Going GREEN

Improving the environment in which our families live takes so little from you. You can choose to spend thousands on state-of-the-art green upgrades, but there are plenty of changes that can be made around the house right now, for little expense and effort. 

Here's a few of my favorites- even we can be more green: 

Visit  http://www.energystar.gov/ -for everything from appliances and home electronics to insulation and windows, doors and skylights are listed here. If you are looking at making serious home upgrades, this is an excellent first stop for products, information and ideas. 

CLEANING PRODUCTS: Pay close attention to the cleaning products you use. Vegetable-based, environmentally friendly cleaning products and homemade cleaners can get the job done while reducing the possibility of skin and respiratory reactions. More large grocery chains are adding green friendly cleaning products, so they aren't nearly as hard to find as before.

LIGHTBULBS: Use compact fluorescent bulbs inside, rather than incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulb lasts about 13 times longer and use about one-quarter of the energy of an incandescent one. It also will keep a half-ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over its lifespan. 

REDUCE junk mail you throw in the trash, send your name, address, and signature to: Mail Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512 and ask to be taken off mailing lists. You can opt out of the endless stream of credit card offers by calling the credit reporting industry's toll-free line at (888) 567-8688. 

RECYCLE ANYTHING YOU CAN: I'm your Old Center Neighborhood Recycling Captain so if you have questions or need help improving our town and our children's future, call me.  

TURN your thermostat by increments of one degree. In the summer, set your thermostat one degree warmer and in winter, make it one degree cooler. In a day or two, you won't notice it, but you will when the utility bill comes.