Greener Tips
The average American generates 4.5 pounds of trash every day, which is almost twice the amount of trash the average American produced daily in 1960. Source: Energy Information Administration

Almost 40% of America's waste is paper and could be recycled, meaning fewer trees cut down. Source: EPA

If every American replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), the energy saved could light more than 2.5 million homes for a year. Source: Energy Star

The U.S. uses nearly $1 million worth of energy every minute. Source: Energy Information Administration

Half of the forests that originally covered 48% of the Earth's land surface are gone. Only 1/5th of the Earth's original forests remain pristine and undisturbed. Source: NRDC

By 2025, the world must increase its water supply by 22 percent in order to meet its needs. Meanwhile, 40 percent of the drinking water supplied to homes is flushed down the toilet. Source: The Green Book

Microwaves are between 3.5 and 4.8 times more energy efficient than traditional electric ovens. If it costs ten cents to cook one item in a microwave, it would cost forty-eight cents to cook the same item in a standard oven. If everyone in North America cooked exclusively with a microwave for a year, we'd save as much energy as the entire continent of Africa consumes during that same time. Source: The Green Book

A family of four using low-flow showerheads instead of full-flow models can save about 20,000 gallons of water per year. Source: NRDC

Over its lifetime, a 40-mpg car will save $3,000 in fuel costs compared to a 20-mpg car. Source: NRDC

Power plants emit 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide pollution, the primary cause of global warming. Source:NRDC

Thirty-six states are anticipating water shortages by 2016. Yet the average American uses more than 100 gallons or water each day. Source: EPA

Since 1980, the earth has experienced 19 of its 20 hottest years on record, with 2005 and 1998 tied for the hottest and 2002 and 2003 coming in second and third. Source: NRDC

A standard-sized home solar energy system decreases monthly home energy bills by 40%-60%. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Making a ton of paper from recycled stock saves up to 17 trees and uses 50% less water than making paper from virgin fiber. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

More than one billion people, or 1 out of every 6 people, lack access to a safe supply of drinking water. Diseases associated with the lack of clean water are leading cause of death in the world. Source: Water.org

Refrigerators use 14% of an average U.S. home's electricity. Replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator with a new, energy-efficient model reduces an average home's CO2 contribution by about 1 ton per year while saving about $65 annually on the electric bill. Source: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

In the average home, 40% of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Across the US, this equals the annual output of 17 power plants. Source: Energy Star

A leaky faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day, and a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day. Source: NRDC