Green Tips

Lower the Flow

Your old shower head probably delivers a lot more water than you really need. Reduce that to 2.5 gallons a minute or less with today’s standard shower head – it can make a difference in your water bill. For even greater savings, replace your old toilets with today’s standard low flush models that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush.

Keep Your Cool

Ceiling fans can make you feel cooler while reducing air conditioning costs by as much as 40% in summer. In winter, they can save up to 10% in heating costs by circulating warm air from the ceiling to the floor where you can enjoy it. Learn more about reducing your energy bills.

Try Branching Out

For an all-around environmental boost, plant a tree. When properly sited, trees and other landscaping can save up to 30% in home cooling and heating costs. They also help cool your community and make your Smart Choice home even more enjoyable.

Switch to cold water.

Almost 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Save money and energy. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water, instead of hot, using a detergent formulated for cold-water use.

From warm to cold.

Set warm wash and cold rinse cycles and save 90 percent of the energy used when using hot water only. And run your washer during off-peak hours.

Stop the junk mail.

Each year, 100 million trees are cut down and turned into junk mail, with Americans receiving a total of 400 million tons of it every year. Earthworks Group, an environmental consulting firm, said cutting out junk mail is one of the most effective things people can do to reduce pollution. There are several ways to stop the flow of junk to your house.

Switch to CFLs.

Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They’re more expensive than traditional light bulbs, but it only takes about 3 months to make up for the higher sticker price in energy savings.

Don’t run while you brush.

Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You’ll conserve up to five gallons of water per day — which could add up to 1.5 billion gallons that could be saved across the country each  day — more than enough for all of New York City.

Inflate Your E-go

keep your vehicle’s tires inflated to the proper pressure, you will be increasing your fuel economy and extending the life of your rubber, which means more cash in your pocket and more hope for polar bears.

It may not sound like a lot, but for every three pounds that your tires are below their recommended pressure, your fuel economy drops 1 percent, reports the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Add that up for a nation of deflated rubber, and you can see that we’re blowing money out our, um, tailpipes.