Go Green!

Spring.... That favorite time of year. It hit almost 60 here yesterday! Time to say, "Goodbye" to winter. We are so ready.

We'll be posting the latest on our adoption journey soon! Just a quick post to encorage everyone to " Go Green." Try doing some of the things listed below to do your share.

Top 10 Tips for Greening Your Home

1) Make your fridge efficient. In many households the single biggest electricity user is the refrigerator. You can reduce the energy drain with a few simple tricks. Cleaning the coils every six months will help you use less energy and save money. (Flip up or remove the kick plate or toe grill, and clean with a vacuum attachment or bottle brush. Make sure to unplug the fridge or turn off its circuit breaker first.) Keep the fridge set between 38 and 40 degrees and the freezer between 0 and 5 degrees — the settings where it's most efficient. Learn more about efficient appliances at www.energystar.gov.

2) Stop phantom waste Unplugging TVs, DVD players, computers, and other major electronics when they're not in use could keep thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air each year. Even when they're turned off, their standby consumption is about equal to running a light bulb continuously. To avoid the hassle of constantly plugging and unplugging, here's an easy solution: Plug several electronics onto one power strip and switch it off. As for small gadgets like cell phones, digital cameras, and hand-held vacuums —once they're charged, keep them unplugged until needed.

3) Light up right Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are small fluorescent light bulbs that use at least 2/3 less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and can be screwed into a regular light socket. Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is a very effective way to reduce energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. Even though fluorescent bulbs cost more, you'll save up to $60 in energy bills over the lifetime of the bulb.

4) Flush water waste A whopping 40 percent of the water used in your home goes down the toilet. A low-flow toilet can cut the amount you use by half or more (and yes, it'll work just as well). A low-tech alternative: Put a brick or plastic milk jug filled with pebbles in the tank. The space it takes up reduces the amount of water needed to fill the tank, so you'll save gallons (and money) with each flush.

5)Fix drips and leaks Got a leaky faucet? Then it’s time to call the plumber. That slow but steady drip, drip, drip can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day. Extra credit: Replace standard faucets and showerheads with low-flow versions and save 20,000 gallons of water a year (based on a family of four). Other water-saving tips include keeping a pitcher of water in the fridge so you don't waste water waiting for it to get cold from the tap. Another tip is to turn the water off when brushing your teeth.

6) Use dishwasher smarts You can save up to 20 gallons of water a day by waiting till your dishwasher's full to switch it on. You'll save even more energy by letting dishes air dry on the racks instead of using the heat dry cycle. Plus, most new dishwashers don't need you to pre-rinse. Simply scrape off food and load, and you'll conserve another 20 gallons.

7)Adjust the thermostat The average home spends about $1,900 annually on energy bills. Heating and cooling accounts for as much as half of a home’s energy use. Turning the thermostat just two degrees up or down can save a lot of energy and money. Save energy by setting your thermostat dial to 68 degrees in winter and 72 in the summer. For winter nights, lower to 65 degrees and pile on the blankets. And if possible, opt for an energy-efficient fan instead of air conditioning during summer. For more recommendations, get a copy of EPA's A Guide to

8)Bring your own bag It takes 12 million barrels of oil, and 14 million trees, to make all the paper and plastic bags Americans go through each year. Next time you shop, take cloth bags (keep a few in the trunk to have on hand). Or just reuse — sturdy plastic bags or double-bagged paper ones hold up for months, and they're free. Extra credit: Reuse plastic produce bags, or pick up a few cloth ones available at many stores.

9)Break the bottle habit Making and even recycling plastic water bottles uses energy and releases pollution, and every year, millions of them wind up in landfill. It's not worth the waste, argues Gina Solomon, senior scientist for the National Resources Defense Council. "Bottled water is often just tap water with a fancy label and a high price, and it's not any better for you," she says. In fact, Consumer Reports found that about a quarter of bottled water comes from the tap.

10)Recycle It sounds old-fashioned to mention recycling — until you consider that an incredible 69 percent of Americans still don't do it. To learn more about the recycling process and recycling opportunities go to EPA’s site: http://www.epa.gov/msw/recycle.htm. Tip: Try to steer clear of food and products wrapped in excess packaging.

Kyle encouraged me by reminding me that we are doing well on the following:

There is still more we can do, but there is always room for improvement.
3) Light up right
5) Fix drips and leaks
6) Use dishwasher smarts
7) Adjust the thermostat
8) Bring your own bag
9) Break the bottle habit
10) Recycle