This
Tuesday, April 22nd, is Earth Day and although there is
still some discussion about how dire the earth's present
circumstances and the best ways to avoid an inevitable calamity,
it would certainly seem prudent for all of us to do whatever
we can to help keep our planet green and beautiful.
Most of us are not going to
dash out and install windmills in our backyard or keep the
temperature at 50 degrees but there are some very easy things,
that if we all do, can add up to a big difference.
- A way to save water and
money effortlessly and still have ample water pressure
is to install a low-flow showerhead. A typical shower
uses up to 25 gallons of water and low-flow device saves
50-70%. New bath and kitchen aerators turn on and off
with a flip of the finger ... great when soaping your
hands or hair or loading a just rinsed dish into the dishwasher.
- Fix that water leak. A
single slow leaky faucet dripping 30 drops per minute
wastes three gallons per day.
- Stop accumulating what
you don't need. Not only will you avoid "clutteritus"
but packaging, waste and pollution are created for everything
we buy.
- Unplug your computer cord,
cell phone charger and DVD player when not in use. Easiest
method is to use a power strip for appliances, then flip
the switch. And remember to switch light bulbs to fluorescent.
- buy a re-usable stainless
steel bottle for your water. Most plastic bottles will
remain in the landfill for years. Especially avoid plastics
made of polycarbonate which contains BPA (they will have
the recycling number 7 on the bottom). Studies suggest
that BPA exposure increases the risk of many serious health
problems.
- While it may be difficult
to have enough cloth bags for a really big grocery expedition,
for the many quick trips to the store, keep a few of the
cloth bags in your car. Unlike plastic, they are sturdy
and don't give out half way to your front door. If you
become accustomed to using them, you'll be a'head of the
game if plastic becomes outlawed, locally.
- Try using re-cycled paper
products ... towels, greeting cards, etc. You will be
saving the life of a tree, somewhere.
- Support the local agriculture
by looking for and shopping at, a farmer's market. The
produce is fresh and it's a fun way to shop.
- Car pool and to take mass
transit, whenever possible. And when you drive, if you
stick to the 65-mile-per-hour speed limit, you will improve
your fuel economy by 15 percent.
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
