2010 Fort Carson Sustainability & Environmental Planning Guide Buy ‘green’ for cleaner

environment

T
“Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual

June consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions

that underlie our lifestyles. “ — David Suzuki
here are a number of
ways for organizations,
units and individuals to
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
improve their “green”
status through how they purchase,
REUSE - don’t buy new use and ultimately dispose of
RECYCLE - donate - pair your old pieces
products. The following are 10
REDUCE - having a your gently used items of furniture with fresh
party? Use electronic to charity - and do accessories or add a ideas on how to become a more
invitations. some shopping while cover to the couch and sustainable consumer:
you are there. a new accent pillow for 1. Research products to find less toxic alternatives to paints, carpeting and
a fresh new look. cleaning supplies for homes and offices. For more information about
30 31 1 2 3 4 5 green purchasing, visit http://www.fedcenter.gov/janitor/ or the Green
Seal Product Recommendations website at http://www.greenseal.org/
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER CERTIFICATION TRAINING findaproduct/index.cfm.
0900-1600 Green Bldg. - #2410 | Advanced registration & orders required
2. Buy Energy Star rated appliances to reduce energy consumption, the
resources used to produce electricity and to save on utility expenses. To find
out more, visit http://www.energystar.gov.
3. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs – they last longer and reduce energy
consumption. According to the Department of Energy’s Energy Star website,
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs use at least two-thirds
EQCC GC Sustainability EO/BEM Training less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, provide the same amount of
0900-1100 Breakfast 1300-1330 light and last up to 10 times longer. They can save $30 or more in energy costs
bldg. 2410 0730 - 0900 Environmental
over each bulb’s lifetime. They generate 70 percent less heat, so they’re safer
(Green Bldg.) Location: Awareness
Pikes Peak Area Council 1330-1400 to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
flag day of Governments, bldg. 218 4. Request vendors, such as Fort Carson’s Envision Express store, to research
15 S. 7th St.,
Col Springs and purchase “green” office products.
Topic: Sustainable 5. Consider buying products from businesses that support and improve the
13 14 15 16 Procurement 17 18 19 quality of life for the local community, such as local produce markets.
6. Buy products with less packaging or come in recycled packaging – packaging
An easy way to be
Getting new carpet? sure your purchases requires resources and generates waste. Reuse bags multiple times.
Look for carpet made are environmentally 7. Invest in local goods and services, which reduce transportation requirements,
father’s Day

from recycled or friendly - if the fossil fuel consumption, air pollution and supports the local economy.
summer begins renewable materials ingredient list is long
such as recycled plastic or full of words difficult 8. Purchasing recycled-content products is the first step. Once an item is used,
bottles. to pronounce - look recycle what can be (e.g., re-recycle paper and any plastic containers). This is
elsewhere. called “closing the loop” in recycling and reduces the solid waste generated.
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
9. Properly dispose of left over household products, old electronics and medicine
July at the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Find out how, by
Don’t be mislead by visiting http://adm.elpasoco.com/NR/rdonlyres/DBDA53C1-A9E5-4749-
Keep in mind that clean
earth-friendly colors AF78-146255E5DD44/0/FacilityFlyer.pdf.
foil can be crumpled
on product labels - it
up and tossed into the 10. Use less or non-toxic pesticides and fertilizers when taking care of lawns and
doesn’t mean the
recycling bin unlike
product inside is outdoor plants. Certain amounts of products such as these end up draining in
plastic cling wrap.
“green”.
to the stormwater system and become part of someone else’s water supply
27 28 29 30 1 2 3 downstream.