Tag Archives: conservation

What’s My Carbon Footprint

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Green Goes Simple: The Green Scoop

What’s My Carbon Footprint?

By Alison Baenen for Green Goes Simple


Greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuels … unless you’re an environmental policy wonk, an earth activist or an ecosexual (a new breed of online singles looking for sustainably committed partners — seriously!), it’s hard to keep all of today’s green-minded jargon straight. Carbon footprint — a phrase that has become as ubiquitous in pop culture as “LOL” — has a simple definition, but for the everyday person, understanding its parts takes some digging.

In short, our individual carbon footprint equals the amount of carbon dioxide we give off. You’re giving some off right now just by exhaling, but what concerns environmentalists are the emissions we release indirectly. Heating your home, driving a car and even buying a carpet (more on that later) all contribute to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Of course, some carbon dioxide in the air is natural — and necessary, since trees and plants absorb it and use it for photosynthesis. But climatologists are concerned that we’re producing too much of it. The result is that carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is trapping heat from the sun and sending it back to Earth, resulting in global warming.

It’s a big problem, but there are ways to reduce your own carbon emissions (carbon footprint sounds much cooler, right?), thus helping decrease global warming. Here are five easy ways to step lightly:

1. Change your bulbs.
Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). They last longer, use less energy and will save you money.

2. Take a walk.
Drive less, bike more. Your bod — and the globe — will thank you.

3. Warm up your windows.
Adding a layer of insulation to your windows will keep warmth in and heating costs down.

4. Reduce waste.
Cut down on what you throw away, and use reusable goods whenever possible. If you can, compost your food. Reducing household waste and putting energy back into the earth means less trash in landfills and more land to plant carbon dioxide-absorbing trees.

5. Go for small.
When it comes to rugs in your home, smaller ones require less energy to make. Perfect for your smaller footprint!

Alison Baenen is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her writing has appeared in Style.com, ContributingEditor.com, Epicurious.com and Concierge.com. In addition to editorial work, Alison is a copywriter for Theory, Gilt Groupe and PRPS. She is a frequent contributor to Green Goes Simple.

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Favorite Fall Family Activities

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Green Goes Simple: Family Footprints

Favorite Fall Family Activities

By Marisa Belger for Green Goes Simple

This autumn, make a commitment to have more fun — family fun. Fall is the ideal season for outdoor family frolicking. Emily Anderson — author of Eco-chic Home: Rethink, Reuse & Remake Your Way to Sustainable Style, blogger at Good With Style and mother of two — suggests you try these easy autumn activities for kids and adults. Turn off the TV, throw on a sweater and experience the bounty of the season!

Become a Leaf Detective
“Fall foliage is a perfect way to experience the earth’s natural state,” says Anderson. “Head to the park and enjoy the changing colors of the leaves.” Gather leaves of different shapes and colors, and then learn more about them when you get home by checking out LeafSnap, an online app created by the University of Maryland, Columbia University, the Smithsonian Institution and FindingSpecies.org.

Pick Your Own Harvest
Head to a local farm and pick your own apples, squash or pumpkins. Once you unload your bounty at home, Anderson recommends making an easy recipe together, such as butternut squash soup or applesauce. “Spending time on a local farm is a great way to support agriculture and to teach your kids about where food really comes from,” she says. Check out PickYourOwn.org for farms near you.

Eat Seasonally

The change of seasons is a perfect time to teach your kids about eating food that’s seasonal. Check out your local farmers market for the best of in-season produce that’s been grown nearby. “Eating locally grown food is good for the planet and can be a lot more affordable than the alternative,” says Anderson. “In-season items to look for are sweet potatoes, artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cranberries, eggplant, kale, leeks and zucchini.” Visit LocalHarvest.org to find farms in your area and check out FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org for fall recipes you can make with what you find.

Go Slow
Consider hosting a fall-themed dinner party that features nothing but local and in-season food. It’s a great chance to bring friends and family together and to teach your kids about cooking with seasonal foods. If you’re not up for hosting, Anderson recommends checking out Slow Food USA, a sustainable and local food nonprofit that hosts local events around the country.

Decorate Naturally
“Use the bounty of fall to get started on your holiday decorations,” suggests Anderson. Acorns, branches and leaves can all become beautiful festive items with a little paint and imagination. Collect items from your backyard or visit a local park, and this Thanksgiving you’ll have nature’s answer to the ultimate holiday table setting.

Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/ericmichaud

Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget.
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Reusing and Recycling 101

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Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

Reusing and Recycling 101

By Dana Goeglein for Green Goes Simple

You want to be green, but it’s hard to know the difference between reusing and recycling. Fortunately, it’s not that complicated. Recycling and reusing have the same goal: to keep items out of overflowing landfills. The two tactics just go about it in very different ways.

Recycling involves reprocessing an old item — such as a can, glass or newspaper — and turning it into something new. Recycled paper products may be reprocessed into toilet paper and old tires may become a compound used to resurface roads.

Reusing, on the other hand, means avoiding the reprocessing plant altogether. Old items like containers, bags and appliances can be used again in their current condition for a similar — or completely different — purpose. Takeout containers can be turned into food storage (think: free plastic containers!), and plastic bags can be transformed into waterproof liners for planters or drawers.

“Reusing extends the lifetime of a product, from the time it is purchased to the time it goes to a landfill [or recycling plant],” explains Janine Kubert, director of operations at iReuse, a company that helps businesses and individuals become better reusers.

When you extend the lifetime of a product, you not only reduce the need to buy something new (which takes energy to produce), but you also save on the energy it would take to recycle that product. “Reusing allows us to get the most out of our virgin products and raw materials, and aside from reducing consumption entirely, it is our best resource for waste reduction,” says Kubert.

Whether you’re an avid recycler or new to waste reduction, here are some simple ways to reuse and recycle every day:

Reuse

  • Reuse bags, boxes and containers. For example, turn old shoe boxes into storage containers, packaging for gifts or a treasure chest (have kids cut out pictures from magazines and glue them to the outside of the box for a customized container).
  • Rather than buying a new product, borrow, rent or share items you use infrequently or for a short period of time.
  • When babies and kids outgrow toys, books, cribs, high chairs and strollers, sell or donate the items rather than throw them away.
  • Invest in quality, durable products. You may spend more initially, but they’ll last longer, which saves you money over time.

Recycle

  • Become a full-circle recycler. Buy products that can be recycled; sort and discard them according to your community’s standards; and finally, purchase products made from post-recycled materials.
  • For more information about recyclable materials, check out the EPA’s website: Epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm.

Going Above and Beyond
While waste reduction starts at home, communities nationwide are forming around the premise that less is more. Freecycle (Freecycle.org) — started in Tucson, Ariz., before spreading throughout the U.S. — helps people be the best possible reusers. Through the Freecycle network, members are able to donate — or pick up — used products, such as appliances, furniture, toys and bikes.

In need of a reduce, reuse and recycle tutorial? Companies like iReuse (iReuse.com) give personalized consultations to help you reduce waste, donate reusable products and save money.

If you’re not sure about your community’s procedures or standards for reusing and recycling, check your town’s government Web site or ask a neighbor. Through community boards, donation banks and home and school recycling programs, it’s getting even easier to do more to waste less.

Dana Goeglein received a bachelor’s in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a master’s in food studies from New York University. She is a writer, yoga instructor and whole foods educator in New York City, where she strives to help others create harmonious, connected lives.
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Green Goes Simple: Family Footprints

Spring Fling: Helping Kids Go Green This Season

By Amy Levin-Epstein for Green Goes Simple


Did you become greener after becoming a parent? Then you joined a conscientious club of moms and dads who increased their eco-efforts as their family grew.

“To me, there are two aspects to being green: The first is about how you and your family affect the environment, and the second is about how you let the environment affect your family,” says Dr. Jenn Berman, mother of 4-year-old twin girls, and author of the eco-friendly book SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years. Plus, “compassion for the earth inspires compassion for other people and animals,” she says. Try these six tips from Berman and other eco-experts to help your kids live greener lives this spring.

Make Composting a Family Affair
For Mary Talalay, an eco-friendly writer and mother of one in Maryland, composting is a huge part of her family’s green efforts. “We started a simple compost pile by fencing off a small section of our yard — away from the dogs’ prying noses — and now we literally never throw kitchen scraps anywhere but the compost pile,” says Talalay. “I weighed one of our daily tubs of scraps, and it was about a pound of carrot peels, orange peels and the like. That’s 365 pounds of waste that makes worms happy and stays out of the landfill!”

Go Meatless on Mondays
Switching the whole family over to vegetarianism might be too big of an undertaking for your family plan, but just one meat-free day a week can have a positive effect on your family — and the earth. “Research has shown that animal agriculture is the single largest source of methane, which is a greenhouse gas that is 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide,” says Berman.

Lead by Example
If you forget to recycle those empty plastic bottles or turn off the lights when you leave the house, your kids will too. “How we act is so important,” says Bruce Harley, author of Cut Your Energy Bills Now: 150 Smart Ways to Save Money and Make Your Home More Comfortable and Green. “The lesson of bringing cloth grocery bags to the store is lost if it takes a 6,000-pound SUV to bring two of us to the store in the first place.”

Rack up Environmental Goodwill at Goodwill
Secondhand stores save gently worn clothes from ending up in landfills, which makes them a great — and wallet-friendly — way to green your family’s wardrobe. “We bring clothes to Goodwill and we also shop there,” says Talalay. “Sometimes I feel like I am renting clothes because we buy things there, my daughter wears them until they’re too small, and back to Goodwill they go if they’re still in good condition.”

Make Showering a Water-saving Game
Kids like to compete, so the most fun way to make bath time green is by making it a game. “Shower timers in the bathroom are an easy and fun way for kids to get used to using less water and taking shorter showers,” says Caroline Howell, founder of Green Beanie.  “No one wants to be a ‘water waster,’ as we call it at my house.”

Watch Your Garden Grow — Together
Have a picky eater? Green gardening is a great way to make sure your family is eating more wholesome veggies, says Talalay. Kids who help dig in the dirt will be excited to see — and eat! — the fruits of their labor. And you’ll rest easy knowing that the food you grew flourished naturally.

Photo Credit: Andy Cawood

Amy Levin-Epstein is a freelance writer who’s been published in magazines like Glamour, Self and Prevention, on websites like AOL, Babble and Details.com and in newspapers like the New York Post and the Boston Globe. You can read more of her writing at AmyLevinEpstein.com.

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Be a Green Guest

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Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

Be a Green Guest

By Marisa Belger for Green Goes Simple


Summer is all about weekend escapes — to the beach, to the lake, to the mountains and beyond. And while getaway accommodations can take many different forms, they often involve the hospitality of friends or family.

If you’ve ever been on the hosting end, you know that opening your home to guests is a great act of warmth and generosity. This year, try acknowledging the gift of a cozy bed and wonderful company with an eco-savvy hostess present that shows how much you appreciate being welcomed into someone’s home. Hey, think of all the money you’re saving in hotel costs!

Emily Anderson, author of Eco Chic Home, recommends giving gifts that are thoughtful — without being showy. “When I give a hostess gift, I want it to be a nice gesture of appreciation, but not something over-the-top,” she says. “I’m also sure to think of something that my hosts will put to good use.”

While a bottle of (organic) wine or a pretty (soy-based) candle are classic options, Anderson also likes exercising a bit of creativity in her gift-giving. The results are meaningful and earth-friendly:

A Home for Lonely Cups
“I’m always collecting orphan pieces of china at the thrift store,” says Anderson. “Creamers, sugar jars and, of course, teacups, which all make excellent hostess gifts.” To complete the gift, Anderson fills the piece with a small satchel of her favorite organic fair-trade tea and ties a ribbon around to hold it all together.

The Artist Within
“I happen to think that everyone could use a little more art in their lives,” says Anderson. She suggests pairing nontoxic watercolor paints with a small pad of recycled paper. Tie a ribbon around the package and you’ve got an instantly creative hostess gift.

Practical and Pretty
To assist your hosts in living green, Anderson suggests giving the practical gift of dishcloths. “You can never have enough dishcloths,” says Anderson. Make it a pretty present by rolling up three new cotton towels — bonus points if they’re organic — and tying them together with a ribbon.

Grow a Green Thumb
“Just because someone doesn’t have a green thumb doesn’t mean they can’t learn to become a gardener,” says Anderson. She suggests giving your hosts a small bucket filled with a few seed packets and a pair of gardening gloves.

Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget.
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That’s a Lot of Water!

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Green Goes Simple: The Green Scoop

That’s a Lot of Water!

By Rachel Bertsche for Green Goes Simple

You’ve probably given some thought to your carbon footprint, but what about your water footprint? According to the EPA, the average family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day. That’s the equivalent of using more than an entire swimming pool’s worth of water every two months!

Wondering where those 100 gallons per person come from? Consider this: A bathroom faucet runs at about 2 gallons of water per minute. The shower uses about 4 gallons per minute. And a single toilet flush can use as much as 7 gallons.

“That 400 gallons is just direct water use,” says Kai Olson-Sawyer, a water research and policy analyst who runs the online water conservation project H2O Conserve. “It doesn’t even account for our indirect, or virtual, water use, like the water used by the production of food, electricity and more.”

Curious how your water intake stacks up against the average American? Plug your info into H2O Conserve’s Water Footprint Calculator, and then make these easy changes that will help you save some water — and some money on your next water bill.

1. Fix all leaks, especially in the toilet. “Leaks are huge water wasters,” says Olson-Sawyer. “If you notice any drips, take care of them immediately.” Flushing the toilet is, on average, the largest use of household water, and a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day. Olson-Sawyer recommends looking into a water audit for your home, which is when a professional comes into your home to identify sources of leaks and water waste. “You might spend a little bit of money to shore up your plumbing, but you’ll stop leaks that will cost you in the long run,” he says.

2. Turn off the water when you aren’t using it. It sounds simple and obvious, but letting the water run while you brush your teeth, shave or wash dishes is a common mistake. “It speaks to the general mentality that we have an unlimited supply of water,” says Olson-Sawyer. “But it’s about being conscious of your actions and your water use.” Turning off the faucet while shaving or brushing your teeth can save more than 200 gallons of water per month!

3. Make your water do double duty. If you look for them, you can find a number of ways to make your water work harder for you. “When you’re waiting for the shower to heat up, put a bucket underneath the showerhead,” suggests Olson-Sawyer. “Collect that water to use for the plants around the house. It’s a great two-for-one.” You can also try washing your pet on the lawn, which needs watering anyway. You’ll get a great bang for your buck.

4. Fill up your dishwasher or laundry machine before running it. “People tend to throw a shirt or two in the laundry and not think about it; the same goes for people who don’t like to wash dishes,” says Olson-Sawyer. “But obviously, the fuller you load the machines, the more efficient your water use will be.” Still, he points out that running the dishwasher — even if it’s only half full — is always a more conservative use of water than washing the dishes by hand.

5. Water your plants when temperatures are cooler. Do your gardening in the morning or in the evening instead of in the midday sun. “Especially during the summer, when you’re more likely to be gardening, you’re going to lose a hefty percentage of water to evaporation. It makes the best sense to do the work when temperatures are lower,” says Olson-Sawyer.

6. Invest in water-friendly appliances. When you can, use low-flow water fixtures (including toilets) and put aerators on your sinks. Both of these features use less water but don’t affect water pressure. “Make these changes as toilets or faucets wear out,” says Olson-Sawyer. “You don’t have to go crazy replacing them all, but when you are renovating or switching things out, keep it in mind.” Look for fixtures with the EPA WaterSense label, which means they are at least 20 percent more water-efficient than average products in that category.

Rachel Bertsche is a Web producer, blogger and journalist who lives in Chicago. She’s written for O, The Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, Every Day With Rachael Ray, Outside and Fitness. Her first book, MWF Seeking BFF, will be out next year.
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How to Conserve Water Every Day

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Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

Water Wisdom: How to Conserve Water Every Day

By Cynthia Ramnarace for Green Goes Simple

If there is a sound that immediately drives me insane, it’s that of a running tap. And because you have to tell kids the same thing 5,000 times before they get it — “You don’t need the water on when you brush your teeth!” — I hear a lot of water waste as I go through my day.

It drives me nuts not only because it’s money down the drain, but also because water is such a precious resource. I was fortunate enough to see this firsthand during a trip to Kenya several years ago. When you’re living in a drought-prone region and the only water you have comes from collected rain water, conservation is how you survive.

I returned from Africa a water-use zealot, but that was a long time ago. My commitment to the cause has waned over the years. I realized telling my kids not to waste water wasn’t enough: I had to lead by example. So I did some research and came up with some easy water-saving solutions that any parent can easily use in their own homes.

In the Kitchen

· When you wash dishes by hand, collect the dirty water in a plastic container. Then use it to water your houseplants. “Food products in the water enrich the soil and nourish plants,” says landscape architect Shelley Sparks. “They have never looked better.”

· Switch to a self-foaming dish soap, which will allow you to wash more dishes with less water.

· Use water left in drinking glasses to give your houseplants a drink. Either pour them directly from the cup into the plant, or put watering cans in convenient places so you can fill them with each unfinished cup. “Throwing away water that remains in a drinking glass is really a waste, especially when it can be used to water houseplants or plants in the garden,” says Kimberly Button, a green-living consultant.

In the Bathroom

· Check your toilet for leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 minutes your toilet bowl water takes on a new hue, you can be pretty sure you have a leak, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Most water loss can be easily stopped by replacing a worn-out toilet flapper (the rubber valve that flops up and down each time you flush).

· Filling the bathtub uses about 70 gallons of water! Encourage everyone in your family, kids included, to take showers. You’ll save 45 to 60 gallons per wash — not to mention serious money.

· When it’s time to get a new toilet, upgrade to a dual-flush version, which lets you choose a light flush or a heavier flush. The light-usage option uses less than a gallon of water with each use. For times when the toilet needs to work a bit harder, the heavier 1.6-gallon flush will do the trick.

· Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, which add air to the stream, automatically using less water without sacrificing a bit of performance. A family of four that makes these changes will save about 4,500 gallons of water per year, according to the EPA.

In the Garden

· “Install a rain barrel on your downspout to collect water,” suggests Christian Rogers, a landscape architect with Blackmon Rogers Architects. You can easily use the rainwater, instead of your garden hose, to water your plants.

· Kids love to water plants! But remind them that their green buddies need just a sip, not a deluge.

· If you’re thinking of adding new plants to your landscape, consider ones that don’t need much water to thrive. Sparks recommends planting ivy geraniums, bottle brush, lavender, yarrow and wild lilac.

Cynthia Ramnarace is a freelance writer in Queens, N.Y. She is a regular contributor to iVillage.com and AARP Bulletin. Her work also appears frequently in American Baby and Kiwi magazines.
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Conservation in the Classroom

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Green Goes Simple:

Conservation in the Classroom

By Elizabeth Barker for Green Goes Simple

Raising environmentally savvy kids is one of the most powerful ways to help them enjoy a protected planet. To foster your children’s eco-education, encourage their schools to go green.

As part of National Green Week (an annual program developed by the Green Education Foundation), schools can devote any week from now until Earth Day (April 22) to projects that help create a more sustainable classroom and community. “One of National Green Week’s goals is for schools to start making environment-focused changes they can stick with for the rest of the year and beyond, so that the program can truly have a lasting impact,” says Green Education Foundation president Victoria Waters.

To spark each child’s green spirit, says Waters, it’s crucial to let students take charge in choosing which environmental issues they’ll hone in on during National Green Week. Parents and teachers can check out the Green Education Foundation for a wealth of resources and tips on making the program fun and meaningful for kids. You and your kids can get inspired with Waters’ suggestions for fun National Green Week projects:

Waste-free Snacks
In 2010, National Green Week participants eliminated 300,000 pounds of trash by packaging their snacks more sustainably. With a goal of slashing snack waste by 500,000 pounds during National Green Week 2011, the Waste-free Snacks project prompts kids to ditch plastic baggies and juice boxes and start using reusable containers and bottles. With all the fun, kid-friendly container options out there, this challenge is sure to be a hit with your tikes!

The Green Thumb Challenge
By growing their own garden, kids can connect with the earth and foster a lifelong fondness for fresh fruits and veggies. For schools seeking to transform their grounds into a bountiful green space, the Green Education Foundation suggests using National Green Week as a garden-planning period.

Keep it easy by focusing on cultivating easy-to-grow goodies like watermelons and radishes. This project highlights sustainable gardening practices that help nurture the planet. “Lots of schools taking part in the Green Thumb Challenge have gotten into working with earthworms for use in composting, which helps cut the amount of waste that ends up in landfills,” says Waters.

The Green Classroom Pledge
Designed to give schools an eco-makeover, the Green Classroom Pledge includes 10 simple steps for fighting pollution and reducing the use of natural resources. Along with paper-preserving strategies and energy-saving initiatives, the pledge involves cleaning up classroom air by switching to nontoxic supplies and adopting plants that help purify the indoor environment.

To shore up your school’s National Green Week efforts, the Green Education Foundation offers a sustainability-centric curriculum for each grade — from kindergarten-friendly lessons on making Solar Sweet Tea to a middle-school-level guide to growing hydroponic flowers. But no matter which activities schools select, National Green Week should ultimately serve to inspire students.

“When kids hear about the doom-and-gloom of what’s going on with the environment, it’s easy for them to feel helpless,” says Waters. “But once they take part in hands-on projects where they actually see a positive outcome, it really empowers them and gives them the sense that they can make a difference.”

Elizabeth Barker is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and executive editor of fashion blog NoGoodForMe.com. Her work has appeared in Body + Soul, Natural Health, Vegetarian Times, Variety and Kiwi.
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