2014 is a good time to start being Earth smart!

Now that 2014 has arrived, many people think about having new year's resolutions. I think it is a great time to think about resolutions that help save, conserve and protect our planet and our oceans.

Here are some tips to get your new year started in great direction:

1. Set a programmable thermostat. We have one in our house called "Nest". After all, saving energy is a beautiful thing! A programmable thermostat will adjust the temperature in your home based on when you are there and when you away. Little changes can make the biggest difference. Even turning down two degrees in winter and keep almost 880 pounds of carbon dioxide from warming the earth.
2. Do you need to wash it? Washing machines use about 40 gallons of water for one load. If what you wore today isn't dirty or smelly, maybe it can be worn again. Not everything needs to go in the wash right away. 
3. Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer. Did you know that a laptop uses about half the energy of a desktop. They are lighter and easier to carry and they save energy. All good things!
4. Turn off the tap. This is one tip that I often remind my family to do. Did you know that the average faucet uses about three gallons of water a minute. Please shut it off while you brush your teeth or shave.
5. Choose the right appliance in the kitchen. Did you know that electric kettles use less energy than stovetop ones or that a toaster oven uses almost half the energy of an electric oven. That is a lot of energy for such a small appliance. We cook with a crock pot regularly because it makes food like soups and stews and it uses much less electricity than a stove. 

Don't overwhelm yourself with your resolutions. Even if you just pick one and can stick to it, you'll make a difference in saving energy and that is awesome for our planet.

Happy New Year!

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