Conservation Cadets : Paper
Paper Facts
• Send email greeting cards rather than paper ones.• Use different sizes of paper to prevent using a full letter size piece to write a small note.
• Send emails as much as possible rather than using snail mail. It will save and money!
• Proofread your documents on your computer rather than printing to proofread. It will cause you to use half as much paper per project and also save you the time in going back to edit the changes.
Conservation Cadets : Energy
Energy Facts
• Set the fan on your central air conditioner to "on" rather than "auto." This will circulate air continuously and it will aid in dehumidification.• Turn your refrigerator temperature up so that the refrigerator is 37 degrees and the freezer is 3 degrees. Refrigerators account for about 20% of household electricity use.
• Also, check the seal on your refrigerator door by closing it on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, it's time to replace the seal.
• Turn down your water heater thermostat. Thermostats are often set to 140 degrees when 120 degrees is more than adiquate.
• Each 10 degree reduction saves 600 pounds of CO2 per year for an electric water heater, or 440 pounds for a gas heater. If every household turned its water heater thermostat down 20 degrees, we could prevent more than 45 million tons of annual CO2.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket, which costs just $10 to $20. It can save 1100 lbs. of CO2 per year for an electric water heater, or 220 pounds for a gas heater.
• Clean or replace your air filters as recommended to prevent energy from being lost when air conditioners and hot-air furnaces have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5 percent of the energy used. That could save 175 pounds of CO2 per year.
Energy Saving Sites:
The US Department of EnergyFlex Your Power
American Water and Energy Savers
Energy Savers
Earth 911
Conservation Cadets : Recycling
Energy Facts
• When at the store, be conscious of buying items that are recyclable so that when you are done with them you can put them into the recycle bin.• Recycle your empty ink and toner cartridges. Almost eight cartridges are thrown out in the United States every second. That adds up to 700,000 cartridges per day. Also, buy remanufactured ink and toner cartridges. Each remanufactured cartridge keeps approximately 2.5 pounds of metal and plastic out of landfills and saves about a half gallon of oil.
• Buy rechargeable batteries. It takes 1,000 regular batteries to equal the lifespan of one rechargeable battery. When you are discarding your batteries, recycle them. You can find places to recycle one-use and rechargeable batteries here
• Promote the arts by donating materials to schools or local artists who might use things in their work. School children use everything from toilet paper tubes to rubber bands in their work. Older artists use everything from old furniture to old electronics.
Conservation Cadets : Water
Water Facts
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. By doing this you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water a month.• When washing your dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with soapy water and the other with rinse water.
• To determine if you have a leak in your toilet, put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons of water a month and turn off the water while brushing your teeth to save up to 8 gallons of water a day.
Trailers: Videos coming soon!
Conservation Cadets: The Big Five
Conservation Cadets: Vampire Appliances
