Is it energy efficient? Is it harmful to health or environment? Or, does it release harmful substances to the air or water? Was the manufacturing process energy efficient? How was it packaged? Does it have excessive packaging? Is it durable, recyclable or biodegradable?

The reality of 21st century men and women is that they use more energy and natural resources than ever before. At the same time, in both the manufacturing process and in everyday use, we produce emissions that are harmful to our families and our environment. The numbers are staggering…

- For each gallon of gas that our cars use, we produce 19 pounds of carbon dioxide.
- One Styrofoam cup is produced with a billion molecules of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) that are hazardous to our atmosphere. Each atom will take over 100 years to break up.
- Rainforest Alliance says nearly 30 million acres of tropical rainforests are wiped out every year through logging or burning.
- If your family is typical, you use 300 gallons of water a day; one small leak left unattended could waste 6,000 gallons of water a month.
- If we, Americans, were to turn the heat down just a few degrees in our homes and places of business, we could save 21 million gallons of oil each day.

The list is lengthy and overwhelming. Just check the Internet. The sites abound about what we are doing to our fragile balance on Planet Earth. The good news is that the planet is, for the most part, self-healing. It does, however, need some help from its most resourceful inhabitants, human beings. That’s you and me.

Where do we start? Can we truly make an impact? A resounding “YES” to that question.

It’s not just a question of conserving. We, as a nation, as a family, as individuals, have to start thinking differently and developing new habits. The place to start is at home. Whether building new, remodeling or simply maintaining a home, there are hundreds of things you can do to make a difference.

Put on your “green” glasses and walk through your home.
Do you have Energy Star appliances – appliances that are certified to use less energy. Less energy means less fossil fuel. Less fossil fuel means improved air quality, conservation of resources and reduced cost. Don’t stop at appliances, what about your windows and doors? Are they Energy Star products? Richard Dudrak of R.A. Dudrak Company provided a demonstration on how windows differ in their ability to keep in heat in winter. You can choose from double panes to triple panes with special coatings that can reduce heat loss by as much as 80 percent. Even if a home doesn’t have very good insulation, the greatest heat loss occurs through windows, he says; that’s why installing energy efficient windows can make a difference.

If you don’t have Energy Star appliances now, remember to look for the Energy Star logo when you are ready to make the purchase. In the meantime, what can you do to reduce consumption of energy?

Change your lightbulbs. Use CFL (Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs). They carry the Energy Star label, last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy. They cost a little more up front but they will last longer and pay for themselves by the first 500 hours of use. By simply installing a dimmer and dimming a lightbulb 25%, you can save 30 lbs. of carbon in a year.

You can further reduce electricity consumption if you:
- limit the number of times you open the refrigerator. Your refrigerator works harder every time you open the door.
- regularly clean refrigerator coils, air conditioning filters and furnace filters to improve efficiency.
- double the amount that you bake in your oven. Leftovers are great! Use pans that conduct heat well and that aren’t warped.
- fill your dishwasher and washer.
- use cold water in the washer more often and hang your clothes outside whenever possible.
- use the dryer only when necessary.
- turn off lights when leaving a room.
- use natural light as much as possible during the day and unplug appliances when not in use.
- open windows and let the breeze flow through your home rather than using air conditioners. Because of a variety of chemicals that are used in carpeting, mattresses, and furniture, the reality is that air purity is better outdoors than indoors. Opening those windows will not only reduce energy use, but improve air quality in your home or office.

By changing your habits, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and saving money at the same time.

To assist you in determining the energy guzzlers in your home, you may want to consider having an Energy Audit. Standard Insulating Company in Marcy performs a “Comprehensive Home Assessment” that takes approximately 2 hours, explains Charles Scholl, owner and president. “Using the latest technology in blower door, infrared, carbon monoxide and gas leak detection, a certified Standard Technician will inspect your home and develop a report on the current condition and efficiency of your home.”

The Assessment reviews health and safety, air-leakage rates, insulation levels, major appliances, heating and cooling systems, ductwork, and lighting.

Water consumption is also an area of great concern. Did you know that we use 60% of our water in the bathroom? You can conserve water by changing your toilet to the 1.6 gallon per flush models. Buy good quality with lots of flushing power. Otherwise, you’ll be flushing twice and using more water. For those of you who are not ready to make the change, you can displace (reduce) the amount of water you flush. Simply fill and cap a gallon container of water and place it in your tank. You’ll flush as usual but use less water.

It is also important to use your “green” glasses when shopping for items for your home, including paints and varnishes, furniture, carpets, mattresses, even the lumber for your children’s swing set. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be found in a variety of materials. They can cause irritation and health problems, including allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities. They are a major source of low-level pollution and contribute to global warming. Fortunately, there are VOC-free products that reduce the dangers. Ask for:
- low or VOC-free paints and varnishes.
- natural fiber rugs and carpets (make certain that they are installed with VOC-free adhesives).
- Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC-certified) products like blinds, curtains and box spring frames.
- VOC-free furniture made with formaldehyde-free pressed wood.
- mattresses that contain flame retardants that do not raise environmental and health concerns. Among them are Ikea, Sealy and Savvy Rest.
- pressure-treated lumber with lowest amount of chemical treatments

It seems that everywhere you go in your home, or everything you use and buy may have environmental impact. So, how do you become a smart consumer of our resources? The Regreen Program at www.regreenprogram.org provides some guidelines:

“What are the raw materials used to create the product? And where do they come from? Did the materials come from renewable resources? Is the manufacturing process energy efficient? Does it release harmful substances? Do they use adhesives? Are they VOC-free? Does the product nurture the health and well-being of its occupants?”

“Going green” conserves our natural resources like energy, wood and water; and improves air quality. It encompasses everything from personal use products, furniture and appliances to the lumber we use to construct our homes.

“Going green?” You may be starting at home, but you’ll be saving a planet.