DIY Sustainability Toolkit

Introduction – DIY Sustainability Toolkit Program

This user webpage will guide you through the tools and items contained in the Santa Monica DIY Sustainability Toolkit which will enable you to evaluate and understand your home’s energy and water use. This webpage also contains several tips on how you can live a healthier and “greener” daily lifestyle. 

You are taking the first step to better manage your home’s energy and water use, which will provide you and your family with a variety of benefits. Whether you are borrowing the toolkit to save money on your utility bill, to help protect the environment, or to retrofit your home to become more efficient, the City of Santa Monica Public Library invites you to learn all that you can from this webpage!

The residential sector accounts for 12% of Santa Monica's greenhouse gas emissions. Our homes have a large impact on the City’s long term sustainable goals of reaching carbon and water neutrality. By taking some time with these simple, and affordable “do it yourself” energy efficiency and water conservation strategies, you are helping reduce Santa Monica’s carbon footprint and impact on the environment. 

To reserve a toolkit, head over to smpl.bibliocommons.com, search "Sustainability Toolkit" in the search bar and click "place hold". After reserving online, the toolkit may be picked up at the Santa Monica Main Library front desk, located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd.


Toolkit Contents

Home Equipment – For You to Keep:
  • 2 Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Bulbs: Replace incandescent bulbs and CFLs in high-use fixtures
  • 1 Low-Flow Showerhead: Replace your current showerhead with this
  • 2 Faucet Aerators: Limits the water flow through a faucet, resulting in reduced water use
  • 2 Water Leak Detection Dye Tablets: Identifies leaks in your toilet tanks (do not consume)
  • 1 Water Flow Rate Bag: Measures the true rate of flow in gallons per minute (gpm) of your faucets and showers
Home Evaluation Tools – To Be Returned
  • 1 Kill-A-Watt Meter: Measures the energy demand of an appliance or electrical device
  • 1 Infrared Thermometer: Checks for heat loss in trouble spots such as windows, vents, and door jams
  • 1 Classic Fridge Thermometer: Use this thermometer to help set the optimum temperatures for your refrigerator and freezer 

  1. Save Energy at Home

Appliances, electronics, lighting, heating, and cooling are some of the largest sources of household energy use. Start by measuring how much energy your appliances use with the Kill-A-Watt meter and identifying areas where your home may be losing heat with the infrared thermometer. Simple actions can make a difference: switch frequently used incandescent bulbs to LEDs, turn off lights when you leave a room, unplug electronics and chargers when they are not in use, and use power strips to reduce “phantom” energy loads. You can also improve efficiency by maintaining appliances, washing clothes in cold water, and adjusting heating and cooling settings seasonally.

Using the Kill-A-Watt Meter

The Kill-A-Watt® meter measures the energy consumed by appliances and electronic devices in both operating and standby modes. By using this device, you can now compare the energy use of your appliances to the average use outline in the table below.
  1. Plug the meter into an outlet and plug the appliance you would like to measure into the Kill-A-Watt meter.
  2. Press the “down” button until “Watt” appears on screen. Allow a few seconds for the meter to register the energy demand.
  3. Measure and record the wattage of the appliance when it is both on, off, and standby mode (if applicable).
  4. Check you Southern California Edison (SCE) bill for your home’s electricity rate. With the wattage you just recorded, you can now estimate the cost of electricity used by the appliance over time.

Home Envelope: Using the Thermal Leak Detector

Sealing cracks, gaps, and leaks and improving the insulation in your home can help you save big on your monthly energy bill. The infrared laser thermometer provided in this toolkit will help you detect where you may be losing or gaining heat. Common places where cracks and leaks may occur include windows, lighting fixtures, outlets, vents, door jams, and HVAC.

How to: Use the Thermal Leak Detector
  1. Press the red ON button right below the screen.
  2. Aim the thermal leak detector near the location you want to scan for a draft or thermal leak. This initial aim point will serve as your reference target temperature.
  3. Keep the unit aimed at the reference target until the green light shines on the target and a reference temperature appears on the screen.
  4. Slowly scan the thermal leak detector across the area of interest. If the scanned temperature is hotter than the reference temperature by more than the threshold, the light will turn from green to red.  If the scanned temperature is colder than the reference temperature by more than the threshold, the light will turn from green to blue. 

Tip: You can see the temperature difference between the reference temperature and the scan temperature. 

Green = No Temperature Difference

Red = Gaining Heat

Blue = Losing Heat


Switching Incandescent to LED

You can reduce your energy bill significantly by transitioning your old, inefficient lighting to energy efficient LED lighting. The LEDs provided in this toolkit use about 10% less energy compared to incandescent light bulbs, while lasting up to 25 times longer. LEDs may be more expensive upfront, however they more than pay for themselves over their lifetime due to savings they provide on your energy bill.  

How to: Switch Your Incandescent Light Bulbs to LEDs

  1. Replace the incandescent light bulbs in fixtures that have the highest use.
  2. Turn off the fixture with the lightbulb you want to replace. Let the bulb cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. LEDs screw into place just like most other light bulbs.

Add Dimmers and Sensors (Advanced DIY or Hired Electrician)

Adding sensors ensures unoccupied rooms are not lit.

Adding dimmers creates comfortable light levels while reducing energy.

Saving Energy: Major Appliances

How to: Using the Fridge Thermometer

Use the thermometer to help set the optimum temperatures for your refrigerator and freezer. Your refrigerator and freezer are one of the biggest consumers of energy found in your household. 
  1. Place the thermometer in the refrigerator.  After about 15 to 20 minutes, record the temperature seen on the thermometer.  
  2. Adjust temperatures if the recorded temperature is not within the target range of 36 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator, and 0 degrees and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer. 
  3. Look and test for cracks in your door seal. Close the door on a piece of paper and pull the paper out.  If the paper easily slips out, you may need to replace the seal.  Cracks and faulty seals for your refrigerator and freezer means you are consuming way more energy than you should be, resulting in higher energy bills.
Washer & Dryer
  • Wash full loads and use short wash cycles for mildly dirty laundry
  • Use cold water when possible
  • Use the washer high spin cycle to reduce drying time
  • Clean the lint trap after every use
Refrigerator & Freezer
  • Clean the coil found on your refrigerator regularly
  • Turn off the condenser feature in the refrigerator
  • If you have a second refrigerator and do not use it frequently, consider donating the spare one.  You may qualify for various rebates or tax breaks.

HVAC

  • Clean and replace your filters once a month.
  • Set your heater temperature at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter.
  • Set your cooling temperature at 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer.
  • Use the window coverings to prevent heat loss and gains.
  • Consider circulating the air with ceiling or portable fans.
  • Replace A/C units (10 to 15 years or older) with EnergyStar appliances which may reduce your HVAC energy costs by 20 to 40%

  1. Conserve Water

Saving water also saves energy because water must be pumped, treated, and heated before it reaches your home. Use the toolkit’s flow-rate bag to measure your faucets and shower and install the provided faucet aerators and low-flow showerhead where appropriate. You can also check your toilet for leaks using the provided dye tablets. Everyday habits matter too: turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, run full loads of laundry and dishes, reuse water when possible, and report dripping faucets or running toilets.

How to: Replacing Your Shower Head
  1. Check the imprint on your shower head for flow rate, or use the flow rate bag to accurately measure. If the shower head flows at more than 2 gallons a minute, you should replace your shower head with the low-flow shower head provided in the toolkit.  
  2. Once a year remove and clean out the shower head to prevent mineral deposits from building up in the shower head and distorting the shower stream.
How to: Using Leak Detection Dye Tablets
  1. Remove your toilet tank lid
  2. Drop 1-2 dye tablets into the tank
  3. Wait 20-30 minutes. Do not flush the toilet during this time. 
  4. If blue color appears in the toilet bowl during this time, you have a toilet flapper leak. If this is the case, you should replace your flapper which is relatively simple and inexpensive and may not require a plumber.

  1. Choose Sustainable Transportation

Transportation is one of Santa Monica’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Whenever possible, consider walking, biking, taking public transportation, or carpooling instead of driving alone. These options can reduce emissions while also saving money. If you drive, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve fuel efficiency. When you are ready to replace your vehicle, consider an electric vehicle and explore available rebates and incentives.

  1. Make Sustainable Choices Every Day

Small choices around food, waste, and cleaning can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable home. Shop locally and consider seasonal produce, grow your own food when possible, and reduce meat consumption. Follow Santa Monica’s recycling and composting guidelines, keeping food scraps and other compostable materials out of the trash. When choosing cleaning products, look for options that are non-toxic, biodegradable, low- or no-VOC, and certified by programs such as Green Seal or Design for the Environment. Never mix cleaning products, and dispose of chemicals properly.

  1. Complete Your Toolkit Check

When you finish your home evaluation, return the toolkit and make sure all required equipment is included. Tools that need to be returned include the toolkit, Kill-A-Watt meter, infrared thermometer, and refrigerator thermometer. Most importantly, take what you learned with you! Continue practicing energy and water conservation, share these strategies with friends and neighbors, and help Santa Monica build a healthier, more sustainable community. For questions or additional information, contact the City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment at environment@santamonica.gov.  

Items that need to be inside of toolkit upon return:
  • Stanley Toolkit
  • Kill-A-Watt Meter
  • Infrared Laser Thermometer
  • Refrigerator Thermometer