THE GREEN LIST changes for a healthier planet = EVERYWHERE WE LOOK, WE FIND NEWS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT— whether it's about global warming or threatened oceans or new schedules to follow when watering our lawns. But with all the information out there, sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to truly help preserve the environ- ment—the recommendations may seem s0 overwhelming that it's hard to start at all. # We asked dozens of experts for their advice on actions great and small that can soften our impact on the planet. Theix responses add up to this: Even things that seem like small steps yield significant results. Take a look af the following suggestions and see what might inspire action. Quite often, the changes we make to lessen our environmental footprint save us money, as well. « And once we try one change for the greener, we might just find ourselves making change a habit. ‘By Cameron Walker JUNE 2008 ALASKA AIRLINES MAGAZINE| Renee om Ralinnenenshe FHE In is new book, Farewell, My Subaru, journalist Doug Fine chronicles his adventuces in off grid living in New Mexico. Fine slashed bis petroleum use by 80 percent by switching 10 solar panels (chat still power modern conveniences such as a Japtop and subwoofers), among other projects, “To me it’s so easy, its 50 seamless, [don't even realize Tm ‘on Solar anymore,” Fine says. Home renewable energy systoms—from solar panels to ‘vind turbines to geothermal heating systems—don't generate greenhouse gases or air pollution as they harness energy. And, using renewable energy doesn't mean that you have to move toa New Mexico ranch. Solar panels, in particular, can help homes in suburbs and cities and can be a powerful way to affect your carbon footprint, says Neal Lurie of the American Solar Energy Society. carbon footprint is the amount of | {greenhouse-gas emissions a person produces through his/her everyday activities, "The amount of energy (and greenhouse-gas emissions) youl save depends on where you live and other factors: A Lkilowatt photovoltaic system in Colorado, for example, saves 150 pounds of coal (and 300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions) cach month, according to Selar Energy International ‘The solar estimator at www-findsolar.com will ally up the estimated cost to install a home solarenergy system, determine whether state and other rebates are available, and caleulate how quickly the savings on ‘your electricity bill will pay back the systems cost, Other options for running your home on renewable energy include wind turbines and geothermal heat: ing, but if neither ofthese is feasible in your neghborhoad, you can still participate in the renewable-energy ‘world by buying renewable power: For afew cents per kilowatt more on your monthly power till, you can i ee ae a a ane a te oem eee Te | MUUUUURURRNI ct corpora he lel owe yo pend eee waleyopey 5 il investment in renewable energy, bringing more renewable power tothe overall power grid. Learn 4 about boying renewable power in your state at worw.cere energy govigreenpower. : re - i a al | See How You Measure Up § Making your home as energy efficient a possible means youl nit ony save © money on your ult bil, you'll also help the environment by reducing overall energy demand, Start by doinga home energy audit: You can take one online and get tips for improving efficiency (try the Environmental Protection Agency's Change Your Bulbs Home Energy Yardticat www-energystar gov) or you can hire profesional Compact fuorescent doe. pro’ advice may run between $200 and $400, but homeowners yp lightbulbs save as mach lly can slash thei energy bill by 30 percent 575 percent ofthe 2 | Youcamalso haves large impact on your carbon footprint. three-minute energy used by trad Feta nla vertcon) pode your entsnpat cre al en en youl ee how you ean rack and rece your score over ine tulb—and as up to 10 “Were notabouclecturing pele,” eays Anna Rising executive director of tines Meee ee Anne the EarthLab Foundation. "Were fcusing on easy things’ suchas unplugging Ducey of Seattle City our cellphone charger, which can save as nich as $9 a month in clectriity Light Rorener ight anges. é z cee bulb you replace you ALASKA AIRLINES MAGAZINE JUNE098 2couvanetevetnnagefannnaean nanan reduce carhon emissions Stree © [ Siityoxiremake the equivalent of nat ‘ng home upgrades, consuming 75 gallons of {dont forget about 1 sgasoline. Given the jf wateruse. The Epa’ average home's 40 10 60 | WaterSense labeling sockets, thie adds up ¥ program marks prod- ‘quickly. While CFLs ) | wets such as water: arent perfect forall, | applications, new tech- | nology is providing a saving toilets, Faucets and more: Replacing all the coun- range of bulbs that work \ tuys pre-994 toilets in three-way lamps, | with WaterSense-abeled bathroom vanities, ‘ ‘models (which can save a floodlights, chandeliers | single household moze and with existing dim than 10,000 gallons mer controls. |} annuaty) would conserve Netameyariciie i neatly 640 billion gllons home improvement annually —enowgh water store, buy afew dies to feed Niagara Falls for ent CFisto est around \ 15 days, your home, and see ‘which you ike best. had Pick Appliances Wisely ‘The average US. household spends about $1,900 each year on ‘energy bills. By putting in high efficiency ENERGY STAR appl ances and heating and cooing systems, you can cut you bill by rest a third. The ENERGY STAR label is awarded tothe top 25 percent of products in the marketplace all provide more eff- ciency than conventional versions and pay back their energy sav {ng in five years or less without ffecsing performance. Deciding ‘whether i’ time to replace? Consider how often an appliance is used The refrigerator, a major energy usr, ison all the time and presents an opportunity for greater long-term energy savings than, say, your dishwasher, which you may use only afew times a ‘week. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved a whop- ping $16 bilion on their energy bills in 2007 and aided green hhouse-gas emissions equivalent to 27 million cars, says Maria Vargas of the EPA, which GES ) runs the ENERGY STAR program with the US. Department of Energy Catch the Rain ‘When a storm hits, the pounding rain can overwhelm sewer sys- tems and carry pollut ants from roads and driveways into the watershed, While the amount varies depend {ng on your location, 2 41,200-square-foot roof can shed about 750 gallons of stormwater runoff daring an inch of rain. By capturing some of this with rain barcels, you'll give the sewers a breather and store water to feed your garden dur- ing a drier spell. With two 40-gallon rain barrels, says Gary Belan of American Rivers, “thats alot of -water, which you can use for a garden, that you don't have to pay for.” IFyou've gota green thumb, you can also putin rain garden, designed to absorb and filter downpour runoff. Learn more at ‘worw-raingardens.org Check Your ‘Temperature Keep your house's heat fine tuned with a program: ‘mable thermostat. In the winter, Fyou cut your current temperature settings by one degree, you can save2 percent to percent of your furnace's energy use; in summer, give your air conditioner a3 per- cent to 5 percent break by raising the temperature a degree. The U.S, Environmental Protection Agency saysa properly used programmable thermostat can save homeowners $150 a year in energy costs. INE 2005 ALASKR AIRLINES MAGAZINE :