Energy Report Cards

I spend a lot of time "eco-nagging" my daughters. Whether it's "please turn off the light," or "DO NOT stand there with the refrigerator door open," I am constantly pestering them use less energy...a concept that I'll admit can be somewhat abstract to children. A great way to teach kids about energy consumption is to turn the tables and let them teach you. Help your child give your house an "Energy Report Card". Here's how...

Energy Report Cards

For Toddlers and Preschoolers: At this age, the idea is to keep it simple. Download the free Home Energy Audit Kit from EarthCare and help your child identify the items in the pictures (of common household scenes) that use energy. Color the pictures and introduce the basic concepts. "When we turn the light on, we use energy." Show your child how you turn off the light whenever you leave a room so that you don't waste energy.

For Elementary School-Aged Kids: Using the same kit mentioned above, take the concepts one step further. Look through the house together to identify the items that use energy (lights, TV, computer, cell phone charger, etc.) Now, see if you can find ways together to use a little less energy. Adjust the thermostat by a few degrees, unplug appliances that you don't use regularly, replace burned out light bulbs with compact fluorescents. Check out HogBusters an online game where kids can learn more about the energy savers and wasters throughout the house.

Next, make sure your kids know just where all of that energy is coming from. The diagram posted below gives a good general overview of how this energy gets to your house. You can explore this site further to learn about the different kinds of energy and how they are produced.


For Tweens and Teens: Teenagers should already know what items use energy, but they may not be aware of how much that energy costs in resources and dollars. Surf with your teen over to Saving Electricity 101and scroll down the page to the Electricity Calculator. There you can look up the energy cost in dollars of most common household items (everything from coffee machines to X-boxes.) The idea is not to make kids feel guilty about using energy, just aware that the energy they use does cost money. Talk about the resources (fossil fuels or renewables) that are needed to create energy. You can also check out Home Energy Savers for a web-based home energy auditing tool that calculates your homes energy costs based on the averages in your local area.

Now that your kids know all about saving energy, turn them loose on their schools. A school "Energy Report Card" makes a great science project and can help schools save a bundle of money on energy costs. Oh, and don't be surprised to hear a little "eco-nagging" as well. "Don't put so much hot water in that bath, Mom!"

Recycling 101

Recycling is a great way to keep stuff out of the landfill and reduce the need for new materials. And if you are lucky enough to live in a community that heavily supports (or even mandates) recycling, the task may be as simple as remembering which stuff to put in the recycle bin. But for most folks (like me) recycling is more of a DIY adventure involving washing, sorting, and transporting recyclables to the nearest recycling center. Click here to read all about the benefits of recycling. Once you're convinced, check out these tips on what, how, and where to recycle:

What Should You Recycle?

The Top 10 Items To Recycle

1. Aluminum
2. PET Plastic (#1)
3. Newspaper
4. Corrugated Cardboard
5. Steel Cans
6. HDPE Plastics (#2)
7. Glass
8. Magazines
9. Mixed Paper
10. Computers

Source: National Recycling Coalition

How To Recycle

• Look Locally: Find out what items your local recycling center will take by plugging your zip code into the Earth 911 website.
  
• Play By The Rules: Take a minute to learn the recycling rules at your local center. They may require you to take a few extra steps like removing the caps from plastic bottles or excluding medicine bottles from your recycling. Play by the rules to make recycling work for everyone.
  
• Get Sorted: Set aside a spot in your kitchen or laundry room for recyclables. If you really want to get organized, try using stacked bins that keep everything sorted and tidy. The Recycling Center's 3-tiered stacked recycle bin is available here. No space? Place a small trash can under the sink to hold it all. Personally, I like the Apartment Recycling Bag. It's sturdy, lightweight and easy to schlep with children.
  

Where To Recycle

Whether it's paint, plastic, or used motor oil, if it's recyclable, the Earth 911 website will tell you the closest place to drop it off.

Ban The Junk!

I find it incredible that in this day and age when we are battling with issues like childhood obesity, ADHD, and environmental degradation, the majority of schools across the nation still support the use of vending machines loaded with sugary-sweet and nutrionally-voided foods. Sodas and vending machine fare are not only terrible for our children’s health; they also create waste and use ingredients that can be harmful to the environment. What good does it do to pack your child a healthy "no-waste" lunch everyday when she will toss it aside in favor of Twinkies® and Pepsi®?

Of course, as parents we need to talk to our children about good nutrtion. But we also need the schools to be on our side. So talk to your school officials and other parents about banning soda, candy, junk food, and fast food from school grounds. I know that these machines benefit our schools financially, but are you really willing to pay that price?

LEED Your Way To A Green Home

There are tons of exciting new green options for folks interested in building or remodeling their home. Even if you aren't going to DIY your project, take a look at the U.S. Green Building Council’s website. The USGBC has develed an eco-savvy rating system called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) that serves as the national standard for certifying green buildings. Homes that are LEED certified utilize eco-friendly products and building methods in their design and construction, to reduce their overall impact on the planet. Of course, it costs a bit more to go the LEED route, but the end product is an energy effiecient home that will save you a fortune in future energy, water, and sewer bills while boosting the home's resale value. Even if you aren't after LEED certification, you can use many of the same ideas to get the most green from your building project. And in some areas, environmentally friendly homes may qualify for special "green" financing, called Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs). Check with your lender to see if you’re eligible.

Weigh In: What's Your Stance On Walmart?

What is your stance on Wal-Mart? To me, Wal-Mart represents all that is good and bad with the world. As a parent, I am easily lulled by the convenience of doing all of my shopping in one place and the ability to purchase products at "affordable" prices. However, any joy I may feel from the time and money saved by shopping at Wal-Mart is more often than not squashed by the guilt of supporting a multi-national conglomerate that destroys local businesses, supports sweatshops, strong-arms small manufacturers and frequently abuses it's employees rights and privileges.

I am therefore torn by Wal-Mart's latest push to "go green." On the one hand, I am thrilled to find organic cotton clothing available to the masses. Organic produce and dairy products have never been easier to find. And Wal-Mart's plan to expand the market for CFL light bulbs has single-handedly caused a market explosion that could very well lead to a "CFL in every socket." Yet, it remains unclear whether or not these new offerings are really green or just "green-washed".

I mention all of this today in response to Wal-Mart's latest environmental move. They have recently partnered with a non-profit called the Carbon Disclosure Project in an effort to improve the energy efficiency of their stores and their supply chain. The retailer will participate in a pilot project to report all of the energy used in the manufacturing, distribution, procurement and supply of seven commonly-used household items, namely, DVDs, toothpaste, soap, milk, beer, vacuum cleaners and soda.

This seems like good news to me...a large company like Wal-Mart could potentially account for real reductions in energy use and overall greenhouse gas emissions. Yet I remain wary. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of www.freeimages.co.uk.

Good Job Suits!

There never seems to be a shortage of depressing and alarming environmental news to report. So it's nice to be able to focus on some good news for a change. Ever heard of the Montreal Protocol? Twenty years ago, a bunch of suits got together in Montreal and put together an international agreement that actually had some teeth. Their agreement, called the Montreal Protocol made real headway in banning the production and release of chemicals that damage the ozone layer. That in itself was great news for the environment. But that was 20 years ago...why mention it today? Well, yesterday, a new bunch of suits got together in Montreal and cut a deal to strengthen and accelerate the plan set up in the original agreement. Read the full story here.

Now, it's not often that the suits do the right thing, (especially when it may not add up to front page press time or a deep pocket of campaign dollars.) And just like with my children, I believe it's important to effusively praise and reward good behavior. So, I would like to say "Good Job, Suits! I'm putting up a batch of cookies for you!"

Photo courtesy of www.freeimages.co.uk.

The Great Diaper Debate

New parents are inundated with new decisions, often on topics that have never before crossed their minds; bottle or breast? paci or thumb? co-sleep or crib? Of these decisions, none is more vexing than diapers. It would seem from the great diaper debate that there is simply no eco-friendly way to diaper a child. Sure, cloth diapers are reusable and therefore lighten the landfill load. However, their need for frequent washing uses both water and energy.

Independent studies over the years have consistently come to the conclusion that there is no significant difference in the environmental impact between disposables and cloth. So what’s an eco-minded parent to do? Here are the options:

One alternative to consider is a new product called gDiapers, which combines a washable cloth pant with a biodegradable and flushable insert liner. Unlike disposable diapers, they don’t use any elemental plastics or landfill space, and they require less of the water and energy used to wash standard cloth diapers. These “hybrid” diapers are good in a pinch, but they still require paper and packaging (and midnight trips to the store for refills!)

Some parents have eschewed diapers all together and turned to a method called “elimination communication” where parents learn to “read” their baby’s cues and rush them to the potty when they appear ready to go. Inevitable messes aside, this method is unquestionably better for the environment because it doesn’t require water, energy, or landfill space. However, it is not for the faint of heart. If you can’t devote your full attention to watching your baby for “cues,” save yourself and your baby some frustration and use another method.

For those who prefer a traditional diaper, cotton diapers can take the environmental edge over disposables with some energy and water saving techniques, such as line-drying, skipping the pre-soak, and washing diapers in large loads using low temperatures. And today’s parents don’t have to go old-school with pins and plastic pants. Cotton diapers are easier to use than ever before; and, let’s face it, they are just way cuter than disposables. My pick of the bunch is Fuzzi Bunz cotton diapers...they are great looking, ridiculously soft, and a snap (literally!) to use.

Cotton diapers now come in such a wide array of styles and colors, that green parents may finally be able to put an end to the great diaper think about more important things (like sleep!).

Going Locavore

Just when you thought you had this whole eco-friendly thing figured out, (with your organic, locally grown produce and cage-free, non-genetically modified poultry,) the guy next door goes and ups the ante by growing and raising all of the food he needs to feed his family of four in his own backyard farm. Every morsel. From potatoes to chickens; from cantaloupe to rabbits. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that his "farm" is located in his 20 x 40 foot Brooklyn backyard?

Meet Manny Howard, locavore extraordinaire, or at least that is who he attempted to become. Manny is the first to admit that his experiment was far from purist; he had to cut a number of corners and shell out a load of cash ($11,000) in order to grow "barely enough to feed one grown man for a month." But while Manny's experiment may not have been an overwhelming success; it definitely made me reevaluate the potential farm in my own backyard.

Leave It At The Store!

Want to save money and the planet while reducing the clutter in your home? Try this old money saving trick the next time you are at the store...if you see an item you want, leave it at the store and promise yourself that if you really, really need it, you will pick it up the next time you shop. Do it for yourself and encourage your kids to do the same. When my eldest daughter sees a new toy at the store, she thinks her life will end if she doesn't have it. But she knows that nothing new is coming her way until the next birthday or holiday. In most cases, she will have forgotten about her "favorite" toy by the time we turn the corner!

Eco Treats For Eco Pets

Even the youngest children can help with this project...

Make a nutritious treat for the feathered friends in your neighborhood by coating a pinecone with peanut butter and then rolling it in oatmeal or sunflower seeds. Tie a 3 to 4 foot long string around the stem of the pinecone and hang it from a nearby branch. Place the feeder in easy view from one of your windows so your child can keep an eye on it.

Eco Paw Prints

Got pets? According to the Humane Society, there are currently 73 million dogs and 90 million cats in homes across the U.S. That's not to mention the birds, bunnies, ferrets, turtles, hamsters, and lizards that are also popular pets in families with children. Just like children, pets create a significant impact on the environment in the food, toys, and pet supplies used to keep them healthy and happy. Fortunately, you can reduce your pet’s ecological paw print with these quick tips:

1. Adopt: There are literally millions of animals out there in need of adoption. Save time, save money, and save the planet by adopting your next pet. (Check out Petfinder (www.petfinder.com) to search for a pet in your area.)
2. Snip Snip: Nobody wants to think about it, but having your pet spayed or neutered will prevent overpopulation and protect Fido's overall health.
3. Go Organic: Conventional pet food is made from disgusting selections of diseased and/or poor quality meat that is laden with chemicals. How long could you live on such a diet? Treat your pet to healthy natural or organic pet food.
4. Don't Buy Toys: Like children, pets are often amused with the simplest pleasures. Opt out of the consumer culture by lavishing your pet with toys that you already have around the house (I'm thinking a ball of yarn or pinecones from the back yard...NOT your bedroom slippers!)