Eco-Tip: Green Your Laundry Routine
January 1, 2022/
January Eco-Tip:
Green Your Laundry Routine
The average family washes about 300 loads of laundry per year. Doing laundry makes up about 16% of the average household’s water use. In older machines, one load of laundry can take up to 45 gallons of water! By comparison, high-efficiency machines use between 15-30 gallons per load. Your dryer may be one of your home’s main energy culprits. It often uses more energy than any other appliance! Here are some tips to green your laundry routine:
- Wash Less Often
- Wash Full Loads
- Opt for High-Efficiency Equipment when Possible
- Use Cold Water
- Line Dry When Possible
February Eco-Tip:
Are you worried about climate change but don’t know what to do about it? Are you recycling, driving and flying less, keeping your thermostat lower and your air conditioner higher? These are all good things but are not enough. Collective action is essential. Join one of these climate organizations actively working in Maine:
A grassroots movement with local chapters working primarily on state and local initiatives. They focus on climate justice and work extensively with youth.
A grassroots bipartisan movement with local chapters working primarily on federal carbon pricing legislation through developing relationships with members of Congress and building constituent support.
A youth-led coalition for climate justice and bold climate action in the state of Maine.
Portland residents promoting clean energy and reducing carbon pollution in the city.
March Eco-Tip:
Gas prices are projected to rise above their 2008 financial crisis high, increasing in direct relation to the uncertainty about whether or not the U.S. will impose sanctions on gas and oil from Russia. This reality highlights the fact that we must move to renewable energy.
Contact Senator Collins, Senator King and Rep. Pingree and ask them to support legislation that will fast track the move from fossil fuels to renewables so that we can be truly energy independent.
March Eco-Tip:
A study conducted in 2017 for the Portland and South Portland sustainability group, One Climate Future, noted that greenhouse gas emissions from on- road vehicles contributed respectively 30% and 32% of the total greenhouse gas emissions for each city. In light of these findings, use ways to diminish these emissions by car pooling, taking public transportation, walking, or biking if possible. Consider an electric or hybrid car for your next automobile purchase
April Eco-Tip:
The Maine legislature wraps up this session mid-April and will send legislation they pass to Governor Mills to sign. We have been asking you to contact your legislators asking them to support LD 1626 (tribal sovereignty) and LD 906 (securing clean drinking water for Passamaquoddy citizens) and now we are asking you to send a handwritten letter THIS WEEK to Governor Mills asking her to sign LD 1626 and LD 906 into law.
No Mow May:
This movement began in the U.K. as an effort to provide pollinators with more foraging opportunities since without mowing, more flowers would grow in the lawn. Because our 17 species of bees are in decline in Maine, consider not mowing until the end of May to help them as they emerge this spring.