Turn the lights off any time that they are not needed, even if you are just moving from room to room in the course of your day. According to Energy Star, as much as 20 percent of a home's overall energy use comes from its lighting. Using compact fluorescent light bulbs requires as much as 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, but the best way to save energy is to only use your lighting fixtures when you absolutely have to.

Tip 2 -

Wash your clothing in cold water, because washing machines use as much as 90 percent of their energy just heating the water, and higher temperatures mean greater costs to both you and the environment. You can even make your clothes last longer by washing them in cold water, so there is no real reason not to.

Tip 3 -

If you have a gas or electric clothes dryer, you can realize great savings simply by keeping the lint trap cleaned. Tests have shown that this can amount to a savings of $34 per year per dryer, which really adds up.

Tip 4 -

Keep the dryer shut off all together by opting for a clothes tree or clothes line instead. These only tend to cost a few dollars and can save you significant amounts of money when it comes to energy costs throughout the year.

Tip 5 -

Find out if your local utility companies are using green energy. Some local utilities are now using low impact, hydro-electric energy options through solar farms and windmills, so ask if using these power sources will allow for you to realize a savings on your monthly utility bills.

Tip 6 -

If your refrigerator is next to a dishwasher, a vent or a stove, your fridge will have to work harder to keep cool, so by isolating your fridge in another area away from these heat sources, you may be able to reap the benefits through a lower cost energy bill.

Tip 7 -

Forgo the standard, chemical cleaning products and opt instead for a combination between plain water and white vinegar, which is the ultimate cleaning product when it comes to green living. Many companies are now beginning to market environmentally friendly cleaning products as well, should you need something a little more powerful than what vinegar can provide.

Tip 8 -

Choose a better type of grass, like a hardy perennial. There are drought tolerant types of grass that require far less watering and no chemical care, allowing you to have a healthy and beautiful lawn without requiring a lot of water. Don't bother shooing away beneficial critters like insects, birds, toads and frogs as they can actually help your lawn maintain its best.

Tip 9 -

Buy biodegradable pottery for your garden, choosing bamboo, coconut, rice or wheat fibers instead of plastic pottery so that your pottery will biodegrade in the earth instead of ending up in a landfill.

Tip 10 -

Shop green and leave the plastic behind whenever possible. Draperies, shades and other window treatments are available in natural fibers. Furniture can be upholstered using silk, latex, wool and natural robber, or even foam that is made from soybeans. By purchasing natural materials like this, we are eliminating the need for petroleum based products in our home and saving the environment at the same time.

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Originally posted 2009-01-26 05:26:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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