COST (FOR MATERIALS AND LABOR, IF APPLICABLE):_____
Reset the refrigerator and freezer settings
I CHANGED THE REFRIGERATOR FROM:_____°F. TO:_____°F.
I CHANGED THE FREEZER FROM:_____°F. TO:_____°F. DATE:_____
Run only full dishwasher loads DATE:_____
Skip the dishwasher’s Heated Dry cycle DATE:_____
Don’t prerinse the dishes DATE:_____
Wash only full loads of clothes in cold water
DATE I BEGAN WAITING FOR A FULL LOAD:_____
DATE I SWITCHED TO COLD WATER:_____
Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
LIGHTBULB CHANGED:_____ DATE:_____ COST:_____
LIGHTBULB CHANGED:_____ DATE:_____ COST:_____
LIGHTBULB CHANGED:_____ DATE:_____ COST:_____
Start turning off appliances, lights, etc. when not in use
DATE:_____
Buy a home energy management system
DATE I INSTALLED THE SYSTEM:_____
COST:_____
Install a net metering setup DATE:_____COST:_____
Check a box on your electricity bill for green power
PROVIDER:_____
TYPE OF GREEN POWER (E.G., WIND, SMALL HYDROELECTRIC, SOLAR):_____
DATE:_____COST:_____
Go solar
DATE I INSTALLED A SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM:_____COST:_____
PERCENT OF MY POWER NEEDS BEING MET BY THE SYSTEM:_____
Lease a solar setup
DATE I INSTALLED A LEASED SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM:_____COST:_____
PERCENT OF MY POWER NEEDS BEING MET BY THE SYSTEM:_____
Install a wind power system DATE:_____ COST:_____
PERCENT OF MY POWER NEEDS BEING MET BY THE SYSTEM:_____
Install a time-of-use meter DATE:_____COST:_____
Use power off-peak
AMOUNT OF ENERGY I USED TO USE DURING HIGH-PEAK HOURS:_____
DURING LOW-PEAK HOURS:_____DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS:_____
AMOUNT OF ENERGY I NOW USE DURING HIGH-PEAK HOURS:_____
DURING LOW-PEAK HOURS:_____DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS:_____
ACTIVITIES I’VE BEEN ABLE TO SWITCH TO OFF-PEAK HOURS
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
GAS/OTHER ENERGY SAVINGS
Dry clothes on a rack or line DATE:_____ COST:_____
Use the dryer’s moisture sensor instead of timed dry
DATE:_____
Clean the dryer’s lint filter before each load
DATE:_____
Change the water heater’s setting
DATE:_____
I CHANGED IT FROM:_____°F. TO:_____°F.
Wrap the water heater DATE:_____ COST:_____
Draw the drapes
DATE I BEGAN DRAWING THE DRAPES OR CLOSING THE BLINDS OR SHUTTERS AT NIGHT INTHE WINTER:_____
DATE I BEGAN DRAWING THE DRAPES OR CLOSING THE BLINDS OR SHUTTERS DURING THE DAY IN THE SUMMER:_____
Install window film to block UV rays DATE:_____COST:_____
Caulk around the windows DATE: COST:
Install an energy-saving thermostat DATE: COST: Swap a gas mower for an electric or manual model
Swap a gas mower for an electric or manual model
DATE:_____ COST:_____
Plant a no-mow meadow or lawn DATE:_____ COST:_____
Get a rechargeable leaf blower DATE:_____ COST:_____
Install awnings on south-facing windows (and possibly east-and west-facing windows, too) DATE:_____ COST:_____
Get an Energy Star-qualified air conditioner
DATE:_____COST:_____
Get a more efficient dishwasher DATE INSTALLED:_____ COST:_____
Get an air purifier DATE:_____ COST:_____
Get an Energy Star-qualified refrigerator
DATE INSTALLED:_____ COST:_____
Get an Energy Star-qualified washing machine
DATE INSTALLED:_____ COST:_____
Add insulation
DATE ADDED TO THE ATTIC:_____ COST:_____
DATE ADDED TO THE WALLS:_____ COST:_____
Get energy-efficient windows
DATE INSTALLED:_____ NUMBER OF WINDOWS CHANGED:_____ COST:_____
Get a highly efficient gas hot water heater DATE INSTALLED:_____ COST:_____
Let the sun heat your water DATE INSTALLED:_____ COST:_____
WATER SAVINGS
Turn off the tap while brushing teeth, shaving, doing dishes
DATE:_____
Take shorter showers NUMBER OF MINUTES’ DIFFERENCE:_____ DATE:_____
Stop hosing off the sidewalk DATE:_____
Take baths instead of showering DATE:_____
Stop flushing your trash DATE:_____
Fix a leaky toilet
DATE:_____ COST (MATERIALS AND LABOR, IF ANY):_____
Get a new low-flow toilet DATE:_____ COST:_____
Water garden/lawns early or late in the day DATE:_____
Do extra watering with a hose or watering can DATE:_____
Buy a rain barrel DATE:_____ COST:_____
Lose the lawn
WHAT IT WAS REPLACED WITH:_____ DATE:_____ COST:_____
RECYCLING CRIB SHEET
Location of my local recycling center
* * *
* * *
What can go in the curbside recycling bins
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
What I had been putting in bins by mistake
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Closest redemption center or store for returning deposit bottles and cans
* * *
* * *
Money recouped from redemptions:
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
Location of local recycling center that accepts scrap metal
* * *
* * *
Items I’ve recycled so far
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Money received/dates
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
Avoid products packaged in no. 3 and no. 5 plastics
Location of my local recycling center
* * *
* * *
Location of a cleaner or grocery that accepts plastic bags
* * *
* * *
MONEY RECEIVED/DATES
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
Location of special recycling center for high-quality paper
* * *
* * *
MONEY RECEIVED/DATES
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
DATE:__________ AMOUNT:__________
Donate magazines after reading them
Location of my local hazardous waste drop-off center
* * *
* * *
Items I’ve dropped off
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Location of drop-off center for partially filled paint cans
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Location of my local computer recycling center
* * *
Items I’ve dropped off
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Location of my local thrift shop or other drop-off centers
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Location of my local eyeglass drop-off center
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
Location of my local cell phone drop-off center
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
* * *
TOTAL TAX WRITE-OFF:_____
RESULTS
ELECTRIC BILLS
The best way to get a feel for how much energy—and money—you’re saving is to compare your energy bills. Specifically, you’ll want to compare the year-to-year bills (i.e., the April 2008 bill against the April 2007 bill) to minimize the differences in seasonal usage.
Here’s a chart that makes it easy for you to record your electric bills. First write down the amount of each of your electric bills over the last year (e.g., April 2007, May 2007, June 2007, etc.). Continue to record the amount of your electric bill each month as it arrives. Then subtract the recent bill’s total from the previous year’s to get a sense of your savings, and just how much of a difference all of these Easy, Not-So-Big, and Big Changes have made in your energy consumption.
Since your utility company may increase its rates over time, I’ve included a space to record the number of kilowatt-hours you’ve used. This kilowatt-hour information is also handy to have when you want to purchase a TerraPass or other carbon offset product, or whenever you decide to look into a wind or solar electric system for your home.
GAS BILLS
Just as you’ve recorded your electric bills, you’ll also want to keep track of your natural gas bills, so you can appreciate those energy savings.
Again, start by writing down the amount of each of your monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly gas bills over the last year. Then continue recording the amount of your gas bill each month as it arrives.
Many gas bills include information on daily average use, which is a good way to keep track of your energy use over time. If your bill does not have this feature, you can record the number of therms used or whatever quantity/usage figure your utility company provides.
WATER BILLS
Many of the changes we’ve discussed will cut back on your water usage. This chart provides an easy place to record your water bills, so you can see the difference you’ve made.
GASOLINE COSTS
Many of the transportation changes we discussed in Chapter 2 will affect your gasoline costs, and so will some of the garden-related changes, such as switching from a gasoline-powered lawn mower to a push mower or an electric mower. Here’s the place to keep track of your gasoline expenses over time.
HEALTH BENEFITS
A lot of the changes you’ve been making will have health benefits. Here’s a handy place to keep track of the benefits you’ve seen. In each case, just record the action you’ve taken and then record any benefits you’ve experienced.
For instance, if you start riding your bike to work, you might notice increased muscle tone, better stamina, and feeling more relaxed overall. Or if you switch to earth-friendly paints, you might notice that you and your family experience fewer headaches, fewer allergies, less sniffling, and so on.
To help get you started, I’ve filled in a few of the actions here.
RECYCLING-RELATED BENEFITS
When you start recycling on a regular basis, you’ll notice a real difference in the amount of trash you’re sending to a landfill. It might be fun—and revealing—to keep track of just how full your trash cans are or how many bags you put out for pickup, as you begin getting into the recycling routine.
Perhaps you normally fill up two trash cans each week. Over time, you might fill just one can per week, or perhaps it will only be half full.
You also might notice some other benefits from the various types of recycling we discussed, like giving stuff away to charity, using a service like Freecycle, or holding a garage sale. Here’s a place to record those benefits.
Any extra room in my garage or closets or elsewhere? _____
Any psychological relief from reduced clutter? _____
CHARITY-RELATED BENEFITS
If you donate items to charity—including things like clothes, linens, toys, computers, cell phones, and books—you typically will get a tax write-off. Here’s a handy place to keep track of what you’ve donated and the financial benefit you’ve received.
GROCERY BILLS
When you grow your own food, you should see some real savings on your grocery bill.
YARD-CARE COSTS
If you’ve made some of the other garden-related changes we’ve discussed, such as removing or reducing the size of your lawn or changing from needy plants to native ones, you may see some real savings in your yard-care costs. For instance, you might be paying less for yard and garden maintenance. If you’ve been making your own compost and using it throughout your yard, you might be spending less on fertilizer and weed-control products. And if you’ve stopped buying poisons and you’ve started buying beneficial insects, you should see some cost savings there as well.
Here’s a good place to track your yard-care costs over time.
STILL MORE RESULTS
Many other changes can yield all kinds of great results. For example, if you’ve gotten your kids involved in gardening, they may have learned about the cycle of life or about where food comes from. They might even have developed an interest in cooking.
If you’ve switched from paying your bills by mail to paying them online, you’ve certainly saved on postage costs, and you might even have saved several trips to the post office, which can save time and gasoline.
Likewise, if you’ve switched from sending letters to doing more of your correspondence by e-mail, you’ll save stamps and paper and envelopes.
Switching from disposable batteries to rechargeable ones can mean money in your pocket and fewer trips to the store, too.
You also might have noticed some other benefits if you’ve started growing your own food or buying organic meat and produce at a store or a farmers’ market. For instance, there could be an obvious difference in the quality of the meat and produce, or in the flavors—even in how long produce lasts once you’ve purchased it. You also may feel an enhanced sense of community.
This chart is a great place to record these results—and others—that you’ve noticed as you’ve made lifestyle changes. Again, I’ve filled in a few examples to get you going.
THE BOTTOM LINE
By now, I’m sure you’ve proved to yourself—and perhaps a doubting spouse or friend—that making environmentally friendly choices is good not just for the environment, it’s good for your pocketbook, too.
Acknowledgments
Sue Elliott—Thank you for being my writing partner.
David Brower—You are a constant source of inspiration for me.
Living Like Ed Page 21
