Summer Rayne Oakes Celebrates World Environment Day

Saturday, June 5th is not only the 10th anniversary of the PIX11 Morning News, but it is also World Environment Day. Model and environmental-activist Summer Rayne Oakes stopped by to share tips for making our world a little greener.

Summer is the author of the best-selling style guide "Style, Naturally." She is also credited with trailblazing a new paradigm in the fashion world as "The World's First Eco-Model," aligning her environmental background with the fashion industry.

1. TAKE ON TOXINS
There are 80,000 different chemical compounds now in use all around us and less than 10% are tested for safety. We want to eliminate them as much as possible through the foods we eat and the products we use.

A. Opt for organically-certified foods, personal care products, clothes and linens because the pesticides, herbicides and fungicides used in the environment never go away, they just cycle through the system

B. In the U.S. and Canada, over 58 million homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paints. To reduce lead hazards - make sure that you use lead-free paints. While you are at it make sure they have low or no VOCs (that stands for volatile organic contaminants, which off-gas in the home).

2. WASH WELL
A. Conventional detergents contain organic chemicals (compounds made up of carbon) that are known to be toxic and act as endocrine-disruptors and estrogen-mimics. Use more eco-friendly detergents and alternatives in place of the chemically intensive ones.

B. Between 80 and 85% of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating the water. Use cool water instead of hot. It'll save you money, save on energy, and reduce CO2 emissions by 500 pounds per year.

C. Washing a small load of clothes wastes water! Fill her up! Washers are most efficient when operated at their maximum capacity, so wash only full loads. If your clothes aren't really dirty, don't just throw them in the laundry basket. Wear them again until you truly have to clean them.

D. If you are looking for a new washer or appliance, opt for the qualified Energy Star ones. They are far more efficient and will save you energy and money.

3. CLEAN SHOWER
A. Your old shower head probably delivers a lot more water than you really need. Reduce that to 2.5 gallons a minute or less with today's standard shower head – it can make a difference in your water bill. For even greater savings, replace your old toilets with today's standard low flush models that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush.

B. Get a water filter for your shower. Having a shower filter takes out chemicals like chlorine and helps normalize the pH so it will leave you with cleaner, silkier, smoother skin and hair.

4. EXPEND LESS ENERGY
Households spend between 50-70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling so it'd be wise to figure out ways to save. Here are some suggestions:

A. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you'll save between 1-3% of your heating bill. You can do the same for your AC in the warmer months.

B. Install a ceiling fan: Reduces air conditioning costs by as much as 40% in the summer and in winter it can save up to 10% in heating costs by circulating the warm air from the ceiling to the floor.