Making aluminum from scratch uses ten times as much energy as recycling it. Throwing away an aluminum can wastes about as much energy as one-half can of gasoline provides. Watering your lawn wastes electricity along with water. The water in your home gets there with the use of large electric pumps. Make sure you follow local watering guidelines for proper lawn care.
Phosphates are chemical compounds that contain phosphorus.
They cause algae to grow in lakes and streams, which can harm native plants and marine life. Laundry Americans wash 35 billion loads of laundry a year, which accounts for 2.6 percent of total residential energy use. They use one-third less water and use up to 60 percent less electricity. If you do use a dryer, don't overload it, clean the lint screen after every load, and make sure the vent flapper opens and closes freely. Don't open the dryer until the load is dry, since it uses more energy to reheat each time the dryer is stopped.