ZE Motion is coming out with an all electric mower. The company would appreciate your feedback. Please take a few minutes to complete their brief survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6XC3JTG.

Many dry cleaners use a toxin called perchloroethylene, or perc, and the plastic bags that they put over your dry cleaned clothes trap in this toxin and it can be harmful when inhaled. So, ask your dry cleaner if they use perc. If so, consider switching to one that doesn’t. Some cleaners are using liquid CO2 and this is fine. Another option is to remove the plastic cover and let your clothes hang outside (not in your house) for about an hour to get rid of the perc toxins. 

1. Make your own cleaning products and save a ton. For information on some suggested solutions, go to http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00580/natural-household-cleaning-products.html
2. Consider selling your gas hog car and switch to an energy efficient car.  To begin your research, go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml.
3. Take advantage of the home improvement and energy star programs. To find out your options, go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml. 

GREEN Quick Wins

• Take your BPA free water bottle with you. Most purchased bottled water is not in a BPA free bottle.
• Convert 5 of your most widely used light bulbs into Energy Star bulbs and save about $60 a year.
• Drink organic, fair trade coffee (made in your home coffee pot) found at most grocery stores. Coffee is one of the most pesticide crops on the market.
• Buy used items or share items when you can.

Remove your name from receiving junk mail.  The following resources will assist:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/optoutalrt.htm
http://www.newdream.org/junkmail/optout.php
http://www.cpsr.org/prevsite/cpsr/privacy/junkmail.html

□   Bring your own water. Fill up a water bottle from your home and bring it with you.  The cost of bottled water is 240 to 10,000 times more than tap (according to http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0218-05.htm).

□   Start making it a habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room.

□   Reuse your grocery bags. We throw away over 380 billion plastic bags annually. Help by reusing the grocery bags you have and recycling the rest.

□   remove lint from your dryer during each load to increase efficiency in drying time

□   When buying ice cream, ask for a cone instead of a cup to cut down on waste

□   Let your lawn grow a little longer. Longer grass retains moisture better so in hot weather, let it grow to 1 ½”

□   If you’re not recycling, then start. Local recycling information can be found at www.ourearth.org