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2009 IS DEDICATED TO GOING GREEN!!
GOING GREEN TIPS
JANUARY – Start Recycling
- Contact a local recycling center to see how to get started!
- Resource Restoration Incorporated (Commerce Twp – (248) 960-4924)
- Midwest Recycling Service (Birmingham – (248) 544-4448)
- Environmental Waste Solutions (Sterling Hts – (586) 242-7522)
- Visit www.recyclingcenters.org/Michigan/ for a location near you
FEBRUARY – Green Cleaning
- Mix your own All-Purpose Cleaner
- 2 cups white distilled vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 20-30 drops of essential oil (optional)
- Mix your own Creamy Soft Scrub – use on kitchen counter tops, stoves, bathrooms, etc.
- 2 cups baking soda
- ½ cup liquid castile soap
- 4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (acts as a preservative)
- 5 drops antibacterial essential oil (optional)
- Mix together and store in sealed glass jars, shelf life of 2 years
MARCH – Conserve Energy
- Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room
- Purchase “Green Currents” visit www.dteenergy.com for more information
- Insulate your home, water heater, and pipes
- Convert to a digital thermostat – this way you can accurately control your heating and cooling
APRIL – Buy a Reusable Water Bottle
Most disposable water bottles are made of PET plastic. According to the American Recycling Institute, only 14% of these bottles are
recycled. Most of the PET bottles end up in litter or trash where they
can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, filling our landfills and
injuring wildlife.
MAY 2009 GOING GREEN TIP – Recycle Printer and Toner Cartridges.
Many companies will provide instructions, packaging materials, and
free postage if you wish to recycle your old cartridge
Visit www.planetgreenrecycle.com to learn about recycling cartridges and cell phones and earn money for your charitable cause
JUNE – Conserve Water
Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early
morning is best)
Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level
or load size selection on the washing machine
Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the
faucet run until the water is cool
JULY – Observe the Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Reduce: buy permanent items instead of disposables, buy products
with less packing, buy and use only what you need
Reuse: repair items as much as possible, reuse empty jars and boxes,
donate extras to people you know or those in need
Recycle: paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, aluminum, and electronics
AUGUST – Reuse a Bag
- Plastic bags are the 5th most commonly found item on coastal shorelines
- Consider purchasing reusable cloth or nylon bags – some stores will give a discount if you buy and bring in their reusable totes
SEPTEMBER TIP- Eat Organic Produce
Here’s why:
- It relies on natural prevention instead of poison. No persistent pesticides, fungicides or herbicides are allowed on organic farms.
- It preserves the integrity of meat and dairy products by prohibiting the use of antibiotics and artificial growth hormones.
- It safeguards water quality by eliminating harmful runoff from artificial fertilizers and other toxic chemicals
OCTOBER – Close the Loop: Buy Recycled Products
One ton of 100% recycled paper saves: 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 4100 kwh of energy (enough to power the average home for 6 months), 60 pounds of air pollution, and 2.5 cubic yards of landfill space .
NOVEMBER – Replace a Light Bulb with a Compact Fluorescent Bulb
If every household in the US replaced just ONE light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified light bulb, we would conserve enough power to light over 3 million households for a year, save over $600 million of annual energy costs, and reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of over 800,000 automobiles!
Visit www.energystar.gov to find out more!
DECEMBER – Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
See the difference you’ve made this year by Going Green!
Visit www.carbonfund.org
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