Recently in Being Green Category
blog11/03: Eating & Saving Green
- tip of the day
eat and save and never have to leave home!!!- Got a minute?
- Make a salad using vegetables from your garden. Not only does this cut back on waste from pre-packaged salads and vegetables, but it also saves you money.
- Got a morning?
- Use loamy soil in your garden. Sandy soil in warmer climate may need more water to deal with the higher drainage and evaporation levels. Clay soil in a cooler climate may need less. Loamy soil has the perfect properties for growing many vegetables found in salads.
- Got a month?
- Grow organic vegetables. Not using chemical pesticides makes eating from your garden even healthier for both you and the environment
- more info
- For more tips on how we can affect the environment, visit http://www.greennature.com/.
blog11/21: Green Giving
- tip of the day
- Green your giving this holiday season.
- Skip the crowds, the long lines and the search for parking by shopping online. Not only is it more convenient, it's more efficient. And the ease of online ordering will sooth a few frazzled nerves. Or consider giving something that won't end up cluttering the closet like a fun activity, subscription, cooking class, service, trip or something edible.
Here are a few of our favorite websites for unique, sustainable and fun gifts. Don't delay, find that perfect green gift now and select ground shipping -- it's six times more efficient than overnight air shipping which means less pollution.
Don't buy out of desperation, get something you know they'll love and if you're not sure, make sure it can be easily exchanged or eaten - everyone loves tasty treats!
Here are some sites to get you started::- etsy.com
A marketplace for anything and everything handmade, Etsy is the place for find lovingly crafted items from hundreds of thousands of artists. From traditional crafts made hip to housewares and fine jewelry, Etsy is a wonderful place to find custom and one-of-a-kind items for anyone on your list - especially those hard to shop for people who are too cool for anything mass-produced. - greenfeet.com
From apparel to appliances, Greenfeet selects only natural, long-lasting products for your home and has a great selection of housewares, including colorful bamboo bowls.
- etsy.com
- more info
- For more tips on green living through the holidays, visit http://www.simplesteps.org/.
blog11/27: Green Friday
- tip of the day
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green holiday shopping - Got a minute?
- Dress warm instead of having the heat in your car on full blast.
- Got a morning?
- Buy energy-efficent. When buying that new HDTV or that Blu-Ray player or that high-specs computer, check for the Energy Star logo.
- Got a month?
- Don't hide in your car. Get on the line. Not only is having your car running to keep you warm "cheating" and depriving you of the full thrill of Black Friday, but it creates a lot of unnecessary CO2 emissions.
- more info
- For more tips on going green, visit http://greenopolis.com/.
blog11/26: ...And Something Green
- tip of the day
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green up your wedding day - Got a minute?
- Use recycled paper or paper made from something other than trees for the wedding invitations.
- Got a morning?
- Send mass communications digitally. Instead of including inserts in the invites or sending other notices by mail, use the power of the internet. Create a blog or a website, or even just send out e-mails.
- Got a month?
- Have your wedding cake made from organic ingredients only and have the clean up separated into recyclables and non-recyclables.
- more info
- For more tips on going green, visit http://www.greenlivingtips.com/.
blog11/25: Greener Thanksgiving
- tip of the day
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green up your turkey day - Got a minute?
- Buy organic and local grown food. Not only is it healthier and fresher, but it's also better for the environment.
- Got a morning?
- Plan ahead and practice portion control. This will keep food from being wasted and less garbage building up from wasted food and packaging from buying larger quantities.
- Got a month?
- When it's time to clean up, fill the dishwasher to capacity to avoid wasted water. If you have to use disposable tableware, go for the biodegradable stuff.
- more info
- For more tips on going green, visit http://earth911.com/.
blog11/24: Green Pregnancy
- tip of the day
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Getting ready for green baby - Got a minute?
- Stick to just the essentials. The REAL essentials, not everything on a list of things you should buy. This will save you money and help cut down on the garbage from packaging and potential for items that would end up in the trash.
- Got a morning?
- Shop at garage sales and online listings and auction sites. They can be a great tool to save a substantial amount of money. Not only that, but by buying used, you not only save that item from ending up as garbage, but you also keep yourself from creating NEW garbage in the future if you had bought one new.
- Got a month?
- Once your items have outlived their usefulness, sell it. This again will keep from creating garbage on the part of yourself and the buyer.
- more info
- For more tips on the lighter side of being green, visit http://www.grist.org/.
blog11/23: Super Flight
- tip of the day
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Superflight...the green way - Got a minute?
- When buying plane tickets, get them electronically. It cuts down on paper and makes it less likely you'll lose them.
- Got a morning?
- Take measures to not waste resources while you're away. Unplug any unnecessary appliances (TV, DVD player, microwave, etc.) and keep your heat and hot water at low settings.
- Got a month?
- If you're staying at a hotel, look for green, environmentally-friendly certified ones.
- more info
- For more tips on being green, visit http://www.epa.gov/.
blog11/19: Honey bees
- tip of the day
- Let your garden grow.
- Avoid using pesticides on your lawn and garden: they can be toxic to bees and other animals. Come to think of it, do this even if you don't care about pollinators. It will make your yard safe for children and pets and help to keep the water supply clean.
- Create a native flower garden in a sunny area: Choose an array of flower species with different blooming times, so there is food for pollinators from spring through fall. Make sure that you have flowers with different colors and shapes blooming within each season. Note that bees prefer blue, purple, white and yellow flowers, while butterflies and hummingbirds like yellow, red and orange. When planting, cluster flowers of the same species together.
- A change in attitude: Insects are not our enemies -- they help to hold the world together, fertilizing plants, tilling the soil and serving as food for other animals.
- more info
- For more tips on creating pollinator friendly gardens, visit http://www.simplesteps.org/.
Unless you are Pooh Bear, a life without honey is easily imaginable. There are, after all, other ways to satisfy a sweet tooth. But what about a life without fruit, nuts and vegetables -- without the apples and peaches, almonds and cashews, garlic and broccoli that keep our meals interesting and bodies healthy?
Though not the only species up to the job, the honey bee is the mainstay of industrial agriculture, which pays migratory beekeepers millions each year to bring their hives around at blooming time.
Until we figure out what is causing the issue of Colony Collapse, you can do your part by providing wild bee species with a place to live and eat.
Here's what you can do:
blog5/10 Tip: Green Investments
- tip of the day Invest in green.
- more info To learn more about investing in green, visit green.cnbc.com.
If you're looking for ways to apply your environmental passion to your investment portfolio, there's more than one way to get your green on.
Those with the right stomach for risk can bet on individual stocks of companies at the cutting edge of solar, wind and biofuel research, putting all their eco-friendly eggs into one basket.
Those looking for more stability, on the other hand, can opt instead for funds that focus on clean energy stocks, letting professional managers chose the front-runners for them.
blog11/18: Energy
- Got a minute: Leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.
- Got a morning: Insulate your water heater with a fitted water heater blanket. Insulate at least the first 6-10 feet of hot water supply pipe with pipe insulation. Set your hot water heater at 120 degrees.
- Got a month: Insulate! Add weather stripping around the edge of doors. Seal any cracks or gaps around windows, light fixtures and plumbing with caulk or putty. add insulation where you can.
