GREEN TIPS

Going green is not just beneficial to our environment; it is beneficial to you and your family’s health. Making responsible choices for our world often means making your immediate environment within the home or work place healthier. Toxic chemicals that are bad for the soil, air, water, and wildlife are also bad for you! In addition to being mindful of the toxins in the things you use everyday, making decisions that reduce the amount of energy you use, can lead to more financial savings.

1. Use cast iron pans instead of nonstick. DuPont studies show that the Teflon offgases toxic particulates at 464°F. At 680°F Teflon pans release at least six toxic gases, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants, and MFA, a chemical lethal to humans at low doses. At temperatures that DuPont scientists claim are reached on stovetop drip pans (1000°F), non-stick coatings break down to a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB, and a chemical analog of the WWII nerve gas phosgene… A Teflon pan can reach 721°F in just five minutes.

2. Chose non-toxic paints, detergents, and sealers (like from AFM found at the Environmental Home Store). Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air, and according to the EPA, is considered to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes.

3. Avoid chemicals leaching into food by purchasing less processed, canned or fast foods and never microwave plastic.

4. Seal outdoor wooden structures. Order a test kit to find out if your wooden deck, picnic table, or playset is leaching arsenic.

5. Synthetic pesticides can be worse than simply having bugs. Here's a sampling of how to get rid of pests safely. For ants, spray a mixture of soapy water, or water mixed with citrus oil on anthills or directly on the ants. Rid your yard of all stagnant pools of water that provide a haven for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, and keep them off your skin with plant oils, such as geranium, citronella, tea tree, and lavender. If you have a moth problem, treat indoor wood paneling and furniture with cedar oil to help deter them.

6. Install all natural wool carpeting (such as Earth Weave found at the Environmental Home Store) . Traditional carpets are full of toxins used to dye and treat the carpet. Offgassing from these toxins are harmful to your health. And, even more harmful to toddlers who are crawling with their noses just inches away from all those chemicals!

7. Bike or walk to work. The only gas you’ll use with this option is oxygen. Savings: $1,560 per year.

8. Carpool. If you must use your car, share your ride. Find a ride in your local paper or try craigslist. Savings: $780 per year if shared with one other person.

9. Keep your car tuned. A well-tuned car uses approximately nine percent less gas than a poorly tuned car, and you can lose about two percent in fuel economy for every pound of pressure your tire is under the recommended level. Savings: $150 per year.

10.Learn to drive. Rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gas mileage by five percent around town and 33 percent on the highway, or an average of $0.55 per gallon. And, you get less mileage for your money (23 percent less or $0.67 per gallon) if you drive over 60mph. Savings: $1.22 per gallon, or $634 per year.

11. Avoid single serve drinks. Plastic water bottles create small-scale environmental disasters. Production of plastic water bottles requires the use of more than 1.5 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel approximately 100,000 U.S. cars for a year. Use filtered tap water in a reusable bottle, and you’ll save money.

12. Learn how to compost at http://ecologue.com/Show Article/composting-for-beginners.

13.Wash clothes only when you have a full load. Two socks or a full load require the same amount of energy to wash. You’ll save money on your water bill when you wash clothes less often.

14. Use cold water whenever possible. Home laundering accounts for up to 36 percent of total household hot water use. You can save 90 percent of the energy you use to wash clothes when you switch to a cold wash. A switch to a cold-water detergent might cost a few pennies more per load, but if you wash clothes less often, that issue might be moot.

15. Fix water leaks. One drip can waste 250 gallons of water a month, which translates to 3,000 gallons of wasted water annually.

16. Use less water when you flush. New low-volume flush toilets don’t need displacement devices; but, if you own an older toilet, a plastic bottle will come in handy in this instance. Instead of throwing the bottle in a landfill, fill it with water, recap it, and place it in the tank. You’ll reduce the flow by 40 percent and still maintain enough water for a good flush.

17. Reduce your water heater temperature to 120° F. It makes no sense to cool off water that’s too hot to use.

18. Install ceiling fans. Ceiling fans can be a great buy, because you don’t need an expensive one to work well. But, pay attention to the direction that they rotate. During summer months, set them to go counterclockwise to create a downdraft. During winter months, set them to go clockwise to assist hot air to the ceiling.

19. Seal your home. Wind chill can accelerate heat loss. While some ventilation is essential — especially if you have solid-fuel or gas fires inside — don’t forget that energy constantly moves and it will move in and out through any leaks in your home. Use insulation, sealers, and door snakes to control temperatures no matter the time of year. These items are well worth the price in the money that you save.

20. Monitor your thermostat. Keep the temperature a bit cooler in the winter and wear sweatshirts, socks, and cover with blankets while watching TV. Keep the temperature a bit higher in summer and wear less clothes and using fans.

21. Move lights away from cooling appliances. Lights generate heat, so move them away from the air conditioner and fans so those appliances don’t work overtime. They can also affect thermostat readings, so move them away from those tools for accurate readings.

22. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). But, wait until your current bulbs burn out before you make the switch so you don’t waste your money. Yes, CFL bulbs are more expensive, but even the cheapest energy saving CFLs will typically last for 5,000 hours compared to only just over 1,000 hours on average for the best conventional bulbs. And, the light is different, so you’ll need to make some mental adjustments to the change. But, the effort is very green both for the earth and for your wallet in the long run. You can save $30 or more in energy costs over each CFL bulb’s lifetime.

23. Use your dishwasher more efficiently. The newer and more energy-efficient Energy Star dishwashers can save you money and conserve water if you wait until you have a full load. And, you don’t need to pre-rinse, since booster heaters in the new machines heat the water temperature efficiently to clean the dishes. But these dishwashers can sense food, a perceived benefit that can actually create energy conservation problems. Just scrape food off plates into your compost. And let your dishes air dry instead of using the heat dry feature.

24. Clean with household products you already have. You can use simple ingredients such as baking soda, soap, and vinegar to make cheap, easy, and non-toxic cleaning products that work on everything from your bathroom to your kitchen. And, most of these homemade solutions are a lot easier to make than a sandwich.

25. Recycle your old cell phones. Donate your phone to the Collective Good.

26. Invest responsibly. You might think about what you’re going to do with all the money that you save when you go green. But, since this is a risky proposition, learn as much as you can about Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) first. Then type "SRI" into a search engine to learn more before you invest.

27. Paper or plastic? Neither! Use re-usable bags that you can buy online or from stores in your area. Keep your bags in your vehicle so that if you make an unexpected stop to purchase something you have your own bag with you.

28. Recycle! The average person creates 4.5 pounds of trash per day. Think how much is going into the landfills if you are not re-cycling.

29. Buy Recycled Products. Use recycled toilet paper and paper towels, dishes made of recycled glass, recycled computer paper and other paper products. Even beautiful home decorating accessories are being made of recycled materials.

30. Use Smart Power Strips: Plug your small appliances, tv's and clocks into smart power strips. When not in use turn them off from the strip, this will save you a lot of money on your electric bill and is very healthy for the environment.

Sources:
EWG
Frugalist
Ezine Articles