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More Home and Garden Green Tips: CFL Safety | Insulation | Dry Cleaning
CFL Safety
Switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) is a great way to save energy and money. However, CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, a neurotoxin, so it's important to dispose of them properly.
- Don't throw CFLs in the trash; recycle them instead. Some manufacturers, like Osram Sylvania, accept CFLs for recycling. Retailers like IKEA and Home Depot also have take-back programs. Find your nearest CFL recycling center at RecycleABulb.com or consult the EPA's directory of recycling facilities.
- If a bulb breaks, open a window and leave the room for at least 15 minutes. Keep children and pets away from the broken bulb.
Fast Fact: If every U.S. household replaced one roll of regular paper towels with 100 percent recycled ones, we'd save 544,000 trees.
On a Winter's Day
- Run a tight ship. Make sure your windows, doors, and ducts are well-sealed with caulking and weather-stripping, which can save as much as 10 percent on winter heating costs. Homes with forced-air heating systems can lose as much as 40 percent of their heat if duct joints are poorly sealed.
- Temper the temperature. Turning your thermostat down just five degrees can cut energy bills (and pollution) 10 percent, so keep it at 68 degrees in winter, and at 60 degrees or less while you sleep.
- Fan the heat around. Running your ceiling fan clockwise at a slow speed recirculates warmer air that accumulates at the ceiling, reducing energy consumption by up to 10 percent.
- Insulate. A simple insulating blanket to improve your water heater's efficiency costs only about $20 and is available at most hardware stores. Since most heat loss occurs through windows, thick curtains and drapes can help keep you toasty. Double-paned windows cost more but are worth looking into.
- Use the sun. Even in cold climates, homes can be weaned off fossil fuels with a remodel that integrates passive solar techniques. A sunroom, double-paned south-facing windows, and overhangs can create a bright, efficient abode.
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The Dirt on Dry Cleaning
Although no water is involved in the dry-cleaning process, liquid solvents are. They contaminate our soil and water, and are likely carcinogens linked to a host of health problems.
- The simplest (and probably cheapest) solution is to avoid clothes that require dry cleaning. Machine-washable suits exist, and many cotton, linen, and silk clothes can be safely hand-washed in cold water - yes, even if they say "Dry clean only."
- For clothing that must be dry-cleaned, greener alternatives include wet cleaning and liquid-CO2 dry cleaning.
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