Thatch is like a mat that is located on top of the soil and can interfere with water penetration. Thatch consists of surface roots, stems, and runners which are not removed by the lawn mower. Too much thatch causes grasses to be shallow-rooted, less drought-resistant, and lawns to wilt sooner than normal. A small amount of thatch, however, (less than ½ inch) is beneficial in helping to maintain moisture and protect grass roots from extreme heat.

Use mulch around your fall garden. This will keep your soil moist and require less watering, thus saving you money on your water bill.

When planning you next vacation, consider staying in an eco-friendly lodge, hotel or other environmentally friendly destination.

Learn about WaterOne's recycling effort, its fleet right-sizing and Green Driver programs as two WaterOne Green Committee members are interviewed on Going Green with the King. This program was aired on February 18, 2011 on the King of Green Radio Show on radio station KCXL 1140AM.

The Importance of Recycling Aluminum:   Americans use over 80 billion soda cans a year.  It takes 80-100 years for an aluminum can to decompose.  Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to watch TV for 3 hours.  Recycling 1 ton of aluminum is equivalent to the amount of electricity the average home uses in 10 years.

The really great news is that aluminum is a material that can be recycled over and over again creating new products from the old without degrading its quality, saving manufacturers money and in turn, saving you money, AND helping the environment in the process.

Here’s a way to save $$$ and the environment:  Change the font in the documents you print.  Different fonts require different amounts of ink to print.  Tests show Century Gothic uses about 30% less ink than Arial.  You could be buying new printer cartridges less often.  However the greenest way to save on ink is not to print at all!!

Instead of raking and bagging your leaves this fall, consider using your leaves as mulch around your trees, shrubs and fall garden.

Save Money On Air Conditioning!!!  A 5 degree higher setting on your air conditioning thermostat will save about 10% on cooling costs!!!!!!! 
 

Consider Trashpooling at work. Do you fill up your trash can every day? No, then why waste a plastic trash bag? If every five people shared a single trash can, you would save 1000 trash bags per year!  Consider dumping your desk trash can and consolidating the trash in one container in your area. Added bonus:  Walking the few extra steps to the trash can is a fitness activity too!
 

Take a cloth or fabric bag to the store for shopping!   If you grocery shop once a week, in 5 years you’ll have kept 250 to 1,000 grocery bags out of the landfill.  When one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved!!!!
 

Stay warm or cool while staying green!!!  Make your current heating or cooling system more efficient by adding caulking layers to the gaps between windows, doors, and frames; adding storm windows to the exterior of single-pane windows and closing them off during the winter.  These are all genuine, valid steps on the path to a greener life.
 

Reuse General Office Items!!!  Save money by recycling and reusing office supplies such as old binders, paper clips, pens, pencils, rubber bands, etc.  Place these reclaimed items in a central location of your department or office and encourage your staff to “shop” at the mini-reuse counter.
 

Save the Trees!!!!  Thousands of tons of Christmas cards are purchased each holiday season.  Try to purchase cards made from recycled paper.  After the holiday season, if you don’t wish to keep them, recycle them!!!!
 

Learn to Reuse.   Reusing avoids the production of new items, and also cuts down on wasteful products you consume.  It eliminates waste that in the end will likely be disposed of in a landfill or incinerated.
 

Pick environmentally Friendly and Safe Toys.  Holiday shopping is approaching.  There has been a lot of concern over the materials used to make children’s toys, particularly PVC Plastics.  Chemicals added to plastic to soften toys includes phthatles, which are considered a carcinogen by the EPA.   Shop wisely.
 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facilities.  Collection facilities are available for residents to safely dispose their household hazardous waste. Locations are in Kansas City, Mo., Lee's Summit, Wyandotte County, Olathe, Johnson County, Leavenworth County, and Miami County.
 

Save Energy when Heating and Cooling.  Maintain your current system by cleaning filters, checking ducts for leaks, and installing programmable thermostats to adjust the times the house is heated and cooled throughout the day.
 

Keep Leaves and Grass Out of the Trash!  Yard waste is a valuable reusable resource.   It can be turned into compost and used in landscaping, garden beds and lawns.
 

Think outside the box when washing clothes.  Using the smallest amount of soap or detergent will save money and natural resources. Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and colors.
 

Be a Dumpster Diver – the Art of Salvaging!!  Salvaging or reusing materials has many advantages.  Interior fixtures can be reused just like external building materials.
 

Only Rain in the Drain!  Do not dump yard waste in storm drains or natural waterways.  Storm drains lead directly into our streams and rivers without treatment.  It decomposes, releases foul odors and leads to poor water quality.
 

Be a Good Example.   Being a parent is a great opportunity to set a good example for future generations.  Trying to lead a greener family life doesn’t have to happen overnight.  What children learn growing up will stay with them the rest of their lives. Celebrate Earth Day together!
 

Beware of and Be Smart with Pesticides.   Research what you’re doing to your lawn, family, and world before you spray chemicals into the air.  Many of the effects are long-term.
 

Don’t drive alone.  Carpool with a co-worker or take public transportation.  Save time, money and vehicle wear and tear …all while helping the environment.