At home you can… trim money off your monthly power bill and save energy by following these tips.

1. Even when turned “off,” appliances and electronics chargers that are plugged into an outlet use “standby consumption” equivalent to a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously. To make unplugging less of a hassle, plug your commonly used appliances (television, stereo, home theater equipment) into a power strip. To conserve energy, just flip the power strip to “off” when you are gone. Basic chargers for cell phones, cameras and other chargeable electronics should be unplugged when not in use.
2. Set the thermostat on your water heater to between 120 and 130 degrees. Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher.
3. Set your clothes washer to “warm” or “cold” instead of the “hot” setting to lower energy use. Nearly 85 percent of the energy used comes from heating the water.
4. When your water heater reaches the end of its life, consider purchasing an on-demand hot water heater.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs…

Compared to standard incandescent bulbs, ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs:

1. Can use up to 75 percent less energy
2. Can last 10 times longer
3. Can save you $30 in electricity over the bulb's lifetime
4. Run cooler, so they can reduce building cooling costs

Because CFLs are more energy efficient, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Note: There is a really small amount of mercury in a compact fluorescent light bulb, so make sure you recycle or dispose of the bulbs correctly.

Source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

More Air Quality tips…

At home you can . . . reduce your carbon emissions and, while doing so, save money by following these tips:

1. Whether you are in line at the bank or in a fast-food drive thru, idling wastes fuel and causes unnecessary emissions. Turn your engine off when you are stuck in traffic or will be idling for some time.
2. When buying your next car, pick the least polluting, most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Maybe it's an innovative hybrid that combines a gasoline engine with electric motors (and never needs to be plugged in).
3. Carpooling is an economical and green way of traveling. Fewer vehicles on the road mean fewer emissions. Consider carpooling (link to RideShare) to work with fellow employees or planning outings with friends so only one vehicle is used. Also, public transportation such as Votran (link to Votran.org) reduces the number of vehicles on the road and harmful emissions released into the environment.
4. If your destination is close, consider other transportation alternatives such as bicycling, walking, skating or any other non-emission mode of travel. All Votran buses are equipped with bike racks.

More ways to save water…

At home you can…save water and reduce your monthly water bill by following these conservation tips for outdoors and indoors:

1. When shopping for a new appliance, consider one offering cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water- and energy-efficient than older appliances and you could qualify for a rebate from Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities.
2. Run the dishwasher or washing machine only when there is a full load to save about 1,000 gallons of water a month.
3. When washing produce, collect the water in a pan and use it on houseplants or outdoor plants in need of watering. Save time and money by turning off the water during shaving and combining other activities such as washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.

More habitat conservation tips…

1. Reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides so native wildlife can thrive.
2. When buying or building a new house, consider leaving native vegetation in place rather than clearing the land for lawns, and choose neighborhoods that are built in concert with the natural surroundings.
3. Support conservation programs, such as Volusia Forever, which preserve native habitats for future generations.
4. Volunteer to help with Volusia County Environmental Management invasive plant removal and habitat restoration activities.