Article by Annie Scott, first published March 2010 at Tonic.com.

I’m America, and I’m a pollutionoholic.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has some good news for us all: the US can cut its carbon pollution by 15 percent right now if we all take simple steps. Know how much pollution that is? One. Billion. Tons. Yes we can!

We all know that we should do certain things to keep pollution levels low, but never before have we been told exactly what to do and exactly how much it will help. Hopefully, this is enough to get you and me and everyone we know motivated!

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Use a programmable thermostat and set it to cool down when you’re asleep or out.

2. Reduce your “vampire” electrical usage; unplug stuff that’s charged, unplug the extra refrigerator, turn off the lights (just like your dad said). This will also save you money on your electric bill. Sweet!

3. Consume less red meat and dairy. What’s “less”? Well, think about how many times per day you have a serving of red meat or dairy. Try to halve it. If you’re worried about your calcium, think about other foods like salmon, spinach, okra, almonds … there’s a list here. Here’s where you can get some iron. Delicious – and likely to help you shed some pounds.

4. Waste less food. This is a no-brainer. Nobody’s going to watch you and make sure you eat every pea on your plate, but don’t let your leftovers go bad, don’t buy more perishables than you can consume before they perish. If you want to go all the way, become a freegan dumpster diver, but 25 percent less wasted food will do the trick.

5. Recycle whenever possible. Permission to not recycle when it’s impossible: granted.

6. Replace your incandescent bulbs with CFLs.

7. Reduce motor vehicle idling and maintain your vehicle properly so it doesn’t go spewing noxious gases everywhere. Again, saves money!

8. Carpool twice or telecommute once per week. Propose telecommuting to your boss with environmental intentions and you may finally get your wish!

9. If you fly more than three times per year, fly one less time.

10. Fix your leaks to cut heat loss.

11. Use hot water efficiently – did you know that you can save energy just by insulating your water heater? You can also keep it at a lower temp and use efficient faucets and showerheads. Also, do your laundry in cold water. It keeps the colors brighter anyway.

12. Next time you replace an appliance, get an EnergyStar certified one. This can save electricity and even get you a tax break in some cases.

That’s it. Twelve steps to 15 percent less pollution. Are you in? I am. You can sign up to be part of the movement here, and check out the NRDC’s full analysis and report here.

Editor’s note: Article by Annie Scott. Originally published by our friends at Tonic.com. Tonic is a digital media company and news source dedicated to promoting the good that happens each day around the world. Tonic tells the stories of people and organizations who are working to make a difference, by inspiring good in themselves and others. Be sure to visit them and say hi, and follow Tonic on Twitter, too!

Photo by *~Dawn~* via Flickr.

The post Reduce Your Carbon Impact by 15% in 12 Easy Steps appeared first on EcoSalon.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but inside my steam shower, it’s so delightful. I swath myself in a cotton towel, sit on the stone bench and breathe in the warm, moist clouds puffed out by a Mr. Steam(R) vent near my feet. It’s the next best thing to being at a spa – and has relieved sinus tension and muscle aches since I installed it several years ago when I was more lean on my commitment to going green.

Installing steam was in fact the top priority in my master bath remodel, to the extent that we payed thousands of dollars to boost our power from the street. I had sought out steam rooms at various day spas in San Francisco to alleviate chronic sinus infections during the preschool years when my girls were bringing home mega germs along with their finger paintings. The respiratory specialist I saw prescribed steam, along with more hydration, the removal of carpet in the bedroom and investing in air purifiers. I’ve avoided sinus attacks since and continue to take steam showers when I find the time to take care of me.

In terms of energy use, I’ve found the addition has not increased our power bill greatly. We use it moderately and have simultaneously reduced our use of heat. I also keep the shower off until I’m done steaming, using a low-flow shower head to keep the output down to 2.5 gallons per minute. The amazing Kohler Tea for Two tub I also installed in my home spa rarely gets used. According to the California Energy Commission, filling up a tub requires an average of 30 to 50 gallons of water. In my tub, the water can turn cold fairly quickly even inside a porcelain surface. The few minutes of pleasure don’t really outweigh the water down the drain.

If you’re considering adding a steam to your shower, here are some things to consider:

Manufacturers are improving their residential products to make them more energy efficient. According to Mr. Steam (R), its generators use five gallons of water for a 30 minute steaming session which is boasts is a “75 gallon reduction in water compared to a whirlpool bath.” The company also produces corrosion resistant, 100% recyclable stainless steel in its components (just in case you need to recycle those parts).

Another option is the Coral Sea Spa modular walk-in units ($2,600 to $7500) that employ solar thermal water heating upgrades (below). Everything is included in these steam showers which are pre-plumbed, wired and sealed. Most of the models are big enough for two. In the long run, you’ll spend less than on building a large shower and adding steam, but the look is quite different, akin to an inground pool versus a giant Doughboy.

Meantime, competitors like Wasauna also produce modular units like the Monza, but instead of promoting the green features, this one offers 7 chromotherapy lighting schemes and music from a digital surround system.

Weighing the choices out there, I would still go with the Mr. Steam(R) (sans the surround sound) and build a sensible shower with a low-flow shower head. At the end of the day, you will gain all of the health and skin benefits of steam without evaporating more money and energy than any of us can afford.

The post Is Steam Worth the Energy? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Happy new year! (Well, a day late – we took the day off, and hope you did, too!)

There’s a powerful symbolism to the new year. It’s a time when I naturally want to make plans and get excited about the year ahead.

Here are four fun suggestions for how to get 2009 off to a great – and eco-friendly – start.

Instead of resolutions, think about goals. (They can be fun goals!) And you have until the end of the year to achieve them – it’s not all over in the first week if you slip and break your resolution to quit smoking / quit drinking / quit sugar. Think about what you have accomplished in 2008 and what you are most proud of? Pat yourself on the back! How do you feel you could have done better? What are the key things you learn from that? What would you like to achieve in 2009? I find the Best Year Yet method particularly effective, and like to use 43 Things to keep me on track and motivated.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, think about how to dispose of festive leftovers (don’t forget it’s bad luck to leave your decorations up after Twelfth Night!). If you have a real tree, make sure that it is chipped and mulched rather than taken to the landfill – check with your local government or search for local collections by organizations such as the Scouts. Recycle – or for crafty types, reuse – your Christmas cards. Put away any wrapping paper that can be reused and store decorations carefully to use again. Box up unwanted gifts and unopened food either to sell on eBay or to give away, whether to a local charity store or via an organization such as Freecycle.

Calculate your 2008 carbon footprint and figure out how you can make reductions in 2009. If you still need to do simple things such as changing your electricity supplier or installing low-energy light bulbs, it’s a good time to take immediate action. Or you might try out a organic vegetable box delivery (UK link here) or giving up meat for a month.

Make a list of 20 things you enjoy doing – and go out and do them! You now have a blueprint for how to enjoy your weekends. If you tend to spend a lot of time online, consider trying to keep the Secular Sabbath. You’ll be using less electricity and helping restore balance in your life.

That’s just for starters – I would love to hear your tips in the comments. You can also see more of our tips for going green.

Image: Lincolnian

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