Blog Posts

Use clothes longer and reduce purchases of new clothes

1/6/2023

Reducing purchases of new clothes is the single most effective way to reduce fashion's carbon footprint, leading to reductions more than four times greater than the next best solution, which is increasing use time of clothes.

A new report from the Hot or Cool Institute, titled "Unfit, Unfair, Unfashionable: Resizing Fashion for a Fair Consumption Space," analyzes the fashion situation in G20 countries. The report emphasizes practical solutions, starting with the single most effective one: reducing purchases of new clothes.

Read more here:

--https://www.rapidtransition.org/resources/report-unfit-unfair-unfashionable/

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Some electronics still draw power when off: plug them into power strips to turn them off completely when not in use

12/23/2022

A variety of electronics and small household appliances continue to use electricity even when they are turned off. Collectively, these “energy vampires” add to your electric bill. The Department of Energy suggests that “an appliance constantly taking in 1 watt of electrical current is equivalent to 9kWh per year, adding up to $1 in annual costs (basically $1/watt/annual). Considering how many appliances are used in an average household, costs can quickly add up to $100-200 a year.”*

Unplugging electronics when they are not in use reduces this drain. To make the off-switch more convenient, plug electronics into power strips that are easily turned off as needed. Place a power strip by your entertainment center to plug in TVs, DVD players, and game consoles. In the bathroom, use a power strip for electric razors, curling irons, and hair dryers. The drain from kitchen appliances can be reduced by plugging toasters and toaster ovens, coffee makers and grinders, microwave ovens, and kitchen TVs into a power strip and turning it off when not in use.

*Scott Minos. October 31, 2022. “How to Stop Energy Vampires from Attacking Your Home.” https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/how-stop-energy-vampires-attacking-your-home

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Recycle electronics to save resources and keep toxins out of the waste stream

12/16/2022

Recycling old electronics allows for reuse of their component parts for new devices. Reusing these materials reduces the metals and toxins that would otherwise end up in the waste stream and reduces the energy input for manufacturing new plastic and glass. Citing a 2006, U.S. Geological Survey publication, the EPA reports that:

Recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by more than 3,500 U.S. homes in a year.
For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.*

If your unwanted electronic device is still functional, consider donating it so it can be reused. Computers may be given new life with a hardware upgrade instead of complete replacement. Best Buy accepts many electronic devices for recycling and offers gift cards to trade-in qualifying devices. Retriever.com will pick up electronics from your doorstep for recycling. Keep an eye out for periodic recycling events in the area. E Force Recycling posts a list of their events on their web page. Check out the aFewSteps Recycling page and search our recycling list for how to handle specific items.

*”Electronics Donation and Recycling.” Last updated on August 23, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling

Save time and resources by wrapping gifts in reusable cloth bags

12/9/2022

Making your own reusable cloth gift bags is super easy. With a sewing machine and fabric scraps or ends bought on-sale at a fabric store gives you all the material you need to have a fun variety of patterns and sizes for your bags. Once the bags are made, wrapping takes mere seconds: simply drop the gift into the bag and tie with a ribbon. This eliminates all expense and waste from paper and tape. You can even make the bag part of the gift!

To make your own cloth bag, cut two pieces of fabric ½ larger all around than the desired final size. Hem the top edge of both pieces. Line up the two pieces of fabric with right sides facing each other. Sew around the three unhemmed edges and turn right-side out. To include a tie, cut another piece of fabric or a strip of ribbon about 2 feet long. Before sewing the sides of the bag, fold the tie in half and place the folded edge between the two halves of the bag along one edge and about 1 inch down from the hemmed edge. Sew the three sides of the bag as before.

Wrapping gifts in attractive, reusable pieces of cloth, known as furoshiki, is a centuries-old tradition in Japan. Furoshiki are versatile, because they can be used to wrap gifts of varying shapes and sizes. Bandanas, scarves or cloth napkins can serve as ready-made furoshiki, but you can also make your own wrapping cloths out of your favorite fabrics – even larger scraps. Learn more about this technique here.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Insulate your electric water heater tank to save on home energy costs

12/2/2022

Water heaters, particularly older, electric heaters, lose heat to the surrounding air. Installing an insulating jacket around the heater is an easy and inexpensive way to reduce heat loss, saving energy and money. You can confirm if insulation would be beneficial by checking to see if your heater is warm to the touch. According to Energy.gov, “water heater insulation could reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 7%–16% in water heating costs—and should pay for itself in about a year. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $20.”* PECO estimates that you can save up to $35 per year. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy offers step by step instructions for installation on their web page.

*”Do-It-Yourself Savings Project: Insulate Water Heater Tank.” Retrieved November 27, 2022. Energy.gov
Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Time children spend in blue spaces, not just green, effects their well-being

11/25/2022

Hours spent in and around “blue spaces”(coasts, rivers, lakes, etc.) —not just green spaces—have a profound effect on children’s well-being that continues into adulthood, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

These findings matter more than ever in the digital era. In addition, ongoing exposure to nature—and the inevitable attachment that will form—is crucial for raising future defenders of the natural world.

Read more here:

--https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494422001219?via%3Dihub

Photo by Susan O'Donnell, Talapus Lake, WA

Grind up avocado pits to take advantage of their nutrients

11/17/2022

Grind up your avocado pits in smoothies or tasty red mole sauce to take advantage of their calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other nutrients.

Avocado pits can be blended, baked, or put in a food processor. The resulting nutritious powder can be used in baked goods, protein shakes, grain dishes, red mole sauce, and more.

Read more here:

-- https://www.treehugger.com/ways-to-use-an-avocado-pit-4868814

New brands of toilet paper use recycled paper and bamboo

11/10/2022

The biggest toilet paper brands are destroying Canada’s boreal forest according to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, but many new brands that use recycled paper and bamboo have entered the marketplace.

It’s important to note that all of these sustainable brands make up only a fraction of the market and are nowhere near as widely available as the big brands. Still, consumers can make a difference by choosing more sustainable alternatives, both because it saves trees, but also because it sends a signal to large corporations that there is money to be made selling eco-friendly toilet paper.

Read more here:

--https://www.fastcompany.com/90677480/toilet-paper-really-is-terrible-for-the-planet-heres-what-you-can-do-about-it

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Make your garden more wildlife friendly this fall by simply not cutting back herbaceous perennials

11/3/2022

Herbaceous perennials provide an important winter wildlife habitat for a range of species. Another benefit to leaving them in place until the spring is the slow breakdown of nutrients they will give your soil.

Read more here.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

--https://www.treehugger.com/why-not-cut-back-herbaceous-perennials-fall-6752336?hid=5cca5cc09cf857f7c3ce2406e7447b3b9236437e&did=864153-20221028&utm_campaign=treehugger-daily_newsletter&utm_source=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_content=102822&cid=864153&mid=100587181910

Make a plan to vote on November 8th: elect officials with policies that protect the environment

10/28/2022

With major federal and state elections taking place on November 8th, now is the time to become educated about the candidates’ positions on environmental issues. Campaign websites provide policy positions, but the endorsements and websites of major environmental organizations can also be informative.

The following helpful information was released by the Pennsylvania Department of State for 2022:

Voting in person?
You can find your polling place here by putting in your address. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are a first-time voter or are voting at a new polling place, here are helpful tips to learn how to get ready. Don’t forget to arrange for transportation to your polling place in advance.

Voting by mail?
If you plan to vote by mail ballot (either no-excuse mail-in or absentee), you must request your ballot by Nov. 1. If you are concerned about receiving your mail ballot in time, you can apply in person at your county board of elections office, fill out the ballot while you are there, and submit it all in one visit.

If you are voting by mail ballot, remember these four steps for completing and returning your ballot:
1. Read all instructions and mark your ballot with a blue or black pen. There may be races on the back of your ballot, so be sure to check both sides.
2. Seal your ballot in the inner secrecy envelope marked “official election ballot.” Do not make any marks on the secrecy envelope. You must seal your ballot in this envelope for it to be counted.
3. Place the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope. Sign and date the voter’s declaration on the outer envelope.
4. Return your voted ballot to your county board of elections office – either by mail or by hand delivery. All mail ballots must be received by your county board of elections by 8 p.m. Nov. 8. Mail ballots received after that time, even if postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 8, will not count. You can also hand-deliver your ballot by the deadline to a drop box or satellite location if your county provides one. A list of drop boxes and satellite locations will be updated on the Department of State website as information from counties becomes available. You are the only person permitted to return your ballot unless you have a disability and have designated an agent in writing to return your ballot using this form.

To register or check your registration status, and to request a mail-in ballot, visit votespa.com.

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