Sometimes, little things can make a big difference. This is the idea behind a recent article in the Chicago Tribune's Home & Garden section, which highlighted 21 ways that you can save the environment and big bucks around your house in 2007. So, what are some of these little/big ideas?
Well for starters, how about:
• Replace 5 of your incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (which use 2/3 less energy, generate 70% less heat and last up to 10 times longer.
• Turn off tap water while you brush your teeth (saving as much as 10 gallons a day, a person!)
• Use the dishwasher (with full loads) rather than hand washings and scrape rather than rinse before loading. The average dishwasher uses 8.7 gallons of water a load, while washing by hand for 10 minutes with the faucet running can use 20 gallons of water. Filling the sink uses about 5 gallons or less—but that's 5 gallons for washing, 5 gallons for rinsing.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat and (depending on the season) program it way up or down when everyone's away at work/school or asleep. Have it switch "on" shortly before you come home or wake-up. If used properly, this can save you as much as $150 a year or more.
These are just a few of the ways listed in the article that you can do your part to save the planet and your pocketbook this year (and every year to come). You can check out the rest of the article by following this link. If everyone took these small steps in America, it would have a tremendous impact for the betterment of all!
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