Put a Lid on it
Lose a little less energy through your stovetop (whether gas or electric) by applying the simplest of expedients - a lid over a saucepan to contain heat and warm food faster.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
January 16th
Rare Steak
The global loss of biodiversity isn't limited to environments like rain forests; its effects are also being felt in barnyards across America. Up to one third of domestic breeds aren't big players in today's mass farming techniques, and they're in danger of extinction. Support their survival by purchasing meat from these heritage breeds.
Do your part: Visit www.labels.com/store/main/heritage_main.htm#purpose, which offers meat from such heritage varieties as Galloway and Devon beef cattle, and Gloucester shire Old Spot pigs.
The global loss of biodiversity isn't limited to environments like rain forests; its effects are also being felt in barnyards across America. Up to one third of domestic breeds aren't big players in today's mass farming techniques, and they're in danger of extinction. Support their survival by purchasing meat from these heritage breeds.
Do your part: Visit www.labels.com/store/main/heritage_main.htm#purpose, which offers meat from such heritage varieties as Galloway and Devon beef cattle, and Gloucester shire Old Spot pigs.
Monday, January 14, 2008
January 14th
The Re-Use File
Demonstrate some initiative on the job - set up a program to encourage the reuse of perfectly good office products that are routinely tossed - folders, paper clips, binders, Rolodex cards, and the like.
An internal employee exchange at Eastern Illinois University reclaimed more than 9,000 pounds of computer equipment and 25,000 pounds of coated paper office supplies, saving the university about $7,000.
Demonstrate some initiative on the job - set up a program to encourage the reuse of perfectly good office products that are routinely tossed - folders, paper clips, binders, Rolodex cards, and the like.
An internal employee exchange at Eastern Illinois University reclaimed more than 9,000 pounds of computer equipment and 25,000 pounds of coated paper office supplies, saving the university about $7,000.
January 13th
The Thermostat Rules
Warm your house to 68 degrees F on winter days, and to 55 degrees at night or when you'll be out. Install a programmable thermostat to change settings for you automatically. For every degree you lower the heat, you can save 3 percent in energy costs.
Do your part: By one estimate, every 100 households that practice careful thermostat regulation will reduce CO2 output by more than 30,000 pounds - 15 tons - annually.
Warm your house to 68 degrees F on winter days, and to 55 degrees at night or when you'll be out. Install a programmable thermostat to change settings for you automatically. For every degree you lower the heat, you can save 3 percent in energy costs.
Do your part: By one estimate, every 100 households that practice careful thermostat regulation will reduce CO2 output by more than 30,000 pounds - 15 tons - annually.
January 12th
The Cost of Litter
If you need an incentive not to litter, consider this: Your tax dollars go toward cleaning it up - and it's not cheap. To pick one example, Alabama spends $5.3 million dollars a year on the effort. So can it!
If you need an incentive not to litter, consider this: Your tax dollars go toward cleaning it up - and it's not cheap. To pick one example, Alabama spends $5.3 million dollars a year on the effort. So can it!
January 11th
Illumination
Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescents. You'll recoup their higher cost - they last ten times longer and save up to $30 a year in electricity.
Do your part: Fluorescents use much less energy than traditional lightbulbs. And the less energy we burn away, the less CO2 we produce. Just one compact fluorescents keeps half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air over the course of its lifetime.
Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescents. You'll recoup their higher cost - they last ten times longer and save up to $30 a year in electricity.
Do your part: Fluorescents use much less energy than traditional lightbulbs. And the less energy we burn away, the less CO2 we produce. Just one compact fluorescents keeps half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air over the course of its lifetime.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
January 10th
Picture This
Quick and convenient through they may be, disposable cameras produce a lot of solid waste - not just the camera body, but also the foil and cardboard packages. About a quarter of the cameras never make it back to the manufacturer to be recycled. A digital camera takes good pictures and generates far less waste, especially since you'll probably print only the shots you really like.
Quick and convenient through they may be, disposable cameras produce a lot of solid waste - not just the camera body, but also the foil and cardboard packages. About a quarter of the cameras never make it back to the manufacturer to be recycled. A digital camera takes good pictures and generates far less waste, especially since you'll probably print only the shots you really like.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
January 9th
The Well-Tempered Refrigerator
Maintain your appliances according to manufacturer's instructions. They'll last longer and may be more efficient.
Do your part: Keeping the coils on the back of your fridge clean can reduce the unit's electricity consumption 6 percent or more.
Maintain your appliances according to manufacturer's instructions. They'll last longer and may be more efficient.
Do your part: Keeping the coils on the back of your fridge clean can reduce the unit's electricity consumption 6 percent or more.
January 8th
"If we grew most of our food close to home, we'd use far less energy in the process, helping ward off climate change."
- Bill McKibben, Deep Economy
- Bill McKibben, Deep Economy
Monday, January 7, 2008
January 7th
Paper Saver
The paperless office, one predicted as a result of universal computer use, failed to materialize. Try to bring that cyber-dream to life by printing documents only when you really need a hard copy. And remember that paper has two sides; keep a stack of scrap paper handy for use when printing drafts and personal documents.
The paperless office, one predicted as a result of universal computer use, failed to materialize. Try to bring that cyber-dream to life by printing documents only when you really need a hard copy. And remember that paper has two sides; keep a stack of scrap paper handy for use when printing drafts and personal documents.
January 6th
A Cold Start
Most modern automobiles need only about 30 seconds of warm up time to run properly in cold weather. And though it might be tempting to blast the heater before you get in, keep in mind that warming up the car on a cold morning gives you mileage per gallon of zero.
Most modern automobiles need only about 30 seconds of warm up time to run properly in cold weather. And though it might be tempting to blast the heater before you get in, keep in mind that warming up the car on a cold morning gives you mileage per gallon of zero.
Friday, January 4, 2008
January 5th
Tap those Savings
There's no benefit in letting the water run while you shave, brush your teeth, or wash your hands. Turn off the tap when you don't need the water and save ten gallons or more each morning.
There's no benefit in letting the water run while you shave, brush your teeth, or wash your hands. Turn off the tap when you don't need the water and save ten gallons or more each morning.
January 4th
Hole in the Wall
Foam draft blockers installed behind cover plates on outside walls will result in lower energy bills. Intimidated at the prospect? Don't be. Just turn off the power at the circuit breaker, unscrew the plate, fit the foam blocker in place, refasten the plate, and turn the power back on.
Foam draft blockers installed behind cover plates on outside walls will result in lower energy bills. Intimidated at the prospect? Don't be. Just turn off the power at the circuit breaker, unscrew the plate, fit the foam blocker in place, refasten the plate, and turn the power back on.
January 3rd
Bag that Question
Paper or plastic? Duck the decision altogether by bringing your own reusable basket or mesh bags to the supermarket. If you go grocery shopping once a week, in five years you'll have kept anywhere from 250 to 1,000 grocery bags out of our landfills.
Paper or plastic? Duck the decision altogether by bringing your own reusable basket or mesh bags to the supermarket. If you go grocery shopping once a week, in five years you'll have kept anywhere from 250 to 1,000 grocery bags out of our landfills.
January 2nd
Feeling Chipper
Your community may be one of many that chips up Christmas trees for residents. Instead of contributing to the forest of dead trees left at curbside to be hauled off to the landfill, take your tree to a designated tree-recycle station - and carry home a bag of fragrant mulch.
Do your part: Some neighborhoods even features a tree pick-up service. To find out more, contact your community's solid waste authority.
Your community may be one of many that chips up Christmas trees for residents. Instead of contributing to the forest of dead trees left at curbside to be hauled off to the landfill, take your tree to a designated tree-recycle station - and carry home a bag of fragrant mulch.
Do your part: Some neighborhoods even features a tree pick-up service. To find out more, contact your community's solid waste authority.
January 1st
"The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery, not over nature but of ourselves."
- Rachel Carson
- Rachel Carson
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