Everyone has to start somewhere

As with all of your other efficiencies, when you try to increase your environmental efficiency there is a natural tradeoff of a decrease in your other efficiencies. However, for those who don't already have a very high environmental efficiency, there are a number of quick, free, and easy steps you can take to increase your environmental efficiency where the decrease of your other efficiencies won't be noticeable.

• Step 1: Recycle
• Step 2: Donate
• Step 3: Use both sides
• Step 4: Turn it off
• Step 5: Unplug it

Step 1: Recycle

According to the EPA, "Recycling is one of the best environmental success stories of the late 20th century." In fact, recycling has been so successful that "in 2000, recycling resulted in an annual energy savings of at least 660 trillion British thermal units (BTUs), which equals the amount of energy used in 6 million households annually. In 2005, recycling was conservatively projected to save 900 trillion BTUs, equal to the annual energy use of 9 million households." So why aren't you recycling?

There are several rumors floating around out there that some people use as an excuse not to recycle, so let me set the record straight: recycling companies will accept items that aren't 100% clean and items that still have the caps on them. Even though you are highly encouraged to rinse the containers out and remove the lids (since they aren't recyclable), recycling companies will still accept the recycled items regardless if these conditions have or have not been met.

What's the payoff?

You're reducing the volume of resources that shouldn't be sent to a landfill. Furthermore, each aluminum can you recycle saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours and some states even pay a nickel or two for each bottle you recycle.

Step 2: Donate

How much do you donate? And I'm not talking money here. I'm talking about physical stuff; the kind of stuff that is expensive to buy new but really affordable for people on smaller budgets to buy used. There are a number of organizations out there that are more than happy to accept your tax write-off, all you have to do tote it to their side door. Everyone should be donating their old clothes, furniture, toys, cell phone, electronics, decorations, and really anything else that your nearest local donation center might accept. Because in the end, the worst thing you could do is throw something away instead of letting someone else could get some happiness out of it. Just keep this in mind next time you're about to throw something away that isn't clearly rubbish.

What's the payoff?

You're producing less trash and making more necessities affordable for those that are less fortunate.

Step 3: Use both sides

This one is quite simple: for all of your informal printing needs you should print on both sides of the paper. Most printers nowadays have a simple setting right before you press the print button to set the printer to print on both sides.

What's the payoff?

Fewer trees are cut down and your printer paper costs are cut in half.

Step 4: Turn it off

Do you really need all the lights on in the house? Or do you really need all the TVs on in the house at the same time? What about the temperature; do you really need to let it warm or cool the house while you're not there? The likely answer to all of these questions is no. If you really want to help out the environment you need to start turning things off:

• During the day you should turn off the lights and open up the blinds and curtains.
• Flip off the lights when you're the last person heading out of a room.
• Turn off the TV if no one is watching it.
• Turn off the thermostat while you're out of the house.
• Put the computer in standby mode while you're not using it.

All of these items are pretty straightforward and shouldn't be too taxing for even the laziest of people. However, if you'd like to control the temperature without touching the thermostat several times a day, I'd encourage you to try out a programmable thermostat and allow it to pay for itself many times over and over again. That way you can set it to: allow the temperature to drop a little at night so you sleep better, increase the temperature in the morning so you wake up better, and not turn on at all while you're at work. Just remember to get one that has different settings for weekdays and weekends.

What's the payoff?

Just using a programmable thermostat alone can save you up to $180 in the first year. Partner those savings with less wasted electricity by turning the lights and other electronics off and your utility bills will become quite a bit easier on your wallet.

Step 5: Unplug it

According to the Department of Energy, "in the average home 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off." That's pretty astonishing considering that you're supposedly turning these items "off". What's going on here is that when you switch your electronics and appliances off, you are actually putting them in standby mode. They are still drawing a little bit of power to show those small digital clocks on the front and to persistently charge internal batteries despite their level already being at 100%. So what can you do about these "phantom" loads? Quite simply: unplug your electronics and appliances when you aren't using them. If you want to save a little wear and tear on your outlets you can also use power strips or, if there is a little home repair man or woman inside of you, you can replace your outlets with outlets that have switches (which I found to be quite popular in Australia). With either of these options all you have to do is flick a switch on and off in order to stop "phantom" loads.

What's the payoff?

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, unplugging your appliances could save you up to $10 every month on your utility bill.

It all adds up in the end.

One of the best parts about these 5 baby steps is that not only do you benefit monetarily as an individual, society as a whole benefits from a better environment. So don't be lazy and keep putting it off; start taking these baby steps today toward increased environmental efficiency.

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