EARTH DAY TIPS

TIPS AT HOME:

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE – Find another use for your glass containers instead of just recycling them. For example: use an empty glass pasta sauce jar as a container for your next bulk bin purchase instead of a plastic bag. Opt for a reusable canteen for your waterr, and make sure to bring a reusable hot drink container with you as well as your “To-Go Ware” to replace the Styrofoam or plastic take out containers restaurants usually carry for lunch. And recycle everything.

TURN IT DOWN, TURN IT UP – Turn your heater down and your air conditioner up by three degrees and save 1050 lbs. of CO2 per year. After the refrigerator, air conditioning is the second biggest consumer of electricity in an average household. If possible, eliminate air conditioning all together. In addition to stemming climate change, eliminating air conditioning will also significantly reduce a household’s electricity bill.

GREEN YOUR CLEAN – Use chemical free products to clean your home, your laundry, and your car.

LIGHT UP - Replace three incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in your home and eliminate 300 lbs. of CO2 (lasts longer, burns less). Benefits: Energy efficient lighting reduces energy consumption and lowers utility bills. One compact florescent bulb will pay itself back over ten times over the course of its life through reduced energy use.

TUNE UP – Take your car in for a tune-up. Clean oil and properly inflated tires increase fuel mileage up to 15 percent, eliminating up to 1000 lbs of CO2 per year. C ollectively, we can save up to 2 billion gallons of gasoline a year through basic vehicle maintenance.

WASH COOL AND FULL – Use cold water, instead of hot water for laundry and dishwashing machines. Washing two loads of your laundry per week in cold or warm water instead of hot (and hang stuff out to dry when you can), saves 500 lbs. of CO2 a year. Always wash full loads of clothes and dishes - Washing machines use 30 to 60 gallons of water for the wash cycle.

DISPOSE OF YOUR WASTE PROPERLY – Your electronic waste - whether a damaged laptop, a broken cell phone, or a worn out television - it can be recycled, and/or donated. Check with organizations, such as Goodwill, to find out if they have use for your old or slightly damaged electronic products; or drop off the items at a S.A.F.E. Center (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) in L.A. so they can be properly recycled.

SUPPORT FAIR TRADE – Fair Trade means the people who made the product you are buying were paid “fairly” and that they are treated with dignity and respect. When it comes to Fair Trade crops such as chocolate, shade grown coffee, tea and sugar, farmers often will use organic practices because they are being paid fairly and can afford to do so too. When in doubt, always look for the Fair Trade Logo.

TIPS WHILE TRAVELING:

PACK LIGHTLY – The heavier a plane is the more fuel it needs to get off the ground. Every additional ten pounds per traveler requires an additional 350 million gallons of jet fuel per year.

SKIP THE PLASTIC BOTTLED WATER – Americans use 4 million plastic bottles every hour—but only 1 in 4 is recycled. When on the go or in-flight, make sure to fill up a reusable bottle at the airport or in your hotel room.

RENT A SMALLER CAR – Better yet, rent a hybrid or natural gas vehicle. 

AVOID BUYING TRAVEL SIZED PRODUCTS – Instead purchase reusable plastic containers to fill with products from home.

BUY SUSTAINABLE SOUVENIRS – Look for locally-owned businesses that sell locally produced crafts (green travel includes supporting local economies)

VOLUNTEER – Consider giving back when you travel by donating your time to a local charity. You can help build homes, conduct environmental research, work on an organic farm or help teach kids.  You’ll often get back much more than you give.

TRAVEL IN GROUPS – Share a cab to double the fuel efficiency, or even better, take a bus. A bus uses the same amount of fuel to travel five miles as a car uses to travel one mile.

OFFSET YOUR TRAVEL – A great way to travel green is to offset with alternative energy certificates, such as wind certificates that pay for the production of renewable energy generated by wind farms to compensate for pollution created by traditional means of travel.
 
SELECT A GREEN HOTEL – Look for lodges and hotels that have received the Green Seal Certification for environmentally responsible practices. You’ll get efficient lighting and water fixtures, alternative fuel vehicles, and recycling.

KEEP YOUR SHEETS & TOWELS – While staying at a hotel, let Housekeeping know it isn't necessary to use a fresh set of sheets and towels every day. You wouldn’t do it at home, and it saves a tremendous amount of water, energy, and detergents. And, while you’re at it, turn off the AC/ Heat, lights, and TV when you leave the room.