10 Ways to Green the Planet

1.    Unsubscribe from paper mailings

The average American receives 40 pounds of junk mail per year.  That’s a lot of paper!  To add your name to an unsubscribe list, click here.

2.    Hang dry your clothes

Vermont (unlike many other states) has a “right-to-dry” law, so you can line dry your clothes without fear of breaking the law!

3.    Use one less paper napkin during meals

Better yet, invest in some linen (not cotton) napkins for your home.

4.    Write and print on both sides of paper

And make sure to recycle the paper you use! Recycling one ton of paper saves about 17 trees.

5.    Use rechargeable batteries

Not only are rechargeable batteries better for the environment, they’ll save you money over time ($80 per year on average).

6.    Turn off your computer at night

Doing so may save you up to 40 watt-hours per day, a savings of $14 per year.

7.    Use cold or warm water for washing your clothes

If all households in the US switched to cold or warm water for laundry, we could save the equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil per day in energy.

8.    Donate items you aren’t using

Items you may not need might be exactly what someone else is looking for.  You might even be able to claim a tax deduction!

9.    Change light bulbs to CFLs or LEDs

CFLs and LEDs are both more efficient and last longer than incandescents. While they may be more expensive to buy, they pay for themselves due to their longevity.

10.    Compost food scraps

Organic waste will be banned from Vermont landfills by 2020.  If you’re in Chittenden County, start composting now by picking up a bin from CSWD and dropping your food scraps at one of their drop-off locations.