Sustainability Begins at Home
Sustainability Begins at Home Rod Stevens IUMC – 11/09/2008
Sustainability Begins at Home How We Can All Do Our Part to Fight Global Warming (and save money, too!) By Rod Stevens, AIA, CFM, IFMA Fellow, LEED AP
What is Sustainability? “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 1987 publication of the World Commission on Environment and Development report, Our Common Future
What is Global Warming and Why is it Such a Big Deal?
The greenhouse effect is unquestionably real and helps to regulate the temperature of our planet. It is essential for life on Earth and is one of Earth's natural processes. It is the result of heat absorption by certain gases in the atmosphere (called greenhouse gases because they effectively 'trap' heat in the lower atmosphere) and re‐radiation downward of some of that heat. Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas, followed by carbon dioxide and other trace gases. Without a natural greenhouse effect, the temperature of the Earth would be about zero degrees F (‐18°C) instead of its present 57°F (14°C). So, the concern is not with the fact that we have a greenhouse effect, but whether human activities are leading to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect by the emission of greenhouse gases.
What is Global Warming and Why is it Such a Big Deal? |The
Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gasses are good in the right amounts | 275 ppm -> 378 ppm -> 840 ppm | Average American responsible for 6 times world average CO2 production |
We have managed to raise the level of CO2 in the atmosphere, which had been relatively stable for the past 10,000 years at about 275 parts per million (ppm), to 378 ppm today. If we continue along a business‐as‐usual path of burning fossil fuel, we could reach 840 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere by the end of this century. Concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere have not been higher than 300 ppm for the past 450,000 years. Architecture 2030.com
Choosing between Transportation, Industry, and Buildings; who do you think ranks first?
Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Sector (US) |
48% Buildings z z
| |
21% Residential 17% Commercial
27% Industry 25% Transportation
Currently 57% of the electricity generated in the US is produced by coal plants. 75% in Iowa.
Use of Power Plant Generated Energy (US) 76% Buildings 23% Industry | 1% Transportation | |
Typical Coal Plant Annual Yield | | | | | | | | | |
3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide 500 tons of small airborne particles 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide 720 tons of carbon monoxide 220 tons of hydrocarbons 170 pounds of mercury 225 pounds of arsenic 225 pounds of arsenic 114 pounds of lead, etc.
Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming, and air toxics. In an average year, a typical coal plant generates (other than electricity, of course): 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of global warming‐‐as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees. 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs. 500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility. 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late‐model cars. NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness. 720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease. 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone. 170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25‐acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat. 225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion. 114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, and trace amounts of uranium. Currently no such thing as a “clean” coal plant; capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide is 10 – 15 years away according to the coal industry.
What is Global Warming and Why is it Such a Big Deal? The Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gasses are good in the right amounts | 275 ppm -> 378 ppm -> 840 ppm | Average American responsible for 6 times world average CO2 production | Earth temperatures are rising | |
Charleston, SC with 1.0 Meter Sea Level Rise
Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. And experts think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Scientists say that unless we curb global warming emissions, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 (1.6C) to 9 (5C) degrees Fahrenheit higher by the end of the century. Natural Resources Defense Council The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid‐twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increase in man‐made greenhouse gas concentrations“ via an enhanced greenhouse effect. With a business‐as‐usual approach, where fossil‐fuel consumption and GHG emissions continue to increase, we will likely see a warming of 2 °C to 3 °C this century with a planetary energy imbalance sufficient to melt enough ice to raise sea level by several meters. At current trends – “business as usual” scientists predict a 1 – 2 meter sea level rise
Ft. Lauderdale, FL with 1.25 Meter Sea Level Rise
New Orleans, LA with 1.0 Meter Sea Level Rise
After all that depressing information… Some good news; We can do something about it!
New York Times best seller by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen Illustrates the “power of compound action”
Sustainability At Home Some Facts | Americans produce 4.5 pounds of trash daily | 40% of our drinking water is flushed down the toilet | Americans throw out 179,000 tons of batteries annually. | Each American consumes an average of 2,200 two ply paper napkins each year. | Discarded aluminum cans
Sustainability At Home Strategies Buy Energy Star compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. | Turn off unneeded lights. | Take shorter showers | Recycle every week | Run full loads in your dishwasher |
We will each leave a 90,000 pound legacy of trash for our grandchildren or about total 600 times our average adult weight. Broken down, your torso would be paper, one leg would be yard trimmings, the other leg food scraps, one arm would be plastic with a rubber hand, the other would be metal with a wood hand. Your head would be glass, your neck would be all the other stuff. Flush less or use low flow fixtures Use rechargeable batteries; four rechargeable AA batteries can replace up to 100 conventional batteries. Don’t be so messy… We Americans toss away enough aluminum cans in a year to rebuild every commercial airliner in America. Recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a 100‐watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for three hours or a TV for two hours. Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from virgin ores. Lighting: If every American home changed out 5 bulbs, we’d keep more than one trillion lbs. of greenhouse gasses out of the air – equal to the emissions of 8 million cars and save $6 billion dollars in energy costs. Donate your used bulbs to a shelter for redistribution. Turn off the lights, just like your parents told you… Showers: with a standard shower head every two minutes uses 10 gallons of water. If every American saved just one gallon of water each day, over a year = twice the amount of fresh water taken daily from the Great Lakes, worlds largest source of fresh water. Recycling: if everyone recycled, we would reduce the amount sent to landfills by 75%. Dishwasher: don’t pre rinse and always run full loads – save 7,300 gallons of water over a year; the amount an average person drinks in a lifetime.
Sustainability At Home Strategies Remember “They’re not showing a movie in the refrigerator!” | Turn off the tap when brushing and shaving | Reduce junk mail |
z
|
www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist
Buy a “permanent” filter for your furnace / air conditioner
Sustainability At Home Strategies Clean your dryer lint screen frequently Use warm wash and cold rinse in your clothes washer | Wrap your water heater | Use reusable shopping bags | Use a commercial car wash | |
Sustainability At Home Strategies Don’t water your lawn excessively Unplug / dispose of the old fridge in your basement or garage | Unplug energy vampires | Make sure your home is sealed and insulated properly | |
Fridge: single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Opening it’s door consumes $30‐60 worth of electricity each year. More efficient use could save enough electricity to light every house in the US for four and a half months straight. Brushing: you conserve up to 5 gallons / day; the daily savings could add up to 1.5 billion gallons of water = daily consumption of New York City. Shaving the same so double it. Junk Mail: visit Direct Marketing Association website; it costs $1. It will reduce the volume, but not eliminate it. Recycle the rest. If everyone recycled junk mail save $370 million in dumping fees. Furnace and air conditioner: many have lifetime warrantees; if ½ of US households would do so the number of air filters saved from landfills each year could blanket the entire land area of Washington, DC.
Dryer: and don’t overload the dryer. Save up to 5% on your energy bill. If everyone did this we’d save the annual energy equivalent of 350 million gallons of gasoline. Better yet use a clothes line and save 100%. Washer: Save 90% over the energy used for hot water only. If everyone in the US did this we’d save the energy equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a day. Water heater: blanket it if it’s older and feels warm to the touch. Set the stat to 120 degrees. This alone could save up to ¼ of your energy use. If everyone did this, US households would save over $32 billion per year in energy costs. Both paper and plastic bags consume large amounts of natural resources and the majority will eventually end up in the landfill. Both bags can be recycled to some extent and can be utilized around the house. Studies comparing the two choices don’t agree on a conclusion. Some feel plastic is the better overall choice, others paper. It's really tough to say. Paper may consume more resources to produce, however, it is also more recyclable than plastic if you include the fact that paper can be composted and plastic bags cannot. How about neither? Car wash: Use up to 100 gallons less than your driveway and recycle the water on top of that. If everyone switched, just once, save 8.7 billion gallons of water and divert 12 billion gallons of polluted, soapy water from rivers, lakes, and streams. Water your lawn: but if you do try to do it in the early morning or evening. Lawn irrigation accounts for 7.9 billion gallons on water a day or which would fill 14 billion six packs of beer. Old fridge can use over $60 ‐ 80 / year in electricity. You can be adding 10% to 20% to your electric bill by keeping energy vampires plugged in: phone chargers, TVs, computers, and printers. Seal energy leaks around doors, windows, and outlets in exterior walls. Make sure your house is well‐insulation from top to bottom: attic, walls, foundation, crawl spaces (if applicable)
Find out if it’s economical to replace your appliances Home energy audit will include not only tips to save energy, but also a water heater insulation blanket; Six feet of water pipe insulation; Up to two low‐flow faucet aerators; Up to two low‐flow shower heads; A waterbed mattress pad; and up to six energy‐efficient light bulbs. Mid American’s Summer Saver program is worth $40 the first cooling season and $30 each season after that.
Sustainability At Home Strategies |
Check out Mid-American Energy’s website: z
z
z
Energy saving tips including appliance usage calculators at www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy1.asp Complete a MidAmerican on-line home energy audit at: www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy_nexus1b.as p?id=home or sign up for an on-site energy audit at: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy3g.asp Sign up for MidAmerican’s air conditioner “Summer Saver” program at: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy3.asp
Gasoline Saving Tips Slow down Keep tires properly inflated | Keep your car tuned | Don’t idle your car | Drive smoothly | Car pool | Replace your air filter | Use cruise control | |
Marketing Magic: Bottled Water
The average vehicle in Iowa is driven 12,100 miles annually and uses 8.5 gallons of fuel per week. Here are some fuel saving tips from AAA, Edmunds.com, and the Environmental Protection Agency to help ease the sting of high fuel prices along with helping the environment: Slow down. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.26 per gallon for gas. Keep tires properly inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Give your car a full tune‐up, as recommended by the manufacturer, including a regular oil and oil filter change. A poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by up to 50 percent or more. Don't let the vehicle idle for more than a minute. “Warming up” a car in the winter by allowing it to idle creates more wear than driving it at moderate speeds from start‐up. Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops. According to Edmunds.com, this can increase your fuel economy as much as 31%. Car pool when possible. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Using cruise control can save 7‐14% in increased mpg.
Bottled Water Facts $15,000,000,000 24% | 17,000,000 | 3 liters | $9,000 | 28,000,000,000 | |
Bottled Water Facts 1,000,000,000 12 - 20% | 38,000,000,000 | $1,000,000,000 | 100-400 | |
$15,000,000,000 How much Americans spend annually on bottled water 24% Amount of bottled water which is repackaged tap water sold by Pepsi and Coke. 17,000,000 Barrels of oil required to manufacture water bottles in 2006. 3 Liters Water required to produce 1 liter of bottled water (not including contents of bottle) $9,000 Average monthly residential water bill if the cost of tap water = bottled water 28,000,000,000 Number of water bottles purchased in 2006 in USA 1,000,000,000 Bottles of water we’re moving around per week in the US (37,800 18‐wheelers) 12 ‐ 20% Amount of water bottles recycled annually. 38,000,000,000 Bottles in landfills annually $1,000,000,000 Worth of plastic in landfills annually 100‐400 Years required for plastic to break down in landfill
Re‐using a standard water bottle can expose you to bacteria build up and carcinogens leached from the plastic. Spring for a re‐usable water bottle.
Bottled Water Facts Tap water is cleaner than most bottled water | Americans drink more bottled water than milk, coffee, or beer | Advocate for alternatives | If you must use bottled water, recycle your bottle, but don’t re-use it. | Bottled water is not a sin, but it is a choice |
So, Now What? Living sustainably is a lifestyle Celebrate the “Power of Compound Action” | Even if you don’t buy global warming, you save money | |
Basically, it’s thinking before you act: Is there an alternative to the Styrofoam cup or clamshell I’m using? Can I combine this errand with another trip I need to make? Should I really be wearing summer clothing in the winter (or vice‐versa)? If I “throw something away”, where does it go? Can this item I’m using be recycled (or has it been in the past)? Look for cradle to cradle solutions. Life responsibly, but you don’t need to live uncomfortably. Marvel at how a few simple things can make a difference. Pass along ideas to your children, colleagues, friends.
So, Now What? Living sustainably is a lifestyle Celebrate the “Power of Compound Action” | Even if you don’t buy global warming, you save money | It’s the right thing to do | |
A Final Suggestion… That gift for the person “who has everything”: A Carbon Offset Card
[email protected] www.nativeenergy.com 800-924-6826
What is a carbon offset card? For $12 for a “one ton card” or $72 for a “six ton card” you pay for renewable energy that would not otherwise be produced. One ton of CO2 is an average US family’s footprint for one week (approximately…). Through Native Energy Company you will help build new wind turbines or a renewable methane generator on a family farm. Your new project’s renewable electricity will displace electricity from fossil fuel generators, reducing CO2 pollution on behalf of your card recipient. Traditional cards and e‐cards are available. Native Energy has been researched and recommended by Interfaith Power and Light, a nation‐wide ecumenical organization dedicated to mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. Kenyan Proverb
Sustainability Begins at Home How We Can All Do Our Part to Fight Global Warming (and save money, too!) By Rod Stevens, AIA, CFM, IFMA Fellow, LEED AP
What is Sustainability? “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 1987 publication of the World Commission on Environment and Development report, Our Common Future
What is Global Warming and Why is it Such a Big Deal?
The greenhouse effect is unquestionably real and helps to regulate the temperature of our planet. It is essential for life on Earth and is one of Earth's natural processes. It is the result of heat absorption by certain gases in the atmosphere (called greenhouse gases because they effectively 'trap' heat in the lower atmosphere) and re‐radiation downward of some of that heat. Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas, followed by carbon dioxide and other trace gases. Without a natural greenhouse effect, the temperature of the Earth would be about zero degrees F (‐18°C) instead of its present 57°F (14°C). So, the concern is not with the fact that we have a greenhouse effect, but whether human activities are leading to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect by the emission of greenhouse gases.
What is Global Warming and Why is it Such a Big Deal? |The
Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gasses are good in the right amounts | 275 ppm -> 378 ppm -> 840 ppm | Average American responsible for 6 times world average CO2 production |
We have managed to raise the level of CO2 in the atmosphere, which had been relatively stable for the past 10,000 years at about 275 parts per million (ppm), to 378 ppm today. If we continue along a business‐as‐usual path of burning fossil fuel, we could reach 840 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere by the end of this century. Concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere have not been higher than 300 ppm for the past 450,000 years. Architecture 2030.com
Choosing between Transportation, Industry, and Buildings; who do you think ranks first?
Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Sector (US) |
48% Buildings z z
| |
21% Residential 17% Commercial
27% Industry 25% Transportation
Currently 57% of the electricity generated in the US is produced by coal plants. 75% in Iowa.
Use of Power Plant Generated Energy (US) 76% Buildings 23% Industry | 1% Transportation | |
Typical Coal Plant Annual Yield | | | | | | | | | |
3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide 500 tons of small airborne particles 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide 720 tons of carbon monoxide 220 tons of hydrocarbons 170 pounds of mercury 225 pounds of arsenic 225 pounds of arsenic 114 pounds of lead, etc.
Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming, and air toxics. In an average year, a typical coal plant generates (other than electricity, of course): 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of global warming‐‐as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees. 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs. 500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility. 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late‐model cars. NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness. 720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease. 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone. 170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25‐acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat. 225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion. 114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, and trace amounts of uranium. Currently no such thing as a “clean” coal plant; capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide is 10 – 15 years away according to the coal industry.
What is Global Warming and Why is it Such a Big Deal? The Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gasses are good in the right amounts | 275 ppm -> 378 ppm -> 840 ppm | Average American responsible for 6 times world average CO2 production | Earth temperatures are rising | |
Charleston, SC with 1.0 Meter Sea Level Rise
Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. And experts think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Scientists say that unless we curb global warming emissions, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 (1.6C) to 9 (5C) degrees Fahrenheit higher by the end of the century. Natural Resources Defense Council The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid‐twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increase in man‐made greenhouse gas concentrations“ via an enhanced greenhouse effect. With a business‐as‐usual approach, where fossil‐fuel consumption and GHG emissions continue to increase, we will likely see a warming of 2 °C to 3 °C this century with a planetary energy imbalance sufficient to melt enough ice to raise sea level by several meters. At current trends – “business as usual” scientists predict a 1 – 2 meter sea level rise
Ft. Lauderdale, FL with 1.25 Meter Sea Level Rise
New Orleans, LA with 1.0 Meter Sea Level Rise
After all that depressing information… Some good news; We can do something about it!
New York Times best seller by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen Illustrates the “power of compound action”
Sustainability At Home Some Facts | Americans produce 4.5 pounds of trash daily | 40% of our drinking water is flushed down the toilet | Americans throw out 179,000 tons of batteries annually. | Each American consumes an average of 2,200 two ply paper napkins each year. | Discarded aluminum cans
Sustainability At Home Strategies Buy Energy Star compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. | Turn off unneeded lights. | Take shorter showers | Recycle every week | Run full loads in your dishwasher |
We will each leave a 90,000 pound legacy of trash for our grandchildren or about total 600 times our average adult weight. Broken down, your torso would be paper, one leg would be yard trimmings, the other leg food scraps, one arm would be plastic with a rubber hand, the other would be metal with a wood hand. Your head would be glass, your neck would be all the other stuff. Flush less or use low flow fixtures Use rechargeable batteries; four rechargeable AA batteries can replace up to 100 conventional batteries. Don’t be so messy… We Americans toss away enough aluminum cans in a year to rebuild every commercial airliner in America. Recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a 100‐watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for three hours or a TV for two hours. Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from virgin ores. Lighting: If every American home changed out 5 bulbs, we’d keep more than one trillion lbs. of greenhouse gasses out of the air – equal to the emissions of 8 million cars and save $6 billion dollars in energy costs. Donate your used bulbs to a shelter for redistribution. Turn off the lights, just like your parents told you… Showers: with a standard shower head every two minutes uses 10 gallons of water. If every American saved just one gallon of water each day, over a year = twice the amount of fresh water taken daily from the Great Lakes, worlds largest source of fresh water. Recycling: if everyone recycled, we would reduce the amount sent to landfills by 75%. Dishwasher: don’t pre rinse and always run full loads – save 7,300 gallons of water over a year; the amount an average person drinks in a lifetime.
Sustainability At Home Strategies Remember “They’re not showing a movie in the refrigerator!” | Turn off the tap when brushing and shaving | Reduce junk mail |
z
|
www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist
Buy a “permanent” filter for your furnace / air conditioner
Sustainability At Home Strategies Clean your dryer lint screen frequently Use warm wash and cold rinse in your clothes washer | Wrap your water heater | Use reusable shopping bags | Use a commercial car wash | |
Sustainability At Home Strategies Don’t water your lawn excessively Unplug / dispose of the old fridge in your basement or garage | Unplug energy vampires | Make sure your home is sealed and insulated properly | |
Fridge: single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Opening it’s door consumes $30‐60 worth of electricity each year. More efficient use could save enough electricity to light every house in the US for four and a half months straight. Brushing: you conserve up to 5 gallons / day; the daily savings could add up to 1.5 billion gallons of water = daily consumption of New York City. Shaving the same so double it. Junk Mail: visit Direct Marketing Association website; it costs $1. It will reduce the volume, but not eliminate it. Recycle the rest. If everyone recycled junk mail save $370 million in dumping fees. Furnace and air conditioner: many have lifetime warrantees; if ½ of US households would do so the number of air filters saved from landfills each year could blanket the entire land area of Washington, DC.
Dryer: and don’t overload the dryer. Save up to 5% on your energy bill. If everyone did this we’d save the annual energy equivalent of 350 million gallons of gasoline. Better yet use a clothes line and save 100%. Washer: Save 90% over the energy used for hot water only. If everyone in the US did this we’d save the energy equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a day. Water heater: blanket it if it’s older and feels warm to the touch. Set the stat to 120 degrees. This alone could save up to ¼ of your energy use. If everyone did this, US households would save over $32 billion per year in energy costs. Both paper and plastic bags consume large amounts of natural resources and the majority will eventually end up in the landfill. Both bags can be recycled to some extent and can be utilized around the house. Studies comparing the two choices don’t agree on a conclusion. Some feel plastic is the better overall choice, others paper. It's really tough to say. Paper may consume more resources to produce, however, it is also more recyclable than plastic if you include the fact that paper can be composted and plastic bags cannot. How about neither? Car wash: Use up to 100 gallons less than your driveway and recycle the water on top of that. If everyone switched, just once, save 8.7 billion gallons of water and divert 12 billion gallons of polluted, soapy water from rivers, lakes, and streams. Water your lawn: but if you do try to do it in the early morning or evening. Lawn irrigation accounts for 7.9 billion gallons on water a day or which would fill 14 billion six packs of beer. Old fridge can use over $60 ‐ 80 / year in electricity. You can be adding 10% to 20% to your electric bill by keeping energy vampires plugged in: phone chargers, TVs, computers, and printers. Seal energy leaks around doors, windows, and outlets in exterior walls. Make sure your house is well‐insulation from top to bottom: attic, walls, foundation, crawl spaces (if applicable)
Find out if it’s economical to replace your appliances Home energy audit will include not only tips to save energy, but also a water heater insulation blanket; Six feet of water pipe insulation; Up to two low‐flow faucet aerators; Up to two low‐flow shower heads; A waterbed mattress pad; and up to six energy‐efficient light bulbs. Mid American’s Summer Saver program is worth $40 the first cooling season and $30 each season after that.
Sustainability At Home Strategies |
Check out Mid-American Energy’s website: z
z
z
Energy saving tips including appliance usage calculators at www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy1.asp Complete a MidAmerican on-line home energy audit at: www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy_nexus1b.as p?id=home or sign up for an on-site energy audit at: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy3g.asp Sign up for MidAmerican’s air conditioner “Summer Saver” program at: http://www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy3.asp
Gasoline Saving Tips Slow down Keep tires properly inflated | Keep your car tuned | Don’t idle your car | Drive smoothly | Car pool | Replace your air filter | Use cruise control | |
Marketing Magic: Bottled Water
The average vehicle in Iowa is driven 12,100 miles annually and uses 8.5 gallons of fuel per week. Here are some fuel saving tips from AAA, Edmunds.com, and the Environmental Protection Agency to help ease the sting of high fuel prices along with helping the environment: Slow down. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.26 per gallon for gas. Keep tires properly inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Give your car a full tune‐up, as recommended by the manufacturer, including a regular oil and oil filter change. A poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by up to 50 percent or more. Don't let the vehicle idle for more than a minute. “Warming up” a car in the winter by allowing it to idle creates more wear than driving it at moderate speeds from start‐up. Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops. According to Edmunds.com, this can increase your fuel economy as much as 31%. Car pool when possible. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Using cruise control can save 7‐14% in increased mpg.
Bottled Water Facts $15,000,000,000 24% | 17,000,000 | 3 liters | $9,000 | 28,000,000,000 | |
Bottled Water Facts 1,000,000,000 12 - 20% | 38,000,000,000 | $1,000,000,000 | 100-400 | |
$15,000,000,000 How much Americans spend annually on bottled water 24% Amount of bottled water which is repackaged tap water sold by Pepsi and Coke. 17,000,000 Barrels of oil required to manufacture water bottles in 2006. 3 Liters Water required to produce 1 liter of bottled water (not including contents of bottle) $9,000 Average monthly residential water bill if the cost of tap water = bottled water 28,000,000,000 Number of water bottles purchased in 2006 in USA 1,000,000,000 Bottles of water we’re moving around per week in the US (37,800 18‐wheelers) 12 ‐ 20% Amount of water bottles recycled annually. 38,000,000,000 Bottles in landfills annually $1,000,000,000 Worth of plastic in landfills annually 100‐400 Years required for plastic to break down in landfill
Re‐using a standard water bottle can expose you to bacteria build up and carcinogens leached from the plastic. Spring for a re‐usable water bottle.
Bottled Water Facts Tap water is cleaner than most bottled water | Americans drink more bottled water than milk, coffee, or beer | Advocate for alternatives | If you must use bottled water, recycle your bottle, but don’t re-use it. | Bottled water is not a sin, but it is a choice |
So, Now What? Living sustainably is a lifestyle Celebrate the “Power of Compound Action” | Even if you don’t buy global warming, you save money | |
Basically, it’s thinking before you act: Is there an alternative to the Styrofoam cup or clamshell I’m using? Can I combine this errand with another trip I need to make? Should I really be wearing summer clothing in the winter (or vice‐versa)? If I “throw something away”, where does it go? Can this item I’m using be recycled (or has it been in the past)? Look for cradle to cradle solutions. Life responsibly, but you don’t need to live uncomfortably. Marvel at how a few simple things can make a difference. Pass along ideas to your children, colleagues, friends.
So, Now What? Living sustainably is a lifestyle Celebrate the “Power of Compound Action” | Even if you don’t buy global warming, you save money | It’s the right thing to do | |
A Final Suggestion… That gift for the person “who has everything”: A Carbon Offset Card
[email protected] www.nativeenergy.com 800-924-6826
What is a carbon offset card? For $12 for a “one ton card” or $72 for a “six ton card” you pay for renewable energy that would not otherwise be produced. One ton of CO2 is an average US family’s footprint for one week (approximately…). Through Native Energy Company you will help build new wind turbines or a renewable methane generator on a family farm. Your new project’s renewable electricity will displace electricity from fossil fuel generators, reducing CO2 pollution on behalf of your card recipient. Traditional cards and e‐cards are available. Native Energy has been researched and recommended by Interfaith Power and Light, a nation‐wide ecumenical organization dedicated to mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. Kenyan Proverb
