BUILD GREEN
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GREEN LINKS
Helpful steps to greening your life and the world.
1. GREEN YOUR COMMUNITY: Most communities are implementing and/or expanding green building practices, as well as recycling programs, and environmental protection and conservation ordinances. Check with your city to find out more, and to voice your opinion on how we can do better at
www.WestsideGreenHomes.Wordpress.com,
www.EarthDayLA.org
2. Change
your LIGHT Bulbs:
Inexpensive and long-lasting compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than common household incandescent bulbs. Change a light and you help change the world. If every American home replaced their 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have earned the Energy Star rating, together we'd prevent the greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars. To determine what CFL wattage is best to replace your incandescent light bulb go to:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
Where softer light is appropriate, LED lighting (Light Emitting Diode) can last 20 years or more, and unlike CFLs, have no mercury to cause concern.
www.creelighting.com
www.Ikea.com
www.Lightbulbs.com
3. REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: Bottles, cans and newspapers often end up in landfills. Don’t forget to use your
blue, recycling bins. You can also keep two trash bins in the home instead of one for easier sorting. Check out this easy to follow
Recycling Guide. Don’t forget you can recycle your disposable foods in your lawn recycling bin if you don’t have a composter.
www.Earth911.com
www.smgov.net
www.CaliforniaRecycles.com
www.thereusepeople.org
www.looneybins.com
4. Carpool: We all have places to go and people to see, so try carpooling to work in the morning, or riding the bus or train. Not only will it save you money by using less gasoline, it’s nice to have someone to talk to while you’re stuck in LA traffic. Not to mention less stressful to let someone else drive.
www.CommuteSmart.info
www.bigbluebus.com
www.MTA.net
5. Go Solar: Solar panels are increasingly efficient and affordable, and in sunny California just make plain sense. So much so that the city’s Water and Power Department and Federal Government offer rebates and tax incentives for residential customers…
www.dsireusa.org
Save money by reducing or eliminating your electricity bill: Solar panel systems will produce electricity during the day and sell excess back to the utility grid.
Increase the value of your property: A recent study from the Appraisal Institute showed the selling price of homes and businesses increase by $20.73 for every $1 decrease in annual utility bills. Using this example, a moderately sized system that costs about $12,000 will increase the value of your property by $20,000.
Financial incentives: Cash rebates, tax credits and deductions can pay for up to 30% for residential installations.
Positive environmental impact: A 2.5kW solar system reduces CO2 emissions by an amount similar to that which would occur by planting 1 acre of tress, or the amount of CO2 emitted by a passenger car driving 7,800 miles/year.
www.CaliforniaSolar.com
www.solarsantamonica.com
www.SolarCity.com
www.andalay.net
www.eagleroofing.com
www.acmeGreen.com
6. GREEN POWER: If installing solar panels just isn’t possible, try purchasing Green Power from the city. By signing up to be powered by natural sources like sun, wind, and water (electricity that is cleaner than fossil fuels), you can actually help bring more renewable power to LA due to basic supply and demand. For an extra $12.50 per month, the typical homeowner can make sure his or her entire house is powered by windmills. (The extra cost is currently 3 cents per kilowatt hour, which is applied only to that portion of renewable energy that is chosen).
http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp000851.jsp
www.sce.com
www.socalgas.com
7. FLUSH SMART: Rebates from $30 to more than $160 a year are available for those who opt to replace standard 4-gallon flush toilets with low-flow models that use about half as much water. To save even more, buy dual-flush toilets, or no-flush urinals. Check with your city for water conservation ordinances.
www.smgov.net/epd/residents/water/conservation_rules_regs.htm
www.LADWP.com
www.bewaterwise.com
www.caromausa.com
8. ENERGY STAR: Did you know that EnergyStar brand refrigerators save enough power that the city is offering rebates to those who make the switch? Buying appliances with the EnergyStar label saves resources, and may give you eligibility for federal tax credits. Check for the symbol on your washer/ dryer, dishwasher, and entire home for that matter. Newer homes that are Energy Star certified will have the logo on the circuit breaker…
www.energystar.gov
9. BYOB… Ban PLASTIC BOTTLES and BAGS: Following the initiative of
Whole Foods Market, the
City of Malibu has banned plastic bags for use by stores and restaurants. Although paper bags are still offered, bringing your own re-useable bag is encouraged. Malibu Environmental Programs Coordinator Jennifer Voccola wrote, "Empty plastic bags, due to their lightweight and inflatable characteristics, are often windblown and pollute the local creeks, ocean and storm drain system…"
One million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die globally each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics. Please pledge to stop this cruelty.
In addition, last year we consumed about 50 Billion plastic water bottles. Not only do they accumulate and stress landfills where they live on and on, they are made from polyethylene terephthalate (a petroleum product), and their manufacturing process uses oil, a non-renewable energy source that increases CO2 emissions. The Earth Policy Institute estimates that it takes more than 1.5 million barrels of oil a year to make water bottles for American consumption (enough fuel to keep 100,000 cars running for a year). In addition, transporting the water yields about 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
If the fact that plastic is bad for the environment doesn’t get you to quit, just think about all the harmful chemicals leaching into your water from those plastic bottles, and the fact that several brands use the same H20 that’s available from your faucet.
The solution: Try a water filter, refrigerator water dispenser, or Brita system. Next time you head to the coffee shop think about bringing your own mug, and drink from a glass or use a refillable, stainless-steel bottle when you are on the go like
Klean Kanteens.
10. CHECK YOUR TEMPERATURE: Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes toward heating and cooling, according to
www.climatecrisis.net. By moving your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in summer, you can reduce your home’s carbon dioxide emissions 2,000 pounds each year. For even further savings, invest in a programmable thermostat.
www.socalgas.com
Changing or cleaning a dirty air filter on your furnace or air conditioner can keep as much as 350 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year.
11. WHAT TO DO WITH DOGGIE DOO: The
Doggie Dooley is a miniature septic tank just for doggie droppings! It's a great solution for dog owners who want to keep their lawn green and not contribute to landfill issues. The Dooley's an inexpensive unit ($89 at
www.petsmart.com) that promises easy installation, no smell, no insects and no ground water pollution. It looks a bit like a miniature trash can, and once installed in your lawn, you only have to lift the lid and dispose of Fido's "little presents" and occasionally sprinkle enzymes into the unit. That's it! No more plastic baggies filling landfills. Now Fido can be an eco-star too!
12. THINK TANK: Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket and you’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year according to
www.climatecrisis.net or switch to a tankless water heating system like
www.rinnai.us or switch to a solar water-heater
www.AcmeGreen.com.
www.socalgal.com/residential/savemoney
13. PLANT A TREE: A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. What more can I say… Plant one for your family today.
www.milliontreesla.org
www.conservation.org
Email me a photo of your favorite tree at KN@KarenNation.com
14. BUY FRESH LOCAL: Frozen foods take ten times more energy to produce and transport. Organic foods spare the world of toxic chemicals, pesticides, and hormones. To find your local farmer’s market, go to
www.farmersmarket.com or check out my ‘Green Links’ page for delicious organic foods on the Westside…
15. DRIVE SMART: Check your tires as proper tire inflation can improve you car’s gas mileage by more than 3 percent. And when it’s time for a trade-in, consider a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle. Of course there’s always good-old-fashioned bicycle or foot!
16. RECYCLED PRODUCTS: From a bird’s eye view, the earth’s head has many bald spots. Help prevent the loss of forests worldwide by using recycled paper and paper products which take 70 to 90 percent less energy to create. Also, shop in “vintage stores” or check out swap meets like the one held at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. By reusing and recycling we reduce and come full circle.
www.ecopaper.com
www.treeco.com
www.craigslist.com
www.salvationarmyusa.org
17. ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS: We as consumers must be aware of where products come from and how they’re made. In a sweatshop overseas is not friendly by any means, eco or otherwise. When you buy products from local manufacturers that use organic ingredients, are non-toxic, made from natural resources with sustainable materials, you lessen your carbon footprint. And remember to buy in bulk when available; Individual packaging is convenient for us, but not for the earth.
www.theGreenLifeCo.com
www.MrElliePooh.com
www.epoxygreen.com
www.ekozone.net
www.vertlosangeles.com
www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/products
www.greenerchoices.org
18. WEAR GREEN: Organic fabrics from bamboo, seaweed, hemp, soy and corn all have a place in fashion that is no trend my friend. They’re here to stay! What you wear not only exhibits your style, but your values too. Try these on for size…
www.LotusBlossomStyle.com
www.lindaloudermilk.com/locator.html
www.naturalhighlifestyle.com
www.patagonia.com
Don’t forget your “birthday suit”! Your skin absorbs all the toxins in the air and in the products we use. For more green/organic choices that will bring your skin back to life, try this:
http://tolamalibushop.com/. I back them 100%!
19. PAINT VOC FREE: When it’s time to spruce up the house, these are paints made from natural raw ingredients such as water, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils, natural minerals such as clay, chalk and talcum, milk casein, natural latex, bees' wax, earth and mineral dyes. Water-based natural paints give off almost no smell. The oil-based natural paints usually have a pleasant fragrance of citrus or essential oils. Smells so good you’ll want to paint yourself. These paints are the safest for your health and the environment.
www.americanclay.com
www.milkpaint.com
www.ayurvedaessence.com
www.livingreen.com
20. JUNK MAIL: For $20 Green Dimes will stop your junk mail, screen your catalogs and even plant five 5 trees for you!
www.greendimes.com
21. CLEAN GREEN: Levels of pollutants in indoor air can be from two to more than 100 times higher than outdoors, according to the U.S. EPA. That indoor pollution is due in large part to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate, or "offgas," from home decorating and cleaning products. For tips on cleaning without polluting, go to:
www.grist.org/advice/possessions/2003/03/18/possessions-cleaning/index.html
www.begleysbest.com
www.greencleanmaidservices.com
22. WASH WISE: Always run full loads and use cold water for clothes, preferably in front-loading machines and hanging to dry when possible. For dryers and dishwashers, run full loads preferably in the evening during warm months, so that your cooling systems aren’t working overtime.
www.energystar.gov
23. BEACH BAG: Take one with you when strolling or lounging on the beach so you can pick up trash along the way. Check with Surfrider for beach clean-up events which are a fun way to meet your neighbors and socialize while doing a good days deed. Help keep the ocean clean… and the surfers too!
www.surfrider.org/malibu
www.beachcleanup.org
www.oceanconservancy.org
www.healthebay.org
24. POWER STRIP: Not an exercise fad, but a way to
eliminate “Phantom Load” or “Vampire Power” which sucks the life from your outlets, even when your appliances and electronics are not on. Use power strips or manually unplug DVD players, computers and cell phone chargers to save electricity from vanishing into the dark side. In the average home,
40% of all electricity is used to power home appliances while they're turned off. If all phantom loads in US homes were stopped, we could shut down 17 power plants. Power strips with surge protectors make it easy to shut down many appliances at once.
www.westsidewholesale.com/index.cgi?pid=973429&CATEGORY=375
www.epa.gov
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer
www.ladwp.com
25. SEAL IT UP: Drafty windows and doors, cold walls or ceilings, and high energy bills are all symptoms of air leaks, poor ducting, and lack of insulation. Seal air leaks, add insulation, and choose energy-efficient windows when replacing old ones. That way you’ll improve the comfort and durability of your home, save energy and utility costs, and help protect our environment. For more assistance, have your home energy-rated with
www.title24energy.com or
www.Ecovations.com
26. TELL TWO FRIENDS: Slip it into a conversation with a friend or family member. Talk about it at a neighbor’s barbeque. Pass it on at your kid’s soccer game or at work. I’m asking you to help spread the word that energy efficiency is good for your home and good for our environment. Spread the word, and together we can help our homes help us all. Below are blogs and informative sites spreading the word too…
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv
www.treehugger.com
www.dailygreen.com
www.grist.org
www.ema-online.org
27. GREEN YOUR THUMBS: Mulch much? When gardening, try composting and xeriscaping to keep the environment from toxic pesticides, urban runoff, and water use. (Try native and drought-tolerant plants such as: agave, lavender, juniper, and thyme).For the seven principals of xeriscaping, go to
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeriscaping. Also, check with the City of Santa Monica's Water Conservation Ordinance which mandates specific water conservation measures like: No watering of lawns or landscapes between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and no hosing down of sidewalks, driveways, patios, alleys, or parking areas. They set a great example of conserving water.
www.smartgardening.com
www.malibugreenmachine.org
www.venicegardentour.org
www.smgov.net/epd/residents/water/conservation_rules_regs.htm
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/landscaping/
28. ECO PARTY: Planning a wedding, birthday, or other event? You can make eco choices like using evites or recycled-paper invitations, provide a recycling bin for party-goers to toss their empties, and cater with organic foods. For more party ideas to be the hostess with the eco-mostest, check out...
www.greenweddings.net
www.dkkevents.com
www.paleta.com
29. INVEST YOUR GREEN: It’s no secret that “green” is one the most rapid growing industries. These days many stock portfolios are balanced with eco-conscious investments. If not for the financial gain, for the greater good by purchasing carbon offset measures to shrink our carbon footprint. There are also rebates and tax incentives for things like energy-efficient appliances, windows, and solar panels, as well as green mortgage options when buying or remodeling green. So put your money right back where you found it… on the tree the paper came from.
www.longboardcapital.com
www.villagegreenenergy.com
www.modernearth.com
www.dsireusa.org
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf
30. KNOW YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT: You know what they say about the size of a man’s carbon foot… Well, your actions do have an effect on global warming. How many units of carbon dioxide are you contributing by use of air travel, car travel, electricity, diet, and consumer products? And are you offsetting those units enough? Knowing your carbon footprint helps you become aware of your environmental impact and the choices you make. You can calculate yours on the links below.
www.stopglobalwarming.org
www.myfootprint.org
www.green-e.org
31. THE THREE R’S TO LIVE BY: The other three R’s to live by: Be Resourceful, Respectful and Responsible. Being “green” is really a frame of mind, and about being considerate to the health of others, and the health of the environment in all you do.
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