Summer is (finally!) upon us, and with it come the fun times in the sun, vegetable gardens, and barbecues. It’s also the time of year we see high heat indices, heavy, humid air hits us the second we walk outside, air conditioning has our energy bills way up, and allergies and asthma can really start to kick in. In short, as much fun as summer is, it can also be a challenge to live in a way that’s less impactful on the environment. I’ve got some simple, tried, and true tips to help beat the summer while being green.
1) Dry your clothes in summer sunshine. Greenamerica.org reports, “Air drying your clothing can help reduce the average household’s carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds per year.” Granted, in Chicago, we have four crazy seasons, so year round might not be feasible, but any little bit helps!
2) Program your thermostat to a schedule. When you’re not home, setting your thermostat 10 – 15 degrees higher than when you’re home can save you 10%-15% on your energy bill (www.energy.gov). And it lessens your family’s carbon footprint by using less energy, too.
3) Reuse empty wine bottles by turning them into garden torches. Fill those bad boys with any of the following oils and a wick for natural mosquito repellant: Citronella, Lemon Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Castor, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Cedar, Clove, Geranium.
4) Instead of using chemical air fresheners, use plants! Many plants are great for removing harmful toxins, such as formaldehyde and benzene, which are found in common cleaning products. One such plant is aloe vera, which is also fantastic for healing sunburns! Check out Mother Nature Network’s article on healthy indoor plants at www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/photos/15-houseplants-for-improving-indoor-air-quality for more info.
FINALLY…
5) Shop local! Yes, it’s good for your local economy to shop the cool spaces in your own town. It’s also good for your body and the environment! The more you use your own energy, the less you’ll rely on fossil fuels to get you where you need to go.
2) Program your thermostat to a schedule. When you’re not home, setting your thermostat 10 – 15 degrees higher than when you’re home can save you 10%-15% on your energy bill (www.energy.gov). And it lessens your family’s carbon footprint by using less energy, too.
3) Reuse empty wine bottles by turning them into garden torches. Fill those bad boys with any of the following oils and a wick for natural mosquito repellant: Citronella, Lemon Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Castor, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Cedar, Clove, Geranium.
4) Instead of using chemical air fresheners, use plants! Many plants are great for removing harmful toxins, such as formaldehyde and benzene, which are found in common cleaning products. One such plant is aloe vera, which is also fantastic for healing sunburns! Check out Mother Nature Network’s article on healthy indoor plants at www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/photos/15-houseplants-for-improving-indoor-air-quality for more info.
FINALLY…
5) Shop local! Yes, it’s good for your local economy to shop the cool spaces in your own town. It’s also good for your body and the environment! The more you use your own energy, the less you’ll rely on fossil fuels to get you where you need to go.
Enjoy your summer, La Grange!
