Evangelical Reform United Church of Christ - Messages From the Green Committee

Messages from the Green Committee

TIP 102 - When camping, to minimize your impact on wildlife and vegetation, opt for well-established campsites such as those you can reserve in most national parks. When camping in the backcountry, look for a durable surface such as gravel, duff, or rock slab and avoid fragile ecological sites such as meadows and the edges of rivers or lakes.

TIP 101 - Carbon dioxide released from transportation accounts for about one-third of U.S. emissions, so any volunteer endeavor that puts fewer cars on the road can make a big difference in the fight against global warming. Volunteering your time or donating used bike parts to a community bicycle organization is a great way to make a difference. Even if your do-good gig doesn't involve two-wheeled transport, you can reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling with other volunteers or opting for public transportation.

TIP 100 - Road-tripping? Consider leaving your clunker at home and renting a hybrid: you'll save on gas and prevent wear and tear on your car. Once you're at your destination, using a bicycle or public transportation for sight-seeing will reduce your footprint and burn off a few of those vacation libations.

TIP 99 - Reminders about water conservation: 1) A lot of water is used to manufacture paper grocery bags. Bring your own cloth bags to the market. 2) Don't buy bottled water. Instead, fill your own bottles with filtered water, if necessary. 3) Collect rainwater to water your garden. 4) Fix leaky faucets and toilets. 5) Take short showers instead of baths. 6) Buy a front-loading washing machine. Wash only full loads.

TIP 98 - Hotels are major consumers of water and cleaning chemicals so why not stay with a local family instead? Communal meals and bathrooms use fewer resources and allow for more interesting cultural exchanges. This will also send your travel dollars directly into the region's economy. CouchSurfing also offers an adventurous experience at no cost. For a bit more autonomy, search for a green hotel or hostel.

TIP 97 - Taking your car to the local car wash instead of washing it at home might seem like a guilty pleasure, but from an environmental perspective it is often the better choice. When you wash your car in the driveway or street, contaminants such as grease and brake dust (as well as the detergent itself) flow into storm sewers, which discharge directly into our waterways. Car washes, on the other hand, are required to drain their water into sanitary sewers (which direct sewage to treatment facilities) or to filter and reuse it on-site. Water efficiency is also a benefit of many commercial car washes. An analysis by the Maryland Department of the Environment found that car washes use approximately 50 to 75 gallons of water per car (assuming the water is not being recycled); using the self-service bay consumes only 15 gallons. A typical garden hose, on the other hand, which has an average flow rate of seven gallons per minute, would exceed a car wash's water consumption after two minutes compared with the self-service bay or seven minutes compared with the automated wash if the hose were left running.

TIP 96 - If you decide to walk or bike more and drive less, you'll relieve the environment of harmful greenhouse gases as well as reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Added bonus: This will nicely complement an exercise or diet program.

TIP 95 - Front-loading clothes washers (most have an Energy Star label) use up to half as much water and energy than other, older models, so if you're in the market for a new machine, snag one of those. But don't run out to buy a new washer if your old one still works. Instead, wait until you have a full load and wash your clothes in cold water (it gets them just as clean) on the shortest available cycle.

TIP 94 - Americans own approximately 74.8 million dogs and an estimated 40 percent of pet owners don't clean up their dogs' doo. Those piles don't just "disappear" -- rain washes unscooped poop into storm sewers which drain into local rivers and bays, contaminating the water with such nasties as E. coli, fecal coliform bacteria, salmonella, and giardia. Bottom line -- use biodegradable bags, and pick it up, every time.

TIP 93 - The rise of e-mail has saved forests' worth of trees. Which is great - but perhaps it's time to take the paper-saving up another notch. Are you willing to rethink social graces traditionally carried out with paper? If you're planning a wedding, say, would you consider making your save-the-dates electronic? How about the actual invitations? Can thank-you cards be e-mailed instead of produced at a paper mill, printed, bought, and delivered? How do you feel about sending electronic special-occasion cards? A Google search turns up plenty of services for sending online greetings.

TIP 92 - Think small and lightweight with gifts that need to be mailed. "Fewer or smaller boxes take up less space on a mail truck, so there's not as much petroleum wasted. One easy-to-mail gift is a membership to a community-supported agriculture (CSA) group, good for a weekly share of the farm's crops. Go to localharvest.org for a CSA chapter.

TIP 91 - Want to save about 3,000 gallons of water per year? It's as easy as turning off the tap when you brush your teeth or shave. Once you've got that down, look for creative ways to use less water, such as washing fruits and vegetables in a bowl instead of running the tap. You might be surprised by how many water-saving opportunities you'll find!

TIP 90 - The thing to do, to conserve electricity and reduce your carbon footprint, is to stop wasting so much in the first place and the first place to start is to turn your lights off. That's right, simple. Just turn them off. Some folks did this for two months and saved 20 percent on their power bill. That's money in your pocket, right?
                Also, kill your vampires. Take a look around your domicile right now. Do you have a microwave, a DVD player, stereo, or television? If the answer is yes, all those little buggers are sucking juice 24/7 and amping up your power bill at the same time. Why? Well for starters, anything that has a remote is waiting for you to turn it on. The average VCR, DVD player, or television will use more electricity in the "off" state than it will ever consume while you are using it. And that microwave? Most people use it to heat rather than cook, it'll most likely use more power telling you time than it ever will heating your food. It's a microwave, not a clock, right?
                But don't stop there. Do you have a cell phone, iPod, rechargeable camera batteries? Did you know that almost all of their chargers still use power when plugged in even when they aren't juicing something? Don't believe us? Pick up one of these babies and give it a whirl. You'll be shocked as you go around the house at what you'll find is sipping watts all day long.
                According to the U.S. Department of Energy , nearly 20 percent of all the electricity used in the average American home is vampire power. If we could cut this out, it would be the equivalent to shutting down 36 coal powered plants. So unplug those chargers and throw those DVD players and microwaves on a power strip. You'll help the planet, save yourself some greenbacks, and who knows, may even get a few more years out of that TV.

TIP 89 - Restrictions on liquids during air travel mean you have to buy bottled water, right? Wrong. You can still pack an empty bottle in your carry-on and fill it up at a water fountain after you've gone through security. As for everyday on-the-go hydration, you can save more than $1,000 a year if you equip your family with reusable bottles instead of relying on throwaway juice boxes and water bottles each day.

TIP 88 - The deep connection between spirituality and the environment is all in the scripture: Christians and Jews can refer, among other passages, to Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The Buddhist Sutta Nipata instructs: "Within yourself let grow a boundless love for all creatures." Hindus reading the Dakshinamurti Upanishad pray: "Let there be peace in my environment." Muslims are instructed by the Qur'an (2:60): "Do not commit abuse on the earth." The Wiccan Rede says, "Heed the flower, bush, and tree." Atheists, many of whom revere Darwin's writings, hold that humans should refrain from destroying the earth of their own accord. For more about religion and the environment, read these books.

TIP 87 - Towel-drying your hair is greener than blow-drying because it saves energy. The intense heat from blow dryers can damage hair, so towel-drying is also easier on your mane. Hemp and organic-cotton towels are earth-friendly choices.

If you must blow dry, know that Barbar makes a blow dryer with a ceramic coil that reduces the radiation that all hair dryers produce. Rusk's Go Green dryer uses about 25% less energy and comes in recycled packaging printed with soy ink. Whatever dryer you use, storing it unplugged conserves energy. Dead hair dryers are sometimes accepted during e-cycling drives; call your public-works department to check.

TIP 86 - Meat may be many things, but cheap it is not. While burgers won't set you back much at the drive-thru, they could contribute to high health costs over the long term--and they have a big environmental impact. If you cook at home, tofu and eggs offer protein-rich, low-cost alternatives to meat. If eliminating all animal products from your diet sounds like too much, consider starting with vegetable-centric meals three times a week.

TIP 85 - We've heard the admonishment many times: "Turn off the light when you leave the room," but it bears repeating; sometimes we forget just how money- and energy-saving that little green action can be. Leaving six 100-watt bulbs burning for 10 hours per day wastes about $200 annually. Put that sum into a CD with 5% interest, and you'll have more than $2,600 in 10 years. Plus, leaving the light on funds coal-burning companies.

Earth Hour, a global effort to turn the lights out for an hour, resulted in a 10% energy-usage drop worldwide last year; in Chicago alone, that prevented 420 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted. (While you're at it, remember to turn off your computer at night.)

TIP 84 - The next time you are at the store buying just one or two small items............do not have the cashier automatically put the goods in a plastic bag. Take it in your hand. Save a piece of plastic from the landfill.

TIP 83 - A clean house is often associated with a "fresh" smell, so it's ironic that synthetic air fresheners could be contaminating homes with phthalates or formaldehyde. To really freshen up a room, try opening the windows first. Next, invest in houseplants. NASA has been studying the pollution-reducing abilities of plants for years. Some of the plants tested by NASA and shown to remove benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air include the peace lily, spider plant, golden pothos, mother-in-law's tongue, bamboo palm, ficus, pot mum, and gerbera daisy.

TIP 82 - We hear people preach about recycling all the time. But did you know that composting may be as important? As food and other organic waste decomposes anaerobically in the landfill, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that's more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Because composting is an aerobic process, it only produces carbon dioxide and not methane. If the average family composted regularly, that household would prevent about 30 pounds of methane emissions per year, the equivalent of around 620 pounds of carbon dioxide (the same as what a small diesel car driving 1,200 miles would emit).

TIP 81 - Not only does aggressive driving aggravate others: it also wastes gas. To prevent excess pollution (and to preserve others' positive moods), drive within the speed limit, accelerate and brake gradually, and use cruise control on highways. Driving in a too-fast, herky-jerky way can lower gas mileage by 33 percent. Plus, your zen-like lack of road rage will clear the streets of psychological pollution too.

TIP 80 - Cooking instructions often seem like unbreakable codes. If it says 10 minutes, it means 10 minutes, right? Not necessarily: Once you heat up your oven or pot, they retain heat well. So consider turning the oven or stove off several minutes before the timer rings. Your food will keep cooking and you'll cut down on energy use. It's even possible to bring water to a boil, put pasta in, cover it, turn off the stove, and go for a walk. When you get back, your pasta will be ready.

TIP 79 - Carrying a plastic water bottle might seem convenient. But after considering all the oil it took to make and ship and the watersheds that were affected, it begins looking like a pretty bad idea. Once you learn that Americans spend $9 billion on bottled water annually more than what it would cost to get clean water to every person in the world we're betting you'll want to switch to tap.

TIP 78 - An efficient dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand but to keep it functioning well, you'll need to use hot water. Though that sounds counterintuitive in terms of energy efficiency, it makes sense when you understand that the water heated to at least 125 degrees prevents detergent residue -- a major cause of breakdowns. Also, opt for powdered detergents (you can make one yourself) instead of gels to prevent chlorine bleach from contaminating your dishwasher and the environment.

TIP 77 - Your green habits may be routine, but those actions could seem like novel ideas to curious neighbors. Be open to questions about your lifestyle, and be prepared to let people know exactly why you think it's important to recycle, line-dry your clothes, or carry a reusable shopping bag. Newcomers to the green movement may feel discouraged by the big picture (global warming), so let them know that it's OK to start small. Suggest some easy first steps such as switching to CFL light bulbs or opting for organic produce.

TIP 76 - The average treadmill produces about 2 pounds of CO2 over the course of a 30-minute workout. Shrink your fitness footprint by adding an outdoor run, walk, or bike ride to your routine. In urban areas, choose side streets to decrease your exposure to car exhaust. Still snowbound? Burn those calories by snowshoeing, skiing, or shoveling the driveway.

TIP 75 - It's Japanese tradition to thoroughly clean at the dawn of a new year. If you feel the urge to start 2010 afresh, it's a good time to go through your home to rid yourself of what you don't really need. Ways to responsibly purge include hosting a swap party, donating to Goodwill, and recycling and Freecycling when possible. Reducing clutter should help you find things you forgot you had and serve as a good reminder not to pick up unnecessary junk on the road trip that is life.

TIP 74 - A free, easy way to reduce fuel use -- and cost -- is to make sure your car's not carrying any extra weight. Haven't cleared out that trunk or back seat in a while? It's time: Carting around an extra 100 pounds can reduce MPG by 2 percent. If you've got a roof rack, consider removing it or storing gear in the car instead to reduce drag.

TIP 73 - According to a report released by the White House, homes are responsible for more than 20 percent of carbon emissions in the United States. By making a few minor adjustments to your abode, you can reduce emissions and save money this winter. You can save up to $20 per window per winter in energy costs by fortifying panes with plastic window film. If installed properly, the inexpensive plastic should be nearly invisible. Heavy curtains are another option for beating the cold.

TIP 72 - When it comes to portion size, Americans tend to overdo it. More than 25 percent of the food we prepare ends up in the trash. When food decomposes in landfills under anaerobic conditions, it contributes to global warming by producing methane. Order smaller portions at restaurants or split one entree between two people. The next time your eyes are bigger than your stomach, take home leftovers in a reusable container. If you've got the basics down, you can rev up your waste-reduction efforts by food gleaning or advocating for irregularly shaped produce, which is often rejected by grocery stores and left to rot in fields.

TIP 71 - The greenest choice for watching TV is to stick with that old black box until its end, but when it's time to switch, opt for Energy Star-labeled TVs. New or used, they save energy in both standby and active modes, consuming about 30 percent less than standard units. If you're in the market for an HDTV, stick to the smaller screens and rear-projection types, which consume less energy than LCDs or plasmas.

TIP 70 - Put out a container to toss bows, ribbons, gift bags, and papers into as your family unwraps gifts, and you'll be good to go in the future. "If every family in the US reused just two feet of ribbon we would save 38,000 miles of ribbon-enough to tie a bow around the earth."

TIP 69 - Christmas lights left on 24 hours can quadruple your energy bill. Put lighting displays on a timer to ensure they're turned off at bedtime. Convert to LEDs which use 90 % less energy than standard mini-lights. "When you consider how many strands you use throughout your home and yard, the energy and cost savings really add up with LEDs."

TIP 68 - Use up your gift-wrap stash, then think of alternatives-fabric scraps, T-shirts, old maps, grocery bags, newspapers. "If every family in the US wrapped three gifts in alternative wrappings, we could save enough paper to cover 49,000 football fields." That's a lot of trees!

TIP 67 - Many of the 2.6 billion holiday cards sold each year end up in the garbage. Trim your card list-even by just five people-or be selective by sending paper cards to traditional recipients and electronic cards to others. With paper cards, choose ones made from recycled paper (each ton of recycled paper saves 380 gallons of oil and 17 trees) and recycle what you receive. Cut-up cards can make great gift tags.

TIP 66 - According to the Eco-Dentistry Association, running the tap while you brush your teeth wastes around 90 glasses of water per day. Save thousands of gallons of water each year by taking a moment to turn off the water faucet each time you brush. Teach your kids this rule early and they'll be water-savers for life.

TIP 65 - Newer dishwasher models are powerful enough to get the gunk off, so save water by skipping the pre-rinse. Also, Energy Star dishwashers consume one-third less water than older machines. Try to reuse the same glass several times before washing it, and always run the dishwasher when it's full.

TIP 64 - The next time you hike your favorite trail or take a stroll on the beach, aim to leave it a better place than you found it. Collect any trash or recyclables you find along the way and put them in the proper receptacles. Your cleaning effort will help protect fragile ecosystems and make the outdoor experience more enjoyable for the next person who visits that spot.

TIP 63 - Dining out can become an expensive proposition. To get your money's worth, and since portions come so large nowadays, eat only half of what you're served, then take the leftovers home in a reusable container that you had the foresight to bring along. Voila! A "free," restaurant-made meal for later. Wasted food comprises 12 percent of the U.S. waste stream (30 million tons per year!), 98 percent of which lands in landfills where it stinks up the atmosphere with methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

TIP 62 - Many religions have always been about spreading the good word, and the environment could use that same type of help. If you passionately believe in preserving the planet, tell the world! It's best to refrain from being too preachy, but a few well-targeted comments and messages could make the difference. A few ideas: Don't be afraid to apply a slight bit of peer pressure with someone who doesn't, say, recycle or turn off the lights. Slap a bumper sticker on your car, or throw on a shirt that broadcasts your faith in saving the environment. Finally, tell your friends about these weekly green tips!

TIP 61 - Did you know that a third of households' total environmental impact is related to food and drink consumption? To help reduce the footprint of the foods you buy, there are a few things you can do when at the grocery store. First, avoid the deli, since more than a third of all U.S. fossil fuels go toward producing meat, and since animal agriculture is highly correlated with pollution and natural-resource depletion. Also, be willing to shop in the organic section, since fewer pesticides and other polluting chemicals are used to produce the items sold there. Look, too, for where a product was produced, and when. Buying local and seasonal reduces the miles your food had to be shipped to get to your shopping cart. Examine whether what you're considering buying is overpackaged; if it is, leave it in the store as a statement of disapproval that'll hit corporations' bottom lines. Finally, bring your own reusable shopping bags to prevent disposable plastic or paper bags from ending up where they shouldn't.

TIP 60 - WINDOW WASHING - To clean those panes, fill a spray bottle with a vinegar and water mixture to make a DIY wash. If you've used conventional glass cleaners in the past, we recommend adding soap or detergent to the mixture to cut the wax buildup left by commercial products. Scrub with newspapers to avoid streaking.

TIP 59 - When it comes to buying clothes, the greenest and often hippest purchases are vintage. For great finds, shop at used-clothes boutiques, online stores, or at prominent antique shows. If you have to buy new, look for eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, hemp, or recycled anything. Buy classic styles (not trends!) so that your purchase doesn't, in a year, end up in the landfill. And make sure your choices are well-made and durable so they don't fall apart after only a few months of wear.

TIP 58 - Idling is one of the worst wastes of gas, especially for bigger cars. If you'll be stopped for more than 30 seconds, kill the engine; restarting it burns less fuel than the idling. Also, instead of inching ahead in drive-throughs, be motor-savvy by parking the vehicle and going inside.

TIP 57 - To get your car's greenest performance, make sure it's all tuned up. That means inflating and aligning your tires, monitoring your engine, replacing your oil and air filter on time (generally at about 6,000 miles, oftener and you're actually wasting oil), and taking care of leaks as soon as you notice them.

TIP 56 - In addition to going organic, you can make other dietary changes to help your health and please the planet. Eating less meat, for example, is a huge way to heal the earth (18 percent of greenhouse gases come from industrialized livestock production), as is lessening overall caloric intake. The term "tread lightly" takes on new meaning now that there's research, written about overeating and obesity as causes of global warming.

TIP 55 - If you're planning to send your son or daughter to school with a packed lunch, consider what's going to end up in the trash. According to Mother Jones, the average child throws away 90 pounds of leftovers and packaging per year. Avoid single-use snack items and processed foods. To reduce waste, buy staples in bulk, then pack sandwiches, side items, and drinks in reusable containers.

TIP 54 - BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING - Before you're dazzled by a super-sized pack of highlighters (on sale!) or a fancy eraser set, take stock of the school supplies you already have. Sturdy items like folders and backpacks can often be reused for several years. And chances are, you already have an ample supply of pens and pencils in your family's catch-all drawer. Come to the store armed with a list so you won't be tempted to buy things you don't need.

TIP 53 - So as you continue the work of mending the earth and beautifying God’s sanctuary, as you recycle faithfully and bring your own bags to the store, as you walk instead of drive and buy food grown close to home, as you advocate for good environmental policy and hold corporations accountable for their behavior, remember this: pray. For we cannot fix the Creation without the Creator's help.
From the UCC.org Daily Devotional (this one by Quinn G. Caldwell)

TIP 52 - The places where people pray, meditate, or simply stop to have moments of peace vary vastly but you can make sure that your place of worship isn’t causing environmental damage. If you go to a church, temple, mosque, or other organized place, ask your congregation’s leaders to emplace green measures like reducing energy use, water use, and waste. You can even volunteer to head recycling efforts or organize carpools. If a corner of your home is your place, make sure that room is as planet-preserving as possible. If where you connect to the spiritual realm is outdoors, remember the “leave no trace” commandment. AREN’T YOU GLAD THAT ERUCC HAS “GONE GREEN?”

TIP 51 - A recent survey found that most people ignore their normal environmental habits when traveling, including turning off lights and conserving water. Keep the global impact of resource use in mind no matter where you are.

TIP 50 - Even if you can't afford to buy everything local and organic, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a watchdog and research nonprofit, has identified the "dirty dozen"-those fruits and veggies that contain the highest amounts of pesticides. For these, it might be worth paying for the organic versions. Among conventionally grown, try sticking to the "cleanest 12." The produce ranking was developed by EWG analysts based on the results of nearly 51,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2005. An EWG simulation of thousands of consumers eating high and low pesticide diets showed that people can lower their pesticide exposure by almost 90% by avoiding the top 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead. The "dirties" (most pesticides): 1. Peaches 2. Apples 3. Sweet Bell Peppers 4. Celery 5. Nectarines 6. Strawberries 7. Cherries 8. Lettuce 9. Grapes 10. Pears 11. Spinach 12. Potatoes. The cleanest: 1. Onions 2. Avodado 3. Sweet Corn (frozen) 4. Pineapples 5. Mango 6. Sweet Peas (frozen) 7. Asparagus 8. Kiwi 9. Bananas 10. Cabbage 11. Broccoli 12. Eggplant

TIP 49 - Riding your bike to work is a great way to stay fit while you go green. As an added bonus, bicycle commuters are eligible to receive a monthly $20 reimbursement from their employers under the new economic stimulus. Companies can deduct the expense from their federal taxes. The Bicycle Commuter Act went into effect on January 1, 2009, so let your employer know that you'd like to participate.

TIP 48 - The average North American residence uses half of its water outside, so smart landscaping practices can make a big difference in household water consumption. Scale back on turf and opt for drought-tolerant, native plants. Trees, shrubs, and flowers should be suited to your region as well as to your yard's microclimates. Plants' needs vary, but a good general rule is to water deeply but less frequently.

TIP 47 - Since hotel visitors spend more time out of their rooms than in, resetting the thermostat when you leave the room is one of the easiest steps to save energy. Set the thermostat 8 to 10 degrees above your preferred comfort setting in warm weather or below in cold weather.

TIP 46 - Have you ever returned from a vacation feeling exhausted? There are benefits to traveling, but sometimes a quiet week at home is simply the more relaxing and restorative option. Many Americans are opting to save money and reduce their carbon footprint by staying put. An ideal "staycation" should be work-free and fun, so skip unpleasant chores, unplug the phone, and hide your laptop if necessary. Set a festive mood by donning your vacation duds and scheduling day hikes, bike rides, and visits to local museums.

TIP 45 - No form of motorized transport is really green, but if you must use it, consider offsetting. Other ways to cut your carbon footprint from driving or flying include: packing lighter so as to save on the fuel it'll take to transport you and your stuff, taking the train or bus instead of driving a personal vehicle, and deciding to explore places closer to home.

TIP 44 - Sharing a meal is a great way to connect with neighbors and friends (keep costs low by hosting potluck dinners). Network with like-minded folks by joining a community garden or a community-supported agriculture (CSA) co-op. Cut back on carbon by joining with other CSA members in your area: Set up one central delivery point, then walk to that person's house to pick up your fresh, local produce.

TIP 43 - Reduce waste and give your garden a healthy dose of nutrients by composting food scraps and yard clippings. Or, if wigglers don't give you the willies, give vermicomposting a try. Using compost, or "worm tea," is a great way to fertilize your garden naturally. Short on space? Not to worry: compost bins and worm condos come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some communities also pool their resources and form massive compost heaps.

TIP 42 - Before you leave on vacation, unplug any appliance that won’t be in use while you’re away, such as computers, chargers, televisions, video game players, and microwaves. As much as 10% of the electricity used in your home may be wasted by such idle devices.

TIP 41 - A conventional fridge sold in 2001 uses 40 percent more energy than today's Energy Star-qualified models. Yet we have more than 47 million refrigerators operating in the United States that are more than a decade old, and each one results in an extra $90 or more in annual electricity costs. For a simple interactive guide to recycling older refrigerators (and a cool savings calculator), visit Energy Star's recycle program at www.energystar.gov .

TIP 40 - If a four-person household relies on paper napkins at every meal, it can cost more than $130 annually. Add throwaway sandwich bags for weekday lunches, and you could have another $85 a year heading straight for the trash. Of course, single-use products also weigh heavily on the environment. With green cleaning habits, reusable cloth napkins and durable food containers offer affordable ways to save energy and resources. Not ready to pay $40 for a lunchbox system? You can assemble your own kit from fabric scraps and thrift store finds.

TIP 39 - You've signed your lease, packed your boxes (recycled, of course), and maybe pulled a muscle or two moving into your new place. Now, Ikea! With so many of your apartment dweller's needs housed under the Scandinavian superstore's roof, it's certainly tempting. But despite Ikea's conservation efforts, thrift shops, Craigslist, estate and garage sales, and the rest of the second-hand furniture world offer far greener options. By Treehugger's estimate, an average renter spends up to $4,000 on furnishings and other items to make a new pad feel like home. If you plan well ahead of your move, you can minimize the environmental impact of those purchases and have your new digs decked out in unique vintage style in time for the housewarming party. For a list of independent vintage furniture stores in your area, check out jargol.com. To find local sales and the quickest way to hit 'em all, visit Garage Sales, Yard & Estate Sales by Map at gsalr.com.

TIP 38 - Plastic toys that contain bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, suspected hormone disruptors, have already been banned in some places. Eco-parents should consider wooden or organic cotton toys, especially with teething babies, since these potentially toxic chemicals are more likely to leach out when babies chew or suck on the toys. So ditch that "rubber" ducky: Find greener birds.

TIP 37 - European Union officials will begin enforcing new restrictions on rechargeable batteries--a move that the research firm Cleantech Group reports could nudge the market away from toxic components and non-replaceable, built-in batteries. In the meantime, Americans still buy more than 350 million of the pricey, heavy metal-packed capsules every year. With smart maintenance practices, they can be replaced less frequently. For example, lithium-ion batteries, one of the most common types used in laptops and mobile devices, last longer when kept from running below a 40-percent charge. If you have an iPod, you'll get the most bang for your battery buck (make that bucks--at least 49 of them for a replacement battery) if you take it out of the case before charging. Carrying cases can trap heat and compromise battery capacity. That means plugging in more often and using up the limited number of charges more quickly. For any device, it's a good idea to keep batteries away from extreme temperatures, allow plenty of circulation, shut off juice-draining non-essential functions, and use a low-power mode whenever possible.

TIP 36 - We extol the virtues of buying less; however, when it comes to staples, the opposite rule holds true. For those must-haves, hit the bulk aisle. Nuts and grains are common bulk buys, but anything from soap to sauce can be bought big (or concentrated). Avoid "handy" single-serving or on-the-go items, as they tend to be over packaged and overpriced. When you have the option to buy from an environmentally-friendly company or retailer, go for the green choice. Demand for sustainable shopping has already generated major changes -- when retail giants like Wal-mart are hosting sustainability summits and stocking shelves with greener products, it's clear that the power of the green consumer has hit the big time.

TIP 35 - Organic farmers will tell you that variation in the size and shape of produce is natural, but this isn't the impression you'd get from the average supermarket, where the fruits and vegetables appear eerily perfect. These Stepford tomatoes are a result of strict regulations which ban aesthetically-challenged specimens. Rejected fruits are made into juice, used to feed livestock, or simply left in the field. Not too long ago, the European Union announced plans to relax aesthetic restrictions on fruit and vegetables and the British supermarket chain Waitrose began selling ugly fruit at a reduced price in 2006. While most supermarkets still favor the beautiful, farmers' markets and food co-ops offer a wider variety of shapes. If you've never seen an imperfect carrot, let your local grocer know that you're open to ugly.

TIP 34 - The environmental impact of an item of clothing lasts long after the fibers have been harvested, woven, dyed and shipped. So without making a single new purchase, you can begin to green your fashion by reducing the energy used to clean and maintain your current wardrobe. First step? Rethink your laundry. Heating water accounts for 90 percent of the energy used to wash a typical load. Yet with the exception of bed linens and grease-stained fabrics, most items don't need to be washed in simmering hot temperatures and too-hot water can reduce their longevity. To cut back on energy use, consider choosing clothes labeled for washing in cold water, turning your water heater down to 120 degrees, and using the cold setting whenever possible. If you're not ready to go whole hog, you can cut energy use in half by simply switching the temperature setting from hot to warm.

TIP 33B - Spring cleaning doesn't have to result in a trash can full of used paper towels. Instead, try reusable scrub brushes or homemade cloth cleaning rags. Synthetic sponges are petroleum-derived and can contain triclosan. Greener options for natural sponges include those made of wood-pulp cellulose. Your best bet? Cultivate luffa (a.k.a. "loofah") in your garden and grow your own "sponge gourd."

TIP 33A - Looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint with respect to the food you eat? Why not grow your own food and eliminate packaging and transportation costs? You say you have thought about "growing your own" but just don't have enough land for a garden? Not to worry. A web site has been created to match people who have extra land, and are willing to share some of it with a neighbor, and those seeking land for a garden. Check it out at: www.sharingbackyards.com

TIP 33 - Drinks made with organic, local, and seasonal ingredients can get even greener if served in recycled glassware. Sure, nixing single-use plastic cups is a step in the enviro direction, but why stop there when eco-minded designers now give you such chic alternatives? The Wisconsin-based Green Glass company offers simple, colorful wineglasses, goblets, and tumblers made of reclaimed and recycled wine and beer bottles, and Uncommon Goods sells beer glasses handmade in Colombia from recycled car windshields. Of course, you needn't get fancy to go green. Mix-and-match glassware from second-hand stores still does the job for hipsters and savers alike.

TIP 32 - Sierra Club is proud to present its first ever national report on the environmental engagement of communities of faith, "Faith in Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope for the Planet." Highlighting one exceptional faith-based environmental initiative from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, "Faith in Action" demonstrates the breadth, depth and diversity of spiritually motivated grassroots efforts to protect the planet. Sierra Club applauds the growing level of commitment and leadership among people of faith working to connect environmental awareness with widely shared values including stewardship, justice, and concern for future generations. We also recognize that lasting social change rarely takes place without the active engagement of communities of faith. To learn more go to the Sierra Club's web site at sierraclub.org and type "Faith in Action" in the search box.

TIP 31 - Getting hitched? Here's a great ways to make the big day a big win for you, your guests, and the environment: Create a wedding Web site. Maps, schedules, registry information, RSVPs, weather forecasts, guestbooks--all of that paper and postage can add up to a lot of waste. You can save money and resources by putting it all online with Web sites like wedshare.com, weddingwindow.com, and ewedding.com, which allow even the tech-unsavvy to customize a wedding site for less than $100 a year. You can upload photos, transfer files, and manage seating arrangements, allowing you to spend less time preparing for your wedding, and more time practicing your dance moves or pondering whether you've chosen the right spouse.

TIP 30 - While you're awaiting the arrival of the waterless washing machine, make a few adjustments to your laundry routine to save energy. Wash a full load, opt for a cold rinse, and hang clothes on the line to dry. For dry-clean-only clothes, choose greener options like wet cleaning or liquid CO2 dry cleaning.

TIP 29 - We're pretty sure you've heard by now: Switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) is a great way to save energy and money. But your environmental responsibility doesn't end there. CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, a neurotoxin, so it's important to dispose of them properly. (To put the amount into perspective, consider that one CFL bulb contains between 2 and 5 milligrams of mercury, whereas the nation's coal-fired power plants spew out about 50 tons of mercury per year.) Some manufacturers have already implemented strategies to reduce mercury content in CFLs. While they're working on that, you can do your part by keeping CFLs out of landfills. Don't throw CLFs in the trash. Some manufacturers, like Osram Sylvania, accept returned CFLs for recycling. Retailers, like IKEA, also have take-back programs. If a bulb breaks, the EPA recommends opening a window and leaving the room for at least 15 minutes. Keep children and pets away from the broken bulb.

TIP 28B - LET’S CELEBRATE ! ERUCC has just signed a two-year agreement with Clean Currents to provide our electricity generation instead of Allegheny Power. It will be 100% wind power off the national grid. We will be paying a locked-in price of $.088/kwh. We have been paying about .15/kwh up to now for generation. So we have accomplished two good things.............clean power............and cost savings! Thus, we would hope to see our $21,000 electricity budget for next year reduced significantly.

The chart below shows our gas heating usage for the last two years. By the addition of programmable thermostats and cutting back the temperatures when the areas are not in use (back to 58 degrees), we have (except for Trinity Chapel) achieved a 23% reduction in gas usage. However, as you can see, there is room for improvement in Trinity Chapel. We are examining many things there to bring these costs down. Meanwhile, if you know that you are the last ones to use a room...........turn the thermostats down to 58!

Gas Usage	2007	2008	% Change
Sanctuary	6574	4877	- 26%
Trinity Chapel	5616	6161	+ 9%
Kemp Hall	5500	4372	- 21
Summary	17,690	15,410	- 13

TIP 28A - 41% = Percentage of the world's oceans heavily affected by human activities-commercial fishing, pollution and climate change-according to the first map to show such damage. Areas with very little impact (3.7 percent) are at the poles; downright degraded areas (about 0.5 percent) include the eastern seaboard of North America.

TIP 28 - Nighttime light is associated with breast cancer, reports a study in Chronobiology International. Researchers overlaid satellite images of Israel with a map of breast cancer cases. Cancer rates were 73 percent higher in communities with the most artificial nighttime light, usually from streetlights, businesses, and outdoor home lighting. Exposure disrupts the body's nocturnal production of melatonin, a hormone that can suppress tumor growth, which may explain the link, says study co-author Richard Stevens, Ph.D. Beef up bedroom windows with dark shades and nix surplus illumination or install outdoor motion sensors.

TIP 27A - Looking to improve your life style in the New Year? One way to do so would be to enroll in a class offered by the Common Market (located at 5728 Buckeystown Pike - Unit 1-B). Their classes take place in their Community Room and there is a modest fee which covers the cost of the instructor and materials. For more information go to their web site at www.commonmarket.com , click on "calendar," and then click on the class that interests you. The info for Container Gardening follows but other classes include Basic Organic Vegetable Gardening, Better Fitness for Life, and Maintain Your Brain.

Container Gardening
Rick Hood
Thursday, Jan. 29
6:00-7:00 pm
$25, $20 for Common Market Owners
Pre-register at our Co-op Services Desk or email zoe@commonmarket.coop

Growing one's own food has gone from norm to niche to chic! Rick Hood, our favorite teaching farmer, offers this presentation on how to grow in small spaces, how to grow in small containers both indoors and out. Discussion will cover what type of containers to use, how to prepare the mix inside, what to grow in your container and considerations on what you will need to do to care for your container. The class will be followed by a question and answer session.

TIP 27 - About 59 percent of travelers drop their ecofriendly habits, such as turning off lights and running water, when they're on vacation reports a survey of 1,041 people by StudyLogic. To slay your inner eco-slacker, bring a mug and skip the Styrofoam at continental breakfasts, pack a night-light to illuminate your midnight bathroom break, and leave a note for housekeeping not to change your linens and towels, says Patricia Griffin, president of greenhotels.com. Hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign to help reduce the use of chemical-laden cleaning products.

TIP 26A - If you opt for a real Christmas tree (Sierra's Mr. Green says that real trees are greener than fakes), help the environment by recycling the brown-needled conifer after the holiday. Trees can be used to restore sand dunes, wetlands, and fish habitat. Turn your tree into wood chips or compost if you're landlocked. Earth 911 will help you find a recycling program in your area.

TIP 26 - The average American uses a whopping 1,191 gallons of H2O per day. Figure out your individual and household consumption with the easy-to-use water calculator at h20conserve.org, created by Food & Water Watch. Then follow tips like these:

IF YOU:	YOU USE:	INSTEAD:
Leave water running while brushing teeth	About 4 gallons—what one cow needs to produce a gallon of milk	Place a sticky note on the mirror as a reminder to turn the faucet off
Don’t have a low-flow toilet	About 6 gallons per flush—the daily max for an astronaut in space	Keep a water-and-pebble-filled half-gallon plastic jug inside the tank; it can reduce water use by 2.5 to 10 gallons per day
Water your lawn for five minutes	About 50 gallons—enough to fill a large tub	Step on the grass; if the earth springs back up, it’s not thirsty. Don’t water on windy days (more evaporates) and don’t water concrete
Take 15-minute showers	About 60 gallons—daily drink for 95 people	Install a low-flow showerhead to go from about four gallons a minute to just over two.

TIP 25 - Heading for the Tropics this winter? Watch what you wear. Sunscreen may contribute to the bleaching of coral reefs, reports a study in Environmental Health Perspectives. Researchers placed pieces of coral inside sterile plastic bags filled with seawater and injected half the bags with sunscreen. Within 96 hours, all the treated specimens were bleached. Chemicals in the product—parabens, cinnamates, benzophenones, or camphor derivatives—induce a virus that kills the colorful algae that help feed the coral, says lead study author Roberto Danovaro, a professor at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy. Tourists swimming in reef areas may shed as much as 4,000 to 6,000 tons of SPF per year. Pack products that don’t contain the chemicals.

TIP 24 - Americans are using less paper today, according to the World Resources Institute. Paper consumption dropped nearly 6 percent per person from 2000 to 2005, halting a decades-long upward trend. Credit the decline of the newspaper: We increasingly get our news fix online, says Lars Laestadius, Ph.D. But global use will rise as developing countries industrialize, and that will put a strain on forests. Buy items with less packaging and cancel periodicals you don't read.

TIP 23A - This holiday season, ditch the wrapping paper and embrace the traditional Japanese art of furoshiki (fabric) wrapping. It's an eco-friendly way to dress up a package, and the fabric doubles as an extra gift. Use a tablecloth, pillow case, or napkin, and try out these furoshiki wrapping techniques to make your gift recipient proud.

A church member was thinking along the same lines (plus added another good idea) when the Green Committee received these tips: 1. Don’t buy wrapping paper, instead use what you already have and be creative. You don't need fancy paper to disguise your gifts, use newspaper, cloth, grocery bags, etc. 2. Save a tree. Don't buy or cut down Christmas trees. Instead, buy a potted tree and advertise your tree needing a home after the holidays to plant and keep alive.

By the way, the Green Committee always appreciates good ideas for inclusion in our Sunday Bulletin message. Send them to Cliff Barr: clavbarr@gmail.com .

TIP 23 - Electronics like computers, televisions, and cell phone chargers continue to draw power even when you're not using them, so kill these "vampires" at the source. Power outlets in New Zealand have handy on/off switches, and Kiwis are encouraged to keep their switches in the off position.

We're hoping that trend will migrate to the States, but until then, you can save power by plugging your desktop, printer, and fax machine into a "smart" power strip. Smart strips can sense when electronics are idle and cut off the power flow to vampires. Devices like the WattStopper and the Smart Strip Power Strip can be ordered online. While you're awaiting the arrival of your new smart strip, you can accomplish the "smart" part by simply unplugging unused appliances yourself.

TIP 22C - Dirty filters block air flow and can make your heating system work overtime. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, that can cause faster burnout and higher heating costs. Old-style furnace filters (inch-thick fiberglass panels) typically need to be replaced monthly, while newer pleated, electrostatically - charged filters usually last about three months. For both types, experts recommend checking for buildup every month and being especially diligent during months of heavy use.

TIP 22B - Americans churn out 30 million tons of food waste per year, reports The New York Times in a recent article. That wasted food often ends up in landfills, producing methane--a greenhouse gas--as it decomposes. How can you reduce your food footprint without increasing your waistline? Dish out smaller portions (a good trick for keeping portion size in check is to use smaller plates) and save your leftovers for a second meal. When you're eating at a restaurant, stick to tapas, or appetizers, and skip the main course. If modest portions aren't available, split an entree with a friend or bring your own carryout container to avoid plastic and styrofoam.

TIP 22A - We are thinking about having a gardening inspiration day a couple of times a year. This would mean that those of us who are interested in vegetable/flower/herb gardening would go as a group some Saturday and view each others gardening efforts. We could get inspired towards even greater plantings and more varieties. We could plan this for the spring, and maybe mid summer, and finally in the fall. We would see Mac Johnson's large garden with honey bees, gourds, grapes, and fall plantings, and a city square foot garden, along with Locke's fig trees and espalied fruit trees. This would be a time for inspiration and possibilities.

Would you like to participate? If so, call Ray Locke (301-788-0169) or e mail at ray_locke@hotmail.com.

TIP 22 - In an effort to save energy, and reduce costs, we will be delaying heating the sanctuary as long as possible. Please keep this in mind when you dress for church. If it's cool outside, put on something warm so you will be comfortable when you first enter (it should warm up as more and more bodies join you for worship). By the end of the service it could very well be quite comfortable. When it gets really cold we will be firing up the boilers. We WILL be turning on the heat in Trinity Chapel so don't be concerned that our children will be suffering.

TIP 21H - Before you crank up the thermostat this fall, check around air registers to make sure heat can flow freely. Poorly placed furniture and drapes can block them and keep your living space from getting toasty. For homes with radiators, Energy Star recommends placing heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and exterior walls to keep warmth coming into the room instead of seeping outside. If you have a fireplace, closing the flue and tempered-glass doors when you don't have a fire going will help keep heat from escaping up the chimney.

TIP 21G - As cash-strapped school districts make bus service cutbacks, more students will find themselves walking, biking, or carpooling to class this year. Not every parent is comfortable allowing a kid to hoof it alone, so the line of cars idling in front of the elementary school could grow in response to bus cutbacks. If you find yourself waiting in a car, turn off the engine. According to the California Energy Commission, 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than turning off an engine and restarting it. The EPA is concerned about the emissions from the diesel engines of school buses, so they've started Clean School Bus USA, an idle-reduction campaign. If fuel savings and pollution reduction don't convince you to give that engine a rest, consider that idling actually causes more wear on internal engine parts than driving at normal speeds.

TIP 21F - More good new on our energy savings! Below is the Allegheny Electric usage per month from Jan. thru August. We have reduced our usage from an average of 4110 per month to an average of 3770 per month, or about 10%. This will help to offset the 26% increase that we are being given by Allegheny. The programmable thermostats are working. In fact we are dialing up the temperature during the week even more, and will look for more savings. Our electric budget is about $11,000 for the year, so we need to 1) program all we can, 2) dial down when no one is present, and 3) monitor the savings.

	2007	2008
Jan.	2560	2560
Feb.	2720	3120
Mar.	3280	2960
April	3440	2960
May	2720	3040
June	6240	5040
July	5920	4720
August	6000	5760
Avg./Month	4110	3770

TIP 21E - Let’s celebrate! We’ve reviewed the Washington Gas bills for two years to check the effectiveness of the programmable thermostats. From February on (after the installation of the new thermostats) there was an immediate reduction in our usage. The average usage from February thru July dropped from 689 to 329 therms or a 46% reduction..........from using programmable thermostats and turning down the heat during the week.

	2007	2008
Jan,.	851	1316
Feb.	1428	1057
Mar.	1349	597
April	866	221
May	476	98
June	12	0
July	0	0
Avg./Month	689	329

TIP 21D - Don't count the cafeteria out--ingredients for school lunches are usually bought in bulk (less packaging) and school chefs are notorious for recycling Monday's green beans into Tuesday's green been casserole (less food waste). In recent years, many K-12 and college cafeterias have improved their cuisine, offering more healthy, organic, and locally grown foods. But if dietary restrictions, food allergies, or personal tastes compel you to bring your own lunch, opt for reusable containers and minimal packaging. Chow down on smart foods like walnuts, berries, greens, and fish, which researchers claim are good for the brain.

TIP 21C -

· Junk mail in the U.S. accounts for over 100,000,000,000 pieces of mail each year—about 30% of all the mail delivered in the world.

· Every year American households receive a total of 104.7 billion pieces of junk mail or 848 pieces of junk mail per household, which requires 6.5 million tons of paper.

· Approximately 44% of junk mail goes to landfills unopened; the average American will spend 8 months of their lives dealing with junk mail.

· Entire households only average 1 personal correspondence each week, compared to almost 18 pieces of junk mail.

· In 2005 the United States Postal Service processed more junk mail than First Class Mail for the first time, and our postal service is increasingly oriented toward the delivery of unwanted junk mail.

Currently there is no national “Do Not Mail” list (like the “Do Not Call” list) so it’s not easy to reduce (forget about eliminating) such mailings. What can be done is to learn more about this issue and to consider helping with the establishment of a national “Do Not Mail List.” This can be done on line by going to: www.donotmail.org . They do provide an “op-out tool” which automatically fills out a form WHICH THEN NEEDS TO BE SIGNED AND MAILED TO NEARLY 20 COMPANIES (go to the web site, click on “The Campaign,” and then click on the “opt-out form”). It may be simpler to call the 800 number, listed on most junk-mail items, and ask to be removed from their list.

TIP 21B - The dog days of summer call for ice by the bucket. But relying on a refrigerator's automatic ice maker--which uses heaters and extra energy--can supersize the environmental impact of your drinks. Making ice in trays, on the other hand, requires only the energy already being used to drop the freezer's temperature. Of course, letting chilled air tumble out of the freezer when you open the door to grab cubes can also waste energy, but it uses less energy in the long run than auto ice makers, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. To minimize energy use and keep the convenience of ready-made ice, make several trays of ice before a party and keep the cubes in an ice bucket on the counter as you serve up drinks. Want to save more? Consider a top-mounted freezer: side-by-side fridge and freezer models use up to 30 percent more energy.

TIP 21A - Stay comfortable in hot weather with lightweight, loose-fitting fabrics like linen or hemp. Most of us manage this pretty well on weekends, but what about during the workweek? In extreme heat, the traditional suit and tie feels unfashionably warm. The United Nations' New York headquarters has ditched the business suit requirement, opting instead to save energy by raising the AC five degrees. Some companies are taking the idea even further and allowing employees to wear shorts to the office.

TIP 21 - We know there must be a few of you left who still have those old-fashioned answering machines -- you know, the ones with the tape? It turns out that if all answering machines were replaced with voice mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt-hours. There are a myriad of voice-mail choices online, even ones that will deliver your voice message to you in an email.

TIP 20 - Getting ready to light some birthday candles, or having a romantic candle-lit dinner for two? Instead of reaching for a lighter, think about using cardboard matches instead. Lighters tend to be made with plastic and butane fuel, both of which are derived from petroleum, but those cardboard matches are made from recycled paper!

TIP 19A - You don't have to be Popeye to enjoy a green meal. Whether you're sweltering in the nation's capital or keeping cool in the Windy City this summer, try recipes based on local, seasonal ingredients to keep the environmental impact of your grub to a minimum. This doesn't mean you have to give up on favorite dishes that call for ingredients from far away places. Rather, you can whip them up with a little creativity and substitutes from local harvests. Don't know where to begin? Start with foods available at a nearby farmers market or raid the produce aisle for basil, bell peppers, green beans, summer squash, and tomatoes--all in season during July and August.

TIP 19 - Short car trips are, naturally, the easiest to replace with a bike trip (or even walking). Mile for mile, they are also the most polluting. Engines running cold produce four times the carbon monoxide and twice the volatile organic compounds of engines running hot. And smog-forming (and carcinogenic) VOCs continue to evaporate from an engine until it cools off, whether the engine's been running for five minutes or five hours.
Quoted from the Sierra Club

TIP 18A - Ever wonder if other faith communities are as concerned about caring for the environment as we are here at ERUCC? The answer is YES—we are not alone! In fact there is a coalition of like-minded congregations that have formed a network to share ideas and to enable members, and individuals, to purchase energy-efficient items, at a reduced cost through bulk purchases. Go to: www.gwipl.org (Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light) to check it out. On the site you’ll find energy-saving ideas and an on-line store for those purchases. Items can be found in their on-line store that are difficult, if not impossible, to find in local stores (less common sized CFLs as an example).

TIP 18 - Three steps for LIVING GREEN: The first step is developing your own personal practices. The second step is asking the stores where you shop to start carrying products that support your practice. And the third step is sharing your practice with your friends. It all starts with you.

TIP 17A - Green Grilling can be a messy endeavor, so when you inevitably reach for a napkin, consider your options: Easy Green: If you can't pass up the convenience of disposable paper towels, go for the unbleached and recycled kind. Seventh Generation makes some from 100 percent recycled paper, with 80 percent coming from post-consumer waste. Don't worry about them falling down on the job: In Grist's paper towel test, they shared the top spot with Whole Foods 365.
Uber Green: Keep a basket full of cloth napkins in a few convenient spots around the grill and table so sticky and saucified guests can grab them as needed. Have an empty basket ready to collect the dirty ones. You can use these again (and again) at future gatherings, so a boatload of napkins is a worthy green investment (double points if they're made from organic fibers).
Even More Uber Green: Give each guest a cloth napkin to use and reuse throughout the day. (Think of the water, energy, and time you'll save on laundry!) If you're crafty, you can even make your own recycled cloth napkin. After washing the used napkins, hang them on the line to dry.

TIP 17 - Turn your computer off -- all the way off -- before leaving work. Authors Jeffrey Langholz and Kelly Turner write in their new book that shutting down not only saves energy, but can also help your hard-drive last longer. Not bad. Now, what if your friends in IT need all office machines to stay on for updates? No worries, mate: even the "sleep" or "hibernate" mode makes a big difference. If you set your monitor, computer, and printer to snooze after just 5 minutes of inactivity, you could save as much as $22 and prevent up to 435 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of a year. For a step-by-step guide to reducing your computer's energy use, visit Climate Savers Computing at: www.climatesaverscomputing.com . Our own Ray Locke, using a WATT HOUR meter, checked his own computer's usage with the following results: 165 watts using the computer, about 80watts of which comes from the CRT monitor. The upshot of this is that if you leave one computer on all day ( 24 hrs) you will burn about 4 kilowatts, costing you about .36/day or about $11 per month. The church owns the meter and it's available to anyone-just contact Ray.

TIP 16 - With recycling all the rage in the footwear industry, it's getting easier to walk the green talk: Simple has long gone the extra mile for sustainability; last year its parent company was named "Recycler of the Year" by the city of Santa Barbara. The kid's Toeday sneaker boasts organic-cotton uppers and recycled-rubber outsoles. Flat Tire Footwear will put a bounce in your step with its CrumbTech soles, made from scrap car tires. El Naturalista incorporates biodegradable rubber and natural dyes in its fashion-forward designs. The Iggdrasil women's clog, named after the Tree of Life in Nordic mythology, features an outsole inspired by the texture of bark. Nike has collected 20 million pairs of sneakers through its reuse-a-shoe program. Its distribution center in Europe runs on wind, and the sportswear giant aims to go carbon neutral by 2015. Patagonia puts recycled materials into the rubber outsole, cushioning midsole, cork foot bed, and sweat-wicking linings of its Finn hiking shoes, which are also made with nontoxic, water-based glues. --Dan Oko, Sierra magazine

TIP 15 - Quickie oil-change shops may urge us to change the oil in our vehicles every 3,000 miles. But most cars nowadays don't need changing that often. In fact, most manufacturers say you can go 7,000 miles without a problem. Ditto for that SUV-unless you really are starring in one of those TV ads and driving it hard and long over dusty roads.

What difference does it make? Consider this: each year California alone generates about 153 million gallons of used oil. Change less often and it really can save your engine and the planet.

TIP 14A - 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!

TIP 14 -Have you ever wondered during which months you use the most electricity? That information can be obtained by requesting it from your power company. Below you will see two graphs-the one on the left is the monthly kilowatt hour usage in the church's sanctuary, the one on the right is the usage at the Locke home. A quick glace at the two charts will show that both usage levels spike during the summer when the air conditioners are working (and pulling MAJOR amounts of electricity). To make matters worse, the charge per kilowatt hour increases as the usage level increases. Thus any reduction in the amount of electricity used has a double benefit by lowering both the usage level and the rate.

Is there anything that can be done to lower costs and the negative effect on the environment (short of sweltering by turning the AC off!)? Yes. Using fans for cooling (alone or with the AC) can radically reduce energy consumption. Also, raising the temperature of the room by just a few degrees can make a big difference.

It is our hope that the new programmable thermostats will also help us to realize more efficient usage of electric power.

What is important is to be AWARE of your monthly usage and to CONSERVE as much electricity as possible.

TIP 13A - With the soaring cost of gasoline we're all searching for ways to reduce the number of miles we drive. Have you considered carpooling for church activities? One way to achieve this is to find church members who live in your neighborhood and carpool to the church. Another way is to meet at the church and ride together for activities at other locations. It no longer makes sense for each of us to "drive there alone."

TIP 13 - Not-from-concentrate orange juice sold by the carton comes out slightly ahead of frozen OJ sold by the canister in terms of energy use. As a green consumer, your worst choice would be to buy juice that's been rehydrated by the supplier, then placed in cartons (such as Minute Maid Original). If you prefer juice from concentrate, whether for the lower price or more Tang-y taste, it's better to re-hydrate it yourself.

TIP 12 - Drive steadily--and a bit slower. Hard acceleration and abrupt braking will use more fuel than if you start and slow more moderately. Keeping down your overall speed matters, too, because aerodynamic drag increases dramatically as you drive faster. If you travel at 65 mph instead of 55, you are penalized by lowering your mileage 12.5 percent. If you get your vehicle up to 75 mph, you're losing 25 percent compared with mileage at 55 mph.

TIP 11A - The whole question of disposing of used batteries can be complicated. There does, however, seem to be agreement that RECHARGEABLE batteries should be used wherever possible and that they can, and should, be recycled. Many retail establishments such as Home Depot, Lowes, Office Depot, Radio Shack, Sam's Club, Sears, Best Buy, Staples, and Wal-Mart have collection boxes for rechargeable batteries. Most of these establishments also accept button batteries which, too, should be recycled. So make certain that you have a place for collecting your used, rechargeable and button batteries and then take them to a collection point.

Laws which govern the manufacture of regular household batteries have changed now making them safe to be placed in the regular trash (unless they are old in which case they should be taken to a hazardous waste disposal site).

Finally car batteries should always be recycled. Virtually all establishments that sell and install car batteries have proper means for their disposal.

TIP 11 - Let the dishwasher do the work. Don't bother pre-rinsing dishes with the idea that your dishwasher will work less hard. Consumer Reports has found that this added step can waste 20 gallons of heated water a day. All you need to do is scrape off leftover food. Enzyme-based detergents will help make sure the dishes emerge spotless.

TIP 10 - If each U.S. household installed one low-flow sink faucet or aerator, it would save more than 60 billion gallons of water annually.

TIP 9 - Are you a sports enthusiast and an environmentalist? RecycledRunners.com helps runners around the world find an alternative solution to tossing your old running shoes.

If your running shoes are "gently" used, RecycledRunners helps you find locations throughout the country where you can donate them to people in need. If you just finished the marathon and your shoes have seen better days, they can still be recycled and turned into new sports surfaces at playgrounds and basketball courts.

Check 'em out here: http://recycledrunners.com/

TIP 8B - Free and green. Those are the goals of a pilot program launched March 17, 2008, by the U.S. Postal Service that allows customers to recycle small electronics and inkjet cartridges by mailing them free of charge. The "Mail Back" program helps consumers make more environmentally friendly choices, making it easier for customers to discard used or obsolete small electronics in an environmentally responsible way. Customers use free envelopes found in 1,500 Post Offices to mail back inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players - without having to pay for postage. Postage is paid for by Clover Technologies Group, a nationally recognized company that recycles, remanufactures and remarkets inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and small electronics. If the electronic item or cartridges cannot be refurbished and resold, its component parts are reused to refurbish other items, or the parts are broken down further and the materials are recycled. Clover Technologies Group has a "zero waste to landfill" policy: it does everything it can to avoid contributing any materials to the nation's landfills.

TIP 8A - Gardening seems as close to nature as you can get, but the 300 million pounds of plastic pots and trays used each year often clutter landfills.

Not in St. Louis, though, where volunteers with the Missouri Botanical Garden's decade-old recycling program have collected more than 300 tons of plastic from nurseries, landscapers, and growers for reprocessing into faux timbers. The garden plans to open new collection centers and year-round drop-off boxes and help set up similar programs around the country. For details, visit mobot.org/hort/activ/plasticpots.shtml

TIP 8 - Livestock create a beefy portion of all greenhouse-gas emissions: 18 percent, according to the United Nations. Could the answer be as simple as two slices of bread and a slathering of peanut butter and jelly? Perhaps. Compared with a burger, this classic sandwich saves as much as 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide, 280 gallons of water, and 50 square feet of land--even more if you wash it down with a glass of soy milk. "You don't have to change your whole diet to change the world," says the PB&J Campaign. "Just start with lunch."
-- Quoted from the Sierra Club

TIP 7 - We all turn to Consumer Reports when we are thinking about purchasing a new car or vacuum cleaner, but did you know that they have published a "Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs"? Consumer Reports has made an excerpt from the report available on their site, called 20 Free Ways to Save Energy, which include using a crockpot, getting rid of that roof rack, and more! To find the article go to ConsumersReports.org, click on "appliances," and type "20 Free Ways to Save Energy" in the search box.
--Quoted from the Sierra Club

TIP 6 - Do you bring a 6 ounce container of yogurt to work in the mornings for breakfast? To reduce your impact, instead try buying the larger 32 ounce yogurt containers and scooping your daily portion of yogurt into a reusable container. That reusable container could even be the old 6 ounce yogurt containers that you used to buy. You'll be reminded everyday of the waste you are preventing.
--Quoted from the Sierra Club

TIP 5 - We're all in a hurry. But a little patience when ordering items online could cut your shipping carbon footprint by half, or more. Rather than have each item shipped separately as soon as it becomes available, ask that your order be grouped into as few shipments as possible. It might take a few days longer, but why have two or three big brown trucks stop at your curb when a single one can do the job?

TIP 4 - New Thermostats! In order to be more efficient in our use of energy, all of the thermostats in Kemp Hall, Trinity Chapel and the Main Sanctuary Building have been replaced with new, programmable ones. With the rising cost of energy the time to recoup our initial investment will be short indeed. Plus we will all sleep better knowing that we're doing our best to be good stewards of God's creation.

TIP 3 - Did you ever measure the quantity of plastic bags that you get from the store, and the newspaper delivery?

They take a long time to dissolve in the landfill….about 1000 years.

Gather all the bags in one spot in your house for a week. And then imagine a year's pile.

Solution: Carry your own cloth bags to the store, or don't take bags for one or two items.

Change your habit for the sake of the world.

TIP 2A - Ever wonder how to get rid of that old computer system without adding to the landfill (or sharing data with the rest of the world that might still be on the hard drive)? There is a company right here in Frederick whose business is recycling old electronic equipment. They re-use salvageable parts and responsibly dispose of the rest. There is a modest charge for some items (monitors, printers, scanners), and for cleaning the hard drive, but most items are handled free of charge. The company is called E-ENDUSA, they are located at 510 Highland Street (just behind the fairgrounds), their phone number is 240-529-1010, and their web site is www.eendusa.com. They even help you carry in the equipment when you stop by to drop items off!

TIP 2 - Electricity costs went up in 2008 by 5.7% to about $.092 per kilowatt hour, including a substantial amount of poisonous gas per kilowatt hour emitted to our world. If you change to a CFL, it will last about 10 times as long which means that you will hardly ever have to climb a ladder to change a bulb.
A 60 watt CFL will cost about $4.00 but, during the life of the bulb, you will save about $45 in energy costs and over 600 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere (based on a carbon dioxide conversion factor of 1.43 lbs CO2/kWh).

When you dispose of the CFLs, treat them just like any fluorescent bulb. Frederick County Landfill at this time will accept burned out bulbs twice a year, the next time on May 31st. CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury, that would cover the tip of a pen. Manufacturers are making efforts to reduce this in 2008. Frederick, in ten years when the bulbs you install today burn out, will probably have a better option for recycling.

Don't buy CFLs yet. Just take a survey of your needs. ERUCC is working on a cost-saving package deal that will beat anything you can find in the stores.

TIP 1 - According to the Sierra Club's Mr. Green, fueling your fire with sustainable harvested or dead trees may be the most ecofriendly way to feed a fireplace, but be sure to ignite them in an EPA-approved fireplace insert or wood stove to slash those nasty particulate emissions. And sometimes, it's better to let dead trees rot; forests may need nutrition from these arboreal corpses. If you're still using a dirty old traditional fireplace, opt for artificial logs made of materials that might otherwise have been wasted, such as sawdust and wood chips. Because these elements are squeezed together under pressure, the logs are denser and drier than wood, so they burn cleaner and hotter while producing less soot. Look for manufactured logs made of wood only, and avoid those that contain paraffin, a petroleum-based byproduct with dubious emissions quality. One of the biggest brands, Duraflame, has made its logs greener by phasing out all petroleum-based waxes. Some other options include recycled-paper briquettes ( simplefire.com) and logs made of recycled boxes (cleanflamelog.com) and used coffee grounds ( java-log.com). If only they smelled like a fresh-brewed espresso.