Note:  At the October CSNA meeting, our friends from Eco-Coach, a neighborhood company that helps residents and businesses become greener, shared important tips to help us a "go green".  We will share these tips with you over the next few weeks.  Thank you Eco-Coach! 

Why is it important to ‘green’ your home, and make it healthier for you and good for the environment?
The internal environment is 2 to 5 times as polluted as the external environment, according to the EPA
We spend about 90% of our time indoors.
Sickness and allergy rates are on the rise and many are linked to the time we spend while indoors.
Tip 1. Replace your household cleaners:
Did you know?
 Over 90% of all reported poisonings in America occur at home, with the leading reported cause being household cleaners.
 Long-term or delayed health effects of household cleaners have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and reproductive issues;
other effects include asthma, organ damage and neurological problems.
Alternative:
 Buy natural alternatives. These can be found at natural food stores such as MOMs (in DC area), Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and
increasingly, at regular supermarkets.
 Make your own: see Annie Berthold-Bond’s ‘Better Basics for the Home’ book for alternative recipes.
Tip: Household cleaners are not regulated, so check the ingredients carefully, even when the company claims that the product is made
from ‘natural’ ingredients.