| Reduce your carbon footprint. Here is One Green | | | | sky-rocketing, what is better for your wallet and our |
| Thing for each room of your house. | | | | environment than free clothes drying by mother |
| Attic: Insulate with cotton. | | | | nature? A collapsible wooden clothes-drying rack will |
| Cotton insulation is made from 100% recycled material | | | | save you money and gas or electricity. |
| and natural fibers. Most is made from Denim | | | | Living Room: Use Odor-less, solvent-free, organic |
| manufacturing trimmings that are usually dumped in | | | | paints |
| landfills. No Formaldehyde or other chemical irritants | | | | Conventional gloss paints and emulsion paints contain |
| are required for manufacturing. | | | | solvents which can cause irritation and serious health |
| Bedroom: Use natural fiber bedding and pillows. | | | | problems and are difficult to dispose of. Switch to |
| Look for PBDE-free bedding choices like mattresses | | | | Eco-friendly paint for all of your home projects. It's |
| wrapped in wool, which is naturally fire-retardant. To | | | | better for the earth and it's better for you. |
| support the environment as well as your health, go | | | | Playroom: Choose Environmental Floor Coverings |
| with organic cotton that has been cultivated without | | | | The Impacts of a carpet roll's lifecycle include chemical |
| polluting pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Check labels | | | | emissions from manufacturing, depletion of natural |
| to make sure that bedding is also produced without | | | | resources like petroleum, transportation, indoor air |
| bleaching or stain- or water-resistant "finishing" (a | | | | quality, and disposal costs at landfills and recycling |
| process that uses offgassing chemicals such as | | | | operations. Carpet tiles reduce these impacts and |
| formaldehyde). Undyed linens are free of the heavy | | | | contribute to positive indoor air quality too. |
| metals found in conventional fabric dyes. | | | | Home Office: Power Down |
| Bathroom: Low-Flow fixtures | | | | Use a power strip for all of your office electronics. |
| By replacing the hardware on your shower with a | | | | Turn the power strip off when not in use. |
| low-flow showerhead, you can save over 20,000 | | | | Lawn & Garden: Chemical Free |
| gallons of water a year. | | | | Use easy to find non-toxic, organic, recycled fertilizers |
| Kitchen: Eco friendly cookware | | | | and pesticides. |
| Non-stick, coated pans heated above 680 degrees | | | | Whole House: |
| release toxic fumes such as the animal carcinogen | | | | Use bag-free vacuum cleaners, use home-made |
| tetrafluoroethylene. Beyond this, the manufacturing | | | | cleaning supplies (see recipe) and change your furnace |
| process of Teflon and other nonstick coatings | | | | filter each month. |
| releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which, | | | | Home-brewed disinfectant: |
| according to an EPA advisory panel, is a likely human | | | | Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant |
| carcinogen. Stainless steel, cast iron and enameled | | | | and deodorizing properties. Mix a half-cup of borax |
| alternatives are widely available, more durable and | | | | with 1 gallon hot water. Add a few sprigs of fresh |
| usually preferred by chefs. | | | | thyme, rosemary or lavender. Steep for 10 minutes, |
| Laundry Room: Alternative Energy | | | | strain and cool. Recycle a plastic spray bottle to store. |
| With natural resources diminishing and fuel prices | | | | |