Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Reducing your carbon footprint in your day-to-day home life is simple and inexpensive. It can take a matter of seconds to make a difference. Try integrating some of these tips and suggestions into your home. nnEnergy efficiency:nn• Keep your home two degrees cooler in the winter and two degrees warmer in the summer. You can also regulate the temperature of your home by sealing drafts and installing energy efficient windows.nn• Replace your regular light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs, which also last longer and save you money. Also, whenever possible, open your blinds and curtains instead of turning on lights.n n• Take cooler showers. To use less hot water, turn your shower on with cold water then gradually add warm water until it's a comfortable temperature. nn• Unplug your appliances when you're not using them. nn• Turn off the lights when you leave the room.nn• Use your microwave when warming up small amounts of food. Microwaves use less energy than stoves. Microwaves also don't heat up your house the way a stove does.nn• Turn off exterior house lights during the day. nn• Boil your water in a covered pot. It boils faster and uses less energy. nn• Turn off your oven 5 to 10 minutes before the cooking time is up. Let the trapped heat get the rest of the job done. nn• Regularly clean your dryer's lint screen. nnReduce waste:nn• Recycle! If your garbage removal service doesn't offer curbside recycling, store your recycling in bins and take it to the local recycling plant. Paper, plastic, glass and aluminum are some of the common household materials that can be recycled.nn• Start a composting heap. You'll be reducing the amount of food waste you throw out while simultaneously creating a rich fertilizer.nn• If your tap water is potable, drink it. Bottled water just means more plastic going into the landfills. nn• Use rechargeable batteries. nn• Bring along canvas tote bags when you go to the grocery store. Use them instead of plastic bags to carry home your purchases. nn• Always opt for reusable products over throw-aways. nnWasting water also wastes electricity because supplying water to homes and businesses is one of the biggest uses of electricity in any city. Here's how you can reduce your water usage: nn• Run your dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads.nn• Fill a one-liter plastic bottle with water and put it in your toilet tank.nn• Repair leaky faucets. nn• Take short showers instead of baths. nn• Turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth and shaving.nn• Put a rain barrel in your backyard to catch runoff water you can use for plants and in your garden. nn• Don't dump clean water down the drain if there's another use for it, such as watering your house plants. nn• Don't use your toilet as a rubbish bin. nn• Position water sprinklers so that they're not washing the sidewalk or driveway. n