Carbon Footprint Reduction Project

• Introduction

• October

• November

• December

• January

• February

• March

• April

• May

Introduction

Introduction to the Environmental Project for 2008/2009
Ethical Society of Boston

The Ethical Project Committee has chosen to continue our focus on the environment since it is a pressing concern to all and involves many ethical issues. While a comprehensive program will need to involve government, business, cities and towns, etc., the question to our whole society is whether we will individually step up and take responsibility for our personal behaviors that contribute to the global warming? This is a question with many ethical components.

This year we offer you a step by step plan that involves personal behaviors that you can change and that individually and collectively can significantly decrease the amount of CO₂ that we contribute to the atmosphere. We plan to track, month by month, how much CO₂ we save and we will tally the total effect of the Ethical Society of Boston over the course of the year.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

Each month we will have a handout that introduces two possible personal behavior changes that have a significant impact on CO₂ production. We ask that everyone commit to making one of the two changes suggested. The impact, in decreased CO2 added to the atmosphere, is listed with each change. If you have already done one of the changes you cannot get new credit for it so choose the alternative suggestion. You will have a month to make the change. We will ask that you put a "colored push-pin" into the "footprint" of the change you have accomplished in that month. At the end of the month we will tally how many pins are in each footprint (there is an A and a B footprint each month, one for each of the two suggestions). Since we have a good estimate on how much CO₂ will be saved from each personal change, we can calculate, collectively, how much CO₂ our group has saved. We will track this progress along with the cumulative saving over each month since we expect the behavior to be maintained for at least one year and hopefully forever. We will see the GRAND TOTAL for the year in May, 2009.

The monthly handout sheets will offer background and suggestions for each of the recommended personal changes that we think are helpful. Other references and websites might also be included. Some changes are harder than others but all are important. We have tried to include an easy and a more difficult personal change and also include one for home owners versus apartment dwellers. At the end of this article we include the changes we hope everyone is already doing and urge you to "get on board" if you have not made all of these 1st Step Changes. Our new suggestions are what we consider 2^nd Step Changes.

A three platform series on the issues of environmental damage and social equity will be presented by Dr. Julian Agyeman (Tufts University) in Oct/Nov/Dec in order to provide us with more background information and hopefully give us some ideas for future "ethical actions". Please plan to attend all three of these platform talks.

As a final incentive, we encourage all who are computer savvy to go to www.empowermentinstitute.org to calculate the average CO₂ output of their "household". This information is from the "Low Carbon Diet: How to Lose 5,000 Pounds (of CO₂)" workbook that we displayed last year. In preparation for this calculation you will need to look at your electric, gas and fuel oil bills for last year in order to get an estimate of your use of kwatts, therms, and gallons, respectively. In addition you will have to know how many miles you traveled in your car and its average gas mileage/gallon. You will also need to estimate your average air mileage over the last year. There are ~20 questions to answer and some are not relevant for each person, in order to get the total yearly CO₂ output of your household or apartment. We will have some of these forms for you to review and we can plan to input this data for those who do not have computers. Household energy production accounts for 40% of the CO₂ emissions in the United States.

Here is the important information:
In the US, the average CO₂ output, in lbs, is = 54,000 lbs./household
However, in Germany it is = 27,000 lbs./household
And in Sweden, it is = 14,000 lbs./household
This illustrates how much we can potentially improve without feeling we are suffering from a loss of "quality of life". I think we would all say that Germany and Sweden are countries with high standards of living and generally good lifestyles.
We have lots of room for improvement. GET ON BOARD.


First Step Changes We Hope You Have Already Made

1. Do not run water while brushing your teeth.

2. Recycle or re-use newspaper, paper, glass jars, bottles, cans and plastic. Most towns now recycle and we assume you do too.

3. Use plantings of non-water demanding ground cover instead of grass and/or not water your lawn. Use grass seed with low demand for water (arid), which is now available.

4. Re-use plastic bags, baggies, tin foil, etc.

5. Do not use paper or plastic plates, flatware or cups, if at all possible. Use regular tableware and flatware.

6. Wash and re-use any plastic ware you do use.

7. Take all toxic materials to the special center for such materials and do not dump them into the regular trash.

8. Shut off all lights and appliances if they are not being used for >5 minutes.

9. Do not idle your car for more than 1 minute. Turn off the engine.

10. Have your car tuned up 2 times per year to make sure you are maximizing the efficiency of your car.

TOP

OCTOBER 2008

1. Reducing and recycling your solid waste (and stopping unwanted catalogues and junk mail): This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 108 lbs per month.

2. Run dishwasher only when full and on its energy-saver mode: This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 70 lbs per month.

A. Reducing and recycling your solid waste:

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS:
About one-third of the solid waste we produce in our homes comes from the packaging of the items we buy. Engineering these products requires CO2- producing-energy in the manufacture and transportation. In addition, CO2 is produced by the transportation to the landfill and the natural decomposition of the material. In the landfill two pounds of greenhouse gasses are produced for each pound of waste deposited there. Reducing the quantity of waste-producing materials we bring into our houses, and recycling appropriate materials will reduce the solid waste we send to the landfill.

MORE TIPS - HELPFUL HINTS
If you are not yet recycling get sorting guidelines from your local recycling center or trash collection service. Set up your bags, boxes or bins according to these guidelines.

To reduce packaging, bring your own cloth bags when shopping. Buy in bulk when possible. Buy items with the least packaging. Buy larger sizes to avoid duplicating packaging when this is feasible.

To stop unwanted catalogues being delivered to you, on your computer go to www.cataloguechoice.org, enter the name of the catalogue to be discontinued and fill out their easy to use form. They then deal with the company for you.

To reduce your junk mail write to: DirectMail.com,National Do Not Mail Registry, Prince Frederick,MD 20678. Request that they remove your name from all 3rd class mailing lists. You can make your request at no charge via the Internet at www.DirectMail.com/Junk_Mail.

Also, you can use the self-addressed return envelopes that come with junk mail to request to be removed from their lists, or call their 800 number for customer service

OUR GOAL
Our aim is to accumulate less papers and garbage that need to be deposited in the landfill and to increase the amount of materials that we recycle. In this way we can reduce the amount of CO₂ we are producing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Low Carbon Diet: A 30-Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds by David Gershon.


B. Run dishwasher only when full and on its energy-saver mode:

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS
Handwashing dishes efficiently (using two dishpans, one for soapy water and one for clean rinsing water) uses the least amount of water and CO2-producing energy. However, it turns out that using your dishwasher produces about 2 pounds of CO₂, and washing dishes inefficiently (with the water running the whole time) produces up to 3 pounds of CO₂. So using a dishwasher efficiently (when it is full, and on the energy saving cycle) is the best way to cut down on the amount of CO₂ we are putting into the air.

THINGS WE CAN DO
Run the dishwasher only when it is full. Running a dishwasher less than full wastes water, energy and money.

Scrape food from the plates, but do not rinse them with water. It isn't necessary and wastes water and energy.

Skip the energy intensive drying cycle on your dishwasher and let the dishes air dry. The drying cycle uses up a lot of energy and money, while air-drying accomplishes the task without the pollution and is free.

Run your dishwasher at night. Power sources produce their power around the time of use; they do not have any capacity for long-term storage. It is this peak demand that results in the expansion of dirty coal-fired power plants and other polluting forms of energy generation. When you start the dishwasher as you are preparing for bed you will be in the period of least demand and will not be adding to peak hour energy surges.

Throw your food scraps in a compost bin or in the garbage rather than running them through the food disposal. This saves both water and energy. A compost bin is best as it removes stress on the landfills and produces compost that you can use in a vegetable or flower garden.

OUR GOAL
Our aim is to lower the amount of CO₂ released to the air by

1. reducing the number of times the dishwasher is used by one cycle per week,

2. by scraping the dishes instead of rinsing them prior to washing,

3. by using the air-dry option for drying dishes, and

4. by running the dishwasher at a time of low energy demand.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (SOURCES)
Low Carbon Diet: A 30-Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds by David Gershon 2006
 

The Green Guide. Summer 2008 Page 72
 

Co-op American Quarterly, Summer 2008, Number 75

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NOVEMBER 2008

1. Reduce heat loss through windows and doors: Weather strip your windows and outer doors, plug leaks to stop air leaks. This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 100 lbs per month.

2. Do not buy or use bottled water: Carry your own water obtained from the tap or from your water purifier. Put this water in glass or stainless steel containers. These non-plastic containers do not bleed chemicals such as Bisphenyl-A and other hormone disruptors into your water. This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 23 lbs per month.
    

A. Reduce heat loss through windows and doors:

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS:
In the winter up to 16% of heated air can escape through uninsulated windows and outer doors. In addition heat is lost through air leaks around electrical and plumbing outlets and cracks between the foundation and the frame of the house where cold air may be coming in. This loss of heat can be reduced by insulating and caulking the leaks, and by covering the windows with curtains or drapes. In the summer solar glare shining through uncovered windows heats up the windows, floors and furniture that absorb and hold the sun's heat for some time. Air conditioning becomes less effective and more costly. Summer heating can be lessened by pulling down blinds and/or covering the windows with curtains or drapes.

MORE TIPS - HELPFUL HINTS
Do an energy audit. It will take about an hour. A candle or incense stick can help you locate the cold air leaks. Make sure that the edges of your windows are properly sealed. Check around outer doors, electrical and plumbing outlets and around fireplaces for cold air leaks.

Make sure that the flue of your fireplace is closed in the winter. An open flue draws warm air out of the house.

There are many do-it-yourself window-insulating kits available. Your local hardware store or Home Depot will be able to supply you with the materials you need. Mortite, weather stripping and caulking cord, is easy to use and very handy for weather stripping areas that do not need to be opened until spring. There are also many self-seal rubber or plastic tapes and storm-window kits available.

It is a good idea to read the directions on these insulating products and to ask questions about how best to use them before buying. Some of them are challenging. Be sure to get the product that you will be comfortable using.

OUR GOAL
Our aim is to reduce the heat loss from our homes in the winter and to reduce the heating of our homes by the sun in the summer and so to use less fuel and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we are producing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds by David Gershon

Efficiency First: Co-op American Quarterly No.75 Summer 2008.


B. Do not buy or use bottled water:

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS:
Because tap water is required to meet more intensive Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing requirements than bottled water which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in many places tap water is purer than bottled water. One cannot assume on faith, simply because one is buying water in a bottle, that the water is of a higher purity and chemical quality than tap water.

Bottled water is generally packaged in bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bearing the number one in a triangle on the bottom of the bottle. This plastic contains Bisphenyl-A, a hormone disrupter, toxic to humans. It is believed to cause cancer, neurotoxicity, and developmental and reproductive problems.

The manufacture of one ton of PET produces about 3 tons of CO2. In 2006 bottled water produced more than 2.5 million tons of CO2. Transport and disposal of the product produces additional CO2 emissions. We can avoid emitting all this CO2 by not using bottled water.

MORE TIPS - HELPFUL HINTS
Remember that up to 44% of bottled water is just tap water - filtered in some cases and untreated in others. Bottled water can cost more than 10,000 times more than tap water.

Buy a stainless steel water bottle and fill it with tap water or better yet with filtered water. Brita filter containers are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Be sure to change the filters regularly. The purity of the water is only as good as the integrity of the filter.

Get into the habit of looking for the numbers in triangles on the bottoms of plastic containers and avoid bottles numbered one or seven. They contain phthalates.

Contact the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority at www.mwra.com or 617-242-5323 for a monthly report of your local municipal drinking water.

If you are still using bottled water please recycle the empties.

OUR GOAL:
Our aim is to reduce the CO₂ in the atmosphere produced by the manufacture and transportation of bottled water. Our goal is also to improve the general health by removing the plastic additives that migrate from the bottles into the bottled water and are then consumed.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Report PWS ID #6000000. www.mwra.com

Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It. by Elizabeth Royte 2008

The Pacific Institute www.pacinst.org/phprint.php
 

Bottled Water Quality Investigation :10 Major Brands, 38 Pollutants www.ewg.org/book/export/html/27010
 

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DECEMBER 2008

A. Use a programmable thermostat and turning the thermostat to a lower setting during the night and when no one is at home.
This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 200 lbs per month.
 

A. Use a programmable thermostat:

WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS:
Almost half of American households already have programmable thermostats, but only one quarter of their owners actually use them. This is a big mistake because their use can result in a marked reduction in the CO2 pollution produced in heating your home. A programmable thermostat allows you to schedule automatically when your heating system goes on and off. For example, it can be programmed for the heat to come on shortly before you get out of bed in the morning, and then for the temperature to be turned down when you are away at work and when you are asleep at night. In doing this you protect the environment and save money also.

MORE TIPS - HELPFUL HINTS
Check to determine if your present thermostat is a programmable one. Many owners have just never learned how to program their thermostat. Directions for use are generally pretty straightforward. But sometimes it takes a trial or two to get it working as you intended. Recheck the A.M. and the P.M. on the hours you scheduled because mixing up these times is an error frequently made the first time through.

If you need further help in setting up your existing thermostat or need to buy a new one there is help for you on Google. On your computer, go to Google and enter: programmable thermostats energy star. The web page that comes up will give you information on selecting, installation, programming, and much more.

If you would like to install the thermostat yourself, Again go to Google and enter: this old house installing thermostats. In this how-to video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey shows how to (relatively easily) install an automatic, fully programmable thermostat.

OUR GOAL
Our goal is to save energy and reduce our CO₂ output by using a programmable thermostat in our homes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (SOURCES)
1) Co-op American Quarterly Summer 2008 Number 75
2) The Green Guide Spring 2008
3) Google "programmable thermostats"
 

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JANUARY 2009

1. Eat lower on the food chain. Have a vegetarian day once a week. (-58 lbs of CO₂/month) or twice a week (-116 lbs of CO₂/month)

2. If switching to a digital TV, choose a LCD (liquid crystal display)screen instead of plasma, which uses up to 6 times the amount of energy compared to the LCD (-40 lbs of CO₂/month)

A. Eat lower on the food chain:

Make your diet less dependent on meat. Livestock produced by factory and rainforest farming are very inefficient at converting feed to meat. Beef requires 16 pound of grain to produce one pound of meat. Chicken requires ?? pounds of feed to produce one pound of meat. Other resources are also used to produce the grain, transport the grain, transport the meat and packaging to add up to a very resource intensive industry. We could easily feed a lot more people on a vegetarian diet than on a meat diet. A person with a red meat diet emits the global warming equivalent of approximately 5,000 pounds of CO₂ a year more than a person with a vegetarian diet. One or two vegetarian days per week (no beef, pork, chicken or fish) can increase land available to grow crops humans can eat and decrease the CO₂ produced by animal production.

An added benefit is that, as a population, we are eating too many animal products and by taking a one or two day break, we will also be improving our own health. Animal products are higher in fat, especially saturated fat which increases our risk of cardiovascular disease and they are also high in dietary cholesterol. You can still have dairy product (milk, yogurt and cheese) and eggs but we suggest you use the low fat alternatives whenever possible.

THINGS WE CAN DO:

Review your diet. See how much meat you eat and look for opportunities to substitute vegetarian meals (Vegetable stir-fry, vegetarian lasagna, vegetarian chili, vegetarian burger, bean soups, lentil soups, cauliflower vegetable curry, ravioli and swiss chard, veg. pizza, etc.). Look through cookbooks for tasty vegetarian recipes
 

Talk to your household and discuss what vegetarian meals they might like.
 

When eating meat, consider choosing "free range" or "organic" varieties that will contribute to a healthy environment and greater health for you and your family.
 

To take this a step further, purchase local produce and dairy products or participate in community-supported agriculture. You may also wish to grown more of your own food. Buying local or growing your own food can reduce the energy needed to transport produce by 1,000 miles or more.

Resource: Low Carbon Diet by David Gershon
 

B. Purchasing a digital TV with a liquid crystal display (LCD):

Since we are phasing out analog TVs in June 2009, many people are considering buying a new digital TV. If you have cable or have bought the "black box" converter than you will still get reception. Otherwise this is a good opportunity to purchase a "EnergyStar" digital TV that is more efficient and to make sure it has a liquid crystal display rather than the plasma display. It will use a lot less energy and will save you money. Consumer Reports suggests getting the DVD separate from the TV since the DVD needs replacement more often and this is easier if the DVD is separate.

Choosing a LCD display over a plasma display will save 40 lbs of CO₂/month.

Remember to have your old TV recycled. Towns and some stores will take old TVs that will be dismantled in ways that will protect the environment from the heavy metals that are part of the product. They should not be put in the "garbage" for pick up or dumped in land fills.

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FEBRUARY 2009
 

1. Wash your laundry in cold water and rinse in cold water. Use a drying rack to dry at least ½ of your wash. (-50 lbs of CO₂/month) This assumes 2-3 loads of laundry/week.

2. Keep your tires fully inflated by checking the air pressure ONCE A MONTH. Have your car "tuned up" TWICE a year. (-125 lbs of CO₂/month)

A. Wash you laundry in cold water and rinse in cold water:

Typical electric clothes washers and dryers generate 5 pounds of CO₂ per washer/dryer cycle. Using partial loads of washing or drying is very inefficient.

THINGS WE CAN DO:

Do not wash clothes unnecessarily. Hang up clothes after wearing to air them out, before putting them away and often we can avoid excess washing. Think twice before throwing you clothes in the laundry bin. Can you spot clean the item?

90% of the energy used in the washer is to heat the the water and only 10% to run the machine itself.

Washing in cold water is just as effective in cleaning your clothes as warm or hot water. Use full loads and not partial loads for maximum efficiency.

Dry your clothes on a drying rack. For clothes such as shirts, pants, blouses, etc. it is useful to put them into the dryer under "permanent press" for 5 minutes and then take them out and hang them up. This will usually make ironing unnecessary. This is not needed for straight laundry such as sheets and towels. Setting up a retractable clothesline for the warmer months to dry clothes outside is highly recommended while a drying rack will work very well during the winter months. It will also add moisture to your home to compensate for the drying effect of most heating systems. Use moisture or automatic settings rather than the timer to set your dryer.

B. Keep your tires fully inflated:

Check the pressure once a month. Get a car tune-up twice a year. This can result in saving of 125 lbs of CO₂/month.

A tuned car improves fuel efficiency as much as 30%. Every gallon of gasoline used, generates approximately 20 pounds of CO₂.

THINGS WE CAN DO

Buy a tire gauge and learn to use it. Pick the first day or week of the month to check your tires. Check your car manual for the recommended schedule for tune-ups.

TOP

March 2009

1. Plug your electronic equipment into a power strip and turn off the master switch when not in use to eliminate "phantom energy use". Saves about 20 lbs of CO₂/month.
    

2. Take a bus or the "T" to work or for an errand once a week when previously you would have taken your car. This can save about -40 lbs of CO₂/month.

A. Use a power strip for your electronics:

There are many of our electronic appliances that are constantly using energy, even when we think they are off. They may actually be on "stand-by mode" and suck energy when you are not even using them. Some of these you might determine by a slight light they give off or a noise they make,like your laptop or they might get warm, like your cell phone charger.

To track them down, wait until it is dark, turn off all the lights and appliances. Using a flashlight go outside and look at your electric meter. If it is "running" you have an "electron leak" or "phantom-energy". Investigate each appliance that is plugged into an outlet. Look for lights, listen and touch to determine if electricity might be in use. Make a tally of all the items that are using energy when "turned off."

SOLUTION:

1. Unplug all small appliances when you are not using them, especially if you are going away for more than a few days.

2. For bigger appliances it may not be convenient but when you replace them---make sure they are a new version with the Energy Star on them which should not have this problem.

3. Use a POWER STRIP for all your computer and television equipment so you can switch off the entire system when you are done and no power is being used. By turning off the power strip you turn off all the appliances.

More information at energyhog.org

It might cost you an extra $55.00/yr for this "phantom energy" or about an extra 500 kWh/yr. It is estimated to account for ~5% of our total home electricity consumption nationwide.

The biggest users of phantom energy are: Satellite Systems, Cable Box, Compact stereo system, VCR, Printer, Internet Terminal (each cost about $8-9/yr in electrically cost because they are always "on"). Plan 1-2 power strips for the most egregious appliances. Power strips cost $35.00 so you will save money in the first year.

B. Leave your car behind:

Walk, take a bus or the "T" at least once a week.

Every gallon of gas we save from not driving results in 20 lbs of CO₂ not being released into our air. Break out of your car mold by trying this new habit once a week. You might find it is very enjoyable and it is better exercise. Be part of the community that you miss when you enclose yourself in solitary confinement in your car.

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APRIL 2009

1. Clean your refrigerator's coils and defrost it regularly
   This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 58 lbs./month.

2. Replace five 60-watt bulbs with 13 watt CFLs.
   This is estimated to reduce emissions by 35 lbs. CO₂ per month.

A. Clean your refrigerator's coils and defrost it regularly:

The refrigerator works by removing heat from the inside of the refrigerator, making it colder and pushing the heat to the outside of the refrigerator. Heat is released through the condenser coils. When dust, dirt and pet hair accumulates on these coils, they trap the heat in. A refrigerator with dirty coils needs to work hard or longer in order to get rid of the heat. Refrigerators also need to be defrosted as soon as a quarter of an inch of ice accumulates. This will reduce the amount of energy expended by the appliance.

Your refrigerator uses more energy than any other appliance in your home. On average, a refrigerator accounts for 20% of the overall household electricity used each month. Their motors kick in every 15 minutes or so in order to maintain the set cooling temperature. It runs about 8 hours a day. As a result, even a well maintained refrigerator uses about 780 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Burning of coal, oil or natural gas to generate that electricity releases about 1200 lbs. of CO₂ into the Earth's atmosphere. This is comparable to burning 60 gallons of gasoline. Coils on your refrigerator should be cleaned every 6 months.

More tips:

1. Door seals should be checked for leakage. You may do this by placing a piece of paper between the refrigerator door and the seal. If, when you close the door, the paper slips down, you need to have your refrigerator seal checked and either replaced or repaired.

2. Increase the ventilation around the refrigerator. A refrigerator that has coils in the back should not be too close to the wall.

3. Keep the freezer defrosted. A quarter of an inch of frost is too much and will cause your refrigerator to run longer and more often.

Our aim is to maximize the efficiency of our appliances in order to reduce the amount of CO₂ that we are producing, and also to reduce their costs of operation
 

B. Replace five 60 watt bulbs with 13 watt CFLs:

Efficient CFLs (compact fluorescents) are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent. CFLs use 50-80% less energy than incandescents. Newer CFLs give a warm inviting light instead of the "cool white" light of older fluorescents. They use rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth. New electronically ballasted CFLs don't flicker or hum.

More tips

1. Conduct a room by room inventory of all your lighting fixtures that are on at least 3 hours a day. Make note of the wattage so you can purchase a compact fluorescent with equivalent lighting. As you do this inventory, make sure that the replacement bulbs offer the lighting required for the task. Make sure you note which fixtures require dimmable or 3-way bulbs and which will be used outdoors (these require special CFLs).

2. Go to your local hardware store, home supply store, or green catalog and educate yourself about the choices.
   Purchase and install the compact fluorescents needed for these rooms.

3. Match lumens to the incandescent being replaced. Lumens indicate the amount of light being generated (watts is a measure of energy use, not light strength.) To compare lumens and watts see chart below:
    

OUR GOAL

Replace a minimum of five 60-watt bulbs with 13 Watt CFLs in rooms that are used the most in your home.

Additional sources of information:

Low Carbon Diet: A 30-Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds by David Gershon
www.eartheasy.com

TOP

May 2009

1. Turn off lights when you leave a room and are not using them
   This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 40 lbs./month.

2. Dry half your clothes on the clothes line or drying rack
   This is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 60 lbs./month.

3. Raise your thermostat from 72 to 73 degrees this summer
   This will reduce air conditioning use and is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 40 lbs./per month

A. Turn off lights when you leave a room and are not using them:

It sounds almost too simple but turning off lights that are not needed saves energy and money. Lighting is responsible for about 10 percent of a home's energy bills. At a time when many people are feeling an economic pinch, all savings are welcome. It is true that a compact fluorescent bulb uses about 75 percent less electricity than an incandescent, but the most energy saving bulb of all is one that's turned off when you leave a room. There are some myths associated with turning on lights that should be considered. One is that lights use extra energy to "start up" and this negates the energy saved when they are off. The fact is that the current "in-rush" at lamp start-up lasts only 1/120th of a second and represents an insignificant amount of energy.

The second misconception is that frequent switching reduces bulb life and will require us to replace bulbs more often. Frequent switching will reduce the bulb's burn life: however, this small reduction is far outweighed by the extension in total bulb life and energy savings from turning lights off when not needed.

More tips:

When daylight is bright enough, open the window blinds or drapes and turn off the electric lights. Use fluorescent task lighting where possible to avoid turning on a whole room full of ambient lighting if not needed.

OUR GOAL:

The purpose of this consideration is to conserve energy and to save money while doing so.

Additional information
WWW.pso.siu.edu


B. Dry half your clothes on the clothes line or drying rack:

A clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy users in your household. Depending on its efficiency, it can use up as much energy as your oven and more than your water heater, burning up to 5,000 watts of electricity each hour. Refrigerators use more because they are on all the time, but per hour, dryers are the largest consumers. Dryers also waste energy twice, since they pull in air from your home (which has been cooled in summer and heated in winter) and then blows it out of the house. Besides lowering your utility bill, you will extend the durability of the fabrics of clothing and other household goods.

Using drying racks indoors in the winter will add humidity in your home. Drying clothing on outdoor lines will aide in preventing stains from setting the way a typical electric or gas dryer does. Air drying also prevents shrinkage.

THINGS WE CAN DO:

Buy a portable drying rack which is flexible and can fit in spaces which are convenient for you.

If you have a deck or porch, consider using that space for a drying rack. This arrangement would have the advantage of drying your wash outside, which is often faster than a drying rack indoors.

If possible, use an outdoor clothesline.

OUR GOAL:

Our aim is to reduce our dependency on electricity and gas. Every reduction contributes to reducing CO2 in the atmosphere and to saving us money.

Sources
GreenBabyquide.com

C. Raise your thermostat from 72 to 73 degrees this summer:

Raising your air conditioner's temperature settings helps you go green because it prevents excess energy from being wasted, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. On average, an air conditioner emits 2,263 pounds of CO2 every year. During the hot summer months, raising an air conditioner's temperature 6 degrees can save 10 percent on cooling costs. In fact, for every degree the temperature is raised above 72 degrees, cooling costs drop by 3 percent and CO2 emissions decrease by 121 pounds.

THINGS WE CAN DO:

1. Raise the setting on the air conditioner one degree at a time to see how warm it can be before you become uncomfortable.

2. Change or clean the filters in the air handler at least twice during the cooling season. On the outside unit, keep fins and coils free from leaves, dust, and grass clippings and other debris.

3. Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

4. Close drapes and shades during the day to keep out the heat from the sun - especially on the south and west side.

Seal any gaps along the sides of your room air conditioners with foam insulation.

OUR GOAL:

Our aim is to limit the use of air conditioners and to maximize their efficiency while limiting their CO₂ emission.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

www.showmecleanair.com
www.greenyour.com

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