With rising energy prices and a renewed emphasis on keeping our communities clean, there’s never been a better time than now to”Go Green.” Take a moment to learn about ways you can “GoGreen” and help the environment.
If you’d like to submit your own ideas, tell us!
Go Green Tips & Events
Aveda’s April 2012 Earth Month campaign will inspire its network of beauty professionals and consumers in more than 30 countries to raise $5 million for the protection of clean water — a basic human right that nearly 900 million peopleworldwide fight for daily. In support of achieving this goal, Bambu Salon & Spa will host its second annual Water Warrior Yoga Sunday April 22nd at Broad Ripple Park.
All proceeds will benefit the Hoosier Environmental Council. HEC is a state-wide non-profit environmental advocacy organization that focuses on water, air, land, transportation and green energy issues for the state of Indiana.
Tom Wood Automotive has partnered with Think Electric Vehicles for contact and distribution of the new 100% electric Think City. Tom Wood Think is honored to be the sole liaison for Think EV in the midwest. The new 2011 Think City is available to purchase for both fleets and individuals. However, there is no traditional Think showroom or dealership. You can request more information about a vehicle HERE or by calling 317-688-6560.
REDUCE YOUR WASTE SIZE, RECYCLE! Make it your goal. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, to conserve natural resources and to make your community a greener place. If you don’t have a curbside program in your neighborhood drop off your recyclables on your way to work, school or shopping at one of our Kwik-Drop recycling locations in Johnson County.
A CREATIVE WAY TO REUSE. Reusing items saves even more resources than recycling because the processing, shipping, and manufacturing steps are eliminated when you simply re-use an item instead of buying something new.
Creative Re-Sources is a reuse “store” that creatively supports the arts, education, and the environment by providing reusable materials (school and craft supplies, paper, party supplies, etc.) to educators and not-for-profit groups within the Johnson County community. Area businesses, manufacturers, organizations, and individuals have donated the items available at Creative Re-Sources in an effort to keep the materials out of landfills. Creative Re-Sources is operated within the Johnson County Solid Waste Management District office.
So….businesses, manufacturers, organizations, and individuals…If you are tidying up around the office, cleaning out the warehouse, ditching last year’s promotional leftovers? Don’t throw them out! Donate to Creative Re-Sources.
Use reusable grocery/shopping bags. This is one of the simplest changes to make. Most grocery stores now offer reusable bags made of recycled materials–some with lifetime warrantees should one break. In addition to not wasting plastic bags, many grocers now offer a bag credit (discount) for each reusable bag you use. (Courtesy of 92-3 VIP Karen Kirchman)
Recyclable retaining walls. Here’s an idea that’s a little crazy…..we are building a retaining wall out of old used car tires. it’ll hold the hill around our garage back, it’s hidden where no one sees it except us when we rake leaves, it reuses old tires and won’t hurt the environment! we are waiting on the rain to stop for about a week so we can put it all together. (Courtesy of 92-3 VIPs Cynthia and Donald Freed )
Reading your electric meter (kW-h), odometer (miles), and gas bill is a quick and easy way to monitor how you are saving energy. This is one of the most important and easiest step to reduce energy consumption. (Courtesy of 92-3 VIP Michael Woon)
Every week, record how much energy you use.
Start your washer/dryer/dishwasher right before going to bed. That’s when demand is lower and the rates are less you will definitely notice a difference in your utility bills. (Courtesy of 92-3 VIP Kim Poland)
Change your light bulbs. Try out compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. You’ll conserve energy and save money too. (Courtesy of 92-3 VIP Ryan Kuiper) (Some great brands include Neolite Low Mercury, GE Energysmart Indoor Flood, and Phillips Low Mercury Marathon Alto).
Plant a tree. Trees not only make our city a more beautiful place to live, they can increase property values up to 20%. Properly placed trees can save an average household up to $250 annually in energy costs. Trees absorb pollution, cleaning our air and water.
Combat litter. Litter is not only unsightly, but can harm children, animals, and the environment. Research also shows strong connections between litter and crime. You can combat the hazards of litter by refusing to litter yourself, and discourage others. This includes cigarettes. Organize a neighborhood cleanup today!
Try out Blackle. In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages. But the black-screen search engine is catching on, and savings small amounts of energy each day. Powered by Google Custom Search, Blackle searches help remind us that even small energy savings do indeed add up and that we can all do our part.
Adopt a block. Through the Operation My Town program, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful provides each block coordinator with a cleanup kit including a broom, shovel, gloves, litter grabber, dustpan, and a bucket. On an annual basis, O.M.T. will provide a supply of gloves and trash bags to aid in your efforts. Clean blocks are rewarded with flowers, trees, mini grants, and other items to help with block beautification.
Drive a green car. There are now hybrids to match almost any need: two-door, four-door, SUV, luxury sedan. They get better mileage than their conventional counterparts, have cleaner emissions, and save money on gas. If a hybrid isn’t in your future, try for a car with the best MPG you can find; and remember that hybrids aren’t always the most efficient option, either. Biodiesel can now be found in almost any state in the US. This clean, domestic, veggie-based, carbon-neutral fuel will run in any diesel car or truck with little or no modification to the engine. Straight vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can make fueling up almost free. Another veggie fuel is ethanol, and there are between 5-6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road—you may even be driving one and not know it. Also, affordable, practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids aren’t too far off, either. But whether or not you drive a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, there’s lots you can do to green your car right now.
Stay in tune. Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if every American’s tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk! All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.
Leave the car at home. For shorter adventures, walk, take IndyGo, ride your bike, skateboard, rollerblades, or even look into an electric scooter. Carrying groceries or other bulky stuff can still be done on a bike with a backpack or some slick modifications. Check out the Xtracycle, for example.
Drive part of the way. If getting where you’re going by bike or public transit alone isn’t going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to beat traffic.
Easy on the AC. Use the windows to help keep the car cool. Or try an electric or solar fan. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in. If you car is new, however, let it air out. That new car smell is not friendly stuff.
Sign up for Green Power for Renewable Energy. Indianapolis Power and Light Company (IPL) offers commercial and residential customers electricity that is generated from clean, renewable energy sources. The green power option allows you to specify an amount equal to 100%, 50%, 25%, or 10% of your monthly electricity to be generated by clean, environmentally friendly, and renewable resources such as wine, solar, geothermal, or biomass generation. For more information, call 317-261-8222 or visit www.iplpower.com.
Go Native. Garden with plants that are native to Indiana. Not only are native plants usually non-invasive, but also they are drought tolerant and adapted to the local growing conditions. This means they require less water and intensive care in the garden. For added benefit, they attract birds and butterflies! For more information on native plants, visit the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society at www.inpaws.org.
Make a tax-deductible donation to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful or other environmental organizations.
Improve Your Diet. Organic foods use fewer pesticides in the farming process, which helps keep soil and water clean. Eating these also makes sure you are keeping harmful toxins out of your body. The same goes for organic beers (which include Peak Organic, Michelob Stone Mill Pale Ale, and Lakefront Extra Special Bitter) and pet food. Check out www.thegreenguide.com.
Check Labels and Buy Local. Local foods not only taste better and preserve more nutrients, but they also save energy that would be spent in shipping. Check your food labels to make sure it is locally made or organic. Best labels to look for: USDA Certified Organic, Local and Regional Labels, Bird Friendly, and Certified Humane Raised and Handled.
Green Your House. Regularly cleaning your furnace filters can not only save you up to $50 a year, but it also helps the people in the home by helping to reduce allergens and mold spores. For more on making your house more eco-friendly, check out www.energysavvy.com.
Volunteer. Every year, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful coordinates over 500 community improvement projects. For more information on how you could help, contact Sarah Grain at 317-264-7555 ext. 106.
