As we prepare for Earth Day, you may feel compelled to try something new to save the planet. Sure, you’re already doing your part by separating glass from plastics from aluminum cans. But what else can be done?
To answer that question we compiled a list of tips from a number of sources, including some of our own Broadcom employees, to help you re-think how you shop, work or clean.
- Use a refillable water bottle or a ceramic coffee mug instead of the plastic and paper varieties.
- BYOS: Bring your own silverware with your lunch when you head off to work. You’ll cut down on waste from the plastic utensils that many of us use.
- Shut off the Water: Letting the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving can waste 150 gallons of water per month.
- Pay your bills online instead of sending paper checks in a paper envelope in the mail.
- Hang clothes on a laundry line instead of using a clothes dryer.
- Use the same paper cup for several days. Turning it over at the end of the day will keep overnight dust from settling inside.
- Use recycled tote bags at the grocery store.
- Use cloth napkins at dinner instead of paper
- Collect rainwater and use it to water your houseplants and garden
- Use Baking Soda to scour your sinks, pots and pans or tile surfaces. It’s both a deodorizer and abrasive scouring agent.
- To help reduce CO2 emissions (from trucks, airplanes and cargo ships), buy food that’s in season, organic, and grown locally.
- Unplug your cell phone charger when it’s not charging your phone. Most chargers – including those for laptops, iPods, digital cameras and other electronics – continue to draw electricity when they’re not being used to charge devices.
- Clean the lint filter in your dryer after each load. It improves the air circulation and reduces energy use.
- Keeping your thermostat set to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer not only helps lower the energy bill but can also reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
- Olive Oil is great for cleaning wood surfaces. Mix it with water and vinegar to clean your hard wood floors.
- Avoid placing an air conditioner next to a TV, lamp, or other appliance that generates heat. It could confuse the unit’s thermostat and cause it to run longer than necessary.
- Insulating your attic reduces the amount of energy loss in most houses by up to 20%.
- Wash clothes using cold water to use 80 percent less energy and save an estimated $60 per year.
- Avoid products with a lot of packaging.
- Turn off your computer at night. Devices left on standby – or sleep mode -use about 40 percent of their full running power.
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