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Green Tips: Pet Care Edition

Pets require resources that can take a toll on the environment including chemicals in cleaning products, processed foods, and toxic toys. However, there are many ways to reduce these potentially harmful effects. We have compiled a few here:

Adopt a dog or cat from a shelter instead of buying from a puppy mill. Puppy mills are not sustainable or ethical. Not only is the health of dogs in puppy mills completely disregarded and animals mistreated, but waste from the dealerships pose countless risks to our public health and the environment. One stream downhill from a Virginia puppy mill had bacteria 400 times higher than the legal limit. Improper disposal of dog feces and carcasses can cause bursts of harmful disease-causing pathogens that can be easily transmitted to humans. Built up feces from these facilities and the pathogens it carries may also contaminate soil and drinking water, as well as produce methane, a known greenhouse gas. Many dogs are waiting for a home in shelters around the country. An estimated 1.2 million dogs are put down every year because people choose to buy purebreds rather than adopting from a shelter.

Use or make more sustainable pet products. There are several natural pet shampoos which provide alternatives to the chemical-filled products available to most pet owners. Flea-control solutions also usually contain chemicals which have caused serious health problems for animals in laboratories. Use a multifaceted approach to get rid of fleas such as flea combs, Diatomaceous earth powder, herbal shampoos, and making sure your floors are clean.

Compost pet waste. Pick up your dog or cat waste to make sure the bacteria does not end up spreading into groundwater. Instead of landfilling pet waste, try to compost it. For cats, owners should use litter made from corn, wheat or recycled newspaper which are compostable –clay cannot go into compost.

Make your own pet food and treats. Avoid processed store-bought pet food by creating pet food at home. Include ingredients that you know were sustainably or locally grown. You can also make treats for your dog or cat. Additionally, there are multiple companies that make dog food with a focus on sustainability like All The Best Pet Care.

Hire a professional dog walker nearby. Supporting a local professional is a great option to make sure your dog is well cared-for by an expert. Hiring a dog walker who lives nearby produces fewer emissions since they do not need to travel long distances.

Make your own pet toys. Pet toys can be made out of a variety of materials or objects that you most likely already have. Instead of spending money on toys that require new materials, it’s possible to use many items sitting around the house, such as old plastic water bottles, tennis balls, or old t-shirts and towels. There are also companies that make new toys out of old materials.

Adopt a smaller herbivorous pet. Pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits may not require all the resources that dogs or cats require. One of the most sustainable pet options are chickens because their waste is compostable as a fertilizer. They also produce fresh eggs and work as natural pest control.

Green Tips: Going Green With Your Building

Make your building a green zone!

Our buildings have a monstrous carbon footprint, accounting for almost 40% of national carbon emissions. Here in New York State, buildings are responsible for about 60% of total energy consumption and in New York City, “fossil fuels burned in buildings for heat and hot water are the number one source of GHG emissions, accounting for 42% of the citywide total.” This massive energy expenditure not only accelerates global warming, but also contributes to local air pollution. To forge a more sustainable path forward and meet both our city our state’s ambitious climate goals, including NYC Mayor de Blasio’s goal of reducing GHG emissions by at least 80% by 2050, we need to drastically transform the way we construct and utilize our buildings.

With these tips, you can help further that transformation starting in your home and workplace.

Take advantage of public programs for green-living. All New Yorkers should recycle at home. You can also participate in recycling events in your community through New York Recycles! Encourage your employers to get involved as well. City residents can enroll their homes and businesses in the Organics Collection Program to receive composting bins and starting kits. Check out our previous Green Tip for Composting Tips. For those living in an apartment building with 10+ units or working in a commercial building, you can enroll your building in refashion NYC, a city-sponsored program in partnership with Housing Works, that makes it easy for you and your neighbors to donate clothing.

Establish sharing spaces with your neighbors. Take inspiration from Sacramento’s Library of Things and create your own goods-loaning space. To do so, find an open space in your residential building, such as a lobby or basement, and designate a goods-holding area. Closets, bookcases, and shelving systems may be helpful. You can use these spaces to store shared cooking and cleaning supplies, home repair tools, crafting materials, books, movies, music, and more — anything you and your neighbors want to jointly invest in or loan to one another! At work, these spaces may be harder to come by but the standard goods-sharing model can be easily tailored to fit in your office kitchen, supply closets, or lounge areas.

Switch from dirty to renewable energy. New York’s Green Power Program makes it easy for you and your neighbors to choose a clean electric supply. Use the NYS Power to Choose website to find clean energy suppliers in your area, and compare the cost and quality of your options to find the best fit.

Create an urban garden. With some green ingenuity, you and your neighbors can transform underutilized spaces in and around your building into lush, eco-friendly wonders! Beyond providing an aesthetic improvement, urban gardening can provide a direct source of healthy fresh food: residents can benefit from rooftop gardens, indoor greenhouses and window-farming. A green environment can also improve your mood and productivity, serving both homeowners and employers.

Add a bike rack to your building. Encourage your landlord, co-op board, employer, or a team of neighbors to invest in bike racks for your building. Biking is a healthy and accessible way to encourage sustainable transportation; making it easier for residents to own a bike can help alleviate their need to drive and reduce demand for parking.

Create a Building Green Bulletin. Create a messaging board either in print or online where you and your neighbors or co-workers can share information about opportunities for local goods-sharing and donation services.

Green Tips: Are You Recycling Properly?

New Yorkers have been recycling for over 25 years. Since 1992, local recycling programs have diverted more than 320 million tons of recyclables from landfills. New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that recycling has resulted in a reduction of 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of taking 211 million cars off the road for one year. You can do your part to help New York generate less trash and become more sustainable by making sure you’re properly sorting your recycling. We have compiled some tips to get you started.

Buy recycled products or products that can be easily recycled. Glass jars, metal cans, and writing paper are often made with recycled content and help greatly cut down on waste sent to landfills.

Familiarize yourself with what can and cannot be recycled in recycling bins. Check out this list of recyclables and non-recyclables. Here are some common items that should not be thrown away in recycling bins:

1. Paper and cardboard tainted with food residue or waste or waxy paper.
2. Batteries.
3. Glass items besides bottles and jars (mirrors, broken glassware)
4. Plastic shopping bags and other plastic film.
5. Oil and toxic chemicals.

Separate plastics, glass, and metal from paper recyclables. Many regions require you to sort your recyclables before they are picked up. Buildings often provide designated bins for each type of recyclable. If your building does not, you can use old cardboard boxes or reuse plastic bags to store your recyclables for pick-up.

Return bottles. New York’s Bottle Bill provides financial incentives for returning bottles and cans. Most glass or plastic bottles and metal cans list the deposit refund you could earn by returning them at a designated machine, usually located outside grocery stores.

Keep recyclable objects intact. While crushing soda cans and shredding paper is fun, these types of disfigured materials can be harder to recycle and may not be as useful as products in their original shape.

Start composting. We waste about 25% of the food we buy. Instead of letting your leftovers end up in landfills, convert them into a resource that helps our environment thrive. Read more about composting in New York here.

Recycle your electronic waste. New York State now requires manufacturers of electronics to provide free, environmentally-friendly recycling services to consumers. Use these guidelines to find a manufacturer take-back program or electronic waste collection site to ensure your electronics are properly recycled.

Donate unneeded items. Do you have an item that you’re not using but still in good condition? You can donate it instead of throwing it away. Look for organizations across New York State or New York City to check who can accept the item you no longer need. Whether it’s clothing, tools, or furniture, it is always better to reuse it than to throw it away.

Green Tips: Summer Travel

Many families travel during the summer while school is out and the weather is warm. Sometimes flying is the best way to get where you’re going, and while airlines are making small strides to become more fuel efficient, planes still contribute a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere. To make your vacation more environmentally friendly, we’ve put together some tips for you to consider when planning your next trip:

Take non-stop flights: The majority of carbon emitted from airplanes is released during take-off and landing. If you must fly, look for non-stop flights.

Decide which mode of transportation to use: Depending on how many people are in your group, driving may be the greener way to get where you’re going. Flying creates about 50% more carbon dioxide per person than driving when only one person is in the car. For a trip with four people, flying will create 86% more carbon dioxide. Traveling via train is even more energy-efficient than driving. Taking a train can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. Using websites like Terrapass gives you the ability to donate to emission reduction projects to offset the carbon emissions you create while traveling.

Rent a hybrid or electric car: If you’re driving a long distance, consider renting a hybrid. Try renting an all-electric vehicle to travel locally at your destination. Since electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions, this is another good alternative to flying and driving a car with a conventional engine. Many car rental companies including Enterprise, Alamo, and Hertz now offer hybrid and electric vehicle options.

Stay in a green hotel: Stay in a hotel with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. LEED buildings receive this certification based on their building materials, water usage, energy efficiency, and production of waste.

Take home leftover hotel soap: Partially used mini-bottles of shampoo and soap bars all get thrown away after a stay at a hotel. Bringing these home with you will reduce waste and save you money, as you can reuse the bottles for your next trip. Mini toiletry products can also be donated to your local shelters, intake centers, or other general welfare providers such as Amenity Aid.

Protect wildlife: While shopping, avoid buying souvenirs that were made with endangered animals. Avoid tours that promise hands-on experiences with wild animals. Make sure to treat other places with the same respect you’d treat your own neighborhood: don’t litter and make sure your activities don’t disturb natural habitats.

For more tips for sustainable travel, click here.

Green Tips: Summer Barbeques

Summer is here, which means it’s grilling season! There are some steps you can take to reduce the toxins emitted at barbeques and make your party more environmentally friendly.

Pick the right grill: Grilling with traditional coal creates carbon, particulate matter and ozone emissions, however, there are greener alternatives that create fewer emissions. Natural gas grills create fewer emissions, but they still make an impact if you consider the energy necessary to retrieve the natural gas. Electric powered grills do not produce emissions on-site and are even greener if they are powered by renewable energy. Why not explore pellet grills? They use wood scraps that would otherwise be discarded and can heat up very quickly.

Choose energy-efficient grill accessories: Some grills, including domed-lid grills, retain heat and waste less energy. Purchasing quality tools that last (and don’t need to be thrown away) is also a smart choice.

Use less beef: Beef hamburgers or hot dogs are traditional barbeque food; however, meat production causes environmental damage. Grass-fed beef is a better option because fewer emissions are produced as part of the growth and delivery process. Consider trying non-beef meat burgers such as turkey or chicken burgers.

Go vegetarian: Vegetable or meat-substitute burgers are the most sustainable barbeque food option as they have the smallest impact on the environment. While not traditional barbeque food, veggie burgers are a less harmful way to eat. Try vegetable skewers or grilled vegetables too.

Avoid waste: While it may be convenient to purchase plastic cups or bottled drinks that can be thrown away, try filling pitchers with water or lemonade and use glass or metal cups. Using non-disposable plates, cups, and silverware keeps more waste out of landfills. If disposable plates are necessary, look into less harmful or biodegradable options.

Buy your food and drinks in bulk to reduce unnecessary packaging.

Buying in bulk and eating with reusable plates and cups instead of buying disposable options will also save money!

Recycle or compost: Be a hospitable host and avoid food waste by sending extra food home with guests.

Always recycle beverage containers. Additionally, food waste can be composted whenever possible.

Green Tips: Creating Less Trash

The average New Yorker creates 16.5 tons of trash per year. Although Americans are recycling now more than ever, it is crucial we take steps to create less trash and prevent landfills from continuing to grow in size and number. Here are some steps we can take to cut down on our trash and help our environment.

Bring Your Own Bag: According to the Center of Biological Diversity, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags per year. Plastic bags add to our landfills and harm and pollute our oceans. Local governments spend millions to clean up plastic bags that get stuck in trees and storm sewers. Manufacturing disposable bags uses petroleum and other fossil fuels and creates harmful waste products. Bringing your own reusable bags while you do your shopping helps to prevent all these negative environmental and economic effects.
Reuse Containers: Give your take-out container a second (or third and fourth) life by washing and using it for future food storage. This could also help reduce the need for aluminum foil and plastic wrap in your kitchen. For more information on the harmful effects of food packaging, click here.
Composting: Food waste makes up about 1/3 of what New Yorkers throw away, but thankfully composting is an easy way to lower this number. Food waste does not break down in landfills the same way it does in compost piles, and composting can help your garden!
Use Cloth Napkins: Even if only half the U.S. population used just three paper napkins a day, that would still mean 450 million paper napkins were being used per day. Using cloths instead of paper napkins is an easy way to cut down on trash. They can be reused for years and can be washed easily instead of having to go to the store and purchase a new pack, saving trees and money!
Purchase Used Furniture: In 2009, the EPA reported that Americans throw out about 9.8 million tons of furniture waste per year. Antique stores, garage sales, and websites such as nyc.gov/Donate, eBay, or Craigslist, offer easy ways to purchase used furniture, usually much cheaper than buying new.

Green Infrastructure in the Delaware River Watershed

We hosted a policy forum focused on the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green infrastructure (GI) as an approach to managing stormwater. We brought together expert speakers and panelists to provide an overview of green infrastructure vs. traditional gray approaches and how it can be used to protect and restore water quality in the Delaware River Watershed region. From innovative examples to barriers and opportunities, this policy forum helped to equip local landowners and municipal leaders with the information and tools needed to get involved and bring more GI to their communities. Read the background paper here.

Speakers/Panelists

George Schuler, The Nature Conservancy
Freda Eisenberg, Commissioner, Sullivan County Department of Planning
Paul Beyer, Director of Smart Growth, NY State Dept. of State
Stephanie P. Dalke, Pinchot Institute for Conservation
Bryan Quinn, Environmental Entrepreneur, founder and principal of One Nature
Jeff Skelding, Executive Director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River
Molly Oliver, Delaware County Department of Watershed Affairs
Diana Weiner, Sullivan Renaissance

Green Tips: A Guide to Meatless Mondays

Reducing meat consumption has countless health, environmental, and economic benefits. While the thought of going completely vegetarian or vegan can be daunting to some people, eating meat-free one day a week is an easy alternative that can keep your body–and the planet–healthy. Check out our Guide to Meatless Mondays:

Meatless Mondays can help lower your risk of illness. Studies show that reduced meat intake and higher vegetable consumption is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and death by cardiac events. In fact, non-meat eaters are 25% less likely to die of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Restricting the amount of meat in your diet can also lower your risk of various cancers, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and food-borne diseases.
High meat consumption is harmful to the environment. The meat and agriculture industries produce environmental contamination, are responsible for habitat destruction, and lead to greenhouse gas emissions that help cause climate change. Scientists estimate that 70% of Central and South America’s forests have been cut down to permit livestock grazing. Moreover, pesticides and animal waste produced by agriculture contaminate almost 200,000 miles of freshwater in the U.S., and livestock farming is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases. These factors may lead to warming of the planet and extensive species extinctions, among countless other detriments to the environment.
Limiting your meat intake will help reduce famine and benefit the economy. Rather than spending billions on food for cattle, why not invest in food given directly to people in need? Seventy percent of all grains grown in the U.S. is fed to livestock rather than people suffering from hunger, and cattle require exponentially more water than humans do. By eating less meat, you can do your part to fight famine and drought, and help the U.S. economy by avoiding money lost to the meat industry.
There are plenty of alternatives to meat. Meat substitutes are tasty, healthy, environmentally friendly, and easy to find and prepare. Check out a list of common meat alternatives here.
Meat-free recipes and restaurants are everywhere! Whether you prefer dining at home or eating out, meat-free meals are almost always an option. Here you can find hundreds of easy, appetizing vegetarian recipes. If you feel like going out to eat, use this website to find meatless options near you.
You can further your impact by trying vegan Meatless Mondays. A vegan diet avoids all animal products including dairy and eggs. Going vegan for one day a week (or even one meal a day!) can be fun and simple. It will also improve your health and the environment. Why not? Give it a try!

Green Tips: How to plant your own garden

Spring is the perfect time to start your own garden! Gardening has many health and environmental benefits, such as the reduction of greenhouse gases, and the creation of habitats for small animals and insects. Gardening will help keep you active and has been known to reduce stress. Here are the simple steps you need to create your own garden.

Choose a spot: Most plants need at least six hours of sun each day, so choosing a good spot is crucial to planting a successful garden. However, many plants can tolerate partial sun or live in the shade. For information on which plants can grow in each level of sunlight, click here.
Decide on plants: Be sure to choose plants that will work best in your specific environment. Your climate, the amount of sunlight your plant can receive, and the type of soil you plan on using all affect the type of plant that will grow best in your garden. For an in-depth look on which vegetables can thrive in your environment, click here.
Composting: Adding compost to your soil will improve its quality and provide a better habitat where your plants can thrive. Loosening your soil by digging while it’s moist will allow your plant’s roots to penetrate the ground easier, and will also mix the compost in with your soil.
Begin planting: If you plant directly from seed, most seed packets have instructions on how deep and far apart to plant each one. For beginners, try purchasing a young plant, also known as transplants, and plant it directly into the ground.
Watering: New seeds and transplants usually need to be watered daily. Once its roots become established, you can water less frequently depending on your soil and climate. Watering slowly, and early in the morning, will minimize evaporation and maximize the water your plant receives.
Mulch: After planting your seeds or transplants, apply a layer of mulch to keep weeds out and water in.
Maintenance: Remember to maintain your plants by watering as needed and removing weeds from the area. For more tips and information on gardening click here.

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