Green Living
Many people are concerned about preserving our natural environment and dealing with the effects of global warming. The resources listed in this guide offer information about saving energy while on the road and at home, finding out more about the foods you buy, reusing and recycling products, and environmentally friendly shopping.
Getting Around
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There are many way to travel from place to place – driving a car, taking public transit, riding a bicycle, or walking. The Web sites in this section offer information on fuel efficiency while driving, as well as guides to alternate transportation methods.
FuelEconomy.gov
On this Web site, the US Government offers tips for driving efficiently to conserve fuel, information about hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, links to vehicle mile-per-gallon ratings, and other information for drivers.
GreenerCars.org: ACEEE’s Green Book
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy rates the environmental impact of car models and lists what they consider the best vehicles by class.
Clean Vehicles
This page from the Union of Concerned Scientists covers information about vehicle fuel economy, pollution, and alternative fuels.
Biodiesel Providers
This page from the National Biodiesel Board lists biodiesel providers by state. Clicking on the Biodiesel logo in the corner will take you to the organization’s main Web site, where you can read about biodiesel fuel.
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Maryland Transit Administration
Find Maryland bus, light rail, Metro, and MARC train schedules and maps on this Web site.
Public Transit Systems in Your Area
The American Public Transportation Association has compiled this nationwide directory of local public transit systems, arranged by state and then by county.
Velocipede Bike Project
Velocipede is a local Baltimore nonprofit that salvages used bicycles and provides people with the tools and knowledge to repair and build bicycles.
At Home
Heating and cooling your home can use a lot of energy, which translates into high utility bills. These Web sites and books offer suggestions for making your home more energy efficient – good for the environment and your wallet.
Saving Energy At Home
Home Energy Saver
This Web site, designed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, offers an energy use calculator that can help find the best ways to save energy in your home.
Saving Starts at Home
This guide from the Federal Trade Commission gives energy-saving tips for all areas of your home.
Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy offers links to energy efficiency tips, ENERGY STAR rated appliances, and energy use calculators.
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Assessments
This guide from the U.S. Department of Energy shows you how to conduct your own home energy use assessment.
Tips for Cutting Your Carbon
Cool Capital has compiled a list of ideas for reducing your energy use at home.
Amann, Jennifer Thorne. Consumer guide to home energy savings. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 2007. TJ163.3 .C65 2007
Krigger, John. The homeowner’s handbook to energy efficiency: a guide to big and small improvements. Saturn Resource Management, 2008. TJ163.5 .D86 K749 2008Q
These guides offer advice on reducing your home's energy use, in categories such as lighting, water heating, insulation and ventilation.
Weatherization
Do-It-Yourself Home Weatherization Guide
The Bonneville Power Administration offers instructions for projects such as insulation, weather-stripping and storm windows.
Weatherization Guide for Older and Historic Buildings
The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides tips for weatherizing, in the areas of windows, roofing and insulation.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
This program through the federal government offers free home weatherization to eligible households.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for Maryland
This Web site offers information on applying for the Weatherization Assistance Program for Maryland residents.
Harley, Bruce. Cut your energy bills now: 150 smart ways to save money and make your home more comfortable and green. Taunton, 2008. TJ163 .5 .D86 H37 2008Q
A do-it yourself guide to improving your home’s efficiency, including sealing leaky ducts and adding insulation.
Green Home Renovating
Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers suggestions for energy-efficient renovations in categories such as ventilation, historic buildings, lighting and insulation.
DSIRE: Directory of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
The North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council have compiled this database of incentives offered by federal, state and local organizations for using renewable and efficient energy sources.
Maryland Environmental Design Program
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources has compiled resources for environmentally friendly building and renovation, including recycled/reused building materials, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency.
Loading Dock
A nonprofit building materials reuse center in Baltimore, the Loading Dock also offers workshops on various home renovation topics.
Green Homes
A list of books held at the Pratt Library on building and renovating green homes.
Check your local library’s catalog using keywords such as “Ecological homes” and “Green products” for guides to environmentally friendly and energy efficient home building and remodeling.
Food
Sometimes the wide variety of foods available can make it difficult to know which to select. Knowing how to use information from the food labels and other sources can help you make informed choices. The Web sites in this section also offer guides to finding foods grown in your region, season by season.
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Reading Labels Eco-Labels Center
Consumer Reports maintains this database of green labels found on a wide variety of foods and household products. Information is searchable by product category, product name, certifying organization, and more.
Nestle, Marion. What to Eat . North Point Press, 2006. RA784 .N46 2006
This book is organized around the sections of a grocery store and gives suggestions about ingredients, labeling, and other considerations when selecting the foods you eat.
Sources for Locally Grown Food
Local Harvest
Local Harvest offers a national directory of farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, food cooperatives and other direct marketing programs.
Find a Farmers Market in Your State
The United States Department of Agriculture provides a national farmers market locator.
Pick Your Own
This Web page offers a national directory of pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms.
Maryland’s Best
This Web page from the Maryland Department of Agriculture helps you to locate sources of Maryland-grown produce, meats, dairy, and more. Also included is a table showing when different fruits and vegetables are in season.
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Food in Season
What’s in Season in Your Region?
Field to Plate provides links to state-specific guides to seasonal availability of fresh produce.
Northeast Regional Food Guide
This guide, created by Cornell University, tells you when different fruits and vegetables are in season in the Northeastern United States.
Calendar of Maryland Harvests
The Maryland Manual lists approximate harvest dates for Maryland-grown fruits and vegetables.
Check your local library’s catalog using the keywords “Canning” and “Preserving” for books on preserving foods when they are in season.
Reusing and Recycling
Reusing products uses fewer resources than buying new ones, and is often much cheaper. Consider buying or selling used products from secondhand stores, garage sales, and classified ads. You may also be able to repair or renew items that you already own. When items can no longer be used, there are ways to recycle them -- municipal recycling centers, organizations that recycle electronics, composting, and more.
Reusing, Renewing and Repairing
You may have an item sitting around which just needs minor repairs to work again, but you’ve lost the owner’s manual. Many manuals are available online; try a web search using the name of the item and the keywords “owner’s manual” or “repair manual.”
For repairs to your car, try our Car Repair subject guide.
If you are looking to sell or give away items, or looking for items that someone else no longer needs, these Web sites can help.
Baltimore Free Store
Baltimore Free Store promotes reuse by accepting donations of products, which are distributed for free during “Free Markets.”
The Book Thing of Baltimore
The Book Thing accepts donations of books and magazines, and is open to the public on the weekends to give away free books.
Freecycle Baltimore
Freecycle is a network of local online groups organized to help people find takers for things they would like to give away.
Loading Dock
A nonprofit building materials reuse center in Baltimore, the Loading Dock also offers workshops on various home renovation topics.
Craigslist Baltimore
Craigslist is a geographically organized online classified advertisement service where you can find vehicles, furniture, household items, and many other products, and post classified ads for free.
eBay
You can sell or buy almost anything on this online auction and shopping Web site.
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General Recycling Earth911
Earth911 allows visitors to search for local recycling and waste disposal assistance for many product categories by zip code. The Web site also provides information about pollution and other environmental concerns.
Maryland Recycles
This directory lists organizations that take donations of items for reuse. Categories of items include Computers, Computer Parts, Copy Machines, Electronics, and many others.
Baltimore Department of Public Works – Recycling
On this Web site, residents of Baltimore can find information about the city’s recycling program and the pickup schedules for where they live.
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Recycling Electronics
eCycling in MD
This Web site provides links to companies with take back and recycling programs, a calendar of eCycling collection dates, and information about permanent collection sites for each county in Maryland.
Composting
These Web sites provide basic information on composting garden and vegetable trimmings at home. For more detailed instructions, search your local library’s catalog using the keywords “compost” or “soil management” for books on composting.
Composting
This Web site from the Environmental Protection Agency offers instructions for creating a composting pile, including guidelines for what to include and links to state and regional composting programs.
Composting With Worms
The Baltimore County Department of Public Works provides this guide to composting with redworms (also called red wrigglers).
Shopping
When you are in the market for new items, these Web sites can help you research your choices and know more about what you are buying.
Eco-Labels Center
Consumer Reports maintains this database of green labels found on a wide variety of foods and household products. Information is searchable by product category, product name, certifying organization, and more.
Responsible Shopper
The “Go Green” section of this Web site from Green America offers a variety of tips for consumers. The company profiles describe human rights and environmental complaints against large corporations. Green America also maintains the “National Green Pages” of green businesses.
Ask Umbra
“Ask Umbra” is an advice column from the online environmental magazine Grist. Many of the questions Umbra answers are about the environmental impacts of consumer choices.
Ask Us
If you need more assistance finding information about any of the topics covered in this guide, please e-mail us, call (410) 396-5317, or contact us by mail:
Business, Science, and Technology Department
Enoch Pratt Free Library
State Library Resource Center
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
