TIPS TO BE MORE GREEN:
- Turn off lights when you leave the room.
- Don't turn on lights at all for as long as you can - open your curtains and enjoy natural light.
- Turn off your computer completely at night.
- Pay as many bills as possible online.
- Unplug unused chargers and appliances.
- Change to Fluorescent Bulbs - If every house in the United States changed all of the light bulbs in their house that would be equivalent to taking one million cars off the streets.
- Fix leaky faucets.
- Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot.
- Don't Rinse - Skip rinsing your plates before putting them into the dishwasher. In average you will save 15 gallons of water per load. Plus, you will save time.
- Turn the water off when you brush - Your parents have said this before. You will save 4 gallons of water doing this alone.
- Do Errands in Bulk - Make a list of the things you have to do, and see if you can fit a couple of those things together in one ride
- Minimize energy by cooking efficiently: reuse hot water, put lids on pots, have dishes simmer rather than boil, and don't preheat the oven.
For Xcel Energy's tips on using electricity at home, click here (PDF).
For Xcel Energy's tips on using natural gas at home, click here (PDF).
