Walking is the New Driving

By guest contributer Stacey Harman

Since greenisthenewpink.org hit the scene over a year ago, I have tried my best to incorporate “green” ways of living into my lifestyle…

I changed out all my BAD light bulbs for Eco-friendly bulbs. I started recycling, or at least reusing everything and anything I could. I unplug my cell phone chargers during the day like a good little girl. I shut down my computer when I’m not using it. I get my books from the library instead of buying new every time. I never had air conditioning to begin with so that was a non-issue. I do laundry at odd hours of the night. I drink tap water (God help me if my unborn children arrive with an extra arm or one lonely ear). And I cut back to four squares of Charmin when wiping. I figured this was the least I could do.

However…if all that sounds too difficult, yet you still want to reduce your carbon footprint (I still have no idea what that means, but it’s fun to say), if you really want to make a difference, there is one more thing you can do. It’s so simple and yet it will make a huge impact. Are you ready…?

WALK!

That’s right. You heard me…start walking. You learned the ancient art of walking when you were just one year old. You’ve been doing it for as long as you can remember, but right around 16 you learned to DRIVE (ooh - bad word, bad word) and if you’re anything like me, driving became the norm.

School was a hop, skip and a jump away but I insisted on driving my little ‘94 Hyundai back and forth everyday. Plus, if I took the long way to school, I could pass by my crush, Brian’s house, pretending I just happened to be in the neighborhood (something stalkers do). I had no idea driving two blocks here and three blocks there was actually releasing harmful toxins into the air.

If only I knew then what I know now…

DRIVING 3 miles produces roughly 1.0 KG of CO2.

Walking still sound like a drag? Maybe saving the Earth isn’t enough incentive to drive less and start walking. Here’s a little bonus incentive…

You’re getting fat. That’s right. I said it…FAT.

WALKING 3 miles burns roughly 300 calories.

• Walking the mile to the nearest Whole Foods can and WILL help you to lose those 20 aggravating pounds you’ve put on since college
  

• Walking to your favorite bar (which is undoubtedly in your own neighborhood anyway) will not only reduce your carbon footprint (heehee – I said it again), but also, stop you from “one-eyeing” it on the way home which is not only dangerous, but illegal.
  

• And here’s another brilliant idea…WALK to the gym, Fatty. I was driving to my gym everyday when finally it dawned on me…My gym is only 1.3 miles from my house. That’s 130 calories each way if I walk. My 30 minutes of cardio combined with walking the 2.6 mile round trip may just be the perfect combination for reducing my thunder thighs and saving the Earth all at once

Do your part…Save the Earth…WALK.

-Stacey is a writer who lives in Los Angeles

Easy Summer Energy Tips

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot, oo-ooh! Yes, this song may be fun on the conga line around your cruise ship's deck as you shake your maracas on the way down to Cancun (key words: may be--like if the year was '91), but in general, feeling hot means feeling sticky and gross. Which we hate. But it’s summer time and that means it’s hot, hot, hot everywhere and that makes us all want to run for our air conditioners and frozen margaritas. Before you run up thousands in your electric bill, we felt this was a perfect time for some Summer Energy Saving Tips (you can keep the margarita…or at least a mojito.)

Keeping the House Cool

• Reset your thermostat. Please don’t tell us you’re turning it down to 65 and then putting your flannel PJ’s on and pulling up the covers! Dress cool, put your hair up and turn your thermostat up. Conventional Eco-wisdom dictates that we try to keep our thermostats at 78 degrees in the summer. And turn it off when you leave the house!!! It’ll be okay!
• If you have fans (ceiling or otherwise)….use them! Ceiling fans create enough air movement in a room to make it feel cooler by four degrees or more. They use only about as much energy as a 100-watt light bulb.
• Shade your place. Windows are one of the largest sources of heat gain in your home. Although not as effective as exterior shading, keeping your drapes and shades closed during the day helps keep unwanted heat out of your home.
• Use the evening breeze. If you live in the type of area that has cooler nights even after hotter days (like Cali), cut your cooling costs by opening windows when it's cooler outside than inside. In the morning, close up the house to trap the coolness inside.
• Shade your room air conditioner from direct sunlight
• Duh…but just in case your forgot…close all windows and doors when using your air conditioner.

The Great Outdoors

• Longer days mean shorter nights. Don't forget to adjust your outdoor lighting timers. You'll save money and extend bulb life.
• Low-voltage outdoor lighting systems are inexpensive, simple and safe…Another great option are the solar-powered outdoor lighting fixtures you can buy. Both are available pretty much everywhere—your local hardware store/Home Depot, possibly your drug store, Amazon, etc.
• Consider alternatives to grass (no, not ‘shrooms). If you have a lawn…Grass is a fast-growing, high-maintenance ground cover that "browns off" quickly in dry weather. Other ground covers such as clover and other low-growing, spreading plants require less maintenance and are more drought resistant. Your local garden centre can advise you on alternatives to grass that will thrive in your area.
• Use an Electic Mower. Gas lawn mowers are a major source of air pollution and smog in many areas. Electric mowers pollute less and are much quieter too.

The Pool

• Cover your pool. A proper pool cover can cut heat loss by 50 to 75% and can also reduce water loss by up to 90%.
• Reduce filtration time to six hours per day. You can save 50% or more of the energy used for filtration.
• Heat the pool only when you use it. If you only use your pool on weekends or special occasions, turn off the heater or lower the thermostat setting to 68 degrees during the week. You can turn on your heater the night before, or the morning of the day you plan to swim….or if you live in an area that’s hot enough (like the Valley…), you may not even need to turn the heater on at all. Just let the sun do it’s magic.
• Turn your pool heater off when you leave for vacation.
• Re-evaluate the frequency of backwashing. Most people backwash more than needed. Some pool filters do not have to be backwashed; they can be taken apart and cleaned. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Oldies But Goodies

• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.
• Do only full loads when using your dishwasher and clothes washer. Run your appliances during off peak hours or after the sun goes down.
• Unplug electronics (don’t be a victim to standby power)… power strips are still the easiest way to facilitate this…
• Replace your air conditioning filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause the coil in your air conditioner to freeze up significantly increasing energy use. Saving up to 5% of cooling costs.
• Install compact fluorescent lights. We’re like a broken record with this one. But we’ll say it again—compact fluorescent lights use 75% less energy than incandescent lights. Yes, when you go to the store, they will be a few dollars more, but in the long run you’ll make those dollars back and then some on your electric bill.

Energy Investments—For the more serious Ecoist

• Get an air conditioner tune-up. An improperly charged air conditioner uses significantly more energy than one that is properly charged. Have a licensed heating and air conditioner contractor service your system.
• Shade your home and windows. Shading the outside of your home should be your first line of defense against summertime heat. Careful planting of trees, shrubs, vines and ground cover to shade your home and windows from the sun can really reduce your cooling costs. For immediate results, install patio covers, awnings, and solar screens to shade your windows. Energy savings can be up to 30 percent of cooling costs.
• Install a whole house fan. A whole house fan is permanently installed in your attic and draws cool air into your home through the windows and forces hot air out through your attic vents. These are used after sundown when the outside temperature drops below 80 degrees and in the early morning.
• Choose Energy Star^® appliances and electronics. When buying new appliances, choose Energy Star^®-certified models. For example, a new Energy Star^®-refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than a standard new refrigerator and 46% less than one manufactured in 1980. A new Energy Star^® clothes washer uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard washer uses.
• Seal ducts. Leaking ductwork accounts for more than 25% of cooling costs in an average California home. Consider hiring a contractor to test the tightness of your ducts and repair leaks and restrictions in your duct.
• Consider replacing your old air conditioner with an Energy Star ^® unit. New air conditioning units are available that use 40% less energy to cool your home than older models.
• High efficiency windows. If you are planning to replace your windows, choosing Energy Star^® windows can reduce your cooling costs by up to 15 percent.

In the peak of summer the energy supply is strained so do your conservationist part for the sake of the future of the environment and your pocketbook (then you can buy those Wedges your are coveting.)

For more info, go to the following sites:

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/summertips.html
http://resources.ca.gov/tips.html http://www.cpau.com/docs/factsheets/energy/summer_effic.html http://www.nstaronline.com/residential/energy_efficiency/spring_summer.asp