Go Back to School More Green
Thursday, July 31st, 2008 by Kreg Weiss
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Mid summer and the “Back to School” ads are flourishing. As you make plans for yourself and family to gather up supplies for returning to school, consider giving yourself or your children a gift of going a little more green. Investing in an aluminum beverage bottle is a great way to stamp out waste production, to set an example of environmental care, and to save a little money.
We are moving into an age where every little bit counts. By using an aluminum bottle, you can greatly reduce your consumption of plastic containers (water, juice, and other beverages). You can purchase your beverages in bulk which typically provides you with costs savings. You also avoid chemical contamination that appears to be increasingly more common with plastic containers.
Note that these containers are not suitable for hot beverages as there is only one main layer of metal which means the exterior of the container will become very hot and dangerous to the touch.
There are many online and offline venues where you can purchase these aluminum containers. Shop around for some great deals, but keep in mind that the more local the manufacturer, the more eco-friendly your purchase is. Also research all the materials used in making this bottle - Is their any undesirable chemical lining? The lids are often plastic - Is this plastic of high quality and resistant to breaking down after being washed or left in the sun? If the price is too good to be true, then question the quality of the product.
A small investment of $15-20 can easily be returned through smart bulk shopping and the investment also comes back to you in the form of health and environmental dividends. Enjoy looking for your aluminum beverage container and build on the concept of smart sustainability.
Popularity: 22% [?]
Make Your Banking More Green
Saturday, July 12th, 2008 by Kreg Weiss
The change in lifestyle required to bring society to a more sustainable state for the environment often feels like an overwhelming task, but in fact, small adjustments and simple acts of awareness can collectively contribute to vast changes and improvements. Some of these small, easy changes can be applied to how we conduct banking tasks and transactions.
How often do people go to a bank machine, withdraw a few $20 bills, and then select to view their account balance? They view their paper statement and then toss it in the garbage. This action occurs daily by millions of people resulting in a massive waste of paper and energy.
The next time you are withdrawing or depositing a modest sum of funds with a bank machine. Select the option to NOT RECEIVE a paper statement. If you are curious to know your bank balance, simply wait until you have access to the internet and view your balance online.
It is wise to produce a paper receipt as a record if you are doing a transaction involving a large sum of funds. But be mindful when choosing to print a receipt - is it really necessary? Save the energy, save the paper. And if you print a receipt, hold onto it until you can insure that it will be disposed of properly in a recycling container.
Some other green banking tips:
*opt-in to internet banking services - you can often save money doing banking online…you will save gas and time doing banking from home or work…some banking institutions offer special account packages that have reduced fees for those who utilize online banking
*see if your bank offers statements via email notification versus by mail…cut down on unnecessary paper statements…if you need to produce paper statements for records, consider using the blank side of other unneeded statements and other materials you receive in the mail to print your records on - cut your paper usage dramatically and become creative in reusing paper
*request paperless statements from other billing sources like credit cards, utility agencies, cell phone providers, and department stores
*shred your paper statements well once they are no longer of use and then recycle properly
*consider who you do your banking with…support institutions that engage in genuine practices of sustainability and contribute to local and global causes
Consider the change of events required to produce and ship a single bank statement. Through a collective effort of everyone cutting down on unnecessary bank statements, basic changes to how you do your banking can generate profound benefits for the environment and the economy.
For more simple and easy tips for enhancing sustainability, click here.
Popularity: 34% [?]
Greening The Office
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 by Michelle Trantina
There are a number of ways to cut back on waste at the office. Here are a few ideas:
Save Energy and Water
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator for short trips to save electricity
• Turn off lights and computer equipment at the end of the day to save energy
• Turn off taps completely to avoid wasting water from dripping taps
Save Paper (saving paper saves energy too)
• Set your printer and photocopier to double-sided to save paper
• Edit documents on your computer to save paper
• Always recycle used paper
Produce Less Waste READ MORE….
Popularity: 40% [?]
Yardwork and Air Pollution
Sunday, May 4th, 2008 by Jason Jacobson
With the days getting longer, many homeowners thoughts turn to the work that waits in their yards. Many people associate air pollution with cars, airplanes, energy-producing facilities, and other large fuel consumers. The small engines used in lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chain saws, and leaf blowers, however, represent a significant source of air pollutants.
Indeed, most small engines emit high levels of carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. In addition to CO, small engines emit ozone-forming hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Ground-level ozone impairs lung function and contributes to smog formation. According to the Government of Canada, a gasoline-powered lawn mower emits about 48 kilograms of greenhouse gases in one season.
There are ways to help clean the air while maintaining your yard. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Avoid Spills and Overfilling
· Spilling gas and overfilling the tank allow for gas to evaporate
· With evaporation, hydrocarbons are released into the atmosphere
Maintain Equipment
· Change oil and clean or replace air filters regularly
· Use the proper fuel/oil mixture in two-stroke equipment
· Keep blades sharp to improve fuel efficiency
Use Manual Tools:
READ MORE….
Popularity: 33% [?]
Paper Conservation - End Junk Mail
Sunday, April 20th, 2008 by Michelle Trantina
Unopened mail creates a lot of waste. In fact, a recent Canadian Marketing Study quoted in the Flyer Distribution Standards Association newsletter suggests that:
• 67% of Canadians are not interested in the flyers and advertising that comes in the mail
• 25% of Canadians discard them without reading
In the US, the problem is even worse. The Forest Ethics website (www.forestethics.com) reports that junk mail distributed in the US accounts for 30% of the mail delivered in the WORLD, and that 44% of it goes into landfills unopened.
Some of the paper used in producing these ads comes from the Canadian boreal forest, which is being logged at a rate of 2 acres per minute, 24 hours a day to produce junk mail and other paper products. READ MORE
Popularity: 31% [?]
Water Conservation
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 by Michelle Trantina
When temperatures get warmer, people have a tendency to increase their water consumption for activities such as watering lawns and gardens and washing the car. Making an effort to break any water-wasting habits now will pay off in the summer. And it’s easier to reduce your water consumption than you may think.
There is reason for people to reduce the amount of water we use. According to environmentalindicators.com, overall water use in North America has increased by more than 25% since 1980. In fact, daily average for water use is 335L, which could be hugely reduced.
The good news is that there are loads of ways to save water. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Run water only when necessary
• Do not run water while shaving, brushing teeth, or scrubbing your hands or dishes
• Lower the temperature of drinking water by keeping it in the refrigerator rather than running the tap
• Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator overnight rather than using water READ MORE
Popularity: 28% [?]
Green Eating Choices
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 by Michelle Trantina
It is easy to derive pleasure from a delicious meal; however, it is also easy to forget about the environmental consequences of our food choices. Commercial agriculture, for example, contributes to air and water pollution, as well as habitat degradation. Furthermore, the use of pesticides and antibiotics in large-scale farming operations produces diseases and pests that are hard to control.
Considering that everyone eats, smart food choices can go a long way towards helping the environment. Here are some ways to put together environmentally-friendly meals.
Buy Local Groceries
It takes less fuel to transport locally grown or produced fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, and dairy products than it does to transport foods over long distances. As such, less pollution is produced and less fuel is used to transport local food products.
Make Smart Fish Choices
Fish populations and the health of aquatic ecosystems are at risk from overfishing, bycatch (organisms that are inadvertently killed as a result of fishing practices), and the wastes produced by fish farms. Programs such as Vancouver B.C.’s Ocean Wise Program helps locals choose sustainable fish options. This Program was launched in 2005 by the Vancouver Aquarium to work with restaurants and markets to help them buy ocean-friendly fish. The program is also intended to help consumers purchase sustainably-harvested fish and to avoid fish on the endangered list.
Try Going Meatless
Beef, pork, and poultry production uses more resources and causes more pollution than other types of agriculture. As such, even an occasional vegetarian meal helps the environment. Vegetarian alternatives include veggie hot dogs, veggie burgers, beans, and tofu, among others. Most vegetarian foods are tasty and nutritious. When using meat, it is best to purchase products that are organically grown, raised without antibiotics, locally-produced and freerange.
Popularity: 37% [?]
Red Dot Program. Say No to Junk Mail.
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 by Michelle Trantina
Choose to reduce paper waste and clutter by saying NO to Junk Mail through Canada Post’s eco-friendly Consumer Choice option. Canada Post will honor your request to say no to unaddressed advertising materials.
We are fortunate to live in abundance where many of us have TOO MUCH STUFF! And to keep us buying more stuff, we are inundated with $19 Billion worth of advertising each year.
Much of this advertising is wasteful and irrelevant. Print advertising has a huge environmental footprint and often produces only a 1-2% uptake on the offer.
The good news is we can all say NO! And our collective voices will encourage advertisers to re-evaluate their current marketing strategies and transition into more effective customer-centric community-based initiatives.
Canada Post uses red dots to flag households that have said NO to Junk Mail. The Red Dot Campaign reminds you of your choice to say “NO” to unwanted advertising.
Our collective voice urges advertisers to be mindful of their use of paper in print advertising.
The intention of the Red Dot Campaign is to urge advertisers to re-allocate their advertising investments into socially responsible initiatives.
Launching this successful social marketing campaign proves our point. We are counting on your help to spread the word and make this Red Dot Campaign a success!
Encouraging your friends to exercise their choice to refuse junk mail!
Quoting a Canada Post Jan. 2007 press release,
“Canada Post respects the wishes of consumers who indicate through a self-produced note on their mailbox or mail receptacle, that they do not wish to receive unaddressed material.”
A great campaign to get rid of junkmail and all the unnecessary waste and pollution that comes along with it. If you do not live in Canada look for or encourage a system like this one in your area.
Popularity: 49% [?]
Greening Your Winter Heating Part 2
Thursday, January 24th, 2008 by Michelle Trantina
1. Hot water: Water heating is the third largest energy expense in an average home, typically accounting for about 13% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient water heater.
2. Insulate your home : While many new homes are already well insulated, older ones are probably due for a repackaging. Your home’s insulation hot spots are:
• The attic, including the attic door, or hatch cover.
• Under floors, above unheated spaces, around walls in a heated basement or unventilated crawl space, and on the edges of slabs-on-grade.
• Exterior walls, when constructing a new house or remodeling or re-siding your old one.
Before you decide to go about doing it yourself, get a quote from a local contractor to see if that makes sense, or cents. The cost of the insulation material alone might be roughly the same as having someone do the entire job for you. If you’re planning on some serious insulating, make sure to check out Don Vandervort’s HomeTips.
3. Upgrade your furnace: Installing a new furnace can READ MORE….
Popularity: 53% [?]
Yoga Book Review - Green Yoga
Friday, January 18th, 2008 by Kreg Weiss
Green Yoga, written by Georg & Brenda Feuerstein, offers a direct and engaging approach to how Yoga and the practice of awareness can help bring greater attention and care to the global issues we face today. Their writings present the clear concerns regarding the present threat to the biosphere and the future of humanity. Green Yoga addresses methods and efforts required by all to avert further catastrophic damage to the environment.
Click to learn more about ordering a copy of Green Yoga
“My heart was bleeding when reading Green Yoga. I pray that everyone will read this book and start to serve Mother Earth, so that she may survive. I hope that at least Yoga practitioners, who have faith in the evolution of humankind, make it their mission to bring about the necessary transformation.”—B. K. S. Iyengar
“This is one of those books that the mind does not want to read. Georg and Brenda pose the punch-you-in-the-gut question ‘How realistic is it to expect to attain individual serenity in a troubled sociocultural and natural environment?’ Then they go on to explain how we do this through a process they call ‘“sattvification,’ which is a purifying that involves mindfulness and activism in relation to both the mind and the world. This book is a powerhouse. It is essential reading for Yogis and Yoginis who want to be part of the solution rather than a blind part of the problem. It is a challenge to act—Karma Yoga—not just sit on your butt in meditation.”—Dandi Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
Popularity: 41% [?]
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