The Green Visitor Guide - Blackstone Valley Tourism Council

Compact the light - Compact fluorescent light
bulbs require only 25% of the electricity used
by incandescent bulbs. According to Energy
Star, if every household in the U.S. replaced
one light bulb with an Energy Star-qualified
compact fluorescent bulb, it would equal
removing one million cars from the road.
Especially target the 60 to 100 watt bulbs
you use several hours a day.
No half-measures - Only run the dishwasher,
washing machine and dryer when you have
full loads. For further energy savings, wash
clothes in warm or cold water, not hot.
Pull the plug - Many electronic devices
continue to draw power even when they’re
turned off or fully charged. Cordless phones,
cell phones, iPods® and digital cameras are
some of the major culprits. TVs, cable boxes
and computer monitors also waste energy.
Plug these devices into a power strip and
turn the strip off when the devices are not
in use (the strip doesn’t draw power).
Push grass - (on the lawn) Use a push mower
and get a workout while you cut the lawn.
Become an Energy Star - If you need new
appliances, you’ll save hundreds of pounds of
carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars a year
by updating everything from your refrigerator
and dishwasher to your telephone and TV
to products with the government’s Energy
Star label.
Keep it clean - Clean or replace furnace,
air-conditioner and heat-pump filters to
ensure that appliances run as efficiently
as possible
Keep ‘em rolling - Keeping the tires on your car
adequately inflated means you’ll burn less gas
(check the air pressure monthly). Changing
air filters and oil regularly also saves gas.
At Home
-34-
Dump the junk - Are you driving around with a
trunk full of junk? An extra 100 pounds in your
vehicle reduces fuel economy by up to 2%.
Links to further reading and actions can be
found on page 36.
Water Ways
A single quart of oil on the ground can seep in
and pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
Pouring oil down a storm sewer is the same
as pouring it directly into a stream or river.
A faucet with a slow, steady drip (100 drops
a minute) will waste 350 gallons of water a
month. A fast stream will leak 4,600 gallons
of water in a month.
Don’t use hot water when cold will do.
Warm a wet cleanup cloth for baby in the
microwave for 7 seconds rather than running
gallons of water until it’s warm.
Use your garbage disposal sparingly.
Don’t “sweep” walks and driveways with the
hose; use a broom or a rake instead.
Stop watering the street or sidewalks – they
won’t grow a thing!