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Take It Home

Ignite

Get Started

Learn about initiatives in your town that relate to recycling, air-pollution, public transportation and energy efficiency.

Let the sunshine in

Rather than turning on the lights, use natural daylight whenever possible.

Get fired up

Take a look at our resources page for fun activities and games to try at home and learn about how you can make a difference!

Power Down

Lower your temperature
  • Turn down the thermostat at night and whenever the house is unoccupied or purchase a programmable thermostat that will make the adjustments for you. Close vents in unused rooms so you don’t heat or air-condition them.
  • Lower the temperature on your electric water heater to 120 degrees (F). Turn it off when leaving for extended periods of time.
  • Set refrigerator temperatures between 37 and 40 degrees (F). Clean the coils. Keep the refrigerator stocked; it takes more energy to cool an empty refrigerator.
Wash Right
  • Wash full loads of dishes and air-dry or dry them by hand.
  • When washing clothes, always do full loads, use warm or cold water to wash (instead of hot water) and rinse with cold water. Air-dry clothes outside whenever possible.
  • Fix water leaks and dripping faucets immediately—a small leak can add up to gallons of water in a very short time.Take showers instead of baths. Try to limit your showers to 4 minutes.
Turn it off
  • Shut off lights, computers, and other electronic appliances when you’re not using them. Be sure to use sleep mode.
  • Use your drapes to help keep your home comfortable while saving energy. In the summer, keep drapes closed during the day to keep the temperature down. In the winter, open them during the day but close them at night to insulate against the chill.
  • When leaving for vacations, adjust thermostats to save energy. Unplug and turn off all computers, TVs, and other electronics.

Don’t Waste It

Reduce

Think before you buy. Check where it’s made and look for local, organic or sustainably made items. The best way to prevent things from ending up in the trash is to not buy them in the first place.

Reuse

Host a day for your friends, family, and neighbors to bring clothes, books, games, and toys they want to trade. Want to make it bigger? Contact your local community center to host a community-wide event.

Borrow from your library instead of buying personal books and movies. E-books are also a great alternative to printed versions.

Recycle (and compost)

Use recycling bins in your home to collect paper, plastic, and glass. Use a composting bin to collect food waste. Many municipalities now collect food waste in your yard waste bin. Check with your local waste utility for options.

Impact Earth

Skip the bottled water

Drink tap water instead of buying bottled water.

Clean it up

Gather friends or family and take time to help pick-up trash around your neighborhood. Prevent trash from the streets and near water from ending up in our rivers and oceans.

Teach It

Learn something new about the environment, energy or sustainability. Share with your parents or friends and brainstorm ideas on how you can make a difference.