Green Tips for Fall/Winter
By Barbara Rivera, Congress Park Green Team
Waste Diversion & Reduction
- Denver’s LEAF DROP (thru 12/7) turns fallen leaves into compost (get 5 free compostable leaf bags at Ace Hardware). TREECYCLE program turns discarded holiday trees into mulch after Christmas (remove all decorations, lights & stand and place tree 2 feet away from bins on collection day). See details at www.denvergov.org.
- Hosting a party? Resist the impulse to use disposable utensils, cups & plates. Invest in washable plastic cups, plates and an extra set of real silverware. Serve chilled beverages in pitchers instead of individual single use water bottles.
- Reduce the amount of paper in your mailbox. Get off junk mail lists by registering with dmachoice.org. Opt-out of catalogs or subscriptions you don’t read (or could read electronically), and use paperless e-billing for all your statements and bills.
Water Conservation
- Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth saves up to 200 gallons of water per month. Teach children early to develop this lifelong water-saving habit. In 50 years, a person could save 120,000 gallons!
- Install a Tankless or On-Demand Hot Water Heater that sends hot water to your fixtures in a matter of seconds, saving you water, energy and money. Traditional hot water heaters store large amounts of hot water and use energy to keep it hot all day, every day.
- Wash lightly soiled laundry using the “short cycle” and lower temps to save water and energy.
Home Energy Efficiency
- Insulate & seal all exterior doors, windows and garages with stripping, caulking, window kits and foam sealant. Check yearly and replace if needed.
- Select Energy Star efficient models when replacing appliances and electronics. Energy Star rated computer products are expected to save consumers and businesses more than $1.8 billion in energy costs during the next five years and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of 2.7 million vehicles!
- Truly turn off all your electronics and computer equipment by plugging them into a UL certified power strip with on/off switch. When appliances are plugged in, they quietly drain electricity all day, every day, even when turned off. “Standby power” accounts for 5-10% of home energy use, costing the average household $100 per year. Switch off the power strip to prevent phantom electrical draw.
Transportation Options Reduce Pollution and Congestion
- Reduce single occupancy/single use car trips. Combine several personal errands into single outings, and carpool with neighbors on your regular trip across town to places like Costco.
- Choose local, seasonal produce to reduce transportation costs. Fruits and veggies travel an average of 1500 miles before reaching your plate!
- Buying a new car? Choose lighter, smaller cars and consider electric or hybrid to use less gas and reduce pollution. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a smart, affordable transportation option. Benefits include tax credits, reserved parking, free charging stations and increased battery range.
Remember- Small choices are powerful. Every Little Bit Helps! Together We Make a Huge Impact.
