Summer Solstice

This weekend marks the official start of summer. With warmer weather, vacations and outdoor activities, it's a great time to switch from the Eco-friendly tips we adopted in the winter to those that will keep us, and the earth, comfortable all summer.

Here are some ideas:

• Turn your A/C thermostat to 75 degrees or higher. Better yet, don't use it at all.
  

• Use ceiling fans. Adjust them so that they run in a counter-clockwise direction (stand under the fan and if you feel a breeze, it's set correctly).

• Use box fans or small space fans to help circulate air. And here's a tip ... when it's cool outside, put a fan in the window facing in and blow cool air into the room. When it's hot inside, reverse it ... put a fan in the window facing out and blow the hot air outside. It works amazingly well.
  

• Adjust the curtains and windows. Open them when it's cool and the sun isn't shining in. When the sun comes around, close both the windows and the shades.

• Turn off all electrical devices when not in use. For example, when you're not using the computer, turn it off ... you'd be surprised at how much heat a computer puts out (there's a reason there are little fans inside of computers). And don't forget lights ... they generate quite a lot of heat as well.
  

• Eat local and organic. Summer is the perfect time to eat fresh, local, organic produce. Support farmer's markets, CSAs and roadside stands. Or, start a garden and grow your own.

• Get some exercise and leave the car at home. This is the perfect time of year to walk or ride a bike ... so give the car, and our air, a break.

• Are you planning some landscaping this summer? Be sure to opt for native plants ... they'll require far less water and fertilizer.
  

• If you use large appliances like dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers ... operate them either early in the morning or late at night ... you'll not only save money by not running them during peak hours, you'll save energy.

• Consider using a clothes line and make use of the sun.

• Going on a picnic? Be sure to use reusable dishes and utensils ... no paper plates or plastic forks. And don't forget cloth napkins instead of paper. When the picnic is over, be sure to clean the area ... leaving nothing but your footprints.

• Opt for counter top cooking rather than using an oven ... toaster ovens and crock pots make wonderful meals without using a lot of energy.
  

• Are you planning a vacation? Consider a "staycation", playing tourist in your own town. If you decide to leave town, check out this post first: Vacations - The Eco-Friendly Way.

• When buying typical summer products (sun lotions, swim suits, pool toys, etc.) be sure they are Eco-friendly.

• Forgo expensive souvenirs and take digital photos instead. If you really want a souvenir, consider something from nature ... a rock or piece of driftwood.
  

• Start a compost bin ... summer is the perfect time for composting.

• Planning a little hiking or camping this summer? Remember to carry out what you carry in ... no littering. In fact, it's a pretty good rule for any activity, anytime.
  

I haven't forgotten those of you who are moving into winter. For our friends on the other side of the world, check out these posts:

• 15 Energy Saving Tips for Fall
  

• Winter Solstice

With just a little effort, any season can be Eco-friendly ... and wonderful!

Happy Summer (or Winter) everyone!




Just a reminder ... this week's challenge is still in play. Click on the picture to the left to read all about it.

It's a Balancing Act ... (a recycled article with new comments)

Since beginning this blog, I have received many emails saying "I've been bad" ... the author then goes on to talk about his/her guilt at not living up to an Eco-friendly lifestyle. I cringe when I get these emails because I really don't want anyone to feel guilty ... it isn't a productive emotion. Rather, I'd like to encourage awareness and offer so many ideas for living green that everyone will find something which they can do. My belief is that every effort, big or small, counts ... and a small effort today may lead to bigger efforts tomorrow. Looking back through my archive of posts ... I thought this one spoke to that concept:


In my opinion, conservation has to be balanced with our lives. In other words, I’m not going to live in total darkness or never use an electrical appliance just to ensure that I don’t use any electricity … but I am going to pay attention, cut down where I can and make what I use count.

Exhaust fans, especially in the bathroom, are a perfect example. In the winter, where I live, the air gets dry … the “hurt your nose when you breathe” kind of dry. So, I don’t use the exhaust fan when I take a shower and I leave the door open so that our living space benefits from the added moisture. In the summer, however, we get warm, moist air from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. We get enough humidity, in fact, that if we don’t use exhaust fans and ceiling fans, mold and mildew move right in. And that's not healthy.

When considering the various conservation options, remember to choose the ones that work in your life. Perhaps modify energy saving techniques so that they work for you. In that way, you'll make lasting changes to the world we live in. It's all about balance.

As always, I would love to hear your ideas for reducing, reusing and recycling. Just click on the comments link, located at the bottom of each post, and let me know what you think and how you conserve. Maybe you'll see your ideas in an upcoming post.

Exhausting ...

Have you given much thought to exhaust fans? They are efficient at freshening the air quality of a room ... eliminating odors, steam ... even smoke (on those occasions when we're not as attentive in the kitchen as we should be). In most homes they are easy to turn on and off ... a flip of a switch, typically placed next to a light switch. In fact, how many times have you flipped an exhaust fan on ... and forgotten it. It runs and runs ... until someone notices it and shuts it off.

Depending on the room and how it's used, most standard exhaust fans recirculate the air between 6 and 15 times an hour. That means that the air in the room is totally replaced once every ten minutes or less. What happens to the air? Most exhaust fans work by sucking air out of the house while pulling fresh air in from another vent.

These miracles of modern life ... these unsung heroes ... these little machines that we barely notice ... can be big energy wasters. Consider this ... the air that is being sucked up and returned to the great outdoors is usually, at this time of year, heated. And the air being drawn in ... isn't. In the summer, it's the opposite ... cooled air is sucked out while hot air is drawn in. Either way, it's inefficient and a waste of heating/cooling energy (not to mention money). And what about the energy used to run the fans? Sure, it may not be a great deal, but ... how often do we run it for ten minutes or less? Typically, especially in bathrooms, it is turned on and then forgotten until the next time "nature calls".

So here is today's easy tip ... turn off the exhaust fan. If your fan is controlled by a timer ... great ... set it for 10 minutes at the most (one complete recirculation should do the trick). If you don't have a timer, install one or ... set a kitchen timer or alarm to remind yourself to turn it off.

Rather than "exhausting" your energy consumption ... use an exhaust fan efficiently.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!