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If your vision of how you'd love to celebrate Earth Day doesn't fit in your schedule or budget (or either) right now, look at it this way: In less time than it takes to drive to work or fry up that meatless bacon in a pan, you could finish any of these little projects that will save you cash and shrink your environmental footprint.
10 minutes
- Put signs above faucets to remind your family to turn off the water when brushing their teeth. Saves 26,000 gallons of water.
- Adjust your tire pressure. Eliminates 3.3% of your average MPG.
- Turn your thermostat up two degrees higher than you normally keep it in summer. Or install a digital thermostat and program it to conserve energy when you're away or asleep. Saves 10 to 15% off your cooling/heating bill.
- Plug your TV, computer, cable box, stereo and game console into smart power strips. Saves 10% off your power bill.
30 minutes
- Vacuum the coil on the fridge. Shaves 6% off your power bill.
- Dry a load of laundry outside. No clothesline? Try a portable drying rack. Skipping the dryer can save an annual $135.
- Put up a “shade sail” or radiant barrier over a window to block the sun’s heat. Slashes 12% off your heating/cooling bill.
- Install a low-flow showerhead. Saves 18% off your water bill.
60 minutes
Gather the family and brainstorm what each of you can do to be more earth-friendly this year. Make it a contest with prizes! One winning idea: switch to a reusable water bottle and save oil, carbon and an annual $334.
Portions adapted from Celebrate Green! by Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. Copyright © 2008 by The Green Year, LLC, Renton, WA. Excerpt printed with permission from the authors.
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