Earth Stewardship Team

 

EARTH STEWARD CHECKLIST

____Conduct energy audits of buildings

____Plug air leaks around windows and doors by weather stripping and caulking

____Increase amount of insulation in walls and ceilings

____Purchase a programmable heating/cooling thermostat. Use a timer on A/C to control               

           temperatures.  Set thermostat 68 degrees F winter and 78 degrees summer

____Keep building temperature cooler in winter and warmer in summer

____Turn down the thermostat at night or when you leave the house

____Arrange for regular furnace/air conditioner tune-ups

____Add storm windows and doors

____Consider replacement of furnace with renewable forms of heating and cooling

            such as geothermal heating and cooling, and water heating or preheating

____Install passive solar heating

____Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees

____Insulate water heater and hot water pipes

____Install a demand water heater

____Replace an electric water heater with a gas or oil water heater

____Install a solar water heater or pre-heater

____Tune up the refrigerator: clean condenser every 3 months, check door seal and

             replace as needed, adjust temperature (refrigerator between 36-38 degrees F, and

             freezer between 0-5 degrees F)

____Install energy-efficient lighting.  Use a timer, motion sensor, or solar powered

            instead of dusk to dawn lightening 

____Use lower wattage lights that give off the same lumens.

____Plant trees to shade your building and for wind breaks

____Plant deciduous trees on south side of building to shade in summer and allow the

            sun to warm in winter

____Use energy serving settings on refrigerators, dishwasher, washing machines

____Change heater and air conditioner filters every month

____Pull drapes, shades over windows in summer

____Keep windows/doors closed when the A/C is on

____Turn off all appliances and lights when not in use

____Unplug all electronic equipment between camps

____New building—Consider earth sheltered homes, underground homes, super

              insulated homes and use of  pre-made foam filled panels

____Fix leaky faucets, showers, spigots, waterlines, etc

____Use the most water efficient fixtures and appliances

·          ____Water-saving showerheads

·          ____Use same bath towel for 3-4 days before washing

·          ____Water-saving faucet aerators with on/off switch to make it easy to

                                       temporarily shut the water off without having to adjust the

                                       temperature

·        ____Water efficient toilets (ultra-low-flow designs) or put plastic

                                       bottles filled with water, or some similar water displacer in

                                       the toilet tank (No bricks please, they leave grit)

·        ____When needed, get a front loading washing machine

·        ____When needed, get a water efficient dishwasher

·        ____Install efficient tank-less hot water heaters

·        ____When planning landscape, choose to Xeriscape: use native plants

____Bring less garbage into the building.  Reduce disposable items (paper, plastic and

             Styrofoam plates, plastic ware, paper, plastic and Styrofoam cups)

____Choose packaging made out of paper, glass and metal, and recyclable plastics.

             Reduce other kinds of packaging materials

____Get a recycle bin and Recycle! Recycle! Recycle

____Separate recyclables by creating a designated collection point for different kinds

            of items like newspaper, glass, metal, recyclable plastics, etc      

____Compost organic waste from the kitchen and yard

____Dispose of hazardous materials (paints, batteries, oil) at your local recycle place

____Use recycled paper goods/recyclable plastics

____Use biodegradable cleaners and other products (Recipes at ecologycenter.org)

____Buy what is needed, not what is wanted

____Choose products with longest life possible

____Buy products with the least adverse impact from making and shipping them (buy in

             bulk, locally produced, no impact on endangered species)

____Carefully maintain what is purchased

____Eat lower on the food chain (less meat, eggs, dairy products)

____Eat organically

____Plant native drought trees/flowers around church especially on the west/south side.

             Drought resistance plants include: Cacti, Cedars, Lantana, Viburnum, Hollies,

             Buffalo grass, Bermuda grass

____When planning landscape, choose to Xeriscape: use native plants

____Group plants according to water needs

____Water lawns wisely before 10:00 am

____Water lawn not sidewalks/pavements

____Use hose nozzle to conserve water

____Use natural pest repellents, fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers (recipes

             www.adeq.state.ar.us; www.ci.seattle.wa.us; www.epa.gov) 

____If artificial pesticides and fertilizers are used, use minimal amount; follow

            directions; avoid rain; do not overuse products. Triple rinse pesticide containers

            before disposing of them and use the rinse as an application

____Compost grass clippings, leaves, yard waste or use a mulch

____Divert excess runoff water to an area that can absorb it or to holding tanks to be used

             later to water lawns and gardens

____Participate in community clean-up right of ways, parks

____Keep lawn mower in top condition.  Keep blades sharp

____Avoid excessive mowing

____Use the minimum amount of supplies

____Recycle or give away used materials

____Buy reusable, recycled, and non-toxic office supplies

____Save to floppy disc instead of printing to paper when possible

____Buy high-recycled content (paper, etc)

____Avoid paper products bleached with chlorine

____Buy and use clipboards made of post-consumer plastics

____Use water-based, non-toxic markers, highlighters, and correction fluid

____Use fine point pens

____Use alcohol-based dry-erase markers

____Use binders with recycled content, especially solid plastic and cardboard binders

             that contain 100 % post-consumer recycled content, or PVC-covered paperboard

             binders

____Use self-stick notes that are made from 100% recycled paper and contain at least

             30% post-consumer material.  Don’t use colored ones

____Buy post-consumer recycled content envelopes. Tyvek® R envelopes are recyclable

             and very tough.  * Kraft natural unbleached or semi-bleached envelopes are ok

____Reuse and recycle floppy disks and CDs, do not throw away.  CDs can be recycled                         

            at Green Disk Services. 2200 Burlington, Colombia MO 65202  (800-3305-3475)

____Purchase and use refillable pens and pencils.  Buy those made of recycled products

____Use recycled printer and copier toner cartridges available on internet and in some

             cities

____Use 3M® transparencies and recycle old transparencies.  Use 3M’s recycling

             program (1-800-328-1371)

____Bring less garbage into homes.  Reduce disposable items (disposable diapers,

            razors, plates)

____Choose packaging made out of paper, glass, metal and recyclable plastics.  Reduce

              other kinds of packaging materials

____Use things like paper bags, plastic bags, glass jars, envelopes, etc more than once

____Eliminate use of disposable dishes/utensils

____Eliminate the use of Styrofoam

____Get a recycle bin and Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!

____Separate recyclables by creating a designated collection point for different kinds

             of items like newspaper, glass, metal, recyclable plastics, etc.

____Compost organic waste from  kitchen and yard

____Dispose of hazardous materials (paint, batteries, oil) at your local recycle place

____Use biodegradable cleaners and personal care products (Recipes:  www.adeq.state.ar.us)

____Plug air leaks around windows and doors by weatherstripping and caulking

____Increase amount of insulation in walls and ceilings

____Purchase a programmable heating/cooling thermostat

____Keep house temperature cooler in winter and warmer in summer

____Turn down the thermostat on water heater to 120 degrees

____Insulate water heater and hot water pipes

____Install a demand water heater when replacing

____Replace an electric water heater with a gas or oil water heater

____Install a solar water heater or pre-heater

____Arrange for regular furnace/air conditioner tune-ups

____Add storm windows and doors

____When needed, replace windows with double or triple panes, low e argon gas filled

              windows

____Hang sun/shade screens on windows that get direct sun

____Install passive solar heating

____Tune up refrigerators;  clean refrigerator/freezer condenser every 3 months,

             check door seal and replace as needed, adjust temperature (refrigerator between

             36 and 38 degrees F, and freezer between 0 and 5 degrees F)

____Install energy-efficient lighting.  Use lower wattage lights that give off the same

            lumens

____Plant trees to shade house and for wind breaks

____Use energy serving settings on refrigerators, dishwasher, and washing machine

____Change furnace and air conditioner filters every month

____New buildings-Earth sheltered, underground homes, super insulated homes such as

             pre-made foam-filled panels

____Fix leaky faucets, showers, spigots, water lines, etc.

____Use the most water efficient fixtures and appliances

•   ____Water-saving showerheads
•   ____Water-saving faucet aerators with on/off switch to make it easy to

                     temporarily shut the water off without having to adjust the

                           temperature

•   ____Water efficient toilets (ultra-low-flow designs)  or put plastic bottles

                      bottles filled with water, or some similar water displacer in your

                      toilet tank (No bricks please, they leave grit)

•  ____ When needed, purchase a front-loading washing machine
•  ____When needed, purchase a water efficient dishwasher
•  ____When needed, purchase a gas clothes dryer

____Wash clothes in cool cycles, whole loads of laundry, and line dry if possible

____Take showers instead of  tub baths

____Take short showers (5 minutes or less)

____Shower this way: wet-down, turn off water, soap up, turn on water, rinse-off

____Use the same towel for 3-4 days before washing

____Flush toilet less (small amounts of urine hardly need to be flushed every time).  Get

             household agreement on guidelines for when to flush

____Water yard or garden during the coolest part of the day

____If you use a hose to wash cars, use a nozzle to turn off the water while you soap.

____When planning landscape, choose to Xeriscape;  use native plants

____Go to as many places as possible in one trip, rather than making separate trips

____Walk or bike when possible

____Use public transportation to and from work or for recreation

____Move to a location where you can get to work and stores without using a car

____Keep tires inflated at the proper level

____Keep car engine tuned up

____Buy a fuel-efficient car or truck

____Recycle used oil and lubricants

____Carpooling saves money and protects the environment

____Buy what you need, not what you want

____Choose products with longest life possible

____Buy products with the least adverse impact from making and shipping them (buy in

             bulk, locally produced, no impact on endangered species)

____Carefully maintain what you have

____Eat lower on the food chain (less meat, eggs, dairy products)

____Eat organically

____Grow your own food

____Use natural pest repellents, fungicides, and herbicides (Recipes: www.adeq.state.ar.us)

____When brushing teeth, turn water on only when you need it

____Use the least amount of toothpaste needed to clean teeth

____Use the least amount of shampoo and conditioner needed to wash hair

____Take short showers (5 minutes or less)

____Shower this way:  wet-down, turn off water, soap up, turn on water, rinse off

____Re-hang outer clothes to be worn again, washing only when dirty

____Use real dishes, not paper or plastic ones

____Avoid fast-foods, eat fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products instead

____Order or take out only  the amount you will eat or drink

____Buy only what you need

____Buy stuff that uses only a little wrapping

____Buy things made from recycles materials

____Recycle everything your community recycles

____Barter with friends if you have electronic games you are tired of

____Use the public library to check out videos, books, games instead of buying

____Turn off lights when you are not in the room

____Keep house temperature at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer

____Turn off computers, stereo, radio, TV when not in use

____Recycle anything your community does, and reuse containers at home