Monday
Feb022009
Green Makeover Part 2
Monday, February 2, 2009 at 10:56PM | Share Article | BlogOnSmog | Sphere: Related Content Stumble It! |
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Previously I highlighted a number of ways to improve the energy efficiency in your home environment. But don't stop there. Improved energy efficiency will reduce your carbon footprint but what about your huge ecological footprint? Understanding the potential pollutants and how you can deal with them will go a long way to reducing your ecological footprint.Hazardous Wastes
If you are a typical home owner then your home is probably filled with a variety of hazardous wastes. It is very important to recognize hazardous wastes and dispose of them safely. Read more on this topic here: hazardous waste primer.Are you painting your house. Did you know that Americans use over 1 Billion gallons of paint every year? And over 40% of home owners don'tknow how to dispose of unused paint? Did you know that oil-based paint is considered hazardous waste? Make sure you know the proper way(s) to clean your paint brushes and dispose of unused paint, Did you know that mercury, an extremely hazardous substance, exists in some fairly common household devices? Learn what those devices are and how to clean up mercury spills. Learn how to handle disposal of your smoke detectors. Finally, did you know that walking your dog can result in hazardous waste? Dog poop is a significant cause of water body contamination in areas where there are high concentrations of dogs. Make sure you "poop and scoop" AND properly dispose of the poop afterwards. Other Pollution Contributors
According to some experts, anti-bacterial soap should not be used in the home. Read more here: Anti-bacterial soap. Did you know that the cosmetics industry is self-monitored and manufacturers are free to put just about any chemical into their product(s)? Read more here: Are Cosmetics Safe?Prescription drugs are making their way into our water system. Although most experts believe that the pollution levels are too low to affect humans, there is a dramatic effect on fish. Fish may be the "canary in the mineshaft". Read more here: Disposal of Prescription Drugs. Recent studies have found that high levels of a chemical called perchlorate in lakes, ground and drinking water up to 80 days after a major fireworks display. Read more here: The Problem WIth Fireworks. A Japanese research study determined that windshield washer fluid could cause infrastructure damage to our buildings and roads. The damage mechanisms being decalcification of cement concrete structures and the dissolution of bitumen in pavement. Read more here: Windshield Washer Fluid. Learn the issues with your barbeque: Does Your Barbeque Contribute to Climate Change? Did you know that runaway helium balloons can cause problems for wildlife, especially seabirds, turtles and whales? Read more here: Killer Balloons Escape Custody. Small engines, such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers and weed trimmers, can cause significant air pollution. Read more here: Small Engines. This is the end of Part 2. Stay tuned for Part 3. |
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Reader Comments (7)
This is all really good info, Steve! I must admit that I had never considered the prescription drug issue. As I've previously mentioned over at Twilight Earth, I struggle with a lot of these issues and choices in my little life out here on 40 acres of desert scrub. We switched to propane BBQ-ing some years ago, but I still by necessity use a wood fireplace to heat my home. We do have an insert, which maximized heat retention and output. Still... Even recycling can be a challenge. We have piles of scrap metal and garbage wood (like plywood and laminate- full of glues and other icky chemicals), old bags of hardened cement. All detrius of my well meaning grandfather (who saved things) and the legacy of ignorant and wasteful tenants form years gone by.
We reuse as much as possible (my gardens are surrounded by old scraps of corrugated tin and aluminum panels) and I enjoy what is now being named as "upcycling"; creating art from garbage. Hehe. It's a challenge, and a lot of hard work, but at least I can sleep at night.
Please keep up the good word (and work) here at BlogOnSmog. It's great stuff!
Thorne - the fact that you are concerned enough to mention your struggle tells me a lot. You are one step ahead of the 99% of people not concerned about their effect on the environment.
Anyways this series of posts is not about making revolutionary changes but a few changes here and there that you can stick with. Upcycling is a positive activity to be proud of. Perhaps you can send me a picture of some of your art when you have time.
Steve
Hey Steve!!! I left you a lil linkylove for my B.A.D. post today. There are a couple of pics of my magic balls (bowling balls and old cement pipe covered in broken tile and pottery mosac) at # 6 of Green Holiday Suggestions. When you have a few moments I'd love your input on my Gardening in Thornesworld. I'm on my laptop tonight, but somewhere on my desktop I have some images of my larger "yard art" made of old sections of quonset hut frames I found dumped in the desert. I'll send those when I find them, if you like.
Oh!!! I almost forgot! Hehe, come see my land fill Rescued Ceramic Tile Floor
So I went looking for a really B.A.D. post. I didn't find anything too kinky :( but now I know what a lil linkylove is! Thank you very much for the encouragement Thorne. You are precious.
Hahaha! Well Steve, if you read my blog regularly, sooner or later you're bound to find kinky. I write at will and at whim, so it's pretty much a crap-shoot. Thanks for coming by!
Hey Steve!! Come by Thorne's World and see what you made me do! ^o^