News Coverage
Bringing Earth Day Home
Published April 21, 2004
Today is the 34th annual Earth Day, set aside to remind us all to care for our global environment. Although it is unlikely many of us will spend the day saving a rain forest or preventing the drift of coal-fired power plant emissions, we can make a positive contribution closer to home.
"That's the place where it starts, where we have a degree of control," says Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, a Washington-based nonprofit. "We choose the products and services that come into our homes."
In the spirit of the day, we asked 10 environmental experts to pick one simple action that could add up to a significant improvement. For additional inspiration, visit www.epa.gov/earthday.
1. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use less electricity and thus help reduce power-plant emissions of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, the makings of acid rain, says Robyn Lawrence, editor in chief of Natural Home magazine. And the quality of compact fluorescent lighting has improved, Lawrence says: "If you tried them and didn't like them five or six years ago, try them again." (Since 1999, compact fluorescent lights have carried the government's Energy Star label; light fixtures that are dedicated to this type of bulb are also now more widely available.)
They typically cost at least $6 per bulb, compared with about 60 cents per incandescent bulb, but they last longer -- about 10,000 hours compared with 750 to 1,000 hours for incandescents. They also use about one-third the energy (a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb emits the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent, according to the Federal Trade Commission). Another plus: Fewer dead bulbs (which contain mercury filaments) end up in landfills. See the FTC's Facts for Consumers at www.ftc.gov.
2. Eliminate lead-based paint. Lead is a concern not only in our water supply but also in many houses constructed before 1978. Lead paint chips and dust get onto the floor during renovation, and when a window with cracked paint is opened and closed, babies and young children can get the dust on their fingertips and ingest it, leading to lead poisoning and possible brain damage. If you suspect you have lead-based paint, hire a certified engineer to inspect, advises Philip J. Landrigan, professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, adding that home test kits might not detect lead in buried layers of paint. If lead is found, hire a certified lead-removal expert, especially if there are young children in the home or if you plan to remodel. Call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD (-5323), or see www.epa.gov/lead.
3. Control household pests in a nontoxic way. Many conventional insect and rodent sprays contaminate indoor air, floors, counters and table surfaces. These products also have other "cradle to grave" pollution effects during production, transportation and disposal, says Feldman of Beyond Pesticides. Focus instead on keeping pests out of your house: Store sugary foods and pet foods in sealed containers; seal cracks and crevices around the house; fix drainage problems (because termites and crickets like dark and damp places), says Feldman. For more toxic-free ideas -- such as killing ants with a spray bottle of soapy water -- see www.beyondpesticides.org.
4. Avoid vinyl products. Vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC, is a popular choice for flooring, siding, plastic pipes, wall covering and shower curtains. (You know that new car or new shower curtain smell? That's vinyl.) During production and disposal, vinyl creates toxic byproducts such as dioxin, a potent carcinogen. "Dioxin is a health problem in the air, in water and in food," says Paul Bogart, national campaign coordinator for the Washington-based Healthy Building Network. Many green builders and several companies, such as Nike and Ikea, have decreased their use of vinyl, says Bogart. Homeowners can help by choosing alternatives such as natural linoleum flooring, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipes, and wall coverings or shower curtains made from natural fibers. More suggestions at www.healthybuilding.net.
5. Phase out your use of Teflon pans and forgo optional stain-resistant treatments on upholstery and carpeting. Teflon, widely present in nonstick cookware and ovens since the 1950s, and stain-resistant treatments such as Scotchgard and Stainmaster contain perfluorochemicals (PFCs), which are inhaled in the air or absorbed through the skin and food. They are highly toxic and can cause birth defects and several types of cancer, says Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at the Washington-based Environmental Working Group. PFCs are global pollutants and have been found even in polar bears. For more than a year, the EPA has been conducting a risk assessment of chemicals used to make nonstick cookware and some breathable, water- and stain-resistant fabrics. But consumers can help by choosing cookware that does not have nonstick coating, such as glass or stainless steel, and by using soap and water to keep furniture and carpets clean. More information at www.ewg.org.
6. Look for products that have earned the EPA's Energy Star designation. This voluntary program, begun in 1992, labels more than 40 categories of home and office products that are energy efficient yet also high quality. Appliances that use less energy help reduce pollution-causing emissions from power plants. They also save money. An example: The average home in America spends about $1,400 a year on energy bills; using Energy Star-designated products can save homeowners about 30 percent, or $400 a year, says Maria Vargas, spokeswoman for the Energy Star program. Most major manufacturers now sell Energy Star products. "All you have to do is ask for them; the government has made it easy for you," Vargas says. See www.energystar.gov or call 888-782-7937.
7. Conserve water. Although water is not a scarce resource in the Washington area (this year), clean drinking water is becoming a scarce resource worldwide, says Mindy Pennybacker, editor of the Green Guide, a New York-based newsletter. Water-saving toilets, washing machines and dishwashers are now sold by manufacturers such as Asko and Bosch and as part of the Kenmore line at Sears. And today's low-flush toilets are a big improvement over earlier models, says the Green Guide's Paul McRandle, senior research editor.They use only about 1.6 gallons of water compared with 3.5 gallons for the old low-flush toilets and five to seven gallons for regular toilets.
Other good tips: Wait to run the dishwasher until it is fully loaded; and use water sparingly while shaving, washing dishes and brushing teeth. For more information, see www.thegreenguide.com.
8. Reduce chemical pesticide and fertilizer use in your yard. Two billion pounds of pesticides are applied annually in the United States to residential, agricultural sites, according to the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Annual Report 2002. Pesticide exposure has been linked to birth defects, nerve damage and cancer in humans as well as to deaths of birds, dogs and other animals. These chemicals pollute our water and kill not only harmful pests but also beneficial insects. In the Washington area, fertilizers are a major source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. You can help by landscaping with native plants and planting grass that is appropriate for the local environment so your yard can thrive without chemical treatments, suggests Christine Ervin, outgoing president and CEO of the Washington-based U.S. Green Building Council. Ask your local garden center for guidance. See the Web site of the Natural Resources Conservation Service www.nrcs.usda.gov for more information.
9. Change your furnace setting. Heating and cooling a house requires considerable energy use, which leads to emissions of carbon dioxide that contribute to airborne pollution and global climate change, says Jeffrey Langholz, co-author of "You Can Prevent Global Warming (and Save Money!)" (Andrews McMeel, 370 pp., $10.95). Langholz recommends, among other things, inching your cooler up by just one degree when you're home and by 10 degrees when you're gone after the weather warms up. (A programmable thermostat allows for several temperature settings during a 24-hour period, eliminating the need to remember to change the dial.)
10. Switch to safer cleaning products. Conventional household cleaning products usually contain chemicals such as chlorine bleach and ammonia that contaminate air and water supplies. Residues from conventional window cleaners or bathroom disinfectants get into the air and are flushed down drains and toilets into public water systems. Moreover, many of these products contain chemicals that are carcinogenic neurotoxins, meaning they can cause cancer in the neurological system, notes Elizabeth Sword, executive director of Princeton-based Children's Health Environmental Coalition. Children are especially at risk because their brains are developing so rapidly. Sword recommends baking soda, white vinegar and other products for cleaning that are specifically labeled nontoxic. See www.checnet.org.