Sustainability Tips

COSC's Green Nugget

This is a new addition to our newsletter to pass on green tips

that you can immediately incorporate. Enjoy!

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Cell Phone Efficiency - 3/24/09

All the great things we can do with our phones take up a lot of battery power, which means more frequent use of electricity to charge it up. It is important to know how to make that battery last as long as possible. Here are seven ways you can get the most from each charge:

Use Energy-Saving Settings - Just like our computers, our phones have energy-saving settings that we need to use. They include how long the backlight stays on, the screen brightness, and vibration levels.

Skip the Animated Wallpaper - Yes, it looks cool, but it also sucks up a lot of juice. Save the battery power and pick a pretty picture instead.

Turn Stuff Off, Including Your Phone - Programs that make your phone work when you don't need it to are a big battery drain. Most importantly, turn your phone off when you're roaming. Searching for a signal requires a lot of battery power.

Use a Simple Ringtone - Musical ringtones and vibrate features take up more battery power than simple ringtones.

Use a Corded Headset - Corded headsets require less battery power than a Bluetooth headset. Plus, you don't look like you're talking to yourself while walking down the street.

Use Photo Features Sparingly - Having a camera built into your phone is great for capturing those priceless moments, but using the flash and editing features takes up more battery power.

Clean the Battery Contacts and Charge Properly - Simple battery maintenance helps your battery perform at its best and waste less juice. Cleaning dust from the contacts every so often will help keep it humming along. Also, check out what kind of battery you have and charge it according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

-- From www.planetgreen.com

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WaterSense - 3/6/09

A program designed by the Environmental Protection Agency patterned after the Energy Star Program, WaterSense is the EPA's rating system designed to promote highly efficient home products such as toilets and sink faucets to help conserve water without sacrificing performance. To learn more, vist www.epa.gov/watersense.

-- From "The Lazy Environmentalist" by Josh Dorfman

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Leaky Toilet - 2/10/09

Your toilet may have a leak and you may not event know it. Drop about six drops of red, blue, or green food dye into the tank of the toilet and wait an hour or so. Come back and see if the bowl has changed color. If you see any color, your toilet is leaking water, wasting countless gallons of H2O annually. Call a plumber and get it fixed.

-- From "Do Just One Thing" by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Fridge Efficiency - 2/3/09

Take a minute to pull your refrigerator a few inches away from the kitchen wall. By allowing extra air in the back, the condenser coils will work more efficiently because of the increased air circulation. When you have time, pull the fridge out completely and vacuum the back to remove dust and debris. Doing this twice a year will improve the efficiency of your fridge, too.

-- From "Do Just One Thing" by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Just Say No! - 1/26/09

This week, pay attention when you go out to eat. Does your favorite shop always give you a big stack of napkins, cutlery and a bag, even if you don't need it? Do you toss it all in the trash back at work? It's okay to say no to excess packaging. In fact, most stores will appreciate it. The less they have to give away, the more money they save.

-- From "Do Just One Thing" by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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January is "Radon Action Month" - 1/16/09

"Today's homes are built tight to keep out the cold of Iowa winters. But, our well-sealed houses may actually be sealing in a cancer-causing gas called radon. A simple test can tell if your home has dangerous levels of radon, and winter is the best time to check."
- Terri Henkels, Polk County Health Department Director

Polk County Health Department and Polk County Public Works Department will be selling radon test kits for $6 each this month and throughout the year. To learn more about Radon go online at www.epa.gov/radon. To find out more about purchasing a Radon Test Kit, contact Polk County Health Department (286-3430) or Polk County Public Works Department (286-3705). Check with your local county public health department for resources in your area.

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Consider a Year End Donation - 12/17/08

Please consider a generous year end donation to COSC so that we may continue to serve as your educational resource center.

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Holiday Shopping - 11/21/08

As you do your holiday shopping this season, try to buy from local merchants as much as possible. Buying locally boosts neighborhood economic development and reduces the amount of energy consumed with diminished shipping. Plus, it's just more fun to buy from those who live, work and play in your own community!

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Winterize your home! - 10/27/08

Now is a great time to check your house for air leaks before it starts getting REALLY cold! Here are the sources for air leaks in a typical home, according to the Iowa Energy Center:

- 31% Ceilings, walls and floors
- 15% Ducts
- 14% Fireplace
- 13% Plumbing penetrations
- 11% Doors
- 10% Windows
- 4% Fans & Vents
- 2% Electrical Outlets

--From "Home Tightening, Insulation and Venitlation" - by Iowa Energy Center

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Take advantage of our last warm weather! - 10/9/08

If the weather outside is delightful, skip the gym and run in the Great Outdoors. A thirty minute jog outdoors once a week instead of a treadmill adds up: over time, you'll significantly cut down on energy consumption. And you'll get in shape and save money from gym fees, too!

--From "Do Just One Thing" - by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Garbage Disposal - 9/16/08

If you use the garbage disposal, use cold water - which is energy efficient - to help speed up the process. Cold water will help solidify grease and oils, making the disposal work more efficiently. And remember: To keep the disposal clean and fresh, run ice and lemons through it. The ice will help sharpen the blades and the lemon eliminates odors.

--From "Do Just One Thing" - by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Carpool to School! - 8/14/08

Families share the need to get kids to and from school. Now's a good time to work out a fuel-saving carpool plan with other parents in your neighborhood.

Besides saving gas and greenhouse emissions, carpooling reduces the wear on cars and helps them last longer.

--From "Living Green - 365 ways to make a difference" Page-a-Day Calendar

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Statewide Habitat for Humanity ReStores - 7/17/08

A quick reminder that all of the Habitat for Humanity Restores around Iowa are available to help with inexpensive supplies for the rebuilding efforts. Here is a list of the ReStores in Iowa:

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Flood Rebuilding - 7/2/08

As you repair and remodel after the Floods of '08, consider supporting another flood victim, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

The ReStore sells new and used home improvement materials to the public at discounted prices. ALL proceeds from ReStore benefit the mission of Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. Visit their website at www.dmhabitatrestore.org.

You can also find materials at Home Recycling Exchange. They are a non-profit extention mission of the United Methodist Church and they collect and sell home building materials. You can visit their website at www.homerecycling.org.

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Flood Clean-up - 6/24/08
Stay away from bleach
Our first instinct is to bring out the chlorine to disinfect and kill mold. But a study conducted by Professor Jeffrey Morrell, Dept. of Wood Science, Oregon State University found that bleach "doesn't eliminate the surface micro flora." It doesn't kill the roots of the mold, only bleaches it so we think it's been cleaned away when it hasn't. So not only is it ineffective, its fumes are harmful to both humans and the environment.

Try This Instead
Mix:
2 ounces of borax and
1 cup of white vinegar

Spray on the mold, let sit for up to 60 minutes and then wipe the area. The mixture will prevent mold from growing back.

-- from After the Flood, Green Living Online
www.greenlivingonline.com

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Houseplants - 5/28/08

Ditch plastic plants for the real thing. A few houseplants, like Ivy and even cacti, will help naturally filter the air in your home by absorbing bad gases and giving back oxygen. Ask your local nursery for drought- resistant plants if you have more of a brown thumb with live plants.

-- from Do Just One Thing by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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How to find out if you use too much water - 5/5/08
A new website, H2O Conserve, allows you to actually calculate how much water you use so you can begin to assess your "water footprint." Cutting down on how much water we use in our homes and yards is the most important step we can take to reduce our water footprint. But our consumer and lifestyle habits also have a big, although less obvious impact.

To assess your water footprint:
http://www.h2oconserve.org/home.php?pd=index

To learn how to reduce water use at home:
http ://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

To find water-saving products: http: //eartheasy.com/shop/water_save.htm

- It takes 24 gallons of water to make 1 pound of plastic. To produce the average soda (or water) bottle it takes 1.5 gallons of water.
- Every gallon of gas that a car burns takes 1.75 gallons of water for refining.

-- from EarthEasy's April Newsletter - www.eartheasy.com

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Winter Storage - 4/14/08

Stash your winter gear - mittens, scarves, children's snowsuits - by recycling the heavy-duty zippered plastic packaging your new duvet or comforter comes in. The waterproof packaging will keep everything protected. Add a bundle of chalk to help absorb excess moisture and store the winter gear away for next year's annual snowball fight.

--- from Do Just One Thing by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Tune up your Lawn Mower - 4/9/08

Spring is just around the corner! Tune up your lawn mower and you'll reduce emissions up to 50 percent! Your local hardware shop can do it for you or visit www.mowertuneup.com for more information.

You can also check out reel mowers! Clean Air Gardening's website has some great examples to start with.

--- from Do Just One Thing by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Earth Day - 4/1/08

Earth Day is the day to go the extra distance: Bike to work, make a generous donation to an environmental charity, plant a tree with the family, start a vegetarian diet, or begin any other major green commitment you've been considering. Give it a try and join millions of others celebrating this wonderful planet!

--- from Do Just One Thing by Eco-Expert Danny Seo

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Reusable Water Bottles - 8/9/07

Eight out of ten plastic water bottles are not recycled and it takes roughly twice as much water to produce them than is contained inside. So, try drinking water the old fashioned way - straight out of the tap or through a filtered system. As stated recently in the Des Moines Register, two reusable bottles that cost around $10 and are available at the Container Store or Sports Authority are Polar Bottle and Nalgene Polycarbonate Bottle. Make the switch today!

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Construction Waste - 7/24/07

If you are remodeling or even doing a small 'fix-it- up' project in your home, remember these four steps to minimize construction waste:

- Plan ahead to reduce waste
- Reuse materials
- Recycle what you can
- Dispose correctly

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Two Reminders About Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs -  6/28/07 

1. A good rule of thumb to remember with compact fluorescents is that if you are going to be gone from the room more than 15 minutes, turn them off. The life of a CFL is shortened when it is turned on and off frequently.

2. Because of the mercury contained in the bulbs, remember to dispose of used CFLs properly. Collect them in a bucket and take them to a toxic waste collection site.
The local site for Des Moines is the Regional Collection Center in Bondurant. Visit their website for more information.

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Recycle on the Go - 6/7/07

Today a significant amount of municipal solid waste (at least 40 percent!) is generated outside the home at public spaces such as parks, sports arenas, transportation and shopping centers.

If every American recycled just one plastic beverage bottle while on the go, we could prevent the disposal of more than 8,000 tons of recyclable material.

To learn more about how you can recycle on the go or about the campaign, please visit www.epa.go v/recycleonthego.

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These Sustainability Tips come from the Environmental Building News, a leading newsletter on environmentally responsible design and construction.  www.buildinggreen.com

EBN’s Priority List for Sustainable Building:

1. Save Energy – Design and build energy-efficient buildings.
2. Recycle Buildings – Utilize existing buildings and infrastructure instead of developing open space.
3. Create Community – Design communities to reduce dependence on the automobile and to foster a sense of community.
4. Reduce Material Use – Optimize design to make use of smaller spaces and utilize materials efficiently.
5. Protect and Enhance the Site – Preserve or restore local ecosystems and biodiversity.
6. Select Low-Impact Materials – Specify low-environmental impact, resource-efficient materials.
7. Maximize Longevity – Design for durability and adaptability.
8. Save Water – Design buildings and landscapes that are water-efficient.
9. Make the Building Healthy – Provide a safe and comfortable indoor environment.
10. Minimize C&D Waste – Reduce, return, reuse, and recycle job-site waste.