BRight Ideas

SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

BRIGHT IDEA no. 10

Cold Water Laundry

Consider washing clothes in cold water. Hot water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes - only 10 percent goes to electricity used by the washer motor. Cold water laundry detergents allow you to effectively wash your clothes.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 9

ENERGY STAR® Products

Buy products and appliances that have the ENERGY STAR® label on them. All ENERGY STAR® products meet strict guidelines set by the US Department of Energy.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 8

Programmable Thermostats

Set it comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don’t need as much.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 7

Always Use Full Loads

A good reason to put off those chores! Follow the full load guideline when washing dishes or clothes. This will reduce energy and water use. If you must wash a partial load, adjust water levels appropriately.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 6

Power Strips

Plug your electronics and chargers into power strips. When turning off these electronics, power down using the power strip to prevent stand-by mode from drawing idle electrical currents.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 5

Computers

Turn off your computer and monitor when they are not being used. If you use your computer at short intervals, take advantage of the energy saving stand-by settings.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 4

Showers

Take short showers instead of baths. The amount of water used and heated is significantly less for a shower. Additionally, installing low-flow a shower head will reduce your water use.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 3

Strategic Planting

Plant deciduous trees near south, east, and west-facing windows to provide needed shade in the summer, but allows the Sun's heat in during the winter.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 2

Leaky Faucets

Repairing leaky faucets in your kitchen and bath will save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

BRIGHT IDEA no. 1

Storing Leftovers

Allow hot leftovers to cool before storing them in your refrigerator. This will reduce the amount of work your fridge has to do to cool the food and the items around it.