Disposable Plate Dilemma

Q: Which is better for the environment – using disposable plates that I throw away or washing re-usable dishes?

- May

A:  Dear May,

People may think using disposable plates is better for the environment because they don’t use water for washing. Take a step back and think about the lifecycle of what you are using. While that paper plate is being washed and therefore not using water, it’s going right into the landfill where it will reside for a very long time in its plastic coffin. Also think about the natural resources used in production and the fuel used to for transportation to the store, to you, and to the landfill.

Washing dishes have a much smaller impact. Less production, less transportation, less waste to the landfill. The water you are using is being treated and injected back into the river or reused.

If you’re trying to reduce your water use, use your dishwasher rather than hand washing and scrape off dishes rather than rinsing them off.  Next time you’re shopping for a new dishwasher, look out for one energy and water efficient by buying one that is certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as Energy Star.

Other things to think about- are you composting what’s left on your plate? Are you using environmentally sound dish detergent?

For more tips on saving water at home, visit the EPA’s Water Sense website.

To learn more why using a dishwasher is better than hand washing, check out this page from About.com.

Happy Washing,

Mandy

Programmable Thermostat

Q: Dear GoGreenInStyle:

I have a condo and live alone.  I am in the market for a programmable thermostat so that I don’t have to worry about remembering to adjust my thermostat.  Is there a specific kind/brand I should be looking for?  Is there a brand that’s EnergyStar sufficient?

Thanks,
Lindsey

A: Dear Lindsey
Other than being an Energy Star unit, other important considerations are:

1. User-friendliness:  If you and/or others who occupy the residence are technologically-challenged, I would choose the simplest model, and be sure to keep the programming instructions handy just in case.  Or if you prefer lots of buttons and features, don’t worry about simplicity…
2. 7-day vs weekday/weekend:  If you have the same occupancy schedule for weekend days, and the same general schedule for weekdays, then a unit that has only these two modes might be good for you.  However, if the schedule of occupancy differs from one weekday to the next, a 7-day unit would give you tighter control (more savings).  I don’t really think that the 7-day units are more expensive anymore.  The advantage to the weekday/weekend version is the simplicity of having to program only two day types (weekend or weekday) versus programming each day separately.

Jean Pullen