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IN THIS ISSUE
No Guilt New Year Resolutions
Put your computer to sleep
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 Useful Resources
Our directory of service providers is growing rapidly. Whether you are interested in weatherization, organic lawn care, alternative energy, or other services to reduce your environmental impact, check out our directory for local companies offering the services you need.
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Put Your Computer to Sleep!
A recent study by the Energy Center of Wisconsin found huge energy savings opportunities with home computers.
Fully two thirds of the desktop computers in the study group are either left on all the time, or are left idle for long periods each day.
In addition, 80% of desktops do not have sleep/hibernate enabled for the computer. However, most are set to put the monitor to sleep, which may lead the computer's owner to incorrectly believe that the computer is in sleep/hibernate mode.
Simply enabling sleep/hibernate mode for these computers could reduce electricity use for these PCs by about 50% -- nearly 300 kWh per year! There are some great resources to help guide you through turning on the energy management features for your computer: Quickly estimate the potential company-wide energy savings of using computer power management with Verdiem's energy and cost savings calculator. |
Sick of "Mall Madness"? Try some alternatives:
If joining the madness of shopping mania has you feeling blue, don't despair, here's an "Alternative Holiday Celebration Strategy" for you to try that will save bundles of money and put the spirit of the season at center stage.
- Try a "recycled holidays" approach by making a suggestion to family and friends to give gifts from something you each already own, such as your favorite book; or make something: a loaf of home-made bread, a poem, story, or family legend. Re-gifting is allowed, as well as passing along unused items.
- Give holiday adventures - Do you think your mom, sister, father, brother, friends and others would rather receive another gift or to spend a few hours with you? Gather your friends, nieces and nephews for an afternoon of sledding with some hot cocoa, with maybe a movie or cookie baking sprinkled in. The gift - fun times for all and a break for the parents. The memories - priceless, only costing a little time and planning.
- Top Green gift that keeps on giving (and saving) - Advanced Power Strips are the latest buzz around Boston... Did you see our ads that ran in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald? $10 instant rebates available from most MA electricity providers. Additional $4 discount for MA residents is available through 12/31/10.
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No Guilt New Year Resolutions to live more gently
If you've set the intention to live more gently on the Earth, good for you. This money-making list of New Year Resolutions will help you acheive that goal and earn a lot of money through these energy saving strategies. Once a month take time to look at your goals, celebrate your accomplishments, and adjust the goals if necessary, but don't give up.
1) Lose carbon pounds while losing weight.
If losing weight and exercising more is on your list, try the "Hang Your Laundry" Yoga technique. Carrying wet laundry and stretching to hang the laundry will help you burn about 135 calories per hour and save:
- Between $50 - $85/year and over 1300 carbon lbs/year for 1 load of laundry/week.
- Between $300 - $500/year and over 18,000 carbon lbs/year for 6 loads of laundry/week.
For more info visit: Project Laundry List. To find sturdy, locally made sustainable wooden clothes racks to dry your laundry year round visit Laundry Products.
2) Detox kitchen cabinets and breathe easier.
Take time in early January to inventory your cleaning supplies and gather the dangerous ones for Hazardous Waste Removal Day. If the warning labels state: "Hazardous to Humans and Domestic Animals", that means the products are not safe for you, your children, or pets and should be removed from your home. Check out our list of safe alternatives listed in a previous newsletter.
3) Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
If you are not recycling, it's the perfect time to start. It's easy and you can reduce your trash by at least 50%, saving you money and saving the landfills from things that can be reused. If you are recycling already, keep it up and challenge yourself to further reduce your waste, by perhaps starting to compost or eliminating paper napkins and other disposables in the kitchen.
4) Slay your Energy Vampires and save ~10 - 20% of your electric bill.
- Unplug all cell phone chargers, DS devices, iPods, shavers, toothbrushes and power tools when they are fully charged. If left plugged in, they will drain electricity like a garden hose left running. Want to leave these devices plugged in? Consider plugging them into a charging station which will stop the flow of electricity once fully charged -- saving money and increasing the life span of your rechargeable devices.
- Consider unplugging coffee makers and toasters that have clocks on them. Ask yourself if you really need that clock, or can you save some watts that are trickling out like a leaky faucet?
- Downsize the number of cordless phones, and perhaps replace one or more with an "old fashioned phone" that uses no electricity and will work when the electricity is out.
- Look for "chunky" plugs or transformer plugs that are drawing electricity 24x7; for example: pencil sharpeners, water fountains, piano keyboards, amplifiers, and more. Only plug them in when in use.
5) Put a sweater and windbreaker on your home or apartment. - Get an energy audit to learn where your heat and cool air is leaking into and out of your home.
- Weatherize your home to stop air leaks from letting your heat and cool air flow out of your home:
- Stop the attic hatch from snatching cold air from your home.
- Air seal your windows from the inside with beautiful thermal window treatments.
- Air seal around all recessed lights, chimney, and plumbing stacks in your attic and add cellulose insulation on top of your other insulation. This will be a nice snug hat for your home, saving you almost 40% of your fuel bill.
6) Heat your water with the sun... go solar.
Affordable and clean energy can heat water with sunshine. Even in the dead of winter your water will get 50% heated from solar energy. Get a quote from one of our solar service providers as these systems pay for themselves in as little as 4 - 6 years.
7) Stop "stuffocating" and donate your used household items to Home Goods Recycling of Massachusetts (HGRM). You'll keep usable home goods from landfills while helping a great organization, HGRM, help others such as those recovering from a fire, leaving a domestic violence shelter, or helping a veteran get on their feet. 8) Give yourself a raise by saving the money you would have spent on electricity and energy this year. Once you accomplish your other New Year goals, you'll have money in your pocket to save. For example, if you eliminate all energy vampires and your electric bill is currently: - $50/month, minimum savings ~ $5/month or $60/year.
- $150/month, minimum savings ~ $15/month or $180/year.
- $400/month, minimum savings ~ $40/month or $480/year.
- >$400 a month? Call toll free 1-866-863-0295 and we'll help you save over $1000/year.
9) Take small steps to help yourself live greener. For example, if you are still bringing purchases home in plastic bags from stores, buy reusable bags. If you already have reusable bags, make a habit of leaving them in your car ~ ready when you are shopping. If you need encouragement or have questions about your green New Year goals, contact us and we'll help you take steps to live more gently. Please e-mail us or call 978-707-2347 for more information.
Still reading? Thank You! Wishing you many blessings in the New Year. Peace for you and Mother Earth. Laura Kischitz and Dianne Martz
Co-Founders Sustainable Life Solutions |
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