Some you may know, some you may not….

1. Avoid giving cut flowers, plants will last longer and are a better gift.
2. Avoid leaving the water run while brushing your teeth
3. Bring your own bag when shopping instead of purchasing each time a new one. Cloth or vinyl work best.
4. Coffee drinker try to only us refillable travel mugs, even if it is from a different franchise.
5. Recycle 
6. Try to keep your desk or home office paperless.

1. Convert incandescent bulbs to more energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. The Department of Energy estimates converting only a quarter of your bulbs can reduce your lighting bill by 50%.
2. Turn lights off. If you are leaving a room for more than five minutes, turn off all lights when you leave.
3. Natural light is the most efficient light. Open blinds during the day and close them at night to conserve energy.
4. Only run your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer when full to avoid wasting energy.
5. Wash clothes in cold water and cut your energy usage by 50%.
6. Use eco friendly soaps
7. Scrape your plates. Scraping rather than rinsing dishes will help conserve water.
8. Install an energy efficient showerhead. Showers account for the largest amount of home hot water usage.
9. Lower your thermostat. You will save 3-5% for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature.
10. Unplug. Your computer, cell phone charger, video game console, and DVD player all drain electricity when not in use. A great way to identify ‘phantom’ drains is to walk through your home with the lights off and look for those red and green lights still shining. If you don’t need it, turn it off. Avoid putting devices on standby over night.
11. Opt out of printed phone books and catalogues/brochures. Nowadays most companies offer online-shops or directories.
    
12. Try to travel via bicycle or by public transportation.
    
13. Support local food growers. Buy locally grown food.
14. Electrical dryers need a lot of energy, use a clothes rack
15. If possible try to improve the insulation of your home the better it is insulated the less energy you will used to keep it cool or warm.
16. Paint your roof top white For whatever reason frosted shingles are hard to find. A white roof attracts less heat in the summer. Displacing that heat will keep your home much cooler.
17. Zero garbage. If you take care to only purchase things packaged in recyclable cartons ie glass, plastics and paper. Avoid buying things in a metal can, Aluminum is o.k. Paper cartons can be recycled with news papers if there is no wax or food bits on them. Build a compost for your organic materials