Why Don't You..Schedule a Yearly Tune-Up for your Lawnmower?

Keeping your lawnmower in good working order will cut emissions by up to 50 percent and reduce fuel consumption by 30%. Most local hardware or home improvement stores offer lawnmower tune-up services.
Showing posts with label utility reduction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label utility reduction. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Find Out How Much Electricity You're Using!


Thank you to Kris Kirwan for sending over this great little find!

Electricity bills are rising. Now you can cut down on costs and find out what appliances are actually worth keeping plugged in. Simply connect these appliances to the Kill A Watt, and it will assess how efficient they really are. The large LCD display counts consumption by the kilowatt-hour, the same as your local utility. You can calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month, even an entire year. Also check the quality of your power by monitoring voltage, line frequency, and power factor. Now you will know if it is time for a new refrigerator or if that old air conditioner is still saving you money.

The U.S Department of Energy reports that 20% of our electric bills come from items that are left plugged in when they are not in use, or items that are in standby mode. With the Kill A Watt P4400 we can monitor the energy eaters in our homes and cut down our electric bills at the same time. Plug whatever item you want into the device and it will tell you the efficiency of that item by displaying the kilowatt per hour. This device will help you determine which items are costing you the most to run. The Kill A Watt also calculates voltage, line frequency, current, and power factor. You can calculate your electric bill before you even receive it from the electric company.

Test The Quality of Your Home's Power

But measuring appliance consumption is just the tip of the iceberg. Because it can monitor voltage (Volt) and line frequency it can also test if an outlet is working, or evaluate the quality of the electrical power provided by your utility company. It can detect voltage drops around the house, help to predict brownout conditions or to make sure a new home's outlets are in working condition before escrow closes.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Quick Tips to Go Green at Work (Paper and Printing)


As promised yesterday...here is the follow up for Paper and Printing green tips! If youre interested in helping out with any of these initiatives please contact Kym Taylor.

Paper and Printing

1. Reduce paper waste by using the blank backs of waste paper for drafts, scratch paper, internal memos, etc. DONE!

2. Include a "Please Consider the Environment" footer in all your email signatures. DONE!

3. Purchase recycled or remanufactured toner cartridges to realize significant cost savings. (technically all of our toner is new, however, all the cartridges are recycled by Pitney Bowes, whom we lease our printers from)

4. Purchase copy paper, folders, and other office paper products made from 35-100% post-consumer recycled materials. DONE! all our paper is 80% post consumer recycled paper!

5. Begin using EcoFont® for internal documents and save up to 20% on ink costs. Possible initiative for FY12.

6. Establish a paper recycling program for newspapers, office paper, direct mail, white and colored paper, cardboard, envelopes, magazines, and catalogs.

7. Send and receive faxes directly to your computer. If that’s not possible, eliminate fax cover sheets by using Post-Its® on the first page. Possible initiative for FY11.

8. Purchase or lease copiers and printers that have a two-sided copying and printing function. DONE! All of the main copy machines are capable of this function.

9. Choose pre-used, recycled, or Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified boxes and bags for retail use or shipping.

10. Establish a paperless billing program for your customers and encourage use by creating incentives.

11. Sign up to pay your bills online and receive invoices and receipts electronically.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Quick Tips to Go Green at Work (Bathroom and Breakroom)


We mentioned at the meeting on Friday that we are looking to get officially certified this year as Green Business and the good news--Playnetwork is already VERY green! :) We are getting emails every few days from the GBB with ideas to go green, check these out:

Break Room and Bathroom

1. Reduce water waste by installing aerators to control water flow-rates on faucets. (on our agenda for this year w/ the Utility Reduction Committee! contact Kym if you're interested in signing up!)

2. Install motion sensor controls that turn off faucets automatically.

3. Eliminate paper, Styrofoam, or plastic cups, plates and utensils in the kitchen area. Use mugs, dishes, and silverware instead.(on our agenda for this year w/ the Utility Reduction Committee! contact Kym if you're interested in signing up!)

4. Use environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning products.

5. Switch from bottled water to filtered water, or install a water cooler, to save money and reduce waste. DONE! :)

6. Choose re-usable cleaning supplies like sponges over paper


tomorrow..paper and printing reductions! :)