Green Tips for Your Home

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, here are some tips to help you make an impact-on our planet:

• Lower your thermostat by a few degrees in the winter and raise it a few degrees in the summer.
• Say goodbye to bottled water by purchasing a reusable water bottle.
• Install low-flow faucets and showerheads. If your budget allows, purchase a water efficient toilet-you may even get a rebate from your local water company.
• Start a compost in your backyard.
• Buy foods locally at a nearby farmer's market. It's good for local economy and saves gas.
• Bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.
• If you don't have your resuable shopping bags with you at the grocery store and are given the choice of paper or plastic, choose paper.
• If you like using plastic grocery bags, recycle them to be used as doggie bags, dirty diaper storage or for small trash can liners.
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout your home.
• Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Likewise, unplug electronic items, energy strips and protectors when not in use.
• Recycle newspapers, cardboard, paper and plastic items.
• Carpool to work more often or take mass transit when available.
• Recycle your old cell phone.
• If you live within close proximity to your work or downtown community, ride a bike or walk.
• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run the whole time.
• Go to your local library instead of buying new books.
• At holidays and birthdays, give your family and friends the gift of saving the earth by donating to their favorite environmental group, foundation or organization.
• Remove yourself from junk mail lists by going to http://precycle.tonic.com/. For a small fee, you'll be removed from junk mail lists, and Precycle will even plant five trees for you!
• Whenever possible, purchase products that use recyclable materials.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.
• Use organic cleaning products.
• Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables and reuse it to water houseplants.
• The next time you are getting ready to purchase a new car, consider buying a fuel-efficient car or a hybrid.
• Landscape with native plants.
• Buy organic milk.
• Cut down on paper waste. Get online subscriptions for your newspaper and magazines. Switch to online banking and opt to have your bills sent to you electronically.
• Teach children about the importance of being good to the environment.
• Take your batteries to a recycling center.
• Turn your car off if you're going to be idle for more than one minute.
• Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to "cold."
• When buying new appliances, consider those that are water and energy efficient, and offer cycle and load size adjustments.
• Reuse. Plastic food containers make good crayon and marker holders. Use padded envelops more than once. Buy your toddler or preschooler's clothes from a thrift shop and give away items that don't fit to friends.
• Limit the length of your showers. Even better, take a "navy shower," shutting off the water while soaping up and shampooing.
• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
• Wash towels only after several uses.
• Put a damper on things by installing fireplace draft stoppers, attic door covers and dryer vent seats that only open when your dryer is in use.
• Seal off drafts around your home and save 5-30 percent in energy costs.
• Recycle your technology. Dell, Hewlett Packard, Apple, and IBM, among others, offer recycling programs.
• When purchasing paint, opt for zero or low VOC paint, made by most major paint manufacturers today.
• Keep your house cooler during the summer by closing shades, blinds or curtains during the hottest times of the day.
• Line dry your clothes whenever you can.
• Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save water every time.
• Plant trees and shrubbery around your home to help keep your home cooler during the warm summer months, and help you run your air conditioner a little less.
• The next time you make improvements to your home, use green materials.
• Run your dishwasher only when it is fully loaded and turn off the dry cycle and air dry dishes instead.
• Wash your pet(s) outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
• Go paperless at work and avoid printing whenever possible.
• Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows.
• If your budget allows, install solar panels on your roof and see your energy savings soar.
• Bring your mug to your local coffee shop, or keep one on hand at work for coffee fill-ups.

Recycle Cell Phones, computers and electronics
The City of Gilroy has recycling information including information regarding the following items:
Recycle old paint
Recycle oils
Recycle paper, plastic and aluminum