Posted by Snow in
path to green living
Print out this Recycling Scorecard and go around your house. Give yourself a recycling grade. Five or more “Yes” answers mean you are on track. Less than 4 out of ten of “yes” means you need some serious home greening.
1. Recycling separators Yes ? No ?
Bins for plastic, glass and tins for recycling should be ready and waiting for sorting. Use paper or plastic shopping bags in a pinch. Curbside recycling should be one trip out to the curb. Having these ready will make recycling that much less of an effort. The visual reminder grooms home consumers towards saving cans and bottles.
2. Compost area Tank/Bin Yes ? No ?
A storage area for short term vegetable and waste mass is a must in today’s re-use environment. Don’t need the scraps? Find a neighbor who does. You may get some free tomatoes or herbs in the spring!!!Re-use your working kitchen scraps. Your trash day out to the curb haul will be that much lighter.
3. White vinegar and lemon green homemade cleaner Yes ? No ?
Re-use an old glass or solvent cleaner spray bottle and clean green. Adding white vinegar and lemon to three parts water can make a sweet smelling and long lasting green cleaner for kitchen or bathroom. Baking soda is also a magic green cleaner.
4. Low phosphate dish detergent Yes ? No ?
Oregon law now requires low phosphate dish detergent cleaners as part of its green initiatives and environmental planning. Concentrates help to as the packaging works for twice the size. Take a look at your clothing detergent and see if next time you can’t buy a more green friendly mixture.
5. Dimmers/Timed night lighting Yes ? No ?
Don’t leave house lights yard lights or hallway or garage lights on all night. Look for light or motion activated lights or timed on/off travel home lighting.
6. Clothes Hanging Rack Yes ? No ?
Hot weather or cold weather climates alike should have home clothes hanging racks. Outdoor indoor temperature and sunlight can work wonders to save energy. Using the dryer for a quick warm up or tumble dry should be the case in all weather. Get plastic dryer balls which save about a quarter of the drying time. These little balls tumble and “beat” the clothes inside the dryer while they dry, allowing better heat and drying access.
7. Solar/Crank powered Device Yes ? No ?
By now you should have at least one crank powered radio, one set of solar absorbing energy night lights, or some other system of pool heating or solar panel energy conversion devices. Crank powered items like radios, televisions, flashlights, and other items like lights allow for ongoing flexible living during emergency or brownout conditions.
8. Newspaper Reservoir Yes ? No ?
The newspaper reservoir is for stacks of newspaper awaiting re-use. Whether you are cleaning the windows, lining the floor for a craft or painting project, or simply stacking papers for trash day, they need a place to go. Lining counter space in the kitchen with folded paper sections makes for whisk away cleanup. Folded over newspaper sections make tidy place mats that grab spillage. Remember, newspapers make great under door aperture and threshold liners when drafts and wind kick up.
9. Flourescent Light Bulbs Yes ? No ?
Check your housing bulbage to make sure you have more eco-friendly(CFL) wattage happening. Replace old school bulbs one by one at the replacement window with the new school technology.
10. Locavores Unite Yes ? No ?
It’s considered green-friendly to purchase local goods. Divide pantry and refrigerator items. Anything manufactured in state counts as “local” for this quiz. If you have less than ten per cent (a generous amount) fridge or pantry stuff made within your state, you are in the doghouse.
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great ideas. I always follow your ideas and apply them. Just one question though. Have you made writing this blog as your profession or do you do this in your spare time? Just curious..