Easy Green Tips

- Use toilet paper and paper towels made from recycled paper. Recycled paper manufacture uses one-half the energy and water required in the production of new paper. Currently, one in five of the world's trees is used to make paper. And, just for the challenge, see if you can cut down on the number of squares you use.

- During coffer hour at church, use the mug rack available in copier room [next to the main kitchen], instead of disposable cups. Bring a mug to church. Use it. Wash it out in the bathroom or nursery sink between or after services. Hang it up for next time. 

- Purchase orange juice that states "not from concentrate."  Orange juice that is made into concentrate is often produced in orchards that were once rain forests.  Also, buy OJ in paper cartons.  Why throw away/recycle more plastic? 

- Buy produce from our local farmer's markets.  Old Town's market operates year round on Saturday mornings.  There are seasonal (May-Oct.) farmer's markets at the Sherwood Library on Tuesday mornings, and Del Ray on Saturday.  You will then buy fresh, locally grown produce and meats.  Heavy-duty trucks used for freight transportation in the US are responsible for ~7% of all US global warming emissions, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

- When you go shopping, use cloth bags instead of plastic shopping bags. Giant, Shoppers and Safeway will give you 5c credit for each cloth bag you use. Whole Foods will give you 10c per bag. Plastic bags are extremely harmful to the environment. First, they take more energy in recycling than in producing. Second, due to their lightness, winds blow them in trees and waters, and wildlife mistake them for food. If ingested, they wrap around wildlife's stomachs and kill them.