Credit: Electrolux
In her commercials for Electrolux appliances, Kelly Ripa makes baking, cooking, hosting, and cleaning look ridiculously simple, even down to the perfectly-frosted cupcakes. But in reality, it's the energy- and water-saving features that really make her life simpler—so she launched the Green Idea Swap on her website, Kelly Confidential. Every time you share one of the tips—from Ripa, Josie Maran, Zem Joaquin, or Anna Getty—Electrolux donates $1 to Global Green to support their work with sustainable building. Here, Ripa shares her favorite green tips.
Planet Green: If you could recommend one easy change that readers can take on to make their homes more efficient and eco-friendly, what would it be and why?
Kelly Ripa: Well, I recently found out how much water people use when they shower! I didn't realize this, but if you shorten your shower by just a minute or two, you'll save up to 150 gallons a month! That's huge! Also, all of my Electrolux appliances are eco-friendly and Energy Star-qualified. It's 83% more energy efficient and uses 56% less water than my old machine, making it not only better for the environment but gives me time to spend with my children and not the laundry!
PG: What's been the biggest challenge for you to go green, and how did you conquer it?
KR: All of us try to remember to turn the water off while we're brushing our teeth, I used to be the worst about doing that! I was horrified when I learned that leaving the water running for just two minutes can waste up to five gallons of water!
PG: Have you gotten your kids involved with the green cause?
KR: Oh yes! They actually teach me new ways to be more green all the time because they are always learning new things at school. However, I try to remind my kids to always turn off video games (the TV and the console) when they're done playing. This is huge! Also, we live in New York City so it's easy to try to walk or take public transportation whenever possible. We're very big into donating clothing—my kids grow so fast some items look as though they've never been worn! I say get your kids involved, that's the best tip I can give other parents. It's great to get your kids thinking green from the start—and you'll probably find you can learn a lot from them, too!
PG: What's your favorite environmental cause, and why?
KR: Global Green, of course! They have so many initiatives for green sustainability. For instance, Global Green has partnered with Electrolux to work on rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, Global Green was on the ground, evaluating how they could respond to the disaster. Since then, Global Green has unveiled an aggressive plan to rebuild New Orleans green. Electrolux is proud to be a part of that effort by donating eco-friendly appliances.
