- Open Your Shades On Winter Days For Natural Light And Warmth - Save up to $10 per 

   year. Taking advantage of winter sunlight can help make a dent in your heating costs. Open

   blinds during the day to provide natural lighting and capture free heat.

- Install Storm Windows - Save up to $105 per year. Since heating can account for about   

   70% of average energy consumption, air loss should be minimized where possible. Adding

   storm windows can result in significant savings to you and can be more cost-effective than

   replacing your windows. There are several options for you to consider.

-  Block Drafts Of Cold Air Around Your Doors - Save up to $10 per year. The edges of doors

   are often poorly sealed, allowing cold air to seep into your warm home. For a free, quick,        and easy solution, block cold air drafts with rolled up towels.

-  Recycle At Work And Home - Make sure paper and plastic recycling bins are conveniently

   placed near printers, work stations and in break rooms. Make recycling easy by setting up a

   convenient place at home, perhaps near your trash.

-  Use Cruise Control - Did you know cruise control actually consumes less fuel? In fact, 

   cruise control could improve mileage by at least 15%, saving the environment, gas and

   money in the process.  

-  Buy House Plants - House plants not only add to the aesthetics of a home, but also

   maintain room temperatures by adding moisture to the air and reducing airborne

   bacteria, fungi, and other unhealthy pollutants.

-  In The Kitchen - Fully load the dishwasher. It costs the same to wash one dish as it does to

   wash a full load. Scrape dishes; don’t pre-rinse. Check your refrigerator door seals. Close

   the door on a dollar bill and pull it out. If it slides out easily, replace the seal. 

-  Think Before You Print - Print double-sided. Cut paper costs and save on space in your files

   by printing double-sided. Avoid printing unnecessary emails or draft documents. Store as

   much information electronically as possible.

-  At Work - Pack a lunch. A disposable, fast food-style lunch creates between 4 and 8 

   ounces of waste. One office worker who eats out regularly could be responsible for

   creating as much as 100 pounds of trash per year.

-  Save Energy - Post reminders next to all light switches to turn off the lights when leaving

   the room and at the end of the day. Replace lights in your home with LEDs. They use much

   less energy and last longer. 

-  Create a Pollinator Plot – Use native perennial plants and enjoy the flowers while

   providing pollinator habitat. Milkweed can be included to attract Monarch butterflies.

-  Garden Organically - Benefits are eating locally grown food, provides a place to compost 

    all the organic matter generated from your household, garden plants provide pollinator 

    habitat, garden space reduces mowing which reduces carbon in the air, and you get to     

    know your neighbors by sharing produce.

-  Yard Care – Limit watering and fertilizing your yard. Hand pull weeds to limit herbicides.

    When mowing, don’t bag the grass as this provides nutrients for the soil. If you do use a

    herbicide, don’t use anything with neonicotinoids in it.

-  Create a Pollinator Plot – Use native perennial plants and enjoy the flowers while

    providing pollinator habitat. Milkweed can be included to attract Monarch butterflies.

-  Pet Care – Seek out a neighbor or friend that lives in a rural area to throw dog waste in a

   field in the winter months. In the summer it can be used to fertilize trees in your yard.

   When walking, train your dog to do their business in designated areas where the waste

   does not have to be picked up. This saves plastic and methane producing matter going in 

   landfill. Additionally, use natural bedding (hay or straw) in the winter and use this for

   mulch in the garden the next year.

-  Reduce and Reuse – Recycling is good; however, it is better to reduce your use of plastics

   and reuse items. Plastic is a petroleum product and increases our fossil fuel use. Only 

   about 10% of plastics produced get recycled; therefore, it is important to reduce our use of

   them. Following are ideas for reducing the use of plastics:

     • Use cloth bags at grocery stores and department stores

     • Buy larger containers of items instead of single use (large container of yogurt vs. single

        serving size)

     • Buy refills instead of new bottles of soap, etc.   

     • Use refillable drinking glasses, coffee cups, etc.

-  Conserve Water – Consider using a rain barrel to collect rain water that can be used for

   watering plants.

-  Hang laundry to dry – Save up to $10 per year. A typical clothes dryer uses up to four   

   times more energy than a new clothes washer. Hang-drying laundry saves energy and

   reduces wear and tear on clothes, which helps them last longer.

-  Enhance your Community – When out for a walk, take something along to collect trash

   and recycling.

-  Buy Local - Support farmers’ markets to supplement your own garden or what you buy at

   the store. Buy meat from local producers. This helps reduce your carbon footprint. 

-  Reduce Paper Mail - Rather than receiving bills or bank statements in the mailbox, pay     

   bills online and opt for email updates to save paper. Reduce paper by unsubscribing from

   junk mail or registering for electronic promotions and updates.

-  Compost in the Garden or a Container – Fall leaves can be composted along with daily

   table and cooking scraps (no meat, bones, or fat). Mulch/compost provides nutrients for

   the yard and garden. 

-  Use Serif Fonts – Serif fonts tend to use less ink, as the lines are thinner. Century Gothic,

   for example, uses on average 30% less ink than Arial. The top five fonts according to   

   printer.com for low ink usage are Century Gothic, Times New Roman, Calibri, Verdani, and     Arial.

-  Environmentally Friendly Holiday – Recycling experts estimate Americans create 25%

   more waste during the holidays. A study from Stanford University found that if every

   household reused two feet of ribbon, the ribbon saved could tie a bow around the planet.

   Following are tips to combat holiday waste:

     1) Drop off unwanted or broken lights at any of these participating locations:

          https://recycleminnesota.org/recycle-your-holidays/

     2) Recycle batteries from electronic toys, light-up ornaments, singing greeting cards,

          flameless tea lights, etc. at the Kandiyohi Household Hazardous Waste Center.

     3) The only wrapping paper that is recyclable is made out of 100% paper. Use plain brown

          paper and decorate with drawings. You can also use materials you already have such as

          newspapers, cloth bags, and used ribbon. Reuse next year.

     4) Give to a cause a person is passionate about instead of a physical gift.

     5) If you have an artificial tree, you can reuse it for years. When you’re done using it and

          it’s still in good shape, donate it to someone else. If you have a real tree that is still

          potted, plant it in your yard.

-  Oil and oil filters - Recycle oil and oil filters at the Kandiyohi County Landfill's oil recycling

   area or any place in the State of MN that provides oil change services. Disposal is free of

   charge at any location.

-  Product Exchange / Shop the Reuse Shelf - Kandiyohi County Household Hazardous

   Waste Center has a product reuse shelf where residents can reuse items that are received 

   and are still good such as cleaners, oils, and more. New items arrive daily and are available

   for free.

-  Recycle toxic and potentially hazardous ingredients - This includes many of the household

    products used to clean, maintain and protect your home and car. Examples are cleaners, 

    paints, oils, pesticides, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries. When these items are no   

    longer needed, you can bring them to the Kandiyohi Household Hazardous Waste Center.

-  Cleaning Products – Make your own cleaning products to save money, reduce your

    reliance on plastics, and use safer ingredients. Window Cleaner – 2 cups water, ¼ cup

    white vinegar, ½ tsp. dish soap. Tub/Tile Cleaner – 1 tsp. laundry detergent, 12 oz. white

    vinegar, 6 oz. Dawn dish soap, 10 oz. water. Laundry Soap – 2 bars Fels Naptha shredded, 3

    cups Borax, 3 cups washing soda. Use 2-3 Tbls. for large loads.

-  Safe Personal Products – Search for your personal care products on this website to find

    out how safe they are for use - https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

-  Recycle Styrofoam – Clean Styrofoam can be recycled in Hutchinson, MN at McLeod   

   County Recycling.

        Curbside/Shed/Drop-Box
        1065 5th Ave SE, Hutchinson
        (800) 335-0575
        Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

-  Set your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter – Save up to $70 per year. You can save   

   up to 10% on your heating bills by simply turning your thermostat down 7-10 degrees

   for eight hours.

-  Seal air leaks – Save up to $155 per year. In most homes, if you add up all the air leaks, the

   impact on your energy use is similar to leaving a window open. Air sealing is one of the

   most cost-effective measures you can take to improve your home's comfort and energy

   efficiency. You can save up to 20% on your heating and cooling costs.

- Install a programmable thermostat – Save up to $70 per year. When your home is empty, your heating and cooling systems are still using energy to maintain the temperature set on your thermostat. By turning your thermostat back by 7-10°F for eight hours a day, you can save 10% a year on heating and cooling.

- Turn your thermostat down when using your fireplace – Save up to $10 per year. You may be surprised to learn that fireplaces often lose more heat than they provide. That's because a fireplace must have air in order for the fire to burn. This air comes from your heated living space and is exhausted up the chimney, meaning your heating system must work harder to warm your home. Fireplaces also lose heat continuously even when they are not in use.

- Clear or replace air filters – Save up to $70 per year. Heating comprises up to 70% of total home energy use. Dirty air filters make your furnace, central air conditioner or room air conditioner work harder to circulate air. By cleaning or replacing your filters monthly, you can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

- Seal leaky ducts – Save up to $140 per year. Ducts carry air from your heating and AC systems to each room of your home. When ducts have leaks, they can lose up to 30% of heated or cooled air before it reaches living spaces. Just like opening the window while the heat or air conditioning is on, leaving your ducts in poor repair wastes energy and money.

- Clear area around heating and cooling vents – Save up to $30 per year. Furniture, carpets, and other objects can block vents and prevent heated or cooled air from traveling. This blockage makes your heating or cooling system work harder and prevents rooms from warming up or cooling down quickly. 

- Insulate outlets and light switches – Save up to $10 per year. Outlets and light switches in the walls that separate your home from the outdoors are often overlooked sources of heating or cooling loss. Insulating these areas can reduce drafts and keep your home more comfortable. Order complimentary outlet/switch plate foam gasket covers (24-pack) at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/DIY.

- Run ceiling fans in reverse during the winter to circulate warm air – Save up to $10 per year. Ceiling fans help cool us and lower air conditioning needs in the summer. These same fans can actually be just as useful in the winter months, reducing your dependence on heating and lowering your energy bill.

- Install storm windows – Save up to $105 per year. Since heating can account for about 70% of average energy consumption, air loss should be minimized where possible. Adding storm windows can result in significant savings to you and can be more cost-effective than replacing your windows. There are several options for you to consider.

- Improve your home’s insulation – Save up to $155 per year. Improving the insulation in your home can be the single most effective action you can take to save energy. Improvements to insulation can help you stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer while reducing your energy costs by 15%.

- Shave a minute off shower time – Save up to $15 per year. The average American spends about 8 minutes taking a shower roughly once a day. Reducing average shower time by 1 minute can result in a 13% decrease in shower water use, which reduces the money you spend on water heating.

- Use low-flow showerheads and aerators – Save up to $45 per year. Inefficient showerheads and faucets cause you to waste water and spend more on water heating than you need to. Low-flow showerheads reduce water use without compromising pressure, while faucet aerators are a convenient and cost-effective way to conserve hot water. Check your showerheads and faucets to see if you could save with efficient models. What to look for:
1) To find efficient showerheads: Look on the package for a flow rate of 2.5 gpm or fewer.
2) To find efficient aerators: Choose those with flow rates of 1.5 gpm. Bring the aerator you’re replacing with you to the store to ensure the new one is a proper fit.

- Reduce your water heater’s temperature – Save up to $25 per year. Water heating accounts for up to 20% of a typical home's total energy use. You can save up to 22% of energy spent on water heating annually by lowering the temperature of your water heater.
Step by step instructions:
Check the owner’s manual for safety instructions before making any changes to your water heater’s settings.
1) Measure your current water temperature. Your water heater thermostat may be inaccurate, so it can be helpful to measure the water with a thermometer at the tap farthest from the water heater. If the water’s temperature is above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, proceed to the next step.
2) Mark the temperature setting and lower temperature. Using a marker, make a mark on the dial before turning the thermostat down so you can adjust later if needed. Lower the temperature setting.
3) Wait and remeasure. After a few hours, measure the water temperature again with a thermometer and adjust as needed until you reach 120 degrees.
4) Mark the temperature. Once you have reached 120 degrees, mark the setting on your dial for future reference.
Good to know: Note that if your dishwasher does not have a booster heater, a water temperature of 130-140 degrees may be necessary. Consult your owner’s manual for information.

- Use moisture sensor on your dryer to avoid over-drying – Save up to $10 per year. Clothes dryers use more energy than any other appliance. When circumstances do not allow for hang drying, you can still save some energy and money by using your clothes dryer efficiently.
1) Dry similar fabrics together. Dry your towels and other heavy items in a load separate from lighter-weight clothes.
2) Dry longer on a lower setting. This uses less energy than drying for a shorter time on a high setting. Using high heat can lead to shrinkage and clothing won’t last as long.
3) Get the lint out. Remember to clean the lint filter after every load to improve air circulation. Lint lengthens drying time. Clean vents to the outside once a year to reduce fire risk.

- Wash laundry with cold water – Save up to $10 per year. About 90% of the energy consumed for washing clothes is used to heat the water. Unless your clothes have oily stains, washing with cold or warm water will clean your clothes just as effectively.

38. Use moisture sensor on your dryer to avoid over-drying – Save up to $10 per year. Clothes dryers use more energy than any other appliance. When circumstances do not allow for hang drying, you can still save some energy and money by using your clothes dryer efficiently. 1) Dry similar fabrics together. Dry your towels and other heavy items in a load separate from lighter-weight clothes.2) Dry longer on a lower setting. This uses less energy than drying for a shorter time on a high setting. Using high heat can lead to shrinkage and clothing won’t last as long.3) Get the lint out. Remember to clean the lint filter after every load to improve air circulation. Lint lengthens drying time. Clean vents to the outside once a year to reduce fire risk.