Save Your Energy

The back of my house is all windows. I have finally put up curtains and my heating bill has gone down about 20 percent. I am fortunate to have a southern exposure, so I close them only at night and enjoy the sun all day.
Leanne Pomellitto
Sunnyvale, California

We switched to washing all our clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot. They wash just the same, and I save about $15 a month on the gas bill.
Tammy Scott
Westerville, Ohio

The easiest change I’ve made lately is not washing my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Most dishwashers and detergents these days work so well that if there are little bits of food left on, they come right off in the wash cycle. After I eat, I take my napkin and wipe off whatever is left on the dish (my dogs might get to lick a plate or two) and then plop it in the dishwasher. This is easy, and it saves time and, most important, water. I always cringe when I go over to people’s houses and they wash dishes under tap water, then put them in the dishwasher. What a waste of energy and water!
Juliet Doty
Fresno, California

When my eight-year-old started campaigning to save the polar bears from global warming, he was designated the chief light-turner-outer for the house. He now feels responsible for doing his part and knows he can have an impact on helping his favorite animal.
Tina Brooks
Claremont, California

Walking the Walk

Thinking about the environmental crisis that’s happening can be overwhelming, but to stay on track, I take care of my own two footprints. If I come across a bag on the sidewalk, I pick it up. I’m not going to chase down a car to school a person on how to save the environment because she just threw a cigarette out the window, but I feel good knowing I recycle bottles, rinse out plastic sandwich bags to use again, shut off the water when I brush my teeth, and take shorter showers. If everyone would worry only about himself, then we could slow down the effect we’re having on the earth we all have to live on.
Hannah Maguire
Los Angeles, California

I teach preschool and am instilling eco-friendly changes in our kids from an early age. We talk about going green and combine it with a lesson about the letter R, as in recycle and reuse. We discuss Earth Day, and we ask parents to send in paper-towel rolls and brown bags for art projects. Personally, I feel as if this is an investment for the future of our planet if our future adults start thinking about these concepts now.
Bernadette DeLuca
Cloister, New Jersey

My husband and I have become infinitely more dedicated to “being green,” but it’s not as difficult as Kermit makes it sound. We make all our efforts count for double duty. A few examples: We make a game out of separating recyclables from garbage — and end up having fun and spending time together while doing something good for the environment. We also decided to stop using disposable Styrofoam cups for coffee, and instead we chose reusable travel mugs for each other as Christmas gifts.
Alyssa Tillier
Cranston, Rhode Island

I’ve decided that the phraseology isn’t “eco-friendly”; it’s “eco-responsible.” I buy phosphate-free and bleach-free cleaning and personal-care products (to reduce environmental impact), recycle everything (I have only a small bag of trash each week), decreased the margins in my word-processing program to save on printed paper, switched to a laptop from a desktop (to save energy), bought a hybrid, reuse water bottles, switched to bamboo linen products, eat primarily organic food, and give eco-friendly gifts meant to inspire the recipients.
Susan DePaiva
Burlington, Kentucky

The biggest change? Before I buy anything, I ask myself, “How does using this product affect the environment?” It works for cleaning products, food items, and even big things, like furniture and cars. It works for just about everything.
Janice Greene
Springfield, Missouri

In the past, I couldn’t have cared less about the environment. It’s embarrassing to say, but I would leave my car running, wasting gas; throw small pieces of trash out the window; and be wasteful with my belongings. But after seeing the world a bit in my travels, I realized how much I love this planet, so I made some changes. I traded in my gas-chugging SUV for a station wagon, I bring my own bags to the grocery store, I shop at farmers’ markets, I changed every light in my house to energy-efficient bulbs, I recycle everything I can, and I bring my own cup to coffee shops. If I don’t have it with me, then I guess I don’t need coffee.
Lana Mondragon
Loveland, Colorado

The small things: Choosing the “Send all books in one shipment” option when ordering from Amazon; replacing bottled sparkling water with homemade seltzer; air-drying the laundry outside, then fluffing in the dryer for 10 minutes; marinating foods in reusable plastic containers instead of throwaway bags; assigning each family member one uniquely colored glass to use for a whole day; showering just every other day, which is better for your skin (mine gets rave reviews from my husband); and always telling green merchants, “Thank you—I patronize you because you’re green.” The big things: Having only one car and choosing to live one mile from my husband’s office, and buying a tankless water heater and a front-loading washing machine.
Catharine Way
Tallahassee, Florida

Last summer, on our honeymoon, my husband and I learned to sail on a beautiful sailboat near Catalina Island. As we learned, our captain gave us a crash course on how landlubbers affect the water and it’s ecosystem. Two things that stand out from that weeklong adventure: performing multiple “man overboard” drills to fish out deflated silvery helium balloons and plastic bags, because they are terrible for the fish who eat them, and seeing the effects of trash on a sea lion, with trash literally wrapped around its neck. From this awareness of human actions, my husband and I made vows never to litter or use plastic bags and always to buy eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
Erica Gordon
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Aside from the regular things, like recycling and changing incandescent bulbs for more energy-efficient ones, I have begun explaining to my four-year-old and two-year-old what it means to be aware of the environment. Every day I talk about what I am recycling and why. The most eco-friendly thing you can do is teach future generations how to take care of our planet for the good of everyone.
Robin Vicino
Mt. Royal, New Jersey

For us, three changes have turned us into a greener family. First, we became eco-conscious. Moving the environment to the front of our minds means we think twice before tossing trash, starting the car, and making purchases. Second, we try to make it fun (and sometimes it even works). We use a magnet to find out which cans are steel and which are aluminum. We say, “Let’s find three fun ways we can use this empty hot-chocolate container.” Third, we took baby steps. Long before we started composting and recycling water with a rain barrel, we made simple changes, like switching to recycled-content paper, buying a staple-free stapler, and using egg cartons as paint palettes and Mylar balloons as gift wrap. Little changes make a big difference, and as the momentum builds, we’ve found it easy to make bigger changes.
Tracy Seglin
Chicago, Illinois

We recycle or repurpose everything. Items we no longer use go to charities; get posted on Freecycle.org, a swapping website; or get placed by our mailbox with a sign that says free. I feel great knowing that someone will reuse what we won’t.
Tamsen Durand
Millis, Massachusetts