This document provides tips for saving money and helping the environment through basic home and vehicle maintenance and repairs. It recommends installing low-flow toilets and showerheads, replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs, checking for and repairing leaks, maintaining proper tire pressure, and getting involved in community beautification projects. Making small repairs and upgrades can have a significant positive impact on both personal finances and the environment.

1. Repairing Our
World
A quick guide to preserving the environment, and your bank
account, through maintenance of your living space.

2. Around the House
• Install Low Flow Toilets: These
can save up to 3.5 gallons of
water per flush!
• Replacing incandescent light
bulbs with compact fluorescents
can save you $30 on lighting
costs over the life of the bulb
• Donate unwanted
belongings, outdated
appliances, or cabinets to those
in need instead of filling up a
landfill. Plus, you can get a tax
• Install low flow showerheads. write-off for your donation
You can save between 10% to
15% in water heating costs

3. Plumbing Repair
A leaky faucet, dripping once every couple
of seconds, can waste over 1000 gallons of
water a year
Do it yourself faucet repair guide:
Sometimes the smallest things can have a big
http://bit.ly/hcMr6b impact
It’s also easy to check your home for leaks
in other places:
1) Turn off all your water using appliances
2) Check your water meter dial
3) Check back in 15 minutes
Repairing leaks in plumbing 4) If your dial has moved, you may have a
responsible for wasting 212 leak!
gallons of water monthly is great
for you, and the environment!

4. Car Repair & Maintenance
Poor tire pressure can very quickly ruin
your fuel efficiency, and it’s quick and easy
to check
Get the
tires
rotated
Tune
A basic tire gauge runs about $4.00, and up
can end up saving you hundreds on gas Get an Have the
oil belts
change replaced
=
It adds
up!

5. Growing Your Community
Get involved in community beautification
projects created by organizations like
GreenNYCHA and Green Home NYC, or
start your own!
If you live in an apartment or apartment
complex, petition your landlord to install and
upgrade to energy saving systems, like
insulating roof materials and weather stripping
New York’s biggest landlord, the New York City
Housing Authority (NYCHA), is stepping up
repairs that should help reduce the city’s
carbon footprint. This is in large part because
of community members advocating for better
service
Massachusetts schools invested $300 million
to upgrade roofs, boilers, and windows last
year. Community members, working with
administrators, can have a great influence

6. Resources
• http://greenhomenyc.org/
• http://www.mrhandyman.com/home-repair-tips/go-
green.aspx
• http://greennycha.org/
• http://summer0rain.wordpress.com/2007/09/10/21-ways-to-
make-your-home-environmentally-friendly/
• http://www.eastharlemjournal.com/tax-payers-dollars-hard-
at-work-in-nycha-hopefully/
• http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-
improvement/plumbing/how-to-do-faucet-repairs.htm
• http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/sites/default/files/edit-
contentfile/Build%20With%20Us/Prerequisites/Green%20Rep
air%20Program/Green_Repair_Program_Description_2_24_11
.pdf