Monday, May 10, 2010

Classic Sesame Street - Oscar sings "I Love Trash" (1970)

Posted by at No comments:

Conserve Water


Some simple ways to conserve water.

      You just have to start getting in the habit so it becomes second-nature, right?
       I love the old-saying, which is a classic, in my opinion:
      
      "Sow a thought and you reap an act.
       Sow an act, and you reap a habit.
       Sow a habit and you reap a character.
       Sow a character and your reap a destiny."

       So we must do with this new life-style on conservation and recycling.
       It'll take time at first, but it will soon become a part of your everyday everydays.


Conserve Water


Freshwater degradation is a looming crisis that we must face head on with strong and effective actions. Please do your part to protect this precious resource and call upon your elected representatives to take action today to protect not just future generations but our own future by adopting sustainable water practices. Only 3% of the earth's water is freshwater - we must protect this critical resource. In addition, water-related energy consumes a large amount of energy. In California, for example, water use consumes 19% of the state's electricity, 30% of it's natural gas, and 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually.
  • Set Goals: To reduce your water consumption:

    • Set specific water reduction goals -- for example, commit to using 20% less per month
    • Determine a baseline to start reducing from. Print the energy and water consumption chart and post in a visible spot in your home.
    • Chart the number of gallons of water used in the last 12 months (for comparison to each month this year)
    • Make specific changes in products used and family member habits:

      • buy water saving products where needed
      • get your family involved by asking for specific changes in everyone's habits (e.g., place signs near water outlets reminding family members to reduce consumption (e.g., shorter showers, turning the faucet off when not needed, only watering outdoor plants in the morning or evening))
      • look for additional ideas below
    • Once a month, add the new usage information to the charts and make adjustments as needed to reach your goals
    • Use the money saved to do something fun with your family (if you have children, increase their allowances by the amount saved to encourage them to get involved in finding new ways to conserve)
  • Resources: You'll find several water conservation ideas at H2ouse Water Saver Home including aTop 5 Water Savers page and 10 Ways to Save Water.
  • Water Consumption: Each time you turn on a water faucet use the lowest pressure necessary. Keep the water turned on only while it is needed. For drinking water, keep a pitcher in your refrigerator so you don't have to let water run to cool.
  • Low Flow Toilets: One of the best ways to avoid wasting water is to switch to low flow or dual flush toilets. Visit Terry Love's consumer toilets report for a great review on available low flow toilets. Flush your toilet only every other time or when it has solid waste. LeakAlerter notifies you if your toilet is leaking.
  • Showers: Replace existing shower heads with the lowest flow product you can find. Shower heads with a mist setting let you reduce water flow even further. Shower instead of taking a bath. Time your showers - try to keep them to 5 minutes. If taking a bath, limit how high you fill the tub.
  • Aerators: Install flow restrictor aerators inside all faucets for a savings of 3 to 4 gallons per minute.
  • Full Loads: Always run full loads of laundry and dishes. Choose the short cycle at low water levels whenever possible. Set the clothing washer at the lowest possible temperature needed and for single rinse only. If you buy a new appliance, switch to a water-conserving model (e.g., front loading washer).
  • Dish Washing: Use your dishwasher and don't rinse dishes beforehand (for an average 20 gallon savings).
  • Fix Leaks Promptly!: It is estimated that 13.7% of household water is wasted by leaks. Check your water meter when no one is using water in the house. If it's moving there's a leak. A running toilet can waste 2 gallons a minute. Check by adding food coloring to the tank without flushing. After 10 minutes, look for leaks indicated by color in the bowl. This is most likely a worn flapper valve that can easily be replaced.
  • Native Plants: Fill your yard with native plants. This will cut down significantly on watering requirements and, in the process, provide much needed food and shelter to local wildlife.
  • Mulching: Mulch your gardens to reduce water evaporation around your plants (this also reduces weeds and builds healthy soil).
  • Drip Irrigation: Install a drip irrigation system to water your plants more effectively
  • For Your Hoses: Buy a squeeze nozzle for all of your hoses. However, if you're watering plants, use a watering can to reduce water waste.
  • Best Time to Water: Water at night to minimize evaporation.
  • Leftover Water: If you have house plants, whenever possible water them with leftover or unused water from drinking, cooking, and showering. Keep of water pitcher near your sink or bathtub and collect unused water running from the tap (waiting for cooler or warmer water).
  • Car Wash: Take your car to a car wash that recycles water. If you wash it yourself, use a bucket and sponge and rinse sparingly.
  • Greywater System: Find out if creating a greywater/waste water system would work for you.
  • Break the Bottled Water HabitWater Pollution: Protect our water supply by following the steps outlined in How to Clean Up Our Water: 12 simple actions to help stem the tide of polluted runoff.
  • Tap Water: Make the switch back to environmentally-friendly tap water instead of bottled water.
  • Cooking Vegetables: Steam rather than boil your veggies to save a quart or more of water. Better yet, try giving vegetables a quick rinse, placing them in a covered bowl, and microwaving them for a minute or two.
  • Drinking Water: In the U.S., learn more about your drinking water at EPA's Ground Water and Drinking Water site.
  • Water Shortage Issues: Organizations that are working on international water shortage issues include:

Posted by at No comments:

Conserve Energy


Conserving energy is a real challenge. 

    It's just to darn easy to turn on a light switch.
    But when we  leave it on when we leave the room, that's when we need to remember to turn    
    it off. 
    You know, take that extra step to flip the switch the other way.


Conserve Energy


Please do not wait to start conserving as much energy as you can to reduce your climate change emissions! And please ask your elected representatives to push for strong legislation to move toward overall reduced energy usage and increased alternative energy production.
  • Quick & Easy Energy Tip: Take the Zero-Volt Challenge and reduce your energy bill today!
  • Set Goals: To reduce your energy consumption:
    • Set specific energy reduction goals (for electricity, gas, and gallons of fuel consumed in your car(s)) -- for example, commit to using 20% less per month
    • Determine a baseline to start reducing from. Print the energy and water consumption chart and post in a visible spot in your home. Updates:
      • for your car(s): chart the number of miles you drive each month
      • for your home/office: chart the gas "therms" and/or electric kilowatts per hour (kWh) used in the last 12 months (for comparison to each month this year)
    • Make specific changes in products used and family member habits:
      • buy energy saving products where needed
      • read the Sustainable Solutions for Getting Around Town page for ideas on reducing mileage/increasing mileage efficiency
      • get your family involved by asking for specific changes in everyone's habits (e.g., tape signs to light switches reminding family members to turn out lights when they leave a room, tape a sign to your car dashboard reminding the driver to check tire pressure during the first week of each month, assign someone to turn out all lights and cut power to unused appliances (to reduce standby power usage) each night)
      • look for additional ideas below
    • Once a month, add the new usage information to the charts and make adjustments as needed to reach your goals
    • Use the money saved to do something fun with your family (if you have children, increase their allowances by the amount saved to encourage them to get involved in finding new ways to conserve)
    • Join the Carbon Conscious Consumer program by New American Dream to receive new ideas monthly.
  • Time to Replace Your Refrigerator? Click to Find Out!Buy Green Energy: If possible, choose a utility company focused on renewable energy. If you live in a deregulated state in the U.S.,Green-e provides information about certified "clean electricity" providers for your state. In the U.K., visit Green Helpline.
  • Resources: The following pages provide tips on how to save energy:
  • Kitchen: Kitchen Unplugged -- ways to conserve energy in the kitchen
  • Carbon Footprint: The Carbon Footprint Calculator helps you to determine your carbon dioxide emissions from major sources: home energy consumption and transportation by car and plane. This information can be tracked over time, allowing you to gauge the impact of actions you take to reduce your carbon footprint.
  • Carbon Offsets: If you are taking a trip, consider buying carbon emission offsets.
  • Home Shade: In hot areas, if you have west-facing windows use window tints, blinds, deciduous trees or trellises to help keep out heat from the summer sun. In general, you will lower your summer air-conditioning bill by planting trees and bushes along the west side of your home.
  • Paint Colors: Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate and a dark color if you live in a cold climate.
  • Insulation: Insulate your hot water heater (a tank that is warm to the touch needs added insulation), as well as hot water pipes and ducts located in unheated areas.
  • Standby Power: Reduce "standby power" (the energy used while an appliance is switched off or not performing) at home and at work. The easiest way is to unplug appliances that are not being used. You can also plug your appliances into power surge protector strips (with multiple electrical outlets) and turn the power off at the strip.
  • Lights Off: Whenever possible, keep lights off during the day. Consider installing a well insulated skylight if more light is needed. Encourage family members to get in the habit of turning off lights when they leave a room (taping small reminder notes to light switches can help).
  • Location of Home: Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive (easy access to public transit, easy biking routes, close to work and stores, walk able community, etc.).
  • Solar Cooker: Consider using a solar cooker to cook some of your meals.
  • Cool Water: When turning on a water faucet, unless you need warm water choose the coolest water setting.
  • Invest in Energy: Investing in renewable energy production is the same as investing in a home or office building. Buying energy from a utility, on the other hand, is like renting - at the end of fifteen years you don't have anything to show for it - and you are left vulnerable to the fluctuating costs of energy. One investment option is solar panels which can produce energy for 40 years or more - far longer than it takes to pay off the installation costs (currently around 15 years for homeowners and only 7 years for businesses). Wind power, where available, has a far quicker payback period. For more information on renewable energy, check out:
  • Dark-Sky: Change outside light fixtures so that light does not shine up into the sky. TheInternational Dark-Sky Association works to educate individuals and communities about the use of energy-efficient, properly designed lighting that allows for good night sky viewing. The Fatal Light Awareness Program educates individuals about how urban lights harm migratory birds.
  • Books: Great book on energy conservation.
Posted by at No comments:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle



I realize that I'm not the only one out there with a blog on the litter problems.
My blog doesn't encompass ALL environmental issues.
I have chosen to focus on the good, the bad and the ugly, in my blog.
And in doing so, recycling addresses these issues.
Maybe not the graffiti problem. 
How do you recycle graffiti?
But that is just an eye sore in the form of a written obnoxiousness blow-up on walls with paint.
I am committed to finding out how we can take the everyday things we use and simplify the recycling process.
Nothing complicated here, right?
    
With that said:                                                                       

Check out this website folks!
It has a lot of great tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle.




First: Reduce


The critical first step of waste prevention has been overshadowed by a focus on recycling. Please help to promote a greater awareness of the importance of the "Reduce" part of the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra. For a great overview of how raw materials and products move around the world, see the videoThe Story of Stuff.
  • Simplify: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future. For information on voluntary simplicity, check out Voluntary Simplicity Websites. Learn more through books on voluntary simplicity. The Compact blog (and Yahoo group accessed from blog) supports individuals committed to not buying products for a year.
  • Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
  • White Pages Delivery Opt-In PetitionTree-Free Home: As much as possible, create a tree-free home:

    • replace paper napkins with cloth napkins
    • replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for great towels) - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse
    • purchase bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum)
    • if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or hemp/alternative-source paper, if you can afford it)
    • create and use note pads from once-used paper
    • leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board
    • make your own cards/letters from once-used products or handmade paper
    • if you will be doing construction on your house, search out alternatives to using newly cut wood (no endorsement of any company intended):

  • Bulk Purchases: Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers. Many health food stores have bulk bins where they sell everything from grains to cereal to cleaning products. For additional ideas, read the Precycling information page.
  • Avoid Trash: Avoid creating trash wherever possible: when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, etc. (ask in advance), buy ice cream in a cone instead of a cup, don't accept "free" promotional products, buy products with the least amount of packaging, etc. Every little bit of trash avoided does make a difference!
  • Shopping Bags: While shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring your own. Learn about the dangers of plastic bags and what countries around world are doing about it ("The Dangers of Plastic Bags" slide show from Teacher Vishal Mody).
  • Junk Mail: For ideas on how to reduce junk mail, access:

  • Green Hotels: When staying at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast let the management know that you like to support businesses that adopt environmentally responsible practices (including reducing waste). Print out and drop off the Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels environmental tips list. To locate environmentally friendly hotels, search on the Internet under "ecotourism" and/or visit Green Hotels Association.
  • Waste-Free Lunches: Pack a Waste-Free Lunch whenever possible.
  • Mug-to-Go: Carry a mug with you wherever you go for take out beverages.
  • Protect Children: New American Dream offers tips for protecting your children from intrusive and harmful advertising that promotes mindless consumption.
  • Zero Waste: Zero Waste America and Zero Waste Alliance provide information on becoming a "Zero Waste" activist. "Waste is a resource in disguise." (quote from Zero Alliance)
Posted by at 1 comment:

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Today is Mother's Day and in Honor of Our Kids I Dedicate This Song!

Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Recycling in Fast Food Restaurants, Why Not?

I had this thought the other day as I went to get some lunch at one of our local fast food places.
Now, I'm not much of a fast food junkie.
But I do like El Pollo Loco because it really doesn't seem like I'm eating fast food. 
It's more healthy.
Anyway, I thought about how I've been really good about bringing my reusable cotton bag with me in all the stores that I do shopping in, and then I thought about the reusable bag idea when I went to get fast food.
Why don't fast food restaurants do something like that to help our environment?
I would like to hand them a reusable lunch bag and tell them to put my food to go in it.
Wouldn't that cut done on all the fast food containers we see daily on the roads and highways? (One of my litter pet-peeves)
What if they sold a reusable lunch bag in their restaurants and then each time you bring it with you then they would give you a discount on your meal?
Whether you bought the bag from them is beside the point, but some sort of reusable lunch bag implementation would be swell. =)


And check out this cool recycling trash can. 
It has a slot for COMPOST and LANDFILL.
I love it!!!!

I found this great article that talks about what the state of Washington is doing to be more environmentally 
friendly.



Leave it to Seattle.
Known for their treehugging, nature-loving ways, the Emerald City's residents will soon be adding another notch to their eco-friendly belts. This July, Seattle will become the first city in the States to eliminate wasteful fast-food packaging from the garbage can. How? By virtue of a new city ordinance requiring all food packaging to be recyclable or compostable—come hell or highwater.
It's not exactly a cheap endeavor—Bob Donegan, president of Ivar's seafood restaurants, estimates it'll cost his company an extra $97,000—but it certainly is effective. Safeco Field did a trial of the new mandate the first six weeks of this season, and the percentage of waste that their recycling room kept out of garbage bins doubled from last year. That's no small amount—the park generated 59 tons of waste in those six weeks. Scott Jenkins, director of operations for Safeco Field, says that costs won't go up because the park will be cutting back on their disposal bill.
Other companies—like Ivar's—worry that absorbing the cost of more expensive containers will sting financially, particularly during a tough economy. But even Donegan is in support of the law. He's doesn't like the expense, but he also doesn't like trash ending up in landfills.
A few exceptions will cut restaurant owners some slack: plastic straws won't be banned because they're too small for plastic recycling (for now, anyway). Aluminum-lined packaging for hot foods such as burgers can stay, too, because nothing on the market does as good of a job keeping food hot. And some items just don't work for certain companies, as was the case when compostable spoons melted in Ivar's chowder.
But items that have reasonable replacements will have to go. Over 600 approved compostable food service products exist on the market right now—up from 70 in 2008—so restaurant owners should have plenty of options.
The next step? Educating the public.

Posted by at No comments:

Friday, May 7, 2010

Gum and Your Shoe

Well, I really can't stand when someone decides that the ground is a place to stick their gum when they are done chewing it.
It's just so, not right.
I mean, it happened just the other day.
I'm walking to class and then I get this retractable feeling as I lift my foot off the ground.
You know what I mean, right?
You just know what it is and you can't believe it.
It's that rubber band action from the ground to the bottom of your shoe.
You're in a tug-of-war between you and the ground.
You may break free from the ground, but the prize is a nasty chewed-up piece of gum on the bottom of your shoe...

NIIIIIIIIICE!
Just what you need.
It's so hard to get the gum off your shoe and it is such a hassle.
This is another peeve of mine.
It isn't a huge deal to take a piece of chewed up gum and put it in a piece of paper and throw it away.
It's a no-brainer.
And, oh yah, while we're at putting our gum in the can. 
Remember the key words are:
In the can,
not on it 
not near it
not along side it.
Thank you!

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)