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 PVC fact sheet
MyHouseIsYourHouse.org/pvcfacts.html Radiation exposure facts
epa.gov/radtown/index.html Safe cosmetics & personal care products
ewg.org/skindeep
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 miscellaneous 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 opting 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 Council-certified wood.
4 Shop for local, previously owned clothes and accessories from consignment 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 Protection Agency, Sierra Club, Mayo Clinic,
chej.org,
DrClaudiaMiller.com,
DrWeil.com,
ftc.gov,
EnergyStar.gov
natural awakenings April 2012 33
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