West Glenmoore, PA - Beautiful. Green. Home.

10 Pretty Simple Things You Can Do To Improve Our Environment

1. Change a lightbulb. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. Some Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) s use up to 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars.

2. Washing your car? Don’t – take it to a commercial car wash. If you can’t do that, then wash your car on a grassy area or pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you’re done.

3. Check your car for oil leaks regularly. A well tuned car uses less oil. Recycle used oil at auto supply stores or gas stations. Use your car air conditioner sparingly and avoid idling your car.

4. Position gutter downspouts, with extensions if needed, so that rain water runs into the garden or onto the lawn.

5. Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day and don’t water on windy days. If you use a humidifier, use the water it collects to water plants and gardens.

6. Don’t use anti-bacterial hand soaps – the anti-bacterial agents can end up in our drinking water.

7. Operate dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.

8. Turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth.

9. Reduce air and noise pollution with an electric or rechargeable battery operated lawn mower.

10. Plant a tree!! Some trees (i.e. London Plane) will intercept over 130 gallons of water during a minor rain storm.

Sources: www.eartheasy.com, www.dep.state.pa.us, www.treevitalize.net, www.psat.wa.gov