Changing habits for drying laundry can reduce your energy use and help your clothes last longer (and save you money).  All that lint in the lint trap means your clothing is wearing out faster than if you didn’t use the dryer.  There are many households and situations where using a clothes dryer is very important, but there are changes you can make so you use less energy.  The USEPA says dryers account for 6% of household energy use. 

• Using a lower temperature setting for a longer drying time uses less energy, and lower temperatures are easier on fabric.
• If your climate and living location are appropriate, hanging clothes outside to dry is very energy efficient.  High humidity, significant air pollution, or high winds may make this an undesirable option, but if you live in a dry, sunny climate, outdoor clotheslines are very useful.  Some cities and neighborhoods in the US prohibit outdoor clotheslines, but many states have passed “right to dry” laws protecting your right to use an outdoor clothesline.  I worked with my homeowner’s organization to get the guidelines changed so that clotheslines could be used if retractable or removable. 
• If you can’t use an outdoor clothesline, you can still hang clothes to air-dry inside your home.  Some clothing needs to be tumbled a few minutes in low heat or on air dry to remove wrinkles and start the drying process.  The damp clothes can then be hung inside to dry, and you use your dryer only minimally. 
• Remove lint from lint traps every time you use the dryer.  A clogged lint trap reduces the energy efficiency of the appliance.  Clean your vent lines periodically also, as too much lint can reduce efficiency or start a fire. 

In winter, if higher humidity is not a problem, you can vent an electric dryer into the house so that the dryer heat helps warm the house.  DO NOT DO THIS if you have a gas-powered dryer.  You can buy a device to put on the end of the vent hose to capture the lint so it doesn’t blow all over the house.  Remember to clean the lint from this lint trap as well. 

We hear a lot about how carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to global warming and climate change.  We don’t often hear about ocean acidification due to increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. I have included a link to a description of ocean acidification.  Ocean acidification is likely to lead to significant loss of ocean habitat and inhabitants, so we have an additional reason to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 

For those who want a summary of the scientific detail, here’s a quote from Livescience.com.  “The ocean takes up around 30% of CO2 in the atmosphere, so as human activities pump out CO2, they are forcing more of it into the oceans. CO2 dissolves in the ocean, creating carbonic acid and releasing hydrogen ions. Acidity levels are based on the number of hydrogen ions dissolved in water, so as the ocean absorbs more CO2, it becomes more acidic.
The hydrogen ions bond with carbonate ions in the ocean to form bicarbonate, which reduces the carbonate available to marine life like corals, clams and plankton. These animals need carbonate for their bones, shells and other natural structures, which they make out of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).”

The link below has more detail on ocean acidification. 

https://www.livescience.com/ocean-acidification.html

A relative of mine tries to use disposable items at least twice before discarding.  Sometimes this means washing and re-using them for the same purpose, and sometimes it means re-purposing an item.  Before you discard or recycle an item, think about whether you can use it again.

• Glass jars can be used for storage of food or craft items.
• Plastic disposable forks, spoons, and knives can be washed and re-used for the next occasion.  Keep some in your car for use at fast food places instead of getting new ones.
• Plastic food containers can be re-used to send leftovers home with friends after a gathering.  Or to organize items in the shop or the garage.  We used to use some of them for food storage in the refrigerator but found that using clear containers is essential at our house for managing leftovers.
• Many carry-out restaurant containers are sturdy and reusable.  One way I re-use them is to take them to dine-in restaurants for my leftovers. 
• Old towels and t-shirts make excellent cleaning rags.
• Can you make one appliance work for two purposes?  I have an immersion-style blender that I also use instead of a regular blender, so I don’t need both. 
• Used coffee grounds are great fertilizer for plants, gardens, and lawns.  Be careful not to put coffee grounds on houseplants too often, as it could be too much fertilizer.
• Plastic pots left over after purchasing garden plants can be used the next year to try growing your own seedlings.  Or donate them for others to use.