Five More

Wasn't that easy? Here are more actions you can take to help protect and improve our environment.

Energy

Buy Energy Star products and appliances.
Turn lights and computers off when they are not in use.
Clean your refrigerator coils. Dust on the coils located in the back of a refrigerator makes it less efficient.
Change or clean the filters in your air conditioners and heaters.
Use sleep mode on your computers at home and at the office. Turn them off at night.
Open the dishwasher and air-dry dishes instead of using the hot air dry cycle.Only run the machine with full loads.
Dry your laundry on a clothesline.
Wash clothes on warm or cold cycle, not hot.Wash only full loads.
Turn down your hot water heater to 120F.
Shorten showers by a few minutes to conserve hot water.
Adjust thermostat when you leave the house (10F down in winter, 10F up in summer).
Keep up with basic furnace maintenance. Have it professionally tuned and cleaned, and replace air filters regularly.
Cook more efficiently. Cover pots, use a pressure cooker when appropriate, keep burners clean, cook several dishes at a time in the oven, and use a microwave to heat food.
Keep drapes or blinds closed at night in winter and during the day in the summer to reduce heating and cooling needs.
Install faucet aerators in sinks to reduce hot water use.
Insulate the 4 ft of hot water pipes closest to hot water heater.
Insulate all hot water pipes.
Caulk and weatherstrip all your doors and windows.
Have a professional seal your heating ducts to reduce the loss of heated air.
Install a programmable thermostat.
Replace appliances--dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines--that are more 10 years old with an Energy Star model. The older models are less efficient than newer ones.
Replace your old furnace with efficient Energy Star model.
Install a solar hot water heater.
Eat one less beef meal per week. It takes far more energy to produce meat for consumption than it does to raise a crop.

Water

Install an efficient showerhead and low flow faucet aerators.
Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when there is a full load, or use low water level features.
Water your lawn in the early morning, when temperatures are cooler, to minimize evaporation.
Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets.
Take your motor oil or household chemicals to city-sponsored household hazardous waste drop-off events for disposal.Do not pour them down the sewer drain.
Disconnect your down spouts when appropriate.
Plant a rain garden.
Install a rain barrel or cistern in your yard.

Air

Inflate car tires to the manufacturer’s recommended levels.
Walk or ride a bicycle for short trips in your neighborhood.
Do not warm up your car--idling releases emissions. Automatic transmissions do not need to be warmed.
Use an electric or push lawn mower.
Purchase low odor paints. These reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or fumes in your home.

Land

Eliminate lawn and garden pesticides.
Pick up free blue bags at the check-out counters at Walgreen’s, Dominicks’ and Whole Foods Market.
Remove your name from junk mail lists by calling: DMA Mail Preference Service at 1-888-5optout or go to www.dmaconsumers.org.
Leave grass clippings on your lawn or compost them.
Reduce disposable items by using canvas shopping bags, silverware and ceramic coffee mugs.
Buy recycled products.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Donate old clothes and used cell phones.
When it rains, let nature work for you and limit watering your lawn and/or garden.
Cover plant beds with composted leaves or grass to help retain moisture and reduce the need for watering.
Go organic. Most lawn and garden centers now offer several organic fertilizers and pesticides.
Limit your lawn. Most people over water their lawns, so consider planting native shrubs, ground covers or vegetables, which use less water.
Plant native plants. Plants that have evolved in Chicago need less water and maintenance.
Plant trees to shade your house in the summer.
Join a gardening club.
Plant a green roof. Green roofs reduce roof-top temperatures, create habitat for wildlife and reduce storm water runoff.

Waste

Compost your food waste.
Pay your bills online to reduce paper.
Choose products made with recycled content. Look for the chasing arrows symbol.
Recycle newspapers, cans, and bottles.