Map stops before moving
Whether you’re looking to buy a new home or rent an apartment, there are many things to consider when relocating, beyond the number of bedrooms or bathrooms. Make a map of the locations you visit frequently, such as your places of work and worship, and where you work out or shop for groceries. Their distance away from your home is also part of your personal eco-sphere, and a long daily commute can add up, both in your environmental impact and your wallet.
FRIDGE AT REST
A refrigerator uses about 15 percent of your household’s average energy bill every month. If you’re planning to go away on vacation or are just leaving for an extended period, there are things you can do to maximize its efficiency without having to unplug it. First, turn off the ice maker and the water supply; if you turn off the water, the ice maker must be off so it does not malfunction. Then raise the temperature to 40 degrees, which is the maximum temp for your fridge to keep food fresh. The best thing to do? Empty the fridge completely of perishables and flip the switch at the circuit breaker box.
DRY CLEAN (ONLY?)
Dry cleaning can be wasteful because many cleaners still use harsh chemicals, clothes get wrapped in plastic and hung with disposable hangers, and it can cost a lot of money to keep your clothes maintained this way. Take a moment to look at the labels of your clothes and sort them by those that read “Dry Clean Only” and those labeled simply “Dry Clean.” The ones marked “Dry Clean Only” should be cared for by a professional, while many of those marked “Dry Clean” can be washed at home on a delicate cycle and hung up to dry.
SALE CYCLES
There is so much organic food in the marketplace now that finding your favorite food items on sale or at warehouse clubs is easy to do. But how can you stock up on a sale without buying too much? If it’s something you use on a regular basis and you know you’re saving money, stock up on about 12 weeks’ worth of product. This is the average length of time between sales cycles for most items found in a supermarket. So if you eat one jar of organic pasta sauce a week on average, buy 12 jars. Shelf-stable items are your best bets to save big on organics when they’re on sale.
HOLIDAY SHIPPING
When you’re shipping presents this holiday season, opt for ground shipping or the U.S. Postal Service for your shipping needs. Sending gifts via overnight or two-day service may get the package to your destination quicker, but it uses gas-guzzling planes and will drain your wallet as well. By planning ahead, you can pay for ground shipping, and the U.S. Postal Service will deliver your gifts using their existing fleet of trucks, at a lower price and with less fuel waste.
SANS GIFT
Many of us donate money to charities during this time of year, which is a great thing to do! But do one more thing when you open your wallet: Be sure to tell the charity that you would like to opt out of receiving any free gift (a T-shirt, tote bag, etc.) or regular newsletter/magazine. These items are used as incentives to help raise money, but they cost money to make and ship. By opting out of receiving something you probably didn’t want anyway, you can make sure the full value of your donation is going toward the charity’s good works.
MATTRESS FLIP
Many mattresses today feature something called “no-flip” technology, which means you never have to flip or rotate the bed once you put it down. But it’s still a good idea to rotate the bed to have even wear and prevent unevenness in the bed. To remember when to rotate the bed, do it whenever you change your clocks for daylight saving time. This twice-ayear rotation is just enough to protect your pricey investment and extend the life of hard-to-recycle mattresses.