Green New Year's Resolutions

There's something about the changing of the year that inspires us to want to start fresh. This year, instead of resolving to go to the gym or floss every single day, maybe you'll want to make an environmentally conscious resolution or two. If you already recycle, use cloth bags, and a reusable water bottle, here are a few other simple ideas:

Wash in cold: Only about 10% of the energy used by a typical washing machine powers the motor, while the other 90% of the energy is used to heat the water. Most clothes will come clean in cold water, so consider switching your washing machine's temperature setting to cut down on energy use (and energy cost). For heavily soiled clothing, try warm water instead of hot.

Dry minimally: After the refrigerator, the clothes dryer is the second biggest household energy user. When using the dryer, clear the lint filter after each load for maximum efficiency (and to prevent a fire hazard). Dry only full loads of clothes. Dry heavy fabrics separately from lighter ones and turn off the machine as soon as the clothes are dry. Don't add wet clothing in the middle of the drying cycle. Of course, hanging clothing outside in the sun and air to dry is the most energy-efficient method in the summer, and using a folding indoor rack all year long is great if you can find the space.

Fix the leaks: Of course, we all know a dripping tap can waste a surprising amount of water (one source says 20000 litres a year), but did you know that one in every five toilets leak? The leaks are usually silent, but can waste anywhere between 30 and 500 gallons of water every day. To see if your toilet is leaking, put a few drops of food colouring in the toilet tank. If the dye shows up in the toilet bowl after 15 minutes or so, the toilet has a leak. Leaking is usually caused by an old or poorly fitting flapper valve, which is easy to fix. Test and fix all your household's toilets, and your New Year's resolution for 2012 can be done in one afternoon!

Clean the fridge: The refrigerator is the most power-hungry appliance in most homes, accounting for up to 15% of your energy bill. To help it run its best, clean the condenser coil at the back of your fridge twice a year. Condenser coils tend to get dusty, making them less efficient.

Wash smart: Running a fully loaded dishwasher without prerinsing the dishes can use a third less water than washing the dishes by hand. Just scrape the food off and then let the dishwasher handle the rest. Use the air-dry setting (instead of heat-dry) to consume half the electricity.