Today's Green Piece

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Misidentifying recyclables is costly. Unacceptable items, such as plastic grocery sacks and extension cords, can clog conveyor belts and cause equipment breakdowns. These work stoppages and machine repairs add to the costs that recyclers charge cities.
 

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Hard (alkaline) water containing dissolved salts interfere with some industrial processes and prevent soap from sudsing. Because of this, it's easy to use too much. The more soap used, the more water you need to rinse it away.
 

Monday, January 30, 2012

To make an environmentally friendly all-purpose cleaner, mix one quart of warm water, one teaspoon of liquid soap, 1-2 teaspoons of borax, and either a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar to cut grease. Store this solution in a spray bottle and use it for cleaning countertops, floors, walls, rugs, and more.
 

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to foster more environmentally friendly building practices. To help do this, the council has established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes program. The voluntary program gives builders a rating based on how well a home saves water and energy, the materials and resources used in the building, and the quality of life inside the building.
 

Saturday, January 28, 2012

If you buy strawberries out of season, they are most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. Organic strawberries are the best choice, but if you are unable to find organic, safer alternatives are blueberries, kiwi, and pineapples.
 

Friday, January 27, 2012

When it's time to pick up after your dog, choosing a biodegradable bag instead of regular plastic will avoid wrapping one of nature's quickest degrading substances in something that takes decades to break down. If you put your dog's waste in a plastic bag, it takes up to 100 years to decompose. Flushing it down the toilet is inconvenient, and can potentially case problems in sewer systems or cess pools because of the high amount of grit. Sturdy paper or a biodegradable bag is a much better choice.
 

Thursday, January 26, 2012

When purchasing greeting cards, consider buying those made from recycled materials. Just a one percent reduction in the amount of greeting cards purchased from new materials in the United States could easily save fifteen thousand trees each year.
 

Remember to check back daily for other green ideas.