Although Earth Day has come and gone, its spirit of environmental awareness should remain with us all the time, not just once a year.
But where do you start? From compost to compact fluorescents, weatherizing to water-saving, it can be overwhelming to tackle everything at once. In light of that, here's a month's worth of no-cost and low-cost things you can do to green up your life.
These tips will be posted each day in May on The Daily Star's website,
www.thedailystar.com, so you can follow along. In addition, you'll be able to post feedback and share your experiences implementing these tips. By taking it one day at a time, you'll be surprised how much you can achieve in just one month.
May 1: Start a compost bin today, and you'll be reaping the benefits by the end of the month. A compost bin can be as simple as a piece of wire mesh that's shaped into a cylinder. Chuck in the veggie scraps and grass clippings, and let them do their thing. This method can take longer to produce a final product, but it also requires little to no maintenance. Compost tumblers or similar containers can produce nutrient-rich compost in just a few weeks if fed a balanced enough diet, but require a little more work on your part. For tips on what you can and can't compost, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/ and click "Recycling and Composting," or visit http://www.compostguide.com/ for information about different types of compost bins.
May 2: Plug it up. By covering unused outlets, and insulating behind each outlet plate, you can reduce a major source of drafts in the home.
May 3: Reclaim your rainwater. Diverting rainwater keeps it away from your house's foundation and benefits your yard and garden. Extensions added to your existing gutter system can direct water toward flowerbeds or your lawn. Commercial rain barrels are available that can hook into your gutter system. Add a hose, and you've got guilt-free water for the yard. For more information, visit www.portlandonline.com/osd and search for "rainwater harvesting."
May 4: Conduct a "trash audit." Place a notepad by your main garbage can and keep track of everything you throw away for the week. This will help you remember to compost, and will help with your next shopping trip (see May 10).
May 5: Get light-smart. New York Energy $mart says that the average household can cut its lighting expenses in half with these tips: 1. replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents for the fixtures that get the most use. 2. Open shades and blinds to take advantage of natural daylight. 3. Turn off lights when not in use. Take these steps today and resolve to keep it up.
May 6: Take your house's temperature. The New York State Public Service Commission states that you can save at least 20 percent on heating costs by lowering the thermostat just 10 degrees for two eight-hour periods each day _ like when you're at work, or asleep. A programmable thermostat takes the guesswork out of the process. If you replace a mercury-based thermostat, don't throw it out. Set it aside, and we'll deal with it tomorrow.
May 7: Hang on to hazardous materials. Paint, batteries, electronics, appliances and more can be disposed of safely at your county's annual hazardous waste collection day. By keeping these items out of landfills, you can make a major impact on the health of the planet.
May 8: Experiment with meatless meals. In 2006, a University of Chicago study found that the No. 1 thing Americans can do to save the planet is stop eating meat. Declare one day each week meat-free, or try out meatless alternatives to some of your regular meals. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
May 9: Unplug. Pledge to go without your cell phone, PDA, computer or television for a day, a weekend or one evening each week. Break out the Scrabble board and playing cards for games night, or finish that discarded craft project. You'll save energy, and maybe even have some fun.
May 10: Remember that trash audit? It's time to put that knowledge into practice. Take a look at what you've been throwing out, and take that information to the grocery store. Look for products with minimal, recyclable or reusable packaging. Check out the bulk section. Avoid pre-portioned packages of snacks. You can portion these treats into reusable containers yourself, cutting out waste and saving money.
May 11: Use reusable shopping bags for groceries, clothes, gifts, office products and more, keeping plastic bags out of the waste stream. If you forget to bring your own bag, see if your grocery store recycles plastic bags _ many do.
May 12: Let's talk toilets. According to the New York State Public Service Commission, toilets waste more water than anything else in the home. There are several easy things you can do to change this. The most simple is to limit flushes. By flushing solid waste only, or not flushing the toilet at night, you can halve your toilet's water use. Or place a weighted container in your toilet tank. With less room in the tank, it takes less water to refill it after each flush.
May 13: Turn off or unplug appliances that aren't in use. Be aware that many appliances can be "off" and still draw power. Some have tell-tale signs, such as a display or a light, but others, such as televisions, do not. When in doubt, unplug it. If it seems like small stuff, consider this: according to the World Wildlife Federation, simply turning off computer monitors when not in use keeps about 950 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year.
May 14: Chill out _ your laundry, that is. Washing your laundry in cold water saves energy. If you think your clothes will suffer, do one load each in hot and cold water, and ask a friend or family member to guess which is which. In all likelihood, they won't see a difference.
May 15: Speaking of laundry, try to dry wisely. Drying similar items together helps the drier run more efficiently, saving energy. Use a clothesline or drying rack for at least one load of laundry each week. Sunlight can bleach clothes, so be mindful of what you place in the sun, but you can't beat that fresh-air fragrance.
May 16: Fill 'em up. Full refrigerators and freezers run more efficiently than sparsely populated ones. Fill up extra space with bottles of water if needed. Maximize each dishwasher and washing-machine cycle by only running these appliances when they're at capacity.
May 17: Spring cleaning? Bring some green into your clean by using rags instead of paper towels and sponges. Replace your disposable-pad mop with a model that uses washable microfiber pads _ just as convenient, much less wasteful.
May 18: Look for "green" cleaning products with no petroleum and phthalates, or skip the label-reading and make your own. With castile soap, vinegar and a few other products, you can clean just about anything safely, easily and cheaply. Visit healthychild.org and search for "safer cleaners" to learn more.
May 19: Go small. Use a microwave to steam vegetables or a toaster oven to heat up frozen food. These smaller appliances use significantly less energy than your stove.
May 20: Don't run water when you don't need it. If you usually leave the faucet on while brushing teeth, shaving, lathering hair or hands, or washing dishes, you can save gallons by breaking this habit.
May 21: Allergies have you reaching for a tissue? Try a handkerchief instead. Replacing facial tissue and paper napkins with cloth can cut down on another large source of trash.
May 22: For those few remaining paper products that can't be replaced with cloth _ such as toilet tissue _ buy recycled. The small extra cost can make a big environmental difference.
May 23: Water wisely. Use ground-soaking hoses instead of sprinklers, and water early or late in the day so your efforts don't evaporate in the sun. When picking out new plants, the New York State Public Service Commission recommends specimens that require little or no extra water.
May 24: Cut down on plastics. Susan O'Handley of the Wildlife Learning Co. recommends plastics marked with the numbers 1, 2 or 5, which are believed to leach out fewer chemicals, or choosing glass or other materials when possible. O'Handley also warns against microwaving plastic, which can speed the release of chemicals.
May 25: Use passive-solar principles. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension's "Save Energy, Save Money" curriculum, covering windows with plastic sheeting in cold weather lets sunlight in while keeping cold air out. Close windows and cover with dark curtains or blinds during hot days, and open windows at night to let in cool air.
May 26: Keep air moving. The New York Energy $mart program points out that blocking drier and furnace vents can make these appliances work much harder, shortening their lives and costing you more money.
May 27: Clean and/or replace the filter in your furnace at least once a year to keep it running efficiently.
May 28: Shop local. According to the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, the average American meal travels about 1,500 miles to reach the plate. Break this cycle by buying from farmstands, farmers' markets or stores that stock local produce.
May 29: Weatherizing: it's not just for winter. There's no bad time of year to seal up the spaces around windows and doors. Weather-stripping should be replaced regularly, as it can become compressed or lose adhesion over time.
May 30: Cut down on car time. Combine your errands into as few trips as possible. Explore public-transportation options, or start a carpool with neighbors or co-workers. Take short trips by bicycle or on foot.
May 31: Plant a tree. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees combat global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen. Properly placed trees can shade a house in summer and help keep it cool. If there's no room in your yard for a new tree, contact a school or garden club to donate one, or visit
arborday.org to make a donation.
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