Earth Share's Earth Saving Tips


	In this edition of Earth Share's Earth Saving Tips you will find new ways to improve energy efficiency and take steps to make your yard as green and environmentally friendly as possible. We invite you to share these tips in your employee publications and throughout the workplace.

Save Energy, Stay Warm While the icy winds of winter may seem a long way off, now is the best time to get your home ready for the cold season. Did you know that the largest portion of any utility bill for a typical house is heating and cooling? Try these tips for saving energy:		Earth Share is 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. Click here for campaign resources -- tips and materials to make your workplace campaign a success. DID YOU KNOW? Your local utility or other agency may provide free or inexpensive energy audits for homes & offices. This is the best way to determine where you can save energy and money. Try an online energy audit RECYCLE YOUR... CELL PHONE? Did you know that used cell phones, PDAs, and empty printer and toner cartridges can be recycled? Not only does recycling keep them out of landfills, it can also help raise money for groups like Earth Share. Visit Earth Share to find out how to double the benefits of your recycling efforts! For more information visit Earth Share’s Web site at www.earthshare.org, call 800.875.3863, or send an email to info@earthshare.org
	Install a programmable thermostat. Being able to turn down the heat for large chunks of time, such as at night or while at work, can make a difference in your overall energy consumption. Consider turning off the heat to rooms that are not heavily used
	Perform regular maintenance. If you have a forced air furnace, make sure to clean or change the furnace filter about once a month. Most furnaces will need to be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year.
	Insulate your home. The best way to quickly save energy is by installing good insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends an R-49 rating for attics; "R'' stands for resistance to heat flow -- the higher the R-value the greater the insulating power.
	Plug leaks and holes. In addition to insulating your attic and walls, another easy energy saving step is to add caulking and weather stripping. Feel for cool air around windows, electrical receptacles and pipe and wire entry points.
	Make your windows work for you. While having double paned windows makes a difference, little things like closing curtains at night and keeping south facing windows clean and open during the day can help keep your home warmer.
	Don't overuse kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans. Left on for too long, these fans can pull out much of your heated air.
Autumn Lawn Care Pointers Though many people gear up to work on their yards and gardens in the spring, fall is actually a critical time for yard work. Check out these environmentally-friendly action tips to help ensure a healthy yard next spring: Keep mowing. As long as the weather is warm, your grass will keep growing. You can cut grass short in the fall; a height of about two inches will promote new grass stems. Rake up those leaves. Not enough sunlight reaches your grass when it’s hidden under piles of leaves. If you have a mulching attachment for your lawn mower, leaving up to half an inch of shredded leaves and grass clippings is fine. Dethatch and aerate your lawn. A healthy lawn requires that both air and water reach the roots. If excessive thatch (matted dead organic matter) builds up, it can block air. You can get dethatching rakes and aerating tools at your local garden store. For bigger yards there is the option of renting equipment for easier dethatching and aerating. Fertilize organically. When preparing your soil for next year, add organic, slow-release fertilizers that will help enhance your soil over time. Learn more about toxic-free lawn care here: www.beyondpesticides.org
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Even in today’s high tech world, we are still huge consumers of paper. Paper production uses water and energy and destroys forest habitat around the world. According to the Center for a New American Dream, if 10% of students used recycled notebooks it would save 25 million gallons of water. So, whether you’re back-to-school shopping or ordering supplies for the office, here are tips to improve your paper purchasing know-how. Buy recycled products with a high post-consumer waste content. Some recycled products might only have 20% post-consumer waste content. Try to find recycled paper with 50% or higher. Chlorine is hazardous to our environment and is used extensively in paper manufacturing. Even a small difference in the brightness of the paper you purchase can make a big difference for the environment. Look for paper labeled as “unbleached.” Use less paper. Reducing paper use makes the biggest impact on the environment. Don't get the 500-page notebook when a 100-page version will do. Consider buying college ruled paper, using both sides of the page and composing drafts on a computer. Close the loop. Make sure to recycle all the paper that you use.