The Robert Goodis Foundation

RobertGoodis|Foundation has undertaken many environmental campaigns in recent years.  Some of our projects and involvement have included:

• New Orleans cleanup 
• Cleaning up the woods in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY and the Tivoli Bay area to preserve wildlife management lands, as well as in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
  
• Starting, augmenting, or otherwise supporting some neighborhood and  community recycling programs in PA and NY, including the recycling of scrap metal and electronic waste.
• Surveying college buildings to collect data on energy efficiency including typical information such as insulation and piping, as well as data on motors and other mechanical equipment.
• Supporting various campaigns of larger organizations, such as Sierra Club, WWF, WSPA, GlobalGreen, NWF, the Arbor Day Foundation, and more.

For more information, to participate in future and ongoing efforts, to suggest a new program, or to request help organizing an event in your area, contact Robert today.

Find out how you can help reduce our impact on the environment - read our fast pointers below and support our partners.

Donate any amount (not just $50) or explore other great ways to get involved with the KaTREEna campaign.

Repower America.  Join the campaign today.

 There are many common ways to help reduce your impact on the environment, most of which you have most likely already encountered.  Here are some fast pointers to help you reduce your carbon footprint:

  Drive less.  Consider walking, biking, carpooling, and taking public transit instead.  If none of that works, strive to drive a more fuel-efficient vehicle, such as a hybrid or a moped.  Do what some colleges are starting and get an electric bicycle and your own solar-powered charging station.

  Use less energy.  Turn off the lights when you leave a room.  Use CFL Engergy-Star compliant light bulbs.  Use Energy-Star compliant electronics.  Make your next refrigerator, computer, TV, dishwasher, laundry machine and dryer Energy-Star certified.  Reduce your reliance on the AC and heaters - instead, rely on clothing and blankets.

   Insulate your house.  Radiant and thermal insulation in your roof and walls can reduce your energy consumption significantly.  Consider using solar-powered fans to vent your attic in the summer.  Don't forget to insulate your pipes, too.

  If you can afford it, try to replace doors and windows with newer, more energy-efficient upgrades.  Of course, try to salvage whatever you can and reduce your waste.

  Plant a tree.  Plant one in your yard and it can reduce your summertime AC expenses dramatically.  Speaking of plants, consider using newer kinds of grasses that require less water to survive or skipping the lawn altogether to go for alternative plants.  Typical lawns require too much water to survive, depending on your climate and grass type.

  Buy carbon footprint offsets to provide funding for alternative energy production, such as solar and wind power.  See our resources page for some great, reliable carbon-neutral organizations.

   Use environmentally-conscious products.  Organic clothing and food.  Biodegradable cleaning supplies, such as Simple Green and Seventh Generation.  Recycled dishes and even furniture.  Recycled paper goods (from paper napkins to printer paper).

   Wash laundry with cold water instead of hot and, while you're at it, turn down the temperature on your water heater just a bit.  Many major companies that sell laundry detergent are now offering special cold-water formulas.

Most water heaters are set excessively high and just burn extra energy for no reason.  Consider a solar-powered water heater if you're in the right area for that.  Either way, consult some DIY resources on how to safely lower your water temperature without losing your hot water.

  If you're going to use a dishwasher, turn off the electric heat-dry option.  When it is done washing, simply open the door and allow the dishes to air dry.  Consider doing the same with your laundry when the weather is right.  Line-drying the clothing will not only help the environment, it will save you money.  Clothes-dryers are the biggest energy-hogs in the average American home.

REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE!  Recycle your paper and plastic goods.  COMPOST anything you can.  Donate old goods instead of just throwing them out.  Consider recycling scrap metal and even scrap cloth and fabric.  If your area does not have community metal and fabric recycling, consider organizing your neighborhood to collect these materials on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, annually) to handle independently.  Cloth scraps, particularly denim, are greatly needed.  Collect scrap metal for your community and you could have your own source of income - most scrap yards will pay you for the metal you bring in for recycling.