What Can You Do?  The following is a list of tips compiled from a wide range of green websites.

Clean Air Counts Campaign

• Drive less and walk, bike, or use transit whenever possible. It is estimated that 49% of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and 37% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) come from motor vehicles, so one of the best ways for us to reduce smog is to use our cars less frequently. Carpooling and transit are great ways to get the benefits of using a car without producing all the pollution caused by always driving a single-occupancy vehicle. Keeping up with your car’s scheduled maintenance and ensuring your tires are properly inflated is an excellent way to minimize air pollution when you have to drive. Low emission vehicles and hybrids are great alternatives to be considered when purchasing a car if you need one. And as always, walking and biking are best, both for the environment and for your health.

 

Recycling

• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (EPA website)
  If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.
• Whenever possible, use an online bill payment service - it will help to save on paper. 

• If you must print, make sure to print on both sides of the paper whenever possible.

 

Fuel Conservation

• Save Fuel. Inflate car tires properly for improved gas mileage; get regular tune ups and combine trips to drive less.

• Combine Trips. Instead of running out several times a week, try to make all of your stops in one well-planned trip.

• Slow Down. Cruising down the highway at 55 miles per hour is much more cost efficient than racing to your destination. Even a small difference in speed makes a noticeable improvement; maintaining your speed at 55 is 15% more efficient than driving at 65.

 

Water Conservation

• Use water efficiently - Saving water around the home is simple. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Look for products with EPA's WaterSense label; these products save water and perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts. 

• Be smart when irrigating your lawn or landscape; only water when needed and do it during the coolest  part of the day, early morning is best. 

• Turn the water off while shaving or brushing teeth.

• Do not use your toilet as a waste basket - water is wasted with each flush.

• A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day?

• Repair dripping faucets.  If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.

• Use a dishwasher instead of hand washing.

• Use full loads for dishwasher and clothes washers.  The less you run them, the more energy and water you can save.

• Keep your showers short.  Everyone loves a nice long shower, but you can save a lot of water by keeping it efficient.
• The Village works very hard to ensure that the drinking water is high quality.  Give it a try and eliminate plastic bottles.
• See EPA's WaterSense site for more water saving tips.

 

Energy Conservation

• Use Energy Star appliances.  Manufacturers earn this label after meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines. Energy Star labels are on many items from appliances, electronics and light bulbs to furnaces, air conditioners and roof products. For more information go to the Energy Star website.
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs (compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs).  They use less energy and they last longer.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if everyone would replace their top 5 most used lights with these bulbs, the world would save the amount of emissions equivalent to 100 million cars annually.
• Unplug any appliances not currently in use.  This goes for the blender, the toaster, the mixer, the hair dryer.  Think small too - mobile phone chargers drain energy just by being plugged in.
• Wash clothes in cool water.
• The refrigerator is the average household's single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought before 1991 will have a large impact on your monthly energy bill. See ComEd's Residential Incentive program!
• Decide what you want from the fridge before you open it.  It has to work hard every time you open it and leave it open.
• Turn down your heat.  By doing so, you can help the environment and save on your heating bill.

• Use programmable thermostats. These thermostats can automatically adjust the temperature of your house, allowing you to save energy while you’re away. Programmable thermostats can cost about $125, however a 5-8 degree programmed change can save the average home $100 a year.

• Pull the shades down.  Drawing the curtains and shades helps keep the temperature in your home consistent, reducing the amount of heating or cooling needed.

• Seal and insulate your home.  Sealing air leaks and adding more insulation to your home is a great do-it-yourself project. The biggest leaks are usually found in the attic and basement.  If you are planning to replace windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows for better performance.  Forced air ducts that run through unconditioned spaces are often big energy wasters.  Seal and insulate any ducts in attics and crawlspaces to improve the efficiency of your home.  Not sure where to begin? A home energy auditor can also help you find air leaks, areas with poor insulation, and evaluate the over-all energy efficiency of your home. By taking these steps, you can eliminate drafts, keep your home more comfortable year round, save energy that would otherwise be wasted, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Heat and cool smartly.  Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.

 

Miscellaneous Conservation Tips

• Be green in your yard. Learn about the EPA’s GreenScapes program for tips on how to improve your lawn or garden while also benefiting the environment.

• Reduce Waste. Avoid over-packaged products and disposable goods, buy in-season food produced in your region, and buy in bulk.