Fun Green Facts

Aside from the obvious turn the lights off when you leave the room, here are some small ways that you can save energy while simultaneously saving money!

Keep lamps away from the thermostat

The heat emitted from your lamp can be registered by the thermostat, causing the air conditioner to run excessively. Simply move your lamps or other items that emit heat (such as a Scentsy or candles), away from your thermostat so your climate control system doesn’t work as hard.

Place and pack your freezer smartly

Location is key when it comes to saving energy with your freezer. Reduce the amount of energy needed to preserve your food by keeping your freezer in the basement where it is cooler or in an area that receives little to no direct light. Let any hot food cool before you place it in your freezer or refrigerator so these utilities don’t have to use as much energy to maintain their temperature. You can also save energy by creating an organization system for your freezer and refrigerator. Place similar items together, with frequently used items near the front or on the door; this means you won’t spend as much time with the door open, letting cool air escape while you search for the ingredients for your meal.

Use your garbage disposal less

In addition to using energy and affecting your water supply, garbage disposals destroy valuable natural scraps that can be composted to create new life. Composting is a great way to create healthy soil, and most scraps that you would normally put down the garbage disposal can be composted. Don’t put meat scraps or bones in your compost pile (unless it is covered) because this can attract animals. You can put anything biodegradable into your compost pile including:

• Food scraps
• Eggshells
• Hair
• Dust from sweeping or vacuuming
• Tea bags
• Napkins
• Paper towels

Use less hot water by utilizing dishwashers and taking showers

You are more likely to waste hot water doing dishes by hand than if you let the dishwasher do the work for you, according to a European study through the University of Bronn, Germany. The study showed “that new dishwashers are able to reach at least the same performance with significantly less amount of water needed as any test person.”

Furthermore, a shower head typically pumps out 2.5 gallons per minute, so a 10-minute shower would use 25 gallons of water. On the other hand, the average bathtub holds anywhere from 35 to 50 gallons of water. So, unless your showers run over 15 minutes, avoiding baths will help conserve both water and energy.

Don’t style your hair with heat

Curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers may not use that much energy, but they are harmful to your hair. It is easy to forget to turn off your curling or flat iron when you leave the house, which wastes energy and leads to fire hazards. You can avoid these issues by letting your hair air dry and by using foam overnight curlers. Although you might need to adjust to this new way of styling your hair, the positive effects of saving energy and your hair from heat damage are worth it.

Drive sustainably

Accelerating quickly and breaking frequently can waste a lot of gas. Getting your car tuned up regularly can save about 10% more gas. If you must stop your car for more than 60 seconds, it is more fuel-efficient to turn off the engine than to idle. If you have heavy items in your car that you don’t regularly need, taking them out will improve fuel economy. If possible, switching to an electric or hybrid vehicle will help save energy and nonrenewable resources, too.

For more green fun facts visit greenlivingaz.com/greenfunfacts.