Live Well, Live Green

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Contents Introduction ...... 6 The Purpose of This Book ...... 7 Chapter 1: Banish the Toxins! ...... 8 7 Home Health Products You Don’t Need ...... 8 Household Products to Avoid...... 10 Heavenly Aromas! ...... 13 Mosquitoes ...... 14 Eco-friendly Eye Care ...... 18 Allergies ...... 20 Wonderful Lemons! ...... 22 What to Avoid in Personal Care Products ...... 23 Chapter 2: Cool Your Home in Summer ...... 26 It’s Easy – Shade Your House! ...... 26 The FREE way to cool your home! ...... 28 More Tips to Stay Cool ...... 29 Get the Most From Your Air Conditioning! ...... 30 Almost Free Easy Alternatives ...... 32 Summary ...... 32 Chapter 3: Heat Your Home in Winter ...... 34 Central or Not? ...... 34 Dress Right! ...... 34 Insulate ...... 35 The Passive House ...... 35 Space ...... 35 Chapter 4: Appliances – Buying & Using ...... 36 Buying a New Appliance ...... 36 Buying a Green Television ...... 37 Buying a Green Dishwasher ...... 39 Buying a Green Fridge ...... 40 Using Appliances ...... 40 Save Electricity With Off-Peak...... 41 Chapter 5: Lighting ...... 42 Incandescent (“normal”) light bulbs ...... 43

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Fluorescent Tubes ...... 43 Fluorescent Bulbs – CFLs ...... 44 LEDs ...... 45 Chapter 6: Green-washing ...... 46 Have they been Green-washed? ...... 46 How To Spot Green-washing ...... 47 Chapter 7: Organising Storage in your home ...... 48 Start to Get Organised ...... 49 Re-use a Kitchen! ...... 50 Eco-Friendly Food Storage ...... 52 Chapter 8: Green Your Pet...... 55 Do You Truly Know What You Feed Your Pet? ...... 57 Recycle Your Pet!!! ...... 60 Chapter 9: Green Jobs ...... 64 Chapter 10: Paper ...... 67 What is FSC-Certified? ...... 67 Is it Worth Recycling Paper? ...... 68 Five easy tips to improve your paper use: ...... 69 Bonus Tip: Re-using / Recycling Old Books ...... 69 Reduce paper in your home office ...... 70 Is working from home really eco-friendly? ...... 72 Chapter 11: Water ...... 73 Why Save Water? ...... 73 Are There Easy Ways to Save Water? ...... 74 Rainwater Harvesting ...... 77 Water Quiz ...... 81 Bottled Water ...... 83 A Little-known Secret! ...... 83 Interesting Water Facts ...... 84 Can I Re-use Plastic Bottles? ...... 85 Water Wars? ...... 86 Chapter 12: Death by Plastic ...... 87 Where does all this waste come from? ...... 88 Plastic is Everywhere – and Eternal! ...... 89

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Chapter 13: Plastic Recycling ...... 94 What’s a Plastic #5? What’s PET? ...... 94 Are the plastic numbers important for my health? ...... 96 My curbside collection won’t take all my plastic! ...... 98 Do most plastics get recycled? ...... 98 What can I do to help? ...... 99 Plastic Waste ...... 100 Chapter 13 Driving ...... 101 Four Easy Ways To Improve your Fuel Consumption ...... 102 Alternatives ...... 104 Slash Your Commuting Costs! ...... 106 Top Tip: Reduce Your Commute ...... 108 Should I Switch Off or Idle my Car? ...... 110 Warming Up a Car ...... 111 Chapter 14: Eco-Friendly Fun! ...... 113 Eco-Friendly Camping...... 113 Top 3 Suggestions for an Enjoyable Eco-Friendly Weekend ...... 114 Volunteer, Have Fun, and Save The Planet ...... 116 Do You Hate Litter? ...... 117 Why should I give up my own personal time? ...... 118 Start a Green Movement ...... 120 Resources - How To Find Ways You Can Help ...... 120 Answers to the Water Quiz: ...... 123

Live Well, Live Green

Introduction

Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, you’ll have heard a lot of talk about The Environment and how we’ve been ruining it with our lifestyles.

The thing is, how do we go about making it better?

Very few people are bad people. Most of us want to do The Right Thing.

But how can you know what to do when it comes to Green Living? There’s such a lot of conflicting advice out there.

Yet living sustainably, in a way that helps protect the environment, is not an unobtainable dream. You can make small changes that will reduce your impact on the environment and improve your own wellbeing as well as that of the planet.

And it doesn’t mean you have to give up life’s modern conveniences!

Here are the benefits of green living:

 You Improve Your Health. We are surrounded by toxic chemicals, but green living will greatly reduce them. Reducing air pollution (a goal of green living) can help with allergies and general well-being.  You Save Money – many aspects of green living actually save you money.  You Increase Your Happiness – today’s society causes us a great deal of stress. Green living allows you step back from all the frenetic activity and hype, and work out what’s really important.  You Help to Save the Planet! It’s a fact that we can’t carry on the way we’re living. The resources we’re using don’t renew themselves. We need to make changes - some changes need to be made by governments, institutions and businesses, and some changes need to be made by us. You and me. And the good news is that not only can we make a difference with our own changes, but we can also influence businesses to change too!

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The Purpose of This Book

The purpose of this book is to take you through, step-by-step, how to live a more sustainable, greener lifestyle.

You certainly don’t have to do everything mentioned here (although it would be great if you did!). But every little bit helps.

And if you’ve ever thought that just you making some changes is not going to make a difference in the overall scheme of things, just remember:

“If you think your actions are too small to make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito”.

In this book and on my websites, I won’t talk about things I have not thoroughly investigated and cross-referenced. If I recommend a ‘green’ product, it’s because I’ve thoroughly researched its credentials.

Because I care. I know you do too.

And so in this book you’ll find a wealth of information and tips that will help you live a greener lifestyle.

In my own quiet way, I make choices which help to reduce my impact on this crowded planet of ours.

And I hope you and your family will too.

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Chapter 1: Banish the Toxins!

As we become more aware of just how many toxic chemicals are in the products we use every day, it’s time to look at some alternatives.

In this chapter you’ll find my Top Tips for pure, chemical-free alternatives to things you use every day – air fresheners, eye care, insect spray….

And they’re all quick and easy!

There’s the pollution you can see – belching factory chimneys and smokestacks, aged trucks spouting grey, smelly clouds.

And then there are the pollutants and toxins inside our homes.

They come from seemingly innocent sources – cleaning materials, candles, furniture, cookware, clothes and sometimes, even inside the foods we eat!

But by being aware, you can reduce and even eliminate many of these toxins.

Let’s start by identifying 7 home products that you probably don’t need at all. 7 Home Health Products You Don’t Need

These are products which are anything but healthy – don’t use them!

1. Anti-bacterial Soap

You want to get rid of the bad bacteria in your home and protect your family, so you buy anti-bacterial soap as the best home health product. However, this ‘war against germs’ could do more harm than good. The good bacteria that live on your skin protect your immune system and help fight off infections.

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When you strip yourself of bacteria with anti-bacterial soap, you may be killing the good germs that actually serve to keep you healthy.

Now of course, in certain places anti-bacterial soap may be necessary –hospitals and shelters for example. People with compromised immune systems will also benefit from anti-bacterial soap.

But the average healthy person can simply use any mild soap with water to safely wash their hands.

2. Breath-Freshening Mouthwash

Of course, fresh, minty breath is nice!

But if you’re healthy and brush and floss your teeth every day, then you probably don’t need mouthwash. Products may advertise plaque protection and other benefits, but studies show that they mainly freshen breath only.

If you have persistent bad breath, it may be linked to another issue (e.g. gum disease, tooth decay, diabetes) which mouthwash won’t solve.

Most people can get by very well without this home health product.

3. Redness-Reducing Eye Drops

These drops may indeed make your eyes temporarily whiter and brighter, but they can cause unwanted side effects.

 They can become addictive

 Overuse can lead to dryness and irritation (the very problem you’re trying to avoid!)

 They can mask a bigger problem such as an infection, allergy or severe dryness problems.

This is a home health product which can cause more problems than benefits, and we can do without them. ”Normal” eye drops can help to reduce dryness, especially for contact lens wearers, but the redness-reducing eye drops are another matter.

4. Toothbrush Sanitizers

Do toothbrushes contain bacteria? Absolutely! But, according to the American Dental Association, there is absolutely no clinical evidence showing that using a toothbrush sanitizer provides health benefits over letting your brush air dry after use.

In fact, they recommend simply that you rinse your brush well after use and store upright to air dry.

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5. Facial Toner

I grew up with the mantra “cleanse, tone and moisturize”. Certainly, toners can restore the pH of the skin and help products to be absorbed easier.

But they may be too harsh, as well as a waste of money.

If you wash your face with a gentle cleanser, it probably won’t alter the pH of your skin, and so you don’t need a toner. Cleansing and moisturizing are much more important!

6. Scented Feminine Products

These products feed off womens’ insecurities about their vaginal hygiene. If you like to use perfumed tampons, sprays, powders and wipes, consider this.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists strongly warns against these scented products, because the vagina’s naturally acidic environment is generally enough to clean itself.

To stay fresh and healthy, wash with mild soap and water, or water alone.

Using scented products can actually increase your chances of infection and irritation.

Only buy un-scented.

7. Cold Prevention Remedies

There are loads of cold-prevention remedies on the market today, but do they work? Nasal sprays, vitamin C powders….. buying them regularly costs more than you think, and in fact there’s very little clinical evidence to show that these home health products work at all.

Instead, the best suggestion from the experts is to wash your hands, sanitize your belongings, and don’t share things with someone who is sick.

Household Products to Avoid

There’s a surprising amount of toxic chemicals used in household items. Here are the main offenders – and their better, healthier alternatives.

BPA

BPA (Bisphenol A) is so widespread that many researchers aren’t even sure what causes our biggest exposure. BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical which is also linked to diabetes, heart disease, and aggressive behaviour in children. It’s found in

Live Well, Live Green some plastic bottles, in food storage containers, receipts and the linings of most tinned / canned foods.

How can you avoid BPA?

 Don’t rely on tinned / canned goods, buy fresh or frozen instead.

 Use glass or ceramic containers for storing food instead of plastic.

 And say “no thanks” to printed receipts wherever possible. There are several companies who offer “BPA Free” canned goods. However, there is concern that the chemicals they use to replace BPA have not yet been thoroughly tested for long-term effects.

Flame Retardants

These can be found in furniture, carpets and electronics, to mention but a few. They are linked to infertility, learning problems, hormone disruption and thyroid issues.

How can you avoid flame retardants?

If you’re buying new furniture, avoid pieces which have been treated.

For existing furniture, try to reduce the flame retardants and other toxins which form into household dust over time. Using a good vacuum cleaner will help – you need one with good suction and, even more importantly, one which prevents the dust from spewing out of the vacuum and back into your home’s air. The good news is that many well-known brands do this just as effectively as the high-end machines, so you don’t need to spend a fortune.

Non-Stick Pans

Non-stick pots and pans and bakeware are wonderfully convenient. But many items still use polyfluoroalkyl which is linked to high cholesterol, ADHD and other nasties including sperm reduction.

How can you avoid non-stick? Buy stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans, and consider silicon bakeware (just be aware that there’s not a lot of research on silicon’s safety as it’s relatively new). If you’re using non-stick now, wait until the surface starts to chip or scratch, then replace with the non-chemical alternatives.

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Pesticides & Fertilizers

The quantity of pesticides and fertilizers used on our food crops and in our gardens is astonishing. There are residues of these chemicals on the food we eat, even if we wash them. In our gardens, many garden services prefer to use chemicals rather than pulling out weeds for example. And we want lovely green lawns and beautiful flowers so we fertilize with more chemicals…..

How can you avoid pesticides and fertilizers?

 For food, buy organic where possible, because organic food crops have fewer chemicals used on them. Also check EWG’s guide to food which gives you up-to-date information on which fresh foods have the highest levels of chemicals.

 For your garden, ask your garden service (if you have one) to stop using chemicals and instead use traditional methods such as manual weed-pulling and using natural, organic fertilizer instead.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a plastic which is found in cars, shower curtains, flooring, fake leather furniture, clothing and accessories, and even personal care products.

Vinyl contains phthalates which are linked to hormone disruption, stunted growth and obesity.

 If you’re looking for flooring choose genuine linoleum instead of vinyl.

 Avoid products with fragrance

 Look on product labels for phthalate-free offerings.

Dry Cleaning

Are you sure that certain clothes really need to be dry cleaned? Perhaps you use dry cleaners for a convenient way of having freshly laundered shirts each day?

Many dry cleaners use a chemical called perchloroethylene, also known as PCE or perc. It’s a probable carcinogen and is linked to kidney, liver, and central nervous system damage.

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Are you sure you want those residues on your clothes and perhaps in your closed wardrobe or closet?

A less toxic way is to wash the clothes yourself – yes, even those ones which say “dry clean only”.

For example to clean silk,

1. Add castile soap or other gentle pH-neutral soap to 100 F or 38 C water

2. Whirl the garment in the water with your hands.

3. Don’t dry it outside (UV rays can damage silk), so hang it indoors to dry.

4. Iron on very low or even better, hang it in a steamy bathroom to remove the wrinkles.

For other materials, just google and you’ll find lots of advice.

Heavenly Aromas!

Make your home or office smell fresh and inviting!

Use some of these simple, eco-friendly ways to make your space smell great, rather than spraying commercial, often toxic-chemical-laden air fresheners.

Save your citrus fruit skins. Save the peels of oranges, lemons, limes and other citrus fruits. Place them in boiling water to leave a fresh scent in the kitchen. If you have a garbage disposal unit, run the skins into it with boiling water. If you have a vacuum cleaner with a bag, place citrus skins in the bag the next time you hoover your carpet.

Grow plants indoors. Your favourite plants and herbs growing in small pots in your kitchen, living room and bathroom will look really great. As a bonus, they will help to reduce indoor air pollution and keep clean air circulating in your space.

Make gorgeous Room Sprays. Dilute essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Spray your furniture and carpets to make the room smell of a specific scent. For variety, you can have different scents for different areas of your home – different aromas for your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom if you wish, or your favourite throughout your whole home.

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Eliminate strong odours: Place bowls of white vinegar in corners of the room. The vinegar may smell strongly initially (depending upon the size of the room and its ventilation), but it will neutralize and absorb offending odours.

Give your clothes a whiff of heaven: Use cedar blocks in your closets / wardrobes. They’re expensive to buy initially, but you can use them year after year. Simply rub them with sandpaper for a new layer!

Light soy candles instead of regular candles. Soy candles are  longer-lasting,  better for the environment (“normal” candles are made from petroleum converted into paraffin wax),  better for human health (studies have shown that “normal” candles emit pollutants – some of which may be carcinogenic if frequently used),  and have a more robust smell.

Green Product Recommendation: BioCare Naturals Soy Candle (Long life, in recyclable glass jar, also repels mosquitoes).

Bake bread or cook your own meals. Few things are as welcoming as the smell of freshly baked bread or the aroma of a home-cooked dinner.

Open the windows in your home if the climate permits, and let the fresh air in! It’s the best and most natural freshener there is!

Mosquitoes

If you live in a part of the world where mosquitoes are a problem, you’ll know that they are an irritant, and some varieties carry disease. But most anti-mosquito products contain DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) and that’s not good for the environment, nor, apparently for us if we use it repeatedly – children especially are at risk.

So here you’ll find some toxin-free, homemade anti-mosquito sprays, and my top 10 tips on how to avoid the problem altogether.

Why Me?

One thing I always get asked about is why some people seem to be endlessly attractive to mosquitoes, and others not at all?

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Researchers aren’t totally sure, but the main suggestions are:

1. Your rate of carbon dioxide – Larger people and pregnant women often

exhale more CO2 than others. 2. Heat - the warmer you are, the more you’ll attract mosquitoes. 3. Colour - mosquitoes are attracted to dark things, so wear light colours for a better chance.

However, apparently it’s an old wives’ tale that eating bananas will attract them and taking vitamin B will repel them (I can vouch for the latter being an old wives’ tale – I take Vitamin B and they still love me. It must be my winning personality).

So, what can I do?

Here are some natural mixtures you can make yourself. Below, you’ll find further suggestions on how to avoid getting bitten.

Anti-Mosquito Oil:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with 10 drops of essential oil from this list (use one or a mixture of a couple): basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, pennyroyal, lemon balm (citronella). Essential oils are normally available at health food stores. 2. Combine in a glass jar and stir. 3. Dab a few drops on your clothing or skin.

(Caution: pregnant women should consult with their doctor before using).

You might want to experiment a little – different oils work best for different people, depending upon your individual body chemistry.

Tip: If you find a combination that works for you, but you don’t like the smell of it, add some peppermint oil.

Test a small area of skin first to check for any adverse reaction.

Anti-Mosquito Spray

If you would prefer to be able to spray on a repellent, try this:

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1. Combine half a cup of chopped fresh rosemary with a cup of boiling water. 2. Let it steep for about an hour. 3. Once it is cool, put it into a spritz bottle and keep it in the fridge. 4. Spray it on yourself as needed.

Tip: Remember that plant / herb-based solutions last for a short time only – re- apply about every hour.

Anti-Mosquito Dab

Parsley is useful in the fight against mosquitoes.

1. Place half a cup of crushed parsley into a small jar of apple cider vinegar. 2. Refrigerate. 3. Dab the mixture on your skin, or dip a handkerchief in it then wear it as a hatband or around your neck.

Buy Repellent

If you buy mosquito repellent, you want to make sure it’s non- toxic. I recommend BioCare Naturals Mosquito Soy Candle, made from soybeans with natural essential oils. It comes in a re-usable, recyclable glass jar and smells great!

Or look for incense sticks made from bamboo with essential oils.

Other Suggestions:

These are my Top Ten Tips for avoiding mosquitoes.

1. Avoid wearing strong perfume. 2. If you’re having a BBQ, try placing some sprigs of rosemary or sage on the coals. 3. Grow rose-scented geraniums or Citrosa geranium on your patio or porch and swish your hands through the leaves as you go outside. Or grow lemon balm - crush a leaf or two in your hand and then rub it over exposed skin. Catnip can also work. 4. Mosquitoes breed in still / stagnant water, so remove things like pet dishes, bird bowls, old tyres, small shallow pools, and flower pots. Be aware however, that your surroundings (outside your property) may have water traps.

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5. If you have a pond, stock it with goldfish, mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) or some native fish which eat mosquitoes. Then your pond will act as a natural mosquito trap. 6. A product called “Mosquito Dunks” is apparently non-toxic and can be placed in stagnant water; however, you should avoid inhaling the dust, and wear gloves to handle it. I haven’t seen the product, but my gut feel tells me those handling suggestions don’t make it sound non-toxic, so personally I probably wouldn’t use it. But it’s widely recommended by others. 7. Citronella candles and little machines which release citronella can help reduce the quantity of mosquitoes. 8. Bats eat mosquitoes. If you like them, encourage them to your home by building or buying a bat house. However, although they do eat mosquitoes, they prefer larger insects. So bats will help, but won’t eliminate them. 9. While indoors or on a patio, use a fan – mosquitoes don’t like being blown around (that’s why you get bitten less on a windy day – that’s my personal, non-scientific observation). 10. Wear long-sleeved shirts, trousers instead of shorts and shoes instead of sandals. In hot summer weather these may not seem attractive; however, thin and loose-fitting clothes may be just as comfortable and also help to protect you from sunburn and UV damage. A broad-brimmed hat can help keep bugs away from your head.

Things to avoid:

X Don’t use garden pesticides, which kill all insects including the beneficial ones and disrupt the natural balance; X Avoid electric bug zappers which kill lots of things but very few mosquitoes.

Tip: Remember to apply repellent BEFORE you actually need it! (In other words, before you are likely to get bitten).

Unfortunately, DEET works very effectively, and for a longer period of time than herbal remedies – perhaps keep some for emergencies only. Or consider applying it to your clothes instead of to your skin in the hope that it will still repel them.

What if I get bitten?

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If you do get a mosquito bite, you’ll want to stay away from the chemical remedies. Simply apply a drop of osha root (a native American herb) tincture. If you can’t find it, make a paste of water and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and dab that onto the bite instead.

Eco-friendly Eye Care

Use eco-friendly routines for great skin!

If you are interested in purer solutions and making green choices for your skin, you can buy eco-friendly products, or you can make your own.

It is safe, cheap, and easy to make your own natural recipes at home, using pure skincare ingredients from your pantry or refrigerator.

These recipes are all for the eyes – the window to the soul. Here are suggestions for eco-friendly eye moisturising creams, puffy eye aids, dark circle reducers, eye soothers, and eye make-up removers.

Eye Moisturisers

Both papaya and pineapple can be used separately as an eye cream, but together they are even more powerful. Both fruits have effective exfoliating properties similar to alpha-hydroxy acids, which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Take 1 tsp. very ripe papaya and 1 tsp. pineapple, mash very well and combine. Using your fingers, gently dab around the eyes where you are most prone to get wrinkles. Leave on for 5-10 minutes and gently remove with warm water.

Natural pure honey is a favourite for many beauty recipes – its usage goes as far back as the ancient Greeks. It keeps skin hydrated and retains moisture, and it also helps to absorb impurities from skin. Honey’s natural antioxidant benefits help with aging, and its anti-microbial properties help with protection from sun damage.

Another popular all-natural skin care recipe ingredient is olive oil. The benefits of olive oil have been enjoyed by Italian woman for hundreds of years. It made their complexions soft and was a wonderful luxury to add to the bath.

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Eye Saviours – Reduce puffiness, lighten dark circles

Cucumbers contain a highly beneficial ingredient. They have a mild astringent that is wonderful when it comes to swollen eyelids, puffy eyes and eye bags. Simply cut thin slices and place them on your eye skin area. Sit back and relax for a few minutes. What could be easier!

To lighten dark under-eye circles, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to the eyes and their dark circles for 15-20 minutes.

Tired Eyes

Getting enough sleep will go a long way to reduce redness and dark circles under the eyes. If you haven’t been getting enough sleep, use one of the following and close your eyes and rest for 15 minutes. Both you and your eyes will feel refreshed afterwards!

Chamomile Tea Bags are very soothing. Boil 1 cup of water and add 2 chamomile tea bags. Allow the water to cool to lukewarm with the tea bags in it. Remove the tea bags and squeeze the excess fluid from them. Place the tea bags on your closed eyes, and leave them in place for 15 minutes. Remove them from your eyes and discard.

Tip: The chamomile infusion can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days and used as a hair rinse or facial rinse.

Fennel is another great eye soothing ingredient. Take 3 tbsp crushed fennel seeds and add to 1/3 cup water, boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately strain the seeds from the infusion. Let the infusion cool to room temperature. Soak cotton pads in the infusion, squeeze out the excess fluid, and place on closed eyes for 15 minutes. Remove and discard. The leftover infusion can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days and used as a skin rinse.

Eye Make-up Removers

Most commercial removers use petroleum in one form or another. Here’s a wonderfully easy remover instead.

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Dab just a small amount of coconut oil onto an organic cotton swab to quickly and gently remove all traces of eye make-up.

Tip: This recipe can be used as a light moisturising oil as well as an eye make-up remover.

Just because……. of course you need a treat!

Treat your eyes with this lovely, rich mixture!  1/8 tsp rosehip seed oil  10 drops evening primrose oil  10 drops vitamin E (use 400 IU per gel cap or concentrated liquid vitamin E 32,000 IU per fluid ounce)  10 drops jojoba oil Mix all of the ingredients together. Gently and carefully massage just a drop or two of the mixture into the skin around your eyes. Store any remaining oil in a small glass bottle.

Useful tips for eye care:

 The skin around the eyes requires extra care because it’s more fragile than the skin on the rest of your face. It should not be rubbed or scrubbed hard, as this can stretch the skin too much and help to cause the formation of wrinkles and lines.  Avoid putting concentrated substances such as essential oils around your eyes. These can cause burning, stinging, redness and watering.  Make eye care products in small quantities. It’s much better to make small quantities often, than to make large quantities that will sit around for a while.

Allergies

Allergies can make life miserable for sufferers – and allergies are increasingly common as a result of air pollution.

What relieves your symptoms depends upon your own body chemistry, and the environment you live in.

From a health point of view, as well as to be green, you want to avoid toxic chemical treatments.

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Here are my suggestions – try all or some of them. Some people have found great success with one method, while others have said that didn’t work, but another one did. Hopefully, you’ll find one in this list which will work for you!

Eco-Friendly Allergy Solutions – Top 10 Tips

1. Food or supplements containing probiotics have been shown to be effective in relieving allergy symptoms. Yoghurt is a common source of probiotics, however, remember that dairy products can make symptoms worse for some allergy sufferers – test for a dairy allergy 2. A vegan diet has eliminated allergies in some people. 3. Eyebright can be an effective herb to relieve eye irritation caused by allergies. Studies have shown it to be remarkably effective with no serious adverse reaction. Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne has been used for centuries. Today it is available in drops (Euphrasia and Oculoheel ® and also as capsules). 4. Drink more water. This will support the natural cleansing systems in your body. 5. Drink green tea – drink two to three cups daily for best results. Green tea contains powerful antioxidants (it’s good for you generally as well as for allergies). If you don’t like the taste of green tea, many manufacturers add other ingredients to make it more palatable – for instance I love Twinings Green Tea with Lemon. Green tea is also available in powered form (Matcha) which you can add to food. 6. Apples and onions contain quercetin which is an anti-histamine phyto- nutrient. There is also some quercetin in berries, cabbage, cauliflower, nuts and tea. 7. Native Americans used stinging nettles to relieve allergy symptoms and they have been proven to work today. You can buy them in dried form to make tea or buy them in capsule form. 8. Shower or bathe before bedtime to remove pollen from your hair and skin. 9. Avoid carpets. Polished floors are best. 10. Children with pets statistically suffer fewer allergies. So, if you have the space and the time to care for an animal, as well as the money to feed him or her, a pet could be a good investment (added bonus – pets may teach your child responsibility and compassion).

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Wonderful Lemons!

OK, I admit, this topic is close to my heart. I tend to have rather a lot of lemons lurking around in my home. Why? Well, I have a soft spot for a margarita cocktail…….

As a child I remember having lemons at home, a small quantity but constant – in fact running out of lemons was a bit of a domestic disaster. My mother liked a slice of fresh lemon in her gin and tonic, and it Was Just Not Done to be out of stock. But that was all they were used for, which seems rather a shame now that I know about all these other uses…….

Pest Control

Many pests dislike the acid in lemons. Place lemon peel at thresholds, windows or anywhere pests enter your home or office. (Where I live we are plagued by ants in winter, so this is really useful) (and a good excuse for a margarita).

Greasy Messes

Lemon cuts through grease (do I sound like an advert for a chemical cleaning product?). Simply add some salt (for abrasion) onto half a lemon left after juicing, rub over the greasy areas, and then wipe the surface clean.

Refresh a Chopping Board

Rub half a lemon over the board surface, leave for 5 minutes then rinse. (I find this is really good for getting rid of the onion smell which sometimes lingers). (Oh, and it’s another excuse for a margarita).

Treat Your Face

Rub lemon peels very lightly on your face (not close to your eyes) for a nice skin tonic, then rinse off.

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Lemony Dishwasher

Add lemon peel to your dishwasher cycle to remove any smells.

And of course, as the saying goes: when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

Try to buy local, organic lemons (or grow your own if you live in a suitable climate). Using lemons will help to save money as well as reduce your demand for chemical cleaning products and pest sprays, and they smell great – what’s not to love!

What to Avoid in Personal Care Products

The skin is our largest organ. Every day, we slather all sorts of products onto it: deodorant / anti-perspirant, soap, moisturiser, make up, after-shave, perfume, and more. As well as scrubs, shampoo and hair care, sunscreen, anti-insect protection, and even certain clothes too.

Unfortunately many products contain harmful substances that we’d be better off without.

Here are some useful tips on what to look for:

The word “Natural” on a product is not regulated. It does NOT necessarily mean good. (Arsenic is natural). “Natural” can be anything. Adding some aloe vera into a product which also contains chemicals does not make it safe overall.

“Eco” and “Eco Friendly” are not regulated. Adding a plant ingredient or two does not necessarily make a product eco friendly.

“Paraben Free”, “SLS Free” and “Grey Water Safe” are good labels to look for. ”Certified Organic” can also be useful – with the emphasis on the Certified.

Even if those labels are present, you still need to check the Ingredients because there could still be other nasties.

Or you can rely on a trusted web site to recommend products they’ve researched for you (make sure they tell you WHY a product is good – I’ve seen some supposedly-eco product

Live Well, Live Green recommendations and wondered what planet the reviewers live on).

If you have sensitive skin, avoid products with fragrance (easier said than done!).

Key things to remember about ingredients lists (assuming they’re large enough to be read by anything other than an ant with a magnifying glass)

The items listed first are the largest ingredients; those listed last have the smallest amounts. So if the “baddies” are at the beginning of the list, beware!

The term “fragrance” or “parfum” is not regulated, and so all sorts of nasties can be hidden in there. If this item is high / early in the list of ingredients, I avoid the product.

If I can’t pronounce the majority of the ingredients, or if I think a 12-year-old would find them difficult to read, I don’t buy the product.

Deodorants and Anti-Perspirants

 Propylene glycol is a penetration enhancer commonly used in deodorants. (Personally, I’d prefer to keep the deodorant outside, not absorbed through the skin).

 It’s pretty hard to find anti-perspirant without aluminium in it, not to mention an ingredients list that’s quite impossible to pronounce.

 Many deodorants contain phthalates to help the fragrance stay on the skin. Phthalates are plastics, made from petroleum. (Yes, plastics are everywhere!).

 Most deodorants and anti perspirants contain parabens as preservatives.

 Many deodorants which use crystal say they’re “natural” but you need to check what else is included together with the crystal.

When buying deodorant, I personally prefer a stick or roll-on rather than a spray. I can control how much I put on, whereas a spray wastes product into the air and I might inhale the product. And I think there’s normally quite a bit of product that gets left in the can, while a stick is pretty much all used at the end. Being smaller, they tend to use less resources to make too.

I like Herbal Choice Mari Deodorant Unscented because it’s aluminium free, has no phthalates or parabens, no petroleum products and is not tested on animals nor does it use any animal products. It is organic and made from crystal and plant products. It’s a spray rather than a stick unfortunately, but it is presented in a glass bottle which I like and is recyclable.

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Avoid the Skin Toxins in Hand Soap

To avoid skin toxins, use the gentlest you can find.

The main offender in soap is Sodium Laurel Sulphate (SLS) or derivatives thereof – it’s used to make the lather we’ve been conditioned to believe we need. Be aware – some manufacturers call products “eco” if they add a drop of essential oil.

“Ylang ylang and papaya soap” for example sounds gorgeous and eco friendly – but it could easily still contain toxins. So don’t be fooled by all- too-clever manufacturers / marketers.

Again, try to avoid phthalates and parabens in soap products.

Green Product Recommendation: I like EuroSpa Hand Soap-Unscented-12 oz. It’s unscented, SLS-free, phthalate-free and paraben-free, and although it’s sold in a plastic bottle, it’s made according to a new EPA standard.

More Skin Care

What about sunscreen – is it healthy? Are some types better than others? Can you make your own? What’s the difference between sunblock and sunscreen? All of these question and more are answered on my website – click here to read all about sunscreen.

Do you want healthy, glossy hair? Of course! Here’s how to get great hair – the natural way.

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Chapter 2: Cool Your Home in Summer

Heating and cooling your home takes up to HALF of the energy you use. Imagine being able to save money on bills, but still be comfortable! This chapter will help you do just that!

There are tips on keeping your house cool without air conditioning, wonderfully easy ways to stay cool, and advice on getting the most out of an air conditioner if you have one.

The ability to heat and cool is a very important accomplishment of modern technology. Our homes, ovens and freezers can be kept at any temperature we choose – a luxury that simply wasn’t possible 100 years ago. But keeping our homes comfortable uses a lot of energy.

With HALF of your energy costs going towards heating and cooling your home, it makes sense to look at (easy) ways of avoiding the heat. Reducing your demand for energy is great for the environment too, because in most countries including the USA, the majority of electricity is generated from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource.

It’s Easy – Shade Your House!

One of the best things you can do to keep cool in summer is to stop the heat getting to or touching your home. Here are some great ways to do that:

In the days before air conditioning, many houses in warmer climates were built with lovely deep verandas or porches. There was a very good reason for that – keeping the heat out of the house in the first place, saved

Live Well, Live Green you trying to cool it down later.

If you live in the northern hemisphere, the important areas to shade are the southern and western sides of your home. In the southern hemisphere, you want to shade your home from the north and west.

If your house wasn’t designed to keep out the heat, then you won’t have verandas or overhangs or bris soleil which keep out the sun in summer but are designed to let it in during winter.

No problem – here are 5 more ways to add sun protection to your home.

1. Add an exterior blind or awning. These are common throughout Europe and Australia. You can have them up or down depending on whether you want to allow the sun in or not.

2. Install shutters. Shutters are a massively overlooked technology. They provide ventilation, security, shade and storm protection in one simple device. They add character to a home’s appearance too.

3. Plant a tree. This is not an instant solution (although you can buy ‘adult’ trees to speed things up). Trees are great, and deciduous trees are even better because they create shade during the summer, but let the sun in during winter when they lose their leaves – they’re as sophisticated as any electronic device!

Tip: Be careful not to plant a tree with invasive root systems too close to your house.

4. Plant vines or creepers. American architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said "a doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines". Vines are surprisingly effective at keeping a house cool. They grow far more quickly than trees, too. Ivy, russian-vine and virginia creeper grow quickly and have an immediate effect by shading walls from the sun. Also consider dual-purpose vines - morning glories also provide beautiful flowers, or grape vines which also provide grapes. The daily temperature fluctuation can be reduced by up to 50%!

5. Put film on sunny windows. Film will keep your home cooler, and reduce glare as well as UV rays which damage floors and furniture. Film may also reduce the amount of light coming in. In general, you would not want to apply film to south-facing windows if you want to get warmth from the sun during winter.

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Tip: Get advice on the different types of film available, and have it professionally installed.

All of these methods involve some up-front cost, but will save you money on running costs – because less hot air going into your house saves you money trying to cool it down again.

The FREE way to cool your home!

The greenest (and cheapest) way to keep your house cool in summer is to simply close up your home during the heat of the day, and open it at night. This works best if you have shade outside your home too, but it will still help even if you don’t. It’s almost too easy! 1. As soon as it starts to get hot outside, close your windows. If you don’t have shade outside sunny windows, close thick curtains or drapes inside the windows. If you are going to be out of the house all day, close up before you leave. 2. As soon as the sun passes, open the curtains and the windows and doors to allow cool air to come in and ventilate your home. Open certain windows to create breezes (more on breezes below), and if necessary use a fan to increase air movement. Tip: You may need screens on your windows and doors to prevent an influx of bugs. Use the breeze! Once it is time to open your windows again, try to open windows and doors on both sides of your home (e.g. end-to-end or side-to-side) – this will allow the air to move through your house, creating a breeze. Tip: It helps if you know what direction the wind near your home usually blows. Arrange furniture and drapes so they don’t restrict airflow. If you have operable skylights or transom windows high on walls, open them to let out the hot air and create convection currents. What if there isn’t a breeze?

Sometimes there will only be a weak breeze or none at all. In these circumstances, use an electric fan instead. Even small, inexpensive table-top fans can really whip the air around.

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Placing one facing in by the window where air is coming in, and one at an opposite window positioned to blow warm air out, can create a nice “wind tunnel” effect in pulling air through the house. For an extra-cool breeze, place a frozen water bottle in front of the fan.

Tip: Turn fans off when you are finished so they don’t waste electricity and extract cool air from the house!

More Tips to Stay Cool

Reduce indoor humidity. Humidity makes the air feel warmer. Try to avoid doing things during the heat of the day which increase the humidity in your home, especially clothes washing and drying, and showering.  Dry your clothes outside instead of using a dryer.  Take cool or lukewarm showers instead of hot, steamy ones.  If you use a dishwasher, don’t use the heat dry at the end of the cycle. Switch off the lights. Regular light bulbs give off a lot of heat (if you don’t believe me, try touching one after it has been on for a while). Keeping lights off during the day will reduce your electricity usage and also help to keep your house cool by eliminating the extra heat that these bulbs emanate. Switching to CFL (Compact Fluorescent) or LED bulbs will also help - they generate minimal heat and will save on your utility bill. Don't Cook Hot Food Inside. Stoves generate a lot of heat, so cooking indoors raises the temperature inside your home, costing you more money to cool it down again. Outside summer kitchens are practical – and fun – and they are also all the rage in luxury homes too. So get a gas barbecue and grill your vegetables, take advantage of farmers markets to get fresh stuff, and eat lots of salads and sandwiches. Your rice cooker, slow cooker, and pressure cooker are other useful alternatives. When you cook outside and see the large clouds of smoke and steam rising, be reminded about how much heat and humidity cooking contributes to indoor atmospheres.. Check your electronic equipment. If devices are switched on, they’re adding to the indoor heat (and your power bill). Even if they’re switched off, many still draw power. To stop them contributing to indoor heat, put them on a power strip so they’re easy to switch off fully, or get a ‘smart’ power strip which will do the work for you. Spray concrete walls. Concrete traps heat throughout the day and releases it as the evening progresses. Just before the sun sets, take your hose and spray off the concrete around your house and the exterior walls to eliminate the stored heat and keep your house cooler. This won’t work in all climates, so test it where you live – don’t waste a very precious resource unless it really makes a difference.

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Minimize indoor fabrics. Fabric increases interior humidity. Seats covered in natural materials will be cooler. (Add throws / blankets in winter). Consider natural floors rather than carpets; they will be cooler (add rugs in winter).

Dress appropriately. Loose-fitting, light clothing goes a long way toward keeping you cool. Dress for the season when inside your house. Loose fitting clothes are cooler and more comfortable than tight fitting garments. And go barefoot or wear sandals. Natural fabrics are cooler than synthetics. At night, use light organic bamboo or cotton sheets on your bed, and try a buckwheat pillow which doesn't hold on to your body heat like conventional pillows do. Stop cooled air escaping. A couple of hours with a caulking gun to stop air leaks costs much less than insulation, and is effective. You spend money and effort cooling the inside of your home - don’t let it escape.

Get the Most From Your Air Conditioning!

If you live in an area where the temperatures are extreme, you’ll probably have air- conditioning. Because it’s expensive to run, you’ll want to make sure you use it efficiently and get the most benefit from it. Also, running an air conditioning system is not very eco-friendly. But if you follow these useful tips below, you’ll minimize your carbon footprint.

1. Remove obstructions. Make certain the air conditioning unit is unobstructed on every side with at least 18 inches (500cm) clearance. Avoid leaning anything on the air conditioner, and make certain there is nothing above it. (It rejects heat through the top so an awning or tree would seriously prohibit this). 2. Turn your air conditioner off or up when you leave your home. Many people don’t want to come home from a long day at work to an uncomfortable home. Consider how much energy is being used by the air conditioner while no one is benefitting from the usage. (If you have pets inside the house then of course they should be considered - but remember they do sleep on the floor and it’s much cooler down there. Plus, they are expert at finding all the cool spots in the house!). 3. Maintain your air conditioner. Often people neglect to maintain the air conditioner. It does need to be cleaned every so often. This can be done yourself by purchasing the cleaner at a hardware store or of course by a

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professional air conditioning company. Your air conditioner should be cleaned at least once a year - or twice a year if you live in a place that has a lot of dust (like Las Vegas). In addition to lessening the likelihood of a breakdown, your electricity usage will decline as well. 4. Change your filter. The air conditioner has a filter that was first designed to keep the inside coil clean and later became more advanced for health purposes. When this filter gets dirty it restricts the air flow as well as the efficiency of the system. You don’t need to check this every day, but set yourself a schedule such as once per month to check / clean / change it. If the filter isn’t dirty you may be able to get a little more use out of it. 5. Don’t buy a cheap filter. When you see a sign that proclaims 10 for $1 don’t expect to get top of the line! The eco-friendly way is to buy a filter that is washable. These filters stop more of the dust as a general rule, and you won’t be creating trash every month. 6. Be a little tougher. It’s nice to be ultra-comfortable but it comes at a cost. Set the thermostat to 78 F degrees (25 C). For every degree below this you are adding 3% to your power bill (6% in Celsius). It may be too warm for you at first but you will get used to it, and you will save money. 7. Use a fan as well. Because we feel cooler if there is a breeze, fans (which help to move the air) make us feel cooler. Because we feel cooler, we can then change the air-con a couple of degrees – a change of about 4oF or 2oC should be fine. Those extra few degrees make a big difference to your bill!

Tip: if you use the fan but don’t change your air conditioning temperature, you’ll be increasing The simple, low- your cooling costs! tech, tried-and- Bonus Tips: true methods cost less, use less Remember that your body copes better when you don’t have temperature extremes. So if you keep energy, and work your home really chilled, and then walk out into a forever! boiling day, it will be harder to adjust. Your body will adapt, but the transition will be easier if you keep air conditioning to a more natural temperature.

Switch the fan off if you’re not in the room – they make you feel cooler but fans don’t actually lower the temperature.

If your ceiling fan gives you the option, you will find greater comfort in the summer by setting the fan so that the air moves faster, and in a downward direction. (You may need to adjust the speed so you are comfortable with the noise and so that it doesn’t blow papers around).

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Almost Free Easy Alternatives

Save money - and be kind to the environment - with these easy alternatives:

Put an ice cube on your pulse points.

Yes, it’s quick, easy and cheap! Put an ice cube in a handkerchief or wash cloth and place it on your wrists and/or neck. It will cool you down quickly.

Wear a wet bandana

Put cold water on a bandana then tie it around your head. It won’t do much for your hairstyle, but it will keep you cool! Wet the bandana again as needed.

Soak your feet in cold water

Fill a small tub or container with cold water and soak your feet for a while - it is very refreshing. If you are lucky enough to have a swimming pool but don’t have time for a swim, sit on the edge and dangle your feet in the water for a quick cooling off.

Keep a spray bottle in the fridge

Keep a small spray bottle full of water in the refrigerator. Mist your face and neck with the cold water.

Summary

Phew, we’ve covered a lot in this chapter!

To summarize then:

 Shade your house with a veranda or porch, trees, creepers or awnings.

 If you’re lucky enough to have shutters in your home, use them – they’re a multi-purpose wonder!

 Close your home up during the day, don’t let the heat in. Then at night, open everything up and let the breeze cool it down, or use fans to create through- draughts.

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 Don’t do things which will increase the temperature of your home. For example, cook outside, dry clothes outside, have a luke-warm instead of a hot shower, switch off the lights inside (they generate heat), and switch off electrical appliances.

 Dress appropriately for the climate, and minimise fabrics especially on floors. Avoid synthetic bedding.

 If you use air conditioning, follow the tips to ensure you get the most out of it, reduce your costs and reduce your demand for electricity.

 Finally, use the almost-free ideas such as ice cubes, a wet bandana, wet feet and a spray mist of cold water to keep you cool even on the hottest day!

The simple, low-tech, tried and true methods cost less, save more energy and work forever.

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Chapter 3: Heat Your Home in Winter

Many houses and offices have a central furnace or boiler which burns fossil fuels such as oil (petroleum), coal or gas. Even if your heating is provided by electricity, most electricity is generated from fossil fuels.

So, the more we can do to reduce our usage (and wastage) of heat, the better for our pockets and for the planet!

Of course you need to keep warm in winter. But you can reduce your bills and be eco-friendly by following these tips.

Central or Not?

Look carefully at your heating requirements. If only one or two rooms need to be heated, then it will be better to use individual room heaters or fireplaces. If the entire house needs to be heated, however, then a central system is more efficient.

According to the EERE Consumer’s Guide, typical efficiencies for central heating are: . 85-97% for gas fired heating; . 80-89% for oil-fired heating . 45-60% for coal-fired heating

Dress Right!

Again, dress appropriately for the season in your home. When it’s cold outside, dress warmly inside too – a nice cheery woollen sweater, woolly or furry socks all engender feelings of comfort. When you’re sitting down, wrap a cosy blanket around you instead of turning up the heat.

If you’re at home in winter and wearing shorts and a t-shirt, you might just as well take your hard-earned money and hand it over as a gift to the energy companies!

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Insulate

Good insulation is important in making sure that the heat you pay for, stays in your home and doesn’t slip outside.

There are many different types of insulation, ranging from fibreglass (which isn’t very eco-friendly) through to recycled denim jeans and newspapers to nano technology.

Much depends upon how your house is built – click here for more in-depth information on insulation types .

The Passive House

Passive Solar techniques can save massive amounts of money by requiring less energy for heating and cooling.

In addition to excellent insulation, passive techniques involve  Orienting the main windows of the house towards the equator, in order to maximise solar gain.

 The height and placement of the windows is carefully calculated so that in summer, when the sun is high in the sky, there is little sun penetration, while in winter when the sun is lower, the sun can stream in the windows helping to heat the home.

 Triple glazing is also often used to improve the solar efficiency of the home

 Cross-ventilation is planned into the design.

If you are buying a new home, or building your own, consider these options – they can save you a great deal of money in energy costs, as well as significantly reduce your carbon emissions.

Space

Remember too that a small, cosy home is much easier to heat than a large one; while if you live in a hot, tropical climate, then space is wonderful for keeping a home cooler.

“What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Henry David Thoreau

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Chapter 4: Appliances – Buying & Using

It’s a fact that if you buy a new appliance now, it is automatically more efficient than any model (no matter how cheap or expensive it was originally) bought more than 10 years ago – in some cases, just 5 years ago. This is because manufacturers have bowed to consumer and legislative pressure to make appliances more energy efficient.

That’s good news!

But to live a green lifestyle, you’ll still want to conserve energy with these appliances. Here’s how.

Buying a New Appliance

Over the last 100 years, appliances have changed the way we spend our time at home. Chores that used to take hours can now be done in minutes by using electricity instead of human energy. In recent years, home appliances have become more energy efficient – due in part to consumer pressure. According to Energy Star ® a refrigerator made before 1980 used an average of 2,200 kWh per year; in 2008, refrigerators which were Energy Star rated used only 537 kWh.

When you buy an appliance, look at the yellow EnergyGuide label. It tells you the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of the appliance - how much it costs you to operate it. The more energy-efficient an

Live Well, Live Green appliance is, the less it costs to run, and the lower your utility bills and the better for the environment.

Buying a Green Television

If you watch TV, you’ll want to have an energy-efficient machine. Here’s what to look for.

Size: Bigger TVs use more power. In fact, many of the new large TVs use more energy than the old-fashioned tube TVs simply because of their size, even though the old ones weren’t energy efficient!

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Very large TVs are easily available and sold as glamorous, but they can end up dominating a room, as well as using a lot of energy – to manufacture, to ship and to operate.

So, buy a TV no larger than you need and which fits comfortably in the room where you will use it.

Type: Plasma TVs use up to three times the amount of energy of an LCD TV.

Settings: The brighter the TV, the more energy it uses. You can cut your power requirements by up to half without affecting picture quality.

When you first switch your TV on, choose the "home" mode rather than the retail mode. Then use your remote control or menu options to select standard, movie, or cinema mode rather than dynamic, sports, or vivid mode. These two simple changes can often cut power consumption by 20 to 50%! The best options are often standard, movie or cinema mode - choose the one which best suits you.

Have your television professionally calibrated or use a test disc to calibrate the brightness and colour yourself. This step can help ensure your television looks best in a fairly dark room, saving energy and helping to replicate the experience of going to the movies. For more information, see Tom's Guide.

If you want to do other things while watching TV, use a lamp next to where you sit. (And of course, if you're involved in the other things you're doing, then consider switching the TV off altogether!).

Turn down the lights in your TV room. By minimizing the amount of light that lands on the TV itself or the wall behind it, you will not only save lighting energy, but also help ensure that your TV looks good at a lower brightness setting of its own.

If your TV has an Automatic Brightness Setting, use it. It recognizes the room light and adjusts accordingly to ensure your TV is never consuming more power than needed.

Other features for saving power might not affect the picture quality at all. For example, many TVs provide a “picture off” setting that just plays the audio, thus greatly reducing power consumption if you would rather listen than watch.

Many TVs can be programmed to turn off automatically after a set period of time, via a sleep timer or after a set period of inactivity.

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Some models have a “presence sensor” that automatically turns off the picture, and eventually the TV itself, when you leave the room. (Although there is an argument for actually taking responsibility yourself rather than leaving everything to machines).

TVs consume power when switched off, but Energy Star compliant TVs consume less than 1 watt of power while off (i.e. if you left it switched off for a year it would probably cost you less than $2).

There's more to your TV than you thought!

Buying a Green Dishwasher

If you need to buy a new dishwasher, look out for these eco friendly features:

 Option for NO pre-rinse (most dishes don’t need to be pre-rinsed, so no need to waste water)  Can run on cooler wash, around 85F (30C) or less , you’ll want to use that nearly all the time (sometimes called eco-cycle)  Option to tell it NOT to dry. So you can open the door and let your dishes air dry instead of using power to heat or fan dry them. (It takes longer – just plan it so they dry overnight).  It should have a stainless steel interior to retain heat, not plastic.

I read that European models use 4 gallons of water per wash while American ones use 14. I don’t know how accurate that is now. Check the models available to you, use the yellow energy label if it’s available.

Other things to consider

Consider the decibel rating (noise level) if you have an open-plan kitchen, you’ll want a quieter machine if you’ll be sharing space with it while it’s washing.

And, before you set foot in the store (or the Net), work out what size you need for you and your family. Compacts are more efficient (use less water, less power) than larger machines (unless of course you have to run it twice a day!)

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Buying a Green Fridge

Today’s models are more than 30% more energy efficient than those made before 2000. New fridges use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb running 24 hours a day.

Things to look for in a new fridge:

 an automatic ice maker can use up to 20% more electricity than the same model without the ice maker. Use the good old fashioned ice cube trays and save some money while saving the environment  It is extremely important to pick the right size refrigerator. An extra-large refrigerator, even if it is an eco friendly model, will still use more energy than a small to medium size standard model  Top-freezer refrigerator models are the most energy efficient type of refrigerator; bottom-freezer models are next best; side-by-side refrigerators are the least energy efficient  Through-the-door water and ice dispensers are very convenient. But you need to get plumbing to them (restricting their placement in your kitchen), and they are the items most likely to break down. Fridges are extremely reliable – manufacturers say the only parts which break down are the dispensers. Work out just how often you will really use these features (rather than opening the door) and decide if you truly need to pay extra for them  LED lighting inside the fridge is eco-friendly and the bulbs will last for a very long time.

Using Appliances

There are lots of things you can do to make sure you’re being energy-efficient when you use your appliances. And one of the most important is to switch them off!

1. Always make sure you switch off all appliances when you’re not using them. That means when you leave a room. Or when you go out. Be aware of what you leave on, when you leave a room. You might be surprised! 2. If you pass a room where a TV is switched on or music is playing, but there is no one there, switch them off. 3. For the many electronic appliances and gadgets around your home, invest in a power strip. Plugging electronics into a “smart” plug strip will help ensure that once you turn the main device off, most of the other devices will turn off automatically as well.

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4. Recycle or at least unplug old electronics that you rarely use. Older models can use significant amounts of standby power, so it makes no sense to leave them plugged in if they will only be used sporadically.

Save Electricity With Off-Peak

Talking about using appliances, another great way to save energy – and money – is to run your appliances at off-peak times.

Peak hours are those during which the most electricity is consumed - in many countries this is during the afternoons in summer.

Why avoid peak hour electricity use?

Electricity provided during peak hours is often more expensive than off-peak electricity.

Avoid adding to peak electricity demand by shifting your energy-intensive tasks, such as doing the laundry and using the dishwasher, to off-peak hours – mornings, nights and weekends. Simply remember the clock whenever you decide it’s time to put those big appliances to work – after 7pm is generally good. A useful website is Flex Your Power http://www.fypower.org/

Tip: Remember to check with your local electricity provider. You may need to sign up first, before you will see savings. Also, in Australia there was a problem with some providers not reducing their off-peak costs unless some small-print conditions were met. Finding out the details can definitely help to save you money!

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Chapter 5: Lighting

After heating and cooling your home, the next largest energy users are lighting and appliances.

“Normal” light bulbs convert most of their energy into heat!

So here’s how to be green with lighting.

Lighting is essential in today’s society. In poverty- stricken parts of the world, one of the projects that consistently makes the most difference to a community is the provision of reliable lighting.

Why? Without electricity, the day effectively ends at sunset. Imagine a child trying to study their homework by candlelight or kerosene lamp. The light simply isn’t bright enough, plus all the fumes coming from candles and a fire for cooking and warmth, are not conducive to concentration. Not to mention the fire hazard.

With good light, children tend to be better 1 Homework by kerosene lamp in Ghana educated – and statistically those with some education are more likely to escape or minimise the effects of poverty.

(I’ve chosen to spend most of my adult life in various parts of Africa, and I have seen what a difference proper light can make. I have also researched projects in rural India, and the effects are similar).

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Incandescent light bulb

Incandescent (“normal”) light bulbs

Many homes and businesses still use the traditional incandescent bulbs. These bulbs convert only about 10% of the electricity they use into light; the other 90% is converted into heat.

This makes them hugely inefficient – although the heat they generate is useful in winter, in summer you have to pay more to cool your house from your lighting!

Many countries have banned incandescent light bulbs, other countries still sell them. But be aware – even if the label says incandescent bulbs are more energy efficient, they’re still not efficient.

So, if ‘normal’ or incandescent light bulbs are inefficient, what should we use instead?

Fluorescent Tubes

A fluorescent bulb produces less heat, so it is more efficient – in fact it is four to six times more efficient than an incandescent bulb. But we don’t necessarily want to use them all over our homes, because they can be a little ‘cold’.

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Fluorescent Bulbs – CFLs

Compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs, last much longer and use much less energy than incandescent bulbs. They cost more to buy, but they will last longer. The US Department of Energy shows savings (in terms of energy costs and purchase costs) over the lifetime of a CFL bulb to be $105! CFL (photo by Armin Kübelbeck) Here are some tips for using CFLs

 Switching your whole house and business over to CFLs at one time can be a heavy capital cost. Try gradually switching over – as bulbs fail, replace them with CFLs so the financial impact isn’t so overwhelming.  Some CFLs don’t last as long as they say they will. Like most products, there are reputable brands, and others. Use your judgement, like you would with any other purchase. Reputable brands have a guarantee (although I admit I don’t always keep my receipts).  CFLs can’t be simply put in the bin when they’re used, because they contain a tiny amount of mercury, which could be dangerous. You should place them in special recycling containers (without breaking them) – most hardware stores, supermarkets and municipal recycling centres have them.  The light from CFLs is different from incandescents. Some people don’t’ like it. This is being overcome – CFLs now come in different whites, e.g. warm white, daylight, etc.  The light from CFLs doesn’t travel as far as incandescent. This has implications for high-level lighting – however, if it’s hard-to-reach, you’ll benefit from not having to change the bulbs as often.  Some CFLs take a while to light up to full strength in cold weather. Newer designs are overcoming this.  CFLs are not necessarily dimmable, and don’t always come in different shapes (for chandeliers, etc). Again, CFLs that can work in dimmers are more readily available now, and some new shapes are coming in, although not yet with the huge range we are used to with incandescents.

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LEDs

Another route to consider is that of LED (light-emitting diode) lights. LED lighting for homes and buildings (also called SSL or Solid State Lighting) is evolving rapidly. The better brands of LED give over 50,000 hours of light – that’s equivalent to 50 incandescent or 5 CFLs. Although the purchase costs are high, the running costs are low and the long life of LEDs mean cost savings over its life. LEDs are LED Lighting from Toshiba smaller and don’t break easily. On the down side, LEDs are sensitive to variations in electrical current, and heat management needs to be considered. Nonetheless, LEDs are eco-friendly because they don’t contain mercury, their long life means less material for landfills, and of course they use much less energy to run, thus saving on energy generation and carbon emissions.

LEDs

Joseph Swan, a British physicist and chemist, demonstrated a working light bulb in 1879 – eight months ahead of Thomas Edison. Swan’s home was the first house in the world to be lit by a lightbulb. Edison then went on to commercial success with his incandecent light bulbs.

We’ve come a long way since then! If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting, we I haven’t verified this (yet), but I read a could retire 90 average size fascinating statistic – see the grey box power plants.

Just think about that!!!!!

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Chapter 6: Green-washing

You want to live an eco-friendly life. You want to “do no harm”. You want to protect the environment for your children.

You want to make the right choices. You want to use our resources wisely.

You want to buy products that are green and eco-friendly and don’t harm the environment.

So you buy products which are labelled ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’.

But are they REALLY green?

Have they been Green-washed?

Green-washing is a term used when products and services are identified as being ‘green’ when in fact they may not be. It comes from the term ‘white-washing’, to try to cover something up. It is also known as ‘spin’.

Why would people use green-washing on their products? Because it’s a good marketing ploy. Most people want to do the right thing, and believe if they are buying something eco-friendly rather than something that isn’t, they’re doing their bit for the environment.

Eco-friendly sells.

(Although perhaps not as well as sex sells!).

The term was coined by an American environmentalist in 1986 about the practice adopted by many hotels of promoting the re-use of towels to ‘protect the environment’. He found that there was little or no effort by the hotels to reduce energy waste.

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Thus, if the marketer uses “the environment” to simply increase profits, he or she is green-washing.

How To Spot Green-washing

So, you might wish to know how you can spot green-washing, so that you can be assured of buying genuinely eco-friendly goods and services – or at the very least, so that you won’t be fooled.

 Can they prove their product is green and eco friendly? Is there reliable certification for example, or can they prove their percentage of recycled content?

 Is it vague? For example, “all-natural” means absolutely nothing – mercury comes from the Earth but it’s poisonous.

 Is it distracting you? For example, “organic” cigarettes distract you from the health and environmental impacts of cigarettes.

 Are they false labels? Some products use a label similar to real certification (e.g. organic) to fool us. Know your labels!

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Chapter 7: Organising Storage in your home

Organising your home, office, garage – your life, really – is important from many aspects, not least environmentally.

Are you surprised?

Read on!

Is clutter in your home / garage / office driving you crazy? Staying organized saves time and frustration, but believe it or not, it can also help the environment! Here’s how:

 By knowing what you have and where you have it, you won’t buy the same stuff twice, thus conserving natural resources.  By tidying your belongings into storage containers, you’ll save space and be less inclined to move to a larger home.  By keeping your home tidy, you won’t need to use as many chemical cleaners, which are an environmental burden. (and the chores will be less of a pain!).  By keeping your things in good condition, you need to replace them less often, which is a win for your wallet as well as the environment.  By organizing your perishables, you’re more likely to consume them before they go to waste.  By wasting less, you’ll send less to landfills.

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Start to Get Organised

Re-use or buy storage units

Organising essentially means keeping like things together in an easy-to-find place. In most cases, this will require storage units of some sort – ideally something with shelves, drawers, or bins that make your belongings easily accessible for daily use.

To be eco-friendly, you want to consider your choices. You could go out and buy new storage accessories, but it’s better for your wallet as well as for the environment if you don’t.

Instead, consider these alternatives:

 Re-use: are there items already in your home that you could use differently? Look around your home with open eyes – what is taking up space that you could repurpose? Perhaps you have something which, with a fresh coat of paint or just a clean-up, could work as new storage?  If there’s nothing suitable in your home, then visit a thrift store, or try the ‘free’ section in Craigslist, or Freegle in the UK.  If you’re a DIY-er, build your own storage unit, which you can customise to your needs. Because you make it yourself, you can control what materials you use. If possible, use materials that you (or your neighbour or local junk yard) already own, such as wood scraps. Also consider recycled or reclaimed wood, FSC-certified wood, bamboo and organic cotton.  If you want to paint your storage unit, use Low-VOC or VOC-free paints – they are more expensive but you’ll be using a small quantity. (Normal paint contains Volatile Organic Compounds which are not good for you or the environment).  You can even fashion durable storage units out of layers of surplus cardboard. Not every storage unit has to be eye-catching. (However, if you do want the most amazing cardboard furniture which looks fabulous, check out Leo Kempf’s incredible designs).

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Just please don’t buy those big plastic bins – they’re made from petroleum, and they don’t bio-degrade.

Re-use a Kitchen!

You can successfully use old kitchen cabinets and worktops to better organise your home. If someone you know is remodelling their kitchen and is going to toss the old cupboards and countertops / worktops – rescue them! They probably have a lot of life left in them. Or scour the ‘free’ listings in local media and Craigslist.

You’ll be eco-friendly because you’ll stop stuff going to landfills, and you’ll reduce your own demand for new stuff. And you’ll save money – the countertop provides a finished-looking work space, especially when coupled with the salvaged cabinets, at a fraction of the cost of new countertops.

Here are some ideas for using the cupboards and worktops:

If you are lucky the previous owner just got tired of the colour or wanted a new look for their home and the counter top and cabinets are in good shape. But even if they’re looking a little tired, they can be re-juvenated.

If the cabinets are scratched and bashed, simply slap on a coat of white paint and sponge them with a darker colour. This will hide the deepest of scratches. Use eco- friendly VOC-free paint (better for your health and the environment) – it’s more expensive than ordinary paint but less toxic.

Idea: Do you need a new TV stand in the bedroom? A short piece of cabinet with the top attached will be perfect. Paint the cabinet to match your décor, and there’ll be space to store your DVDs underneath.

Idea: If you want a place for your sewing machine, take the counter top and drill a hole large enough for the plug and foot pedal cords. Place the counter across a couple of 4-drawer cabinets. This way your sewing supplies are all at hand. Hang a larger section of upper cabinets and you have a great place to store fabrics, craft books yarn and other craft supplies. You can even tack a small piece of peg board inside the door to hang your embroidery floss.

Idea: What about a college student without a desk? A 4-foot piece of countertop laid across a couple of inexpensive file cabinets will do the job in a pinch. Or if you are the handy type, build a wooden frame to hold the counter and add shelving above for books.

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Idea: A two-door bottom cabinet with a counter top will be perfect for a folding area in the laundry room.

Idea: A double-door bottom cupboard could be used as a great cat box. Cut a cat- size hole in one of the doors – the cat can get in, the dog can’t (hopefully!), and you can open the doors for easy cleaning.

Idea: Even if the cabinets are really battered, you can still use them. Line them along one side of your garage or workshop, and use them for a work table/storage unit. All those shelves and drawers will tidy up the messiest garage – and just think of all the projects you could complete if you had all that clear work space! There’s no need to paint them (unless you want to) - and you might even have room for your car!

Idea: If the counter top has a sink opening, then use it for another sink, or set a waste basket or garbage can under the opening for a waste receptacle where you can sweep items from the bench.

Idea: Use the upper cabinets in a different way. For example, if you don’t have room to hang them above your work bench then stack them and screw them securely to the wall.

Idea: Or get the kids to help paint a couple of the upper cabinets in bright colours, and attach them to the wall in their room to help with storage. You could even remove the shelves, add a spring-loaded clothing rod and your kids can hang up their own clothes.

So start watching for those cabinets being thrown out – or better yet, make friends with someone who remodels for a living!

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Eco-Friendly Food Storage

Organization is crucial in the kitchen. Unlike clothes or books, food that isn’t stored properly can go to waste in a matter of hours.

By storing food properly, we can:  avoid waste which is not eco-friendly (food sent to landfills rots and releases methane, one of the greenhouse gases), and  be even more eco-friendly by using green storage products

According to Wikipedia, the US food supply is the most diverse and abundant of any country in the world. Yet some recent studies show that more than a quarter of the food that Americans prepare is never eaten! Isn’t that incredible? This includes restaurants, not just households. It’s a pretty horrifying statistic.

In the UK in 2007 according to The Guardian newspaper, 6.7 million tonnes per year of wasted food (purchased and edible food which is discarded) amounts to a cost of £10.2 billion each year. This translates a cost of £250 to £400 a year for every British household.

At home, the average American family throws away 14 percent of their food. In terms of money, that’s almost $600 every year in groceries.

Apparently, our food wastage habits come from our parents. If we are shown not to waste as a child, we will continue that behaviour as adults. But as adults, if we are used to wasting food, it is difficult to change.

The best ways to cut the losses is to honestly examine what you actually eat, draw up menus for the week ahead, and freeze or refrigerate leftovers so they do not spoil before you can eat them.

Spontaneous purchases are shown as the most wasteful – that’s why menu planning is so effective. Menus also save you time, especially on busy weekdays.

But do not consume products beyond their sell-by dates.

With leftovers, allow them to cool, then store them within two hours in small containers in the refrigerator or freezer.

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Food Storage Choices

Your main choices are plastic containers, plastic bags, plastic wrap / cling-film, and glass or steel containers. Let’s look at those from an eco-friendly perspective.

Plastic in general is not eco-friendly (see Chapter 13). Apart from the environmental issues, chemicals from plastic can leech into food when hot or cold. However, some plastic containers are made from recycled plastic, and reusable plastic containers are better than disposable items, such as Styrofoam trays or single-use plastics, for example. And plastic is lighter than glass and does not break. So I am not saying avoid plastic at all costs; it does have its place, but if you are going to use plastic, please make it recycled and sturdy. And don’t use it in the microwave.

Glass containers are eco-friendly as they are completely recyclable, reusable and non-toxic. They do not stain, and do not trap smells. They can safely be used in the oven, microwave and dishwasher. They are transparent so you can easily see what you have stored inside them. But they can break or chip, and are heavier than plastic. Glass containers with glass lids can be quite expensive, so you could compromise by glass jars with plastic lids which are cheaper and readily available (heat them without the plastic lid). Another fun bargain alternative is to look for vintage Pyrex storage – look on eBay (tip – search for “refrigerator dishes”) or at your local thrift store / flea market. (Check for cracks and chips).

Another type of glass container is the canning or mason jar, widely available in stores. You can find them at garage sales, thrift shops, and flea markets. Again, you will need to watch for cracks and chips.

Ceramic containers have similar pros and cons to glass. When buying new or vintage, make sure they are lead-free.

Stainless steel food storage containers have many of the attributes of glass. They are available at restaurant supply stores – they are used in professional kitchens because they are durable and long lasting. You can also find them on eBay – this will save money because stainless steel is a bit more expensive than plastic. They are not transparent, and you will need to transfer to another dish for the microwave or stove.

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Some more ideas:

 Instead of plastic sandwich bags, use organic cotton or hemp bags. Or reuse unbleached wax bags, which are biodegradable and compostable – they are normally available in whole foods stores. You can even plant plants in them!  Instead of covering a bowl with plastic wrap / cling-film, buy reusable bowl covers instead, or simply cover a bowl by placing a plate on top.  If you want to use aluminium foil, remember that you can use it more than once. Also, foil made from 100 percent recycled aluminium is now available.

With these tips, you can save money by wasting less, and be kind to the environment by sending less food to the landfill and by using eco-friendly food storage products!

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Chapter 8: Green Your Pet

You can use eco-friendly initiatives to go green in nearly every aspect of your life, including the house you live in, the cars you drive, the products you use and the food you eat — but what about the pets you love?

Have you considered whether your pet is eco-friendly or not?

All pets require food and water, and many also need other accessories such as bedding, collars, leashes and toys — but how much attention do you give to the items you’re purchasing and what they’re made from? The choices you make before you buy can all affect the size of your pet’s carbon paw print.

Here are 10 easy ways to green your pet:

1. Eco-friendly collars and leashes / leads made from bamboo or hemp are now more readily available.

2. Your cat will love you forever if you grow your own organic catnip or cat grass.

3. Do you have pet accessories or pet supplies you’re no longer using? Donate gently used dog or cat toys, collars, leashes, beds, bowls and the like to an animal shelter or rescue organization near you at Petfinder or the SPCA in your country – recycle and help a great cause.

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4. So perhaps it’s not eco-friendly to insert an electronic ID chip into your furry friend. But losing your pet causes extreme emotional distress. Then there’s the paper waste from printing out Missing posters, the fuel cost of driving around your neighbourhood trying to find them, the phone bill as you bawl your eyes out to everyone you know … well, you get the idea. Ask your vet for more information. For hanging tags, consider recyclable (and recycled) aluminum ID tags or WaggTaggs made from recycled silver.

5. Always pick up after your pet. Faeces left lying around may not only transmit disease to other animals that come into contact with it, it can also get washed away into nearby water sources and lead to further pollution.

6. Don’t use plastic bags to collect your pets’ poop – it will be embalmed practically forever on a landfill site. Use bio-degradable materials. Alternatively, you can compost it. However, do not use the resulting compost on your vegetables, only on ornamental plants. If you have room in your backyard, you can bury an old garbage bin (far away from your vegetable garden) to use as a pet-waste composter. Or check out the Doggie Dooley.

7. For your cat, clay-based litters take up more space when discarded and are often dusted with silica, which can trigger respiratory issues. Plus, clay is often strip-mined (cheap, but bad for the environment). Using litter made from recycled materials such as sawmill scrap or newspaper clippings is much easier on the environment.

8. Look for toys made from re-cycled materials, rather than plastic. Animal toys are not regulated and so may contain harmful substances. Also, they may have travelled a long way from their point of manufacture. Alternatively, you could make your own eco-friendly pet toys – old socks, wool covering old plastic bottles and so on.

9. For bedding, again consider the materials it is made from, and the transport involved in getting it to you. Either make your own bedding for your pets – from old materials in your home – or buy recycled.

10. Choose eco-friendly, organic shampoo for bathing your pets. In between baths, you can give them a ‘dry’ wash with baking soda if necessary.

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11. It is important to protect your pets from fleas and ticks. Instead of using chemicals, try natural products such as pennyroyal. I’m told adding garlic and brewer’s yeast to your pet’s food helps too. (Personally, I tried the garlic and no longer wanted to get up-close-and- personal with my pets – but that’s just me, I’m super-sensitive to garlic). Citrus peel extract is great for fleas – but don’t use it around cats.

OK. I lied. It wasn’t 10 tips, it was 11.

Nonetheless, these tips should help you to keep aware of the environmental paw- print of your favourite furry friend.

Do You Truly Know What You Feed Your Pet?

When it comes to pet food, most commercial brands contain “reconstituted animal by-products”. What does that mean? Well, it is the polite version of “4-D,” namely “Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Down” when they line up at the slaughterhouse (down = disabled).

Complete with the chemicals used to treat / euthanize those animals.

No, this is not a tirade against pet food manufacturers. No, I am not saying you need to feed best quality beef fillet to your pets every day! Just be aware of what goes into commercial pet food.

The animal by-products have to be used somewhere, or else thrown away and wasted, so it is good to have a market for these products.

Most of the large dog food manufacturers are corporations which produce human food (Nestle bought Purina, Del Monte bought Heinz (who make lots of pet food), and MasterFoods bought Mars which owns Royal Canin). And Proctor & Gamble bought Iams and Eukanuba, and Colgate Palmolive bought Hill’s Science Diet – these companies make household products which use ingredients derived from animal by- products. So these corporations have bulk purchasing power and a captive market for the by-products of the animal food – it makes business sense. And without these tie-ups, dog and cat food would probably be more expensive to buy.

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How is Commercial Pet Food Made?

Dry pet food is made by boiling up a whole pile of animal by-products, mixed with (often artificial) protein sources and small quantities of vitamins, then pushed through an extruder machine into the shapes you recognise. At this stage, it is pretty tasteless, so (again, mostly artificial) additives and fats are sprayed on, to give it flavours that dogs like.

Wet food has (obviously) a lot more water, together with animal by-products and mostly artificial additives, but many people believe it is in general healthier for pets than dry food. However, it is more expensive especially for larger pets.

Naturally, people want pet food to have a long shelf life, so most food contains chemical preservatives – yes, it is what the customers requested!

Are There Standards?

In theory, pet food is regulated. In practice, it is not, and it is not properly enforced in many countries. In the US it varies greatly between states, and many feel it is not properly enforced and that the standards are too vague. The labels on many brands of pet food are highly misleading. And even the premium brands have similar contents to the cheaper foods.

And we won’t talk about animal food testing in laboratories, or the several pet food recalls over the years.

The pet food industry does not have a good reputation, yet it is worth several Billion dollars a year in the USA alone! But if you thought that you were lovingly providing your pet with top quality, wholesome nutrition – well, perhaps not.

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What are the Alternatives?

 Consider supplementing your pets’ diet with food you cook yourself. Yes, (unfortunately) this means time. But you could cook pet food while you are cooking for the family.  Cook in bulk – enough either for several days, or even more if you freeze it. If the idea of becoming a fulltime pet chef is just crazy for your lifestyle, making the occasional meal or treat could be do-able.  Here is a mix-and-match list of healthy pet food you can cook at home for your pets.  Cooking pet meals yourself is almost certainly healthier for your furry friends, and more eco- friendly – reduced manufacturing, transportation and packaging at the very least.  No, you do not have to make your pets vegetarians in order to reduce their impact on the environment! Their digestive systems are designed for carnivorous intake – although I have read of dogs who seem perfectly happy and nourished on a vegetarian diet.  Try making your pet a localvore. That means finding food that is local so it doesn’t have to travel thousands of miles to your pet’s dinner bowl. This cuts down on pollution, and your pet might enjoy a fresher meal too!  Some people believe you should feed your pets raw meat, while others say this risks bacteria and disease.  Never feed your dogs the following: grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chocolate, artificial sweeteners.  Beef has a much greater impact on the environment than chicken. So try to avoid beef dog food products and opt for chicken instead.  If you do buy commercial pet food, look for brands with recycled and recyclable packaging .

There are loads of videos on the internet showing people being horrified about the meat ingredients in pet food. Personally I am less horrified by that – after all, dogs and cats, for example, would have eaten all parts of an animal they caught in the wild. What worries me is the artificial additives and the chemicals.

Yes, it is more work than giving them ready-made processed food out of a bag or tin, but you know exactly what your pet is getting!

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Recycle Your Pet!!!

If you are thinking of buying a pet, these 6 tips will show you how to make the most eco-friendly choice.

Re-Use / Recycle

Aha, you hadn’t thought of re-using a pet, had you? But that is what you do if you adopt an animal from a shelter. There is always a big variety of ages and breeds – including many purebreds. Unfortunately, many people buy their pets from pet stores or directly from breeders. This adds to the problem of pet over-population by creating a demand for additional pets that need homes.

Worse, up to 8 million animals enter animal shelters each year, in the US alone. For half of them, it is a one-way journey – up to 4 million animals are euthanized in US shelters each year. Yes, up to 4 million a year, according to the Humane Society (HSUS). That is a horrific number.

Pet over-population can create serious issues for the environment:

 increased waste production  the need for additional farming space to provide enough food to feed those extra mouths  overcrowding at animal shelters, and increased resources required Did you know? 70,000 Adopting a shelter pet and having it spayed or neutered will help to combat this problem. It is puppies and kittens are generally cheaper too, than buying from a born EVERY DAY in the breeder. US!

But are you worried you won’t find a particular breed you want? You pet will love you, no matter what breed they are. But if you do want to be specific, check out Petfinder.com where you can find a particular breed in shelters around the US. SPCAs around the world will also try to help match your requirements.

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Truly, we don’t need any more homeless animals than we already have.

As a bonus, spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by greatly reducing the chances of many diseases.

Of course, remember that a pet is a long-term commitment that involves demands on both time and money. If you are considering a pet for your child, you may be better off giving him a stuffed animal instead.

Impulse buying (say, rushing out and grabbing the next available Dalmatian puppy after watching 101 Dalmatians) isn’t a good idea either, as the large numbers of fad dogs that pass through shelters (often to their death) can attest.

Cats Indoors!

If you’re a proud cat owner, making the decision to keep your kitty indoors can do a lot to help keep the environment in balance. Outdoor cats love to hunt, not out of a necessity for food but because they’re instinctively compelled to do so. Their annual kill counts are in the hundreds of millions — one recent study estimates that domestic rural cats kill 39 million birds – in Wisconsin alone! This can cause profound damage to the ecosystem, including the extinction of certain bird species.

Cat faeces are also an environmental foe, because they contain parasites that can wreak havoc on local water sources and the health of other outdoor creatures.

Still not convinced? Try this: Due to the dangers of cars, predators, disease, and other hazards, the estimated average life span of a free-roaming cat is less than three years, while an indoors-only cat gets to live an average of 15 to 18 years.

Multi-Purpose

Getting a pet that provides an additional benefit beyond companionship and love can also be an eco-friendly choice.

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For example, keeping and raising chickens, which lay eggs that owners can keep for personal use. Yes, even in urban areas (but check first if you are legally allowed to keep them).

You may feel these birds are less cuddly and pet-like than cats or dogs, but many who’ve raised them say that chickens can be trained to come when called and sometimes enjoy petting and lap-holding.

You need to be sure you can provide proper living conditions – including the ability to move around and spread their wings, along with adequate food, water and shelter.

If chicks are out of the question, you still have multi- purpose pet options. Rabbits for example, in addition to being cute and cuddly, are useful because their droppings can be used in compost piles

Small is Beautiful!

For dog lovers — especially those who live in tight quarters — opting for a smaller breed will not only help your personal space feel more spacious, it will keep things in check from an environmental perspective as well.

In general, smaller dogs, such as Yorkshire terriers or Chihuahuas, eat less than, say, Labrador retrievers, St. Bernards or German shepherds. This means less food that needs to be produced, packaged and transported, and less waste that’s created as a result.

Of course, this is not to say you should totally rule out medium or large breeds, but if your living space is already small, sticking with a small pet is the greenest way to go

Easier Pets

When people consider getting a pet, dogs and cats are often the first types of animals that come to mind. But there are other, more eco-friendly choices. For example, hamsters, birds, snakes and fish typically require minimal food and produce less waste. They also generally need only a minimal number of toys and very little bedding or other accessories. Many toys for cats and dogs, for example, are made from plastic – their production can take its toll on the environment, so getting a pet that needs less will help you start out on a greener foot.

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Beware Exotics

If you do decide to get a low-maintenance pet, however, proceed with caution. You may accidentally stray into exotic pet territory, for example certain types of frogs and lizards. These exotic pets often need very specialized (and costly) habitats to mimic their natural environments as closely as possible. Not only could you end up spending more time and money than you initially bargained for, you may find that you’re actually hurting the environment by using special filters and chemicals needed to maintain your pet’s tank.

Ultimately, though, being eco-conscious while choosing a pet can be a rewarding process. You’ll take strides — big or small — toward improving the planet’s overall well-being while finding a pet you can love for years to come

I have two dogs who have travelled with us in our various moves. Over the years, we have always chosen dogs from shelters – often adult dogs as they generally have a lesser chance of being adopted than puppies. They have all proven to be wonderful companions and an integral part of our family life.

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Chapter 9: Green Jobs

Do you – or does someone you know – want to work in a green job?

Want to add ”helped to save the world” to your CV or resume?

In many countries, growth in “green-collar” jobs is expected – despite (or perhaps because of) the recession. Governments worldwide are making efforts to promote the environmental industry. In many developing countries there is a massive skills shortage which, when coupled with their exponential rise in the demand for energy, results in an urgency to establish sustainable energy suppliers. First-world countries are already investing huge amounts into alternative energy – both in research and in implementation.

If you have a passion for the environment and want to work for a green company (or if you know someone who wants to), here are some possible areas to look at. At the end of this chapter I list some general hints and tips.

The following are possible job functions / descriptions:

Project Developers: If you are an entrepreneur with a bit of vision, and have experience in corporate finance and large-scale, capital-intensive projects then this could be for you. Put plans together for sustainable energy projects by looking at potential sites for wind or solar plants, negotiate with the landowners (often farmers) and address legal aspects. A large part of the job is securing finance.

A number of development start-ups have been established, particularly in the wind sector which may see the biggest growth in the next few years. New entrants may also find opportunities in a new growth industry: concentrating solar power (CSP), which uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto receivers to generate steam that turns turbines and generators. It works best in cloud-free environments, so is restricted

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geographically. (The photo shows the world’s first tower, which is in Spain; there is another tower in California)

Project Planners will direct the entire process of constructing a wind turbine, solar power or water desalination plant. A background in engineering will be a prerequisite in many instances.

Wind energy technicians: Many wind turbines are going into operation, and there is demand for tradespeople who can service these plants. At present, maintenance training courses for technicians are available in Germany, the UK, USA, Denmark or Australia. Millwrights as well as electricians, fitters and turners may well consider this a viable option for a career change.

Solar water heater installers / manufacturers: Plumbers can acquire the skills to install the heaters, and there may also be opportunities in the manufacturing sector – some heaters are being imported from China, but many countries will want local producers.

Engineers: Arguably, those with an engineering background will gain the most in the green revolution. Electrical, mechanical, civil and chemical engineers will be involved in the construction and maintenance of sustainable energy ventures. In general, engineers with a postgraduate qualification and a good understanding of the electricity grid will be best placed.

Environmental impact specialists: This is an increasingly important field, with a number of consultancies already active in the area. You will need at least a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, specialising in the Earth and natural sciences.

Scientists: There is an explosion of potential green focus areas for scientists, including the development of clean energy, nanotechnology and the science of desalination.

Agriculturalists: Food security is an issue and new natural farming methods as well as biotechnology will become more important.

Construction/architecture: Making buildings energy-efficient will offer a number of new job opportunities, These include energy rating auditors, who perform a comprehensive analysis of a building’s energy efficiency; permaculture specialists who analyse land use and community buildings to create a harmonious blend of buildings, microclimate, plants, animals, soils, and water; as well as urban

Live Well, Live Green arborists, landscapers with an understanding of conservation and renewable resources.

Auditing – There is now greater emphasis on reporting environmental sustainability. Auditors can provide a service to companies wishing to calculate, monitor and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Other job titles for the future may be green product designers – who develop products which use less energy and raw materials to produce, consume less to use, and end their lives in a sustainable manner – and environmental managers, who coordinate management of an organisation’s environmental performance.

In addition, many current professions will have “green” added to their existing job description. For example, it may become a requirement for accountants to manage corporate carbon emission offsets, and for IT technicians to manage data centres in the most efficient way possible.

And of course, if you have an existing job, but feel you would prefer to work for a green company, they also have ‘normal’ jobs e.g. admin assistant, marketing and sales, HR and so on.

Tips – here are some quick hints for finding your first job in a green industry:

 Get a rated qualification from a reputable university.  Do an internship. Offer your services to a big sustainable energy project developer, consulting engineers or a utility to get some experience. Consider working for six months to a year on a big international project.  Get a job with your country’s main electricity supplier. Understanding “old” energy and how the power grid works will be of great help.  Volunteer – get involved and work with charity organizations which run sustainable projects. The experience you gain can be invaluable.  Recruitment agencies – some recruitment agencies specialise in sustainable energy. Find out from recruiters which skills and qualifications will give you the edge.  Network – join professional organisations who represent sustainable energy, read their newsletters, go to conferences and get to know industry insiders.

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Chapter 10: Paper

“Save paper, save a tree!”

There are lots of ways to reduce your demand for paper, but this chapter looks first at the FSC and what it means to you. I then answer a common question: “Is it worth recycling paper?”, followed by some hints and tips.

What is FSC-Certified?

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) promotes responsible forest management world-wide. That means

 environmentally appropriate forests (not just mono- cropping with loads of pesticides)

 socially beneficial to the people who live in or near the forests,

 economically viable wood production.

If you buy FSC-Certified wood or paper, you know it comes from a sustainably- managed forest. It’s not easy to get FSC Certification!

Is an FSC-Certified forest different to a “normal” commercial forest?

Absolutely! “Normal” commercial forests consist of trees of one species, of the same age, treated with chemicals for pest control and tree growth.

Here’s an example of an FSC-Certified, family-owned forest in California: The trees range in age from seeds all the way up to about 350 years, and there are old-growth

Live Well, Live Green trees on almost every acre. The trees that they don’t harvest, provide the seed base, so they don’t have the expense of planting. Since 1941, the family has harvested 2 billion board feet of timber from its California lands, yet the forest still contains as much wood as it ever did. Snags are left standing and woody debris is scattered on the ground to provide habitat for birds and animals.

Is it Worth Recycling Paper?

I get asked this question a lot.

“I have heard that it is more expensive to recycle paper than it is to make new paper. What do you think?”

It’s a great question!

Here’s my response – and as always, I like to look at both sides of the story.

Overall, I would say it’s better to recycle paper, but I have a suggestion too.

 Recycling paper saves more trees being cut down for new paper manufacturing. The general rule is that one ton of paper saves about 2 tons of wood being cut (it varies a bit).  Recycling newspaper saves about its own weight (it needs more de-inking).  Earthworks Group said in 1990 that if we recycled half the world’s paper, it would save 20 million acres of forest.  Energy consumption is reduced by anywhere between 40 – 80% by recycling paper rather than making new.  The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the US says that recycling paper causes less water pollution and up to 74% less air pollution.  And recycling paper reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Recycling paper however is not perfect.

 The process produces sludge as a waste product, and recycling often uses more fossil fuel-derived energy (because energy for making new paper is often powered by burning waste wood, unlike recycling plants which purchase power from the grid, which is often produced from fossil fuels).

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 As for the cost issue, it costs to make new paper as well as to re-cycle, and the costs vary hugely depending upon methodology, transport costs, type of paper, etc. so the cost issue is not clear-cut

Overall, I believe the benefits of recycling paper outweigh the issues.

But, in my opinion, the absolutely best thing to do is to make a conscious effort to use less paper in the first place. Then, recycle what you do use.

(If you would like to see exactly how paper is recycled, watch this short video on Youtube).

Five easy tips to improve your paper use:

 Use the right paper – FSC-certified or recycled paper.  Think before you print. Do you REALLY need a paper copy?  Use both sides of the paper – if your printer or copier can’t do this, try to find one which does.  Go digital – read, send and store digital documents.  Recycle the paper you do use – and don’t scrunch it up!

Bonus Tip: Re-using / Recycling Old Books

Most of us have a collection of books. Many of them, you’ll want to keep – books with sentimental value, and books for investment purposes.

But there are the gift books, the how-to books, the trashy holiday novels…… You read them, you learned from them, you don’t really want to keep them, but you don’t want them to end up in landfills either. So what do you do?

1. Swap your books with family and friends who have similar reading tastes. You get double the reading for the same amount of money

2. This year, be different and don’t buy new Christmas gifts. Give your loved ones a book which you loved that you think the other person would like,

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together with a letter about why you thought they would like it. The books come from your shelves, the letters from your heart. 3. Homeless shelters, Good Will stores and other non-profits are often glad to get your used books. 4. Or if you want to make some money, sell your books on Half.com or Bookjingle.com

Reduce paper in your home office

Reduce your paperwork Save a tree!

The New York Times reports that families are going paperless far faster than businesses; families have to pay the price of ink jet cartridges.

Minimizing the volume of paper you use makes you more efficient at work and helps the environment by reducing demand. Plus, with less paper to manage you will have less filing – and you won’t need to rummage through your desk drawers looking for that piece of paper!

Printing Tips:

1. Shrink your page margins to 0.75 inches (1.8cm) or less – you will fit more words per page so you will use fewer pages. 2. Print on both the fronts and backs of sheets whenever you can. 3. For word processing, choose a font designated as narrow or condensed, so you will fit more words on one page. Alternatively, a font called EverGreen has been designed to fit more words on your pages, however, I’ve only found a paid download for that (it’s similar to Arial font). 4. Keep your headers and footers as small as possible, since extra white space tends to crop up there. 5. If you’re printing a spreadsheet, select only the cells you need on the page, then choose Print Selection instead of printing your whole document.

Reduce Paper

 Instead of jotting down random notes during phone calls on a pad or on post- its, try a re-usable solution such as a chalkboard or whiteboard. Alternately, just type your notes during calls into a word processing document. Not only will you save paper, you’ll find it easier to search for the info you need later on.

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 When you’re going to meetings and conferences, avoid having to print out directions by sending them straight to your mobile device if you’ve got one.  In general, try to send emails instead of physical letters, memos, or faxes. When you’ve got to get a fax out, or someone wants to send you one, try an online fax solution instead of a fax machine.  Use online billing for your professional accounts with electronically-submitted invoices and direct deposit payments.  If you work with a project team, don’t print memo after memo after memo and draft after draft – keep your shared documents online. Post what you’re all working on through a collaboration site like Zoho or Google Docs, then log on and see the latest version on the internet.  Investing in a scanner and shredder lets you shred documents (reuse them as packaging materials) and navigate them as searchable PDFs.  If you regularly need to print from the web, these downloadable software programs let you print just what you need from websites (without all the extra formatting, advertisements and images).

Lexmark Toolbar 3 (free) This free toolbar add-on from Lexmark simplifies the printing process. With a click, you can select a “print text only” option, which removes all images. Or if you want to keep the images, you can edit and resize them directly from the website using Picnik. You can then preview your printout before sending it to the printer to make sure that it’s as minimized as you’d like.

GreenPrint (free and paid) This handy software digitally reads and omits wasted pages that have useless text and images like URLs, banner ads, disclaimers, and extra signature lines on emails. On top of saving trees, GreenPrint says the program can save as much as $90 and 1,400 wasted pages per year for the average user. The home edition of GreenPrint is available for free to users and nonprofits, but has the catch of printing a banner on your pages. The premium edition is $29, and is faster and ad-free.

HP Smart Web Printing (free) This software is a free add-on for Internet Explorer. It allows a user to grab content from the web and put it on a clipboard for organization and well-formatted printing. The process is a bit more involved, but is great for gathering content from multiple web pages and condensing it into a single document. The content can then be formatted to look exactly how you want it for concise printing, and can even be turned into a PDF.

Nuke Anything (free) Nuke Anything is a FireFox add-on that allows users to simply highlight a section of a webpage, right click, and select “Remove this object.” Voila! The objects are gone

Live Well, Live Green and you’re ready to print. This software add-on is handy for text or images. But, of course, you’ll want to be using Firefox to access it.

Is working from home really eco-friendly?

While we’re talking about a home office, what about working full or part time from home – is it green?

In 2008, 56 percent of Sun Microsystems’ global employees worked half their week at home. Sun asked if working from home really saved energy, or just transferred the energy cost and load to employees. They found that:

 Employees saved more than $1,700 per year in gasoline and wear and tear on their vehicles by working at home an average of 2.5 days a week.  Commuting was more than 98 percent of each employee’s carbon footprint for work, so cutting the commute in half, made significant savings.

A home office is a really great place to work! (I love it!).

Save a book. Save money. Save a tree. Did you know you could do so much good by avoiding the trash can?

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Chapter 11: Water

If you live in an area where water is plentiful, then, quite frankly, why should you bother to save water?

In this chapter I look at why it’s so important, give hints and tips for saving water, look at easy ways of harvesting rainwater, and test your water knowledge in a quiz!

I also look at bottled water, and let you in on a little-known secret!

Why Save Water?

Water is one of the most precious resources on our planet. Saving water is of the utmost importance to

 preserve our natural landscapes and help wildlife survive.  improve the health of aquatic systems in your local community  reduce the strain placed on local sewer systems which helps to prevent sewage spills in the event of flooding waters  protect natural ecosystems  conserve our environment for future generations. which means you’ll have water when you turn on the tap!

Providing water for households is expensive (even if you don’t pay a lot for your water). It is also environmentally damaging – for example, we change natural water systems (by creating dams and reservoirs), we deplete groundwater reserves, we use resources to create pipelines, and we consume energy by purifying and then

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pumping water. In today’s harsh economic conditions, those resources could be better used elsewhere.

The key here is that potable water is piped to households. Potable water is water is water which is fit for humans to drink. And we need that.

But we don’t need potable water in our bathrooms, to flush down the toilet, or shower or bathe in.

We don’t need potable water for our dishwashers or washing machines, nor to water our gardens or wash our cars.

And not in many factory processes, to water crops or golf courses or sports fields.

But we do need potable water to drink.

And we want it to be piped to our homes.

Are There Easy Ways to Save Water?

Of course!

To use water more efficiently, we can look at ways of using other water sources for requirements other than drinking. Water And we can reduce the amount of water conservation does we waste. NOT mean doing Here are some easy suggestions: without water!

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 Use a broom instead of a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios.  During summer, water your garden in the early morning or evening when it is cooler (watering during the heat of the heat of the day causes loss through evaporation).

And of course, reducing the amount of water you use, saves you money, because you pay for The KEY here is piped, potable (drinking-quality) water pumped to your house. that it is potable water that is piped Here are 5 more easy, quick ways that you can to households reduce your water consumption and save money.

1. Keeping yourself clean can require a lot of water, but it’s easy to reduce the load if you can remember to turn the tap off while you go about your various cleansing duties, like brushing your teeth, washing your face, shaving and so on.

Regardless of your chore, just remember that for every second you have got the tap on, you’re letting valuable water go down the drain. So does waiting for the water to heat or cool. Instead, simply place a bucket in the shower and a smaller container in the kitchen sink or washbasin to catch that water – then use it for other purposes, such as cleaning or watering the plants or water for your pets or re-filling your toilet cistern or anything else you would normally use tap water for.

Using the shower is more efficient than using the bath (depending on how long you spend in the shower, of course).

Bathing uses around 30 to 50 gallons (100-200 litres) of water per bath, while a five-minute shower uses about 13 gallons or 50 litres of water. If you shower rather than bathe each day, those water savings really add up!

When you shower, it’s important to reduce the time you spend, in order to save water (and you’ll have more time for other things, too). A simple shower timer (you can buy one for less than $10) will help you and your family stick to a time-budget. Try cutting your showers back by one minute every week until you’re at 5 minutes or less.

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2. A low-flow showerhead works by limiting the flow of water being released while you shower. Worried about a lack of water pressure if there’s less water coming out of your shower? Don’t be. Modern low-flows maintain a good water pressure but use less water – you save not only on water bills but also on heating costs because you heat less water!

3. A faucet aerator also maintains the water pressure but reduces the amount of water coming out of your taps (e.g. washbasin, kitchen sink). Adding one is a really simple, money-saving, green action – you won’t notice any significant change, but you will be “doing your bit” for the environment by saving water. You will also save money on your water bills and you will reduce your energy costs by heating less water for the Hot tap.

4. A dripping faucet, leaky toilet, or running showerhead can cost you significantly throughout the year, and will have a high cost for the environment as well. Some estimates say that 14 percent of the water sent to US homes is wasted due to leaking faucets, pipes, toilets, and showerheads! A drip from your faucet can waste as much as 80 gallons / 300 litres of water every week! Fixing that leak will obviously lower your monthly water costs.

5. Twenty-eight percent of your home’s water consumption could be going to your toilet, depending on how much water it uses per flush. If your toilet isn’t already lo-flo, you can easily retro-fit a dual-flush system into your existing cistern. Or, the really cheap and easy method is to fill a used 1 or 2 litre (2 or 4 pints I think) soda / soft drink bottle with water and a little sand, then place the bottle (with the cap on securely) into your cistern. This will reduce the amount of water used per flush and you won’t notice any difference. You could also consider flushing less often, especially if you are the only person using that toilet for a while.

These are all quick and easy things you can do to conserve water in your home – and if you have children, teach them these methods by example!

The nice thing about these tips is that they don’t cause great inconvenience to you, they’re simple to do, and they help to make a difference.

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Rainwater Harvesting

People have been collecting rainwater for thousands of years, yet today very few of us do so. It’s easy to do, and it can save you money, so read on for some helpful hints.

Rainwater harvesting is a way of saving the rainwater which would normally flow off the roof of buildings and down into the drains. This saved water is then used for watering pot plants / gardens, washing cars, cleaning patios / driveways / yards. It can even be connected into your toilet and/or washing machine. This harvested water reduces your use of piped drinking (potable) water that you pay for.

There are essentially 2 main ways of harvesting rainwater. The first way is simple and easy, and therefore much cheaper to implement. The second way is far more efficient, it captures much more water and that water is put to use in many areas, however, it is more expensive to set up initially.

The simple methods

The simplest way of collecting rainwater is to place containers (e.g. buckets) outside your home so that they fill with water when it rains. The best shape is a wide container. (Deep containers with a narrow opening don’t catch as much water, you want something with a wide opening).

This water won’t keep for long in warmer climates, but it can be used to water your garden, top up your pond or pool, or wash the car, without using potable water that you pay for.

Another fairly simple option is to buy and place a water butt or barrel underneath your gutter or drain pipes. These water barrels are designed to store rainwater – they have covers and overflows so the water will stay fresh for longer. They have a tap / faucet near the bottom, so you can fill watering cans and buckets from them.

There are costs up front (e.g. buying the water butt / tank), but you do save on your potable water costs.

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Rainwater Barrels

A common complaint against water tanks is that they’re not always the most attractive objects to have outside your home. Recently however, there are some really cool-looking models – see them here

Once you decide you’re going to collect rainwater, you’ll need to know the following:

Does the water go ‘off’ if you store it for a while?

If the water you collect will not be used for drinking, it doesn’t have to be perfect. If you’re just collecting and storing water in open tanks, you’ll have leaves and other debris from the roof which is washed down with the rain. It’s not a big problem. Also, you can treat with an anti-algaecide if you wish.

If you’re willing to spend a little more money, you can buy proper storage systems which catch debris before it enters the tank. Also, there are systems which overflow once or twice each year to remove floating matter.

If you want to invest in complete harvesting systems which supply your drinking water as well (people often do this when they are designing / building a new house and/or if they live in an area where the potable water supply is unreliable), then you will have underground storage tanks which are very reliable because they are dark, cool and well oxygenated.

What happens when it doesn’t rain?

Assuming you have sufficient mains / potable water, then simply go back to using that for washing your car, watering the garden etc. If you have a genuine storage tank (as opposed to just buckets left outside), most tanks and harvesting systems are designed so that you can top them up with mains / potable water if required.

Is harvesting rainwater a new concept?

Not at all! People survived without piped water for a long time (some still do). It goes back 4,000 years – Israel has ruins of water tanks built in 2000 BC!

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Is rainwater harvesting practiced all over the world?

Definitely! China and Brazil have large rooftop rainwater harvesting projects in place. In some areas of India, the only water supply is via rooftop rainwater harvesting. Bermuda and the Virgin Islands have laws which require that all new buildings provide sufficient rainwater harvesting for the residents. The UK has a long-standing tradition of using water butts to collect rainwater for garden use. Nowadays, rainwater harvesting is becoming increasingly popular in North America, although it is illegal in some states unless the resident also owns water rights on the ground. It was also illegal in Colorado until 2009, when this ruling was changed.

OK, I can do this at home, what about my work?

Rainwater harvesting can be used in homes as well as commercially in office buildings, hospitals, schools, factories, farms, you decide!

Complete rainwater harvesting systems can be quite expensive and have quite a long pay-back time. But even the most basic systems can reduce your demand for piped potable water by half if you use rainwater for toilets, washing clothes, watering the garden and washing cars.

Why do people harvest rainwater?

 You wish to have an independent water supply – e.g. for fire / earthquake / hurricane protection  You want to be independent of government-supplied water  You have unreliable or no piped potable water  You have seasonal variations in potable water supply  Your only water supply is from a well or borehole, which you need to make potable  You have no other source of potable water  You recognise that in many countries of the world, water (and especially potable water) is a scarce resource, and you wish to help to conserve it, by creating a grey-water scenario in your home / workplace i.e. use potable water for drinking, and grey water for other uses  You are building a new house from scratch / doing major renovations to an existing building, and wish to incorporate water-saving into the design.  You prefer to use rainwater for healthier plants  You have a commercial green-house  You are responsible for urban public buildings and wish to use rainwater for toilets and outdoor use

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Rain water is valued for its purity and softness. In general it is free of salts and minerals, and if collected properly, it is virtually free of natural and man-made contaminants.

Beware!

Rainwater harvesting is illegal in some states of the US. Many states west of the one-hundredth meridian have water laws. It seems that many of these state laws were enacted in the last century and have not been repealed.

The concept is that a person does not have the right to keep rainwater; instead it should be allowed to fall to the ground and flow un-impeded into streams and rivers, and thus become the property of farmers, ranchers, developers and water agencies that have bought the rights to those waterways.

In times of shortages, those who were granted water rights in the 1800’s for example, will have water priority over those with more recent rights.

People who harvest rainwater are viewed as interfering in the priority status.

More recently, in certain areas bills have been enacted which allow rainwater harvesting under certain circumstances. So, always check to see if your state allows rainwater collection.

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Water Quiz

See how much you know about water by trying this quiz:

The total volume of water on Earth is about 1.4billion cubic km. What percentage of this is fresh water?

1. 26 percent 2. 13 percent 3. Less than 3 percent 4. Less than 1 percent

Of that fresh water, about how much is tied up in ice and permanent snow cover?

1. 98 percent 2. 70 percent 3. 35 percent 4. Less than 5 percent

Rainwater harvesting

1. Has been practiced for hundreds of years 2. Is a new, modern concept which arose from awareness of climate change

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During the last century, water use has grown at ______the rate of population growth.

1. Half 2. One third 3. Twice

Place these roof types in order – best to worst – for rainwater harvesting:

1. Thatch 2. Metal 3. Tiles 4. Wooden Shingles

If you harvest rainwater from your roof, is it

1. Safe to drink straight away 2. OK to drink if you add chlorine to it 3. OK to drink if you clean the roof debris out of it, and add chemicals to purify it 4. Perfect for use in non-potable requirements (watering the garden, washing cars, etc.)

The answers are at the end of the book – but answer the questions yourself first, before you look up the answers! 

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Bottled Water

Now, let’s look at bottled water.

Experts still agree that drinking tap water is better than buying bottled water.

 Bottled water is hugely more expensive,

 Bottled water is not as well regulated as tap water (no contents disclosure is required, for example, nor regular testing)

 Bottled water is bad for the environment because of the vast quantities of plastic involved.

The New York Times calculated the cost of your 8 glasses of water per day, for a year.

If you buy bottled water, it will cost an average of $1,400 per year. Using tap water ? A mere 49 cents.

$1,400 versus 49 cents?

Tap water would need to be pretty bad to justify spending that amount of money on bottled!

A Little-known Secret!

So, what can you do, if you’re worried about your tap water?

Most people either:

Go out and buy a water filter (normally one they think looks cool, or the one the salesman tells them is cool), or

Spend a fortune on bottled water.

The first option sounds more eco-friendly, right?

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Yes, it is.

But it doesn’t necessarily help.

Really? Why?

Because different filters remove different things from your water. And if you don’t know what you want to remove from your water, then you don’t know which type of filter to buy!

That’s where most people go wrong.

(But you won’t, now you’ve read this).

And the really good news is that it’s wonderfully easy to get a perfect solution to your tap water worries!

Two simple steps:

First, find out what’s in your specific tap water. As with most things, knowledge is important. And it’s easy! If you live in the US simply go to the Environmental Working Group’s listing of Water Content for all major cities. Outside the US, your local water company will normally provide you with a detailed water quality and content report free on request. (If not, either buy a proper test kit, or send a sample of your water to a laboratory).

Second, once you know what’s in your water and what you want to get rid of, choose a filter that removes precisely those things – again, it’s easy – just go to this review site which compares water filters and choose step 4.

With this little-known secret, you can have exactly the water you want, from your tap with a filter, at a fraction of the cost of bottled water, and without all the inconvenience of buying, storing etc. And you’ll be so much more green than if you were to buy bottled water!

Interesting Water Facts

 Americans spend $61 million on bottled water every year (!)

 40% of all bottled water is taken from tap water

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 22% of tested bottled water brands contained contaminants at levels higher than state limits

 It takes 17 million barrels of oil to produce the plastic bottles for the bottled water

 Producing 1 plastic bottle to hold bottled water, takes 4 bottles of water!

 Only 1 in 5 bottles is recycled

 Four out of 5 bottles become trash

Here is a thought-provoking quote from the New York Times: “The more the wealthy opt out of drinking tap water, the less political support there will be for investing in maintaining America’s public water supply. That would be a serious loss. Access to cheap, clean water is basic to the nation’s health“.

Can I Re-use Plastic Bottles?

So you’ve got plastic bottles around the house (horrors!), and you’re going out for a while or on a long trip, and you want to bring water with you. Because you read this blog, you’ll be using tap water (filtered or not as you choose) not bottled water, and you’ll need something to carry it in.

Do you re-use those plastic bottles? You want to be eco- friendly after all, and it’s better to re-use them than to send them to landfill, right?

Yes, it is. However, you need to be very careful about how you use them. People say “oh, plastic leeches into the water, it’s dangerous”. Yes, it can do – but funnily enough that doesn’t seem to stop people buying bottled water!

Here’s the deal. Plastic bottles, under normal temperatures, are OK. But, when they get very hot, or very cold, they can indeed leech chemicals into whatever’s inside them.

And even a warm-ish day can make a car sitting in the sun very hot indeed. If you leave a bottle of water in the car, chances are good that it’s going to get hot. That’s not good. Same with really cold weather. And you don’t want to freeze water in plastic bottles.

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The same applies to plastic in the microwave – you don’t want to cook something in a plastic container – always use glass or ceramic instead. Some plastics say you can heat gently though not cook in the microwave – personally, I don’t take that chance.

So, if you want to carry water with you, re-use a plastic bottle only if you know it won’t get hot. Buy a re-usable metal water bottle instead. If you want to keep stuff cold, don’t freeze water in plastic bottles. Instead, use those re-usable ice-block thingies.

Whatever container you re-use, use normal hygiene and common sense. Make sure to keep the neck and top clean – those are the prime areas for bacteria to form. Before filling, make sure your bottle is thoroughly cleaned.

Water Wars?

I firmly believe that we will have water wars in the future. Humans fight over anything that is scarce, and water is becoming increasingly scarce. Along the Nile river, countries are already fighting over their water ‘allocations’. It happened when settlers moved further West in the USA. It will happen again.

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Chapter 12: Death by Plastic

It’s definitely not eco-friendly.

Plastic is incredibly convenient.

And murderous.

And we can’t get rid of it.

A rare Gervais beaked whale was found on a beach in Puerto Rico with ten pounds (4.5kg) of twisted plastic in its stomach. The plastic caused the whale to starve to death. Another beaked whale died after ingesting a single plastic bag because the chemicals reacted badly with the whale’s internal organs.

Are these isolated incidents?

No.

In April 2010 Discovery News reported that a grey whale near Seattle was washed ashore after it died. The contents of its stomach included 20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, sweat pants, plastic pieces, duct tape, and a golf ball.

Is it only whales we are putting at risk?

No.

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In 2010, Canadian research found persistent contaminants are a health hazard for polar bears in East Greenland. This general effect has actually been known and studied for nearly two decades. Danish wildlife researcher Christian Sonne (Aarhus University) said industrial pollutants (e.g. pesticides and flame retardants) are causing some wild polar bears to experience degradation of their bones. Chronic osteoporosis leads to bone fractures and deformities. This is caused by the polar bears eating food – seals and seal blubber – containing the industrial contaminants.

It has been theorized that the industrial toxins get to polar bear territory near Greenland because that is where air and water currents join – the contaminants arrive there through the air and carried by water currents from North America and Europe. Tragically, the destination for the toxins is where many wild polar bears live. Since 1993 there has been concern that pollutants were causing problems for polar bear birth rates.

You’ve probably read or seen media coverage of the threat to polar bears from the currently-higher levels of melting sea ice. Polar bears need sea ice to hunt from and live on. Now we know that habitat destruction isn’t their only threat; they are also being poisoned by man-made chemicals.

Perhaps you’re not too worried by this?

Whales and polar bears are a long way away, after all. Let’s bring it closer to home.

Very recently, research found that a sample of dogs and cats in the United States had very high levels of flame retardants.

Flame retardants? In dogs and cats?

The Illinois EPA produced a report in 2008 which advised that “humans are exposed to [chemicals used in flame retardants] mainly from the diet, workplace, and home”.

Where does all this waste come from?

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 People littering, especially on beaches because it generally gets washed straight out to sea.  Commercial fishing – lost or abandoned nets, and also food wrappers and assorted litter – very few commercial fishing boats bring their detritus home with them.  Personal / private fishers – tangled fishing line, snagged lures, plastic packaging from fishing gear, sometimes a pile of garbage from their overnight stay. These are dumped in lakes and rivers which eventually make their way to the sea.  Passenger cruise ships – a typical 3,000-passenger ship produces over eight tons of solid waste per week, much of which is dumped into the sea. Some of it is organic, but there’s plenty of plastic in there too.  The world’s navies make a significant contribution, throwing literally thousands of plastic containers overboard every day, along with their other litter.

Is it only water-based activities which contribute so massively to this huge amount of plastic rubbish in our oceans? Definitely not.

There are many scientists and observers who believe that up to 80 percent of marine plastic was initially discarded on land. And the United Nations Environmental Programme agrees. There is considerable debate on this figure, and indeed it is difficult to prove conclusively either way. What does seem certain, however, is that a large percentage of our ocean’s waste comes from the land.

How?

The wind blows plastic rubbish out of littered streets and landfills, and out of lorries and trains on their way to landfills. It gets into rivers, streams and storm drains and then rides the tides and currents out to sea.

So, where do YOU come into all of this?

Are you contributing plastic waste to landfill? I know I am. My plastic waste sits there – if it hasn’t been blown away by the wind en route – and doesn’t degrade. Same with yours.

Plastic is Everywhere – and Eternal!

Plastic however is completely ubiquitous in our daily lives. We are scarcely out of the womb when we meet our first plastic – hospital wristband, aspirator, thermometer, disposable nappy. We chew on plastic teething rings and play with plastic toys. School lunches provided by a caring mom may be wrapped in

Live Well, Live Green plastic. Vaccination / inoculation injections are provided via a plastic syringe, wrapped in plastic to prevent contamination.

Our homes are full of plastic – desktop computers, hair-dryers, coffee makers, even the smoke detector. Kitchenware, storage, some chairs and tables, your alarm clock, Every single mobile phone, DVD player, mats, sofas, molecule of plastic condiment containers, chopping boards, broom handles, buckets, basins, storage that has ever been crates, hair clips – not to mention toothbrushes, beauty products and manufactured is still containers for shampoo, conditioner, liquid somewhere in the soap, washing powder and deodorant. environment Think about your car – how much plastic is inside it? Consider fast food outlets – plastic cups, cutlery, plastic ‘plates’, What about the construction of your home? Windows, doors, floors, gutters, plumbing, insulation……

Businesses use photocopiers and printers made from plastic, plastic files and folders, plastic staplers, desks and chairs made partly from plastic, filing trays, whiteboards…….

Look around you. Start counting things made of plastic – don’t forget your buttons, the stretch in your underwear, the little caps on the end of your shoelaces.

The stuff is absolutely everywhere.

We would be hard-pressed to do without plastic.

And I’m not for a moment suggesting that you do!

Nearly all the plastic items in our lives begin as little manufactured pellets of raw plastic resin, which are known in the industry as nurdles. More than 100 billion kilograms of them are shipped around the world every year, delivered to processing plants and then heated up, treated with other chemicals, stretched and moulded into our familiar products, containers and packaging.

During their loadings and un-loadings, however, nurdles have a knack for spilling and escaping. They are light enough to become airborne in wind. They float wonderfully and can now be found in every ocean in the world, hence their new nickname: mermaids’ tears. You can find nurdles in abundance on almost any seashore in

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Britain, where litter has increased by a staggering 90 per cent in the past 10 years (source:BBC News), or on the remotest uninhabited Pacific islands, along with all kinds of other plastic confetti.

A dead albatross was found recently with a piece of plastic from the 1940s in its stomach.

Even if plastic production halted tomorrow, the planet would be dealing with its environmental consequences for thousands of years. On the bottom of the oceans, where an estimated 70 per cent of marine plastic debris ends up – water bottles sink fairly quickly – it will be around for tens of thousands of years.

The benefits of plastic, most of which relate to convenience, consumer choice and profit, have been phenomenal. But except for the small percentage that has been incinerated, every single molecule of plastic that has ever been manufactured is still somewhere in the environment, and some 100 million tons of it are floating in the oceans. And our oceans are not like a lake – we can’t just go in with huge nets and clean them up. The sea is too big. Plus, most of the plastic is in tiny pieces and it’s everywhere.

All we can do is stop putting more of it in, and that means redesigning our relationship with plastic.

Assuming you don’t litter, there are two changes you can make (if you haven’t already done so):

 Replace bottled water with water from your tap or faucet (if your tap water is potable). Use a water filter if necessary. If you have to drink non-tap water, then use the large, re-usable bottles.  Don’t buy plastic bags in stores. Bring re-usable bags – keep them in convenient places so that you always have them handy.

These two steps may not change the world, but they will help to reduce the amount of plastic you send to landfill sites, to remain in our environment.

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Here are some more ideas.

 I am told that in the UK, you are legally entitled to leave any unnecessary packaging at the store checkout – the store is then obliged to dispose of it properly. Make a statement and leave the excess packaging of the goods you’ve bought, at the till.

 If you bring sandwiches to work, don’t use plastic bags to carry them. Reusable containers are good, and also consider re-using things in your home – for example, old bread bags, used foil, the wax linings of cereal packets.

 Buying meat from your local butcher or market means less packaging than the normal plastic tray and shrink wrap at the supermarket.

 Buy loose fruit and vegetables from a local market – there’s normally much less packaging, and you only buy the amount you want, so you might reduce food waste too. Or, better still, grow your own .

 I haven’t done it myself, but I’m told that making your own bread (with a bread- making machine) doesn’t take long as you simply put everything in, and the machine does the rest. So you could load it up at night, and have fresh bread in the morning.

 If you want to carry water, buy a reusable container for it – and the good news is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. You can buy stainless steel bottles from as little as $8! (And of course, you’ll be re-filling your new water bottle from filtered tap water rather than expensive bottled water, won’t you?) (grin)

 Use your bottles when you buy take-away coffee too, instead of plastic cups.

 When ordering drinks remember to say “no straw please” if you don’t want one.

 Use reusable cloths instead of paper towels to clean up around the house.

 Use matches instead of plastic lighters.

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 Food leftovers – don’t cover them with plastic cling-film. Use a dish covered with a plate, or put them in a reusable container with a lid.

 Use junk mail and other paper to stuff into boxes to ship, instead of bubble wrap or plastic peanuts.

 Before discarding 6-ring plastic holders (e.g. on beer cans), cut them up first. It’s still plastic, but at least it won’t throttle an animal. This turtle – rescued and named Mae West – had a plastic milk-bottle ring stuck around her as a baby, and she grew around it. She’s deformed, but one of the lucky ones to survive.

 Oh, and don’t take your reusable bag into the supermarket, pat yourself on the back for being eco-friendly, and then proceed to buy half a ton of plastic as wrapping!

 Kids Toys – avoid plastic toys where possible. Look for FSC-certified wooden toys which can last for generations. If well made, they are safe to chew, and can be handed down, given away or sold. (Less to the landfill). Keep the box the toy came in – it can be a toy too! Find non-toxic crayons and let the kids loose with recycled materials like cardboard. Many toys contain batteries – you don’t want kids chewing on batteries, so decide if all that battery-powered noise is worth it. Many children are just as entertained by a simpler toy – and you get to keep your sanity! If older kids want electronic toys, get rechargeable batteries. One of the best things you can give your children or grandkids is your time. Spend time with them outdoors, play hide-and-seek, show them the world of nature – they’ll remember those occasions long after their toys are gone.

And, last but not least: Spread The Word! Tell people about plastic, about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, (see the next chapter), about how long plastic lurks, about what it’s doing to wildlife. And then lead by example!

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Chapter 13: Plastic Recycling

This chapter is full of more useful, practical information, this time on recycling plastic – there’s a useful table which tells you what all the numbers on plastic mean, and why they’re important to YOU.

There’s also a section on a large and very obvious sign of the damage we’re doing to the environment – but only a few people know about it. Now you will too!

What’s a Plastic #5? What’s PET?

All plastic should have a number stamped it. This number indicates what type of plastic it’s made from, and therefore how it can be recycled. It’s a different process for different types of material, and some are more economical than others – that’s why recyclers need to know which type.

Here’s what the numbers mean:

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Symbol Made From Advantages Used for Recycled used for

PET or PETE Keeps out Plastic bottles for Clothing, carpets, moisture, clear soft drinks, water, luggage, some food Polyethelyne and tough beer, salad and drinks terephthalate dressings; peanut containers, polar butter and jam jars fleece, tote bags

HDPE High Resistant to Containers for milk, Shampoo bottles, density moisture and juice, water, buckets, flower Polyethelyne some chemicals, shampoo, pots, benches, shapes easily, detergent, fencing, picnic permeable to gas margarine, motor oil tables

PVC Versatile, strong, Blood bags, medical Garden hoses, easy to blend tubing, window traffic cones, floor Polyvinyl chloride frames, carpet mats and tiles, backing, non-food mudflaps, decks, blister packaging, cables, speed- vinyl records, pipes bumps

LDPE Low density Transparent, Squeezable bottles, Furniture, floor tiles, polyethylene tough, flexible, dry-cleaning bags, rubbish bins, good sealant, frozen food bags, compost bins, barrier to moisture flexible container shipping envelopes, lids, cling film, panelling carpets, clothing

PP Polypropylene Strong, tough, Reusable Bike racks, cases barrier to microwaveable for car batteries moisture, resistant ware, kitchenware, and battery cables, to heat, yogurt containers, brooms, ice chemicals, grease margarine tubs, scrapers, pallets, and oil microwaveable signal lights disposable take- away containers, disposable cups and plates, bottle caps, straws

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PS Polystyrene Excellent insulator Aspirin bottles, hot Desk trays, drinks cups, egg thermometers, cartons, packing rulers, insulation, peanuts; disposable light switch plates, cups, plates, trays foam packing, take- and cutlery; away containers disposable take- away containers;

O Other (often Combination of Beverage bottles, Certain bottles and polycarbonate) polymers baby milk bottles, plastic items CDs, “unbreakable” glazing, music player and computer housings, lenses for sunglasses and prescription glasses, car headlamps, riot shields, instrument panels, large water bottles, bullet-proof materials, nylon

Are the plastic numbers important for my health?

If you’ve looked at those little numbers on the bottoms of plastic bottles and containers, and thought they were only there to help the guys who recycle, you’ve been missing out! Because they can be a great help to you.

The plastic numbers are useful to you in two main areas:

1. Health 2. Recycling (of course you recycle, don’t you?).

The different types of plastics have different health implications for you and your family.

Plastics #1 and #2 are generally regarded as being safe to use, but at very high temperatures (for example, being left in a car on a sunny day) or at very low temperatures (for example, freezing water to keep things cool), there is a risk of

Live Well, Live Green leaching, so personally I avoid those scenarios, but for everyday use – stacked in a store, in the fridge or cupboard at home – they’re fine.

Plastic #3 PVC is not so good. PVC is dangerous and classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). The pro-vinyl lobby say everything’s safe since new regulations were imposed. It is believed that PVC gives off other gasses and carcinogens while it’s being used, and if a building containing PVC catches fire, the off-gasses are extremely dangerous. Pro-vinyl lobbyists say it’s only a problem when burnt at the wrong temperatures. For me personally, as there is no denying that harmful toxins are involved, I’m keen to avoid PVC where possible – but if for example there is already PVC in your home or office, it may cost too much to replace. PVC is a wonderful material: strong, flexible and reasonably priced, it’s a pity it’s not so safe.

Plastic #4 LDPE is regarded as safe. I’m a little wary of heating LDPE (LDPE is used in Tupperware ® type containers, for example) due to some reports saying it’s not safe when heated, although this is not conclusive. But at room temperature it’s fine.

Plastic #5 PP is regarded as safe. (That’s lucky, as many baby’s bottles are made from it!).

Plastic #6 PS has already been banned in San Francisco and in Portland OR. because it contains styrene, a carcinogen. However, polystyrene is inert at room temperature. I wouldn’t heat food in it, and it’s used so widely that it’s a real litter problem, but from a purely health point of view, it’s regarded as safe.

Plastic #7 Other (everything else), includes BPA and known carcinogens. Some food storage containers and baby bottles which resist staining are made of these “other” plastics. Some Tupperware ® and other products designed to withstand heat are made from #7. Manufacturers obviously do tests and say their products are safe – because #7 is such a mixed bag, it’s really at your own risk.

OK, so what’s the bottom line on plastics?

Most of them are generally regarded as being safe, except for #3 (PVC) and #7 (Other). Long-term studies? Well, most of the studies have been fairly short-term – and plastics haven’t been around in such quantities for that long. Perhaps “they” will find out it’s been dangerous all along, perhaps “they” won’t. Plastic is remarkably convenient, and cheap, but I won’t heat or cook anything in it.

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My curbside collection won’t take all my plastic!

This is a common question. The answer lies in the plastic numbers (resin ID). You need to check those numbers before you send it for recycling.

In fact, you should check those numbers before you buy, so that you don’t buy plastic items that are going to end up in landfill.

Here’s how the numbers work in the US:

 Plastic #1 – easy to recycle. Curbside and recycling stations accept PET.  Plastic #2 – easy to recycle. Most curbside and recycling stations accept HDPE (although some may only accept containers with necks).  Plastic #3 – difficult. Go to www.Earth911.com type in PVC and your zip code and you will get a list of places which will take PVC, but be aware, it may only be certain types of PVC.  Plastic #4 – not easy. An increasing number of curbside and recycling stations accept LDPE, but it’s not common.  Plastic #5 – getting easier – thanks to the gimme 5 program in Whole Food stores and others which accept PP.  Plastic #6 – depends on where you live. An increasing number of curbside and recycling stations accept PS but definitely not all.  Plastic #7 – difficult. Again, it’s becoming a little easier, but you can’t assume #7 Other will be accepted. What about the rest of the world?

In the UK and most of western Europe as well as most of Australia it is generally much easier to recycle everything, certainly in the larger cities and suburbs. South Africa has a number of successful projects which enable those out of work to collect materials and get paid to bring them to recyclers. (Here on my little tropical island, it is a little difficult, but that’s a whole other story!).

Do most plastics get recycled?

Not at all. Newspaper recycling rates for example, are often around 80%, while plastics are only about 20% on average.

Several reasons are suggested for this. In the USA, the economics of plastics recycling are unfavourable so it is not heavily promoted. Yet Americans use a lot of plastic – more per person than any other country, although Western Europe isn’t far behind. In the UK it’s much more feasible financially to recycle, but there aren’t

Live Well, Live Green enough recycling facilities, and some consumers are confused about which plastics can be recycled.

Another problem with recycling is the use of biodegradable plastics. If some of these get mixed in with the other plastics for recycling, the reclaimed plastic is not recyclable because of the differences between the two types. Another reason for lack of recycling is the fact that many common but small plastic items lack the recycling symbol and number. A good example is the billions of plastic utensils commonly distributed at fast food restaurants or sold for use at picnics. Also on the smaller items, the symbols are very small and therefore difficult to read.

What can I do to help?

Follow these tips:

1. Don’t slip plastic types that the recyclers don’t want into the recycling bin. Mixed types don’t recycle well. 2. Practice “Wash & Squash” – rinse the container and squash it before you send it away. (You don’t HAVE to rinse them (unless your recycler states it), but it stops them smelling while they wait for collection). Squashing them means you can fit more in. 3. If it’s bottles you’re recycling, don’t include the caps, as they are normally #5 (PP). 4. Keep the caps separately, and when you have a number saved up, find a local place that takes #5, for example the “gimme 5″ boxes at Whole Food stores.

It’s actually surprising how easy this becomes after a while – I just do it without thinking (and I have a canary when I see people toss bottles into the garbage – although at least that’s better than littering!).

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Plastic Waste

Have you heard of “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”? It is a massive stretch of rubbish (mainly plastic and sludge) located between North America and Asia. It covers an area at least the size of the state of Texas!

So where did it come from? Some of the following contribute:

 An average 3,000-passenger cruise ship produces over eight tons of waste weekly. As it’s mostly organic waste, much of it ends up in the sea.  It is estimated that we humans dump 2½ million pieces of plastic into our oceans every HOUR! Discarded plastic causes problems with fish and birds – they eat the plastic, and then get eaten themselves – either by other fish or birds, or by humans.

And before you think you’re not personally responsible for the Patch, consider the example of just one school in Windsor, Connecticut USA. In just one school year (180 days) they discard an average of 500,000 non-recyclable Styrofoam lunch trays. If they were stacked in one pile, that pile would reach higher than the world’s 4 tallest buildings COMBINED!

But most pollution is not intentional. You can Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – think about what you buy (do you need it? If not, Reduce what you buy), see if you can “Repurpose” packaging and other stuff around the house and office, and Recycle what you have finished using.

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Chapter 14 Driving

Cars are generally very energy inefficient.

But many of us drive a car.

Daily.

So this chapter focuses on how to make your trips more efficient.

As well as alternatives to driving for city-dwellers

- Oh, and find out what hypermilers do!

Cars are incredibly inefficient. They’re designed for comfort and convenience, not for the environment.

Travelling by train, bus or bike – or walking – is much better for the planet (less pollution) – and it saves you money too.

But if you can’t manage without a car, then changing your driving habits can help reduce its pollution. Read on to find some great tips on how to use less fuel in your car, saving you money and helping the planet too.

Just how much money can you save? With the simple green driving tips here, you could increase your fuel economy (and thus your savings) by up to 47 percent!

And if you want to decrease your fuel consumption even more, you can make some of the lifestyle changes below!

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Four Easy Ways To Improve your Fuel Consumption

One: Get Rid of Excess Weight

Your car burns gas or fuel for energy. It is food for the engine, which is what makes the car run. The more work the car has to do, the more energy it needs. That is why large SUVs have worse gas mileage than small cars – the added weight of the SUV makes the car work harder.

If you have a ski or bike rack or a roof box on your car, take it off (unless you are actually using it). It adds weight and wind resistance.

Check inside your trunk or boot – you may be able to clean it out. Sports equipment, strollers, gym bags and rock salt left over from winter driving are all hurting your fuel economy.

For every extra 100 pounds your car carries, it loses 2 percent in fuel economy, so just by cleaning up your act, you can start on the road to saving.

Two: Check Your Tyres

Did you know you can increase your fuel economy by having your tyres properly inflated? (Imagine trying to roll a bean bag up a hill. It takes a lot of energy because it droops all over everything. In contrast, it’s easy to roll a well-inflated ball up a hill).

Like a ball, properly inflated tyres have less contact with the road, which means they encounter less friction, so the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to move the car.

How do you know how much air should be in your tyres? Check your owners’ manual, or the inside of the driver’s door often has a sticker listing the correct pressure. Properly inflating your tyres can increase fuel efficiency by 3 percent.

If you want to get even more efficient, switch from regular tyres to low rolling resistance tyres, which are harder than regular tyres, so they encounter even less friction. Using low rolling resistance tyres can lead to a 6 percent increase in fuel economy! There is a downside though – they are a lot harder than regular tyres, so your car’s ride and handling will be quite different. Also, only buy these tyres when you need to replace your tyres anyway, because the fuel savings won’t offset the

Live Well, Live Green cost of new tyres. Work with your mechanic or tyre shop to find the right low rolling resistance tyres for your car.

Three: Change How You Drive

One of the best ways to improve your fuel economy is to change the way you drive. Speeding, accelerating and braking hard can deplete efficiency by a staggering 33 percent, according to fueleconomy.gov.

Accelerate slowly from stops, allowing the car’s momentum to help it accelerate.

Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel (money) – and as an added bonus, it also reduces accident rates.

Once the car is in motion, try to preserve that Hypermilers: There’s green momentum by avoiding situations where it can driving, and then there’s be lost. REALLY green driving. Hypermilers are people who Say you’re driving down the road and see a strive for incredible feats of fuel economy by changing the traffic light up ahead turn from yellow to red. way they drive. By modifying Rather than keep your foot on the gas and brake how they stop, start and at the last second, take your foot off the cruise, some are even able to accelerator and slowly approach the light. get 75 miles per gallon!

Plus, you might not even have to come to a full stop before the light turns green again, meaning that your car will have to overcome much less inertia to get going.

Four: Monitor Your Speed

The speed at which you drive on the highway, where stopping and starting aren’t likely to be a problem, also impacts your fuel efficiency.

The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 55 – 65mph / 88-105kph. Faster speeds will greatly increase your fuel consumption.

So, on your next road trip, slow down.

You’ll make up the time by not having to stop for fuel as often.

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Alternatives

Alternative Fuels – Can I use them?

Alternative fuels such as biodiesel can be used to power your diesel car. Biofuels have to undergo some processing to turn their fat into energy that an engine can use, but once they do, they can power a regular diesel engine.

Biodiesel has the benefit of being largely free or low-cost (if you have access to large quantities of grease or cooking oil), but there are downsides.

There isn’t as much energy in these oils as there is in petroleum-based oils like gasoline or diesel, so mileage is lower. Also, there isn’t a biodiesel infrastructure in place. If you want this kind of fuel, you’ll often have to make it yourself, and it is quite a lot of work.

A more practical gas alternative is ethanol which is made from corn or wood pulp. Not every car engine can run on ethanol (General Motors for example has models it calls flex fuel capable), but ethanol is available at a number of gas stations across the country, making it more practical than biodiesel.

Because ethanol is made from plants, it’s a renewable resource, and can be made wherever corn or wood is grown, including in the U.S. On the downside, it takes a lot of energy to produce, and to transport (it is not suitable to be piped, so trucks and barges are used – expensive).

Also, some people are unhappy that so many farmers have sold their crops to ethanol producers, saying it has contributed to the rise of food prices across the world as well as agricultural land not being used for food.

Alternative Types of Car

A better alternative is perhaps to get a more fuel-efficient car. As you can see from the chart below, switching from a large SUV like the Chevrolet Tahoe, to a small car like the Honda Fit will give you far more miles to the gallon.

Or go much greener and get a gas-electric hybrid car such as the Toyota Prius. Switching from the Tahoe to the Prius could save you up to six gallons of gas every week!

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EPA Estimated Combined Gas Mileage

Many vehicles (including the Tahoe) are now offered in a hybrid version. Hybrid cars offer greater fuel economy, reduced emissions and less noise. Hybrids are of course not perfect – they use batteries (although of a less toxic type than the batteries in petrol cars), and hybrids need rare earth elements for their manufacture, most of which come from China and are in short supply.

Tip: Be aware: The visually impaired have problems with near-silent vehicles when they wish to cross the road.

Hybrids are normally more expensive but if you live in a country where there are incentives for hybrid vehicle ownership and/or penalties for combustion engines, the car may be instantly more competitive.

Is a hybrid right for you?

Yes, if you do a lot of city driving i.e. stop-start, lots of idling. But if you do mostly high-speed, highway driving, then the savings in emissions and noise will not be so great.

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Slash Your Commuting Costs!

When two or more people ride together, the number of cars on the road drops and gas is saved.

It’s that simple.

So, let’s look at car pooling and ride sharing, as well as the car sharing business, and the differences between them.

There are ways you can make them more effective for your specific circumstances – don’t ignore them completely!

And of course there’s mass transit too.

All of these are ways you make huge dents into the costs of getting you to and from work each day.

Car Pooling and Ride Sharing

A number of cities and towns have car pooling resources, and you can also benefit if your area has High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes by saving time. The cities benefit by having fewer cars on the road and less pollution.

Ride sharing is another car pooling resource – it is a formal program that matches interested car poolers together. That can be a big help, since you may not live near anyone you work with. Ride sharing programs also sometimes provide central locations for picking up and dropping off car poolers, so time isn’t spent driving to all the participants’ houses. Some programs also provide help if car pooling plans fall through. For example, if the person you rode into work with gets sick and leaves early (or if you get sick and have to leave early), a ride sharing program will make sure you get home.

Car pooling isn’t just a good way to drive green and break up a lonely commute; it’s a good way to save a lot of money. By alternating driving days with another driver, you’ll cut your gas costs by half. And by not driving your car as much, you’ll save on routine maintenance. Driving only half as much will also slow the rate you put miles on your car, helping its resale value. On the downside, consider insurance, plus sometimes the maintenance costs of a car which isn’t used frequently can be almost as high as those on a regularly-used car.

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Car sharing is perfect if you do not want to drive every day but still want a car to run errands or drive on weekends. You have the benefits of a car without the hassle or maintenance, insurance and running costs.

Members pay a monthly fee and have access to an entire fleet of cars when they need one. The cars are parked in designated spots around the city, so members only need to make a reservation, and then go to the designated pickup spot.

Car sharing has major environmental benefits because it lessens the number of cars on the road. Members don’t drive just because they have a car. They plan trips, and if they don’t need a car, they don’t use one – but a car is available if they need to go shopping, go to the airport or have a day out.

The costs are probably higher per hour or per day than owning a car, but you only pay for the time you use the car.

For a list of car sharing companies in North America, and Europe too: http://www.carsharing.net/where.html In Canada look up http://www.carsharing.ca/. In Australiahttp://www.flexicar.com.au/ or http://www.goget.com.au/ and New Zealand http://www.cityhop.co.nz/. In London look up http://www.carsharinglondon.com/london-car-sharing- companies.html, for the UK see www.carpooling.com or http://www.nationalcarshare.co.uk/ or http://www.streetcar.co.uk/ or http://www.cit ycarclub.co.uk/ For Europe see www.carpooling.com . Also see http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/20/hertz-on-demand-zipcar-without- membership-fees/ for a new car sharing business model.

Mass Transit

Whether you own a car, use a car sharing service, or don’t drive at all, mass transit is a great way to get around while staying green. If two people car pooling removes one car from the road, the benefits are even greater when 30 people ride a bus and eliminate all their cars from the streets. And think of hundreds of people on one train!

You save money too – take a typical commuter in the Washington D.C. area. According to howstuffworks, commuting from suburb to suburb costs roughly $35 a week on gas, plus an additional $12 a week on tolls, not to mention

Live Well, Live Green wear and tear on the car. That works out to about $9.50 a day in commuting costs. The local Metro Bus costs only $1 a ride, which means a saving of $5.50 a day, or $27.50 a week. Plus, the metro bus can use HOV lanes, allowing a commuter to save traffic frustration and glide by, relaxing with a book or getting additional work done. The benefits are even greater for workers who have to pay for parking.

Look into mass transit options in your area to see how much you could save.

Top Tip: Reduce Your Commute

With a bit of planning, it is possible to reduce the amount of time you spend commuting. There are two main ways: the 4-day week, and tele-commuting full or part time.

The 4-day work week

Ease congestion, pollution and the amount of fuel you use by going to work only four days a week. No, I’m not suggesting you mitch off work! The four-day workweek is a movement that’s growing – fast.

In a four-day workweek, instead of working eight hours a day, five days a week, you work ten hours a day, four days a week. The time at work and the amount of work you get done stays the same, but with one day less at the office, your commuting costs and pollution go down 20 percent. Companies can save money by having four- day weeks — their energy bills are lower because their electricity consumption is less.

Will your Boss Agree? If you want a four day work week, you need a plan that shows how flexible schedules will benefit the company. Be prepared to have a trial period. Most importantly, make sure your productivity doesn’t drop off, and be willing to put in 10-hour days when you’re at work.

The 4 day week is becoming commonplace throughout the world. In the USA, Marion County, Fl. was one of the first to make it mandatory for all employees. Is it perfect? No. Customers don’t like having 4-day-a-week service, but they admit the

Live Well, Live Green longer opening hours during those 4 days, helps them a lot. Workers report being especially tired when driving home after a very long day, thus raising fears of increased traffic accidents, however, the 3-day weekend should help to offset this.

Tele-commuting

If taking one day off from commuting per week is a good thing, taking five days off is even better. Telecommuting, or working from home, is growing in popularity. While not every job advocates telecommuting (you probably wouldn’t want your dentist to do it), many workers can do their jobs with just a computer and an Internet connection.

As the saying goes “work is something you do, not something you travel to”.

There are some drawbacks to telecommuting. Many managers fear a loss of control, while employees may feel disconnected. The security of data held at home is an issue, and telecommuters are less likely to get promoted – leadership roles are often given to people who are consistently seen and measured. The savings of telecommuting are potentially huge. According to the Telework Research Network (2009 figures), if the 40% of the U.S. population that holds telework-compatible jobs and wants to work from home did so half of the time,  The nation would save 280,000,000 barrels of oil (37% of Gulf oil imports)  It would be the equivalent of taking 9 million cars permanently off the road. The potential savings to businesses is great too: they would have lower energy costs and happier workers and have to supply less office space.

The benefits of telecommuting show that the best green driving tip is not to drive at all.

Bonus Tips!

 Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.  Drive away immediately when starting from cold – idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear.  Check your revs – change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) and 2,000rpm (diesel).  If you’re stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a few minutes. Cutting the engine will save fuel and reduce emissions.  Use air conditioning sparingly as it significantly increases fuel consumption.

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 Avoid short journeys – a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective. Cycle or walk instead.  Get your car serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently.

Should I Switch Off or Idle my Car?

When I first learnt to drive, I was told that it used more fuel to stop and re-start a car, than it did to leave it running, or idling. Plus, it could damage the starter motor and battery if you switched it off and on too often.

It may have been true in the ‘dim and distant past’ but it certainly isn’t true nowadays with our modern cars. Starting a car’s engine uses only a negligible amount of fuel and doesn’t have a massive impact on the wear and tear of the engine.

Idling your car simply uses fuel and costs you money, while also spewing pollutants into the air.

I decided to find out what the cut-off point is now - in other words, at what point does it make sense to idle rather than switch off the car.

I was surprised by what I found out.

In a modern car, it’s 10 seconds.

10 seconds?

Is that all?

OK, 10 seconds isn’t always practical - for example in traffic. So the rule of thumb is that if you’re going to stop somewhere for more than 10 seconds (except in traffic), it makes sense to switch off the engine. Use common sense to work out if it makes sense to switch off or to idle at these common idling spots: An idling car is the most  drive-through service lines, inefficient car on the road  rail crossings, -- it gets zero miles per gallon!  car wash lines,

 carpool lines,

 departure from concerts and sporting events,

 while talking to friends

 while using the cell phone.

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By understanding the effects of idling and reducing the practice, you can improve your car’s performance, save money, and reduce pollution.

Is Idling Bad for Your Car?

Interestingly, excessive idling can actually damage your engine components. An idling engine is not operating at its peak temperature, which means that fuel does not undergo complete combustion. This leaves fuel residue that damages engine parts and can contaminate oil.

Warming Up a Car

What about warming up a car, especially in winter (unless you live in a hot climate)? Doesn’t the car need time to warm up before you can safely drive it?

Cars should be warmed up – but idling is not the way to do it, not even in cold weather!

The best way to warm up your car is to drive it. You need no more than 30 seconds of idling before driving away, even on the coldest days. Just avoid high speeds and rapid acceleration for the first 3 miles / 5km.

The catalytic converter - the device that cleans pollutants from the vehicle exhaust – doesn’t function properly when it’s cold, and the best way to warm it is to drive the car. You emit more pollution if the catalytic converter is cold.

The tyres, transmission, wheel bearings and other moving parts also need to be warm for the vehicle to perform well. Most of these parts do not warm until the vehicle is driven.

What about a Diesel Vehicle?

Idling is also bad for diesel-powered vehicles. On start-up, don’t idle for more than 30 seconds, or 1 minute if it’s really cold. (Older diesels needed time to get the oil around the engine to reduce friction – this is now done automatically and much more quickly – your manufacturer’s handbook will provide further details).

If you need to stop, and you’re going to be still for more than around 3 minutes, switch it off instead of leaving it to idle – you’ll save fuel, money and pollution. In cold weather, actually switching off a diesel engine keeps the engine warm longer. If you want to keep the air conditioner or heater going inside the vehicle, it won’t maintain the temperature you want while idling. If you’ve been driving really hard on a long journey, you may need to let the engine idle for a minute to cool down, but under normal usage you can just switch off. (If you see truckers idling their vehicles, they’re probably just wasting fuel, unless they have a VERY old truck!).

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And a hybrid car?

If you have a hybrid car, you don’t need to worry about idling at all! Idle-stop, or stop-start as it's often called, shuts down a car's engine completely when it isn't needed. The engine restarts when the driver accelerates. The feature can provide fuel savings of 5-10 percent at an added cost of as little as $300. The rule of thumb is These tips are all designed to help you to save money – and as an added bonus, help the quite simple: planet too. Even if you don’t implement them all, just putting some of them into practice will Using energy uses help. more energy than

not using energy.

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Chapter 15: Eco-Friendly Fun!

Yes, there is beautiful wilderness – just outside your city! Spend a night or two communing with nature – set up camp and roast marshmallows over an open fire, sing camp songs ……..

This chapter also has ideas for fun weekends, and some great resources for volunteering.

Take time out – enjoy the environment you are helping to maintain.

Eco-Friendly Camping

Camping is one of the most popular weekend activities. It’s relatively cheap, and it can be great fun! If you have kids, they love it! Camping is also a great way to spend time together with friends, as a couple or as a family.

Because wilderness areas are so precious, especially with our burgeoning society and pressure to develop land, we need to make sure that our wilderness areas and parks stay pristine. There are lots of ways we can do that.

To ensure that your camping trip is truly eco-friendly, follow these simple tips:

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 Bring all your litter home with you (then recycle it or dispose of it properly). Do not burn your litter in the fire (it pollutes the air).  Leave the portable electronics at home. (If you’re afraid you’re going to be bored, perhaps camping is not for you). The idea is to leave the city behind when you go away for the weekend!  Make sure you camp only in the designated areas. Otherwise you could damage a fragile eco-system that you know nothing about.  Camp fires are fun and they’re also comforting. Burn only wood that has fallen or use certified firewood, never break branches or strip bark from living trees.  Many camp sites have designated areas for fires, use those areas, or look for previously cleared areas and re-use those, instead of clearing new ground.  Fill reusable water bottles instead of using bottled water.  Wash dishes using biodegradable camp soap and never rinse your dishes out in streams or rivers.  If you would like a shower and there are no showers at the camp site, a pond or lake offers a refreshing alternative – but leave the soap at home as it may damage the eco-system.  Another big problem is vandalism in our parks. Try to stop people if you see them vandalizing (if they are bigger than you, rather report them instead  note their descriptive details).

Camping is a great way to enjoy the serenity of nature, and with a few simple efforts, you can keep that nature intact for years to come.

Top 3 Suggestions for an Enjoyable Eco-Friendly Weekend

There are loads of fun activities which don’t cost a lot, are eco-friendly, and really enjoyable! Here are my favourites:

Enjoy a Rustic Staycation

If you can take a weekend off, stay at home rather than travelling, and organise it to be really good fun.

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 Unplug all the modern conveniences and appliances (yes, even the TV!) (and your computer – gasp!).  Get family and / or friends around.  Plan activities such as . telling stories, . playing cards or board games, . taking walks, . group aerobics, . ball games, . swimming, . reading a book, . having conversations, . bonding with family and friends, . cooking, . experimenting with new recipes, . designing a new BBQ, . playing with the dogs and children, . building a campfire.  Watch the sunset – or sunrise.  Work in the garden – or relax in it.  Smell the flowers.

The options are endless, limited only by your imagination. Get back to basics and enjoy quality time with the special people in your life.

Learn Something New

There are loads of weekend courses and workshops available for adults, children and families. A course is a fun way to meet new people, perhaps even a soul-mate while you are gaining new skills and knowledge. Consider courses in ecology, nature, conservation, wilderness safety and survival, animal tracking, organic cooking, wildlife photography, sustainable living, and more.

Do a Google search for your local area, or check with your local library or town hall or social centre.

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Give the Motorized Vehicle a Holiday

 Use manual transportation only – hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking.

 Or backpack through a forest, or hike from inn to inn (this is a well-tested Eco-Expert favourite. Admittedly with a bit more “inn” and slightly less “hike”).

 Go on a bike, kayak or canoe tour.

You will save money on petrol, emit less pollution and do your bit for the environment. In addition, you will experience scenery which you would otherwise miss while driving.

You will feel relaxed and invigorated after a weekend like this.

You can have a lot of fun on an eco-friendly weekend – start to plan one now!

Volunteer, Have Fun, and Save The Planet

Volunteering is a great way of having fun and being eco-friendly. Now don’t panic – I’m not suggesting taking off for six months to the Amazon jungle (although you could do that too!). There are many different ways of volunteering, and they can be great fun – find a type of volunteering that appeals to you.

Volunteer a Weekend or a Vacation

Spend a weekend volunteering. Many organizations provide volunteer weekends cleaning and building trails, working on an organic farm or conserving wildlife. There are opportunities available for every age and any experience. A volunteer weekend can help you see a new place and feel fulfilled.

Many of the sites listed under “Resources” below give not only local volunteering choices, but also opportunities for longer trips abroad while volunteering.

So, combine a vacation with volunteering!

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Do You Hate Litter?

Yes, me too!

It really gets me angry.

I bet you get angry too.

OK.

So DO something about the litter, instead of just complaining!

Here are some suggestions.

 Get a group of concerned citizens together and spend a Saturday afternoon cleaning up the streets of your city, or your nearest beach or forest.

 Perhaps you don’t want to get dirty? You don’t have to actually touch the litter that you pick up – there is a big choice of easy picker-uppers – and you don’t even have to bend down! Combine these with 100 percent disposable bags and you are good to go!

 Put on your leader hat and recruit some of your most fun friends to find a spot in your community that could use less litter and more love. Turn it into a monthly (or even weekly) event and watch new volunteers join in.

 If you don’t want to lead, then join an existing litter pick-up campaign – a great resource is Keep America Beautiful – you can click on your State and easily see what’s happening in your area. In the UK find volunteer opportunities for litter, and for the rest of the world there are lots of volunteering options  I love the story of the Trash Whisperer in Los Angeles!

If you collect litter not only will you live in a cleaner, more pleasant environment, you will also feel good, get some exercise and be outside in the fresh air, help to save the planet, and you might even find something interesting while collecting litter – see what this person found while volunteering to pick up litter – she was delighted!

You could argue that picking up a small amount of litter in one area will not help the whole litter problem world-wide. But that’s the same argument as “my little piece of wrapper won’t make a difference if I drop it” used by millions of people worldwide –

Live Well, Live Green and together, all those “little pieces” make a huge difference. By collecting litter in a small area, you are stopping that litter from blowing away, ending up in our oceans, being eaten by animals and generally causing problems.

Some people do a litter pick-up while they are on vacation. I really admire them for that – I haven’t done that (yet).

You don’t even have to do a pick-up in a group. Or over a large area. For example, keep a supply of bio-degradable bags in your bag or car (along with re-usable shopping bags of course). Then, anywhere you stop briefly, pick up a few pieces of litter close to you and then dispose of them properly.

Yes, on occasion I’ve had a few strange looks. That’s OK.

I read that one woman, who regularly goes to a particular spot and picks up the litter there, was told by a bored onlooker “you won’t be able to collect all the litter in the world, you know”.

“No”, she replied. “But at least I am doing something about the problem, and this small area is now clean”.

Why should I give up my own personal time?

When you volunteer you are giving something back to your community by lending a helping hand to people and organizations.

We all know that. But did you know that volunteering is also good for YOU?

Volunteering benefits you as an individual. A UK study from the University of Wales in 2008 showed conclusively that volunteering can

1. increase your longevity, 2. improve your mental health, 3. keep you fitter, 4. and enable you to cope better with illness when it occurs.

Volunteering also has a positive impact on self-esteem, disease management and adoption of healthy behaviours.

What’s not to love?

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Apart from those benefits, volunteering also helps your career and your social life.

From a career point of view, you could:

 Explore career and personal interests  Earn great recommendations for future employment or college applications  Develop marketable job skills, thus improving employment prospects  Build or enhance your resume / CV  Enrich your education  Uncover hidden skills and talents  Gain an accreditation  Gain new skills, knowledge and experience  Develop existing skills and knowledge  Use your professional skills and knowledge to benefit others (usually described as pro bono)

For others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:

 Meeting new people  Making new friends  A chance to socialise  Getting to know the local community  Increasing your self-confidence

On top of this, many people volunteer for a variety of other reasons, such as:

 Giving something back to an organisation that has impacted on a person’s life, either directly or indirectly  A desire to make a difference to the lives of others  Good karma  Helping the environment  Helping others less fortunate or without a voice  Feeling part of a team  Feeling valued  Having quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle  Building up trust  Gaining confidence and self-esteem  Finding a volunteering role that suits your own needs and lifestyle

Best of all, volunteering can be fun!

And of course, volunteering is open to all.

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Start a Green Movement

Here are some suggestions:

If your building or home doesn’t recycle, organize a recycling program.

If there are no recycling bins on the streets of your city, call elected officials, start a petition, and demand them. Think of unconventional steps you can take that will encourage a green movement in your community.

(Then submit your green idea to The Green Awards where you can share your brilliant ideas and have a chance to win $25,000!).

Spread the word.

Sometimes all a cause needs is some awareness. If you see an environmental threat looming, or if you are working with an inspiring organization, tell your friends – both in real life and on Facebook and Twitter. If people know more about issues, they’ll be more motivated to get involved. Sometimes the best way to volunteer is to just be an advocate for a cause you believe in.

Resources - How To Find Ways You Can Help

Check into volunteer organizations in your community to see who needs help and how – there are always loads of ways you can help.

Also check with churches, schools and food banks in your area. They often have information on volunteer opportunities.

Try the Parks service in your area or your local recycling centre. Also check with Cub Scouts as they are often involved with eco-friendly projects for families.

Check out the following websites for more suggestions:

The US Federal government offers info at their Volunteer website, www.volunteer.gov. Here, you can choose by State or by volunteer interest or type. Also try Volunteer Match and Idealist

In the UK check out these sites: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/ and this site with a nicely positive title http://www.do-it.org.uk/.

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For Europe check out http://www.universalgiving.org/volunteer/europe/opportunities.do?submit=true&re set=true¶ms.browseLocationStr=24 (and Sonya of www.oldbooksmarket.com, there is an opportunity to work with precious sea turtles in Costa Rica!).

“Down Under” see http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s01_home/home.asp andhttp://www.go volunteer.com.au/.

In South Africa check out http://www.capeintern.com/organise-your/volunteer- work/ and in Mauritius seehttp://www.mauritian-wildlife.org/volunteer.php

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Consume consciously – and have fun doing it!

As with any movement towards sustainability, do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

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Answers to the Water Quiz:

Less than 3 percent of the earth’s water is fresh water.

About 70% of that 3% fresh water is locked up in ice and permanent snow.

Rainwater harvesting has been practiced all over the world for hundreds of years.

Water use has grown at twice the rate of population growth.

As a general rule, the best type of roof for rainwater harvesting is a metal roof. Tiles are next best, (some water is lost to evaporation before it is harvested, and there is some absorption into the tiles). Wooden shingles absorb a lot of the water which falls on them, and finally, a thatched roof is one of the least efficient types for rainwater harvesting as so much is retained in the material.

Water you have harvested is safe to drink only after you have cleaned and treated it, and it is perfect for non-potable use, so the last two answers are both correct.