Tip of the Month

Every month CoolMom provides members, friends, and website visitors a tip of the month in the form a question and answer on a topic related to sustainable living. Try these tips on for size to help reduce your carbon footprint.

February 2012 Home Energy Audit

by Terri Glaberson, Director CoolMom

Recently, I purchased an Ideal Network weekly deal, a home energy audit. Ideal Network provides deep discounts from local merchants, while supporting non-profits or schools its membership cares about. With my purchase of the home energy audit through Ideal Network, I was able to get this reduced rate and support CoolMom with a percentage of the proceeds. The business they partnered with for the discounted home energy audit was Home Performance Collaborative, a local group of talented building analysts and contractors committed to improving the energy efficiency, comfort, indoor air quality, and durability of Seattle homes and businesses.

My home, built in 2006, was by my estimations an energy efficient home. We have radiant floor heating, good insulation, energy efficient windows, installed CFLS and we are mindful of our electricity and heating use. Granted our house is a larger home and we do not have solar placed on our roof, but for the size of the house it runs pretty efficiently. The audit opened my eyes to new possibilities and places where we could take action on increased energy efficiency.

The home energy audit was painless and very informative.  The auditor from Home Performance Collaborative was knowledgeable and efficient. Good qualities in a home energy auditor!

Home Performance Collaborative works with the City of Seattle to provide low cost ($95) audits valued at $400! The audit included an analysis of my home's energy efficiency and identified opportunities for improvement. An Energy Performance Scorecard assessed the current energy consumption and predicted what the savings would be after making improvements. Along with the Scorecard, a detailed Energy Analysis and Upgrades report explained the auditor's recommended upgrades and analyzed their impact on energy and cost reduction.

Overall our house was within the average range compared to other Seattle homes, but there was room for improvement. Recommendations that were included in the report were to,

• fill an insulation void in the ceiling of our daughter's room, AHA! that is why her room feels like the coldest in the house!
• install an automatic door bottom on the front door to reduce air leakage
• reduce standby power losses by installing a Modlet outlet plate on the outlet in the office and near the television.
• consider purchasing the Nest Learning Thermostat to automate the home's heating cycle
• install a solar hot water system
• install solar photovoltaic system to supplement the home's energy use

The costs of these vary and some are doable right away. We will be doing the first three bulleted items initially and hope to install the solar hot water system and PV system on our roof some day in the near future.

Overall our experience with the home energy audit was excellent and very informative.

I would recommend that you too get a home energy audit if you haven't already. We would never have discovered the missing insulation issue in our daughter's room without it!

*Other home energy efficiency ideas can be found on our Take Action page

January 2012 Sharing

Inspired by the Sunset article, The Economy of Sharing, this months tip of the month is about sharing. Whether you are motivated by a concern for the environment or not the idea of sharing resources, such as cars, office space, toys, dishes, and other family/work needs, appeals to our cost saving side.

There are many ways to share. An example of creative sharing, came out of our North Seattle group. They share soup. Throughout the year the group gathers for their monthly meeting and swaps recipes and family servings of soup. Thereby providing several creative and tasty meals for each of their families. They end up sharing cost, prep time and meals. You can't beat that!

Here are some other things you can share with your group, neighbors and friends:

• Toys, here is an example of a toy lending center in Santa Fe
• Bikes, check out D.C.'s bike sharing program for ideas
• Cars, there are many car share examples, here are a few: Zipcar, City Car Share, Ego CarShare , Getaround
• Dishes for parties, Apartment Therapy has some ideas for dish/party supply sharing
• Other party supplies, such as tables and chairs, canopies
• Art supplies
• Tools -West Seattle and Phinney Communities both have Tool lending libraries. For resources on how to start your own go here.
• Holiday costumes and decorations, Green Halloween has some great ideas for this one
• Skill or trade sharing, use your skill set to help a friend and they intern help you with their skill or trade
• Office space

For interesting ideas and overall fastening articles on what folks are doing in all facets of life, check out Shareable.

2011

December 2011 Give the Gift of Experience

In continuation with our theme about gift giving over the holidays, we would like to highlight giving an experience as a gift. Such gifts can be simply movie, theatre or symphony tickets, and for those sports adventurers try out passes for the golf driving range, climbing wall, hiking guided tour or horseback riding lessons. For those kiddos, passes to the local science center, children's theatre, pottery or cooking class can be great fun. During the winter months capitalize on some indoor activities and support your local ice or roller skating rink. These passes will come in handy during that long winter break!

Giving the gift of experience, eliminates the need to purchase items that come with packaging and eliminates the need for wrapping altogether. Save energy and resources by buying a gift of experience and help support local businesses too! Here is a short list of ideas here.

You can also join the conversation between two of our CoolMom members here.

Happy Holidays!

November 2011 Donate, Rethink, Reuse

As we approach the gift giving holiday season, CoolMom would like to encourage you to Donate goods to local charities, Rethink how, what and where you shop and to consider buying gently used toys for gift giving.

To jump start your holiday purchases consider donating to CoolMom's Annual Holiday Toy Swap 'n' Sale and dropping by the sale on November 12th to pick up some great kids toys, books, and baby gear. You might also be lucky and win the CoolMom Raffle as well. This years Raffle will include a Chinook Book: Book and app, CoolMom T-shirt and $10 Orca card, valued at $55.

Here are some other cool tips on Donating, Rethinking and Reusing this holiday season.

Gift giving.

• Consider buying gently used toys, books, games and puzzles
• Purchase local experiences as gifts, like a family pass to the local science center
• Wrap those gifts in a handkerchief, scarf, or fabric and make that a part of the gift
• Use children's art, we all have a ton of it, for wrapping or making home made cards
• Donate goods or services in honor of your friend or family member
• Support local businesses and purchase goods and services in your neighborhood
• Other tips and ideas can be found on Celebrate Green, Real Simple, and Etsy

October 2011 National IWALK Month

In continuing our topic on gentler (carbon-less) modes of transportation, this month is all about moving by two feet. The Month of October is International Walk to school Month and CoolMom would like to inspire you to organize parents for an IWALK event at your school. FeetFirst, a local Seattle non-profit advocacy organization who promotes walkable communities, can help you set up your IWALK event. Go here for details. As part of CoolMom's, Think Outside the Car project, CoolMom is starting Walking School Buses in West Seattle. If you feel inspired to start a Walking School Bus in your West Seattle neighborhood contact the Director of CoolMom, Terri Glaberson at terri@coolmom.org or 206-280-2828.

September 2011 Walk, Bike, Ride

As we all start thinking about our children heading back to school, let's ponder if there are ways to get from home to school in a more carbon friendly way. In the late 1960s about 48% of kids walked or biked to school, now that percentage is around 12%. Many factors have influenced those numbers, and the results have meant more cars on the roads and less kids motoring to school by their own power.

CoolMom wants to help inspire parents and communities to find carbonless means of travel such as walking, biking or riding mass transit to go from home to school, work and/or play.

Tip of the month for September: CoolMom would like to inspire you to walk or bike your children to school at least once a week.

What you get from doing this:

• quality time with your child
• exercise for you and your child
• savings: gas, money and carbon

Once you start reaping those benefits you may even want to start your own Walking School Bus!

August 2011 Staycation

August is a 'hot' month for family vacations before heading back to school. Try a staycation and take your family on an adventure within or just outside your own four walls. For education sake fill in the blanks, a trip from Philadelphia to Boston (about 300 miles) would generate _________ kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per typical medium -sized car, regardless of the passengers, while flying a commercial jet would produce some ______ kilograms of CO2 per passenger.

a) 50 and 75 b) 104 and 184 c) 129 and 198 d) 200 and 500

see the answer below

Here are some fun ideas for staycations within your own boundaries of your home:

• Pitch a tent in your back yard
• Show outdoor movies for your family and invite friends over as well, maybe even include a potluck for a fun easy meal
• Have friends over for a sleep over, including the adults!
• Host an ice cream social

For travel locally check out your local parks, museums, and hotels. There are great ideas here at Real Simple, About.com and Staycationidea.com

July 2011 Conserve Water

Ahhhh, Summer! A time to grow your own vegetables, swim in the pool, and run through the sprinkler.  As we enjoy the fruits of Summer, let us consider water conservation as a natural part of our summer enjoyment.

For July's question and tip of the month answer this: How much water does the average American use per day?

a) 100 gallons b) 180 gallons c) 220 gallons d0 500 gallons

see the answer below

There are lots of ways to enjoy the summer, stay cool, continue to grow our vegetables and maintain our lawns and conserve water.

Here are some tips to try on:

• When watering your garden or lawn, water in the evening hours to decrease evaporation from the day's heat
• Consider tearing up part or all of your lawn and putting in drought resistant plants, edibles, and/or hard scape and mulching. Mulching provides a great way to retain moisture in the soil and also has an added benefit of cutting down on weeding.
• Try soaker hoses instead of sprinklers, you will waste less water and can target the water more easily.
• To cool off during those hot days, consider going to a local kiddy wading pool or local swimming pool instead of turning up that AC
• If you use a kiddy pool at home, after the family cools off use the water to water your plants

For other tips on water conservation check out our site here or these additional 25 ways to conserve water

June 2011 Build Community

The most recent tragedies in Alabama and Missouri due to tornadoes has brought many communities together. Strong community ties and being a good neighbor are never more important during hardship, such as natural disasters.

Why bring this up and how is it related to our mission? As resources become more sparse and climate change affects more and more people because of drought, food shortages/high prices, and rising sea levels, community will be the key in rising above these challenges.

The tip of the month for June is reach out to your neighbors and get involved in community building.

Some ideas for community building:

• Join or start a CoolMom Group
• Start a community/neighborhood shared garden
• Become a Seattle Solarized Neighborhood
• Create a neighborhood disaster plan
• Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) with your neighbors
• Carpool to the store, to work, to school
• Start a Walking School Bus in your school
• Create a composting program at your school or work
• Buy from your local farmer's market

Have ideas of your own? Please share here under comments.

May 2011 Think Outside The Car

May is Think Outside the Car month.  So, what does that exactly mean? CoolMom is wanting folks who travel by car to travel by foot, two wheels or mass transit for the month of May. And, while you are at it, support CoolMom by gathering pledges for your own carbon-less travel or support CoolMom Director, Terri Glaberson, by pledging your support towards her low carbon travel.

In the spirit of traveling by these carbon-less means, answer this question:

How much carbon can you save just by reducing 10 miles of single occupancy driving every week? find the answer here

a) 30 pounds of carbon b) 100 pounds of carbon c) 450 pounds of carbon d) 500 pounds of carbon

April 2011 Glorious Food!

How much energy is consumed to feed America?

a) 5% b) 9% c) 10% d) 50% answer here

Some key ways to reduce your carbon footprint while eating at your table are to:

*For bonus points, you can compost your food waste and complete the cycle!

More information about food and how to reduce your carbon footprint can be found here on our website.

March 2011 Use Less Hot Water

On average, what percentage of our ( in the U.S.) energy bill is spent heating our water?

a) 5%
b) 10%
c) 14%
d) 17%

find the answer here. Families use much more hot water than is necessary and it is really easy to make a change. Turn down your water heater below 120 degrees, wash your clothes in cold water and take shorter showers under low flow shower heads.

February 2011 Adopt a Vegetarian Diet=Save 5,040 Pounds of CO2

Apart from the ethical aspects of not supporting the inhumane and environmental destructive practice of factory farming, switching to a vegetarian diet has great benefits in terms of reducing your carbon emissions. By not eating meat you can avoid the emissions of a bit more than 5,000 pounds of carbon emissions per year. What's more, on average you can save about 20% on your food costs as well. Can't make that complete shift to a vegetarian diet and need to take baby steps? Try not eating meat one day a week. If everyone in the U.S. incorporated Meatless Mondays into their week it would be like taking 19.2 million cars off the roads for a year. They would also save 99.6 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions, the same as 46 million round trip flights from New York to Los Angeles! See a list of health benefits here.

January 2011, Thermostat Blues

Happy New Year! To begin the new year on a the right [carbonless] foot answer this question and take on this tip as part of your new year's resolution.

How much money can you save at home if you turn down your heat 2 degrees?

a) $50/year b) $100/year c) $125/year d) $150/year

for the answer check out our home energy efficiency section here

Turning down your heat just 2 degrees can make a big difference in money and energy savings. Take it on as your New Year's Resolution and save your self some green by acting green!

December & November 2010, Buy Used for the Holidays

During the holiday season, US citizens produce a) 5% b) 10% c) 12% or d) 25% more trash compared to the rest of the year and the amount of energy used, on average rises about a) 5% b) 10% c) 12% or d) 25% during the holiday season, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. see answer below

CoolMom is reminding you to shop locally and buy used for the holidays. More tips and information on buying used goods here and here.

October & September 2010, Don't Worship False Idles

True or False:  The engine of a vehicle should be warmed up before driving. see answer below

Idling = zero mpg

Have you ever left your car engine running while you waited to pick up your children, or while you waited in the drive-through line at your bank or a favorite fast-food restaurant? Have you sometimes let your engine idle for several minutes to warm up your car first thing in the morning?

Most of us have. But when you leave your car or truck running while it’s parked or sitting still, the engine produces air pollution. This pollution contributes to problems like smog and global warming, and is also harmful to our health. Vehicle exhaust contains air toxics and fine particles, among other pollutants, which are associated with increased incidence of respiratory ailments and heart disease, as well as greater cancer risk. Here are some more facts about idling.

Stopping unnecessary vehicle idling is one relatively easy way to contribute to improved air quality, respiratory health in our communities and impact global warming. Please turn off your cars and influence your friends to do the same this school year and join our No-Idle Campaign. For the health of your children and ours.

August 2010, Phytoplankton and You!

Learn about the affects of Global Warming on crucial phytoplankton in the ocean

Email Two Friends

Send your friends a link to your favorite site that educates folks on the basic facts on climate change and steps they can do to act. It's easy, just direct them to our website Take Action page or Learn page and you are done!

To see past Tips of the Month for April 2009 to July 2010 go here.

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Alternative Transportation Tips

Taking the Bus Gus, Biking with Family and Using Those Feet for Walking

by Natalie Singer

How To Take The Bus (With Two Kids, A Stroller, and Four GroceryBags …)

As a mom juggling a boisterous, sometimes cranky clan of little ones, relying on the bus for transportation might seem daunting at first. But arm yourself with a plan and a routine, and riding the bus with little ones in tow is not only doable, it can be freeing and fun, too!

Some tips:

Plan ahead. For Seattle: KingCounty Metro has an easy-to-use online Trip Planner that figures out which route is best for you and which bus to take. You can select routes by shortest walk, fastest ride, or fewest transfers (keep that baby asleep). Info about carpooling and ridesharing can be found here.

For those living in other Metro cities check out your local Metro information.

Get Your Gear in Gear: Any mom knows how quickly small kiddos get tired of walking. An umbrella stroller is lightweight, folds quickly, comes with storage and will fit on a crowded bus. Even more portable, soft-shelled baby carriers will keep you hands-free. Best of all, affordable second hand strollers and carriers abound on craigslist and in local children’s consignments shops, so you can gear up and stay green by recycling gear. To carry groceries or other purchases, consider investing in one of the new lightweight carts designed for farmer’s market shoppers or city walkers, such as a Hook and Go. Finally, switch out that cumbersome diaper bag for a more ergonomic, compact backpack – extra storage and more maneuverability.

Make it a Teaching Moment: But the kids will wreak havoc, you say … Actually, riding the bus regularly can be a great experience for kids of all ages. Just make sure you pack activities and snacks in case boredom hits. You can entertain children with games such as I Spy, spotting out letters or words on signs, or making up stories about the sights you see out the bus windows.

The Family That Bikes Together Stays Together

If the idea of cruising around town on two spoked wheels appeals to you but you don’t know where to start, visiting the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation’s super-informative web site will get you riding quickly with confidence.

If you plan to ride with kids, you have three options: put the kiddos in a bike trailer, put your child on a bike-mounted seat, or have your older child ride their own bike.

A safetrailer (not appropriate for children under 1 year of age) will have an ASTM safety standards sticker, a full metal roll-cage, 16- or 20-inch wheels, a rotating hitch that allows the trailer to remain upright if the bike falls, and a safety flag.

A safe bike seat (not appropriate for children under 1 year of age) will have an ASTM safety standards sticker, a back that comes up around the child’s head, sides that wrap around the child, straps that connect around shoulders, waist and between legs, and straps for feet.

All children should always wear a helmet that has been properly fitted. Adults are safest wearing a helmet as well. And remember, when riding a bicycle, act like a car and obey all traffic laws. Many local bike shops have experts who can properly fit kids into bikes, trailers, seats and helmets. Some more local resources for familybiking:

Cascade Bicycle Club’s programs and bicycling classes for youths and teens.

Regional bike maps.

More safety tips for kids on bikes from Seattle Children’s Hospital.

A fun family bicycling blog written by a Seattle dad and pediatrician.

The Feet Were Made For Walking

One of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint as a family is to walk. Many of us are so used to getting into our cars to go places. Try re-thinking your needs on the street level by asking yourself: How far am I willing to walk to do the things I need to do: 5 blocks, 10 blocks, 20 blocks? Then take a tour of your neighborhood with fresh eyes: Can you switch to a closer doctor, ballet school, grocery store, church? Are there shops and organizations within walking distance that you’ve overlooked?

What makes you hesitate to walk? If it’s weather, or armloads of groceries, or time, maybe you can readjust: pick up some umbrellas and rain gear, devise a plan to roll purchases in a market cart or wagon, squeeze in extra time for walking errands by turning it into family time or tacking on park playtime or exercise opportunities. When given the opportunity to get to know their own neighborhood at street level by walking, kids can form stronger community bonds and benefit from increased daily exposure to the natural world.

Feet First Seattle is an organization dedicated to promoting walkable communities. You’ll find links to Feet First’s Neighborhoods on Footmap series for many local communities and can also find information to begin mapping your own community.

Some other walking resources:

King County walking maps

Walking in Washington links

August 2011 answer: b) 104 kilograms and 184 kilograms
for more information go to about.com for the full article

July 2011 answer: b) 180 gallons of water per day on average 
for more information on this topic click here and here.

May 2011 answer: d) 500 pounds of carbon
click here to find transit options in your area. If CoolMom's entire membership reduced their travel miles by 10 miles each week for the month of May that would equal (1000 members x10 miles x4 weeks) 40,000 miles reduced, equaling 2 million pounds of carbon (1000 tons).

April 2011 answer: b) the food system accounts for about 9% of the energy consumed in the U.S. Details to this answer can be found here

December & November 2010 answer: US citizens produce 25% more trash during the holiday season and energy use rises 5% more!

October & September 2010 answer: False. Idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. The best way to do this is to drive the vehicle. With today's modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away.

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