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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) - New Year’s is a time to make a fresh start for the year ahead. Not sure what your resolution will be? Why not resolve to be more “green” in the New Year?
With the trend focusing on being more eco-friendly, these tips will not only make a difference for the environment and add some green in your wallet, but also make you feel good about yourself for keeping your resolution throughout the New Year.
Light Years Ahead
Time to drag out your ladder and replace those hard-to-reach light bulbs? Not anymore. It’s time to shed some light on the subject and make a change.
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) not only last ten times longer than incandescents, but also use 75 percent less energy. Their cost of approximately $7 each may seem steep at first, but you will be light years ahead and save up to $60 in electricity per light over their lifetime.
Control the Flow
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program, an average of 100 gallons of water is consumed by Americans each day. This number would fill 1,600 drinking glasses! By installing a water saving aerator in your bath faucet, such as Moen’s Water Saving Aerator, you can reduce water flow from the standard 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) to 1.5 gpm -- reducing overall consumption by 30 percent.
Here Comes the Sun
During cooler months, keep your blinds or drapes open throughout the day to let in natural solar heat. This simple trick can reduce your heating bills by 10 percent. Blocking out sunlight with exterior blinds or shutters during the summer can also cut your utilities by up to 33 percent.
Indulge in a Shower
By switching from a bath to a shower, you not only save time, but also money. A typical ten minute bath requires 30 to 70 gallons of water versus 25 gallons under a 2.5 gpm showerhead.
Want to conserve even more resources? Install Moen’s new Water Saving Showerhead. Unlike some low-flow showerheads that simply restrict the water flow, Moen’s Water Saving showerhead features optimized spray formers that increase the velocity of the water streams hitting the body, treating you to a full, enveloping spray.
Plus, with a flow of 1.75 gpm (compared to the industry-standard 2.5 gpm), you’ll feel good knowing that you’re using 30 percent less water and also reducing energy costs, as less hot water is used without sacrificing the shower’s performance.
Feel the Heat
Have your furnace checked yearly to make sure it’s running properly and efficiently; and tuned every two years. Not only will you save 10 percent on your heating bills, but you’ll also save approximately 2,500 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Dish Duty
Although bottled water and disposable plates and cups may be enticing for easy use and clean-up, they aren't so earth-friendly -- heading straight from your trash into landfills. In fact, one billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills every year. Instead, enjoy your food and beverages on washable serving wear. It'll only take moments to load them into the dishwasher. Plus, running a full load in an Energy Star-rated dishwasher only uses 4 gallons of water.
Take It Down a Degree
According to the Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org), you can subtract 5 percent from your utility bill for every degree you lower your home’s temperature. Be sure to add layers of clothing or put on a sweater during the cooler months!
Follow these tips and you’ll be on the right track for a “green” New Year! For more information on the new Water Saving Showerheads and Aerators, visit www.moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).
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