TIP # 34
HYDROFRACKING NEWS NY State Assembly's proposed $100,000 for study of
hydrofracking impact on health has been dropped:
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/ state-and-regional/proposed-ny-fracking-health-
impact-study-dropped/article_ 653edbae-7781-11e1-b380-001871e3ce6c.html?mode=story
EPA confirms methane contamination of well water in Dimock, PA due to hydrofracking,
in some cases at explosive levels. http://www.riverkeeper.org/news-events/news/s

TIP # 33
What are you washing down the drain? What are you adding to the environment every time
you wash your hair? Moreover, what are you exposing yourself and your family to with the
shampoo you're using? Here's a breakdown of some of the ingredients found in commonly
sold shampoos: http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/52/1/Shampoo-and-the-planet.htm

TIP # 32
Were you aware that the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit by 30,000 SOLAR POWERED
LED bulbs? After the holidays its wood will go to Habitat for Humanity and its pulp will be used to
make a children's book.
Source: ecorazzi.com

TIP # 31
The Fracturing of Pennsylvania....
coming soon to New York State?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/magazine/fracking-amwell-township.html?pagewanted=all
Source: NY Times Magazine

TIP # 30
RECLAIM, RECYCLE, REUSE....
Red Hook company reclaims material and beauty:
http://www.brooklynfarmtable.com/

TIP # 29
MORE LOVELY LEMONS, FEWER CHEMICALS AROUND THE HOUSE…
Ant Deterrent
Pouring lemon juice around areas that ants frequent is said to repel them
All Purpose Cleaner
Equal amounts of lemon juice and water added to a spray bottle is an effective kitchen
and bathroom cleaner and can also be used on walls (spot test first). A small amount of lemon
juice can also be added to vinegar based cleaning solutions to help neutralize the smell of the vinegar.
Microwave
Heat a bowl of water and lemon slices in your microwave for 30 seconds to a minute; then wipe
out the oven. Stains will be easier to remove and old food odors will be neutralized.
Chrome/copper/brass
Rub a lemon juice and baking soda paste onto chrome or copper, rinse and then wipe/buff with
a soft cloth or paper towel.
Dishes
A teaspoon of lemon juice added to your dishwashing detergent can help boost grease cutting power
Drains
Hot lemon juice and baking soda is a good drain cleaner that is safe to use in septic systems. If yo
u have a garbage disposal unit, throw in some lemon peel from time to time while it's working in
order to keep it smelling fresh.
Chopping Boards
Rub lemon juice into your wooden chopping board, leave overnight and then rinse. Wood chopping
boards appear to have anti-bacterial properties anyway, but the lemon will help kill off any remaining
nasties and neutralize odors.
Glass and Mirrors
4 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with half a gallon of water makes an effective window cleaner.
Furniture
2 parts olive oil or cooking oil mixed with 1 part lemon juice makes for an excellent furniture polish!
Source: http://www.greenlivingtips.com/

TIP # 28
Comic relief?
http://www.blueman.com/land/archive/earth/

TIP # 27
Concerned about hydrofracking in New York State?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8&feature=player_embedded

https://mail.google.com/mail/#compose

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/nyregion/albany-study-shows-hydrofrackings-risks-and-rewards.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=hydrofracking%20New%20York%20State&st=cse

TIP # 26
GOOD NEWS!
Alliance Associate Philips Lighting North America has won the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE)’s prestigious L Prize for coming up with a 10-watt light emitting
diode (LED) that is as bright as a traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb. The winning
LED fits into sockets, offers a warm glow and diffuses light like a traditional incandescent
but is nearly 85% more energy efficient.

Beginning January, 2012, light bulb manufacturers will be subject to minimum requirements
for the amount of light emitted per unit of energy used in general service light bulbs. By 2014,
the old fashioned, high energy use bulbs that have remained unchanged for decades will
gradually be replaced by many more energy-saving, cost-effective options throughout the
U.S. California, often ahead of the curve, has already implemented these standards.

The increased variety of energy-efficient lighting options include halogens, LED’s, and
CFL’s (compact fluorescent lamps) .  CFLs use one-fourth the energy as traditional
incandescents.  CFLs also last 10 times longer and now come in a variety of lighting
colors and dimming options.
Source: ase.org   (Alliance to Save Energy)

TIP # 25
TRAVEL
The money you spend while away helps determine the development and direction
of tourism, accommodation and facilities.

Choose "green" hotels, tour operators and suppliers that support sustainable
development, do not impact negatively on the environment, and provide financial
support to local communities.
Avoid damaging recreational activities. Avoid sports which have a significant harmful
impact on the environment, or choose more progressive establishments (e.g. golf courses
which recycle water).
Watch what you buy for a souvenir! Think twice before you buy any products made from
any endangered species, including animal hides and body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory, or coral -
they could be illegal.
Source: wwf.org  (World Wildlife Fund)

TIP # 24
GETTING THE BIG PICTURE...
Recommended Summer Reading
"Song of the Dodo" by David Quammen

TIP # 23
WHO OWNS YOUR ORGANIC FOOD (and other eco products) ?
Take this quiz and find out.

Seventh Generation
1. Clorox
2. Unilever
3. Tom's Of Maine
4. Independently Owned

Answer: Independently Owned

Boca Burger Veggieburger
1. Gardenburger
2. Kraft
3. Morningstar Farm
4. Independently Owned

Answer: Kraft

Odwalla Juice
1. Naked Juice
2. Coca Cola
3. Pepsi
4. Independently Owned

Answer: Coca Cola

Cascadian Farms
1. General Mills
2. Muir Glen
3. Independently Owned

Answer: General Mills

Bear Naked cereals
1. Kellog
2. General Mills
3. Independent;ly Owned

Answer: Kellog

Muir Glen (pasta sauces, etc.)
1. Newman's Own
2. M&M Mars
3. Independently Owned

Answer: M&M Mars

Luna & Clif Bars
1. Power Bars
2. General Mills
3. Independently Owned

Answer: Independently Owned

Cascadian Farms
1. General Mills
2. Muir Glen
3. Independently Owner

Answer: General Mills

Tom’s of Maine
1. Proctor and Gamble
2. Colgate Palmolive
3. Independently

Answer: Colgate Palmolive

Kashi
1. Kellog
2. Post Foods
3. Independently Owned

Answer: Kellog

TIP # 22
6 MORE WAYS TO USE LESS AC ENERGY THIS SUMMER
1. Have a pro clean the condenser of your Central AC unit every other year.
2. Having a pro recharge the refrigerant, if needed, could boost efficiency by 20%
3. A technician can measure airflow over the indoor coil, increasing efficiency by 5-10 %.
4. Check for leaks in your CAC ducting system. Leaks can increase energy use by up to 15%
5. For window units, clean those filters (located behind the air inlet grill)  at least twice
    during the cooling season.
6. Ecomize by using overhead fans along with your a/c set to 78-degrees.
Source: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
http://www.aceee.org/consumer/cooling#improve

TIP # 21
5 WAYS TO MINIMIZE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING IMPACT THIS SUMMER…
1. Only use an air conditioner on the hottest days. Ceiling and/or room fans will suffice
    on average days.
2. Leave your a/c on its “energy saving” setting. Choose 78 degrees, no lower. Some go further,
    raising the thermostat even higher if they’re out of the house. Remember, when you return,
    don’t set the thermostat any lower than 78 thinking it will speed up the cooling. Not true. It
    will cool at the same rate regardless of how low the setting. Put it at 78 and stick to it.
3. "It’s not the HEAT, it’s the HUMIDITY!” True. Use a humidifier to remove moisture when the
     temperature rises. You’ll feel cooler!
4. Cooking creates heat. Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen window.
5. Direct sunlight coming into a room will make your a/c  work harder and use more energy.
    Tilt your shades. Close your curtains. Keep the sun out.
Source: About.com  (saving energy)

TIP # 19
RECIPE FOR ECO-FRIENDLY DISHWASHER SOAP
At about a penny per load, this recipe will help your pocketbook while helping the planet.
Four Main Ingredients:
1. Washing Soda, aka Sodium Carbonate: A natural substance. Arm and Hammer makes it.
    You can also buy it online from Amazon.
2. Borax:  A natural substance…but toxic in concentrated amounts…keep out of reach of
    children and pets! Found in the grocery store near  laundry detergent. “Borateem” is one
    brand name.
3. Kosher Salt
4. Citric Acid: Food-grade citric acid is sold as “Fruit Fresh” or just use unsweetened
     lemonade packets.
Mix Together: 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup borax, 1/2 cup salt, and 1/2 cup citric acid. Store
tightly covered in a glass jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add vinegar to the rinse dispenser
for the best results.
Recipe source: www.care2.com

TIP # 18
CHOOSING SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD FOOD
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent, nonprofit organization set
up to find a solution to the problem of overfishing. It has set an environmental standard
to identify sustainable fisheries. You can spot seafood that meets this standard by looking
for the distinctive blue MSC label. This gives you a simple way to identify and purchase fish
from well-managed sources.
Source: World Wildlife Fund

TIP # 17
GETTING PERSONAL
Many of us are becoming more conscious of things we can do to lessen our personal impact
on the planet. But do we know what our “carbon footprint” actually is? Find out by using the
Nature Conservancy Carbon Footprint Calculator

TIP # 16
PLUGGING LEAKS
What electronic devices consume the most energy when in standby mode?
1. TV
2. Multifunction printer
3. Laptop computer
4. DVR with a digital cable box.
Answer:
#4. On average, a DVR with a digital cable box consumes about 43 watts when
turned off but still plugged in.
Source : National Geographic Magazine

TIP # 15
WHICH FISH TO CHOOSE?
Which of the following should you choose in a restaurant or at the fish market when considering
seafood safety and sustainability.
1. farmed salmon
2. orange roughy
3. Atlantic bluefin tuna
4. Alaska wild salmon
Answer:
A: Alaska wild salmon.
Alaska wild salmon is still relatively abundant. Salmon farming can exact a high environmental
cost, causing water pollution and the spread of diseases to wild fish populations. Avoid orange
roughy and Atlantic bluefin tuna, which are among the many popular fish species that have been
depleted due to overfishing, farming and trawling.
Source:  nationalgeographic.com

TIP # 14
GOT A FEW OLD CELLPHONES LYING AROUND?
Cell phone manufacturers and retailers make it easy for you to recycle your old cell phones,
which can be harmful to the environment when disposed of improperly. All wireless service
providers that sell cell phones in New York State must accept them back for recycling at no
cost to the customer. Additionally, there are many local resources for donating or selling your
cell phones to charitable organizations.

Local NYC Organizations that Accept Cell Phones for Recycling
3 R LIVING: has an in-store recycling center that accepts cell phones and other electronics.
911 CELL PHONE BANK: recycles cell phones and works with law enforcement to
provide emergency 911 phones.
CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS: uses proceeds from recycling phones to provide prepaid
phone cards to American troops overseas
Source: ecomii.com

TIP # 13
The 10 Second CFL Quiz:
1. Compact Fluorescent Lights contain mercury.   T   F
2. About 25%  of electricity consumption in the US is by people in residences.   T   F
3. CFL’s last 10 times as long as regular incandescent bulbs    T   F
4. CFL’s may simply be thrown away.   T   F
5. All CFL’s are alike.    T   F
Answers:
1. True. About the same amount of mercury as is found in an old fashioned mercury
    thermometer, about 4 milligrams.
2. False. According to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, it’s more like 33%.
3. True. Savings per bulb can be around $30.
4. True. But do the better thing: prevent mercury from getting into the environment by taking
    them to local retailers that accept CFL’s for safe recycling.
5. False. Some have shorter life spans and emit less light if installed upside down.
    Read the package.
Source: Greenlivingsolutions.org

TIP # 12
PLASTICS TO AVOID!  (by their recycling numbers)
Pay attention to the number inside the plastic recycling arrows when purchasing food.
Number 7 Plastics
Miscellaneous
Found in: Baby bottles, three- and five-gallon water bottles, certain food containers.
A wide range of plastic resins that don't fit into the other six categories are lumped into
number 7. The ones to worry about are the hard polycarbonate varieties, as found in
various drinking containers (like Nalgene bottles) and rigid plastic baby bottles.
Studies have shown polycarbonate can leach bisphenol A, a potential hormone disruptor,
into liquids. According to Trasande, no level of bisphenol A exposure is known to be truly safe,
and in August a government panel expressed 'some concern' that the ingredient causes neural
and behavioral problems in children. Play it safe and swap out those hard plastic baby and water
bottles for Number 1, 5 or corn-based plastics, or even shatter-resistant glass!
Source: thedailygreen.com

TIP # 11
PLASTICS TO AVOID!  (by their recycling numbers)
Pay attention to the number inside the plastic recycling arrows when purchasing food.
Number 6 Plastics
PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers
Number 6 plastics (polystyrene) are made into soft Styrofoam-style cups as well as rigid
foams and hard plastic products, so remember to look for those little numbers in the arrows.
Avoid using them as much as possible.
Number 6 plastics can release potentially toxic breakdown products (including styrene)….
especially when heated! Watch out for those insulated coffee cups.
Source: thedailygreen.com
Next week: Plastic Number  7

TIP # 10
PLASTICS TO AVOID!  (by their recycling numbers)
Pay attention to the number inside the plastic recycling arrows when purchasing food.
Number 3 Plastics
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging
When they’re made: PVC manufacturing can release highly toxic dioxins into the
environment, and the materials can off-gas toxic plasticizers into your home.
When they’re purchased:  Number 3 plastics may release toxic breakdown products
(including pthalates) into the food and drinks that are packaged.
When they’re re-used: The risk is highest when containers start wearing out, are put through
the dishwasher or when they are heated (including microwaved).
Source: thedailygreen.com
Next week: Plastic Number 6

TIP # 9
AMERICAN CONSUMPTION
With less than 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. consumes :
*26% of the world’s oil,
*27% of the world’s natural gas
*25% of the world’s coal
U.S. per capita consumption of electricity averages 12,343.098 KWh per year.
German per capita consumption of electricity averages 6,355.428 KWh per year.

TIP # 6
KEEP THE COLD OUT
Bubble wrap over your windows will significantly keep cold out, increasing your window’s
r-value. Don’t like the look? You can layer the underside of your curtains with it, and close
them at night.

TIP # 5
GREEN HOLIDAY GIFT-SITES!
(Support organizations that work to keep the planet alive for all animals...us included!)
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND:
THE SIERRA CLUB:
GREENPEACE:
AUDUBON SOCIETY
Happy Holidays from the folks at Brooklyn Properties!

TIP # 4
GREEN HOLIDAY GIFTWRAP and CARDS
Each year, over 8,000 tons of giftwrap and two billion holiday cards are thrown into the trash.
Suggestions to cut down on the ecological impact:
1. Buy giftwrap and cards made from recycled paper
2. Make giftwrap from brown paper bags and raffia ribbon for a rustic "look"
3. Save and use last year's wrapping paper
4. Avoid "foil wraps", as they're often not recycable
5. Reuse your Christmas cards as bookmarks in your novels and cookbooks
6. Better yet, give gift certificates

TIP # 1
BOTTLED WATER? NO THANKS!
1. It's expensive. Roughly 5 cents an ounce, compared with today's price of gasoline,
    which is 2 cents an ounce!
2. It takes 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce the plastic for bottled water.
3. Public groundwater is becoming privatized by multi-national corporations producing bottled water!
SOLUTION: Stainless steel thermos and your own tap water filtered with inexpensive carbon filters!
Stay hydrated the sensible way.