“Go green” the computer squawks at us! Green this, green that, we’re bombarded with so many messages about going green that it can get overwhelming at times. With all this information it’s hard to even know where to start and what to do first? To get started this infographic by Angie’s List offers some key tips and useful reminders for greening your home and yard.
Screen reader version:
8 Tips for a Green home and yard
1. Run your home on renewable energy generated by the sun adn sell the excess to your local power company.
2. Collect run-off rain in a barrel for use in watering plants and yard (one inch of rainfall on a 1,000 square-foot roof can gather 600 gallons)
3. Treat windows with low-emittance coating
4. Seal any gaps that could allow drafts in or out.
5. Wash all paint brushes out in the sink not in the yard (if just 10 percent of American attached outdoor hose shut-off valves, 28,000 bathtubs could be filled every day).
6. Dispose of paint cans via a hazardous waste collection program
7. Don’t spray pesticides immediately before predicted rain! (The average homeowner uses 10x more pesticides per acre of lawn than the average farmer uses on an acre of crops).
Sources:
Green Tips:
http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/stormwaterindex.htm
http://magazine.angieslist.com/tips/4-tips-for-managing-stormwater-pollution.aspx
Window treating:
http://magazine.angieslist.com/windows-doors/articles/atlanta-window-energy-efficiency.aspx
Pesticide use:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/167678-interesting-facts-about-going-green
Bath tubs:
http://www.fox43tv.com/dpp/news_at_7/going_green/special_goinggreenfactsfromfox_20090420
Gathering water runoff:
http://www.mcscd.org/index_fiels/rain_barrel_flyer.pdf