Spring Clean Green Check List

Here are some things you can do to help Green your Spring.  This time of year is always a good time to refresh and renew the environmental pledge: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This should get you started in the right direction.

• Before installing the air conditioner or before turning on the central air make sure the air conditioner unit is clear of any debris and that the filters are replaced or cleaned.
  
• Inspect caulking around windows and doors. Then fix any caulking that has split or cracked.

•  Remember where the wall felt really cold in the winter. Now is the time to see if insulation can be added.

•  Inspect your roof to make sure there are no loose shingles and that the seams around the chimney and vents don't show any signs of rot.

•  Empty and clean your gutters. Also make any repairs to loose down spouts.

•  Go through your junk drawers and storage and get rid of old electronics. That old monitor is better off being recycled. How many old cell phones do you keep?
  

• Properly dispose of old paints and stains using your town's hazardous waste disposal services. If you do need to use a paint or stain to do some touch ups, purchase no or low VOC paints and stains.

• Reduce the load in your closets: send any clothes you no longer wear to Good Will. While you are at it look at how else you can reduce the contents of you house or apartment. Nothing like a good spring clean out to keep the load to a minimum.

Man, I better get started on this list myself...

Green Family Values

Are you the only one in the family sorting the recycling bin. Do you often see items in the garbage that are recyclable and you are not the one that threw it away?
Teaching your family the values of reduce, reuse and recycling is at the core of being a green family. For the most part kids are taught in school to recycle so to enforce this at home makes perfect sense.
When I catch items in the trash that could be recycled I have to remind everyone that those pieces do not belong in the garbage.
As a scouting family, there are also many opportunities to participate in community service events to teach our kids how to give back to people who are in need or just need a helping hand. This also give us an opportunity to teach other kids the values of being green. I try not to be "preachy", but when a moment arises where I can plug a recycle moment I will.
Performing regular conservation projects with the family and in scouting also reinforces the sustainability aspects of being green. Caring for nature and the land around us is just as important as reducing reusing and recycling.
Showing kids to be green at an early age enforces these values in the long run.

Being green at no cost

Our list of things you can do at home to be green and at no additional cost:

• Compost your organic waste.
• Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth and/or shaving your face.
• Unplug the vampire electric appliances after each use.
• Reduce what you buy...Do you really need that bag of potato chips or chocolate chips?
• Watch one day less TV.
• Reduce the thermostat by 2 degrees in winter.
• Are you recycling all that you can: Paper, plastic and glass?
• Take your bicycle instead of the car.
• Recycle your electronics.
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
• Donate furniture to a local shelter.

Wow... the little things we can do that can impact not only our environment, but also our community and personal well being. That is what makes it easy to be green on a budget.

 

Happy Valentine's Day

Keep it Green...