one more night
Many hotels ask guests if they want fresh sheets and towels each morning. If you can make do with a change every other day, you’ll save water and energy and reduce the wastewater treatment stream.In one linen reuse program, about 70 percent of guests participated, enabling a hundred-room hotel to reduce its monthly water usage by 48,000 gallons and its detergent usage by 320 gallons.
yes, you can
Aluminum cans are a recycling success story; there’s nothing like an economic incentive to motivate change. While you won’t get paid for steel cans, in many places you can recycle them through curbside pickup. So empty them, rinse them, put the lids inside, and mash them flat if your local recycling authority prefers that.According to a steel industry organization, every ton of steel recycled conserves 2,500 pounds of iron ore and 1,400 pounds of coal.
safe and sane
The brilliant colors in fireworks derive from heavy metals, which can contaminate the atmosphere and nearby bodies of water. Fireworks shot off in dry summer weather can also cause forest fires, wiping out plant life and animal habitat. With the risk of injury they also entail, you may want to leave fireworks out of your Independence Day celebration this year.
pooled resources
Homeowners with backyard swimming pools can reduce heat loss and energy waste by 70 percent by installing a pool cover. Other ways to save: Reduce the water temperature and keep the cleaning and heating equipment cleaned and lubricated for maximum efficiency.
weaned from the bottle
Though bottled water has been associated with healthy living since the 1980s, there’s scant evidence that it’s healthier than what comes from the tap in most places—and it’s certainly more costly. In fact, phalates, which disrupt the human endocrine system, can leach from the plastic into the water and into our bodies. From an environmental standpoint, there’s no doubt that our taste for premium water contributes hugely to the waste stream. Try plain old municipal water in a reusable bottle.do your part: According to the Container Recycling Institute, nine out of ten water bottles end up as litter or garbage—30 million a day. A whopping 1.5 million gallons of oil per year go toward their production.
Many hotels ask guests if they want fresh sheets and towels each morning. If you can make do with a change every other day, you’ll save water and energy and reduce the wastewater treatment stream.In one linen reuse program, about 70 percent of guests participated, enabling a hundred-room hotel to reduce its monthly water usage by 48,000 gallons and its detergent usage by 320 gallons.
yes, you can
Aluminum cans are a recycling success story; there’s nothing like an economic incentive to motivate change. While you won’t get paid for steel cans, in many places you can recycle them through curbside pickup. So empty them, rinse them, put the lids inside, and mash them flat if your local recycling authority prefers that.According to a steel industry organization, every ton of steel recycled conserves 2,500 pounds of iron ore and 1,400 pounds of coal.
safe and sane
The brilliant colors in fireworks derive from heavy metals, which can contaminate the atmosphere and nearby bodies of water. Fireworks shot off in dry summer weather can also cause forest fires, wiping out plant life and animal habitat. With the risk of injury they also entail, you may want to leave fireworks out of your Independence Day celebration this year.
pooled resources
Homeowners with backyard swimming pools can reduce heat loss and energy waste by 70 percent by installing a pool cover. Other ways to save: Reduce the water temperature and keep the cleaning and heating equipment cleaned and lubricated for maximum efficiency.
weaned from the bottle
Though bottled water has been associated with healthy living since the 1980s, there’s scant evidence that it’s healthier than what comes from the tap in most places—and it’s certainly more costly. In fact, phalates, which disrupt the human endocrine system, can leach from the plastic into the water and into our bodies. From an environmental standpoint, there’s no doubt that our taste for premium water contributes hugely to the waste stream. Try plain old municipal water in a reusable bottle.do your part: According to the Container Recycling Institute, nine out of ten water bottles end up as litter or garbage—30 million a day. A whopping 1.5 million gallons of oil per year go toward their production.
sunblock
Interior shades and blinds can keep air-conditioning expenditure down when it’s hot out. At the office, suggest the effective solution of applying sun blockers to the outside of the windows—awnings and tinted window films, for instance.do your part: Shades and blinds alone can reduce cooling costs up to 30 percent.“The future belongs to those who understand that doing more with less is compassionate, prosperous, and enduring, and thus more intelligent, even competitive.”—Paul Hawken
Interior shades and blinds can keep air-conditioning expenditure down when it’s hot out. At the office, suggest the effective solution of applying sun blockers to the outside of the windows—awnings and tinted window films, for instance.do your part: Shades and blinds alone can reduce cooling costs up to 30 percent.“The future belongs to those who understand that doing more with less is compassionate, prosperous, and enduring, and thus more intelligent, even competitive.”—Paul Hawken
ease off the gas
Figures from the EPA and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory show that every mile per hour over 55 costs about 1 percent in fuel economy. Where you can do so safely, ease off and save.
Figures from the EPA and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory show that every mile per hour over 55 costs about 1 percent in fuel economy. Where you can do so safely, ease off and save.
take only pictures
America’s national parks are a priceless treasure. It may be tempting to pluck a flower, but some are endangered, and it’s illegal to gather any plants in the parks. Let a photograph or just a luminous memory be your souvenir.
America’s national parks are a priceless treasure. It may be tempting to pluck a flower, but some are endangered, and it’s illegal to gather any plants in the parks. Let a photograph or just a luminous memory be your souvenir.
sun cooked
With a solar oven—a black box heated by the sun—you can enjoy a cookout without burning any fuel. Just take it outside, point it toward the sun, and let it go to work. In direct sunshine, a solar oven can reach temperatures as high as 325°F, but mostly does its job at lower temperatures, like a crock pot. It not only saves energy—it’s also a great way to keep your kitchen cool on a hot summer day.do your part: Learn more at http://www.solarovens.org/.
With a solar oven—a black box heated by the sun—you can enjoy a cookout without burning any fuel. Just take it outside, point it toward the sun, and let it go to work. In direct sunshine, a solar oven can reach temperatures as high as 325°F, but mostly does its job at lower temperatures, like a crock pot. It not only saves energy—it’s also a great way to keep your kitchen cool on a hot summer day.do your part: Learn more at http://www.solarovens.org/.
a sprinkle of savings
Aboveground sprinkler systems use 35 percent more water than in-ground systems and are generally much less expensive. Maximize their effectiveness: Don’t set for a fine spray, which encourages evaporation; don’t water the sidewalk or buildings, and don’t water when the lawn feels springy underfoot.
Aboveground sprinkler systems use 35 percent more water than in-ground systems and are generally much less expensive. Maximize their effectiveness: Don’t set for a fine spray, which encourages evaporation; don’t water the sidewalk or buildings, and don’t water when the lawn feels springy underfoot.
battery recycling
Sooner or later, all batteries, even rechargeables, bite the dust. When they do, you’ll want to keep them out of the landfill, where they may leach acids and heavy metal pollutants into the soil and groundwater. Look for centers that recycle them instead, and buy only types that you know your center handles.do your part: The Earth 911 website includes an easy-to-use locator for battery recycling sites. At http://www.earth911.org/master.asp?s=ls&serviceid=126, you can search by town or zip code for a location near you.
Sooner or later, all batteries, even rechargeables, bite the dust. When they do, you’ll want to keep them out of the landfill, where they may leach acids and heavy metal pollutants into the soil and groundwater. Look for centers that recycle them instead, and buy only types that you know your center handles.do your part: The Earth 911 website includes an easy-to-use locator for battery recycling sites. At http://www.earth911.org/master.asp?s=ls&serviceid=126, you can search by town or zip code for a location near you.
light discipline
Simply switching off the lights where rooms are unoccupied makes sense everywhere, but square footage makes this particularly important at your workplace.Using a characteristically English basis for comparison, the University of Sussex points out that lighting an empty office overnight can waste the electricity it takes to heat a thousand cups of tea.
Simply switching off the lights where rooms are unoccupied makes sense everywhere, but square footage makes this particularly important at your workplace.Using a characteristically English basis for comparison, the University of Sussex points out that lighting an empty office overnight can waste the electricity it takes to heat a thousand cups of tea.
a small circle of friends
When you go hiking or camping, try to keep your numbers down. Groups of six or fewer reduce the likelihood of ecosystem damage.
do your part: One hundred sixty million Americans take part in outdoor activities; if you’re one of them, do your best to minimize the impact on the forests and waters you visit.
soap shavings
Instead of throwing away a worn-down bar of soap, put it aside in a bowl next to the sink. When several have accumulated, scrape them into shavings with a cheese grater, and use them for hand soap worthy of the guest bathroom.
When you go hiking or camping, try to keep your numbers down. Groups of six or fewer reduce the likelihood of ecosystem damage.
do your part: One hundred sixty million Americans take part in outdoor activities; if you’re one of them, do your best to minimize the impact on the forests and waters you visit.
soap shavings
Instead of throwing away a worn-down bar of soap, put it aside in a bowl next to the sink. When several have accumulated, scrape them into shavings with a cheese grater, and use them for hand soap worthy of the guest bathroom.
solar starter
If you’re interested in trying renewable energy sources, solar powering your water heater is a manageable point of entry. An investment of about $7,000 can slice 10 percent a year off water heating bills, paying for itself in about ten years. Some states offer rebates of up to half the cost of the unit.do your part: Helpful details on solar water heat are available on the U.S. Department of Energy's site at http://www.eere.energy.gov/.
If you’re interested in trying renewable energy sources, solar powering your water heater is a manageable point of entry. An investment of about $7,000 can slice 10 percent a year off water heating bills, paying for itself in about ten years. Some states offer rebates of up to half the cost of the unit.do your part: Helpful details on solar water heat are available on the U.S. Department of Energy's site at http://www.eere.energy.gov/.
backyard oil spill
Need a compelling reason (other than air pollution) to replace that gas-powered lawn mower with a manual model? Apart from the waste, spilled gasoline can contaminate groundwater and pose a fire hazard.Just how much fuel do Americans spill in their yards each year? According to the EPA, it’s more than 17 million gallons—the Exxon Valdez didn’t dump that much oil.
Need a compelling reason (other than air pollution) to replace that gas-powered lawn mower with a manual model? Apart from the waste, spilled gasoline can contaminate groundwater and pose a fire hazard.Just how much fuel do Americans spill in their yards each year? According to the EPA, it’s more than 17 million gallons—the Exxon Valdez didn’t dump that much oil.
gaming the system
If your efforts to pry the kids away from their video games have been futile so far, perhaps you can at least involve them in games that get them thinking about more worthwhile subjects. CO2FX, for instance, explores the connection between global warming and political and economic factors.do your part: For more about games that are long on thoughtful approaches and short on violence, check out http://www.thegreenguide.com/.
If your efforts to pry the kids away from their video games have been futile so far, perhaps you can at least involve them in games that get them thinking about more worthwhile subjects. CO2FX, for instance, explores the connection between global warming and political and economic factors.do your part: For more about games that are long on thoughtful approaches and short on violence, check out http://www.thegreenguide.com/.
color me reusable
Whiteboard markers often contain xylene, a toxic chemical best kept out of the landfill. You can keep the whole marker out of the landfill when you purchase refillable AusPens. They last 40 times longer than disposables.do your part: Find refillable markers at http://www.ecostationery.com/.
Whiteboard markers often contain xylene, a toxic chemical best kept out of the landfill. You can keep the whole marker out of the landfill when you purchase refillable AusPens. They last 40 times longer than disposables.do your part: Find refillable markers at http://www.ecostationery.com/.
doin’ that rag
Use dishrags and cloth towels instead of paper towels for kitchen cleanup. It’s not just a question of solid waste: Overall, according to an estimate from the National Zoological Park, the production of paper towels is more than twice as energy-intensive as the reuse of cloth (factoring in washing and initial production).
Use dishrags and cloth towels instead of paper towels for kitchen cleanup. It’s not just a question of solid waste: Overall, according to an estimate from the National Zoological Park, the production of paper towels is more than twice as energy-intensive as the reuse of cloth (factoring in washing and initial production).
slipstream
Keeping your car washed and waxed improves its aerodynamic profile, enabling you to knife through the air a little more efficiently.In one test involving a 1,600-mile road trip, this simple expedient resulted in a 7 percent fuel economy improvement.
Keeping your car washed and waxed improves its aerodynamic profile, enabling you to knife through the air a little more efficiently.In one test involving a 1,600-mile road trip, this simple expedient resulted in a 7 percent fuel economy improvement.
waste contained
sealable containers for refrigerating leftovers. Yogurt containers are also handy receptacles for nails, screws, and bolts.
sealable containers for refrigerating leftovers. Yogurt containers are also handy receptacles for nails, screws, and bolts.
hosed
Make sure the fill hose on your washing machine hangs straight down. A kinked hose will likely develop leaks, wasting water and energy, and possibly causing water damage to your home.
Make sure the fill hose on your washing machine hangs straight down. A kinked hose will likely develop leaks, wasting water and energy, and possibly causing water damage to your home.
germ of an idea
Antibacterial agents have found their way into all sorts of consumer products—soaps, hand disinfectants, shoe inserts, counter wipes, and so on. Though they may sound like the clean, healthy option, they actually kill beneficial bacteria and may promote the development of more dangerous, resistant strains.
Antibacterial agents have found their way into all sorts of consumer products—soaps, hand disinfectants, shoe inserts, counter wipes, and so on. Though they may sound like the clean, healthy option, they actually kill beneficial bacteria and may promote the development of more dangerous, resistant strains.
pulling the plug
Think your electronics and appliances are turned off? Probably not. Hair dryers, phone chargers, TVs and other devices use energy for display clocks and memory chips all the time.These hidden energy drains account for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption and send 18 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. Unplug them—or make it easier on yourself by connecting them to a surge protector and flipping the switch.
Think your electronics and appliances are turned off? Probably not. Hair dryers, phone chargers, TVs and other devices use energy for display clocks and memory chips all the time.These hidden energy drains account for 5 percent of total domestic energy consumption and send 18 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. Unplug them—or make it easier on yourself by connecting them to a surge protector and flipping the switch.
clean and green
A ten-minute shower can expend one-third less water than a bath. You can save still more water and heat with the technique known as the navy shower. (Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve push-ups.) Instead of running a constant stream of water, lather up with the water off, then turn it back on to rinse.
A ten-minute shower can expend one-third less water than a bath. You can save still more water and heat with the technique known as the navy shower. (Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve push-ups.) Instead of running a constant stream of water, lather up with the water off, then turn it back on to rinse.
consumer payoffs
Products manufactured with care for the environment are becoming more readily available. Go a step further by buying from companies that also help fund green nonprofits. Here are three among many: Newman’s Own Organics (http://www.newmansownorganics.com/), Ben & Jerry’s (http://www.benjerry.com/), and The Body Shop (http://www.thebodyshop.com/).
Products manufactured with care for the environment are becoming more readily available. Go a step further by buying from companies that also help fund green nonprofits. Here are three among many: Newman’s Own Organics (http://www.newmansownorganics.com/), Ben & Jerry’s (http://www.benjerry.com/), and The Body Shop (http://www.thebodyshop.com/).
time to retire
Americans generate 290 million scrap tires a year. Ask tire retailers, auto mechanics, or your local recycling center if they accept tires for retreading or recycling. Some towns and cities hold amnesty days when you can bring a limited number of tires to a drop-off site free of charge. Among the uses to which old tires are put: paving materials, fuel, and rubber mulch used under playground equipment to cushion falls.
Americans generate 290 million scrap tires a year. Ask tire retailers, auto mechanics, or your local recycling center if they accept tires for retreading or recycling. Some towns and cities hold amnesty days when you can bring a limited number of tires to a drop-off site free of charge. Among the uses to which old tires are put: paving materials, fuel, and rubber mulch used under playground equipment to cushion falls.
cruisin’
When you travel uncrowded highways, set your cruise control. This mid-1940s invention is not only a boon to poor knees, but also an energy-conscious choice—traveling at a constant speed can produce a fuel savings of 5 to 10 percent.
When you travel uncrowded highways, set your cruise control. This mid-1940s invention is not only a boon to poor knees, but also an energy-conscious choice—traveling at a constant speed can produce a fuel savings of 5 to 10 percent.
fast shuffle
Sometimes what a room needs is just a little rearranging—not necessarily a full complement of new furniture. Think about balance, lighting, functionality, and how people move through the space, and reset your chairs and sofas to take better advantage of these details. Then think about the perfectly good furniture you just saved from the dump.
Sometimes what a room needs is just a little rearranging—not necessarily a full complement of new furniture. Think about balance, lighting, functionality, and how people move through the space, and reset your chairs and sofas to take better advantage of these details. Then think about the perfectly good furniture you just saved from the dump.
rescheduling
Flexible scheduling at work can make a real difference. A week of four ten-hour days cuts commuters’ fuel consumption by 20 percent. It’s not for everyone, but now you’ve got a compelling argument in hand for a boss with an open mind!do your part: Los Angeles experienced an 18 percent improvement in productivity when city workers were allowed to select their own work schedules.
Flexible scheduling at work can make a real difference. A week of four ten-hour days cuts commuters’ fuel consumption by 20 percent. It’s not for everyone, but now you’ve got a compelling argument in hand for a boss with an open mind!do your part: Los Angeles experienced an 18 percent improvement in productivity when city workers were allowed to select their own work schedules.
bring your own
The more distinctive the hotel, the more diverse the assortment of miniature soaps, toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, and so on. Convenience aside, these kits create a lot of packaging waste, with most of the toiletries thrown away half-used. Bring your own in reusable containers, and save just that much from the landfill.
The more distinctive the hotel, the more diverse the assortment of miniature soaps, toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, and so on. Convenience aside, these kits create a lot of packaging waste, with most of the toiletries thrown away half-used. Bring your own in reusable containers, and save just that much from the landfill.
wind effects
Turning off your car’s air conditioner can improve fuel economy by as much as 21 percent. So open those windows and embrace your wind-tousled locks.
if a tree falls in the forest
Make it a rule when camping to have as little impact as possible on the woods. Never fell a live tree or cut or hammer nails into branches. Human waste should be buried in holes six to eight inches deep, at least 70 paces from water, trails, and camp. Try to eat all your food, or pack the leavings out with you.
Turning off your car’s air conditioner can improve fuel economy by as much as 21 percent. So open those windows and embrace your wind-tousled locks.
if a tree falls in the forest
Make it a rule when camping to have as little impact as possible on the woods. Never fell a live tree or cut or hammer nails into branches. Human waste should be buried in holes six to eight inches deep, at least 70 paces from water, trails, and camp. Try to eat all your food, or pack the leavings out with you.
tubeless
The cardboard tubes at the center of toilet paper and paper towel rolls may have some uses in home craft projects—but for the most part, they wind up in the trash. Look for paper products without cardboard cores.do your part: Coreless toilet tissue is available at http://www.gracefulearth.com/.
The cardboard tubes at the center of toilet paper and paper towel rolls may have some uses in home craft projects—but for the most part, they wind up in the trash. Look for paper products without cardboard cores.do your part: Coreless toilet tissue is available at http://www.gracefulearth.com/.
ozone alert
Ground-level ozone is at its worst in the heat of summer, aggravating asthma and other respiratory problems. If environmental authorities in your area declare an Ozone Alert Day, do your share to help:Don’t refuel your car, or refuel at night if you must.Use an electric starter or charcoal chimney instead of lighter fluid.Postpone using oil-based paints, solvents, or varnishes, or substitute water-based paints.Avoid the use of any gasoline-burning equipment.
Ground-level ozone is at its worst in the heat of summer, aggravating asthma and other respiratory problems. If environmental authorities in your area declare an Ozone Alert Day, do your share to help:Don’t refuel your car, or refuel at night if you must.Use an electric starter or charcoal chimney instead of lighter fluid.Postpone using oil-based paints, solvents, or varnishes, or substitute water-based paints.Avoid the use of any gasoline-burning equipment.
take it back
Although a number of computer manufacturers offer some form of recycling, Dell’s program seems to be a standout. Some makers accept their old computers only when you buy a new one; Dell will accept its old models regardless of whether you’ve made a new purchase.
cool air, cool water
Evaporative air conditioners produce condensate water, as anyone who’s been victim to their unpleasant drip can attest. Direct the drain line from your AC unit to flowerbeds, trees, or your lawn for a little free irrigation.
back (and forth) to school
Families share the need to get kids to and from school. Now’s a good time to work out a fuel-saving car-pool plan with other parents in your neighborhood.Besides saving gas and greenhouse emissions, carpooling reduces the wear on cars and helps them last longer.
doggie bag
Don’t neglect the chance to cut packaging waste while caring for your pets. Buy dog food in 50-pound bags and store in a tight-fitting drum or garbage can; buy chew toys and bones without any packaging at all. Forego single-serving cat meals in favor of food with less packaging waste.
beetle mania
Try a chemical-free remedy to the garden damage done by Japanese beetles. Put one application of a milky spore disease product on your grass, and beetle grubs feeding in the soil will become infected and perish before your roses bloom next year. Often in powder form, the product is widely available at garden supply centers.
performing seals
Applying caulk or weather stripping to gaps around doors and windows can reduce energy loss, save costs on heating and cooling, and make your house a more comfortable place to live.do your part: See the Energy Efficiency Resource Gateway of Louisiana’s Department of Natural Resources for more information: www.leeric.lsu.edu.
trash-free lunch
If you carry your lunch to work, there’s no need to produce even an ounce of paper trash. Go for reusable bags or a lunch bag, pack the individual goodies in sealable containers, and take the whole works home with you at day’s end.
drier dishwashing
Most modern dishwashers effectively clean dishes without prerinsing. Just scrape off the larger leavings before you load the washer, and you’ll save both the prerinse water and the energy needed to heat it.
spring into action
Summertime often means that back doors are left open (especially when kids are running between house and yard). Installing spring hinges keeps the doors swinging shut, and closes off the cooler air inside the house to save air-conditioner energy.
Although a number of computer manufacturers offer some form of recycling, Dell’s program seems to be a standout. Some makers accept their old computers only when you buy a new one; Dell will accept its old models regardless of whether you’ve made a new purchase.
cool air, cool water
Evaporative air conditioners produce condensate water, as anyone who’s been victim to their unpleasant drip can attest. Direct the drain line from your AC unit to flowerbeds, trees, or your lawn for a little free irrigation.
back (and forth) to school
Families share the need to get kids to and from school. Now’s a good time to work out a fuel-saving car-pool plan with other parents in your neighborhood.Besides saving gas and greenhouse emissions, carpooling reduces the wear on cars and helps them last longer.
doggie bag
Don’t neglect the chance to cut packaging waste while caring for your pets. Buy dog food in 50-pound bags and store in a tight-fitting drum or garbage can; buy chew toys and bones without any packaging at all. Forego single-serving cat meals in favor of food with less packaging waste.
beetle mania
Try a chemical-free remedy to the garden damage done by Japanese beetles. Put one application of a milky spore disease product on your grass, and beetle grubs feeding in the soil will become infected and perish before your roses bloom next year. Often in powder form, the product is widely available at garden supply centers.
performing seals
Applying caulk or weather stripping to gaps around doors and windows can reduce energy loss, save costs on heating and cooling, and make your house a more comfortable place to live.do your part: See the Energy Efficiency Resource Gateway of Louisiana’s Department of Natural Resources for more information: www.leeric.lsu.edu.
trash-free lunch
If you carry your lunch to work, there’s no need to produce even an ounce of paper trash. Go for reusable bags or a lunch bag, pack the individual goodies in sealable containers, and take the whole works home with you at day’s end.
drier dishwashing
Most modern dishwashers effectively clean dishes without prerinsing. Just scrape off the larger leavings before you load the washer, and you’ll save both the prerinse water and the energy needed to heat it.
spring into action
Summertime often means that back doors are left open (especially when kids are running between house and yard). Installing spring hinges keeps the doors swinging shut, and closes off the cooler air inside the house to save air-conditioner energy.
flight plan
Avoid night flights if possible. Aircraft condensation trails contribute to global warming, but in the daytime, these “contrails” exert a cooling effect—they reflect the sun’s rays back into space, as do other high, thin clouds. But in the dark, the reflective bounce is absent.
clean sweep
Unless you’re doing heavy construction or operating a restaurant out of your kitchen, there’s really no need to hose down the perimeter of your home. Sweep your porch, steps, driveway, and sidewalks and save the water.
solar brew
On sunny days, brew iced tea straight from the tap or water filter by placing it outside in a glass jar or covered pitcher. The warming water brews the tea nicely, without any fuel consumption at all. And, because you don’t turn on your stove, your house stays just a little cooler.
a smile on your mug
Keeping a washable mug on your desk can save as many as 500 disposable paper or plastic cups a year.
cool move
Spare just a little space around your refrigerator, and you can reduce its operating costs significantly. Allow at least an inch of space on either side and behind the coil to permit free flow of air. This small adjustment can reduce your refrigerator’s energy consumption by as much as 10 percent.
new glasses
Recycled glass is often used in industrial contexts—in sandblasting abrasives, epoxy aggregates, wastewater filtration materials, and “glasphalt” paving, to name a few. However, there are some opportunities for consumers to purchase products identifiably manufactured from recycled glass. Try these websites for dependable and useful products: www.greenfeet.com (mugs), www.abundantearth.com (tumblers), and www.williams-sonoma.com (wine glasses).Each year Americans recycle 38 percent of the 12 million tons of glass they use. There’s no reason the percentage couldn’t grow; glass can be recycled indefinitely, with no loss of quality in the new product.
efficiency
Yes, a hundred considerations influence your choice of an apartment, but here’s one to add to the list: If possible, choose a place in the middle floors. Heating will cost less and use less energy, thanks to shared heat from apartments above and below.
vacation from gasoline
When you’re choosing hotels and resorts, make one of your selection criteria the availability of transportation that conserves fuel—or burns none at all. Ask if a shuttle is available to nearby points of interest, or whether bike rentals are available. You’ll save money on a rental car, and probably get a better taste of the local flavor, too.
teach your children
To carry the work of conservation forward, the next generation must absorb its lessons. Talk to your children about the issues, encourage them to read on the subject, and persuade their teachers to include ecological studies in their curricula. Above all, show them by example how to reuse, recycle, avoid waste . . . and care.
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