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Go Green

In case you haven't heard the hype (especially in the last couple years), when it comes to keeping the earth healthy, green is good.

So do we all need to go out and purchase solar panels for the roof or wind turbines for our back yard? Absolutely not! Going green doesn't have to cost you a lot of green.

According to the MPCA, 'Living Green' means making choices in day-to-day life that enhance our impact on the environment and moves us in the direction of a more sustainable lifestyle.

The goal is low-impact living - a lifestyle that has a low impact on the natural environment.

Going Green Tip #1: Fluorescent Lights
Replace traditional, incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. CFLs are ten times more efficient than a standard incandescent bulb. They use less energy and last longer.

And while the CFL bulb costs a little more, replacing five incandescent bulbs with CFLs can save about $65 a year in energy costs.

And by the way, if you replace one bulb with a CFL, you can potentially eliminate 450 pounds of air pollution created by coal-burning power plants.

Also, be sure to dispose of CFL bulbs properly due to their mercury content. CLICK HERE to learn more about the correct disposal procedure.

Going Green Tip #2: Reduce Plastic Bag Use
Americans toss out 100 billion plastic bags a year. Since they don't break down quickly, those bags are preserved in the nation's landfills. Reduce your pile of plastic bags by bringing your own bag to the store. And the plastic bags you keep? Use them again.

Use them again for small trash bags in the house. Use them to carry things back and forth with, carry lunch to school or to work in.

Going Green Tip #3: Stop Junk Mail
From plastic to wasted paper, the average adult gets 41 pounds of junk mail yearly.

It's easy to get off mailing lists. Call the company and uncheck those pre-checked boxes when you order on-line. It may take a little time but it's worth it if you look at the big picture.

Going Green Tip #4: Use the Dishwasher
Also easy to do is using the dishwasher. Contrary to popular belief, running the dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes actually conserves water if you run a full load. The average dishwasher uses eight gallons of water in a cycle.

Run the sink for just ten minutes and watch 20 gallons of water go down the drain.

Going Green Tip #5: Fix Leaks
A leaky faucet can waste 300 gallons of water a month. A leaky toilet can use an extra 200 gallons a day. Fix the leak to save water and money on your water bill.

And don't forget to turn off the tap when you brush your teeth or shave.

Going Green Tip #6: Wash Full Loads
Water conservation also applies to the laundry room. Wash full loads and save 3,400 gallons of water a year. Use cold water to save more than $300 in annual energy costs and eliminate 3,000 pounds of air pollution.

Going Green Tip #7: Use the Dryer
Make sure that you're drying full loads, and clean your lint tray so that the dryer is more efficient.

Simply cleaning the lint tray can save $35 a year on your energy bill. Things are very simple, but they add up..

Going Green Tip #8: Programmable Heat
These are about 30 dollars and up at your local hardware and home improvement stores. Consider turning the temperature down to 63 or 64 in the winter and keeping it at 75 to 78 in the summer when you are away from home to save the most energy.

It's an investment that can save energy and about $150 a year on your utility bill.

Going Green Tip #9: Turn off, Unplug Electronics
It can cost a hundred bucks a year to keep your computer on all the time. The more power used means more carbon emissions and a higher energy bill.

It's one of those things where we want to reduce our use. So turn it off when possible.

And when it comes to Going Green, if all else fails, you can start even smaller.

Turn off a light. Plant a tree. Recycle more. Find an area within green that's comfortable for you. Living green can start right at home and you can start today.

Below are additional simple tips from other experts and useful Websites:

PLANTING & GARDENING

Pesticides & Fertilizers

  • Avoid using them in your garden and yard.
  • Build up healthy soil instead to help prevent disease.
  • Use barriers such as netting or cutworm collars.
  • Wash aphids away with spray from the hose.
  • Encourage beneficial insects that eat harmful ones.
  • And learn to tolerate a few weeds, spots or insects if it's only an aesthetic problem.
  • Don't over-fertilize. Plants only can absorb so much; the rest washes away to pollute waterways.
  • Use less. Look for organic fertilizers.

Native Plants

  • Use them in your garden. They know how to fend for themselves; they're adapted to the local climate, soils and pests. That means less watering and fewer chemicals.

Watering the Garden

  • Don't sprinkle more than necessary or in the heat of the day when much of the water will evaporate.
  • Put drip irrigation and soaker hoses on timers to water at night or in the early morning.
  • Save the rain. Put a rain barrel under a downspout to collect free water for the garden.
  • Make yourself a rain garden by making a bed designed to collect rainwater so it can be absorbed by deep-rooted natives and perennials.

Compost

  • Start a compost heap. You can use your compost for a nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Trees

  • They are natural air filters. Plant them. One mature tree takes care of the pollution caused by 13 cars.

KITCHEN & BATHROOM

Garbage Disposal

  • It's more green to feed the disposal than it is to put food waste in a plastic garbage bag and send it to the landfill.

Hand Soap

  • Use bar soap and eliminate the plastic bottle waste that comes with liquid soaps.

Microwave

  • Using the microwave instead of the oven or stove to reheat food or cook small portions can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent.

Cleaning Tiles

  • Keep shower tiles clean without using chemicals. After a shower, use a microfiber cloth or chamois to wipe down tiles and fixtures or for glass use a squeegee.

OTHER IDEAS

  • Recycle more - from recycling the morning paper to the plastic bottle from lunch. One ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water. Recycling just one aluminum can save enough energy to power a television for three hours.
  • Recycle your printer cartridges. Office Depot, OfficeMax and Staples take back ink and toner cartridges. Some stores will refill your cartridges. EMAIL US - WE RECYCLE INK CARTRIDGES AND DONATE TO THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK FOR EACH ONE! We raised $1000 last year with this project.
  • Don't over-dry laundry. An electric dryer operating an extra 15 minutes a load can cost you up to $34 a year in wasted energy; a gas dryer, $21 a year.
  • It takes more energy to run a moving screen saver or even a static image than it does to have your computer and monitor go into a low-power mode. Getting rid of them could save $50 to $100 a year on your electric bill over a year's time.
  • Consider alternative kitty litter. There are more earthy-friendly, organic options than the standard clay litters, which pile up in landfills.
  • Pick up after your pooch, so pet waste doesn't drain into the sewers.
  • Use non-toxic cleaning products.
  • Purchase energy efficient lighting, appliances and vehicles.
  • Use water-based, low-solvent paints.
  • Buy in bulk to reduce excess packaging.
  • Before finding itself on your plate, the average meal travels more than 1,200 miles, using up energy and creating CO2. Purchase locally-grown food and other locally-manufactured products to reduce energy consumed by transportation.
  • Drink tap water. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste each year, which takes about 47 million gallons of oil to produce. Most plastic bottles end up in landfills.
  • Keep your tire pressure up to manufacturer standards and improve gas mileage.
  • Always use re-usable mugs, lunch containers, batteries, pens, razors, etc.
  • Drive less. Combine trips. Walk or bike to work or to run errands.
  • Look for Energy Star-rated appliances that are more energy efficient when you're in the market for new ones.

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