LIVING SUSTAINABLY: Tips for Everyday Action Archive
DETOX YOUR HOME
Cleaning
Supplies 
Do you need a haz-mat suit when
you do your spring cleaning? Well you might decide you
need one after you read the ingredients on your cleaning
supplies. Chemicals in many common household products not
only pose health risks to you and your loved ones, but they
also enter the environment when you use them. This
spring, detox your cleaning closet and use
safer alternatives instead. For more resources check out this room
by room guide to detox your home on Planet Green .
Paint
Do
you really think you’re going to use all that leftover
paint from your remodel 3 years ago? Chemicals
in paints and stains not only pose health risks to you and your
loved ones, but they also enter the environment when you use
them. This spring, detox your home by giving away or
recycling that leftover paint. Latex and oil
based paints and stains are recyclable at Knott Landfill and participating paint and
hardware stores across Deschutes County.
Look for non-toxic environmentally
safe paints and stains for your next
project.
Household
Hazardous Waste
Do
you need a gas mask when you go into your garage? Well
you might decide you need one after you take a closer look at
what you have stored in there. Chemicals in many common
household products not only pose health risks to you and your
loved ones, but they also enter the environment when you use
them. This spring, detox your garage, and be sure to
dispose of toxics safely by finding out when the next Household
Hazardous Waste collection event in your area is.
- Deschutes County:
The new HHW facility will be up within a few months, after
which they will be open to receive HHW the 1st & 3rd
weekend of each month.
- Jefferson
County: HHW collection event slated for June
at Box Canyon Transfer Station in Madras,
475-1983.
- Crook
County:
Lawn
Care
You
wouldn’t dream of putting chemicals in the river, so why
do you put them on your lawn? After it rains, chemical
fertilizers are swept off lawns and down a storm drain, which
may lead to a waterway! This spring, make sure your
landscaping absorbs storm water on
site and try organic
fertilizers instead of
chemicals. Safer for you, your loved ones, and our
high desert environment. See an example of how
landscaping helps absorb water on
site.
Does your driveway look like the Valdez oil spill? If so, your car is probably leaking oil. And not just on your driveway, but anywhere else your car is driven! Oil on roads is washed down storm drains when it rains – but many drains lead directly to the nearest waterway. Oil in the river is harmful for wildlife and downstream users. Take your car in for a tune up if you think it’s leaking, and if you change oil yourself and be sure to recycle it. Click on the links below for recycling oil where you live.
- Crook County
- Deschutes County
- Jefferson County - Oil is accepted at the Recycle Depot - call 475-2071 for details.
ENERGY
A portion of our
electricity needs in Central Oregon still come from coal
fired power plants in neighboring states. So every time
you turn on that switch you are using energy from coal,
releasing carbon into the atmosphere and contributing to air
pollution. When you reduce your energy use, you not only reduce
your heating and electricity bills, but you also help prevent
global warming. Here are some tips on lowering your
winter energy demand.
Chill Out!!
- Put on a layer before turning up the heat - it's winter!
- Lower the heat - even more - while you are away and at night.
- Seal up leaks around doors and windows.
- Check where insulation can be added in your home. Learn more about insulating your home from the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association.
Don’t Be a Bright Light! 
-
Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
-
Use natural light wherever possible.
-
Replace your bulbs with energy efficient CFL bulbs.
-
Adjust your lighting to reflect your needs depending on the space.
-
Replace your existing light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights.
Learn more about energy savings from CFL bulbs from the New American Dream website.
Just Unplug It!
- Unplug electronics when done - they draw energy while off!
-
Plug similar electronics into one power strip that
can be turned off when you are done - best for TV and
computer systems.
Learn more about “phantom energy loss” from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
REDUCE YOUR ECOLOGICAL
FOOTPRINT
An ecological footprint is a measurement that tallies humans consumption of natural resources against biologically available available land and water to maintain and replenish those resources. As Americans, our average ecological footprint is 24 acres per person. This means we would need a total of 4 Earths if everyone in the world led a lifestyle like ours! As a country that is only 5 % of the population, we consume over 20% of it's resources! One way we can look at how we each contribute to America's impact on the planet is to look at each of the 5 aspects measured in an ecofootprint. Take the quiz and find out your EcoFootprint! Ecofoot.org was also included in Time Magazine's Top 50 websites for 2007!
Housing
Bigger houses use more resources to build, heat, cool, light and fill! Simply put, the bigger your house, the bigger your ecofootprint. So next time you’re looking to buy, remodel, or build, ask yourself – is bigger really better?
* Get inspired to satisfy your desire for a fabulous home without the trappings of a fabulously large home at The Not So Big House website.
Food
Next time you’re at the supermarket, skip the over-packaged products and cook a meal instead. Choose slow food from the Northwest over fast food from who knows where. And next time you’re looking to supersize it, ask yourself – is bigger really better?
* The Eat Well Guide is an online tool to find local food in any area, as well as providing seasonal recipes to get you excited about cooking at home.
Transportation
A bigger car uses more gas and emits more carbon. Smaller cars, walking and biking are healthier for you and the planet. So next time you’re running a small errand with a big car, ask yourself – is bigger really better?
* Check out Commute Optionsto find a ride share or find out how you can get gift certificates as incentive for choosing a commute option instead of driving yourself to work!
Purchasing
The more we buy, the more space we need, more resources we use and more money we spend! Forget about the Jones’s: buy what you need. And next time you’re paying your credit card bill, ask yourself – is bigger really better?
* Download a "wallet buddy"from the Center for a New American Dream to remind you of "More fun, less stuff, and more of what matters"!
Waste
We’ve all heard Reduce Reuse Recycle, but did you know they go in order? When you reduce what you bring home in the first place, that’s less that has to be reused, or recycled! So next time you take the trash out, ask yourself – is bigger really better?
* Check out the EPA's online "Consumer Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste". Tip #1 Reduce your packaging!
