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5 prong approach to get green

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by OSimpson, Jan 21, 2009.

  1. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2006
    Messages:
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    1) Home Structure
    • Energy Star Audit (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits)
    • Put insulating blanket around hot water tank, put foam pipe insulation around hot water pipes
    • Sealing house with caulking
    • Look for leaky ducts, tape down ducts
    • Improve insulation in house
    • Look at possibility of replacing windows (low-e, double or triple pane, filling with gas)
    2) Appliances
    • Change lighting from incandescent (100W) to compact fluorescent (15W)
    • Heating: lower thermostat (ex: nighttime), turn off if not home, replace air filters monthly
    • AC: reduce usage in summer, ex: open windows when cool, turn off if not home, replace air filters monthly
    • Thermostat: for heating, keep it at 68 degrees; for AC, keep it at 78 degrees
    • Water: decrease water heating (lower from 140° to 120°), Look into tankless water heater
    • Showers: install water-saving showerheads or low-flow showerheads
    • Have rain barrel, utilize gray water
    • Energy Star Appliances: exchange appliances for these (ex: washer, dryer, fridge) -
    http://www.quantityquotes.net/SupplierList.aspx
    • Dishwasher: avoid using the heating option to dry, let air dry
    • Washer: wash with cold water
    • Refrigerator/Freezer: Set Fridge to 40 degrees and freezer to 5 degrees, vacuum air coils
    • Alternatives: look into Geothermal Power, Solar Panels, Wind Power
    3) Good Habits
    • Turn off lights more often
    • Avoid phantom energy losses (leaving things plugged in sucks energy), ex: TV, Computer
    • Use power strips: it allow you to unplug a series of appliances at once
    • Recycle more often: papers are often thrown away instead of recycled
    • Waste management: try to produce less waste by recycling and composting, etc.
    • Composting: old food can be piled by the home and can be used as fertilizer
    • Grocery bags: Bring bags from home instead of wasting many plastics and paper bags
    • Use your curtains: example – during winter open curtains during day, close during night to keep warm air in
    • Home/community competition: start a competition within the house and offer to “split the savings”, compete with other
    houses including the entire neighborhood!
    4) Transportation
    • Utilize public transportation
    • Carpool
    • Walk/bike with entire family for recreation
    • Avoid rush hour and busy roads
    • Buy a hybrid car
    5) Community: talk with your HOA on factors that might affect entire community
    • Drying laundry outside
    • Increasing mass transit and awareness of it , add sidewalks
    • Planting trees for shading during summer

    Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Potomac District Supervisor Andrea McGimsey
    1 Harrison St., S.E. Leesburg, VA 20175
    703-777-0105 (Office), 703-777-0421 (Fax)
    Written By Neha Batra, MIT Intern ‘09
     

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