Kathleen Jacecko, director of TeachingGreen, gave Palos Verdes’ Sierra Club members some very practical pointers on sustainable living Wednesday night.

She offered tips at the main library on Silver Spur.

“Phantom” power — the power used by appliances even when they’re turned off — accounts for ten percent of energy bills in the average home. To control these costs, Jacecko showed some new gizmo’s that can be bought online:

• “Smart” power strips — for entertainment centers or computer set ups — have color-coded outlets for equipment that must remain on, and separate outlets for peripherals and accessories. The strips can be bought online for about $35. Just Google “Smart Strip Power Strip.”
• “Kill A Watt” power monitors, also available online for about $22, show where energy dollars are going. Plug any appliances into the Kill A Watt monitor to learn how much wattage they're using in both the 'on' and 'off' modes.

Other suggestions to make homes more green included using recycled product when remodeling such as PaperStone and IceStone countertops and Kirei board paneling or furniture. Cork and bamboo are also good choices, since neither requires that trees be cut down. Jacecko pointed out that solar panels are becoming more affordable, and can even be leased.

Much of her advice echoed the words of parents for the last fifty years: Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Don’t stand in front of the refrigerator with the door open for long. Lower the thermostat in winter and raise it in the summer. Get rid of the old fridge in the garage.

What about outdoors? About 50 percent of a home’s water usage goes to lawns, so Jacecko suggested using drought resistant and California native plants. A selection can be found at bewaterwise.com.

“When you save water, you save energy,” said Jacecko, as she explained just how much energy is used to bring water to the Southland.

As for transportation, Jacecko suggested several websites that can help concerned motorists:

• Fueleconomy.gov allows folks to compare the carbon footprint, mileage, and emissions of up to four models of vehicles side by side.
• Bikemetro.com works like Mapquest, but for bicycle riders. Enter a starting point and destination and get the best possible bike route. The site allows riders to enter their level of biking expertise and will even plot routes to avoid hills.
• PluginAmerica.org/plug-in-vehicle-tracker provides the most up-to-date information on dozens of plug-in and alternative fuel vehicles now in development.

Solid waste disposal is another problem Americans face, Jacecko said. On average,  4.6 pounds is produced per person per day, more than double the amount of many European countries.

“We have a throwaway mentality,” Jacecko said.

Topics concerning food generated a lot of discussion. Jacecko illustrated the costs of a meat-eater’s diet in terms of water usage, water pollution, and land use--more than one third of America’s land is dedicated to grazing livestock. In addition, 46 percent of corn production goes to feeding that livestock. Not every person agreed with her suggestion that Americans should avoid red meat, however.

Jacecko founded the non-profit TeachingGreen in 2006 to raise awareness about environmental issues and help local families and groups form new habits that preserve the planet’s resources. 

Jacecko teaches classes throughout the South Bay to both adults and children at schools and clubs. Usually her workshops consist of a series of classes, each session tackling one topic such as transportation, food, or toxic products in the home.

Sierra Club Program Chair Joyce White learned of Jacecko’s company from another club member who had taken a series of classes from TeachingGreen.

“We’re glad to have her here,” she said.