Go Green World

Go Green World - Going Green

Each day, Americans use 500 million disposable straws, reports Milo Cress, founder of the Be Straw Free Campaign (Ecocycle.org). Discarded plastic straws and stirrers are on the Ocean Conservancy’s top 10 list of debris littering beaches. Cindy Schiff Slansky, CEO of GreenPaxx, in New York City, suggests using a reusable silicone straw. “The bright colors help keep track of each person’s drink. They’re in my purse for when I eat out with my kids,” she says. “We always say no to disposable straws.” Also consider paper straws that compost within 45 to 60 days. 

Plug electronics into power-saving energy strips that can be turned off when machines aren’t in use. Completely shutting down computers saves more energy than using sleep mode.

When it’s time for a more energy-efficient fridge or freezer, call the electric company. The Appliance Recycling Centers of America work with utilities to pick up and recycle working appliances. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are accepted with a qualifying fridge or freezer. Alternatively, call a local recycling company for a curb pickup of broken appliances; even easier, confirm that the company delivering a new appliance will take away and recycle the old one.

Upgrade to a greener model when the need arises to change cars. California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont have pledged to speed the construction of charging stations in their states and project collectively having 3.3 million battery-powered cars, plug-in hybrids and other clean-burning vehicles on their roads by 2025.


Tips for making strides toward environmental friendliness 

At times the thought of making strides toward environmental friendliness can appear overpowering, in the same way as you need to spare the entire world. At the same time in truth, you can begin with a couple of basic steps that, together, will have an enormous effect.

Here are some easy ways you can start to live greener:

PRODUCTS 
- Buy locally produced goods as much as possible. This cuts down on carbon emissions and helps support your local economy.
- Are you in the market for a new car? Consider a slightly used car with efficient fuel economy. - Support companies that are trying to make a difference environmentally.
- Consider purchasing more products sold in metal or glass containers.
- Reuse containers and reduce consumption waste. Ask yourself, “Does that product that I want to buy really need to be packaged in all that plastic?” and “Do I really need it?”

FOOD 
- Buy organic food and other organic products as much as you can.
- Buy organic or shade grown coffee whenever possible. The production of this coffee is much better for the eco system and better for you.
- Reuse cloth or other strong bags at the grocery and other retail stores. Keep bags in the trunk of the car. If you forgot your bags, ask for paper bags whenever possible.

H2O 
- Reuse a non-bacterial metal or plastic drinking bottle. Refill with a larger plastic water container that you can refill or at the filtered tap.
- Wrap your water heater in a special made blanket that you can find at your local hardware store to insulate. Save energy and save money on the electric bill.
- Take shorter showers and conserve water use in the kitchen and garden whenever possible.
- Use cold water and biodegradable, phosphate and petrochemical free soap for laundry.

HOUSEHOLD 
- Use more natural, biodegradable cleaning products. Try this: In the microwave, heat one to two ounces of lemon juice and two cups of water in a microwave safe bowl for two to three minutes. Wait ten minutes, open the door and dunk a cloth in bowl and wipe out microwave. Amazing, non-toxic results!
- Use more natural soaps for hands, hair and body. Antibacterial soaps aren’t as good as you may think. They contain pesticide based chemicals which can eliminate beneficial bacteria on the skin and are not healthy for the human body or the environment.
- Unplug chargers and small appliances that aren’t being used. They drain electricity from the wall sockets as they drain money from your bank account.
- Keep the thermostat between 65-68 degrees and wear layers in the winter months.

To make clean and renewable home energy affordable and increase property values, Sunrun installs and maintains home solar power panels in 1,000 cities in 11 states for low and predictable monthly rates (Sunrun.com).