Sustainability Efforts

WHAT WE'RE DOING
An integral part of environmental health is promoting environmental responsibility and sustainability. We're doing our part by incorporating several sustainability initiatives into the symposium:

• Symposium brochures printed with soy-based ink on chlorine-free paper from 100% post-consumer waste
• Partially electronic-based publicity campaign to save paper
• Recyclable binders made from 56% post-consumer waste from Sustainable Group
• Copies of syllabus materials printed double-sided on paper from 100% post-consumer waste
• Organic and locally grown food and drinks as feasible from Fresh Market
• Compostable plates and utensils at the symposium
• Coffee creamer, sugar, etc. served without individual packaging as reasonable
• Real, reusable wine glasses, plates, and silverware at the reception
• Texas wines served at the reception to minimize transportation pollution
• Organic fair trade coffee
• Onsite composting and plastic, aluminum, and paper recycling
• Symposium location that is easily accessible by public transportation
• Carbon dioxide emissions offsetting as feasible with budget

SUSTAINABILITY & HEALTHY LIVING TIPS
Promoting environmental responsibility and sustainability is easy and can involve just a few simple changes. These changes not only help the environment, but save you money! Here are a few ideas:

1. Buy in bulk. This allows you to choose how much you want and lessen amount of wasted food.
2. Adjust the blinds. Opening the blinds in winter and closing them in the summer reduce the need for heating or air conditioning and can help you save on the electricity bill.
3. Print on scrap paper. Instead of printing everything, think about organizing electronically. If you need to print, reduce paper usage with double-sided printing and by printing unofficial documents on scrap paper.
4. Recycle. Keep bins for recycling at home and in your office, and if curbside recycling isn't available, take your recycling to drop-off sites.
5. Buy recycled products. This closes the loop by creating a market for recycled items.
6. Change incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent ones. These light bulbs use 70% less energy and last 10 times longer.
7. Tune up your car. This adds to the life of your car and reduces air pollution.
8. Stop the junk mail. Receiving mail you don't want wastes energy and trees. Check out subscription services that help you reduce junk mail like 41pounds.org or dmaconsumers.org.
9. Reuse shopping bags. Some stores like Whole Foods even offer a five cent refund when you bring your own bag.
10. Avoid using disposables. Lessen the load on landfills by purchasing quality, reusable items - for example, refillable razors, rechargeable batteries and reusable containers.
11. Use natural cleaners. Reduce indoor and outdoor pollution by using vinegar and baking soda to clean instead products containing toxic ingredients.
12. Buy locally grown and organic foods. Reduce transportation pollution by purchasing from farmer's markets, and support organic foods that aren't grown with pesticides and toxic chemicals that pollute the air, soil, and water.

PERSONAL ACTION COMMITMENTS
Attendees were asked to create and commit to implementing a list of specific actions to help make communities healthier places for children. Here are some responses:

• Advocate on a personal level (to social contacts) and clinical level to patient's families about ways to reduce toxin / chemical exposure
• Buy a microfiber mop
• Fine tune my environmental history taking and give concrete anticipatory guidance
• Create a healthy indoor environment and grow healthy food to live a healthier lifestyle
• Try Integrated Pest Management
• Share information about risks that children are vulnerable to during their developmental stages to friends and relatives
• Educate my children
• Switch to energy efficient light bulbs
• Address risk of jewelry (lead) and cosmetics to children with parents
• Deliver an informational workshop to parents regarding possible toxins in their children's home
• Use "greener" cleaning products in my home and encourage their use in my children's schools
• Buy recycled paper
• Contact my state representative about issues pertaining to children's environmental health
• Buy a Prius
• Put my TV on a powerstrip
• Use HEPA filters at home to reduce respiratory illness risks
• Teach others about global warming
• Reduce my personal travel in cars and airlines
• Consume less energy
• Make my own home and, to the extent that I can control, my office a green space both to protect children that come there and to serve as a model (lead by example)
• Replace electric clock radios with battery
• Turn off computer every night
• Support locally grown / organic farmers
• Keep push-reel lawn mower that I recently purchased
• Advocate for the minimal use of herbicides in the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
• Walk to the store and carpool when possible
• Decrease air conditioner use during summer / heat during winter
• Learn more about environmental health

If you want to commit to specific actions to promote and protect children's health, and want to add your actions to this list, please e-mail us at ehh@bcm.edu.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS
Saving the earth's resources also helps you save on money. There are a myriad of other things you can do to live more efficiently and be more environmentally friendly. To learn more, check out these links:

• Three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Tips on how to conserve!
• Houston Recycling Drop-Off Locations. Use this interactive map to help you find a location for whatever you're looking to recycle.
• Carbonfund.org. Learn about how to offset your carbon dioxide emissions.
• 25 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Every Day. More sustainability tips from Whole Foods.
• Cars and the Environment. How to make driving less harmful to the environment.

If you have some good ideas for sustainability tips or helpful links that you think we should post, please let us know! E-mail us at ehh@bcm.org.