BiG TeA PaRtY Sustainable Living

BiG TeA PaRtY is back from our 2010 “Vegetable Awareness Campaign” at Playa Del Fuego. Check back next week for our report and photo essay. For now, take a look at last year’s event:

BiG TeA PaRtY Sustainable Living at Playa del Fuego, Odessa Delaware — Spring 2009

Posted by Elizabeth Fiend

Enjoy some photos of our event, a tea party for 150 people featuring tea that BiG TeA PaRtY’s host Elizabeth Fiend made from herbs she grew in her garden.  Read some of the sustainable tips that BiG TeA PaRtY editor VaLerie K, BiG TeA PaRtY music/sound designer Allen Fiend, and fellow campers Susan and Chip promoted at our Sustainable Living Camp.

Tread  lightly. REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.

•    HOT  TIP: Make  your radiators  more efficient  by  placing reflective  panels  or sheets  of  aluminum foil  behind  them  as this  will  bounce  the heat  back  into  the room.

•    COLD TIP: Fill up that freezer and fridge. It requires less energy to cool a full freezer than an empty one. Should you not have enough to fill it, add some plastic bottles filled with water or even old newspapers – until you need the space.

•    eCycle it! Take your old computer, DVD player, or other electronics to an electronics recycling center. Reusing and recycling materials like copper, gold, and others saves natural resources and reduces mining and processing. eCycling also helps avoid land, air, and water pollution by capturing and reusing hazardous substances such as lead or chromium. Check EARTH911.com for eCycle centers near you.

•    Don’t Be a Drip Fix That Leak! Leaky faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each year, like money down the drain.  Repair or replace old or damaged fixtures.

•    Save electricity, unplug as many appliances as possible.  If  the  appliances  are  plugged  in,  they  continue  to  use  up energy  even  if  you switch  them  off.

•    Compost It!
i.    Compost improves soil so it holds more water & plants grow better.
ii.    Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.
iii.    Food scraps and kitchen waste also make good compost, and you save money on fertilizers or other additives.
iv.    Certain non-recyclable paper products (such as tissues, napkins, and egg cartons) can be added to your compost. Their fibers will aerate the compost and help the organisms that encourage decomposition.

•    The use of A/C can increase your electricity bill by 33 %. A  fan  requires  one  tenth  of  the  energy  used  by  an A/C  system.  Sunshades,  blinds,  shutters  and  the  cool  of  the  night  use  no energy  at  all.

•    Avoid wasting water while brushing your teeth or shaving, and save up to 10 liters of water each time. TIP: Use  a  mug  of water  and  turn  the tap  off  so  you  only use  what  you  need.

•    Let your hot food cool down before putting it in the refrigerator.  Defrost food from the freezer in the fridge. Both will save you money on your energy bill.  Also, remember to keep the fridge door open for only as long as you need it.

•    YOUR DIET AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT.

i.    Eat less meat. Production of meat consumes enormous amounts of energy, not only for the growth and transport of animal feed, but also for the heating, air conditioning, and lighting of the immense animal farms. Changing to a diet with less meat helps the environment, but is also good for your health.
ii.    The production of butter, cheese and other dairy products with high fat content accounts for high greenhouse gas emissions as well as for eutrophication (depletion of oxygen in water) of groundwater, rivers and seas.
iii.    Globally, around 70 % of all agricultural land is used for livestock production.

•    Don’t start a washing machine unless it is fully loaded with laundry or dishes. Its energy and   water consumption will be the same whether it’s full or empty so you might as well optimize its cycle.

•    Decrease your CO2 emissions and keep your electricity bills low by making the most of natural light.

•    Think about choosing pale-colored walls, ceilings and floors, as well as mirrors, to reflect the daylight.

•    HOT  TIP: Make  your radiators  more efficient  by  placing reflective  panels  or sheets  of  aluminum foil  behind  them  as this  will  bounce  the heat  back  into  the room.

•    COLD TIP: Fill up that freezer and fridge. It requires less energy to cool a full freezer than an empty one. Should you not have enough to fill it, add some plastic bottles filled with water or even old newspapers – until you need the space.

•    Clean  the  dusty coils  behind  your refrigerator  to help  disperse  the heat  to  increase the  energy

efficiency  of  the refrigerator. FACT: Dusty coils can waste as much as 30 % extra electricity!

•    Put a lid on your pots when cooking. You can save up to a quarter of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Pressure cookers and steamers are even better:  They can save around 70 %!

 These facts come from:
The American Environmental Protection Agency and
The European Environment Agency

For more information on Playa del Fuego check out my article here.

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