Ecobeetle
is your source for free,safe environmental
tips to help you go green at home, in the
yard, in your vehicle and at the office!
Fill
a one-quart plastic bottle with water for each
toilet in your home. Submerge one bottle in
each toilet tank. You will save one quart of
water per flush. If the toilet flushes will,
try adding more bottles. If the toilet isn't
flushing well, try using a smaller bottle.
Do
not use drive up windows. This activity
produces large amounts of toxic emissions.
Idling for more than 30 seconds burns more gas
than it takes to restart the engine or than if
the car were moving.
The
next time you fill your tank at the gas
station, have the air in your tires checked.
Driving on underinflated tires contributes to
poor fuel economy. Check air pressure every
1,000 miles.
Do
not put hazardous waste down your drain or
into your garbage. Put a small garbage can in
your garage and dispose of hazardous waste in
their original containers here. Store out of
childrens' reach and when it becomes full,
take it to a hazardouse waste treatment
center. Hazardous waste disposed of improperly
can leach into landfills and eventually into
the water supply.
Seek
out your local natural food store and organic
farmer’s markets and check carefully for
organic certification. Prices may sometimes be
a bit higher, but consider it a donation to
the earth, and a preventative healthcare
measure.
Recycle,
Recycle, Recycle!
From newspaper, to egg cartons, to organic
materials such as leaves and yard clippings,
lots of things can be recycled. Even coffee
grounds can be used as fertilizer for some
plants. So don't throw away what you can use
again!
If
you're buying an electric clothes dryer, look
for one with an automatic moisture sensor that
shuts off when clothes are dry. You'll save
money and energy!
Thermo insulated
blinds and drapes guard against heat loss in winter. There are fewer
drafts and heating bills are lower. Energy efficiency reduces emissions
contributing to global warming.
Set
the thermostat at 21c for relaxing and 17c for
sleeping or when you're away. You'll save on the heating bill, and save
energy!
When
you're busy around the house, turn down the thermostat. Your own energy
will keep you warm, and you'll save on the heating bill.
Save
on water heating costs with an insulation blanket on the hot water tank
and insulation tubes on hot water pipes. Keep it hot and use less
energy!
Save
on your annual heating costs with a programmable thermostat to turn down
the heat while you're sleeping or away. For every degree you turn it
down, you can save 2% on your energy bills.
Buying
new windows? Ask about air leakage and glazing systems with special
low-e coatings, and gas fill between the panes. There's less heat loss,
and less heat cost!
When
refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners are serviced, demand that
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
are recovered and recycled. CFCs damage the ozone layer.
Imagine
one large tree replacing polluted air with enough pure, clean air to
help four people breathe for one day! Now imagine what thousands of
trees could do.
A
tree that is well maintained from seedling to maturity will continue to
filter pollution from the air for 20 to 60 years or more.
Save
money on air conditioning by planting trees around your home. Trees
provide shade in summer and can reduce home air conditioning needs by 10
to 50 percent.
Trees can
work as a natural barrier to noise, dust and smoke. Plant a hedge or
windbreak to reduce summer traffic noises and add visual beauty to your
surroundings.
