Going Green
One of the simplest ways you can have a direct impact on global warming and the environment is by powering your home with green energy.
Green power is generated from renewable energy sources like wind, sun, hydro, geothermal and some forms of biomass.
Here are 4 straightforward reasons to make the switch:
The Environmental Benefits include minimal, if any, byproducts of CO2 and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead in comparison to those produced in the creation of energy through fossil fuels.
Stimulating Our Suffering Economy. In 1997, importing fossil fuels sent $65 billion dollars outside of our country. Renewable energy resources are developed at home. Furthering their development will keep billions of dollars here, creating more jobs for Americans.
Our Children's Future depends on the technological advancements of these energy sources. Two things we know for certain are that oil won't last forever and the sun will.
Our National Security is strengthened as our dependency for foreign oil is decreased. By moving toward renewable energies, we naturally shift toward freedom from unstable ground.
With every month that passes, we're given increasing information to motivate us, as a nation, to embrace renewable energy. Here are three of those compelling reasons:
- Americans use 30% of the world's oil supply yet only 2% of that comes from our own soil. By embracing renewable energy, we can significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil.
- Renewable energy and conservation projects create 300% more jobs than the construction and operation of new traditional power plants of equal costs.
- With every mile that we drive our gasoline powered cars, we send 1 pound of CO2 into the atmosphere.
We have such a thirst for oil yet we cannot hope to produce enough on our own soil to drill our way to oil independence. It simply isn't there. The only way out of this situation is to conserve right now and to support the renewable power sources of solar, hydro and wind energy. These advanced technologies are popping up all over the globe to provide more environmentally and socially sustainable sources of energy for the World's people. By promoting these sources of energy for the future, and reducing our consumption of fossil fuels right now, we will be helping to curb global warming and secure a future for human life on this planet for centuries to come.
Lessen Your Level of Consumption! Take a look at how much you consume. Most all of us have slipped into some habits of consumption that don't really make sense (if we're really being honest!). What about that daily coffee you buy on the way to work? Do you bring your own travel mug or do you use a disposable paper cup once a day? How about bringing your own canvas bags to the grocery store? Try reducing those trips to McDonalds. If we all chose one thing to really work on regarding our consumption, the difference we would make would be huge.
Whip That House Into Shape! Does your home have leaky doors & windows? These add up to wasted energy (and unnecessarily high heating bills). Many local governments support energy efficiency organizations that will come out to your home and perform an efficiency evaluation to help you pinpoint the most important upgrades. Give your energy provider a call and ask them if they can recommend anyone to you. You'll notice a welcomed dip in your monthly bills
10 Ways to Live Greener Today
1. Get a High-Efficiency Showerhead
A high-efficiency showerhead saves up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year. You'll also save $50 of energy costs and 1,000 .lbs of carbon dioxide per person per year. Today's latest and greatest are specially designed to conserve resources while still feeling like a decadent showerhead. Sink aerator attachments also save major water and go for as little as $2 per sink.
2. Recycle Water in Your Bathroom
Use devices such as the Sink Positive system, which allows you to reuse sink water for flushing your toilet. Or keep a bucket by the shower or tub and fill it with the cold water that comes out before the hot water kicks in. Then you can take the bucket outside and use it to water your plants.
3. Compost
Use a composter to turn your food and lawn wastes into rich mulch. It's a great way to reduce your trash production, and the combination of food waste and all of those falling leaves is the perfect mix for composting. Next spring you'll have rich compost ready to go for spring planting.
4. Purchase Green Power from Your Utility
Most charge less than $5 per month extra. Not only will your power come from a renewable source, but you'll use the power of your spending to show utility executives and government officials that we need more investment in renewable energy projects.
5. Improve the Efficiency of Your Existing Hot Water Heater
Tankless and solar hot water heaters are great, but simple changes to your existing setup can cut your energy bills and carbon emissions by 25 percent or more. Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees, wrap it in a water heater insulating blanket and insulate the first 3 to 6 feet of hot and cold water pipes. These changes should take you less than an hour and cost less than $50 to complete.
6. Use High-Efficiency Outdoor Lighting
A typical 100-watt floodlight, if used for six hours per day, can consume up to $40 of electricity over the course of a year and produce upwards of 400 pounds of CO2 depending on where you live. For starters, replace those floodlights with compact-fluorescent versions — they're just as bright and use 1/4 the energy. Next, replace low-wattage halogen landscape bulbs with LED versions. They cut energy use by over 80 percent and can last for 10 years or more. Finally, install motion sensors on any nonessential lights. New versions just screw right into your existing light socket.
7. Replace High-Use Indoor Lights with Compact Fluorescents or LEDs
Today's compact fluorescent bulbs are better than ever. No long waits to get up to full power, high-quality light, sizes for almost any fixture and even versions that are dimmable for all of those recessed lights. They're more expensive to begin with, but between energy savings and much longer lifespan they pay for themselves in less than two years. Also, consider LED bulbs for those non-dimmable circuits (especially for holiday lighting). They are true energy misers, and will last for as long as you live in your house.
8. Load Up the Washing Machines
Make sure you run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they're full. Clothes washers are huge energy and water users, so make sure you're doing full loads (or adjusting the water setting) whenever possible. And most of us use far more water (and soap) then we need to when hand-washing, especially when compared to todays' high-efficiency Energy Star dishwashers. So save your time, water and power by putting those dishes directly in the dishwasher after a meal.
9. Drive Smarter
Hybrids, biodiesels, electric - today we have more choices than ever when it comes to efficient transportation. But, some simple changes in our existing driving habits can improve fuel efficiency by up to 25%. Tips include driving at (or near!) the speed limit, keeping your tires inflated, making sure oil and air filters are clean, and stepping on the gas / brakes carefully. Driving like a drag racer may be fun, but it has a substantial environmental cost!
10. Avoid the Daily Waste of Fast Food and Shopping
Next week, keep track of how much trash you generate by eating out and making trips to the store, I guarantee you'll be amazed! All of those bags, cups, and containers really add up and are stuffing our landfills to capacity. Bring your own plastic/metal boxes to your favorite take-out joint. You'll save resources and save them money. Use reusable shopping bags whenever you go to the store. Say "No Thanks" when the pharmacist or fast food clerk tries to put your one or two items in a bag. Use reusable cups for coffee and other beverages including for soda and fountain drinks. And, reuse some of the extras at home - keep extra napkins and reuse plastic cups and cutlery.
Green Shopping
There are many simple things that consumers can do to help protect the environment—one is connected directly to your wallet. Green Purchasing or shopping is a major part of completing the recycling loop.
Though grocery and household items make up the bulk of our spending habits, they aren’t the only areas to focus on. Professional wetcleaning, products made from recycled goods and making sure our big purchases (washer, dryer, etc.) are energy-efficient are just a few of the many ways our dollars can make environmental impacts.
Knowledge about green shopping is a must have in the game of product stewardship. The many tips are easy and quick to remember. Here’s a few to get the ball rolling:
Use a real camera instead of disposable one
- Use washable plates, cups and silverware for parties and picnics instead of paper and plastic products
- Avoid the small boxes of raisins and buy the same amount in the 24 ounce box
- Buy cereal in a large box instead of in individual serving sizes
- When available, buy products in bulk and store them in reusable containers
Recycling
Recycling is the third R of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product.
This section provides information about how to recycle, why to recycle and what you can recycle. The Earth 911 green recycling locator box can also help you find where you can recycle by entering a product and your location.
Curbside recycling now serves half of the U.S. population, providing the most convenient means for households to recycle a variety of materials.
While all curbside programs differ, the most commonly included materials are The Big Five: aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, plastic and steel/tin cans.
Technology has revolutionized our lifestyle through telephones, radios, TVs, computers and cell phones. However, the brisk pace of technology means these devices become obsolete quickly.
A more recent issue is how our old electronics should be disposed of, because they often contain dangerous elements such as lead and mercury that can contaminate our soil and water supply.
Managing organic material at your home can not only decrease the amount of material you send to the landfill; it can also help turn your organic waste into a landscape asset.
Composting will reduce the amount of food waste in your garbage can, while creating nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden.
Eco-Driving: Ten Easy Tips for Saving Fuel
As fuel costs rise and concerns about the environment increase, many vehicle owners are wondering what they can do to conserve fuel. To help vehicle owners address these concerns, we've assembled a list of the Top 10 Eco-Driving Tips. We call it Eco-Driving because these habits have both ECOnomical and ECOlogical benefits.
Eco-Driving Tips
Follow these tips to develop Eco-Driving habits:
- Drive at posted speed limits. This is a tip that may save a life as well as fuel. EPA estimates a 10 to 15 percent improvement in fuel economy by driving 55 instead of 65 mph. On the highway, use cruise control whenever possible
- Accelerate smoothly and brake gradually. Jackrabbit starts waste fuel
- Don't be an aggressive driver. Time studies show that fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and accelerating to and from a stop sign or traffic light don't save much time but do waste fuel and wear out car components such as brakes and tires faster
- Check your tires. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure. Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressure-this alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3 to 4 percent
- Don't idle for more than 30 seconds. Today's engines don't need to be warmed up. Prolonged idling creates excess emissions and wastes fuel. Start the car and immediately drive away
- Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. This reduces aerodynamics and can reduce fuel economy by up to 5 percent
- Don't drive at higher speeds with windows wide open. It decreases vehicle aerodynamics on highways and lowers fuel economy
- Maintain your vehicle. A properly tuned-up engine will run more efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel
- Replace air filters as needed. Consult the owner's guide for the recommended schedule
- Use good-quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the owner guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils "Certified for Gasoline Engines" by the American Petroleum Institute (API) with the starburst symbol should be used
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