10 Ways to GO Green and Save Green

1. 
   
   
   
   
   Save energy to save money.
   • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
   • Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
   • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
   • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying
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2. Save water to save money.
   • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
   • Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
   • Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
   • Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
   
   
3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).
   •  Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
   • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
   • Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
4. Eat smart.
   • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
   • Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmerskeeps money in the local economy.
   • Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
   • Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.
   
   
5. Skip the bottled water.
   • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
   • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
   • Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.
   
   
6. Think before you buy.
   •  Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
   • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
   • When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
   • Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.
7. Borrow instead of buying.
   • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
   • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
   
   
8. Buy smart.
   •  Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
   • Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
   • Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
9. Keep electronics out of the trash.
   • Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
   • Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
   • Recycle your cell phone.
   • Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
   
   
10. Make your own cleaning supplies.
    • 
       The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
    • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Connecting with Government

July 26, 2011 Thank you for contacting me about protecting public lands and our marine life. I share your concerns about protecting these areas. Michigan has magnificent public lands including three national forests and 19 million acres of priceless forest cover. Our public lands, especially our forests, are vital to Michigan's economy. These areas create jobs, generate tourism dollars and provide many recreational opportunities.  As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I supported nearly 100 bills last year that would have protected public lands and waters across the country. As Congress considers new public land and water protection bills, I will be working with my colleagues to ensure that many of these bills are reconsidered. As this process proceeds, I will keep your concerns about this issue in mind. Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family. Sincerely, Debbie Stabenow United States Senator DS:MV

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow The United States Senate • Washington, DC 20510 stabenow.senate.gov

  

Subject: RE: Worst. Bill. Ever.

Dear Friend,

The House Republican leadership has just upped the ante on their already unprecedented assault on our nation's bedrock environmental laws.

This week, as part of the Interior and Environment spending bill, House Republican leaders and other pro-polluter lawmakers are pushing a series of amendments that represent the most egregious attacks ever on our air, land, water and wildlife.

The spending bill contains more than three dozen anti-environment policy measures that have absolutely no place in a budget measure, won't save the country a penny and are nothing more than giveaways to various special interest polluters.

I just e-mailed my member of Congress to urge them to reject this extreme bill. Will you join me? Click here to get started: http://action.lcv.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=689&s_src=072611&s_subsrc=Email

Thanks!

Protecting the E.P.A.

Delivering Your Comments to the EPA

FROM:Gene Karpinski, League of Conservation Voters  

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 4:25 PM

Message body

Angelita, thank you for standing up for clean air.

Today's Rally for Clean Air

You joined hundreds of thousands of your fellow citizens to submit more than 600,000 public comments to the EPA in support of the agency’s efforts to curb dangerous mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. Earlier today, LCV joined a coalition of organizations and activists to deliver those comments at a rally outside the EPA’s regional headquarters in Boston.

The EPA has been working hard to safeguard the air we breathe and the water we drink. And the EPA’s proposed new rules will protect us from many airborne toxins including mercury, arsenic, lead, dioxins, acid gas and other harmful pollutants.

Additionally, the EPA recently finalized the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which is a new air quality standard that will reduce the emission of smog and soot pollution from power plants in 27 states. According to the agency, the new rule will help avoid tens of thousands of premature deaths and illnesses and achieve hundreds of billions of dollars in public health benefits.

At the heart of the EPA’s recent efforts to protect our clean air and clean water has been Administrator Lisa Jackson, who has stood up to big polluters -- particularly Big Oil and Dirty Coal -- and has proven herself to be a tough environmental champion at a time when such champions are needed the most.

In the face of seemingly endless congressional attacks, we will continue doing everything we can to defend the EPA’s ability to enforce vital public health protections and ensure that the agency has the tools it needs to continue safeguarding our environment.

Thank you for everything you’ve done.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski

President

League of Conservation Voters

Letter to My President

Jul 20, 2011

President Barack Obama

The White House, 1st Floor, West Wing

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

I am appalled at what the Interior Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives has attempted to do to our nation's environmental laws.  The bill they hope to pass would cripple the EPA, allow for uranium mining of 1 million acres at the pristine Grand Canyon, slash funding for critical conservation programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and eliminate laws that protect water on our national forests. 

I urge you to oppose the Interior spending bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee.  This is an extreme assault on America's bedrock environmental protections. These cuts will do little to change the long-term deficit but represent a radical abandonment of a century of bipartisan support for conservation and environmental protection in America.

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