Green Tips | Green Action Team

Here are some Green Tips to use in your everyday life:

• Use timers on your outdoor decorations
  
• Unplug energy "robbers" such as cell phone chargers and any appliance with lighted features
  
• Set the thermostat, if programmable, to reduce the room temperature to 65 at bedtime and back to 70 about an hour before you awaken.
  
• Substitute legumes, beans, nuts, tofu, and plant-based meats for meat one day a week...or more.
  
• Buy local produce or produce in season.  Fresh blueberries travel hundreds or thousands of mile to arrive at the grocery store.  Frozen berries have nearly the same benefits as "fresh".
  
• Reduce your food waste by "raiding your refrigerator" to make homemade soups or a stir-fry meal.  Composting non-meat scraps is a great way to amend your vegetable or flower garden plants.  Freeze leftovers your tired of eating and try them for a later lunch or dinner meal.
  
• Learn the R-Value of your home: R-Value is shorthand for any insulation’s thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. Depending on where you live, your type of home heating and cooling systems, and the specific area of your home you’re insulating, you can determine the R-value you’ll need.  The U.S. Department of Energy offers great online resources for learning what level R-value your home needs, including an R-value map for U.S. climate zones and overview of insulation material options.
  
• Check your doors and windows to determine whether or not they permit cold air to penetrate.  Add seals or caulk as needed.
  

Stay tuned for more Green Tips!