It’s been a long, cold winter, but spring will eventually be here. You might be starting to think about doing a little freshening up, disinfecting and cleaning house….
But did you know that indoor air pollution in our homes can be as much as 100 times worse than outdoor air pollution? Most of that pollution comes from the “offgas” from cleaning supplies and air fresheners…so sometimes when we think we’re cleaning and disinfecting our homes, we’re actually loading the air with toxic chemicals!
Here are a few tips for a greener spring cleaning:
- Use natural fiber sponges or old t-shirt rags to do your cleaning instead of paper towels and other one-time use tools.
- Skip the chemical air fresheners, which can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Instead, try fresh or dry flowers, cedar blocks or an open box of baking soda to add natural fragrance to the room.
- Use vinegar. Nature’s cleaning miracle, vinegar can be used to clean just about anything. Use it straight to clean kitchen floors or wash windows, mix it with baking soda and essential oils to clean sinks, and even use it to remove stains in your carpet. Learn More.
- When you make the switch to natural cleaning products, be sure to safely dispose of any dangerous chemical products. Don’t pour them down the drain, into the ground, or into the trash. Drop them off at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Learn More.
- Open the windows. The best way to get dirty air moving out and fresh air moving in is to open the doors and windows and feel the breeze!
*source: Sierra Blogging Post.
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This week’s tips made possible by our friends at Keloland Television.
Local Green Experts Series
(Following is a guest column, the second in our new Local Green Experts series. Whitney Parks is founding director of Chartreuse Research and a project designer at Koch Hazard Architects.)
by Whitney Parks
photo by Dean Isham
This year, Plain Green will open with an exciting event, a community service project, integrating hands-on learning, sustainable building concepts, and community stewardship.
The Project
The Sioux Falls Chapter of Architecture for Humanity and Sioux Falls Seminary have partnered to organize the construction of a Straw Bale Shed, April 27 and 28, before the Plain Green 10 Conference. Sioux Falls Seminary’s Summit House, located near downtown Sioux Falls in the Pettigrew Heights Neighborhood, will be the building site for the new straw bale shed. Sioux Falls Seminary students living at Summit House hope to eventually use the structure as a Tool Lending Library for the residents of the Pettigrew Heights Neighborhood for simple home maintenance and repair.
Want to get involved?
If you are interested in learning about straw bale construction, would like to help build the fi rst straw bale structure in the City of Sioux Falls, or if you would like to volunteer your time for a good cause, join the building team. Spend two days bale raising and plastering with a straw bale specialist from Nebraska, Joyce Coppinger, Managing Editor and Publisher of The Last Straw Journal.
Participants will learn sustainable construction skills with hands-on involvement while building the straw-bale shed. Space is very limited and an application is required. Though there is no fee, space is available for Plain Green attendees only. Register here today. After registering, you will be emailed an application. Team selection will be completed by April 13, 2010.
This Community Service Project is made possible by Koch Hazard Architects and Chartreuse Research, in partnership with Architecture for Humanity Sioux Falls Chapter, Sioux Falls Seminary and other supporters.
Sioux Falls Green Drinks will celebrate it’s one -year anniversary a little early on February 24 at Latitude 44. In March 2009, two dozen people gathered for green conversation and networking at this odd shaped establishment by the railroad tracks downtown for the first ever Green Drinks in Sioux Falls. To celebrate one year of sustainability networking, we’re heading back to where it started at Latitude 44.
We’ll pass the conversation starter bucket, give everyone a chance to share their own green news and notes with a ’round-the-room, and take in a short talk on the future of biofuels by Poet Energy’s Director of Public Relations, and Green Drinker from the begining, Nathan Schock.
As always, Green Drinks is free. Ideas and friends always welcome.
The Details:
- February 24, 2010
- 5:00pm ’til whenever
- Latitude 44, 201 North Weber Avenue
What is Green Drinks? A free and informal monthly mixer that brings together folks who are interested in sustainable business, design, policy and living. This is your chance to connect up and help shape a future that’s green and happy in the Sioux Falls region. Join us for good booze, good convo and a little networking with other environmentally minded people.
Green Drinks is always free and open to the public. Green Drinks is organized locally by the Sioux Falls Green Project and Astronaut Brand Studio. (Thanks to Greg and the gang at Astronaut for another awesome poster.)
