Eco


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Published: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:40 PM MST


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The Best in Eco-Living

Look on your grocery store<0x2019>s shelves and you<0x2019>re likely to see more products sporting eco-friendly packaging.

At Wal-Mart, for example, 90-ounce containers of liquid laundry detergent now are concentrated to 20 ounces. This move is estimated to save over three years 125 million pounds of cartons, 430 million gallons of water and at least 80 million pounds of resin.

Old Orchard Brands has reduced the plastic in its 12-ounce cans of frozen juice concentrate from 28 grams to 23 grams. The change will save almost 500,000 pounds of plastic annually, and the cans are completely recyclable.


In addition, Spartan Stores this year introduced a completely recyclable and biodegradable molded fiber egg carton. This will keep 675,000 pounds of pulp fiber a year out of landfills while protecting the eggs better than recyclable plastic containers and absorbing humidity, so the eggs stay fresher.



Tips to Eco-Living

Whether or not you decide to participate in the government<0x2019>s latest <0x201C>cash for clunkers<0x201D> program, which will offer consumers a chance to cash in their old appliances, Angie<0x2019>s List (www.angieslist.com)<0x2014> a national consumer ratings and review site <0x2014> offers the following tips to make the most of current appliances.

Preventative maintenance is your best bet for prolonging the life of your appliances.

<0x2022>Clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator annually and check door seals to ensure they are airtight.

<0x2022>Check air filters monthly and replace as needed.

<0x2022>Replace washer fill hoses every five years.

<0x2022>Avoid overloading the washing machine.

<0x2022>Have the exhaust duct on the clothes dryer inspected and cleaned once a year. Clean the lint filter before each use.

<0x2022>Don<0x2019>t allow heavy grease buildup on the oven interior.

<0x2022>Drain a quart of water from your water heater tank every three months to remove sediment that slows down heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater.

<0x2022>Have regular service as recommended by the manufacturer.

Additionally, when deciding whether to repair your old appliance or replace it, consider the following:

<0x201C>Generally speaking, if a repair will cost more than half the cost of the new appliance and the unit is more than six or seven years old, you<0x2019>re probably better off replacing it,<0x201D> Angie<0x2019>s List founder Angie Hicks said. <0x201C>With the tax credits available now for energy-efficient appliances, when you factor that in with the cost of repair, it might make good sense to go ahead and replace the appliance with a new one.<0x201D>

Angie<0x2019>s List went to the experts for their estimates on the average life of major appliances:

<0x2022>10 to 15 years for refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, and clothes washers/dryers.

<0x2022>10 to 20 years for ovens and ranges and for water heaters.

<0x2022>15-20 years for central air-conditioning units.



My Green Idea!

The Green Valley News and Sun welcomes your eco-ideas. E-mail us at eco-living@gvnews.com or at kwalenga@gvnews.com to let us know how you<0x2019>re going green.



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