Green Tips
Spring 2009
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090510110849im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/sustainableoperations/local-resources/images/green-tips-20090311.gif)
- During your spring vacation, stay at a green hotel that practices sustainable operations.
- Feel the breeze and open the windows. The best way to get dirty air moving out and fresh air moving in is to open the doors and windows.
- Choose an eco-friendly vacation destination. This may involve sustainable housing, low-impact activities, and supporting local artisans and restaurants.
- Going on a Spring Break trip? Carpool as many people as you can to go with you.
- Skip the air fresheners. Buy fresh flowers. An open box of baking soda, cedar blocks, and dried flowers also add natural fragrance to the room.
- Take a trip and help the planet. Community service offices often organize trips around the state and country to do a little volunteering and discovery.
- Multi-purpose baking soda can be used for everything from freshening the air, to freshening the carpet or furniture, to scrubbing the toilet and tub.
- Taking a Spring Break road trip? Rent a hybrid car or SUV.
- Use natural fiber sponges and rags to do the cleaning. Avoid using paper towels and other one-time use tools.
- Be a green vacationer and travel by bus or train since planes and cars emit the most carbon dioxide per traveler.
January 2009
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090510110849im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/sustainableoperations/local-resources/images/green-tips-20090127.gif)
- Minimize energy used in your home. Make windows and doors well-sealed with caulking and weather-stripping.
- Switch to electronic banking and credit card payment.
- Add insulation to attic, exterior wall, and crawl spaces.
- Fan the air around. Run the ceiling fan clockwise at a slow speed to recirculate warmer air that collects at the ceiling.
- Use left over bubble wrap by placing it inside windows to act as an insulator.
- Go paperless. Distribute company information and post company material online.
- Clean your shower head periodically; scaling and sediment can collect and reduce water flow, using more hot water than needed.
- Make sure that your heating system is running efficiently. A small maintenance bill can save you the cost of replacing the whole unit!
- Save energy and boil faster. Measure out the right amount of water needed. It takes extra energy to boil too much water.
- Check your pressure - For every 5 degrees Celsius the temperature goes down, the air pressure in your tires reduces by one pound per square foot. Keep tabs on your tires for easy riding.
November 2008
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090510110849im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/sustainableoperations/local-resources/images/green-tips-20081120.gif)
- Encourage more double-sided printing.
- Replace the paper towel dispensers with hand air dryers. This saves trees and reduces paper waste.
- Use electronic versions of forms rather than paper.
- Bills, bills, and more bills! Go paperless with ALL your monthly bills.
- Happy Holidays! Replace your old string of decorative lights with LED lights.
- Recycle computers, cell phones, etc. at a location that accepts these types of materials and recycles.
- In the winter, instead of turning up the heat in the house, wear a couple more layers of clothing and socks. Use blankets to block drafts from the door.
- Stop using screensavers. Monitors consume 40% of all the energy used by a computer system.
- Remove unnecessary articles from your car; each 100 pounds of weight decreases fuel efficiency by 1%.
- Install faucets that have motion detectors. This will conserve water and it’s more sanitary.
August 2008
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090510110849im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/sustainableoperations/local-resources/images/green-tips-20080819.gif)
- Promote recycling by providing recycling bins in every meeting room.
- Reduce use of paper with paperless meetings or the use of double-sided copies.
- Conserve energy by installing light sensors in meeting rooms.
- Use green purchasing by buying recycled content paper and meeting supplies.
- Promote the use of videoconfercing, webcasts and other electronic means to reduce travel to meetings.
- Encourage meeting locations that minimize travel.
- Use water-based markers and pens instead of permanent inks since less hazardous chemicals are used in their production.
Last Modified: 03/11/2009