Holidays Are for the Family

Vestina Crayton, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Holiday Family Decision Making

Having to make so many decisions this holiday season can be overwhelming. Since most decisions that you will make will impact your family, why not get them involved? From who will prepare the holiday dinner to who will clean up after dinner, everyone can help.

However, you must start with making some decisions. Schedule a family meeting and simply create your plan by answering the following four questions:

1. What do you want to accomplish?
2. How will you do it?
3. When will you do it?
4. Who will be involved?

You can use these simple questions to help make any family decision. Making decisions as a family can help reduce conflict and enhance the younger member’s ability to set goals and be a team player by contributing to the success of making sure the goals are accomplished.

Holidays Are For the Family

Vestina Crayton, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

The Best Gift for the Holidays

Every year many of us think long and hard about what would be the perfect gift to give a loved one. Many of us are very fortunate to have family and friends to celebrate the holiday season. But there are many who do not. As a family, consider giving the gift of kindness. Schedule a family meeting and brainstorm ways that you can share and care for someone in your community.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Make gift baskets for the elderly and/or shut-ins.
• Visit the hospitals.
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
• Make homemade cards together.
• Team up with other families and do all of the above.

Showing kindness is a priceless gift that keeps on giving. By working together and showing concern for others, you strengthen your own family's relationships.

Holidays Are For the Family

Vestina Crayton, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability


Minimizing Holiday Stress


Holidays are for family, friends, and fun. But the reality is, preparing for family, friends, and fun can be stressful. In addition to getting plenty of sleep, exercising, eating properly, involve all of your family members in the preparation process - from the youngest to the oldest. Whether by design or choice, many times, family event planning is left up to one or possibly two persons in the household. However, even the most skilled and organized can experience a plan that goes awry. When this happens, frustration follows.

Here are just a few suggestions to help you minimize the stress, so you can maximize the fun:

• Schedule a family meeting
• Write down all the things you want to do
• Prioritize
• Set your goals
• Develop a plan
• Assign tasks
• Evaluate the progress
• Most importantly, CELEBRATE your accomplishments!

Using this strategy ensures that everyone in the family knows the expectations and actively participants in making sure these expectations are met. In addition, the younger family members will learn valuable life skills such as setting goals, planning, time management, and working as a team.

The Green Holiday Table

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

The Green Guest

Many of us love to entertain during the holidays, and we may all be invited to a soiree or two during the dark months. You can have a green gathering, and be a green guest when making the holidays merry.

If you are throwing a party, get out that china and linen! Paper service may be easy-to-clean, but the next generations will be left to clean-up after our parties if we continue sending holiday plates, bowls and napkins to the landfill.

As with other food choices and purchases, remember fresh and local. Seasonal treats comingle with sweets and Florida-fresh hors d'oeuvre.

Always be prepared for leftovers. Get a supply of reusable plastic containers, and make sure guests leave with a portion of any extra food. In the spirit of giving and reducing holiday waste, these little snack-gifts will help your guests remember a grand time at your party.

Get your guests involved in recycling. Make sure they know where the bins are, for the occasional beverage can, aluminum chocolate-drop wrapper, or bit of holiday paper generated at a party.

If you are the guest, bring gifts in re-usable containers (gift bags or, if you are bringing food, a reusable plastic container or your own dish that you plan on retrieving later.)

The Green Holiday Table

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Choosing the Main Course


What to eat, what to eat? Are you planning a big holiday feast this year? Many families have a set, traditional meal, enjoyed every year. This may include familiar stand-by dishes, or may have a unique-to-the-family twist. Whatever your spread, the centerpiece of any feast can be a sustainable main.

If meat makes your meal, consider purchasing from a local butcher. You can order in advance, precisely what you want and when you want it. Although freezing food is certainly not a bad thing, there is something to be said for fresh meats and vegetables. Ask your butcher to forgo the plastic foam containers when wrapping your slab, opting for good old butcher’s paper in stead. From fowl to pig to cow, your butcher will know just where and when your choice came from.

This may be the year to have a seafood feast. Local seafood markets can help you make the best choice for your family. Freshly-caught seasonal fish from our own waters again support a local economy and do not travel hundreds of miles to get to your plate.

Whatever you choose, keep fresh and local in mind and enjoy your repast!

The Green Holiday Table

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Fresh, Local Produce

As we’ve stated before, patronizing local markets is great for the local economy, ensures freshness, and is often more affordable than big supermarket chains.

Why not have a ‘Fresh From Florida’ feast this year? Visit Florida-Agriculture.com and learn about seasonal availability of Florida crops and other agricultural products. From seafood to sprouts to wine, you can support Florida agriculture, our local economy, and enjoy doing it!

Check the newspapers for a listing of local farmers’ markets. There are now markets in north, central and south Pinellas County—look for one near you! There are a myriad of small produce stands dotted throughout the county as well. Check the phone book under Produce-Retail for a list of green grocers near you.

Give the Gift of Green

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Great Green Gifts

Need some inspiration for your holiday gift-giving this year? Here are some suggestions that can help you be as green as the Grinch (after his mood improved, of course...)

Why not help a friend or loved-one overcome some of the barriers we have all heard:
“I don’t have a (or enough) re-usable shopping bag(s)”
“Compact fluorescent bulbs are too expensive”
“I wish I had a rain barrel…”

Give the gift of green this year, by supplying yours with green items that will help them conserve resources in 2009:

Re-usable shopping bags
Compact fluorescent bulbs
A rain barrel
Battery re-charger (my dad LOVED his last year!)
A gift-basket of green cosmetics
A picnic basket filled with re-usable plates, cloth napkins, to-go cutlery, etc.

You may also consider supporting green industry:

A selection of Fair-Trade coffees and chocolates
A gift-certificate for green-certified products

Or perhaps you might be inspired to give a 100% waste-free gift:

Different charitable organizations will make a contribution in the name of your recipient. You can sponsor a goat, cow, flock of chickens, beehive, medicine, training or any number of products and services to help developing nations. As we struggle with our own economy, spare a thought for those countries that depend on charity to survive—and how charity may be dropping off during the “first world’s” crisis. Visit Oxfam Unwrapped to learn more.

Give the Gift of Green

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Wrap it Up

Many of us love to see a lovely display of gifts in brightly-colored paper ready for exchange during the holidays. There are green options to this tradition as well, and when you hear the facts, you may consider making some green choices this year.

In the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons. (Use Less Stuff) A good alternative is the gift bag. This quick and easy way to conceal goodies is a reusable item itself, and can be considered part of the gift.

Wherever wrapping paper is necessary, look for at least 30% post-consumer content paper. Pinellas County Utilities arranges for free, recycled-content paper every year, available in several outlets (including Pinellas County Extension.)

Do not hesitate to save those bows and ribbons for next year! If every US family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet!

Save gift tags as well. Family gift-giving generally involves the same “TOs” and “FROMs” each year. Consider a holiday craft project of making permanent labels to be attached to gifts each year.

Give the Gift of Green

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Making Choices
Gift-giving has become a huge part of the holiday season. Jokes are made about receiving an obnoxious pair of socks, ridiculous sweater, or some other wildly-inappropriate item. This holiday-humor has a sinister undertone, however. If a gift is merely a token, and not carefully considered, that gift might very well end up in the waste stream. Just think of all the musical Santa ties stacked up in our local landfills!

When choosing a gift for a friend or loved-one, remember things like personal attire are just that: personal. A gift-card from a local business can be used at your friend’s leisure to get just what he or she wants. These almost waste-free gifts can solve lots of shopping conundrums.

Families may consider setting spending limits, or drawing names for gift exchange. This is certainly not a new idea, but according to a national survey, 70% of Americans would welcome less emphasis on gift giving and spending. (Center for a New American Dream) Especially during these troubled economic times, giving less means spending less, and less chance for the waste stream to burst its banks!

Ready, Set, SHOP! Buying Green for the Holidays

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Green Shopping Tips

Before you head out to do the shopping this Holiday Season, don't forget the Big Three of Sustainability: Environment, Economy and Society.

We've endeavored to show that in every aspect of our lives, no matter how mundane, we can make choices that benefit the Big Three. Shopping, especially as it reaches a yearly peak this month, is a great place to stretch your green wings.

Environment

• Streamline shopping trips so you stay off the road as much as possible.


• When making any purchase, consider the packaging--if it comes down to a choice between two products, choose the one with the most easily-recycled/reused packaging.


• Buy whatever you can in bulk, especially items you and your family will be using a lot of this season.


• Don't forget to bring your reusable bags with you when you shop!

Economy

• Patronize local business for your shopping needs this year. Support for the "Little Guy" bolsters our local economy.


• Make a list and stick to it! Purchase only what you NEED.


• Shop on-line to avoid getting on the road and wasting gas.

Society

• Budget for a donation to a local charity.


• Take some time to visit/bring a gift to a shut-in.


• Before you bring a lot more "stuff" into your home, have a sort-through of what you've got and take any and all excess to a thrift shop (while you are there, you MIGHT just find that perfect something for that someone!!)
  

Ready, Set, SHOP! Buying Green for the Holidays.

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Stop Holiday Waste in its Tracks

From Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25%. Added food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons - it all adds up to an additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills (EPA.)

When making choices this year, consider what you are buying. Look at the amount of packaging, and thin where that extra packaging will end up. Try to purchase a minimum of packaging in all purchases. Enquire if stores will accept the return of packaging materials (especially the foam packing materials.)

Bring those reusable bags with you! If you need a reminder, work them into your holiday decorations: place a colorful and festive reminder next to the door you leave from reminding you to collect the reusable bags before you leave!

Do not take a holiday from recycling this year! Check with your local recycling agency to make sure you know the holiday schedule. Plan a special trip to a drop-off location on one of days early in the new year to get rid of a lot of recycling at once.

Ready, Set, SHOP! Buying Green for the Holidays

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Welcome to the "12 Days of Green" this hooliday season. Our first is a three-part installment that will hopefully help you in making decisions when composing your holiday shopping lists.

Green Products
Holiday green. Holiday greenery. Greenbacks. Have you got “green-fatigue” already? Well, try to relax and we will help you not get overwhelmed by all the choices to be made in looking for and purchasing green products. Remember Vestina Crayton’s article on “Greenwashing,” and the tips offered in previous posts.

What purchases increase during the holidays? What green options are available?

We’ll cover gifts in later posts, but just think of what purchases increase during the winter holidays: Extra food, decorations, cards, and the fuel used to zoom around making these extra purchases all add up. Green choices will help reduce the strain on the wallet, and in turn may benefit the environment.

Food: What is “green food?” Not just veggies! When making choices about holiday meals, treats, snacks, etc., consider the source of the ingredients. You may want to purchase organics in an effort to satisfy “green guilt,” but as Jan Wade-Miller points out in Timely Topics: “On average, fresh produce in the United States travels anywhere from 1,300 to 2,000 miles from the farmer to the consumer -- a process that creates enormous amounts of greenhouse gasses. These food miles partially cancel the benefits of organic farming.” Buying locally grown produce has an immediate environmental benefit.

Decorations: Again, consider gussying-up your home this holiday with recycled items. Many thrift stores keep re-usable decorations ready for sale during this time of year. No sense in importing MORE plastic from overseas if there are suitable baubles already here! Consider supporting local green-grocers who often offer greenery, plants and flowers sourced much more locally than the big retailers. Supporting local business is great for our economy.

Cards: The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year n the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, we'd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. (Use Less Stuff) Consider sending an electronic card. The following are some examples of what is available on the internet:
American Greetings
Hallmark
Yahoo Greeting Cards

Finally, as with the rest of the year, plan your trips wisely. Jetting out the door for one cup of sugar wastes your valuable time as well as precious petroleum! Relax and plan your shopping trips to avoid unnecessary travel.

Preventing Food Waste at Holiday Time or Anytime

Here are some great tips for avoiding waste (and waist!) this holiday season, provided by Nan Jensen, Pinellas County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent

Shopping:

Don't shop from memory. Using a list helps you buy just what you need and prevents you from buying too much of some items and forgetting others.

Don't shop hungry. It only increases the chances of making impulse purchases that you won't be able to finish.

While buying in bulk can save you money, it can cost you more if you purchase items in large quantities with a short use-by date. Buy those items in large quantities that you will be sure to use.

Buy perishable foods such as fruits, vegetables and meats in smaller quantities that still meet the needs of your family.

At Home:

Like restaurants, follow the FIFO (First in, First Out) rule. Check your fridge on a regular basis and bring foods that will need to be disposed of soon to the front to encourage family members to eat it, or use as ingredients in the next meal you prepare. Do the same in your food pantry.

Make sure your refrigerator is set to the right temperature (40 degrees or below).

Store those holiday foods properly. Improper storage generates massive amounts of food waste. Make sure you have the right tools for the job such as airtight containers. Those containers that once held the margarine, cottage cheese or sour cream simply won't go the distance.

Learn how to freeze your food for better storage. Most foods freeze well and can be wrapped in portions to prolong storage and make it easier to pop them in the microwave for a quick lunch. Vegetables freeze best if they are blanched first. Meat and fish can be frozen raw or cooked but should be wrapped tightly.

Plan your holiday meals well in advance. This way you can ensure you have the ingredients you need on hand and can reduce extra spending and waste.

The best way to eliminate food waste is to not create it in the first place. There are particular meals you prepare that seem to generate more waste than others. If the leftovers will be eaten the next day, that’s fine. If not, then you really need to look at portion control by reducing the amount you cook, making enough of course to satisfy those growling tummies.

Learn how to use leftovers in recipes. The rice left over from dinner one night can made into fried rice for another meal. Brown bananas can be sliced, sprinkled with honey, and frozen for a snack or can be baked into banana bread or muffins. Stale bread can be used for French toast, bread pudding or croutons for salad.

Practice “waist control”. In a society where obesity is hitting epidemic proportions - overeating is waste. If you eat more than your body needs, you'll gain weight so get realistic about your portion sizes. For more information about portion control check out the following site: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/learn-it/distortion.htm

Get Ready for Green Holidays!

Beginning December 4th, Pinellas County Extension will be posting a new article to its online green newsletter, Thinking Green, every weekday on topics related to green holidays. Tips and facts on food, family, gifts and decorating will be covered. Join us for the “12 Days of Green” this holiday season! Visit http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/ to sign-up for this free, online newsletter.

Season’s Greenings – Holidays for a Healthy Planet
Join us for a fun, interactive presentation on having a green holiday! This is the time of year when families gather to celebrate. Exchanging gifts, decorating homes, and sharing meals are common activities. Join us to learn how to keep the green in your holiday celebrations. Participants will take home handy tip sheets for sustainable gifts, decorating and meal ideas. There is no fee for this program. Pre-registration is required. Recommended for adults, suitable for children ages 12 and up.

Saturday November 29th from 1:00-2:30 at Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center. To register, call: 453-6800

Saturday December 6th from 1:00-2:30 at the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center. To register call: 453-6500

Saturday December 13th from 10:00-11:30 at Pinellas County Extension. To register, visit http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/ and visit our new Online Class Registration from the main page.

Get to Work at Going Green

by Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

Here are some simple things you can do to be GREEN at work:

• Print double-sided whenever possible.
  
• Narrow your margins to reduce paper.
  
• Reuse the back of a one-sided document for drafts before you recycle the paper.


• Use reusable mugs and dishes for your drinks and food during the day to reduce waste.


• Ask for and order recycled content office paper, supplies and products. Buying recycled content helps turn recyclables into new products.
  
• Turn off your lights when not in your office.
  
• Turn off your computer screen when you are away from your desk for long periods of time.
  
• Turn off your computer when not in use.
  
• Open window blinds to let in natural sunlight and turn off overhead lights whenever possible.
  
• Turn off vehicles when stopped. Idling vehicles waste energy and cause increased pollution.
  
• Use recycling containers at your desk and in common areas for unsoiled paper, cans and bottles to reduce waste going to the landfill.
  
  Remember to take the At Work Pledge at: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/index.shtml

Clean and Green

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Educator, Urban Sustainability

OK, cleaning the home is not really everyone’s favorite job, which is why it is called houseWORK and not housePLAY. But consider the potential human and environmental impacts added to the insult of having to undertake this regular chore. Many common household cleaners contain substances that can lead to a potentially harmful indoor environment.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/) Americans spend an average of 90 percent of our lives indoors. Couple that with the evidence that indoor environments can be more polluted that the air in industrial cities, perhaps it is time to consider protecting our indoor environment!

From the laundry room to the toilet bowl, we can purchase products to keep our whites their whitest and that kill 99.9% of germs. This puts us in contact with some materials that have to be safely handled due to potential risks. To name a few: Sodium hydroxide is found in some oven cleaners, and some drain cleaners contain a powerful caustic which can cause burns to the skin and eyes. Chlorine might be found in laundry and dishwasher products and is another cleaner that should be handled carefully. Furniture polishes, air fresheners, carpet shampoo, and cosmetics can impact our indoor air quality in the comfort of our homes.

UF researchers have compiled a list of green alternatives to some of the above products. The publication can be found at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE791. It covers not only alternative cleaners, but practices that can help prevent the need for some more toxic substances in the home.

Of course there are many green cleaning products on the market as well, with more added everyday. These less-toxic or non-toxic products have traditionally been more expensive than their non-green counterpartsbut the increased demand has begun to lower prices on green alternatives.

To ensure the product you wish to purchase really is green, be sure to read “Greenwashing: Be Aware" in the Thinking Green E-newsletter


Resources:
Hazardous Household Chemical Disposal: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/hazardous.htm
Hazardous Household Substances: Alternatives That Are Relatively Free of Toxic Effects: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE791

Check Your Green Commitment NEW Pledge On-LINE

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

How many times have you forgotten those reusable bags before you went to the grocery store? Making a new green practice part of our daily routine takes more than just understanding the positive impacts of that practice. Research shows us that knowledge alone does not change behavior. Don’t we all have firsthand knowledge of that fact when we struggle to put into practice those healthy lifestyle practices that tons of research shows improves our quality of life. That is what the Check Your Green Commitment is all about. It is a piece of the puzzle to making a commitment stick for a new green practice. When we put into writing our commitment to make a behavior change, we are much more likely to follow through on that behavior change. It just works!

Pinellas County Extension is launching our next generation of commitments. We have kept is simple, with just three commitments each in four categories: At Home, At Work, On the Road and For Kids. You can select one or more new practice, select your choice to implement that practice and let that commitment begin to work its magic. If you have already implemented all the commitments we offer now, there will be a whole new set in about six months. Thank you to all those who responded to our follow-up evaluation on the last commitments. 100% of the participants who responded reported that the commitment has improved both the implementation of a new practice and the frequency of practices that they committed to. That is a pretty good record for those who used this as a tool for change. Click the above image to go directly to the new pledge.

The commitments will be located right on the front page of the Sustainable Living web page at Pinellas County Extension. They are easy to find and easy to take. Also on this page , you will find some interesting green facts, a new green interactive game and an evaluation to take after you have implemented your new practice (preferably at about three months after you take the pledge). So don’t let the common barriers to changing to green practices – forgetfulness and inconvenience – side track your efforts. Break down those barriers one at a time and more forward to a more sustainable lifestyle. Let us know what you think are some of the most troublesome barriers to change. We have over 1,000 people who have already taken the pledge – try it and see how it works for you.

Resource:
Making Your Community Green: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW263

Please Help Us Help You!

Here at Pinellas County Extension we strive to deliver the most current research based information available.

This year we began using blogs like this one and several others to make that information even more accessible. To help make sure that you as the reader are getting the most from our blogs we would like you to take a short survey. Please select the link below to access the online survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and your responses will be completely anonymous.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=U1FUx_2f3U_2favOG54FvmED7g_3d_3d

Thank you for your time and continued support.

Market in the Park Opens November 1

Location: Pinellas County Extension and Florida Botanical Gardens
12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo
When: Each Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

Fall is a wonderful time of the year in Florida and even more so with the opening of farmer’s markets and green markets that give us an opportunity to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. Market in the Park opens November 1, 2008 – April 18, 2009 each Saturday 9 am – 1 pm. This popular market attracted over 1,000 visitors each week to Pinellas County Extension and the Florida Botanical Gardens in its first year. It is conveniently located right off Ulmerton Road, parking is free and access is easy. The Market has fresh produce, local honey, coffee specialties, fresh baked breads, cheeses, natural dog treats, plants and much more. More vendors are signed up this year, so visit the market to see all the new items.

Buying local products is both green (environmentally friendly) and sustainable (good for the economy, society and environment). Locally grown vegetables – which travel less distance – are fresher and you are supporting local growers and businesses that put that money back into the local economy. Reducing the distance that food travels saves on the carbon emissions and air pollution. By supporting local farms near suburban areas and around cities, you help keep farmers on the land, and, at the same time, preserve open spaces and counteract urban sprawl. In the US, the average grocery store’s produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm and your refrigerator. About 40% of our fruit is produced overseas. Even though broccoli is likely grown within 20 miles of the average American’s home, it travels an average of 1,800 miles to your table.

Extension has many programs planned to complement the Market such as healthy cooking, rain barrels, composting, going green, children’s activities and horticulture programs. Please go to the Pinellas County Extension calendar at http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/ to see the full list of programs each Saturday. Remember to bring your reusable shopping bag. Free reusable bags will be given out to the first 100 people who take the Check Your Green Commitment Pledge to stop using plastic bags on November 1 at the Market. Visit the market and support local businesses that are a part of a sustainable community.

Resources:
Market in the Park: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/market/index.html
Buy Local: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/sustain_local_grown_food.shtml

New GREEN Programs offered at Pinellas County Extension

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Director

Pinellas County Extension has some new programs to get your life going in the “green” direction. Have you been wondering what all the talk is about with “green”? Everywhere we turn, businesses, governments and residents are talking about making more green (environmentally friendly) or sustainable (good for the economy, environment and society) decisions. Extension programs offer an easy and inexpensive way to learn all the newest information on going green.

Here is a sample of upcoming programs: (click here to register)

Green Office - Everyone is going "green". Learn some simple and practical ways to create a "green office." Go green and save resources, money and reduce impacts on our environment. Learn the basic principles of green purchasing to make better decisions about what you buy.

Green Living – Learn about easy ways to green up your life through energy conservation, green purchasing and sustainable living. See what everyone is talking about to reduce impacts on our environment, save money and reduce your Ecological Footprint. It would take four Earths to sustain the world at the level we are currently using resources and generating waste in the U.S. Be a part of the solution for future generations.

Green Purchasing – Learn the basics of how to find and select greener products for the home and office. Have you ever wondered if the “green” product you bought is really green? Find out how to evaluate products based on standard criteria and the importance of buying recycled and energy efficient products.

Green Home - Learn easy ways to green-up your home through energy conservation, green purchasing and sustainable living. Have you ever though about protecting your home’s indoor environment? We will explore ways to save money and the environment with simple steps to get you started.

Check the Calendar on the Pinellas County Extension website http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/ for a full listing of programs.

Sign up today to learn fun and easy ways to go green. Programs are also offered on-line through Webinar. It is a quick and convenient way to take one of our classes at your own computer. No special equipment necessary. You may listen on-line or by phone (long distance charges apply). Questions may be submitted on-line to the instructor.

Advantages of Webinar:
FAST - No wasted time here. Get right to the heart of the matter in a1-hour block designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.

CONVENIENT - No travel. No time out of the office.Listen from the comfort and convenience of your desk.

EASY - A telephone is all the equipment you need. Just dial in, punch in your access code, and you're in. That's it. Follow along with the audio conference handouts provided in advance.

ACTIONABLE - Our audio conferences provide practical information you can start using right when you hang up the phone.

IDEAL FOR MULTIPLE LISTENERS - Use a speakerphone and as many people asyou want can listen in - at no extra cost to you.

Choosing a Green Floor

Vestina F. Crayton, Pinellas County Extension Educator, Urban Sustainability

Replacing or updating your floors is a big investment. There are many functional and attractive flooring materials available. Before you purchase, consider selecting a material that is environmentally friendly. Some options that are available include cork, bamboo (pictured, right), tile, concrete, linoleum, brick, terrazzo, stone, and wood.

Vendors are one of the easiest ways to help you identify what is green and what makes it green. With so many choices, how do you begin to make a selection? A good place to start is to ask “how will this material perform for the activities conducted in the room?” For example: the material that you use in your kitchen may not be what you would use in your bedroom. Consider these three factors:

1. Cost – In addition to the price, what are the environmental and social impacts?
2. Maintenance and Durability – How long will this product last?
3. Health – How will this product affect my indoor air quality?

Rob Banks, executive vice-president of a world-leading building materials manufacturer reflects on the flooring trends for 2008. "In terms of growth in sales this year, we have seen some of our biggest increases so far from cork flooring. Cork flooring has a number of unique benefits that customers are starting to pick up on. It's softer under foot than wood flooring and does a great job at retaining warmth. It's also a renewable product that is harvested sustainably.” Even with the increasing desire to explore and utilize environmentally friendly products, wood continues to be a top choice for consumers. With this mind, here are a few quick tips to help you evaluate a wood product.

• Look for vendors that offer products made of salvaged wood.
• Look for the FSC label (http://www.fsc.org/)
• Reconsider purchasing exotic woods.
• Buy floors that are factory sealed. This minimizes the use of chemicals.
• Use low VOC sealants for unfinished floors.
  (http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/Sustainable%20Living%20Glossary%20-%20Engage%20output/engage.html)
• Make sure the engineered wood has low levels of urea formaldehyde. This information can be found on the OSHA Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10099#1910.1200(g)

Whatever material you decide to purchase, do the research and ask the right questions.

References:
Pinellas County Extension – Solutions for Your Life http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/green_purchasing.shtml
Occupational Safety and Health Administration http://www.osha.gov/
Forest Stewardship Council http://www.fsc.org/
Roberts,J, (2006). Good Green Kitchens, Utah: Gibbs Smith

Make My Coffee Green

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability Agent

One of our favorite beverages – coffee - can provide another opportunity to support sustainability or go green. “Fair trade” is an organized and market-based approach to empowering small farmers and promoting sustainability.

Coffee was the first commodity in the United States for which there is an independent monitor that guarantees that producers are paid a fair wage for their product, work in decent conditions and follow sustainable farming methods. More and more people care about the conditions of the people who produce the products they buy and that the product has fewer environmental impacts.

Fair trade produce remains a small percentage of world trade, but it is growing. Only 3.3 percent of coffee sold in the United States in 2006 was certified fair trade, but that was more than eight times the level in 2001, according to TransFair USA. Like consumer awareness of organic products a decade ago, fair trade awareness is growing. In 2006, 27 percent of Americans said they were aware of the certification; up from 12 percent in 2004, according to a study by the New-York based National Coffee Association.

TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization, is one of twenty members of Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO), and the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.

Big chains are marketing fair trade coffee to varying degrees. Espresso served at the 5,400 Dunkin' Donuts stores in the United States is fair trade. McDonald's stores in New England sell only fair trade coffee. In 2006, Starbucks bought 50 percent more fair trade coffee than in 2005.

There is no governmental standard for fair trade certification, the same situation as with "organic" until a few years ago. Some fair trade produce also carries the organic label. Currently over 60%of Fair Trade Certified coffee in the U.S. is also certified organic. One important difference is the focus of the labels: organic refers to how food is cultivated, while fair trade is primarily concerned with the condition of the farmer and his laborers.

Transfair Fair Trade Coffee http://www.transfairusa.org/

Kick the Bottled Water Habit

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability Agent

Bottled water is easy and convenient. The sales of bottled water have grown tremendously is recent years. Each year, people are drinking 30 billion throwaway bottles of water. A large majority of these end up in landfills. But even before they get there, they've taken a toll on the environment from the oil to transport and manufacture to the waste handling.

Is bottled water superior in quality to tap water? The regulations governing the quality of public water supplies are far stricter than those governing bottled-water plants. So why do consumers shun tap water that is low cost and purchase bottled water? If convenience is the answer, then using a reusable bottle can solve that concern. Blind taste tests have actually shown there is little taste difference between some bottled water and tap water.

Do you have to give up your favorite bottled water to go green? Not necessarily. Recycling the plastic bottles is a great step to green up the use of plastic bottles, but there are additional ways you can reduce waste and even save money. Purchase large containers (3- 5 gal.) of bottled water and put into reusable bottles to make it convenient to take with you. A note of caution—although it is tempting, refilling single-serve water bottles with tap water and reusing them repeatedly is not recommended due to potential sanitation concerns. Refilling these water bottles with tap water, without sanitizing the bottles in between can introduce harmful bacteria to the water.

City and state governments are looking at the economics of banning bottled water. Citing environmental concerns, Los Angeles; San Francisco; Ann Arbor, Mich.; and the state of Illinois have banned the use of public funds to purchase bottled water for city and state functions. In June, the US Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution to bring attention to the negative impact of bottled water and promote local sources.

Whatever your choice – go green by recycling, reduce packaging waste and have reusable containers handy. Take our Check Your Green Commitment Pledge and kick the bottled water habit today!

Take the Pledge here

Hurricanes and Climate Change

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability Agent

Hurricanes are on everyone’s minds in Florida right now. Since 1995, Florida has experienced some of the most active and intense hurricanes. There are reports that indicate climate change or global warming may play a role in the number and strength of hurricanes. Meteorologists use the term "tropical cyclone" for a closed atmospheric circulation that forms over a tropical or subtropical ocean. Once maximum sustained wind speed exceeds 74 miles per hour these storms are called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, typhoons in the Pacific Ocean, and cyclones elsewhere. Let’s review what we know to date about the link between storms and climate change.

Sea level is rising and will continue to rise as oceans warm and glaciers melt. Rising sea level means higher storm surges, even from relatively minor storms, which increases coastal flooding and subsequent storm damage.

With rapid population growth in coastal regions placing many more people and structures in the path of these tropical cyclones, there is a much greater risk of casualties, property damage, and financial hardship when these storms make landfall.

Two factors that contribute to more intense tropical cyclones -- ocean heat content and water vapor -- have both increased over the past several decades. Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests have very likely elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere which contributes to global warming and these two factors.

The link between stronger hurricanes and global warming is a theory and is not a conclusion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is reasonable to theorize that some human contribution is responsible for the increase in strong hurricanes in the Atlantic since 1970, since this increase does correlate so well with the observed increase in sea surface temperatures. However, it is difficult to make a strong statement saying that global warming is responsible for stronger hurricanes, due to the high natural variability of these storms and the poor observational record.

There are no definite conclusions on the link between storms and climate change. Climate change is an evolving theory that will be the focus of scientists for many years to come. Preparation for storms is an important process for everyone living in Florida.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change http://www.ipcc.ch/
Hurricane Season: Be Prepared http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/hurricanes.shtml

Vigilance Needed to Help Our Water Resources Recover

By Neil Combee
Governing Board Chair
Southwest Florida Water Management District

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's 16-county region has weathered more than two and a half years of drought. And, unfortunately, there are no guarantees that this summer's rainy season will finally put an end to this long dry spell.

That's why the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted unanimously to continue the one-day-per-week water restrictions through Sept. 30, which traditionally signals the end of our summer rainy season.

You may be wondering why the Governing Board would extend the water restrictions when it's raining almost every afternoon and most lawn and landscapes are beginning to look lush and green again. The Governing Board chose to extend the restrictions because although the recent rainfall has been beneficial, we have not seen nearly enough improvements in our water resources to lift the restrictions.

For the 24-month period of June 2006 through May 2008, the District accumulated a 17.2-inch rainfall deficit that we still need to make up. As a result of this lack of rainfall, our lakes, rivers and aquifer levels are far below where they should be. Some lakes in the District are as much as five feet below the bottom of their normal levels.

The summer rainy season, which normally runs from June through September, is when we rely on Mother Nature to provide 60 percent of our rainfall for the entire year. But because of our rainfall deficit and our below-normal water resources, we need above-average rainfall throughout the entire summer for our water resources to have a chance to recover.

In addition to extending the water restrictions, the Governing Board is also asking for your assistance to help our water resources recover this summer by continuing to conserve water. The Board is asking residents to limit their lawn watering as much as possible during the summer rainy season. Now is the time to turn off your irrigation systems and let Mother Nature do the work for you.

Continuing to water your lawn during the rainy season can actually be detrimental. Overwatered grass has short roots that make it harder to survive pest attacks, disease and drought.

The Governing Board recognizes and appreciates everyone’s conservation efforts during this drought, but we must all continue to be vigilant by using our water resources as efficiently as possible. We can't afford to waste this precious, limited resource. If we all work together to conserve, our water resources may finally have a chance to recover this summer

For more information and free materials about water restrictions, the drought and how you can conserve water both outdoors and indoors, I encourage you to visit the District's web site at www.WaterMatters.org/drought.

Climate Change Basics

by Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability

Climate change and global warming are both used as terms to describe the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on our environment. They are both used to describe the environmental changes due to the build up of gasses that trap heat and warm the Earth. These gases are primarily from the burning of fossil fuels that give off carbon dioxide and other gases. Climate change has been described as both a natural and unnatural process. There is the natural variation in the Earth’s global or regional climates over time. Natural global climate change over time has occurred in response to fluctuations in the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth, changing ocean currents, formation or loss of ice sheets and many other causes.

Global warming refers to an increase in the average global temperature of the entire Earth’s atmosphere. Regional and seasonal variations can occur within that average and so we may experience cooling in local areas. Scientists now think that it is very likely (90% probability) that humans are contributing to global warming. Some of the impacts of global warming include sea level rise, droughts, floods and more severe weather events. As the science on climate change gets more accurate, we will be able to better predict the impacts and use technology to reduce those impacts.

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in the global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.” Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change http://www.ipcc.ch/

Is It Too Stuffy In Here?

by Vestina F. Crayton, Pinellas County Extension Educator, Urban Sustainability

Making the decision to purchase green is motivated by many reasons such as the desire to conserve natural resources, supporting a local economy, and living a healthier lifestyle.

Retailers, marketers, and advertisers entice the consumer to go out and shop. With clever slogans, catchy jingles and the promise of being “new and improved,” it’s easy to get caught up in the marketing frenzy.

Before you head out to the stores, take a moment to ask yourself, “Do I need it or just want it?” What is my true motivation for making this purchase? Whether by choice or necessity, rising costs for gas and food are making individuals take a closer look at their spending habits.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before you decide to purchase:
· Is my current one sufficient?
· Can I reuse or refurbish what I have to meet my needs?
· Can I borrow it from a family member, friend, or neighbor?
· Can I rent or lease the item if it is used infrequently?
· Can I share the cost with someone who can also use it?
· Will I be able to maintain it?
· Can I recycle it once I am done with it?
· Can I donate the item I’m replacing?

Everyone knows the three R’s: Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Add a fourth one: Refuse! Refuse to purchase something you really don’t need or want. Then you won’t have to reduce, reuse, or recycle it! (UF/IFAS Sustainable Living booklet-version 7-06-26-07)

If you’ve examined your motivation and have determined that you must purchase, consider green or environmentally preferable products (this post explains such products). Look for items that are reusable, durable, require little or no maintenance, and are recyclable.


Resource link
http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/green_purchasing.shtml

How Big is Your Footprint?

by Mary Campbell, Director, Pinellas County Extension

Do you know how much land and ocean it takes to provide the food and products necessary for your everyday life, as well as handle your waste? It is an interesting idea. What if it takes more land for each of us to survive than what is on the earth? That is the analysis behind an Ecological Footprint. It is a resource management tool that measures how much land and water a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its waste. The world’s footprint is approximately 23% larger than what the planet can regenerate as reported by the Global Footprint Network. That does not sound too sustainable.

Sustainability is the recognition that when resources are consumed faster than they are produced or renewed, those resources are used up. Resources become more costly as demand gets greater and supplies are depleted. This depletion of resources increases due to growth in population, as well as improving lifestyles. There are several information resources on Ecological Footprint and you can go on-line and calculate your own personal footprint. As we know, most of us in the U.S. have a large footprint compared to the rest of the world. Through energy conservation, recycling, buying local and other resource conservation methods we can reduce our footprint so we don’t run out of earth. If everyone on earth lived like Americans we would need at least four earths.

Check out the size of your footprint:

Global Footprint Network - http://www.footprintnetwork.org/
Redefining Progress - http://www.myfootprint.org/

Going Green: Good - Better - Best

Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability

We hear about so many green practices that will conserve resources, save money and reduce our environmental impacts. When going green there is a whole range of activities that can be considered good, better and best. It is never an all or nothing proposition when we are trying to do a better job and reduce our impacts. Pick a practice that works for you and don’t feel discouraged if you have not reached the “best” level. Pick small changes and when they get easy you might be ready for the next level.

Here are some examples:

Plastic Grocery Bags
Good – Recycle the plastic bags
Better – Reuse the plastic bags several times before you recycle
Best – don’t use plastic bags but have reusable bags handy for shopping

Plastic Water Bottles
Good – Recycle the plastic bottles
Better – reuse the bottles and then recycle
Best – use a reusable container for water and reduce the whole cycle

Paper Use
Good – always print on both sides of the paper
Better – use at least 30% recycled paper and print on both sides
Best – always recycle your 100% recycled paper that is printed on both sides

Energy Use
Good – put your computer and other equipment into power save mode when not in use
Better – shut down computer, printer and other equipment when not in use
Best – shut down electronic equipment at the power strip to stop any energy use

I think you get the idea. Share your comments and ideas on how to go from good to better to best. Each small step is a great effort and it is the small steps that add up to big impacts for us all.

Pets for the Planet

by James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Educator, Urban Sustainability

While we may all be tightening our belts a little, scrimping and saving to pay for rising fuel costs, there is no sign our spending on pets has diminished one bit.

According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, for 2008 it is estimated that $43.4 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S. That is up from $38.5 billion in 2006 (source: http://www.appma.org/).

With more than 60% of US households (that is about 71 million addresses) complete with pets, how can we green our pet-practices? Here are a few tips:

Check the Label
From the foods you feed your pet(s) to the shampoo, conditioner, nail polish, etc. use the same common sense you would for yourself in living the Green Life. Think about the packaging, source, contents, and all other factors of green purchasing when making choices for your pet supplies.

Recycle a Pet
Consider adopting a pet from a local shelter. None of us like to think of the poor critters waiting to be adopted into a loving home, so go get one! Some shelters offer you the opportunity to search online for the perfect pet. Not just dogs and cats, but hamsters, fish, ferrets, you name it. Look up local shelter websites or, for one-stop searching, consult PetFinder (http://www.petfinder.com/) a site that allows you to search by zip code for the type and location of pet you would like to welcome home.

Remember They Are Not From Here
Our pets, especially dogs and cats, have been domesticated and bred for thousands of years. Many bear little to no resemblance to the wild animals from which they descended. It is important to remember that domesticated animals do not play well with our wildlife. Although we have managed to breed a beautiful coat of fur, excellent retrieval skills, a propensity for life in a handbag, and many other traits into our furred, scaled and winged pets, many innate behaviors remain, including hunting. Feral and non-housebound cats and dogs account for amazing negative impacts on our native wildlife. See this site from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about the local environmental impact of loose cats.

Dogs play an important role in healthy ecosystems as well. Leaving a dog’s “doo” on the pavement or in the lawn exposes wildlife to the pathogens which may reside there. Your pooch may be fine, but the viral load it is carrying (and possibly unaffected by) may mean death to a wild critter. Uncollected dog excrement has lead to an increase in nutrient runoff to local waters as well. For more information on this important issue, see Pooches For the Planet: Scoop That Poop! from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Training your pet to be a compatible member of the household need not stop at the front door. Think about the role your Precious serves in the greater scheme of things, and keep a Green Pet, for the good of the Planet. Their wild ancestors will thank you!

A Green 4th

by James Stevenson, Extension Educator, Urban Sustainability, Pinellas County Extension

In 1968, a rebellious and ostensible “counter-culturist” was arrested for wearing a shirt that resembled the American flag. My, how times have changed! It is time to get out that patriotic garb, hoist Old Glory and celebrate our Nation’s birth.

On Friday many of us will take part in an American tradition: firing-up the grill, inviting friends over, eating together and celebrating with a sky full of gunpowder. How can we make this holiday more green? Here are some tips:

Dispense with the disposables, and recycle
Forget the throw-aways, use real plates, cups, and cloth napkins—just think of the red, white and blue possibilities, ready for Flag Day, Memorial Day, Presidents’ Day, etc.! If your plans include a cook-out, bring these items along, or request that your guests bring their own. Start a patriotic re-usables competition; whoever has the best non-disposable spread gets to belly-up to the grill first. Make sure to provide recycling containers for the inevitable paper, aluminum, and plastic detritus associated with eating outside of home.

Eat Local
Right now, Florida farmers are looking at a “dry spell” with crops (and cash) in an unenviable holding pattern. Some produce is at the end of its season, some just at the beginning. According to Fresh From Florida, the following foods are ripe for the picking right now in the Sunshine State: avocado, cantaloupe, green beans, green peppers, mangoes and watermelon. We all know the reasons for eating locally-grown foods; supporting Florida’s farmers, lack of transportation issues, and freshness among them. For more information, see this UF site: http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu/food/local.html

Be Travel-Conscious
On Monday, June 30th CNN reported the national average price for a gallon of gas had risen to $4.086, with 33 states paying more than $4 a gallon. (source : CNN,com). Do you really think it is wise to fill-‘er-up, drive 20 miles, use petroleum-based cutlery, squirt oil onto a heap of charcoal and grill meat from another country right now? Consider your alternatives: Invite the neighbors around, pool resources to save everyone on expense, walk to a local park. Just think before you hop in the SUV.

Grill Green
Nationwide, the estimated 60 million barbecues held on the Fourth of July alone consume enough energy—in the form of charcoal, lighter fluid, gas, and electricity—to power 20,000 households for a year. Tristram West, a research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory composed a study for the U.S. Department of Energy, and found that this one annual celebration burns the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest and releases 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. What are the alternatives? Use a propane tank to make your patties sizzle. Try traditional charcoal made in a sustainable (read: old-fashioned) way; free from additives and unhealthy chemicals. There are several brands available now, proving that there is nothing new under the sun! Forget the petroleum fire-starters and use kindling (newspaper, yard-thinnings, etc.). What could be more rewarding than starting a fire from scratch to feed the tribe? It is in our DNA. For more information on grilling and nutrition, visit: Pinellas County Families and Consumer Sciences at www.pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/fcs/fcs_food_safety.shtml

We at Pinellas County Extension wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy Fourth of July, whatever your plans include.

Greenwashing: Be Aware

by Vestina F. Crayton, Extension Educator, Urban Sustainability

When purchasing an environmentally preferable or sustainable product or service be aware of greenwashing. TerraChoice (http://www.terrachoice.com/files/6_sins.pdf), a science-based environmental marketing organization, defines greenwashing as the ‘act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.’ Purchasing green starts with a decision and making a decision is a process. Part of this process includes gathering information. This information is retrieved from internal and external sources. Past experiences is a primary internal source while friends, family, advertisements, make up some of the external sources. Many consumers rely on advertisements and labeling to gather information to assist with making a purchase. Advertising professionals understand the psychology of the decision making process and appeal to the average consumer buy following the marketing mix: product, price, place, and promotion. Product is the tangible good or service, price is the amount given that reflects the actual or perceived value, place is the where or how the product or service is disseminated and promotion is the activities that entice the consumer to purchase.

For many, being green, environmentally conscientious, and sustainable is a way of life. However, there are others who are just discovering the social, economic, and environmental benefits of being green. This interest is attributed, in part, to marketing and promotion. Generally speaking, the novice green purchaser will initially seek out goods and services that highlight qualities such as environmentally friendly, eco-friendly, and green through packaging, logos and colors. This is not necessarily the wrong way to identify green products but make sure the product is actually what it is claiming to be. Be aware of greenwashing.

When gathering information to make a green purchase, do the research, look for the third party certified labels and ask the vendor or manufacturer the who, what, when, where, and how was the product created. Including this information into your decision to make a green purchase will give you the confidence that you will not be greenwashed.

Reference
TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc (November 2007)”The Six Sins of Greenwashing” (http://www.terrachoice.com/files/6_sins.pdf
Crayton Vestina F. (May 2008) ”How Do I know it’s Green?”
Crayton Vestina F. (April 2008) “Finding Green Products is Simple.”

Finding Green Products is Easy!

By Vestina F. Crayton
Extension Education Instructor

Are you familiar with buying green products? If not, here’s a review: Green Purchasing, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, and Sustainable Purchasing are all words that describe buying products or services that have a reduced negative impact on human health and the environment as compared to other products and services designed for the same use.

Now, the question you may have is “Where can I find green products?” There are numerous resources to help you find all kinds of products from mattresses to building materials. Here are a few to get you started:

• The National Green Pages http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/
• Green Seal http://www.greenseal.org/index.cfm
• Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.
• US General Services Administration http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/channelView.do?pageTypeId=8207&channelPage=/ep/channel/gsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-12972
• Consumer Reports Greener Choices: Products for a Better Planet http://www.greenerchoices.org/
• USDA Biopreferred http://www.biopreferred.gov/Default.aspx?SMSESSION=NO

In addition to learning about the green products that are available, you can find useful information including tips on how to read the labels, and alternative cleaning solutions just inside your cupboards. You can also search for a product based on specific criteria such as Green Seal approved, non toxic or bio based.

Take advantage of these resources and you’ll quickly be on your way to making better decisions today for the future of our community.

Green Light to Savings

By Mary Campbell,
Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability

Making a commitment to change future practices is an important step to sustainable living. If you make a commitment to a new practice you are much more likely to follow through and make that practice part of your daily habits. Many sustainable practices are not difficult, we just have to remember.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. (EPA, 2008)

As energy costs rise and we work to reduce our carbon footprint, what could be easier than changing out a few light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights (CFL). Although initially more expensive, you will save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime. Energy-efficient CFLs can be used in recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porch lights. Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb.To choose the ENERGY STAR qualified CFL with the right amount of light, find a CFL that is labeled as equivalent to the incandescent bulb you are replacing. Light bulb manufacturers include this information right on the product packaging to make it easy for consumers to choose the equivalent bulb.

CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of properly, ideally recycled. Although household CFL bulbs may legally be disposed of with regular trash (in most US states), they are categorized as household hazardous waste. Because CFLs also help to reduce greenhouse gasses, other pollutants associated with electricity production, and landfill waste (because the bulbs last longer), they are clearly the environmental winner when compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs. EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling to identify local recycling options.

Take the Check Your Green Commitment Pledge at: http://origpledge.awardspace.com/
Resource: EPA Compact Flourescent Light bulbs http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

Saving Water in the Home

By Mary Campbell,
Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability


Making a commitment to change future practices is an important step to sustainable living. If you make a commitment to a new practice you are much more likely to follow through and make that practice part of your daily habits. Many practices are not difficult, we just have to remember.
Less than 1% of the water supply on earth can be used as drinking water or is readily accessible water in lakes, streams, rivers (97% is in the oceans and 2% in the ice caps). The water cycle is continuous, so we could be drinking the same water that dinosaurs drank. Preserving our water resources is extremely important. Our daily use of water becomes a habit that may be hard to change. With small changes, thousands of gallons of water per person can be saved each year, which also reduces your carbon footprint since it requires energy to purify and pump the water to your home.
Faucets are responsible for 16% of the water use in our homes. The top three household water uses are the toilet, clothes washer and shower. Fixing leaks is very important to conserve water. To determine if you may have a leak, turn off all the water in your home and record the current reading on your water meter. Wait 30 minutes and read it again. If it has changed (remember – all water off) then you have a leak.
Find new ways to conserve water like: low volume toilets and shower heads and fill the dishwasher or washing machine before using. Flush less — remember the toilet is not a wastebasket. Take shorter showers — 5 minutes or less. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant or cleaning.



Take the Check Your Green Commitment Pledge at: http://origpledge.awardspace.com/



Resources:
Pinellas County Utilities http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/conserve-altwater.htm

Save Water Indoors - http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/indoors/

Biofuels are Growing in Florida

Mary Campbell, Extension Director, Urban Sustainability

Everyone is talking about the price of gas. Developing alternative sources of fuel to power our cars and trucks is of great interest with gas prices soaring and carbon dioxide emissions contributing to climate change. Biofuels are renewable liquid fuels made from plant matter rather than fossil fuels. Biofuels can help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gases, and dependence on imported oil.

There are two types of biofuels that are currently taking center stage in the push for alternative fuels – ethanol and biodeisel. Ethanol and biodiesel are completely different. Ethanol is a product of fermentation, and biodiesel is chemically-converted fat or plant oil. Currently, the biggest source of biofuel is ethanol — a liquid distilled from corn or other starchy crops. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85% ethanol (E85). The use of waste from Florida crops such as sugarcane and wood (cellulosic ethanol), may provide the most practical and efficient source of biofuels.

Biodiesel is made from sources such as vegetable oils and can be blended with diesel made from petroleum. When the first diesel engines came along at the end of the 19th century, they were originally designed to run on vegetable oil. Biodeisel can be produced from crops such as soybean or Jatropha. Jatropha curcus or Physic Nut, is a drought-resistant perennial, growing well in marginal or poor Florida soils. It is easy to establish and plants produce seeds with an oil content of 37%. Another source of biofuels is used cooking oils. Since 2002, Pinellas County has been using biodeisel purchased from a company that recycles restaurant grease waste into biodeisel. Algae have also been reported as a source for biodeisel. Unlike some biofuel sources which require crops to be specially grown, which use more land, fuel, chemicals and fertilizers, the algae already exist. To get the fuel, the algae are processed into a pulp before lipid oils are extracted to be turned into biodiesel.

There is not one single answer to the issues of dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions. It will take a combination of improved fuel economy, investment in public transportation, new technology, and new fuel sources like biofuels and electricity to move us into a more sustainable future.

For more information on Biofuels –read the entire article in Timely Topics – June, 2008

EPA Alternative Fuels: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm