Tips to Save Energy
Dear Eco Gal,
It’s late October and we have to turn on the furnace. Plus, it gets dark earlier so we leave lights on longer. Any tips for reducing energy bills?
Thrifty Homeowner
Dear Thrifty,
The chill of the winter heating season brings higher energy bills and people look for ways to lower those costs. An obvious yet overlooked cost saver is to do as your folks told you: “Turn off the lights when you leave the room.” A single 60-watt bulb left on for 12 hours per day for one year will cost nearly $20 per year. Multiply this by the lights used in every room and you’ll see that leaving lights on is a wasteful habit.
For even greater savings, replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CLF). These energy-efficient bulbs come in a wide range of wattages and types, including three-way lights. For softer aesthetics in the home, try full-spectrum light bulbs.
Another good idea is to turn off TVs, VCRs, DVD players, stereos and radios when no one is watching or listening. Some suggest unplugging these electronic devices as they continue to use energy even when turned off.
In the kitchen you can save energy by washing only full loads in the dishwasher, which uses less hot water than washing dishes by hand. Set the water temperature at 120F and use the air-dry cycle to dry the dishes. Your refrigerator uses more energy than any other kitchen appliance. Cool hot foods before putting them in the refrigerator or freezer as the motor has to work longer and harder when warm foods are put in. Give refrigerator coils a thorough cleaning every six months and make sure the door’s seal is tight.
When cooking, resist the urge to peek inside the oven to check on food — use the oven light instead. Ovens can lose 25 percent of their heat when the door is opened. Use the microwave or toaster oven when reheating or cooking small amounts of food. Another energy saver is to match the size of your pan with the size of the burner, heat is wasted if the flames are bigger than the pan’s base.
Did your folks ever tell you, “put on a sweater” when you complained about the cold? Listen to them — lowering the thermostat to 68F can save money. Use a ceiling fan to push down warm air and help keep a room cozy at a lower temperature. A humidifier can make your home more comfortable especially if you have steam heat, which can dry out wood furnishings.
Set your water heater between 115 to 120F and take showers instead of baths. The average bath uses 15 to 25 gallons of water, while a five-minute shower uses less than 10 gallons. Save even more by replacing your showerhead with a low-flow one that uses fewer gallons of water. Turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth or shaving to save water, too.
It’s a myth that you must use hot water to get clothes clean. Many laundry detergents have been reformulated to clean clothes in cold water. Using cold water can save up to 12 gallons of hot water per load. Depending on how many loads of laundry you do each week, savings could be $20 to $40 per year. Another laundry tip is to dry a full load of clothes, but don’t overload the dryer. Clothes dry faster if they have space to tumble. You should use the timer so they don’t get too dry, which can break down fibers.
Many of the energy-saving products noted here are available at www.gaiam.com; a growing number of retailers also sell energy-efficient items. “Keeping the Warmth in and the Cold Out,” a brochure produced by Nicor Gas, was a resource for this article.
Green Office Tips
Dear Eco Gal,
Today I threw out a huge garbage bag of shredded documents because our community’s recycling program does not include businesses. Although our office has only four employees, no one is conscious of how much they waste … People feel uncomfortable with the prospect of not being “allowed” to use paper, as it is the only way they can stay organized. How can we replace organization systems that are unhealthy for the planet with healthy systems more convenient/productive for businesses?
M.A., sales assistant
Dear M.A.,
You’ve brought up several issues related to how businesses can be greener in their everyday practices. First, let’s deal with the disposal of shredded documents. Each municipality sets policies about recycling collection — some include commercial entities, while others do not. If your town has a recycling drop-off location, shredded paper might be accepted. Many firms contract with a private hauler for refuse collection and often those haulers collect recycling, too.
Business owners shred documents to protect proprietary information and financial data. Working to reduce the use of paper for certain office tasks won’t eliminate the need to shred documents, but can reduce it greatly.
It’s difficult to advise how to stay organized electronically without specifics on what your office does and how it functions. Generally, it is wise to take baby steps when implementing changes in the workplace. Use email for memos instead of paper and flag emails for follow up (most messaging software has this feature) rather than printing out messages.
Make electronic backups instead of printing and filing paper copies of documents. Use scrap paper to print drafts and spell check and proofread documents on-screen. Send faxes electronically when feasible and use sticky notes rather than cover sheets for paper faxes. Subscribe to electronic versions of newsletters and trade publications when possible.
Once your office is accustomed to using less paper, start practicing closed-loop recycling. Make a policy to buy office supplies made with recycled content such as legal pads, stationery; hanging, colored and manila file folders; sticky notes and mailing envelopes.
Big-box office supply stores carry a limited supply of recycled content office products with a broader selection available on the stores’ websites. TheGreenOffice.com is a good resource and builds carbon-offsets into the shipping fee.
Other workplace items made from recycled materials include: trash bags, napkins, toilet tissue, hand towels, toner and ink-jet cartridges, office recycling containers and carpeting. Encourage colleagues to use mugs for coffee or other beverages and keep a small collection of colorful mugs for visitors.
If your business or organization does mailings, strive to keep your mailing lists up-to-date. Improve printing estimates to avoid over-ordering printed materials and print on recycled paper using soy-based ink.
So how does this “green behavior” contribute to your company’s bottom line? You may not see a difference initially. But as more office materials are recycled, waste disposal costs will shrink. Energy-efficient practices will lead to lower utility bills. Fewer and better-targeted mailings will yield reduced postage and delivery costs.
When your stationery is printed on recycled paper, be sure to include a recycling symbol watermark. Add a line of text to newsletters and brochures to indicate that recycled paper and nontoxic ink were used. Your green practices will get noticed and earn goodwill. You can’t put a price on that!
Excerpts of the book “Greeniology” by Tanya Ha posted on PlanetArk.com and Eric Corey Freed’s item on iGreenBuild.com were used as resources.