Waukegan Public Library - reduce

How to Become a Reusable Bag Ninja

Sara T — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:07:35 +0000

Like most people, I have reusable bags for grocery shopping. But! I usually forget them at home when I go to the food store. I also wasn’t bringing my bags along when I went to the mall or the thrift store or anywhere else. I had oodles of plastic bags under my kitchen sink, and I never seemed to reuse them at the same pace I was acquiring them. Then someone gave me a compact reusable bag that squishes into a tiny carrying pouch. I use it all the time! The brand I was given is ChicoBag, but there are others and they all work just fine.

I’ve gotten some funny looks when I pull out a bag that fits in the palm of my hand and ask, “Can I use my own bag, please?” They always laugh when I unfold it into a bag that holds a surprising amount. Now that I keep a reusable bag with me all the time, my stash of plastic bags is finally dwindling.

Kill-A-Watt

Sara T — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:51:57 +0000

Have you checked out a ComEd Kill-A-Watt power meter from the library yet? Take this device home to see how much electricity your appliances or electronics are using. I was surprised to learn that lots of things still draw electricity even when they’re turned off. You can place a Kill-A-Watt on hold through the online catalog. Note that a $10 deposit is required when checking out a Kill-A-Watt. Your deposit will be returned when you return the monitor and all its accompanying material to the desk.

Wishing for a Green Christmas

Sara T — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:16:37 +0000

We’ve all done it: filled a big black trash bag with wrapping paper, boxes, ribbon and bows. Instead of buying paper and stick-on bows, wrap your Christmas gifts in brown grocery bags (no one will know!) and tie them up with leftover ribbon or fabric strips from craft projects, old clothes… whatever you can get your hands on. After the presents are opened, recycle the paper and either reuse the ribbon or toss it outside for the birds to feather their nests (natural fibers only, please!). Your presents will be infused with shabby-chic elegance, you’ll cut waste and save money.

More holiday tips to come!

Drive Green: Part Deux

Sara T — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:50:01 +0000

Yesterday we talked about how to find the shortest distance between two (three, four, five…) points in order to reduce gasoline consumption. Today I want to share a few simple ways to optimize your car’s performance to reduce that consumption even further.

First, stop speeding. Your lead foot is costing both you and the environment dearly. Accelerate to a cruising speed slowly, then avoid exceeding the speed limit. According to fueleconomy.gov, you’ll reduce consumption between 7 and 23 percent.

Next, perform some basic maintenance. Change the air filter regularly and make sure the tires are properly inflated.

Avoid excessive idling. If you’re stuck at a train crossing or that reeeaaaally long light, turn the car off. Starting it back up takes less gas than sitting idle for 20 seconds.

Drive Green

Sara T — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:45:28 +0000

I have a terrible sense of direction. I mean, really terrible. I use my GPS to get just about everywhere, but I recently discovered a new tool that has saved me lots of time and gas money: online trip planners. You can type in each address you need to visit and it automatically finds the most efficient route. In this season of errands and shopping, a trip planner can save you lots of time and CO2 emissions. Try Google Maps or Mapquest Route Planner to find the shortest distance between two, three, four or more points. If you want to save paper and get directions on your smartphone, you can download mobile apps for these services, too.

Green Thanksgiving

Sara T — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:15:40 +0000

Have you ever noticed how many more bags of trash leave your front door during the holidays? Start reducing the amount of trash you produce this Thanksgiving with small steps: trade cans of soda for large bottles, use real china and silver instead of disposables and pull out cloth napkins instead of paper (no, you don’t have to iron them). Instead of buying flowers for a centerpiece, scatter some leaves from the front yard down the center of the table and cut holes in the tops of apples for tealights. Easy!

Playing with Numbers

Sara T — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:37:29 +0000

I am terrible at math, but I love energy calculators! I plug in the numbers and they do all the hard work. When’s the last time you used a carbon footprint calculator? Try this one from the Environmental Protection Agency and see how your energy usage compares to the usage of other Americans. I like this calculator because in addition too seeing how you stack up against your neighbors, you learn about small changes you can make to shrink your footprint. In the next few posts we’ll talk more about water calculators, electricity calculators and nifty ways you can reduce your consumption.

The Three... no, Four! R's

Sara T — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:48:58 +0000

We all know the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. What is the fourth R? Rebuy! Whether you’re in the market to remodel your home or just buy a roll of paper towels, consider seeking out items that are made with recycled content. Items made with recycled content save energy and conserve natural resources.