Queens Botanical Garden’s Top Ten Green (Re)solutions For ‘07

The Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) is on the forefront of sustainable design in New York City with its new Visitor & Administration Building and landscapes opening in summer of 2007. The Garden’s project displays innovative storm water management, energy conservation, and environmental stewardship. The Visitor & Administration Building is designed to achieve the highest (platinum) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This is the year the Garden grows even greener! You, too, can help the environment by adopting the Garden’s top ten green (re)solutions for 2007!

1. Compost your leaves and food waste. Use this black “gold” to improve your garden—it’s chicken soup for your soil. To find out how, contact the QBG compost project at 718-539-LAWN, or go to www.queensbotanical.org.

2. Install photovoltaic panels (solar panels) on your roof to harvest energy straight from the sun, and save on your electric bill. Find out how at www.PowerNaturally.org!

3. Next time you’re in the market for a car, buy a hybrid car. Hybrid cars produce less carbon dioxide because they run on a combination of gas and electric energy. It is important to be aware of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere as it contributes to global warming. Check out your own carbon footprint at www.carbonfootprint. com/calculator.

4. Save precious resources in your home in small ways. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, cover pots when boiling water, and turn lights off in unused rooms. Next time you change light bulbs, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only is it responsible, it may save you money!

5. Switch to a renewable energy source, like wind or solar powered electricity. If 10% of New Yorkers choose a green energy source, nearly 3 billion pounds of carbon dioxide would be eliminated (New York State Public Service Commission). To find out how to switch providers go to www.AskPSC.com.

6. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products and pick green products when redecorating. Soaps and cleansers linger in clothes and living spaces and can irritate skin and cause allergic reactions in some people. When soaps are disposed of through the sewer system they can also cause damage to our environment. Some carpets and paints release toxic emissions into your home, so look for the CRI green label and pick no VOC paints.

7. Adopt or plant a tree in your community. Trees help remove carbon dioxide from the air. Learn about the Garden’s adopt-a-tree program by calling 718-886-3800.

8. Buy locally grown and organic produce. When fruits and vegetables have a chance to ripen before being harvested they retain nutrients naturally and are healthier for you, reducing the pesticides that go into our environment is healthier for everyone. Locally grown produce is also better for the environment because fuel has not been expended transporting products across great distances.

9. Buy Energy Star products to decrease energy consumption in your home. Energy star computers, for example, use 70% less electricity than other computers. Check out GetEnergySmart.org for more tips!

10. Carpool or use public transportation at least once a week. Take the IRT # 7 subway or Q20 or Q44 bus to the Queens Botanical Garden, a green oasis in the middle of Queens!

A green city is a healthy city! Integrate a couple of these resolutions each month for best results. To find out more about the Queens Botanical Garden, sustainable Landscapes and Buildings project, please go to www.queensbotanical. org.