Green Guide: Simple Ways to be Green
02 Mar 2011
Here are easy ways to make a difference in the planet’s health, and consequently, humankind’s health.
By Anne Minard If you’re reading this, you’re probably part of the solution already. Our community has a reputation for eco-conscious citizens, businesses and government officials, and it’s richly deserved. But we can always do more. As a country we still consume more than our fair share. Take water: In the past half century, our country’s population nearly doubled while our water use more than tripled—up to 1,600 drinking glasses, per person, per day (that figure includes all water uses, from drinking and bathing to washing and lawn watering). In the same time frame, the amount of waste created by each person in our country has increased from 2.7 to 4.3 pounds per day. And waste isn’t just generated by what we throw away. It occurs throughout a product’s life cycle—from the extraction of raw materials and their processing and manufacturing, to the transportation required to get the products to us. Most of us can make simple changes to help stem this increasing tide of waste. Some of the following tips will be familiar, but hopefully some will help you up the ante in terms of conservation. Most are win-wins: They help save the planet and keep more money in your wallet.To the Last Drop
Action: Fill the watering can while waiting for hot water, or use the water from steaming your veggies to water the plants. Benefit: Your plants will enjoy the drink and you’ll help curb outrageous water waste. Action: Sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing them down. Benefit: You’ll get more exercise and save many more gallons of water. Action: Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, or even better, do it “camp-style” by using just one glass of water to rinse both your mouth and toothbrush. Benefit: About 2 gallons of water a minute flow from the average bathroom sink faucet. This simple twist alone can save up to 4 gallons of water each day when you do it morning and evening. Action: Anchor a half-gallon water bottle in the bottom of your toilet tank to save water with each flush. Benefit: If your toilet can function with the reduced flush volume, this is a great solution that stops short of shelling out for a new low-flow toilet. And it addresses the appalling volume of water Americans flush every day: nearly 5 billion gallons.About That Car
Action: In frigid weather, skip warming up the car. Benefit: Modern cars with electronic fuel injection can handle bitter cold. You’ll burn less gas, which saves dollars at the pump and cuts down on carbon emissions. Action: Get a tune-up, including checks of the engine, air filter, tires and alignment. Benefit: You’ll save up to 20 percent on fuel costs. For a Suburban, that translates into a savings of nearly $800 in a year. Action: Regularly check tire pressure and keep tires properly inflated. Benefit: According to fueleconomy.gov, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. By keeping tires properly inflated, you can improve your mileage by up to 3.3 percent. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer. Action: Drop off used tires at shops that recycle or retread them. Benefit: Tires are banned from most landfills, and tires left in the yard or (worse) illegally dumped become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests. Action: Wash your car and bicycle with a sponge and bucket instead of a hose. Benefit: Hoses churn out more than 6 gallons a minute, while a bucket only holds a few. If you’re in a hurry, it’s better to use a car wash than the hose at home, because car washes most often recycle the water. Action: Bike, walk, carpool or take public transportation instead of your car. Benefit: You’ll save fuel, reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, and ease traffic in your community. You’ll also be more social—and reduce your risk of traffic tickets!Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
