By Andy Brack

Based on a week of discussions about environmental policy ideas in 11 states, it’s pretty clear that Southerners are interested in being greener.

In Chapel Hill, N.C., schools incorporate cisterns to hold rainwater collected from roofs.  The “gray water” is used to flush toilets and irrigate school property. The school saves about 2,000 gallons of treated municipal water a week. 

In Kentucky, Arkansas and elsewhere, universities are constructing major buildings to green standards to save energy and create efficiencies. The University of South Carolina, which has the world’s largest green dorm, is saving thousands of dollars a year in energy and water costs through green design.

With gas prices at $3 per gallon in some parts of the South, folks seem more open than ever before to fresh ideas that can save energy and money. Some of these ideas require big policy shifts by state and local leaders. But there are a host of practical things that anybody can do to get greener.

Many of these ideas for households are outlined in a chapter of a new book, Getting Greener:  Progressive Environmental Ideas for the American South. (You can access this online for free at: http://www.gettinggreener.info/).  Among the ideas:

Change bulbs. Changing just 15 regular incandescent bulbs to fluorescent bulbs will save a ton of carbon emissions a year. Over the last couple of years, the cost of fluorescent bulbs has dropped dramatically. And since they last several times longer than regular light bulbs, they pay for themselves pretty quickly.

Conserve water. Because today’s detergents and washing machines clean clothes effectively in cold or warm water, you can save energy by using less hot water. Also, replacing leaky toilets can save 200 gallons of water a day. Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons to 8 gallons for toilets built 15 years ago.

Eat locally. Most food in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to table, according to research. If you’re able to buy food grown locally (or grow your own), you can help cut down on expensive food transportation costs.

Be smarter about driving. By combining errands, being a smoother driver and keeping your car in tune, you’ll be a more efficient driver. If you trade an SUV for a hybrid or better-performing vehicle, those $3 gallons of gas won’t hurt as much.

Conduct an energy audit. Homes and buildings in the United States account for more than 70 percent of electricity usage and almost 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. There are numerous online tools available to help you conduct an energy audit of your house to help you identify ways you can save energy.  Experts say you might be able to cut yearly heating and cooling costs per year by up to 40% by implementing audit recommendations.

Additionally, you might be able to reduce your home’s carbon gas emissions by up to 11,000 pounds a year.

Plant trees. Trees absorb carbon and give off oxygen. If every family in the United States planted one tree, sources indicate, a billion pounds of carbon dioxide would be absorbed and not released into the atmosphere.

Buy energy-efficient appliances. If you buy more-efficient air conditioners, water heaters, DVD players or other appliances, there will be a significant drop in energy usage. The book highlights how up to 10 new power plants wouldn’t have to be built in the South if every Southern state adopted appliance efficiency standards.

Bottom line:  It’s not terribly hard to be greener because there are numerous things you can do that save energy and money without dramatically impacting your day-to-day routine. 

Governments have a major role to play in reshaping the South to be greener. But if everybody does just a little bit to conserve energy and cut down on greenhouse gases—without major impacts on the quality of their daily lives—the South would become a greener place. 

Andy Brack, publisher of Statehouse Report, also chairs the Center for a Better South.  He can be reached at brack@statehousereport.com.  

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