Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

There are many steps we can take to do our part in saving energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, ranging from the simple to the extreme.  This article is for those who do not have the desire or opportunity to take extreme measures, but would be interested in learning more about simple steps.

Lower Heating and Cooling Costs

• Caulk or seal windows, doors, electrical outlets, and other drafty areas.
• Close window curtains and shades during the day in summer and at night in winter.  Lined curtains can reduce the drafts from windows and keep rooms more comfortable.
• If nobody is going to be home for several days, raise (summer) or lower (winter) the thermostat.
• When planting trees, plant shade trees on the south side of the house that lose their leaves in winter to let sun in, but block out the summer sun.  Shade in summer can cut cooling costs by 30%.  Grow evergreen trees on the north side of the house to block winter winds.

Save Electricity

• Dry clothes outside on a clothesline.  No dryer is as efficient as the sun and a breeze, and it's free!
• Put your holiday lights on a timer so they are not on all night.
• If nobody is going to be home for several days, unplug the power-hungry cable or satellite TV box (if you are not recording any shows).
• When not in use, turn off computer terminals, printers, and other peripherals that use energy even when in standby mode.  If a little green light is on, electricity is being used.  "Smart" power strips can help by turning off all computer peripherals with one switch while leaving your phone with power.

Reduce Water and Hot Water Use

• Wash clothes in cold water as a rule, using hot water only when really needed.
• Use cold water when you run just a little water from a faucet, unless you need it to be hot.  Water sitting in the pipes won't be hot anyway, and this avoids making your water heater "kick on."
• Set your hot water thermostat at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Insulate the first three feet of hot water pipe, as well as any water heater over seven years old.  Insulating blankets for hot water heaters and self-adhesive tubes of pipe insulation are sold at home improvement stores.

Save Gasoline

• Keep your car tuned and tires inflated to their proper pressure level.  Remove any extra weight to improve gas mileage.
• Combine errands into one trip.  A warmed-up car uses less gas, so short trips done at one time saves gas.
• Drive less aggressively.  Gradual startups and stops and driving at constant speeds can save gas.  Slowing down to 55 mph from 65 mph can add two miles per gallon of fuel.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Use durable water bottles filled from your tap instead of buying bottled water.  For picnics and other events, bring jugs of water or juice and paper cups (not Stryofoam or plastic).  Bottled water costs 240 to 10,000 times the cost of tap water, and production of the bottles uses 17 million barrels of oil nationally per year—enough to fuel a million U.S. cars per year.
• Reduce the amount of junk mail that comes to your house.  To stop direct mail try this free service (it's easy to use):  https://www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/
• Buy local produce from farmer's markets and other producers.  Grow a small garden of your own.
• Minimize or stop using inorganic fertilizers and toxic pesticides in your yard.  They wind up in our streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.