Delocator – go local

Tired of the chain stores that are taking over your neighborhood? Support local! Go to Delocator.net and search by zip code to find locally owned coffee shops, bookstores, and movie theaters in your area. If your favorite independent spot isn’t represented, you can submit information for the benefit of others.

Wash your car – the green way

When your car needs to be washed, do you do it yourself or head to the local car wash? You may be surprised to learn that taking your car to a commercial car wash is actually better for the environment than washing your car at home.

When you wash your car in your driveway, the runoff goes into storm drains, which lead directly to creeks, lakes, and streams and harm water quality and wildlife. Federal laws require commercial car wash facilities to drain wastewater into sewer systems, where it is treated before being released back into the environment. Commercial car washes use computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage; the International Carwash Association reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer. Also, many car washes will recycle and re-use the rinse water.

Tip of the Day – Smarter dishwashing

Skip the pre-rinse cycle on your dishwasher. Most dishwashers are powerful enough to clean your plates without the pre-rinse, so why waste the energy and water? While you’re at it, skip the dry cycle – leave the dishwasher door open and let the air dry your dishes for you!

Did you know…

…that it takes 20 times more energy to make an aluminum can from scratch than from a recycled one? Another great reason to recycle, recycle, recycle!

Fun fact: A recycled aluminum can is remanufactured and back in circulation within 6 weeks.

Did you know…

…that we use more water in the bathroom than any other room in the home?

To help conserve water, install a low-flow shower head. And don’t forget to turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth!

Tip of the Day – Keep your freezer full

Your refrigerator/freezer is one of the biggest energy users in your kitchen, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And the emptier your fridge or freezer is, the harder it has to work to keep everything inside cold. A full freezer operates much more efficiently than an empty one (and will stay colder longer in the event of a power outage). If you can’t keep your freezer full, you can fill containers (finally! a use for plastic milk jugs) with water — don’t forget to leave room at the top for expansion.

Drive smarter

Gas prices are up and so are greenhouse gas emissions. Are you driving as efficiently as you can?

• Replace clogged air filters, inflate tires to the correct pressure, and change your oil regularly. Keeping up with regular maintenance will improve your car’s fuel efficiency by 15%.
• Avoid short trips. A cold engine doubles fuel consumption.
• Fill your tank during the cooler morning or evening hours. Gasoline evaporates as it moves from the fuel pump to your car, and evaporation rates are worst during the hottest part of the day. You’ll also get more bang for your buck — gas expands when it is warm, so you’ll get more fuel by filling up when it is cooler outside.
• Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your car. Every 100 pounds of added weight reduces your MPG by 2 percent.
• Avoid harsh acceleration and heavy braking. Driving like this uses 60 percent more fuel.
• Restarting your engine uses less energy than 10 seconds of idling, so switch off your car!

Donate your old cell phone

I recently read that there are over 500 million used cell phones in the U.S. sitting in people’s drawers or worse, in our landfills, and another 100+ million will be added this year alone! (You should never throw away a cell phone — they contain a lot of toxic materials).

I just got a new cell phone, but have been hanging on to the old one, unsure what to do with it until I came across Phones4charity. The program sells used phones to refurbishing plants and hands 80 percent of the money to more than 500 charities, including the American Red Cross and the National Wildlife Federation. Refurbished phones are sent to emerging countries and areas of the U.S. where cell phones where there is “an economic necessity for cell phones for both safety & communication.” Even if your phone does not work, they will recycle it in accordance with federal and local environmental standards for its metal and plastic.

All you need to do is send your old phone(s) in a padded envelope or box to the address, and specify which charity you wish to donate to. Nice!

Tip of the Day – Check your tires

Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Here is a how-to, in case you need a little guidance.

Whiten whites (without bleach!)

Bleach is hard on your clothes and on the environment, so try an effective retro alternative: Launder cotton whites in cold water with a spoonful of cream of tartar (sold in your grocery’s spice aisle) in addition to your usual detergent.