INSTRUCTION

Pick green tips to add to your daily habits. The left column indicates the category and subcategory of each EcoWabi Green Idea. Eco Icons tell you how the Ideas can make you greener!

ECO ICON LEGEND

  Energy Saving

  Environmentally Friendly

  Money Saving

  Recycling

 

HomeFirst, fill the laundry washer and drier. Then, turn it on.
LaundryLess frequent machine use, less energy consumption. 
  
HomeClean the lint filter out after every load.
LaundryOne of the most efficient ways to dry your clothes in the minimum amount of time. 
  
HomeYou've got a fancy washer and drier? Read the instructions and take advantage of the eco-friendly functions.
LaundryMany laundry machines offer more than just washing and drying functions. Find out what kind of green functions your laundry machine offers. Remember, you paid for the expensive machine! Look for functions such as Extra Spin Option and Moisture Sensing Option. 
  
HomeDo not mix towels/heavy weight cottons with lighter weight clothes.
LaundryDon't just transfer wet clothes to a drier. Towels and heavy cotton clothes take much longer time to dry compared to lighter weight clothes. A little bit of effort makes a big impact on our environment. 
  
HomeNatural dry your laundry.
LaundrySunlight sterilizes clothes and gives a natural smell to your laundry, which is a great reason to stop using chemical dryer sheets. Also, more and more stores carry Laundry Drying Rack! 
  
HomeChoose eco-friendly detergent.
LaundryEco-friendly detergent works well! Keep our planet clean from harmful water waste by using green detergent. 
  
HomeChoose Cold or Warm water for laundry.
LaundryDid you know that the majority of energy that you use during laundry comes from choosing "Hot" water cycle? Choose cold or warm water and save TONS of money and energy. 
  
HomeDo you really need to use dryer sheets and softener?
LaundryThe majority of conventional dryer sheets and fabric softeners are made with non-renewable elements: chemicals and oils. And where do they end up? Our rivers, lakes and oceans. Give our earth a minimum environmental impact. 
  
HomeBuy green cleaners - next time.
CleaningWe don't want to tell you to throw your current cleaners right now. But the next time you buy, choose green products. Cleaners are not something that we buy often. For something that lasts for months, you don't mind spending a little bit more money to keep our planet clean, do you? 
  
HomeHand wash the dishes.
CleaningYou can reduce a lot of electricity and water by doing the dishes by hands. (Make sure that the water is not running the whole time.) Enjoy the time of this old-fashioned way of doing the dishes. 
  
HomeNo more Ziploc bag sandwich lunch!
KitchenUse reusable containers instead of disposable plastic bags. 
  
HomeDrink filtered water instead of drinking bottled water in the house!
KitchenTry to create less waste. Get a water purifier and drink filtered water instead - it tastes as good as bottled water and is more economical! 
  
HomeIt is best not to use disposable paper products - but if you must, choose recycled paper products.
KitchenBuy recycled paper products for napkins, plates and towels. But, of course, it is best if you don't use any disposable products. 
  
HomeUse the refrigerator more efficiently.
KitchenCool down hot foods before putting them in the refrigerator. And cover food containers up - liquid causes moisture to evaporate more quickly, which consumes more energy. 
  
HomeMake sure that the refrigerator door is tightly closed.
KitchenIf it does not close tightly, it may be the time to replace your refrigerator... 
  
HomeKeep 3-inches of air space behind the refrigerator to help air flow.
KitchenRefrigerators need to let the heat out to function more efficiently. 
  
HomeInstall weatherstripping to keep cool air and heat inside the house.
Summer,WinterSpend $20 dollars for weatherstripping and get lower electricity/heat bills. 
  
HomeUnplug appliances - all the time!
Energy SavingEven the power is off, if the power cord is plugged in, the power is draining and you are paying for electricity. Unplug appliances from the outlet when not in use. 
  
HomePlug home electronics into power strips and turn the power strips off when not in use.
Energy SavingIsn't the red power light on after you thought you turned off TV? Isn't the time displayed on the DVD player after in use? Those electronic products drain power even if you thought you turned them off. Read instruction of your electronic products to see whether the products can save memory after turning the power strip off. 
  
HomeDo not forget to unplug cell phone charger!
Energy SavingCharging the cell phone has become a daily routine in our lives, but do we unplug the charger from outlet after the cell phone is fully charged? Make sure to unplug the charger after use. 
  
HomeChoose energy efficient appliances - next time.
Energy SavingEnergy efficient appliances can be more expensive, but in the long run, you can save a lot of money, energy, electricity and water. Look for "Energy Star" products. 
  
HomeBasic! Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Energy SavingMake this a daily habit. 
  
HomeUse task lighting.
Energy SavingInstead of lighting an entire room, focus on lighting the corner where it is needed. 
  
HomeUse natural lighting.
Energy SavingThis is the ultimate inexpensive way to acquire light for your daily life. Open the shades during the day and enjoy the daylight. 
  
HomeSet your thermostat or install a programmable thermostat to control heating and cooling your home.
Energy Saving,Summer,WinterDo you cover up yourself with a blanket on a couch in summer? Do you open windows to cool the room down in winter? These are good signs that you set the thermostat too low or high. 
  
HomeTry not to use hair drier as much.
Energy SavingThe hair drier is one of the appliances that uses a lot of electricity - you notice that the lights dim when you turn it on. Enjoy the hair's natural wave except for a romantic date?! 
  
HomeMake your own 'Earth Hour' at home.
Energy SavingYou can find your own quiet time at home at the end of the day. Why don't you turn off the lights at a certain time every day and enjoy the relaxing time? 
  
HomeClose the window shade during summer.
Energy Saving,SummerThis is one of the ancient techniques to keep the room cool all day long. 
  
HomeReplace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL).
Energy SavingChanging from incandescent bulbs to CFL drastically saves energy. CFL's longer lifespan means the double money saving! 
  
HomeUse old magazine ads for gift wrap.
RecyclingMagazines are full of cool and colorful ads that can be used for gift wrap. Personalize your gift with a creative idea. 
  
HomeRent things from your friends and family.
RecyclingThere are things that you only need occasionally. Ask your outdoor-loving friends for camping gear and extra chairs for your house party from your neighbors. 
  
HomeConsider buying second-hand products.
RecyclingTake a look at your local second hand shops. You may be able to find high quality products for very low prices. 
  
HomeRecycle your street.
RecyclingKeep an eye on your street. There are many people who throw things away when they move. You may find things that you can reuse at your home. 
  
HomePlan for moving in advance to recycle.
RecyclingIf you cannot take everything when you move, call your local thrift store for free pick up. Recycling makes you feel good! 
  
TransportationBike or walk instead of driving to the store around the corner of your house.
TransportationWalking or biking for 10 minutes is not far! Don't make an excuse to yourself to drive anywhere you go. Enjoy being outside and feel the season! 
  
TransportationTake public transportation.
TransportationTaking public transportation reduces significant amounts of emission, gives you time to study and read, and ultimately, you don't get angry stuck in traffic! 
  
TransportationTurn off the engine when the car is parked.
TransportationIt is more fuel efficient to restart the engine than idling over 30 seconds. A new and easy habit for drivers.  
  
TransportationKeep your car tires fully inflated.
TransportationFully inflated tires increase the efficiency of your car. 
  
TransportationChoose biodiesel fuel.
TransportationBiodiesel fuel comes from plant or animal sources and we can always produce more. These fuels are better for the environment and better for our future. 
  
ShoppingBuy larger size packages instead of buying smaller packages.
ShoppingIt is more economical and makes less waste in the end. If it's available, choose refills instead of re-buying a full package product. 
  
Shopping"Paper or plastic?" Choose neither! Bring your own bag to grocery stores.
ShoppingChoosing paper bags is more eco-friendly. The truth is that the paper bag manufacturers use more energy to produce paper bags than plastic bags. And plastic bags take a long time to break down in the landfill. 
  
ShoppingChoose Organic food.
ShoppingOrganic food is usually more expensive, but organic foods are made to be especially green for your health and earth. Try to buy as many organic products as possible. 
  
ShoppingAvoid buying disposable products.
ShoppingNothing creates waste more than disposable products. We can start a new habit to offer cloth napkins, glasses and coffee cups for your home party. 
  
Shopping"No Thank You" to clothing store bags.
ShoppingHow many clothing store bags have you thrown away or are now hiding in your closet? Plastic bags from clothing stores are usually thicker and are hard to stretch to fit in a garbage can in the kitchen - grocery store plastic bags are more practical to reuse at home. Always keep a portable bag in your purse/bag, and say "no thank you" to the store clerk. 
  
Office/SchoolTake left-over food after business meetings.
OthersDon't waste food! Take left-over food and snacks home for your dinner and dessert. 
  
Office/SchoolUse both sides of the paper.
PaperSave energy, trees and money by greening your office. Any white spaces on the mis-printed papers and junk mails can be memo papers. 
  
Office/SchoolChoose two-sided button on the copier and printer.
PaperSave energy, trees and money by greening your office. Do you really need the print-out to be on one side of the page? Find out how to print on both sides of the paper. 
  
Office/SchoolChoose two-page in one paper function on the printer.
PaperSave energy, trees and money by greening your office. This technique is perfect for record keeping. Print out your flight confirmation with this technique. (You can still read.) 
  
Office/SchoolChoose 100% recycled paper products.
PaperRecycled printer/copier papers are not costly. Tree-free office paper products are also available: made with bamboo and hemp etc. 
  
Office/SchoolTurn off the lights when you leave the office.
Energy SavingMake this a daily habit for any rooms that you leave. 
  
Office/SchoolUse natural lighting. Open the shades during the day.
Energy SavingEnjoy the daylight and turn on the desk lamp for additional lighting. 
  
HomeFill your water bottle and take it with you anywhere you go.
Before Running ErrandsInstead of buying bottled water every time you are thirsty outside, have your own water bottle ready. 
  
HomeHave your own bag ready anytime JUST IN CASE.
Before Running ErrandsYou never know what you're going to run into. You may find the coolest pair of jeans, rare CDs or may suddenly crave chocolate chip cookies. Carry an extra portable bag for the just-in-case situations. 
  
HomeTake a few bags before going grocery shopping.
Before Running ErrandsYou never know how much you will wind up buying when you go out to shop for groceries. Bring multiple bags - you have two hands and shoulders to bring them home! 
  
HomeBasic! Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Energy SavingMake this a daily habit. 
  
Office/SchoolTurn off the lights when you leave an office/room.
Energy SavingMake this a daily habit. 
  
TransportationNo speeding, no unnecessary rapid acceleration and braking.
TransportationDon't make yourself get a speeding ticket! Aggressive driving causes unnecessary carbon dioxide.  
  
TransportationDon't drive too fast.
TransportationAccording to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas mileage drops rapidly above 60mph.  
  
TransportationClose windows while driving.
TransportationMake sure to close windows especially on the highway. It requires extra fuel to drive the car - it's not efficient! 
  
TransportationYour car trunk is not a storage space!
TransportationIs your car becoming a storage space? Reducing the weight of the car helps improve gas mileage and save energy. Also, make sure take minimum luggage for traveling. 
  
TransportationGet a regular maintenance check up for your car.
TransportationIt helps to examine whether your car is performing more environmentally friendly or is running safely. 
  
TransportationBuy smaller and fuel efficient green car next time.
TransportationAre you thinking about buying a new car? In a long run, a better gas mileage car will save you lots of money on fuel. 
  
TransportationNo roof rack - Place items inside the car.
TransportationInstalling a roof rack on your car and driving with it requires more gasoline to drive your car. 
  
TransportationAvoid traffic and stoplights.
TransportationLess breaking and accelerating helps consume less fuel and lets you drive more efficiently. 
  
Transportation,ShoppingDo all the shopping at once.
Shopping,TransportationDoing all your errands at one place or over one trip will reduce the frequency of cold starting. Organize your day to do all the shopping needs at once while the engine is still warm. 
  
TransportationPut the gear on Neutral at stoplights.
TransportationIf you think about how manual car drivers do at stoplights, why not do the same with automatic cars? Let's consume less fuel and create less negative impact to our earth. 
  
HomeReplace an old heater with an energy efficient heater and save energy - and, in the long run, money!
WinterIf your heating equipment is 15 years or older and has been poorly maintained, it’s probably time for a more efficient replacement. 
  
HomeRecycle used CFLs.
RecyclingCFLs contain a small amount of mercury to work efficiently. Although it is a small amount, find a local drop-off site to recycle your used CFLs. 
  
HomeStop running water when brushing your teeth.
Energy SavingA few minutes of stop running water can save a lot of water in a long run. "Little and often fills the purse." 
  
HomeGo to bed 30 minutes earlier sometimes to use less electricity.
Energy SavingYou will end up using less electricity and getting a good longer sleep! "Kill 2 birds with 1 stone." 
  
Home,Office/SchoolTurn off your computer, monitor, printer, scanner when not in use.
Energy SavingAccording to ComEd, turning off your PC and monitor for 2 additional hours per day cut your annual electricity use by 1.5%. 
  
HomeAir dry dishes instead of using dishwasher's drying cycle.
KitchenTurn the switch off after the final rinse. Find out if your dishwasher has an automatic air-dry feature. 
  
HomeTake a look at dishwasher manual and find out how to set the water temperature.
KitchenMost of the energy used by a dishwasher is for heating water. Set the water temperature lower to save energy. Dishwasher energy consumption is one of the top home appliances that requires a large amount of electricity. 
  
HomeNo rinsing before putting dishes in the dishwasher.
KitchenExcept burns and died-on food, there is no need to rinse and clean the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Do not double clean the dishes! 
  
HomeCover a kettle or pan to boil water.
KitchenCovering a kettle and pan boils water faster, which means using less energy to boil! 
  
HomeSign up to remove your name from junk mail list.
PaperWe receive so much junk mail every day. Let's save our trees by removing your name from the junk mail list. It can be done easily from National Do Not Mail List at www.directmail.com. 
  
HomeTurn on the fans instead of turning down the air conditioning temperature!
SummerCeiling and portable fans make you feel much cooler and only cost about a penny per hour to operate. Make sure to turn off the fans before leaving the room. 
  
HomeInstall motion sensor for outside lighting.
Energy SavingTurning the lights on only when needed and where needed saves a lot of energy. 
  
HomeTurn off the decorative outdoor lighting before going to bed.
Energy SavingTurn off the unnecessary decorative lighting in the middle of the night. 
  
HomeClean the air conditioning filter every two weeks when the system is working in full use.
SummerThe air conditioning will run much more efficiently and cost effectively in this way. Clean filters monthly during other times of the year. 
  
HomeDon't place lamps, TV sets and computer near the air conditioning thermostat.
SummerThe thermostat senses heat from these appliances and may keep the air conditioning running longer than it should be. 
  
HomePlace your room air conditioner on the north side of the house, if possible.
SummerOperating an air conditioning in the shade is more cost effective and consumes less electricity to cool your room. Avoid placing air conditioning where the sun hits directly. 
  
HomeAre you using an old air conditioning? Consider replacing to an energy-efficient model.
SummerAccording to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing your old air conditioning unit to an Energy Star model can save up to 50% of your electricity bill!!! 
  
HomeTurn the air conditioning up at night and when you are at work.
SummerSave money and energy by making a small effort each day. 
  
HomeUse white and light color window treatment to reflect heat away from the house.
SummerEnjoy decorating your house in a more eco-friendly way! 
  
HomeConsider using an electric mattress pad in winter.
WinterUsing electric mattress pad is a low cost way to keep you warm in a cold winter night. Why not target where to heat and stop heating the entire house or apartment. 
  
HomeClean the south facing windows to let the sun in.
WinterHelp make the room naturally warmer by adding a little effort and cleaning the windows. 
  
HomeUse drapes instead of blinds.
WinterDrapes keep the heat inside the room more effectively than just using blinds. Fabric may be a little expensive, but it's a worthwhile investment over the long run! 
  
TransportationNo more than 30 seconds of idling to start your car on winter days!
WinterThe best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. More than 30 seconds of idling will simply waste fuel and creates more carbon dioxide. 
  
HomeBurn only dry wood in your chimney - Wet wood burns incompletely and releases more pollutants into the air.
WinterTip: Dry wood feels lighter when you lift it than wet and heavier wood. 
  
HomeBuy local produce to cut CO2 emissions due to food travel.
KitchenChoosing local produce not only supports the community's economy, but is environmentally friendly because of the shorter distance that food travels from the farm to your plate. 
  
HomeShort in tableware? Ask to borrow more from your friends and family!
KitchenIt may not be an easy thing to ask, but instead of buying disposable tableware, try to borrow it from your close friends and family - it saves money, too! 
  
HomeIf you must use disposable tableware, choose napkins and plates made from recycled material.
KitchenAnd, don't forget to wash plastic dishes, cups and utensils to reuse at your next party. "Disposable" doesn't mean it has to be disposed after one use. 
  
HomeIf necessary, scrape instead of using water to rinse, dirty dishes before putting in the dishwasher.
KitchenRunning your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water and can use more than two gallons of water every minute your tap is running. Wow, that's a lot of wasted water! 
  
HomeUse durable cloth napkins and tablecloths, and real plates and tableware to prevent waste.
KitchenPlastic plates are too small to put all the party food, aren't they? The food gets all mixed up and tastes all the same. Real dishes and tableware makes meals look more delicious and lets you enjoy the taste of each food! 
  
TransportationTurning off your engine at drive-through.
TransportationThe 30-Second Idling Rule: More than 30 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.  
  

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