WHATS YOUR 1 THING?

I recycle all the garbage I can and compost food scraps. I try to buy organic products with minimal or biodegradable packaging.  -Megan, Tacoma
I take the metro bus.  -Caroline, Seattle
I have compact florescent bulbs in most of my light fixtures at home  -Anne, Seattle
I re-use almost everything I buy at least once and if I cant, I dont buy it.  -Faith, Everett
I put a sweater on instead of turning up the heat  -Jake, Puyallup
Only buy local produce. -Lindy, Bellevue  -Lindy, Bellevue
The paper towel roll sits in a lower drawer where it's hard to find. But we have plenty of cloth towels for cleaning up spills.  -Tom, Seattle
I use a bicycle instead of the car for meetings and minor errands such as going to the post office, bank or grocery store.  -Doug, Seattle
Go Solar!!!! Yes it works here!  -Kate, Seattle
I re-use my travel mug instead of accepting disposable coffee cups. Some places even offer a discount when I do this.  -Bill, Issaquah
I turn my old clothes into new clothes so i won't have to go out and buy many  -laree, portland
I use cloth shopping bags. PCC has some $10 bags made by envirosax that fold up so small, I even took one to the mall.  -Joni, Seattle
I unplug the toaster and coffee maker when I'm done using them, saving standby energy.  -Jen, Mountlake Terrace
I sell and use laundrypure in my home to remove soaps,bleach and other chemicals from my water discharge into city sewer system  -eric byers, Gig Harbor
I use a non-disposable coffee filter and use the grounds in my garden.  -Jill, Renton
Air-dry my laundry.  -Kristine, Seattle
I use the new mesh grocery bags instead of paper or plastic  -Danica, Seattle
Seattle based Go Financial Solutions to deliver a secure eDisclosure service to their customers. 100% paperless mortgage loan.  -Joe, Seattle
My housemates and I have a big vegie garden going in our yard and are watering with collected rain. Tasts so good!  -Bruce, Lake City
Only printing when I absolutely have to. Take advantage of technology and use less paper, save it online!  -Aileen H., Seattle
I collect everything in the house that can be recycled and I take it down to a designated drop-area to have it sorted.  -Antonie Moffett, Lakewood
I recycled a car. Bought a 1990 VW Cabriolet, 32 miles to the gallon, for $950. I make 6 figures but set the standard for reuse!  -David, Kirkland
Changed jobs so now I'm only 3 mi from home.  -MB, Seattle
I carpool with my divorced spouse 5 days a week.If we can make it work, you can make it work!  -Sherry, Arlington, WA
My home now runs on 100% wind power--the bill is a bit more but I hardly notice considering the impact it makes.  -Tasha, Vancouver
I work @ home, so have flexibility. From May-Oct, I try to line dry all but 3X/month. I save 100 hours of dryer time a year!  -Deirdre, Vashon
I recycle all the cardboard and paper I use.  -Chris, Portland
I'm enrolled in '100% Green Power' through Puget Sound Energy.  -Rick, Federal Way
I put food scraps (mostly unwanted vegetable parts) into the yard waste. This way it gets composted.  -Monica, Redmond
I use my own coffee mug and water bottle at work instead of the paper cups  -Priya, Bellevue
I use cloth diapers and cloth wipes on my 10 month old daughter Abigail!!  -Megan, Fort Lewis
i put my kitchen compost for yardwaste into cereal boxes, which then also become compostable  -Tammy, Seattle
I am parking my car 3 days a week, finding other ways to commute to work.  -Janelle, Bothell
I use a drying rack for my thinner clothing instead of the dryer. Cuts my elec bill and drying time!  -Erin, West Seattle
I use phosphate free, all natural detergent and softner when I do laundry.  -Kaitlin, Tacoma
My partner and I take showers together  -L, Everett
When I see a light turn yellow, I turn off the ignition and coast up to it.  -Erin, West Seattle
I replaced all light bulbs in my home with energy efficient bulbs.  -Karri, Bothell
I now use my reusable bags when I go to the grocery store instead of using the plastic bags the stores give out.  -Marilene, Seattle
I recycle paper towel and toliet paper core tubes and take my own bags to grocery shop.  -Rick , Evergreen, CO
Turn off the water heater if away for a few days. Use dimmers on our lights. Use motion lights outside for security.  -Michelle, Redmond
I ride my bike as much as possible rather then drive my car. I can easily put 150 miles on my bike a week this time of year.  -Lyn, Kent
I buy biodiesel for my VW Golf TDI at Dr. Dan's Alternative Fuelwerks in Ballard!  -Maggie Pettit, Seattle
While waiting for hot water to get to the tap, I fill a pitcher and use it to water my plants.  -Debbie, Kingston
At work I buy 100% post consumer paper for our office printing & copying needs.  -Averie, Bellevue
I use cloth bags instead of taking the plastic bag they offer  -William, Fort Lewis
Nutri lawn helps me keep my yard chemical free. Salmon spawn in the river by my house and we want to keep them from being harmed  -Dana, Issaquah
Whenever possible, I try to buy personal care products that are botanical and not tested on animals.  -Donna, Seattle
I installed a gray water toilet, using one of our rain barrels.  -Rich , Seattle
I share my home with with 5 other adults and two teens. Living together lowers our footprint and increases our fun!  -Bruce, Lake City
 

Energy

April 7, 2008 - 10:46am — clybecker

The economical and environmental cost of energy is high. Saving energy in your home can be easier then you may think. By taking simple steps you can reduce your energy costs and shrink your impact on the planet. Plugging electronics into a central power strip that can be turned off after use is an efficient way to stop those devices from sucking power. Even when electronics are not turned on they are using power if they are plugged in .

You can control the temperature in your space environmentally by closing the drapes in the evening and reopening them in the morning. This will help your home absorb the daytime heat and retain it through the night. Also, turn your thermostat down five degrees at night. By doing so you are reducing the energy consumed by up to 15 percent (3 percent for every degree). Adjust your thermostat when you leave the house for the day, programmable thermostats allow you to do so automatically.

Doing laundry requires high amounts of energy. To shrink this amount you need to run loads that are full and turn the temperature to cold. Make sure that the drier lint trap is clean. Better yet, use a clothesline. If you don’t have the space or live in an apartment you can purchase an indoor line or rack.

Forty-nine percent of Seattle’s electricity is Hydroelectric (EPA). The remainder of the power comes from a mix of coal, gas, and nuclear sources. By decreasing your electricity consumption you are helping maintain aquatic habitat and reducing your carbon output. Simple steps can help you reduce your consumption and your impact on the planet, not to mention save you money.