Green Tips for Fall/Winter 

By Barbara Rivera, Congress Park Green Team

Waste Diversion & Reduction

1. Denver’s LEAF DROP (thru 12/7) turns fallen leaves into compost (get 5 free compostable leaf bags at Ace Hardware). TREECYCLE program turns discarded holiday trees into mulch after Christmas (remove all decorations, lights & stand and place tree 2 feet away from bins on collection day). See details at www.denvergov.org.
2. Hosting a party? Resist the impulse to use disposable utensils, cups & plates. Invest in washable plastic cups, plates and an extra set of real silverware. Serve chilled beverages in pitchers instead of individual single use water bottles.
3. Reduce the amount of paper in your mailbox. Get off junk mail lists by registering with dmachoice.org. Opt-out of catalogs or subscriptions you don’t read (or could read electronically), and use paperless e-billing for all your statements and bills.

Water Conservation

1. Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth saves up to 200 gallons of water per month. Teach children early to develop this lifelong water-saving habit. In 50 years, a person could save 120,000 gallons!
2. Install a Tankless or On-Demand Hot Water Heater that sends hot water to your fixtures in a matter of seconds, saving you water, energy and money. Traditional hot water heaters store large amounts of hot water and use energy to keep it hot all day, every day.
3. Wash lightly soiled laundry using the “short cycle” and lower temps to save water and energy.

Home Energy Efficiency

1. Insulate & seal all exterior doors, windows and garages with stripping, caulking, window kits and foam sealant. Check yearly and replace if needed.
2. Select Energy Star efficient models when replacing appliances and electronics. Energy Star rated computer products are expected to save consumers and businesses more than $1.8 billion in energy costs during the next five years and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of 2.7 million vehicles!
3. Truly turn off all your electronics and computer equipment by plugging them into a UL certified power strip with on/off switch. When appliances are plugged in, they quietly drain electricity all day, every day, even when turned off. “Standby power” accounts for 5-10% of home energy use, costing the average household $100 per year. Switch off the power strip to prevent phantom electrical draw.

Transportation Options Reduce Pollution and Congestion

1. Reduce single occupancy/single use car trips. Combine several personal errands into single outings, and carpool with neighbors on your regular trip across town to places like Costco.
2. Choose local, seasonal produce to reduce transportation costs. Fruits and veggies travel an average of 1500 miles before reaching your plate!
3. Buying a new car? Choose lighter, smaller cars and consider electric or hybrid to use less gas and reduce pollution. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a smart, affordable transportation option. Benefits include tax credits, reserved parking, free charging stations and increased battery range.

Remember- Small choices are powerful. Every Little Bit Helps! Together We Make a Huge Impact.