A healthier, non-toxic, more efficient home: tested gear, honest guides, and ways to cut your bills.
Field Notes
Small things that make a home healthier, cheaper to run and kinder to the planet. Each Field Note is one tip you can act on today, filed by room. Each Number is one fact, checked against the agency that published it. You’ll find them tucked into our stories too!
One fact at a time, in plain words. The source sits right under every card.
By the numbers
75%
less energy from an LED bulb
Old bulb100%
LED25%
Source: DOE
By the numbers
25×
longer life from an LED bulb
One LED can outlast up to 25 old bulbs.
Source: DOE
By the numbers
90%
of a washer’s energy just heats the water
Heating the water90%
Wash in cold and you skip most of it.
Source: ENERGY STAR
By the numbers
18%
of home energy goes to heating water
Water heating18%
Only heating and cooling use more.
Source: DOE
By the numbers
10,000
gallons a year lost to leaks in a typical home
That’s about 270 loads of laundry.
Source: EPA WaterSense
By the numbers
3,000
gallons a year from one dripping faucet
That’s more than 180 showers.
Source: EPA WaterSense
By the numbers
30%
of the water used indoors is toilet flushing
Toiletsabout 30%
The biggest single water use in the house.
Source: EPA WaterSense
By the numbers
5–10%
of home energy goes to gadgets on standby
Standby powerup to 10%
Things that look off are often still on.
Source: DOE
By the numbers
10%
off heating and cooling, from turning it down at night
Yearly savingsup to 10%
Turn it down 7 to 10°F for 8 hours a day.
Source: DOE
By the numbers
20%
less water from a WaterSense showerhead
Standard2.5 gal/min
WaterSense2.0 gal/min
Source: EPA WaterSense
By the numbers
30–40%
of the food supply in the U.S. is wasted
Wasted30 to 40%
Source: USDA
By the numbers
90%
of our time is spent indoors
Indoors90%
So the air inside matters most.
Source: EPA
By the numbers
30–50%
is the healthy range for indoor humidity
Keep it under 60% to stop mold.
Source: EPA
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Saver), ENERGY STAR, EPA WaterSense, EPA, USDA, FDA, CPSC, CDC, U.S. Fire Administration and the Xerces Society. Notes credited to Whole Earth Home are our own practical advice.
