Green Collection at the Library

The Downtown Library is host to a new collection of books about sustainability and “green” living.  The Green Spokane Sustainability Collection is sponsored by a grant from the Washington State Office of Community, Trade, & Economic Development (CTED).  We’re grateful to Susanne Croft, the city of Spokane’s Sustainability Coordinator, who wrote the grant and also to Mayor Verner for her support of sustainability.  The collection continues the City’s effort to encourage “green” practices by giving citizens tools to educate themselves about environmental issues.  The collection items are labeled “Green Spokane” and are housed on the library’s second floor.  You can check them out for the same amount of time as regular items—three weeks for books, one week for DVDs.  If you’re looking for ways to go green, the library is a great place to start.

Here are some simple green living tips:

• Bring a reusable bag to the grocery store when you shop
• Take public transportation, carpool, walk or ride your bicycle once a week
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs (they last longer & burn less energy)
• Make sure your car’s tires are fully inflated for a more energy efficient ride
• Install a programmable thermostat for heating and cooling.  Each degree below 68°F saves 3-5% more heating energy
• Open up your dishwasher before the heat-drying cycle, pull out the shelves and air dry your dishes
• Install faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads that deliver a satisfying shower for thousands of gallons less annually
• Wash clothes in warm or cold water rather than hot, and rinse with cold water
• and of course…Use the library instead of buying books, CDs and DVDs.