Yuck! Cleaning the bathroom is tortuous – not only because you have to stick your arm in the toilet bowl and scrub, but because the odor and overwhelming fumes of the cleaning products burn your eyes, stick in your nose for hours and waft into your lungs.  

What’s alarming is that in most all cases you can’t flip the bottle or can over and read a list of ingredients to figure out exactly what’s in the product! That doesn’t sound logical or transparent since we all use common cleaning products so freely in each of our homes.   

Time and time again, studies have shown that many of the chemicals found in cleaning products have a direct link to a number of adverse health effects including asthma, nerve damage, hormone disruption and more.  Why are we spraying without knowing? Chemical companies and cleaning product corporations tells us it’s safe, so it must be, right?

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If you are thinking about updating your iPod  or cell phone this holiday season, you may want to take advantage of a partnership between NextWorth and Target.

It is simple -- trade in your old electronics for a Target gift card. This applies to iPods, cell phones, cameras, game consoles, and more. (My archaic iPod would earn me $25.15!) If you can't find your item, just reach out for a free quote.

Why it matters: If you just discard your electronics into the trash, these items end up in landfills throughout the country. Hazardous materials such as mercury can leach out into the ground and surface waters over time, presenting serious risks to the health of our environment and our families! NextWorth recycles or re-sells the electronics, keeping them out of the waste stream.

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Autumn is a very busy time for environmental educators, like me. At Group for the East End, we’re in the field for 7 consecutive weeks with hundreds of students, teaching about eastern Long Island’s forests, estuaries, ponds and ocean beaches.  Last week, I had the opportunity to lead a hike for Springs School’s Project M.O.S.T. after school program. My plan was to walk the beginning of the Springs-Amagansett trail, as it was easily accessible from school property. A member of the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society told me that that particular segment wasn’t the ”most interesting” part of the trail, but I think my little hikers would beg to differ.

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My fiance and I just purchased our first home and we are very excited! After the first burst of energy painting, primping and polishing our nest, we are now refocusing on making some energy improvements that will help us save through the fall and winter months.

Have Your Furnace Inspected by a Professional
The first stop on our energy saving journey was to have our oil burning furnace inspected and tuned up by a professional. After three hours, he had cleaned the entire inside of the unit, replaced the vent damper on the flue, and increased the efficiency of our "antique" boiler by about 10 percent! We'll still be looking into replacing the unit with a newer, more energy efficient one in the next few years, but we were able to increase the performance of the older unit with proper care and maintenance. Contact your local heating professional to schedule maintenance on your furnace and increase efficiency.

Recycle The Hot Air From Your Electric Dryer
If the waste air from your electric dryer is being directed to the great outdoors, it is just being wasted. Consider recycling the air by installing a dryer heat-recycling device (about $8) that allows the hot air from your dryer to be pumped back into your home. The only downside to this is that the air will be moist and could cause condensation build-up in areas that are not well ventilated. A dehumidifier can solve this issue and you'll be enjoying a warmer basement/garage in no time. NOTE: DO NOT USE THIS VENTING SYSTEM IF YOU HAVE A GAS DRYER, AS THE REDIRECTED AIR COULD BE DANGEROUS INSIDE THE HOME.

Change Your Light Bulbs
While it sounds simple, changing your light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent can save you a lot of money over time. We changed all the bulbs in our house on October 6th (the Long Island Power Authority's "Change A Light Day"). ENERGY STAR qualified CFL bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last 6-10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Plus, the Long Island Power Authority is offering rebates through the end of November -- you could save 50 cents off eligible ENERGY STAR qualified bare spiral CFL bulbs at participating retail stores. Other rebates are available through the end of the year (see lipower.org).

Kate Schertel

With the cold weather creeping in, it may be tough for you to imagine shifting gears from your bathing suit into a bomber jacket, but think positive. There are so many beautiful places to enjoy on the East End and many become even more beautiful from fall into winter. So, bundle up and get out there!

One of my newly discovered favorite places to hike on the East End is Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport. The park boasts over 50 acres of preserved land bordering Long Island Sound and 1.6 miles of hiking trails that allow you to stop and observe wildlife. I visited there on Saturday, September 11th and walked the blue trail through the woods, to an observation deck above the pond. Along the way, my friend and I spotted a Common Gartner Snake basking in the sun along the trail. Never fear, there are no poisonous snakes native to Long Island.

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