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There are literally thousands of things that you can do in
the house to reduce your impact on the environment, here are
just a few:
Conserve water. Using less water means less water
needs to be treated at drinking water and sewage treatment
plants. This increases their efficiency and saves energy by
reducing the amount of water that needs to be pumped. Some
ways of reducing water consumption are:
• Use your dishwasher and washing machine only when
they are full.
• Fix leaks right away. A leaking faucet can waste 20
gallons of water a day while a leaking toilet can waste ten
times that amount.
• Replace conventional showerheads and toilets with water
saving devices - they pay for themselves in savings on your
water bill.
• Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth,
shaving or washing dishes.
• Compost food waste rather than using your garbage disposal
- it uses a lot of water at the house and increases the work
of the water treatment plant.
Reduce electricity consumption. Most power comes from
the burning of fossil fuels. In burning these fuels, toxic
substances are released which have an impact on our forests,
fish and water quality. You can reduce your electricity bill
by:
• Properly insulating your house.
• Using fans instead of air conditioning.
• Using a clothesline to dry your clothes instead of
a dryer.
• Purchasing energy efficient appliances.
• Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent
bulbs.
• Turning off televisions and VCRs at a power strip -
they continue to use a lot of energy when they are in "sleep"
mode.
Reduce your use of household chemicals. These chemicals,
some of which take years to break down, can end up in our
water and harm fish, wildlife and us!
• Look for and use non-toxic alternatives to chemical
products.
• Try homemade, non-toxic cleaners such as one part white
vinegar and one part water instead of a commercial glass cleaner.
For more suggestions visit the Chesapeake
Bay Foundation website.
• Dispose of your household chemicals through your local
government's household hazardous waste recycling program.
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