Eco-Audit Summary:

 

What we're doing well

 Household energy:

            Passive solar at karma and at Laird's window

            Energy-saving appliances:  white house undersized fridge,on-demand heaters, efficient washing

                 machine.

            Doing without appliances:  no dishwasher, no air conditioners, no wash dryers

            Using mostly compact fluorescent lights

            Use solar ovens for drying beans, dehydrating foods, prewarming

            Recycle batteries

 

Heating with Wood:

             Renewable resource

             White house stove has a catalytic converter

             Keep temperatures 65 day/ 60 night on average

 

New Construction:

            New materials are "green" such as cotton insulation.

            High R-values, well sealed, double-pane windows

            Use salvaged, recycled and our own lumber.

 

Water Use:

            No lawn watering; no swimming pool; no flush toilets

            Drip irrigation

            Using pond and rainwater in 2/3 of the gardens

            Low-flow shower head

            Few leaky faucets

 

Transportation:

            Car pool

            Use mass transit for long distances

            No commuting; few recreational trips

            Cars are kept tuned (reduces up to 40% emissions)

            Use high mpg/low octane/ used vehicles

            No riding lawn mowers, recreational vehicles

 

Consumerism:

            Mostly second hand durable goods

            Shop fair trade on new items.

            Import little amounts of food packaging

            Rarely use public landfills

            Grow our own meat (beef has highest environmental impact of commercially grown common food)

            Use "green"household/personal care products

            Try to buy locally

            Try to eat bioregionally

            Do not cultivate exotic plants or animals.

 

 

 

Paper Use:

            Magazine subscriptions by trade

            Use both sides of paper for most office work

            Actively reduce junk mail.

 

Toxic chemicals:

            We use "green" home supplies.

            We do not use dry cleaning services.

            We recycle our vehicle motor oil and batteries.

                                                                                   

Packaging:

            Where possible, we buy in bulk.

            We reuse styrofoam peanuts, etc in our shipping.

            We carry our own cups when travelling.

 

Recycling and Composting:

            We recycle as much as our local centers will accept.

            We fully compost our food waste.

 

Activism:

            We sign petitions.

            We maintain a three mile section of highway cleanup

            Our assets are invested in "green" accounts.

 

Land Use:

            We are building soil, reducing erosion, selectively harvesting from our woods, introducing native species, not allowing aerial or other spraying, crops are certified organic.

 

Livelihood:

            We do not depend on cars or high technology for a good time. 

 

Family Planning:

            Our children are raised within an environmental ethic.  Family planning is practiced.

 

 

 

Potential Actions:

            Actively ask for organics at local supermarkets.

            Talk with local managers, govt about wasteful practices.

            Actively email petitions for various environmental organizations.

            Get antijunk mail kit for $7.50

            Donate money to green campaigns/organizations.

           

Share information on green issues through emails, salonsÉ

            Buy through www.used.recycle.net  or www.coopamerica.net

            Support local freecycle chapter (free trade of household items)

            Check out www.give.org for cash support for environmental initiatives

 

 

Consider such advocacy groups as 20/20 vision:  www.20/20vision.org

league of conservation voters  www.lcv.org and consumer information center www.pueblo.gsa.gov

 

Research reflective coatings for single pane windows.

 

Install ceiling fan in karma

            Consider humidifier for karma and dharma (makes temp feel warmer)

            Consider catalytic converters for dharma and the pig (1/3 fewer emissions)

            Consider replacing white house converter with a new one.

 

Build small solar cooker for meals.

Set up sunshowers for growing season

 

           

Reuse rainwater from Karma for spring seedlings.

            Fix leaky spigots in south garden.

 

            travel with fork and spoon as well as cup

                                   

review electric heater/fan use

           

find innovative ways to reuse gray water

           

research synthetic motor oils (www.synlube.com)

            research re-refined motor oil

            consider retread tires

            research scrap tire recycle(home.snafu.de/kurtr/str/)

           

 

Our scores:               Impact               Action

Section I                      23                    16

Section II                     34.5                 15

Section III                   5                      15       

Section IV                   2                      20

Section V                     40                    120     

Section VI                   16                    44

Section VII                  7                      47                                           

Section VIII                 8                      31

Section IX                   23                    64

Section X                     22                    25

Section XI                   0                      56

Section XII                  1                      13

Section XIII                 0                      44

Section XIV                 50                    48

 

                                    231.5               558

Results:  We qualify as an "eco-mentor" in our impact category (number 3 out of 8, 1 being the least impact)

        and,  we qualify a "awesome" in the action category (number 5 out of 5, 5 being the most active)