Tips for Going Green

• Choose your plastic wisely, not only to protect the planet but also for your health. Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave, try not to use cling wrap, avoid plastic bottled water (bottles number 1 or 2).
• Save trees by using less paper towels. Either use 100% recycled paper or just use cut up rags and towels and throw them in with your weekly laundry.
• Water- The bathroom accounts for 65-75% of water used inside the home, it is the perfect place to start making modifications. New shower heads, less flushing, lathering up with water off and how we brush our teeth can all save water.
• Household tips- make your own cleaning solutions. You can make environmentally friendly cleaner out of baking soda and vinegar, borax washing soda, cooking oils, and lemons. For more info see: es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/safe-fs.html.
• Replace your 5 most used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These light bulbs use 2/3 less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
• In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of air conditioning. Using fans to supplement air conditioning allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy.
• Some practical tips: Laptop computers use 50% of the energy of a desktop PC when plugged in and just 1 % of the energy when running on batteries. If your copier, printer and fax have a sleep/standby mode, make sure it is selected. Print double sided documents to save trees!
• Do you know about vampires? These are the plug-ins that suck electricity even though your appliance is not attached. Don't leave your cell phone charger plugged into the socket after you have removed your phone...it keeps sucking electricity. Some lamps have those "transformer" type black boxes that do the same. Don't just turn it off, unplug it please!
• Your electric toothbrush should hold a charge for 5-10 days, so you can also unplug the stand for the toothbrush after it is fully charged. Dust Busters are plugged in 24/7 for just a few minutes of use...a broom will do as well; or plan ahead and just plug in when needed for a project.
• WATER,WATER, and more WATER: *Water your yard or garden in the early morning or late evening, when it is cooler. This will discourage excessive evaporation. Plant native grasses, trees and shrubs. since they are adapted to the weather and local insect specie, they won't require extra watering or pesticides.
• REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE.Buy re-chargeable batteries and a battery charger. Most can be recharged up to 1,000 times. Battery drop off for used batteries can be found at rbrc.org or call 1-800-8-BAYYERY. Sorry, but we were unable to find a convenient local place to recycle household batteries.
• Food Storage- Use glass or ceramic containers that can be reused. They're healthier than plastic, ( harmful seepage may occur). You'll also reduce the waste generated by using plastic containers.
• ANSWERING MACHINES: Use VOICE MAIL instead. Answering machines guzzle energy 24/7. When they stop functioning, they become hazardous waste in the nation's landfills. If all use voice mail, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt-hours. The reduction in air pollution related to decrease in energy would be equivalent to removing 250,00 cars from the road a year.
• Many of today's household batteries can be placed in the trash since they no longer have the harmful contents of the past. Nevertheless, rechargeable batteries are recyclable at Shoemaker Lumber at 11th and west.
• Recycling: Mirrors aren't recyclable through municipal recyclers, because the chemicals on the glass can't be mixed with glass bottles and jars. You can donate them to secondhand stores, of course. Or if the mirror is broken, put it in a paper bag for the safety of your trash collectors.
• Auto switching- Try "auto-switching power strips. They shut down when the primary appliance is turned off and can save up to 4 kilowatt-hours per day of energy. If every home in America switched to more efficient power strips, we could save enough energy to power 40,000 homes for a year.