Household hero Tips for saving money while preserving the planet this summer.

BY KELLY BOSTIAN

Conservation practices help us in and around our homes as well as in the woods and wilds. Whether a small project or daily practice, taking smart around-the-house steps can be good for your wallet and the planet.

“PSO customers can control their energy use and their costs by conserving energy safely while still staying comfortable in their homes,” says Wayne Greene, spokesman for Public Service Co. of Oklahoma.

Cheryl Cheadle, a conservationist with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission encourages urban homeowners to see more than a “lawn” at home with the Yard by Yard Community Resiliency Project.

“It is easy to think of ‘healthy soil’ as something only farmers and ranchers need to consider,” she says. “Healthy soil throughout our cities will make a massive di erence in reducing oods, drought mitigation, reducing water pollution and feeding our important pollinators.” TP

Learn more about the Yard by Yard Program at okconservation.org/yardbyyard, or learn more about available PSO retail discounts and weatherization assistance programs at powerforwardwithpso.com/programs.

Consider

Unplug electronics and appliances that aren’t in use.

Make sure heating and cooling vents aren’t blocked by furniture or area rugs.

During the summer, set your thermostat a few degrees higher and run your ceiling fans counter-clockwise to push cool air down.

Don’t pay to light up an empty room. Turn off the lights!

Install a smart thermostat to allow settings for less power use when no one is home. PSO offers a $75 rebate for Energy Star® certified programmable, Wi-Fi thermostats.

Change or clean air filters regularly to allow your air conditioner to work easier.

Caulk, weather-strip and insulate your windows and doors. PSO offers in-store rebates on door sweeps, seals and spray foam gap filler.

Use more efficient and longer lasting LED bulbs.

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Use fewer loads in the clothes washer and dryer (but don’t overload). Hang things up to dry.

Go on a regular “leak patrol.” Look for drips from faucets and garden hoses.

Try this toilet trick. Put a few drops of dark food color in the tank and wait a few minutes. If the color shows up in the bowl without flushing, your toilet may have a problem. Make repairs or call a plumber.

Place a bucket in the shower with you and it will catch water that can be used for watering plants. (Just don’t trip over the bucket.)

Raise your lawnmower blade. Short lawns allow less water absorption and send rain to the streets and storm sewers instead.

Don’t use herbicides and pesticides on your yard. Lifeless lawns and soil contribute to runoff and water pollution.

Create a rain garden to catch and hold precipitation. This can be as simple as placing a few shovelfuls of soil in a low spot or as complicated as hiring a landscape architect.

Place rain barrels strategically to gather water from the roof and use that water for outdoor projects.

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