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By Vicki O’Neal,
CID, ASID
"Going green” is a phrase we hear almost daily. It’s a broad and ever-expanding
topic that ultimately can be reduced for each of us to a basic
guideline: it all starts at home. The media is providing a bounty of
information about the condition of our planet and encouraging us to
rethink how we live and carry out our routine activities. Living green is not only about
caring for and protecting our planet. It’s also about empowering ourselves, making
healthy lifestyle choices, and dictating to the marketplace how we want to live instead
of the reverse.
Within the green movement, “sustainability” is a relatively new buzzword and an
important trend. To live sustainably, we must only use the Earth’s resources at a rate in
which they can be replenished. Here are some ways that we can all do our part.
1. REUSE, RENEW, RECYCLE, UP-CYCLE
The most basic green living choice we can
make is to recycle. Depending on where you
live, this couldn’t be any easier with curbside
“single-stream” collection, requiring no presorting.
In central Virginia, recycled items
are hand sorted, so including only approved
items lowers costs and keeps the process
flowing smoothly. Composting is also a great
way of recycling, and yields better soil than
can be purchased.
A new trend is emerging which could be
thought of as recycling on steroids. Up-cycling,
or repurposing, is creating a new product
or use for something that would normally
become part of a landfill, the new product being
intrinsically more valuable than the original.
For example, when plastic is recycled we
get more plastic, but when it is up-cycled we
get fabrics, synthetic decking materials, light
fixtures, etc. Choosing to renew or reuse an
item- for instance, restyling or reupholstering
a salvageable chair or sofa- saves it from death
by landfill. Sometimes the cost can approach
that of a new purchase, but reuse is definitely
the green alternative.
2. RETHINK PLASTICS
Packaging is an issue needing a
major green overhaul. The bottled
water industry has been an unbelievable
phenomenon. It is astonishing
to realize how many bottles of water
are being consumed and how much of
that plastic ends up in landfills. What
is more surprising is that much of
the water tested is either no better or
actually poorer quality than the water
from your tap. Bottles are easy to grab
on the run, but upon consideration of
the bigger picture it just makes sense
to buy a nice travel water thermos
and refill it instead. Plastic bags are
another environmental concern. Some
are recycled, but we as consumers can
insist on development of biodegradable
plastics or a return to paper bags
made from highly renewable sources
such as bamboo.
3. GROW A “GREEN” GARDEN
The use of chemicals and fertilizers in the
lawn and garden has a huge environmental
impact and may also affect the delicate
ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay. Always
check the forecast prior to application. A
heavy rain following treatment will quickly
wash your efforts and dollars away. Follow
manufacturers’ mixing and application instructions
and spray when there is no wind.
Check with multiple sources for advice and
recommendations. Always think “less is
more” when considering the use of chemicals.
Insecticides not only kill the particular
insect you are targeting, but also kill beneficial
insects and wildlife, disturbing the natural
balance. If spraying is required, doing
so at dusk when insects and wildlife are not
active will greatly reduce the residual damage.
Perhaps consider that some damage to
your plants is acceptable, and only treat in
extreme cases.
4.CREATE A SUSTAINABLE
LANDSCAPE
Creating a growing landscape
adds mature beauty and substance
to areas that have been deforested by
overdevelopment. The sustainable
garden is about proper selection, soil
preparation, planting and mulching
techniques to insure the trees and
shrubs you plant today will be alive
and well for generations to come.
Using drip irrigation or soaker hoses
around trees and shrubs reduces
water consumption and actually
protects plant health by watering
the roots instead of wetting foliage.
Xeriscaping is a planting technique
of clustering plants with similar watering
needs to reduce consumption.
Refocusing on native and drought
tolerant plants further reduces environmental
drain.
5. TEND YOUR OWN HARVEST
In our unpredictable world, many people are choosing to empower
themselves any way they can. One of those choices is to grow your
own food. Planting, tending, and harvesting your crop are great family
activities, and take the concept of “use local” to the extreme. No doubt
it is hard work, but getting in the dirt not only feeds the palate, but
somehow also feeds the soul. Sometimes there is so much harvest it can
be canned, blanched and frozen, or shared with family and friends. And
don’t worry too much if there is a bug or two. Your plants and veggies
probably won’t look perfect, but when you take that first bite, nothing
else matters. If you find you must use insecticides or other chemicals,
do so cautiously and note “days to harvest.”
6.
GO GREEN INSIDE 
Most of us spend in excess of 90% of our time indoors.
Consequently, air quality andsurface materials are of
primary importance. Materials such as paints, cabinets,
flooring, wall coverings, can release odors from volatile
organic compounds, or VOCs. There are green alternatives
containing low VOCs. To further enhance indoor
air quality, choose earth friendly detergents and cleaners,
or even make your own from ordinary household ingredients.
Home energy use can be curbed with the use of
on-demand water heaters, “Energy Star” rated appliances,
heating and cooling, lighting and home electronics.
7. BUILD “GREEN”
Green construction practices
protect the site and natural habitats
by controlling water and power usage,
limiting waste, insuring public
health and safety, and reducing the
impact of the structure on the environment.
A tall order! The “LEED”
system, created by the U.S. Green
Building Council, is the system by
which buildings are rated and scored
as to their “greenness.” Use of products
made from rapidly renewable
materials, efficient lighting and mechanical
systems, certified woods
harvested from managed forests, and
locally available resources are just a
few green building strategies. Although
construction is sometimes a
bit more expensive, these buildings,
either residential or commercial, offer
a payback over the long haul. Tax
credits are available for upgrading
various items and systems in your
home.
8. EXPLORE “GREEN”
MATERIALS AND FINISHES
For a product to meet sustainable
criteria and be the greenest
of green, it must pass the litmus
test on several different levels:
what is the manufacturing process,
how far it is shipped, what
is its life span, can it be recycled,
etc. Many products have favorable
attributes in one aspect or
another but ultimately don’t
pass the test under scrutiny. Because
green building is an emerging
industry, there is inconsistency
in product quality and in
the use of the label “green.” It’s
important to research and compare
products. Interior finishes
that pass the green test include
paperstone and recycled glass
countertops; reclaimed wood,
bamboo, and linoleum floors;
and formaldehyde free plywood
and substrates.
9. LET THERE BE “GREEN” LIGHT
The biggest wave in residential energy conservation
has been the substitution of fluorescent for incandescent
light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps,
or “CFLs,” use approximately 1/3 less energy and
have a longer lifespan. The newest higher temperature
bulbs offer greatly improved brightness and
light quality and are more affordable. There is one
major caveat: all fluorescent light bulbs contain
mercury and require proper disposal. Mercury
is an environmental contaminant and harmful to
wildlife and humans. Rather than disposing of
CFLs in your trash can, take them to a retailer offering
in-store recycling. If a fluorescent bulb is
broken there are specific instructions for clean up
and disposal.
Other energy saving devices include motion
sensors to control light fixtures when entering and
leaving a room. The use of dimmers also reduces
energy use even at a relatively high setting. Just beginning
to make an appearance in the marketplace,
high efficiency LED lighting could be an important
technology in the future. The use of low voltage
lighting (12 volt) produces great energy savings
without sacrificing lighting brightness or quality.
10. BECOME AN INFORMED CONSUMER
The web is always the ultimate resource, and the
information on greening our world is amazingly plentiful.
Beware of green “wannabes” with unsubstantiated
claims as all products are not created equal. Some
valuable resources include: www.energystar.gov; www.goodtobegreen.com; www.green2green.org; www.nationalgeographic.com; www.buildingreen.com; www.biomimicry.net; www.fsc.org; www.epa.gov; www.usgbc.org.
Living green encompasses almost every activity, from running
errands to cooking to taking a shower. Science is keenly
focused on developing new and smarter technologies and
materials to replace wasteful and environmentally unsound
practices. “Biomimicry,” for example, is a new science which
studies the best kept secrets of the natural world and imitates
and integrates nature’s efficient design into engineering and
product development.
As we grow in awareness we can all do our own part to
positively impact the planet. The future, indeed, looks green
and bright!
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