It’s really easy to live green, and small household swaps will result in big changes – both for your hydro bill and the environment.

1. Clean the coils
Regularly cleaning the refrigerator coils ensures that it always running smoothly and performing at its peak.

2. Decide with the door closed
Wondering what to have for lunch? Ponder the possibilities with the freezer or fridge shut, then open it when you know what’s on tap. Same goes for baking- set it and forget it, checking it only when you need to, so it doesn’t have to work harder to maintain the internal heat.

3. Think ahead and thaw
Decide the night before if you want to take something out of the freezer for dinner the next day. Defrosted food will save on cooking time. (Keeping in mind that this does not apply for items that are not to be defrosted pre-cooking).

4. Fill ‘er up
Fill the dishwasher to capacity using the shortest wash cycle, and allow to air dry. Keep the fridge and freezer full, too – both appliances are much more efficient when packed versus empty.

5. Give glass a try
Baking in a glass dish allows for temperatures to be reduced by 25F, due to better heat conducting.

6. Love your laundry
Use cold water whenever you can, and don’t be overgenerous with detergent – you don’t need as much as you think. If you use dryer sheets, rip them in half – they still get the job done. Also be sure not to overload the dryer, but a better option is allowing clothes to air dry – either on an indoor rack or outdoor line.

7. Close the curtains
Hard to breathe on those hot, humid days? Close the drapes and blinds, keeping the coolness indoors.

8. Size up your saucepans
Ensure that the saucepans you use match the size of the element its on – a small pot placed on a large burner is an energy waster, and a large pot on a small burner takes longer to heat.

9. Quiet your computers
Turn off your computer and other items, such as printers, when not in use – obvious, but infrequently done. Click into your computer options and alter the “sleep” mode to kick in sooner than later.

10. Become one with a blanket
Slippers, sweaters and blankets can keep you toasty while you lower your thermostat a notch or two in the winter. Investing in a programmable thermostat is an efficient way to keep track of the heat when you are sleeping or not at home.

11. Lose the lights
Do you really need to have the lights on all the time? Open the blinds during bright days, and light a few candles in the evening. Often, if you have a TV humming in the background, this is more than enough brightness to mellow out for the night.

12. Free the flow
Reduce bath time and install low-flow shower heads. With shaving off only a few minutes, the numbers will continuously add up.

13. Go gap-free
Ensure your floors, walls and roof are properly insulated, and seal any gaps with caulking and weather stripping. If you can’t identify the drafts, this is a good one-time investment to hire a professional.

14. Grind it with girth
Opt for manual appliances, such as hand beaters, knives, and can openers, over the electric kind. The added bonuses are they often are easier to clean and take a few seconds to use.

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