Guest blog by Jan Hagerman, ReStore Manager, from DIY Friday on her 10th anniversary at the WCCO studio.
My favorite holiday doesn't usually make it on the "top five" lists of others. What is it? Earth Day! It's a day to take stock of how we're making our world and environment better for ourselves and the next generation. It's a time to set higher goals and make a conscious effort to say, "I can make a difference!"
This Earth Month, I wanted to share simple tips and tricks that help the earth AND your wallet. Many of these ideas save in more than one way: electricity, water, plastic, time, and (the big one) money.
Appliances and devices: Phantom load is the electricity that we don’t know we are using. We are always using it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t lessen the usage. Anything with a light on, even when turned off, uses a small amount of electricity. Think coffee pots, microwaves, chargers, and even computers. Unplug these items when they're not in use, and you might lower your bill by as much as $200 per year.
Ceiling fans: Change the direction on your ceiling fan by season: counterclockwise in summer, clockwise in winter. If you don’t have ceiling fans, think about installing them.
Dryers: Dryer balls shorten drying time and eliminate the need for dryer sheets, which contain plastic. A couple of drops of essential oil on the dryer balls can give a nice scent! Even better, air dry what you can. This also extends the life of your clothes.
Furnaces: Clean or replace your furnace filters at least once a year. To help me remember, I do it when the time changes for daylight savings. This takes load off the furnace and helps decrease dust in the house.
Lights: A good place to start is with what my parents used to say: "Turn the lights off; I’m not made of money!" If you're leaving a room for more than five minutes, turn the light off. Outlet timers can also help. If you have nightlights or outdoor fixtures, check to see if they have a dusk-to-dawn feature or motion sensors.
Thermostats: Check your thermostat, too. Turning it down even just one degree when the heat is on or up one degree when using air conditioning might save you up to $150 a year. Installing a programmable and/or smart thermostat can make even more of a difference.
Water heaters: Lowering the temperature on your water heater can make a difference. You can also use warm or cold water (instead of hot) when doing laundry.
A study from the World Economic Forum says that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our waterways than fish. Whether this comes true or not, any plastic is too much. Here are some ways you can cut back on your plastic use:
Reusable cloth bags for trips to the grocery store are always a good bet. Keep them in your car so you don’t forget! If you do need to use grocery bags at the store, opt for paper. When you have enough, recycle them or take them to a local food shelf or thrift store. (Many food shelves will usually take clean egg cartons, too.)
Skip the plastic bottles by switching to bar soap or shampoos. It lasts longer, too, which can save you some money. A family of four can go through 12 to 15 bottles (or more!) a year.
Try compostable bamboo toothbrushes.
Use reusable sandwich and snack bags. A family with two kids can use a lot of plastic bags in one year. Silicone sandwich bags are reusable. Plus, they cost about the same as plastic but are a one-time purchase that can be used over and over.
Consider a beeswax wrap for sandwiches as well. It also works well for food storage at home.
If you have a dog, you probably also have a small roll of plastic bags. You can’t really get away from that, but you can reuse produce bags from the grocery store one more time!
Dishwasher and laundry pods are very convenient, but other options are better at keeping microplastics out of the environment. Liquid detergent, detergent “pucks” without plastic, or detergent sheets are great choices.
It's nearly impossible to change every little thing and totally eliminate plastic. However, making small changes can still make a big difference and save you some money. These ideas could save you hundreds of dollars per year. That's a new tire or two, some holiday gifts, or fancy coffees (in your reusable cup, of course).
When you make a change or start a new habit, it takes time. Keep at it! Those small changes may seem inconsequential, but when we all do our best the impact can be huge. Cheer each other on, share ideas with your friends or family, and celebrate Earth Month all year long!