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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Close the Loop
What does that mean? It means purchasing products that are created from and packaged using recycled materials.
When you buy these items, you are saving water and energy. It takes a lot of water, oil and energy to create a new plastic bottle. But it takes a lot less water and energy to melt down that bottle and create another one. It's the same thing with toilet paper. Lots of trees are cut down, lots of water and energy are used to make virgin-fiber toilet paper. But if you buy the 100% recycled toilet paper (Seventh Generation's is soft), you are saving all of those trees and lots of water and energy.
It just takes a moment to look at the label on the packaging to see if it was made with recycled materials and if the packaging was recycled. The higher the post-consumer content, the greater the environmental savings. Post-consumer content tells us how much of the items you and I recycle are used in the making of that product or packaging.
When you buy these items, you are saving water and energy. It takes a lot of water, oil and energy to create a new plastic bottle. But it takes a lot less water and energy to melt down that bottle and create another one. It's the same thing with toilet paper. Lots of trees are cut down, lots of water and energy are used to make virgin-fiber toilet paper. But if you buy the 100% recycled toilet paper (Seventh Generation's is soft), you are saving all of those trees and lots of water and energy.
It just takes a moment to look at the label on the packaging to see if it was made with recycled materials and if the packaging was recycled. The higher the post-consumer content, the greater the environmental savings. Post-consumer content tells us how much of the items you and I recycle are used in the making of that product or packaging.
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Green TV
I've been hoping for a TV channel that would air all sorts of programs about green living.
Well, I've found a great source of 'green' info on the Discovery Home Channel. They have several shows that give useful information about reducing waste, organic gardening and cooking with fresh fruits and veggies.
One show in particular, called "Wasted", deals with our wastefulness. The host visits a family and shows them what they are wasting (ie. food, energy) and gives them practical ways of reducing that waste. One family was heating their home with their oven. Another family was trying to keep their home warm by having fires in their fireplace. In these cases, the host showed the family an energy-efficient space heater and an energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly wood pellet stove, respectively. One mom was wrapping her children's sandwiches every day with plastic wrap. The host encouraged her to put the sandwiches in an airtight container (like Gladware or Tupperware) instead of wasting all of that plastic.
Another show that I like to watch is the "Manic Organic." As Spring gets closer, I will no doubt be watching this show every week. I'd love to have a little garden this year . . . maybe our blueberry bushes will have fruit.
Well, I've found a great source of 'green' info on the Discovery Home Channel. They have several shows that give useful information about reducing waste, organic gardening and cooking with fresh fruits and veggies.
One show in particular, called "Wasted", deals with our wastefulness. The host visits a family and shows them what they are wasting (ie. food, energy) and gives them practical ways of reducing that waste. One family was heating their home with their oven. Another family was trying to keep their home warm by having fires in their fireplace. In these cases, the host showed the family an energy-efficient space heater and an energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly wood pellet stove, respectively. One mom was wrapping her children's sandwiches every day with plastic wrap. The host encouraged her to put the sandwiches in an airtight container (like Gladware or Tupperware) instead of wasting all of that plastic.
Another show that I like to watch is the "Manic Organic." As Spring gets closer, I will no doubt be watching this show every week. I'd love to have a little garden this year . . . maybe our blueberry bushes will have fruit.
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For Parents - Tax Info - Some Good News?
It's that task that we put off and put off. Taxes.
But there can be something you can look forward to - tax credits. That is, if you made energy improvements to your home before December 31, 2007, or if you purchased a hybrid vehicle.
Unfortunately, Congress has let most of the consumer tax credits expire (as of December 31st). Hopefully, they will reinstate them as incentives for us to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.
So far, Virginia doesn't have any state income tax credits (none that I've found). But we do have 4 days in October when we can buy Energy Star products and be exempt from the sales tax. It's just like the tax-free days we have for school supplies, but for Energy Star items.
This Monday, February 4th, the Virginia Clean Energy Future Act (SB446) http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/pages/page.cfm?page_id=243
will be voted on by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. This bill will mandate that our state get 20% of our energy from clean sources like wind and solar, and that we reduce our electricity usage by 10%. Check out the link above for the latest news on this bill.
If you'd like to find out more about federal or state incentives to become more energy efficient, check out these web sites:
www.dsireusa.org
www.SEEA.us
www.energytaxincentives.org
www.ase.org/taxcredits
www.deq.virginia.gov
But there can be something you can look forward to - tax credits. That is, if you made energy improvements to your home before December 31, 2007, or if you purchased a hybrid vehicle.
Unfortunately, Congress has let most of the consumer tax credits expire (as of December 31st). Hopefully, they will reinstate them as incentives for us to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.
So far, Virginia doesn't have any state income tax credits (none that I've found). But we do have 4 days in October when we can buy Energy Star products and be exempt from the sales tax. It's just like the tax-free days we have for school supplies, but for Energy Star items.
This Monday, February 4th, the Virginia Clean Energy Future Act (SB446) http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/pages/page.cfm?page_id=243
will be voted on by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. This bill will mandate that our state get 20% of our energy from clean sources like wind and solar, and that we reduce our electricity usage by 10%. Check out the link above for the latest news on this bill.
If you'd like to find out more about federal or state incentives to become more energy efficient, check out these web sites:
www.dsireusa.org
www.SEEA.us
www.energytaxincentives.org
www.ase.org/taxcredits
www.deq.virginia.gov
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Our January Meeting
At our only meeting in January, we created a mural and hung it in the cafeteria. The students brought in small items to embellish their artwork.
They decided to divide the paper into two equal sections. In the left section, the plants and animals are very happy:
There is no air or water pollution. Not a single piece of litter can be found.
But in the other section of the paper, plants and animals are in peril.
Smoke spews from a factory.
Litter covers the ground. The pond is dried up and animals have died.
Everyone did such a great job! It's a powerful piece of artwork.
They decided to divide the paper into two equal sections. In the left section, the plants and animals are very happy:
There is no air or water pollution. Not a single piece of litter can be found.
But in the other section of the paper, plants and animals are in peril.
Smoke spews from a factory.
Litter covers the ground. The pond is dried up and animals have died.
Everyone did such a great job! It's a powerful piece of artwork.
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