The Best in Eco-Living

For the month of August, the Lions Clubs of Green Valley and their volunteers collected 48,900 pounds of newspaper and 1,389 pounds of aluminum cans at their popular recycling center in Green Valley.

That amount of cans sets a record for the center on La Canada Drive, just east of the Joyner-Green Valley Public Library. “A big thank you to Green Valley,” says Lions members Bob Venuti.

In addition, the amount of recyclable newspaper, magazines, phone books and junk mail is holding steady.

The Lions encourage the public to keep the recyclables coming and check out the center’s monthly raffle to win a $25 credit at the Arizona Family Restaurant, awarded each month.

The center is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., barring rain, wind or equipment maintenance.

Tips to Eco-Living

You can green up your not-so-new house with the following tips from the U.S. Green Building Council:

An old refrigerator in the garage that’s just cooling a few cases of soda pop may be costing you as much as $100 a year. If it’s more than 10 years old, recycle it and replace it with a new, high-efficiency model. Same with that older, spare freezer.

In regions with abundant sunshine and high energy costs, solar systems are gaining ground. Solar electric systems can offset some or all of your home’s electricity use, while solar water-heating systems can heat water for sinks, showers, laundry, home heating, pools and spas. A variety of federal, state and local incentives are making renewable-energy systems more affordable. For a directory of incentives by state, go online to dsireusa.org.

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because it’s colorless and odorless. If you have a fuel-burning appliance inside your home, such as a gas stove, furnace, water heater, fireplace or clothes dryer, be safe and install a UL-listed carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home.

Wood-burning fireplaces are notorious polluters and energy-wasters. Think about retrofitting yours with an energy-efficient, clean-burning, EPA-certified fireplace insert. The inserts include glass or metal doors, vents to provide outside air for combustion, and blowers to circulate heated air into the room.

Courtesy of www.usgbc.org

Online Links

www.dinegreen.com is the Web site for the national, nonprofit Green Restaurant Association. Eateries can get expert help in becoming more environmentally sustainable, and diners can find out about eco-friendly restaurants, cafes, resorts and more in their state.

My Green Idea!

The Green Valley News and Sun welcomes your eco-ideas. E-mail us at eco-living@gvnews.com or at kwalenga@gvnews.com to let us know how you’re going green.