Many people think that living GREEN is all about recycling pop cans. Recycling is very important for our environment but it is only a small piece of the puzzle. Being green also includes; using electricity smarter, using water more effectively, alternate transportation, cleaning smarter, and reusing certain materials much like recycling.

Electricity. All though photo voltaic(solar panels)and wind energy are a great means of creating energy, there is an even more efficient and cost effective way to cut down on your electricity bill. TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND ELECTRONICS WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THEM. Did you know that incandescent light bulbs use about 80% of it's energy to heat up the the filament, which leaves 20% of the energy to actually create the light. What can you do? Upgrade your light bulbs to fluorescents. They make dimmer, 3-way, and cold temperature bulbs to replace your current bulbs. You can find these bulbs at any home and garden store.

Water. Water is important in many aspects for our environment. We drink it, bathe in it, play in it and some animals like fish live in it. The Museum of Visual Materials uses water from an underground well to heat and cool our facility. It doesn't create emissions and when we are done with the water, we filter it clean. You can save good clean water by taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing your teeth, and be more conservative while watering your lawn.

Alternate Transportation. Bicycles, buses, walking, hybrids and carpooling are all great ways to create a more efficient means of transportation. With the price of gas and the scare with fuel emissions, why would you not look into something different. We have different links to explain how you can save by spending more on your next car purchase and why these other means of transportation are important.

GREEN Cleaning. This will be our main topic of discussion for the next couple months. You may have seen the Museum of Visual Materials at the recent health fair promoting the use of Green products. Green cleaning is important to you, your family, and even your pets. Did you know since World War II more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been invented. Most have been created from petroleum and coal tar for the purposes of chemical warfare. The sad thing is that hardly any of these substances have been tested for safety, but have been added to our food, water, and cleaning products without our consent and most often without informing our consent and most often without informing us of any dangers. There is a lot of intentional suppression in this industry that adds approximately 1000 new chemicals each year. Our goal is to provide the knowledge for the community on using green products instead of harmful chemicals in your home. We will inform you what products to use and where you can find these products.The museum is only providing options, we do not guarantee or promote any single product line and are not liable for the use of these products.

Reusing and Recycling. Many people know it is the right decision to recycle and reuse, but what can you recycle in your area. The Museum of Visual Materials has reused old pallets into our GREEN renovation by creating a kitchen back splash and even providing a raised floor in our facility. Here is a brief list of things that you can recycle to help make a difference in Sioux Falls. Aluminum Cans, All Metal Cans, Plastic Bottles, Glass Bottles, Aluminum, Newspaper, Any Type Of Paper, Cardboard Paper bags, cereal and food boxes, egg cartons, shoe boxes, junk mail, magazines and telephone books.

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