Going Green!

4710 Pioneer Road

Balch Springs, Texas 75180

 214-348-EDEN (3336)

 

 

 

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Who said "it ain't easy being green"?

Well, Sorry, but Kermit was wrong.  It is EASY to be green. 

Check out some of these tips and links for more great ways to take it easy on the environment - and your wallet!

 

  • Turn off your computers at night - and uplug them chargers. 

Unplug your chargers when you aren't charging something - cell phone, batteries, power tools, etc. 

  • Turn out the lights!

      Teach the kids to "close the lights!" when they leave a room

Get light sensors for outside porch and yard lights so they don't have to burn all day in order to greet you when you get home at night.

Replace your old style bulbs with new more energy efficient and long lasting varieties

  • Plant a native, deciduous, shade tree on the southwest side of your house (Deciduous is the kind that loses its leaves in the fall - so your house will catch the warmth of the sun in the winter.)

  • Plant native shrubs and perennials in your landscapes and follow the 7 basic principals of xeriscape

  • Carpool!

Better yet, walk or ride your bike or take public transportation whenever possible

  • Start your own compost pile

            Make good use of those refrigerator science projects, feed the earthworms!

  • BYOB - When you go to the grocery store and they ask "paper or plastic?"  Say - I brought my own! 

Many stores sell canvas bags with very strong nylon handles for carrying groceries or you can bring back the plastic or paper bags they sacked your groceries in the last time you were there. 

Note;  I know there are lots of pros and cons to types of bags.  If I forget my canvas bag, which I do, I prefer paper for a few reasons - trees can and are re-planted so they are a renewable resource; I can use them for trash liners that will compost down; we used to make some killer book covers with paper bags; and, best of all - you can lay them out over a weedy area you want to make into a garden spot, put several inches (6") of compost on top of them and water area periodically - spot spray weeds that pop up with vinegar or pull them, and you'll be able to plant a new garden in that spot after several months as the paper killed the weeds and broke down and can be tilled in with the compost.  Great to do right now for either a late fall or early spring bed.) 

  • Keep that thermostat reasonable! 

Now I'm not a lover of a/c to start with, but I hate to be cold in the winter.  So, as much as I'd like it to be about 80 in the house year round, set your temps up a few degrees warmer in the summer and down a few degrees cooler in the winter than you normally do.  Good guidelines are 78 in the summer when you are there, 82 when you are gone.  In the winter, 65 when you are gone and 72 when you are home.  Use a fan to help circulate the air - it will keep the air more evenly tempered throughout the room and either warmer or cooler and ceiling fans don't use nearly as much energy as the a/c or furnace. 

And while we're on the subject - change those filters!  Keeping the coils clean and the filters changed helps your unit run more efficiently.

  • Fix the leaks - in your house, hoses and sprinkler systems

  • Buy Local!

Not only does it help support your local city's economy and probably local vendors, but it saves you gas and time - which may be worth more than the few bucks off on the item you're buying.  Look for "made in Texas" or "Texas Grown" or even Made in the USA items.  The closer they were to start with, the less gas that got burned getting it to you - and again, you're supporting a local business and/or employees.  Remember, that is what America was founded on - local, small, independently owned and operated businesses.  So give them a try first when you can.  It can be a win-win situation!