Energy Saving Tips
Plant a New Tree and Turn Down Your Air Conditioner!
Power plants create more emissions in the summertime due to air conditioner usage. Consider planting a new tree in your yard to create shade. Make sure they are planted at least 8 feet from structures and in locations where the sun is strongest! For more information on where to plant and how to get free trees visit LA DWP.
Turn off your electronic devices when you are not using them.
Here in Los Angeles, electricity contributes to roughly one-third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a community-wide basis. Turn off your electronic devices like televisions, DVD players, computers, and printers when you are not using them. Even when these devices are on standby they can use up to 40% of their full running power.
Reduce your paper use.
Reduce the amount of paper you use for printing. Send electronic copies of documents to avoid printing many copies. If you must print make sure that you are using recycled-content paper. By reducing paper use, you save trees and energy. It takes energy to process paper and also to make recycled paper.
Turn off your chargers when not in use.
Cell phone chargers, iPods, and digital camera chargers all draw electricity when not in use. When you are not charging these items unplug them from the outlet. A single cell phone charger can use up to 90 pounds of CO2 per year if it is plugged in all the time
Offset your carbon - carefully.
A bit of greenhouse gas guilt can be relieved by purchasing carbon offsets. You may want to shop around, however. Some carbon offsets are oriented around causes that you may not want to support - like methane capture at large or crammed animal farms.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives Tips
Buy Eggs in Cardboard Cartons.
Cardboard egg cartons are made from recyclable materials and biodegrade quickly. Avoid egg cartons made from plastic or Styrofoam because they take very long to biodegrade and the processes that are used to make these containers produce harmful by-products.
Buy food that is in season and grown locally.
Support your local growers at Farmer’s Markets across Los Angeles. The fruits and vegetables at local Farmer’s Markets come directly from nearby farms which give them a much shorter travel time. This produce is fresh and healthy and is better for the environment because it does not have to be transported a long way. The transportation of food and agricultural products constitutes more than 20 percent of total commodity transport within the U.S. Buying food locally reduces harmful CO2 emissions released from trucks, airplanes, and cargo ships. Go to ams.usda,gov/farmersmarkets to find the farmer’s market nearest you.
Bring your own bag.
Our landfills and oceans are full of plastic bags that consumers use to carry groceries or other purchases. Consider taking a canvas bag or other reusable bag with you to the grocery store for your next shopping trip. Try this practice at all types of stores. Next time you are updating your wardrobe, tell the cashier that you will pass on the bag and put that new pair of jeans in your reusable tote! You will be helping the environment and think of all the time you will save not having to throw away all those bags!
Use green paint.
The Environmental Protection Agency has listed indoor air quality as one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and other coatings such as stain, varnish, and lacquer continue to release low levels of toxic gas for years after their initial application. Look for nontoxic paints for both interior and exterior surfaces. There are now eco-friendly durable and waterproof nontoxic paints and sealers for all of your painting needs.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Tips
Use reusable batteries.
Consider buying reusable batteries. The average person throws away eight batteries per year. Rechargeable batteries can significantly reduce your waste, save you money, and reduce your number of trips to the hardware store to buy the throw-aways! Batteries are an environmental hazard because they contribute to heavy metals that may leach from solid waste landfills. Batteries also expose the environment and water to lead and acid.
Join the library.
Borrow books from your local library. You can save trees from being cut down to make paper for books and save money too! You can borrow books from your local library free of charge. The Los Angeles Public Library will even transfer books from one branch to another for free so you can make a short trip to the branch that is closest to you. Check out lapl.org for more information. You can also visit your local used book store.
Buy Durables.
Buy products that will last and take care of them. Products that are not made well will often require you to throw it out and head back to the store very soon to buy a replacement. When you are purchasing an item like food storage containers or even furniture, consider buying items that will hold up over time to avoid having to throw it out and replace it soon.
Have a garage sale.
Host or visit a garage sale. This is a great way to reuse products. Before throwing out that old portable pool your kids used or that pair of rollerblades you might not have gotten around to using, consider joining with neighbors and holding a garage sale. You never know what you have that someone else could really use! By passing an item on to someone else it saves it from being thrown away.
Use reusable towels and rags in the kitchen.
Hang a nice hand towel in your kitchen to dry hands and dishes. Keep another one to clean up spills. Try to limit your use of paper towels. Think about all the resources it takes to process wood, manufacture paper towels, package them, and transport them to your local store. If you have to use paper towels look for ones made from recycled content.
Water Saving Tips
Use a broom.
Use a broom to clean driveways and walkways instead of hosing them down. You will save water and get some exercise at the same time.
Choose when you water.
Water your yard and outdoor plants in the evening or early in the morning to reduce evaporation. This will allow the water to penetrate deep into the soil before the sun comes out. Watering in the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak causes the water to evaporate before it sinks into the soil resulting in more frequent watering.
Get a low-flow showerhead.
Low-flow showerheads can lower your water usage by up to 30%. Consider installing a low-flow showerhead today. You can also install water saving faucet aerators in your bathroom and kitchen. These devices are available at hardware stores. Free showerheads and aerators are available at any LADWP customer service center. To find a location near you, click here: Customer Service Centers
Mulch your yard.
Adding mulch to the top later of soil around your plants helps to keep water in the soil which reduces your watering frequency. Get free mulch through the City.
Wash full loads in energy efficient washers.
Instead of washing small loads of clothes, wait until your loads are full and wash less frequently. A typical washing machine uses 40 gallons of water per load. Some more good news is that new energy efficient washers can cut your energy use by as much as 70 percent. Best of all, studies show that they may actually get clothes cleaner!
Support plants that help support the environment!
Many plants that are properly adjusted to the climate zone they are in will not require lots of water. Ask your local nursery about plants that are considered drought tolerant or native to save water and save yourself some work at the same time.
|
