Tiller’s Top 10 Tips for Helping the Environment*

There are lots of things you can do to help save the planet. Here are 10 of our favorite ideas, gleaned from a variety of reliable sources. Some of these are new ideas, some are old standbys, but all are easy to put in place.

1. Use smart power strips for things like computers and home entertainment centers to prevent them from drawing current while idle. Along the same lines (no pun intended), unplug the chargers for your cell-phone, iPod and wireless handhelds when not in use.

2. Select the green power option from your local utility company. And if they don’t offer it, call, write or e-mail them to request it.

3. Shower but keep them short. According to the EPA, every five minutes of shower time uses 10 to 25 gallons of water and a full tub requires 70 gallons.

4. Remove yourself from junk mail lists. Save one tree for each year you say no to junk mail. www.greendimes.com or www.41pounds.org can help. And to save more trees, remember to print on both sides of the paper.

5. Go fluorescent. Replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps/light bulbs (CFLs) and you will use 66% less energy. According to Vanity Fair, if every household replaced just one regular light bulb with a CFL, pollution-wise, it would be like taking one million cars off the road. But please note: because CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, it is important to dispose of them in an environmentally responsible manner.

6. Use a reusable water bottle rather than disposable water bottles.

7. Stop rinsing your dishes before sticking them in the dishwasher. It doesn’t help and skipping the pre-wash can save up to 10 gallons of water per dish load. And while we’re on the subject, only run your dishwasher when it’s full.

8. Many homes are accidental sources of water pollutants, because harmful substances like lawn and garden chemicals, outdoor cleaning products, and even pet waste wash off your property and into local waterways. Use all household chemicals sparingly, and dispose of all other potential pollutants properly.

9. When it comes to gift giving, send a card at www.treegreetings.com and a tree will be planted on behalf of the recipient or send a green starter kit from www.greensender.com.

10. Spread the word – use environmentally-conscious e-mail signatures with helpful hints/reminders to think long and hard before printing out e-mails.

*With special thanks to the EPA, Vanity Fair, The Green Team, and our friends at www.greensender.com.

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