Going Green at Home

By Jamie Lober

Little changes at home can mean a big impact
on your life and the environment.

Taking the initiative to do something new and meaningful can be hard, even for the most ambitious woman. "People really do not like change even when there is an instant benefit. Yet when we know we are making a difference it is worth it," expresses Carol Reynolds, therapist.

When it comes to going green, it is a good idea to think about what you can do. "Set goals and do your best," motivates Reynolds. Take one step at a time and maintain a positive attitude. "Successful goal setters keep the focus on the goal, not the obstacle," finds Reynolds.

Since water that is sold in water bottles may not be regulated, you may choose to filter water from your tap. "Filtered water in Las Vegas tastes good. If you do not like it, you can put a drop of lemon juice in it. The colder it is, the better it tastes," says Tara Pike, University of Nevada - Las Vegas Rebel recycling manager. This is a great way to save money. The next time you go to the gym or to your favorite store, consider bringing a reusable water bottle with you.

Take part in curbside recycling which is run by Republic Services. "When you pay your monthly trash bill, you are already paying for it," informs Kathryn Fergus, recycling coordinator for Southern Nevada with Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. The benefits are countless. "You can save natural resources by not extracting the virgin material which in turn helps to reduce green house gas emissions in the longrun. You create jobs for the economy and reuse materials which help to create other jobs," says Fergus. It is a closed loop system in which you have collectors, processors of the material and people who use the end product to make new products. "Plastic bottles are collected by one person who owns a business and makes money. Then, they go to the processor who breaks them down and gets money off of the end user who purchases the pelletized plastic to make a fleece jacket or carpet," explains Fergus.

Las Vegas women, especially those in the commercial, industrial or hospitality industries, are chipping in. "We are reducing emissions of water pollutants, saving energy, stimulating the development of green technology, conserving resources and saving landfill space which reduces the need for landfill space in the future," names Fergus. Some have gone so far as to tell elected officials that they want recycling to be promoted further. "The last session put out a couple bills that said to increase recycling. One was for waste tires in counties with populations over 400,000 and another focused on multi-family recycling," shares Fergus.

Once you have mastered recycling, you can take a stab at pre-cycling. It simple means taking the time to look at the packaging on a product to see if it can be recycled later. "If you are going to buy deodorant, you should buy the one that is not in the box. Although you can recycle the box, the one that does not come in a box is better because it did not use a box to begin with," emphasizes Pike. Some vendors are even creating competitions to see who can come up with limited packaging for items.

Compost recycling is another avenue to get the job done. "If you want to make a dent in what is going to the landfill, you should look into worm bin composting or backyard composting for food waste. It is easy to do," says Pike. For backyard composting, you can purchase your compost or make one out of a garbage can. You drill some holes and throw food and landscape waste together. Eventually, it will compost. "Gardeners add water and stir their bin to aerate it and make it faster because they are looking at the end product and want nice, nutritious, organic dirt to put on their garden," says Pike.

Get in the habit of turning off unused electricity. "People think that the cell phone is not using any electricity if it is not plugged in to the charger but that is not true. It is called phantom power," educates Pike. You may consider purchasing a power strip that has an on-off button. At the turn of a switch, all of your devices will go off. The Energy Star cordless phone with a Smart charger is another good way to reduce your carbon footprint. For lighting, your best option is compact fluorescent light bulbs because they are longer-lasting, less costly and a friend to the environment.

Take a canvas bag to the grocery. "It takes time to get used to, but once you get used to it, it is really nice," feels Pike. You just may find that you can be a trendsetter in your town. "I have a cute canvas bag that says '0% plastic' on it. It is coollooking and I use it when I go shopping for clothes. It becomes an accessory and so many people say that is so cool and that they want one," shares Pike. Another way to shop smart is attending yard sales. Be conscientious and if you are able to carry the items in your hand, do not accept a bag. This will reduce the amount of garbage that you create.

When organizing your kitchen, think about how you store leftovers. It is recommended to use reusable rather than disposable containers. You can try to fill your refrigerator with organic eggs, meat and produce that you purchase from local farmers. Buying in bulk at wholesale clubs can save money on packaging. When using the oven, know how long it will take to cook your meat. Every time you peek in and open the oven door, 20 to 50F is lost.

In your study, when doing business tasks, be aware of how you are using paper. Try to use e-communications when possible. If you are a small business owner, you can even send out your annual report electronically to thousands of people without a single sheet of paper which is both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.

In the living room, make sure the heating or air vents are not blocked by furniture, drapes or plants. Carefully place lamps in the corners of rooms so they are able to reflect light from two walls instead of one. Choosing electronics, like televisions and DVD players, that are marked 'ENERGY STAR' can help save extra energy even when they are turned off.

In the bathroom, you may install a low-flow showerhead which is inexpensive and a great way to save water and energy. Faucet aerators can be useful as well to conserve water and heat. When updating the room, consider installing a high-efficiency toilet because they use less water.

Though you may feel your landscape is green, there is always room to go greener. "If you have a pool and buy a cover, you can get rebates from the Southern Nevada Water Authority which helps with evaporation," says Pike. Zero scaping, or desert landscaping, is a great alternative to grass. It uses special irrigation instead of water. Still, some opt not to have grass at all. "I have fake grass in my front lawn so I do not have to water it, mow it or fertilize it. It is green all year long and I love it," raves Pike.

When it comes to cleaning your car, do not try to take matters into your own hands. "The car wash uses less water than if you wash it in the driveway. The water is sent down the drain and gets cleaned and recycled," says Pike. However, when cleaning your home, you may be surprised to know that with a few simple ingredients like lemon, soap, vinegar and baking soda, you can make your own non-toxic cleaning product that even takes your indoor air quality to heart.

Taking one eco-friendly action is the start of turning your community a brighter shade of green. "One person makes a difference, even if nobody copies you. When someone copies you, you have made a double impact," finds Pike.

Reward yourself for a job well done by getting an organic massage. "If you use organic products, your body gets detoxified over time. It is a benefit for your health and prevents you from developing certain diseases," says Anita Brezinski, owner of Organelle Salon and Spa. Products used should be labeled USDA organics. "A lot of spas in the country have a towel that is made out of organic cotton," says Brezinski. You can even buy organic shampoos, conditioners and body lotions. By going green, you can look good, feel good and save lives.

Do not feel overwhelmed and try to start small. "If you do something new every month, you are doing a fantastic job," feels Pike.