Living Green and Building Green

1. Orient buildings to maximize solar exposure and protect them from prevailing winds. Use wind break and berms to channel cold weather around or over buildings.
2. Add insulation to hold heat in the winter and exclude heat in the summer.
3. Use sun rooms to capture solar energy when needed and vent it when it is not.
4. Take advantage of natural light by using day lighting techniques.
5. Use earth-sheltered building techniques to take advantage of natural heating and cooling provided by stable underground temperatures.
6. Cool homes naturally using convection loops and cooling towers to circulate air.
7. Add thermal mass to buildings by using dense materials, such as brick and stone on interior walls, to maintain constant temperatures.
8. Design overhangs and plant deciduous vegetation to shade living spaces in the summer but not in the winter.
9. Plant food gardens and edible landscaping to produce more food at your doorstep.
10. Install Energy Star appliances and water saving fixtures to conserve water and energy.

1. Buy Energy Star Computers, appliances and power adaptors, which can consume half the electricity of standard models. For a list of products, visit www.EnergyStar.gov.
2. Fully shut down your printer and computer when not in use. "Sleep" uses standby energy. Plug them into an easy-to-reach power strip so you only have to do it once.
3. Reduce. How many phones and remote controls do you need?
4. Unplug stuff you don't use
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5. Unplug the charger. Remove battery-powered rechargeable devices from their docks when fully charger.

1. Remove your name from the Direct Marketing Association list: www.DMAConsumers.org. There is a $1. fee to do this.
2. Remove your name from credit card and insurance mailings: "Opt Out" by visiting www.OptOutPresreen.com.
3. Contact retailers and mailers directly to strike your name from lists for catalogs or contests. If you purchase again, your name usually gets added back to the list, so you may have to repeat the request.
4. Whenever purchasing something online or subscribing, check the box that says, "Please do not rent, sell or trade my name or address." If no such box exists, make the request by phone, e-mail or letter.
5. Support the movement for Junk Mail legislation that allows persons to opt out of direct-mail advertising (like the Do Not Call registry). Visit www.NewDream.org.
6. These services will contact direct mailers on your behalf, for a fee:
     • www.41pounds.org: offers fundraising opportunities for schools
     • www.greendimes.com: lifetime subscription with 240 trees planted
     • www.stopthejunkmail.com: subscription includes catalog removal & tree planting.

1. Seek out the Energy Star logo. Dishwashers that meet the newly improved 2007 Energy Star criteria are at least 41 percent more efficient than federal efficiency standards. Some Energy Star dishwashers qualify for federal tax credits.
2. Think Small. The bigger the dishwasher, the more water and power it uses. Unless you have a large family or go through a lot of dishes daily, choose a smaller, less expensive model.
3. Shorten The Cycle. Choose a dishwasher with an "energy-saving" or "light wash " cycle that uses less water and operates for a shorter time.
4. Look For An Air-Dry Option. Air-Dry employs circulation fans. Heat-dry models use heating coils, which draw considerable electricity.
5. Read The Energy Guide Label. Learn how much energy each unit uses as compared with similar models.
6. Opt For A Hot Water Booster. Most Energy Star models have this - an internal water heater that raises water temperature inside the dishwasher.
7. Think Long Term. Most energy and water efficient appliances cost more initially, but they'll save money in the long run through lower monthly utility bills.