EcoSuperior Environmental Programs

Helroise: Hints For A Healthy

By: Perigee Books

For over thirty years the "Hints from Helroise" column has been an American institution, read by millions every day. Helroise's four previous books of hints have also found their way into the homes of millions of families. Now she offers a brand-new, indispensable guide with hundreds of tips for environmentally sound living both at home and in the workplace.

In the Kitchen:

• Put lids on pots to avoid heat waste and help water boil faster.
• Keep drinking water in a bottle in the refrigerator to avoid running the faucet to get cool water whenever you're thirsty. It tastes better too!
• Keep frequently used items in a handy spot in the fridge to save open-door search time.

In the bathroom:

• Most toilets use more water to flush than necessary. Save water by placing a brick or an upright mason jar in the bottom of the tank.
• Replace standard shower heads with low-flow or flow-restricting ones that reduce hot water use by fifty percent, to save energy and water!

In the garden:

• Used coffee grounds can be placed on the soil around certain plants, such as azaleas, roses, and rhododendrons.
• Plastic containers of all sizes, with their tops and bottoms cut off, can serve as collars for seedlings. Remember, reusing things can make a difference now that our landfills are filling up with disposables.

In the office:

• Place a container near the soft-drink machine for aluminum cans and let a scout troop or other nonprofit organization pick them up for recycling.
• Reduce the amount of disposable coffee cups in your company's trash by using your own mug.
• Reduce the amount of paper you throw out by using the backs of unneeded photocopies and wastepaper for notes or drafts of memos and letters.