How green are you?

It's not easy being Green...or is it?
How Green are you?

Do you turn lights off when you leave a room?

Do you turn the water off while brushing your teeth?

Do you recycle and buy recycled products?

Do you eat organic food?

Do you shop at locally owned stores?

Everything we do impacts the earth and the other animals that share it with us. There are things we can do everyday to reduce our impact on the globe and our neighbors. No matter how green you think you are there is always room for improvement to be the best neighbors possible. Here are some simple steps you can take in your daily life to minimize your "footprint" on the planet, make the world cleaner and safer and help you and everyone breath easier. There are a lot of things you can do so don't get overwhelmed. Take on a section at a time or one task from each section until you have it all checked off. Before you know it you'll be living a Green Lifestyle!

Take our GQ Quiz to see how your Green Quotient ranks.

Other Ways to "Green" Yourself

Transportation

The United States consumes almost 9 million barrels of gasoline daily – 44 percent of total global daily gasoline consumption
(Alliance to Save Energy).

Transportation accounts for more than 65 percent of the oil we consume in the United States and more than we produce. Today, our country imports more than 58 percent of its oil supply, and imports are expected to reach 70 percent over the next two decades (U.S. Department of Energy).

ü Tread lightly in your car. One way to save fuel is to find your inner calm. Don't weave in and out of traffic. Don't pound the gas when the light turns green. Keep a good distance behind other cars on the highway, anticipate starts and stops, and adjust speed gradually.

ü Slow down. Ford Motor Co.'s fuel economy tips note that driving 55 instead of 65 miles per hour can improve fuel economy 10 to 15 percent.

ü When a car idles, carbon monoxide emissions are at their highest. Don't idle more than two minutes.

ü Reducing your weekly mileage by 20 miles will decrease your annual carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 pounds.

ü Move closer to work, cutting down on commuting.

ü Drive hybrid-electric vehicles. At today's gas prices ($2.38 per gallon), U.S. households driving SUVs can expect to spend $2,860 on fuel in one year, while U.S. households driving hybrid-electric vehicles will only spend between $800 and $1,580 per year (Alliance to Save Energy).

ü The “Miles-Per-Gallon” impact—the difference between a car that gets 20 mpg and one that gets 30 mpg is more than $2,300 over 5 years, assuming both cars use gas priced at $2.38 per gallon and are driven 12,000 miles a year. If everyone purchased one of the four most efficient models in each vehicle class (sedans, sub-compacts, SUVs, light trucks), fuel economy would be 12 percent higher and Americans could save 13.1 billion gallons of gasoline annually (Environmental Protection Agency). At today’s gas prices ($2.38 per gallon), the average U.S. household will spend $2,520 on gasoline in one year (Alliance to Save Energy).

Home Energy

According to estimates from the Energy Information Administration, in just two decades U.S. energy consumption will increase by about one third – roughly equivalent to the energy consumption of Texas, California, Florida, New York, and Michigan combined.

ü Wrap a fiberglass blanket around your older water heater and secure it with duct tape. You can save 10 percent on water heating costs. Insulate your water heater and the first five feet of pipe coming out of the water heater, or the whole length until the wall if less than five feet. This way, your heater doesn't have to work as hard to reach the desired temperature.

ü Set your water heater to the “normal” setting or 120F. This is as hot as you will reasonably need it, but doesn’t use excess energy to heat. In addition to saving energy with this setting, your water heater will have a longer lifetime and need less maintenance.

ü Use warm or cool water instead of hot to save money and energy and still get clothes just as clean. Between 80 and 85 percent of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating the water (U.S. Department of Energy).

ü Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts indoor climates to increase home comfort and reduce energy bills. It’s cost-effective and easy! Over an air conditioner’s lifetime, only one-fourth of the total cost is for the purchase of the air conditioning unit. The greater cost – three-fourths – is for the energy to run the air conditioner.

ü Keep your thermostat constant and as low as comfortable. Frequently turning the thermostat up and down again to heat the house quickly usually overheats it, and can often use more resources than keeping a constant temperature. Keep it on a moderate temperature like 68F, and turn it down to 55F or off when you leave the house for the day or while sleeping.

ü Devote plenty of garden space to vegetables. Home-grown carrots and tomatoes don't have to be brought to you, so fuel and combustion are saved; you can produce the food without synthetic pesticides; and finally, leafy plants contribute a bit to global cooling.

ü Dust your light bulbs. They'll not only last longer, but will burn 20% more efficiently. (Be sure to remove the shade, turn the lamp off, and wait for the bulb to cool before you dust.)

ü Plant trees or shrubs to shade your air conditioning compressor unit- this can improve cooling efficiency as much as 10%. (But don't shade evaporative coolers; they rely on sunlight to operate efficiently.)

ü The self-cleaning feature on an oven is an energy-waster that can add 21% to operating costs. Although these models do eliminate the need for potent oven-cleaning chemicals, they can also produce their own airborne pollutants during operation.

ü Seal and insulate your home. Sealing your home's "envelope" is one of the most cost-effective ways to lower your home's energy bills and improve your comfort. Visit ENERGY STAR for more information.

ü How hot is it really? If switching on the air conditioner is your knee-jerk reaction every time the temperature approaches 80^oF, consider that you can stay comfortably cool with oscillating or box window fans that cost a tenth as much to operate. Get air moving through your house with a technique people have been using as long as there have been windows. Set up cross-currents by opening windows at the bottom on one side of the house and at the top on the other.

ü Clean or replace heating/cooling filters monthly and make sure all equipment is maintained regularly. Dirty filters restrict air flow and increase energy use. They also increase indoor air pollution, which can cause health problems.

ü Caulk, seal, and weatherstrip any air leaks to ensure heat and a/c does not escape through cracks in your home. Be sure to check where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring go through exterior walls. Check for window and door leaks and seal them up. Put a foam door stopper in front of the doors, and get some thick winter curtains to keep the cold out.

ü Use shades or blinds to heat and cool your home naturally. During the summer, close binds or shades on the south- and west-facing windows of the house. During the winter, keep blinds on sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night to conserve heat.

ü Close the damper on your fireplace after the fire is completely out. Open your fireplace damper when there is a fire going.

ü Turn off lights, TVs, computers, electronics when not in use. Activate “sleep” features on computers, printers, and televisions. Many idle electronics – TVs, VCRs, DVD and CD players, cordless phones, microwaves – use energy even when switched off to keep display clocks lit and memory chips and remote controls working. Nationally, these energy “vampires” use 5 percent of our domestic energy and cost consumers more than $8 billion annually ( Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). “Sleep” features that power down home office equipment and other electronic devices that are turned on but not in use can save households up to $70 annually.

ü Replace five of your most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

ü Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

ü Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional range or oven when possible.

ü Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use and limit your showers to 10 minutes.

ü Install an on/off switch for you water heater. That way you can turn it off when away at work or on trips when hot water isn’t needed. Turn it on about 30 minutes before you’ll need the hot water again. This saves a lot on electric bills.

ü Appliance Audit. The average household spends some $1,500 each year on energy bills. By choosing Energy Star-qualified products, consumers can cut this by 30 percent, a savings of about $450 each year. Find out which of your home appliances and electronics use the most energy and switch to ENERGY STAR appliances .

ü Fans can provide additional cooling and better circulation to cut down on air conditioning costs during the summer. If you are replacing your air conditioner, consider buying an energy efficient evaporative cooler or ENERGY STAR central a/c.

ü Clean your refrigerator condenser coils at least once a year.

ü Going on vacation? Be sure to turn down your thermostat and unplug appliances and electronic devices, which use energy even when they are powered “off”.

ü Don't peek while cooking in a conventional oven - that lowers the temperature. And don't preheat your oven for foods with a cooking time of more than one hour.

ü Don’t hold the fridge or freezer open. Think about what you want before you open the door.

ü If you have an industrial sized unit, consider a strip curtain that will let you see in without letting as much cold air out.

ü Turn your settings down to mid-range if you open it often, low if you don't.

ü Check the molding on the door to make sure it closes completely and is airtight.

ü The Alliance to Save Energy ( http://www.ase.org/ )promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security.

ü Give your home an energy audit at http://hes.lbl.gov/

Water Use

By letting the water run while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing dishes you can waste 3 to 5 gallons a minute. That adds up to about 20,000 wasted gallons a year in your home.

ü Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.

ü Only use clothes washers, dryers, and dishwashers when you have a full load. Washing machines set at the full cycle, top water level uses 40 gallons of water. The new "tumble-action" efficient clothes washer uses only 25 gallons.

ü Set the washing machine for the appropriate level.

ü Store a pitcher of water in the refrigerator for drinking so you won't have to let the faucet run to get cold water.

ü Don't use the toilet as a trash can.

ü Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing dishes. By letting the water run while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing dishes you can waste 3 to 5 gallons a minute? That adds up to about 20,000 wasted gallons a year in your home. With the tap running while brushing your teeth you lose 10 gallons down the drain. If you only turn the water on to wet the brush, then rinse, you use only one half gallon or less. Shaving with the tap running uses 20 gallons. Instead fill the basin and use only 1 gallon. Tap running while washing dishes uses 30 gallons of water. If you wash and rinse in a dishpan or sink you use only 5 gallons.

ü Use the short cycle on your automatic dishwasher. The full cycle uses 15 gallons while the short cycle uses only 11 gallons of water.

ü Turn the water off while washing your hands. When the tap is running you lose 2 gallons or more. Soap and then rinse you’ll only use 1 gallon or less.

ü Use a low-flow shower head/restrictor so you can turn the water off while you soap up. A regular showerhead uses 30 gallons of water for a 5 minute shower. While a low-flow showerhead/restrictor uses15 gallons and if you only run the water to wet-down and rinse off you only use 4 gallons.

ü Limit your hot showers to ten minutes. Get a timer or waterproof clock for the bathroom so you can keep track. This also helps make sure you leave the house on time. This also saves on energy because you use less hot water.

ü Use an ultra-low flush toilet. A conventional toilet uses 5-7 gallons of water per flush. A ultra-low flush toilet uses only 1.6 gallons.

ü Water your lawn less frequently. Chances are, if you water less frequently your lawn will be healthier. Less water means less fungus, less disease, and fewer weeds; so you can save water, reduce chemical usage, and have a healthier lawn.

ü Water between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.

ü Avoid watering gutters and sidewalks.

ü Don't water on windy or rainy days.

ü Don't water for the brown spots.

ü Check the irrigation system monthly.

ü Plant Native! Plant Native! Plant Native! Plant trees, shrubs, plants and ground covers native to your area. They are adapted to your climate so can withstand cold, hot or drought conditions much better so you cut down on watering. They provide shade for your yard and home cutting down on air conditioning costs. Plants absorb CO₂ and air pollution outside and inside (Inside they reduce the air pollution in your home and the dust.). Plants cool the atmosphere, relieving the Greenhouse Effect and provide us with Life-Giving Oxygen! They also provide shelter and food for the wildlife in your area. You'll have your own little wildlife sanctuary.

Home Chemicals

ü Swap hefty chemical cleaning products for simple things you may already have around the house.

ü Make a toilet bowl cleaner out of a paste of Borax and lemon juice.

ü Two tablespoons of vinegar in warm water makes a simple glass cleaner.

ü Use baby oil instead of paint thinner to remove paint or grease from your hands.

ü For a natural air freshener, simmer cinnamon and cloves.

ü Use Borax instead of bleach.

ü Worcestershire sauce can be used to polish brass.

ü Use moist salt to remove coffee cup stains.

ü Clean the coffee pot with vinegar.

ü Make a wood polish with three parts olive or almond oil and 1 part white vinegar.

ü To unclog a drain, pour 1/3 cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of cream of tartar down the drain, then pour 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover the drain tightly and wait 15 minutes. Flush with boiling water.

ü Make a floor cleaner by mixing 1 cup of vinegar in 2 gallons of water. Add 1/3 cup lemon juice for fragrance.

ü To remove mildew, mix equal parts vinegar and salt.

ü Remove spots with club soda, lemon juice and salt.

ü Make a tub and tile cleaner by mixing 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup white wine vinegar in a quart of warm water.

ü Read the “Deadly Dozen” chemicals that the Toxic Free Foundation suggests to avoid. Deadly Dozen PDF file.

Garden Chemicals

ü Stop using lawn and garden pesticides. Organic lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides can be purchased through Gardens Alive at our Gift Ideas .

ü Simply choose a fertilizer that contains slow-release nitrogen. Traditional quick-release nitrogen fertilizers cause the lawn to green up fast, but they are bad for the grass in the long term. They cause the grass blades to grow faster than the roots, weakening the turf. This quick growth spurt can also contribute to thatch build-up. Also, quick-release nitrogen dissolves easily in water and can wash off into local streams, where it promotes weed growth. This is why so many towns have to find the money to dredge ponds to get rid of weeds. Use slow-release nitrogen fertilizer instead. Look for the words "timed release," "continuous action" or "long-lasting" on the label. Organic fertilizers and fertilizers made from natural products, such as manure, feather meal, blood meal and crushed rock are all slow-release products. On synthetic fertilizers, look for the amount of water-insoluble nitrogen, the good stuff, to be the same as or higher than water-soluble nitrogen.

ü Set the mower to leave clippings on the lawn. As the clippings break down they return nitrogen to the soil, as well as water, and lessen the need for store-bought fertilizer

ü Sweep all clippings and fertilizers off sidewalks and driveways and into the lawn, said Mary Owen, a University of Massachusetts Extension turf specialist. Even grass clippings can be a pollutant if they're washed into the water system.

Shopping

ü Buy local - it not only supports local businesses, but cuts down on fuel used to transport the goods.

ü Buy from the bulk aisle to cut down on packaging.

Landfill

The average American generates 1,700 pounds of trash a year, and 75 percent of what is dumped could be recycled.

ü Recycle your newspapers, glass and plastics. If you don’t have curbside recycling in your area call your waste management Department and ask why not. Find you nearest Recycling Center and plan trips there to take your recyclables. The average American generates 1,700 pounds of trash a year, and 75 percent of what is dumped could be recycled.

ü Compost your natural trash. You don’t need a big area. It can be a s simple as a pile in a corner of your yard or as involved as a compost bin to put it in. All natural trash can go in it, like vegetables, fruits, even some papers like tea bags, muffin paper cups and eggshells. Newspapers and cardboard can go in it as well but they have to be shredded well first and soaked in water. The compost should have a 20:1 ratio of dry or dead material (dried leaves or hay) to wet material (fresh plants or leaves). Turn it once in a while to aerate it and over time you have great dirt for you garden! You reduce your contribution to the landfill and make great fertilized dirt for your plants.

ü Save trees by removing your name from junk mail lists (see http://test.newdream.org/junkmail/form.php ).

ü Bring your own bags when shopping. Use canvas or string. An estimated 380 billion plastic bags are consumed in the United States each year. About 100 billion of those are plastic grocery bags, according to the statistics compilers at ReusableBags.com. Plastic grocery bags end up in the bellies of sea turtles and whales, and retailers spend an estimated $4 billion a year on bags. 12 million barrels of oil are used each year to manufacture 100 billion plastic shopping bags in the United States. Paper bags are no better. They require four times as much energy as plastic bags to manufacture and, in one year alone, 14 million trees were chopped down to supply the nation with 10 billion paper grocery bags. Reuse old bags or use canvas or string bags. Some stores even give you credit, like 10 cents, for bringing your own bag.

ü If you have plastic bags don’t throw them out. Either reuse them or empty your stash of plastic bags from your kitchen, look for a plastic-bag recycling station at most grocery stores. Stop & Shop, for example, sells the used bags by the pound to an Arkansas company called AERT, which recycles them into a faux-wood building material that can be used to build decks, door and window components and exterior trim on houses. The recycling station takes any brand of plastic grocery bag, so don't feel guilty about sneaking in a few competitors'.

ü Buy products made from recycled materials, such as paper goods and even faux-wood. This “wood” can be used for decks and never has to be painted finished and never rots! Recycling does not work unless we complete the cycle.

ü Use plastic or ceramic plates and cloth napkins to reduce your contribution to the landfill. Don’t use paper plates and paper napkins for everyday use. It doesn’t have to be your fine China. Use hard plastic plates and use cloth napkins that are on sale. It doesn’t have to be fancy, you were using paper before. How fancy is that?

ü Beware of E-Waste. The problems caused by e-waste are numerous. The major one is that much of it contains harmful chemicals if not processed properly. Lead, mercury, and cadmium are the major chemicals involved, but a typical computer monitor is made of 6% lead, and a typical e-waste item may contain up to 36 separate chemical elements.

Buy Less - Do you really need a new cell phone? Before replacing a computer, check to make sure it isn’t still under warranty, and could be fixed for free. Don’t let advertising talk you into buying products you don’t need or want.

Buy Green - When do you buy a new product, think about where it will end up. Ask retailers and manufacturers if they have a take-back and recycling program for their electronics, and let them know this is influencing your decision. Also, check to make sure their “recycling” program isn’t simply sending the device to China to be thrown out.

Donate - If your computer still works, contact local schools, community centers, or nonprofits to see if they could use it. Don’t just drop it off, though, it may end up just going in the trash.

Recycle - If the device no longer works and the manufacturer won’t take it back, take it to an electronics recycling center. It may still end up in a landfill, but it has a better chance of being put to use, or at least disposed of properly.

ü Don’t throw away items at home you don’t want, like furniture, clothes, even moving boxes. Either donate what you can to charities or second hand stores or post them at Freecycle.org . You can go to www.freecycle.org and find your local group. Post your items to give away or shop for things you need. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Other Ways to "Green" Yourself

ü Eat less meat - growing vegetables requires less land and energy.

ü Next time you read or hear about an environmental cause that gets your pulse beating, don't just tell yourself you will write your legislator about it. Do it. Let your elected leaders know when you're upset about something on principle, not just when it's happening in your backyard. You can contact your Federal Representatives, Senators and the President at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ . If you are not sure who your Representatives are this site will help you. Just type in your zip code.

ü Know your eco-footprint - how many pounds of carbon dioxide you use per year based on car use, air travel and home energy bills. The average American is responsible for about 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year , which comes from home energy use, personal transportation and waste, as well as the energy used to produce all the products and services we consume. This per capita number is greater than that of any other industrialized country. In fact, the U.S. accounts for more than 20 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions. What is your personal footprint? Go to Climate Crisis at http://www.climatecrisis.net/