By Tony Judnich
Judnich@hometownnewsol.com
PALM BAY - The question, "What do you want to save today?" is posed on the main page of the Web site, www.helpsaveearth.org.
By clicking on a photo that shows a polluted sky and contains the word "air," you are taken to a page that discusses carbon dioxide - "one of the top manmade producing greenhouse gases in the United States" - as well as methane and nitrous oxide.
Links then take you to dozens of suggestions on how to use less electricity, such as by washing your clothes in cold water and wrapping your water heater in an insulating blanket.
Visitors could spend hours learning tips and advice from the Web site, which was created by Palm Bay residents Brion and Vera Hurley.
Mr. Hurley, who works for Rockwell Collins in Melbourne, uses his data analysis skills and his wife's knowledge about the environment to help visitors on the site.
"She has educated me on things, such as if you don't buy organic, fertilizers (for non-organic food) get into the (environmental) system," Mr. Hurley said.
He said the Web site's formation sprouted from "a lot of discussions between us on environmental issues. A lot of it is bringing attention to things on a day-to-day basis."
For example, the site includes a "Random Green Action" section, which gives advice about helping the environment.
This section includes the message, "Anytime you pick up a free handout, coupon booklet, flyer, newspaper, booklet or brochure from your local restaurant or store, and don't use it (you throw it away without really reading it), you have wasted the energy needed to produce it, and have triggered someone to make more. Read it or skim through the document right there, then put it back in the holder so someone else can read it."
Overall, the Web site includes 132 actions that aim to "help save the earth." A form is available for visitors to suggest new actions.
On another part of the site, visitors can enter their zip code and find businesses that are concerned about the environment, places to recycle and a profile of their home's energy use.
The site also provides a free "going green" Microsoft PowerPoint presentation that companies and schools can use to educate employees and students and save money.
In addition, the site includes a "store" where people can learn about and buy items ranging from a $20 solar hybrid flashlight to a $6,000 wind power system.
Mr. Hurley said he has bought and used some of the products featured on the site, such as a solar charger for cell phones and a device called the Kill-A-Watt, which measures the number of kilowatts that appliances use.
For more information, visit www.helpsaveearth.org.