Earth Day 2010...Are you making a commitment?

Happy Earth Day 2010! 40 years ago today Earth Day was created. Thanks to the commitment of those before us, we can celebrate and make a difference for the future today! Visit: www.greeneirene.com/dawnpottsville for products and services that will start you on your way to a "Greener Tomorrow" today!

Bucket and sponge instead of a hose?

Did you know that washing your bike or car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose saves a lot of water. A hose can waste 6 gallons per minute if you leave it running, but using a bucket and sponge only uses a few gallons! Spring is around the corner and we really need to keep that thought in mind.
Also, some car washes recycle water instead of letting it run down the sewer drains. Ask your friends and neighbors if they can recomend a car wash near you that recycles water. We wash our dogs with a bucket as well. Honestly the dogs like it better because we use warm water in the winter and they are not fans of the hose anyway. So you can find options to conserve water even if you are not a hands on person.
EPA Water Sense is a great sorce of information.

When should you water your yard?

I know I'm a bit a head of the season but this is really the next step in your homes water conservation efforts. So...when should you water your yard? The best time to water your yard is in the early morning or late evening when it’s cool outside. Watering when it’s hot and sunny is wasteful because most of the water evaporates before the plants have time to drink it. Also, when you’re family is helping water the yard, make sure not to water the plants too much—remember that a little sprinkle goes a long way!
It's a good idea to explain why we should be more careful with our water supply and make this a family mission!
Visit: www/greenirene.com/dawnpottsville for your Sustainable Living Guide and quality green products.

Don't Flush Money Down The Toilet!

If your toilet has a leak, you could be wasting about 200 gallons of water every day. That would be like flushing your toilet more than 50 times for no reason!
Try this experiment: ask another household member to help you test for leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak! I was always under the impression that I would hear a leak (like the toilet running) but that is not true. A leak can be silent and expensive!
Remember to visit www.greenirene.com/dawnpottsville for water conservation products that will save your household money!

Think Before You Fill!

Taking a shower uses much less water than filling up a bathtub. So think before you fill. A shower only uses 10 to 25 gallons, while a bath takes up to 70 gallons! If you do take a bath, be sure to plug the drain right away and adjust the temperature as you fill the tub.
To save even more water, keep your shower under five minutes long—try timing yourself with a clock the next time you hop in!
Living with two teenagers, we had to be both creative and understanding when it came to shower time. We implemented a three minute knock/warning and the final five minute knock. This was introduced a few years ago. It has become a game for the kids because most of the time they are finished before the second knock. They get a kick out of that!
Visit www.greenirene.com/dawnpottsville for The Grene Irene Guide to Sustainable Living filled with great advice and eco friendly products! You will find the Shower Coach 5-minute shower timer (product#31870) for only $3.00 as well as other water conservation products that will help your family save money!

Why Save Water?

Why Save Water?
I was shocked to know how much water a family of four uses every day in the United States. Can you guess? Not 50 gallons, not 100 gallons, but 400 gallons! You could take up to 10 baths with that much water but who would want to do that? Fortunately, there are many things we can do to save. Yet another fact is that less than 1% of all the water on Earth can be used by people! The rest is salt water (the kind you find in the ocean) or is permanently frozen and we can't drink it, wash with it, or use it to water plants.
As our population grows, more and more people are using up this limited resource. Therefore, it is important that we use our water wisely and not waste it.
Turn Off The Tap! That's correct, just by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and before bedtime, can save up to 8 gallons of water! Believe it or not, that adds up to more than 200 gallons a month, enough to fill a huge fish tank that holds 6 small sharks!
The same is true when you wash dishes. Turn off the tap! Scrape your dirty dishes into the trash and then put them in the dishwasher.
Are you shocked? I will have more tips on saving water next Tuesday. Stop back and let me shed some light on facts that will save you Money and give you solutions for your family.

"Going Green" Lets Save Water

I would just like to say that this is a really tough topic in my house. We have two teenagers and water conservation is the last thing on either one of their minds. I found some good places to start on the US EPA website.

* Fix leaks immediately!
* Only run dish washer when full
* Take showers not baths
* Buy 0.5 gallon per minute (GPM) aerators to retrofit your faucets
* Buy Energy Star washer/dryer and dishwasher
* Take short showers and only when needed.

Again, this may be hard for our children but the fact is that water is precious. We as the guardians of planet earth must keep our water consumption in check.
For more water conservation products visit: www.greenirene.com/dawnpottsville