Anagain, Inc. » Do One Thing

Do One Thing: Get A Drying Rack.

david — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:30:41 +0000

Want to see where I dry most of my clothes? Well, here you go:

Yes, I have a dryer, and yes, I use it on occasion. But most of my clothing, towels, and cleaning rags go on this rack or on hangers to dry. We aren’t allowed to put anything on our porches to dry anymore, so I have to put everything in my bathroom instead. This rack cost me about $10, and not only does it save me money on my electric bill and reduce my carbon footprint, but it also reduces the wear and tear on my clothes… and in turn, they last longer. So Do One Thing and either pick up an inexpensive drying rack or hang a clothesline in your bathroom for drying your clothes free of charge!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Get A Drying Rack.

david — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:30:41 +0000

Want to see where I dry most of my clothes? Well, here you go:

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Bring Home Your Recyclables.

david — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:30:52 +0000

This past weekend I had a friend visiting from out of town, and as such we ended up playing tourist here in downtown Denver. One thing I noticed, however, is that there are not any recycling bins around the tourist areas – only trash cans full to the brim with both trash and recyclables alike. When we ended up with an empty coffee cup and juice cup, we had two choices – dump them in the trash or carry them with us until we got back to my house where we could put them in the recycling bin. We chose the latter, for obvious reasons. Cities really need to get with the program and provide recycling bins on every corner just like trash bins are if they expect to see a reduction in their overall waste stream. If you are ever out and about and end up with some waste that can be recycled, just Do One Thing and bring it home with you and responsibly dispose of it – the environment will thank you!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Turn Off Your Computer Monitor.

david — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:30:29 +0000

If you happen to walk by a business late at night, I guarantee you will see computers left with their monitors on. I don’t understand why people do it, but many, many employees leave their monitors “on” all night and all weekend long. Whether it’s because they think their backup systems won’t work or their computers will be shut off, it is an incredible waste of energy and can even shorten the lifespan of the monitors, leading to even more e-waste being disposed of. So if you work for a company where employees always do this, start a movement or put up signs in common areas to get people to turn off those monitors at night and before they head home for the weekend. (The computers, too, if possible) And if your home computer monitor gets left on too, be sure to turn it off when you aren’t using it!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Run Dishwasher/Washing Machine During Off Peak Hours.

david — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:00:42 +0000

Did you know that depending on where you live, your electricity costs might be cheaper at night and on weekends? Yep, it’s true. Here in Denver they don’t differentiate, but in most areas they do. I randomly picked the state of South Dakota and looked up their chart from Xcel Energy, and this is what I found:

Peak Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Charge per kWh: June through September – $0.15315; October through May – $0.11767

Off-Peak Times: All other hours, plus New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; and Fridays directly before Saturday holidays and Mondays immediately following Sunday holidays. Charge per kWh: $0.01920

That’s a huge difference, and your state or area might have the same kind of discounts for using those major appliances late at night or on weekends. Here in Denver they only offer a two-tier program, in which you pay 4.6 cents per kWh for 0-500 kWh per month or for use that exceeds 500 kWh, the cost is 9 cents per kWh. This encourages users to really watch their energy use to keep those costs down. Be sure to check out what your area offers so that you can conserve energy AND save money!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Say No To The Bag.

david — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:30:12 +0000

We’ve all been there – you run into the store to buy 1 or 2 small items, and the clerk bags them up for you. But did you really need the bag to carry an apple and a 1/2 gallon of orange juice? Not really. So next time you are in the store and you forgot your reusable bags (I do it all the time), just Do One Thing and say no to the bag… You can handle those 2 items without it!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Pick Up After Your Pets.

david — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:30:44 +0000

This week’s Do One Thing is inspired by two of my neighbors, who let their dogs out on the grass to poop – and then they leave it there. I took it upon myself to make signs and put them on the lawn, but with people this careless, I doubt it will make a difference. Dog feces that isn’t picked up can be a health hazard, never mind just a simple annoyance on the bottom of your shoe. Feces contains high levels of bacteria, which percolate down into underground aquifers and also get washed down storm drains, both of which can eventually contaminate our drinking water and/or rivers. There’s a good reason we have sewers and septic tanks to contain our waste. So please – pick up after Fido when he does his business outside!

(Your neighbors will appreciate it, trust me…)

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Buy A Reusable Auto Air Filter.

david — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:30:59 +0000

This week’s Do One Thing is about your car and the air that it breathes. Every car has an air filter that filters the air before it gets sucked into your engine to be combined with the fuel and burned to create energy. It’s vitally important that the air filter is clean, and that’s why the guys at your local oil change place always suggest you should replace it. Disposable air filters run around $8-$10 the last time I ever bought one, and as soon as they are filled up with dirt they get thrown in the trash. That’s not too eco-friendly at all! Instead, why not buy a filter that can be washed and reused over and over again? Filters like these from K&N are not only washable & reusable for the life of your car, but also increase horsepower and acceleration – kind of a no-brainer, really. Sure, they cost a little bit more, but you only ever buy one – not a few every year. So next time it’s time to replace your car’s air filter, look into getting a reusable one instead – and keep those disposables out of the landfill!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Add Ceiling Insulation For All Seasons.

david — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:30:14 +0000

Thanks to my friend Nan over at Desert Verde for sending along this idea for a Do One Thing post. If you want to easily and rather inexpensively reduce heat loss in the winter and keep heat out in the summer, there isn’t anything more effective than making sure your ceiling or attic is properly insulated. Be sure, though, to use one of the newer, safer insulation materials like blown-in cellulose insulation made from newspapers or recycled blue jeans. Here are some tips on insulation your attic space, fromEnergy Savers:

Before installing any type of insulation in your attic, follow these steps:

Seal all attic-to-home air leaks. Most insulation does not stop airflow.
Duct exhaust fans to the outside. Use a tightly constructed box to cover fan housing on attic side. Seal around the duct where it exits the box. Seal the perimeter of the box to the drywall on attic side.
Cover openings—such as dropped ceilings, soffits, and bulkheads—into attic area with plywood and seal to the attic side of the ceiling.
Seal around chimney and framing with a high-temperature caulk or furnace cement.
At the tops of interior walls, use long-life caulk to seal the smaller gaps and holes. Use expanding foam or strips of rigid foam board insulation for the larger gaps.
Install blocking (metal flashing) to maintain fire-safety clearance requirements (usually 3 inches) for heat-producing equipment found in an attic, such as flues, chimneys, exhaust fans, and light housings/fixtures unless the light fixtures are IC (insulation contact) rated. IC-rated lights are airtight and can be covered with insulation.
Make sure insulation doesn’t block soffit vents to allow for attic ventilation.
Check the attic ceiling for water stains or marks. They indicate roof leaks or lack of ventilation. Make repairs before you insulate. Wet insulation is ineffective and can damage your home.

This is a very important Do One Thing that can save you money, energy, and help reduce your home’s emissions. Good luck!

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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Do One Thing: Stop Watering The Sidewalk.

david — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:30:16 +0000

The sidewalks around here sure do get a lot of watering during the day. Not sure what these people are trying to grow, but maybe concrete DOES multiply if you give it enough water! If you are watering your lawn using sprinklers, please be sure to calibrate them correctly so that the sidewalks and the street don’t get the majority of the water – that’s just wasteful. Imagine how much less water you could use if all the water actually hit the grass it was meant for! So this summer, please be sure to only water the grass and not the sidewalk… concrete and cement don’t need a drink.

Please don’t miss the Change.org petitions over on the right hand side of the site. Topics like offshore oil drilling and the Climate Bill are awaiting your support!

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