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Easy Money & Energy Saving Tips

Easy At Home Tips

  • Reduce your shower time by 5 minutes.
  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
  • Run the dishwasher only when there's a full load.
  • Increase the temperature on your refrigerator and freezer by
    2 degrees.
  • Use a green bin. Designate a small bin for leftovers and greasy take-out containers.
  • When it's cold outside, set your temperature between 19 and 20 degrees. In the summer set the temperature between 23 and 24 degrees.
  • Turn down the temperature setting on your water heater to cut energy consumption. It's usually set to 60 degrees Celsius and can safely be reduced to 54 degrees Celsius.
  • Do your laundry in cold water.
  • Replace all incandescent light bulbs in your home to the compact fluorescent variety.
  • Replace your old toilet with a low-flow model.
  • Pack meals in a reusable container instead of aluminum foil and plastic wraps.
  • Use the back of printed paper for notes and lists. Re-using is better than recycling.
  • Donate old clothes and other textiles rather than throwing them out.
  • Return junk mail to the sender or write 'No Junk Mail' on your mail box to avoid wastage of paper from marketers.
  • Try to go vegetarian one day in the week or generally reduce your meat consumption.
  • Inspect and replace your air conditioner filter once a month during the tsummer.
  • Replace your shower head with a low- flow shower head.
  • Install faucet aerators that reduce the mass flow of the water but increase the volume.
  • Unplug electronic devices when not in use: they still use electricity when plugged in! 

 

Easy Outdoors Tips

  • Collect rain water in a rain barrel and use it for watering your garden or house plants.
  • Switch off your care if you plan to be parked for more than
    15 seconds.
  • Completely avoid drive thrus: you'll save on gas and get some fresh air!
  • Set up a clothes line outside to dry your laundry.
  • Take public transit to work.
  • Carpool with co-workers if possible.
  • Even better, work from home if you can - even one day a week.
  • Drive within the speed limit. Driving faster than the speed limit burns more gas. 
  • Your lawn only needs 1 inch of water a week, so do not over-water  even in the summer. 
  • Buy food grown locally and support your local farmers.
  • Have regular maintenance checks and emission checks on your vehicle.
  • Weatherstripping is an effective add-on to your windows to reduce  heat loss in the winter. Find out what weathestripping is best for your home and buy the proper equipment.
  • Insulate older hot water tanks.
  • Insulate piping
  • When taking trips close to home consider taking a train not a plane!


For plenty more ideas and tricks to save money and help the environment visit www.ecoactionteams.ca.