CSI Support & Development and your co-op are both committed to a greener planet. We encourage you to follow basic tips that will help us be as green as we can be.

Energy efficiency:

• Turn off your lights when not in your apartment.
• Keep your blinds closed during hot, sunny days to keep your apartment cooler. Never open the windows while the air or heat is on.
• Turn your air conditioning off if you are not in your apartment for a day or more.
• Turn down the heat; every degree you dial down saves energy.
• Set your computer’s energy savings. Turn it off and unplug it when not in use.
• Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) should replace incandescent and halogen bulbs. They last 10 times longer and use ¼ the energy and produce 90% less heat.

Water efficiency:

• Report leaky faucets and running toilets immediately to your floor rep or the main office.
• Remove and rinse the aerators on your faucets periodically to remove any collected sediment.
• Shorten your shower by one minute; turn the water off while you brush your teeth or shave.
• While you wait for the hot water, capture tap water in a watering can to use for houseplants.

Resource efficiency:

• Reduce, reuse and recycle. Dispose of hazardous waste properly. Reduce e-waste (electronics) and dispose of properly.
• Use reusable shopping bags instead of paper or plastic.
• Purchase local products.
• Purchase recycled products.

Site sustainability:

• Carpool or use public transportation when you can. Attend some meetings through the web or via teleconference instead of traveling.

Indoor air quality:

• Don’t allow anyone to smoke in your apartment.
• Report leaks, wet carpet or walls.
• Report pest issues immediately.
• If water must be remediated with drying equipment in your apartment due to a disaster, do not turn the equipment off and do not open your windows or door. This will interfere with the dry-out process.
• Use green products and methods to keep your apartment clean. Vinegar is an excellent natural cleaning agent for many household chores.

What else can you do?

• Educate yourself on how to be green.
• Volunteer to be on the co-op’s green committee.