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April 2007:
LET APRIL SHOWERS lower your water costs and reduce water pollution! Use a rain barrel to collect and runoff from rooftop for watering your lawn and garden. This ancient and traditional practice can save approximately 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months! See rainbarrelguide.com for more information.
March 2007:
Spring is right around the corner, which means warmer weather is approaching. Why not the coming season by walking or biking to work? Or if there's a bus or train stop a few blocks away, consider public tranportation. You'll enjoy the Spring air and rejuvenate yourself before work! Vancouver's Better Environmentally Sound Transportationhas more information and tips.
February 2007:
Delight your Valentine -- or anyone else -- with a gift of sustainable chocolate, grown under shade trees that provide crucial bird habitat. The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Rainforest Relief have more information, including sources for chocolate from organic, shade-grown and fair trade operations.
January 2007:
If new cordless gadgets arrived in your household over the holidays, remember to properly dispose of the old ones. Everything with a rechargeable battery -- tools, phones, laptops, camcorders, cameras, etc. -- contains hazardous chemicals that need special handling. The Call2Recycle Web site makes it easy to find a drop off site near you.
December 2006:
This year, make the green choice with your holiday light displays: upgrade your standard incandescent light strings to the latest light-emitting diode (LED) technologies. LED lights use up to 95 percent less electricity, last up to 10 times longer and are less of a fire-hazard since they produce very little heat.
Visit the Holiday Lighting News and Resources page at Washington State University's Energy Ideas Clearinghouse for more information.
October 2006:
Many household electronics are drawing power even when they are “off”! Approximately 5% of the energy use in the average American home is used by things like TVs, stereos, cell phone chargers and microwave ovens in “standby” mode. Reduce this “phantom” energy use by unplugging infrequently used electronics or by connecting items to use standby power to a surge protector that you can easily turn on and off. In addition to saving money on your electric bill, imagine the reduction in power plant emissions if we all eliminated 5% of unnecessary energy use!
For more information on standby power, visit: http://standby.lbl.gov
August 2006:
High gas prices don't have to cramp your family's Summer fun. Recent tests
conducted by
Consumer Reports show that you can get dramatically better mileage from your existing vehicle just by adjusting your driving style.
July 2006:
If you go to the beach this summer, you want to be sure the water is safe. Thousands of beaches in America are closed or subject to health advisories every year. You can help. Remember that everything carried by rainwater travels to our creeks, wetlands, and rivers, and ultimately ends up in our oceans. Think before changing your oil -- dispose of the used oil properly. Don't pour toxics down the drain. Clean up after your pets -- it adds up! Do not dump boat sewage in the water -- use proper disposal facilities.
Find out more about beach pollution and its impact on your life from NRDC and EPA.
March 2006:
In like a lion, out like a lamb. Did you know that there are several cold weather vegetables that you can plant in March? Beets, peas, spinach and lettuce can be planted in your garden after the 15th of March. Be sure to use organic fertilizers and pesticides! Check the Safer Pest Control Project for more information.
February 2006:
There are several things you can do to save energy and cut your costs such
as seal up leaks, add insulation and replace windows. For more home heating
tips to save fuel and money this winter, visit www.eco-labels.org/greenconsumers/products.cfm?product=heatsaving.
January 2006:
Turn off your screen saver. The EPA has estimated that providing computers with a "sleep mode" reduces their energy consumption by 60 to 70% and ultimately could save enough electricity each year to power Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, cut electric bills by $2 billion, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of 5 million cars! A blank screen saver is only slightly better but even that only reduces energy consumption by a few percent. The best screen saver is also the best energy saver, i.e. turn off your monitor when you're not using it. The next best idea is to use your computer's power management feature to automatically shut the monitor down when it is not in use. Also, brighter screen colors use more energy. For more info, see: www.microtech.doe.gov/EnergyStar/info.htm.
Nov/Dec 2005
The holidays frequently drain us -- financially and emotionally. Find some green alternatives to gift giving. Gifts don't need to be expensive or environmentally destructive. Some green alternatives are coupons for a trip to a museum, back rubs, game playing, pet or baby-sitting. Compile a book of favorite recipes. Bake friends and family their favorite baked goods. Make a tape of yourself reading your grandchildren their favorite books. Recycle hats, accessories and junk jewelry - children will be delighted with these for years to come.
Sept/Oct 2005
It takes about 68 million trees per year to produce the catalogs and junk mail we receive in the mail. Ask to be taken off mailing lists. Eliminate unwanted or duplicate mailings by calling or writing the sender and request to be taken off mailing lists. When ordering products by mail or phone, ask to be put on an "in-house list-only", to ensure your name will not be sold to other direct marketing businesses. Check boxes on membership or order forms that state your name NOT be shared with others. To eliminate unwanted coupons, ads and free, write to ADVO Inc. Delivery Services, 1001 W. Walnut St., Compton, CA 90220-5191 with a request to remove your name and address from their list, For more, visit www.tompkins-co.org/solidwaste/junkml.html.
July/August 2005
Tired of being a slave to the "dry clean only" label in your spring wardrobe? Try a new technology, "Wet Cleaning," which eliminates the perchloroethylene in the process. Wet Cleaning is a commercial cleaning process that is more environmentally sensitive and is safer for you and for the workers in the cleaning establishment you frequent. For more information visit: www.mixitproductions.com/prjmisc/guides/greentips/tip07.html.
June 2005
The Hudson River Almanac is a natural history e-journal capturing the spirit, magic, and science of the Hudson River Valley through personal observations. It's compiled each week by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Sign up by sending an e-mail to hrep@gw.dec.state.ny.us with "E-Almanac" in the subject line. Read more at The Hudson River Almanac.
May 2005
Tired of being a slave to the "dry clean only" label in your spring wardrobe? Try a new technology, "Wet Cleaning," which eliminates the perchloroethylene in the process. Wet Cleaning is a commercial cleaning process that is more environmentally sensitive and is safer for you and for the workers in the cleaning establishment you frequent. For more information visit: www.mixitproductions.com/prjmisc/guides/greentips/tip07.html.
April 2005
Talking trash? More than 30,000 Great River Sweep volunteers have removed more than 300 tons of riverside litter from hundreds of sites throughout the Hudson Valley. Some of the strange items they have found: a car, refrigerator, flock of plastic flamingos and motorcycle buried vertically. Got a few hours for your river? Find out how you can pitch in at www.greatriversweep.org.
March 2005
From pesticides to personal care, use this National Institutes of Health Web site to learn about health risks and proper disposal for more than 5,000 brands of chemical products.
February 2005
Brrrr...Warming up your car to reduce engine wear? Idling for just 10 minutes increases engine wear and adds to gas consumption and tailpipe emissions. A well maintained car needs to warm up for only a few seconds. For more green car tips, visit the American Lung Association's Top Ten Tips for Green Driving
January 2005
Eating healthy this year? If you plan to consume more seafood, reduce your waistline without reducing threatened and endangered fish. Our once-bountiful oceans are 70 percent overfished. Some species are completely depleted. For a list of fish to eat and fish to avoid, download The Audubon/Wildlife Conservation Society's Seafood Wallet Card (pdf/484kb).
December 2004
Buried under a torrent of mail-order catalogs, most of which are printed on virgin paper and end up in the trash? Ditch them for good by removing yourself from mailing lists and shopping online. Happy clicking!
October/November 2004
Did you know household water can quench thirsty houseplants? Bath and dishwater work well, and the soap will not harm the plants. Dehumidifier water also does the trick. Rinse your fruits and vegetables in a pan in the sink, or after cooking pasta, corn or other veggies, let the water cool and use it again. Just no salt, please -- it can damage your plants. For more information, read these Water Conservation Tips.
September 2004
What could be better than free? Check out Freecycle, an online community exchanging items -- baby gear, plants, furniture -- for free. The rules are simple: offer an item or announce one that you want. Organized by local communities, Freecycle shows that one person's trash is another's treasure. For more information, please visit www.freecycle.org.
August 2004
Ahh, summer vacation! Whether you fancy mountains, desert or shore, get a tune-up and properly inflate your tires to get great gas mileage and limit emissions. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) publishes informative periodicals on environmentally friendly driving. You can even find info on "hybrid" cars. For more information, visit www.aceee.org.
July 2004
As the summer travel season approaches, carefully plan your trips and car maintenance to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Visit areas where you can park and then walk to see sites, combine errand trips, check your tire pressure and drive the speed limit. For more information, please visit www.fueleconomy.gov.
June 2004
Good weather usually means the start of home improvement projects. This year why not "green up" instead of "fix up?" Make sure your lumber has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as sustainably harvested. This means that habitats, watersheds and old-growth trees were protected in the wood-making process. For more information, please visit www.fscus.org.
May 2004
Reduce your utility bill - break out the clothespins and enjoy fresh, naturally dried laundry. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the clothes dryer is the second most energy-consumptive appliance in the home behind the refrigerator. For more information, please visit DOE's Energy Savers Virtual Home.
April 2004
Spring-cleaning time! Instead of throwing out old computers and electronics, donate them to a nonprofit or school in your community. You'll help keep arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and other toxic substances out of our drinking water. In addition, many communities have facilities that save reusable parts and recycle the rest. For more information, please visit www.earth911.org.
March 2004
Magnificient mulch. As you begin gardening this spring, don't overlook the many uses of mulch. Used primarily to conserve moisture in the soil, mulch is very effective for suppressing weeds. Be careful not to apply too early or too little. For more information please visit the University of Minnesota's Effective Uses of Mulch.
February 2004
Though warm and comforting, fireplaces are one of the least efficient sources of heat. They direct heat from your home out the chimney. Increase your fireplace's efficiency by installing tempered glass doors, lowering the thermostat to 50-55 degrees, installing a heat-exchange system or grates that blow warm air back into the room, and making sure that the flue damper is well sealed and the hearth well caulked. When you are not using the fireplace, close the damper. For more information please visit Conscious Choice's Fireplace Efficiency.
January 2004
Achoo! Indoor air pollution can be a serious problem when cold weather arrives. Outdoor pollutants, pollen, dust, inefficient ventilation, cleaning products and emissions from office equipment, carpets and machinery can result in respiratory problems, eye irritations, mental fatigue, nausea, headaches and rashes. If your child is experiencing physical difficulties, conduct an audit. Inspect the location, see if others are symptomatic and keep a log. For more information please visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools.
December 2003
It's time to rethink gift-wrap. Every holiday season American households add millions of tons of excess packaging, wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and holiday cards to our landfills. Skip the rolls of store-bought paper and plastic ribbon for a greener approach. Wrap gifts with comics, hand-decorated paper grocery bags, leftover fabric, wallpaper or a scarf, or use a decorative basket. Can't part with tradition? Save and reuse paper and ribbon, or buy recycled. For more information please visit www.GreenWorksRadio.tv.
November 2003
Entertaining this holiday season? Try to avoid disposables. They clog landfills with unnecessary waste. If you must, use recycled napkins, utensils and plates. A good middle ground is to buy plastic utensils, cups and plates that you can wash and reuse. For more information please visit the Green Shopper Program at Pitch-In Canada.
October 2003
Get your home ready for winter. Check windows and wire and pipe openings in external walls for air leaks and seal them with caulk and weather stripping. Have your furnace and chimney professionally cleaned and put new batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
September 2003
Back to school means back to the stores for supplies. This season, look for 100-percent recycled paper products with high post-consumer content and notebooks with recycled-cardboard covers. Save trees with pencils made from recycled newspaper and reduce mining with paper clips fashioned from recycled metal. Lessen landfill by selecting refillable pens.
July/August 2003
Spending time outdoors this summer? Get ready for an onslaught of pesky, biting insects. A natural way to help rid your outdoor living space of these unwanted visitors is to put up a bat house. Contrary to popular opinion, bats do not attack people - they swoop at night to eat flying bugs. So do yourself and these wonderful winged creatures a favor - hang a bat house, then sit back and enjoy the nighttime aerial display. For more information, please visit Bat Conservation International.
June 2003
Eco-conscious brides and grooms can show their unity with the earth by making their nuptials green. Options include organic, vegetarian foods; locally grown flowers; recycled-paper invitations with soy-based ink; gowns that can be worn for other occasions; and unplugged music at the ceremony and reception. For more information, please visit www.ecolivingcenter.com/greenweddings.
May 2003
Most of us head to our gardens in May, looking to beautify our surroundings with flowers and enhance our diets with homegrown vegetables. This year, think organic. Plant marigolds around your tomato plants for a great pest deterrent and select drought-tolerant, native species. Spray insecticidal soap on your plants as a safer alternative to commonly used pesticides. Be an organic gardener, and you'll have a truly green thumb.
April 2003
Want to know a secret to a lush, green lawn? Check your lawnmower blade height! Keeping the cutting height at 3 inches will mean a stronger plant. Each plant has roots that go down as deep as the plant is tall. A longer root equates to more nutrient and water absorption, which produces a stronger, healthier plant. Another rule of thumb is to cut no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade off at a time. Chemical feeding, which many people mistakenly believe is beneficial, actually depletes the nutrients in the ground, resulting in a weaker plant. Plus, those toxic chemicals are unsafe for you, your family, pets and wildlife! For a healthy, organic lawn, visit: http://208.56.92.121/community.old/PDF/Lawn.pdf
March 2003
March ushers in spring, which reminds us that our annual spring cleaning is due. Make your cleaning experience a safe and healthy one. Choose cleansers made from non-toxic cleaning agents. Avoid those that make your home unhealthy such as petroleum distillates, phenol, lye, bleach and hydrochloric acid. Common household items such as vinegar, baking soda and Borax have great cleaning power and are safe and easy to use. For some easy cleaning recipes, visit: http://pages.ivillage.com/cleaningfairy/GreenRecipes.html
February 2003
Give the environment a valentine - ditch paper and plastic bags for reusable canvas and mesh. Non-biodegradable and light and hard to contain, plastic bags fly easily in the wind, littering our landscape, clogging drains and harming estuary wildlife. Most paper bags are made from virgin wood. Switching to earth-friendly canvas or mesh bags conserves energy and lessens the burden on our landfills.
January 2003
Road salt is great for melting snow and ice but pollutes our drinking water and harms plants and animals. It attracts deer to roadsides; poisons birds, which mistake it for mineral grit; and inhibits water absorption and reduces root growth in plants. Instead of salt, use products with the ingredients potassium chloride (KCl) and magnesium chloride (MgCl) for smaller areas, and corn-based liquid concentrates for larger areas. Avoid ingredients such as sodium chloride (Nacl), calcium chloride (CaC1) and urea.
December 2002
After the holidays, recycle your real Christmas tree. It can be chipped into mulch, placed outside for bird and wildlife habitat or used in erosion remediation projects. Contact your municipality to learn about local tree-recycling programs, or visit RealChristmasTrees.org Recycling Fact Sheet for recycling information by zip code. As an alternative, purchase a real tree that still has its roots and plant it after the holidays.
November 2002
Illuminating news on low-energy holiday lights. Love to light up the holidays, but hate the resulting electric bill? Try switching to LED (light-emitting diode) light strings. These lights use about 99 percent less energy than traditional, larger holiday bulbs and they last approximately 100,000 hours when used indoors. For example, over a 30-day period, lighting 500 traditional holiday lights will cost a consumer $18.90 while the same number of LED lights will cost only $0.19. They are a much cooler operating light than conventional ones and are flameproof. Read about how the state of Montana reduced energy usage with energy-saving LED lights on its capitol Christmas tree. www.nwalliance.org/news/press/mtholiday.pdf (pdf/47k).
October 2002
Don't rake those leaves - mulch them. Did you know that leaves are rich in the nutrients and organic matter your lawn craves? Yet countless tons of autumn leaves are simply thrown away every year! Leaf litter is an all-natural and free fertilizer for your lawn. If you have a mulch kit on your lawn mower, try to mow your leaves once a week or so, or whenever they cover your lawn. Don't let them pile up too thickly, as the mower won't be able to break them all down. The mulch kit will quickly reduce them to bits, which over the winter will break down into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Try it and your lawn will thank you. For more information see the Agriculture Program of the Texas A&M University System's Don't Bag It - Leaf Management Plan.
September 2002
It's the time of year for putting those flower and vegetable gardens to bed. After pulling up spent plants (and putting them in your compost pile, of course), and after turning over the ground for next year, one final step is needed. It is always good to cover the bare ground with mulch: hay, leaves or a cover crop such as rye grass. This prevents the topsoil from being washed away over the ensuing months of rain and snow, and losing all of its benefits. It also prevents storm water runoff into any nearby bodies of water. There are many ways you can protect the topsoil on your property. For more information see the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Tips for Protecting Your Soil (pdf). |
