Messages from the Green Committee
 

TIP 179 - Our homes wouldn't function as they do without appliances -- but our world pays the price when we don't choose those designed to protect the environment from deleterious waste. Planet-positive appliances and installations include low-flow (or water-free) toilets, water-saving faucets and showerheads, anything with an Energy Star label, efficient refrigerators, and solar water heaters. Buying secondhand, or getting them via freecycling, is, of course, always preferable.
TIP 178 - They were originally designed to protect monitors, but new technology makes screen savers unnecessary. Save energy by avoiding the hypnotic graphics, which consume as much power as regular processing. Change your computer's screen saver setting to "blank" or simply turn off the monitor when you walk away from your desk.
TIP 177 - By giving houseplants as gifts, you'll do more than brighten someone's mood: Plants like the areca palm, mother-in-law's tongue, money plant, peace lily, and certain orchids are known for their ability to remove toxins from the air. The next time you're planning a party, consider using potted greenery for decoration. After the event is over, donate the plants to a local hospital or nursing home. It's a gift that'll help everyone breathe easier.
TIP 176 - Worried that someone will notice that you've worn the same thing multiple times? Remind yourself that their new duds not only cost them money but also cost the earth: One cotton polo shirt travels more than 14,000 miles, causes 27 pounds of carbon emissions, expends 33 kilowatt hours of energy, and produces its weight in waste. That's pretty shabby, no matter how spiffy it may look.
TIP 175 - Though certain companies are expert at making people really, really want the latest model of their "sexy" phone, don't fall for the shtick. Sure, seeing images in a resolution slightly higher than you already do would be nice. But is it really worth all the unseen damage that e-waste does? Instead, take care to make your trusty phone last as long as possible. When it truly is kaput, dispose of it properly and save the accessories for future use.
TIP 174 - If your neighbor has a shiny new toolbox, why would you need one too? Rather than "keeping up with the Joneses," many people are opting for opportunities to pool and share resources. By planning clothing exchanges, crop swaps, and tool-lending libraries, you'll save money, reduce waste, and build a stronger community.
TIP 173 - Fully half of the paper America uses goes toward wrapping and decorating consumer products. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year could fill a football field 10 stories high. And if every family reused 2 feet of holiday ribbon, the amount of gift-related tinsel saved could wrap around the Earth (source: RecycleWorks). So steer clear of the wrapping aisle and opt instead for reusable, creative ways to package your gifts. As for cards, choose the recycled kind, make your own out of 2011 wall calendars (you won't be needing 'em much longer), or send e-greetings.
TIP 172 - Next time you're heading to a dinner party and scrambling to find a little something for the hosts, swing by the household cleaners aisle. Easy Green Living author Renee Loux recommends bringing a basket of low-impact cleaning products. Grocery stores increasingly stock plant-based liquid soaps, so you can pick up a tasty baguette in the same trip.
TIP 171 - Most of us keep our phones plugged into our chargers for too long. The typical device needs just an hour or two of wall juice to keep it going another day. So instead of keeping it plugged in during all the hours you sleep, plug it in when you wake up in the morning. By the time you've showered and are ready to walk out the door, your phone should be nearing a 100% charge. And remember: To avoid vampire energy suckage, don't just unplug the phone from the charger, but also the charger from the wall.
TIP 170 - Do you feel a tinge of guilt when the waiter whisks away half of that oversized portion you couldn't stuff into your belly? Instead of sending that food to a landfill where it'll emit methane as it decomposes, take the leftovers in a to-go box (no plastic bag, please) and politely offer it to the first homeless person you see. Chances are he or she is hungry and will be happy to get a free lunch or dinner.   The same goes for excess clothes: If you haven't worn something in a year, it belongs to someone who wants it more.
TIP 169 - When buying decorations, party supplies, or gifts, think beyond the event (or the holiday season) and invest in classic items that can be used again and again. Skip disposable dinnerware and wrapping paper -- reusable alternatives will save you money over the long run and reduce waste. And if your closets happen to be haunted by a few not-so-classic items from holidays past? Repurpose that old stuff to make fresh decor.
TIP 168 - For scrubbing yourself clean, consider using an all-natural brush or washcloth. Bristled bamboo-back brushes, organic-cotton washcloths, and sea-sponge loofahs are all effective and environmentally friendly. When you step out of your (quick, we hope) shower, dry off with a hemp or organic-cotton towel. EcoBathroom is a good online resource for sustainable bath accouterments.
TIP 167 - Computers in the business sector waste $1 billion worth of electricity per year, so make it a habit to turn off your computer -- and the power strip it's plugged into -- when you leave work for the day. Otherwise you'll still be burning energy even if you're not burning the midnight oil. During the day, setting your computer to go to sleep during short breaks can cut energy use 70%. Remember, screen savers don't save energy.
TIP 166 - The average U.S. office worker can use 10,000 pieces of copy paper per year. To reduce your number, print double-sided whenever possible. Avoid color printing (hues are more likely to be toxic) and consider downloading Ecofont to save ink. Better yet, really think about whether you need that information down on sheets of dead trees, or whether having it on your computer is good enough.
TIP 165 - Only use your washing machine when you have a full load, and run it on cold whenever possible. Run at maximum spin to reduce drying time and avoid using a tumble drier. A typical washing machine uses 90% of its energy to heat the water. Generally, cold water gets your clothes just as clean and saves about 2 pounds of CO2 per load.
TIP 164 - Notice what food you throw away this week. See if you can reduce it by a third. Eat leftovers and shop more carefully using a list and planning your meals. The amount of food thrown away by an average household adds the equivalent CO2 emissions of 1-5 cars.
TIP 163 - It was cool in the '90s and it's cool again. Buying used is the ultimate way to keep your closet's carbon footprint small. But stepping out of a Goodwill or a used-jeans store doesn't mean that you'll have to dress in some grungy plaid or frumpy floral. If you're intent on maintaining your fashionista rep or hipster clout, scour flea markets and vintage boutiques for designer labels and edgy pieces that fit in with your personal style. For those who'd rather not drive to the store, there are plenty of online shops where you find your dream green outfit.
TIP 162 - Reduce the number of plastic bags you use by getting fabric or reusable bags for shopping-AND THEN REMEMBER TO USE THEM. Although plastic bags use 70% less plastic than they did 20 years ago, most are still made from polyethylene, a non-degradable plastic.
TIP 161 - A mix of social networking and ride-sharing, an app called Carticipate lets people share where they're headed, or when and where they need a ride. Then, based on your travel plans, you get hooked up with others who are interested in sharing a ride.
 
TIP 160 - Wash your dishes by hand and let them air-dry. If you must use a dishwasher, run it only when you have a full load, and skip the energy-intensive drying cycle by choosing the "air-dry" option. Or, just stop the machine once the water has drained and leave the door open overnight.
TIP 159 - In a way, smart phones make minimalism easier by acting as a slew of gadgets. Think of it: Instead of buying an e-reader, a music player, a GPS device, a point-and-shoot camera, and a pedometer, you can streamline your belongings by using your phone as all of the above. You'll prevent the manufacturing waste of making all those things and the e-waste of disposing them. You'll also save quite a lot of purse or briefcase space -- not to mention a wad of cash.
TIP 158 - When packing lunch for your resident student, you can reduce waste by avoiding pre-packaged snacks, and by pairing your reusable, BPA-free water bottle with preserve food containers, which are made from recycled yogurt cups. To show off your creative side, turn old scraps into a DIY lunch bag.
TIP 157 - A sobering thought: The UCC Conference Minister in Massachusetts tells his pastors that within only 2 or 3 years, every 3rd or 4th sermon must touch upon the issues of climate change and the environment. Otherwise, in about 10-15 years every single sermon will focus on grief.
TIP 156 - If you have yet to join the internet photo-sharing world, know that it's easier, faster, and greener than printing out all your pictures to show friends and family. If you're still printing photos, though, consider using recycled photo paper. Stuck with an overload of prints? Reuse them by slapping a stamp on the back and turning them into postcards.
TIP 155 - One of the easiest ways to green your roof is to paint it white. This affordable home-improvement trick earned the support of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who said that a unified switch to heat-reflecting white roofs and pavement would be the emissions-reducing equivalent of taking all the world's cars off the road for 11 years.
TIP 154 - How many paper notices do you get from your child's teachers and administration? Let those in charge know that you'd like them to set a good example for your children by conserving paper and emailing those documents instead. Parents at schools across the country have already campaigned successfully to make this change. You can too.
TIP 153 - A "Green" prayer: For the sake of myself, others alive today and yet to be born, and God's creation, I pledge to learn about the impact my life choices have on the lives of future generations, and what I can do to ensure a sustainable and healthy future for generations to come. Amen
TIP 152 - Nothing restores a roasted brain to peak condition and breaks up the monotony of midsummer work better than a relaxing getaway. But considering the personal and planetary costs associated with many forms of tourism, traveling long distances to escape the heat today may contribute to an even toastier tomorrow. Find a shady spot at a national or state park close to home as a cost- and climate-effective alternative, or research sustainability practices of airlines and hotels before venturing farther afield.
TIP 151 - What's going atop your coal-free grill? May we suggest a few excellent vegetarian options? A U.N. report says that raising livestock for food creates more pollution than all modes of transportation combined, so this is something to take into account. If cutting meat and dairy out of your summer parties isn't an option, consider barbecuing fewer animals and supplementing those calories with salad or corn. And when choosing your protein, whether it's beef, tofu, or tempeh, look for an organic label.
TIP 150 - Home or office starting to feel a little too swampy? Don't reach for that AC dial when you could crack a few windows or even make a personal paper fan instead. If you simply can't resist the urge to use the air conditioner, take care to seal off windows and doors to maximize energy efficiency and prevent that precious cool air from being lost to the sweltering afternoon. Even better, opt for an Energy Star ceiling fan instead of an energy-grubbing AC unit.
TIP 149 - After the backyard barbecue or the picnic at the park, it's best to leave not only your immediate surroundings clean, but the greater planet as well. To do that, it'd help to save leftovers, compost food and paper waste, recycle (or better yet, reuse) glass and plastic, and employ the greenest cleaning products you can find. Once you've attended to your own space, look around and consider your willingness to pick up others' trash -- it can take only a few moments of your time, but could prevent wildlife from being seriously damaged.
TIP 148 - To minimize your garden's water use, mulch with cocoa shells, bark, or other natural materials to reduce evaporation. (Bonus: This also helps keep weeds down.) When you do need to sprinkle your crop, consider using greywater or installing a rain-collection system - simply placing a barrel under a downspout could suffice. Try drip irrigation instead of a broadcasting sprinkler, and put water-delivery devices on a timer.
TIP 147 - While vacationing rather than buying toys and souvenirs for the kids that they'll outgrow in no time, take lots of pictures instead. They last longer and have intrinsic value that everyone can enjoy. A growing market of affordable digital cameras makes it possible to keep a log of good, paper-free memories that you can easily share with others online (everyone loves a good Facebook album). Got forgotten toys from previous vacations? Donate them to a local charity.
TIP 146 - Barbecue purists will throw a fit, but it might be time to give up on grills that rely on wood or charcoal briquettes, which cough up a load of greenhouses gases and contribute to deforestation. Instead, there are tons of greener options, from a basic Energy-Star certified gas grill to grills that get their heat from corn, hydrogen, or the sun - the last of which you can even make yourself.

 

 

01/28/2012 dth