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RESOLUTIONS FOR GREENER LIVING
by JANE BOGNER
SUNDAY, January 09, 2005

I have two simple resolutions this year: "walk more, drive less" and "one in, two out." Before I purchase an item, I’ll try to analyze its worth and usefulness. Will it replace something that I already have that needs replacing? Will I use the item or store it for future use? Some deals are too hard to resist which can result in garages and attics full of unused items. For each new item, I resolve to find some comparable item in my home to recycle, re-gift or donate. One habit that I started last year was to remove one item from the attic each time I went up to exchange seasonal items.

The National Resources Defense Council (www.nrdc.org) recently published a Guide to Greener Living. I’ve highlighted some resolutions and added a few comments.

Save Energy on the Road

If you are in the market for a new car, buy a fuel-efficient car. Reconsider extra features such as automatic transmission that reduce gas mileage. Car pool or bring a friend on a shopping trip. Take public transportation, ride a bike or walk.

Save Energy at Home

Purchase Energy Star appliances or electronics. These items use up to 40 percent less energy. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. OK, here’s our dilemma: we have switched to compact fluorescent bulbs which are touted to last up to 5 years. To our dismay, after a year, some of these expensive bulbs failed. I called the manufacturer and they exchanged them but gave no explanation. Recently, we read that compact fluorescent bulbs have only so many ‘starts’ and shutting off lights when leaving rooms is apparently not good for these bulbs. Can any scientists out there figure this one out?

The cheapest and most energy-efficient light and heat source is often right outside your window. Even on cold winter days, sun streaming into a room can raise the temperature several degrees. Install a programable thermostat that will allow you to heat or cool more accurately. We replaced our simple thermostat with a digital one. The old one will have to go to our Household Hazardous Waste facility as it has a bulb of mercury in it.

Save Resources at Home

Recycle as much as you can in your city and check out other nearby cities to recycle unusual materials. Material exchange websites such as www.Calmax.org or www.SolanoMax.org, list wanted and offered materials. My next column will feature www.freecycle.com. Compost your fruit, and vegetable scraps. Let your grass grow longer and then grasscycle. Use cloth shopping bags, a cloth dishrag or sponge, and reusable food containers. Invest in that travel mug for discounted coffee at Starbucks.

Save Resources at Work

Recycle at work. Vallejo Garbage offers free recycling of traditional recyclable materials for their commercial customers. Encourage your company to purchase recycled products.

Conserve Water

With Vallejo’s water rates increasing, you should install flow restrictors on all faucets and showerheads. Remember to turn off water while brushing your teeth or hand washing dishes. Go native by replacing thirsty plants with drought tolerant California Natives and install drip irrigation. 

Support Organic & Sustainable Farming

I have recently finished reading The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan and will look more closely at produce labels. Agribusiness uses a lot of pesticides and that can not be good for us or our rivers in the long run. Homeowners should cut down or discontinue their use of pesticide and herbicides.

Act for the Environment 

Write, phone, and email your local, state, or national elected representatives and let them know what you think and what you expect. The small diesel Citreon that my sister and I rented in Spain last summer got 61 mpg or 97 kpg. Unfortunately these clean-burning vehicles are not available in the US. It’s time that we demand them. And finally, remember that no one person can do it all, but small changes in habits will help to preserve our planet. 

VALCORE Recycling Vice President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald, Community Outlook Section. For recycling information call Genie Kaggerud, VALCORE Recycling manager at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.

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