Green Tips

Here are 10 easy steps you can take to help make Colorado a greener state. It doesn't take much to make a difference, and even one change a month can have a cumulative effect!

Some of you have already made these small changes, and if you have, congratulations! To others, "going green" will be a series of baby steps - also great! Before you know it, you'll be thinking green every day!

Check back for 10 new tips each month or sign up for our newsletter!

November Tips

1. Clean the dryer lint screen. This simple act not only reduces a potential fire hazard, it can decrease energy consumption by 30 percent. Every month or so, you should also clean it with a brush and soap and water. Don’t toss that lint ball collection either – you can compost it, use it as mulch, or take it on your next camping trip as a lightweight fire starter.

2. Put on a sweater. Bundling up in a blanket or putting on a sweater will allow you to lower your thermostat by two degrees. Doing so can save you about six percent on your heating bill.

3. Use a humidifier. Since our climate is so dry, it’s great for the skin and also good for reducing energy usage. Using humidifier can increase the heat index in your home, making 68 degrees feel like 74 degrees, and making it less likely you’ll turn up the heat.

4. Turn off the coffee. Pour fresh brew into a thermos or insulated decanter the next time you make a pot. Not only will your coffee taste less “burned” an hour later, you’ll save energy, too.

5. Get with the program. Program your thermostat to turn off the heat when you leave in the morning and turn on about a half hour before you come home. According to the Department of Energy, you can save around 10 percent a year by lowering your thermostat between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. If you don’t have one, they are easy to install and often cost less than $100. Many thermostats contain mercury switches; be sure to recycle it properly.

6. Replace furnace filters. One of the easiest things to do – replace your furnace filter monthly or quarterly depending on the filter type. A dirty filter resists airflow and makes your furnace work harder, lowering its efficiency.

7. Reuse old or unused bill envelopes. This may sound way too frugal, but if you’re an online bill payer yet still receive bills with return envelopes from some companies – reuse them! A lot of trees are cut down to make those envelopes and many just end up in the landfill. Free envelopes – what a deal!

8. Remove leaves the old fashioned way – with a rake! Spare your neighbors the noise and the environment the pollution from a gas-powered leaf blower. Get some exercise and pick up a rake. Did you know hundreds of U.S. towns have banned leaf blowers? It’s a relatively small device with a big pollution punch.

9. Compost your leaves or use them as mulch. If you don’t have a compost pile, try the Rooney Ranch compost facility that accepts leaves and branches for a small fee http://www.a1organics.com/facilities.html. Or check with your local township – some may have leaf drop-off dates.

10. Don’t go soft. Fabric softeners, both dryer sheets and liquids, contain large amounts of chemicals that can be toxic to you and your family (like formaldehyde!). Toss a quarter cup of white vinegar in the washer during the rinse cycle for added softness, or put a few drops of essential oils on a washcloth and toss it in the dryer with your wash for a nice scent.

September Tips

1. Unplug those chargers.

As soon as your phone or device is charged – unplug it! When plugged in, a charger draws about five watts per hour, even if nothing is attached. Five watts per hour = 40 kilowatts hours per year, or about 100 pounds of CO2 into the environment.

2. Take (even a little) shorter shower.

Try to trim your shower time to five minutes. Make a plan, be efficient and be kind to your skin at the same time. Hot water is drying to your skin. You’ll notice a difference! Showers account for around 30 percent of the hot water used in most homes.

3. Pop little purchases in your purse or pocket.

When you make a little purchase from a local, trendy boutique, decline the bag. Most of those cute bags are made of paper and laminate, thus not easily recyclable and likely to end up in the landfill. If you absolutely can’t resist the bag, reuse it to package a gift.

4. Go cold.

Do all your laundry in cold water. About 90% of the energy consumed by washing machines is used for heating the water. Plus, washing in cold water means your clothes won’t shrink or fade so fast. If you have stains, soak spots for a few minutes in eco-friendly detergent (I like Seventh Generation brand), then toss them in the wash.

5. Turn it down.

Now that our nights are getting cooler, you might be tempted to turn on that heater. Take advantage of one of the few months of the year we can go without cooling or heating in Colorado. If you must have heat, set your thermostat one degree lower than usual. Even that tiny adjustment can make a difference over time – about 240 pounds of CO2 annually.

6. Add class to your meal – go cloth!

Don’t restaurants with linen tablecloths and napkins feel just a bit nicer to you? Do the same for your own family and kick the paper napkin habit. Class up your meals and buy some cloth napkins. You can find them at second hand stores for pennies apiece and reuse them for years. You’ll save thousands of trees per year!

7. Get picky about paper towels.

Next time your run out of paper towels, try not replacing the roll and see how long you can go without them. If every American household replaced one roll with a cloth towel, that would save more than half a million trees per year. Use sponges and throw them in the dishwasher every time you run it. If you absolutely cannot live without paper towels in your kitchen, replace standard paper towels with 100% recycled and chlorine free towels, available at most grocery stores.

8. Add green décor – breathe easier with plants.

Plants are not only pretty, they help clear toxins such as formaldehyde from your home. Easy plants include philodendrons, pothos, spider plants, and peace lilies.

9. Fill it up!

Keep your fridge stocked and turn it down to 38 – 40 degrees, which is plenty cool to keep food safe. If you don’t want to fill up your fridge with food, keep pitchers of water or wine chilled. A full fridge loses less cool air when opened.

10. Eat for the environment.

Be conscious of what you gulp down. Eating in a way that’s great for our environment – with local, seasonal, organic and minimally processed foods – is also great for our health. Your body will thank you and you’ll taste the difference. Good rule of thumb – if you can’t pronounce a lot of the ingredients in your bag of cheesy poofs, don’t eat them.

August Tips

1. Turn off the Lights.

This may seem too simple to be effective, but lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of your energy bill. Turn the lights off if you plan to leave the room for over 15 minutes or more.

2. Replace the lights you use the most.

A compact fluorescent bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a regular incandescent light bulb. The top five most commonly used bulbs are in the kitchen ceiling, living room lamps, bathroom vanity and outdoor porch.

According to the EPA, if every American home replaced its five most frequently used light bulbs, we would save $8 billion in one year in energy costs and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of 10 million cars.

Most important, do not throw used fluorescents in the trash! Be sure to dispose of the use fluorescents with a recycler that will reclaim their mercury.

For more info on CFLs see: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

3. Carry your own reusable bottle or coffee mug.

With the health concerns surrounding the BPA (polycarbonate A) in plastic, stores are carrying a wide array of BPA-free beverage containers you can fill at home, saving money and reducing waste. If you don't like the taste of your water at home, buy an inexpensive filter for your tap. If you buy coffee, bringing your own mug can earn you a discount in many shops.

4. Buy local.

As Coloradoans, we're fortunate to have many local, organic growers and producers. By buying local, we not only put the money back into the local economy, we reap environmental benefits as well. Buying local helps reduce global warming and air pollution by reducing product transportation costs.

Consider the attributes of "average" grocery store produce. According to the Worldwatch Institute, produce sold in America travels from 1,550 to 2,480 miles to arrive at stores, is often picked before it’s ripe, is doused with pesticides to protect it from spoiling during its journey, and requires heavy packaging to prevent damage. (Source: "Big Green Purse" by Diane MacEachern)

Check out our local business listings!

5. BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

Stash a few bags in your car or carry a lightweight bag in your purse. Most stores give you a discount for BYOB, too. Some stores, like Whole Foods, will replace reusable bags for free when they wear out. See local business listings for fashionable shopping bags. Make a statement with BYOB!

6. Pay bills online.

To those unfamiliar with it, online bill paying may seem like a scary concept, but it will save you time and money. On average, it takes only minutes to pay bills online through your bank, and you save the ever- increasing money for the stamp and envelope! Most banks offer free bill pay services. If yours doesn't, request it. If they still don't offer it, move to another bank. Banks are hurting for business, and several are offering $50 just for opening a new account.

7. Set your water heater to 120 degrees.

Believe me, you won't notice this change and it will save as much as 10 percent in water heating costs over a year. To go a step further, wrap your water heater in a thermal blanket to save even more money. These are available at any hardware store.

8. Hang it up!

Get a clothesline. You can save up to $200 a year in energy costs. It's also relaxing, gives you time outdoors, and you get that sunshine fresh smell for free! On a side note, most fabric dryer sheets contain formaldehyde - avoid them!

For more information and inspiration on hanging out your laundry, visit Project Laundry List at www.laundrylist.org.

9. Cancel catalogs you seldom or never read and shop online.

This is a good time of year to get started on reducing your mail before the holiday catalog glut. Take a moment to make a call or visit company's web sites to cancel.

10. Give your body a break and read the labels.

You may be shocked to find out that some of your favorite personal care products include some of the following ingredients. (Source: Tilvee Eco Ethical Skincare, www.Tilvee.com) Read the labels on your products for these toxic ingredients:

SYNTHETIC COLORS OR DYES:
Often Found in: Makeup, lipsticks, creams, hair products and more.
Linked to: cancer
Often Listed as: Usually starts as FD&C

SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES: Usually made up of hundreds of synthetic compounds and are among the top five allergens in the world
Often Found in: Everything from skincare products, cleaning products, laundry products, air freshners to name a few
Linked To: Allergies, Immunotoxicity, Nuerotoxicity, Headaches, Rashes, Vomiting, Dizziness and more.
Often Listed as: Fragrance, Perfume, Scent

PETROCHEMICALS: Petroleum-derived products have no skin-nourishing qualities and cause a range of issues.
Often Found in: Baby Products (Baby Oil) Vaseline, Lip Products, Moisturizers
Linked To: Irritation and degradation of healthy skin structure, Sun sensitivity.
Often Listed as: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Propylene glycol, Paraffin

PARABENS: Widely used as preservatives.
Often Found in: Shampoos, Creams, Lotions
Linked To: Cancer, Endocrine Disruption, Organ System Toxicity, Estrogenic Activity and Reproductive Toxicity.
Often Listed as: Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Benezylparaben.

SULFATES: Widely used as a lathering agent.
Often Found in: Shampoos, Soaps, Liquid Soaps, Body Washes
Linked To: Skin irritation, Eye irritation, Rashes and Hair Loss.
Often Listed as: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate often disguised as "coconut derived."

PHTHALATES: Used to make plastics more flexible and fragrances last longer. Companies usually do not list them on the label even if they are in the formula.
Often Found in: Children’s toys, Skincare products with the word "fragrance", Plastics, Baby Teethers, PVC or Vinyl items, Toothbrushes, Plastic Shower curtains
Linked To: Causing Birth defects, Considered to be a reproductive toxin according to European Union Law.
May be listed as: DPB, DEP, DEHP, BzBP, DMP - (often not listed)
Note: To see if your products contain Phthalates look at the link below that shows products tested for Phthalates.