Our Green Projects
You're concerned about the environment, climate change and rising sea levels? We all are concerned, friend. So here's a suggestion: Grab some friends and neighbors and make your own EcoTeam. Start with a small project, divide up the tasks, set a time to meet and compare notes,- and then get to work on your part of the project.
How do you pick a project? You can get some ideas from the A-Z list if you wish. Or, get a copy of It's Easy Being Green, by Crissy Trask (www.greenmatters.com), or other green book, and choose a starting project from there. As you work through your first project, you may find that one thing leads to another, and the second project unfolds before your eyes - maybe before you even complete the first.
The A-Z list is a good starting point for many topics. The list is also a work-in-progress. It is our clearinghouse for sharing what we learn that will help others on similar journeys. Please feel free to send May information to round out the information on the list so that the next EcoTeam interested in a given topic doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. Send your information to may@createyourhealthyhome.com.
Hang loose. We all can only do what we can. Any progress is good. Have some laughs. Get some accomplishments under your belt, be they ever so humble. Let the momentum build at its own rate. Remember that a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. Take baby steps. Maintain forward motion. From time to time, we'll have a gathering of EcoTeams, with experiences to share and the opportunity to brainstorm together.
I'd suggest an EcoTeam Action Board, perhaps a board that works with a dry erase marker. Divide the action board into three columns, and then work the board. Use the board to determine the next steps, to review progress, to divide up tasks, to keep track of ideas. There's a sample EcoTeam Action Board before. [I took the concept of an Action Board from a tape by David Viscott, M.D., 24 Hours to Turn Your Life Around.]
For those with computer savvy folk on the team, you might put your EcoTeam Action Board on a free page on Google or other service, where each of you can access it. (Could someone email me the details of how to do this? I'll include them here.)
ECOTEAM ACTION BOARD
On the left side of the board, write down ideas that come to you for possible future action. This is the brainstorming section, as well as the place that creative & intuitive ideas are jotted down. | The middle of the board is for ideas in transition, that is, ideas that you'll soon be working on. As your interest grows in items from the left column, those items might move to the center of the action board, and from there, to the right column as you dig into them. | The right side of the board lists what you are actively working on. From here, determine the next steps for a project. |
- Research professional home energy audits - Research green clothes hangers, and write to HQ of KMart, Target, etc., about switching away from plastic hangers - Check out how to dispose of batteries - Plan to visit an ecofestival together - Explore what local schools are doing in eco teaching - Visit a recycling center - Learn about municipal energy audits | - Start a list of lifestyle changes and home systems changes for reducing your carbon footprint. Check with the local library about scheduling a "Low Carbon Diet" 2-session workshop - Look into self-help home energy audits - Review resources for involving children in reducing energy usage - such as David Gershon's Journey for the Planet, www.empowermentinstitute.net - Learn about resources of Pennsylvania Sierra Club - Learn about resources of www.PennEnvironment.org - Learn about GreenStar appliances | - Order copies of It's Easy Being Green - Discuss how to maintain your windows and then check them out. How do you seal up air leaks? - Is there adequate weather-stripping around doors? What kinds of weather-stripping are best? - Measure the hot water heater temperature (find a source of thermometers, learn about top/bottom readings, check out insulating covers, learn about alternatives to hot water heaters, summarize findings for the A-Z list |
EnviroHealth Consulting, Inc., 1-888-735-9649
Mold and other environmental inspections available in
Connecticut - Maryland - New Jersey - New York - Pennsylvania - Virginia - Washington DC and other areas
may@createyourhealthyhome.com.
Updated 3-25-09
