Celebrating Earth Day by Protecting Our Environment

Rep. Wasserman Schultz discusses how the House reduced its carbon footprint by 72% in 2 years.

(Washington D.C.) – Once a year on April 22nd we come together for Earth Day, a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Since 1970 when Earth Day started we’ve made remarkable steps in protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment.

This year I joined with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other members of the House of Representatives to celebrate that within the last two years The House of Representatives reduced its carbon footprint by 72% through our Greening of the Capitol initiative.

But we aren’t stopping there. Today I joined many of my colleagues in making a pledge to take 15 actions to further reduce my office’s carbon footprint:

These are the first 15 steps we are asking Member offices to take to go green:

  1. Light Switches -always turning off excess lights*
  2. Computer Power Management Settings: following ENERGY STAR recommended settings*
  3. Double-Sided Printing – setting this as the default
  4. Recycle Paper – having a paper recycling bin at every desk *
  5. Composting – making sure your office has a bin and staff know what goes in it*
  6. Occupancy Sensors – installed where appropriate
  7. Smart Power Strips – installed at all computer work stations
  8. CFL Bulbs – all incandescent bulbs replaced with CFLs*
  9. EPEAT Computer Equipment – standard considered when buying new equipment
  10. ENERGY STAR Printers and Copiers – standard considered when buying new equipment*
  11. Recycle Bottles, Cans, and Other Plastics – all recycled in office-supplied bin, including plastic water cooler cups*
  12. Designate a Green Office Representative – to be responsible for maintaining the My Green Office website data and encouraging other staff*
  13. Cancel Excess Publication Subscriptions – read newspapers and other House publications online*
  14. Recycled-Content Paper – only purchase 100% post-consumer recycled content copy paper in the Supply Store*
  15. Transportation Benefits – encourage staff to take public transportation *

* My office has already implemented these items.

There are steps that you can take at your own home to reduce your carbon footprint. Many of these steps will save your family money as well:

To Save Energy:

  • Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
  • Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
  • Purchase “Green Power” for your home’s electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
  • Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired
  • Use a programmable thermostat to save on heating and cooling costs when you’re not home.
  • Insulate your home, water heater and pipes.

Use Less Water:

  • Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
  • Take showers instead of tub baths.
  • Keep water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
  • Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
  • Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
  • Buy high-efficient plumbing fixtures & appliances.
  • Repair all leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day).
  • Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best).
  • Water plants differently according to what they need. Check with your local extension service or nurseries for advice.
  • Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only – not the street or sidewalk.
  • Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
  • Keep your yard healthy – dethatch, use mulch, etc.
  • Sweep outside instead of using a hose.

Finally, practice the three R’s: first reduce how much you use, then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what’s left in the most environmentally friendly way.

Reduce:

  • Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
  • Buy and use only what you need.
  • Buy products with less packaging.
  • Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.

Reuse:

  • Repair items as much as possible.
  • Reuse grocery bags, either for new groceries, or as trash bags.
  • Use durable coffee mugs.
  • Use cloth napkins or towels, instead of paper towels.
  • Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
  • Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
  • Reuse boxes.
  • Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
  • Participate in a paint collection and reuse program.
  • Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.

Recycle:

  • Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn’t collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
  • Recycle electronics
  • Collect used oil for recycling
  • Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants.
  • Buy recycled products that use recycled packaging. That’s what makes recycling economically possible.

Working together we can make the world a better place.