I Love Seattle

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Earth Month Tip #6, Conserve Energy

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Seattle - Earth Month reminds us that we need to continue to take daily steps to keep our city and our planet healthy and environmentally sustainable. Seattle City Light offers the following tips to conserve energy.

Stay out of hot water. A hot water tank is the second largest energy user in the home. To reduce the amount of energy it uses, set the tank at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Take shorter showers, use water-efficient washing machines and wash clothes in cold water. You can save more by running full loads in the dishwasher and the clothes washer.

Turn down, turn off, unplug. Set thermostats at 68 degrees when you’re at home and 55 degrees or lower when you’re away or at night. Turn off lights in empty rooms and unplug electronics such as DVD players and cell phone chargers when not in use.

Keep yourself cozy. Staying warm during the day by dressing in layers and at night by using flannel sheets and a thick comforter on your bed is less expensive than turning up your thermostat.

Circulate the heat. Most of the heat from a baseboard heater will rise to the ceiling and stay there. Use ceiling fans to distribute that heat throughout the room.

Create a heat haven. Plugging leaks around doors, windows, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and wall penetrations will keep the heat in and the cold out. Add insulation to walls, floors, attics and windows.

Refrigerate wisely. Freezers are most efficient when they are packed full. Let hot foods cool before you put them in the refrigerator. Let frozen foods thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.

Dampers make a difference. Make sure to close the damper on your fireplace. Leaving it open while the heat is on is the same as leaving the front door open. It could double your heat bill. Repair a poorly fitting damper and, for an extra layer of protection, install and use glass fireplace doors.

Contact City Light. For more energy and money saving tips, call Seattle City Light’s Conservation Help Line at (206) 684-3000 or visit www.seattle.gov/light/accounts. City Light also can provide technical assistance and even some rebates.

You can make a difference! Start by taking the steps above and then let others know of your commitment. Tell people where you shop and where you work that climate protection matters. For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide at www.seattle.gov/environment/cag/index.html.

Earth Month Tip #5 - Reduce Climate Pollution

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Earth Month helps remind us that we need to continue to take daily steps to keep our city and our planet healthy and environmentally sustainable. The City of Seattle offers the following tips to reduce climate pollution:

Drive less. Reduce your car time by walking, biking, carpooling, taking a bus, carpool and combining errands.

Drive smart. Keep your car tuned and tires properly inflated. Don’t idle when you’re stuck in a line. About 15 seconds is the break even point. Forget the jack rabbit starts. And on the freeway, keep your top speed at about 60 mph.

Be fuel efficient. Not only will you save gas, money and reduce emissions, but driving a fuel-efficient car that gets at least 32 miles per gallon leads to a real reduction in climate pollution. If you drive a diesel vehicle, the more biodiesel you use, the fewer the emissions you produce.

Reduce, reuse and recycle. Nearly every product on the market requires energy to produce, distribute and manage the resulting waste. Choose pre-owned products, products that have recycled content and products that are sold with less packaging.

Use a push or electric mower. Gasoline mowers are one of biggest polluters in the neighborhood. Go manual or electric this season.

Stay out of hot water. A hot water tank is the second largest user of energy in a home. So, set your tank at about 120°F, take shorter showers, use water-efficient washing machines and wash clothes in cold water. You’ll save energy, water and money.

Be a star, buy ENERGY STAR. Look for the ENERGY STAR label, an EPA rating system awarded to only the most energy-efficient appliances, computers, light fixtures and many other electrical conveniences.

Turn down, turn off and unplug. Set thermostats at 68°F when you’re home and 55°F or lower when you’re away or at night. Turn off lights in empty rooms and use compact fluorescent bulbs in place of standard light bulbs. Unplug electronics that aren’t in use. Use a clothes line to dry your wash.

Befriend your utility. Seattle Public Utilities ((206) 684-SAVE), Puget Sound Energy ((800) 562-1482) and Seattle City Light ((206) 684-3800) have great conservation programs and can provide more information, technical assistance and even some rebates.

Shout it out! You can make a difference. Start by taking the steps above and then let others know of your commitment. Tell people where you shop and where you work that climate protection matters.

For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide.

Earth Month Tip #4- Volunteer!

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Earth Month helps remind us that we need to continue to take daily steps to keep our city and planet healthy and environmentally sustainable. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) offers the following tips to help you get involved in your community:

Spring Clean is Seattle's premier clean up event and part of Mayor Greg Nickels' Clean and Green Seattle initiative. From April 1 to June 3, Spring Clean provides opportunities for citizens to clean up Seattle's public open spaces of their choice with city support. Find out more on the Seattle Public Utilities’ website, (206) 233-7187

Stencil a Storm Drain Help protect water quality! Sign up to stencil storm drains in your neighborhood with the message, “Dump No Waste: Drains to Stream, Lake or Bay.” Individuals, families, and community organizations and individuals can help. You will receive instructions and the use of a stenciling kit. Call (206) 684-7624 to find out more.

Be a Friend of Recycling. Help others in your apartment building learn how to recycle and receive $100 off your building’s garbage bill. To learn more, contact (206) 684-8717.

Become a Creek Steward. You can make a difference in your watershed by caring for a local creek. Learn about Seattle's creek systems and get involved in sustaining them! Find out more by calling (206) 684-4163.

Join an Advisory Council. Seattle Public Utilities encourages residents to serve on one of the citizen advisory committees that help keep SPU in touch with the community's viewpoints on solid waste, water and drainage issues. To find out more, call (206) 684-7624

Join the Friends of Cedar River Watershed, a private, non-profit organization incorporated in 1996 and dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Cedar River Watershed, an ecological preserve that is source of drinking water to more than a million greater Seattle area residents. Learn more at www.cedarriver.org

Adopt-A-Street! Help keep your community clean! Call (206) 684-7647 to adopt a street in your neighborhood.

Apply for an Aquatic Habitat Matching Grant. Seattle Public Utilities provides matching grants for individuals or groups to help improve Seattle's aquatic habitat. Awards amounts begin at $2,000 per project, with $300,000 in total awards available. Projects require a one-to-one match. Proposals are due April 27. Find out more at the Aquatic Habitat Matching Grant Program website.

For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide.

Earth Month Tip #3 – Prevent Water Pollution

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Earth Month serves to remind us that we need to continue to take daily steps to keep our city and our planet healthy and environmentally sustainable. Seattle Public Utilities offers the following tips to keep our waterways clean:

Go Natural! Use lawn and garden chemicals sparingly or use organic alternatives. Whatever you put on your lawn could find its way to a stream. Northwest Natural Yard Days, April 15 – May 15, offers deep discounts on products for environmentally-friendly gardening. Don't miss out! For a list of participating retailers, visit the Northwest Yard Days website or call (206) 633-0224.

Go Native! When gardening, choose native plants that require fewer chemicals and less watering. For free native plant advice, call the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224.

Don't Dump anything into storm drains. Storm drains often drain directly to local lakes and streams.

Report Water Pollution! Call the Water Quality Hotline at (206) 684-7587 if you see oil sheens, soap or other pollutants in local waterways.

Volunteer to stencil storm drains in your neighborhood with the message, “Dump No Waste: Drains to Stream, Lake or Bay,” by calling (206) 684-7624.

Salmon-Friendly Car Wash! Did you know that soap is highly toxic to fish? Take your car to a car wash that recycles its water. Or, wash your car on the lawn or gravel. Use soaps without phosphates.

Keep Your Car Well-maintained. Fix oil leaks and recycle oil and other car fluids.

Scoop Your Poop! Always carry a plastic bag with you when walking your dog and place the waste in the trash. Dispose of cat litter in a garbage bag as well.

Be a Creek Steward! Volunteer to help care for a section of Seattle’s urban creeks. Find out more at Be a Creek Steward website.

Prevent Septic Leaks by keeping your system maintained.

Check your Heating Oil Tank! Every year, heating oil from leaking tanks finds its way into our local waterways. Insure your heating oil tank for FREE! For more information, visit the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency.

Sweep. Use a broom instead of a hose when cleaning driveways and sidewalks.

For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide

Earth Month Tip #2- Use Water Wisely

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Research has shown that an average of 8 percent (or more) of all home water use is wasted through leaks. Even a small, silent leak can easily waste $50 per year in water and sewer costs. Large leaks can waste much more. Find out how to fix leaks at the Saving Water Partnership.
Be WashWise! Upgrade to a water-saving WashWise clothes washer and be eligible for $50 to $100 rebate. Talk to your local appliance dealer or call the WashWise hotline- 1-866-632-4636.
Be a FlushStar®! Replacing old toilets with FlushStar® models in your home can save you $50 to $125 and up to 10,500 gallons of water each year. Visit the Saving Water Partnership or call (206) 684-4150 to learn more.
Wash only full loads of laundry. You’ll save water and energy!
Clean up in the shower! Install an efficient showerhead and you can save up to 3,000 gallons a year. To save even more, limit your shower time to 5 minutes or less.
Catch the rain! Rain barrels allow gardeners to collect Seattle’s famed rain for use in their yards. Get big discounts on rain barrels by purchasing Rain Barrels Online or by calling (206) 684-0190.
Compost and mulch. By mixing compost into your soil and mulching garden beds, you’ll build healthy soil which absorbs water easily, drains well and retains moisture while reducing evaporation. Take advantage of huge discounts on yard and food waste composting bins by purchasing Compost Bins Online or by calling (206) 684-0190.
Tune-up your irrigation system. Improving the efficiency of an automatic sprinkler system can reduce summer water bills by one-third while maintaining a healthy lawn and garden and you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $450. Call (206) 684-SAVE or visit the Saving Water Partnership to learn more.
Water deeply and less often. You’ll encourage deep roots and help to prevent disease. Let the top few inches of soil dry before watering again so roots and soil life can breathe.
Group plants by their water needs. Plants will be watered by the same sprinkler or irrigation zone and receive just the right amount of moisture. Lawns should be irrigated separately from other plants. Contact the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline to learn more: (206) 633-0224 or e-mail info@lawnandgardenhotline.org

For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide.

Earth Month Tip #1- Recycle!

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Earth Month serves to remind us that we need to continue to take daily steps to keep our city and our planet healthy and environmentally sustainable. In the first of a series of environmental tips, Seattle Public Utilities offers the following suggestions to reduce waste:

Avoid Waste in the First Place! Bring your own bag when you go shopping. Set your office printer’s default to “double-sided,” avoid purchasing overly packaged products. Small, simple choices like these and others really add up in avoiding waste.
Recycle Your Fruits and Vegetables! Seattle residents can now put corn cobs, banana peels, paper plates, napkins, hot dog buns and even greasy pizza boxes in their yard waste cart. Seattle residents recycled 25 million pounds of food and food-soiled paper that was made into natural compost for local gardens and parks.
Compost! Composting yard and food waste at home is easy and helps grow a healthy, sustainable garden. Seattle offers compost bins year ‘round at a great price. Two green cones provide continuous, year-round food scrap composting. Yard waste bins compost leaves, grass and garden clippings. Food waste green cones are $25 each or two for $40, including tax. Limit two per household. Yard waste compost bins are $25 each, including tax. Limit one per household. This program is available to Seattle residents only. Order Compost Bins and Rain Barrels online at or call (206) 684-0190.
Go Blue to Recycle! There are now more than 300 public recycling containers located throughout Seattle to help you recycle when you’re out and about. Look for the blue bins to recycle your bottles and cans. Recycled aluminum cans can be remade and back on your store shelf in as little as 60 days. Unfortunately, more than 10,000 pounds of soda cans were sent to Seattle’s landfill last year. Why waste a good thing? Recycle!
Play the Recycling IQ Game! See how well you know what can and can’t be recycled in Seattle!
Take It Back! Televisions, computers and fluorescent light bulbs contain hazardous waste and are not allowed in the garbage. Visit the Take it Back Network to find an electronics recycler near you!
Buy Recycled! Buying recycled content products is a great way to save energy and creates a demand for more recycled content products. Check the label on the products you purchase to see if they are made from recycled products and choose the ones with the highest content.

For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide.