Now You’re Cookin’

November 13, 2007

They say a watched pot never boils, but a covered one boils extra quickly, saving cooking time--and energy. Using smaller appliances, like a microwave, toaster oven, rice cooker, or crock pot when appropriate to the task; choosing the right size pan and burner for meals prepared on the stove; and keeping the oven door closed while baking are other great ways to conserve energy in the kitchen. It also doesn't take as much energy to reheat food as it does to cook it in the first place, so make enough for leftovers!

Turn off your screen saver.

November 5, 2007

Did you know the EPA has estimated that using a computer's "sleep mode" reduces its energy consumption by 60 to 70 percent and, on a large scale, 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 five million cars? A screen saver that displays moving images causes your monitor to consume as much electricity as it does in active use. A blank screen saver is only slightly better but that reduces energy consumption by a small amount. The best screen saver is also the best energy saver: 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. Turning off your computer will decrease the amount of energy it uses, reduces its mechanical stress, prolong its life.

Have a Green Halloween

October 26, 2007

Halloween can be scary - but it needn't be scary for the earth. Here are some tips on how to keep environmental hobgoblins away :

• Use pillow cases or cloth bags instead of paper bags for collecting candy.
• Buy candy that uses the least amount of packaging.
• Check the labels on Halloween-related items and buy ones that use recycled content.
• If you plan a Halloween party, buy or use reusable utensils, plates, napkins, and tablecloths, or buy disposable items that have recycled content.
• After the festivities are over, start a compost pile with your old jack-o-lantern. If you do not have space, check with your town officials or local garbage collectors about whether there is a community compost pile in your area.
• As you clean up after the holiday, don't throw away your Halloween decorations. Use them again next year to save money as well as landfill space.
• Urge children to dispose of their candy wrappers in their bags or in trash cans rather than on the street.

Reuse everything

October 22, 2007

Change your mind-set and think twice before throwing anything out. Resealable plastic bags that held carrots today can hold crayons tomorrow. Coffee-cup cardboard sleeves from this morning’s brew can be tucked in a purse pocket to be used again at 4 p.m. Mom might just like that cashmere sweater you’re sick of wearing and Fido doesn’t know the difference between a new chew toy and the one you make yourself out of old dish towels. (To learn how to make one and to find other new uses for old linens, visit www.realsimple.com/linens .)

“Green” Pet Owning

October 8, 2007

According to the United States Humane Society, 73 million dogs and 90 million cats currently inhabit U.S. homes, meaning household pets are important consumers of valuable resources in many families. Here are tips on making your pet owning experience a “green” one.

Find a Local Vet. If you live more than 10 miles away, consider finding a veterinarian in your community.

Investigate Healthy Food Alternatives. Organic pet food is made with renewable resources and no pesticides or environmentally unfriendly fertilizers.

Recycle Food Containers. Chances are your pet’s food containers can be recycled.

Make Waste Disposal Environmentally Friendly. Biodegradable bags provide an alternative to plastic bags that are nearly impossible to decompose.

Buy Your Pet Sustainable Toys. Try eco-friendly beds, hemp collars, or toys made from recycled soda bottles.

Grasscycling

August 17, 2006

Grasscycling is the natural practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. The clippings quickly decompose returning nutrients to the soil. Grasscycling can reduce water and fertilizer requirements, mowing time and disposal costs. The average lawn can generate as much as eight tons of yard waste per acre each year. To learn more about Grasscycling, visit Earth911 .

Laundry Tips

August 10, 2006

Doing the laundry can create a lot of unnecessary waste but there are many ways to conserve energy including:

• Wash clothes in cold water and use cold-water detergents whenever possible.
  
• Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
  
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
  
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels. ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers use 50 percent less energy than standard washers.
  
• Use environmentally-friendly or “green” cleaners to replace traditional products, which can contain hazardous materials.

Recycle Motor Oil

August 3, 2006

Each year over 180 million gallons of motor oil are disposed of illegally. Never put motor oil in the trash or pour it on the ground or into a storm drain. Motor oil can be 100 percent recycled. Many oil change centers and auto part stores will take your oil hassle free. Visit Earth 911 to locate a recycling center near you.

Household Hazardous Waste

July 27, 2006

Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year. The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in the basement or garage and in storage closets. When improperly disposed of, household hazardous waste can create a potential risk to people and the environment. For steps on how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste, visit DEP’s Division of Waste Management.

Cellular Phone Recycle and Reuse

July 20, 2006

Cellular phone use is on the rise. Currently, close to half of the U.S. population uses cellular phones. Since these devices often contain lead and mercury, it is important to properly dispose of them. There are resources available to help people recycle or donate them to worthwhile causes. For example, the “CALL TO PROTECT” campaign collects cellular phones to benefit survivors of domestic violence. For more information on cellular phone donation and recycling, visit Earth911 .

Recycling, did you know?

July 13, 2006
 

• One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television or computer for 3 hours or a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours.
• A six-pack of recycled aluminum cans saves enough energy to drive a car 5 miles.
• Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours.
• Recycling a one-gallon plastic milk jug will save enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for 11 hours.
• Recycling a one-foot high stack of newspapers saves enough electricity to heat a home for 17 hours. 

Paper Waste

July 6, 2007  

Did you know that every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California? Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water. Recycled paper also saves 60 percent energy in comparison to new paper and generates 95 percent less air pollution. Since one-fifth of all wood harvested in the world ends up in paper it just makes sense to recycle and conserve this valuable resource.

Green Travel

Look for hotel accommodations and tours that carry environmental friendly certifications or memberships in green industry associations - such as being a certified Florida Green Lodge.

Lighten Up!

June 22, 2007

Installing compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs in place of standard incandescent bulbs can save you as much as $40 a year in energy costs by changing out just one 60-watt incandescent with a 14-watt fluorescent lamp. CFL bulbs will also last up to 13 times longer. If you need more light, a long-lasting 27-watt CFL provides as much light as a 100-watt standard incandescent, at about one-fourth the operating cost and one-fourth the heat output. Unlike a few years ago, you can now find CFL bulbs in many different shapes and wattage.

Slow the Flow

June 15, 2007

Did you know that only one percent of water on our planet is readily available for drinking? That’s because only three percent of the world’s water is fresh water rather than salt water; and of that amount, icecaps and glaciers account for two thirds. In a typical household, four people use approximately 9,000 gallons per month or 108,000 gallons per year. That’s enough water to fill a bathtub more than 2,500 times! More than half of this usage occurs in the bathroom--from toilets (24 percent), baths (9 percent) and showers (21 percent). Leaks in bathroom faucets add another five percent, so the total amounts to much more than just a drop in the bucket.

Greenscaping

June, 8, 2007

When organic wastes, such as leaves, grass clippings, food waste, and paper are recycled, we reduce the generation of methane gas in landfills. Almost 60 percent of the municipal solid waste produced in the United States (including paper) is compostable material. Second only to fossil-fuel combustion, landfills are a leading source of greenhouse gases. In 2005, 79 million tons of waste material was diverted away from disposal through recycling and composting. 

Paper or Plastic…neither.

June 1, 2007

According to EPA, the U.S. consumes about 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps a year. Fewer than five percent are recycled. However, paper bags are also a problem. Paper sacks generate 70 percent more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags. And while paper bags do eventually biodegrade, an estimated 14 million trees a year have to be cut down to make 10 billion paper bags. Look into purchasing reusable bags or reusing your paper or plastic bags at the store. A sturdy, reusable bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags.

Everyday Energy Saver

May 24, 2007

Programmable thermostats automatically adjust your home's temperature settings, allowing you to save energy while you're away or sleeping. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $150 every year in energy costs. The thermostats are more convenient and accurate than manual thermostats and improve your home’s comfort, contain no mercury and are better for the environment, since using less energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production.

Drive Less, Drive Smart

May 11, 2007

One of the biggest contributors to air pollution is vehicle exhaust. As part of Clean Air Month consider participating in Bike-to-Work Week from May 14 – 18, 2007. Bicycling cuts back on traffic congestion, reduces pollution and is good for your health. If biking to work is not feasible, try cycling to other nearby places that you would normally drive to. It is estimated that one billion gallons of gasoline could be prevented from entering our air if everyone biked to work or the store just once every two weeks.