Shop Green,

Live Clean
How Do You Measure Up?
Monitoring energy use can show how green
habits are making an impact
Sustainable Salons
A salon lover's guide to Earth-conscious,
beautiful hair and nails
Earth-friendly Family Trips
Destinations, transportation and diversions
for the eco-conscious traveler
Reduce waste with these
eco-shopping guidelines
+
Guide
Green Living
2013
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A SPECIAL
PUBLICATION OF
THE CARBON
COUNTY NEWS
&
STILLWATER
COUNTY NEWS
When it comes to employing eco-friendly
service providers, trust but verify. Find
out exactly how green a company really
is and how to determine which service is
green enough
by Dawn Klingensmith
CTW FEATURES
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2 Green LivinG ApriL 18, 2013
Shiny and
Just Like
Eco-New
A
fter assembling a work crew to build an eco-
friendly home from the ground up, Amy Holm-
wood observed that not all of the contractors
were green to the core. A company hired to install
insulation made of recycled newspaper used a diesel genera-
tor to power the equipment instead of a cleaner, greener
power source like solar. Theyd gone into business to pro-
vide this green service but they hadnt thought things
through, says Holmwood, of Bethesda, Md.
By contrast, her lawn care service uses electrical equip-
ment charged by a solar panel on the company truck.
But what powers the truck? Is it a hybrid? If not, is it fair
to call the companys green cred into question? Or is it good
enough to be greener than most?
Green is the new gray we cant talk in absolutes about
what is a perfectly green solution and what is not, says Dave
Feldman, executive director of Bethesda Green, which pro-
motes green business models and sustainable living.
However, short of doing complex carbon footprint cal-
culations, consumers can identify greener-than-most service
providers by asking the right questions.
HOUSECLEANERS
Toxic or chemical cleaners are the principal concern, so ask
for a comprehensive list of the products they use and a list
of ingredients for each, says Laura Klein, editor-in-chief of
EcoSalon.com and OrganicAuthority.com.
A speciAL pubLicAtion of the cArbon county news & stiLLwAter county news
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by your trash receptacle and we will transport
it to Beartooth Industries for Recycling.
Magazines
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Cardboard
Motor Oil (in a jug)
Aluminum Cans
Tin Cans
Plastic Bottles
CONTENTS OF BAGS:
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A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
April 18, 2013 Green livinG - 3
Especially when hiring a small, indepen-
dently owned service, clients can usually
specify which cleaning products to use,
including natural agents like vinegar and
baking soda, but that doesnt ensure the
company uses them across the board.
Maid to Clean in Bethesda, Md., only
uses neutral products like vinegar and
water, baking soda, and the brand-name
cleaners Bon Ami and Simple Green. The
company does not use alcohol-based
cleaners, ammonia, bleach or scented prod-
ucts.
HEPA vacuums catch dust particles
and allergens instead of releasing them
back into the air.
Some brand-name products are green
in name only. In its Guide to Healthy
Cleaning, the Environmental Working
Group looks beyond marketing claims and
rates more than 2,000 products in a search-
able database at www.ewg.org. (Of the 29
Simple Green products analyzed, 19
received Ds and Fs, while six earned As
and Bs.) The online guide includes a label
decoder to translate technical terms and ad
hype.
CARWASHES
With carwashes, use of chemicals is a sec-
ondary concern, behind water consump-
tion. A company truly committed to
green washing in the positive sense
will reclaim and reuse water; collect roof
rainwater and invest in an ample water
reclaim system for recycling carwash waste-
water, says John OConnell, manager, Go
Green Car Wash, Olympia, Wash.
According to OConnell, the majority
of carwashes are equipped with a
3,000-gallon reclaim system or smaller,
which cant keep up with water demands
on busy days. For high-traffic carwashes, a
reclaim system of at least 12,000 gallons is
needed to give solids time to settle before
the water recirculates, he says.
Generally speaking, older carwashes
have inferior equipment, OConnell says,
so to satisfy cleanliness expectations they
have to use stronger chemicals.
Moreover, If you visit a wash that has
older equipment and isnt computer-con-
trolled, each vehicle gets chemicals for a
30-foot vehicle whereas at a modern wash
each vehicle is scanned at entry and chem-
ical and water use adjusts accordingly, he
adds.
Touchless carwashes are not eco-
friendly due to the fact that you have no
brush or agitation, so these washes use
chemicals that are four times stronger than
a tunnel type of wash and cannot reclaim
used water, OConnell says.
Beware of carwashes that try to sell
squirt-on extras like rain shields and wax
conditioners. If you really want to be
green, just purchase Rain X at an auto store
and apply it to your windows no need to
apply it to the whole vehicle, OConnell
says. And all newer vehicles have a factory
clear coat and do not benefit from water-
based wax or conditioner add-ons.
LANDSCAPING SERVICES
Eco-friendly lawn services can be tough to
identify because so many conventional
companies incorporate the word green
in their name and marketing as a reference
to grass, not environmental practices. And
when choosing a service, a host of envi-
ronmental concerns are at stake, from
chemical applications (fertilizers, herbi-
cides, pesticides) to small-engine emissions.
In just one hour of use, a gas lawnmow-
er emits the same volume of pollutants as
40 cars, says A.I.R. Lawn Care owner Zack
Kline, citing EPA data.
His Bethesda-based company uses
STIHL and Mean Green electric lawn care
equipment and a solar-powered charging
unit to reduce noise and air pollution.
Along with emissions, conventional
lawn care creates waste including 300
pounds of clippings annually for a
1,000-square-foot lawn.
Concerned homeowners should look
for a landscaping service that uses native
plantings and integrated pest management;
recycles clippings into compost or mulch;
and takes measures to reduce water use and
prevent runoff.
Many services apply chemicals only as a
last resort, and some use organic fertilizers
and pest- and weed-control methods exclu-
sively.
Analyzing and optimizing soil composi-
tion in yards, beds and garden plots from
the get-go helps reduce maintenance
requirements altogether, Kline says.
CTW Features
Get Yourself a Pickup-load
of Fantastic Plants
at Blake Nursery!
Giant Selection of Trees,
Shrubs & Perennials
Specialists in Native Plants
Creative Landscaping
www.blakenursery.com
(406) 932-4195 Open Apr.-Oct.
Located 5.5 miles N.E. of Big Timber on Otter Creek Rd.
W
hen it comes to home ener-
gy use, the popular busi-
ness axiom, You cant
manage what you dont
measure, applies.
Even after people learn that they can
save energy and money by turning off
the lights and unplugging their phone
chargers, there are no measurements or
concrete dollar figures. And often, its
not enough to get someone to make a
lifestyle change.
Thats why energy monitoring is a
growing trend for those who are eco-
conscious and pinching pennies. A wide-
ly cited 2006 University of Oxford study
showed that direct feedback about
energy use, via a meter and display moni-
tor, resulted in 5 to 15 percent energy
savings.
There are many [energy monitoring]
solutions out there today, some that have
been out for years, says Courtney Baker
of the U.S. Green Building Council, an
industry organization promoting sus-
tainable buildings. The cost has come
down quite a bit now, so people are more
aware of them.
Baker, USGBCs residential opera-
tions manager, says that when energy use
is quantified, people are more likely to
take action to improve energy efficiency.
Sometimes people need to know how
much theyre wasting
Monitoring energy use can show how green habits are
making an impact or if there is more work to be done
by Bettina Chang
CTW FEATURES
How Do You
Measure Up?
Fertilizing &
Weed Control
Enjoy a GREENER, HEALTHIER, WEED FREE lawn.
Total Lawn Care & Mowing
Power Raking & Aerating
Landscape Renovation
Lot & Rough Cut Mowing
Tree Pruning & Removal
Noxious Weed Spraying
Licensed & Insured
This earth day, Pro Cut Lawn Care is
excited to support the Pro Cut GREEN Fund,
in cooperation with the Red Lodge Area
Community Foundation. We will donate
$20 for each new fertilizing program
customer who signs up in April or May.
www.PROCUTRL.com
Call 445-0888
because we care about you and your home health
CertainTeed Sustainable
Insulation is made of fber
glass that consists of rapidly
renewable content, a high
percentage of recycled
glass, and a new plant-
based binder that has
no formaldehyde, harsh
acrylics, dyes or unnecessary
fre retardants added.
Renewable. Recycled. Organic
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
4 Green LivinG ApriL 18, 2013
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
April 18, 2013 Green livinG - 5
before they change behavior, he says.
Its much more motivating than some-
one saying, You need to turn that off.
Whether youre a data junkie or you
simply hate paying the utility bills, theres
an energy monitoring solution that could
work for you.
PLUG-LEVEL DEVICES (<$100)
Plug-level monitoring requires the small-
est up-front investment, is the easiest to
understand and can work for renters as
well as homeowners, Baker says.
Simply plug the device into a wall out-
let, and plug in the appliance you want to
monitor (phone charger, space heater,
stereo system, etc.) and the display panel
will show you the amount of energy con-
sumed.
Some models are programmable with
the cost of energy per kilowatt-hour, so
you can see how much the device will
cost on your utility bill.
Everyone hears about vampire
devices that draw off energy even when
not in use, Baker says, and plug-level
monitoring can tell you exactly how
much that costs.
The downside is that youd need mul-
tiple devices in order to monitor several
appliances and theres no interface to
compare them. Plus, most of these prod-
ucts cannot track your
energy use over time.
WHOLE-HOUSE MONITORING
($100-$500)
Those who want a complete picture of
their homes energy use should invest in
a whole-house monitoring system. These
monitors attach to either the circuit
breaker panel or the energy meter used
by the power utility.
Most systems include a wireless dis-
play panel, which can be placed else-
where in the home to show real-time
energy use.
Turn various appliances on and off
while watching the wireless display to
calculate how much each appliance costs
to run.
Without energy monitoring, You
have no earthly idea of what your elec-
tricity is costing you until you get a bill,
and its too late at that point to make a
decision that will save you money, says
Dolph Rodenberg, president and CEO
of Energy, Inc., the maker of popular
device The Energy Detective (TED).
TED also includes free software that
can track and graph historical usage.
Plus, you can set a budget or parameters
for energy use, and the software will text
or email you an alert if you go above
budget or there is a spike in electricity
usage.
Sometimes people need to know how
much theyre wasting before they change
behavior. Courtney Baker, U.S. Green Building Council

For data lovers:

Appliance-level moni-
toring allows people
to see how much
energy each major
home appliance uses.
Understand energy costs of vampire
devices, long showers, leaving the lights
on, keeping the HVAC system on, etc.
Detect if appliances need maintenance
or repair
Track power generated
by home solar panels or
micro wind turbines
Learn how energy use
affects your carbon
footprint
Ensure your home's energy-
efficient features are
performing well
Gather baseline data and
energy-use trends to monitor any
spikes in usage
Have solid data to encourage your
household members to save energy
CTW Features
APPLIANCE-LEVEL
MONITORING ($500 AND UP)
For those who value having a lot of data
about and control over their homes,
appliance-level monitoring is the way to
go.
Much like whole-house monitoring,
the devices attach to circuit breaker pan-
els, but they have separate clamps that
measure each breaker separately.
Most people may not realize, but
the biggest energy costs in the home
tend to be those that have dedicated cir-
cuits, says Jay Fiske, vice president of
business development at Boston-based
Powerhouse Dynamics, which sells the
eMonitor.
These systems also include software
packages, sometimes at a monthly sub-
scription fee, that can be customized to
your location via zip code. The software
can show where your energy comes
from (coal, nuclear, etc.) and factor in
weather changes and other relevant
information.
Appliance-level systems are more
likely to include extra bells and whistles,
such as water meters that will track your
water usage and automated thermostats,
so you can turn the HVAC system on
and off remotely from a computer or
smartphone.
GETTING THE BEST ROI
Regardless of the solution you choose,
industry experts agree that its what you
do with the information that counts.
The more people are aware about
energy consumption, the more effective
they are at cutting back, Fiske says.
With specific information, they can cut
the waste out without a significant life-
style change or being uncomfortable.
But awareness is only half of the
equation, Baker adds. The other half
is taking that information and making
the necessary changes to use less energy.
Should I Monitor My Energy Use?
According to a University of Oxford study, people who monitored
their energy use saved 5 to 15 percent more energy. Still not con-
vinced? Here are just a few reasons to try energy monitoring.
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
6 Green LivinG ApriL 18, 2013
A
salon visit to get a haircut, col-
oring and styling, or treating
yourself to manicures and pedi-
cures, are all about looking and
feeling your best. But your beauty may
come at the expense of someone else
Mother Nature.
A trip to an eco-friendly salon or nail
parlor, however, can benefit everyone.
Heres the rundown on what exactly
makes salons green and how you can
make your hair and nails routine greener.
GREEN SCENE
For salons, being Earth-friendly can
mean many different things depending
on the owners definition. Tamara Jercha,
president and founder of the National
Association of Eco-Friendly Salons &
Spas, says that there are green business
practices, but also environmental
approaches to the products and services
salons offer.
Salons also can be a resource for recy-
cling beauty products and bottles by
working with programs like TerraCycle,
or be green in their relations with staff,
guests and the community
Sustainable Salons
A salon lovers guide to
Earth-conscious,
beautiful hair and nails
by Megan Patsavas
CTW FEATURES
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April 18, 2013 Green livinG - 7
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by giving back, Jercha adds.
Wendy Rae Johnson and Pamela Frei-
tas, co-owners of Oasis Hair and Skin
Care, a green salon in Santa Cruz, Calif.,
say that from the minute people walk
into their eco-friendly environment, they
notice that theres no obnoxious smell, a
sign of toxicity, present in other places.
We wanted the business that we
opened to reflect our own personal val-
ues, Freitas says.
With that in mind, the pair integrated
green into their salons construction with
low-VOC paint, bamboo flooring and
energy-efficient lighting, and into their
operations by recycling and even using
used equipment. Their services and
products are planet-friendly, too.
LOVE YOUR LOCKS
Eco-friendly hair care is all about prod-
ucts and treatments that perform well,
and wont harm the Earth or the users
wellbeing.
The same chemicals that may harm
our health also have been shown to
adversely impact the environment, says
Jamie McConnell, member of the Cam-
paign for Safe Cosmetics. One of these
popular-but-deleterious treatments is the
Brazilian blowout, a hair straightening
procedure that McConnell says has been
known to release high levels of formal-
dehyde.
Johnson prefers hair products that are
not only free of certain ingredients (like
sulfates or parabens), but also manufac-
tured in a green way with packaging
made from recycled materials and by
companies that have their own planet-
friendly practices.
If youre unsure about the shampoo
or hair color your stylist uses, McConnell
says to ask for SDSs (Safety Data Sheets),
which list the chemical ingredients and
possible effects of everything the salon
carries. She adds that you can also look
up information online at the Environ-
ment Working Groups Skin Deep data-
base.
NATURAL NAILS
Traditionally, nail polishes and other nail
services contain chemicals that are far
from Earth- and health-conscious, but
that too is starting to change.
There are increasingly more salons
that are offering green services or trying
to stock nail polishes that are three free,
and thats nail polishes that dont contain
dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde
and toluene, McConnell says.
At Oasis, Freitas says she and John-
son have done a lot of product research
on our nail products we do no acryl-
ics, we do no filler gels, the only thing
that we do is natural nails.
For them, spa pedicures start with a
soak in a blend of natural detoxifiers,
such as flowers, seasonal citrus, Epsom
salt, essential oils, rosemary and lavender,
all in a bacteria-resistant, acrylic bowl.
Our ingredients are actually making
your health better, not worse, Johnson
adds.
EARTH-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE
If you dont have a green salon near you,
or dont want to leave your current hair-
dresser, you can still take steps to give
yourself an eco-friendly, wholesome hair
and nail experience.
Johnson says clients can be a catalyst
for change with their stylist by asking for
non-toxic, natural products: I would
have the client say to their hairdresser,
I want green, would you look for non-
toxic, organic stuff thats going to be bet-
ter for you, me and the environment?
CTW Features
Nail It: Look for
polishes that are 'three
free' - ones that don't
contain dibutyl phthal-
ate (DBP), formalde-
hyde and toluene.
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
8 Green LivinG ApriL 18, 2013
B
efore you pack up the kids, pets
and an almost-excessive
amount of clothes, food and
toys for your annual road trip
this summer, you may want to rethink
your plans. All those hours in the car can
lead to more than just sleep-deprivation
and annoyance with backseat bickering
and whines of Are we there yet?
The average passenger vehicle pro-
duces an estimated 423 grams of carbon
For many, going on
vacation means hopping
in the car and setting out
on a local adventure.
Heres how to plan a
small-carbon-footprint trip
thats light on expense and
heavy on fun
by Megan Patsavas
CTW FEATURES
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Over the River and
Through the Woods,
On a Green
Car Trip We Go
THIS PRODUCT IS GOOD FOR EVERYTHING,
AND WE MEAN EVERYTHING!
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
April 18, 2013 Green livinG - 9
dioxide per mile, according to the
United States Environmental Pro-
tection Agency and thats not the
only greenhouse gas tailpipes emit.
Multiply that by the number of
miles to your destination (and back),
and the pollution can really add up.
However, there are many things
travelers can do to reduce their trips
negative impact on the planet. Here
are some easy, environmentally
friendly ideas for your next family
vacation.
HAVE WHEELS, WILL
TRAVEL
Airplanes are the most convenient,
but least eco-friendly way to travel,
says Sara Snow, author of Sara
Snows Fresh Living (Bantam
Dell, 2009). Instead, the green-liv-
ing expert suggests that families
take a train or bus, which releases
less carbon dioxide per passenger,
to their vacation destination.
Though if thats not possible,
there are ways to make driving a
greener option.
Make sure your car is fully
tuned up so that its operating as
fuel-efficiently as possible, says
Snow, who recommends that driv-
ers properly inflate their tires and
install a clean air filter before they
head out on the road.
Another option is renting a
more fuel-efficient car. Getting
more miles per gallon saves gas
money and reduces your carbon
footprint. But with electric vehi-
cles, hybrids and generally more
fuel-efficient rides to take into
consideration, choosing the right
one can be challenging.
Lemore Hecht, communica-
tions and social media manager for
Hertz, and Lisa Martini, a spokes-
person for Enterprise Rent-A-Car,
both say families should factor the
size of the car they need (for peo-
ple and luggage) and the type of
trip theyre taking into their rental
car decision.
A hybrid is a great fuel-effi-
cient car, however, if youre going
to be doing a lot of highway driv-
ing, that might not be your best
option because a hybrid gets its
best fuel-efficiency in stopping
and starting, Martini says. She
adds that if you opt for an electric
vehicle, make sure there are charg-
ing stations along your path.
To be more Earth-friendly
while on the road, try not to have
the heat or air conditioning blast-
ing, or unnecessary weight in your
car, both of which can reduce
fuel-efficiency, Snow says. She
adds that to get the most miles per
gallon, drive 60 mph, if possible.
You dont need to speed,
Snow says, Itll keep you safer on
the roads and itll increase your
fuel efficiency.
Amy Todisco, green-living
expert and consultant, says pack-
ing makes a different for gas usage,
too. Luggage on top of your car,
or even open windows, creates
wind drag.
LOCATION, LOCATION,
LOCATION
So youre taking a more Earth-
friendly vacation, but heres the
catch-22: should you travel a
shorter distance and stay local, or
go farther to get to a green hotel?
Its better to go a shorter dis-
tance, Todisco says. However, if
theyre going someplace farther
and theyre staying in a place thats
more environmentally-friendly,
then maybe that balances out the
gas use.
Patricia Griffin, president and
founder of Green Hotels Asso-
ciation, says that the meaning of
green varies by hotel. They could
have green-certified buildings, or
green operations programs to
conserve water and electricity, pro-
mote clean air and reduce waste.
Griffin suggests that guests
check out a hotels website before
making reservations to see what
green programs they have inside
the hotel, and what surrounds the
building. Calling and asking ques-
tions, especially if you dont see
any eco-friendly information
Play the Local: Act like a local when on vacation. Park your car and see the sights
via buses, trains, foot or bike rentals.
online, can encourage a hotel to start
making changes, she adds.
There are even greener ways to stay.
Todisco, who self-published her e-book,
Fun, Affordable Green Travel (2008),
suggests camping, doing a house swap-
ping arrangement, being a property care-
taker or staying in a youth hostel.
Snow says staying in someone elses
apartment, house or even just a room in
their home is a great green option. By
staying in a home-type environment,
youre eliminating a lot of the waste that
happens in hotels, she adds.
WHILE YOURE AWAY
Once you get to wherever youre going,
park your car and try to take public trans-
portation, Snow says. Its a way to inte-
grate yourself into the local culture and
its also a way to green your travel pretty
significantly.
Walking or biking around during your
vacation is even more eco-friendly and
healthful. Griffin says to plan outdoor
activities or museum trips beforehand,
and make sure theyre within close prox-
imity to your hotel.
Booking a room with a kitchenette
can help with food, Todisco notes, espe-
cially for people who prefer an organic,
natural diet. Cooking during your vaca-
tion also eliminates all the waste that
happens with carry-out and restau-
rants, Snow says.
Other wasteful aspects of travel are
those little bottles of shampoo and
conditioner hotels set out. Pack your
own toiletries instead, Snow says, so
you can leave the complimentary mini-
versions for the next guest.
Snow also adds that families
shouldnt have hotels wash their sheets
and towels everyday, but they should
turn off all the lights, unplug cords and
turn down the heat or air conditioning
before they leave for an outing with a
refillable water bottle in hand, of
course. Think like you think when
youre trying to be green at home, she
says.
Griffin adds that vacationers
shouldnt leave things behind, and if
youre in an environment where certain
items arent easily recyclable take
them with you. Being green, she says, is
a state of mind: Its mostly about
remembering that you and your chil-
dren, grandchildren may want to come
back here and youre going to want it to
be just as pristine as it is today.
CTW Features
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CARBON COUNTY NEWS & STILLWATER COUNTY NEWS
10 Green LivinG ApriL 18, 2013
LED Lighting A Smart Technology for Today
W
e are living in a time of heightened awareness of our
effect on the environment- what we consume, how we
build and heat our houses and buildings, how we
transport ourselves across the land. We consider the impact of
the consumptive choices we make and we think about how we
will recycle and reuse those consumable items after they have
reached the end of their useful life. We know that the earths re-
sources are fnite. We look for ways to save energy and money.
One way to save energy and money is LED lighting.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology has rapidly emerged as
the most cost-effective, effcient, environmentally-friendly solution
to reducing one of our largest uses of energy lighting. Light-
ing accounts for 38 42% of the electrical use of a typical of-
fce building. Switching from incandescent bulbs to LEDs can
reduce lighting energy usage by more than two thirds. Addition-
ally, LEDs are recyclable, they produce no UV light and they do
not contain toxic mercury, unlike compact fuorescent light bulbs,
which contain 5 mg each and are not recyclable.
LEDs can last over 50,000 hours of use and require no mainte-
nance. They are shock and vibration- resistant, and they come in
a variety of colors. They work well in cold climates and, because
of their high effciency, they generate very little heat. The ap-
plications for LED lights are almost limitless. The return on initial
investment can be dramatic*. Isnt it time that you considered
LED lighting?
*Current tax incentives favorably impact business conversion to
more effcient lighting consult your tax professional for details.
For all your commercial, industrial and institutional
LED lighting needs, contact Dave Beach, Savesmart
LED Lighting - dave@savesmartled.com 406.425.0188
Dave Beach
Vice President Sales
dave@savesmartled.com
Main: (800) 858-8973 Mobile: (406) 425-0188
Corporate Offces: Red Lodge, Montana
The
Gold Standard
of LED Lighting
www.SaveSmartLED.com
ATTACH FAUCET
AERATORS
The inexpensive attachment con-
serves water, and its easy to attach.
While a standard faucet flows at 2.2 gal-
lons per minutes, a faucet aerator cuts
the flow down, which saves you money.
Eco Upgrades to Do
in One Weekend
INSTALL AN ENERGY MONITOR
Some models allow you to monitor circuit by
circuit, architect Stephanie Horowitz says. Thats
a great way to get a more granular look at where
energy use is going in your home. With the moni-
tor, you check the power usage of individual appli-
ances and see just how much electricity that old
refrigerator really uses.
PERFORM AN
ENERGY AUDIT
Getting an energy audit, which in
some places is something you can get for
little or no cost, is a great way to asses
your cost, Horowitz says. Many utility
companies offer free or discounted audits
to their customers.
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5
SWAP OUT INCANDESCENT LIGHT
BULBS FOR CFLS AND LEDS
An energy-saving LED light can last from 30,000 to
60,000 hours. A typical incandescent can burn out
before 2,000 hours.
BUILD A RAIN BARREL
Collect the rain that falls off
the roof and use it to water your
garden, says Sarah Costello of
the International Future Living
Institute. A lot of home and gar-
den stores have a kit to build it
now.
April 18, 2013 Green livinG - 11
R
ecycle or reuse whenever
possible, and dispose of prop-
erly as a last resort. While law-
ful disposal varies by
jurisdiction, its important to under-
stand and follow some universal guide-
lines. Heres how to deal with (or find
the right place in your area) ten unwant-
ed items:
1
MEDICATIONS
Do not flush unless
packaging says to. Mix
with an unpalatable
substance such as used
coffee grounds or cat lit-
ter in a plastic bag, seal,
and put in trash.
2
CELL PHONES
Major carriers like
AT&T and electronics retailers like Best
Buy accept phones for trade-in or take-
back. Remove personal data including
SIM card, address book, photos and
messages.
3
BATTERIES Find local drop-off
station at www.call2recycle.com.
4
APPLIANCES with
refrigerants (freezers,
fridges, AC units). Call your
municipal public works
department for col-
lection and dispos-
al procedures.
5
PAINT Call
your local
household hazard-
ous waste collec-
tion facility for
instructions on handling and safely dis-
posing of leftover paint including aero-
sol paint cans.
6
INK AND TONER CARTRIDG-
ES Major business supply stores
like Best Buy and Staples accept car-
tridges for recycling.
7
COMPUTER
COMPONENTS
Most Best Buy stores
accept them for recy-
cling.
8
MATTRESSES
Schedule a pickup
at 1-800-GOT-JUNK for
charitable donation or
proper disposal.
9
PACKING PEANUTS
The ones made of vegetable
starch are nontoxic, biodegradable and
disintegrate in water. Call the Peanut
Hotline at 1-800-828-2214 for business-
es that accept the plastic nonrecyclable
kind.
10
EYEGLASSES Find a local
drop-off center at www.one-
sight.org.
For more information or to find local
recycling centers, visit www.earth911.
com.
CTW Features
Unwanted
Household
Items
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How to
Dispose
of
by Dawn Klingensmith
CTW FEATURES
A speciAl publicAtion of the cArbon county news & stillwAter county news
10
At NorthWestern Energy, were proud to be part of the communities we serve. Thats
why we give back with donations last year of more than one million dollars. We support
schools, sports, culture, service organizations and energy assistance foundations. And we
allow our employees who live in each community to direct these funds.
Giving back to the community.
www.northwesternenergy.com