We all know summer can be really hot and miserable at times(especially if you live in an area with 100 degree temperatures) So here are some tips that are easy and effective that wont take a toll on your summer fun!

1) Try not to go below 76 F on your home AC.

2) When you leave the house, set it to a steady number like 80 F, so when you get back, you don’t have to waste energy getting the house cool again.

3) You can put bed sheets(or even just your pillowcase) in the freezer during the day, then take them out at night. Same thing goes with putting a set of clean clothes in at night, and taking them out for the morning.

4) Drink Plenty of Water(can’t stress this enough) and eat food! ( a lot of people don’t eat enough during the summer resulting in lack of energy and laziness around the house!)

5) Wear light, bright colored clothing.

6) Hang dry your clothes whenever possible.

7) You actually save more energy by un plugging electronic rather than just turning it off. ( big examples are your tv, computer, toaster, microwave, blender, coffee maker, can opener, etc.)

8) If possible, wash and do everything with cold water. Heating water uses electricity.

9) Turn off the faucet or use a water cup when brushing your teeth.

10) When taking a shower, you can turn off the water to use the soap, turn it on to rinse, turn it off to soap, etc….

11) Use a compost pile(aka burry old food scraps in the ground) acceptable food scraps includes vegetables, bread group products, all fruits except citrus, nuts. It creates richer planting soil. If anything you could probably just throw it on the ground(in your own backyard of course! Don’t be a litter bug!) like I know bananas peels are great for flower and rose bushes! For best results try chopping them up!

12) Take your car in for regular check-ups and make sure the tires are pumped. (flatten tires= more gas)

13) Carpool! It’s a lot of fun!

14) Save on lighting by opening up blinds but close your blinds during the hottest part of the day (11PM-3PM)

15) Stuff that can go in the blue garbage bins(aka recycle bins):

-Plastics that have a one or a two in the recycle logo can be put in the big blue trash bins. This includes(but is not limited to: perfume bottles, hair care bottles, drink bottles)

-Aluminum

-Paper(so long it hasn’t been subjected to food. Paint, staples, and small amounts of tape are okay), cardboard(includes toilet paper rolls, soap boxes),

-Glass ( not light bulbs, kitchenware, or windows)

-Everything else usually has to be taken to a specially plant (Tucson people! They have one at the Pima Community Collage!) You’d be surprised what can be recycled: Deodorant bottles, hairspray, batteries, even biohazard stuff like detergent, paint, pesticides, etc. You just got to know where to go.

16) Styrofoam and plastics are bad for the environment! They emit bad(and rather smelly) chemicals when decomposing! It kills the living! Try not to buy them! > < If anything they can be reused or sent to special recycling plants.

17) Within the first month, a set of ten eco-light bulbs will usually pay for themselves 3 times over!

18) Use natural insect repellents(some insects are also attracted to the color blue. be careful when wearing blue clothing)

-Natural repellants include lavender, Citronella, basil, marigolds,





These are all tips that I already use, that I thought everyone could do. Lets all do our part to protect and preserve mother earth while still having a great summer! woot!