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The Green Corner by Michelle Sagatov

Some Things to Make your Home a Little Greener

Indoor plants: Some recent studies (including one from NASA) have shown that particular plants can help to improve your indoor air quality. Bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, Gerbera daisies, English ivy and Peace lilies are among the list of beneficial houseplants.

Window coverings: Try using natural materials and heat reflecting window treatments. Some eco-friendly sustainable window coverings include those manufactured from high quality rapidly renewable grasses, reeds, bamboo, hemp or other cellulose fibers. When you replace curtains or blinds, keep these green choices in mind.

Low-Flow fixtures: Replace your toilets with low-flow (1.6 gallon) and dual flush toilets, and put low-flow faucets throughout your home. Just replacing a shower head can save from 3 to 28 gallons of water for a 5 minute shower!

Hot water heaters: Go with solar water systems or tankless, on-demand water heaters. The solar heaters use the sun so your energy costs are non-existent, and the tankless heaters only heat water when you need it, removing the constant energy loss associated with a standard hot water heater. Plus, you never run out of hot water.

Mattress: Naturally flame retardant wool and cotton mattresses and futons used with organic linens allow for air circulation and a healthier sleep environment. Take a look at some of the offerings the next time you're in the market for a new mattress.

Lighting: Increase natural light (let the sunshine in!), and make the switch to compact fluorescent bulbs and energy star fixtures.

Furniture: Green furniture is getting easier to find everyday. Sustainably-grown solid wood furniture with non-toxic finishes, organic fabrics and natural cushioning materials are kinder to the environment and to the health of your family, too.

Flooring: Use natural fiber area rugs in combination with non-toxic flooring materials.

Appliances: As your appliances age, replace them with Energy Star rated models. You'll be helping to save the planet, cutting your energy bills, and sometimes even getting a tax credit.

Cleaning products: The aisles of your local grocery store are filled with alternative cleaning supplies: non-toxic, fragrance-free products; and you can always look into old-fashioned (but effective) homemade methods.

The Green Corner by Michelle Sagatov

Here are some tips to keep money in your pocket while you live a little Greener!

Free - Things that Cost Nothing & Save Cash

• Turn down water heater thermostats as appropriate.
• Turn off lights when leaving a room.
• Set thermostats to 68 degrees in winter when you're home, and down to 55 degrees when you go to bed or you're away. (Programmable thermostats do this automatically.)
• Use energy-saving settings on washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators.
• Avoid wasting water, hot or cold, inside and outside your home.
• Clean your refrigerator's condenser coils once a year.
• Air-dry your clothes, when practical.
• Close heating vents in unused rooms.
• Repair leaky faucets and toilets (5% of water "use" is leakage).
• Close drapes (and windows) during sunny summer days and after sunset in the winter.

Simple and Inexpensive--Things that will Pay for Themselves in Lower Energy Bills in Less than a Year

• Install a water-saving 2.5 gallon-per-minute shower head ($15).
• Install water-efficient faucet heads for your kitchen and bathroom sinks ($2 each).
• Install a programmable thermostat ($26).
• In the attic and basement, plug the air leaks a cat could crawl through, and replace and re-putty broken window panes (about $20).
• Clean or change the air filter on your warm-air heating system during the winter and on air conditioning units in the summer ($2).
• Install an R-7 or R-11 water heater wrap ($12).
• Insulate the first three feet of hot and inlet cold water pipes ($6).
• Install a compact fluorescent light bulb in the fixture you use the most ($15).

If you keep these tips in mind and make the changes one at a time, you'll be keeping the planet a little greener, and keeping a little green in your pocket!

Allergies?? Duct Cleaning may NOT be the solution!

Allergy season has hit! Can duct cleaning minimize the allergens circulating throughout your home? Certainly, the ads want you to believe there are health and energy saving benefits. But be cautious--this might not be the answer. A thorough annual furnace and air conditioning maintenance program may be a more appropriate approach.

Unless there are specific, identifiable problems, such as mold, the evidence does not support the duct cleaners' claims. An EPA study found that "duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems," nor do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts.

Actually, duct cleaning may do more harm -- and it is costly. The cleaning process involves using negative pressure by connecting a very large, powerful vacuum cleaner to the ductwork, sucking out loose dust and debris using a rotary brush, compressed air nozzles, or a special tool called a skipper ball. This process churns up dust and may break the duct system seals. Cost is a major consideration. A 3000 sq ft living space on 3 levels is in the range of $600-$750.

Consider other steps before hiring a duct-cleaning service. Change or upgrade your air filter and clean and maintain your heating and cooling system. Consumer Reports recommended the 3M Ultra-Allergen Reduction 1250. It has a MERV rating of 11 and costs about $16.

An annual HVAC maintenance contract may be best way to go. Duct cleaning services may not include cleaning the heating & cooling equipment (heat exchangers, cooling coils, condensate drain pans, fan motors, blades and housings). Cleaning the blower fans and evaporator coils helps the system work more efficiently and avoids dirt and mold build up. Whether you use a duct cleaning firm or an HVAC contractor, always ask if these services will be part of the regular maintenance. Checkbook magazine periodically rates AC contractors.

One caveat -- duct cleaning may be necessary if there is evidence of mold growth, infestation of insects or rodents, or substantial deposits of dust or debris, for instance if the registers were not sealed during a renovation project. If your allergies are off the chart, consult with your physician to identify the problem and suggest other remedies before considering duct cleaning. 

April = Spring = Farmer's Markets = JOY!

  I've started putting together some story ideas for our quarterly newsletter, and one thing we always include in the Spring issue is a guide to our local Farmer's Markets, that I mainly steal from the Washington Post after we fact-check their info. But this is a topic that is very dear to me.

In Falls Church (VA), we now have a year-round Farmer's Market. I've always been a huge fan of buying local produce, but the market offerings today are amazing! Sure, you can still get the freshest fruits and veges available in your area, but I believe that the impact of Boomers reinventing themselves has affected the diversity of products. At my local FM, we have bakers (of course), free-range meat and bison(!), artisan cheeses, fresh mozzarella, handmade truffles, a mushroom guy (who knew there were so many kinds of mushrooms?), crabcakes & gazpacho, empanadas, herbal soaps, honey, jams, fresh eggs, homemade pastas, flowers & plants, and even a Master Gardener Plant Clinic. All I need at the grocery store is dog food!

Chefs in the know have been touting the delights of locally grown products for since the 70's. Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA built her reputation (and her restaurant) on serving only the highest quality products only during their natural growing season. Want to make your mouth water? Take a look at her current menu. Locally, Ris Lacoste of Georgetown's 1789 restaurant has made local produce a must. And Roberto Donna, of Galileo & Bebe Trattoria fame, has a section on his website dedicated entirely to fresh local ingredients.

Between 1996 and 2006, the number of Farmer's Markets in the US almost doubled. And the interest in eating healthier crosses all lines -- racial, economic, regional. We are what we eat. While I was preparing to write this blog, I took a look at what Amazon.com is showing in "locally grown" cookbooks. Two that are going on my wish list are Ivy Manning's The Farm to Table Cookbook: The Art of Eating Locally and Myra Goodman's Food to Live By: The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook. Plus the foodie magazines are filled with recipes built around fresh local produce. Here's a link to Spring recipes from epicurious.com, home for both Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines.

Find your local Farmer's Markets and start taking advantage of this tremendous resource. Not only will you be taking better care of yourself, but you'll be supporting smaller Family farms, sustainable agriculture, and your local economy. Happy shopping -- and don't forget to take your own reusable bags. You can't be too green.

Turn off your lights for Earth Hour - March 29

On March 29, 2008, at 8PM (whatever your time zone) turn off your lights for an hour - Earth Hour. You'll be joining millions of people world-wide who are making a statement about climate change.

The World Wildlife Fund created Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia just last year. Globally, 200 cities will acknowledge their concern for the planet, with more than 100 cities across North America participating. Individuals, business, governments and civic organizations are involved.

So wherever you are on Saturday night at 8PM, turn off your lights, at home or at work, with family and friends or by yourself, and let this planet know you care.

The Green Corner by Michelle Sagatov

Here's a few things you can do to "shop green" even when you're buying shoes or jewelry!

Shoes contain an array of synthetic, petroleum-derived materials, ranging from polyurethane to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the manufacture of which releases carcinogenic dioxin into the atmosphere. Also problematic are the harmful glues and, in the case of leather, tanning agents to which factory workers are exposed. When you're buying new shoes, try to find those made with more eco-friendly materials, such as:

Hemp: Hemp requires few insecticides or herbicides, doesn't need a lot of water, and is a fast-growing, renewable resource.

Recycled Materials: Recycled rubber is a popular, durable material, used in the soles of shoes and in more casual footwear, like sandals and flip-flops. Also, more and more shoe manufacturers are using recycled plastic.

Water-based glues: Traditional shoe-making requires glues that contain volatile solvents such as toluene. Look for water-based glues when possible.

Vegan: For those concerned about using animal products and who wish to avoid leather, look for vegan shoes, which are made without leather or other animal products.

Jewelry - What to Look for

Environmentally sound options for brand-new jewelry may not be available at your corner jewelry store, but fortunately, there are a number of companies with high ethical standards that allow you to shop with the assurance that your new accessories come with an earth- and people-friendly bill of health.

Antique, vintage or pre-owned (estate) jewelry pieces - or family heirlooms - are the most ecological choice, simply because no new materials are mined to make them. Diamonds rarely depreciate in value, and you can add sparkle to old rings simply by boiling them.

Recycled materials reduce the need for destructive mining. According to the environmental nonprofit WorldWatch Institute, 80% of gold mined from the earth is used for jewelry. Also look for recycled silver, titanium and platinum, and other recycled materials, like glass & leather, used in more casual pieces.

Buy diamonds from Canada and Australia.

Buy gemstones from Kenya, Madagascar, Israel, India, Belgium and South Africa.

Pearls have a relatively low impact on the environment. Cultured (farmed) pearls have even been used to clean water and reduce heavy metal pollution.

Welcome to The Green Corner by Michelle Sagatov

For those of you who think being "Green" is hard to do in your everyday life, here are a couple of simple things, though small, that can make an impact on our Planet.

Simple Steps to Help the Planet

1. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. You'll remove 110-140 pounds of carbon per year for each bulb you switch. Find info on CFL bulbs to fit any socket at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls.
2. Buy a razor with refillable blades. Disposable plastic razors are neither recyclable nor biodegradable.
3. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. You'll save as much as 5 gallons of water per day.
4. Clean your dryer lint screen between loads. If everyone did this, we'd save 350 million gallons of gasoline a year.
5. Use silverware for lunch at work. As many as 25 million plastic utensils are provided with take-out food every day. Bring your silverware from home and tell the restaurant to hold the plastic.