How green can your family be?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Corinne Purtill

The Arizona Republic

Like many families, the Weinbergers of Phoenix are concerned about the environment and would like to live greener, but they are unsure where to start. With six busy schedules, it's hard to find time for dinner, let alone time to recycle.

For the Ericksons of Scottsdale, conservation is a way of life. Whether reusing bags at the grocery store or saving water at home, the family looks for every opportunity to reuse, reduce or recycle the things they need.

To find out what it really means to go green, The Republic asked these two families to let a panel of experts look at their lifestyles and evaluate what they're doing right by the environment and where they can improve.

They found that even the typical family is doing more than they realize and that even the most eco-conscious family can do more.

How we did the story

The Republic put out a call for two volunteer families willing to participate in a project on green living. Todd Erickson and Brian Weinberger, friends since their student days at Arizona State University, agreed to take part in the project.

Each family completed a brief questionnaire created by The Republic about their household energy use as well as the EarthScore, a 36-page environmental audit written by California activist Donald W. Lotter and published by Morning Sun Press. For three days, the adults in each household kept a log detailing their mileage, water and energy use and consumer-goods consumption.

We then asked our panel of experts to review the families' data. They gave us feedback on what each household is doing right and what they can do to be more environmentally responsible in the areas of water, transportation, home design and lifestyle.

The Ericksons

Lisa Erickson's kids know the drill when it comes to school lunches.

If Mom packed water, bring the empty bottle home. Ditto for plastic bags and utensils.

When one son asked if she wanted the napkin, too, "I was like, 'Well, if you haven't used it,' " Lisa said with a laugh.

Reusing, reducing and recycling is a way of life for the Ericksons: Todd, 43, Lisa, 42, Jasper, 10, Eliot, 7, and Aliza, 3.

Todd is a green-building expert who specializes in energy-efficient home renovations. Lisa sells low-water irrigation systems part time. They shower every other day to save water, keep their Scottsdale home at 83 degrees and arrange their schedules to do the least amount of driving possible.

Todd discussed the family's conservation-minded lifestyle recently while at Starbucks with Aliza after dropping Eliot off at a guitar lesson.

Home was only a few blocks away, but Todd chose to wait for the duration of the lesson rather than drive an extra trip.

"We just kind of believe that every little bit does add up," Todd said.

Water

WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT: The family uses about half as much water per person as the typical family. Before showering (which they do every other day), Todd and Lisa collect the cold water that comes out before the water heats up in plastic buckets in their tub. They then use it to fill their pool or water plants. Showers, dishwashing and laundry are off-limits during the peak hours of noon to 7 p.m. They also have installed a drip-irrigation system for their lawn. "The water consumption out here drives me nuts. And we have none to waste," Lisa said.

WHAT THEY COULD IMPROVE: Their house pipes could be reconfigured to harvest shower and wash water as gray water for landscaping, Titmus said. He also suggests regrading the lawn to harvest rainwater.

Fuel

WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT: Both of the Ericksons' vehicles - a 2005 Honda Odyssey and a 2007 Honda CRV - are Low Emission Vehicles, meaning that they meet strict pollution-limit requirements set by the California Air Resources Board. The family does most of their travel with the CRV, which at about 25 miles per gallon gets better mileage than their other car. They also make an effort to combine trips, reducing miles traveled.

WHAT THEY COULD IMPROVE: Brown suggests a more fuel-efficient vehicle. A car that gets 40 miles per gallon would use only half as much fuel as the 19 mpg Odyssey and could save $300 to $500 per year in gas. In addition, walking or biking on short trips would reduce fuel use.

Energy

WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT: Energy-efficient is a way of life in the household. The family has replaced nearly all incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones and leaves lights off when possible. Lisa charges the kids a quarter for every time they leave a room and forget to turn off the light. In July, the family insulated their attic, resulting in 30 percent less air-conditioning use. They plan to install energy-efficient windows and replace the tile and carpeting in the home with cork and bamboo to improve indoor air quality. They use washable cloth air-conditioning filters instead of disposable ones.

WHERE THEY COULD IMPROVE: Their Scottsdale home was built in 1988. As the appliances wear out, they should be replaced with energy-efficient ones.

Overall Lifestyle

WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT: "This family gives me great hope," Peterson said. "Their actions (are) making a significant difference." Jasper, 10, and Eliot, 7, bring their water bottles and utensils from their packed lunch back home from school each day for reuse. The family recycles nearly all the recyclable items they use. The kids use a blank side of Todd's old office papers for drawing. Both parents bring their own bags to stores, buy secondhand furniture to avoid excess waste and try to buy organic meats and produce.

WHAT THEY COULD IMPROVE: Peterson suggests investing in a home solar system to reduce their reliance on conventional power supplies. He also recommends they take advantage of the free home-energy audit offered by their utility, Arizona Public Service. SRP offers a similar service.

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http://www.azcentral.com/news/green/articl...living1018.html

[JeanneVictoria 55]

I was green before it was popular!! Living in California for a long time taught us many things. Very useful now for the rest of the world when they laughed at California for "doing" the right thing!!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I was green before it was popular!! Living in California for a long time taught us many things. Very useful now for the rest of the world when they laughed at California for "doing" the right thing!!

Californians still love to water their lawns and medians on their freeways.

I use a van pool. Anyone else?