Thinking Green Starts in the Home -Proszek

Our Summit group's environmentally conscious project involves eco-friendly thinking at Boyd Elementary. It is therefore likely that our primary efforts will be concentrated at the school and in the immediate community. One place where I did not think we would have to focus our efforts, however, is in our own home. At the end of last semester, the acceptance of our "Think Green" project came with the promise of a energy-smart home that reflected the core ideals of the project.

Upon our arrival this semester, my group discovered that the "green standards" of our humble abode were barely above average. Thus we have taken on a new challenge of reducing our carbon footprint in our apartment. Here are a few of the problems and solutions that we are working toward this semester:

1. Recycling: Initially the only recycling option available was one black bin on each floor. The only collectible recycling bin is all the way down central street. Our solution is to place three large bins on each floor of the house. One for glass, cardboard, and aluminum, while keeping the small black recycling bin for paper. In addition to adding recycling bins to the house we are going to petition the university to place a collectible recycling bin in the Summit parking lot.

2. Appliances: Currently our dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer are the same out-dated systems that are common to all Summit apartments.These appliances must be switched out with more energy efficient systems in order for our group to reduce our carbon footprint. We hope to find and purchase energy efficient appliances with some of our budget money for both floors of our apartment.

3. Renovations: Small home projects that can reduce our energy consumption have not been performed in the house. Caulking windows, foaming the space between electrical outlets, readjusting the hot water temperature, and installing solar panels are all innovations which could help make this house more green.

Again, as the semester progresses, our group will concentrate our efforts not only at Boyd Elementary, but also at the home to make sure that we think green at all times.