Ten ways to go ‘Green' and help the environment

This year the Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) goes &#8220Green” with the summer opening of its new Visitor & Administration building and landscapes, and the staff has come up with Ten Green New Year's solutions to help Queens residents follow suit.
The Garden's project will display innovative storm water management, energy conservation, and environmental stewardship. The building boasts a green roof, solar panels, and a geothermal heating and cooling system among other energy efficient features. The 16,000 square-foot Visitor & Administration Building is designed to achieve the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Here are QBG's suggestions for homeowners and gardeners:
1. Compost your leaves and food waste and use the compost to fertilize your garden. To find out how, contact the QBG compost department at 718-539-Lawn, or go to www.queensbotanical.org.
2. Install solar panels on your roof to get energy straight from the sun, and save on your electric bill. Find out how at www.PowerNaturally.org!
3. Buy a Hybrid car that produces less carbon dioxide because it runs on a combination of gas and electric energy. Carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere contributes to global warming.
4. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, cover pots when boiling water, and turn lights off in unused rooms.
5. Switch to a renewable energy source, like wind or solar powered electricity. To find out how to switch providers go to www.AskPSC.com.
6. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products. When soaps are disposed of through the sewer system, they can also cause damage to our environment.
7. Adopt or plant a tree in your community. By planting trees, you take carbon dioxide out of the air. Contact QBG to learn about the Garden's adopt-a-tree program.
8. Buy locally grown organic produce. When fruits and vegetables have a chance to ripen before being harvested, they retain nutrients naturally and are healthier for you.
9. Buy Energy Star products. Energy Star computers 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 No. 7 subway or Q20 or Q44 bus to the Queens Botanical Garden, a green oasis in the middle of Queens!
&#8220A green city is a clean city,” Terese Anthony, marketing & outreach coordinator for the Queens Botanical Garden said. Adopting just one or two of these resolutions can have a positive impact on the environment. To find out more about the Queens Botanical Garden's Sustainable Buildings and Landscapes project please go to www.queensbotanical.org.