Last updated : Monday, January 25, 2010

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Eco-Friendly Tips from Summer Sanders

Do you ever wonder how you can effectively teach your children about ways to be environmentally-friendly? Two-time Olympic gold medalist Summer Sanders says it's all about setting an example. She has recently teamed up with "America's Greenest School", a nationwide contest to get children involved in helping the earth. We sat down with Sanders to see how she and her family contribute.

How did you become dedicated to environmentalism?
I grew up in Northern California where there was always a drought. So I grew up keeping the water off while I brushed my teeth, turning off the lights when you weren't in the room, things like that. We took the bus every morning. One bus load of kids takes 36 cars off the road. So when I wasn't doing those things as an adult I started to question it. I just got fed up with hearing myself say, "what difference can one person make?" But there could be 1,000 people right on the edge just like me, so if I start taking steps, others will, too.

Talk about your involvement with America's Greenest School.
America's Greenest School allows kids to showcase how they can help the environment. Kids can nominate their school and the winner wins a hybrid bus, and $20,000 school makeover and a $3,000 individual scholarship.

What steps do you take to be green?
I pack my kids' lunches in "snack taxis", a.k.a. reusable plastic bags. I'm conscious of using the washer and dryer more at night than during the day. I buy locally. Not only does the farmer's market help the local economy, but it saves on gas and all the energy it takes to get food to grocery stores.

How do you get your children involved?
It's like anything else. How do you emphasize the importance of brushing your teeth? You say – "do you want to have teeth when you're grown up?" We recycle everything – cardboard, paper, plastic, glass. The kids know the difference between the garbage and the recycling cans. Like my father impressed upon me, I make sure my kids turn off the water when they're brushing their teeth. It's about repetition and leading by example. We have to practice what we preach.

For more on green living, go to the At Home section.

 

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