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Show The •// 7,2006jdM. Statesman^ Make small changes, Keeping it clean and green needn't be intimidating BY ERIN WADE RESOURCES The Dallas Morning Nt-wt For more information on going green, visit these Web sites: t's a big world out there, and keeping it clean is a big task • National Resources Defense Council Guides for Greener Living: sometimes too big, with our www.nrdc.org/actlonvilps.aep busy lives. That's why that occasional soda boitlc ends up • U.S. Department of Energy's in the garbage can instead of consumer guide: www.eere. the recycling bin, and that box energy.gov/consumer/ of packaged food seems like such a • U.S. Department of Agriculture better deal thnn the locally grown, National Organic program: www. organic version. But. believe it or amt.usda.gov/nop not, litde things can make a big difference. said she was scared to come into (lie store because she drives an So if you're interested in going green, even just a little bit, don't be SUV," Macaulay says. "Bui we're intimidated. It's not about judging, just happy she came in." says Kate Macaulay, co-owner with Going green doesn't make your Michael Johnson of Green Living life more complicated; it's about in Lakcwood. Texas. "One woman simplifying. By making small changes you can save water and electricity, buy necessities less often, live healthier and help protect the environment. Macaulay and Johnson learned a lot about simplicity when they lived in Azerbaijan, and other places overseas, "We'd see people live more simply, and to them it's a way of life," says Mncaulay. Johnson had a pair of shoes with holes in the bottom nnd threw them in the trash, thinking they were useless. But a woman who cared for their home asked if she could have them. "It's about finding a use for everything," Mncaulny says. "We wanted to apply what we learned when we came home nnd try to influence others." through the store, which has solutions for every room of your home and talked about simple, low-cost eco-changes that can make a big impact. You can build your eco conscience gradually, and Icam to love how easy it is - a n d how good it feelsto go green We walked with them Ways you're already green • You get your coffee from Starbucks. The company may be super-corporate, but they offer Fair Trade coffees, which ensure that coffee fanners are paid a fair price, and invest in social programs in coffee-growing communities. If you prefer supporting uorichain coffee shops, ask them to offer Fair Trade selections. • You download music to an MP3 player. Have you slopped buying CDs? You're already cutting waste. • You buy or sell on eBay. You get rid of stuff you don't need without trashing it, and you reduce the amount of packaging used to mnke new products. • You don't rinse before putting dishes In the dishwasher. Consumer Reports tests show rinsing first doesn't improve cleaning. By skipping this step, you'll saw up to 20 gallons of water per load, or 6,500 gallons per L year. GREEN GLOSSARY Being "green" means being aware of your responsibility to the environment and to the community. Here are other common green terms and their meanings: • Organic: Organic food is produced by farmers who place an emphasis on renewable resources and soil and water conservation, and use minimal pesticides as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth honnones, 'Hie tenn "organic" must be certified by the US DA. Visit www.am8.ueda.gov/ nop for more information. • FalrThade: FairTrade helps family' fanners in developing countries gain direct access to international markets, allowing them to compete fairly and receive o fair price. This also deters cost-cutling practices that diminish quality. Look for the fair trade certification on products, and visit www.transfalrusa.org for information. • Shade grown: If you buy Fair Trade certified coffee, lea and chocolate, it is usually shade-grown. This means that the products you buy provide shelter for migratory birds and help reduce global wanning. • Sustainable: A method of harvesting or using u resource so that the resource is not depicted or pennanently damaged. • Biodegradable: The product has the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into raw materials of nature nnd disappear into the environment. TAKE IT BACK We can't all be green all the time, but there are ways to offset the damage we do. TerraPass (www.terrapass. com) helps reverse the global warming impact of your ear's C02 emissions. You pay a certain amount a year ($29,95 for a hybrid, $49.95 for a standard size vehicle, $79.95 for an SUV), which helps fund clean energy projects that reduce industrial carbon dioxide emissions. You even get a windshield sticker to show others your do-gooder side. WHAT'S YOUR IMPACT? Visit www.myfootprlnt.org nnd fill in your information, such as ZIP code. The site does the calculations to tell you how big an ecological footprint you're leaving on the Earth. In other words, how many acres of Innd are you using up? The results may surprise you. Steps you can take in your home LAUNDRY ROOM KITCHEN OLD WAY: Regular laundry detergent NEW WAY: Green laundry detergent WHY? Most regular detergents are petroleum-baaed and contain chemicals that are discharged Into our water system, which can harm aquatic lite. Green detergents such as Seventh Generation and Ecover are nontoxlc and made with plant-based, biodegradable Ingredient*, saving oil for other uses, COST: Green detergents also use fewer fillers, BO you don't need to use as much per load of laundry, Macaulay says. Select mass-merchandisers carry a selection of green cleaning products. OLD WAY: White coffee (liters NEW WAY: A reusable coffee filter WHY? Bleached coffee filters release dloxln, a poisonous toxin, Into your coffee because the paper Is bleached with chlorine, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for unbleached or recycled filters or switch to a permanent nylon, stainless steel or gold-plated metal filter to save paper. COST; Bleached white filters cost about 1 cent each, but a permanent coffee filter (most about $9.99) will last for a long time, LIVING ROOM OLD WAY: Incandescent light bulbs NEW WAY: Compact fluorescent light bulbs WHY? According to Energy Star, a government-backed program that helps people protad the environment through energy efficiency, compact fluorescent light bulbs use 68 percent less energy than a standard Incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. They also ore cooler to the touch. COST: Replacing a 100-watt Incandescent with a 23-watt compact fluorescent bulb can save you about $20 In energy costs over about three years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. .;?., "> OLD WAY: Running your faucet while you wash dishes NEW WAY: Installing an aerator WHY? Aerators mix air Into water, which cuts water flow and reduces splashing. However, it won't dspriva you of strong water pressure. COST: Aerators can coat as little aa $2, and they reduce water flow from the faucet to 1.5 gallons per minute, cutting water usage by about 50 percent. Aerators are available at homa supply stores end online. GARDEN qouim-:8v or INIFfiflATH INC. BATHROOM OLD WAY: Regular showerhead NEW WAY: Low-flow showerhead WHY? Showers account for 32 percent of home water use, according to the National Resources Defense Council. Low-flow showerheads (similar to faucet aerators) deliver no more than 2.5 gallons per minute compared to standard showerheads, which release about 4.5 gallons per minute, COST: A family of four using low-flow showerheads can save about 20,000 gallons of water a year, accordIng to the council. OLD WAY: Qas lawnmower NEW WAY: Push lawnmower WHY? Push lawnmowers areni new, but theyte healthier for you and the environment. \bu doni have to buy gas, you get more exercise, and you doni pollute the air or your lungs, COST: A push mower is available at Target, Home Depot and elsewhere for about $90, while gas lawnmowers cost about $200 to $400 (not including gas). COURTESY OF NASA OFFICE OLD WAY; Pay bills by mall NEW WAY: Pay bills electronically WHY? It saves paper. There's no rtMd to bo wary of doing your business online, say experts at Symantec manufacturer of Internet security and anti-virus software. The risk Is minimal If you keep your software updated. *>bu shouldn't be overty concerned," says Symantec's Bill Rosenkrantz, '• "Most banks a,re protecting themselves better, too." COST; ftuil save on stamps .. and on time spent hunched |