Going Green Tips & Facts

95 days ago by Jenn Collins Join the Oasis Church Forum » 1 people have responded

Source: True Green: 100 Everyday Ways You Can Contribute to a Healthier Planet by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin.

*The US is the source of a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

*The average American family uses 102,000 gallons of water and creates 3.3 tons of landfill waste every year.

*Recycling an aluminum can uses only 5 percent of the energy requred to make a new one.

*Every ton of paper recycled saves 60 percent of the energy, 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 60 pounds of air pollution.

*Reduce your shower time from 10 min. to 5 and save more than 4,200 gallons of water each year while cutting your utility bills.

*An average automatic dishwasher can use more than 10.5 gallons of water per cycle; an efficient model uses half that.

*Run the dishwasher only when it is full, and save 10 to 20 gallons of water a day.

*Keep windows and curtains closed during the day to block out the heat, then open them at night to let the house cool.

*Lighting the average American home generates about two-thirds of a ton of greenhouse gases every year and consumes 20% of the average household’s electric bill.

*A 20-watt compact fluorescent light provides as much light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb and lasts about 8 times longer.

*Every one degree you avoid in external heating by keeping your thermostat down will cut about 5% from your heating bill.

*By installing a programmable thermostat, you will enjoy significant evergy savings, and the thermostat will likely pay for inself in one season.

*The energy output of the refrigerators used in just the US is equal to the output of 60 300-megawatt power plants.

*Maximize your fridge’s efficiency by making sure the seals work and positioning it in a cool spot.

*Cooking in the average US home uses enough energy to generate half a ton of greenhouse gases a year.

*Minimize energy by cooking efficiently: reuse hot water, put lids on pots, have dishes simmer rather than boil, and don’t preheat the oven.

*Use a microwave or toaster oven whenever possible.

*The average home contains more chemicals than an eary 20th-century chemistry laboratory.

*A piece of lumber from a local, sustainable plantation has less environmental impact than imported forest timber.

*Whenever possible, buy recycled, secondhand, reclaimed, or waste timber.

*Cut heat transfer through windows by a third by installing heavy, lined drapes with pelmets or valances.

*Rather than leaving your TV or stereo to consume power when it isn’t being used, switch it off at the power source.

*Buy power strips with individual switches to manage several appliances, and turn off the equipment that is not being used.

*Nationally, 32% of residential outdoor water use is due to lawn care.

*The watering of US landscapes, gardens, and lawns uses nearly 8 billion gallons of water each day.

*Running a sprinkler for an hour consumes more than 264 gallons of water, and a standard garden hose uses even more.

*Conserve water by replacing little-used grass areas, such as your front yard, with a native garden that reduces street noise and increases privacy.

*Putting mulch around plants and on lawns can cut the amount of water lost through evaporation by up to 70%.

*Every 3.5 ounces of rainfall running off the average home roof can provide enough water for several weeks of total household consumption.

*Having your own fruit and vegetable patch is not only a source of guaranteed fresh organic produce but also very eco-efficient.

*It’s even a great motivation to get outside and get some exercise.

*A kitchen garden can also be a source of fresh herbs for daily cooking.