Green Tips of the Day APRIL Tuesday April 29 Fido’s thirsty after a long walk in the Park? Forget about buying a plastic bottle of water.  Did you know there are 12 doggy water fountains in Central Park? Stop by for a sip at any of these locations (link will open in a new window). Monday April 28 You think a lot about how to take better care of our planet.  How you take care of your dog can be part of the plan.  Fido loves Central Park, so consider bringing along biodegradable bags to pick up after him.  Go green with PAWS at http://www.centralparkpaws.net/ Friday April 25 Enhancing the Park’s wildlife corridors is a priority for the Conservancy. We are replacing underutilized lawns and buffer zones with native trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover. Native species are much more adaptable to their native surrounding and natural conditions, making them easier to care for and essentially maintenance-free. The leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit of these plants will provide shelter and food for birds, bugs, and other wildlife.  Hallett Nature Sanctuary is an eco-sensitive reserve in the southern part of Central Park.  It is off-limits to park goes and a true haven for flora and fauna.  But this Sunday you have the chance to explore with an exclusive Behind-the-Scenes tour!  Click here for more information. Thursday April 24 Sometimes it’s just easier to take the shorter route to a destination.  However, thousands of footprints over time can work to kill grass and compact (pack together) the soil, making it difficult for anything living to survive.  Next time you are in the Park, please walk on the pathways. Wednesday April 23 Feeling eco-educated? Try this green quiz to test your knowledge and learn something new: http://encarta.msn.com/quiz_253/mother_earth_quiz.html Tuesday April 22 Switch to recycled paper…in the bathroom.  Central Park’s comfort stations are stocked with recycled toilet paper.  Most TP is made from forests that were previously untouched by people.  If every American household replaced one roll of regular TP with a recycled post-consumer waste roll, 424,000 trees would still be standing.  Little effort, big impact! Monday April 21 Teens who enjoy being outside and working with their hands can help care for an area of Central Park that is closed to the public. Every Monday and Wednesday afternoon this spring, teens take part in the on-going ecological restoration of the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, a 3.5-acre preserve in Central Park.  Projects include the removal of invasive plants, planting native plants, and constructing a rustic trail for future tours. Please call 212-360-1439 for more information. Friday April 19 Celebrate Earth Day The Central Park Way! The Central Park Conservancy and the Green Apple Music and Arts Festival will host an Earth Day celebration for families at Rumsey Playfield on Sunday, April 20 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Enjoy eco-activities including planting and mulching projects, tree care and composting demonstrations, crafts with recycled materials, and live music performances. All events are free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Enter the Park at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Presented by Chase. Thursday April 17 hrowing a party? Paper invites are so 1999. Evites are a must. You can upload photos, choose designs, and write the clever copy.  And as a bonus, save $$ on stamps! Wednesday April 16 Running and walking are great green activities and Central Park is the ultimate outdoor gym.  Offering both hilly and flat terrain and a combination of surfaces, Central Park is a runner's paradise.  Consider these routes: Park Drives: Circling the entire Park, the drives provide three long distance routes - 6.1 miles, 5.2 miles, or 1.7 miles, or shorter distances if you cross the Park at a number of scenic locations. The Reservoir: A soft surface on a 2 degree slope, the Reservoir track is 1.58 miles around and offers some of the best skyline views in the Park and many scenic opportunities. In spring, cherry trees alongside the track are in bloom, and in summer, the evaporating water cools the surrounding air. Bridle Paths: There are three conjoined soft surface bridle paths to choose from. The Reservoir loop, adjacent to the Reservoir, totals 1.5 miles, the North Meadow loop totals 1.1 miles, and the southern spur totals 1.5 miles. Tuesday April 15 Tonight, discover a way to turn trash into beautiful art. Fine artist Iandri Randriamandroso will show how at the Harlem Meer Social Hour at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, and lead a collective eco-art project with attendees. Click here for more information Monday April 14 Is your mailbox overflowing with catalogs and junk mail? Lighten the load, save a tree, and eliminate unwanted catalogs at http://www.catalogchoice.org/. Friday April 11 Central Park’s trees help cool temperatures in the summer and break the bitter winds of winter.  Is your home ready for an energy audit?  A home energy audit is a way to inventory your home’s energy use, where energy is lost, and where it can be saved.  Do it yourself, hire a pro, or contact your utility company. Thursday April 10 Green your workstation:  Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day ("standby" settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch, the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once (make sure to power down inkjet printers before killing the power—they need to seal their cartridges). Wednesday April 9 While catch-and-release fishing in the Park, remember to retrieve all fishing line and lures.  Submerged fishing line and lures can entangle and kill wildlife.  Please report all lines tangled in trees and recycle your fishing line in appropriate containers. Tuesday April 8 Headed to the grocery store before you picnic in the Park?  Bring your own bag.  If given the choice between paper or plastic, opt for paper and reuse or recycle it later. Monday April 7 What makes a perfect afternoon in the Park? Lounging in the shade of a tree with your favorite book.  Instead of buying new one, visit your local library.  Save a tree! Friday, April 4 Green Your Clean: So you frolicked in the Park all day and now there’s mud in the house.  How do you eco- clean up?  Many new green products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum).  Home-mixed cleaners can also get the job done.  Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean almost anything.  Mix in a little warm water with either of these and you’ve got yourself an all-purpose cleaner. Thursday, April 3 Buy Local: Not only does shopping locally reduce food miles; it also keeps resources circulating in the community. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know your neighbors. When did you last chat with the person who grew your tomatoes?  Wednesday, April 2 Green Your Water: A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day.  A leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of water in a month.  Get out the wrench and change the washers on your sinks and showers.  Keeping your existing equipment well maintained is probably the easiest way to start saving water.  Report drips in the Park’s comfort stations to uniformed staffers. Tuesday, April 1 Education: How can you solve the problem if you don’t know what the problem is? Luckily, fun, accessible information on green thinking, environmentalism and sustainable living is everywhere these days.  Our friends at TreeHugger offer insightful and informative green news, solutions, and product information. Special thanks to our friends at TreeHugger for many of April's tips. Please visit them at www.treehugger.com.