Live Green! Tips

A Clean Keyboard and a Clean Earth

No one likes a gross keyboard; when cleaning your keyboard, do so in a sustainable manner. Forget traditional keyboard cleaners, which are full of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases. Instead, turn your keyboard upside over a trash can, then run a strip of double-sided table between the keys. You can also buy a refillable duster that can be refreshed with a bicycle pump.

Air Fresheners

Many air fresheners bought at the store (particularly those with pine, orange and lemon scents) may emit harmful levels of toxic pollutants, especially when used repeatedly or in small, poorly ventilated rooms, according to Berkeley researchers. Make sure your home is free of these air fresheners.

Formaldehyde Safety

Read labels on building products, cleaners and cosmetics to look for formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde (UF) or phenol formaldehyde (PF). Also, avoid pressed woods or particleboard in favor of solid wood or antique/used wood furniture. Furthermore, choose clothing and bedding made of natural or organic fibers. Lastly, don't forget to only paint or apply oil polish in a well-ventilated area.

No Mo' Drano'

Save money and the earth by avoiding harsh chemical drain openers. Use this recipe instead: pour 1/4-cup baking soda down the drain, then add 1-cup vinegar. Cover for 15 minutes. Then rinse the drain with boiling water (and repeat if necessary). A plunger may be beneficial for a serious clog.

Nylon's Many Uses

It seems that nylons only last a few uses before snagging. Don't fear, though, as these amazing accessories have many uses. You can put them over the end of a broom and use it as a duster that extends to those hard-to-reach places; you can use them to dust or polish your furniture or your shoes; you can save them to stake plants, as well.

Shiny Sterling

Looking for a chemical-free way to shine your holiday sterling? Try plain white toothpaste or baking soda. For extra-resistant tarnish, leave the baking soda on the sterling for an hour or so before buffing.

Be an Effective Communicator

If you can, try sending a text message or e-mail from a handheld device or cell phone, instead of from a desktop computer. You'll save yourself time and conserve energy.

Find Money in Your Washer and Dryer

Find some proverbial money in your pocket with these energy-efficient laundry tips:

• Dry clothes only as long as necessary, instead of the whole cycle.
• Hang your clothes to dry.
• Remove and fold clothes immediately to avoid ironing.
• Keep your lint tray clean.
• Use only the recommended amount of soap (too much soap makes your washer work harder).
• Use cold water.
• Dry in consecutive loads, while the dryer is still warm.

Fridge-Economics!

Defrosting your refrigerator before it's plagued with ice can help your fridge run more efficiently. Remember to check the temperature to make sure the fridge is set between 37-40 degrees and the freezer between 0-10 degrees.

Keep Your Fridge Tidy and Save Money!

Keep your fridge tidy so that you can find what you’'re looking for quickly. Up to 30% of the cold air held within the fridge escapes each time you open the door, so the quicker you grab and close the door, the better.  

Keep Your Kitchen Costs Down!

Try out these kitchen-friendly tips to increase energy-efficiency:

• Cook with small appliances
• Avoid pre-heating your oven unless it is a short baking job
• Use the oven more when it is cold outside

Power Tools

Get your workout in when you are improving the home by using hand tools in place of power tools whenever possible. For those jobs that require power tools, make sure to keep your power tools in tip-top shape for efficiency.

Screen Saving Smarts

Screensavers don't save energy. Rather, the purpose of a screensaver is to protect your screen from one single image remaining imprinted upon it. Make sure to turn your computer and/or laptop off when you are finished using it.

Switch Off Properly

Televisions, DVD players and other electronic equipment can use nearly as much energy when left on standby as when they're in use. To avoid wasting energy, unplug equipment when you're not using it. To make things as easy as possible, plug multiple devices into a power strip, which you can switch on and off at once. 

Your "Call To Duty"

If you are like the average college student, you likely own a gaming console.

Fun fact: Gaming consoles consume nearly as much power when they are left idle as they do when you are playing them. Remember to turn it off when you are not using it!

Biodynamic Bubbly

If you are planning a New Year's Party, consider purchasing organic or biodynamic bubbly (bonus points if it is locally made).

Can It!

Consider preserving some of the bounty of the harvest of your or someone else's garden! Pickling, preserving and canning are all great ways to eat "local" during the winter months when, in Iowa, we can't have gardens.

Co-op Power

Consider shopping at a food co-op to take advantage of great deals on locally-grown and organic food. Food co-ops also offer many options in bulk.

Give Business to Locals

Consider buying food, especially fruits and vegetables, from small-scale operations and local farmers. In addition to supporting local economies, you will reduce your carbon footprint because your food will travel fewer miles to get to you.

Honey: Tasty and Medicinal

Trying to avoid commercial cough syrup? Try a couple of teaspoons of honey! Make sure, though, you never give honey to infants under the age of 12 months.

Is Your Pet Green?

Green your pet's dinner by choosing all-natural food that contains hormone-free chicken, beef or fish. You can also cook for your pet with organic and free-range ingredients. There are many recipes on the Internet. If you are a vegetarian, consider a pet such as a bird that is also a vegetarian. (But, no fancy, tropical birds – leave them in the rainforests.)

Organic

What does the term "organic" actually mean? If something is dubbed organic, it is produced without synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides or genetically modified organisms. All products that use the term "organic" must be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

PCBs and Fishies

One man-made, chlorinated, industrial chemical that is used in electrical transformers, hydraulic fluids and lubricants that was banned in the 1970s still persists in the environment today. It builds up at the bottoms of bodies of water and in the fatty tissues of fish and other animals that we consume. Be sure to take precautions by figuring out safe and unsafe fish.

Pesticides

Avoid pesticides by buying organic, especially apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, spinach and strawberries (anything with a thick rind skin is somewhat safer). Also, use alternatives to chemical pesticides in your home and garden and advocate for pesticide reduction in local green spaces.

Yummy: Chocolate Smarts

There are few people who don't enjoy the occasional chocolate indulgence. Unfortunately, though, cacao grows in rainforests – the most diverse and fragile ecosystem on our earth. Next time you buy chocoloate, consider fair trade chocolate from companies that are responsible stewards of the land and fair to the workers who are harvesting that cacao.

Avoid "Shock and Withdrawal"

Do you find it hard to turn your heat down to the recommended temperature all at once? Try turning it down a bit more each week and adding blankets and sweaters as you go.

Be Shade Smart

On sunny days during the cool months, keep draperies and shades open on the south side of the house. Close them at dusk. During warm months, keep shades closed.

Bigger Isn't Always Better

A furnace that is too large for your space doesn't necessarily heat your home any better, but it does drive up your heating bill. When shopping for a new furnace, buy one that is appropriately sized for the size of your home.

Ceiling Fan Smarts

Fun fact: Your ceiling fan has a switch that helps the fan cool or heat, depending on the direction it is switched. In the summer, make sure your ceiling fan is pushing air downward, and in the winter the fan should be pulling air upward.

Do You Need a New Furnace?

Not sure if you need a new furnace? You can save money by upgrading your furnace to an energy-efficient model. Does your furnace fit into one of these categories? (1) Is more than 15 years old; (2) Needs frequent repairs; (3) Creates uneven temperatures (some rooms too cold and some too hot); (4) Creates humidity problems. If so, you may want to consider your options.

Install a Time-Programmable Thermostat

When looking into a programmable thermostat, check into one that offers pre-programmed settings, such as "wake," "day," "evening" and "sleep." This way, you have to set the temperature only once, instead of having to remember to reset it multiple times per day.

Install an Energy-Efficient Furnace

In the market for a new furnace? Install an energy-efficient furnace (92% AFUE or higher). They run about $6,000 but can save you up to 20% of your heating costs.

Keep It Clear

Make sure heating registers and radiators are not blocked by furniture, drapes or other objects.

Myth Buster: Gas Fireplaces

Myth: A gas fire in the fireplace will help warm my house and reduce my overall gas usage.

Fact: Through a study by the Gas Technology Institute, gas fireplaces actually increase gas usage in most homes. Gas fireplaces range from 5-60% efficiency and gas furnaces have 80-90% efficiency.

Myth Buster: Space Heaters

Myth: Use space heaters to lower your heating bill – they use the same amount of energy as a coffee maker.

Fact: A space heater and coffee maker do draw a similar current – but remember a coffee maker is only on for a short period of time, while a space heater will be used for consecutive hours.

Myth Buster: Wintertime Dilemmas

Myth: If I turn down the heat while I'm gone, it will cost more than I save to warm the house back up when I get home.

Fact: The longer your house remains at a lower temperature, the more energy you save. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to turn back when you leave and to warm up 30 minutes before you come home.

Plant Trees to Save Money

Consider planting shade trees on the south and west sides of your home to cool during summer and protect during the winter. You can also plant shrubs around your foundation.

Replace Old Windows

By replacing single-paned windows with double-paned ENERGY STAR windows, you can reduce your heating and cooling costs. Note, the U-Factor (found on the label) should be 0.3 or less.

Set Your Temp Back

Fun fact: You could lower your heating and cooling bills by up to $180 per year by setting the temperature cooler in the winter (or warmer during the summer) by 10 degrees for eight hours each day.

Stay Cool

The best time to buy an air conditioner is after the hot season. When shopping for an air conditioner, be sure to look for ENERGY STAR models.

Weatherization 101: Caulk Your Windows Correctly

A tiny crack around a window may not seem like a big deal; however, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, a 1/16-inch crack is like leaving the window open 3-inch all year long!

Winter Energy Tips

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, many homes have the potential to eliminate 50% of their annual energy use. When it comes to heating, one way to do this is to seal air leaks. Fixing these leaks can save 40% of your heating energy. Usually, the largest sources of leakage are the rim joint areas at the top of the basement foundation or holes in the attic.

Be an Energy-Conscious Traveler

It's easy to leave your hotel room lights or TV on because you aren't directly paying the bill. Next time you travel, consider being as cognizant of your energy usage in hotels as you would be at home.

Be Holly, Jolly, and Green

Waste increases by almost 25% from Thanksgiving to Christmas. "Four million tons of landfill waste is composed of shopping bags and gift wrap, and our cards could fill a football field 10 stories high. Try sending e-cards for the holidays or choose to wrap gifts in reusable shopping bags or wrapped in newspaper or colorful store ads."

Be the Brightest – And Greenest – Bulb on the Tree!

Consider switching out old holiday lights for LED (light-emitting diode) lights. They emit hardly any heat and use less electricity, decreasing the risk of fire. Additionally, they often last up to 20 years.

Corporate Gifts

If you help pick the corporate gifts, or if you know the individual who does, ask them to give something environmentally-friendly!

Gameday Challenge

Tailgating and Super Bowl parties, as well as other gameday events, can generate a large amount of waste. Go green during your tailgating adventures by bringing food and beverages that are from local producers or contain local ingredients, by using compostable and/or biodegradable utensils and plates, as well as by sharing your ideas and connections with your fellow tailgaters. 

Halloween Happenings

Did you lose track of time and forget to carve your Halloween jack-o-lantern? Try baking a pumpkin pie with it, or at the very least, cut it open and bake the seeds. They are tasty, as well as a great source of minerals and protein. Don't forget to compost any leftovers afterward.

Holiday Living Trees

Instead of getting a large tree that has been grown and cut down, try getting a smaller, potted Christmas tree. Store it on a porch or garage, and when the ground warms up, plant it. Don't forget to plant trees on the south and west sides of your property to act as wind blockers.

Holiday Non-Living Trees and Decorations

If you didn't get a live tree this year, or if you have garland or wreaths on hand, be sure to take your past-their-prime greens to a recycling center in your community – almost every municipality has one these days.

Office Parties Gone Green

We all love parties at work. Make your work parties, for whatever occasion (birthday, retirement, weddings, babies, etc.), green by buying environmentally-friendly food, plates, utensils and gifts.

Party Planning 101

Are you planning a big bash in the near future? Do you host the holiday party for your family every year? How about the Super Bowl? This year, work to skip the disposables and look for renewable and biodegradable party products (plates, bowls, cups and cutlery made from things like cornstarch, potatoes and sugarcane).

Secretly Green Santa

Does your office do Secret Santa or a gift exchange? Consider making a gift or buying something environmentally-friendly. You can even include a little note in it explaining the green philosophy behind your gift.

Vacation Simpler

Vacations are a time to forget about your worries and troubles, but it shouldn’'t be a time to forget about the environment. Try vacationing close to home or rediscover the pleasures of walking, biking or riding horses. If you travel to a big city, use public transportation instead of renting a car.

Identify Your Priorities

It may not be feasible to replace all of your incandescent bulbs at once; prioritize the rooms with the greatest lighting usage.

Proper CFL Use

If you turn a CFL on and off frequently, it will not meet its rated life expectancy. CFLs work best if they are left on for at least 15 minutes each time they are illuminated.

Try Solar Outdoor Lights

Light your landscape, sans energy costs, with solar outdoor lighting. Solar lights collect energy from the sun during the day to provide illumination at night.

Use Task Lighting

Switch off that overhead room lighting and opt for a desk lamp or lower-wattage lamp.

Watch the Wattage

An easy way to increase energy savings is to use fluorescent bulbs when possible. Make sure you are using the correct wattage, and keep your light bulbs clean (dirt absorbs light).

Fun fact: If everyone in Ames replaced five incandescent bulbs with CFLs, 40 million pounds of CO2 could be eliminated from the atmosphere.

Beware of Your Mark

Markers can contain harsh chemicals (evinced by their strong smell). Because toxic chemicals can leak into the groundwater from the landfills at which they're disposed, it's better to use markers that are water-based and have nontoxic ink with refillable heads.    

Office Trip?

Are you planning a trip for your office? Consider venues that are sustainable or facilities like the Lied Lodge and Conference Center, a nonprofit facility run by the National Arbor Day Foundation. It's in Nebraska City, NE (close to Iowa!), and all the profits go back to greening the earth.

Paper Clips

Recycle your paper clips or reuse the ones you have. Enough paper clips are produced each year to hand every person in the world at least three. For every 100,000 paper clips produced, only 20,000 are used to hold paper together. The rest aren't being used.

Pens

Use refillable pens. Pens are often tossed into the garbage and not recycled or reused. Their components and packaging are made from nonrenewable resources and can contain environmentally-harmful chemicals. Each year, Americans discard 1.6 billion pens. Placed end to end, they would stretch more than 150,000 miles, equivalent to crossing the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to Tokyo more than 25 times.

Sticky Note Smarts

Look for paper notes made of 100% recycled fiber and at least 30% postconsumer content. Sales of adhesive notes are estimated at about $1 billion per year. A pack of 100 sells for about $1.25, which means that some 80 billion little sticky notes are stuck somewhere each year.

The Life of a File Folder

Try using 100% recycled file folders with post-consumer recycled fiber. This fiber is derived from paper that is recovered from the waste stream. You can also flip folders inside out and reuse them. That's important when paper makes up about half the trash!

Chemical-Free Gardening

Commercial pesticides and herbicides can cause harm to human neurological, reproductive and integumentary systems. Instead of buying commercial chemicals, consider creating your own blend using one garlic bulb, one medium onion and one tablespoon cayenne pepper mixed into one quart of water. Use this blend as a spray to send away insects and slugs from your garden.

Consider Native Turf

Sustainable landscaping can prevent a plethora of adverse consequences. Anything that washes off your yard and street (like lawn fertilizer, eroded soil, pet waste and leaves) runs directly into storm drains and then into our streams, ponds and lakes. Try to select deep-rooted native grasses for your lawn. Minimal watering and fertilization is needed after planting these.

Garden Goodness

Plant a garden of yummy foods this year, or join a community garden if you don't have land to plant your own garden. Do some research on what will grow best in your area and be on the lookout for other gardening tips.

Ice Ain't Nice

Especially when it's covering your sidewalk! Here are two ways to be more environmentally-friendly when removing ice from your sidewalks: First, you can chop it manually with your shovel. Second you can find environmentally-friendly de-icing salt.

Keep the Pavement Clean

Sustainable landscaping can be more important than you may realize. Anything that washes off your driveway or street (like lawn fertilizer, eroded soil, pet waste and leaves) runs directly into storm drains and then into our streams, ponds and lakes. Consider sweeping your grass clippings, leaves and fertilizer away from driveways and streets to prevent this type of runoff.

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away!

Set up a rain barrel to catch rainwater from the gutters of your home or apartment to use for watering plants, flowers, gardens and washing cars. Try an inexpensive food-grade drum (which you could get from a drum and barrel supplier for about $10). Make sure your container doesn't let in light, though, because clear barrels can speed the growth of algae in the water.

Sometimes Snow Stinks

The most environmentally-thoughtful way to remove snow is with a good ol' shovel. If you are clearing a manageable area, try to avoid using a snow blower.

Cosmetics

Many personal care product ingredients have not been evaluated for safety by the FDA. Try shopping for all-natural brands or see if your brand is a part of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Resist the Lure of Upgrades

Cell phone companies are forever encouraging us to switch to the newest, most trendy phone, sometimes long before the existing one’ is defunct. However, cell phones contain a cocktail of toxic substances that shouldn't be discarded in landfills. Recycling keeps these undesirable elements out of the waste stream and saves the mining and manufacturing impacts of producing new cell phones. Consider donating your old phone to charity for recycling when you do need a new one. 

Alliant Energy: Time of Day Pricing

If you are an Alliant Energy customer, consider signing up for the Time of Day Pricing Program. This program helps customers reduce their electric bills by choosing off-peak hours to perform their electricity heavy chores, such as water heating, space heating, air conditioning, washing clothes and running the dishwasher.

Buy an Energy-Efficient Home

In the market for a new home? Opt for one with passive solar features or one that has possibilities for home improvements with energy savings in mind.

City Programs

Determine if your city has a program you can participate in to help reduce the demand for power in prime times of the day, especially during the summer.

Energy Conservation Info

There are many ways to make more conservative energy choices. The U.S. Department of Energy maintains a very helpful website of different ways to reduce your energy usage. Check it out!

Online Energy Audit

Visit MidAmerican Energy online and complete a home energy audit. Compare your home with similar homes in your area. You will also receive recommendations that can make your home more energy-efficient.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint

We throw around the term "carbon footprint" quite frequently, but what exactly is it? A carbon footprint is the measure of the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by human activities in units of carbon dioxide. It includes direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels (through transportation and energy consumption) and indirect CO2 emissions from the manufacture and breakdown of a variety of products. A carbon footprint conceptualizes the human contribution to climate change.

Skimping on Professional Installation May Cost More in the Long Run!

Fun fact: An improperly-installed furnace can be 30% less efficient than one that is properly-installed!

Bike to Work Week

Celebrate Bike to Work Week every May. Even better, get your workplace to participate. Consider establishing a "commuter challenge" program that puts together teams for departments, challenging employees to rack up miles from biking, walking or using public transportation instead of driving, with incentives and prizes. You could even ask a local bike shop to sponsor your competition.

Drive to Save Money

Try using some of these energy-efficient driving practices to save some cash: 

• Drive at a steady pace.
• Warm up your car for only a minimal amount of time.
• Don't "rev up" your engine.
• Drive below 55 MPH – speeding costs you money.
• Coast in gear when slowing down.

Get There Greener

Does your company offer a public transportation reimbursement program or opportunities to purchase public transit passes pre-tax? If so, consider taking advantage of these great programs. If not, try inquiring with the appropriate department about future opportunities.

Keep Your Car in Prime Condition: Air Conditioning

Roll down your windows rather than using your air conditioner when possible.

Keep Your Car in Prime Condition: Air Filter

Be sure to keep your air filters clean.

Keep Your Car in Prime Condition: Tires

Check your tire pressure regularly. Under-inflated tires reduce fuel efficiency.

Park That Car

Consider walking or riding your bike to work. If you must drive and your vehicle has a diesel engine, convert it to run on biodiesel (visit www.greasecar.com to learn more).

Taxicab Smarts

In a big city without a car? Search for "hybrid taxies" to find companies that have hybrid vehicles in their taxi fleet. Don't forget to program that number into your cell phone, too.

BBQ Responsibly

Did you know that a propane or electric grill burns cleaner than one that uses charcoal? If you do choose to use charcoal, make sure you are using lump brands from invasive tree species or harvested from sustainably-managed forests. Additionally, consider using a chimney starter to light your fire rather than lighter fluid. This is simply a metal cylinder that you fill with charcoal to create a "chimney effect."

Buy Less, Reduce Waste

Everything you buy from a store, from radishes to hairclips, required energy to grow or extract, manufacture, package, transport and sell. By finding ways to curb consumption, you can lower your carbon footprint. For example, fixing a broken item instead of throwing it away saves the energy that was required to produce the item. Look for specialist repair shops in your area, or learn a new skill yourself, such as furniture upholstery or renovation.  

Caffeine Sustainability

Americans use more than 14 billion paper cups each year, which is enough to circle the world 55 times. Styrofoam cups will stay on the planet for nine generations, enough time for your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren to be born. 

Cut the Wrap

For many Americans, a significant proportion of the household garbage can's contents consists of packaging. Even before recycling, think about avoiding waste when you shop. Consider choosing products sold in refillable containers, and make the effort to reuse them. You can even ask your favorite brands and stores to use/stock products that use this kind of packaging if they don’'t already do so.  

Don't Be a Litter Bug

Dispose of waste properly. Ninety-four percent of Americans identify litter as a major environmental problem. The biggest sources of litter are cigarette butts, bottles and cans, candy wrappers and fast-food packaging. In fact, more than 2 billion pounds of cigarette butts are discarded worldwide .

Green Cleaning

Consider swapping out your chemical-based home cleaners for baking soda-based or other homemade, nontoxic cleaners.

Pack a Waste-Free Lunch

Eliminate plastic bags, plastic utensils, disposable containers, paper napkins and brown paper bags by choosing a reusable lunchbox, reusable drink containers, cloth napkins and silverware. 

Proper Disposal of CFLs

When the time comes where you need to replace a CFL light bulb, where can you properly dispose of it? To find bulb recyclers in your area, visit the EPA website or Earth911 or see if your local municipal solid waste agency recycles them.

Recharge and Remove Waste

Consider buying rechargeable batteries and recycling them when you are done with them. Non-rechargeable batteries are tough to recycle and often end up in landfills. In addition, try not to throw batteries in the garbage; instead, find out where they can be recycled.

Save Time, Money and Trees With Online Billing

Fun fact: The average American spends 2-4 hours per month paying bills when they write and mail paper checks. If you haven't already, put your pen down and sign up for paperless billing today.

Be Bucket Smart

Leave a bucket in the shower to fill with "gray water," (water that runs when you are lathering up). You can use this water to wash your car or water your plants (except for plants you intend to eat).

Handwash Carefully

If done properly, washing dishes by hand tends to be more energy-efficient than using a dishwasher,– especially for small volumes of dishes. Instead of washing under a running faucet, put a plug in the sink, or use a large, plastic bowl. And to minimize the amount of water used when rinsing, install a low-flow aerator on your kitchen sink faucets. When washing dishes by hand, minimize the number of times you need to change the water by washing the least-dirty items first. 

Practice Smart Showering

If you install a low-flow showerhead, it will not reduce your water pressure. You can purchase a low-flow showerhead for as low as $10.

Reduce Rinsing

According to Consumer Reports, pre-rinsing dishes before you put them in the dishwasher wastes up to 20 gallons of water per load, and doesn't get them any cleaner!.

Save on the Flush

Consider installing a water-efficient toilet to save water.

Soaker Hose

Soaker hoses water more efficiently by sending moisture straight into the ground, near plants' roots, rather than into the air, where water is lost to evaporation.

Water Heater Smarts

Your water heater can be a source of wasted energy. By insulating your hot water pipes, you can avoid heat loss when the water is traveling. Additionally, setting a water heater limit – 140 degrees is the maximum needed, even for your dishwasher – can lower water costs. Lastly, before leaving for vacation, remember to unplug large appliances, and don't forget to turn down (or off) your water heater.