Owner of Jewish Environmental Initiative, a committee of the JCRC of Saint Louis – Page 3

Eco-Friendly Summer, Part Two

August 5, 2013 No Comments

The high heat and humidity of summer is here. In a prior Planet Jewish post, we provided some simple tips to keep your home cool the environmental way over the summer. Below are some additional tips that should help you reduce waste (baal tashchit) and honor God’s creation, the Earth, through the dog days of August. Follow these tips even if you are forced to run your air conditioning most or all of the day due to extreme heat. Place a floor fan at the top of your basement: the basement is naturally the coolest part of your house. Placing a floor fan at the open basement door will help bring the cool air up to your main living level Use major appliances during the coolest part of the day: Your home is less likely to become overheated if you use major appliances, such as the dishwasher and washing machine, early or late in the day Turn up your thermostat: You use 1 to 3 percent less energy for every degree higher your thermostat is set in the summer. Even putting the thermostat up one degree will save energy and you will likely not feel the difference comfort wise. Better insulate your windows: Consider putting up sunscreen-fabric curtains or roller shades in your home. These keep out the worst of the sun’s heat over the summer. If you are purchasing new windows, ask about panes with a low solar heat gain coefficient. Use a spritzer throughout the day to cool yourself off: When travelling out and about in the heat or after doing needed work outdoors , use a water filled spray bottle that has previously been refrigerated. Use it as needed throughout the day. Also consider refrigerating any lotions and toners you use on your face and body to get an extra cooling sensation when you apply them in the morning and evening. Every little bit helps when you follow any or all of the above steps to ward off summer heat in an environmentally conscious way. Resources: Albany Times Union (timesunion.com) Greenfudge.org Originally posted in jewishinstlouis.org at http://jewishinstlouis.org/eco-friendly-summer-part-two/

Things I learned at a Recycling Plant

July 9, 2013 No Comments

By JEI Chair Susan Mlynarczyk The Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI), a program of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) recently visited the Resource Management recycling facility. Sales Manager Gary Gilliam gave us a tour and lots of information: * Recycling is good for the economy. There was a time when recycling was done as a customer service at a cost to the trash companies, but now recycling has become economically viable. There is profit to be made from our recycled materials and the processing of recycled goods helps create jobs. Some of the markets for recycled materials are overseas, which helps the country’s trade deficit. * Recycling helps preserve the resources in our economy. Each time we recycle, we are saving raw materials for future generations. Consider the cost and effort of creating a new can versus recycling. To get a new can, the metal has to be drilled, blasted, excavated, mined, smelted, and refined. Alternatively, we can re-use the metal that has already been refined. * Your garbage can produce income. Some of the items that produce income for the recycler are aluminum and steel cans, glass, cardboard, office paper, newspaper, and plastic containers. Aluminum, steel, and glass are “infinite” products – they can be recycled over and over. Yet, $2.3 billion of aluminum and steel cans and $11.3 billion of total recyclable product goes into landfills each year. * Recycling really does save trees. One ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees. The recycling plant that JEI visited processes enough paper to save almost 30,000 trees per day. * You don’t need to remove lids or labels from containers before recycling. They are separated and recycled appropriately during the recycle process. You also don’t need to thoroughly wash containers before recycling – a quick rinse is sufficient. Use your judgment when deciding whether to recycle containers with attached food waste – a little bit is not a problem, but discard items with a large amount of food attached. * Bubble wrap, newspaper wrappers, plastic wrap, and dry cleaning bags should be recycled with your plastic grocery bags at the grocery store rather than in your single stream recycle bin. If you collect your recyclables in a plastic bag, consider emptying the bag into your recycle bin and recycle the plastic bag at the grocery store. Recycling is an excellent way to practice the Jewish principle of Baal Taschit – do not waste.

Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips

June 13, 2013 No Comments

May and June are the months for spring cleaning. In the spirit of reducing waste (baal tashchit) and respecting and honoring God’s creation the Earth, here are a few simple tips to consider in the laundry room: Control the Temperature of Your Washing Machine: About 90 percent of the energy use associated with doing laundry involves just heating up the water. Turn the dial to cold and save a huge amount of energy in the process. Wash Full Loads: Even the most energy-efficient loads use 40 gallons of water. Reducing the number of loads you do each week will save water and money. If you find yourself doing eight or more loads of laundry each week, skipping just one will save over 10 percent on your laundry costs. Use Natural Detergents and Stain Removers: Natural products tend to be free of chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrance, dyes, and optical brighteners. Instead, they are usually plant (not petroleum) based, contain biodegradable surfactants, and are often specifically formulated to perform well in cold water. Re-Think Dryer Sheets: The chemicals–including synthetic fragrances—found in conventional dryer sheets and fabric softeners are similar to what is found in conventional detergents. They’re largely questionable for human health and the environment. In addition, these disposable sheets end up in landfills after only one use. Either skip them entirely or purchase reusable sheets to address static cling. Popular brand include the Static Eliminator or Pure Eco Sheets(available on Amazon.com and other online sources). Reusable sheets are typically good for 500 loads. Hang Clothes to Dry: Keeping your clothes out of a dryer extends their life, reduces energy use, and cuts costs. Whether you use an indoor or outdoor drying rack, line drying can be done year round. Just don’t put dark colors in bright sunlight or they’ll fade. Bonus: Indoor rack drying during the winter doubles as a humidifier. Enjoy the savings, health and environmental benefits of doing your laundry the eco-friendly way. Resources: www.realsimple.com Originally printed in jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Eco-Tips for When You are Out of Doors

May 7, 2013 No Comments

Spring is here and that means most people will be spending more time outdoors. As the temperature climbs it is important to be conscious of the health and environmental impact of your outdoor activities. Being mindful of environmental concerns will be safer and will lead to less waste. Being eco-friendly outside is a great way to honor God’s creation, the Earth. Use natural methods to protect against the sun: Use of sunscreens is commonplace from May through August. Many sunscreens, however, contain chemicals and may be harmful to the skin and the environment. Look for a sunscreen made with organic ingredients and no chemicals. Read the label before you buy anything. Brands such as Alba Botanica and Jason Natural Cosmetics carry natural sunscreen products. Adorable Baby and Earth’s Best are a few safe brands for infants and young children. Also don’t forget to wear a wide brimmed hat during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest, a natural sun protection technique. Make or buy natural insect repellents: Bug repellents are often essential in the warm weather, particularly if you hike or camp in areas, where mosquitoes, ticks and other dangerous insects dwell. However, most insect repellents contain DEET, which is toxic. Rather than putting a bug spray heavy with DEET on your skin, consider making your own repellent using essential oils, vegetable oil and aloe vera gel (see recipe below). If you prefer a store-bought brand, you can typically find natural bug repellents at health food stores and groceries such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Weigh the pros and cons of grills: Many people enjoy grilling food outdoors in the spring or summer. If you are a fan of grilling, consider the environmental impact of the type of grill you use. In general, it is best to avoid charcoal grills, because they emit twice as much carbon as gas grills. The lighter fluid used on charcoal grills also adversely affects the ozone layer. You are better off using an energy efficient gas grill, which uses less energy, has a quicker start time and emits less smoke. Also consider investing in newer grilling methods on the market, such as pellet grills and hybrid grills. These are better for the environment than gas grills, although they are often harder to find and currently more expensive to buy than other types of grills. Enjoy heading outdoors the earth-friendly way! Homemade Insect Repellent Recipe: 10-25 drops essential oil. Try lavender, rose geranium (for ticks), coriander seeds, peppermint, cajeput and citronella 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel (optional) Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; stir to blend. Dab a few drops on your skin or clothing Originally posted on jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Eco Friendly Baby

April 10, 2013 No Comments

If you are expecting a baby or have little ones in your home, you may be wondering how to surround your infant or toddler with products that are environmentally safe. Below are a few suggestions that will help reduce waste (baal tashchit) and keep your baby healthy too. Make your own organic baby food—The safest food for your baby is the same fresh, organic food you eat. Rather than worry about additives in store bought baby food and the waste caused by purchasing all of those little jars, buy a baby food grinder. After pureeing items, you can also make extra for later use by putting the food in ice cube trays and then transferring the cubes to a plastic bag or container to freeze. Buy all natural bath and skin care products—Look for items like baby shampoo and lotion that have no added chemicals. A few national brands such as Burt’s Bees and Seventh Generation make these products. Natural personal care items for baby are safer and more gentle for the skin. These products also are not petroleum based so they do not contain fossil fuels. Excessive use of fossil fuels is harmful to the planet. Use a more eco-friendly diaper– There is some debate about whether or not cloth diapers are really better for the environment than disposables. This is because cloth diapers need to be washed in very hot water in a washing machine. Also, if you are using a diaper service you have to factor in the transportation costs for the service truck. One alternative if you are not sure which way to go is to look for a more eco-friendly disposable diapers. You can find natural brands that use recycled materials and that don’t use chlorine bleach as part of processing in some supermarkets and natural food stores. Another alternative is to use a combination of cloth and disposable, such as cloth at home and disposables when out. Look for organic cotton clothes– Cotton is a natural fiber and so it is a good fabric for baby clothes. But conventional cotton is grown with large amounts of water and pesticides. So look for organic cotton clothing for your little one. Making these earth-friendly choices for your baby will help both your child and the planet. This post was originally posted on jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Greening Passover

March 8, 2013 No Comments

Passover celebrates the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery to freedom. It is also rooted in the agricultural cycle of the year and coincides this year with the beginning of spring. It references a time when our ancestors were more connected on a daily basis to the natural world. To become more connected to the Earth and go “eco friendly” for this holiday, consider following all or some of the tips below: Help the environment by reducing waste as you empty your home of chametz (leavened foods such as breads, pastas, etc). Give leftover bread and grain-based items to area food pantries rather than throwing them out. Clean your house using environmentally friendly cleaning products. As much as possible, buy your Passover fruits and vegetables from local, organic sources. This reduces your carbon footprint as you will not be purchasing produce flown in from hundreds of miles away. Use soy or beeswax candles for your Passover table. These create less soot and are more sustainable than paraffin candles. Avoid disposable plates and utensils. If your level of observance requires using separate dinnerware during Passover, invest in purchasing separate dishes that you can use over again each year. Don’t clog landfills by using plates, cups and cutlery that get thrown away after a single use. Use washable napkins and a washable table cloth for your Seders. This is another way to reduce waste. If travelling for Passover, consider carpooling with others and travelling at off-peak times to avoid wasting gas. Have a joyous and green Passover! This post originally appeared as part of Planet Jewish on jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Tips for a Sustainable Purim

February 12, 2013 No Comments

Coming up toward the end of the month of February is the Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim celebrates unity and community as we commemorate how we were rescued from Haman’s plot to kill the Jewish people. Purim is a holiday with many wonderful traditions. These include delivering gift baskets of food to friends (the practice of Shalach Manot); dressing up (and/or dressing up your children) as characters from the Book of Esther; and baking and eating Hamantashen, fruit-filled pastries in the shape of the evil Haman’s hat. Below are some tips to follow to make your Purim gift giving, baking and costume creation more environmentally friendly. Switch from a basket to a reusable container: Instead of placing your gifts in a basket that will end up in a landfill, try a reusable container. This can be a reusable bag, a mug, a glass container, a pasta drainer or a similar item that can be used all year long. Include healthy snacks in your gift package: Make at least part of your gift bag healthy, including organic fruits and fair trade chocolate in the package Make your own costumes: Invite your children to raid their parents’ closets to look for outfits, shoes, hats and jewelry that befit a Queen Esther or Mordechai; or do a clothing swap with friends to find just what you need for a Purim costume Donate any unneeded gift items: If you find you have an excess of food after receiving your Shalach Manot, donate the unopened leftovers to a local food pantry or homeless shelter to benefit those in need. Bake healthy versions of Hamantashen: Make your own Hamantashen with locally produced and organic jams and jellies. You can often find these at indoor winter farmers’ markets. Use whole wheat organic flour for the pastry. Resources: Sviva Israel www.svivaisrael.org This blog originally appeared in jewishinslouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345 Permalink Next

Honoring the Environment for Tu B’Shevat

January 9, 2013 No Comments

January in the secular calendar brings the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat. Tu B’Shevat celebrates the New Year of the Trees and was thought to have originated as an agricultural festival marking the emergence of spring. Today, Jews celebrate Tu B’Shevat by expressing thankfulness for trees, harvests and the natural world. What better time to think about individual steps you can take even in the dead of winter to help the environment. Below are a few simple things you can do to help protect forests, along with ways to be more mindful of your paper use in honor of the New Year of the Trees: Buy a forest-friendly alternative to an everyday product: Buy a reusable travel mug so you don’t have to use a disposable paper cup from your local coffee shop. If you plan to purchase greeting cards or stationery, look for products made with recycled paper with at least50 percent post consumer waste Look for the FSC label: If you are buying paper in bulk for home or the office, look for paper that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Paper products with the FSC label have been certified to come from forests that are being managed to the highest environmental standards. Go to a waste free lunch: If you typically pack a brown bag lunch for yourself or your kids, change from a brown bag to a reusable one. Reduce plastic waste as well by using washable containers or reusable sandwich bags instead of disposable sandwich bags. Support advocacy efforts to preserve forests: Organizations such as the Pew Environmental Trust have initiatives that aim to preserve our forests and prevent deforestation. Find out more at www.ourforests.org. Chag Sameach! Originally posted in jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Green Gifting (for Hanukkah)

December 5, 2012 No Comments

In a prior Planet Jewish blog we provided you with suggestions for making your Hanukkah celebration more eco-friendly. In the spirit of reducing waste (baal tashchit) and tilling and tending planet Earth for generations to come, here are some specific suggestions for green gifting over the eight nights of the holiday. Give Alternatives to “Stuff”: Consider giving gifts that do not create waste. Give a museum membership, tickets to a play or a certificate to a local restaurant. Buy Gifts at Fair Trade stores: One way to show that you care about the environment is to purchase gifts at fair trade stores. Items you purchase typically are made by local artisans and buying handmade jewelry, bags and clothes from fair trade shops helps provide a living wage for these artisans. Typically products sold are made from natural and organic materials. Patronize Winter Farmers’ Markets: Even though the prime season for area farmers’ markets has ended, most communities continue to have winter farmers’ markets on a weekly or monthly basis. (In Saint Louis, the Maplewood Farmers Market operates inside Schlafly’s Bottleworks Restaurant monthly. More information is at: (http://www.maplewoodfarmersmarket.com/). At these markets, you can buy locally made jams, jellies, soaps and similar items. These make great gifts. Look for Gifts from your Favorite Environmental Organization: Several national environmental organizations sell clothing, bags, calendars and similar items either online through their websites or at bookstores in your neighborhood. A portion of the sales price benefits the organization and its environmental mission. Give Recycled Items: Some locally owned stores carry items that have been recycled from other products. This is a great alternative to a mass-produced present. Your unique gift of recycled art, jewelry, a handbag or similar item will keep items out of landfills and offer your loved one something that is truly unique. Happy Hanukkah! Originally posted in jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Celebrate America Recycles Day

November 13, 2012 No Comments

Thursday November 15 is America Recycles Day, a program dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Recycling is a great way to reduce the amount of waste generated and thus to honor the Jewish principle of Baal Tashhit. Why Recycling Is Important: Recycling saves energy, conserves natural resources and creates green jobs The national recycling rate of 34 percent annually saves the energy equivalent of nearly 229 million barrels of oil The national recycling rate of 34 percent annually avoids greenhouse gas emissions of the equivalent of removing more than 36 million cars from the road Where and How to Recycle Non-Paper and Plastic Items: While curbside recycling is common in most areas for items such as paper, aluminum and certain types of plastic, there are many other items that can easily be recycled in your community. These include: Rechargeable Batteries, Cell Phones and Audio Equipment—a number of local retailers will take these items to keep them out of landfills. Check with your local hardware store or chains such as Radio Shack. Also check out the website Earth911.com for recycling locations near you. Medical equipment—for medical equipment that you no longer need, a great resource in Saint Louis is the Saint Louis Health Equipment Lending Program (STL HELP). HELP will take your donated items, clean them and refurbish them and loan them to people in need whose insurance does not cover rental or purchase of such devices. Any items STL HELP can’t use will be donated to other agencies that can use them. Contact STL HELP at 314-567-4700 or go to www.stlhelp.org CFL Light bulbs—These items also can be brought to retailers in your community to be recycled safely. Home Depot has a national CFL Bulb Recycling Initiative, as do many other hardware store chains and locally owned hardware stores. Ameren Missouri also has a website that can direct you where to take bulbs that are no longer useable. (http://www.ameren.com/sites/aue/MyHome/ResEfficiency/Pages/EnergyEfficiencyLookup.aspx) Used gardening items—the Missouri Botanical Garden runs the most extensive public garden recycling program in the nation. Items that can be recycled include plastic garden pots, polystyrene cell packs and trays. Last year the plastic pot recycling program collected a record 140,000 pounds of horticultural waste. Collection sites include not only the Garden but a large number of additional locations throughout Saint Louis City and County. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/gardening-in-br-st.-louis/plastic-pot-recycling.aspx Happy Recycling!

Green Your High Holidays

September 12, 2012 No Comments

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are right around the corner. There are a number of things you can do as a way to resolve to be more environmentally aware this new year. Use local and organic ingredients in your meals: The healthiest foods for the holiday are foods that are grown locally without any pesticides. Food purchased from local farmers or that you grow yourself will be fresher and have a higher nutritional content than food flown in from hundreds of miles or more away. If you are planning to serve the traditional snack of apples and honey, consider that eating locally made honey has been shown to reduce the severity of allergies as well. Turn off your gadgets: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are holidays that focus both on spending time in worship and spending time with friends and family. Turning off your phone, tablet, iPod and other gadgets will keep you focused on what the holidays are about and reduce your energy use at the same time. Decorate your holiday table naturally: Head to your backyard or a local park and create a natural centerpiece for your holiday table. A basket with acorns, pinecones and colorful leaves will make the holiday festive. Avoid purchasing centerpiece items that will go right to the landfill when you are done using them. Get to services more sustainably: If your level of observance involves walking to services for the High Holidays, you are already doing what you can to have a transportation carbon footprint equal to zero. If you don’t or can’t walk to services, carpool wherever possible with family, neighbors and friends. Another option is to take public transportation if your synagogue is near a bus, train or light rail line. Best wishes for a sweet and green New Year! This blog originally appeared on jewsininstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog_post.aspx?id=5972

Don’t Buy Bottled Water

August 7, 2012 No Comments

One of the core tenets of Judaism that links it to the environmental movement is the tenet of Baal Tashchit: “do not waste” or “do not destroy.” While it may be convenient, especially in the summer heat, to buy a bottle of disposable bottled water, there are many environmental and health reasons why you should resist this urge. Why Bottled Water is Bad for the Environment: Consider these statistics from the non-profit organization Food and Water Watch before you spend money on bottled water: As much as 40 percent of bottled water is nothing more than bottled tap water The production of bottled water poses many environmental and health hazards; these include the fact that producing the bottles uses energy and emits toxic chemicals and that transporting the bottles across hundreds of miles negatively impacts climate change by wasting fossil fuels Approximately 75 percent of plastic water bottles are never recycled, despite being in demand by recyclers due to the high quality of the plastics used; these bottles will instead end up in landfills What are the Alternatives: The best alternative to purchasing bottled water is to drink water from the tap. Saint Louis ranks first in the nation in the quality of its tap water. However, if you are looking for the purest quality water or don’t like the aftertaste of tap water, the best alternative is to purchase a water filter (either pitcher form or to attach to your water faucet). Water on the Go: If you need water and you will be on the go or travelling out of town, use these simple steps to get the best quality water without the high cost to the environment and your health: Purchase a stainless steel reusable water bottle or a stainless steel thermos; fill it with tap water from home or with tap water at the airport if you are flying and can’t take water with you past the security screeners at the airport. If you are concerned about tap water quality, buy a reusable water bottle that has a built-in water filter. The next time you are tempted to take the easy route and purchase a single, disposable water bottle, remember the costs of doing so. Rather than spending money on water that is essentially the same as what you get from the tap and supporting the wasted resources that go into making that plastic bottle, reach for your reusable bottle instead. Resources: Food and Water Watch “Take Back the Tap” http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/reports/take-back-the-tap/ Originally posted in jewishinstlouis at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345

Eco-Friendly Clothing

July 9, 2012 No Comments

Consider your closet as a possible way to help the planet. It can be difficult to find eco-friendly fabrics. Many clothes are made from petroleum based fabrics, such as polyester. Even natural fabrics are grown or treated with major amounts of pesticides and chemicals that aren’t good for the environment. When possible, look for organic cotton. While they aren’t yet widely available, you can also try to find clothes with labels certifying the clothing as fair trade or environmentally friendly, such as Fair Trade Certified, GOTS – The Global Organic Textile Standard, and Oeko Tex 100 certified. Since it’s difficult to find eco-friendly clothes, try to reduce the amount of new clothing that you buy. At the time of purchase, consider whether the article will last for you. Some trendier items will clearly be discarded after a short time. Consider trying to buy styles that will be suited for a longer lifespan. Be sure that you really like the clothing you buy so that you don’t end up with a closet full of items that have only been worn a few times. Also, keep your closet organized, so that you don’t buy more of something that you already have. Consider alterations or re-purposing for items that no longer fit or that have gone out of style. Try a re-weaving company, such as Denim Therapy, to mend the holes in your jeans. When it’s time to buy new clothes, consider e-bay and vintage or re-sale shops. These are especially helpful for children’s clothes, since childrenoften grow faster than the time it takes to show much wear on their clothes. Another way to recycle is to have a clothing swap with friends or colleagues, such as members of your book club, yoga class or members of an organization you belong to. You should also consider the impact of cleaning your clothes. Dry cleaning uses many chemicals so you should try to buy clothes that don’t need to be dry cleaned. For those that do need dry cleaning, try to let them breathe on a hanger for 24 hours before stuffing them back on the rod between other clothes. Airing your clothes will significantly reduce the need for dry cleaning, which is good for the environment and for your wallet. When you wash clothes, aim for cooler water and cooler drying temperature, when possible. Laying out some of your items to dry helps the environment and keeps your clothes looking nice longer. And remember to donate your used clothes to clothing drives or to charitable re-sale shops. You will be helping others, as well as keeping items out of landfills. Originally posted on jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog_post.aspx?id=5452

Eco-Friendly Dining Out

June 5, 2012 No Comments

It is probably easier to be eco-conscious when you cook your own food. You can better control the source and packaging of the food you buy. You can manage waste and energy use and you can recycle. However, there are some things you can do to be eco-friendly when eating out. Consider the source of the food: Try to patronize restaurants that use organic, local, and seasonal products. Consider that much of the food ordered in restaurants is wasted. Think about how much you really will eat before you order. You might also inquire about the kind of packaging used for take-home containers before ordering or bring your own reusable container to the restaurant to package your extra food. Avoid restaurants that use lots of wrapping, packaging, disposables, and Styrofoam. Whenever possible, order tap water instead of bottled water. Consider eco-friendly travel to the restaurant. Can you walk or ride your bike? There are currently 5 restaurants in the St. Louis area that have received Green Certification from the Green Restaurant Association. The GRA considers such things as water and energy efficiency, disposables, waste reduction and recycling, and sustainable food and furnishings. To find these restaurants, go to www.dinegreen.com. Many restaurants have comment cards. Consider suggesting that the restaurant engage in eco-friendly practices. Many restaurants find that they can reduce costs when they manage energy and reduce waste and many diners are glad to know that they are supporting a restaurant that cares about the environment. Originally posted in jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog_post.aspx?id=5594 Comments

Eco-friendly Summer

May 7, 2012 No Comments

Summer will be here before you know it. One way to be a better guardian of the Earth and to follow the Jewish imperative of bal tashchit (do not waste) is to take some simple steps to keep your home naturally cool in the summer months. Here are a few ways to make that happen: — Close your curtains: During the heat of the day, close your curtains or blinds. This blocks the sun’s rays so that less air conditioning will be needed to cool your home. — Keep the oven off: As much as possible on hot days, use the microwave, toaster oven and/or the outdoor grill for cooking needs. Or, make cold soups and entrees when it is very warm out. This will keep your house cooler and could reduce your energy use by 50 percent during the hottest months of the year. — Use ceiling fans: Ceiling fans use very little energy and help cool things down in the summer. Make sure to spin the fans counter clockwise to blow air down and create a breeze. — Keep the whole house furnace fan running during the summer: This will help eliminate hot zones and reduce the amount of time that the air conditioner runs. — Service your cooling system every spring/summer: Be sure to have your air conditioning system checked by a professional service once each summer. Using a professional service will ensure that your A/C system is running efficiently and that all filters are clean or get replaced as needed. An efficient system will keep your cooling bills lower and result in less waste. –Plant trees to shade your house: This is part of a long-term plan to reduce the use of the air conditioner. Following these simple tips will help you get through the summer heat while keeping energy costs and your carbon footprint down Originally posted on jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog_post.aspx?id=5452

JEI Teen Group Native Plant Sale/Rain Barrel Raffle a Success

May 4, 2012 No Comments

The JEI Teen Group organized its second annual Native Plant Sale/Rain Barrel Raffle on April 29. Over 100 plants were sold. Those attending also learned about the benefits of rain barrels as a way to reduce runoff and water waste. Thanks to Robinson's Rain Barrels for its wonderful rain barrel demo and for donating a rain barrel. Congratulations ton Fran Cantor who won the rain barrel raffle.

JEI Teen Group raises awareness on Earth Day

April 23, 2012 No Comments

The JEI Teen Group did a great job spreading the word to St. Louis area congregations about ways to go Green on Sunday April 22 (Earth Day). The Teen Group fanned out and gave two presentations: one at BSKI Mitzvah Day and one for the 8th grade class at Bnai Amoona. The teens talked about simple things congregants could do to reduce waste and lower their carbon footprints.

Reduce Workplace Waste

April 10, 2012 No Comments

Whether you own your own business or work for someone else, it is a good practice to be mindful of your energy use and use of office supplies during your work day. There are many simple practices that will allow you to use less energy and produce less waste. This pays off by helping the environment and lowering costs as well. Shut down your computer. According to a recent study by the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, computersare responsible for about 40% of the energy consumed by office equipment in the United States. One desktop computer left in full power mode for a year can result in 1,500 pounds of CO2 being released into the environment. Optimize your energy savings by shutting down your computer overnight and whenever you will be away from your desk for one hour or more during the day. Keep a paper scrap pile. To reduce paper waste in the office, keep a scrap pile near the office printer and copier. For internal documents, re-use the paper in the scrap pile before reaching for a new piece of paper. Have recycling bins everywhere. Just as important as having recycle bins for paper, cans and similar items is making sure staff and visitors know where to find them. Your office should have clear signage so people know where to put recycled items. Also consider having recycle bins out and visible at events and meetings sponsored by your office. Turn off and unplug small appliances. If you have an office microwave or coffee machine, make sure it is turned off and unplugged each night, or put it on a timer to have it automatically shut down. Plugged in items waste energy even when not in use. Bring your own mug and dishware. Instead of having disposable coffee cups, cold cups, plates and utensils, bring your own reusable items to use at lunchtime and snack time. Encourage others in the office to do the same. This will reduce waste and it will also save money otherwise spent on disposable paper items. Carpool to events. Make it a common practice to carpool with others in your office when you attend joint meetings and seminars. Every time you carpool, you help keep one or more cars off the road and also save your business money it would otherwise have to pay in mileage reimbursement. The Jewish imperative not to waste resources is derived from Deuteronomy (Chap. 20: 19-20) where the law of bal tashchit is found. This law tells us “don’t waste/destroy.” Taking the steps listed above will help you fulfill this commitment. This blog originally appeared in jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog_post.aspx?id=5331

Eco-Friendly Home

March 12, 2012 No Comments

Many people may not think about common purchases made at the grocery or home improvement store and their impact on the environment. However, as Jews commanded to till and tend the Earth and not to waste resources, we need to be mindful of the environmental and health effects of many products we routinely buy. Here’s a list of some commonly purchased items for the home, with an eye toward the more environmentally-conscious option when shopping in a store or online: • Paper goods—Items such as toilet paper, paper towels and tissues are a staple purchase for many. Consider, however, that traditional brands may contain dyes and they use products that have not been recycled. To lessen the impact on the environment and save some trees, switch to recycled paper goods. Look for brands such as Seventh Generation, Trader Joe’s and First Circle. Better yet, use washable napkins and towels that can be reused over again rather than thrown in the trash. • Candles—Candles are a staple in many Jewish rituals. However, most traditional candles sold for use on Shabbat, Hanukkah and for Havdalah are made of paraffin. Paraffin candles are made from fossil fuels and also produce smoke when burning. A better option is to make or purchase beeswax or soy candles. Both soy and beeswax candles are natural (there is no processing involved so there are no chemical by-products) and clean burning. A simple Internet search using the terms “soy Shabbat candles” or “beeswax Shabbat candles” will lead you to companies that sell this more eco-friendly option. • Dryer sheets—Regular disposable dryer sheets to reduce static cling are popular. However, they are wasteful because they are used only once and then thrown away. They typically also contain unnecessary and unhealthy dyes, chemicals and perfumes. Switch to reusable static eliminator dryer sheets. These, too, can be found via the Internet. One sheet can last for a year or more. Through a few simple steps, you can change your buying habits. These simple changes will benefit the environment and make your home a healthier place as well. This post originally appeared in jewsishinstlouis at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345 Permalink Next Comments

To Rent or Own?

February 8, 2012 No Comments

One of the best ways to help tend the Earth and promote the Jewish value of bal tashchit (reducing wastefulness) is by reducing the amount of things you buy but don’t really need on a daily basis. There are many items that might not be on your list when you first think of products to rent such as camping equipment, toys or handbags. Below are some suggestions that can save you money and help the planet. Please note: JEI does not vouch for any particular rental site listed in this blog. It is suggested that you engage in due diligence with respect to any online provider, such as asking for recommendations and checking with the Better Business Bureau before using a site. Camping equipment: Unless you are an avid camper, chances are you don’t need to buy expensive equipment that will sit in your basement most of the year. Consider renting items such as tents, backpacks and insulated low-temperature sleeping bags. REI is one retailer that rents out equipment. You can find out more about what items are available for rental near where you live at http://www.rei.com/stores/rentals.html. Handbags: If you need a fancy handbag for a special occasion, consider renting one for a week. There are several sites that offer a range of bags at a variety of prices to suit your needs and budget. A few companies to look into are www.bagborroworsteal.com (which also offers a range of insurance plans for your rental), www.frombagstoriches.com and www.rentmeahandbag.com . Some of these services do charge a monthly fee or a registration fee, so check websites carefully. Toys: Because children often lose interest in that new toy after the novelty wears off, renting toys for a limited time can be appealing. There are several companies that offer toy rental options. If you are going this route, make sure that the company you use guarantees the cleanliness of whatever it rents and has a reasonable policy if a toy breaks. Some companies even offer a rent to own option, so that if you rent a toy that becomes a favorite your child doesn’t have to part with it. Sites to check out include http://babyplays.com, www.toygaroo.com and http://mybusybucket.com. Next time you need an item that you doubt you will be using long-term or that will be outgrown, ask around or do a web search and see if it is available on a rental basis. There may be more options than you think. This blog originally appeared on jewishinstlouis.org at http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/blog.aspx?id=345 Comments

Home of the Jewish-Environmental Movement

Author: Owner of Jewish Environmental Initiative, a committee of the JCRC of Saint Louis