SURPRISING GREEN THINGS

 Without even trying, you’ll surprise yourself with the green things you are already doing.   For instance, do you have a smart phone?  Instead of buying a camera, a phone, a GPS, a tablet computer, a music player, and even a pedometer, your Smartphone is all of those things.  With a Smartphone you only have to buy one device, eliminating the manufacturing waste and e-waste disposal for several different devices.  With all the apps you can now download, your phone can do just about anything you want it to!  And, if you charge your phone with a solar charger, which are getting better all the time, you will really be going green with your phone!

If you have switched your light bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs, you are probably seeing considerable savings on your electric bill.  If you have added extra insulation to your home, you have probably noticed a drop in your heating bill.  This is a form of “green investing” – the return is immediate and probably greater than investing in a utility company.  Of course I’m also all for investing in companies that are doing the right thing for the earth and people, or socially responsible investing, but start your green investing at home first.   (Check out slowmoney.org for investment opportunities within 50 miles where you live that aim to fix the economy from the ground up starting with food entrepreneurs.)

Do you realize the houseplants you decorate your house with not only give off oxygen and filter carbon dioxide, but some plants also actually absorb indoor toxins?  Houseplants are nature’s air purifier. Click here for a list of the plants that best absorb toxins.

Every time you take the stairs instead of an elevator or an escalator, every time you air dry your clothes or turn off the lights when you leave a room, you conserve energy.  When you turn the water off brushing your teeth or run the dishwasher only when full, you save water.

These simple acts all make a difference.  Keep going – add new “green” things daily to your life.

Some information compiled from Green Living, editors of The Environmental Magazine and  green.life@sierraclub.org.

 

SIMPLE STEPS TO GREEN YOUR OFFICE

As you move towards a greener lifestyle, don’t forget to green your office whether it is at home or away!

• When possible, use energy star equipment – computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, coffee makers, etc. – for maximum energy efficiency.
• Recycle print cartridges at office supply stores and use soy ink cartridges, which require less oil to manufacture and emit fewer air pollutants.
• Keep your screen saver blank instead of the energy hogging, hypnotic graphics ones.  They aren’t good for our eyes anyway!
• Paper copies are less important these days, but if you do have to print something, print on both sides of the paper – most printers have a 2-sided property – and use recycled paper.  Also, set your printer to economy mode or eco-tone.  Most new printers have this setting, which uses less ink.
• If your office is not already recycling used paper, set up a recycling center (for cans, bottles and plastic too) and organize a weekly or monthly pick up from a local recycling company. Or reuse unwanted paper for scrap paper.
• For interoffice memos, use email rather than paper.  Most offices already do that and even email is becoming antiquated with facebook messaging, google chatting and twitter!
• In your office kitchen, install a water filter system instead of using individual water bottles or big plastic water containers. The average American goes through 500 disposable cups every year, so use ceramic mugs, not polystyrene (Styrofoam®) or plastic cups for coffee or water. Use real spoons instead of plastic stirrers. Set up a recycling center in the kitchen too.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with longer lasting, energy efficient CFLs (compact fluorescents).
• Clean your office with green cleaning supplies.
• Reuse old packaging materials for shipping.
• Houseplants are effective air cleaners, removing indoor air pollutants.  Place several plants near your printers, fax and photocopiers. They add beauty and tranquility as well.
• When remodeling your office, use natural materials for furniture and carpet and low VOC paints instead of man-made laminates,  synthetic materials and conventional paints that outgas toxins.
• When possible ride public transportation or carpool to work.

We spend most of our time at work, so setting up a green office is an important step to using less energy and leading a healthier lifestyle.  Remember, every little step helps!

GET RID OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION NATURALLY!

The air in our homes, schools and offices can be 2 to 5 times more polluted, and in some cases 100 times more polluted, than outdoor air.  For obvious reasons, winter is the worst time of year for indoor air pollution problems.  There are several simple steps you can take to minimize indoor air pollution in your home.

Try and keep things out of your home that cause pollution like cigarette smoke, toxic cleaning products, paints, commercial room fresheners, even dry cleaning.  Synthetic carpets, scotch-guarded fabrics, foam bedding and vinyl shower curtains outgas certain chemicals. (You can now buy non-toxic shower curtain liners – see blog post “Is Your Shower Curtain Toxic?“) When you can,  make the switch to 100% cotton, wool or other natural fabric for rugs and upholstery.  Make sure you have proper ventilation and a good exhaust system for your stove and appliances.  Control moisture in your home using a dehumidifier when necessary.  Many people remove their shoes before entering the home to avoid tracking in dust, dirt and outdoor chemicals.  Using a HEPA air filter traps pollutants as well.  And one of the most obvious ways to get rid of indoor air pollution, which we don’t usually think about on cold winter days, is airing out our houses. A few minutes a day make a big difference.

Image by henna lion Flickr.com

Houseplants are also very effective (and beautiful) air cleaners.  All plants give off oxygen and filter carbon dioxide, but some plants actually absorb toxins as well, according to the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) the nation’s largest lawn, landscape, and interiorscape association.  Listed below are several common houseplants, which are good pollution fighters and are fairly easy to care for.

• Ivy
• Spider plants (absorb carbon monoxide)
• Peace Lilies (remove acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde),
• Ferns
• Ficus trees
• Aloe Vera (sucks formaldehyde from the air)
• Corn Plants (purify benzene and cigarette smoke)
• Dwarf Date Palms (negate harmful effects from xylene found in paints)
• Herbs (basil, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, mint, geranium)

Don’t forget your office needs a toxic trapper too!  Plants not only create a healthier indoor environment, but also add beauty and peace to your day.

Information compiled from PLANET, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, and Natural Health Magazine, July/August 2010.