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you know that a pinhole leak in a water pipe can
waste up to 170 gallons of water per day? If you
are a homeowner or home renter, an easy way to find
out if you have a leaky pipe is to check your water
meter. When you know you will be gone for a few
hours, simply look at the number on the water meter
before you go. Write it down so you don’t forget.
When you come back, compare the number you wrote
down with the number on the meter. If the number
has changed, you probably have a leak! Just knowing
you have the leak is half the battle. Learn More:
Check #5 on your Free Stuff
Card (page 7) for a “Use
Water Wisely” brochure. 
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use of water for garden and lawn watering not only
helps protect the environment, but also saves money
and provides for optimum growing conditions. Simple
ways of reducing the amount of water used for irrigation
include:
Growing plants that are adapted to drier conditions;
Mulching;
Adding peat moss to soil;
Installing windbreaks and fences to slow winds
and reduce evaporation;
Watering in the early morning, before the sun
is intense, to help reduce water loss from evaporation;
Installing rain gutters; and
Collecting water from downspouts for use on
your lawn or garden.
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 aints,
stains and varnish can add color to your home, perk
up a drab room or transform a piece of furniture.
But did you know these products may be harmful to
the environment upon disposal? Paints and related
products contribute to air pollution, and, if poured
down the drain or dumped in a landfill, can pollute
our groundwater. To reduce paint-related waste,
buy wisely. Measure the area to be painted so you
don’t buy too much paint, purchase latex or
recycled paint and most importantly: use it all!
Learn More: Check
#6 on your Free Stuff Card (page
7) for more about reducing and managing paint-related
waste.
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that you’ve stowed your snow shovel and pulled
out the gardening tools, it’s time for yard
work again. Here are some tips to help you think
green while exercising your green thumb:
Use an electric lawn mower instead of gas;
Use a handheld hose to water plants –
sprinklers tend to over-water;
Avoid pesticides and never water heavily after
spreading fertilizer; it can carry the chemicals
to nearby streams;
Avoid hosing off the driveway – sweep
it instead;
Plant trees around your house to provide shade;
and
Plant a variety of grasses, shrubs and trees
in your yard to prevent plant diseases and insect
infestations.
Follow these tips and you’ll be the envy
of your neighbors for sure!
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 efore
you dust off your trusty air conditioner, think
about this: the less you use it,the more energy
dollars you’ll save. Cool your home naturally.
Use blinds or shades to block the sun’s
heat;
Open attic vents or upstairs windows to expel
hot air;
Open windows at night to pull in fresh, cooler
air; and
Use electric fans to blow out warm air and
pull in cool air.
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the summer season upon us, many of us will be heading
outdoors to work on our lawns and gardens. And, to make
lawns more beautiful and gardens more productive, people
often turn to pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers.
Much of the unused portion of these products becomes what
it is known as household hazardous waste (HHW). Wastes
of a hazardous nature, when generated within a household,
are not regulated as hazardous wastes under federal or
state laws. When not properly managed, these wastes can
create environmental and public health hazards. Here are
some safer alternatives:
Instead of fertilizer, use household
compost, wood ash or peat moss.
Instead of chemicals, use natural mulches to prevent
weeds.
Learn More: For more
tips and information on HHW, call the Environmental
Recycling Hotline at 1-800-CLEANUP.
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one said it was easy being green. But we’re saying
it now! Greening the energy use in your home is as easy
as 1-2-3.
- Be more energy efficient. Look for energy-efficient
heating systems, lighting and appliances; turn off
the lights when you leave a room and electrical equipment
when you leave the house; and lower your thermostat
at night and when no one is home.
- Purchase green power. Green electricity pollutes
less than traditional power production and some types,
like wind and solar, produce no emissions. Green power
is produced from the wind, sun, water and earth (geothermal).
- Produce your own electricity. Installing solar
panels or small wind turbines can
generate enough electricity to power your home, and
in some cases, you can even sell some electricity
back to the power company!
Before you pay your next electricity bill, choose green.
Learn More about how you
can green your home at www.state.pa.us,
PA Keyword: “PA Energy.”
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 re
the stars out in your sky? Perhaps they are, but
you just can’t see them. Light pollution is
caused by overuse of outdoor lighting. The urban
glow is blocking out the natural glow of the night
sky. Here are some ways you can help bring the stars
back into your sky:
Use night lighting only when necessary;
Turn off lights when not needed;
Use light timers when you’re away from
home;
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Use motion detection lights; and
Keep light directed toward the ground or
exactly where needed.
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Light fixtures that control
light placement and brightness, minimize glare and
save energy are the best kind to use. Learn More
about light pollution at www.state.pa.us,
PA Keyword: “Outdoor Lighting” or
call (877) PA-GREEN.
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| Ingredients: grass
clippings, weeds, leaves, small brush and twigs
Directions: Mix one part “greens” (grass
clippings and weeds) with two parts “browns”
(leaves, small brush and twigs) to form a pile.
For fast composting, chop it first with a hoe or
lawn mower. Mix in one inch of soil. Keep pile as
moist as a wrung-out sponge. Turn pile once a week
to aerate. Finished compost will take between four
weeks and one year, depending on how often the pile
is turned and moistened. |
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 Roxy
Always looking to save a few pennies, she is sensible
about recycling. |
Carter Starter
A real go-getter, he gets a charge out of recycling .
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Yowser
He’s the life of the party and determined
to become a DEP tote bag.
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Cruiser
Just re-TIRE-Ed, but still rolling for recycling.
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Lolabelle
You can see right through her, she loves recycling!
|
Ean
Youngest of the group, he CAN really get you motivated
to recycle. |
 Earl
E. Edition
A bright future ahead, he will one day deliver the best
headline of all, “No Waste in Pennsylvania. Everyone
Recycles!” |
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