Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

• Shade room air conditioners from the sun to reduce their workload and clean or change the filters on a regular basis. Lower the temperature setting when you go out.
• If possible, locate your refrigerator away from heat sources like the stove, dishwasher and heat vents. Vacuum the coils every three months; dirt buildup makes the machine work harder to keep the contents cool. Check the door gaskets for air leaks. If ice buildup in the freezer is more than a 1/4 inch thick, defrost.
• Microwave whenever you can. Preheat the oven only when the recipe specifically calls for it and turn off the oven shortly before the recipe suggests. The heat of the oven can finish the job.
• Cook in pots that fit the size of your stove top burners to cut energy waste. Using lids on your pans means you can lower the temperatures and reduce the energy used.
• Scrape but don't pre-rinse your dishes by hand if you have a dishwasher that automatically prerinses or has a rinse/hold cycle. Save time and water.
• Combine short car trips, ride a bicycle, carpool, ride the bus or walk instead.
• Don't buy over-packaged items. Use less disposable store items like baggies, plastic wrap, etc.
• Use the public library.
• Recycle paper from work. Use the non-printed side for notepads, drawing pads and computer paper.
• Snip six-pack rings - those innocent looking soft plastic holders for soft drink cans and other products can entangle birds, fish, and small animals. Snip apart each ring before throwing it in the trash, or inquire whether they can be recycled locally.
• Never throw spent batteries in the trash. They contain mercury, a hazardous substance that will leak into ground water or be burned and released into the air. Either switch to rechargable batteries or collect used batteries in a shoebox out in the garage, clearly marked. Then take them to a recycling facility once or twice a year.
• Recycle both paper and plastic bags. Decline bags for smaller purchases such as stamps, greeting cards, etc. Or, better still, carry a lightweight cloth or string bag.
• Plant a tree, or two, or even three. They're beautiful, they provide shade, consume CO2 (that's good), and they produce oxygen. Breath it in. Then go plant a tree.
• Only buy food fish that have been caught in a responsible manner and are not from over-fished stocks. Educate your grocer and local restaurants.
• Don't buy or collect marine wildlife products such as shells or coral.
• Reduce the amount of unwanted junk mail - have your name removed from mailing lists by contacting Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.
• Recyle!

Return to HVPN Home Page

This page visited  times.

Last Updated: July 17, 2002
Copyright 2001-2002 - Hudson Valley Pagan Network