Living Green… A Matter of Choice Products and Practices for Living Green...

Living Green… What is green living? What are some advantages of green living ? What does green living mean to you?

Living Green… Where to start when adopting green living concepts to your lifestyle. What do you want to accomplish? What are you already doing that could be considered a part of green living?

Green products are...  Non-toxic and low- fume  Energy efficient  Durable  Good quality  Made from local materials  Made from recycled or rapidly renewable materials  Often are recycled or reused

Considerations in selecting green products for your home  Choice of materials and products important  Traditional approach Select by quality, performance, and cost  Green approach Need to ask questions about environmental impacts and concern about healthy home

Selecting green products... Q uestion 1:  What type of long-life, durable products and materials will work for the intended location and purpose?

Selecting green products... Question 2:  Are there recycled, reclaimed, or salvaged products or materials you can use?

Selecting green products... Question 3:  Are products made from rapidly renewable materials?

Selecting green products... Question 4:  Are products low-fume or non-toxic?

Selecting green products... Question 5:  Are the products made of durable materials that are manufactured with less energy?

Selecting green products... Question 6:  What local materials or local products are available?

Selecting green products... Question 7:  How does the cost compare with other materials that are not as green?

When selecting green products...  Select those products that meet the criteria that are most important to you.

What is “Greenwashing?” Be wary of claims like “natural,” “organic,” “non toxic,” and “recyclable.” Ask questions. Check the company’s website. Read information telling why they claim to be environmentally friendly. Don’t buy into big promises.

Judging products? Look at the label Here's help in judging "green" claims on products (examples: cleaning products, plastic bags, paper products). Biodegradable: This unregulated term is meaningful only if it specifies the amount of time it takes for the product to decompose, as most substances will eventually biodegrade over time given the right conditions, such as sunlight.

Judging products? Look at the label Non-toxic: There is no official definition or third-party verification for this claim. Not meaningful. Organic: Household cleaning products aren't regulated by the Organic Foods Production Act, but some of their ingredients, such as plant oils, can be labeled "certified organic."

Live Green But Pay Attention Wise guidelines to follow: Know what you’re buying. Don’t waste your money on products that sound too good to be true but really aren’t.

Simple Actions for Living Green BYOB - Tote your own grocery bag or bring your own shopping cart. We throw away over 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags each year. Using cloth bags instead saves at least six plastic bags a week. That adds up to 24 bags a month and at least 288 bags a year per person. Get in the BYOB habit.

Simple Actions for Living Green Pay attention to packaging as you shop. Don’t buy more than you need to protect and transport an item.

Simple Actions for Living Green Choose recycled and green products for remodeling projects and furnishings for your home. Select fume-free paints and look for environmentally friendly wall coverings. Think about bamboo and other rapidly renewable resources when selecting furnishings for your home. Read labels and ask questions about the products before buying.

Simple Actions for Living Green Consider energy use in production and use of home products. Choose energy-efficient appliances, electronics, and building materials. Make the switch to compact fluorescent and LED lighting. Make use of solar energy. Wide range of options include:  Sun-powered home  Solar water heater  Solar-powered lighting for yard and patio

Simple Actions for Living Green Repair or restore household items when feasible.  Develop do-it-yourself skills to do simple home repairs and household maintenance. Think of ways to reuse and extend the life of items no longer needed for their original purpose.  Give away items to others who need them.  Swap “white elephant” items with friends and neighbors.  Take clothing and household items to consignment shops for resale.

Simple Actions for Living Green Reduce clutter and trash by stopping junk mail and excessive catalogs.  Each person receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail each year.  About 44 percent of this junk mail is thrown in the trash, often unopened and unread, and ends up in a landfill.  Simplify your life, reduce clutter in your home, and save paper resources by removing your name from junk mail and unsolicited catalog lists.

Simple Actions for Living Green Plant a tree or plant flowers and shrubs that are well suited to your climate.  Plant some native wildflowers for added enjoyment. Your county extension agent or knowledgeable people at your local nursery can give suggestions for what will grow well in your area. Push for green yards.  Today's non-gasoline-powered reel lawn mowers are easier to push than the old models, and they have zero emissions, too.  You’ll be getting some great exercise.

Simple Actions for Living Green Park your car and walk a few steps. Avoid drive-through windows, especially if there are long lines. Teach kids to make green choices and live green. They’re enthusiastic, they ‘get it’, and they’ll come up with some creative ideas of their own.

Simple Actions for Living Green Add your ideas to this list and share green living ideas with your friends.

How Green Are YOU Willing To Be? The overall objective of living green is to have a healthy, toxic-free home while leaving sufficient resources and a sound, safe environment for future generations. Decisions for selecting and using green products are based on these objectives.

Summary  Green products are... Durable Less toxic Good quality Energy efficient Respectful of environment

You, as a consumer, must be knowledgeable in order to make wise decisions in purchasing, using, and disposing of green products for the home. Summary

 Our homes can support our health and the environment.  Living green concepts will help us choose actions and products that provide our families with home and work environments that are healthy and life-giving.  Green living practices will help to protect our resources and natural environment for future generations.

Living Green…A Matter of Choice Products and Practices for Living Green Copyright 2009 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available at Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Clipart by Microsoft Freeware. Used with permission Linda R. Adler, M.A. Extension Specialist For Home Furnishings August 2009