Green Tip #5: Save Some (a Lotta) Trees... Go Paperless!

Hello friends!
It's been a while since the last post. Well... despite best intentions, Summer 2008 turned out to be as busy as summers tend to be... and I didn't get a chance to write. Well, now that the kids are back in school, and Fall is officially here, its time to revive our Green Tips.

So here's Tip # 5: Switch to Paperless Billing and Cut Down on Junk Mail!

To be honest, our switch to paperless billing didn't start off as an attempt to go green. Like most families, 95% of the mail we get is a mix of catalogs we never requested, coupons we'll never use, and credit card offers we'll never take advantage of. The other 5% is legit mail - bills, catalogs we did request, and the occasional personal letters...

So one day the inevitable happened... I missed a bill in the enormous pile of junk mail. And that was enough :)

We looked into how we could eliminate paper bills altogether, and found that most financial institutions, utility, mortgage, and insurance companies offer customers the ability to switch to e-bills and paperless statements.

Your preference may vary, but the easiest way for us to do this was to create a separate email account that we use exclusively for this purpose. It may take one or two billing cycles until the switch is complete, so be on the lookout for snail mail and email statements during the changeover.

We've been paperless for almost a year now, and I have to say it's so much easier to login to an email account dedicated to this purpose than wading through a whole bunch of junk mail to find an errant bill or statement...

Worried about not having any paper trail in case disaster strikes? Maybe a system failure or hacker attack? We look out for the annual summary statements for our paperless accounts, and print and file those away - we're still using less paper than if we were receiving monthly statements!

OK, now that we've taken care of the 5% of the mail we receive... how about the other 95% of junk mail that we never wanted in the first place?!

Did you know?

• Junk mail in the U.S. accounts for over 100,000,000,000 pieces of mail each year - about 30% of all the mail delivered in the world.
• Every year American households receive a total of 104.7 billion pieces of junk mail or 848 pieces of junk mail per household, which requires 6.5 million tons of paper.
• Approximately 44% of junk mail goes to landfills unopened; the average American will spend 8 months of their lives dealing with junk mail.
• It would take the equivalent of over 500,000 garbage truck loads to dump all junk mail into landfills and incinerators each year.
• By the year 2010, almost 50% of the solid mass that makes up our landfills is expected to be paper and paperboard waste.
• State and local governments and their citizens spend hundreds of millions of dollars per year to collect and dispose of all the bulk mail that does not get recycled.
• 6.5 million tons of discounted (bulk mailing) junk mail entered the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 2006.

I recently came across this website Catalog Choice - a free service that contacts merchants for you to decline paper catalogs you don't need. So I've requested to be taken off from the mailing list of about 15 catalogs, and I can add more as I remember them. I'm curious to see (a) whether this works, and (b) how long it takes till we actually see a drop in the quantity of our junk mail. Catalog Choice maintains it may take up to 10 weeks for my request to be processed, so we shall see.

I'm curious whether anyone has tried a service like Catalog Choice, and what your experience has been...

Resources:
New American Dream Junk Your Junk Mail Campaign
Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator - Tool to help you quantify the benefits of better paper choices.
Sign up for the Do Not Mail Campaign - A campaign to stop junk mail similar in concept to the Do Not Call Registry.

Green Tip #4: Save Some Green - Switch to CFLs!

I've been thinking about the idea of switching to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) for a while now, but haven't been able to make much progress on it... for a while, this was a topic that was threatening our domestic harmony, if you get my meaning :-)

Now, my husband has been remarkably supportive and flexible about changing our lifestyle to greener living, but when it came to switching to dim, white fluorescent light, he drew the line. And honestly, even though I wanted to do the right thing, I dreaded being engulfed by the dull, antiseptic light cast by fluorescents.

And so began my search for the softest, warmest available CFL. What I found both surprised and delighted me! Not only do modern CFLs come in all shapes and sizes - there's the the ubiquitous spiral, indoor and outdoor reflectors, dimmable, 3-way, and even the little pointy candle shaped ones, but they also come in different temperatures - soft white (warm) or daylight (cool).

Why CFLs?

According to Energy Star, if every American home replaced just one lightbulb with an Energy Star qualified bulb (most CFLs are qualified), we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars! And that's just one lightbulb!

What's more, switching to CFLs can substantially reduce your energy bill as well. I have anecdotal evidence about lower energy bills from my friends who've made the switch, but since we started using CFLs fairly recently, I can't say how much this has saved us - I'll revisit this in some months when we know more.

Your best resource on CFLs is probably the Energy Star website. I used this handy chart that maps light fixtures to bulb type. Also, by the way, if you're in the market for major appliances, check out Energy Star qualified appliances on this website.

Popular Mechanics magazine recently did a lab test that compared different brands of CFLs. You can read about their results here.

Next came the business of procuring all these different light bulbs to make the switch. After researching Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart and Costco, I found the best prices at Walmart.com.

Here's a time and money saving tip: If you choose to shop online at Walmart.com, you can take advantage of their "Site to Store" feature that offers free shipping to a Walmart store near your home. I don't always find all the items I'm looking for at the store, so I use this feature to order online, then go pick up my order when its ready. The only downside is the order can take 7-10 days to arrive at the store.

What you should know:

CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury and should be recycled per these EPA Guidelines.

Already made the switch to CFLs? Thinking about doing it? Share your experience with us here!

Coming up next! Buy Local

Green Tip #3: Green Clean your Living Areas and Laundry Room

This is continuing from my earlier post - Green Tip #2: Green Clean your Kitchen and Bathroom, so I'll keep it short!

Living Areas:
Carpeted Floors:
Regular vacuuming should keep carpeted floors free of dust and toxins. I've used traditional chemical deodorizers in the past, but have switched to sprinkling baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming, and it works great!

Non-wood floors: Clorox Dilutable Cleaner

Wood floors:
I'm still using traditional wood floor cleaners for this. I read that you can use diluted white vinegar to clean wood floors, but I'm afraid that will strip the wood. If anyone has a better alternative, let's hear it!

Deodorizers:
I air out the house by opening windows whenever possible (in Pennsylvania, that's at least 3 out of 4 seasons), and use baking soda on carpets, in the pantry, closets and the refrigerator as a deodorizer.
Traditional deodorizers contain synthetic fragrances can cause skin irritation, discoloration, rashes or allergic reactions (see Green Tip #2: Green Clean your Kitchen and Bathroom). I have switched to using essential oils in diffusers - they last a lot longer since they are in concentrated form, and smell a lot nicer too.

Upholstery:
Even before I switched to "green cleaning" products, I never used harsh chemicals on upholstery. Regular vacuuming usually takes care of removing dust particles.

Stain Removal:
Still looking for a natural and effective stain removal product for carpets and upholstery - would love to hear from you if you know of one!

Here's a side benefit of switching to non-toxic cleaners: Kids can help with the cleaning too! My girls have helped me with dusting and picking up the house in the past, but I would be paranoid about letting them handle traditional toxic cleaning products. Don't have to worry about that any more! OK, so maybe they're not so thrilled about this particular benefit :-)

Laundry:
Look for laundry detergent that does not contain phosphates, chlorine, petroleum products or synthetic dyes. I bought small containers of Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent and fabric softener at the grocery store (remember these products are typically 20-40% more expensive in grocery stores). Once I had tried them and was satisfied, I switched to buying in bulk online, which proved to be much more cost effective.

Many manufacturers of green cleaning products like Clorox GreenWorks, Method and Seventh Generation offer coupons on their websites, so look out for those as well.

Using cold water to do your laundry can also translate into big savings in energy bills and lower carbon emissions. We use warm (not hot) water to wash the kids' clothes, since they tend to get dirtier, but wash everything else in cold water.

Another quick note on laundry:
When I first read about putting laundry out in the sun to dry instead of using a clothes dryer, I said, "Whoa, there is no way I will have time to do that!" And yet, growing up in India, it was the only way we knew to dry laundry. To this day, my mom washes clothes in a washing machine, and puts them out to dry in the sun. Given the abundant amount of free solar energy in India, it certainly makes sense! Its still too cool here in PA to put the laundry out to dry, but I'm thinking about setting myself a modest goal this summer of drying our clothes out in the sun one day a week - let's see if I'm able to sustain it :-)
Y'all down in Texas and Georgia in the land of abundant sunshine, is this something you would consider doing? Maybe doing already? Let us know!

Coming up next: Save some green - switch to CFL's!

April 22 is Earth Day!

What Is Earth Day?
Earth Day falls every year on April 22, in celebration of the importance of the environment and to encourage action. It was initiated in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who started a “teach-in” to protest the government’s environmental ignorance. This eventually led to legislation including the Environmental Policy Act (1969), the Clean Air Act (1970), the Clean Water Act (1977) and fuel efficiency standards for automobiles.

So how are you going to make a difference this year?
Here are some ideas to get you started...

Check out this Earth Day 2008 Calendar of Events around the world!

Volunteer with Sierra Club
Volunteer or attend any of these events where Sierra Club is a participant

Ideas for Green Living from Greenpeace at home, in your yard, at work, in your community

For my friends in PA
Earth Day at Silver Lake Nature Center
April 19, 2008
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Bring the family for a day of fun activities!

Earth Day Activities Just for Kids
Earth Day Crafts
Celebrate the planet with these fun Earth Day crafts

Earth Day Games
Go green and celebrate the planet with these fun (and free!) online Earth Day games and activities

Growing Plants
Help your kids learn to garden and plant and grow seeds with tips and tricks they can try

Earth Day Take Home Kit
These web resources provide tips that you and your family can use to protect the environment and your health, while celebrating Earth Day.

Incorporate environmentally-themed reading into your child's library. Check out these "Green Reads"

Green Tip #2: Green Clean your Kitchen and Bathroom

OK, its time for Green Tip #2!

A few months ago, I noticed that my husband complained of headaches and other allergy symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and itchy skin every time we cleaned the house. The girls too seemed to be sniffling and ‘feeling itchy’ just after the house had been cleaned.

This got me thinking … could the cleaning products we were using be making my family sick? I started looking into commonly used cleaning products, and in particular, the ingredients found in these… and here’s what I found.

There is an increasing concern among public health officials that the ingredients in commonly used cleaning products, like ammonia and chlorine bleach, have been linked to serious diseases such as respiratory illnesses including asthma, and even some forms of cancer. Young children are especially vulnerable, since they practically live on the floor, and put everything in their mouths.

Some of these ingredients may be toxic by themselves, but can become deadly when combined with other commonly used cleaners. For example, mixing household bleach with acids like vinegar or drain cleaners, or even lemon juice can release chlorine. Chlorine is a respiratory irritant that attacks mucous membranes and burns the skin. Bleach and ammonia when combined form deadly gases that are extremely irritating to the eyes and lungs and toxic above certain concentrations.

In my research, I came across a paper that described how the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks had successfully switched to environmentally preferable janitorial products. (http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/cleaning.pdf) This paper also lists commonly used chemicals in cleaning products, along with their potential health risks. I’m listing some of common chemicals here.

Ammonia compounds:
Forms irritating cloramine gas when combined with chlorine-containing products. Fumes can cause irritation of the eyes, respiratory tract. Liquid can cause skin burns. Toxic to fish, and reduces oxygen in surface water.
Uses: In many cleaning products, depending on concentration, as antiseptic, bactericide, fungicide, sanitizer, deodorant. Used in detergents as a surfactant. Also found in floor polish, glass window cleaners, household hard surface cleaners, rug and upholstery cleaners.

Chlorine:
Produces toxic chloramine gas when mixed with ammoniated cleaning products. Corrosive to eyes and skin. Fumes are irritating or corrosive to the respiratory tract. Can kill microscopic life in waterways, septic tanks and sewage treatment plants. Toxic to aquatic life
Uses: Bleach, disinfectants, all-purpose cleaners, mildew remover, bathroom cleaners, spot removers, or in scouring powders.

Ethanol:
Clear liquid which can be absorbed by inhalation and across skin. Central nervous system depressant. Vapors can produce some eye and upper respiratory tract irritation.
Uses: Detergents, disinfectants, carpet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, air fresheners.

Fragrances - Any of 4,000 chemicals. May cause skin irritation discoloration, rashes or allergic reactions. May be irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract.
Uses: Many cleaning products, either to simulate the scent of “fresh air”, flowers, etc., or to mask odors of other chemicals in the product.

Lye:
Corrosive white crystals or colorless liquid. Liquid may cause severe eye burns or blindness, or skin burns with subsequent tissue scarring. Vapors are irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Aerosol formulations present an inhalation hazard.
Uses: Drain opener, oven cleaner, detergents.

Phosphates - Environmental hazard. Phosphate-containing compounds increase biological oxygen demand in surface water.
Uses: In detergents, bathroom cleaners, floor strippers.

So if most household cleaners are bad for our health, and terrible for the environment, the natural question is, are there safe, yet effective, cleaning alternatives?

Thanks to the increasing awareness of the negative impact of traditionally used cleaning products on our health and the environment among the general public, non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products are now more and more commonly available. It used to be that eco-friendly cleaning products could be found only at natural foods stores like Whole Foods. I have found these products at my local grocery store, as well as the big chains like Kmart and Target. I’ve tested a few brands – Seventh Generation, Method and Clorox Greenworks, but of course this is not a complete list.

Manufacturers of household cleaning products are not required by law to disclose ingredients used in their cleaners. So how do you know a fake ‘natural’ from the real deal? Be wary of products whose names or packaging make them sound or look green. Again, there is no legal definition of the word ‘natural’. This word tends to be loosely used if not outright abused in the food as well as cleaning products industry.

There is an initiative within the EPA to improve the quality of labeling for common household cleaners. Until then, I prefer to vote with my wallet and favor manufacturers that list their ingredients voluntarily. If you don’t know what’s in the product, how do you know whether or not it hazardous to you and your family’s health?

So look for products that do disclose all their ingredients, and look for ingredients like plant based surfactants and essential oils for fragrance rather than synthetic fragrances.

OK, a note on the cost factor. Natural cleaning products do tend to be more expensive than traditional cleaners, but as green becomes more and more mainstream, these products are becoming more affordable and available.

To start out, I bought some of the products at Target and my local grocery store (caution – they are super expensive at the grocery store!) Then, once I had picked the products I wanted to use, I went online and found it much cheaper to buy them in bulk at online retailers like amazon.com.

FYI – most of the products qualify for Amazon Prime, so if you already have Amazon Prime, two-day shipping is free!

As my home’s most cleaned rooms – the kitchen and bathroom were the first targets for natural cleaners.

Kitchen:

Countertops and appliances: Seventh Generation Kitchen Cleaner or Method All Purpose Cleaner; Method Granite for granite countertops.

Stovetops: Seventh Gen Glass and Surface Cleaner

Tile, linoleum or any non-wood floor: Clorox Greenworks Natural Dilutable Cleaner

Sink: Soapy mix of Seventh Gen Dishwash Liquid and warm water

Disinfectant:

This was a huge issue. In the past, I was the kind of person who would buy antibacterial EVERYTHING. I now keep a spray bottle filled with diluted distilled vinegar and use it as a disinfectant.

(FYI – I also went out and bought a set of those color-coded cutting boards to prevent cross-contamination of foods)

Bathroom:

I use Clorox Natural Bathroom Cleaner for all bathroom surfaces – counters, tub, tiles and showers.

Floor: Clorox Greenworks Natural Dilutable Cleaner

Toilet Bowl: Greenworks Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner Drain Cleaner: Baking soda paste

Window Cleaner: Half distilled vinegar with half water

To learn more

What’s behind the Shine?
Worldwatch Institute article on health and environmental risks of traditional household cleaners

Non-Toxic Home Cleaning
Make your own cleaning products using environmentally safe items

Coming up next!

Green Clean your Living Areas and Laundry Room

Green Tip #1: Use Reusable Bags for your Shopping

Hello friends,

Over the past few years, I have been trying to educate myself on healthy eating and living habits that are beneficial to our immediate families and also have a positive impact on our environment. With this in mind, I would like to start a blog to share ideas on how to incorporate ‘green living’ into our current lifestyles.

Now, many of my close friends are busy moms and dads, work full time, and are overcommitted at home and/or at work. On the other hand, you are also responsible parents who want the best for their families, and would like to have a positive impact on their environment… as long as it’s not ‘too inconvenient’.

If you know me, I am also all of the above! So, today, I would like to take a small step in the right direction by starting this blog to share tips on green living – these could include topics as varied as healthy eating, green cleaning, recycling, composting, or any other eco-friendly activities.

I would love to get your feedback, and welcome any eco friendly tips that you may have used and would like to share …

To start with, I would like to share one tip every month with you. But before I do this, I must:

- Test the tip for at least a month, and share how I incorporated it into our current lifestyle
- Show impact of the tip on your family’s health or wellbeing, or on the environment
- Share resources on where you can find more information

With that said, here’s my Green Tip #1:

Green Tip #1: Use Reusable Bags for your Shopping

Did you know?

Somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Of those, millions end up in the litter stream outside of landfills.

Once in the environment, it takes months to hundreds of years for plastic bags to breakdown. As they decompose, tiny toxic bits seep into soils, lakes, rivers, and the oceans.

A sturdy, reusable bag need only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags.

In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by 109 tons and save $11,000 in disposal costs.

I have been using reusable sturdy canvas bags to carry groceries and other items for several months now. You can find reusable bags at your local grocery store, Target or online. I prefer the canvas bags since they are washable (they are also ‘greener’).

In the beginning it was a little hard to remember to carry the bags with me every time I went shopping, so I kept a few in my coat closet, and a couple in each car so I always had a bag handy. I started with using these bags for groceries, but now I use them anytime I head out the door!


Coming up next:
Spotlight on Green Cleaning