8 thursday,april 22,2010 go green the citizen. …8 thursday,april 22,2010 go green the citizen....

8 Thursday,April 22, 2010 Go Green The Citizen. Auburn, New York

30 DAYS TO AGREENER

YOUELECTRONICS RECYCLING

IS NECESSARYONE SIMPLE STEP

TO BEING GREENERHOWMUCH ENERGYDOES

YOUR HOME LOSE?

GREENER GROCERYSHOPPINGTake a strategicapproach whenselecting organicproduce.

APRIL 2010

2 0 1 0 G R E E N L I V I N G G U I D E O N E S T E P A T A T I M E

By Deborah DouglasCTW Features

For families who’ve fullyembraced recycling andshopping for locallyproduced food at farmer’smarkets, the call to be“green” is more than anotion. When you thinkabout it, it’s really a chargeto save the world. And in anage of earthquakes,tsunamis and economicdownturns, well, savingworld can start to feel likequite the burden.

What can one person doto make a difference tocool off global warming?Can a person be greenerwithout getting all crunchy-granola about it? Well,according to people in theknow, yes, it’s possible toup the ante on committingto live a greener more eco-friendly life.

The place to start is bychanging your mind. Forthat, take an audit of yourliving space and work outfrom there, the experts say.The Web has loads of carbon-footprint calculators that help families determine howmuch carbon they’re pro-ducing based on the energy

sources they use at home,the type of groceries theybuy, how much they travelannually and other measurements that pro-vide a complete carbondossier. Carbon calculatorslike the one at the NatureConservancy(www.nature.org) calculatehow much energyindividuals use, how theycompare with people intheir state and country, andoffer meaningful ways tooffset the impact of thosebehaviors.

“A good place to start isat the opposite end,” saysStephen Hren, co-author of“The Carbon-Free Home”(Chelsea Green, 20080)and blogger at www.thecar-bonfreehome.com. “Buyone or two things locally orhandmade to see howimportant the connectionis when you know the person. When you see it ispossible to make thingsand get things locally and ithas this immediate reward,when you go to [the localbig box chain store] yousay ‘I’ve lost my personalconnection with this item,and this is what I have lostin the process.’”

So, yes, a little

homework is involved, butafter that, building in newbehaviors and a firmercommitment is pretty easy.And these eco-gurus cantestify that individualsdon’t have to give up styleto reduce their carbonfootprint and overall

impact on the environment. With fewchanges, average peoplereally do have the power tosave the planet.

We asked: If you coulddo just one thing to leave agreener, more eco-friendlylife, what would do you?

Do the Homework“The biggest thing you

can do right now is to getan understanding of the bigpicture,” says MarianneCusato, an award-winningarchitect known for herwork on Katrina cottages,which make the most ofalternative energy sources.“My advice for that is reading ‘The Smart GrowthManual’ (McGraw-Hill,2009).”

While the economy isslow and not much buildingis going on, Cusato encourages people to thinkabout the impact of whatthey build and how theybuild it. They’ll be informed

when buying a new home,renovating an old one oreven contributing to localzoning rules on how citiesshould develop. Cusatourges everyone to be morecivic-minded. Attend atown meeting and see whatcity fathers (and mothers)are up to planning-wise,Cusato urges. She favorsmore mixed-used areasthat make it easy toeschew cars and still havewalkable access to shop-ping and services.

“To me, it’s fascinatingto think about the impactof how and what we build,”says Cusato, who chose tolive in Coral Gables, Fla.,because of its walkability.“A lot of issues we’re dealing with right now arebecause we built the wrongthings. We’re spending allour time in cars.”

Do the Math Hren and his wife,

Rebekah, who co-authored“The Carbon-Free Home,”practice and share whatthey preach at their blog.People often know what todo, they just need helprationalizing why theyshould, Stephen says. Sowhen Stephen advises families to take advantage

of nature’s “solar clothesdryer” by drying laundry ona clothesline rather thanplopping it in the dryer, hechallenges individuals tothink in terms of money - alanguage anyone canunderstand. Don’t think acertain eco-step is worththe effort? Price it out andcompare the results.

“Using a ‘solar clothesdryer’ is the equivalent ofinstalling $8,000 of solarpanels on your house,”Hren says. “You can alwaysrationalize things out in amonetary way: I’m saving Xamount of money. Price itout. Often you see you’remaking $20 or $30 an hourdoing so.”

Do It with Style “I’m a believer you don’t

have to give up anything todo well by your planet,”says Sloan Barnett, a“Today”show contributorand author of “Green GoesWith Everything” (Atria,2008). “It’s as simple asmaking better choiceswhen we go buy consumergoods. Food is a good placeto start. It impacts theworld and directly impactsthe health of your family.

“Buy more sustainable,more organic food,” Barnett

says. “Not all at once, not aclean sweep at all.”

By buying locally,families reduce the amountof fuel used to transportfood from grower to storeshelf and the amount ofpreservatives and chemi-cals used to grow andmaintain its quality, saysBarnett. She offers a “BodyBurden” calculator at herWeb site (www.green-goeswitheverything.com)to help families rethinktheir commitment to thingsthat harm the environment,like nonstick pans, drycleaning and hair coloring.

Fill It In Domestic maven Martha

Stewart’s trick is to usebags of ice to fill in theblank spots in her freezer.The ice helps cool the big,energy-sucking box,reducing its need to tapelectricity to keep everything cold. After all,the refrigerator is thebiggest energy user in ahome, since it is constantlyworking. Remember,though, just fill it with bagsof ice; don’t cram it full.Your freezer will work moreeffectively as a result.

(c) CTW Features

One Simple StepGoing green doesn’t mean a complete lifestylechange. It starts by finding the one thing you cando - right now - to make a difference

driven by the Homestarnational weatherizationprogram (also known as“Cash for Caulkers”) thatprovides a $3,000 federaltax rebate to individualhomeowners who undertake a whole houseenergy audit and achieve atleast 20 percent in energysavings, the audit businessis booming.

Energy auditors are avaried group, from one-person shops that conduct an occasionalaudit to big, fast-growingcompanies such asGreenHomes America inIrvine, Calif., which conducted nearly 2,000audits in 2009. TheBuilding PerformanceInstitute, the national stan-dards development andcredentialing organization, estimatesthat around 53,000 homeenergy audits took place in2009. This year, it estimates that as many as178,000 could take place.

A professional audit cancost between $200 and$600, depending on thesize of a home, and deliversavings of $200 to $500per year in energy costs if ahomeowner followsthrough on recommendedupgrades.

“A typical home about20 years old or older canmost likely save at least 25percent on their energy billif they have an energy auditand carefully fulfill everyprescribed measure,”Luxton says. “With an energy audit, there are noassumptions that newwindows or adding moreinsulation ought to improveeverything. It really comesdown to house-by-housesituations.”

Energy audits can rangein complexity and detail,

depending on the interestand needs of a homeowner.“Anything from an onlinesurvey of energy usage andliving style to a full diagnostic home performance assessment,”says Damien Flaherty,building analyst and envelope professional withHomestar. Of the 128 million homes in the U.S.,43 million need urgentimprovement for energyefficiency, comfort and

safety, according to consultant McKinsey & Co.

In a comprehensiveenergy audit, an auditorassesses the condition andefficiency of a home’senvelope, the structure ofroof, walls, windows, doorsand floors that protectsinhabitants from the elements. Rather than calling a different specialistto assess each system in ahome, such as the electricity or insulation, anenergy audit provides thebig picture of the entiresystem.

An energy auditor typically conducts a room-by-room examinationof a residence and scrutinizes past utility bills.They may use equipmentlike furnace efficiencymeters and surface thermometers to detectsources of energy loss.

Many audits will includea blower door test, using apowerful fan to measurehow airtight the home is,

and a thermographic scan,using infrared cameras todetect thermal defects andair leaks.

Auditors also performsafety checks for conditions that may affectthe safety or health of anoccupant, such as carbonmonoxide contamination,poor moisture control,which can lead to mold formation, and natural gasleaks.

Finally, the data is analyzed to determine themost cost-effective opportunities to addressthe home’s energy usage.

Fixing the issuesunearthed in a professionalaudit can be costly,however. The average 20-year-old home mayshow need for $5,000 ormore in upgrades, Luxtonsays. However, auditsenable a homeowner tomake informed decisionson retrofitting energyupgrades. Those who purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy systemare eligible for a federal taxcredit of as much as 30percent of the cost up to$1,500. In addition, somestates now offer taxdeductions to homeownerswho have a qualified energy audit and implement its recommendations.

“There is somethingthat can be done to virtually all older homes tolower energy costs andimprove comfort,” Luxtonsays. “Quite often, the costof the audit alone can bepaid back in a year or less,and sometimes dissuadinga customer from installingmarginally cost-effectivemeasures can save thousands of dollars.”

(c) CTW Features

Nucor manufactures carbon steel products byrecycling steel scrap. Nucor is the largest steel

producer and recycler in the US. NucorAuburn is the largest recycler in New York,

recycling about 500,000 tons per year of steelscrap. Our steel products have a recycled

content of more than 98%. We employ state-of-the-art steel making technology, making

Nucor one of the most energy-efficientsteelmakers in the country, minimizing our

impact to the environment and minimizing thegeneration of greenhouse gases.

Nucor Auburn won the New York Governor'sAward in 2000 for its recycling efforts. The

company is certified to the InternationalStandards Organization's (ISO) 14001

environmental management system standard.This is the most recognized standard in the

world for superior environmental performance.

Nucor Steel Auburn, Inc.25 Quarry Road, Auburn, NY 13021

2 Thursday,April 22, 2010 Go Green The Citizen. Auburn, New York The Citizen. Auburn, New York Go Green Thursday,April 22, 2010 7

By Melanie WanzekCTW FeaturesAsk most homeowners

about the best way to save

energy and cut their billsfor heating and cooling andthey’ll have a quick answer:Install new windows.

Trouble is, says SteveLuxton, most homeownersare wrong.

“By far and away, mosthome owners incorrectlythink they need newwindows,” says the nationalmanager for residentialenergy audits forMaryland-based CMCEnergy Services. In fact,says Luxton, unless a window is broken or structurally unsound, itmay not be cost-effectiveto replace it.

Hanging a heavy,insulated curtain over aproblem window might suffice. To deliver long-termcost savings that wouldmake a homeowner sit upand take notice requires aserious, whole-house evaluation, he says.

That’s where a homeenergy audit comes intoplay. Luxton’s company ispart of a growing numberof private firms that provide homeowners with adetailed, measured prescription for how best toimprove the energyefficiency of a home.Virtually unheard of 10years ago, energy auditprograms once were typically provided free tolower income homeowners,via subsidized governmentor utility programs. Today,

The HomeEnergy AuditEnergy auditors put homes through a sort of stress test to determine what leaks, where it seeps and how a homeowner’smoney is flying out the door.The checkups aren’t cheap - but the utility savings can be huge.

The Citizen. Auburn, New York Go Green Thursday,April 22, 2010 36 Thursday,April 22, 2010 Go Green The Citizen. Auburn, New York

36 YORK STREET • AUBURN, NYCALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY 252-7223

Pet’sAuto

Repai r

Specializing in

Brakes, Shocks,Computer Diagnostics and General Repairs

NYS Inspections Official Carco Inspection Site

WeRecycle

Tip- Check your tire pressure

regularly to improvefuel economy


Molly Sprengelmeyerdoesn’t have a cell phonefor a reason. If you need totalk to the 41-year-oldAsheville, N.C., resident,you’ll have to make anappointment to speak toher on her landline, theold-fashioned way.

Sprengelmeyer’s way ofslowing down, buyinglocally and only using theenergy and products shereally needs, harkens backto a time not very long ago.In fact, folks are likely a lotgreener than they think ifthey stop to consider ofsome commonsensethings they do - or used to.Increasing one’s commitment to sustainability doesn’tseem so daunting afterrealizing how much comesnaturally.

“Anything I can do tocreate a rhythm around itbecomes really easy to do;it’s kind of second nature,”says Sprengelmeyer, whois working to create a creative reuse center inAsheville. She shares andbarters so she can avoidnew purchases and mendsbefore seeking retail therapy.

That’s Sprengelmeyer’srecipe for curbing themadness of everydayliving: slowing down, beingscrappy, living simply.

She recalls last winterwhen things shut down onthe East Coast: “Somecrises really force us toadapt, like walking whenwe would normally drive tothe store. We realize, ‘Geez,I didn’t realize it was rightthere.’ If our car breaksdown and we ride the busor our bike, in the processwe see things about howthe seasons change andtalk to our neighbors,which increases our ownresources.”

And she wouldn’t dareeat a winter strawberry.

The carbon footprint ofa winter berry versus asummer strawberry isn’tworth the cost in fuel usedto transport it from afar,she says. “I grow a certainpercentage of my food,”

Sprengelmeyer adds.“Eating fresh, homegrowntomatoes in the middle ofDecember is like eatingpure sunshine out of a jar.”

Not sure where youshould start? Green gurushave plenty of suggestionsfor making a firm commitment to sustainability:

Be a Little SeedyPlant an herb kitchen

garden in containers thatsit on your windowsill. Thefreshness is unbeatableand the plants a cinch tomaintain.

skip the pre-rinseDon’t pre-rinse dishes

before putting them indishwasher. Today’s dish-washers work pretty darnefficiently without a

pre-rinse, which savesabout 20 gallons of water a day.

Throw a PartyInvite friends and

neighbors over for apotluck featuring local,seasonal, organic, low-on-the-food-chain dishes,says Jill Zilligen, chief sustainability officer forShaklee Corp. Local-heavydishes bring out creativitythat you can share onrecipe cards. In addition,prioritizing produce overmeat is a positive choice,reducing the environmental impact ofmeat processing.Vegetables are closer totheir natural state than,say, a steak.

Get Energized Whenever you have the

choice of renewable energy, go for it. In someplaces, extra wind energythat goes unused in onehome is stored in the electrical grid for use byothers. “I’m ever hopefulthat in any given momenteach and everyone of uscan transform our lives,”Sprengelmeyer says. “I canonly think of this on amicro level; it’s reallyfocusing on what I can personally do, from myneighborhood association,my little town. It’s reallybuilding from there.”

(c) CTW Features

Greener Than You ThinkIt’s easy to be eco-conscious. So easy, in fact, you may already be taking some ofthe best possible sustainable steps.

BeautifulBeautifulBeautiful

FLOORS & WALLS152 State St., Auburn

253-6002253-6002Mon thru Wed & Fri 8:30-5:30Thurs 8:30-7:00 • Sat 9:00-1:00

GREENCANBE

PRACTICALand

PURE PERFORMANCE PAINTby Pittsburgh Paint

Allergic to paint fumes & mold? - Very low odor.Let the baby sleep in the new nursery tonight!

Green Seal Certified Class A - Good to Mother Earth. Mold & Mildew Resistant

Primer and 3 finishes. Over 1,800 colors!

PURE SUSTAINABILITYCork Floors - Warm and gorgeous. Easy to stand on.

Tough, resilient and renewable.

Bamboo Floors - Tough and beautiful. Reuses same plant over and over.

PURE BLISSBliss Healthy Home Carpet

Green smart recycled yarn. Self-renewing

odor-destroying feature. Silver and copper ions

resist bacteria and mold.

Greener Grocery Shopping

Can’t afford to go all organic, all the time? Mindy Pennyback, author of “Do OneGreen Thing,” (St. Martin’s Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books, 2010) suggests taking astrategic approach when selecting organic produce.

Choose It. Buy non-organic in food you eat only once in a while, or those havingthe lowest pesticide residues. The Tasty 13 listed here are generally low in pesticidesand OK to buy non-organic.

AsparagusAvocadosBroccoliCabbageEggplantMangoOnion *****PineappleSweet cornSweet peasSweet potatoesTomatoesWatermelon***** Which had the very lowest number of pesticides? The lowly onion

Lose It. Buy the organic version of the produce you and your family eat the most.You may also want to buy organic in the following foods, which otherwise have the highest pesticide residues:

ApplesCarrotsCeleryCherriesGrapesKaleLettuceNectarinesPeachesPearsSpinachStrawberriesSweet bell peppers

(c) CTW Features

Eat lower on the food chain once a week. Eating redmeat adds an average of 5,000 lbs to your yearlycarbon footprint.Try going veggie once a week,

reduce these emissions byeight to sixty times overolder models.

Visit your local farmer’smarket. Get to know yourfood and those who grow it.That fresh produce at yourlocal farmer’s market isoften organic and travels ashorter distance from farmto plate, leaving a smallercarbon footprint.

Choose less toxic personal care products.You may be surprised bythe number of harmfulchemicals in your personalcare items. Learn which arethe safest for you and yourfamily by visiting theEnvironmental Working

Group’s cosmetic safetydatabase at www.cosmet-icsdatabase.com.

Green your pet. Evenfido can go green withorganic shampoos,digestible hemp rope toysand pet waste compostbins.

Install a whole-housewater filter. Discover whichtoxins may be lurking inyour tap water by enteringyour zip code into theEWG’s drinking water quality database:www.ewg.org/tap-water/home. Then, install awhole-house water filter toremove these pollutantsbefore you ingest or absorb

them into your skin.Avoid smelly products.

That odor emitted by newproducts indicates they arereleasing toxins into yourhome. Trust your nose.Choose low-VOC carpeting,paints and sealers,formaldehyde-free furniture and shower curtains made withoutvinyl.

Week 4: Improve your global communityVolunteer for a local

environmental organizationand feel good knowingyou’re making your com-munity a better place. Youwill make new friends and a

difference.Don’t toss your meds.

Studies show pills andpowders can end up in yourcommunity’s drinkingwater supply if not dis-posed of properly. Returnexpired medications toyour local pharmacy.

Donate used sheets,blankets and towels to ananimal shelter. Faded andstained fabrics can offerwelcome comfort to ahomeless animal.

Avoid palm oil products.The Girl Scouts and FoxNews agree, palm oil plantations in SoutheastAsian are destroying rainforest habitat and

endangering species suchas the orangutan.

Reuse produce bags.Disposable plastic producebags often wind up in ourwaterways where they aremistakenly consumed byaquatic life. Bring reusablebags to the market for yourfruits and vegetables andstop plastic pollution.

Start a communitygarden. By working together with your neighbors and local electedofficials, you can start acommunity garden projectright where you live. Thesegardens offer a source offresh produce and theopportunity to experience

nature to everyone in yourhometown. Visit theAmerican CommunityGardening Association atwww.communitygarden.orgfor ideas on how to getstarted.

Use rain barrels. Withmany communities facingwater shortages, collectingrainwater for use in irrigating your garden isone way to help preventwaste of our most preciousresource.

Day 30: Celebrate the new, greener you with a glass of organic bubbly. Cheers!

(c) CTW Features

By Jennifer ParrishCTW Features

Looking to go green butdon’t know where to start?How about one step at atime? Implement each ofthese daily suggestionsand, in one month, you’llbe leading a healthier,happier, more eco-friendlylifestyle.

Day one: Inspire yourself! Reading books by

people who have succeeded in greeningtheir lives will inspire youto take the plunge. TryVanessa Farquharson’s“Sleeping Naked is Green,”(Houghton MifflinHarcourt, 2009) or MindyPennybacker’s “Do OneGreen Thing,” (St. Martin’sGriffin/Thomas DunneBooks, 2010).

Week 1: Create less garbageReduce junk mail. Save

paper and aggravation byreducing the amount ofjunk mail landing in yourbox. Visit stopjunkmail.orgfor a free, downloadableStop Junk Mail Kit.

Use cloth instead ofpaper towels. Use a dishcloth to wipe up yourspills.

Compost - with worms!Let little red worms breakdown your food scraps intorich, fertile compost foryour garden. You’ll need alarge container, worms andleftovers - and you’re readyto go!

Pack reusable, stainlesssteel containers. These areperfect for school lunchesand to use as doggy bagswhen dining out.

Recycle your shoes.Turn your old athleticshoes into sports surfacessuch as tracks or courtswith the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program. Find a drop-off location near youat www.nikereuseashoe.com.

Trade for it. Is a child inyour life pestering you for anew video game? Just haveto own that movie youwatched last night? Tryswaptree.com and trade forwhat you want.

Stop e-waste before itstarts. Buy refurbishedrather than new cellphones, cameras and otherelectronics.

Week 2: Save energyand reduce your carbon footprintChoose LCD TVs over

plasma. In the market for anew television? LCDs use40 percent less power thanplasmas, according to astudy by the Florida SolarEnergy Center.

Insulate your switchplates. Stop an air leak ortwo. Simply unscrew yourswitch plates and installpre-cut insulation that fitsover electrical sockets.

Install the NightBreezenight ventilation coolingsystem in your attic andreduce your A/C usage.These nifty systems worknightly to exchange thewarm air indoors with thecool air outside, helpingkeep home temperaturescomfortable all day long.

Get a home energyaudit. A professional energyauditor can offer valuablesuggestions for reducingyour energy consumptionand lowering your monthlyutility bills.

Go tankless. On-demand water heaters cansave the average family$100 a year on their gasbills, reports ENERGY

STAR.Eat lower on the food

chain once a week. Eatingred meat adds an averageof 5,000 lbs to your yearlycarbon footprint. Try goingveggie once a week, andstart a new culinaryadventure.

Install a Solatube. Theseskylights are tubular - andsave energy! Cylindricallyshaped Solatubes look andact much like recessedlights, so you can turn offyour artificial lighting andlet the sunshine in!

Week 3: Protect your family’s healthMake your own green

cleaners. Many commonhousehold cleaning products are full of chemicals that mayendanger your family’shealth. For a cleaner,greener home, use bakingsoda, vinegar and lemon tomake your own cleansers.

Invest in an EPA-ratedwood burning fireplace. Inaddition to polluting theoutdoors, fireplaces alsorelease dangerous particulate matter backinto the home. An EPA-approved fireplace can

By Renee JensenCommunity Educator-Environmental IssuesCornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County

Rapid increases in technology are makingelectronics recycling anecessary part of our communities. As our computers and other electronic items arereplaced by newer models,we need to find uses anddisposal sites that properly handle the oldmaterial. If these electronics are disposed ofimproperly, they puthuman health and theenvironment in danger.

The importance ofrecycling home electronicsby proper means cannotbe stressed enough.Computer monitors andTV screens have thepotential to contain 4 to 8

pounds of lead! These andother electronics containtoxic chemicals as well asmercury, cadmium andother heavy metals, whichif improperly disposed of,can leach into the soil andground water.

In celebration of EarthWeek, Cornell CooperativeExtension Cayuga Countyin collaboration withCayuga County SolidWaste ManagementProgram Office andCayuga County PlanningDepartment will be holdingtwo electronics recyclingevents. The first event willtake place on May 1st from10a.m.-1p.m., in the Townof Scipio at the town officecomplex, corner of StateRoute 34 and QuarryRoad, Scipio.

The second electronicsrecycling event will be held on May 15th from9am-1pm at the NaturalResource Center on

County House Road,Auburn. These events areopen to all Cayuga Countyresidents, no businessesplease. Items that will becollected include, but arenot limited to: computers,laptops, stereos, DVDplayers, game systems,microwaves, Ethernetconnections, and cellphones. Fluorescent lights(including CFL’s) andpropane tanks will beaccepted. TVs (only twotelevisions per household)and Freon appliances willalso be collected for asmall fee of $5 each.

For questions regarding this eventplease contact CornellCooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 315-255-1183.

Funding for this eventis provided by NYS DEC,Cayuga County and NucorSteel-Auburn.

30 Days to aGreener You

Later for carbon neutrality and net-zero waste goals.Today, do justone thing to walk more lightly on the earth.Tomorrow, do another.Go green, one slightly carbon-reduced footstep at a time.


Auburn Beautification Commission

The Auburn Beautification Commission, Inc. (ABC) is anot for profit 501-c-3 charitable corporation dedicated tomaking the City of Auburn a more beautiful place to live.ABC is a membership organization using member dues to

execute beautification projects throughout the City.Ranging from park improvements to holiday lights, these

projects will complement the beautification efforts ofother organizations. Visit our website at

www.beautifulauburn.org

Electronics recycling is necessary

By Melanie WanzekCTW FeaturesAsk most homeowners

about the best way to save

energy and cut their billsfor heating and cooling andthey’ll have a quick answer:Install new windows.

Trouble is, says SteveLuxton, most homeownersare wrong.

“By far and away, mosthome owners incorrectlythink they need newwindows,” says the nationalmanager for residentialenergy audits forMaryland-based CMCEnergy Services. In fact,says Luxton, unless a window is broken or structurally unsound, itmay not be cost-effectiveto replace it.

Hanging a heavy,insulated curtain over aproblem window might suffice. To deliver long-termcost savings that wouldmake a homeowner sit upand take notice requires aserious, whole-house evaluation, he says.

That’s where a homeenergy audit comes intoplay. Luxton’s company ispart of a growing numberof private firms that provide homeowners with adetailed, measured prescription for how best toimprove the energyefficiency of a home.Virtually unheard of 10years ago, energy auditprograms once were typically provided free tolower income homeowners,via subsidized governmentor utility programs. Today,

The HomeEnergy AuditEnergy auditors put homes through a sort of stress test to determine what leaks, where it seeps and how a homeowner’smoney is flying out the door.The checkups aren’t cheap - but the utility savings can be huge.


36 YORK STREET • AUBURN, NYCALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY 252-7223

Pet’sAuto

Repai r

Specializing in

Brakes, Shocks,Computer Diagnostics and General Repairs

NYS Inspections Official Carco Inspection Site

WeRecycle

Tip- Check your tire pressure

regularly to improvefuel economy


Molly Sprengelmeyerdoesn’t have a cell phonefor a reason. If you need totalk to the 41-year-oldAsheville, N.C., resident,you’ll have to make anappointment to speak toher on her landline, theold-fashioned way.

Sprengelmeyer’s way ofslowing down, buyinglocally and only using theenergy and products shereally needs, harkens backto a time not very long ago.In fact, folks are likely a lotgreener than they think ifthey stop to consider ofsome commonsensethings they do - or used to.Increasing one’s commitment to sustainability doesn’tseem so daunting afterrealizing how much comesnaturally.

“Anything I can do tocreate a rhythm around itbecomes really easy to do;it’s kind of second nature,”says Sprengelmeyer, whois working to create a creative reuse center inAsheville. She shares andbarters so she can avoidnew purchases and mendsbefore seeking retail therapy.

That’s Sprengelmeyer’srecipe for curbing themadness of everydayliving: slowing down, beingscrappy, living simply.

She recalls last winterwhen things shut down onthe East Coast: “Somecrises really force us toadapt, like walking whenwe would normally drive tothe store. We realize, ‘Geez,I didn’t realize it was rightthere.’ If our car breaksdown and we ride the busor our bike, in the processwe see things about howthe seasons change andtalk to our neighbors,which increases our ownresources.”

And she wouldn’t dareeat a winter strawberry.

The carbon footprint ofa winter berry versus asummer strawberry isn’tworth the cost in fuel usedto transport it from afar,she says. “I grow a certainpercentage of my food,”

Sprengelmeyer adds.“Eating fresh, homegrowntomatoes in the middle ofDecember is like eatingpure sunshine out of a jar.”

Not sure where youshould start? Green gurushave plenty of suggestionsfor making a firm commitment to sustainability:

Be a Little SeedyPlant an herb kitchen

garden in containers thatsit on your windowsill. Thefreshness is unbeatableand the plants a cinch tomaintain.

skip the pre-rinseDon’t pre-rinse dishes

before putting them indishwasher. Today’s dish-washers work pretty darnefficiently without a

pre-rinse, which savesabout 20 gallons of water a day.

Throw a PartyInvite friends and

neighbors over for apotluck featuring local,seasonal, organic, low-on-the-food-chain dishes,says Jill Zilligen, chief sustainability officer forShaklee Corp. Local-heavydishes bring out creativitythat you can share onrecipe cards. In addition,prioritizing produce overmeat is a positive choice,reducing the environmental impact ofmeat processing.Vegetables are closer totheir natural state than,say, a steak.

Get Energized Whenever you have the

choice of renewable energy, go for it. In someplaces, extra wind energythat goes unused in onehome is stored in the electrical grid for use byothers. “I’m ever hopefulthat in any given momenteach and everyone of uscan transform our lives,”Sprengelmeyer says. “I canonly think of this on amicro level; it’s reallyfocusing on what I can personally do, from myneighborhood association,my little town. It’s reallybuilding from there.”

(c) CTW Features

Greener Than You ThinkIt’s easy to be eco-conscious. So easy, in fact, you may already be taking some ofthe best possible sustainable steps.

BeautifulBeautifulBeautiful

FLOORS & WALLS152 State St., Auburn

253-6002253-6002Mon thru Wed & Fri 8:30-5:30Thurs 8:30-7:00 • Sat 9:00-1:00

GREENCANBE

PRACTICALand

PURE PERFORMANCE PAINTby Pittsburgh Paint

Allergic to paint fumes & mold? - Very low odor.Let the baby sleep in the new nursery tonight!

Green Seal Certified Class A - Good to Mother Earth. Mold & Mildew Resistant

Primer and 3 finishes. Over 1,800 colors!

PURE SUSTAINABILITYCork Floors - Warm and gorgeous. Easy to stand on.

Tough, resilient and renewable.

Bamboo Floors - Tough and beautiful. Reuses same plant over and over.

PURE BLISSBliss Healthy Home Carpet

Green smart recycled yarn. Self-renewing

odor-destroying feature. Silver and copper ions

resist bacteria and mold.

Greener Grocery Shopping

Can’t afford to go all organic, all the time? Mindy Pennyback, author of “Do OneGreen Thing,” (St. Martin’s Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books, 2010) suggests taking astrategic approach when selecting organic produce.

Choose It. Buy non-organic in food you eat only once in a while, or those havingthe lowest pesticide residues. The Tasty 13 listed here are generally low in pesticidesand OK to buy non-organic.

AsparagusAvocadosBroccoliCabbageEggplantMangoOnion *****PineappleSweet cornSweet peasSweet potatoesTomatoesWatermelon***** Which had the very lowest number of pesticides? The lowly onion

Lose It. Buy the organic version of the produce you and your family eat the most.You may also want to buy organic in the following foods, which otherwise have the highest pesticide residues:

ApplesCarrotsCeleryCherriesGrapesKaleLettuceNectarinesPeachesPearsSpinachStrawberriesSweet bell peppers

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Eat lower on the food chain once a week. Eating redmeat adds an average of 5,000 lbs to your yearlycarbon footprint.Try going veggie once a week,


For families who’ve fullyembraced recycling andshopping for locallyproduced food at farmer’smarkets, the call to be“green” is more than anotion. When you thinkabout it, it’s really a chargeto save the world. And in anage of earthquakes,tsunamis and economicdownturns, well, savingworld can start to feel likequite the burden.

What can one person doto make a difference tocool off global warming?Can a person be greenerwithout getting all crunchy-granola about it? Well,according to people in theknow, yes, it’s possible toup the ante on committingto live a greener more eco-friendly life.

The place to start is bychanging your mind. Forthat, take an audit of yourliving space and work outfrom there, the experts say.The Web has loads of carbon-footprint calculators that help families determine howmuch carbon they’re pro-ducing based on the energy

sources they use at home,the type of groceries theybuy, how much they travelannually and other measurements that pro-vide a complete carbondossier. Carbon calculatorslike the one at the NatureConservancy(www.nature.org) calculatehow much energyindividuals use, how theycompare with people intheir state and country, andoffer meaningful ways tooffset the impact of thosebehaviors.

“A good place to start isat the opposite end,” saysStephen Hren, co-author of“The Carbon-Free Home”(Chelsea Green, 20080)and blogger at www.thecar-bonfreehome.com. “Buyone or two things locally orhandmade to see howimportant the connectionis when you know the person. When you see it ispossible to make thingsand get things locally and ithas this immediate reward,when you go to [the localbig box chain store] yousay ‘I’ve lost my personalconnection with this item,and this is what I have lostin the process.’”

So, yes, a little

homework is involved, butafter that, building in newbehaviors and a firmercommitment is pretty easy.And these eco-gurus cantestify that individualsdon’t have to give up styleto reduce their carbonfootprint and overall

impact on the environment. With fewchanges, average peoplereally do have the power tosave the planet.

We asked: If you coulddo just one thing to leave agreener, more eco-friendlylife, what would do you?

Do the Homework“The biggest thing you

can do right now is to getan understanding of the bigpicture,” says MarianneCusato, an award-winningarchitect known for herwork on Katrina cottages,which make the most ofalternative energy sources.“My advice for that is reading ‘The Smart GrowthManual’ (McGraw-Hill,2009).”

While the economy isslow and not much buildingis going on, Cusato encourages people to thinkabout the impact of whatthey build and how theybuild it. They’ll be informed

when buying a new home,renovating an old one oreven contributing to localzoning rules on how citiesshould develop. Cusatourges everyone to be morecivic-minded. Attend atown meeting and see whatcity fathers (and mothers)are up to planning-wise,Cusato urges. She favorsmore mixed-used areasthat make it easy toeschew cars and still havewalkable access to shop-ping and services.

“To me, it’s fascinatingto think about the impactof how and what we build,”says Cusato, who chose tolive in Coral Gables, Fla.,because of its walkability.“A lot of issues we’re dealing with right now arebecause we built the wrongthings. We’re spending allour time in cars.”

Do the Math Hren and his wife,

Rebekah, who co-authored“The Carbon-Free Home,”practice and share whatthey preach at their blog.People often know what todo, they just need helprationalizing why theyshould, Stephen says. Sowhen Stephen advises families to take advantage

of nature’s “solar clothesdryer” by drying laundry ona clothesline rather thanplopping it in the dryer, hechallenges individuals tothink in terms of money - alanguage anyone canunderstand. Don’t think acertain eco-step is worththe effort? Price it out andcompare the results.

“Using a ‘solar clothesdryer’ is the equivalent ofinstalling $8,000 of solarpanels on your house,”Hren says. “You can alwaysrationalize things out in amonetary way: I’m saving Xamount of money. Price itout. Often you see you’remaking $20 or $30 an hourdoing so.”

Do It with Style “I’m a believer you don’t

have to give up anything todo well by your planet,”says Sloan Barnett, a“Today”show contributorand author of “Green GoesWith Everything” (Atria,2008). “It’s as simple asmaking better choiceswhen we go buy consumergoods. Food is a good placeto start. It impacts theworld and directly impactsthe health of your family.

“Buy more sustainable,more organic food,” Barnett

says. “Not all at once, not aclean sweep at all.”

By buying locally,families reduce the amountof fuel used to transportfood from grower to storeshelf and the amount ofpreservatives and chemi-cals used to grow andmaintain its quality, saysBarnett. She offers a “BodyBurden” calculator at herWeb site (www.green-goeswitheverything.com)to help families rethinktheir commitment to thingsthat harm the environment,like nonstick pans, drycleaning and hair coloring.

Fill It In Domestic maven Martha

Stewart’s trick is to usebags of ice to fill in theblank spots in her freezer.The ice helps cool the big,energy-sucking box,reducing its need to tapelectricity to keep everything cold. After all,the refrigerator is thebiggest energy user in ahome, since it is constantlyworking. Remember,though, just fill it with bagsof ice; don’t cram it full.Your freezer will work moreeffectively as a result.

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One Simple StepGoing green doesn’t mean a complete lifestylechange. It starts by finding the one thing you cando - right now - to make a difference

driven by the Homestarnational weatherizationprogram (also known as“Cash for Caulkers”) thatprovides a $3,000 federaltax rebate to individualhomeowners who undertake a whole houseenergy audit and achieve atleast 20 percent in energysavings, the audit businessis booming.

Energy auditors are avaried group, from one-person shops that conduct an occasionalaudit to big, fast-growingcompanies such asGreenHomes America inIrvine, Calif., which conducted nearly 2,000audits in 2009. TheBuilding PerformanceInstitute, the national stan-dards development andcredentialing organization, estimatesthat around 53,000 homeenergy audits took place in2009. This year, it estimates that as many as178,000 could take place.

A professional audit cancost between $200 and$600, depending on thesize of a home, and deliversavings of $200 to $500per year in energy costs if ahomeowner followsthrough on recommendedupgrades.

“A typical home about20 years old or older canmost likely save at least 25percent on their energy billif they have an energy auditand carefully fulfill everyprescribed measure,”Luxton says. “With an energy audit, there are noassumptions that newwindows or adding moreinsulation ought to improveeverything. It really comesdown to house-by-housesituations.”

Energy audits can rangein complexity and detail,

depending on the interestand needs of a homeowner.“Anything from an onlinesurvey of energy usage andliving style to a full diagnostic home performance assessment,”says Damien Flaherty,building analyst and envelope professional withHomestar. Of the 128 million homes in the U.S.,43 million need urgentimprovement for energyefficiency, comfort and

safety, according to consultant McKinsey & Co.

In a comprehensiveenergy audit, an auditorassesses the condition andefficiency of a home’senvelope, the structure ofroof, walls, windows, doorsand floors that protectsinhabitants from the elements. Rather than calling a different specialistto assess each system in ahome, such as the electricity or insulation, anenergy audit provides thebig picture of the entiresystem.

An energy auditor typically conducts a room-by-room examinationof a residence and scrutinizes past utility bills.They may use equipmentlike furnace efficiencymeters and surface thermometers to detectsources of energy loss.

Many audits will includea blower door test, using apowerful fan to measurehow airtight the home is,

and a thermographic scan,using infrared cameras todetect thermal defects andair leaks.

Auditors also performsafety checks for conditions that may affectthe safety or health of anoccupant, such as carbonmonoxide contamination,poor moisture control,which can lead to mold formation, and natural gasleaks.

Finally, the data is analyzed to determine themost cost-effective opportunities to addressthe home’s energy usage.

Fixing the issuesunearthed in a professionalaudit can be costly,however. The average 20-year-old home mayshow need for $5,000 ormore in upgrades, Luxtonsays. However, auditsenable a homeowner tomake informed decisionson retrofitting energyupgrades. Those who purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy systemare eligible for a federal taxcredit of as much as 30percent of the cost up to$1,500. In addition, somestates now offer taxdeductions to homeownerswho have a qualified energy audit and implement its recommendations.

“There is somethingthat can be done to virtually all older homes tolower energy costs andimprove comfort,” Luxtonsays. “Quite often, the costof the audit alone can bepaid back in a year or less,and sometimes dissuadinga customer from installingmarginally cost-effectivemeasures can save thousands of dollars.”

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Nucor manufactures carbon steel products byrecycling steel scrap. Nucor is the largest steel

producer and recycler in the US. NucorAuburn is the largest recycler in New York,

recycling about 500,000 tons per year of steelscrap. Our steel products have a recycled

content of more than 98%. We employ state-of-the-art steel making technology, making

Nucor one of the most energy-efficientsteelmakers in the country, minimizing our

impact to the environment and minimizing thegeneration of greenhouse gases.

Nucor Auburn won the New York Governor'sAward in 2000 for its recycling efforts. The

company is certified to the InternationalStandards Organization's (ISO) 14001

environmental management system standard.This is the most recognized standard in the

world for superior environmental performance.

Nucor Steel Auburn, Inc.25 Quarry Road, Auburn, NY 13021

2 Thursday,April 22, 2010 Go Green The Citizen. Auburn, New York The Citizen. Auburn, New York Go Green Thursday,April 22, 2010 7

8 Thursday,April 22, 2010 Go Green The Citizen. Auburn, New York

30 DAYS TO AGREENER

YOUELECTRONICS RECYCLING

IS NECESSARYONE SIMPLE STEP

TO BEING GREENERHOWMUCH ENERGYDOES

YOUR HOME LOSE?

GREENER GROCERYSHOPPINGTake a strategicapproach whenselecting organicproduce.

APRIL 2010

2 0 1 0 G R E E N L I V I N G G U I D E O N E S T E P A T A T I M E

8 thursday,april 22,2010 go green the citizen. …8 thursday,april 22,2010 go green the citizen....

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