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Fifty Tips for Going Green

Jenny Fredette and Downtowner Staff

The phrase 'going green' is popping up everywhere these days – big companies are talking about corporate sustainability, celebrities are supporting 'green' charities and events, media outlets are reaching the public with ideas for conserving resources, and ads abound for energy-efficient cars, appliances and computer monitors. An alliance of passionate people and organizations including Al Gore even produced Live Earth, a 24-hour-long, seven-continent concert series to combat climate change. Although the effort was impressive, some critics felt the concert series itself should have been more energy-efficient. In total, Live Earth may have created a larger carbon footprint than Afghanistan produced in all of 2006. And unfortunately, more people in the U.S. tuned into a rerun of Monsters Inc. than watched the live event. Either way, it at least hopefully raised some awareness on Global Warming to concert viewers.

But whether our efforts to save the world are valiant or minimal, we're starting to do something. And it's no wonder – no one can escape news of our rapidly-changing climate, our dangerously-heavy consumption of natural resources, the overburdening of landfills, and the laissez-faire attitude toward energy waste that lets it all continue.

It feels like an overwhelmingly big problem, but it is encouraging to see this issue finally on the radar screen for most people. Environmental awareness lingers in the back of our minds, perhaps because we're finally realizing our eco-impact, or maybe it's just hot to 'go green.' Either way, people are asking, "What can I do about it?"

As consumers, there are literally thousands of adjustments we can make to lessen our impact on our environment. Some are as simple as turning off the water while brushing your teeth to save a gallon of water every day. (With 367,995 people now living in Raleigh, that could total more than 134 million gallons of water conserved in our city every year.) Other efforts require a greater sacrifice of money or time, like buying a hybrid car or making your home energy-efficient. Still other efforts are midway on the scale of minor to major adjustments – carpooling to work, updating old appliances, or keeping car engines tuned up.

You'll find the next few pages packed full of tips for eco-friendly living, ideas for conserving resources, and real-life stories examining how some local people are changing their habits for the sake of the planet.

The Raleigh Downtowner has covered some innovative environmental initiatives in their magazine, including:

Larry's Beans Veggie Bus – Think a bus has to be big, yellow, and gas-guzzling? Larry's Beans, a local fair-trade coffee bean roaster, makes its deliveries in a "veggie bus." The colorful ex-kiddie hauler runs on used vegetable oil from local restaurants, burning 50-75 percent cleaner than diesel. Check out how and why Larry's Beans does it!

Senator Bingham Gets Greasy – Larry isn't the only one getting greasy. North Carolina state senator Stan Bingham's converted Volkswagen runs on bio-diesel – which uses waste vegetable oil from the legislature cafeteria filtered and converted into auto fuel. Read more to find out how Sen. Bingham is fighting for other Tarheel greasers and his efforts to raise awareness for alternative fuels.

Go Green by Buying Local – Did you know that the average supermarket food item travels about 1,300 miles before it reaches your plate? The availability of bananas, out-of-season apples, and exotic seafood is just one piece of evidence showing that burning petroleum (barrels and barrels of it) makes our meals possible. By buying locally-grown produce, meats, cheeses, and other items, you can do something great for the environment. Buying local from artists, jewelers, and other businesses helps save fuel and energy. Plus it helps out local economy stay strong. Learn about how you can buy local and be a greener person for it.

Great Tips for Going Green Today

Okay, maybe you don't have the money to buy a cool hybrid vehicle or make massive energy-efficiency improvements to your home. No excuses! There are thousands of simple things you can do to go green. Show your care for the environment (including little things like, say, clean air, clean water, and the future of life on earth) by putting a few of these into practice.

Suggestions for our list came from friends, reader emails, the City of Raleigh, Progress Energy, and "The Green Book."

Bob McGehee, CEO of Progress Energy, explained the urgency. "We are at an energy crossroads in the Carolinas," he shared with the Raleigh Downtowner. In fact, according to McGehee, there is so much growth in the Carolinas that it is like adding energy to support an entire new mid-sized city each year.

What can be done to curtail the negative impact of increased energy consumption? Progress Energy is using a two-fold approach. The first step is to plan for the future through improved energy-efficiency and energy management. The second, McGehee said, is "to actively engage citizens in a call to action to use energy more wisely and efficiently. This will reduce demand, save customers money and preserve the environment."

We chose "The Green Book" for another source of ideas since it was an inexpensive comfortable-reading book. It's full of suggestions from celebrities as well as the authors, one of which was Owen Wilson, who mentioned that once he bought his hybrid car, he was "addicted" to becoming more green. Other celebs tell their stories and suggestions on being green in The Green Book.

Saving Water Indoors

  1. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You could save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
  2. Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
  3. Don't use running water to thaw food. Instead, leave plenty of time for it to thaw just by resting at room temperature.
  4. When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
  5. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, and you'll save four gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
  6. Wash clothes only when you have a full load, and you'll save up to 600 gallons each month.
  7. Use a faucet aerator (available at home improvement stores) to mix water with air while maintaining water pressure.
  8. Wash clothes in cold or warm water rather than hot. It saves energy, protects fabrics, and helps clothes retain bright colors.

Saving Water Outdoors

  1. Minimize evaporation by watering lawns during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. (Also check city regulations – you may only be able to water on certain days.)
  2. Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
  3. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
  4. Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.
  5. While it's easier to notice leaky faucets indoors, make sure you also check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
  6. Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.
  7. Adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
  8. Wash your car on the grass if possible. This will water your lawn at the same time.
  9. When washing your car, use a hose nozzle and turn off the water when you don't need it. This can save more than 100 gallons each time you wash.

Home Decorating/Personal Style

  1. Consider using 100% hemp material for curtains. It is organic and does not require pesticides to grow.
  2. Shop online for eco-friendly clothes. They are often made from organic materials grown without pesticides.

In the Office

  1. Make sure your office offers recycling of frequently-used materials like printer paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles.
  2. Change your computer's settings so it goes to sleep during periods of inactivity, saving precious energy.
  3. Encourage employees to fix office drinks like coffee, tea, and water in reusable mugs and glasses rather than disposable ones.
  4. Check out blackle.com. This Google-like innovation uses a black screen rather than a white screen, saving your computer monitor precious energy.
  5. Keep a pile or a file for misprinted papers. Reuse as scratch paper.
  6. Use natural light when possible. Turn off office lights if you will be gone more than 10 minutes.
  7. Print documents on the "draft" setting whenever possible to use less ink.
  8. Take advantage of technology like videoconferencing (check out Skype) to cut down on work travel.

Around the House

  1. If they're plugged in, appliances use energy even when they're turned off. Unplug appliances you are not using. A power strip is helpful for turning off many electronics at once.
  2. Eat locally-grown and produced foods. That way your food does not need to use fuel to travel the average 1,300 miles to reach your plate.
  3. Use non-toxic cleaning products.
  4. Lower your thermostat two degrees in winter and raise it two degrees in summer. This can save hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the air.
  5. Use your microwave. It is much more efficient than a stove or oven.
  6. Encourage kids to play outside. They're less likely to use electricity for TV, computers, and video games, plus they're more likely to develop an appreciation for nature.
  7. Plant a tree. The average tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
  8. Join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) co-op to support and benefit from a local farm.
  9. Have a garage sale rather than throwing away unwanted items that end up in a landfill.
  10. Start a compost pile.
  11. Use reusable containers to store leftovers or pack lunches (rather than disposable plastic bags).
  12. Say no to junk mail. Write back to companies requesting to be taken off of mailing lists. Look carefully at pre-approved credit offers; you can opt-out permanently. Visit the Direct Marketing Association website and fill in their online form.
  13. Buy in bulk when possible. This reduces packaging and trips to the store.
  14. Use cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers.
  15. Use rechargeable batteries rather than disposable ones.

Out and About

  1. When shopping, forego plastic bags. Instead, bring your own reusable bags (canvas works well) to carry items home.
  2. Plan out your errands so you can visit four, five, or six stops at once rather than driving your car each time you need something.
  3. Even better, use public transportation where available.
  4. Carpool to get to work.
  5. Get your car tuned up to use less gasoline and run more efficiently.
  6. Make sure your tires are property inflated and remove your roof rack if you don't use it. Doing both of these can add 2-4% to your gas mileage.
  7. Take a trash bag with you when going on a picnic or to the beach so you don't leave anything behind.
  8. Buy products made from recycled content.

This article originally appeared in The Raleigh Downtowner, and is reprinted here with express permission.