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Green with envy because your homeowner counterparts have the freedom to treat their homes with the latest and greatest in environmentally friendly upgrades? Don't despair. Although there are changes you can't make as a renter, like installing an on-demand water heater, the newest fuel efficient furnace or adding several R's worth of insulation, there are still plenty of things you can do to ease your dwelling's impact on the planet's fragile ecosystem. Here are a few that can add up to plenty of energy savings, resource preservation and an all-around good feeling about how you're treating Mother Earth. Small measures, big savings For starters, take on the simplest tasks first. Make sure your doors and windows aren't leaking precious warm air in the winter or cool air in the summer. Easy fixes are new caulking and weather stripping to ease losses. If you haven't yet, replace those wasteful incandescent bulbs with energy-saving fluorescents. They use a fraction of the electricity burned by conventional bulbs and last much, much longer, so even if they're more costly upfront, they're a better deal over the long run. And, you can take them with you if you leave. Install a ceiling fan if your landlord allows it. It'll circulate warm air in winter, pushing it down to keep you cozy instead of the ceiling. The cooling effect will reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer. One of the biggest energy wasters is a dirty filter in your heater. Change it and cut your heating costs and the crud that gets in your lungs and on the surfaces of your abode. Ask your landlord to install a programmable thermostat. Set it to turn the heat down a few degrees at night and when you're not at home. Trash talk Make sure you're following the recycling laws in your community. If your landlord isn't compliant, ask him nicely to do so. If he resists, find recycling programs in the area and join with your fellow residents to put together a recycling project of your own. Compost your kitchen waste. There are small units that can be used on a balcony, porch or deck. Water works Take shorter showers, an easy way to cut costs. If you're not that stoic, double down and get a low-flow shower head. It can save energy and water to the tune of about 4,000 gallons a year. Don't run your dishwasher or your clothes washer unless you're doing a full load. Use an aerator in your faucets. Don't let the water run when you're shaving or brushing your teeth. Clean green Use care when purchasing cleaning products. Many contain toxins that are harmful to the air and water and, potentially, lethal to humans and animals. Find out which of them are and avoid them. Do some research and determine which products will do the job on the dirt and not on you. Paints and finishes can contain Volatile Organic Compounds, substances you don't want to breathe and risk damage to your body. Check out paints before you buy and ensure that they are low- or no-VOC products. Return to the old days for an energy-saving way to dry your laundry. Hang clothes outside on sunny days and discover how much more pleasant they smell than when using those perfumed dryer sheets. Besides, hanging clothes and taking them down is good exercise. Leave the driving to them Walking or bicycling will save you money, cut carbon emissions and benefit your cardiovascular function. If it's possible, use public transportation to go to work or school. Idling in traffic wastes billions of gallons of gasoline a year. If you must drive, make sure your car is in top running condition, with the regular maintenance completed, like rotations and air pressure checks on your tires and the required tune-ups and oil changes up to date. Avoid the jack rabbits starts and having to stand on the brakes to stop. Combine trips and carpool when you can. Now, that wasn't hard, was it? With some simple and easy changes in your routine, you can develop a lifestyle that will help preserve the planet and save you money.
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