Conserve Energy and Save on your Natural Gas Bill
Elizabethtown Gas is excited to introduce energySMART, our new program designed to help you conserve energy, reduce your carbon footprint and save on your energy bill.
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Program Overview
This program is designed to promote the purchase of high efficiency natural gas home heating systems and/or water heaters. To this end, the Program provides rebates towards the purchase of qualifying high-efficiency natural gas equipment.
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According to the National Environmental Service Center (NESC) it is estimated that the average homeowner may have up to 100 pounds of various types of hazardous household waste products at any time in their home. This includes products that are flammable, combustible, toxic, explosive or corrosive. You are probably well aware of the hazards associated with the improper storage and use of certain products such as gasoline, anti-freeze, pesticides, and varnishes. But other common products such as nail polish remover, charcoal lighter fluid, and fluorescent light bulbs are also quite hazardous to humans, pets and the environment when used or disposed of improperly. One way to reduce the need to have these hazardous products around is to look for alternate cleaning solutions for everyday home maintenance needs. By reducing your reliance on the potentially hazardous products, you not only reduce the risk of injury to yourself or other family members, but also help the environment.
Two long-used and widely available products, baking soda and vinegar, are good alternatives for many household cleaning products. Baking soda, mixed with water or other products, depending on the particular need, can be used to remove perspiration stains, as a scouring powder to clean plumbing fixtures, and as a general household cleaner. Vinegar can serve as a water softener, pet odor remover, paintbrush softener, and window cleaner. Even baby oil can substitute for harsh chemicals to remove grease and tree sap. Club soda helps remove stains from carpets. Use baking soda with the right mix of vinegar and you can have a drain cleaner or tile scum remover. The National Environmental Service Center has a technical assistance hotline (800-624-8301) available to answer questions. Environment Canada also provides information and offers solutions for the disposal of household hazardous waste. Even alternative products must be used and handled with care. Check with product manufacturers, green product websites, and or the NESC for specific recommendations and mixtures. And of course, as always, keep all cleaning supplies away from children. Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available on line at housemaster.com. This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither DBR Franchising, LLC nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances. © Copyright 2008 DBR. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.
Saving water does more than make sure there's enough to go around. It also conserves energy and helps prevent the global warming that's harming water supplies in the first place. Using less water means less need for water pumping, distribution, and desalinization. According to the Worldwatch Institute, reducing these energy-intensive services could actually have a bigger impact on the climate crisis than mandating that homes and business use less energy.
The Solution
It's clear that it's time to conserve every drop. Click here for our list of easy ways to cut down water use!
Source: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/
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Install a Programmable Thermostat
The average household spends more than $2,000 a year on energy bills — nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Heating or cooling your house when you are not home can waste fuel and money. Visit ENERGY STAR for more information.
The Solution
Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the simplest things you can do to save energy, money and help fight global warming. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.
Visit ENERGY STAR for more information and start saving right away!
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Flat Screen TVs
There are about 275 million TVs currently in use in the U.S., consuming over 50 billion kWh of energy each year — or 4 percent of all households' electricity use. This is enough electricity to power all the homes in the state of New York for an entire year.
The Solution
When choosing your new TV, select an ENERGY STAR product..
Replace Your Gas Mower Fact: A gas mower spews 87 lbs. of the greenhouse gas CO2, and 54 lbs. of other pollutants into your air every year. Fact: Over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled each year refueling lawn and garden equipment – more petroleum than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez. Fact: Gas-powered mowers send over 1,800 times the hydrocarbons into the atmosphere when compared to the environmentally-sound choice of battery-powered mowers.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends battery-powered mowers and when you compare the facts, it’s easy to see why:
According to the EPA, gas mowers are responsible for nearly 5% of our nation’s total air pollution. Over 800 million gallons of gasoline are used mowing our nation’s lawns every year. And if you operate one for more than 15 minutes, experts advise you to wear hearing protection.
The Solution
Battery powered mowers have come a long way. The Neuton Mower, which was selected for the 2009 Editors' Choice Award from Organic Gardening, was the choice of Cranford Environmental Commission member David DesRochers.
"I've had my Newton for 5 years and I love it. It's light weight, starts with the press of a button, and quiet enough so I can use it anytime, day or night. Best of all, I'm reducing my carbon footprint"
To learn more about Neuton Mowers, visit their web site at www.neutonpower.com.
Endangered forests are being destroyed to make toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels and other disposable paper products.
The Solution
Not all tissues are created equally. Making the right choice can help save millions of trees. Print out the NRDC Shop Smart, Save Forests guide for a list of earth friendly products.
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