Have you ever considered how many gallons you could save each year by simply following a few tips?

Turn Off the Faucet While Brushing Your Teeth
Even if you are a fast brusher, experts estimate that around four gallons of water slips down the drain. That means if turn off the faucet while brushing, you could save 2,880 gallons of water each year. If everyone in the United States did, four times the Mississippi River’s annual water flow would be saved!

Bring Water With You
It’s easy to grab a bottle of water when you’re on the go. But each one-liter plastic bottle takes seven liters of water to produce. Reuse your water bottle by filling it up over the day. Or better yet, use a reusable water bottle that can be used again and again. If you brought your water with you for one year you could save up to 577 gallons of water each year. If everyone did, the amount of water saved could cover the Washington D.C. area by 52 feet.

Buy Recycled-Paper Products
Paper products made from 100% recycled paper require much less water than those made from virgin paper. If you and your family goes through four rolls of paper towels a week, but switched to recycled paper, you could save 637 gallons of water a year. If every family in America switched to recycled paper towels, the amount of water saved would equal what cascades over Niagara Falls each day!

Install A Low-Flow Showerhead
Switching to a low-flow showerhead cuts the water flow in half. Using this type of showerhead would save you enough water to fill a 15-foot aboveground pool when only taking a five-minute shower. The water you would save after switching showerheads would be 4,550 gallons of water. Imagine if everyone in America switched, the results would be enough water to fill about 2,100 Giant Stadiums!

Water Your Lawn in the Early Morning or Evening
Water evaporates throughout the day and prevents 14% of water from actually reaching the plants’ roots when you water mid-day. Watering in the morning or evening can save 87 gallons a week. Do this for one year and you will save 4,524 gallons of water. If every household did this, the amount of water saved would equal nine times the annual rainfall in Seattle!

Use the Low Setting on Your Dishwater
The light-wash setting on your machine cleans just as well as higher settings and reduces water up to 55%. Try washing your dishes on low for a year and save 2,860 gallons of water. If every household in America switched to washing on low, the amount of water saved would cover Rhode Island by a foot!

You’ve just bought an energy efficient TV? Updated your computer? Upgraded your cell phone? All good news, but now you have old electronics containing toxic heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium causing clutter. No worries, there are many easy options to properly dispose of your old gadgets.

Cell Phones

Find an organization in your area that will offer you an exchange for your cell phone. Programs such as Recellular help turn your old cell phone into prepaid calling cards for U.S. military overseas.

Televisions

Before you dump your old TV, remember that more and more cities are banning old lead-filled sets from landfills. Fortunately, several alternatives are at your fingertips. Some retailers and manufacturers (Best Buy and Sony are examples) offer recycling programs. Also check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of participating e-cycling companies to find out what’s available in your area.

Computers

One of the best ways to get any older electronic off your hands is to donate it! Find an organization nearby that will gladly accept your used computer. All it takes is a little research and you can reduce your clutter and help an organization in need—everyone wins!

A nationwide grassroots demonstration voicing the concern for our planet first took place in the spring of 1970. The movement spread quickly and now every April 22, we celebrate environmentalism in the United States. Spread the awareness of this important day, what it stands for and have a little fun while doing it!

Start a Spring Clean-Up on your block, your street, play areas, and schools. Visit your local beach and pick up and pitch unsightly garbage.

Plant a tree with your family. This is one of the most important things you can do for our planet. And a rewarding experience for your family, too!

Join an environmental panel in your town to discuss the impact of current policies and plans.

You are recycling, reusing plastic bags, and switching to fluorescent light bulbs. But it’s 2009 and you’re ready to pitch in even more to help our environment. The good news is that going-and staying-greener is easier than ever.

Label Shop: Buying products that are environmentally friendly is as easy as looking at the label. If you’re in the market for electronics look for the Energy Star logo. Shopping for a new computer? Look for the EPEAT label. And, you can find the Forestry Stewardship Council seal on paper and wood furniture products.

Recycle Electronics: Take your recycling one-step further. Don’t throw away your old cell phones, VHS players, or other electronic products. Services now specialize in buying old electronics. You might even make some cash for your useless goods.

Say No to Plastic Bottles: Get into the habit of using a reusable water bottle. Choose a bottle that is made out of aluminum or plastic that is BPA-free. This will result in less plastic in landfills and more money in your wallet!

Did you know that 99% of Americans own a television? And, the majority of those households own multiple sets. That’s more than 300 million televisions in the United States! The bad news for our environment: TV’s are notorious for consuming loads of energy and older TV’s are made with mercury and lead, which make them difficult to recycle. With the advancement of technology and the transition to digital broadcasting in February, you may want to consider purchasing a television that is clearer, sleeker, and more eco-friendly. The top choice for 2009’s “green TV”? The Liquid Crystal Display, more commonly known as LCD. These televisions have considerably lower energy consumption than other types of sets and the lowest amount of mercury. Couple these environmental benefits with the savings on your monthly electricity bill, and it’s easy to see which TV is right for 2009.

Is heating your house putting the heat on your budget? If spending 6% – 12% of your annual income on utilities doesn’t seem like a bright idea, follow these easy and inexpensive tips to save money on your electricity, water, and heating expenses.

Change Light Bulbs: CFL bulbs last ten times longer than regular bulbs. That means that over the light’s lifetime, it can save you up to $60 in electricity.

Pull the Plug on Appliances: 40% of your household electronics’ energy is consumed when the appliances are turned off! To stop wasting energy and money, pull the plug on appliances if you are rarely using them, going away for vacation, or whenever not is use. Another alternative is to use a Smart Power Strip. This device stops the energy flow when appliances are turned off.

Cold Water in the Washer: Washing your clothes in cold-water saves 50% of the energy you would use by washing in hot water. And you’ll keep your colors bright, too!

Minimize Drafts: Save about $30 a year on your energy bill by adding weather-strip around the frames of your front and back doors.

Water Your Greens in the Morning: Save water by starting your sprinkler before the hot afternoon sun has the chance to dry the moisture. Also, remember that the average lawn only needs to be watered one hour a week.