Going Green and Sustainable Living Information

Original Summary December 2010, Revised August 2015

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Table of Contents

General Information..................................................................................................................................3Food Product Definitions..................................................................................................................5Rewards of Sustainable Living..........................................................................................................5Four Primary Green Strategies..........................................................................................................5Other Interesting Facts......................................................................................................................6

Reusing......................................................................................................................................................7Used or New Stuff for Sale, Give Away...........................................................................................8

Recycling...................................................................................................................................................8Saving Cardboard and Paper.....................................................................................................................9Saving Power...........................................................................................................................................10

Lighting...........................................................................................................................................10Electricity Use.................................................................................................................................11Heating, Cooling, and Hot Water Heaters.......................................................................................13Tighten Up Your Home...................................................................................................................14Cooking...........................................................................................................................................15

Saving Water...........................................................................................................................................16Green Homes...........................................................................................................................................18

Eco-friendly Home Building and Remodeling Information............................................................19Homes of the Future........................................................................................................................19

Landscaping Tips....................................................................................................................................19Cleaning...................................................................................................................................................21Green Your Pet........................................................................................................................................22Cars..........................................................................................................................................................23Shopping..................................................................................................................................................24

Buy New Stuff Smarter...................................................................................................................25Green Shopping...............................................................................................................................25

Gifts and Party Information.....................................................................................................................26Green Vacation Information....................................................................................................................27Miscellaneous Tips..................................................................................................................................28Volunteering............................................................................................................................................29Additional Website Resources................................................................................................................29References...............................................................................................................................................31

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General InformationSustainability is “meeting your current needs while allowing future generations the capacity to meet theirs” (Swallow, p. 10). Sustainability looks at how to add value to the organization, employee, customer, and community.

Most people think that going green or being sustainable is costly, but it can save money, lower risks, and add value to your home. If you are uncomfortable with the word sustainability try substituting resilience. It is all about making yourself and the community stronger.

Background Information:

Reduce, reuse, and recycle is listed in the order of least environmental impact. Why reuse before recycle? It takes more resources to recycle an item than it does to reuse it. A great article on reducing and reusing by the EPA can be found at: http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics

The U.S. has lagged behind in taking action over the last 20 years to stop global warming and needs to catch up. “We have to change the tide of the global warming epidemic, or our lives, our children’s lives, and their children’s lives will be forever affected” (Bach, p. 2).

Your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases emitted as a direct or indirect result of your activity. The big six gases are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride.

Carbon dioxide is being released three times faster than it can be reabsorbed. “Every second, human activity emits another 770 tons--enough to fill 140 Olympic-size swimming pools (Yarrow, p. 6).

The U.S. has one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emission rates in the world. The U.S. contributes 22% of greenhouse gases worldwide (Brewer, p. 6). “The average European emits around 11 tons per year, while the average American emits over 22 tons--more than 5 times the world average (4 tons) (Yarrow, p. 8).

The carbon cycle could be brought back under control if we each had a footprint of 1.7 tons (Yarrow, p. 8).

Offsetting is not as good as reducing your carbon footprint, because there is a dely. “The U.S. would need to plant 30 billion trees a year to absorb the CO2 it emits” (Yarrow, p. 9).

Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere (Yarrow, p. 113).

An idling vehicle gives off 80% more pollution than one that is moving (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 255).

Carbon emissions per passenger per 1,000 miles (Yarrow, p. 109):

Bus-270 pounds of carbon

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Train-450 pounds of carbon

Small Car-590 pounds of carbon

Airplane-970 pounds of carbon

SUV-1,570 pounds of carbon

Note driving, railroads or sea travel is better than air travel. Air travel actually puts out the same amount of emissions as if you drove, however, because the emissions are released high in the earth’s atmosphere it a greenhouse affect three times greater than road emissions (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 78). Air travel emissions can also be more than driving, if you take several short-haul trips instead of a single flight. North Americans account for 40% of worldwide air traffic (Yarrow, p. 114).

Fossil fuels are being depleted 100,000 times faster than they are formed (Yarrow, p. 13). “It takes 79 tons of plant material and 10 million years to produce one gallon of gasoline (Yarrow, p. 118). “Fossil fuels currently provide 85% of the energy needs of the United States (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p.24). Some alternatives are:

Solar: photovoltaic, solar thermal (captures heat then transfers it to piped fluid in an in ground holding system) or solar dishes (heat transfers to a power generator)

Wind

Tidal Power

Geothermal: captures heat from the earth (individual houses can get heat from ten feet down) and transfers it to a heat pump system

Biomass: any organic material like pulp chips, weeds, animal manure, etc. burned to produce heat (burning produces carbon), turned into fuels like gas, methane, etc, or used instead of petroleum to produce products

Biomethane: gas produced from sewage, silage and kitchen waste

Biodiesel: a fuel that is similar to diesel fuel and is usually made from vegetable sources (as soybean oil)

Bioethanol: Ethanol is produced by fermenting the sugars in corn, sugar beets, switchgrass, or other agricultural products. It is used as a fuel in engines either by itself or more often as a gasoline additive.

Hydrogen fuel cells: not an energy source itself (comes from fuels or the renewable energy sources above), but it can store energy from those sources.

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Food Product DefinitionsOrganic (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 203 & 212).

Crops are grown without the use of most chemically based pesticides or petroleum and sewage fertilizers.

Animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones.

Genetic engineering and ionizing radiation are not allowed.

“100% Organic” means that all ingredients are organic.

“Organic” means that at least 95% of the ingredients are organic.

“Made With Organic Ingredients” means that at least 75% of the ingredients are organic.

NaturalNatural products do not contain artificial ingredients.

Meat-Grass-fed or Pasture RaisedAnimals were raised outdoors with a diet of hay and grass.

More information see: www.eatwellguide.org or www.ams.usda.gov/nop (USDA Certified Organic).

For fish, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC Certified) http://www.msc.org, www.seafoodwatch.org or www.fishonline.org.

Rewards of Sustainable Living Saving money: consuming less and buying things that last longer.

Boosting health: reducing the amount of chemicals in your home and walking or cycling can leave you with improved cardiovascular and immune systems and stronger lungs (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 11).

Encouraging profits: supporting green and ethical business practices by what you purchase.

Leaving a legacy: protecting the planet for future generations of people and wildlife.

Four Primary Green Strategies Reduce consumption.

Choose carefully and assess products and services by their entire lifecycle (manufacture through disposal).

Opt for renewal resources.

Be a part of the solution by helping educate others and participate in projects like tree-plantings, gathering recyclables, etc.

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Other Interesting Facts The average American throws out 7.5 pounds of trash per day (Smith, p. 29).

75 to 90 percent of waste can be recycled. America produces more than a third of the world’s garbage (Bach, p. 92).

The aluminum cans we throw away each year uses up enough oil to fuel a million cars for a year (Bach, p. 93).

“Every year, Americans drink more than 100 billion cups of coffee. Of these, 14.4 billion are served in disposable paper cups, enough to wrap the earth 55 times if placed end to end” (Bach, p. 13).

More than 76 tons of packaging and containers (over 500 pounds for every person) are thrown away each year. Less than half are recycled (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 113).

The proportion of plastic recycled in the U.S. is only about 6% of the nearly 30 million tons thrown away each year (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 87).

The energy from waste heat by U.S. power plants equals the total energy use of Japan (Lovins, Lovins & Hawken, p. 11). By 2020, emissions from electricity could be as much as 160% higher than in 1990 (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 73).

“Only about 15% of the $250 billion worth of power used by computers worldwide each year is spent actually computing—the rest is wasted while idling” (Yarrow, p. 94).

An average U.S. household wastes 14% of their food purchases (Yarrow, p. 79).

“Every year, Americans use enough plastic wrap to cover Texas” (Yarrow, p. 82).

“Americans purchase around 5 billion batteries each year and produce around 150,000 tons of battery waste annually (Yarrow, p. 90).

Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a television for 90 minutes (Yarrow, p. 86).

Recycling one PET plastic bottle (#1 plastic) saves enough energy to power a 14-watt compact fluorescent light bulb over 25 hours (Yarrow, p. 86).

Every ton of paper reused or recycled prevents the emission of over a ton of carbon dioxide, keeps 100 feet of waste out of landfills. Saves enough energy to light the average home for six months, and leaves 17 trees absorbing carbon dioxide (Yarrow, p. 85).

Recycled products rather than virgin made products save energy (Yarrow, p. 85):

o Recycled glass uses up to 50% less energyo Recycled paper uses 60-70% less energyo Recycled aluminum 95% less energy

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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, every year the world is using 31 barrels of oil, 6.5 billion short tons of coal, and 106 trillion cubic feet of natural gas-and these figures increase annually (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 24).

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that Americans use their vehicles to travel ½ mile or less (which would take less than ten minutes to walk) totaling 15 million miles a day and using 1.2 million gallons of gas (costing $3.9 million) (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 243).

Even though 70% of the planet is water, less than 1% is available for human use (Bach, p. 52).

ReusingReuse and the circular economy are connected. Reuse plays a large role in the circular economy where products are designed for longevity with multiple reuse and eventual recycling (Houten, 2014). A circular economy is an economic system in which materials are not wasted, because products are designed and built to be part of a network where reuse and refurbishment of a product, component, or material assures a continuous cycle of resources (Houten, 2014).

Why do we need to reuse more and move towards a circular economy? According to the Ellen McArthur Foundation, in the next 15 years three billion additional middle class consumers will flood the marketplace (n.d.)! A new way to meet everyone’s demand is necessary. Additional global trends in resource constraints, emerging technologies, increasing urbanization, and new legislation around waste regulation are also causing a shift towards a circular economy (Ellen McArthur Foundation, n.d.).

In Phoenix we currently have a 17% diversion rate (which is the percent of total waste that doesn’t go to the landfill) with a waste reduction goal of 40% by 2020. Recycling is not the only answer to reduce waste. To achieve this goal we need to incorporate reuse by considering what we buy and what we do with it when we no longer need it. Can a product have a longer life through repair? Can it be reused?

An unwanted item can go in the trash to the landfill. Or you can reuse or upcycle it. You can also donate it!  A donated item can generate revenue for a nonprofit and make people happy by helping them out with an item they need.  It can also be tax deductible. To learn more about reuse go to http://reusephoenix.weebly.com/.

To learn How to Become a Reuse Hero:https://www.haikudeck.com/p/XsuFCGytx9/how-to-become-a-reuse-hero or https://voice.adobe.com/a/REMvB

Used or New Stuff for Sale, Give Away http://phoenix.craigslist.org/ www.freecycle.org www.sharingisgiving.org

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For clothes and household items there are numerous:

o Goodwill stores (1/2 price day every other Saturday): http://www.goodwillaz.org/ o Other thrift stores including Salvation Army www.salvationarmyusa.org o Second hand or consignment shops (like http://asecondlook.com/)o Garage sales and flea markets o Used and new dented merchandise stores

Borrow or rent big items you do not use often like tools, tents, etc.

http://us.zilok.com/

Try renting instead of buying (FYI-Home Depot rents big tools as does many independent hardware stores).

Recycling

The filled in symbol like the one above means the product was made from recycled materials.

The three arrows by themselves mean that a product can be recycled and for plastics the number inside the arrows is the type of plastic (many areas only recycle #1 and #2 plastics).

To complete the recycling cycle (create demand for recycling) you need to buy recycled products.

Where to Recycle

Recycling in your area see www.earth911.org, includes listings for recycling fluorescent light bulbs (usually Home Depot or Lowes are the closet locations). The bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and virtually all components--the metal end cap, glass tubing, mercury and phosphor powder can be separated and reused.

Used sneakers: www.nikereuseashoe.com.

Rechargeable batteries from phones, camcorders, etc.: 1-800-8battery or www.rbrc.org.

Computers: AZStRUT or Students Recycling Used Technology accepts almost all electronic equipment for reuse, except CRT monitors. http://www.azstrut.org/. Or to recycle Dell Reconnect through local Goodwills accept any brand of used computer equipment in any condition. They also accept just about anything that can be connected to a computer.  You can see where and what your Goodwill and Dell accepts here:  http://www.dellreconnect.com/. 

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EPA source for e-waste recyclers (computers, TVs, fax machines, printers, etc.) http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling.

Cellular recycling: www.charitablerecycling.com.

Foam packing: http://www.epspackaging.org/info.html, http://www.loosefillpackaging.com/ or take foam peanuts and packing material to local mail box stores.

Used oil: http://www.recycleoil.org/.

Saving Cardboard and Paper“The average American uses around 580 pounds of paper each year (Yarrow, P. 96).

To stop or reduce catalogs: www.catalogchoice.org.

To stop junk mail: https://www.paperkarma.com/ (also an app!). Americans throw away unopened more than 44% of direct mail. Nearly 6 million tons of catalogs and other junk mail goes to landfills each year (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 116).

To stop unsolicited credit card offers go to www.optoutprescreen.com.

Share newspapers and magazines (many thrift stores accept magazines also).

To reduce mail, bank and pay bills online.

If you have to print an email, only print the text you need and/or print using “draft” or “fast” to save ink (Print Options). Note serif fonts — those with short horizontal lines at the top and bottom of characters — tend to use thinner lines and thus less ink than a "sans serif."

Copy and print on both sides of the paper.

Reduce all margins to ½ inch and you can save up to one page for every three pages printed (Swallow, p. 116)!

Jot things down on scrap paper rather than Post-it-Notes.

Note try to buy new paper that is made from recycled paper rather than virgin fibers. Recycled paper uses up to 90% less water and half the energy to make, yet only 10% of the over 12 million tons of printing and writing paper is made with recycled content (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 28).

Saving Cardboard (websites to list and/or buy boxes) http://www.UsedCardboardBoxes.com/

http://www.boxcycle.com/

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http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/112/boxes

Saving PowerTypical Household Power Breakdown (Smith, p.245)

o Heating and cooling 49%o Lighting 10%o Clothes washer and dryer 6% o Dishwasher 2%o Other products like stoves, microwaves, coffee makers, etc. 8%o Water heater 13%o Electronics 7%o Refrigerator 5%

Learn how to switch to green power (which does not include dam power) www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower (www.eere.energy.gov has information on alternative energy technologies).

To find out more about Wind energy: www.awea.org or Solar energy see www.solarelectricpower.org or www.ases.org.

Website for information on state, local utility and federal incentives that promote renewal energy: www.dsireusa.org.

Home energy calculators: http://hes.lbl.gov/hes/librarian.html.

Lighting CFL light bulbs use 75% less energy, last up to 10 times longer and save about

$30 or more in energy costs over their lifetime. If you replace ¼ of your light bulbs with CFLs, you could save 50% on your lighting bill (Yarrow, p. 31).

o To get the incandescent wattage in CFL, divide by four (100-watt would be 25-watt CFL).

Only light up the area you are in instead of the whole room.

Use light colored lampshades to maximize light. Place lamps in corners of rooms to reflect more light.

Reduce wattage in bulbs if appropriate.

Switch to full spectrum light bulbs, which mimic sunlight. White light bulbs bring out cool colors like blue (CFL 5000k) and warm lights bring out reds and oranges (CFL 2700k).

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Paint rooms light colors to reflect light and keep windows clean.

At Christmas, uses LED string lights (use less energy) and unplug the lights during the day.

Use solar lights for outside lighting when possible.

Use spotlights to concentrate on a smaller area and floodlights to spread light to a broad area.

Use occupancy sensor lights, which automatically turn off and on and/or event driven switches, which turn on when a door is open and turn off when the door is closed (great for closets).

Use light sensor switches for outdoor lights, which come on when it gets dark and turn off when it gets light.

Use Sunpipes (exterior plastic domes), which can provide 100 watts of light in winter and up to 500 watts in summer.

Electricity Use 75% of all electricity consumed by household appliances is standby power (when things

are off). Appliances on standby cost consumers 3.5 billion a year (Yarrow, p. 35). Unplugging appliances can cut your electricity bill by 10% (Yarrow, p. 34).

o Unplug things you do not use often like lamps and/or plug things into power strips, which you can turn off.

o Install “smart strip” power strips. When the main device (such as a computer) plugged into the strip is off, these strips turn off the energy flow saving up to 75% of energy that was wasted (Swallow, p. 105).

A computer left on all day everyday in a year will use nearly 1,000 kilowatts of electricity resulting in more than a ton of carbon emissions (McCay, Bonnin & Wallace, p. 21).

o A laptop consumes 90% less energy than a desktop computer (Yarrow, p. 94).

o Flat LCD screens use 30% less energy (Yarrow, p. 94).

o If you are gone more than 20 minutes turn off the monitor and if it will be more than 2 hours then turn the computer off too (it is a myth that computers use a lot of power to start up).

o Screen savers do not save energy, so have your computer automatically go into sleep mode with ten minutes of inactivity. This can cut its energy use 60-70% (Yarrow, p. 94).

o Always unplug the computer when you are not using it. If you leave your computer on overnight, it uses as much energy as laser printing 800 pages and if you leave it plugged in it uses about 8 watts even when off (Yarrow, p. 94).

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o Make your home page and search engine used http://www.blackle.com/. It saves energy, since the search website does not use color.

Charge phones and other things only as long as necessary. Plugged in cell phone chargers can use up to 5 watts of electricity every hour without the phone attached (Yarrow, p. 37).

o Look for chargers labeled dv, because they reduce their energy use to a trickle once the

appliance is charged.

Use solar powered battery chargers.

Keep the coils of your fridge clean and the filter at the bottom of your dishwasher.

Look for a soil sensor in your dishwasher that will adjust energy and water use depending on how dirty the dishes are. Also, use the lowest temperature setting as possible.

Turn off the dishwasher before it gets to the dry cycle and let the dishes air dry.

Look for integrated appliances, such as integrated digital TVs, which use less energy.

Plasma-screen high-definition TVs use nearly twice as much energy as their LCD-screen counterparts, and more than three times as much as the standard models. Rear project TVs are the most efficient.

o Turning down the brightness of your TV (or back light in LCDs) can reduce its power consumption by 30-50% (Yarrow, p. 34)

Use a computer program to run the lights, appliances and other electronic devices: www.automatedliving.com “Americans spend about $4 billion a year on electricity for things they are not using” (Bach, p. 43).

Get a PowerCost Monitor, which gives a digital display of how much electricity you are using and how much it adds to your bill.

“In 2006, Americans saved enough energy by using Energy Star appliances to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars and also saved $14 billion on their utility bills” (Bach, p. 44). www.energystar.gov

In summer try to do wash (dryer) and other activities involving hot water early in the morning or late at night. Try to wash using only cold water.

Run dryer loads back-to-back to increase efficiency (drum stays warm) and keep vents clear. A blocked dryer can use up to 30% more energy (Yarrow, p. 57).

“When you use 4 dryer balls in your dryer, you can cut an average of 25% off your large load drying time and cut around 35-45% off your small loads!! “ (Most dryer softener sheets contain tallow an animal byproduct. Dryer balls can be an alternative and last for years.) Quote from http://www.wooldryerballs.com/.

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o Amazon also sells dryer balls or make your own dry ball see: http://goodmama.typepad.com/goodmama/2008/05/make-your-own-wool -dryer - balls.html.

Heating, Cooling, and Hot Water Heaters Make sure vents are clean and not blocked and change filters regularly.

Service your furnace annually to keep it running efficiently. If it is more than ten years old, replace it (condensing or variable speed fan motor furnaces are more efficient).

Thermostat should be set to at least 68 degrees in winter and 76 degrees in the summer. “Every degree that you lower the thermostat will save you approximately 3 percent on your heating bill (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 84).

For accurate readings, thermostats should be located on an internal wall of one of the main living areas.

Install programmable thermostats.

Turn off your water heater if you will be gone for an extended time. Water heaters should be set below 120 degrees.

Add timers to hot water heaters.

Place your water heater close to where most of your hot water will be used.

Replace hot water heaters with electric in-line, demand, or solar water heaters.

o Solar water heaters can cut your water-heating bills up to 80% (Yarrow, p. 22).

o Demand water heaters only burn energy when you need hot water, so can save half of the cost of heater water (Yarrow, p. 22).

Air-conditioners use up to 1/6 of the electricity in the U.S. (Yarrow, p. 28). Ceiling fans can use 1/10 of the electricity to cool a room as air conditioners (Yarrow, p. 28). Running your fan counterclockwise in summer directs air downward and creates a breeze; in the winter, running it clockwise will force cold air upward and warm air down to you.

Home cooling system is made up of color of roofing, color of siding materials, ventilation, windows, airflow, insulation, etc. To help support cooling system:

o Plant shade trees. Shade trees can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 20 degrees (Yarrow, p. 15).

o Use retractable or regular window awnings

o Use window shades and blinds. Draperies can cut heat loss by 1/3.

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o Get a powered attic ventilation fan

o Use point of delivery (ductless) air conditioners

Make sure your cooling and heating systems are the right size for your home.

Heat or cool only the rooms you are using with a zone control system or partially close or close registers in rooms not in use.

In summer use window shades or draperies (light colors reduce heat gain) and in winter raise them in the day, but close them at night to keep the heat in (also turn ceiling fans on reverse to distribute heat).

Radiators should be bled regularly to expel trapped air (especially on higher floors). Other radiator tips:

o Keep furniture awayo Fit reflective panels behind radiatorso Put a shallow 2 inch shelf above radiators to guide heat into a room

Try not to use patio heaters. Using one for two hours produces as much carbon as a car does in an average day (Yarrow, p. 61).

Use kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans as little as possible to avoid sending a lot of heated or cool air out of the house.

Tighten Up Your HomeStudies have found that improving the air-tightness of homes can yield energy savings of 15-30% (Yarrow, p. 16).

Note that some utility companies give energy audits or you can hire someone to complete an audit (make sure to check them out at www.bbb.org).

To do a quick audit yourself, on a windy day take a candle and hold it next to windows and doors. Wherever the candle flickers at, there is a draft.

Caulk or weather-strip around door and window frames, wall and roof vents, skylights, outdoor faucets, sites where electrical and gas lines enter home and even wall sockets, outlets and switches. Average % breakdown of air lost or gained:

o Doors 11%o Electrical outlets 2%o Fireplace 14%o Plumbing penetrations 13%o Ducts 15%o Fans and vents 4%o Floors, walls and ceilings 31% (improve insulation)

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o Windows 10%

Install storm windows or insulating glass.

When replacing windows with better-insulated ones, look for window frames that deeply recess the glass into the frame to reduce the thermal bridge created at the window ledge.

Insulate and tape heating and cooling ducts and water pipes.

Insulate under your first floor, which can cut heat costs by 25% (Yarrow, p.19).

Look for high R-values when shopping for insulating materials.

If heating days outnumber cooling days then use dark colors for the outside of your home, otherwise use light reflective colors.

Install glass doors around your fireplace to improve the heat efficiency and when the fire is not burning, it will reduce heat loss up the chimney (or use a chimney balloon to block air from escaping www.chimneyballoon.us).

Heat recovery ventilator ensures that indoor air is exchanged regularly with outdoor air and it allows some of the outgoing air’s heat to transfer to the incoming air to boost energy efficiency.

More power saving tips: o www.ase.org o www.energysavers.gov o www.consumerenergycenter.org

Cooking Chop food into small pieces and cook in batches and reheat leftovers in the microwave. (A

good quick meal suggestion is stir-fry.)

Do not preheat ovens unless you are making pastries, bread or soufflés. Turn off the oven a few minutes early (it will remain hot to finish cooking your food).

Use the self-cleaning option, right after you have used your oven to take advantage of the heat that has already built up.

If possible, do not open the oven door to check on your food (use the window). In winter, when you are done cooking, crack open the oven door to let the heat escape into the room.

Keep the lid on pans, use the smallest pan possible, and match the pan to the burner.

Keep stoves clean and shiny to reflect heat.

Gas stoves with electric ignitions use 40% less gas than ones with a pilot light.

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Defrost food in the refrigerator overnight (helps cooking time be less and creates extra coolness in the fridge).

Make sure food is cooled and covered with a lid (better than foil) to keep moisture from condensing.

Get the most compact refrigerator possible.

o Side by side models use 10-25% more energy (Yarrow, p. 44).

o Icemakers and water dispensers increase energy use by 20% (Yarrow, p. 44).

Temperatures should be 37-41 degrees for the fridge and 5 degrees for the freezer. Defrost freezers when ice is over ¼ inch thick.

For optimum efficiency, refrigerators should be ¾ full and freezers completely full (put water in containers to fill the extra room).

Place refrigerators away from stoves, in a cool place, and with at least 2 inches gap between it and the wall (allows air to circulate behind).

To check the seal of your refrigerator, put a piece of paper in the door. If the paper falls out, then you need a new seal.

Saving Water Aerators on all faucets with a flow rate below 1 gallon per minute.

Insulate hot water pipes.

Use old water from pet’s water bowls or fish tanks to water plants.

Bathrooms account for the majority of daily residential water use (Smith, p. 100).

o Replace toilets made before 1992 with low-flow (less than 1.6 gallons per flush) toilets (reduces water 60-80%).

o Or if you do not have a low-flow toilet, you can fill a two-liter plastic bottle with water and stick it in the corner of your toilet tank. Only two liters work, because the smaller sizes float.

o To test toilets for leaks add food coloring to the toilet. If it seeps into the bowl, then you have a leak.

Use showerheads with a shut-off or water reduction valve, so you can reduce water when you are shampooing and conditioning your hair, shaving or using a loofa, etc. (Wal-mart has a great

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one under $6-The Incredible Head Power Showerhead-it also helps fix low water pressure problems). Or at least a lower flow showerhead (flow rate less than 2.5 gallons per minute).

Put a bucket in the shower or under a faucet while waiting for the water to warm up. Use the water collected, to water plants or refill the toilet tank. Keep cold water in a pitcher in the refrigerator to avoid waiting for cold water.

Front load washers use less water than top load washers do. Energy Star washers use up to 25 gallons less water per load (Yarrow, p. 57).

Using the carwash or dishwasher (with a full load and no pre-rinsing) can actually save more water than if you washed by hand. If you want to wash by hand:

o Put a stopper in one side of your sink and use it to rinse dishes. The rinsing water can then be reused to water plants or refill the toilet tank.

o Soak pots & pans to loosen grime. Wash the least dirty items first.

o For cars use a hose nozzle that you can turn off.

In 2006, North Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water (you could run 100,000 cars for a year on the amount of oil required to make the plastic used for bottled water) (Bach, p. 14).

o Twenty-four percent of bottled water is tap water repackaged (Bach, p. 14).

o Bottled water can cost 2,500 to 10,000 times more than tap water.

o Bottled water is not necessarily purer water, since federal standards are higher for tap water than for bottled (Bach, p. 15).

o If you are concerned with tap water, see www.waterfiltercomparisons.com to find a solution.

Connect downspouts to a barrel to collect rainwater, install a rainwater harvesting system (to use in toilets and washing machines) or a gray water system (recycles water from baths, showers & washing).

For more tips:o www.savingwater.org o www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm o www.wateruseitwisely.com o www.epa.gov/watersense

Water-harvesting financial incentives: http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/rainwater-harvesting-inforesources/water-harvesting-tax-credits/

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Green HomesHouses (mainly electricity consumption) contribute more than cars to greenhouse gases. Try to “right-size” your house square footage, appliances, water heater, etc. for your needs.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 46% of buyers would like a green home and are willing to pay more for it, but only 2% of existing homes have green features (Bach, p. 60).

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) homes are assigned a rating (platinum is the best) and should include:

Energy Star appliances and windows

Excellent insulation and air leak sealing

Drought-resistant landscaping

Environmentally friendly building products

Alternate energy sources such as solar panels.

To find a LEED builder: www.usgbc.org

Windows in your home: West facing windows should be minimal, because the late afternoon sun can overheat the

inside.

East and North should have small windows for cross ventilation.

South side should have most of a home’s windows, sliding glass doors and even a sunroom. Having a thick interior adobe or stone wall can help keep the heat inside the home in the winter (thermal mass walls).

An overhang on your house will block the sun in the summer from entering your house and let it into the house in the winter. Design your interior layout so that the living areas are on the south side and the hallways, bathrooms and dining rooms are on the north side.

For directions on how to do some home improvement projects see: www.homedepotclinics.com

Eco-friendly Home Building and Remodeling Information

www.sustainableabc.com

www.greenbuilding.com

www.greenhomeguide.com

www.buildingwithawareness.com

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Salvage parts can give your building more character. To find or donate used building materials try: www.habitat.org (restores), http://planetreuse.com/ or in Phoenix see http://www.stardustbuilding.org/, which offers a free deconstruction service.

Note Energy Efficient Mortgages including energy efficiency home improvement loans might be available.

Homes of the Future No basements. Foundations made in part with rubble trenches (reduces concrete by half).

Driveways made from wood chips or locally obtained crushed stone or rock.

No synthetic carpet. Instead, masonry or stone will be used because it is low to no maintenance and for its thermal mass storage capacity (masonry is also great for exterior walls).

Triple gazed windows with gas-filled or polarizing properties.

Exterior doors, walls, floors and ceilings will be thicker for increased insulation.

Metal (steel) framing will replace wood framing.

Straw bales will be used for insulation, because it is three times more energy efficient than traditional methods (Yarrow, p. 67).

Tomorrow’s buyers will demand low-VOC paint, recycled glass tiles, sunflower-based panels (instead of plywood), recycled marble floors, etc. www.whatsworking.com offers training on green construction.

Landscaping Tips Gas mowers use 800 million gallons of gas each year, plus we spill 17 million gallons of gas

while refueling them (Bach, p. 56). Electric mowers can cost as little as $5 a year to run. (to compare lawn mowers go to www.consumersearch.com).

Use soaker hoses connected to timers (set to go off early morning to avoid evaporation) instead of sprinklers. Keep grass 3 to 4 inches long and leave some lawn clippings in place after mowing to reduce evaporation.

Do a soil test to see what your lawn needs. For instructions, see the Lowe’s Project and Video Center How-To Library at www.lowes.com (under Lawn Care Basics).

Organic lawn tips www.thegreenguide.com (search lawn care) or www.safelawns.org.

Use drought resistant and native plants in landscaping. According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, a 50 x 30 foot grass yard requires about 24,000 gallons of water and a xeriscaped yard requires only 6,000.

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o In Arizona, see http://www.azwater.gov/AzDWR/StatewidePlanning/Conservation2/LandscapePros/PlantLists_Landscaping.htm for a list of draught resistant plants, shrubs, and trees.

o Native plants see www.abnativeplants.com.

Mulch around plants to help retain moisture.

Use trees and shrubs to make your home more energy efficient. Also indoor plants act as natural air filters and improve air quality.

Planting trees or bushes by the street will reduce the dust that reaches your home. Tree-lined streets have 2/3 fewer dust particles than streets without (Yarrow, p. 50).

Plant Bamboo, which stores more carbon dioxide and generates 35% more oxygen than trees (Yarrow, p. 61).

If your roof is flat, plant a rooftop garden (great in cities where land is limited) or plant a green roof (provides excellent insulation and reduces storm water runoff): www.greenroofs.org

Grow your own vegetables and fruits: www.seedsofchange.com or www.containergardeningtips.com

When planting gardens, get with your neighbors or friends so you can each plant something different and share.

Turn old pantyhose into plant supports for the garden by cutting off the legs, looping them around stems and tying them to stakes.

Avoid using harsh chemicals to kill weeds or pests (not good if you have pets either). Try to create a natural balance.

o Snails reduce algae in water features.

o Strong-smelling plants like garlic and onions repel pests.

o Birds and ladybugs eat bad insects. Among your vegetable garden try planting yarrow, Queen Anne lace, marigolds, etc. that attract good insects.

o Learn about Integrated Pest Management www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm

Learn how and why to compost at: www.compostguide.com.

Cleaning White vinegar:

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o Use to clean floors, windows, tiles, lime scale off faucets, etc. For stubborn stains add some baking soda (creates a bubbling effect).

o Mix with water 3:1 in a spray bottle, put it on your fruits and veggies to get rid of pesticide residue, and rinse it off.

o Put a half cup of distilled white vinegar in with every wash load of clothes - it helps get

the cat, dog, and horse smells out.

o Leave a bowl of white vinegar in a smelly room for 24 hours to absorb odors.

Another way to absorb odors or mix 3 parts fabric softener to 4 parts water in a spray bottle, shake it up, and spray.

Borax is a natural mineral that is a disinfectant. Great to use in the kitchen or laundry as a cleaner (also whitens laundry).

Baking soda:

o Cleans kitchen surfaces and chrome fittings. Soak pots and pans with a water and baking soda mixture.

o Clean refrigerator inside with 3 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in ½-cup warm water.

o Clean inside your oven by moistening the walls with a damp cloth, sprinkling baking soda all over, leaving it for an hour and wiping it off.

o For red wine or coffee stains, pour baking soda on the stain, rub it in and wipe it off.

o Make a paste to clean mildew.

o To keep drains smelling fresh and help blocked drains, put a ½-cup baking soda, ½-cup vinegar and boiling water down the drain.

Lemon juice works on lime scale in bathrooms.

Cornmeal works on grease stains. Just rub it in and then brush it off.

Soda water helps remove carpet stains.

Castor oil can condition leather.

Olive oil:

o Can shine stainless steel.

o Mix with vinegar to polish floors (one part vinegar to three parts oil).

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o Lemon, water, and olive oil (spoonful of each) can be used for furniture polish.

o Extra virgin olive oil can condition leather.

To find out about what is in the household products you have currently: www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov

Green Your Pet www.petfinder.com lists animals for adoption all over the country including specific breeds.

Adopting a pet is much cheaper than getting one from a breeder.

Ingredients to avoid in pet foods and treats (resource: Jackie Maloof at Scottsdale Insurance

Co.):

o Animal digest - animal guts

o Artificial colors or flavors - such as blue 2, red 40, yellow 5 and yellow 6

o By-products - beaks, feet, feathers and heads

o Chemical preservatives – bha/ bht (known to cause kidney and liver dysfunction) and ethoxyquin (may cause cancer)

o Corn, wheat and soy - known allergens

o Salt

o Sugars - corn syrup, cane molasses, honey, fructose and sorbitol

Foods that are toxic to most animals (resource: Jackie Maloof at Scottsdale Insurance Co.):

o Grapes and raisins - can damage the kidneys

o Nuts

o Bones of fish, poultry, or other meat sources can cause obstruction or laceration of

digestive system

o Mushrooms

o Chocolate and caffeine

o Raw fish and eggs

o Xylitol - (ingredient in mints and gum) - can cause liver damage and death

o Sugar free foods-artificial sweetners can be toxic

o Garlic, salt, and broccoli in large quantities

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Feed your pet brands containing all-natural whole foods and ingredients such as:

o Wellness, Innova, Solid Gold, Pinnacle, and California Natural www.onlynaturalpet.com.

o Natural Balance http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/ .

o Blue Buffalo http://www.bluebuff.com/ .

For healthier toys and other pet products, see www.greatgreenpet.com or www.earthdog.com.

Cars Buy almost new cars to get the best technology and buy the smallest car that will fit your needs.

Resource to research emission and fuel ratings www.epa.gov/emissweb

Buy a car with a stop-start system, which switches off the engine whenever the car stops and uses the electricity from the battery to move forward again increasing mpg by up to 15% (Yarrow, p. 121).

Hybrid car website www.hybridcars.com.

Maintain the correct tire pressure (underinflated tires increases the resistance against road surfaces making the engine work harder), oil level, and air filters.

Remove any unnecessary items from your trunk to reduce weight.

Tighten gas cap securely, do not top off your gas tank (gas can seep out). The earth friendly fuels are high octane or mixtures of ethanol and biodiesel.

The U.S Department of Energy states that it is more economical to switch off your engine and start it again if your vehicle will be stationary more than 30 seconds (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 255).

Slow down: “Driving at 50 mph uses 30% less fuel than driving at 70 mph” (Yarrow, p. 111).

If going more than 45 mph using your air-conditioner can save gas, because opening windows creates air resistance.

Diesel cars made after the mid-1990s should be able to run on commercial biodiesel fuel www.biodiesel.org (biodiesel vegetable oil version requires conversion kits) or www.biodieselcommunity.org).

If you do not need a second car all the time, look into a car-share program: www.zipcar.com.

To find out more about getting out of your lease: www.leasetrader.com.

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Find job that allow you to telecommute, www.ratracerebellion.com, or prepare a proposal to present to your employer, www.telcoa.org.

ShoppingMany countries and some U.S. cities have banned plastic bags. As many as 30 billion bags end up in landfills worldwide and they do not biodegrade (Bach, p. 72). An average American family uses around 1,500 plastic bags a year (Yarrow, p. 82).

If you use reusable bags and buy six bags of groceries a week at a store that gives you a 5 cent per bag credit, you could save up to $31 a year! www.reusablebags.com

Only 1% of all the materials used to serve the U.S. are actually made into products and still in use six months after sale (Lovins, Lovins & Hawken, p. 11).

Avoid disposable products

Buy things in bulk (like double-size toilet paper rolls) and in refillable containers

Fix things and make sure new purchases can be repaired or will last a long time

Buy products made from recycled materials

Measure products by their life-cycle cost rather than their initial cost can save money in the end!

Some chemicals and things to avoid:

Brominated flame retardants: found in plastics for computer casings, white goods, car interiors, carpets, foams, and bedding (the dust is linked to cancer) (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 40).

Organochlorine pesticides: DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor, chlordane and mirex (can cause cancer and be toxic to the immune system) (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 40).

Perfluorochemicals: acids used in the manufacture of clothing, stain-resistant materials, and cosmetics (linked to cancer and liver damage) (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 40).

Phthalates: used as softeners in PVC, cosmetics, and perfumes (can disrupt hormones) (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 40).

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): smell (stronger when the materials are new) from synthetic carpet, furniture made from particleboard, cleansers, paints, air fresheners, etc. (causes eye and respiratory irritation, headaches, and dizziness) (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 62). Look for no VOC paint and opt for natural wood finishes.

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Plastic wrap and plastic containers for storing and especially heating food as researchers have found some of the chemicals can leach out of the plastic (they have been linked to cancer). Non-stick coatings in pans should also be avoided (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 104).

Use Wax paper, ceramic, glass or metal dishes instead of plastic.

The Ecology Center, along with allied organizations nationwide, has released the biggest database yet of independent tests of toxic chemicals in consumer goods. At www.HealthyStuff.org consumers can find over 15,000 test results on over 5,000 common items including pet products, women’s handbags, back-to-school products, children’s toys, and the latest on cars and children’s car seats.

Buy New Stuff Smarter Price Comparison Sites

www.dealtime.com www.mysimon.com www.pricegrabber.com

Product Opinions www.consumeraffairs.com www.my3cents.com www.consumerreports.org

Energy Star Products and builders www.energystar.gov

Green Shopping The best clothes are chemical free organic cotton, wool, bamboo, soy, linen or hemp or recycled fibers. Avoid synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester. For more information see www.organicconsumers.org.

www.ecomall.com www.nau.com www.patagonia.com www.mooshoes.com www.alternativeoutfitters.com www.petamall.com www.freeplayenergy.com (solar and crank powered items like radios) www.greenpages.org list of screened and approved green businesses http://productguide.ulenvironment.com/QuickSearch.aspx The world's largest guide for

selecting low-emitting products and materials www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products.htm list of recycled products.

Sustainable Furniture:www.vivaterra.comwww.greenerlifestyles.comwww.pristineplanet.comwww.ecobedroom.com.

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For cosmetic and personal product information: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

www.safecosmetics.org www.leapingbunny.org .

Earth Friendly Cleaning Supplies: www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm www.ecover.com www.methodhome.com www.seventhgeneration.com .

Green Restaurants: www.dinegreen.com For take-out ask that the restaurant not add any unnecessary items like plastic silverware,

packets, napkins, etc. Get drinks at home.

Healthy food: Farmers market www.localharvest.org or http://www.usdalocalfooddirectories.com/. Coops www.coopdirectory.org.

Find a green dry cleaner go to: www.greenearthcleaning.com.

Gifts and Party Information Draw up your own eco-friendly gift list from different Internet or bricks-and-mortar stores:

www.mygiftlist.com.

Send free email invitations by using: www.evite.com.

Send email cards:o https://www.hallmarkecards.com/ o www.bluemountain.com o www.americangreetings.com

Or order cards made recycled paper and where some of the proceeds go to charity: www.goodcausegreetings.com.

Donate to a charity in a person’s name, example www.worldwildlife.org (Donate-Make a One Time Donation- section on the right).

Give gifts to a family rather than an individual like tickets to a sporting event, games, etc.

Give gift certificates for things you will do like bake a pie, mow the yard, etc.

Have a used gift swap.

Americans spend 2.7 billion dollars on gift-wrap every year, which is more than the gross domestic product of many countries in Africa and Asia (Bach, p. 106).

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o Shop for recycled gift-wrap or be creative.

o Make gift tags out of scrap paper and use comic sections or other parts of the newspaper to wrap gifts.

o Reuse gift bags and if the present is oversized, just use a bow.

Make a green gift basket with things like CFL light bulbs, tips for going green and organic food or recipes.

Green Vacation Information www.sustainabletravelinternational.org www.responsibletravel.com www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable www.ethicaltraveler.com

Ecotourism means “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people” (Jeffrey, Barclay & Grosvenor, p. 269). See www.ecotourism.org or www.lnt.org.

Take a family working vacation. For a small registration fee and travel to and from you can go to a host farm. Learn to pick grapes in California’s vineyards, etc. www.wwoofusa.org. Or see other volunteer vacation opportunities, some of which may be at least partially tax deductible:

www.sierraclub.org www.habitat.org www.earthwatch.org www.globalvolunteers.org www.charityguide.org www.wildernessvolunteers.org http://www.oceanicsociety.org/expeditions .

Get outdoors: www.publiclands.org (this is also cheaper than belonging to a gym).

Green hotels: www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com www.greenhotels.com http://www.allstays.com/green-hotels/green-hotels.htm www.specialplacestostay.com .

Details on public transportation in major cities across the U.S. www.hopstop.com.

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Miscellaneous Tips For lunches use reusable containers.

Eat less meat. Producing a pound of beef requires 30 times more water than wheat and 200 times more than potatoes, plus livestock accounts for almost a fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions (methane) (Bach, p. 74). Eating less meat is also cheaper. www.goveg.com or www.vegweb.com.

Besides being a good insulator, sheep’s wool removes pollutants such as formaldehyde from the air.

Information about eco-burial: http://www.greenburialcouncil.org/index.php.

Compost what comes from your bagless, energy efficient vacuum.

o Doormats on each side of your doors and taking off your shoes can reduce the need to vacuum.

Try a kitchen Bokashi Bucket composter. A Japanese composter fits in your kitchen and only takes a few weeks to break down organic waste.

“The average American child receives 69 new toys a year” (Yarrow, p. 91).

o Start your own toy-sharing circle with friends.

o Use rechargeable batteries and switch off toys when they are not in use.

o Buy used toys and toys that can be varied or upgraded.

o Try solar-powered toys www.fatbraintoys.com

o Get your kids gardening, biking to school, and put them in charge of some of your green tasks at home.

If pollen causes your allergies, try some local honey (http://www.honeylocator.com/), which has low levels of pollen unique to your area and helps your body build up a natural immunity to it. Also, vacuum often, keep windows tightly closed, and consider replacing carpet with bamboo or tile.

Running tips, including a Couch-to-5k running plan for beginners http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml.

Volunteering Volunteer Match can help you find opportunities in your area https://www.volunteermatch.org/.

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Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/about-us/volunteer/index.htm?intc=nature.tnav.about.var3.

National Public Lands Day (usually end of September) www.publiclandsday.org.

Trees Forever (tree planting) www.treesforever.org.

USDA Forest Service (volunteer archeology and historic preservation program) www.passportintime.com.

Additional Website Resources For more information on how to reduce waste: www.reduce.org (“If not you, who?”) or

www.zerowasteamerica.org.

To find your effect on global warming: www.carbonfootprint.com.

For more green information: www.greenmaven.com (green search engine) http://eartheasy.com/ www.aboutmyplanet.com www.nrdc.org/greenliving www.greenlivingideas.com (in Topics section) www.newdream.org www.treehugger.com .

To receive a daily green tip subscribe to www.idealbite.com.

For news: www.guardian.co.uk/environment www.theecologist.org www.greenbiz.com www.sustainableindustries.com http://www.environmentalleader.com/ (sign up for a free daily email newsletter) http://www.corporateecoforum.com/ (sign up for a free weekly newsletter).

Green Phoenix Organizations Green Chamber: Greater Phoenix  http://www.thegreenchamber.org/ Arizona Recycling Coalition http://www.arizonarecyclingcoalition.org/ Arizona Green Living Magazine  http://www.greenlivingaz.com/events/

To find out about green company stocks go to the social investing section of www.coopamerica.org or www.socialinvest.org.

For voting information go to the League of Conservation voters website at www.lcv.org.

Author website David Bach www.greengreen.com.

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References

Bach, David. (2008). Go Green, Live Rich. New York: Broadway Books.

Brewer, D. (2009). Green my Home! New York: Kaplan Publishing.

Ellen McArthur Foundation. Why is the circular economy gaining traction now? (n.d.).

Retrieved from http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/about/faqs.pdf

Fox, Adrienne. (2008, June). Get in the Business of Being Green. HR Magazine, pp. 45-50.

Houten, F. Why we need a circular economy. (2014, January 23). Retrieved from

https://agenda.weforum.org/2014/01/need-circular-economy-revolution/

Lovins, A. & Lovins, L., & Hawken, P. (1999). A Road Map for Natural Capitalism. Harvard Business Review, pp.3-17.

McCay, K., Bonnin, J. & Wallace, T. (2008). True Green @ Work. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.

Smith, Alicia. (2007). 50 Plus Tips for Going Green. Waterville, ME: Thorndike Press.

Swallow, Lisa. (2009). Green Business Practices For Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.

Yarrow, Joanna. (2008). How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: 365 Simple Ways to Save Energy, Resources & Money. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

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