Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome the host of Detox ...



Detox Your Domicile

FACILITATOR:

Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome the host of Detox Your Domicile, the home improvement program that shows you how to put the green in clean.

HOST:

Welcome to this week’s installment of DETOX YOUR DOMICILE, a special feature of PPN – the Pollution Prevention Network. Now let’s meet our experts—those Gallant Guardians of Green who have helped dozens of families make their homes healthier and safer places to live. Heeeeeere’s Les and Non Toxic. (Starts applauding)

LES and NONNIE:

Thank you, Thank you. (They sit in chairs placed next to the easel.)

HOST:

We have invited viewers to write to us about their air pollution problems. Each week we choose one of those letters and go for an on-the-spot visit from our PPN team. Our experts, Les and Nonnie, tour the winners’ home, advising them on ways to solve or lessen the pollution problems they are experiencing. So, let’s get started. (Turns to Nonnie) Nonnie, tell us the story behind today’s program.

NONNIE:

Today you will see us visiting the home of Omar and Olga Occupant. This young couple was having serious pollution-related problems directly affecting Olga’s health. Also, all the news reports about global warming were scaring them and they wanted to know if there were any things they could do to help. Here is what Mr. Occupant wrote. (Reads the letter.)

Dear Les and Non Toxic,

We need your help! My wife Olga and I have recently purchased an average home. Olga was just diagnosed with asthma. We have noticed that on days when we do chores around the house her breathing is worse. Our doctor gave us a list of changes we could make to help prevent her asthma attacks. Our Doctor said that some of the ordinary products we use in our home might be aggravating Olga’s breathing, and she mentioned your wonderful program, “Detox Your Domicile.” I am also very concerned about global warming and the kind of earth we will be leaving to our children. Is there anything we can do to make a difference? Please come visit, and show us what we can do to have cleaner air and reduce our exposure to toxics in and around our home.

Sincerely,

Omar and Olga Occupant

LES:

The good news is that people with respiratory ailments and the rest of us too can have healthier lifestyles by reducing air pollution. Many people don’t know that the air outside our homes is often cleaner than the air inside our homes. And there are very simple steps we all can take that will make a big difference to the environment. Before we take a look at what Nonnie and I found at the Occupants’ home, let’s pause for a word from our sponsor.

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The Kitchen

LES:

Thank you, sponsors. You’re doing a great job. And remember- (Vanna holds up baking soda cue sign and the audience repeats “Baking Soda Cleans Everything!”) Now back to the Occupants’ home. We’ll start with the kitchen. (The kitchen sketch is displayed on the easel.

As in most American homes, the cabinet under the sink in Omar and Olga’s kitchen is a major storage area for cleaning supplies. Even a quick glance revealed a hodgepodge of products designed to clean everything from dirty sneakers to fine china.

HOST:

But what could those innocent-looking cleaning products that we all know and love have to do with indoor air pollution?

LES:

They may look innocent, but real dangers lurk in many of those bright cans and bottles. Many household cleaners contain toxic chemicals released into the air when used.

HOST:

So, what did you advise the Occupants to do about their cleaning products?

NONNIE:

We sat down and read the labels on the cleaners they were using. First of all, we cautioned them never to mix two cleaners of different kinds together, especially if one contains ammonia and the other contains chlorine. This can produce a gas, and breathing its fumes could be fatal. Then, we discussed how to begin phasing out risky household products in favor of safer ones. Baking soda works great for all kinds of cleaning jobs, and vinegar and citrus work wonders as well.

HOST:

I believe the audience has a list of alternatives to common toxic household products.

NONNIE:

Yes they do. It’s in the handout entitled “DECREASING YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: FOOD, SHOPPING, HEALTH” (Nonnie holds up handout)

HOST:

Come on, Nonnie. Do any of those homemade cleaners really work?

NONNIE:

Yes they do!

HOST:

Are toxics the only concern in the kitchen?

LES:

I noticed that the windows in the kitchen (and the rest of the house) were fairly old and drafty.

HOST:

Why is that a problem?

NONNIE:

Drafty windows and doors allow heat to escape in the winter and cool air to escape in the summer. We knew that the Occupants were concerned about global warming. Well, global warming is the result of the build up of Carbon Dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced when fuels are burned to generate heat and electricity.

HOST:

What did you recommend?

LES:

Replacing the windows of course is the best way to go, but simply caulking and weather stripping can reduce their heating and cooling costs by up to 15%, not to mention all the Carbon Dioxide that wouldn’t be produced.

NONNIE:

And speaking of savings, if they turned their thermostat down just 3°, they could save $74 during the winter – not to mention the energy savings, and if they reduced their air conditioner use this summer and just used fans to move the air, they could save even more money and electricity.

LES:

I also recommended that they replace their incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents which use 10% of the electricity and last 10 times longer. Replacing just 5 bulbs can save about $100/yr! And of course, we discussed the importance of turning off lights, and all power drawing appliances when leaving a room.

HOST:

Now wait a minute. I had heard that it takes a lot of energy to turn on a light. Isn’t it better to leave the lights on if you’re going back to the room?

NONNIE:

Generally, if you leave a room for more than 10 minutes, it is more efficient to turn off the lights. And about those other appliances – just turning them off is not enough because they still draw electricity. You should turn off the power strip or unplug the appliances from the wall.

HOST:

Good to know. Can we leave the kitchen now?

LES:

One last thing – I suggested that they only run the dishwasher with a full load, and not to pre-rinse the dishes. That just wastes water. I also recommended that when they are ready to replace it, they replace it with an energy efficient model. All they have to do is look for the Energy Star label.

HOST:

What does that mean?

LES:

An Energy Star label means the appliance meets a high standard of energy efficiency and will save you money on your energy bills.

HOST:

Be sure to look for this symbol when purchasing your next appliance. Okay, Nonnie. Where do we go next?

BEDROOM

NONNIE:

The bedroom was next (Vanna changes the poster on the easel to the bedroom.) It was empty when we visited because the Occupants have decided to buy new bedroom furniture.

LES:

I hope they consider buying “green” furniture.

HOST:

I’m not sure if green furniture would go with their décor!

NONNIE:

No, I don’t mean the color green. I’m talking about furniture that was built from sustainable materials like fast-growing wood that’s locally grown, as opposed to slow-growing hardwoods. These types of products are readily available, even at Ikea.

HOST:

Hmmm, maybe I’ll stop at Ikea on the way home…

NONNIE:

Another thing we noticed was Olga’s fine Darshan clothes in plastic dry cleaners’ bags.

HOST:

I’ve heard dry cleaning can be harmful.

LES:

You’re right. Many dry cleaners use chemical solvents to clean everything. Improper cleaning can leave a residue of chemicals that can cause throat, eye, and nose irritation and even affect your mood, memory, and coordination. In addition, dry cleaning processes may contaminate the soil and water as well as the air.

HOST:

So what are the alternatives?

LES:

First, we looked for an alternative cleaning business that uses a carbon dioxide process or a wet cleaning process. Unfortunately, those businesses are few and far between, and we couldn’t find one nearby.

HOST:

Couldn’t you just wash those things?

NONNIE:

Great idea. Olga could read the content labels to make sure the fabrics were washable. If they weren’t washable, she could go ahead and dry clean the items but she needs to take them out of the plastic bags as soon as possible afterward and expose them to the outside air a few hours before using them or hanging them. We advised Olga to look for washable fabrics when she buys new clothes.

HOST:

Unwanted chemicals seem to be unavoidable. If I can’t avoid them, can I do anything to get rid of them?

LES:

Letting fresh air into the house will help.

NONNIE:

Yes. The Occupants were already doing something and didn’t even know they were doing it. Did you notice the houseplants in every room we visited?

HOST:

Yes, but what can they do to help?

LES:

Many houseplants have the capability of removing certain kinds of toxic substances from the air.

HOST:

Who knew? This is great because I love houseplants.

NONNIE:

We noticed the Occupants’ computer was turned on even though it had a screen saver.

HOST:

Doesn’t the screen saver mode draw less electricity?

LES:

Possibly. But it still uses electricity. It’s better to turn off the computer – and unplug it, as we mentioned before. We also talked about saving paper by only printing what was absolutely necessary and then using both sides of the paper. And of course we urged them to use only recycled paper and to recycle the paper when they were done with it.

NONNIE:

Did you know that it takes 24 trees and, thousands of gallons of water and kilowatt hours of energy to produce 1 ton of paper? This is the same amount of energy used by the average household in 10 months!

LES:

Yes, so buying recycled is the way to go – and not just computer paper, but toilet tissue, paper towels … just about everything made of paper is made from recycled paper today.

HOST:

And while we’re on the subject of recycling, we can recycle more than just paper, can’t we?

LES:

Absolutely! Glass, cans, and plastic can be recycled by most towns today. Even computers can be recycled. It’s important to recycle, but it is better to shop smartly and have less to throw out or recycle. My mantra has become – (Remember to) REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! Buy only what you need, buy it in the largest quantities you can use to reduce packaging, borrow it if you can, and finally recycle all that you can.

NONNIE:

And don’t forget the one big item under REDUCE: reduce the use of products made from petroleum products, like plastic cutlery. Did you know that using 1000 throw-away plastic teaspoons consumes over 10 times more energy and natural resources than making one stainless steel teaspoon and washing it 1000 times!

HOST:

And I have a big one under REFUSE: we should all stop using Styrofoam.

LES:

Yes, the production of Styrofoam uses products which destroy the ozone layer.

HOST:

And why is that important?

LES:

The ozone layer protects us from the sun’s harmful radiation. And it’s easy to replace Styrofoam plates, cups, etc. with biodegradable alternatives. The plates we are using at the Retreat this weekend are all made from biodegradable plant fibers!

NONNIE:

Before we leave this topic, I want to mention my biggest pet peeve.

HOST:

And what is that?

NONNIE:

Plastic water bottles! 24 billion gallons of bottled water are consumed annually and 65% of the bottles end up in landfills. It takes 1.5 million barrels of crude oil to produce these bottles. It’s much better to buy a reusable bottle and fill that with water. We told the Occupants’ that this would be a really easy way for them decrease their contribution to global warming. And if they don’t like the taste of their water, water filters are a simple, cost effective way to go.

BATHROOM

HOST:

Okay, where to next at the Occupant’s home?

NONNIE:

We took a peek into the bathroom next. (Vanna changes poster to the bathroom.) Like kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets are common places to store cleaners. We had discussed those, so we concentrated on a couple of other products found in most bathrooms: air fresheners and disinfectants. We also focused on water wastage.

HOST:

What’s the story on air fresheners?

LES:

The important thing to know about air fresheners is how they work. Chemical-based air fresheners, whether liquids, aerosols, or solids, mask odors rather than neutralize them.

HOST:

Do you have any good news?

LES:

Sure. You can buy several natural alternatives.

HOST:

Such as?

NONNIE:

Use homemade potpourri scented with natural oils. Even a small bowl of vinegar can be effective.

HOST:

You mentioned that the Occupants’ bathroom cabinet contained disinfectants. What dangers do they pose?

NONNIE:

Disinfectants are toxic and while they kill germs on surfaces, they also kill the good bacteria when they are flushed own the drain. It’s better to use simple household items like borax and lemon juice.

LES:

Okay, enough of this business about toxics – we have a bigger problem here. Look at this toilet. It’s old, and it’s leaking water!

HOST:

How do you know that?

LES:

I added a few drops of food coloring in the water tank and then I saw the coloring in the toilet bowl.

HOST:

I had no idea!

LES:

Yup, and if they don’t fix the leak, they could be wasting up to 200 gallons of water per day. The faucet in the sink also was developing a slow leak. Leaky faucets can waste up to 2700 gallons of water each year, not to mention the waste of energy.

HOST:

Oh my! That’s a shame. Swami builds water systems in rural India so women don’t have to walk for miles to collect water, and here we are leaking away water in America.

NONNIE:

What’s more, Olga and Omar have an old toilet that uses up to 7 gallons per flush. If they only put a brick or an empty bottle filled with sand in their water tank, they could save water.

HOST:

That’s a neat trick, especially because the Occupants aren’t ready to spend money to replace their toilet. But what if they were able to pay for a new one?

NONNIE:

Well, there are many new water-saving toilets, as well as other high-efficiency products for the bathroom, on the market. These newer toilets use as little as 1.3 gallons of water and work just as well. And there are showerheads that use less water than regular ones. Did you know that a five minute shower uses up to 25 gallons of water?

HOST:

Wow! So, does that mean that filling up the tub for a bath is better for the environment?

LES:

Not necessarily. It can take up to 70 gallons to fill up a tub. Low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce water consumption as much as 50%, and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50%.

HOST:

I think it’s time for a breath of fresh air. Let’s go out to the yard.

OUTDOORS

NONNIE:

(Vanna changes the poster to outdoors. Nonnie passes out “Compost Song” lyric sheets.)

The Occupants’ certainly enjoy outdoor living. Olga has a small garden in one corner of the yard where she grows herbs and vegetables. I was thrilled to see a compost bin near the garden where she recycles some kitchen scraps, dead leaves, and lawn clippings.

HOST:

More people seem to be composting these days. Where can you find information about composting?

NONNIE:

The Internet is a great place to begin, but state or local farm bureaus, conservation agencies, and botanical gardens will offer assistance. In fact, we can help you learn more about composting right now with a song.

LES:

That sounds like fun. OK. Everybody up for the Compost Song.

NONNIE:

The tune is Hokey Pokey.

Compost Song

(Sung to the tune of “Hokey Pokey”)

Verse

“Put in your celery tops and your apples skins, all fruit and vegetables come on in.

So, give me a little water and turn me once in awhile, rot’s what it’s all about.

Chorus

It’s about Decomposition, It’s about Decomposition, It’s about Decomposition, and

Rot’s what it’s all about.

Verse

Put your coffee grounds in, but keep your stinky meat out. I love your leaves and clippings so much I want to shout.

So, give me a little water and turn me once in awhile, rot’s what it’s all about.

Chorus

It’s about Decomposition, It’s about Decomposition, It’s about Decomposition, rot’s

what it’s all about.”

LES:

That was great. The best part about composting is that it’s free and natural fertilizer to use on your lawns and gardens.

HOST:

How did everything look?

LES:

The Occupants’ backyard was inviting with its neatly trimmed lawn, covered patio, picnic table, and comfy lawn chairs, a scene right out of a home magazine.

NONNIE:

Or maybe a horror flick. Five or six families are mowing and trimming their lawns with gasoline powered tools. Operating a gas-powered lawnmower for one hour emits as much air pollution as driving a car for 13 hours.

LES:

And three or four others are treating their lawns and gardens with fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.

HOST:

You have hit a nerve here, Les. I enjoy my well maintained lawn.

NONNIE:

Cutting down on water and air pollution doesn’t mean giving up everything you love and enjoy. It means using safer, cleaner alternatives when available. We have substitutes for every one of the activities we mentioned.

HOST:

What about those power mowers — please don’t tell me to get a manual mower!

NONNIE:

Okay, then how about an electric mower?

HOST:

I’d probably run over the cord and electrocute myself the first time I used it.

NONNIE:

Then get a cordless electric mower.

HOST: (Groans)

Aren’t they more expensive?

NONNIE:

A little bit—but they don’t use gas or oil, and they don’t make noise or spew smoke and fumes into the air. Small gasoline engines make much dirtier smoke than cars.

HOST:

I’ll think about it. What’s your answer for the folks using herbicides and pesticides on their lawns and gardens?

NONNIE:

You can discourage weeds and garden pests with homemade or commercial products that don’t harm the environment or poison something you didn’t mean to harm. Keep in mind that whatever you use outdoors is likely to wind up in the air, water, and soil not only in your own yard, but in other yards as well.

LES:

If it just stayed in our yards that would be bad enough, but the chemicals we use end up in our ground water and our sources of drinking water, too.

HOST:

You know, I have friends who refuse to use anything on their property that might harm wildlife. They plant native species around their home because native plants have adapted to the local environment.

NONNIE:

What does their lawn and garden look like?

HOST:

Actually, it’s quite pleasant.

LES:

You know, as we were leaving, the Occupants’ asked if there was anything they could do outside their home to make a difference.

HOST:

And what did you tell them?

NONNIE:

We talked about the food they buy and how important it is to read labels when food shopping. So many of the food products we buy have additives which can be harmful. It’s as important to read food labels as it is to read the labels on the cleaning products we mentioned earlier. We also encouraged them to buy locally grown foods. Most of our foods travel up to 3000 miles to reach our plates – that’s a huge amount of energy wasted.

LES:

And while we were on the subject of shopping, we told them that a really easy way to decrease their impact was to bring their own bags to the store.

GARAGE

HOST:

The only place we haven’t examined is the garage. (Vanna changes poster to the garage.) Is it important to look at the garage?

NONNIE:

It is, because it’s the “home” of the automobile, the major source of air pollution in the United States.

HOST:

I only see one rather small car. Isn’t that unusual these days?

LES:

For lots of families it is, but Omar and Olga wanted to avoid two car payments. He takes the bus to work and Olga car pools with three neighbors. That means she only has to drive to work once or twice a week.

HOST:

So the Occupants were “home free” in the garage, huh?

NONNIE:

Not quite. They admit that they don’t maintain their car as well as they should. A well-maintained car can cut down the pollution it produces. Even a small thing like keeping the tires inflated properly increases the number of miles you can drive on a gallon of gas.

LES:

And that saves you money, too. Hopefully, when they need to replace the car, they will consider a hybrid or at least a car that gets high miles per gallon.

NONNIE:

And moderate speeds and non-aggressive driving can increase their miles per gallon by 37%.

HOST:

How about the garage itself?

NONNIE:

A garage can easily become a “chamber of horrors.” I was dumbfounded when Olga told me that she and Omar often warm up the car engine on winter days in the attached garage.

HOST:

Now that’s dangerous. Carbon monoxide is deadly. Besides, newer cars don’t even need to warm up.

LES:

You’re right. We made sure that all hazardous products in the garage were properly stored and locked in a cabinet. And that fuel, such as gasoline, was stored in the proper container. Gasoline is flammable and it and its fumes contain benzene, a toxic known to cause cancer.

HOST:

Les and Nonnie, the old clock on the wall says it’s almost time to go. Give us your closing thoughts on the “Big Picture”.

NONNIE:

Most of us seldom consider the cumulative effect of the choices we make. What does it matter if I use a pesticide on my lawn, hazardous cleaner inside my house, wash my car in the driveway, or drive to work alone ? If I were the only person on earth, it probably wouldn’t matter. But when millions or billions of people do the same, small problems quickly become gigantic ones.

FACILITATOR:

I guess it’s a matter of priorities. And speaking of priorities, it’s now time to focus on you, the audience. What are you going to do at home with what you learned here?

*****Break into groups for discussion.*****

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