1. Become a Vegetarian
The meat industry is one of the most inefficient industries in existence. According to the USDA, growing crops for farm animals requires nearly half of the U.S. water supply and 80% of its agricultural land. Animals raised for food in the U.S. consume 90% of the soy crop, 80% of the corn crop, and 70% of its grain. In tracking food animal production from the feed through to the dinner table, the inefficiencies of meat, milk and egg production range from a 4:1 energy input to protein output ratio up to 54:1. The result is that producing animal-based food is typically much less efficient than the harvesting of grains, vegetables, legumes, seeds and fruits,
2. Get a High-Efficiency Showerhead.
A high-efficiency showerhead saves up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year.
3. Recycle Water in Your Bathroom.
Use devices such as the Sink Positive system, which allows you to reuse sink water for flushing your toilet. Or keep a bucket by the shower or tub and fill it with the cold water that comes out before the hot water kicks in. Then you can take the bucket outside and use it to water your plants.
4. Compost.
Use a com-poster to turn your food and lawn wastes into rich mulch. It’s a great way to reduce your trash production, and the combination of food waste and all of those falling leaves is the perfect mix for composting. Next spring you’ll have rich compost ready to go for spring planting.
5. Improve the Efficiency of Your Existing Hot Water Heater.
Tank-less and solar hot water heaters are great, but simple changes to your existing setup can cut your energy bills and carbon emissions by 25 percent or more. Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees.
6. Use High-Efficiency Outdoor Lighting.
A typical 100-watt floodlight, if used for six hours per day, can consume up to $40 of electricity over the course of a year and produce upwards of 400 pounds of CO2 depending on where you live. For starters, replace those floodlights with compact-fluorescent versions — they’re just as bright and use 1/4 the energy.
7. Replace High-Use Indoor Lights with Compact Fluorescents or LEDs.
Today’s compact fluorescent bulbs are better than ever. No long waits to get up to full power, high-quality light, sizes for almost any fixture and even versions that are dimmable for all of those recessed lights.
8. Load Up the Washing Machines.
Make sure you run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they’re full. Clothes washers are huge energy and water users, so make sure you’re doing full loads.
9. Drive Smarter
Hybrids, biodiesels, electric – today we have more choices than ever when it comes to efficient transportation. But, some simple changes in our existing driving habits can improve fuel efficiency by up to 25%. Tips include driving at (or near!) the speed limit, keeping your tires inflated, making sure oil and air filters are clean, and stepping on the gas / brakes carefully. Driving like a drag racer may be fun, but it has a substantial environmental cost!
10. Avoid the Daily Waste of Fast Food and Shopping.
All of those bags, cups, and containers really add up and are stuffing our landfills to capacity. Bring your own plastic/metal boxes to your favorite take-out joint. You’ll save resources and save them mey. Use reusable shopping bags whenever you go to the store. Say “No Thanks” when the pharmacist or fast food clerk tries to put your one or two items in a bag. Use reusable cups for coffee and other beverages including for soda and fountain drinks. And, reuse some of the extras at home – keep extra napkins and reuse plastic cups and cutlery.
