Tip of the Week

Clear the Air

Diesel exhaust from school buses contains asthma-triggering particulates and 40 microscopic chemicals that the Clean Air Act classifies as hazardous air pollutants.

Keeping the air clean is especially important for children--pound for pound, they breathe in more air and more pollutants than adults. You can reduce the problem by lobbying to bring new technologies to your school, like the propane-powered buses developed by Blue Bird Corporation, which eliminate particulates and can halve fuel costs, among other benefits. Diesel buses may also be retrofitted with technologies like diesel particulate filters; for a complete list of verified technologies, see the EPA's website.

If your school district doesn't yet have the resources to make big changes, you can still cut your emissions by reducing idling outside of schools and motivating others to do the same. Turn off the car or put it on standby when waiting to pick up or drop off children, and encourage kids to walk or ride bikes whenever possible (if you're concerned about safety, talk to other parents in the neighborhood about having the kids bike together). You can also work with your school's PTA or PTSA to request a no-idling zone for buses. Airwatch Northwest's Anti-Idling Program has toolkits to help reduce idling in your school, including letters to parents and faculty members and a "No Idle Zone" sign to display in your parking lot.

For more on greening your child's school, see "Changing Schools" in the Fall issue of National Geographic Green Guide on newsstands now.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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Hangin’ Out

Right about now we're all scrambling to take advantage of the few remaining weeks of sunshine. We're high-tailing it to the beach, taking our kids to the park and spending as much time outdoors as possible. Why not give our laundry the same opportunity? Sunlight is a natural bleaching agent and disinfectant, and line drying just one load of laundry keeps 3.35 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Plus, keeping clothes out of dryers keeps them looking newer longer.

In spite of the benefits of line drying, numerous community homeowners associations in North America and parts of Europe restrict the use of outdoor clotheslines--sometimes banning it entirely--arguing that clotheslines are eyesores that can lower the value of nearby properties.

Click here to see some of the communities that restrict or ban clotheslines, and if your neighborhood prohibits them, visit Project Laundry List and join the Right to Dry campaign.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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Too Cool

Americans are air conditioning addicts. When the weather gets the better of us, we turn our homes and offices into cool and breezy retreats from the sweltering heat. But the cold air comes at a cost. During summer months, half of all energy consumed in the U.S. goes to powering air conditioners, and each year power plants emit 100 million tons of carbon dioxide to meet our AC addiction. Maybe we're too cool for our own good.

As the weather simmers down this summer, adjust the AC relative to the temperature outside--try a setting10 degrees cooler than the day's high temperature. You'll save 3 percent on energy costs for every degree raised over 72 degrees. Or raise the temperature setting even more and turn on a fan. And be sure to draw the blinds and curtains during the sunniest and warmest times of day.

Check out "Keep Your Cool With Less AC" for more tips on managing summer heat with less energy.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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