Definitely not your uncle’s Winnebago! And being green with envy isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when talking about environmental-friendly mobile homes. Luxury or comfort aren’t the words that come to mind either, but words like cramped, or small, or automotive usually don’t instill satisfaction inside the hearts of potential residents who’re use to a home that can’t get up and drive off But “green” is exactly what Michael Berk, F.L. Crane Endowed Professor of Architecture at Mississippi State, wants mobile homes to be. Tossing traditional thinking about the structures of mobile homes, into the metaphorical “recycling bin”, is exactly what Berk plans to do.

Working in the Carl Small Town Center, which is a part of MSU’s College of Architecture, Art & Design, Berk created an award-winning, factory-built unit he calls the GreenMobile. Unlike other lower-end housing, Berk applies sound construction methods, as well as energy-saving concepts for lower utility costs. The GreenMobile design meets all International Residential codes for structurally sound foundations, insulation, promotes the use of energy-efficient appliances, and creates interior spaces that are better suited for natural-day lighting and ventilation. It also includes an option to install solar photo-voltaic systems, which convert energy from the sun into electricity.

Energy savings from the home make it a smart choice for people looking for affordable housing and lower utility costs. “It potentially could make money at the end of the month,” Berk said.

Energy isn’t the only thing that separates the GreenMobile from traditional mobile homes. Berk says that his next generation mobile home will actually appreciate in value, unlike current mobile homes that depreciate shortly after being bought. Given the potential to accrue value and the fact that they’re designed to last longer than traditional mobile homes, GreenMobiles could be financed through low-interest loans from lending institutions such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They’re expected to cost in the $50,000 range.

Mobile homes don’t have luxury?

The i-House is a next generation, green manufactured home. It’s from Clayton Homes, who have been building mobile homes for over 70 years (They were bought by Warren Buffet in 2003). It will sell for about $100,000, which puts it above trailer park homes but below regular houses. Clayton homes can be configured in seven different ways and includes eco-friendly and energy-saving features like low-e windows, dual-flash toilets, butterfly style rainwater-collecting roofs, tight insulation, zero-VOC paint, and more. Other amenities include IKEA fixtures, bamboo flooring, recycled content decking material, and Japanese-style climate control in each room. The i-house also features a large open kitchen and living room with contemporary cabinets and high efficiency appliances.

The layout of the long main “core” of the house and a separate box-shaped guestroom/office “flex room” resemble the letter “i” and it’s dot. Yet Clayton CEO and President Kevin Clayton said their “i-house” stands for more than it’s carbon footprint.

With a nod to the iPod and iPhone, Clayton said, “We love what it represents. We are fans of Apple and all that they have done. But the “i” stands for innovation, inspiration, intelligence, and integration.” And shattering those mobile home stereo-types is a good thing, he said. “I think the “i-house” is just more proof that the industry is capable of delivering homes that are highly customizable at an affordable price.”

The “i-house’s” metal, v-shaped roof, which has been inspired by a gas-station awning, combines design with function. The roof provides a rain water catchment system for recycling, supports flush-mounted solar panels and vaults interior ceilings at each end to 10 ½ feet for an added feeling of openness. The Energy Star-rated design features heavy insulation, six-inch thick exterior walls, cement board and corrugated metal siding, energy efficient appliances, and tankless water heater.

The Green RV

As more and more Americans struggle to find affordable ways to travel, the attention turned to recreational vehicles. But can eco-minded travelers reduce their carbon footprint(or tire tracks) when driving these behemoths? The good news is that the RV industry is adjusting to the demands of a more environmentally conscious public. These vehicles are offering more efficient fuel usage and improved design while providing spacious accommodations that can fit realistic budgets.

Most modern mobile RVs today use fuel-efficient diesel engines that get about 15 miles per gallon as opposed to the industry standard of 8-10 miles per gallon. Manufactures are also building RVs with lighter composites(similar to the material found in golf balls), experimenting with new design, combating wind resistance by making sleeker front ends that improve overall fuel efficiency, changing the look of trailers to a more European design, with an aerodynamic front that conserves energy.

Innovations hitting the RV world include units powered by solar and wind turbines, which generate electricity, power gourmet kitchens, full bathrooms, and home enter-tainment centers. According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, a coalition of nearly 500 manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers of recreational vehicles, up to 20 percent of RVers use solar panels to power on-board systems. Meanwhile, manufacturers like Winnebago and Fleetwood are introducing newer, hybrid models that are incorporating diesel engines and batteries. Like hybrid cars, these RVs rely on battery power for city and slower driving, and both the battery and diesel engine at higher speeds(which charges the battery at the same time). This means that a hybrid vehicle can travel up to 700 miles without refueling, using approximately 12 miles per gallon.

In a recent independent study by the Department of the Environment in Britain showed that, on average, RVs released 4.58 pounds of CO2 per mile verses 1.39 pounds per mile for an average car.

RVs reduce our carbon footprint through conservation and efficiency. According to PKF Consulting, a research firm specializing in travel and tourism, families of four taking RV vacations generate less carbon dioxide than families traveling on a plane, renting a car and staying in a hotel. This study analyzed the CO2 emissions of vacations varying in length, and included car/folding camping trailer, SUV/travel trailer, Type C motor home, and Type A motor home(diesel). Using the carbon calculator methodology developed by Conservation International, an organization promoting biodiversity conservation. PKF found that in each case, RV vacations had a softer environmental impact than the typical airline/rental car/hotel vacation.

Related Reading

Triple Benefits of Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Chargers

www.rvia.org

Guide to Carbon Offsets

Fuel Cell Center

]]> http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/go-green/home-performance-contractors/sierra-club-green-mobile-home/feed/ 6 http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/go-green/appliances/refrigerators-and-freezers/ http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/go-green/appliances/refrigerators-and-freezers/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 13:13:36 +0000 Jennifer Schwab http://sierraclubgreenhome.com/?p=144 Chill out your energy bills

The business of greening your home can seem complicated at times. But with refrigerators and freezers it’s simple. These appliances are likely consuming 9% to 15% of your household energy, and the newest ones are models of efficiency. Don’t put up with an old energy hog.

Top Tips

At home

• Use your settings. Does your your refrigerator have an energy-saving setting? If so, use it–unless you’re having problems with condensation on the outside of the fridge.

• Cover food. Excess moisture inside the fridge increases energy use.
• Take care of the condenser coils. To help keep your refrigerator working efficiently, vacuum or brush off the condenser coils at least once a year, unless the owner’s manual says it’s a no-clean model. And leave space between the refrigerator or freezer and the wall or cabinets so that air can circulate around the coils.
• Set the right temperature. Keep your refrigerator between 36 and 38 degrees F. and the freezer between 0 and 5 degrees F. To check the temperature, buy an appliance thermometer meant for refrigerators and freezers-it’s available at hardware stores.
• Say goodbye. If your refrigerator is more than about 12 years old, it’s probably time to replace it with an energy saver that can cut your food-chilling bills in half. But don’t forget to recycle it! Check out www.recyclemyoldfridge.com for more information.

When shopping, look for

• Energy efficiency. When shopping for a new refrigerator, make sure you’re only looking at models with the Energy Star label. They use 20% less energy than non-Energy Star models. But even among Energy Star products there’s a wide range of efficiencies, depending on size, configuration of compartments, amount of insulation, quality of motors, and how many extra doo-dads–such as automatic icemakers and through-door water and ice dispensers–are included. So when comparing refrigerators, it’s important to look at their actual electricity consumption (in kilowatt-hours per year, or kWh/yr). Find this data on the yellow EnergyGuide label that’s on every new refrigerator. You can also look it up on the manufacturer’s website or on the Energy Star website.
• Freezer on top. Refrigerator/freezers with side-by-side doors use more electricity than models with the freezer on the top or bottom. In general, models with the freezer on top use somewhat less energy than models with the freezer on the bottom.
• Extras only if you really need them. Automatic icemakers and through-door water and ice dispensers increase energy consumption by as much as 20%.

Other Considerations

• If you need a separate freezer, a chest freezer is 10% to 25% more efficient than an upright freezer.
• Refrigerators and freezers built before 1995 usually contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are ozone-depleting substances. Refrigerators manufactured since 1995 contain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), refrigerants that don’t damage the ozone layer but are greenhouse gases. To prevent leakage of these gases during disposal, unwanted refrigerators should be recycled by trained professionals. Check with your local utility, recycling department, or public works department for safe disposal options.

Benefits…

…to you and your wallet
In addition to significantly reducing your energy bills, a new Energy Star refrigerator often gives you better value in other ways, too, with more efficient motors and compressors, better insulation, tighter door seals, and improved temperature controls. Sometimes these advantages cost more up front, but sometimes not.

…to the Earth
Those big energy savings translate into significantly reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.

Common Mistakes

• Supersizing. In general, larger refrigerators and freezers use more energy than smaller ones. The most energy-efficient refrigerators are 16 to 20 cubic feet. But keep in mind that you’ll usually use less electricity running one larger refrigerator than multiple smaller ones.
• Keeping the old fridge in your garage. The average refrigerator contains 123 pounds of recyclable steel. In some communities, the local utility will not only pick up your old refrigerator for free, it will pay money for it. For recycling options, check with your utility, town recycling department, or www.recyclemyoldfridge.com.
• Hot spots. If possible, keep the refrigerator out of direct sunlight, and don’t position it adjacent to heating vents, ovens, or dishwashers. The added heat makes the refrigerator work harder to maintain its temperature.

Getting Started

• To find out how much you’ll save by recycling your old fridge and replacing it with an Energy Star model, use Energy Star’s Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator.
• Some utilities offer rebates to customers who buy energy-efficient refrigerators, and some offer tiered rebates–the higher the efficiency of the model you buy, the bigger the rebate. Check with your utility or search DSIRE, a national online database of incentives for energy-efficiency improvements and renewable-energy systems.

Children often put toys in their mouths, and yet many on the shelves today are made with toxic materials. Natural toys, on the other hand, are made from materials that are safe for the child and the environment. They can also be one of a child’s first connections to nature. A wooden rattle in a child’s hand comes from a living tree and feels familiar and nurturing in a way that man-made materials can’t match.

Top Tips

At home

• Do it yourself. It’s easy to make wooden blocks, for example, by cutting and sanding scrap wood. Or you can take a child’s favorite outgrown dress and make it into a rag doll or stuffed bear. Homemade toys are inexpensive and save natural resources by utilizing materials you already have around the house.

When shopping look for

• Good wood. Choose toys made from sustainably logged wood that is painted with vegetable, water-based, or beeswax finishes.
• Healthy cloth. Toys made with natural fibers, including cotton, silk, and wool are an excellent choice–organically grown if possible.
• Recycling. Avoid waste by using recycled toys or new toys made from clean reclaimed or recycled materials.

Avoid

• Toxic toys. Check labels carefully before you buy, and stay away from any toys that do not declare themselves free of lead, which can damage children’s nervous systems. Also avoid vinyl, a plastic that releases phthalate fumes your child can inhale. Sometimes vinyl also contains toxic metals such as lead and cadmium. In addition, toys made of pressed woods, such as plywood and particle board, can give off toxic fumes, and some wooden toys are coated with toxic paints and finishes.
• Imports. Because the natural toy movement began in Germany, most natural toys sold today are manufactured in Europe. Shipping those toys all the way to the United States requires abundant energy and makes them less green, even if they are made from the best of materials. Look for and purchase natural toys made in the United States. They do exist.

Other Considerations

• Some of the simplest and most child-pleasing non-toxic toys include props for plays and role-playing, such as capes, crowns, fancy slippers, magic wands, and so forth. Kids also love non-toxic art supplies made of all-natural materials, including colored pencils and beeswax crayons. Colored modeling beeswax can be used as an alternative to plastic clay to make any shape your child can imagine.

Benefits…

…to you and your child
Choosing natural toys can protect children’s health and, by keeping them away from toxics, even save their lives.

…to your wallet
Making your own toys from reclaimed materials is great for the wallet. And while some store-bought natural toys initially cost more than conventional toys, they are made from durable materials that can be passed down from child to child.

…to the Earth
If you avoid toxic materials you help the environment as well as your child. Natural toys are biodegradable, for one thing, so, unlike plastics, they won’t be sitting in our landfills thousands of years hence.

Common Mistakes

Having too many toys. A child’s world is very small. He or she will be happy with only a few playthings, and buying more than you need increases emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.

Getting Started

You are more likely to find natural, non-toxic toys in local stores than in big-box chains. There are also good choices on the Internet if you search for “natural toys.”

Related Articles

Is the Leading Baby Shampoo Toxic?

Raising Healthy Children

Be it basic Berber or retro shag, carpet feels good underfoot, absorbs sound, and can add color and style to a room. No wonder it covers nearly 70% of the floors in the United States.

But some indoor-air quality experts suggest thinking twice about blanketing your floors with wall-to-wall fibers. Some new carpets emit a host of noxious chemicals that you’ll be breathing for months and even years after they’re installed. Another concern is that carpet acts as a reservoir for dust and dust mites, pet dander, soot, pollen, odors, fleas, and lots of other stuff you’d rather not have take up residence in your home–especially if you’ve got young children who spend most of their time down at floor level.

Smooth-surface floors–think hardwood, ceramic tile, linoleum, or concrete–are easier to keep clean than carpet, so they’re usually a better choice from a healthy-home perspective. And carpet has a host of other environmental problems: it’s a short-lived material that ends up in landfills or incinerators. Also, the majority of the carpet sold in the United States is made from nonrenewable petrochemicals.

But you don’t necessarily have to give up on carpets. Over the past decade a number of manufacturers have led the way toward cleaning up their industry’s practices. Products are now available that are healthier for people and the planet.

Top Tips

At home

• Air it out. Carpet emits the most chemicals when it’s new. Leave windows and doors open, and run a portable fan or the fan of your heating or air conditioning system for 48 to 72 hours after installation to remove chemical vapors. If you plan to do this, consider installing carpet when the weather is mild so you don’t waste as much energy.
• Keep it clean. Frequent use of a vacuum is a crucial to any carpet cleaning strategy.

When shopping look for

• Durability. Choose high quality carpets–either made from natural materials such as wool (which require much less petroleum to manufacture) or recycled synthetic materials.
• Healthy adhesives. Choose carpet, pads, and adhesives certified to have low emissions of VOCs and formaldehyde. Or skip the adhesives altogether and tack down the carpet using tack strips. Look for the Green Label Plus seal of approval from the Carpet and Rug Institute. Be aware, however, that while the Green Label Plus covers emissions of some worrisome chemicals, it doesn’t cover others, such as flame retardants and perfluorocarbons.
• Carpet tiles? Consider carpets sold in small pieces called “tiles” rather than “broadloom” (or sheet) carpets. Some brands of carpet tiles don’t require any adhesive and can be picked up and rearranged when you want to change a room’s look. If areas become worn or stained, tiles can be selectively replaced. (You might want to buy some extras for the future in case the color or pattern you choose is no longer made.)
• Recycled fiber. If you want a synthetic carpet, choose one with recycled content in the “face” fiber, the backing, or both. The higher the post-consumer recycled content, the more waste is diverted from landfills. Recycled carpet looks and performs as well as virgin-fiber synthetic carpet, and it keeps plastic waste out of landfills and incinerators. It takes about 40 two-liter plastic bottles to make a square yard of recycled polyester carpet.
• Earth-friendly manufacturers. Favor companies who guarantee they will take back the carpet at the end of its life for recycling. Recycling 500 square feet of carpet saves 24 gallons of oil, 550,000 Btu of energy and 247 pounds of landfill waste.

Avoid

• Petroleum-based carpets. Wool carpets are one option, as are floor coverings made from jute, seagrass, cotton, and other natural fibers. Some manufacturers are now making carpets with polyester-like materials derived from corn. And some are using soy instead of petrochemicals to make carpet backing. Agricultural products aren’t a perfect solution, however, considering the high levels of petroleum, pesticides, and other chemicals used for conventional farming.

Benefits…

…to your health
Remember that old advertising slogan “better living through chemistry”? Well, it didn’t quite work out that way with most carpets. Their fibers and the pads below them often emit potentially hazardous levels of VOCs and other chemicals. The worst fumes come from the carpet backing but even the face of the carpet is typically treated with stain-resistant, soil-resistant and antimicrobial chemicals. Some health and environmental experts oppose the use of antimicrobials in particular, concerned that they may lead to the growth of strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Carpet fibers can also absorb the odors from new paint and furniture, holding onto these noxious chemicals and then releasing them into the air when someone walks on the carpet. For people who are sensitive to these chemicals, the fluff under their feet starts looking more ominous than elegant.

…to the Earth and your wallet
Carpet is also the most short-lived of the flooring alternatives, often lasting only 10 to 15 years. That makes it a problem in landfills, and a drain on your pocketbook. For example: The upfront costs of carpet and hardwood floors can be about the same. But, the hardwood floor may last two or three times as long.

Common Mistakes

• Capturing fumes. Carpet can absorb VOCs and formaldehyde from paint, adhesives, household cleaning products, and even personal care products. Choose low- or zero-VOC products.

Blanketing your heater. If you put carpet over radiant floor heating, you’ll reduce the heating system’s effectiveness.

Getting Started

• See if your area has one of the handful of organizations that accepts used carpets for recycling. They charge a fee for your old carpet, but it may be cheaper than sending it to the dump.
• If you’re still mystified about how to find a greener carpet, consider buying from a store that specializes in environmentally friendly home products. They’ll be knowledgeable about the best choices.
• Ask any potential installer the following questions:
  • How much expertise does the contractor have installing carpet?
  • Ask to for references, but also try to visit a few homes where the contractor has installed the same type of flooring that you’ve chosen. Check the quality of the installation as well as how well the material has held up.
  • If any adhesives, stains, sealants, mortar, or grout will be used during the installation, ask about low- or zero-VOC options. If you meet resistance to using low-VOC products, consider shopping around for a contractor who has experience with healthy home practices.
• For general advice on what questions to ask contractors and other tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Flooring overview
• Bamboo floors
• Wood floors
• Concrete, stone, terrazzo floors
• Cork floors
• Linoleum floors

Content contributed by Earth911.com, the leading resource for local recycling solutions.

If you religiously recycle your old newspapers and junk mail, you’re not alone. In 2007, 56 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered—an average of 360 pounds of paper per person. But have you been recycling your dead light bulbs, flat tires, and leftover paint? You may not be able to put such items on the curb, but many companies and communities are providing ways to recycle them. In fact the EPA says that about 75% of what Americans throw away these days could be recycled.

Read the tips below to boost the statistics for your household—and maybe even benefit your whole community. Recycling not only saves energy and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. It can also prevent hazardous materials and chemicals from contaminating soil and leaching into local drinking water.

Top Tips

At home

• Know your trash. Check with your local government or recycling company to get a list of what materials you can and cannot put in your curbside bin.
• Go beyond the big five. Most curbside recycling programs accept the “big five”: paper, plastic, glass, steel, and aluminum. For everything that can’t be put on your curb, check Earth911’s recycling database for drop-off locations near you. This includes items like paint, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and pesticides. You can access through the database using the widget at the top of this page.  In addition, use mail-back and store drop-off programs. Most auto parts stores and mechanics will take used motor oil and old tires. For electronics, look into drop-off programs such as Best Buy’s and the EPA’s eCycling Program. Products such as cell phones can be mailed to manufacturers or traded in for money.
• Spread the word. Encourage your family and friends to recycle, both when they visit you and at their own homes.

While shopping

• Shop for better trash. Choose products with minimal packaging or packaging made from recyclable materials. Better yet, buy in bulk and bring your own reusable containers to the store to hold items you might otherwise put in a disposable container. Tell the checkout clerk the weight of the container when it’s empty, so it can be subtracted from the price of items bought by the pound.
• Know your plastics. If you need to buy something in a disposable plastic container, use one made from one of the most readily recyclable forms of plastic: #1 and #2, which will be marked in a recycling symbol on the bottom of the product. Check Earth911’s recycling database for ideas about how to recycle products made from other kinds of plastic, such as plastic bags and Styrofoam. To motivate yourself, remember this: It takes plastic bottles 700 years to begin to decompose in a landfill.
• Make a deal. Consider trade-in programs when purchasing computers and other new equipment. By planning ahead, you’ll save time and money on proper disposal.
• Close the loop. Buy products that contain recycled materials. When buying recycled content paper, remember to look for the highest percentage of post-consumer waste content.
• Buy less. It’s good to recycle. But it’s even better not to create any waste in the first place. Before you buy, ask yourself: Do you really need another (fill in the blank)?

Other Considerations

Some recycling lingo is confusing. What, for instance, is the difference between recycled-content products and recyclable products? What’s post-consumer content?

• Recycled-content products are made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded. That means these products are made totally or partly from recycled material such as aluminum soda cans or newspaper. Recycled-content products also can be rebuilt or re-manufactured from used products such as toner cartridges or computers. More than 4,500 recycled-content products are available, and this number continues to grow. In fact, many of the products people regularly purchase contain some recycled content.
• Recyclable products can be collected and remanufactured into new products after they’ve been used. These products do not necessarily contain recycled materials and only benefit the environment if people recycle them.
• Post-consumer content is material that has served its intended use and is being reused in a different product. If a product is labeled “recycled content” and not “post-consumer content” it may be made from manufacturing waste—not material collected through a recycling program.

Feel as if you need to be a chemist to figure out what kind of plastic you are trying to recycle? This list will help:

#1 PET

(

Polyethylene terephthalate

)*: soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays, and water bottles

#2 HDPE

(

High-density polyethylene

)*: milk bottles, detergent bottles, and grocery/trash/retail bags

#3 PVC

(

Polyvinyl chloride

): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders, and plastic pipes

#4 LDPE

(

Low-density polyethylene

): dry cleaning bags, produce bags, and squeezable bottles

#5 PP

(

Polypropylene

): medicine bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws, and food containers (such as yogurt, ketchup bottles and sour cream/butter/hummus tubs)

#6 PS

(

Polystyrene

): compact disc jackets, packaging Styrofoam peanuts, and plastic tableware

#7 Other

: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers, and Tupperware

Benefits

…to your health
Keeping hazardous wastes out of the waste stream will keep local water and air cleaner.

…to your wallet
Recycling programs can bring new jobs into your community. Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs. Recycling can also put money in your pocket. Some cities pay for recyclables you bring to their centers and/or reward good recyclers with lower rates for their trash pickup or other incentives. Shopping to minimize waste saves money, too.
…to the Earth

• According to the U.S. EPA, recycling (including composting your yard wastes and table scraps) diverted 68 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2001, up from 34 million tons in 1990.
• America’s current level of recycling saves the equivalent of more than 5 billion gallons of gasoline, reducing dependence on foreign oil by 114 million barrels.
• Substituting recycled for virgin material reduces climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. Producing new plastic products from recycled materials uses two-thirds less energy than is required to make products from virgin materials.

Common Mistakes

Getting All Mixed Up. Throwing the wrong thing into the recycling bin increases the cost of your community’s recycling effort. Some estimates put the industry-wide costs of contamination at about $700 million a year.

Getting Started

Here are few of the key elements to starting a recycling program, whether it’s for a business, a school, an organization, or just in your home.

• Decide what to recycle. Evaluate how much space you have to sort and store materials and what items you tend to go through on a regular basis, such as plastic bottles.
• Find a vendor. Check with your local recycling center, municipality, or waste hauler to find out what kind of materials are accepted in your area. The green Earth911 recycling locator at the top of the page can help.
• Decide on storage.Washable plastic bins or trash cans are the best to use to store your recycling. Be sure to rinse out the containers that held food to avoid critters.
• Educate participants. If items are put in the wrong containers, it means more work for you and could mean materials are not recycled.
• Label bins. Print up a sheet of special instructions, such as: remove caps, stomp on containers, break down cardboard boxes, bundle newspapers, and so forth.
• Maintain and monitor. Keep the storage bins clean and dry and make sure materials don’t pile up. A clean recycling area encourages other to keep it clean and uncluttered as well.
• Reward good behavior. Praise your participants and share any monetary rewards from dropping off materials.

Related Products and Services

• Home Composting
• The 3 Rs and Beyond
• Recycling Center

• Tall Tales of Recycling

• Find a Local Recycling Center

Today’s high-efficiency clothes washers use half the gas or electricity of a standard washer. They also extract more water during the spinning cycle, which reduces drying time and energy. They offer oceanic water savings, too. Standard full-sized washing machines use 40 gallons of water per load, compared with only 18 to 25 gallons for machines that have earned the government’s Energy Star label.

Clothes dryers, on the other hand, don’t vary much in energy use. But their consumption does add up–dryers in the United States use the equivalent of 58 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. That’s about as much electricity as the entire city of Los Angeles uses annually. One of the easiest ways to help bring that number down, not to mention reduce wear-and-tear on your clothes, is to hang your clothes to dry, either on a line outside or on drying racks inside. Line drying is one of the oldest and most effective energy-saving (and therefore money-saving) technologies around!

Top Tips

At home

• Wash less often. Sure, socks and undies need to be washed after each wearing, but how about those jeans and polos?
• Run only full loads. When it comes to energy and water use, full loads are the most efficient. So fill the machine, but don’t overdo it. Stuffing the washer past full makes it harder to get your clothes clean.
• Adjust water levels. If you must do a smaller load, use less water. If you’re lucky enough to have a washer with a “mini-basket,” use it. Such baskets fit over the washer’s agitator, enabling you to wash tiny loads with a minimum of heat and water.
• Wash in cold water. Roughly 90% of the energy used for washing clothes goes directly to heating the water. For all but the most stubborn stains, washing in hot or even warm water is unnecessary. Most detergents are now formulated to wash in cold water. When you do use the hot setting, turn your water heater down to 120 degrees F. (“Normal” on heaters without temperature markings).
• Air dry your laundry. Solar power doesn’t get more direct than a clothesline. If you live in a rainforest or where the winters are long, things can still dry inside on a rack.

At the laundromat

• Try eco-friendly. If you don’t have laundry facilities in your home, visit one of the ecofriendly laundromats that are starting to show up in many cities. They have more efficient machines, sell detergents without harmful additives (see our cleaning supplies article to learn more about additives), and may also offer wet cleaning, a less energy- and chemical-intensive version of dry-cleaning. Schlep your clothes to and fro in an organic cotton laundry bag or petroleum-free (non-plastic) basket.

When shopping, look for

• Energy and water efficiency. Choose a washer that has earned the government’s Energy Star label. Many of the highest-efficiency clothes washers are front-loading models, but manufacturers now also make efficient top-loaders, so you can choose whichever suits your needs. Shop carefully, however, as there are still differences among Energy Star models. Choose an Energy Star model with a high Modified Energy Factor and low Water Factor. You can find MEF and WF on Energy Star’s qualified product list.
• Moisture sensors. Some dryers now come with moisture sensors that shut off the machine when the clothes are dry. This saves energy and lengthens the life of your clothes.

Other Considerations

• If your home has a gas hookup, it’s more energy efficient to use a gas dryer rather than an electric one. New gas dryers have electric ignition, which does away with the money-wasting pilot light found on older models.
• Gas dryers should always vent to the outside because the exhaust air can contain unhealthy combustion gases. It’s also a good idea to vent electric dryers outside so that you’re not introducing too much moisture inside the home. Check with your local building department for code requirements.
• Washers and dryers contain a lot of recyclable steel. When your old one fails, be sure to have it recycled. Contact your local recycling or public works department or visit www.earth911.org for recycling options.
• Try using an environmentally friendly laundry detergent. It’s not only easier on the earth but it’s also easier on your skin.

Benefits…

…to your wallet
Although an Energy Star washer may cost more upfront than a standard machine, it can cut your utility bills by an average of $50 a year, saving $550 over an average 11-year lifetime. Line drying can save you $65 a year. It also reduces wear-and-tear on your clothes.

…to the Earth
According to the Energy Star program, the average household does nearly 400 loads of laundry each year, sending about 13,500 gallons of water down the drain. An Energy Star washer will save 7,000 gallons of water a year. Over the machine’s typical 11-year life, that’s enough for a lifetime of drinking water for six people!

Common Mistakes

Leaving the lint. If you forget to clean the lint filter after every load, your clothes will take longer to dry and use more energy.

Getting Started

Check with your local energy and water utilities about rebates on high-efficiency washing machines.

As you wait patiently for your groceries to approach the cashier’s scanner, you are expecting the bagger to ask, “Paper or Plastic?”  Perhaps, without thinking twice, you blurt out your preference for the copious bags that will soon pile at the bottom of your pantry or in the trashcan.   A few shoppers may actually consider plastic because of easy storage and small, light size, for eco-friendliness you’d think paper is the slam dunk best choice.  The right answer and the facts surrounding the claim may surprise you.

Say ‘goodbye’ to millions of trees

Bagging your red peppers and carrots in a paper bag is not the answer to ‘greening up’ your trip to the grocery store.  In fact, paper bags are no better than plastic bags.  Many believe that because they are tree based products they are more eco-friendly.  In order to produce the desired amounts of paper bags, many trees have to be logged and processed. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999, 14 million trees were cut down to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used in the United States that year alone.  It is reasonable to say that the numbers have increased since then to accommodate the rising population.

The production of paper for grocery bags worldwide is a process which heavily relies on the presence of various chemicals.  The pungent smell of paper mills is not the only thing that can irritate the surrounding ecosystem.  The use of toxic chemicals contributes to both air pollution, such as acid rain, and water pollution.  In 1988, the Federal Office of the Environment published that in fact the production of paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.

Since people associate paper bags with other unwanted paper products like newspapers or advertisements, paper bags have a higher recycling rate than plastic.  Unfortunately, despite the great effort of recyclers worldwide, paper recycling can cost a lot of energy.  The Society of the Plastic Industry‘s (SPI) research states that it takes 1444 BTUs or 1362 kJ to recycle one paper bag.  This is almost half of the energy is taken to create the bag originally; thus, some energy is conserved.  But, is expelling additional energy to remanufacture the product a good choice?

Plastic isn’t that fantastic

Plastic bags are often seen blowing in tree branches, clogging street drains, floating in our oceans, and flooding our storage cabinets.  It is estimated by scientists that, worldwide, more than a million plastic bags are consumed and discarded per minute. That is approximately 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags annually.  Many are striving to decrease the outrageous number of plastic bags that reach the landfill by recycling used bags.  According to the Wall Street Journal, only 1% to 3% of plastic bags are being recycled,  Eleven barrels of oil are saved when one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What happens to the plastic bags which do not get recycled?  The most obvious answer – they reach the landfill where they do not biodegrade due to their chemical composition.  Even the SPI determined that plastic bags do not break down completely into organic materials.  While the bags make your local landfill their home, they go through a process called photodegradation.  This means that the plastic is broken down into smaller pieces which can gain mobility and relocation via water, wind, or wildlife.  According to the EPA and The Ocean Conservancy, wildlife is significantly threatened by various plastics, including discarded bags.  Marine life constantly mistake plastic bags for prey like jellyfish, and consuming plastic bags can cause blockage to the digestive tract which leads to starvation and death. In 2002, a whale that washed up on the coast of Normandy had 800 grams of plastic elements, including plastic bags, in its stomach.

Unlike biodegradable paper bags, plastic bags have become common in even the most remote places like Antarctica.  According to David Barnes, a marine scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, plastic bags were a rarity in the late 1980s, yet since the early 1990s they have significantly contributed to pollution.

Thankfully, news like this travels faster than migrating plastic bags and has motivated worldwide communities to take action.  In 2002, the Irish government imposed a plastic bag consumption tax (called a PlasTax); consumers pay an obligatory fee of $0.15 per bag at check out.  This has reduced consumption of plastic bags by 90% and has saved the country 18 million liters of oil, and counting. China has also banned the distribution of free plastic bags, in efforts to encourage reusable alternatives.  Closer to home, San Francisco has become the first U.S. city to ban petroleum-based plastic grocery bags in 2007.

The answer you’re looking for – BYOB

Bring your own bags!  The alternative to plastic and paper bags is reusable bags because they are designed for more than a one-time use.  Reusable bags come in many different colors, sizes, and are made out of various materials. Reusable shopping bags are available to accommodate produce, heavy items, and little storage space.  Substituting reusable bags for disposable ones will help save millions of dollars on oil extraction used for plastic bag production, land clean ups, future disposable bag purchases by stores, and the remanufacturing costs incurred by recycling centers to process disposable bags.

By bringing your own bags to your shopping experience, you will help eliminate the addition of plastic and/or paper bags into our landfills and ecosystems.  Consequently, you are preventing the pollution of our oceans.  One reusable bag can replace thousands of plastic bags which could have negatively impacted our planet.   You are also saving terrestrial and marine wildlife by decreasing their interaction with disposed garbage and possible paper mill emissions.

The answer to our shopping woes almost seems too obvious, but most Americans continue to use plastic and/or paper bags.  Take a stand against plastic and paper bags, and damaging consequences associated with them.  Start by recycling your current paper bags, along with your other paper products. Then take a trip to the local grocery store to dispose of your plastic bags, by dropping them into the designated plastic bag recycling bin that most grocery stores are taking the initiative to install.  The last and most exciting part of this eco-friendly approach to shopping is the investment in reusable bags.  Browse the collection of reusable bags at your local grocery store or online.

Eco-friendly pet waste baggies (no more petroleum based plastic)

Reusablebags.com

Earthwise Bags

GoGreen-Bags

Wedge World

Environmentally friendly countertops that make a difference

Countertops are a place for serious work. But you also want them to be beautiful–and easy on the Earth. After a few minutes in a kitchen store, you’ll know which ones suit your esthetic. But figuring out which ones are green takes a little longer. First, ask yourself, what environmental problems do they solve? A granite counter is durable, so you won’t have to replace it anytime soon. But getting it out of the ground may harm natural habitats at the quarry site and downstream. On the other hand, a counter made from salvaged wood reduces pressure to harvest trees. Counters made from recycled paper and water-based resins may be putting your junk mail to good use. None of these products is perfectly green, but some do make an environmental difference.

Top Tips

At home

• Consider keeping your countertops. Sprucing up what you already have is easier on the environment and your wallet than buying new. If that’s not workable, check out salvage yards and online classified–maybe you can use someone else’s.

When shopping, look for materials that are

• Healthy. Pay attention to what goes underneath the counter. Many counters are installed on top of a backing like plywood to provide stiffness and strength. Make sure the backing has no added urea formaldehyde, or, if it does, seal it on all sides with a zero-VOC, water-based sealant. Also, if you purchase a wood counter, the manufacturer may recommend a polyurethane-type sealer for water resistance. If the sealer will be applied in your home rather than in the factory, choose a zero- or low-VOC water-based product.
• Renewable. If you’re leaning toward wood countertops, there are many green options. Some are made of salvaged wood, some with wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and some with the newest kid on the block, bamboo (which is really a grass). Although a polyurethane sealant can help, wood and bamboo counters will scratch and stain, very hot pots can leave burn marks, and you need to be careful about not leaving liquid spills standing for too long. Some people consider the worn look of a wood counter a plus–it shows you know your way around the kitchen. But if you want an impervious surface, wood’s not for you. Also made from renewable resources is linoleum, an old-fashioned product typically used on floors that occasionally shows up on countertops. It’s made mostly from eco-friendly linseed oil.
• Abundant. Old-fashioned ceramic tiles are made from abundant clay. While energy goes into firing the tiles, they are long-lasting and don’t give off unhealthy chemicals. The main drawback? The grout, which can attract crumbs, dirt, and mold.
• Recycled. Countertops with post-consumer recycled content include certain brands of ceramic and glass tiles, terrazzo (made of glass chips embedded in concrete or epoxy resin), stainless steel, and at least one brand that uses recycled paper mixed with a water-based resin.
• Local. If it comes from within a couple of hundred miles of your kitchen, stone is another good choice. Its proximity to you reduces the energy needed for transportation, and chances are the quarries in your neck of the woods have to comply with more stringent environmental-protection laws than in some other parts of the world.

Other Considerations

• The “end-grain” type butcher-block counter is harder than the horizontal strips and holds up better to whacks with the cleaver. For real butcher block that you’ll be cutting on, skip the plastic finish and use an oil finish–tung and linseed oil products meant for countertops are good options. Food-grade oil that may go rancid isn’t a good choice. Reapply the oil now and then to protect the wood.
• If you’ve chosen tile for your counter, you’ll have a decision to make about grout. Portland cement-based grouts are generally considered low-toxic; most contain latex additives but they stop emitting fumes once the grout has cured. Make sure the kitchen is well ventilated when using grout or other adhesives, paints, and sealants, and consider sealing off the kitchen from the rest of the house while doing the work. You can cut down on grout lines by using larger tiles. Apply a zero-VOC grout sealer for moisture resistance.
• Less-green options
  • Popular for decades, seamless, smooth, thick solid-surface countertops are durable and come in many colors. But they’re basically a big slab of plastic. What’s green about that? You can get a similar look for less money with a basic laminate, which is a thin sheet of compressed paper and plastic. And laminate uses fewer resources. Just be sure to get it with a formaldehyde-free plywood or MDF backing.
  • Engineered stone counters are made of stone chips in a plastic resin; unless the chips are from a post-consumer source (which isn’t common), there’s no green advantage to them.
  • Concrete counters aren’t particularly green. The primary component of most of them is portland cement, which requires lots of energy. Be aware that concrete counters, like concrete floors, have a propensity to crack and are likely to stain.
• What about cost? Countertop prices range from $5 a square foot for some plastic laminates to more than $200 a square foot for rare granites and marbles. Going green doesn’t have to cost more, but make sure you’re doing a fair comparison. A recycled glass countertop will be pricey, but no more so than many high-end granites. Recycled-paper composites may cost more than your basic laminate, but less than many plastic solid-surface counters.

Benefits…

…to your health
Plywood and other counter backings without added urea formaldehyde help protect your indoor air from dangerous chemicals.

…to the Earth
FSC-certified wood counters protect forests and the ecosystems they support. Salvaged-wood counters and counters with high post-consumer recycled content reduce waste and resource consumption. Local stone reduces the energy required for transportation of countertops, which increases fossil-fuel use and contributes to global warming.

Common Mistakes

Ripping and dumping. When remodeling, many people rip counters out of kitchens and toss them in the Dumpster. But if removed with care, they can be reused in your laundry room, office, or workroom–or in someone else’s home.

Getting Started

• Questions for the retailer or contractor:
  • Is the product made with rapidly renewable or recycled-content materials? If so, what is the percentage and what is the source of the materials? If the countertop is made with wood or bamboo, is it FSC-certified?
  • Where did the countertop materials come from and where were the countertops manufactured? Are locally sourced materials or locally made countertops available?
  • What steps does the manufacturer take to reduce energy, water, and waste during manufacturing?
  • How long will the countertop last? At the end of its life, can it be recycled locally or returned to the manufacturer for recycling?
  • Does the countertop material offgas VOCs? Is the product independently certified to be low- or zero-VOC?
  • Will the countertop require a backing such as plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), or particle board? If yes, is there a urea formaldehyde-free backing available?
  • Will any adhesives, grouts, mortars, or sealants be used during installation? Are low- or zero-VOC products available?
  • Does the manufacturer recommend a specific maintenance product? If yes, ask for the material safety data sheet (MSDS), so you can assess the product’s ingredients.
  • Will the installer be able to remove your old countertops intact so they can be reused elsewhere? If they can’t be reused, can they be recycled?
• If you’re confident of your do-it-yourself skills, you might consider installing the countertops yourself, especially if you are using a material that’s fairly easy to cut and install, such as laminate or butcher block. For materials that are more challenging, such as granite and other stones, tile, concrete, and thick plastic solid-surface, most people choose professional installation.
• If you’re having new cabinets installed, it’s best to hold off on completing the countertop order until after the base cabinets are installed. To ensure a precise fit, the countertop fabricator (or you, if it’s a DIY project), should take the final measurements when the cabinets are in place.
• For advice on what questions to ask contractors and tradespeople, see our “What to Ask Your Contractor” article.

Related Products & Services

• Cabinets
• Flooring
• Paints, finishes and adhesives

Many associate a sustainable home with solar panels, expensive floor renovations, various purchases of Energy Star appliances, and other costly investments. But greening your home doesn’t have to be costly and time consuming. Even though pricey investments, like going off the grid, can have great ecological and economics benefits, it’s important to accomplish the basics of going green first. Here are 10 quick and cheap steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient while helping you save money.

1. Insulate and save.

According to the Consumer Energy Center, 31% of air leaks occur in floors, walls, and ceilings. Poor insulation can cause significant indoor heat loss. Sealing air leaks in your home can save you 20% or more on your heating and cooling bill. Learn how to seal and locate leaks in your home by reading our Air Sealing and Weatherization article.

2.  Got light? Get CFLs.

By replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights you can save energy and money. CFLs use 75% less energy and can last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. When shopping, remember to purchase Energy Start labeled CFLs. Energy Star CFLs have passed the federal government’s criteria for lamp life, light output, energy use, and other performance characteristics. To get more tips and info visit our Fluorescent Lights article.

3. Solar drying.

The simplest way to cut down on your energy use is to install a clothesline to dry your laundry. This old-school way of drying your dripping jeans and t-shirts can save significant money on electric and/or gas bills. If you’re limited on outdoor space purchase an inexpensive free-standing drying rack that can be used indoors.

4. From garbage to garden.

By making the decision to compost your scraps year round, you can reduce your contribution to the 30% of yard and kitchen waste collected in landfills. You can make use of a small kitchen bin for scraps or an outdoor composting heap. Diverting waste from landfills and creating your own organic fertilizer will give you a great feeling of satisfaction. Learn how you can save money, have a garden that will be the envy of your neighborhood, and reduce your waste output by watching Sierra Club’s composting video.

5. Save water & money.

Installing low-flow shower heads and faucets is an easy DIY task. A typical shower head uses 5 – 8 gallons per minute, that’s approximately 40 gallons of water per five minutes of your shower. 8,000 gallons of water can be saved per year by installing a low-flow shower head or faucet. For ultimate efficiency install a low-flow shower head that includes a shut-off valve. This will allow you to turn off running water while you soap, shampoo, or shave.

6. Water filters.

Purchasing a portable filter or installing a residential filtration system will save you a lot of money unlike packaged water. Most people choose to drink bottled water because they believe it tastes better or is healthier than their average tap. However, tap water must meet various quality regulations enforced by your local water district and the Environmental Protection Agency. Once filtered, tap water usually has an excellent taste. By investing in a filter, you can avoid discarding thousands of plastic bottles. Various filtration options are available; to learn more view our Water Filter education.

7. Green cleaning.

Cleaning harsh stains and messes doesn’t have to be harsh on the environment. There are various natural and homemade techniques that can be implemented to clean your home. But if you are interested in commercially-bought merchandise, look for warning labels that indicate the presence of harmful chemicals, and avoid purchasing such products. An ideal cleaning agent will be marked as “contains no phthalates,” “phosphate free,” and “biodegradable.”  To learn what to avoid and shop for visit our Green Cleaning Supplies article.

8. Thermostat control.

Most residential energy is spent on temperature control. You can save money and energy without any additional investments by simply turning down the thermostat in cold weather and keeping it higher in warm weather. If you would like a more efficient approach to temperature control then install a programmable thermostat. According to Energy Star, an appropriately-used programmable thermostat will save you about $180 in annual energy costs. To get more info and tips visit our Programmable Thermostats education.

9.  Blackout curtains.

Using blackout curtains can reduce significant light and reduce heat loss. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 10 – 25% of thermal energy escapes through windows. By investing in blackout curtains you can save money on your heating bills and reduce your output of greenhouse gases. When shopping for curtains look for organic cotton or hemp textiles.

10.  Goodbye tech vampires.

What is vampire energy? Vampire energy is the energy used by your appliances when in passive mode (the clock on your cable box) or standby mode (your turned off TV). Annually, this accounts for 5-8% of your home’s total electricity usage, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This energy accounts for 25% of the total energy used by appliances. Once power strips are turned off, electrical currents do not flow to these devices. In addition, you can unplug appliances (not your refrigerator of course!) from outlets to save money and energy.

]]> http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/home-health/10-quick-ways-to-green-your-home/feed/ 8 http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/go-green/appliances/microwave-ovens/ http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/go-green/appliances/microwave-ovens/#comments Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:11:07 +0000 Tyra Robertson http://sierraclubgreenhome.com/?p=140

To zap or not to zap

More than 90 million American kitchens have a microwave oven. You don’t need one to eat healthfully or have a green kitchen. But a microwave can shave off some of your energy use, especially if you cook smaller meals or use the kitchen mostly to reheat takeout or warm frozen foods.

Top Tips

At home

• Zap small meals. If you have small to medium quantities of food, it’s much more energy efficient to cook in a microwave than in a conventional or convection oven or on the stovetop. The energy and time savings decreases with larger volumes of food, however. (Keep in mind that microwaves aren’t suitable for certain types of cooking, such as roasting, grilling, or baking.)
• Don’t zap baby bottles. Don’t use a microwave to heat milk in a baby bottle. It can heat food unevenly, so there may be dangerous “hot spots” you may not detect when checking the bottle’s temperature. Plus some bottles contain a chemical known as BPA, which can be harmful to children, and is believed more likely to leach into products when used in the microwave.
• Close the door securely. Like a conventional oven, a microwave uses radiation to heat food. But conventional cooking uses “infrared” radiation, or heat, and microwaves use a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum–”microwave radiation.” When exposed to microwave energy, water molecules in the food vibrate, converting the energy into the heat that cooks the food. While it’s true that human exposure to intense microwave radiation can cause harm, microwave ovens are designed to contain the microwaves within the oven. They do not produce energy if the door is open. If the oven is damaged, however, radiation leakage is possible. Never use a unit that is malfunctioning or has a damaged door, latch, or seals. Keep the door and seal free from food residue, so that the door closes securely. If you suspect a problem with the oven, stop using it and contact the manufacturer.
• Don’t use plastic. Packaging containers like margarine or salsa tubs should never be put in the microwave. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that plastic containers and plastic wrap labeled “microwave safe” are okay to use, but that the plastic wrap shouldn’t touch the food during microwaving. On the other hand, some experts advise against using any plastic containers or plastic wrap in the microwave because chemicals could potentially migrate from the plastic into hot food. Until there’s a definitive answer, the safest approach is to use a microwave-safe glass or ceramic container with a lid. If you don’t have a lid, put a paper towel over the container. Read our article on Safe Water Bottles and Other Plastics to learn more on the topic.
• Nix takeout containers. Never microwave food in takeout containers. Styrofoam can melt, and paper containers often have often a greaseproof lining that can leach chemicals into the food. Microwave food in ovenproof glass or ceramic containers.

When shopping, look for

• Durability and a good warranty. Longer-lasting products cost you less in the long term and keep waste out of landfills and incinerators.
• The right size. Smaller ovens use less energy (but they also cook less food). Otherwise, there’s little difference in the various products’ energy stats. The government’s Energy Star program doesn’t rate microwaves.

Other Considerations

• Microwave ovens cost from $70 to $800. Pricier models may have larger capacity, a child lock, sensors to determine when the food is done, “speed cook” technology and browning capability that combine microwaving with other types of heating, and shortcut keys for tasks like bread defrosting and popping popcorn.
• Microwave ovens have been popular since the early 1970s, yet some people remain concerned about their safety. One common misconception is that food cooked in a microwave becomes radioactive. It does not. As to concerns about microwave leakage, oven manufacturers must comply with the FDA’s regulations, which limit leakage to a level that the FDA says is far below what is known to harm people. Microwave energy drops off dramatically as you move away from the oven. The FDA says that a measurement of radiation made at 20 inches would be 1/100th of the value measured at 2 inches. Although the likelihood of exposure to even low levels of microwaves is extremely low, some people take the extra precaution of not leaning up against the microwave while waiting for the beeps to signal their dinner is ready.

Benefits…

…to you and your health
Microwave energy quickly penetrates deep into food, speeding up cooking time compared with a conventional oven. These ovens’ ability to cook quickly in little or no water also helps food retain its vitamins and minerals. And in the summer, you may appreciate the fact that microwaves don’t heat up the air in the oven, or your kitchen.

…to your wallet
Microwave ovens use much less energy than conventional ovens, so they can save you some pocket change. Let’s assume you are paying 12 cents a kilowatt-hour for your electricity. If you run a medium-size (1,000-watt) microwave at high power for 15 minutes, you’d spend 3 cents. A typical electric oven run at 350 degrees for one hour would cost you 24 cents. Do that every day, and you save yourself $75 a year with the microwave. More significantly, by keeping the kitchen cool in summer, a microwave may reduce your air conditioning costs.

…to the Earth
Microwaving is an energy-efficient way to cook food, but it’s not without its environmental impacts. There are about 27 pounds of steel in the average microwave oven, as well as plastic and glass. And disposing of old units adds to the waste stream.

Common Mistakes

• Microwaving popcorn. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical used to make the lining of many microwave popcorn bags, may be carcinogenic. It’s the same chemical used to make nonstick coatings in cookware and water-repellent fabrics. PFOA is present in the bloodstream of nine out of ten Americans. Major U.S. manufacturers have agreed to phase out their use of the chemical by 2015, but in the meantime you might be safer making your popcorn on the stove, in a pot with a little oil.
• Superheating water. Be careful when using a microwave to heat water. If it gets too hot, a phenomenon known as “super heating” can occur, in which the water shows no sign of boiling yet is beyond boiling temperature. Disturbing the container even slightly can cause scalding water to erupt. To prevent this safety hazard, check the instruction manual for information about heating times. To greatly reduce the likelihood of superheating, add sugar, tea, or other ingredients to water before heating or wait a minute before removing the container from the oven.

Getting Started

Microwaves are handy, but not essential. If you don’t need one, don’t buy one. And if you have an old one to get rid of, contact your city’s recycling department or Earth911 for local recycling options.