by a.m. stewart
If your child licks the kitchen floor, do you begin to worry? We all know kids behave silly and do unexpected things. But how do you know the chemicals you use to clean your kitchen floor won’t harm your little ones, yourself or future generations?
Sarah Boren doesn’t worry. That’s because she concocts her own non-toxic, earth-friendly cleaning products and has done so for years.
“I feel comfortable if they lick the floor,” Sarah says. “They’re not going to get poisoned or be hurt.”
Sarah, executive director of the Green Team Project, is quick to point out that making your own cleaning products isn’t revolutionary, and that our grandmothers made their own during the Great Depression. Alright, so maybe some of our great grandmothers, but you get the point. Place baking soda, water and a little of your favorite essential oil together to make an inexpensive, non-toxic, effective household cleaner.
The Green Team Project (GTP), a grassroots environmental non-profit, performs the labor-intense research for the best ways to conserve resources, reduce waste and improve well being. By well being, the team means that by following their advice you can improve your quality of life by limiting exposure to toxic chemicals and other harmful substances. All you have to do is participate. For seven weeks, the team walks participants through six resource areas: solid waste, water usage, household chemicals, energy use, transportation and community action. Each meeting provides facts about the topic, goals to obtain and action steps each participant should take before the next meeting.
For example, GTP suggests participants consider a 20 percent cut in home energy use and related pollutants. The Green Team says: low-energy laundry. Wash only full loads, use only cold water, use a clothes line or drying rack (your clothes will last longer this way, too), dry loads one after another while the dryer is still hot or use a gas dryer as they’re more efficient and cost less. According to Sarah, there are more than 40 actions per resource area you can take to reduce emissions.
So why worry about cleaning products that continue to be on the market? Our government makes sure they’re safe to use, right? Not exactly.
Recently, a report on the potential hazards of home cleaning products was published by the organization, Women’s Voices for the Earth. The report, Household Hazards, (www.womenandenvironment.org/campaignsandprograms/SafeCleaning/ResourcesCleaning/document view) provides information about certain chemicals in cleaning products that cause health problems, including asthma and birth defects. The report describes how home cleaning products are generally overused and utilized in amounts that are over concentrated, thus leading to health problems. These chemicals are largely without regulation or adequate research. Companies that manufacture household cleaning products are not required to include or disclose the chemicals used in their products.
Creating your own cleaning supplies is easy, saves money and is environmentally friendly. GTP encourages people to take simple steps like this, making household cleaners and low energy laundry.
“Everyone has different motivating factors,” Sarah says.
Whether saving money and improving health are your motivations or protecting the environment and future generations, anyone can gain important information.
Meetings consist of 6 to 8 participants. GTP can place individuals in groups close to their area or groups of friends can request a session. GTP also offers lectures and individually guided courses.
“The group method is the most effective,” Sarah says, “because you get the most actions from each person.”
When people participate in group settings, they are more likely to take action, she says.
“We always need a deadline,” Sarah says. “And the team is the motivator.”
Did I mention freebies? The team gives out low-flow shower heads, compact fluorescents and a resource binder full of local information. An average participant saves $60 to $500 a year on bills if they continue to implement suggested steps, Sarah says. “We can save small businesses $5,000 to $20,000 a year. But it depends on their actions, if they follow through,” Sarah says.
Participants are provided with statistical results of their actions upon program completion.
Sarah, who obtained an environmental management Master’s degree at Duke University, has committed the last seven years to helping individuals and organizations take steps to reduce their waste and consumption. After implementing several green attributes and adding 500 square feet to her own 1950s house, Sarah was able to see a difference on her energy bill right away. About a $30 savings. The green attributes include a solar hot water system, sky lights and acquiring a home energy rating (this is where the house is assessed for energy efficiency), just to name a few.
The government even split the tab on some of the green modifications, such as the solar hot water system. Federal and state incentives for renewable energy are available; you just have to find them. A good resource is www.dsireusa.org.
Sarah encourages people to take the first step. Most people don’t realize how easy and frugal it can be, she adds. There is a small fee for individuals to participate. But don’t worry; you won’t be turned away because of financial restraints.
“Try it, you’ll like it,” Sarah says. “It’s easy to be green.”
For more information about the Green Team Project visit www.greenteamproject.org.
Reduce solid waste:
Go to www.stopjunkmail.org, to end needless paper consumption. Go paperless with bank statements and bills. Stop using paper towels and use cloth napkins instead.
Reduce water usage:
Install low-flow fixtures like toilets and shower heads. Plant native plants, reduce lawn size and create a rain barrel to reduce outside water use.
Reduce household chemicals:
Use homemade, non-toxic cleaning products. Get rid of any product that says ‘danger’ or ‘warning.’
Reduce energy use:
Install compact fluorescent light bulbs or a programmable thermostat.
Reduce transportation emissions:
Consider trip-linking your errands. In other words, plan an efficient route when running errands. Ask yourself when the best time with the least traffic is, to cut back on idling time. Also, ask yourself if you absolutely need to run the errand.
www.hes.lbl.gov, a resource to calculate ways to save energy in your home.
www.safeclimate.net/calculator/, a site that can measure your carbon dioxide emissions.
www.myfootprint.org/, measures the resources your lifestyle requires.
www.grrn.org/, a grassroots recycling network.
www.fnps.org/, the Florida Native Plant Society which lists native plants for this area.
www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/, the Florida Solar Energy Center.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE791, a site by the University of Florida gives extensive information on the use of alternative household cleaners, including recipes.
Article Published in the April 2008 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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