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100 Ways you can improve the environment

In your home—conserve energy ment with the Energy Star label; old ity when necessary (e.g., old 42. Use only the required amount of
refrigerators, for example, use up to thermometers). fertilizer.
1. Clean or replace air filters on your air 50% more electricity than newer 30. Learn about alternatives to 43. Minimize pesticide use.
conditioning unit at least once a models. household cleaning items 44. Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.
month. 16. Only use electric appliances when you that do not use hazardous 45. Water grass early in the morning.
2. If you have central air conditioning, do need them. chemicals. 46. Rent or borrow items like
not close vents in unused rooms. 17. Use compact fluorescent light 31. Buy the right amount of ladders, chain saws, party
3. Lower the thermostat on your water bulbs to save money and paint for the job. decorations and others
heater to 120°. energy. 32. Review labels of household cleaners that are seldom used.
4. Wrap your water heater in an 18. Keep your thermostat at 68° you use. Consider alternatives like 47. Take actions that use non
insulated blanket. in winter and 78° in summer. baking soda, scouring pads, water or hazardous components
5. Turn down or shut off your 19. Keep your thermostat higher a little more elbow grease. (e.g., to ward off pests, plant marigolds
water heater when you will in summer and lower in 33. When no good alternatives exist to a in a garden instead of using pesticide).
be away for extended periods. winter when you are away toxic item, find the least amount re- 48. Put leaves in a compost heap instead
6. Turn off unneeded lights from home. quired for an effective, sanitary result. of burning them or throwing them
even when leaving a room 20. Insulate your home as best as you can. 34. If you have an older home, have paint away. Yard debris too large for your
for a short time. 21. Install weather stripping around all in your home tested for lead. If you compost bin should be taken to a
7. Set your refrigerator tempera- doors and windows. have lead-based paint, cover it with yard-debris recycler.
ture at 36° to 38° and 22. Shut off electrical equipment in the wall paper or other material instead
your freezer at 0° to 5°. evening when you leave work. of sanding it or burning it off. In your office
8. When using an oven, minimize door 23. Plant trees to shade your home. 35. Use traps instead of rat and mouse
opening while it is in use; it 24. Shade outside air conditioning units by poisons and insect killers. 49. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
reduces oven temperature by 25° to 30° trees or other means. 36. Have your home tested for radon. 50. Reuse items like envelopes, folders
every time you open the door. 25. Replace old windows with energy 37. Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs and paper clips.
9. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after efficient ones. instead of mothballs. 51. Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail
every load so that it uses less energy. 26. Use cold water instead of warm or hot instead of an envelope.
10. Unplug seldom used water when possible. In your yard 52. Set up a bulletin board for memos
appliances. 27. Connect your outdoor lights to a timer. instead of sending a copy to each
11. Use a microwave when- 28. Buy green electricity - electricity pro- 38. Avoid using leaf blowers and other employee.
ever you can instead of a duced by low - or even zero-pollution dust-producing equipment. 53. Use e-mail instead of paper
conventional oven or facilities (NC Greenpower for North 39. Use an electric lawn- correspondence.
stove. Carolina - www.greenpower.com). mower instead of a 54. Use recycled paper.
12. Wash clothes with warm gas-powered one. 55. Use discarded paper
or cold water instead of In your home—reduce toxicity 40. Leave grass clippings for scrap paper.
hot. on the yard—they 56. Encourage your school
13. Reverse your indoor ceiling fans for 29. Eliminate mercury from decompose and and/or company to
summer and winter operations as your home by purchasing return nutrients to print documents with
recommended. items without mercury, the soil. soy-based inks, which
14. Turn off lights, computers and other and dispose of items 41. Use recycled wood are less toxic.
appliances when not in use. containing mercury at an chips as mulch to keep weeds down, 57. Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of
15. Purchase appliances and office equip- appropriate drop-off facil- retain moisture and prevent erosion. a disposable cup.
Ways you can protect our air Ways to use less water Create less trash

100 Ways you can improve the environment


58. Ask your employer to consider 73. Check and fix any water leaks. 87. Buy items in bulk from loose bins
flexible work schedules or 74. Install water-saving when possible to reduce the
telecommuting. devices on your faucets packaging wasted.
59. Recycle printer cartridges. and toilets. 88. Avoid products with several layers of
60. Shut off electrical equipment in the 75. Don’t wash dishes with packaging when only one is
evening when you leave work. the water running sufficient. About 33% of what we
61. Report smoking continuously. throw away is packaging.
vehicles to your 76. Wash and dry only full 89. Buy products that you can reuse.
local air agency. loads of laundry and 90. Maintain and repair durable products
62. Don’t use your dishes. instead of buying new ones.
wood stove or 77. Follow your community’s 91. Check reports for products that are
fireplace when water use restrictions or guidelines. easily repaired and have low
air quality is poor. 78. Install a low-flow shower head. breakdown rates.
63. Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. 79. Replace old toilets with new ones that 92. Reuse items like bags and containers
They produce the largest amount of use a lot less water. when possible.
pollution. 80. Turn off washing machine’s water 93. Use cloth napkins instead of paper
64. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner supply to prevent leaks. ones.
than green wood. 94. Use reusable plates and utensils
65. Use solar power for home and water Ways to protect our water instead of disposable ones.
heating. 95. Use reusable containers to store food
66. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, 81. Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as instead of aluminum foil and cling
stains, finishes and paint strippers. soon as possible. wrap.
67. Purchase radial tires and keep them 82. Never dump anything down a storm 96. Shop with a canvas bag
properly inflated for your vehicle. drain. instead of using paper
68. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of 83. Have your septic tank pumped and and plastic bags.
using spray paints to minimize system inspected regularly. 97. Buy rechargeable batteries
harmful emissions. 84. Check your car for oil or other leaks, for devices used frequently.
69. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an and recycle motor oil. 98. Reuse packaging cartons
electric probe or 85. Take your car to a car wash instead of and shipping materials. Old
other alternative to washing it in the driveway. newspapers make great packaging
lighter fluid. 86. Learn about your watershed. material.
70. If you use a wood 99. Compost your vegetable scraps.
stove, use one sold 100. Buy used furniture - there is a
after 1990. They are surplus of it, and it is much cheaper
required to meet than new furniture.
federal emissions Centralina Council of Governments
standards and are more efficient and 1300 Baxter Street, Suite 450
cleaner burning. Charlotte, North Carolina
71. Walk or ride your bike instead of For more information on SEQL
704/348-2730 check out our web site
driving, whenever possible.
72. Join a carpool or vanpool to get to www.seql.org
work.

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