IE: How we all can be friendly to Mother Earth without digging deep into our pockets: May 04, 2008

CLEANING SOLUTIONS White vinegar, baking soda and borax are among the natural products our grandparents used to clean windows, counter tops, sinks and even clothes. They save money and eliminate toxic emissions indoors.Another way to save is to use smaller amounts of traditional cleaners. For example, most manufacturers of liquid laundry detergents suggest using a quarter-cup of detergent for cleaning a mediumsize load. Often, consumers use twice the amount suggested.

Related: Liquid laundry soap is easy to concoct, using various amounts of grated hand soap, borax, washing soda and water. Check online for recipes.

To learn more: Care2.com is a website dedicated to green-living recipes for nontoxic cleaning and pest control.

REDUCE INDOOR WATER USE Old aerators, faucets and shower heads waste water.

Newer, more efficient models – many of which cost fewer than $40 – dispense water at a rate of 1.5 gallons a minute and use 30 percent to 50 percent less water than standard models (flow rates of 2.5 gallons per minute or higher).

According to the EPA, the average home, retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, can save 30,000 gallons annually.

Related: When replacing an old toilet, consider new lines of dual flush toilets, de signed to use less water for disposing liquid waste.

To learn more: The EPA’s WaterSense program is comparable to the Energy Star program. Products manufactured under WaterSense standards use less water than traditional products. As warm weather nears, remember outdoor irrigation uses tons of water. Find ways to reduce usage at epa.gov/WaterSense/pp/index.htm.

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES Common alkaline batteries last a few years; they lose 8 percent to 20 percent of their charge annually, even when kept in original packaging. But rechargeable bat teries can be reused as many as 500 times and are extremely effective in remotecontrol devices for household electronics, like televisions, audio systems and DVD players, digital cameras and small flashlights. They are also more environmentally friendly because they reduce the amount of toxins released in landfills.

Related: Recycle old rechargeable batteries, those found in cordless power tools, cell phones and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras and remote-control toys.

Visit www.rbrc.org for information.

To learn more: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a fact sheet on household batteries that can be accessed at www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8819.html.

BUY RECYCLED PRODUCTS Making a ton of paper from recycled material can save as many as 17 trees and will use 50 percent less water than making paper from virgin fiber, says the EPA. So the next time you purchase white office paper, look for the recycled brand. But beware of false labels. The EPA has guidelines on the content of all types of recycled products at epa.gov/cpg/products.htm.

Related: Paper is the country’s No. 1 disposable material. For every 100 pounds of household trash, 35 pounds are paper. Separate old newspapers and office paper for recycling in your community’s trash collection.

To learn more: Visit the Energy Information Association at eia.doe.gov for more tips.

PAPER MULCH Shredded white paper and newspaper can be used in gardens and plant beds for mulch. Placed shredded material around plants as you’d use wood mulch. To cover the white, place a thin layer of wood mulch over the paper mulch. And don’t worry about ink: most ink used in newspapers and white paper is soy-based and nontoxic.

Related: Studies seem to show that incorporating shredded paper in compost piles is the best way to use paper mulch. Adding it directly to the base of some plants can affect soil fertility.

To learn more: To read a report on paper mulch from North Dakota State University, www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/oakes /1996Report/npms96.htm.

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