Did you know that Consumer Reports has a sister website that provides detailed and impartial reviews on a wide range of products with the main criteria being environmental impact? It is called Greener Choices and it can be found here.
Buy in bulk.....if you buy dry foods in bulk (pasta, rice, sugar) you save on money and packaging. You can store them in tight sealing jars or canisters to keep them fresh.
Bugs no more......instead of using pesticides, common household items can come in handy for warding off the pests. Tape whole, dried bay leaves to the bottom of shelves in your pantry to keep tiny bugs away. Make your own spray by combining rubbing alcohol with an essential oil like clove, citronella, or peppermint in a spray bottle.
Computers and electronics......if you have cell phones, computers, or monitors to dispose of...first try donating them to a charity. If that doesn't work, check out eBay's Rethink Initiative for responsible ways to recycle them.
Fabric softener....liquid softeners often contain derivatives of ammonium chloride, which is harmful to aquatic life and a trigger for allergy and asthma symptoms. Keep it out of the waste water stream by substituting a quarter cup to a cup of white vinegar, which leaves your clothing soft and doesn't leave behind any scent.
Hailing a cab.....in some American cities you can be picked up by a hybrid taxi or limo service. A Ford Escape hybrid will save more than 1 600 gallons of gas and 32 000 pounds of carbon emissions over the course of 100 000 miles of travel.
OZOcar in New York
ECOLIMO in Los Angeles
PlanetTran in Boston
Save on heat....turn down the thermostat to 68 degrees and layer on a sweater.
Good wood.....check with the Forest Stewardship Council to find lumber producers who grow and harvest timber to tough, verifiable standards and are certified. The council checks for sustainability, maintenance of natural forest conditions, minimal chemical use, endangered species protection, and other conservation elements. Learn more here.
Conscious cooking.....when cooking on the stove top, use the smallest pot or pan you can. Also, if the circumference of the flames is greater than that of your pan, you're leaking unused heat into the air. Make sure to use a lid on the pot or pan in order to conserve energy and heat more quickly.
Paper, paper, paper....in order for recycling to truly take hold, demand for recycled products must exist. Boost the effort by purchasing recycled office paper. Look for minimum 30% post-consumer content, meaning that the original paper was actually used for something, not just salvaged from mill scrap. You can also check for paper that's processed without chlorine and manufactured with fiber from sustainably grown wood. New Leaf Paper offers more info here.
Save on suds....experiment with the amount of laundry detergent you use. Sometimes the amount the manufacturers suggest is more than you need. If you use too much, the rinse cycle won't get the residue out, and all you will be doing is adding extra detergent to the water waste stream.
Sneaky leaks.....a leak from the toilet tank into the bowl is a silent problem. Check for a leak by putting three drops of food colouring in the tank and wait a half hour. If the colour appears in the bowl, repair or replace the flapper valve, and easy operation that can save 100 gallons of water or more daily. Be sure to flush the coloured water away; it can stain the bowl if left too long.
Although I have more to share, I think this post is long enough! Check back again soon for more 'earth tips'!
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