HAPPENING NOW
Going Green Guide
Tips To Go Greenpresented by the 2010 Buffalo Home & Garden Show
Everybody can do something to help the environment. Here are some ideas to get you started courtesy of the John Tesh Show and Reader's Digest:
Do you really have to unplug your TV, CD player, and other electronic gadgets when you’re not using them?
Even when they’re not on, electricity courses through the plugs of your electronic gadgets. This “vampire electricity” sucks up $4 billion a year in energy for things that aren’t even on! In fact, your laptop alone, turned off but plugged into the wall, will cost you $9 a year! So unplug everything. Or plug everything into power strips with on/off switches. Flipping the switch on a power strip stops the waste and saves the average family over $600 a year.
When you recycle soda bottles, should you leave the bottle caps on or off?
Although some places will let you recycle the bottles with the tops, you should remove them. Why? Because the caps aren’t always made from the same plastic as the container and they can jam the processing equipment. Also, don’t waste a lot of water making sure your peanut butter jar is completely spotless before you recycle it. A small amount of food is usually ok.
Should I turn off my computer when I leave work for the day?
Yes. Americans alone would save 4.3 billion in energy costs each year – and avoid 32 million tons of CO2 emissions – by turning off office computers and lights. So here’s a general rule of thumb: If you won’t be using the computer for 20 minutes, turn off the monitor. If it won’t be needed for more than two HOURS, turn off the computer.
What exactly can you put into the recycling bins that say “White Paper Only?”
If you don’t just throw “white paper only” in the bins, it’s probably ok. Technology has progressed enough that most recycling facilities will let it slide. So go ahead and toss in newspapers, cardboard, magazines, and envelopes with the plastic windows.
Website recources:
www.dividetheride.com
This site will allow you to hook up with people in our area to carpool and help save you money at the gas pump.
www.buymytronics.com
If you have electronic equipment laying around and need some incentive to rid yourself of it in an eco-friendly way, visit this site. You can list your equipment and the site will come up with a dollar amount that they will pay you to get it off your hands. Its a win-win!
www.earth911.com
A comprehensive look at everything green. The site has special areas for kids as well and will help you sort fact from fiction.
www.epa.gov/kids
This is a must-see site for younger kids. There are tons of interactive games to play and all while learning about helping our environment.
www.thedailygreen.com
This site will give you a plethora of information about the environment and how to make small changes to your daily routine. They even have a secure "eco-sins" confession box for those of you who have really been bad to Mother Earth.
ezinearticles.com
Here's an awesome article for you and your children. It helps you answer questions they may have about being responsible for the health of the planet. It offers compelling information and does it in a way that will keep your kids interested.
www.greenseal.org
This is a non-profit site that will help you navigate the many new green products on the market today. They have independently researched many of the products and services for you....so it takes the guess work out.
www.erie.gov
If you have questions about recycling, local programs and what's happening in our own backyard, this site will be very helpful. Erie County provides residents with a great deal of information which will surely make your life easier.
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