Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.
Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.
Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
LENOIR, N.C. -- A family has agreed to sell almost 650 acres of pristine wilderness in Caldwell County to the public.
The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday the purchase contract would protect nearly four miles of Wilson Creek, which is one of the state's four National Wild and Scenic rivers. The area is popular with paddlers and trout fishermen.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and the state Wildlife Resources Commission have applied for two state grants to try to meet the $7 million sales price by the end of 2009.
The family's trust managing partner Herbert Lutz said three developers had bids on the property. A Florida-based developer sought to build 225 house on the tract.
Lutz said the family didn't want to see the area ravaged. He said the family wanted the public to enjoy the area and will keep only 10 acres.
