Living Green:
Franciscan Care of Creation
May. 06, 2012 | | Green, green on the range Choose a pot the same diameter as the burner. If you choose the right size pot, you can save up to $36 annually using an electric range and $18 annually for a gas range. If you have a gas range, make sure to keep the burners clean. A blue flame means your gas range is working correctly. A yellow flame, however, may mean that the stove needs to be serviced to run more efficiently. Replace warped pots and pans that no longer distribute heat evenly and efficiently and put lids on pots.
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May. 05, 2012 | | Pamper your pens The ink of your pens and markers dries up faster if they aren’t being used regularly. So, try using them one-at-a-time to ensure they won’t end up forgotten. Keep your pen tips clean. Inks naturally coagulate at the tip, making them trickier to write with over time. To avoid plastic waste (and frustration), wipe the tip after each use, and store pens with the tip pointing upward to prevent clogging. Also, keep all pens, markers, and glue sticks in a cool, dry place.
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May. 04, 2012 | | Green oven use Keep the oven door closed because the temperature can actually drop by 25 degrees each time you open the oven door. Your recipes may tell you to preheat the oven first thing, but don’t do it until you have to. If you have a self-cleaning oven, take advantage of the remaining heat and clean the oven right after you use it. Check the seal on your oven door. Cracks and tears can allow heat to escape.
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May. 03, 2012 | | What's new? If you and your friends have children or grandchildren of a similar age, why not consider swapping a selection of your children’s toys with another for a month or more? It will give your children some great new things to play with, at no extra cost to you or the planet. An added bonus is they'll probably enjoy their own toys much more when they get them back.
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May. 02, 2012 | | Don't overcharge Most of us charge our phones for too long. The typical device needs just an hour or two of wall juice to keep it going another day. So instead of keeping it plugged in during all the hours you sleep, plug it in when you wake up in the morning. By the time you've showered and are ready to walk out the door, your phone should be nearing a 100% charge. And remember: to avoid vampire energy use, don't just unplug the phone from the charger, but also the charger from the wall.
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May. 01, 2012 | | Green photography If you have yet to join the internet photo-sharing world, know that it's easier, faster, and greener than printing out all your pictures to show friends and family. If you're still printing photos, though, consider using recycled photo paper. Stuck with an overload of prints? Reuse them by slapping a stamp on the back and turning them into postcards or pasting them on recycled paper to make note cards.
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Apr. 30, 2012 | | Every drop counts Global climate change affects our water supply, and right now billions of people don’t have access to clean water. You can conserve water here in the U.S. by using just one drinking glass or reusable bottle per day, dumping ice or leftover water on plants instead of down the drain, turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth, shaving and soaping dishes, and adjusting the washer’s settings to reflect the appropriate size load.
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Apr. 29, 2012 | | Don't Ditch the Detector Smoke detectors contain hazardous materials and should not be thrown in the trash. If you need to replace your smoke detector (you should do so every 8-10 years), check to see if the plastic cover can safely be removed and recycled, before you take the rest of the unit to a hazardous waste collection or send it back to the manufacturer. Because of the slow drain on the battery, rechargeables are not suited for smoke detectors. Safely recycle those single-use batteries when you change them.
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Apr. 28, 2012 | | Bulb season Swap your old incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents (CFLs). Each bulb may cost a little more ($2-$7), but a compact fluorescent light bulb will pay for itself in a few months and prevent 450 pounds of power-plant emissions over the bulb's lifetime. If every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, the amount of energy saved could light 2.5 million homes for a year.
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Apr. 27, 2012 | | Laptop or Desktop? If you have a choice between using a desktop computer or a laptop, choose the laptop. Laptop computers draw only 15 to 25 watts during regular use, as compared to the 150 watts used by a conventional desktop computer and monitor. Plus, laptops also draw just a fraction of a watt when in sleep mode. If you don’t like the small keyboard or touchpad, you can connect an external keyboard or mouse to the laptop.
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Apr. 26, 2012 | | Early to rise Watering your lawn and plants in the morning can save over 50 gallons of water a week. Plus, watering in the morning makes sense - who wants to be out in the yard sweating on a hot summer afternoon anyway? Choose to plant varieties that require less water. Try making brown lawns a “green” fad in your neighborhood.
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Apr. 25, 2012 | | When Life Gives You... Stop moth larvae from munching on your favorite threads by placing dried lemon rind in clothes drawers. Also, wrap rinds in thin cloth to hang in cupboards and wardrobes. It’s best to avoid formaldehyde-laden mothballs.
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Apr. 24, 2012 | | Low-flow showerheads Save water and money, and still have ample water pressure, with a low-flow showerhead, which can slash water consumption 50 to 70 percent. The devices are simple to install and start at around $8.
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Apr. 23, 2012 | | Green Grass Stains You can remove grass stains from just about any garment. Begin by mixing one-third cup white vinegar and two-thirds cup water, applying the solution to the stain and blotting with a clean cloth. Repeat the process as needed and then wash as usual.
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Apr. 22, 2012 | | Avoid styrofoam Avoid styrofoam for cups, plates, carry-out containers and anything else that might touch consumables. Most of us know that it is bad for the environment, but it isn't great for our health either. Plastics marked with the recycling code 6 (sytrofoam) are common; They require petroleum to be made and take years to break down in the landfill.
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Apr. 21, 2012 | | Smart security Install motion sensors on security lights which turn on only when movement is detected and turn off automatically. Leaving these lights on during the night can be disruptive to wildlife and to some humans who require darkness for sleep.
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Apr. 20, 2012 | | Use less gas Obeying the speed limit saves gas. So does maintaining a constant speed: Rapid acceleration and braking can decrease fuel economy by one-third. Combine trips and try to avoid rush hour because of the stop and go nature of traffic. Forget warming up the engine. Today's cars don't need it. Keep your tires properly inflated and keep your car tuned up.
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Apr. 19, 2012 | | Saving more electricity in the kitchen Check your fridge to ensure the seal is in good condition. Your fridge should also be situated out of direct sunlight and placed to allow for good air circulation; particularly at the back. If yours is an old fridge, the back coils should be regularly dusted. Regularly defrosting your fridge and freezer will also help to conserve electricity. Change the settings to take into account the season-it can usually be switched to a higher (warmer) setting during winter.
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Apr. 18, 2012 | | I Can See Clearly Now Instead of harsh chemical sprays, get windows and mirrors clean with a combination of white vinegar, water, newspaper and a little elbow grease. Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels which cause streaking. You can also use straight lemon juice or club soda (don't dilute either in water).
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Apr. 17, 2012 | | Take a consumption vacation Consider taking the day or week off from making any new purchases, (with the exception of necessities such as health products and food). Remember that you are not only saving money, but you are also reducing the waste created throughout the life cycle of each new product, the packaging used and the transportation and emissions necessary to get products from original resource to manufacturer to consumer.
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Apr. 16, 2012 | | Family tree Big events like a birth or a wedding deserve to be celebrated. Why not mark a happy occasion by planting a tree? It will grow with your family and soak up CO2 as the years go by, helping to ensure the climate stays healthy while providing a leafy, lasting home for wildlife.
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Apr. 15, 2012 | | Give and receive Have you heard of Freecycle? When you want to find a new home for something, - whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door - you simply post a message. Or, if you need something, just respond to a message. One person's trash is another's treasure. It’s all free and helps save the planet! Find out how to join your local network at www.freecycle.org
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Apr. 14, 2012 | | In hot water Chances are you can turn down the thermostat on your water heater a few degrees, and still have plenty of hot water for everyone’s daily shower, not to mention the dishes and laundry. It’s not necessary to keep the setting higher than 120 degrees F. Lowering the temperature from 140 to 120 would reduce your water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent.
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Apr. 13, 2012 | | Green windows Replacing older windows with energy-efficient ones can be expensive, but will save as much as 30 percent by reducing energy use. Windows purchased in 2009 or 2010 that meet specific efficiency criteria are eligible for a federal tax credit. If you can’t replace the windows: Seal air leaks with caulk or weather-stripping; Affix low-E coated film directly to window; Install storm windows; Use insulating window treatments including shades, curtains, blinds, or awnings.
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Apr. 12, 2012 | | Save, save, save There are many ways to trim those electric bills. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, line dry your linens, and use a toaster oven for small heating needs instead of a bigger electric stove. Open windows to let the light in, turn off unneeded lights and appliances, and unplug unused electronics to counter the 'energy vampire' effect.
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Apr. 11, 2012 | | Step up to the bar Choose bar soap over liquid because most liquid soap comes in nonrenewable plastic packaging. Substituting one bottle with a bar in each U.S. home would keep 2.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills.
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Apr. 10, 2012 | | Contain yourself Plastic is resource-intensive to produce and can be tricky to recycle, so shop with an eye to avoiding it. Reuse any plastic containers you bring into your home for storing food or other items. If you’re drowning in plastic containers, see if you can donate some to a local school or art center.
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Apr. 09, 2012 | | Green greeting cards You can recognize those special occasions without sacrificing trees by sending e-cards from the internet. If you can’t resist sending a card in the mail, or if that special someone doesn’t have e-mail, choose a card printed on recycled paper. The best choices will be labeled “100% recycled paper” and “100% post-consumer content.” While you’re shopping, pick up recycled-paper note cards and stationery for when you need it. You can also make your own creations using old cards and scrap paper.
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Apr. 08, 2012 | | Insulate your water heater If you aren't quite ready to trade up your old storage hot water heater for a high-efficiency tankless system, then at least give thought to some added insulation. Hot water accounts for 13 percent of the typical utility bill, so improving the efficiency of your heater can go a long way toward saving energy and cutting down on carbon emissions. Consider wrapping your old heater in a layer of insulation.
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Apr. 07, 2012 | | Ant-idotes Earth friendly remedies for ants include: lemon juice, cinnamon, baking soda, mint, coffee grounds, vinegar, baby powder, and chalk. The suggestion is to use these substances in the ant line of travel. They are not supposed to cross these substances. To avoid attracting ants, keep all food tightly wrapped and carefully clean up crumbs and spills.
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Apr. 06, 2012 | | 21st century scarecrow Keep birds off vegetable by suspending unwanted CDs or DVDs at intervals on a string nearby. The disks turn in the wind, catching the light every so often, deterring hungry birds from coming too near.
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Apr. 05, 2012 | | Say no to answering machines Voice mail uses less energy and results in less hazardous waste than answering machines. Centralizing voice mail into large servers requires less electricity than everyone using their own machines, which must be on 24/7, and which, when no longer needed, often end up in land fills. If all answering machines currently used in U.S. homes were replaced by voice mail, the annual energy savings would be nearly two billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to taking 250,000 cars off the road.
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Apr. 04, 2012 | | Keep your cool Using your air-conditioning less saves energy and money. To keep your home cooler, close blinds or shades on any windows facing south or west that get sun, and use heat producing appliances in the very early morning or late evening. Use fans with your air-conditioner to keep comfortable with higher temperature settings. Consider shading your outside air-conditioner unit to increase efficiency by 5-10%. Clean your filters every month.
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Apr. 03, 2012 | | Cool it and don't sweat it Air conditioning accounts for nearly half the energy used by the average home during the summer. The high power loads of air conditioners put considerable pressure on already stressed power grids, and have been blamed for numerous blackouts and rolling brownouts. It really pays to install a programmable thermostat(approximately $150 a year, according to the EPA).
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Apr. 02, 2012 | | More wear, less tear Clothes will last longer if you wash them less frequently and only in cold water. Try using baking soda and hot water instead of bleach. Drying your clothes on an old fashioned clothesline can increase the lifespan of some items by 50%. Zip zippers before washing garments - open zippers (especially metal ones) are hard on other clothes in the washer.
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Apr. 01, 2012 | | Your Home Improvement BUDD If you're renovating your house, go green by following the BUDD rule: Buy only what you need, Use everything you buy, Donate any leftover materials, Dispose of waste responsibly.
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Mar. 31, 2012 | | Don't buy it If you haven’t already stopped buying CDs, now’s the time to make the switch to digital music, and save on packaging and transportation costs. Same goes for DVDs—find episodes of your favorite shows or movies you want to watch online, and download, or at least rent movies instead of buying them.
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Mar. 30, 2012 | | Save the saver Screensavers prevent long-term damage to your computer screen when it's idle but they use a fair amount of energy. Switch your monitor off when you're likely to be away from your desk for more than a few moments. It's just as safe and uses less energy.
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Mar. 29, 2012 | | Give your car a vacation too Road tripping? Consider leaving your clunker at home and renting a hybrid. You'll save on gas and prevent wear and tear on your car. Once you're at your destination, using a bicycle or public transportation for sight-seeing will reduce your carbon footprint and burn off a few of those vacation meals and snacks.
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Mar. 28, 2012 | | New Bathroom? Thinking of remodeling your bathroom? The two most important things you can do are to install a water-efficient toilet and a shower head with a “trickle valve,” which with a flick of the wrist, brings the flow down low while you lather up. Barring new hardware, you can get the same effect by turning the water off while you soap, shampoo, or condition, then turning it back on for a rinse.
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Mar. 27, 2012 | | Scrapbookers alert Scrapbooking is an ideal way to preserve memories, but paper-heavy crafting is not green. Consider transforming an old book into the base of your next scrapbook and decorating it with spare scraps of paper, fabric, or broken jewelry. Fill in your scrapbook with recycled paper pages.
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Mar. 26, 2012 | | Green grass Sharpen your lawn mower blades to increase fuel efficiency. Setting the blade as high as possible will preserve soil moisture throughout the summer and keep the lawn greener longer, even in drought. If there is no rain in the forecast for the next few days, avoid mowing. Lawns suffer when trying to recover from mowing during dry periods.
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Mar. 25, 2012 | | Dad was correct Your dear old Dad was teaching you to save energy when he fussed about leaving lights on after you left the room. See, Dad knew that lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of a home's energy bills. By turning off lights you don't need, you'll begin saving right away, and will also extend the lifetime of all those bulbs.
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Mar. 24, 2012 | | The Floor Story When selecting flooring, choose from bamboo, cork, concrete, linoleum, recycled tile, stone, Forest Stewardship Council Certifie-hardwood, softwood, laminates and reclaimed/salvaged lumber. If you're doing all the sealing or staining yourself, choose low-VOC, non-formaldehyde sealants and stains made from natural pigments. For polish and upkeep, look for hardwax and natural oil polishes.
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Mar. 23, 2012 | | Green giving Instead of buying cut flowers, give a living indoor plant. They clean the air and last a lot longer. You might plant a tree or give a donation to charity in honor of a special occasion. Consider a homemade gift, hand-made card or home-cooked meal. Give coupons for household or outside chores, babysitting, washing cars, etc. If you are planning to purchase your gift, buy organic and/or Fair Trade items.
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Mar. 22, 2012 | | Stop squeaking If you've got a squeaky door, try applying a little olive oil to the hinge. You'll find it makes life quieter without the need for petrochemical lubricants.
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Mar. 21, 2012 | | Green Camping “Pack in, pack out” by making sure to bring out any waste that you bring in. Leave no trace behind, and recycle what you can when your trip is over. If you’re going to purchase new equipment, look for sleeping bags, clothing and other products made from recycled materials. Bring reusable dishes and silverware, rather than disposable items.
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Mar. 20, 2012 | | Recharge those batteries Americans buy about three billion household batteries (about 10 per person) annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and nearly all of them end up in landfills. Choose rechargeable batteries instead. Unlike disposable alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries can be reused hundreds of times, saving money and resources, and reducing global warming pollution associated with battery manufacturing and transport.
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Mar. 19, 2012 | | Don't ditch the detector Smoke detectors contain hazardous materials and should not be thrown in the trash. If you need to replace your smoke detector (you should do so every 8-10 years), check to see if the plastic cover can safely be removed and recycled, before you take the rest of the unit to a hazardous waste collection or send it back to the manufacturer. Because of the slow drain on the battery, rechargeables are not suited for smoke detectors. Safely recycle those single-use batteries when you change them.
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Mar. 18, 2012 | | To print or not to print Printing from our computers doesn’t just use paper. It also uses toner, which is rough on the environment, and expensive. To get the most out of your cartridges, set your default print settings to “draft.” When printer cartridges run low, shake them to get at the last bits of ink. Finally, always ask if you really need that printed document, and print on both sides of the paper whenever possible.
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Mar. 17, 2012 | | Green Airlines The top ten green airlines in order are: Virgin America, Continental , Horizon, JetBlue, Southwest, Northwest, Delta, American, United and US Airways. The rankings were calculated using an extensive list of criteria including fleet age, fuel consumption practices, carbon offsets, green building design, recycling programs and organic, local and sustainable food items available on flights.
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Mar. 16, 2012 | | Eat locally and seasonally By making a few dietary changes, you can lower your carbon foodprint. Avoid packaged, processed foods and opt instead for locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Raising livestock for food is responsible for more emissions than all modes of transportation combined, so try frequently substituting some vegetarian or vegan dishes when you might otherwise have eaten meat.
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Mar. 15, 2012 | | Thinking differently Try to cut down on using aluminum foil in the kitchen as it takes lots of energy and resources to produce. When nothing else will do, try to buy foil made from 100 percent recycled aluminum.
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Mar. 14, 2012 | | Put a lid on it Don't forget to use a lid whenever possible when you're cooking on the stovetop. This will avoid condensation in your kitchen, and reduce heat and energy loss, so you'll also save money with every meal. If you have an electric stove, you can turn the burner off or down ahead of time, knowing that it will stay hot for awhile longer.
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Mar. 13, 2012 | | Showers 101 Everyone loves the feel of a hot shower or bath, but all that hot water takes energy to produce. Keep your showers brief and functional, and save baths for special occasions since they require twice the energy of an efficient shower. Look to install low-flow showerheads that will do the work of saving water, energy and money.
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Dates for Prayer and Action
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