1. Stat: The electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.
Tip: Turn off and un-plug non-essential lights and appliances
2. Stat: The thermostat senses heat from nearby appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
Tip: Don’t place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat.
-Earth 911
3. Stat: Leaking ductwork accounts for 25 percent of cooling costs in an average home.
Tip: have your ducts tested and have any leaks or restrictions repaired by a qualified contractor.
-California Energy Commission
4. Stat: Refridgerators consume about 18% of all electricity in a typical California home.Tip: Call Southern California Edison at 800-234-9722 for a free pick up and $50.00 to have them recycle your old inefficient refridgerator or freezer in an environmentally friendly manner.
5. Stat: Replacing a single 75-watt incandescent lightbulb with a 20-watt florescent bulb will eliminate emissions of 700 pounds of carbon dioxide, 4 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and save 450 kWh over its lifetime.Tip: Replace your most frequently used incandescent lightbulbs with florescent bulbs. Replace all of them for maximum results.
6. Stat: U.S. gasoline consumption of 320,500,000 gallons per day (March 2005) works out to about 3700 gallons per second.
Tip: A way to reduce this number is to minimize short distance trips with your car, ride a bike or walk and when going on long distance trips carpool, this will also minimize rush hour traffic jams on freeways.
7. Stat: Most appliances use stand-by power, such as chargers, coffee machines, microwaves,TV, and computers. This uses up to 40 percent of the energy thery require when you're actually using them.
Tip: Simply unplug these appliances when they are not in use, and you will save money on your electric bill.
8. Stat: Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to run your TV for 3 hours.
Tip: Recycle to save energy.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Green Eating Stats and Tips
Stat: Researchers at Iowa State University have found that fruits and vegetables travel an average of 1,500 miles within the U.S. (a 22 percent increase since 1981). When imported foods are added to the mix, the average distance from farm to the dinner table increases significantly.
Tip: buying food from a local farmers market will decrease the amount of energy it takes for a simple food item to get into your fridge. Local farmer's markets can be found on this website: www.farmersmarket.com
Stat: Scientists estimate that we have removed as much as 90 percent of the large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish and cod from the world's oceans.
Tip: Eat seafood responsibly by knowing which are the "greenest" choices to purchase. Download a "Seafood Watch" list from the Monterey Bay Aquarium website: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx
Stat: This year Americans will spend over $110 billion more on fast food than they'll spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined.
Tip: spend the extra effort to make a home cooked meal with organic products that will save you money and your future health. This website will show you 50 ways to eat healthier: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/02/fifty_easy_ways_to_eat_green
Stat: Only 10% of the 35,000 pesticides introduced since 1945 have been tested for their effect on people.
Tip: Purchase and eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Stat: Meat is the most resource-intensive food on the table. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water, grain, land, and other inputs. A pound of beef requires around 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes.
Tip: If you’re a meat eater, try cutting out just one serving of meat each week. (As an added bonus, the United States Department of Agriculture advocates eating less meat, more fruits and vegetables, and less fat for control of chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.)
Stat: An average of 137 rainforest species are driven to extinction every day. The number one cause is loss of habitat due to tree clearing to provide land for coffee plantations, logging and cattle ranching.
Tip: Purchase only shade grown coffee at your local supermarket or online:http://www.birdsandbeans.ca/
Stat: Fruit and vegetable vitamins vary according to the seasons, as do our needs. Fruits and vegetables that grow in the summer have a high fluid content which help to cool you down. Winter root vegetables are high in starches that help slow the release of energies, which keep you warm.
Tip: By purchasing local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes directly to the farmer, and your family will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
Stat: Pesticide use degrades air and water quality, while threatening the health of workers, farmers, and communities.
Tip: Organic foods reduce the amount of pesticides in your diet and the planet's water and soil, and organic options are available for many types of foods — fresh and packaged.
Stat: According to a recent study at the University of Arizona, the average household wastes an estimated 14 percent of its food purchases—a loss of significant value for most families.
Tip: Purchase foods that you can consume before they expire to help minimize food waste and shrink your grocery bill. Also, consider composting your food waste to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for synthetic fertilizer.
Tip: buying food from a local farmers market will decrease the amount of energy it takes for a simple food item to get into your fridge. Local farmer's markets can be found on this website: www.farmersmarket.com
Stat: Scientists estimate that we have removed as much as 90 percent of the large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish and cod from the world's oceans.
Tip: Eat seafood responsibly by knowing which are the "greenest" choices to purchase. Download a "Seafood Watch" list from the Monterey Bay Aquarium website: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx
Stat: This year Americans will spend over $110 billion more on fast food than they'll spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined.
Tip: spend the extra effort to make a home cooked meal with organic products that will save you money and your future health. This website will show you 50 ways to eat healthier: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/02/fifty_easy_ways_to_eat_green
Stat: Only 10% of the 35,000 pesticides introduced since 1945 have been tested for their effect on people.
Tip: Purchase and eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Stat: Meat is the most resource-intensive food on the table. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water, grain, land, and other inputs. A pound of beef requires around 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes.
Tip: If you’re a meat eater, try cutting out just one serving of meat each week. (As an added bonus, the United States Department of Agriculture advocates eating less meat, more fruits and vegetables, and less fat for control of chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.)
Stat: An average of 137 rainforest species are driven to extinction every day. The number one cause is loss of habitat due to tree clearing to provide land for coffee plantations, logging and cattle ranching.
Tip: Purchase only shade grown coffee at your local supermarket or online:http://www.birdsandbeans.ca/
Stat: Fruit and vegetable vitamins vary according to the seasons, as do our needs. Fruits and vegetables that grow in the summer have a high fluid content which help to cool you down. Winter root vegetables are high in starches that help slow the release of energies, which keep you warm.
Tip: By purchasing local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes directly to the farmer, and your family will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
Stat: Pesticide use degrades air and water quality, while threatening the health of workers, farmers, and communities.
Tip: Organic foods reduce the amount of pesticides in your diet and the planet's water and soil, and organic options are available for many types of foods — fresh and packaged.
Stat: According to a recent study at the University of Arizona, the average household wastes an estimated 14 percent of its food purchases—a loss of significant value for most families.
Tip: Purchase foods that you can consume before they expire to help minimize food waste and shrink your grocery bill. Also, consider composting your food waste to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for synthetic fertilizer.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Reuse Stats and Tips
1.) Stat: Every year Californians generate 66 million tons of solid waste, of which approximately one third is packaging. (The California Integrated Waste Management Board)
Tip: Reuse packing materials (foam peanuts, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes) or find someone who can, such as your local packaging store.
2.) Stat: According to the EPA, between 1960 and 2007 the amount of waste each person
creates has almost doubled from 2.7 to 4.6 pounds per day.
Tip: Turn normal household waste into a fun family craft. Use old bottles, shampoo containers, etc. into vases, shoe boxes into memory boxes, or old paper scraps into note pads. Get more great ideas from www.recycling-revolution.com/reuse-trash-ideas.html
3.) Stat: Every man, woman, and child in the country spends an average of $1,000 a year on new clothes, and likely throws away 68 pounds of clothing each year. Tip: Purchase clothing at a second hand store, and make sure your unwanted clothing is reused, by donating it to The Closet or to your local Salvation Army or Goodwill.
4.) Stat: Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year and 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles every hour. Tip: Invest in a reuseable/refillable coffee travel mug or water bottle.
5.) Stat: 40% of all trash in landfills is paper.
Tip: We can alleviate this by purchasing a reusable coffee filter:http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/food-drink/coffee/tips/choose-reusable-or-recycled-coffee-filters
6.) Stat: Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, and portable power tools which end up in landfills.
Tip: Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery re-charger (some battery re-chargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries).
7.) Stat: There are at least 300 million scrap tires in stockpiles in the U.S. In addition, approximately 281 million scrap tires were generated in 2001.
Tip: Take your used tires to be shred for use around your home, such as cushion under play equipment.
8.) Stat: An estimated 8 billion pounds of plastic bags, wraps and sacks enter the waste stream every year in the US alone.
Tip: Use reusable shopping bags, lunch pails and reusable containers to avoid creating unnecessary waste.
Tip: Reuse packing materials (foam peanuts, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes) or find someone who can, such as your local packaging store.
2.) Stat: According to the EPA, between 1960 and 2007 the amount of waste each person
creates has almost doubled from 2.7 to 4.6 pounds per day.
Tip: Turn normal household waste into a fun family craft. Use old bottles, shampoo containers, etc. into vases, shoe boxes into memory boxes, or old paper scraps into note pads. Get more great ideas from www.recycling-revolution.com/reuse-trash-ideas.html
3.) Stat: Every man, woman, and child in the country spends an average of $1,000 a year on new clothes, and likely throws away 68 pounds of clothing each year. Tip: Purchase clothing at a second hand store, and make sure your unwanted clothing is reused, by donating it to The Closet or to your local Salvation Army or Goodwill.
4.) Stat: Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year and 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles every hour. Tip: Invest in a reuseable/refillable coffee travel mug or water bottle.
5.) Stat: 40% of all trash in landfills is paper.
Tip: We can alleviate this by purchasing a reusable coffee filter:http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/food-drink/coffee/tips/choose-reusable-or-recycled-coffee-filters
6.) Stat: Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, and portable power tools which end up in landfills.
Tip: Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery re-charger (some battery re-chargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries).
7.) Stat: There are at least 300 million scrap tires in stockpiles in the U.S. In addition, approximately 281 million scrap tires were generated in 2001.
Tip: Take your used tires to be shred for use around your home, such as cushion under play equipment.
8.) Stat: An estimated 8 billion pounds of plastic bags, wraps and sacks enter the waste stream every year in the US alone.
Tip: Use reusable shopping bags, lunch pails and reusable containers to avoid creating unnecessary waste.
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