100 Tips to Go Green at Home and at Work

I’m doing my year-end blog early. Not that I won’t be writing again. Just that I wanted to get a head start on the new year. Now, don’t be put off by this rather long list — it’s all about doing what you can. Even if everyone made a few small changes, it all adds up. I’ve included both the small and big projects that you can do to go green. They are in no particular order but I did try to group them by category. And most apply both at home or at work. Here goes:

1. Seal leaky heating and cooling ductwork. Use mastic rather that duct tape, which doesn’t offer enough sealing.
2. Install a programmable thermostat to save up to $100 in energy costs per year.
3. Heat your home to 68 degrees F, cool to 72 degrees F. Reduce both at night. For each two degrees, save 6%.
4. Upgrade appliances and electronics with EnergyStar certified equipment. Both at home and at work, including copiers, printers, computers and accessories.
5. Use smart plugs to shut off power to appliances and unplug chargers and other stand-alone appliances. The U.S. spends about $4 billion annually on stand-by energy alone.
6. Use timers for indoor and outdoor lights.
7. Use power-saving settings on your computer. Set them to power down after 2-3 minutes of inactivity.
8. Flat-screen monitors or laptops are far more energy-efficient than CRTs.
9. Seal cracks using expanding foam and caulk. Look anywhere that pipes or wires come into the house, doors, windows. Experts estimate that if you added up all the cracks in the average home, you would have a 2-foot square hole.
10. Weatherstrip doors and windows.
11. Wrap your water heater with an insulation blanket. About $20 at Lowe’s.
12. Upgrade your water heater. A solar system can meet 2/3 of a household needs. Or go with a tankless model. If neither works for you, go for an EnergyStar version.
13. Wrap your hot water pipes with pre-formed, pre-fit insulating tubes.
14. Vacuum your refrigerator coils, which helps it operate more efficiently.
15. Keep your freezer full for optimal power use.
16. Use the microwave whenever practical. It is far more efficient than the stove or oven.
17. Take 5-minutes showers and skip the bath. Any longer than 5-minutes and you’re wasting water.
18. Turn off the tap. While brushing, while shaving, while washing dishes.
19. Run a full dishwasher rather than cleaning dishes by hand. Yes, it actually uses less water.
20. And set your dishwasher to the energy saving mode and no dry heat modes to save even more.
21. Install aerators on your faucets to use less water.
22. Fix leaky faucets and toilets.
23. Replace older toilets with newer, low-flow models.
24. In public bathrooms, install motion sensor faucets and hand towel dispensers.
25. Filter your shower water. You can purchase a filter that attaches to the head for about $50.
26. Use cold water for your laundry. Today’s soaps are designed for cold water washing.
27. Use front-loading washers and dryers. Look to replace your old set with these newer models when it’s time.
28. Insulate your attic and basement to save as much as 20% on your heating and cooling costs.
29. Install a solar-powered attic fan to draw out hot air in the winter.
30. Use ceiling fans to cool down rooms in summer and push down hot air in winter.
31. Plant trees to buffer homes from wind and to help shade air conditioning units and windows that get a lot of sun.
32. Keep insulating shades and curtains on southern facing windows drawn in summer and open in winter.
33. Upgrade your heating and cooling equipment. This along with hot water, accounts for 30% of homeowner energy use.
34. Change the air filters on your heating and cooling system regularly.
35. In the office and at home, regularly maintain HVAC systems.
36. Replace at least 5 of your most-used bulbs with compact florescent.
37. Shut all lights when leaving a room, saving about 5% on energy bills annually.
38. Shut down your computers and monitors every night.
39. Use motion sensor lights in offices and other areas if infrequent occupancy, like office restrooms.
40. Offices are often over-lit. Reduce overhead lighting by removing overhead bulbs. Replace with task lighting.
41. Replace traditional exit signs with LED signs.
42. Check with your local electric utility about purchasing green power. Many consumers have this option now.
43. If green power is not available in your area, purchase green tags or RECs to offset.
44. Check with your utility about any energy saving incentives it may offer.
45. Your state may subsidize energy savings and alternative power.
46. Get an energy audit for your home or a green office audit for your work.
47. Use an environmentally responsible bank. Many banks are working to address global warming.
48. Invest in green. There are many good mutual funds and stocks available.
49. Don’t choose between paper and plastic — shop with reusable bags. Costco sells a sturdy set for $3.
50. Recycle your electronics and computer equipment.
51. Safely dispose of hazardous materials, like batteries, CFLs, and chemicals. Check locally or online for resources.
52. Opt-out of junk mail.
53. Pick a green dry cleaner that doesn’t use perchloroethylene, a known carcinogen. Or better yet, don’t buy clothes that need to be dry cleaned.
54. Recycle everything possible. Glass, metal, plastic, paper, cardboard (don’t forget junk mail!) and more. And participate in special item recycling days, such as for paints or electronics.
55. Donate used items rather than trashing them. Most places will even take worn clothes for rags. Or Freecycle them.
56. When on the go, use a reusable water bottle. Metal, #2HDPE, #4LDPE, or #5PP are safest. Avoid those with phthalates or BPA.
57. Don’t use anti-bacterial soaps or other cleaners. They work no better than regular soap and water and may cause health problems.
58. Green your cosmetics.
59. Use green cleaning methods. Vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, Borax, and regular dish soap are all you really need for the majority of your household cleaning. Don’t want to mix it yourself? There are plenty of green alternatives.
60. Use Integrated Pest Management for bugs or vermin. There are companies that specialize in this.
61. Reduce your grass exposure. Plant shrubberies and other groundcover to replace this high-demand monoculture.
62. Use natural lawn care. And when using any chemicals or fertilizers, carefully follow recommended application rates.
63. Plant native plant species, which are better suited to your climate and will require fewer chemicals and water.
64. Create a compost heap and enrich your garden. You can compost most food waste and yard waste.
65. Water your lawn less frequently and more deeply and at night in most areas, to avoid evaporation.
66. Filter your water rather than using bottled. Not only is it cheaper, but you reduce the bottles in circulation.
67. Eat less meat, which causes the most environmental harm than any other type of food production.
68. Choose your fish carefully.
69. Eat lower on the food chain. The higher up you go, the greater the environmental impact. That means more grains and produce. Besides, it’s better for you anyway.
70. Buy certified organic food or locally grown. Less chemicals, less impact from transportation and delivery, respectively.
71. Whenever practical, walk or ride your bike. For trips less than 2 miles, it actually takes less time to bike it.
72. Combine car trips. Instead of several smaller trips, make one larger trips and run all your errands at once. Or join forces with a neighbor or two!
73. Use public transportation whenever possible. Or just try to commit to one day per week in your commute.
74. Work from home! See if your employer might be willing to allow work at home days for employees.
75. Or try car-pooling to work one day a week. If it works for you, add more.
76. Never let your car idle. If you’re not driving or stopped at a light, shut the engine.
77. For business travel, try to combine trips and take direct flights to reduce your impact.
78. Try using a web conference to replace in-person meetings that require air travel whenever possible.
79. Use post-consumer, recycled content products, such as paper, napkins, toilet paper, tissues, and more.
80. Use reusable plates, cups and utensils. And no styrofoam. Encourage others to do the same.
81. Get your coffee cup refilled rather than getting a disposable cup each time.
82. Print double-sided both at home and at work.
83. Making smart paper choices has become easier. Use certified or unbleached paper, or both.
84. Recycle those printer cartridges.
85. Use rechargeable and reusable office products, like batteries, pens, storage devices.
86. Don’t flush your medications down the drain. Follow safe disposal practices.
87. Same goes for other personal care products. Safe use and disposal will help keep them out of our water.
88. Use safer alternatives whenever possible. Read labels and learn more about what your using. Just because they’re selling it doesn’t guarantee that it’s safe.
89. Don’t use artificial air cleaners or plug-ins. They’ve recently been found to emit harmful chemicals.
90. House plants can help clear the air. Peace plants and philodendron are particularly well suited to eliminating many common air pollutants.
91. When available purchase organic cotton products. Cotton is one of the most pollution-producing crops in the U.S.
92. Buy certified carpeting, furniture, and other household goods. FSC, SFI, GreenGuard, GreenSeal and more, all certify products produced with less harmful chemicals and sustainable manufacturing processes.
93. When purchasing a new car, look for the most energy efficient model you can. Hybrids are great, but may not work for everyone.
94. Regular maintenance on your current vehicle can save on gas. Replacing filters and keeping tires properly inflated are particularly important.
95. Select low VOC paint for your next remodeling job. And look for low-emissions products for any sealing work.
96. Use doormats at all doors to keep particulates, dirt, and pollutants out of your home.
97. Reduce consumption. Do you really need that new shirt? Clothing is the top contributor to environmental impacts of consumer product purchases.
98. Patronize companies that are making efforts to become more environmentally sustainable. From consumer products to services, your dollar can make a difference.
99. Buy consumer goods that are produced in a more environmentally sustainable manner and with less packaging.
100. Don’t forget to pass it on. Share these tips and your own tips with others. That’s part of the responsibility that comes with going green. And remember, a little bit can make a big difference.

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…

Go Green By Getting Married

Just a short note: Did anyone see the article in the Washington Post about the link between divorce and the environment? The research on which the article was based was apparently legit; the National Academy of Sciences published it. According to the authors, “researchers calculated that in 2005, divorced American households used between 42 and 61 percent more resources per person than before they separated, spending 46 percent more per person on electricity and 56 percent more on water.”

I suppose that now, those of us who are trying to live a more sustainable existence might want to add “get married” to our green to-do lists. Of course, reviewers warn that “the findings serve as an argument for marriage and cohabitation, rather than as reason not to divorce.”

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…

Warning: This Blog Is Not About Going Green

Beth Ziesenis from Life on Avenue Z has tagged or “memed” me (I admit, I had to look it up too). Which means you, dear reader, have to suffer through another completely un-serious blog today. (And, unfortunately, this one isn’t even about going green.) It also means that I have to write seven things about myself and “tag” seven others, based on the rules below.

And even though I have vigilantly deleted every single chain email I have ever received, I’m going to do this. I am rationalizing to myself that doing this will help increase traffic to my blog and website; thus, I am actually marketing! But you know what, sometimes you just have to break it down. It is my blog after all. And besides, it’s Friday.

Here are rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know they have been tagged and comment on their blog.

Here are my 7 facts:

1) Everyone I know believes that I am so incredibly organized. But my dark secret is that I practically “rent” my library books. Even with online renewal and reminder notices, I seem to always have to pay fines. And at 25 cents per book, per day, that can really add up. I’ve been this way since I was in grade school.

2) I like having curly hair, but I never tell people that. Whenever someone compliments me about my hair, they always follow it with, “But I bet you hate it.” And some compulsion inside me makes me nod in agreement, or at least find something to complain about. Oddly enough, I usually pride myself in honesty. Which brings me to….

3) I am an absolutely terrible liar. I have no idea why, but people always seem to know when I am not being completely truthful, which means I seldom go this route. Except in the case of no. 2 above (or maybe I ring false even then). I was once in a job interview where the interviewer actually said to me, “You’re not interested in this job.” And I wasn’t, but didn’t think she knew that!

4) I don’t drive a green car and feel guilty about it. It’s just not in the cards right now to buy anything new, what with me starting my own business and all. I’m still driving my ‘99 Honda CRV, which gets terrible mileage for a 4-cylinder. But, I try to make it better by taking public transportation as much as I can. And in my most recent job, I worked from home two days a week for the last 8 years.

5) I started dating my husband when we were both in high school – I was 17 and he was 15. And I was too embarrassed at the time to tell more than just my closest friends that I was “robbing the cradle.” But we’re still together, so I guess he wasn’t too offended (although he does still bring it up now and then).

6) Sometimes I can be incredibly naive, to the point that I shock myself! Yet most of the time I consider myself someone with an plenty of common sense, an assertion with which those who know me best would likely agree. ‘Nuff said there.

7) Some days I feel like I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Like maybe I just want to run away to the foothills of Virginia and become an organic farmer. Or write a novel. Or paint pictures. Or live in Africa. Although I am thoroughly committed to what I am doing, of course.

Here are my links so far (more to come):
More Than We Know
Green Girl Guide
Work It, Mom!
Life:Version 2.0

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…

Not a White Christmas, but a Green One

We were all just waiting for it to happen, the ubiquitous articles on greening your Christmas. Well the Washington Post was right out there in front of the pack with a full spread on how to have a green Christmas. From presents, to trees, to wrapping paper, to lights. The Post article goes on to discuss which is greener, a fake tree, a real tree that is recycled into mulch, or a burlap-root tree. In the end, they couldn’t decide. I do, however, have an alternate suggestion. It’s environmental because no trees were cut down, and apparently 100% recyclable: a Festivus Pole! And, as a bonus, if you want to leave it up all year long, it converts into a basketball net. What could be better?

Perhaps this post is a bit less serious than my usual, but I simply could not resist.

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…

Triclosan In the News

I must have good timing. Today’s top story in the Health section of the Washington Post was all about anti-bacterial handwashes and other products containing triclosan. This article provides a more detailed look at triclosan and how using these products could be contributing to the growth of super bugs, those antibiotic resistant microbes.

I did want to also point out that in my blog, I made no distinction between hand-sanitizers with and without triclosan. Many of those hand gel cleaners are alcohol-based and do not contain triclosan, and are, relatively speaking, safer. The products that we need to be concerned about are all of those soaps, hand-washes, cleaning, and other products that say “anti-bacterial” on them. They’re usually the culprits. But I was particularly surprised to find it in toothpaste — be careful of those toothpastes that claim “anti-gingivitis,” as those are usually the ones with triclosan.

I was interested to note the statistics they site in the article that “71 percent of adults who do some or all of the household cleaning ‘prefer [to use] antibacterial and germ-killing cleaning products.’” Do they really prefer to use them or: 1) do they find it nearly impossible to find gel soap these days that is not anti-bacterial and 2) are they aware of the potential dangers of triclosan.

I bet if they had prefaced that question with a bit of background on this chemical the results would have been significantly different. Consumers simply are not aware of the dangers of many of the products they use very day. It’s a perfectly natural assumption, that, as my neighbor told me: “Why would they be selling it if it’s not safe?” Good question.

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…

Hand-Washing 101: Use Soap and Water

Each September we get a supply list from my children’s school. Inevitably to be found on the list is hand-sanitizer. Now I understand the teacher’s intentions are good — everyone knows schools are germ breeding grounds — but with all of the research showing that the active ingredients in many of the hand-sanitizers are potentially cancer-causing, I can’t understand why we are still being asked to bring them in each year. Perhaps I am just too close to the issues, or know too much for my own good, but I still wonder why these products are still being used in our homes, our offices, and our schools.

Probably my biggest mistake is to assume everyone knows about the research on these chemicals. And there is plenty.

And probably the biggest question I have is why manufacturers are still using triclosan when there are doubts about its safety. Not to mention that there is a very simple, elegant, safe solution: hand-washing. An FDA panel (PDF of report) of experts conducted a multi-year study, which found that hand-sanitizers are no more effective than hand-washing at reducing the spread of bacteria. They also found the ingredients in these products were potential health hazards and that they were persistent and bioaccumulative in the environment. So the downsides are great: potential cancer-causing agent; possible endocrine disrupting; and suspected breeder of super bugs — you know, those bacteria that can resist all antibiotics.

In the EU, they have a the REACH directive, which ultimately will require manufacturers to prove that the chemicals they are using are safe. Now the directive is not without it’s detractors who argue that it doesn’t have enough teeth or is too Big Brother. But it certainly makes sense: A product is not used by consumers until the safety of all its ingredients is assured. Right now the system is working in reverse: new chemicals are produced and used to manufacture products every day that are not proven safe.

And where do these chemicals end up? In our environment and in our water. Here’s an example. Triclosan is in your toothpaste (not all of them, but many). You brush your teeth. Spit out the excess toothpaste with triclosan. The water goes to your local treatment plant. Most chemicals are removed during treatment. Most, but not all. You do that day after day. So do millions of other people. These trace amounts add up. They enter the environment and don’t break down. Those chemicals end up in our lakes, rivers, streams, and then back into our drinking water. It all comes full circle.

Sorry to be so radical, but the ubiquity of the anti-bacterial personal care products are going to be our next water bottle debacle. Both of these issues are sure to remain hot topics on the environmental sustainability agenda. Two unnecessary products that only 10 years ago were virtually unheard of and are now having a huge impact on the natural world.

OK, enough of my diatribe for today. Bottom line: We as consumers need to stop buying this stuff for our homes and offices and schools.

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…

Celebrities Going Green

At the risk of showing my dorkier side, I just have to say that I was happy to see Thomas Dolby (of “She Blinded Me With Science” fame for those who haven’t kept up with this genius) is planning to record his next album using only solar and wind energy. More impressive I think, is that, as he says himself, “It may be perceived by some as me jumping on the current green bandwagon, but that’s really not the case.” He goes on to talk about his family’s other, longer-term “green” habits.

My point in mentioning this is that I wonder if the expanding celebrity greening is a positive sign for the growing Green Wave, as coined in the book Green to Gold. I was surprised to learn that there is even a blog dedicated to celebrity green gossip. What I find intriguing about this type of news, is that it’s more about celebrities DOING green rather than PREACHING green. We all tire quickly when some rich and famous celebrity tries to tell us how we should be living our lives. But it’s a different thing all together when they are doing actually doing something themselves (something positive of course) without being preachy about it.

Could we all, as Americans, be persuaded by this more gentle push to become more environmentally sustainable?