Aging Initiative

1. Did you know that the average house is responsible for more air pollution than the average car? You can cut utility bills and save energy by purchasing energy-efficient appliances, fixtures, and other home equipment and products.
   • When light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs. Converting bulbs can help you save energy and compact fluorescent bulbs last much longer then standard light bulbs.
   • We can insulate our homes and tune up the furnace to save on fuel bills. We can also set the thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer. This will result in substantial savings on our utility bills and energy consumption.
   • You can also save on your energy bill by using cold water to wash clothes. Modern detergents clean well in either hot or cold water, so choose cold when possible.
   • If new appliances are needed consider buying an ENERGY STAR appliance. We can reduce energy consumption by 40% by buying home products that have the ENERGY STAR label. You will save money in the long run. There are many ENERGY STAR products to choose from such as: washers, dryers, microwaves, air conditioners, and even ceiling fans.
     
     
2. Be sure to know how to dispose of unwanted medications to avoid poisonings.
   Don’t flush unused medications down the toilet because they can seep into local water sources. Instead, place unused medications in the trash once they are removed from the original container. Wrap the medications in a plastic bag with coffee grounds or kitty litter and then place the waste in the garbage.
   
   
3. Open a bank account online.
   We can save trees while we sit at the computer by opening a banking account online. If you convert from paper to electronic statements you will save trees and your bank statements will arrive days earlier. Each time a new statement is ready, it goes directly into an email account.  Most banks offer electronic statements. You can also manage your credit card accounts online.
   
   
4. Make your own cleaning supplies.
   By using ingredients such as baking soda, soap, and vinegar, we can easily make inexpensive and non-toxic cleaning products that work. This will save time and money, and also reduce indoor environmental hazards that may trigger an asthma attack.