Earth Share's Earth Saving Tips

Energize Earth Day

Saturday, April 22, is Earth Day! Share these ideas for participating in Earth Day at home or at work:

At Work:
- Assemble a team of co-workers to conduct an energy audit at your workplace. Look for lights and equipment needlessly left on, drafty windows and doors you could insulate, inefficient thermostat settings, and other energy-wasters. Make recommendations for improvements that will save energy and money.
- Organize a recycling drive and consider collecting uncommon items such as cell phones. Earth Share can send you collection bins and mailing labels! Visit www.earthshare.org/CollectiveGood.html to learn more.

- Put up an Earth Day bulletin board during April that offers employees new energy-saving tips each week.
- Bike to work, or car pool, use mass transit, or walk.
- Join the community effort - check for Earth Day events in your area on the Earth Day Network website: www.earthday.net.

At Home:
- "Tune up" your home - caulk around windows and doors; clean your heating and air conditioning system to improve operating efficiency; insulate attics and crawl spaces.
- Purchase energy-saving compact fluorescent fixtures to replace your light bulbs.
- Turn off your computer! A running computer can cost you between $100 - $400 a year in energy costs. For more information visit: www.eere.energy.gov

Save Energy On the Road

Current high gas prices are giving people even more incentive to increase fuel efficiency. Plus, using less gas by following these tips will also help reduce smog and emissions that contribute to global warming:
Change your air filter. Cleaning your air filter regularly can improve your gas mileage significantly.

Don’t speed. Being a good driver can save you some dollars at the pump. Speeding uses extra gas. Rapid acceleration and hard braking are also inefficient and lower your gas mileage.
Cruise control. Using your cruise control will keep you driving at a more consistent speed and can generally improve fuel efficiency.
Turn your car off. Idling can use a lot of gas. Generally, it’s more efficient to turn the car off and restart when you are ready to go. If you are thinking of hitting the drive-through, consider parking and picking up food inside. For short waits, put your car in neutral to avoid burning gas.
Inflate tires properly. Car tires that are under-inflated will lead to poor gas mileage. You can often find the correct pressure for your car printed on the edge of the driver’s side door.
Mileage still too low? Consider getting a tune up. A tune up will generally make a modest, but sometimes significant, improvement in your miles per gallon.

You can find these tips and more in Diane MacEachern’s new book, Beat High Gas Prices Now!

Tips for Green Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning can be hazardous to your health -- and to the environment. Many common household cleaners contain alcohol, ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde and lye, substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, inflammation and burning of the eyes and throat. Some of these ingredients have been linked with neurological, liver, and kidney damage, and asthma and cancer. When buying and using cleaning products, here are some things to keep in mind:

Read labels carefully to make an informed environmental decision regarding your purchases.
If you are concerned about the safety or environmental impacts of certain products, contact the manufacturer for more information.
When cleaning, remember to use no more than the recommended amount.
Use a scourer or rub harder on problem areas, rather than overusing cleaners. Try earth-friendly Bon Ami cleanser: www.bonami.com
Do not mix products unless instructed to do so by label directions. This can cause unwanted chemical reactions that could harm you.
Make sure containers are kept dry to prevent corrosion. If a container begins to corrode, place it in a plastic bucket with a lid and clearly label it.

Do-It-Yourself Green Cleaners

Some of the greenest cleaners are the ones you make yourself. Here are some sample recipes for simple, effective cleaners:

Drain Cleaner: Pour a half-cup of baking soda down the sink and add at least a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes, then rinse with a mixture of boiling water and salt.

Window Cleaner: Mix two ounces of vinegar with a quart of water in a spray bottle.

Silver Polish: Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a plastic or glass bowl. Sprinkle the foil with salt and baking soda and fill the bowl with warm water. Soak your silver in the bowl and tarnish migrates to the foil. Dry and buff.

Brass Cleaner: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt and rub the lemon on the metal. Buff with a cloth.

Rust Remover: Use vinegar to remove rust on nuts and bolts and other mineral deposits such as calcium deposits.

	Leave a Healthy Footprint! Thanks to our Wear, Share, & Show You Care partnership, your purchase of Earth Footwear is good for you AND the environment! For each purchase registered online, Earth Footwear will donate $1 to help support Earth Share. Visit http://earthshare.earth.us to learn more!
Earth Share, a nationwide network of America’s leading nonprofit environmental and conservation charities, promotes environmental education and charitable giving in employee workplace giving campaigns. Click here to find out why hosting an Earth Share campaign is a good idea for your workplace and the world.