The EPA’s Tips For A Cool Summer

If%20you%26%238217%3Bre%20going%20to%20wash%20the%20car%2C%20deck%2C%20boat%2C%20or%20RV%C2%96%20be%20sure%20to%20look%20for%20the%20Design%20for%20the%20Environment%20%28DfE%29%20label%20to%20quickly%20identify%20and%20choose%20cleaning%20products%20that%20are%20safer%20for%20families%20and%20also%20help%20protect%20the%20environment.%20Look%20for%20the%20DfE%20label%20on%20grill%20cleaners%20as%20well.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fdfe

The%20average%20home%20spends%20almost%2020%20percent%20of%20its%20utility%20bill%20on%20cooling.%20These%20cooling%20bills%20can%20be%20lowered%20by%20simply%20changing%20out%20incandescent%20light%20bulbs%20with%20EPA%26%238217%3Bs%20Energy%20Star%20qualified%20lighting%2C%20which%20use%20less%20energy%20and%20produce%20approximately%2075%20percent%20less%20heat.%20Raising%20your%20thermostat%20by%20only%20two%20degrees%20and%20using%20your%20ceiling%20fan%20can%20lower%20cooling%20costs%20by%20up%20to%2014%20percent%20too.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.energystar.gov%2Findex.cfm%3Fc%3Dproducts.es_at_home

Almost%2040%20years%20ago%2C%20EPA%26%238217%3Bs%20Documerica%20project%20captured%20thousands%20of%20images%20across%20the%20nation%20as%20EPA%C2%92s%20work%20was%20just%20beginning.%20Now%20it%C2%92s%20your%20chance%20to%20mark%20the%20progress%20and%20submit%20environmental%20photos%20to%20EPA%26%238217%3Bs%20State%20of%20the%20Environment%20photo%20project.%20http%3A%2F%2Fblog.epa.gov%2Fepplocations%2Fabout%2F

Americans%20take%20almost%20two%20billion%20trips%20to%20the%20beach%20every%20year.%20Beaches%20are%20a%20place%20to%20play%2C%20watch%20wildlife%2C%20fish%2C%20and%20swim.%20Learn%20more%20on%20how%20to%20plan%20a%20safe%20trip%20to%20the%20beach%20and%20check%20out%20state%20specific%20beach%20advisory%20and%20closing%20notifications.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwater.epa.gov%2Ftype%2Foceb%2Fbeaches%2Fwhereyoulive_state.cfm

About%2090%20percent%20of%20people%26%238217%3Bs%20time%20is%20spent%20indoors.%20While%20inside%20this%20summer%2C%20make%20sure%20to%20free%20your%20house%20of%20mold%2C%20test%20your%20home%20for%20radon%2C%20check%20your%20carbon%20monoxide%20detector%20and%20ask%20those%20who%20smoke%20to%20go%20outdoors.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fiaq

Obey%20the%20speed%20limit%3B%20go%20easy%20on%20the%20breaks%20and%20avoid%20hard%20accelerations%3B%20reduce%20your%20time%20idling%3B%20and%20unload%20unnecessary%20items%20in%20your%20trunk%20to%20reduce%20weight.%20If%20you%26%238217%3Bre%20not%20using%20your%20removable%20roof%20rack%20take%20it%20off%20to%20improve%20your%20fuel%20economy.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fueleconomy.gov

Keep%20the%20creativity%20flowing%20beyond%20the%20school%20year%20and%20into%20the%20summer%20by%20submitting%20a%20meaningful%20story%20or%20idea%20in%20just%20six%20words.%20http%3A%2F%2Fblog.epa.gov%2Fblog%2F2012%2F04%2Fsixwords%2F

Composting%20can%20be%20a%20fun%20and%20educational%20summer%20project%20that%20saves%20landfill%20space%2C%20helps%20feed%20the%20soil%20and%20prevents%20methane%2C%20a%20potent%20greenhouse%20gas.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fwaste%2Fconserve%2Frrr%2Fcomposting%2Fbasic.htm

Skin%20cancer%20is%20the%20most%20common%20form%20of%20cancer%20in%20the%20U.S.%20and%20is%20the%20most%20common%20cancer%20among%2020%20to%2030-year-olds.%20Remember%20to%20practice%20safe%20sun%20habits.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fsunwise%2Factionsteps.html

Mosquitoes%20and%20ticks%20can%20carry%20diseases%20but%20you%20can%20protect%20yourself%20by%20choosing%20the%20right%20repellent%20and%20using%20it%20correctly.%20Read%20the%20product%20label%20before%20using%3B%20apply%20just%20enough%20to%20cover%20exposed%20skin%20and%20clothing%3B%20and%20look%20for%20the%20protection%20time%20that%20meets%20your%20needs.%20Children%20can%20use%20the%20same%20repellents%20as%20adults%20unless%20there%20is%20a%20restriction%20on%20the%20label.%20http%3A%2F%2Fepa.gov%2Fpesticides%2Finsect%2Fsafe.htm

Summer%20is%20a%20great%20time%20to%20season%20firewood%20in%20preparation%20for%20fall%20and%20winter.%20Remember%20to%20split%20firewood%20to%20the%20proper%20size%20for%20your%20wood%20stove%20or%20fireplace%2C%20but%20no%20larger%20than%206%20inches%20in%20diameter%3B%20stack%20firewood%20to%20allow%20air%20to%20circulate%20around%20it%3B%20cover%20the%20top%20of%20the%20stack%20to%20protect%20it%20from%20the%20rain%3B%20and%20store%20your%20firewood%20for%20at%20least%206%20months%20before%20using%20it.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fburnwise

The%20AirNow%20app%20gives%20location-specific%20current%20air%20quality%20information%20to%20use%20to%20protect%20your%20health%20when%20planning%20daily%20activities%20and%20the%20Ultraviolet%20%28UV%29%20Index%20app%20provides%20daily%20and%20hourly%20forecast%20of%20the%20UV%20radiation%20levels%20from%20the%20sun%20so%20you%20can%20better%20prevent%20overexposure%20to%20the%20sun.%20http%3A%2F%2Fm.epa.gov%2Fapps%2Findex.html

Each%20year%2C%20Americans%20generate%20millions%20of%20tons%20of%20waste%20in%20homes%20and%20communities%20but%20it%26%238217%3Bs%20easy%20to%20reduce%2C%20reuse%2C%20and%20recycle.%20Recycled%20items%20such%20as%20glass%20can%20be%20used%20in%20roadway%20asphalt%20%28glassphalt%29%20and%20recovered%20plastic%20can%20be%20used%20in%20carpeting%20and%20park%20benches.%20Learn%20what%20you%20can%20do%20to%20waste%20less.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fwaste%2Fwycd%2Fsummer.htm

A%20large%20percentage%20of%20water%20we%20use%20at%20home%20is%20used%20outdoors.%20As%20much%20as%2030%20percent%20of%20that%20outdoor%20water%20use%20can%20be%20wasted%20due%20to%20evaporation%20by%20watering%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20the%20day.%20Water%20in%20the%20morning%20when%20winds%20are%20calm%20and%20temperatures%20are%20cool.%20Look%20for%20the%20new%20WaterSense%20labeled%20weather-based%20irrigation%20controller%20that%20uses%20local%20weather%20data%20to%20determine%20whether%20your%20sprinkler%20system%20should%20turn%20on.%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fwatersense