There are many simple things you can do in your daily life to help save the environment and also save yourself money, such as:
Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (available at any hardware store). Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 per year. Compact Fluorescents use 75 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.
Keep The Fridge Door Closed
Don't stand in front of an open refrigerator while deciding what you want to eat. Every time you open a refrigerator door, the compressor has to run for 8-10 minutes to keep the inside cold.
Change Your Air Filter
Check your car's air filter monthly. Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $130 per year (replacing a clogged air filter can increase your mileage by 10 percent). |
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Take Your Name Off Mailing Lists
This will save trees and the energy used in paper production.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year.
Remove Unnecessary Items From Your Car
Each 100 pounds of weight decreases fuel efficiency by 1 %.
Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
Using less water in the shower means less energy to heat the water. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150. |
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Buy Minimally Packaged Goods
Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 per year.
Buy a Hybrid Car
The average driver could save 16,000 lbs. of CO2 and $3,750 per year driving a hybrid
Shut Off Lights
Turn off lights in rooms you aren’t using.
Recycle Your Garbage
Recycle paper, plastic and glass. Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
Plant a Tree
Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year. |
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Insulate Your Water Heater
Keep your water heater insulated could save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
Replace Old Appliances
Inefficient appliances waste energy. Save hundreds of lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
Weatherize Your Home
Caulk and weather strip your doorways and windows. Save 1,700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $274 per year.
Use a Push Mower
Use your muscles instead of fossil fuels and get some exercise. Save 80 lbs of carbon dioxide and save the cost of the gas.
Unplug Un-Used Electronics
Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 per year.
Put on a Sweater
Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes. Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $250 per year.
Insulate Your Home
Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $245 per year.
Air Dry Your Clothes
Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. Save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $75 per year. |
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Switch to a Tankless Water Heater
Your water will be heated as you use it rather than keeping a tank of hot water. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $390 per year.
Buy Organic Food
The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply and require energy to produce.
Bring Cloth Bags to the Market
Use your own cloth bag instead of plastic or paper bags, or reuse your existing grocery bags. This reduces waste and requires no additional energy.
Switch to Double Pane Windows
Double pane windows keep more heat inside your home so you use less energy. Save 10,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $436 per year.
Inflate Your Tires
Keep the tires on your car adequately inflated. Check them monthly. Save 250 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $840 per year (by improving your fuel economy by about 3.3 percent).
Buy Used Items
Use a service like craigslist.org or FreeSharing.org to buy used furniture and other items. Also check out garage sales and thrift stores for clothing and other everyday items.
Take Shorter Showers
Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $99 per year.
Buy Local Produce
On the average, produce grown in the U.S. travels 1500 miles to reach grocery store shelves. Save on fuel by buying from local growers.
Fix Dripping Faucets
A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. That not only increases water bills, but also increases the gas or electric bill for heating the water. |
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Give Homemade Gifts
Be creative in your gift giving, including making homemade gifts, donating to a charity on behalf of the recipient, or even regifting.
Change the AC Filter
Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended. Save 350 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $150 per year. Dirty air filters cause the AC unit to work harder than necessary.
Filter Your Water
Filter your tap water instead of buying bottled water. This will save you money and reduce container waste.
Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies
Using simple ingredients such as baking soda, soap, and vinegar, you can make cheap, easy, and non-toxic cleaning products that really work. Save money, time, and improve indoor air quality. |
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Use Libraries
Borrowing from libraries, instead of buying personal books and movies, saves money, printing resources, and waste.
Fill the Dishwasher
Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Save 100 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
Don't Iron
Instead of ironing, hang clothes in the bathroom while you shower
Buy a Fuel Efficient Car
Getting a few extra miles per gallon makes a big difference. Save thousands of lbs. of CO2 and a lot of money per year in gas costs.
Buy White Toilet Paper
Buy plain white toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. Dyed paper pollutes.
Water Your Lawn At Night
This helps limit evaporation.
Buy Rechargeable Batteries
This will save money and waste. |
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Thaw Frozen Foods
Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator to reduce cooking times.
Carpool When You Can
Carpooling with friends and co-workers saves fuel. Save 790 lbs. of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.
Use Recycled Paper
Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper. Save 5 lbs. of carbon dioxide per ream (500 sheets) of paper.
Use Pump Sprays Instead Of Aerosol
Helps save the ozone layer.
Check Your Hot Water Heater
Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120°F. Save 550 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $30 per year.
Note: Many of the tips on this page are from StopGlobalWarming.org 
