Home > Family Life & Community > UME Healthy Homes > Green Resources
Green Resources
Index of Green Resources:
- New EPA Web Site Provides Tools to Cut Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from HomesFYI
- Design Decisions
- House Smart: Solutions for Managing Clutter
- Green Healthcare
- Green Pharmacy Program
- Go Green!
- "What is Green? Knowledge Cards"
- The Green Calendar
- TerraChoice
- Green Index
Energy News Brief: New EPA Web Site Provides Tools to Cut Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from HomesFYI
EPA has new website on "green" homes. It includes a section on "protecting your health" that includes a number of health in housing concerns.
For more information click here: www.epa.gov
A new 4 H publication written by Shirley Neimeyer that includes environmental aspects. It is available from the University of Nebraska at (402) 472-9713.
Return to index of resources
“House Smart: Solutions for Managing Clutter”
New University of Connecticut publication available from Mary Ellen Welch, at mary.welch@uconn.edu
Green Healthcare
Institutions Health, Environment and Economics Institute of Medicine Workshop Report
This workshop was the 9th in a series of workshops sponsored by the Round-Table on Environmental Health Sciences. The workshop focused on environmental and health impacts of design, construction and operation of health care, one of the largest service industries in the U.S. Green healthcare is "the incorporation of environmentally friendly practices into healthcare delivery." Green healthcare is compelling because of its potential to protect and promote health. For example, a hospital can choose safe cleaning agents or limit the use of pesticides which in turn will reduces exposure to patients and workers. Hospitals and other healthcare institutions can purchase food, build and operate a green building, install floors constructed from sustainable harvested wood, all of which addresses sustainability and stewardship both locally and globally.
To learn more about green healthcare click here
Green Pharmacy Program
The Teleosis Institute's Green Pharmacy Program is helping communities safely dispose of expired/unwanted medications. A pilot program was launched in June, 2007 in Northern California, and during its first year, more than 2,000 lbs were collected mainly of expired pharmaceuticals. The goals of the program are to collect data on the common types of prescribed and disposed medications, quantify the monetary value of wasted medications, and to estimate environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals. A final report is planned this fall.
For more information on the Teleosis Institute or the Green Pharmacy Program see http://www.teleosis.org/index.php
Go Green!
Monthly Newsletter America is shifting to a green culture where 300 million citizens are embracing the fact that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility. To help, you can sign up to receive EPA's new consumer monthly newsletter, Go Green! EPA launched the electronic newsletter to provide information about activities and events that we can use in our homes, communities, and offices. To join go to: http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/gogreen
“What is Green? Knowledge Cards"
Available from www.pomegranate.com.
Cost $9.95 a set and are very good quality, heavy cardboard and laminated. There are about 48 cards in each deck regarding the following topics:
- The Earth Friendly House – facts about both building and renovating homes for a higher level of greenness
- Air Quality
- Water Quality
- The EcoQuiz Deck
- What Happened Here? Events in America’s Environmental History
The Green Calendar
www.scrap-sf.org
Are you looking for ways to donate items as part of spring cleaning and clutter reduction? This web site includes links to other sites that encourages the donation of reusable materials for arts and crafts projects.
TerraChoice
In November 2007 TerraChoice Environmental Marketing published a report based on research conducted in 6 big box stores. They evaluated 1,018 products (all typical household items) to determine if the environmental claims made on the label were accurate or represented greenwashing.
TerraChoice’s definition is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. The full report which includes interesting discussion and product examples is available at their web site:
In addition to examples of the ‘Six Sins of Greenwashing’ the report provides a useful information about environmental product certification in Appendix B. Don’t worry this is not a long read – the entire report is only 12 pages. There is even a wallet card to help you remember the six sins when shopping and evaluating product claims.
TerraChoice’s Six Sins are: Hidden Trade-Offs, No Proof, Vagueness, Irrelevance, Lesser of Two Evils and Fibbing. Check at home and see if you've purchased any green washed products recently!
Green Index
ShareThisFor more information, contact Lis Maring
Last updated: 06/20/2010