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HOW DO I PURCHASE ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOOD?

Valerie Demerski — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:09:00 GMT

Environmentally and Socially Responsible Food Purchasing

Food purchasing doesn't have to be irresponsible. Today, there are options that allow you to promote social and environmental sustainability through food purchasing. You can promote local, organic, and fair trade products that help the planet be greener and more socially responsible. The following tips on sustainable food for events are adapted from BlueGreen Meetings:

• Purchase condiments, beverages, and other food items in bulk instead of individually packaged.
• Ensure food and beverage packaging is recyclable, and that it will be recycled.
• Ask your supplier to buy local produce that is in season, to avoid costly transportation of goods.
• Require all coffee to be fair trade, shade grown, and organic.
• Request organic produce, and free-range, growth hormone-free eggs and meats.
• Offer vegetarian meal selections: vegetables consume less land base and energy to produce.
• If your event is for more than 20 people, ask attendees to ‘sign-up’ for meals instead of assuming that
everyone will want to partake. This will reduce food waste – and your costs.
• Allow attendees to pre-select their meal sizes beforehand. Some people may not want all of the
courses; others may want smaller portions. Pre-selection will cut down dramatically on food wastage.
• Arrange to have leftover food donated to a local food bank or soup kitchen.
• Compost unusable leftover food portions or ship them to a local farm as pig feed.
• Use reusable cutlery, dishware and linens.
• Choose centerpieces and decorations that can be reused, such as living plants, or silk flowers.

Localharvest.org and eatwellguide.org are two websites that offer comprehensive directories of local food resources in your area. Use these guidelines when choosing a catering service for an event, or preparing meals on your own.

Mr Green's (from Sierra Club) 10 Food Commandments

1. Use Less Meat More Creatively. Americans consume 185 pounds of beef, pork, and poultry per capita each year. It would be better for our health and the environment to knock back fewer bacon burgers, steaks, and chicken wings.

2. Buy Organic. Organic farmers and ranchers are not allowed to use chemical poisons on their crops and livestock and, in general, are better stewards of the land. Yes, you will end up paying more for your meals because it usually costs more to produce food organically. But if you follow the rest of the advice on this list, you should be able to reduce your costs enough to make up the difference.

3. Support Local Farmers. Small farmers need all the help they can get, thanks to decades of failed agricultural policies. If you're close to one of the country's 3,700 farmers' markets, make it part of your shopping routine: its suppliers don't have to ship their products halfway across the continent or the world. If you can't make it to the market, consider community-supported agriculture, which provides subscribers with regular deliveries of delectables from area producers. LocalHarvest has a searchable online database of CSA farms at www.localharvest.org/csa.

4. Cut Back On Processed, Packaged Foods. Food packaging accounts for 20 million tons of waste annually. In addition, processed foods contain less nutrients than fresh foods, and tend to contain more artificial chemicals.

5. Seek Green Variety. Anybody who claims vegetables are boring should visit a Mediterranean country. On Crete, where people have the longest life expectancy in the world, they eat twenty-six kinds of wild plants. Yet we're stuck with 3.5 million tons a year of iceberg lettuce. It takes thirty-six calories of fossil-fuel energy to grow and ship one calorie of iceberg lettuce.

6. Be Picky With Fish. Fish is still a healthy choice, despite the news that the world's fisheries are being strained and that some seafood may contain dangerous levels of mercury or dioxin. The trick is to try tasty but less popular alternatives that eat lower on the food chain, like sardines, or sustainably farmed varieties like catfish. Consult the Monterey Bay Aquarium's seafood guide at www.seafoodwatch.org and the Sierra Club's "Mercury Survival Guide" at www.sierraclub.org/mercury.

7. Shop In Style. Paper or plastic? How many billions of times must the country's weary grocery clerks repeat this tiresome question? Next time you hear it, say "neither" and use your reusable bag. And for all the fuss about bags, remember it takes a lot more oil to drive to your grocery store than to make the bags you are given. So, if possible, leave the car in the garage and make human-powered shopping trips part of your fitness program.

8. Make Your Own. Healthy and tasty meals, from cereals to sautes to soups, can easily be made from scratch. Individually packaged instant oatmeal, for example, costs about three to four dollars per pound, while plain old oatmeal, sold in bulk, sells for a fourth as much, leaving you plenty of resources to experiment with oatmeal cuisine.

9. Grown Your Own. Lawns surrounding 85 million U.S. residences take up at least 25 million acres. Digging up just a fraction of this real estate to grow chard, lettuce, peas, and tomatoes would be a marvelous development. You'd save money of food, and some of the millions of gallons of oil used to ship it from farm to market.

10. Recycle and Compost. Recycling is so old hat by now that it may seem unnecessary to harp about it. Yet only about half of our aluminum cans are recycled, resulting in a big waste of energy and metal. Recycling is just as important with food scraps. Composting could drastically reduce the almost five hundred pounds per household per year of organic matter haunted to dumps, and creat fertile soil for your vegetable garden.

For more information, click here. To check if your food has pesticides, click here.

CHOOSING GREEN PRODUCTS FOR GREEN CONSTRUCTION

Valerie Demerski — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:23:00 GMT

As a green Realtor, I'm often asked about material choices for building and remodeling. Here is some great info on that subject:

What kind of products should I choose for a new building or home?

Building and construction activities worldwide consume 3 billion tons of raw materials each year or 40 percent of total global use. Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of dwindling nonrenewable resources internationally. In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials.

What is a green building product or material?

Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product. Depending upon project-specific goals, an assessment of green materials may involve an evaluation of one or more of the criteria listed below.

Overall material/product selection criteria:

Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial content with a preference for postconsumer content.
Natural, plentiful or renewable: Materials harvested from sustainably managed sources and preferably have an independent certification (e.g., certified wood) and are certified by an independent third party.
Resource efficient manufacturing process: Products manufactured with resource-efficient processes including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases.
Locally available: Building materials, components, and systems found locally or regionally saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site.
Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured: Includes saving a material from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product.
Reusable or recyclable: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.
Recycled or recyclable product packaging: Products enclosed in recycled content or recyclable packaging.
Durable: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life expectancies.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

Low or non-toxic: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.
Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions.
Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards.
Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of biological contaminants in buildings.
Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-toxic, or low-VOC methods of cleaning.
Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality.

Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

Materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities.

Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

Products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped areas.

Affordability can be considered when building product life-cycle costs are comparable to conventional materials or as a whole, are within a project-defined percentage of the overall budget.

Three Basic Steps for Product Selection

Product selection can begin after the establishment of project-specific environmental goals. The environmental assessment process for building products involves three basic steps.

1. Research. This step involves gathering all technical information to be evaluated, including manufacturers' information such as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test data, product warranties, source material characteristics, recycled content data, environmental statements, and durability information. In addition, this step may involve researching other environmental issues, building codes, government regulations, building industry articles, model green building product specifications, and other sources of product data. Research helps identify the full range of the project’s building material options.

2. Evaluation. This step involves confirmation of the technical information, as well as filling in information gaps. For example, the evaluator may request product certifications from manufacturers to help sort out possible exaggerated environmental product claims. Evaluation and assessment is relatively simple when comparing similar types of building materials using the environmental criteria. For example, a recycled content assessment between various manufacturers of medium density fiberboard is a relatively straightforward "apples to apples" comparison. However, the evaluation process is more complex when comparing different products with the same function. Then it may become necessary to process both descriptive and quantitative forms of data.

A life cycle assessment (LCA) is an evaluation of the relative "greenness" of building materials and products. LCA addresses the impacts of a product through all of its life stages. Although rather simple in principle, this approach has been difficult and expensive in actual practice (although that appears to be changing).

One tool that uses the LCA methodology is BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software. It allows users to balance the environmental and economic performance of building products. The software was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Building and Fire Research Laboratory and can be downloaded free on their Web site.

3. Selection. This step often involves the use of an evaluation matrix for scoring the project-specific environmental criteria. The total score of each product evaluation will indicate the product with the highest environmental attributes. Individual criteria included in the rating system can be weighted to accommodate project-specific goals and objectives.

Source: Smart Homeowner. California Integrated Waste Management Board.

BOTTLED VS TAP?

Valerie Demerski — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:42:00 GMT

Which is better for me?

An excellent breakdown of the issue by a writer from Positively Green Magazine:

(Positively Green) Chances are that by now you know just how harmful bottled water is to the planet, and yet some people still find it difficult to give up those portable, easily purchased, calorie-free thirst-quenchers. Is it really so much better for the environment to drink filtered tap water than bottled water? And is it safe?

The answer to both of those questions is-you guessed it-a resounding yes. The impact of bottled water on the environment is monumental, wracking up environmental harm from the moment the plastic bottle is made and filled to the moment the used bottle is tossed in the trash. The process of making plastic water bottles sold in the United States alone uses approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil, according to the Earth Policy Institute-that's enough to run 100,000 cars for an entire year. And that doesn't even take into account the inordinate amount of oil needed to transport water bottles all over the world-a bottle of Fiji water enjoyed in New York City, for example, would have traveled nearly 8,000 miles from Fiji to New York.

Adding insult to injury, most water bottles are consumed by people outside of the home, where finding a recycling bin can prove a daunting task. Nearly 80 percent of water bottles are not recycled, resulting in 38 billion water bottles clogging landfills each year where they take 700 years to even begin to decompose.

Still, bottled water is the fastest growing segment of the beverage industry, with Americans drinking an average of 167 bottles of water each year, totaling $16 billion in sales. Ironically, while the United States is the world's single biggest consumer of bottled water, it has reliable tap water available nearly nationwide-that's something that can't be said of Brazil, China, and Mexico, which round out the top four bottled water consuming countries in the world. Bottled water retailers are well aware of the quality of our nation's tap water-in fact, at least 24 percent of the bottled water we drink is actually filtered tap water. Pepsi's Aquafina and Coke's Dasani, the top bottled water brands in the country, are two of the brands that bottle filtered municipal water.

So why are we paying for someone else to bottle our water when we could simply filter our own water at home? Bottled water must just taste better, right? It would appear not. Good Morning America conducted a blind taste test of water using its studio audience as guinea pigs and guess which water source was the clear winner? New York City tap water. Yes, that's right: Tap water beat out Poland Spring and Evian.

Okay, so tap water tastes the same as bottled water and is far less harmful to the environment-but is it safe? It turns out federal standards are similar for both bottled water and municipal water, which is continually tested for contaminants. And for children, tap water is more than safe-it's beneficial: Unlike bottled water, most tap water contains teeth-strengthening fluoride. To learn about the purity of your local tap water, you can read the EPA's water-quality reports on the agency's website. If you're still concerned about trace levels of contaminants, investing in a good filter for your tap water is a great, inexpensive alternative to bottled water. Storing reusable bottles filled with filtered tap water in the fridge makes it easy to grab a bottle of cold, pure water when you're on the go.

Here's the icing on the cake: Once you give up your bottled water habit, you'll find you have some welcome extra cash floating around your wallet. If each American drinks 167 bottles on average per year, and the average cost of water is $1 per bottle, that's $167 extra dollars you'll have to put toward a relaxing day at the spa, new winter coat, or your favorite charity! Looking for donation inspiration? Check out Water Partners International, a nonprofit committed to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries.

Extracted from Care2

DEPLASTISIZING YOUR FOOD

Valerie Demerski — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:03:00 GMT

9 WAYS TO PREVENT CHEMICALS FROM MIGRATING INTO YOUR FOOD

Chemicals are most likely to migrate from plastic into food when exposed to highheat, harsh soaps, and fat. These precautionary measures can help youplay it safe.

AVOID MICROWAVING IN PLASTIC.
Heat speeds the release of chemicals into food. "People are being soldmicrowave-safe plastic, when in fact we're not being told what's inthere and the rate at which these chemicals leach out," says researcherFrederick vom Saal. Avoid this uncertainty by using ceramic or glassinstead.

EXPLORE THE ALTERNATIVES.
"I have one word for you:glass," says Terry Hassold, a professor of genetics at Case WesternReserve University in Cleveland, who has studied the health effects ofbisphenol-A (BPA) on mice. You can also store your food in ceramiccontainers, waxed- and brown paper bags, and metal canisters made forhot and cold food. (See "Safe Harbor," page 117.)

USE PAPER -- NOT CLING -- WRAP.
Many studies indicate that most of the cling wrap used by delis andgrocery stores contains high levels of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), aplasticizing chemical that has been linked to hormonal abnormalities inmice. (Happily, the cling wraps made for home use are safer.) Ask thebutcher to wrap meat and fish in paper. And transfer fatty deli foodsout of plastic wrap and into waxed paper when you get home. "If you putcling wrap that's been plasticized on fatty foods, that stuff willmigrate," says Consumer Union's Ned Groth. You might also want to cutoff cheese's outer layer -- which has been directly exposed to plastic-- before rewrapping it in something safer.

WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT.
Discoloration, cracks,or other signs of wear suggest your plastic containers are degradingand may be leaching chemicals into your food. Once you've purged yourkitchen of old plastic food bins and cups, splurge on a replacement setmade of glass.

LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE.
The longer food sits in plastic, the greater its time of exposure tochemicals that could migrate into it. If you must buy food in plastic-- and it's hard not to -- transfer it into a more food-friendlycontainer once you get home.

WASH PLASTIC BY HAND.
"It only takes 20 washings in the dishwasher for BPA to startleaching," says vom Saal. Along with high heat, harsh detergents breakdown plastic as well. Wash your plastic containers, even those labeled"dishwasher safe," by hand in warm water and mild detergent.

READ THE LABEL.
While you'll never find an actual list of ingredients, many plasticscome with labels of sorts: those triangles with numbers inside found onthe bottom of plastic containers. The numbers you most want to avoidare 3, 6, and 7. The safest numbers are 1, 2, and 5 -- the type ofplastics used in most small water bottles and all soda bottles, yogurtcontainers, tubs of butter, and so on. (For more details, see "Plasticby the Numbers," page 74.) At the very least, look for brands billingthemselves as "PVC-free."

BUY GLASS BOTTLES.
Some of the clear plastics, like baby bottles, are treated withbisphenol-A, to which infants are particularly vulnerable. "Using thesebottles is like putting a serious drug into what the baby's drinking,"says vom Saal. Look for glass baby bottles by Evenflo. And avoiddrinking water from those five-gallon water jugs delivered to officesand homes, which also contain BPA. Opt instead for filtered water fromthe tap.

BUY IN BULK.
Health food stores are selling everything from pasta to tofu in bulk,and the plastic used to bag bulk products isn't known to be toxic, saysGroth. To play it really safe, you can transfer your bagged items toglass containers at home.

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/natural-health/natural-home/health-hazards/plastics?id=9396&section=section_01&msc=A62596

WHEN TO SPEND GREEN AND WHEN TO SAVE

Valerie Demerski — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:12:00 GMT

Don’t you just love it when doing the right thing also happens to save you money? And when it comes to being green, this is so often the case. Unfortunately, it isn't always–and that’s where a penny-pinching (or fiscally responsible, if you prefer) Greene can run into some trouble.

The plain truth is that sometimes the green choice is also the one that is going to cost you the most green. But I think it all balances out, and you'll see what I mean when you read these tips for where to save green and when to spend.

WHERE YOU'LL SAVE MONEY

The second two R’s. Reduce and Reuse. Shop less, find things at thrift stores when you can, borrow instead of buy your own, and you'll put a much smaller dent on the planet and in your pocketbook.

Forget disposables. Paper napkins and plastic water bottles be gone. Invest in a steel water bottle and some cloth napkins (or make your own) and you'll recoup the costs many times over. Also, bring your own cloth bags to the grocery store and a lot of stores will give you a 5 cent rebate for each bag.

Clean green. Make your own non-toxic cleaning kit with baking soda, vinegar and liquid soap. It’s green, it’s totally safe and it is totally cheap.

DIY beauty. If you've got eye strain from reading the teeny, tiny type on those labels and sticker-shock from the price of truly organic, chemical-free products, then make your own. Try these organic sugar scrubs or this easy-to-make moisturizer. And there are literally hundreds of other formulas on Care2 for hair care and more!

Conserve resources. Save water, set your thermostat, make sure your car is getting the best gas mileage possible (or for that matter, leave your car at home and walk or bike instead)–these are all things that'll help the Earth and save you money.

So now the hard part, biting the bullet and knowing when to spend a little extra for the green choice.

WHEN TO SPEND

Animal products (if you eat them). There are times, and I'm just being honest here, when I'm standing in the dairy aisle and looking at the organic milk and looking at the regular stuff and thinking, is it really worth the extra dollar? I always decide that it is, but it stops me just about every time. And don't get me started about the price difference between regular and organic meats! It’s enough to turn a person vegetarian, which thankfully I am two or three days a week.

Produce. Would you feed your child food that had been sprayed with chemicals? I hope not, and I hope you wouldn't eat it yourself either. If you absolutely cant buy everything organic, because it’s not available or not in your budget, check out top 10 foods to eat organically, which tells you which foods are produced with the most pesticides and helps you prioritize.

Recycled paper products. If you're like me, you will only use a roll of paper towels every few months since you primarily use cloth napkins–so spend a little extra on the post-consumer recycled kind. And when it comes to toilet paper, can you really justify cutting down new trees for something you're just going to … well you get the idea. So buy recycled toilet paper too. It’s worth the extra coin.

Fair trade. While you're enjoying your morning (or afternoon, or evening) cup of coffee, or that mid-day chocolate boost, wouldn't it be nice to know that the workers who produced these items were paid a fair wage for fair work under fair working conditions? I know it’s more expensive, but as Sustainable Dave says so wisely, ask yourself: “Am I paying too much for this, or in the past, have I not been paying enough?”

I really think you'll find, as I did, that the money you'll save going green will more than make up for the extra money you spend on other things. All that, and the added bonus of knowing you're doing the right thing for yourself and for the planet. Now that’s the kind of balance I can live with.

A FRESH START

Valerie Demerski — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:17:00 GMT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

If you had a fresh-cut Christmas tree of other living holiday decorations, don't forge to compost or recycle. Find a drop-off site near you at http://christmastree.org. And I hope you recycled your wrapping paper!

Put reusable decorations away neatly so you can find them easily next holiday season and won't have to buy new ones! Try wrapping strings of lights around the cardboard cores from wrapping-paper rolls or paper-towel tubes to keep them tangle-free.

Take advantage of post-Christmas clearance sales and stock up on gift bags for next year so you can reduce the amount of wrapping paper you need. Recycle the Christmas cards you received by cutting off the covers to use as gift tags next year.

Today is a perfect day to take stock of how green you are living and set some personal goals for a greener year. Walk through your house and make a list of opportunities in each room, then do the same with the garage, yard and workplace.

Stay tuned here for more tips on just how to do that!

Wishing you all the best in 2010,

Valerie

Reduce, Reuse and Plan Ahead: 13 Tips On How To GREEN Your Holiday

Valerie Demerski — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:47:00 GMT

Between Thanksgiving and New Years, Americans generate about 1 million extra tons of trash per week, a 25% increase of solid waste. Holiday shopping, gifts and packaging, as well as big meals contribute to a lot of extra waste that is almost entirely avoidable, recyclable, reusable or compostable. Below are some tips and ideas from GREEN Northampton about how you can reduce your impact on the environment this holiday season.

1.) Wrapping paper is now recyclable!

All wrapping paper is recyclable except wrapping paper with foil, no ribbons or bows and no

metallic inks or glitter. Recycle your wrapping paper at the landfill or transfer station this year with

your other paper. Also, keep in mind that all cardboard gift boxes, tissue paper, gift cards and paper

shopping bags are recyclable, and you can bring Styrofoam packing peanuts to the UPS store for

reuse. On the other hand, ribbons, bows, tinsel and photographs cannot be recycled. They go to the

landfill.

2.) Reduce and Reuse

Give Used Gifts

It’s greener to give used items than to give new green items. It takes a lot of energy and natural

resources to make stuff. To be green, give a gift that used no additional energy to create.

Antique shops and thrift stores are cheap and often have some really cool stuff. Re-gifts (gifts you

received from last year, but never use) can be passed on to someone who will use and appreciate

them. Give away the bike, appliance, or gadget that you never use. It will save you time, money and

storage space. If you’d like to stay at home, scour craigslist or sign up for Northampton’s FreeCycle for

heavily discounted (or free) electronics, furniture, books, clothing, toys, or almost anything else.

Re-Use Paper for Wrapping Paper

Reuse old maps, magazines, and gift cards as wrapping, decoration or tags. The Sunday comics or

brown paper packages tied up with string are fun, original, virtually cost-free and totally recyclable.

You can also use old shoeboxes, cloth napkins or gift bags from last year to add flair to your giftwrapping

projects.

3.) Compost Christmas Trees at the Landfill

4.) Buy Quantities of Food that You’ll Actually Eat!

Plan your holiday meals and parties carefully to reduce avoidable and costly waste. Package

leftovers and distribute them to guests as they leave. COMPOST all food scraps and uneaten

leftovers to keep them out of the landfill.

5.) Buy or Borrow Re-Usable or Compostable Cutlery, Cups, Flatware and Napkins

Thrift shops and tag sales have an abundance of reusable plates, utensils and glasses, often at a low

price that is comparable to buying disposable items. Buy a whole bunch and then keep them in

storage for your next party. You can also call a neighbor and borrow additional place settings for a

large party. If you do use paper plates and napkins, know that they are compostable. Plant-based plastics

and biodegradable cutlery and cups are also available.

6.) Minimize Packaging and Vote With Your Dollar

If you buy new gifts, send a message to manufacturers by choosing items with minimal packaging.

7.) Consumable Gifts

Gifts that are consumable such as baked goods, coffee, cheese or wine have minimal, recyclable

packaging and are immediately enjoyed, appreciated, and won’t go to waste. Buy gift certificates to

locally owned stores. Check out http://www.pvlocalfirst.org/, they offer a directory of local

businesses in the valley.

8.) Shift Away from Material Gift-Giving

Material gifts require resource extraction, transportation, manufacture, distribution, purchase and

eventual disposal. Check out the Story of Stuff (www.storyofstuff.com) to learn about the hidden

environmental costs associated with of all of our material stuff. Gifts that are immaterial will last

forever. Offer time and services to loved ones such as babysitting, household chores, or a night out.

9.) Donate Charitable Gifts in Someone’s Name

Consider directing your money to a service-oriented cause, charity or organization. Kiva.org offers

microloans to third-world citizens so that they can start a business that will sustain them and their

family. These loans of about $50 dollars can help make a huge difference in the lives of the worlds’

less fortunate people and they are repaid 98.4% of the time. After it is repaid, they can either be

redeemed or revolved back into another loan…it’s up to you. Heifer International (www.heifer.org)

provides livestock, bees, and other beneficial gifts that can offer ongoing nutrition and income to the

world’s poor one family at a time. The gifts are inexpensive, and can be given in someone else’s name.

Reminder: charitable donations are tax-deductible.

10.) Be Thoughtful About Your Transportation and Travel Plans

Reduce your carbon emissions by doing all of your shopping at once, rather than in multiple trips.

Carpool with family and reduce air travel by taking a train or driving to your holiday destination.

Keep your car tuned up, and tires properly inflated to optimize your car’s fuel efficiency

11) Pool Resources

Get together, organize and connect with your family to buy one meaningful, durable, fantastic gift

for someone. Many hands make light work, and small contributions can add up quickly to get a few

great gifts for everyone.

12) Eliminate Junk Mail and Unwanted Catalogues

There are many ways to eliminate unwanted catalogs and junk mail that waste energy, resources

and paper. Check out www.obviously.com/junkmail/ or sign up for www.stopjunk.com with

preaddressed cards that will reduce your junk mail easily.

13) Give gifts that encourage a green lifestyle.

Last but not least, there are plenty of things to buy that encourage an earth-friendly lifestyle; Earth

Machines (available at your local DPW) make composting easy and accessible. Travel mugs, canvas

bags, solar chargers, plants or gardening tools are all good options too.

GREEN Northampton’s mission is to foster Northampton's community bonds and promote

environmentally sustainable lifestyles in response to climate change and resource depletion.

The organization coordinates the efforts of the GREEN Teams in the public schools in

Northampton and advocates for a carbon neutral Northampton and a reduction of Northampton’s

solid waste stream to the landfill by 90% by 2011. GREEN Northampton is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

For more information or questions, contact David Starr 413 584 8785 or at

info@GREENNorthampton.org.

8 WAYS TO GREEN YOUR KITCHEN

Valerie Demerski — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:17:00 GMT

So all those gourmet cooking shows have inspired you to spend more time in the kitchen. But between
energy use, water use and food/packaging disposal, there’s lots of opportunity to help or hurt the
environment in the process. Here’s eight ways to green your time in the kitchen . . . BAM!

1. Set Up Recycling Bins
Over 32 percent of our solid waste is some sort of packaging, and much of this ends up in our kitchen.
Depending on your community’s curbside program, you should set up one bin for all recyclables or a
different bin for each one. Make sure you are recycling:
Aluminum cans
Glass bottles
Paper (including mail and cardboard boxes)
Plastic bottles
Steel cans
You can find out where to recycle packaging using Earth 911.

2. Compost Food Waste
Putting food waste down the garbage disposal is a better alternative than throwing it in the trash. But
disposals use lots of water. An even better option is to compost your organic food waste, including
fruit/vegetable remains, egg shells and coffee grounds (avoid meat and dairy). Compost bins produce
nutrient-rich soil for your backyard.

3. Be Time Sensitive
Most of the appliances in your kitchen are designed to make things hot or cold. Interrupting this process
wastes lots of energy. Exposing the inside of your refrigerator/oven to room temperature makes them work
extra hard to get back to normal. Here’s a few good suggestions to follow:
    1. Know what you want before going to the fridge so you limit open door time
    2. Use your oven light to check on food instead of opening/closing the door
    3. Cook multiple dishes on the same burner so it will already be warm

4. Reuse Cooking Water
So you’ve just boiled some vegetables on the stove and have a pot full of water left. Instead of pouring it
down the drain, use it to water plants (once it has cooled). Nutrients from foods like pasta and veggies will
serve your house plants well, and you’re killing two birds with one stone.

5. Save Grease and Oil
Even the newest George Foreman grill creates grease, and you may be tempted to pour it down the drain.
The same thing happens with cooking oil. But your kitchen pipes aren’t made to handle these products. In
addition to pipe clogs, your sewer treatment center will have a difficult time with them. Save your grease
and oil in a coffee tin and it can be reused for future cooking.

6. Be Dish Savvy
You already have a step in the right direction if you’re using ceramic plates instead of disposable ones. The
next step is to fill that dishwasher before running a load. This will cut energy and water use, and extend the
life of your dishwasher.
To answer the question about which is better, hand washing plates or using a dishwasher, this is going to
depend on way too many factors for a clear answer. If you hand wash dishes, try to fill the sink with water
and soak them instead of running the faucet the whole time.

7. Think Long-Term for Cooking Utensils
Metal is king when it comes to long-lasting cooking gear. Stainless steel pots and pans, iron skillets and the
like will pay off in the long run. Plus, these items can be recycled easily as scrap metal, so you won’t have
to worry about where to take a plastic spatula with egg stains for disposal.

8. Recycle Appliances
Inevitably, your appliances will need to be replaced. If it’s an upgrade, donate your old microwave or
toaster to a second-hand store (call before bringing a refrigerator). It the old appliance doesn’t work, get the
new appliance delivered and see if the store will take the old one for you. Appliances are made of valuable
steel and can contain freon, neither of which belongs in a landfill. You can recycle appliances using Earth
911.

Originally published on Earth 911

ECO FURNISHINGS

Valerie Demerski — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:07:00 GMT

What makes up green furniture?

Whether you live in a house, apartment, or dorm room, you’ll need furniture to provide a place to sit, eat, and store your stuff. You’ll naturally consider materials, color, quality, and cost. You may also want to use furniture to express your personal style. But what if (as evidenced by your coming to this site) it’s your style to create a healthy home that’s contributing to a healthy planet? Well, then you’ll want to do some research. You’ll need to think about the entire life cycle of the piece, taking into account the resources used to make it, the energy costs associated with transporting it, and the ease of disposal. You’ll want to know whether it’s going to pollute your indoor air.

There is an increasing array of beautiful, dynamic furniture that is good for the planet and you. And it's becoming more widely available and more competitively priced. It's still often true that showpiece "green furniture" tends to be a bit more expensive than what you can find at discount outlets. But the product at fine eco-boutiques isn't really more expensive than the high-end designer furniture that's always been around. There are less expensive lines coming out—and remember that you don't need to replace every piece in your home all at once (who can afford that these days?). Start with one piece when you need to replace something old or furnish a new space. Remember that a quality piece of furniture can last a lifetime (or even be passed down through several lifetimes), so the expense gets averaged out over time. And part of the price tag is going to support sustainable industries and better air quality.

So what does green furniture look like? The possibilities are nearly endless! You can find it as rough-hewn pioneer furniture made from logs hand sawed from broken or dead trees, or cutting-edge contemporary designs that stretch the imagination. Fresh new materials are becoming more widely used, such as cork, harvested sustainably from tree bark, and bamboo, which is fast growing and requires little water and no pesticides. There are exciting advances with non-toxic composites made from agricultural wastes, such as boards made from discarded wheat chaff, or recycled newspaper. And there is a resurgence in reworking already used wood, collected from old barns, homes, fences and the like, or salvaged from driftwood or fallen trees. Green furniture makers are doing exciting things with recycled metal, and are getting innovative by employing reused seatbelts, reshaped tools, reclaimed glass, bicycle parts, skate and surf boards and much more. Manufacturers are eliminating toxic products in favor of VOC-free glues, paints, stains and so on (many are water-, milk- or plant-based). Pieces are being assembled without any glue: just fasteners, which make assembly and disassembly for recycling easier, and which allow flat packing, which means less transportation costs. New green mattresses are being built with comfy memory foam made from plant sources instead of off-gassing oil. Even large furniture makers are starting to offer pieces made with sustainably harvested new wood. One good way to ensure a company's claims have merit is to look for a third party certification, such as the Forest Stewardship Council. The industry-backed Sustainable Forestry Initiative is generally less rigorous.

We don’t recommend that you try to do this research while standing in the middle of a furniture store. But green furniture is a fast-growing retail segment. If you know the lingo and the basics principles of green design before you go to the store, you’ll be able to make good choices with a minimum of head scratching.

At Home:

- Reuse. In your effort to go green, you may be tempted to throw out your existing furniture. But keep in mind that every new couch, bookshelf, or table takes a toll on the environment, from the resources used to make it to the energy consumed to transport it. So, before you buy new, reuse what you’ve got. Be creative. Can you repaint using a low- or zero-VOC paint? Can you cut off legs or re-upholster? Can a dresser become a baby changing table? Of course, keeping your furniture for many years is a great way to go green, since you won’t be contributing to the production of new materials. There are many ways to get great used pieces for cheap, including asking friends and family, hitting garage and estate sales, frequenting flea markets, thrift stores and auctions, and checking out the antiques market. There is some concern, with mattresses in particular, about the resurgence of bed bugs, so you do need to exercise some caution. Luckily, there are some prevention steps you can also take, such as using plant oils and barrier covers as repellents.

- Recycle. If you are going to part with some existing furniture, don’t just dump it in a landfill. Sell it or give it away. If you don’t know anybody who wants it, try websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle.

When shopping, look for:

- Certified wood. The core of much of our furniture continues to be wood, which is beautiful, strong and versatile. But of course, wood also has to be harvested, and it takes years to grow. Deforestation is still a rampant problem around the world, leading to desertification, damage to water supplies, loss of habitat and loss of carbon sequestration. It is still true that furniture contributes to loss of valuable forests. It's also true that illegal logging remains a major problem in tropical countries, where gorgeous hardwoods like teak and mahogany are removed surreptitiously from protected preserves, then quietly mixed into the mainstream market.In addition to wood, much furniture is made from metal, plastics and various chemicals, all of which must be sourced from somewhere. Mining of metals remains one of our most toxic enterprises, while plastics and many other materials, from paint to glue, are typically made out of petroleum— with it's massive environmental and social footprint.

- Other eco-friendly options. Some bamboo processing options are less environmentally friendly than others, but, on the whole, bamboo is considered one of the greenest materials because it’s fast growing and doesn’t require pesticides. Other eco-friendly options include metal and glass.

- Reclaimed or recycled materials. Lately, furniture is being made of reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and recycled plastic. Keep in mind, however, that furniture made before 1978 may have lead-based paint or finishes. And, polyurethane foam may emit more flame retardants and other chemicals as it ages, so an older piece of foam may have higher emissions.

- Go local. Do your best to find materials that weren’t transported long distances.

- Low or no VOCs. It may be obvious that the quality of your mattress can affect your back and sleeping patterns. But did you also know that your furniture could be slowly poisoning you? That's because furniture is a major emitter of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), those chemicals that are largely responsible for indoor air being more polluted, on average, than what's outside. VOCs released from furniture include formaldehyde, benzene, acetone, toluene, xylene, 1,3-butadiene and many more. They can take years to dissipate, and result in common symptoms like fatigue, headaches, skin and eye irritation, tingling or numbness in the extremities, drowsiness and dizziness. Over time they may increase your risk of cancer and respiratory problems.Where do the VOCs come from? They are found in many industrial glues, paints, solvents and stains. They are a major factor in conventional plywood, particleboard and other materials with binding agents. They release from petroleum-based fabrics, plastics, vinyl and materials that have been "treated" to resist rot, wrinkles, stains or fire. That's why it's a good idea to ventilate your home or office as much as possible, to avoid adding extra VOCs in the form of treatment chemicals or toxic cleaning products, and to go with antique or natural alternatives when possible.

- Certification. Several organizations offer air-quality certifications for furnishings. Greenguard is the most widely recognized.

Other Considerations:

- Inside your soft furnishings, including padded wood chairs, is often foam that has been treated with flame retardants. Usually, one of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is used, although other flame retardants are on the market. PBDEs escape from foam and can be found in household dust. North Americans have concentrations of PBDEs in their bodies that are 40 times higher than those in Europe. The chemical can disrupt thyroid hormone levels and slow brain development, among other health effects. Sales staff will often tell customers that chemical flame retardants must be used to meet federal and state regulations. Not true. Yes, federal and state standards exist to prevent the ignition and spread of fires, but brominated and chlorinated flame retardants are not required. Other systems can be used to meet the standards.

- Another important factor is fabric. Conventional cotton is heavily treated with pesticides. Heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often used to treat and color the fabric. Plus, some fabrics are treated with stain repellants, usually perfluorochemicals, which can cause adverse health effects. Choose untreated natural fibers with eco-friendly dyes.

- Before you buy, consider how you will dispose of the furniture down the road. Materials that can be recycled are the best choice.

Benefits:

…to your health: Choosing furniture that will not taint your indoor air with noxious chemicals will improve your health.

…to your wallet: Green furniture has come down significantly in price, with options at almost any price point. If you go the reuse or recycled route, you’ll save even more.

…to the Earth: Choosing green furniture protects forests and reduces the amount of toxic chemicals used in manufacturing. Using recycled or reclaimed materials saves resources and requires less energy for processing.

Getting Started:

Figure out what you need in terms of function, and then choose the type of material. Then it’s time to research what green options are available.

Excerpted from Sierra Club's GreenHome and E-The Environmental Magazine

LOCAL GEOTHERMAL COMPANY HELPS YOU SAVE MONEY AND THE PLANET!

Valerie Demerski — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:37:00 GMT

In December 2007, Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. (ECS) participated in the purchase, through Nonotuck Mill LLC, of a 150,000 square foot brick and mortar mill building, located at 296 Nonotuck Street in Florence (Northampton), Massachusetts. The site, which eventually became known as the Nonotuck Mill, attracted its first industrialists, who were drawn to the natural 25-foot elevation drop in the Mill River, in the 1830’s. The hydropower was soon expanded, and a silk plantation and processing factory was built. But in 1837, a nation-wide credit collapse caused the Mill to fall into bankruptcy. This created the opportunity for the Northampton Association of Education and Industry (NAEI) to purchase the property.

The NAEI was a utopian society which attempted to deal with some of the moral challenges faced by an agrarian society that was transforming itself to an industrial powerhouse, focusing heavily on the themes of education, slavery, fair wages, democracy, and religion. Their choice to purchase the hydro-powered mill and grow silk was both practical and moral. It was a profitable industry which did not rely on a morally troublesome slave trade to generate those profits. Over the next half a dozen years, the NAEI became an important stop on the Underground Railroad and a nationally important center for suffragist discourse, drawing residents and visitors such as Sojourner Truth, William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglas. As our nation’s third great credit collapse unwinds, ECS hopes to use this same site as a demonstration of the enduring capacity of American industry to reinvent itself in an effort to mitigate the moral challenges it faces: unsustainable development, climate change and fossil fuel consumption.

Mostly as the result of 20th century manufacturing techniques, there are substantial amounts of waste oils and toxins on this property. Although the documented environmental releases had achieved regulatory “closure” at the time of purchase, residual hydraulic oils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected (after the building purchase) at thicknesses approaching several inches beneath the building, resulting in a reportable condition to the MassDEP. ECS is performing its core services to clean-up this “brown-field” site, making it a wonderful and useful part of this old New England community.

The Mill complex has been partly refurbished, with approximately 30,000 square feet currently leased as office space, including 4,200 square feet occupied by ECS. Other planned uses within the building include the establishment of a Green Business incubator. This group, which has an option to purchase up to 45,000 square feet of the Mill, currently has two products under development, including a “smart” solar-powered sunshade which substantially improves the energy efficiency of existing windows with mounting. In addition to the products, the group (and its subtenants) will be using their space for the training of workers for the building energy efficiency/insulation business. Additional current and pending uses of the complex include exercise facilities, a practice arena for a local roller derby team, a biofuel blending facility and a fine art storage and shipping facility. The use of alternative energy processing at this facility has increased the marketability of the space, drawing entrepreneurial and established businesses alike.

Within this overall effort, ECS has already installed three different name brand ground source heat pump systems and three very different earth energy harvesting systems. The geothermal system was designed to provide a “pilot scale” evaluation of three different “flavors” of geothermal – 1) a traditional closed loop water system using U-loops in two 500-foot deep wells to provide 5 tons of capacity; 2) direct expansion (DX) geothermal using five copper taps drilled diagonally to a depth of 100 feet each to provide 5 tons of capacity; and 3) a Kelix Thermacouple™, an innovative coaxial, turbulent flow heat exchanger using one 300-foot borehole to provide 5 tons of heating and cooling. All three systems were completed and activated in July 2009. These systems will be compared to traditional roof top electric air conditioners and gas-fired heat provided to the building’s second floor tenant, located directly beneath the space occupied by ECS. Data acquisition equipment has been connected to all critical components of these systems. System operating data can be viewed at (http://welserver.com/WEL0201).

For more information, contact at www.ecsconsult.com

LOCAL HELP FOR LEAF WOES

Valerie Demerski — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

COMPOSTING

AUTUMN

LEAVES

Introducing the Dead Leaf Harvest and the Managed Leaf Heap

How you can turn the dreaded leaf fall into a valuable resource in 7 months, eliminating the need for municipal pick-up and the everlasting pile.

What is the Dead Leaf Harvest?

The Dead Leaf Harvest is the activity of gathering autumn leaves and piling them in a special way with soil and water to make a usable mulch or soil amendment in only 7 months. By managing your leaf 'resource' in this way you can use up all of last fall's leaves by the middle of the summer and eliminate the need for a perennial mountain of leaves.

Advantages of the Leaf Heap

Packs an enormous amount of leaves into a working composting situation

This style of composting uses no food and does not attract animals

Makes a soil amendment that is not as acidic as the leaves you started with

Reduces the area and time needed to cycle autumn leaves back into the ground

Bagging leaves and municipal pick-up of leaves will not be necessary

Some of the finished product can be used in starting your next leaf heap

Services available:

Expert advice on creating and maintaining backyard compost

Assistance in starting your compost bin

Maintenance of your compost pile or bin

Diagnosing and improving your current composting set-up

Talks on any composting topic at garden clubs and schools

To learn more about backyard composting contact:

David Lovler

(cell) 617 733-7577

(e-mail) howitallvegan@yahoo.com

BABY AND FAMILY GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

Valerie Demerski — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:25:00 GMT

BABY AND FAMILY GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

From diaper duty to soccer practice, raising a family is hectic. Take the guesswork out of going green with these family-friendly tips:

Ø The chemical used in most polycarbonate plastic baby bottles is called bisphenol A, or BPA, and it has been linked to possible health problems in babies. BPA is most often found in hard clear plastics with the number 7 on the bottle. The best alternatives are tempered glass bottles and sippy cups, or softer, opaque plastic bottles, which are made from polyethylene or polypropylene (look for recycling symbols 1, 2 or 5; "good plastic" brands include Medela, Born Free and Evenflo). It's also wise to heat up milk or formula before pouring it into the bottle: Heating the filled bottle in a pan or microwave also heats the plastic, which can cause the chemicals into the bottle’s contents to transfer to the liquid.

Ø Plastic and Styrofoam are made from petroleum and chemicals, and heating them up can cause a transfer of their toxic properties into the food. Instead, transfer your food into ceramic, Pyrex or glass dishes before microwaving. It's a simple step that makes your food healthier. (And anyway, isn't it time you got out of the habit of eating your lunch at your desk, right out of a plastic container?)

Ø Replace that arsenal of cleaning products under your kitchen sink with one or two all-purpose non-toxic cleansers, or use all-natural pantry items like vinegar and baking soda. You can make your own cleaners with food-grade ingredients, or buy natural cleaners from your neighborhood health food store. These products clean just as well and (bonus!) can cost significantly less. Studies show that because of the multitude of chemical-based cleaners in the average home, the air in most homes is two to five times more harmful than the air outdoors. Cleaning products actually release chemicals into the air in your home, which can result in low-grade allergy symptoms or asthma.

So as a first step to clearing the air, identify all the unhealthy products that you want to replace, then take the unused products to a local Household Hazardous Waste facility (instead of throwing the products in the garbage or pouring them down the drain, which only pollutes our landfills and waterways). Ready to take the next step? Insist that your cleaning service use these healthier alternatives when cleaning your home or office.

Ø Coffee filters, toilet paper, tampons, diapers, napkins, paper towels and printing paper are all available in non-bleached, chlorine-free versions, which is good news for you as a consumer—and a human being. The process of whitening paper with chlorinated bleach creates dioxin, one of the most dangerous chemicals to humans. The EPA’s draft report on dioxin's health effects concludes that dioxins have the potential to produce a broad spectrum of adverse effects in humans by altering cell growth and development, causing cancer and suppressing the immune system. (A final version of the report should be released in the coming year.) The upshot? Each time a bleached paper product comes into contact with your skin, it may transfer dioxin into the blood stream. Be especially mindful of toilet paper, tampons, facial tissue and diapers because these come in contact with very sensitive areas of the body. Seek out products that are whitened without bleach (the alternative is usually hydrogen peroxide). These products are also typically made from recycled content paper.

Ø Making recycled school notebooks is a simple crafts project you can do with your kids—all you need are two empty boxes of cereal, a three-hole punch, three metal notebook rings (available at office supply stores) and about 50 sheets of recycled notebook paper. To create the front and back covers of the notebook, cut the front panel of each cereal box into a 9" x 11 1/2" rectangle, then punch holes in each panel using the three-hole punch. Slide the paper between the covers and slip metal rings through the holes to hold it all together. Unlike a spiral notebook, this one can be reused again and again—just slide in a fresh batch of paper.

Ø Teach kids an appreciation for growing food by enlisting them to help in the garden. Give them their own plants to nurture, let them help with weeding and watering, and teach them the basics of planting so they can actually see and taste the results of their work. Three easy, kid-friendly plant options to start with: sunflowers, carrots and pole beans.

Ø It seems like every kid goes through a phase of unspooling the toilet paper roll when no one is looking. Teaching kids to use a responsible amount of toilet paper will keep the phase from turning into a lifelong habit of using way more than is necessary for the task: A strip of paper no longer than your forearm is a good general guideline to follow.

Ø It's important for school-age kids to wash their hands frequently, especially during cold and flu season, but not all soaps are created equal. Anti-bacterial hand soaps may actually cause more harm than good because they kill beneficial bacteria as well as bad ones. And be sure to avoid hand sanitizers with triethanolamine, a chemical that may damage the liver and kidneys. In most cases, it's better to wash hands with good old-fashioned soap and water rather than with potentially damaging anti-bacterial chemicals.

Ø Encourage playtime Picassos with environmentally friendly crayons made from soybean oil, a renewable resource that's natural and non-toxic—unlike the petroleum used to make traditional crayons. (One brand to look for: Prang soybean crayons.)

Ø Studies show that when children are exposed to nature on a regular basis, they grow up to have a healthier respect for the planet and a better understanding of how their actions impact their surroundings. Make it a family tradition to participate in an outdoor cleanup each year at a nearby beach, river, waterway or park, so kids can learn how trash makes its way into our water systems and natural places. Or plan your next family vacation to include camping, canoeing, hiking or biking. Spend time discussing with kids the plants and animals in their world, and encourage them to draw pictures or take photos of the sights they see.

Ø The average American school-age child throws away 67 pounds of packaging a year, including plastic water bottles, sandwich baggies, molded food containers, and juice boxes. Cut down on your kids' lunchtime impact by packing sandwiches, fruits, veggies and treats in reusable lunch containers, and pack those in a reusable lunch bag or tote. Plastic baggies can also be washed and reused.

Ø Backpacks are not meant to be disposable, but somehow, kids seem to need a new one each year. Backpacks do endure a lot of wear and tear, but if your child’s backpack gets ripped or needs a new zipper, check to see if the manufacturer will fix it for free—manufacturers of high-quality packs often warranty their products. Alternatively, take your kid's pack to a local tailoring shop for repairs: Most problems can be solved with a patch or a few stitches… if you get to them early enough.

HOME AND GARDEN GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

Valerie Demerski — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:03:00 GMT

HOME AND GARDEN GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

Your home is one of the easiest places to start going green. Check out these ideas that go beyond turning off the lights but are just as simple:

Ø Reduce your water flow to a pencil-width when you turn on the water to wash your hands, dishes and fruits and vegetables. Two-thirds of the water we generally use to do most washing jobs is wasted down the drain! Reducing the flow won’t create more work or take more time—it simply saves a resource that is becoming more and more valuable.

Ø When tending your garden or patio, use mulch, plant drought-resistant and native plants, and be sure to water wisely. Small bits of bark (mulch) will help to reduce water evaporation, while planting native species will save water, since plants that are indigenous to your region won't need to be watered as much as others. When you do water your plants, make sure you do it before dawn or after dusk: Water evaporates quickly in the heat of the day.

Ø It’s a no-brainer to turn off your TV or stereo to conserve energy when you leave the house. But most people don’t realize that many appliances in your home still suck power from the wall—even when the devices are turned off. Unplugging them will save as much as 40% of the wasted electricity. Start by unplugging the chargers to your cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera and PDA when they're not in use. Then get into the habit of unplugging your TV, VCR, DVD, stereo, coffeemaker, microwave and anything else that has an internal clock or remote control, as these products are designed to remain in a “ready” state until needed—which means they continually drain electricity.

Ø Your whites will be just as white and clean, but you won’t waste 35 gallons of hot water to do each load of laundry. Using cold water helps preserve the color of your garments, and you'll see a noticeable difference on your gas bill as well.

Ø Set your computer to go into sleep mode when it's not in use, and shut it off each night. Shutting down your system every night will help save energy and also prolong the life of your computer (it’s actually better for your computer than leaving it on). As a next step, adjust your settings so that your screen goes dark when you're not using your computer. Screen savers prevent your computer from going into sleep mode and (contrary to popular belief) are not needed to preserve your screen. You can find your computer's sleep settings and energy management settings in your System Preferences.

Ø Most people don’t know when they have a leaky toilet. To easily find out if your toilet leaks, add food coloring (or instant coffee) to the tank water. Wait 30 minutes to see if any color has leaked into the bowl. If you find you have a leak, turn off the water and flush the toilet once. Then remove the toilet flapper and bring it with you to a hardware store to find a perfect match. Expect to replace your flapper every four to five years. If you use detergents to clean your toilet, however, you may need to replace your flapper every year, since chemical cleaners can damage, warp or erode the plastic.

Ø Gas mowers use two-stroke engines that do not burn gas efficiently—they're actually far more polluting than your car. Instead, get a little exercise with a good old-fashioned push mower. Be sure to leave the clippings on the lawn instead of collecting them and throwing them out, as cut grass is a natural and nutritious fertilizer for your lawn.

Ø Switch all the light bulbs in your home from standard filament bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). This new technology creates the same amount of light but uses only a quarter of the energy—plus, a CFL bulb lasts 10 times longer than a regular bulb. CFL bulbs are available at hardware stores and supermarkets, and come in all shapes, sizes and wattages. Give them a try, and watch your electric bill shrink significantly.

Ø A tub bath can waste up to 50 gallons of water. A shower uses a fraction of that, especially if you keep it short—around five minutes is best (try using an egg timer). If five minutes sounds ambitious, you can still save water by getting in the habit of turning off the water spray while lathering up, shaving... or singing. If you're in the market for a new shower head, look for one with a shut-off valve, or install an inexpensive shut-off valve on your current faucet head. The valve will allow you to temporarily turn off the water flow mid-shower—without losing that perfect balance of hot and cold water you worked so hard to finesse.

Ø If you have a gas wall heater in your home, you may already know that the unit contains a small pilot light (like the pilot light on a gas stove). While that pilot light is essential during the cold months, the bad news is that it burns continuously during the warm months, too, adding up to a lot of wasted gas—and about $6 per month (per pilot light) on your gas bill. Each year when spring arrives, call your gas company and have them come out to turn off the pilot lights in your wall heater.

Ø Visit the United States Department of Energy's online resource, the Green Power Network, to find out if your utility company offers the option of purchasing electricity from clean energy sources (wind, geothermal, solar or hydroelectric, for example). The Web site lists alternative energy options by state, and notes whether each alternative power source has been certified by an independent environmental organization.

Ø Start your organic garden out right with seeds and starter plants raised without pesticides and herbicides, available at most garden supply centers.

Ø Wrapping your water heater in an insulating blanket, available for about $10 at any hardware store, can help lower your energy bill by retaining more of the heat produced by the water heater. Another valuable trick is to turn down the thermostat setting on the unit to WARM, or 120 degrees. This will keep kids from being scalded by water that is too hot to touch, and will also save you money on your heating bill.