GREEN UP YOUR APPLIANCES Getting rid of that old refrigerator in the garage could save you as much as $150 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Appliance use comprises about 18% of a typical home’s total energy bill, with the fridge being one of the biggest energy hogs. If any of your appliances […]
Everyone worries about their heating & cooling costs these days. Almost half a home’s energy consumption is due to heating and cooling. Turn down the thermostat in cold weather & keep it higher in warm weather. Each degree below 68°F (20°C) during colder weather saves 3%-5% more heating energy, while keeping your thermostat at 78°F […]
The Web site “Water — Use it Wisely,” created by a group of Arizona cities, lists 100 simple ways to save water. A few are: Put an aerator on all household faucets & cut your annual water consumption by 50% Install a low-flow toilet They use only 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons […]
If you want to CLEAN GREEN, it’s important to stop buying household cleaners potentially toxic to both you & the environment. In his book, “The Safe Shopper’s Bible,” David Steinman suggests reading labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively. These include grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve, commonly found in carpet cleaner […]
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
Buy “tree-free” 100% post-consumer recycled paper for everything from greeting cards to toilet paper. Paper with a high post-consumer waste content uses less virgin pulp and keeps more waste paper out of landfills. Other tips: Remove yourself from junk mail lists. Each person will receive 560 pieces of junk mail this year, which adds up […]
Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due to its high yield & the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself. It takes 4-6 years for bamboo to mature, compared to 50-100 years for typical hardwoods. Look for sources that use formaldehyde-free glues. Locally harvested and milled wood eliminates gasoline consumption and related […]
Each year, Americans throw away 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags — from grocery and trash bags to ultra-convenient sandwich bags. Unfortunately, plastics are made from petroleum — the processing and burning of which is considered one of the main contributors to global warming, according to the EPA. In addition, sending plastics to the landfill also […]
Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause smog, ozone pollution & indoor air quality problems with negative health effects, according to the EPA. These unhealthy ingredients are released into the air while you’re painting, while the paint dries and even after the paints are completely dry. Opt instead […]
First, use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Compost provides a full complement of soil organisms & the balance of nutrients needed to maintain the soil’s well-being without the chemicals of synthetic fertilizers. Healthy soil minimizes weeds & is key to producing healthy plants, which in turn prevents many pest problems from developing. Use native plants […]
