GREEN UN-ROOM CHECKLIST by Crissy Trask


Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms earn the most attention in greening up our homes, but what about the miscel- laneous spaces? Attics, garages, closets and entry halls can get overlooked, although they also yield benefits from some green-minded attention. Here are tips for the most common “un-rooms” to get the ball rolling.


Garage 4 Empty the car of extra weight and


optimally inflate tires to improve gas mileage by up to 5 percent.


4 Replace poisonous windshield wiper fluid with a make-it-yourself solution that combines seven cups of distilled water, one-half-cup isopropyl alcohol and one-half-teaspoon eco- dishwashing liquid. Properly dispose of old wiper fluid in a boldly labeled container at a hazardous waste center.


4 Clean with a broom instead of a hose to save water.


Attic 4 Install a whole-house fan to pull


warm air out of the attic, keeping rooms below cooler.


4 Blanket the attic with a reflective heat barrier to reflect heat before it has a chance to enter.


4 If the tops of floor joists above the insulation are visible, EnergyStar.gov recommends adding more insulation


until they are no longer visible when viewed at eye level.


Entry Hall 4 Leave shoes, along with allergens and dirt, at the door for a healthier home.


4 Reduce unwanted mail by opt- ing out of catalogs, credit card and insurance offers and Direct Marketing Association-member mailings at CatalogChoice.org, OptOutPrescreen. com and DMAChoice.org, respectively.


4 Doormats made from recycled plastic soda bottles keep millions of them from entering landfills.


Closets 4 Get organized with bins and shelves


made from recycled plastic, reclaimed wood, salvaged and repurposed items, formaldehyde-free plant-based boards or Forest Stewardship Coun- cil-certified wood.


4 Shop for local, previously owned clothes and accessories from consign- ment boutiques, thrift stores or a local clothing swap.


4 Slip into some vegan or Earth- friendly shoes; there’s a lot more to choose from than hemp sandals.


Sources: U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency, Sierra Club, Mayo Clinic, chej.org, DrClaudiaMiller.com, DrWeil.com, ftc.gov, EnergyStar.gov


GO-TO RESOURCES


Urban composting solution BokashiComposting.com


Toxins in consumer products Toxipedia.org


Eco-water filters Brita.com/your-brita/recycle-your-filter BritishBerkefeld.com TerraFlo.com/recycle.htm


Textile certifications Tinyurl.com/7wd9vlr


natural awakenings April 2012 39


PVC fact sheet MyHouseIsYourHouse.org/pvcfacts. html


Radiation exposure facts epa.gov/radtown/index.html


Safe cosmetics and personal care products ewg.org/skindeep


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