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50 Shades of Green

50 Shades of Green. Sustainability in the Home. Who am I?. What is the Sustainability Triad?.

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50 Shades of Green

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  1. 50 Shades of Green Sustainability in the Home

  2. Who am I?

  3. What is the Sustainability Triad? "Sustainability is a condition of existence which enables the present generation of humans and other species to enjoy social wellbeing, a vibrant economy, and a healthy environment, and to experience fulfillment, beauty and joy, without compromising the ability of future generations of humans and other species to enjoy the same.” ~Guy Dauncey

  4. What are the “Three R’s”?

  5. Don’t Be Overwhelmed!

  6. 50 Shades of Green Compromise “Meh.” Tree Hugger

  7. Why do it? Save the environment Save $$$

  8. Welcome “Home”!

  9. Front Door Remove shoes at the door (or outside) to prevent tracking in dirt/toxins Open doors and windows when possible Check seals on doors and windows Green your mail

  10. Kitchen

  11. Fridge Know what you’re getting before you open the door Check seals and clean coils Buy organic, local, and in season Avoid canned food, even if it’s organic

  12. Oven Don’t open the door Micro/Toaster instead? Cook several things at once

  13. Table Switch to cloth napkins Don’t use paper plates When going out, bring reusable straws (or don’t use one) and plastic/glass take-out containers

  14. Dishwasher • It pays to be lazy! • Don’t hand-wash • Don’t pre-rinse • Only wash full loads • Skip the heated dry • Use phosphate-free detergent

  15. Trash • Recycle • Watch packaging • Don’t waste leftovers! • Compost/vermicompost • Recycling with worms • Faster than traditional composting • No (very little) smell • Worms for fishing • Compost for garden

  16. Compost/Vermicompost Use compost on houseplants, lawns, and flowers • Coffee grounds • Tea bags • Nail clippings • Hair clippings • Grass • Leaves • Vegetable scraps • Fruit • Spices • Nuts • Pasta • Sawdust • Popcorn • Rice • Stale Cereal • Crackers • Pretzels • Bread • Junk mail • Bills • Toothpicks • Matches • Cotton Balls • Cotton swabs • Loofas • Dryer lint • Old cotton clothing • Eggshells • Ashes from the fireplace • Old pet food • Pencil shavings • Tampons/applicators • Potato chips • Pumpkin seeds • Wine corks • Pizza boxes (not too greasy) • Contents of the vacuum bag • Paper towel/TP rolls • Napkins • Stale beer

  17. Laundry Room

  18. Laundry • Wash • Detergents • Phosphate-free • Fragrance free • Concentrated • Skip fabric softener • Wash at night • Wash clothes in cold water (saves $152/year) • Dry • Use a clothesline (saves $196/year) • Don’t dry completely • Dry loads back-to-back

  19. Cleaning • Think: health/safety, environmental impact, corporate sustainability, packaging • Look at warning labels • “Danger: Poison”—a few drops will kill • “Warning”—a teaspoon will kill an adult • “Caution”—less toxic, but 2t-1c can still kill • Flammable, Toxic, Carcinogen, Corrosive

  20. Cleaning (con’t) VOC’s, pollution/biodegradable Antibacterial Disposal “Green-washing” Rags vs. paper towels • 17,000 petrochemicals available for home use • 30% • have been tested for home-use and environmental impact

  21. Certifying Agencies EPA Design for the Environment EcoLogo Green Seal Leaping Bunny

  22. Meaningless Labels Non-toxic Biodegradable All Natural! Eco-friendly/ Environmentally friendly

  23. Good Choices Seventh Generation Method Ecover Mrs. Meyers

  24. Make Your Own Green Cleaners • Vinegar/Baking soda • Prevention

  25. Living Room

  26. Energy Audit • What’s plugged in? • What can be unplugged? • “Vampire power” • Anything that has a light, clock, or “instant on” • 5% of a home’s total use of power • 65 billion kWh lost per year • $0.12/kWh (average, depending on tier) • Power strips

  27. Vampire Power • Common “vampires: • Game console—9 kWh • Coffee Maker—10 kWh • LCD Monitor—12 kWh • DVD—14 kWh • iPod Charger—20 kWh • Digital Camera Charger—20 kWh • Plasma TV—26 kWh • Microwave—27 kWh • Inkjet Printer—46 kWh • CRT Monitor—106 kWh • Notebook Computer—138 kWh *Data from http://www.vampirepowersucks.com

  28. Lights Switch to CFL lights (replace 10 60w lights and save $132/year) Use 75% less energy Last 10x longer Produce 75% less heat, saving on cooling costs Turn off lights when you leave a room

  29. Toxic Air • Indoor air can be 100x more polluted than outdoor air • Houseplants may be natural filter • Open windows often • Don’t use air fresheners • Simmer lemon, cinnamon, or other fragrant things • Bake cookies! • Eucalyptus • Mix essential oils with baking soda and put in a dish • Mix equal part lemon juice and water, add tea tree oil and spray

  30. Computers • Laptop vs. desktop • Hibernate or turn off when not in use • Print both sides • Reuse paper • Ecofont! • Ecofont

  31. Bathroom

  32. Water • Cut shower times • Install a dual-flush or low-flow toilet • Turn down the temp on water heaters • For each 10oF turned down, 3-5% savings in energy costs • Optimum temp is 120oF, may need 130oF for some dishwashers • Turn water heater off if you’re going away for more than 3 days

  33. Antibacterials

  34. Handwashing

  35. Other • Use FSC labeled paper products • Forest Stewardship Council • “The Forest Stewardship Council A.C. (FSC) shall promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests.”

  36. Personal Care Products • Similar to cleaning products • 33% contain at least 1 ingredient linked to cancer • Parabens • Coal tar • Phthlates • 400 lipsticks contain lead • “Non-toxic” nail polishes aren’t • FDA not required to test ingredients before products come to market • Look for certified organic products • Aluminum-free deodorant • Avoid animal testing

  37. Bedroom

  38. HVAC • Get a tune-up • Programmable thermostats • 78 in the summer, 68in the winter • Every degree you turn down can save 5% on energy bill • Dress for the weather • Passive solar • Close fireplace damper (8% heat loss) • Curtains/blinds • Use ceiling fans in summer and winter • Clean air filters monthly • Insulation

  39. Outside

  40. Lawns • Don’t water lawns • Or, water early in the morning or at night • Don’t water pavement • Giving plants/grass one really thorough soak/week is better than watering less more frequently. • Go native! • Skip the chemicals • Rain barrels • Rain gardens

  41. Creative Reuse

  42. Any questions? There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.  So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people.  That comes afterward, when you've worked on your own corner.  ~Aldous Huxley, Time Must Have a Stop

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