Green Tips for April – Every Day is Earth Day!

Spring is in the air, and ACI’s Green Team is thinking about the planet. We’ve come to know Earth Day (historically relegated to April 20th) to be Earth Month, as communities around the country schedule events to celebrate environmental conservation and preservation. This month’s Green Tips focus on simple, low- to no-cost steps you can take to help you celebrate Earth Day by reducing your environmental footprint!

Easy tips to use less water!

Using less water by implementing these easy green tips is a great way to save money on your water bill and protect our precious and limited water supplies! Some simple water-saving tips that you can implement into your everyday routine include:

• Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth. According to Turn off the Tap | WaterSense Kids | US EPA, you can save up to 8 gallons by turning off the tap when you brush your teeth in the morning and at night. That is a water savings of up to 200 gallons per month, or enough to fill a large fish tank capable of holding up to 6 small sharks.
• Running the dishwasher only when it’s full.
• Doing full loads of laundry instead of running the machine for only a handful of items.
• Adding a bucket in your shower to collect water while you’re waiting for it to heat up (the extra water can be used to water your plants!)
• Investing in native plants that don’t require as much water to stay healthy.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator instead of thawing it under running water.
• These simple lifestyle changes will have a huge impact on your overall water bill. They will also help you reduce your water consumption, protecting our natural resources!
• Cut down on energy use by changing out your lightbulbs!
  How can you save a little bit more money and not have to deal with replacing your lightbulbs as often? Try out LED lightbulbs; they are a little more costly, but ultimately, you can save a lot of energy and money down the road. Next time you’re at the home improvement store, compare a standard CFL lightbulb to an LED lightbulb, and the results will surprise you!

Also, did you know that CFL lightbulbs are toxic when disposed of?

When throwing them out, seek a retailer in your area for a safe drop-off option. NEVER PUT THEM IN THE TRASH as they contain chemicals such as mercury. An excellent tool for disposing of these and other toxic materials is Alameda County’s | RE:Source tool.  It’s easy and tells you the best, closest, and cheapest way of disposing of batteries, paints, appliances, and other tips to help you do the right thing!

Another energy-saving idea is to turn off your lights when you leave a room for an extended amount of time. Green Team member Antonio wanted to share this resource: 100 Powerful Ways to Save Electricity and Slash Your Energy Costs, which is a great resource for this and many other energy-saving tips!

Save money and the planet by reducing food waste!

Before shopping, take a moment to check your fridge, pantry, and cabinets for seasonings and ingredients you already have. Look for items nearing expiration and plan to use them in the week ahead. You can search Google for recipes that include what you have on hand or use the Safeway app to find meals with your main ingredient and easily shop for what you need on their recipe tab. For even more tips and resources, visit Tools and Resources | Stop Food Waste, where you can download helpful guides like a fruit and veggie storage cheat sheet, a shopping list template, and printables for understanding product expiration dates. Using these strategies will assist you with cutting down on food waste, saving money by comparing market costs with online weekly ads, and making conscious choices in your kitchen.