aFewSteps.org
  • About Us
  • Our Initiatives
    • Electric Lawn Equipment Initiative
    • Green Energy >
      • how to switch to green energy
    • Shade Trees
    • Waste Free Parties >
      • Dinner & BBQ
      • Block Parties
    • Walking School Buses
  • Green Tips of the Week
  • Recycling
  • Workshops
  • Contact Us

Making secret fairy houses is an absorbing outdoor activity for all ages

6/30/2023

 
Picture
Use whatever natural materials are at hand—plants, moss, twigs, cones, and more for this magical experience. Tuck the houses into surprising places like tree roots, branches—anything goes. The size can be super tiny or as large as you want.  See some inspiring examples here.

Don’t hide your vegetable garden

6/23/2023

 
Picture
A common mistake seen in gardens is compartmentalization. Kitchen gardens are often hidden away, thought of as an area separate from recreation and play. A better idea is to make a holistic design.  Read more here.




Photo by Susan O'Donnell


Keep a pitcher of water in your refrigerator for better water quality and energy savings

6/16/2023

 
Picture
Keeping a pitcher of tap water in the fridge saves energy on cooling and provides cold drinking water during the summer months.

The refrigerator works more efficiently when it is fuller.  Because water holds its temperature well, storing a container of water in the refrigerator helps it regulate its temperature.  This also provides you with a regular source of cold, refreshing water throughout the summer, eliminating the need to run water from the tap while waiting for it to run cold.  In addition, leaving the water container uncovered in the fridge allows the chlorine to evaporate out and will taste fresher.  

See more information at the Department of Energy.


Don't bag thick-skinned produce

6/9/2023

 
Picture
To reduce the need for plastic bags, don’t bother bagging produce with thick skins, such as lemons, bananas, and avocados.

Rethink bagging produce with thick skins before placing them in your grocery cart.  The thick, inedible skins of produce such as citrus fruits, bananas, and avocados make plastic produce bags unnecessary when selecting them at the grocery store.  Reduce your use of plastic bags by placing these items directly into your shopping cart or into a reusable bag.  


Only run full loads of dishes and clothes

6/2/2023

 
Picture
When using a machine to wash dishes or laundry, wash full loads for maximum energy and water efficiency

Washing machines use a certain amount of energy to run each load.  For example, running two loads half full uses more energy than one full load (1).  Therefore, running a full load is a more efficient use of the energy needed just for operating the machine (2).  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “a single large load saves you about 25% to 50% of the energy of two small loads.”(1)  

To further increase the efficiency of your dish washer, pack the dishes strategically without overfilling (3) to maximize the use of space while ensuring that the water spray reaches each dish (4).


See other energy saving hints for dish and clothes washers: 

(1) Trent Hamm, January 25, 2012. “Only run full loads of dishes and clothes,” The Christian Science Monitor (csmonitor.com/Business)

 (2) Scott Minos, Feb. 14, 2018, “16 Ways to Save Money in the Laundry Room,” Energy.gov.

(3) Sarah Aguirre, February 8, 2021, “10 Dishwasher mistakes and how to avoid them,” The Spruce (thespruce.com)

(4) Ada Tseng, May 20, 2022, “To pre-reinse or not to pre-rinse? How to use your dishwasher during the drought,” Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)


    Categories

    All
    Chemicals
    Environmental Impacts
    Food
    Home Energy
    Outdoors
    Plastic
    Recycle
    Reduce Waste
    Reuse
    Transportation
    Water

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012

Donate
​About Us
Our Initiatives
Green Tips
Recycling
Workshops
Contact Us
[email protected]

​Mailing Address:
aFewSteps.org
P.O.Box 330
Wallingford PA 19086-0330
©2022-2023 aFewSteps.org  |  All Rights Reserved.