Natural Home
What are the benefits of purchasing an Energy Star clothes washer?
Clothes Washers
Compared to a model manufactured before 1994, an ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer can save up to $110 per year on your utility bills.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.
Through superior design and system features, ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers clean clothes using 50% less energy than standard washers. The Modified Energy Factor (MEF) measures the energy used during the washing process, including machine energy, water heating energy, and dryer energy. The higher the MEF, the more efficient the clothes washer is.
Most full-sized ENERGY STAR qualified washers use 18-25 gallons of water per load, compared to the 40 gallons used by a standard machine. The Water Factor measures the gallons of water used per cycle per cubic foot (for example, a 3.0 cubic foot washer using 27 gallons per cycle has a water factor of 9.0). The lower the water factor, the less water the machine uses. Saving water helps protect our nation's water supplies.
Most ENERGY STAR qualified washers extract more water from clothes during the spin cycle. This reduces the drying time and saves energy and wear and tear on your clothes. ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers are available in both top-loading and front-loading designs.
ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers are available as both residential and residential-style commercial clothes washers. Residential-style commercial clothes washers may or may not be coin-operated.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping prevent global warming and promote cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.
You may also be interested to know that you can save extra energy while washing clothes, whether with a standard or an ENERGY STAR qualified model:
* Wash full loads - Clothes washers are most efficient when operated with full loads.
* Wash clothes in cold water
What about Clothes Dryers?ENERGY STAR does not label clothes dryers because most dryers use similar amounts of energy, which means there is little difference in the energy use between models. To reduce the amount of energy your clothes dryer uses:
* Use the moisture sensor option on your dryer, which automatically shuts off the machine when the clothes are dry.
* If your clothes washer has spin options, choose a high spin speed or extended spin option to reduce the amount of remaining moisture, thus starting the drying process before you put your clothes in the dryer.
* Air dry clothes whenever possible.
To learn more about ENERGY STAR and energy efficiency, please visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/
What is greywater and can I use it in Oregon?
Greywater (often times spelled graywater, grey water or gray water), is water collected from dish washers, non-kitchen sinks, washing machines and showers to be re-used to water surface area, non-edible plants. Greywater is of lesser quality than potable water (and should never be imbibed), but is cleaner than blackwater (that coming from toilets). While greywater can potentially help conserve water in arid areas like Central Oregon, setting up a greywater system in Oregon is not simple.
In Oregon, greywater is defined by statute as "sewage" and is therefore subject to many state regulations. Households must apply for individual permits from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in order to collect the water. Permits vary from site to site, and cost thousands of dollars.
If you are interested in contacting the DEQ regarding permits or other questions, email the Water Reuse Coordinator or call 800-452-4011. If you are interested in learning more about the legislature surrounding greywater regulations, email the Oregon Legal Graywater Association. For more information on the benefits, potentials, and common misunderstandings regarding greywater, visit:
www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/index.htm
ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/dru/graywater.html
What is a composting toilet?
Composting toilets are toilets that use little or no water to treat sewage on site, to then be used as compost. Aerobic decomposition (that which requires oxygen) in an enclosed system provides a household with natural and usable compost while conserving water and reducing the nutrient flows into our rivers and oceans that are associated with sewage plants.
Some composting toilets look just like regular toilets, and can fit into any bathroom. Less expensive composting toilets will work just as well, but may be large and sit on a platform. If installed correctly, composting toilets produce no unpleasant orders; in fact, due to the lack of sitting water, composting toilets can be less potent than conventional toilets.
For information about the differences between composting and conventional toilets, as well links to product information, visit www.compostingtoilet.org/explain.cfm.htm
Are composting toilets allowed in Central Oregon?
Yes, upon approval by a certifier. Households must also install a septic system for the greywater (please see above question). Oregon's administrative rules regarding composting toilets can be found at arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_900/OAR_918/918_770.html
Contact the following numbers with questions or to set up an appointment:
Crook County Environmental Health Department: 541-447-8155
Deschutes County Environmental Health Department: 541-388-6519
Jefferson County Environmental Services Department: 541-475-4453
What are some sources of toxic chemicals in the home that children may be exposed to?
Our built environments, including schools, residential areas, and places of work, can all be sites of hazardous chemical contamination. In fact, many toxic chemicals can be found right in your home.
Household products such as detergent, floor and furniture polish, paints, and various cleaning products for glass, wood, metal, ovens, toilets, and drains may contain hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, sulfuric and phosphoric acids, lye, chlorine, formaldehyde, and phenol. Air fresheners can also contain chemicals that are harmful to health. Art supplies, such as markers, paint, and glue, may also contain toxic materials. When not properly handled, these products can make the home environment a dangerous place, especially for kids. Home furnishings, such as carpets, curtains, wall decorations, and some furniture, may be treated with chemicals and are potentially dangerous. It is important to note that a few days after installation, new carpets emit volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals associated with carpet manufacturing that can be harmful to humans and the environment. Gas and wood stoves and kerosene heaters may also release dangerous chemicals. Building materials such as particleboard, insulation, asbestos, and treated wood (used for decks and outdoor furniture), can also pose health threats. Some play sets and toys, as well as outdoor swing sets and play grounds, may also be treated with toxic chemicals, made from toxic plastics, or include hazardous materials. The more time children spend playing in such an environment, the higher their exposure to toxic chemicals, and the greater a risk to their health.
www.cehn.org/cehn/toxicchemicals.html
For more information about child exposure to toxic chemicals in the home, please visit: www.epa.gov/kidshometour
What household products should I avoid and what harm do they do?
Anything labeled as toxic, flammable, corrosive, reactive, infectious, or radioactive can be toxic to your home and family. You should also look out for words like "danger", "warning", and "caution." These are signal words for products that contain harmful ingredients for you and your household.
The following web sites have lists of hazardous household products and their warnings:
oregon.earth911.org/usa/master.asp?s=ls&a=HHW&cat=9
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/hhw-list.htm
muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/wasteman/wm6003.htm
www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/open.htmThe book Clean House, Clean Planet, by Karen Logan, is a good resource for finding ways to clean your house in a non-toxic way, and is located at the Deschutes Public Library.
www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/hhw/hhw.html
muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/wasteman/wm6003.htm
What alternatives are there for toxic household products and where can I find them?
There are several locations throughout Central Oregon where nontoxic cleaning products can by purchased. Click here for a list.
Can I make my own cleaning products?
YES! Please visit Non-toxic cleaning solution recipes.
Also, Check out:
www.tbep.org/tips/alternatives-print.html
The Easy Recycling Handbook by Dee McVicker. Nontoxic, Natural & Earthwise by Debra Lynn Dadd.
What are the alternatives to classic (and toxic) dry cleaning methods?
Modern machine wet cleaning uses large, specialized machines to gently
wash and dry clothes. These machines may be programmed for many variables, such as mechanical action, water and drying temperature, moisture
levels in the dryer, and water and detergent volume. This flexible technology
provides cleaners with the controls to administer a customized wet
wash suited to a fabric's specific needs. The detergents used for this technique are similar to other detergents used in washers at home. A popular chemical used as an alternative to perchloroethylene is Df2000, which is a petroleum based product approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Though they are not benign to the environment, theses chemicals are a lot better than the dry cleaning chemicals.
www.epa.gov/oppt/dfe/pubs/garment/gcrg/cleanguide.htm
Where can I find eco-friendly dry cleaners in Central Oregon?
Click here for a list of eco-friendly dry cleaners.
Does washing fruits and vegetables get rid of the pesticides?
No. Many pesticides are manufactured to be waterproof to withstand the irrigation and rain. Even after washing, some pesticides are persistent. If you don't choose organic produce, or even if you do, it is best to wash vegetables with a non-toxic vegetable wash that it is 100% natural and that it rinses easily. Studies show than using a vegetable wash can remove pesticides up to 3 times better than water alone.
For more information about pesticides and their non-toxic alternatives, please visit the following sites:
www.pesticideinfo.org
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.html
http://www.beyondpesticides.org
www.pesticide.org/default.htm
http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/mbUseInCA.dv.html
www.beyondpesticides.org
What environmentally friendly de-icing products are available for home and office use?
Organically based substances like CMA and potassium acetate are definite improvements over salt or sand in terms of corrosiveness and environmental safety, but they do remove oxygen from bodies of water into which they are sometimes washed. They also are more expensive, although the cost will vary significantly by region. Generally, the more environmentally friendly and less corrosive a product is, the more it costs. Safe Thaw, also known as Safe Paw, was first developed as a commercial product for airports and atomic power plants. Their stringent regulations required a lower melting temperature and non-corrosive factors on concrete and metals. It also had to be safe around humans, animals and vegetation, and contains no salts. If you have a very small area to de-ice and opt to use salt, follow advice from Wilfrid Nixon, professor of civil, environmental and mechanical engineering at the University of Iowa. "You should only use 0.08 of an ounce of salt per square foot," he says. So, multiply your square footage by 0.08 and use only that amount.
www.motherearthnews.com/rec/og/2048/
Where can I find less-toxic de-icers?
Since salts are generally corrosive and harmful to vegetation, and products that are less harmful, such as CMA are used primarily by state departments of transportation, it is difficult to find environmentally safe de-icers for home use. One product that is relatively safe is called Safe Paws, which is similar to urea-based de-icers except the form of nitrogen in it binds to soil particles more readily, and thus is less harmful to pets and vegetation. Safe Paw, or Safe Thaw, can be found at Petco stores, or on-line at: http://www.Petco.com http://www.ewgroupinc.com/home.php
Some other safer alternatives to salts can be found on-line at: pasternackstruevalue.com/icemelt.html, however not all de-icers on the site are environmentally friendly. For more information on de-icers, please visit:
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infowast/watgreen/projects/library/w01sand&salt.html http://www.dot.gov/affairs/1999/fhwa7699.htm http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/ www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/pns/htm/resources.htm
