10 ways to put more green in your pocket

1. Use your microwave.
Cooking and reheating with a microwave is faster and more efficient than using the stovetop or oven, thus reducing up to 70 per cent of energy use.

2. Arrange furniture to take advantage of natural light from windows.
Place desks and reading chairs next to windows to cut down on the need and use of supplemental artificial light during the day.

3. Consider buying a laptop.
Laptops use 50 per cent of the energy used by a typical desktop PC when plugged in and just 1 per cent when running on batteries.

4. Set your thermostat no higher than 20 C in winter.
This is a very comfortable temperature if you are dressed properly.

5. Buy a front-loading washing machine.
They are far superior to top loaders for saving water and energy.

6. Turn off the oven 10 to 15 minutes before cooking time runs out.
Food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity.

7. Clean refrigerator gaskets regularly and vacuum the condenser coils twice a year.
Your refrigerator will operate more efficiently and use less electricity.

8. Install ceiling fans to save money on cooling and heating and reduce energy waste.
In the summer, use them in place of a central air conditioner. In the winter, a ceiling fan with a motor that runs in reverse can push warm air down from the ceiling and thus conserve energy.

9. If you have a "no-heat" dry setting on your dishwasher, use it.
Heat drying is not necessary after a hot-wash cycle. If you don't have an air-dry setting on your model, turn the dishwasher off after the final rinse and prop the door open, allowing your dishes to air-dry.

10. Unplug appliances to save energy while you're away.
Many small and large appliances continue to draw electricity even when turned off.