General Green tips

Home

• Change the air filter in your heater
• Only use your dishwasher when you have full loads
• Replace your old appliances
• Unplug electronics
• Use cold water in the washing machine
• Use a clothesline instead of a dryer
• Clean your refrigerator's coils and defrost it
• Lower the temperature on your thermostat (Winter)
• Raise the temperature on your thermostat (Summer)
• Caulk and weatherstrip your home
• Replace incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescents or LEDs

Water

• Install a low-flow showerhead
• Replace your water heater - Water heaters supposedly last 10-15 years, but the U.S. Department of Energy recommends you replace yours sooner. Newer units with the "Energy Guide" label  are more efficient.
• Revamp your water heater - There are a variety of things you can do to make sure your water heater is in good shape and efficient. These include:
• Drain a quart / liter of water from your water heater every 3 months to remove sediment that makes your water heater less efficient. (see your manual)
• Add heat traps to your water heater - Insulate the first few meters / 6 feet of the pipes leading into and out of your water heater
• Turn down the temperature of your water heater
• Turn down the water heater to 120 degrees F / 50 degrees C. This could save you 3-5% of in energy costs.

Landscaping

• Plant a tree (or shrubs)
• In addition to absorbing carbon, trees can shade your home, reducing your cooling costs in the summer months. Typically, newly planted trees will begin shading windows in their first year and will reach your roof in years 5-10. During winter, dense, low-lying trees and shrubbery on the north and northeast sides of your home can help protect your home against wind chill.
  Planting shrubs, bushes, and vines next to your house creates dead air spaces that insulate your home in both winter and summer. Plant so there will be at least 1 foot (30 centimeters) of space between full-grown plants and your home's wall.
• Compost

Home Improvements

• Add solar panels, or make other home improvements. Check to see if there are any federal or state incentives that will help you pay for them.

Car

• Inflate your tires
• Buy a more fuel efficient car
• Carpool
• Use public transit

Air Travel

• Videoconference instead
• Fly economy

Personal

• Buy products locally
• Eat less meat, dairy and animal products
• Go paperless with your bills
• Use reusable shopping bags
• Take shorter showers
• Take cooler showers - Taking cooler showers reduce energy consumption (3 - 5% according to the U.S. Department of Energy)