#85 - "E-Waste" . . .

Help make a difference by sending your unwanted CDs and other unwanted E-waste to this address to be properly recycled for FREE:

Polysource International Inc.
13505 Yorba Ave., Unit R
Chino, California 91710

#84 - Go Low Flow

Water is a great example or something that is so cheap--less than a penny a gallon--that we take it for granted. We run the tap when we brush our teeth (at two gallons wasted per minute), we ignore leaks (5 to 10 percent of American homes are losing ninety gallons of water a day through leaks), and the result is that we end up spending $500 a year per household on something that is supposedly practically "free".

Fix leaky pipes and fixtures, see www.hzouse.org

It won't be free forever. As the Environmental Protection Agency points out, water is a finite resource. Even though 70 percent of the planet is covered by it, less that 1 percent is available for human use. The U. S. government predicts water shortages in 36 states between now and 2013.

The good news is it's possible to use up to 35 percent less water by making some fairly simple changes in our homes. Along with conserving this literally life-sustaining resource, you can save about $160 a year in the process.

See ways to save water, www.wateruseitwisely.com/100ways.

#83 - What to do with Dead Florescent Bulbs . . .

How many environmentalists does it take to change an efficient light bulb?

While your local hazardous-waste authority is the best source for information, many hardware stores will take back your old bulbs--sometimes at no charge if you're buying replacements.

Check http://www.blogger.com/www.earth911.org or call (800) CLEANUP to find a recycling location near you, or visit the EPA's Web site at http://www.blogger.com/www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling for info. It's worth the effort.

Though fluorescents do contain mercury, a highly poisonous element that persists in the environment, burning coal to generate electricity puts almost fifty tons of the nasty stuff into the air each year. Since fluorescents are four times more efficient than regular bulbs--and last at least five times longer--replacing all household incandescents could cut mercury and CO2 emissions while saving the equivalent of at least 4 billion gallons of oil annually.

#82 - Decoding Plastics

Plastics with the resin identification code #1 or #2 are the most commonly recycled. Here's what all those numbers on the bottom of plastic bottles and containers mean:

#1 Polyethylene Terephthalate--Used for beverage bottles, food jars, and microwavable food trays.

#2 High Density Polyethylene--Used for beverage bottles, bottles for Nonfood items like shampoo, detergents, and household cleaners, grocery bags, and cereal box liners.

#3 Polyvinyl chloride--Used for blister packs, clamshells, rigid packaging, deli and meat wrap and other flexible packaging.

#4 Low density polyethylene--Used for bags for dry cleaning, newspapers, fresh produce, garbage, shrink wrap, coatings for milk cartons and beverage cups, container lids, and squeezable condiment bottles.

#5 Polypropylene--Used for yogurt and margarine containers, takeout meats and deli foods, medicine bottles and bottle caps.

#6 Polystyrene--Used for clamshell takeout containers and other food-service items, meat and poultry trays, yogurt containers, packing peanuts and CD cases.

#81 - Using Cruise Control

In general, cruise control does save gas, precisely because it maintains a constant speed until you tap the brake and slow down.

Cruise control's main virtue is that it prevents involuntary acceleration, especially on long trips on flat roads--like where you start at sixty and somehow wind up at ninety with the highway patrol in hot pursuit.

Now if you set the cruise contol at ninety, it won't do much good, because gas mileage falls off rapidly when you get above fifty-five or sixty.

#80 - Campfire or Coleman Stove?

The campfire is a part of American tradition, but you should not rely on campfires for cooking--especially in dry areas or regions that are heavily used. Deadwood plays an important role in an ecosystem's life cycle, providing nutrients to the land as well as habitats for small animals, insects, and microorganisms.

In some cases, land managers forbid fires, so check with the officials first. Take that Coleman or other stove along, and be sure you know how to use it properly.

If there's plenty of downed wood, an occasional campfire is OK, as long as it complies with the cardinal rule of outdoor activity: leave no trace. That means no carbon scars on the ground. See www.lnt.org or call 800-332-4100 to learn more.

#79 - Dry Cleaning is a Concern

Workers exposed to a widely used dry-cleaning solvent, perchloroethylene, or "perc," have higher risks of skin, liver, and kidney damage, and possibly some types of cancer. Although the EPA requires perc to be treated as hazardous waste, it's difficult to enforce because millions of pounds are used each year at 36,000 dry-cleaning establishments in the United States and Canada. If not handled properly, a small amount of the stuff-which is potentially toxic to plants and aquatic animals--can contaminate a lot of groundwater. Burning it in a hazardous-waste incinerator can generate dioxins and other nasty air pollutants.

Other alternatives are wet cleaning and cleaning with carbon dioxide. The EPA's web site has a list of greener cleaners at www.epa,gov/dfe/pubs/garment/gerg/cleanguide.htm. For shops offering CO2 cleaning only, try www.findco2.com

#78 - Green Laundry

One laundry problem persisting today is nonylphenol ethoxylates, synthetic surfactants (short for "surface active agents") that help water penetrate fabric more thoroughly and remove oil and dirt. Still used by some manufacturers, these chemicals can interfere with fish reproduction by acting as endocrine disruptors--substances that change or block normal hormone activity in the body, potentially causing illness or interfering with fetal development.

Look for detergents that use natural ingredients (like plant-based surfactants and soy-based softeners) are free of phosphates, nonylphenols, and artificial fragrances, which can exacerbate allergies; and are certified biodegradable by Scientific Certification Systems. While conventional brands often choose not to list their ingredients, crying "trade secret," eco friendly ones like those made by Seventh Generation and Ecover generally let it all hang out.

#77 - Solar Clothes Drying

Clothes dryers use the equivalent of 58 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year nationally, so there's no question about the virtues of solar clothes-drying.

Hang up a clothesline now; hardware stores carry plenty of clothesline gadgets. And in winter, dry your stuff inside, using a clothes rack.

#76 - Why Attic Fans?

6Solar Attic fans remove hot air from your attic. Attic fans save up to 30% on cooling costs by getting rid of trapped super hot air that tends to collect in attics and cause heat to back up into the home. Without the fan, the house gets hotter and hotter all day long and the A/C never stops.

Solar attic fans use less than 300 watts, and offer these important advantages:

1. Lowers upstairs room temperatures by 10 degrees.
2. Lengthens roof life by keeping shingles cooler.
3. Saves up to 30% on air-conditioning costs.