What you can do to stay GREEN

At Home:

  • Set your thermostat at no more than 68 degrees in the winter and no less than 78 degrees in the summer, cutting carbon dioxide by 10% to 20%
  • Keep cool with shades and blinds, cutting carbon dioxide by 10% to 30%
  • Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, cutting carbon dioxide by up to 80%
  • Wrap your hot water heater with a blanket cutting carbon dioxide by up to 5%
  • Install a programmable thermostat, cutting carbon dioxide by 10% - 30%
  • Weatherize your house by sealing doors and windows, cutting carbon dioxide by up to 20%
  • Eat lower on the food chain. Vegetarian food takes much less energy to produce.

When Purchasing:

  • Buy recycled, saving energy used to make products.
  • Buy local, saving energy used to transport products.
  • Buy green power. Find out if your utility offers green power at www.rnp.or
  • Look for the Energy Star label when buying appliances, home electronics, lighting, heating and cooling equipment.
  • When you replace your car, buy the least polluting, most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs.

On the Go:

  • Walk or bicycle. We often jump in our cars to go a mile or less when that trip could easily be made on foot or on the worlds, most energy-efficient form of transportation - the bicycle!
  • Take public transit. For transit information statewide, visit Trip-Check at www.tripcheck.com
  • Plan your route. Grouping your trips together will save time, money, headaches, and the environment.
  • Maintain your car. Get regular oil changes, keep your vehicle well tuned, and maintain tire pressure at manufacturer specifications.
  • Drive with the climate in mind. Drive smoothly, follow the speed limit, avoid rush hour, remove excess weight, remove the roof rack when not in use, use air conditioning sparingly, and avoid idling for more than 10 seconds.
  • Share a ride. Commute by carpool or vanpool.
  • Telecommute. Avoid commuting altogether by working at home one or more days a week.

At work:

  • Encourage your employer and coworkers to…
  • Offer or use employee commute options : flexible work hours, telecommuting, transit subsidies or pretax benefits for using transit or ridesharing, rideshare matching and preferential parking for rideshares, cash in lieu of free parking, and bike/walk programs.
  • Purchase green power.
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle.
  • Switch off lights and computers when not in use.
  • Print double-sided.
  • Get a free energy audit from the Energy Trust.
  • Choose Energy Star office equipment.