The "Green Home Challenege"
Below are simple changes you can implement to reduce energy consumption, waste, and conserve water. Some are easy and require little or no extra effort or cost, while some are more demanding.
Start small – every step counts.
And remember, you can save money!
Quick Links
Air Conditioning |
Appliances |
Water Indoors |
Water Outdoors |
Shopping |
Transportation |
Other Tips for the Home |
Reducing Garbage |
For additional information on saving energy, water conservation, home energy audits, personal consumption, waste reduction, and climate change, check these resources.
Check out more information on why this is important.
Air Conditioning
It's a major source of energy consumption, especially in South Florida. Take these steps to save energy and money on cooling costs for your home.
- Turn off air conditioning and open windows in cooler weather.
- When you are using A/C, close doors and windows to keep the cold air in.
- Set the thermostat to 78°F for more energy efficiency. Every degree above that can save an additional 5-8% off energy costs.
- Turn up the temperature when you leave the house.
- Use fans – the breeze they produce helps us feel cooler, so you can set the A/C at a higher temperature or turn it off.
- Sealing doors and windows with caulking and weather-stripping also helps keep the cold air in.
- Clean or change your filter every month – this improves your A/C’s performance.
- Have your air conditioner inspected by a professional annually – this will extend the unit’s total life and could save you 10-20% on cooling costs. Also have the ducts checked for leaks. Repairing leaks can help cool your house more easily and save up to 30%.
- Switch to an electronic thermostat – they are more precise and most can be programmed. Make sure to turn up the temperature or turn it off when you won’t be home.
- Plant native shade trees on the east, west and south sides of your house, especially where the A/C compressor is. Shade trees can reduce your A/C costs up to 30%!
- Install awnings or exterior shades to keep the sun out and your home cooler. Blinds or curtains on the inside of windows are cheaper but less effective. Light colors absorb less sunlight and heat.
- Paint your roof reflective white – this can save up to 40% on energy!
Appliances
There are lots of small steps you can take to save energy and money around the house.
- Turn off appliances and lights when you leave a room.
- Unplug electronics and phone chargers when not in use – they leak energy even if they are turned off! The average U.S. home leaks 400 kWh per year.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs inside and outside the house – they last up to 10 times longer and use 2/3 less energy. Note: most timers shorten the life of light bulbs, including compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Clean light bulbs – dust that accumulates can reduce lighting effectiveness.
- Use your microwave for heating small items instead of the oven. Microwaves use the same amount of power but work much faster (however they are less efficient for large items).
- Avoid opening the oven door when cooking – you lose 25° to 50° of oven temp every time and therefore use more electricity or gas.
- Make sure your burner reflectors are clean – they work better and save energy.
- The refrigerator is the biggest energy consumer in most houses. Keep it set between 38°F and 42°F and the freezer between 0°F and 5°F.
- Clean the coils behind your refrigerator – this saves energy and extends the life of the appliance.
- Make sure to set the load size on the laundry machine correctly. Only wash full loads of clothes.
- Hang dry clothes as much as possible.
- Clean the lint filter on your dryer with each load – a clogged filter obstructs air flow. Also, make sure the exhaust vent is clear – an obstructed exhaust lengthens drying time.
- Shop for energy-efficient appliances like ovens, refrigerators, washers and dryers. They may cost more initially but they save money on your energy and water bills and therefore pay for themselves in the long run.
- EnergyStar™ appliances are certified to be more energy-efficient.
- Buy a front-loading washing machine rather than top-loading – they use about half as much water.
- Donate or recycle your old appliances – Do not throw them away!
Water
Fresh water is of course a precious resource that is not unlimited. Conserving water is vital, especially in times of drought.
Indoor Water Conservation
- If you remodel your bathroom or are designing it for new construction, choose a high efficiency toilet (HET), which uses 1.3 gallons per flush or less. HETs include both single flush and dual flush toilets. Dual flush toilets give users the option of a half flush (e.g., .8 gallon per flush) for liquid waste and a full flush (e.g., 1.6 gallon per flush) for solid waste.
Since the half flush is required 75% of the time, dual flush toilets average about 1 gallon per flush, thereby yielding 40% water savings compared to a 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. For a list of HETs that have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its WaterSense Program.
The Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department is offering "$100 Rebates" for retrofitting your old toilet with an HET. - Take shorter showers, and less baths. A five minute shower uses up to 35 gallons.
- Install aerators on all household faucets; they slow the flow of water.
- Redeem FREE low flow shower heads from Miami-Dade County and reduce gallons per minute by up to 6.5.
- Limit the amount of time you run your pool pump.
- Use cold water instead of hot water to wash your clothes – hot water uses 90% more energy per load!
- Look out for leaks by checking your water meter for changes when no water is being used. If there is a change, you have a leak. Repair leaks ASAP – a small leak can waste 70-100 gallons of water per day.
- When you wash your car move it onto the grass and help recharge the South Florida Aquifer.
- Defrost food in the refrigerator. Using running water wastes water.
- Recycle water – find another use for it instead of pouring it down the drain, like watering your plants. You can wash vegetables in a bowl of water and then recycle that water.
- Turning off the water when shaving and brushing teeth saves up to ten gallons per day! Every drop counts, so turn off while you are doing washing your face and hands too.
- Fill the sink with water when you wash the dishes instead of using running water.
- Only run the dishwasher once it’s completely filled.
- Check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank. After 20 minutes, if there is dye in the bowl or if the color in the tank is lighter, you have a leak.
- Lower the rise of the toilet tank water by adjusting the tank float. Or you can put a small plastic jug filled with water and weights into the tank to displace water (don’t try this with low volume toilets). This can save up to half a gallon with every flush.
- The US Department of Energy suggests setting your water heater to 115°F – any hotter does not sterilize the water (this is a common misconception). Every 10°F you turn it down can save up to 6% on your water bill.
- Drain your hot water heater at least twice a year – you don’t have to empty it, just let it drain until the water runs clear. Doing so will get rid of the dissolved minerals that build up inside the heater, extending its life and saving energy.
- Wrap your water heater with an insulating fire-retardant blanket (get one at a hardware store). This can reduce heat loss by up to 45%.
- Install a water heater timer and set it to turn on at the times you need hot water. Most families only need hot water a few hours a day! This can cut hot water costs by 1/3.
- Take advantage of solar energy and buy a solar water heater. Solar heaters use the sun’s energy instead of gas or electricity to heat water for your home, making them one of the best ways for consumers to save energy. An average family of four uses 70 gallons of hot water per day at a cost of about $399 per year to heat the water with electricity. A solar water heater can save about $200 to $300 per year, and even more if the backup element of the heater is turned off (which can be done easily in the summer when there are more hours of sunlight).
Go visit the Florida Solar Energy Center to learn more about a solar water heater and the tax incentives they provide.
Outdoor Water Conservation
- Water irrigation is responsible for 90% of water used in South Florida.
- Applying 2-3 inches of mulch around trees and plants saves between 750-1,500 gallons per month.
- The most environmentally friendly mulch is recycled tree cuttings and other organic debris. When purchasing mulch, look for Pine Bark and avoid cypress mulch and any others made from pressure treated wood.
- Keeping your pool covered saves 1,000 gallons per month and reduces need for chlorine.
- Water before 9 A.M. or after 5 P.M. to reduce fungus and prevent 300 gallons of evaporation.
- Watering on windy days can result in the evaporation of 300 gallons per watering.
- Turn off sprinklers after rainy days. A hearty rain eliminates the need for irrigation by up to two weeks. Use a rain barrel to catch water to water outdoor plants.
- Keep grass between 2-3 inches to promote healthier roots and reduce evaporation by 500-1,500 gallons each month.
- Plant drought resistant plants and convert your landscape into xeriscape, landscape that does not require additional irrigation. Go view this PDF from the SFWMD to learn the benefits and how to construct a xeriscape.
- For more water conservation tips check out this PDF also from the SFWMD.
Shopping
The goods you buy all add to the carbon footprint you create.
- Buy local products.
- Buy products made with recycled content.
- Buy minimally packaged goods.
- Avoid using produce plastic bags in the grocery store (firm produce like apples don’t really need a bag).
- Bring your own bags for food shopping – according to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil are required to make that many plastic bags.
Transportation
Try to walk, bike and use public transportation whenever possible. But when you do use your car, there are ways to maximize fuel efficiency.
- Don’t drive aggressively – it wastes gas.
- Remove unnecessary items from your car – the additional weight reduces fuel efficiency.
- Plan errands and trips efficiently to conserve gas.
- Turn off car if idling for over 1 minute.
- Use cruise control on the highway – it maintains constant speed and saves gas. Disengage it on hilly roads.
- Keep tires properly inflated – this improves gas mileage by 3 MPG and is safer.
- Replace clogged air filters, saving gas and protecting your engine.
- When buying a new car, buy the most fuel efficient car you can, like a hybrid. Go to www.fueleconomy.gov for a list of fuel efficient cars and more tips on driving efficiently.
Other tips for the home
- Dispose of hazardous materials properly. One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water.
Recycle your used oil. Contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Used Oil Information Service, either online or by calling toll-free 1-800-741-4337 to find a Public Used Oil Collection center. - Minimize the use of your garbage disposal – food waste can clog pipes in your home and the sewer system.
- Don’t flush garbage in the toilet.
- Buy phosphate FREE detergent – detergents sold in Florida are required to be low in phosphates, but phosphates are a huge polluter of the Everglades.
- Install solar panels – solar energy, known as photovoltaics, uses energy from the sun to provide clean energy for your home.
Go to here for more information on solar energy and read this PDF to learn about Florida’s solar energy rebate program.
Reducing garbage – Don’t trash it!
Many landfills are running out of room. The three R’s are more important than ever – reduce, reuse and recycle.
- Reuse as much as possible – use a lunch box and reusable plastic container instead of a paper bag and plastic wrap.
- Stop junk mail – it creates a lot of household garbage. Write to:
Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association
Attn: Department 11630860
PO Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512
Or go online. - Get your bank statements via email instead of on paper.
- Buy rechargeable batteries. Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeables are recommended because they don’t contain toxic metals (unlike rechargeable alkalines), and offer almost twice the capacity per cell compared to NiCad rechargeables. (Note: it is illegal to put NiCad or similar batteries in the garbage. Contact the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp at 1-800-8BATTERY or online at www.rbrc.org to find a collection center near you).
- Recycle standard alkaline batteries – don’t throw them away! Residents served by Miami-Dade Solid Waste Department can recycle 9-volt, button and rechargeable (non NiCad) batteries. Put them in a zip-top plastic bag and place it in your green recycling bin on the first recycling day of each month.
- Recycle old electronics – drop them off at the Permanent Home Chemical Collection Center at 8831 NW 58th St or 23707 SW 97th Ave Gate B every Wednesday through Sunday 9am-5pm.
Additional Resources for Retrofitting your Lifestyle:
Energy Saving Resources and Tips
FPL Energy Savings Toolkit – Links to FPL’s Top 10 Energy Saving Tips and Energy Saving Programs and Rebates.
Florida Renewable Energy Association – Provides behavioral and technical ideas for residential, construction, transportation areas with links for additional information
Co-op America – Provides technical and behavioral individual solutions and ways to become a better consumer (invest in clean energy). Information on global warming and economic action against environmentally unfriendly businesses.
Co-Op America’s Carb Cutter Challenge – Lists CO2 emissions savings for individual steps
Home Energy Audits
US Department of Energy (EERE) Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audit
Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick – Compare your home’s energy efficiency to similar homes and get recommendations
Home Energy Tune Up – Professional Audit, clear outline of the steps necessary to retrofit with links and explanations for each
Water Conservation
Earth Easy – 25 water conservation tips
Water Conserve – Information on water conservation issues, news and many links to other sites.
South Florida Water Management District – Critical water shortage information for South Florida
Personal Consumption
Ecological footprint quiz –Measures all aspects of personal live to quantify total footprint in an easy, quick survey.
Carbon Counter – Flight, residential and transportation audits with an option to subscribe your business for carbon neutral information and free audits. Information about climate change.
Self-Education
Living Green – Great website for information on renewable energy sources, tips for individuals on all aspects of green living
StopGlobalWarming.org – Learn about global warming, tips for daily life
TerraPass – Reduce the carbon footprint generated by your home, car or flight while supporting renewable energy
Buying Guide
Energy Star – information on compact fluorescent light bulbs
National Green Pages – search for green businesses
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