Last year I read It’s Easy Being Green, which has a wonderful list of eco-friendly tasks to clean up your life and your environment. I checked off all the items I wanted to tackle. So since it’s been a year, I thought I’d list all the items and mark off what I’ve accomplished over the past year. (I also have my own eco-wishlist that I’m continually updating.)

• Turn off water while brushing teeth/shaving.
• Use strainer on drains.
• Use water-based paints.
• Properly discard paint cans by drying them out.
• Use old towels and T-shirts as rags.
• Buy concentrated products.
• Keep a full fridge.
• Set fridge at 37º F.
• Keep fridge clean.
• Read the rest of this entry »

According to Earth Lab, my Earth Conservation Plan Profile (ECP) score is 293. ECP scores can range from 150-900 (the lower being better). Six categories (home, energy, work, commute, travel and lifestyle) are used to base the score. The average score in the United States is 325. Looks like I’m better than average, but still could use some improvement.

My carbon output is 10.4 tons per year. This needs to be improved as well.

Today D and I finally made it over to the Logan Square Farmer’s Market. There were about 10 booths, certainly not as big as the Wheaton Farmer’s Market, but still pretty neat. There were lots of veggies, flowers, Vella Cafe, soap and even wool! I look forward to more fruit at the market and seeing the other vendors.

Also at the market was a table set up for the Dill Pickle Food Co-op. I had never heard of it but it’s a new co-op that is opening a storefront about five minutes away from my apartment.  The whole idea is more local vendors, better food and, of course, a neighborhood grocer. I’m so appealed by the idea since there are mostly Spanish neighborhood stores in my area or Strack and Van Til. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are farther away. So I am now a member of my first co-op! I’ll get my membership card in the mail in a few days. Yay!

My eco produce bags arrived some time last week. I never blogged about it but I have been HATING using the plastic bags. I even would bring back used ones and try to reuse but they’re annoying and bulky and I don’t like them one bit. So I got 10 of these little guy which is perfect. Much better then what I tried to make myself (I am not much into sewing). I haven’t tried them out yet but I’m going shopping on Friday.

Investing in CFLs lately but you’ve heard all the mercury hype? Worried about how you’d clean up a broken bulb? Here are some tips from 7Gen Blog on the matter.

• First, don’t worry about buying or using CFLs. The mercury they contain can’t be released during normal operation, and until new technologies like LED bulbs come along to replace them they’ll remain the best lighting choice in a healthy, sustainable home.
• Always screw CFLs into and out of fixtures using the base and not the glass portion of the bulb. Never force a bulb into an unwilling socket.
• When you replace a CFL, consider using a disposable drop cloth underneath the immediate area, which can make an accident easier to clean up.
• Always dispose of burned-out CFLs via your local hazardous waste program.
• If you break a CFL, don’t panic! Proper clean up will keep everyone safe. Shut off any forced air heating or cooling that’s on, open windows to ventilate the room, and clear the area for 15 minutes. This will dissipate mercury vapors and dramatically lower exposure risks.
• Using disposable rubber gloves, carefully place the larger pieces in a screw-top glass jar. Use stiff paper like index cards to gently gather smaller bits. Try not to stir up any dust.
• Use a sticky tape like duct tape to “blot” up the smaller pieces and powder from the bulb. Place this tape in the jar as well. Follow with a damp paper towel wipe-down. Put the towel in the jar, too.
• Seal the jar, remove it from your home, and take it to your local hazardous waste depot next time you go.
• If you feel the area needs vacuuming, do so now, but throw out the bag when you’re done.
• Keep the room ventilated for a few hours and during the next several times you vacuum the area.

The post has more information on CFLs, so check it out.

The 7Gen Blog, from Seventh Generation, might be my new favorite thing. It delivers awesome information about eco-friendly topics. Recently it featured some information on emissions use of types of food.

Here’s how food production-related GHG emissions break down:

• Red Meat is responsible for 30% of our national food supply’s total GHG emissions
• Dairy products are responsible for 18%
• Cereals & Carbs are responsible for 11%
• Fruits & vegetables are responsible for 11%
• Chicken, Fish & Eggs are responsible for 10%
• Other is responsible for 9%
• Beverages are responsible for 6%
• And Oils, Sweets & Condiments are responsible for 6%

So making a few changes to your diet can actually really help.

With these numbers in mind, the study finds that replacing red meat and dairy products with chicken, fish, or eggs for just one day a week would be like driving 760 miles less each year.

I’m currently trying to go meatless one full day a week at least. I don’t eat a lot of red meat anyways, so I think meatless for me will be the same as subbing out red meat with chicken for heavier meat eaters.

So gas prices are redunk lately. $4.09 is a decent price for unleaded? Come on! So here’s some information on making your car, thus your driving trips, a little more efficient.

• Replace clogged air filters. A clogged air filter can cut a vehicles fuel efficiency by 10 percent.
• Check the air pressure on your tires and inflate any that are lower than the pressure recommended in the owner’s manual. AccuTire’s Programmable Tire Gauge ($19.95; www.properautocare.com) remembers the proper air pressure for you so can avoid pulling out the manual every time you check. Properly inflated tires can increase fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent.
• Slow down. For most vehicles, fuel efficiency begins to drop rapidly at 60 mph. Driving within the speed limit can improve fuel efficiency by up to 23 percent.
• Take it easy. Slamming on the brakes and accelerating too quickly can reduce fuel efficiency up to 33 percent.
• Get a tune-up. Routine maintenance can up fuel efficiency by 4 percent, while fixing more serious problems can improve efficiency up to 40 percent.

Originally from The Green Guide.