Better and Better - Brief Article

Parks & Recreation, March, 2000

Instead of the old standby New Year's resolution which you didn't make anyway this year, try something new, easy, and better for your environment. Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp. has developed several resolutions that will improve our quality of life and help the environment:

* Purchase non-toxic cleaning products.

* Reduce paper use. Buy post-consumer recycler paper and recycle when you've used it.

* When golfing, replace all divots, walk the course instead of using a golf cart, and respect environmentally-sensitive areas of the course.

* Entertain efficiently. Replace disposable goods with renewable ones to be used season after season. Use dishes instead of paper plates.

* Plant for the planet. Strengthen a garden's resistance to pests by planting resilient plants, by rotating the fruits and vegetables you plant and by attracting friendly bugs to prey on the pesky ones.

* Shrub up! Planting trees around the house can block incoming sunlight by as much as 70 percent and reduce air-conditioning costs by 10 to 50 percent.

* Use computer technology for correspondence. Put e-mail to work and send paper-free electronic greetings.