Time to Think Green

Gifts from an exotic locale?

2008-06-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

While traveling away from home, you might find yourself looking for that perfect souvenir to commemorate the trip. While that’s a great idea, be sure what you bring home helps, not hurts, the place you want to remember. As a general rule, sand, shells and other natural elements are best left where they came from, but what about the man-made stuff? In today’s global economy, it’s way too easy to buy products abroad that were actually manufactured not far from where you started. A friend of mine recently bought Mineral Mud from the Dead Sea on a recent trip to Israel, only to read the fine print back home in the U.S. to learn it had been produced in Boston. Not only was that disappointing, it means that that mud took two very long International trips to end up on the skin of our pal. If you’re headed to Brazil, a bikini or pair of flip-flops is a great, useful keepsake, but be sure they were locally made to fully benefit the community. The same thing goes for Alpaca sweaters in La Paz, Hello Kitty in Tokyo and berets in Paris. If it’s not made locally, it’s probably not benefiting the local community, so why bother? Keeping it local is better for the community you’re visiting and better for the environment.

Give your china a facelift

2008-05-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Before you diss the dish - dunk it in milk. If Grandma's heirloom china is starting to crack, give it a facelift with good, old fashioned Vitamin D. Place the plate in a pan and cover with milk (powdered or fresh or a little less than fresh but before the chunks set in) and bring to a boil. Once it hits boiling point, lower the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes. The protein should mend most fine cracks and the dish can keep on dishing.

Reheat the right way

2008-05-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

Because you're awesome, you don't waste anything -- especially food. Right now you have at least one container of leftovers in your fridge waiting for round two with your palate. Whether you brought food home from a meal on the town or because you cooked more than you could eat last night for dinner, use your microwave, not your oven or stove to reheat. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time. Toaster ovens and slow cookers are also a great way to cut energy use in cooking, but the microwave is still the energy conservation winner in the kitchen.

The choice is your's

2008-05-20T22:38:00.001-07:00

The choice is yours – literally. Being green isn’t about driving a hybrid or installing solar panels on your roof – it’s about all the small choices you make each day to reduce your waste and consumption of the Earth’s natural resources. Instead of the pre-cut and washed broccoli in the bag, maybe you’ll reach for the whole vegetable instead. Rather than heading to that far-off restaurant, you’ll keep it local to save gas. When stocking up on breakfast bars for the work week, you’ll buy the individual bars instead of the ones that come individually wrapped and in a box. While waiting for an oil change, you’ll turn down that just-because-you’re-bored cup of coffee when you see only Styrofoam cups. You’ll buy the mustard in the glass jar instead of the plastic bottle. You’ll put off replacing your perfectly good couch another year. You’ll bring a plant, instead of flowers to your friend’s housewarming. The list is endless! Once you begin to think this way, you’ll find that your brain will begin to continuously weigh your options. With a little thought and a little know-how, you’ll be seeing green in no time!

Check out the Library......

2008-05-20T22:36:00.001-07:00

Try borrowing books instead of buying them – it's free! Americans buy about 1.9 billion books each year, which uses paper made from over 300,000 trees. Producing books is energy consuming, and usually means using petroleum-based ink. Try digging out your old library card and giving it a spin. Most county libraries in the US have made great strides technologically, and allow you to reserve and re-new books online, saving you the late fees, while saving precious trees at the same time.

Work it out

2008-03-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

Sure, the gym is great, but with the weather getting nicer, you now have the option to take your workout outdoors. Whether it’s a hike up a mountain or a jog down your road, keeping off of the electrically powered machines at the gym saves energy and will get you out in the *real* world.
Keep your motivation high and your exercise intensity in check by enlisting a workout partner. A good conversation during a hike or run will allow you to apply the “talk test”: if you can speak comfortably while working out, your heart rate will tend to fall within the range considered safe when exercising.

Time to do some shopping

2008-02-04T10:59:00.003-08:00

Nothing helps protect you from a winter chill quite like fleece. Fleece jackets, vests, pants, socks and blankets are a great way to stay warm without bulking up or turning on the heat. Our favorite fleece is made by Patagonia, which is one heck of an awesome company, environmentally speaking.

Patagonia is a $275 million a year, privately owned company based in Ventura, California. In addition to fleece apparel, they develop and market clothing and gear for a wide range of outdoor sports, travel and everyday wear. They are best known for innovative designs, quality products and a strong environmental conscience. Patagonia’s Mission Statement is: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” They use environmentally sensitive materials (organic cotton, recycled and recyclable polyester, and hemp among them) and both sponsor and participate in a host of environmental initiatives that range from promoting wildlife corridors to combating genetic engineering. To date, they have given over $29 million in grants to grassroots environmental organizations. They’re even working to create a new National Park!

Patagonia’s great fleece products are our favorite, and they’ve been made from post consumer recycled plastic soda bottles since 1993. Over the course of 13 years, they’ve saved more than 86 million soda bottles from the trash heap! In addition to reclaimed plastic, the fleece is also made from unusable second quality fabrics and worn out garments made into polyester fibers. Eco-fleece is wonderfully soft and provides superior warmth with minimal weight, while wicking away moisture. Think that Patagonia fleece couldn’t get any better? When your old polar-fleece gets too worn to wear, they’ll recycle it! Patagonia recycles many of their own products, and polar fleece from other companies as well. Once you’ve recycled your old piece of fleece, you can pick up an environmentally friendly replacement to keep you snug as a bug in a rug. Check out their incredibly dense website for more information on Patagonia’s products, environmental programs and even videos tracking the life of your Patagonia fleece from the cradle to the grave.

Time to do some shopping

2008-02-04T10:59:00.001-08:00

Remember to Treecycle!

2008-01-03T08:23:00.001-08:00

Before you can truly make a new start in a new year, you probably have some old business to tend to, like disposing of your Christmas tree. If hauling your Christmas tree out to the trash is part of your New Years Day ritual, make recycling your tree your first New Years resolution for 2008. Recycled Christmas trees end up doing a lot of good in 5 major categories: chipping (chippings are used for various things from mulch to hiking trails), beachfront erosion prevention, lake and river shoreline stabilization, fish habitat and river delta sedimentation management. Why throw your tree in the trash when it has so much potential? The best part? It’s easy! Use your favorite search engine to check out Christmas Treecycling in your area, or check out Earth911 for a recycling center near you.

Go green for the holidays - gobble gobble.....

2007-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Ready for the holidays? Consider a free range turkey this season. Free range turkeys typically mean the turkeys were allowed to strut their stuff, free of confinement, during their days on the farm. Many organic turkeys are raised in a natural environment, free of hormones and subtherapeutic antibiotics, and are fed a diet of organic grains. The result is a fresh, wholesome turkey of incomparable flavor and tenderness.

Want to range even more freely? Consider going turkey free! “Tofurkey”, a meat free meal, is made of organic tofu and stuffed with mushrooms, herbs and wild rice. Not only is this alternative lower in calories and fat, but it’s actually quite tasty.

Go the extra mile and Adopt a Turkey and rescue a turkey from becoming dinner. Gobble gobble!

Help Your Cat Go Green Too!

2007-11-29T12:56:00.000-08:00

Traditional cat litter has a huge impact on the earth- its clay and silica is strip-mined from our earth, and over 2 million tons of non-biodegradable litter ends up in landfills each year. Plus there are many known adverse health effects for both you and your pet- including respiratory ailments and allergies, and the sodium bentonite in the clumping varieties (the agent that makes it expand so as to be “scoopable”) has been known to clog up the plumbing both in your house and in your kitty!

There are many options now made from renewable and biodegradable ingredients, including compacted pine shavings, cedar, newspaper, or corn cobs, all of which contain no toxic chemicals for felines or humans! Ask about more eco & health friendly options at your local pet or health food store, and gradually phase kitty off the old stuff by substituting the new in a little bit at a time each litter box change.

Once you’ve made the switch, you can compost the used litter on plants (just not the ones you eat!), or put it in with your organic waste collection.

Come prepared

2007-11-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

Next time you take your food to go, consider bringing along your own reuseable containers rather than using and disposing of new ones every visit. 17% of the average fast food restaurant’s waste consists of take away materials. This amount of waste is an obvious environmental concern but so is the effort it takes to make the products in the first place. Napkins, paper wraps and paper bags stem from intense logging which leads to soil compaction and erosion, degradation of wildlife habitats and sedimentation of water bodies. Paper production requires the use of toxic chemicals and damaging particulate matter often discharged into water bodies. The production of plastic containers and utensils involves extraction and refining of crude petroleum and natural gas releasing a wide assortment of pollutants. And then there’s polystyrene foam (Styrofoam), a very popular take away container which takes approximately 2000 years to decompose.

So next time you’re off to get some grub to go, grab your trusty re-useable bag and some Tupperware, or a washed container from a previous visit. If you drive, keep a few extras in your car or tuck them away at work for those spontaneous orders. Take your thermos or favorite mug to hold your daily cup of joe and just say no to unnecessary bags (paper or plastic), napkins, utensils, chopsticks and extra condiments that you already have at home. You’d be amazed how happy merchants are to accommodate this request and it can be a good conversation starter (at which point you could kindly suggest biodegradeable cups and containers).

Use some cold water

2007-11-07T08:01:00.001-08:00

These days it's easy to have hot water on demand. You just turn on the faucet and it's waiting for you to use it for hand washing, dishes and more. While getting hot water is a no-brainer, remember that it takes energy to heat it. The next time you're doing dishes, use hot water for washing and cold water for rinsing. Your dishwasher may have a cold water rinse setting -- so use it! Cutting your hot water usage in half at the sink will save energy and money, without affecting the shine of your squeaky-clean dishes.

2007-11-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

It’s estimated that 1/6 of all energy consumed in the US is from heating and cooling. Reduce your impact! In the winter, turn your thermostats down to 68 degrees or below. Reduce the setting to 55 degrees before going to sleep or when leaving for the day. (For each 1 degree you turn down the thermostat in the winter, you’ll save up to 5% on your heating costs.) During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain. Feeling ambitious? Check the sealants in your house to be sure they’re draft-free. Repair doors and windows that leak air.

Work those margins.....

2007-11-01T08:55:00.001-07:00

Want to make a super simple change at the office that can help reduce your impact? Try reducing your print margins. It sounds too easy to be true, but it’s not! The more words you can put on a page, the less paper you’ll use. Duh! Consider asking your company to set a small margin standard, to maximize your impact. Want more info? Go to changethemargins.com.

Pass on plastic

2007-10-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Recycling is an important part of helping the planet, but have you considered the energy used to recycle paper, glass, aluminum and plastic? How about which is “better”, and less draining of natural resources? While reducing what you buy will always be the best choice, consider demoting plastic containers to the bottom of your purchase list when shopping at the store. Plastic is made from petroleum products and takes more energy to manufacture and to recycle than paper, glass, aluminum and steel. When strolling through the grocery store, try buying soda in cans rather than plastic bottles. Try to choose baby food or apple sauce in glass jars as opposed to plastic ones. When given a choice, choose plastic last and make a difference.

Energy Star!

2007-10-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. If your family is in the market for a new fridge, air conditioning unit or washer/dryer, be sure to look for machines bearing the Energy Star label. These appliances are sold everywhere traditional machines are sold, and are only slightly more expensive. What a difference they make! Americans using Energy Star appliances saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills. Buying a new washing machine may not seem very cool, but saving energy and money always is.

I can see clearly now......

2007-10-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

The World Health Organization estimates that the eyesight of one-fourth of the world’s population can be improved through the use of corrective lenses. That translates to 500 million people who could easily have improved vision. Recycling a pair of eyeglasses costs as little as US 8 cents; however, the expense for correcting poor vision is astronomical to those in developing countries. In many countries, an eye exam costs as much as one month’s wages. Even if one can afford these exorbitant costs, seeing a doctor is very difficult, for there is often only one doctor for hundreds of thousands of people. Poor eyesight that is left untreated can cause blindness or force adults into unemployment; however, in many developing areas, there is little choice.

Donate your old glasses to the needy, not to the trash! Organizations like the Lions Club recycle your castoff eye-wear for distribution to the needy in developing nations. Better yet — organize an eyeglasses drive in your community! Set up a drop-off box in an obvious place at your office, school or community center and make a sign advertising what you’re up to. After the deadline, take your donations to the nearest collection center or mail them in. You’ll feel good that you’re reducing trash, helping people in need and inspiring others to make a difference.

Go on and rake it!

2007-10-08T08:23:00.001-07:00

As the autumn wind blows leaves from surrounding trees onto your lawn, try getting out the old rake instead of a gas-powered blower. Raking your yard may seem like more work, but consider that a blower can emit as much pollution as a car would if it drove 100 miles. If that’s not enough, bear in mind that blowers also force harmful ground-level substances to become airborne, such as pollen, feces and other dangerous, dusty substances like lead, organic carbon and heavy metals like chromium, arsenic, cadmium, nickel and mercury which accumulate along street curbs. A rake won’t send this stuff soaring through the air, but a blower will, where they can be inhaled by you and your neighbors. Yuck! Need another incentive?

Check out this product!

2007-10-05T15:15:00.001-07:00

Method products are a favorite of mine. Not only are Method products free of chemicals and Earth-hating toxins, but they are prettily packaged, smell amazing and work wonders in every room of the house. I also support Method because by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits and Forest Sequestration Offsets, Method will reduce CO2 emissions by about 532 metric tons every year. This is enough to offset method’s entire estimated carbon footprint for its business operations. Method is easy to find and easy on your wallet. Your French Lavender floor cleaner will cost you the same amount as the other stuff, but you’ll feel a little less guilty when you dump the dirty water down the drain.

My favorite Method product these days are the Method Flushable Wipes in Eucalyptus Mint scent. These yummy smelling wipes are great for quick, multi-surface cleaning in your house or car, but I find that I’ve been using them more for myself than for the kitchen. Since these wipes are non-toxic, they’re safe for people too! They’re perfect for wiping down sticky picnic hands and yucky park toilets. Technically, these are bathroom cloths, so you won’t want to use them on your eyes, but I do like to keep a pack in the car. I love these wipes and think you will too. To find Method products near you, check out the Method website.

Bag it!

2007-10-03T08:00:00.001-07:00

Bag the Habit bags urge us to do just that: bag the habit. As a planet, we consume over 500 billion (that’s with a B!) plastic bags each year. Stop the madness! These cute brown bags are made the good way, from renewable resources by sweatshop free laborers, and they’re 100% recyclable at the end of their life. Bag The Habit bags are square on the bottom with medium length handles, so they closely resemble paper grocery bags. They’ve successfully piled over 20 pounds of groceries into these bags with no fear of ripping the handles or tearing the sides. Not only are Bag the Habit bags easy on the earth and easy on the eyes — they’re easy on your wallet too. Each bag is only $8 and is available on their website.

Give the gift of green

2007-10-02T10:42:00.001-07:00

Giving green gifts is a great way to introduce friends and family to eco products you recommend or to new, resource-conserving tools and techniques. Explain to your best friend that Americans toss 100 billion plastic bags in the trash while giving her a reusable tote. Give your new neighbors a basket full of non-tox cleaning products as a house-warming gift and ensure at least two parties where they don’t call in a noise complaint. Bring a pack of CFL bulbs to your parent’s house and amaze them with the fact that if every family in the U.S. made the switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds. Solar powered garden lights, organic cotton baby clothes, fair-trade organic coffee and a reusable coffee filter, soy candles… the options are limitless! When giving green, remember the best gifts might be the kind that can’t be wrapped, such as adopting a whale or acre of rainforest, or dedicating a grove of trees to your loved one.

Go ahead and bulk up.....

2007-10-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Buying in bulk is not just a great money saver; it also saves you trips to the store (gas, time) and cuts down on packaging waste. If your family has a membership to a warehouse store, look for items that can be purchased in a large size and transferred to more convenient, smaller containers (shampoo, ketchup).

Recycling one large jar of mayo once a year is better than recycling 5 small ones, right? If warehouse stores aren’t for you, or you live alone, you can still buy in bulk. Many grocery stores offer dried goods such as cereal, rice and beans in bulk containers. Bring your own bags and fill ‘em up! You’ll save a heck of a lot of packaging this way. The idea isn’t to stock your pantry for the next Great Depression, but making an honest assessment of the products you use and buying in bulk will help you reduce waste, trips to the store and money.

Remember that it's e-mail

2007-09-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Americans discard 4 million tons of office paper every year, which breaks down to enough wasted paper per person that each of our piles would be as tall as a two-story house. Reduce your impact! At the very least, make a personal pledge to stop printing your email. Many email systems, like Gmail, make it possible to store large amounts of email in your inbox. You can even sort your saved mail using various folders to keep organized. Feeling inspired? Add this sentence to your email signature to remind others to do their part: “Please consider the environment before printing this email.”

Flex it!

2007-09-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

Considering ditching your car for good, but worry about the occasional trips where bags of groceries outweight arm strength while standing on a bus? Have no fear: Zipcars and Flexcars are here. Many cities have started programs to make it extremely simple and easy to borrow a car (and in many cities, it's a hybrid vehicle, too!). You can get your errands done, feel good about your lessened impact, and save dough on car payments, car insurance, and all the car goodies that tend to cramp a pocketbook's style. Check out the above websites to see if borrowing a car is possible in your town.

Soda drinker?

2007-08-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

Make your pop cans dance to a different tune: pull the top off your cans before tossing them in the recycling bin. Organizations like Ronald McDonald House turn the tops into cash when recycled and use it to build a home-away-from-home for seriously ill children and their families. They mention on their site that since 1987, more than 400 million pop tabs have been collected, generating more than $4 million towards these efforts. Go to the Ronald McDonald House website to learn more about where and how to turn them in.

Sharing is Caring

2007-08-08T14:11:00.001-07:00

Just gotta drive? Make it a party by carpooling. Did you know that our good ol’ passenger vehicles in traffic make up a striking 40% of the pollution that contributes to the ground level ozone, most commonly known as “smog”? If there’s one thing that can make the biggest impact, it’s getting some of those cars off the road.

We all have busy lives and we know it’s hard to sync schedules with a mate for a ride, but every car counts. Make it your goal to share a commute - and a conversation - with someone next week. Or start a vanpool. Many departments of transportation have vanpool programs that will easily hook you up with a vehicle and some ride buddies for sometimes no cost, saving you all even more money. Then, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Knock on wood

2007-08-07T09:44:00.001-07:00

In the last 200 years people have cut down approximately 30% of the world’s woodlands, according to the World Resources Institute. Since trees are a key defense in combating CO2, this affects all of us as the planet continues to heat up. Deforestation is also bad news for animals that rely on trees for food and shelter. In 1994 the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) developed an honest and credible system for identifying well-managed forests as acceptable sources of forest products. FSC certification criteria include the preservation of habitat and watersheds through less intensive harvesting, reduction of streamside erosion and avoidance of synthetic pesticides. If you’re launching a new wood project, look for wood bearing the FSC label. Not sure where you can buy FSC wood? Check out their webpage for a list of resources.

Let's hear it for Portland!

2007-07-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

I'm obviously very proud of Portland. I think it's a great city. I can't imagine myself living anywhere else (except for maybe Spain...... but that's a long shot..........) and I think that everyone in Portland should be proud of the fact that it's been voted one of the top 10 green cities in the U.S. Below you can find the reason why Portland was bestowed such an honor.

In 1974, Portland (pop 529,121) began to tear down a six-lane expressway to replace it with Tom McCall Waterfront Park, one of many urban parks that make up almost 16 percent of the city. Portland's integrated public transit system, its status as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, and its ranking in the top third of affordable cities by the National Association of Homebuilders put it on our Green Guide list. Portland scores extra points by leading the nation in green-building practices: It has the most building projects registered for LEED-certification, in total number 52 and per capita. In 2002, Portland became the first city to gain approval from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to implement their own green building ratings system "Portland LEED", in which local codes were tailored to meet or exceed the USGBC's standards. When it comes to escapes, skiing on Mt. Hood is popular, as are canoeing and hiking along the Columbia and Hood rivers. And right in the city itself, Forest Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country, provides 74 miles of hiking, running and biking trails.

Save a paper, save the planet!

2007-07-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

The rituals of reading the newspaper are very rewarding - but killing trees just to do so? Not so much. With today’s technology, reading the newspaper doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be, well, paper. Consider scrapping the subscription to curl up with your laptop or mobile device to read today’s headlines. You’ll save anywhere from $30 - $200 / year in subscription fees and, if you can get a couple friends to do it as well, the amount of forest continuing its life will be vast. Put this into your head: 250 NY Times = 20 trees. Itakes about 3 trees a year sustain each person’s newspaper habits. Multiply this by 55 million - the amount of people in the US who read a newspaper daily– and you have yourself some serious clear cutting.

Feeling ambitious? Make your daily online reading easy by aggregating all your favorite paper’s headlines with an RSS reader like Windows Live or Netvibes. You’ll have all your headlines in one place and can scan quickly to get the news, without even touching a tree.

Go ahead, keep some junk in your trunk.....

2007-07-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

By now you know that the best answer to “paper or plastic?” is “neither”. Remembering to pass on grocery bags is the easy part, but remembering to bring your own bag is a little tougher. Try keeping reusable totes in the trunk of your car. Store a bag (or three or five) in your trunk so you always have them handy. When you unload your groceries back at home, hang your bags on the front door knob to remind you to stash them back in the car the next time you go out. Don’t drive a car? Good for you! Buy a hook for your front door to hang your bags on in between shopping trips.

Recycle your computer!

2007-07-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Most computers are replaced every 3-4 years, which makes for a lot of trash. So when you think you’re ready for an upgrade, first ask yourself why you are getting rid of it. Is it running slow? Maybe you or a friend can install more RAM memory. Does it not turn on? Take it to a professional or call a computer helpline. Once you decide you’d like to get rid of it, recycle it. Organizations such as Computer Recycling Center will come pick your computer’s up from the office and donate it or reuse it, keeping as much out of a landfill as possible. Earth 911 offers a search on their site that will provide you with the nearest electronics recycling centers.

Pay your bills and help the Earth!

2007-07-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

We all agree that paying bills is an annoying fact of life, but did you know it’s also hard on the Environment? Luckily, there’s an Earth-friendly way to get the job done (and no, it’s not “don’t pay”). Try paying your bills online. If each of the 300 Million people in the United States eliminated just one paper bill from their pile, it would save over 800 tons of paper, 3,000 tons of wood, 15 million gallons of water, 2 million pounds of waste and keep over 4 million pounds of CO2 out of the air – the equivalent to taking 500 cars off the roadThese days it’s easy to pay your bills online. Your bank probably has an online bill pay service, and many utility companies offer online billing as an alternative to sending you a paper statement. You could even ask your landlord if he’ll accept online payments, like PayPal. Make mail fun again! Pass on paper and imagine a cleaner world where you never need to reorder checks or bug your coworkers for a spare stamp…

Obey the Speed Limit

2007-07-11T13:46:00.001-07:00

You may have been getting away with going 5 or 10 over the speed limit for years, but getting a ticket is not the only reason to put less pedal to the metal. Not only is following the speed limit safer (and this "should" be enough reason!), but it actually maximizes the efficiency of your gas. If you follow the speed limit - go no more, go no less - you are slated to save up to 15% of your gasoline. Gas milage decreases quickly when traveling at speeds over 60mph, increasing emissions, causing you to fill up more often. And we all know how gas prices like to be: expensive. Next time you need to get somewhere quick, think twice: once about the money you’re wasting and twice on the increased amount of C02 emissions your emitting. Drive safe!

Plant a Tree!

2007-07-06T09:39:00.001-07:00

Planting trees may seem like an obvious green tip, but the facts bear repeating: the average mature tree sucks up 48 pounds of CO2 a year and releases enough oxygen to sustain 2 people. Besides adding beauty to your property and providing shelter for birds and animals, trees can also save you money; planting trees around your house to shade it from the sun can save you 10-30% in energy costs. Give trees a chance and plant them wherever you can. Trees also make great gifts! The National Arbor Day Foundation will send you 10 young trees with planting instructions for only $10. For $25 Tree People in Los Angeles will plant a tree dedicated to your loved one in an area devastated by wild fires. Check out friendsoftrees.org for links to tree planting organizations near you.

Stay cool

2007-07-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

During the summer, heat is often the enemy. Opening windows at night to bring in the cool breeze is a great cool-down option for some parts of the globe, but not everyone. Box fans may work wonders in Seattle, but not so much in Savannah. For many of us, air conditioning is a fact of life. Considering half the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling, you may want to spend some time evaluating your cooling system.

Whether your home has central air or you’re using a window unit, invest in a programmable thermostat. These allow you to set the time when the air conditioner will turn on, such as 30 minutes before you arrive home from work on a hot day. Keep blinds and drapes closed during the day to reduce solar heat in your home – the less your air conditioner has to work to cool down your house, the more energy you’ll save. Try using ceiling fans in conjunction with your AC. Mixing the two will allow you to raise the temperature setting on your air conditioner 4°F. Another energy saver is changing the air filter regularly on your unit, and making sure heating and cooling ducts in your home are properly sealed. If investing in a new AC unit, consider buying an Energy Saver model which can save 20% more energy than a standard model. It’s hot – don’t be uncomfortable, but don’t be irresponsible either. Putting a little thought into your cooling system will reduce your impact and your energy bills.

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head.....

2007-07-03T07:59:00.001-07:00

The next time it rains, try collecting the drops in an easy-to-pour container for watering your houseplants. Potted plants, window boxes and indoor plants will love a healthy helping of freshly fallen rain. Another benefit? Rainwater is not only free to use, but also free of the chlorine and fluoride added to most tap water, giving your plants a healthier drink. If you collect rain for watering, try to use it as soon as possible so nasty bacteria and bugs don't use your watering dish as a breeding ground.

Time to lose some weight

2007-06-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

It’s bikini season – is your car ready? According to AutoZone, extra weight decreases gas mileage. Since every 200 pounds of unnecessary weight shaves one mile per gallon off your fuel mileage, you may want to reevaluate what’s sitting in your car. Do you really need to haul that snow-blower you borrowed from your Grandpa around all summer? Helping your car shed some pounds will increase your gas-mileage (more money in your pocket) and reduce your impact. Remember: every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, so every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference. In this case, lean is green — keep your car looking as good as you are by shedding those unwanted pounds!

Ride a Bike!

2007-06-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Why do we love bikes? Bikes give you exercise, bikes go on buses, bikes typically cost less than 3 months of auto insurance (and at this point with rising gas prices, probably one month of gas!). Think you won’t have more time? Not true - biking can be faster than traffic - and allow you to always score the best parking spot. Another time saver? No need go to the gym!

BYOB

2007-06-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)… Everywhere, every year, Americans throw away nearly 100 billion plastic bags and only a teeny tiny percentage of those bags are recycled (0.06%). Next time you make a small purchase, consider declining the bag and carrying your goods or storing them in your purse. Keep the bags you have acquired at home, the office, in the trunk of your car or wrap one around your bike so you’ll always have it. Another great alternative to the plastic bag is a canvas or material tote. They can be reused over and over and don’t have to be ugly – throw on your favorite patch or bring back iron on decals! Some of our favorite stores have started collecting and re-using old bags or charging to give out new ones but the best offer discounts if you DON’T take a plastic offender. Ask your local retailer if there’s anything they can do to help curb this bag bummer.

Recharge!

2007-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

When you invest in rechargeable batteries, you aren’t just Reducing and Reusing, you’re also Recharging. Recycling batteries is very important, but reducing the number of batteries we consume is even better. Rechargeable batteries are handy to have at home and are ideal for volt-suckers like remote controls and digital cameras. Rechargeable batteries can be charged and reused anywhere from 500 to 1,000 times, so you’ll be saving energy and money.

Remember to NOT idle...

2007-06-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

If idle hands are the devil’s playthings, then idle engines aren’t far behind. Idling your car for more than ten seconds uses more fuel than stopping and restarting the engine. Idling also sends unnecessary emissions into the air contributing to both pollution and health problems. Running a non-moving vehicle for 10 minutes a day uses an average of about 22 gallons of gas per year. Since each gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, the potential to reduce your contribution is huge! With gas prices climbing, saving 22 gallons/year makes economical and ecological sense. The next time you have a craving for fast food, try using the front door.

Are you a big traveller?

2007-06-18T08:49:00.001-07:00

Going through airport metal detectors is less than exciting. You’re frazzled with taking coins out our your pocket, getting laptops their own bin, and popping your shoes off only to remember that with the new US restrictions on bringing liquid on airplanes - you can’t take your bottle of water through. The giant pile of unused Aquafinas by the x-ray machine is proof of this point and a little disheartening. So remember this little plan will help you save money, stay hydrated, and keep you green: bring an empty water bottle to the airport. You can take it through, fill it in one of the many readily available drinking fountains past security, and reuse it on your trip. If you forget and find yourself with a full water bottle, empty it before getting in line or chug it in true freshman-year-at-college style. You’ll be hydrated - and probably make some friends in the lavatory line during your flight.

Do you ROMO?

2007-06-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

We should start a club called ROMO. It stands for Recycle Old Motor Oil. Cheesy, you say? More like greasy. When poured down house or storm drains, used motor oil may travel to your local stream, bay, or harbor, where it can harm underwater vegetation and aquatic life. Do put used motor oil in a sturdy container, such as a plastic milk jug, and take it to your local service station for recycling. Service stations are required by State law to accept up to 5 gallons of used motor oil per person, per day, at no charge. Just remember not to mix your motor oil with any other substance.

Grab a plant!

2007-06-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing quite as rewarding as plants. Not only do they grow fast, look cute, and require much less energy than a pooch or kitten, but their eco-contribution to your household goes far. House plants not convert carbon dioxide to oxygen but they also trap and absorb many pollutants. Everyday activities such as heating your home, washing your floor, and cooking food release chemical compounds that plants help absorb. So what are you waiting for? Go grab a plant!

When choosing a plant, do a quick check on the leaves and undersides for insects and disease. well-potted, sturdy, shapely plants are shown to do best. Read or ask questions about the type of environment the plant requires and find one that matches your house of office (it’s much easier than trying to accommodate the plant’s needs!). Remember that just a little plant love will go a long way.

Look into VOC

2007-06-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

According to the EPA, indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air, thanks largely to paints and finishes containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) which release low-level toxic emissions for years after application. VOC’s are bad for the Environment and bad for you. Standard, VOC-containing paints and finishes have been linked to respiratory problems, chemical sensitivities and allergies as well as headaches and eye irritation.

Try painting your walls with Zero VOC or Low VOC paints – you’ll be glad you did! Zero/Low VOC paint is odorless, releases no fumes, and comes in all the same colors as their chemical cousins. These paints are water-based, so they’re even easier to clean up. Higher demand for safer paint has also made the prices comparable to the toxic kind and is now easily available at most home-improvement and hardware stores.

2007-06-16T06:58:00.001-07:00

You can reduce your water heating costs by simply lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs. Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140ºF, most households usually only require them set at 120ºF or even 115ºF. This is hot enough to prevent bacteria build up but not unnecessarily hot. Reducing your water temperature to 120ºF also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. This helps your water heater last longer and operate at its maximum efficiency. Potential annual savings: $450 and 215 lbs. emissions.

Always Check the Pressure

2007-06-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Keeping your tires properly inflated is one of easiest things you can do to help the Environment and yourself. Low tire pressure means you use more gas and ruin more tires. Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3% and since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference. Under-inflation of the tire by 10% also increases the tire's wear rate by 5%, which means more tires hitting the junkyard sooner. Help yourself and the Earth by checking your tire pressure once a month.

Wireless anyone?

2007-06-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

3.5 billion wire hangers go into U.S. landfills every year, and they sit in there for over a hundred years; reduce that number by returning your hangers to the drycleaners. The next time your non-washables travel to the drycleaner, your drycleaner will thank you (hangers are expensive) and so will the Earth! Wanna score extra points? Try finding a “green” cleaner to do your dirtywork. Eco drycleaners use 02 to clean garments and often provide special hangers made from recycled carpet or corn fibers.

Use your mug

2007-06-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Use a mug instead of a paper cup. Obvious? Not really. Ceramic mugs require a lot more energy to produce and distribute than their disposable cousins. So why recommend you ditch the paper? Mugs may lose the battle, but they win the war: They are designed to be used more than 3,000 times, as opposed to the single-use design of paper cups. In the long run, the smarties at the Dutch Ministry of Environment assure us it’s better to reuse your coffee cup than to get a new paper one each time. Feeling ambitious? Use non-toxic dish soap to wash your ceramic mugs, and when you do use a paper cup, just say NO to the plastic lid and the disposable sleeve.

Double it up

2007-06-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

80% of the Carbon emitted during the printing process comes from producing the paper. Print double-sided and reduce your impact! In addition to saving paper, you'll save money and cut down on the cost of printer maintenance, toner and electricity. Printing double-sided means skinnier documents, leading to lighter mailings (less money!) and more archiving and storage space. Many printers and most copiers have a double sided printing feature which you can set as your default. Stock up on paper that's at least 30% post-consumer waste recycled and talk to your favorite Office Manager about setting all printers and copiers to default to double-sided.

It's Time to Get Your Walk On

2007-06-15T14:44:00.001-07:00

Walking is said to be the absolute best exercise of all time. You can stop to smell the roses, feel more connected to your neighborhood or just spy on your neighbors. It costs less than a bike or a bus pass. and is harmless to the Planet. Show up to work with that rosy cheeked look! Get the wind in your hair and a bounce in your step -- get your walk on!

Here Comes the Sun!

2007-06-15T14:39:00.001-07:00

Extra daylight hours are just another perk to summer. Try using natural light as much as possible and watch your energy bills drop. Utilize shades, mini-blinds and curtains to minimize your need for artificial light. Still reaching for the ON switch? Invest in CFL lightbulbs to minimize your impact.

No shirt, no shoes, no problem....

2007-06-15T14:37:00.001-07:00

Park shoes at the door and reduce the need to clean. Sound simple? It is! Kicking off your shoes will help you track less dirt through the house, minimizing how often you grab for the mop or vacuum. That’s good news for the planet and for you!

At the car wash.......

2007-06-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

It’s car wash season! While you might think a carwash outside in your driveway can be a fun activity (especially since you can pretend you’re in a music video), sadly washing your car in your driveway is actually one of the most environmentally unfriendly chores you can do. You will use 80 - 140 gallons of water and after it hits your grease-oil-infused driveway, it will probably run straight into the storm drains without being treated in a sewage center. Where does it go then? To rivers, creeks, wetlands, and other natural habitats where it will kick nature to the curb. The alternative? Go to a commercial car wash. Not only do most commercial car washes use less than 45 gallons per car, but many also recycle and reuse the rinse water. The water will be sewage treated, not dumped.

365 Ways to Save the Earth

2007-06-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

This book offers up an inspirational tip for each day of the year. Accompanied by facts and statistics, the tips are simple and easy to digest one at a time. Each tip is assigned to a category for easy reference when you need a tip to suit a certain occasion, for home, garden, or the office. Even more inspiring, each tip comes with a breathtaking photo from the Bourseiller’s colourful travels around the same planet that he has become so motivated to save. 365 Ways to Save the Earth makes a functional coffee table book, and the postcard-sized pages beg to be ripped out and displayed on your walls, as a reminder of all of the little changes you are making for the benefit of the earth.

Remember To Turn It Off

2007-06-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

The word on the block once was that you should keep your computer on rather than turn it off because it took more energy to reboot than it did leaving it on. Well, we apparently a typical PC consumes about 300 watts. Let’s assume that you use your PC for four hours every day, so the other 20 hours it is on would be wasted energy. If electricity costs 10 cents per kilowatt-hour in your area, then that 20 hours represents 60 cents a day. Sixty cents a day adds up to $219 per year. No brainer to shut down then right? Well, you may have a concern about rebooting your system being a detriment to your actual computer components, stressing them out and creating wear. Hardware actually has turned out to be pretty burly. TVs also use the same components as computers and have no problems being switched on and off. Plus, most if not all computers have energy saving features now that will cut your energy spend in half - like hibernate and sleep mode, so you can turn your computer half-off if you are really worried. And another thing? Turn your monitor off. Always. Even though your computer’s off, your monitor’s still pulling energy until its shut down.