
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Use a programmable thermostat. No need to run the air conditioner when no one is home. Set timers to have the air conditioning come on 30 minutes before anyone arrives home.
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Dust off light bulbs. Dirty, greasy, smoky light bulbs can reduce light output by as much as 10 percent. Dust bulbs and lenses regularly. (Make sure they are cool before touching them.) You'll avoid the tendency of switching to a higher wattage bulb, which will use more energy.

Sustainable Energy Coalition » Founded in 1992, the Coalition promotes increased federal support for ENERGY EFFICIENCY and RENEWABLE ENERGY technologies and reduced federal support for unsafe or polluting energy resources.
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Environmental Protection Agency » EPA's Climate Change Site offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society – communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments.
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Energy Star » ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
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Environmental Defense » Founded in 1967 as the Environmental Defense Fund, or EDF, we speak for 500,000 members. We find innovative, practical ways to solve the most urgent environmental problems.
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American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy » The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium » The mission of the non-profit Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.