Americans use about 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
Recycled plastic bottles can be made into carpeting, plastic lumber, and fleece jackets.
Every ton of plastic bottles that is recycled saves nearly four barrels of oil.
The United States of America produces 70% of the world’s waste. We only recycle 11% of its total waste, while Japan recycles over 50% of theirs.
Although screen savers are fun and interesting, they do not save energy. They are only meant to save phosphors in the screen, preventing the last image ‘burning’ onto your computer screen. More complex screensavers can actually use more energy!
If every house in the US changed ONE light bulb to a fluorescent light, we could power 3 million houses in the U.S. for a year.
Did you know that recycling one aluminum can will save enough energy to power a TV for three hours?
Did you know that 14 recycled plastic bottles yield enough fiberfill for a ski jacket?
The water used at car washes is treated afterwards so that the harmful chemicals aren't released into the waterline.
According to the environmental protection agency, over 25 BILLION Styrofoam cups are thrown away a year.
Turning a fluorescent light off and on uses 500 times less energy than leaving it on for 15 minutes.
Leaving a PC monitor on all night wastes enough energy to microwave six dinners.
In the USA, businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year. That’s 175 pounds per office worker! Every ton of recycled paper saves about 17 trees.
In just one year, Americans discard enough office paper to build a 12-foot-high wall of paper that would reach from New York to Seattle.
Leaving lights on in an office overnight wastes enough energy to boil 1000 cups of water.
Clear the air by accenting your home and office with green plants. They add a natural touch, while helping reduce indoor pollution.
Using compact fluorescent light bulbs not only reduce the emissions of green house gasses, but can also reduce energy consumption by up to 75%.
Save paper by opting out of mailing lists you don’t need. Junk mail uses as much energy each year as nearly 3 million cars.
Printer cartridges take about 450 years to decompose. When you change cartridges, always recycle your used ones. They can be remanufactured and used again.
Rechargeable batteries make sense and cents! Depending on your usage, the initial setup costs for rechargeable batteries and a charger could pay for itself in about a year or less. It’s like getting your batteries for free.
Packing peanuts add up to real savings. Reuse packing peanuts and bubble wrap rather than throwing it away.
Sugar cane is an annually renewable resource, where paper is made from trees that take 20 years to grow. When possible, purchase products make from sugarcane…disposable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery.
Bamboo is considered to be one of the most sustainable resources today. Bamboo is classified as a grass, not a tree and is thought to be the fastest-growing plant on the planet. It can be harvested in about four years and does not require replanting because it continually creates new sprouts. Best of all bamboo contains a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent called kun that prevents the growth of bacteria. Look for the picture of bamboo on products like cleaning and dusting cloths, flooring, mattresses, fencing material.
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AIR FRESHENERS:
Use an open box of baking soda or a dish filled with vinegar.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER:
1/2 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup baking soda, 1 gal. hot water. Mix, label and use for general purpose cleaning. |
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DRAIN CLEANER:
1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour in soda, then vinegar and close drain until fizzing stops. Flush with boiling water.
OVEN CLEANER:
Absorb fresh spills by sprinkling with table salt while still warm. When cook, brush and wipe off. Soften baked-on spills with a borax and lemon juice paste. |
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SCOURING POWDER:
Make a paste of baking soda and water.
TOILET BOWL CLEANER:
Make a paste of borax and lemon juice. Rub the bowl with the paste and leave on for a few hours. Scrub with a brush and flush.
WINDOW/GLASS CLEANER:
1/4 cup vinegar, 1 cup water. Mix and label in a pump spray bottle. |
All of the below products are readily available in your local supermarket.
SOAP:
Soap without synthetic scents, colors or other additives biodegrades safely and completely, and is non-toxic and they dissolve more easily in hot water.
BAKING SODA:
Baking Soda is a slightly alkaline mineral that cleans and deodorizes. Baking soda can be used as a gentle nonabrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and fiberglass. It will eliminate
perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, a great teeth whitener, and a fine carpet deodorizer. |
WASHING SODA:
Washing Soda is a much more strongly alkaline product than its neighbor Baking Soda. Washing Soda cuts grease, removes stains, disinfects and softens water.
BORAX:
Borax is an excellent disinfectant and laundry cleaner.
WHITE VINEGAR AND LEMON JUICE:
Vinegar and lemon juice cut grease and freshen.
CLOUDY AMMONIA:
Cloudy ammonia cuts heavy grease. It must be used with CAUTION because its toxic fumes can irritate eyes and lungs. Use with only good ventilation.
WARNING: Never mix bleach with cloudy ammonia as it will produce toxic fumes! |
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