Energy Saving Tips

• Check tires for proper inflation.  The right tire pressure can improve mileage by more than 3%.  Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. www.carcare.org/Tires_Wheels/inflation.shtml
• Plant trees.  Trees absorb harm chemicals, give off oxygen, prevent runoff, and trap and filter pollutants.  They also shade and cool, and block the wind.  Visit http://www.arborday.org/
• The power of trees...
• Saving Energy in Your Home...
• Bank snow against your foundation to insulate and seal it against drafts and cold.   Freshly fallen snow is typically 90-95% air, making it a good thermal insulator.
• You can recycle many variations of paper including:  mail; office/school papers; magazines; phone books; cereal boxes; pasta boxes; cake mix boxes; cracker boxes; shoe boxes; gift boxes; electronics boxes; boxes from toothpaste; toilet paper roll ends; paper toweling cardboard; boxes from medications and other toiletries.  Find a complete list at http://www.green-guardian.com/
• Buy recycled napkins - if every U.S. household did we could save a million trees
• Refrigerators with automatic ice dispensers can increase electricity usage by as much as 20% compared to models without.  Save energy by setting the fridge temperature between 38 and 42° F and the the freezer between 0 and 5°.
• Make sure your refrigerator closes soundly.  Do this by making sure it is difficult to pull a $1 bill out from the door when it is closed in between the door gaskets.  If it comes out easily its time to replace the seal.
• Compact fluorescent lights use a quarter of the power of a regular bulb and lasts up to 10 times as long.  Save even more on lighting by install dimmer switches and timers, indoors and out.  See http://www.energystar.gov/ for more information.  If every family switched out five bulbls it would save the equivalent of the energy necessary to run 8 million cars.
• Toilet paper rolls are recyclable.
• Reduce your amount of unwanted mail.  The Financial Services authority says the average American used 10,355 sheets of paper in 2005.  Visit http://www.greendimes.com/, http://www.catalogchoice.org, http://www.reduce.org/, or http://www.41pounds.org/ to find out how you can cut your use of paper.
• Dishwashers that use soil sensors to shorten the washing cycle, saving water and energy.
• Clothes dryers that have moisture sensors, turning off the unit when the clothes are dry.
• Clothes washers that use less water and energy.Wrap your hot water tank in an insulating "blanket" if it feels warm to the touch.
• Use warm or cold water for laundry when possible, rinse in cold, and wash when you have full loads. Today's cold water detergents do a good job.
• Turning off your computer during long periods of non-use cuts costs and improves longevity.