We CAN Be Green

Green News: EPA Releases National Top 50 Green Power Purchasers

On April 27, 2009, the EPA released its National Top 50 list of green power purchasers.  Topping the list for the second year in a row was Intel.  Rounding out the top 5 were Pepsico, Kohl's, Dell & Whole Foods. On a percentage basis, Intel purchased 46% of their power needs from green power. Pepsico & Whole Foods were at 100%; Dell was at 158%; and Kohl's was at 50%.  Walmart appeared for the first time at number 15 while only purchasing 8% of their power needs from green power.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,000 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall, EPA Green Power Partners are buying more than 16 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from electricity use of more than 1.5 million American homes.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. Green power electricity generates less pollution than conventional power and produces no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Who surprises you the most for appearing on the list?  Who did you expect to be on the list that isn't?

Green Tips: Everyday Living: Enjoy Nature #green

We are experiencing some unseasonably warm weather in NJ right now and I thought this post would be a great way to kick off the summer since it appears to have arrived already.

While out enjoying nature this spring/summer, follow these guidelines to lessen your impact on the environment. 

• Dispose of waste in trash receptacles.  If a trash receptacle is not available, take your trash home with you to throw away; don't bury or burn it.
• Take waste home to recycle it, instead of throwing it in the trash receptacle.  If recycling containers are available at the campground, park, etc. use them.
• Pick up any trash you see, even if it's not yours.  This will keep the trash from harming wildlife or ending up in our rivers and streams. 
• Stay on marked trails as leaving a marked trail can seriously harm the natural ecosystem.
• Ride your bike, whenever possible, to explore the area, instead of driving.
• Use natural sunscreen and insect repellants, especially if entering rivers, lakes or oceans, to keep the chemicals out of natural waterways.
• Don't strip branches off trees, or collect downed trees for firewood. When downed trees decompose, they release important nutrients into the soil.  Bring your own wood, if you're camping locally, or purchase from a reliable vendor, such as a state park.  Also, use a light-weight, portable camping stove to cook and you can decrease the amount of wood you use.
• If washing dishes, use non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate-free soap and dump your dirty water in designated places; not near fresh water or in the bushes.

So what do you do to limit your impact on the environment while enjoying the outdoors?

Green Tips: Waste Reduction: Buy in Bulk #green

An easy way to reduce waste and save money is to buy in bulk.  You should save around 50% on the cost of goods, and you will significantly reduce the amount of packaging going to the landfills.  Even if you recycle, it still uses a lot of energy to take all the extra packaging to the recycling centers.  Some common items sold in bulk are cleaning products, baby products, paper products, canned products and pet products. 

If you are planning to purchase several cans of the same good, buying in bulk makes sense.  You can use what you need and store the rest in reusable containers.  “If every month each U.S. household substituted one large can for two smaller cans, the annual savings in steel could build an Eiffel Tower on each of the six other continents.” The Green Book – Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen

One thing that I do is reuse cat litter buckets purchased at Petco instead of buying new 1 - 3 gallon plastic buckets each time we need more cat litter.  Not only does this prevent the bucket from heading to the landfill but we save a little over $1 on each refill. 

Do you buy in bulk?  What measures do you take to prevent packaging waste from going to our landfills?

Green Tips: Water Conservation: Faucet Facts #green

One really easy way to conserve water is to turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime can save up to 8 gallons of water per day, which equals 240 gallons per month.

Once you are done brushing your teeth, you should make sure to turn the faucet all the way off so it doesn't drip. If the faucet continues to drip after you turn it off be sure to get it fixed. If a faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, 2,700 gallons of water per year would be wasted.  This all adds to the cost of water and sewer utilities; not to mention wasting a resource that is not infinite.

Here is a very helpful video on YouTube on fixing a leaky faucet.

Here's to going green!

Green Tips: Composting: Grass Clippings

Leave grass clippings on the ground, instead of bagging and disposing of them.  This can save on the number of bags being used to dispose of grass clippings, as well as, chemical fertilizers being used.

"The average home with 4,000 square feet of lawn can reduce fertilizer requirements by 25%, or about 3 lbs. per year, by leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing.  It takes more than a gallon of diesel fuel to make 3 lbs. of fertilizer.  If home owners "grass-cycled" and reduced their fertilizer use by just 25%, it would save 1.3 billion pounds of chemical fertilizers and more diesel fuel than Amtrak uses in six years." The Green Book , Elizabeth Rogers & Thomas M. Kostigen

By using less fertilizer, you are also reducing the amount of chemicals in the ground that can end up in ground water, lakes, oceans and rivers.  It is also much safer for kids and pets, if you avoid the chemical fertilizers.  When you "grass-cycle", the grass clippings decompose quickly and release nutrients into the yard.  Leaving the grass clippings on the ground also reduces the lawn's water loss, thus reducing the need to water and fertilize your lawn.  For best results, the grass should be cut when it's completely dry, and on the longer side, so short and dry grass clippings are produced.

Green Tips: Everyday Living: DIY Natural Household Cleaners

Unfortunately, many common household cleaners include toxic ingredients that can pollute the environment once they go down your drain. Cleaning in an all-natural way is easy and affordable.  Using ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and tea tree oil, you can make low-cost cleaning solutions for windows, floors and disinfecting that are easy on the environment and your budget.



Here are a few suggestions:

• Use 1/4 cup white vinegar mixed with 1 gallon distilled water to clean hardwood floors.
• Mix 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons of Borax) with 1/2 cup white vinegar for an all-purpose cleaner.
• For mold, mix one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with two parts water in a spray bottle. Spray moldy areas and leave to dry for an hour and then rinse the areas off.

Do you make your own natural non-toxic cleaners?  Share your "recipes" with us.