Earth Day 2014

Earth Day is just around the corner.   We've compiled a list of suggestions to help you decide the best way for you to participate.  

1.  Water Management

Did you know that a faucet leaking just one drop per second wastes over 1,300 gallons per year?! A leak from a hot water source wastes both water and fossil fuel, creating more greenhouse gasses. You can definitely make a positive impact by fixing any leaks in your home's plumbing AND save money on your monthly water bill. 

2.  Water Temperature

One way to reduce your home's energy consumption is to adjust your water heater's output. Your water heater works constantly to keep water hot and ready whenever you need it. However, as the water sits, it naturally cools down.  This is called "standard heat loss".  Once the water cools, the heating element in the tank switches on to warm it up again.  The higher the water temperature is set, the longer the heating element will run.  Are you beginning to see how this never-ending cycle is increasing your energy and wasting your money?

For every 10 degrees you turn it down, you’ll save 3% to 5% on your heating or electric bill. Most water heaters come preset at 140 degrees, which has the added risk of scalding. The Energy Department recommends most households lower it to 120 degrees. That’s high enough for your needs, and high enough to reduce mineral buildup in your tank and pipes.

Ask us your technician to adjust the water temperature for you on your next service.  

Visit energy.gov for more ways  you can conserve water usage in your home.

2.  Clean Green

Cleaning products that contain chlorine or petroleum distillates expose your family to toxins and then end up in the ecosystem. Choose nontoxic, naturally derived cleaning products, which are proven effective but won’t cause long term damage to the Earth.

You can find suggestions for environmentally friendly cleaners and directions on making your own non-toxic cleaners here:

3.  Paper Conservation

Every year, pulp mills release over one trillion gallons of chlorine-tainted water as part of the paper making process. Using the other side of the paper can cut that pollution almost in half! And choose recycled paper—especially processed-chlorine-free recycled paper.

At Elite, we use unwanted fax solicitations for scratch paper.  Cindy even takes it home for her grandchildren to color on when they visit.  We think Libbie might be writing a novel on the backs of them ;)

4.  Maintain Your Vehicle

Americans waste over 700 million gallons of gasoline each year just because tires aren’t properly inflated. Millions more are wasted because our vehicles aren’t properly tuned up. Keep your vehicle running in peak condition, and you’ll save money and reduce your carbon footprint!

5.  Bike Or Walk

If people in the U.S. would occasionally ride a bike for a short errand instead of driving a car, over 70 million gallons of fuel could be saved each year! And there’s the added benefit of enjoying the fresh air and exercise! For short errands, take a hike...or ride a bike!

6.  Plant A Tree

Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. It also provides shade that keeps homes and cities cooler!  Consider planting a tree for Earth Day pledge.  

7.  Green Gardening

Herbicides aren’t the only way to control weeds, and they’re certainly not the most environmentally friendly way!  If you're concerned about keeping your yard environmentally friendly, invest in a good pair of gloves and garden tools, and remove weeds by hand.  You can even use apple cider vinegar as a means to kill off pesky weeds instead of using toxic herbicides that can poison plants and wildlife. 

Also, choose natural alternatives to pesticides for getting rid of pests!

Click here for ideas on how to maintain your yard or garden without using toxic herbicides and here for ideas on non toxic alternatives for insecticides.

8.  Compact Flourescents

There’s a brighter way to light your home: new Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Compared to regular bulbs, CFLs last 10 times longer, use only 1/4 the energy and produce 90% less heat and more light per watt! Brighten the future: go CFL!

9.  Recycling

You can start making the world a ‘greener’ place today: use local recycling centers for recyclable waste, donate cell phones, clothing and computers to charities, buy re-manufactured ink and toner cartridges, use reusable grocery bags.  There are hundreds of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle!

10.  Buy Local

There are many benefits to buying locally made products.  For instance, buying locally produced goods can reduce fossil fuel consumption.  The average distance our food travels is 1500 miles, mostly by air and truck, increasing our dependence on petroleum. By buying locally, you conserve the energy that’s used for transport.

Buying locally grown food keeps money in our communities.  The American family farmer is a vanishing breed - fewer than 1,000,000 people (less than 1%) of Americans claim farming as a primary occupation. It’s no wonder: it’s hard to make a living when you get less than 10 cents of every retail food dollar. By buying locally, the middleman disappears and the farmer gets full retail price, in turn helping farmers continue to farm.

These are just a couple of the benefits of shopping locally.

Go to earthday.org for more ideas on how you can make a difference.  What are you going to do to help Mother Earth?