Going Green

Biodiesel fuel! It's becoming more widely used in trucks and buses around the world. It burns cleaner than petroleum-based diesel, is non-toxic and can be used in any diesel engine!

Get on your bike for excercise, ease, and excitement! It's a great way to avoid parking costs, gas prices, and generating pollution. Rent a bike while on vacation for a fun way to explore.

Taxi! Considered a form of public transport because you don't own or need to service them and they're made available for others to use. Look out for hybrid or pedi-cab taxis for an even greener option.

Start with a simple plan - commit to leaving the car at home one day a week and walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation. Taking a new path might create new opportunities for yourself!

Carpool Idea: Instead of pitching in for daily gas, establish a rotation schedule where each driver takes care of the gas/oil/parking. The more people in your carpool, the less you'll pay for gas and it helps OUR environment! - Patty H.

Leaving your car at home two days a week can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1600 pounds per year. Take public transportation or bike to work. It helps the environment and your savings.

Walk or bike to work, to run errands, or whenever you can. It’s a great way to get in some exercise and give the car and the expensive gasoline a rest.

Carpooling - saves money spent on gas, reduces auto wear & tear, grants access to carpool lanes, qualifies for work perks like preferred parking, creates less driving stress, and provides more time to get things done. - Patty H.

Reduce Air travel when possible. Plane travel creates much more of an environmental impact than cars. Try to limit trips when possible, especially when under 600 miles.

Public transportation is often a great alternative to going to work and even heading out to the movies. It costs less to get around, no hassle with parking, and cuts down on road rage!

Getting ready to buy a new car? Check out a hybrid car. More and more models are making their way on the market and this is definitely the wave of the future.

Have a Brita water filter? Well now you can take back the filter! Preserve initiated a program so you can drop it off at your Whole Foods Market or mail them in and the entire filter gets recycled!

I use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins and paper towels. It saves money and the trees! - Holan K.

A simple, easy step toward a greener office is using recycled paper, especially brands that use post-consumer recycled paper. Even greener - using no paper! Keep it electonic when possible.

Many store bought cleaners are toxic to create and toxic at home. White vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, and even corn meal become perfect replacements. Learn more from this list.

A solar system on your roof can increase your home's value while providing renewable evergy to your home. Getting started may seem daunting, so here's some info you could read.

Setting your fridge next to your stove, vent, or dishwasher causes it to work harder due to the heat being emitted from those appliances or vent. Let your fridge stand alone and save money!

Where the option is available and not already selected, select the energy-saving setting on your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and other major appliances.

Air fresheners contain dangerous ingredients like dichlorobenzene, naphthalene, and formaldehyde. Yuck! Freshen your air naturally with essential oil burners or boiling spices like cinammon, clove, or rosemary.

Cool ways to reuse newspaper: Clean windows instead of paper towels, ripen tomatoes by wrapping them up & leaving them on the counter, wrap presents, compost it, cover plants during a frost, and shred it to use as a packing material.

Only turn the faucet on when needed. We can save 500 gallons of water per month per person just by turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth or shaving.

Shower instead of taking baths. You use up to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath, but less than 12.5 gallons during a 5-minute shower with a 2.5 gpm showerhead. - www.greenmatters.com

Is a stain, a small tear, or changing fashion threatening your favorite clothing? Don't just toss your old friend away! If the condition is perfectly good, you can always donate or reuse as a household rag!

Home-mixed cleaners will get the job done! Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean almost anything. Mix in a bit of warm water with either of these and you'll have yourself an all-purpose cleaner.

A fan could be useful for heating your home or office! A well-positioned, slow-rotating fan can help your heat spread throughout your room.

Wash dishes using a soapy water wash tub, then only run the water for rinsing - And try using cold water for rinsing. This saves gallons of water and energy each month.

Washout and reuse plastic freezer & sandwich resealable bags for food storage, household, and personal items to take advantage of resealable bag convenience, while limiting the impact on the earth! - Patty H.

In many offices, documents are thrown in the recycle bin after only one side has been printed on. Reuse discarded, one-sided documents by printing again on the backside or using them for note paper. Save trees, money & our environment.

Optimizing the energy settings for computers can be a HUGE energy saver. Set your computers to energy-saving settings and don't forget to shut them down when you leave for the day.

Use things non-electric for the drying of clothes! Notice the difference in your next electric bill, you will see YOU have become the change! - Patty H.

Here's a bright idea: change at least one light bulb to an energy-efficient bulb. If every American did this, we'd save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year and save more than $600 million annually in energy costs.

Video conferencing, instant messaging, and other tools can make telecommuting a possibility for your workplace. If you can telecommute, have phone conferences, or take your classes online, try it out!

Get creative about shipping materials by wrapping in natural fabric, reusing packing materials, or getting biodegradable types. Bubble wrap and styrofoam may be conveneint, but they're made from toxic chemicals.

Turn off your electric water heater every day after you shower. You will save energy and save a bundle on your utility bills every month! - Yvonne M.

Consider going green for your next home renovation. From low-odor paints to renewable woods, tile floors to recycled counter tops, there are more and more options out there to choose from.

Increase the efficiency of your water heater by wrapping it in a water heater blanket. This can reduce heat-loss by an appreciable 25-35%. Research plan of action for safety.

Replace old cartridges for computers, printers, fax machines, and copiers with reused, refilled cartridges. There are several companies that may offer this service in your local area rather than being shipped from overseas companies.

Give composting a try! It's the natural way to return biodegradable waste back to the Earth. Whether your city offers a composting service or you make one in your back yard, get into it!

Just plant a marigold border around the perimeter of your garden. For some reason, marigolds repel most voracious insect (even the belligerent tomato worm). It works! -E.R. Mathis

Companion planting is the practice of placing plants which pests dislike around those plants which pests relish. For instance, aphides hate chives, so chives are a great companion plant for roses. -greenhousewife.com

Plant flowers that attract birds or put up a cone of birdseeds in your garden. Robins, sparrows, finches, and many others will consume thousands of insects each day - Offers a great helping hand to hand-picking!

Folks living in apartments & condos have the option of growing their own fresh veggies & herbs with container gardening. Growing containers are available in all sizes & shapes from half wooden barrels, planter boxes, hanging baskets, and large flower pots. - Patty H.

Try out the following alternative water sources for plant, lawn & garden, or compost: Reuse boiled cooking water (after it's cooled) from pasta, potatoes, eggs, & steamed veggies etc...PLUS reuse water from rinsing out the coffee pot. These water sources are rich in Nitrogen as well as some trace minerals.

"Soilless" lightweight potting mixes work great and are free from soil-borne diseases and weed seeds. One of the ingredients of soilless mixtures is "Coco Peat" - made from coconut husk fiber and a by product from the coconut harvesting process.

Searching for gifts for kids? Seek out toys that are safe, creative, and environmentally conscious. Lead paints, toxic plastics, and other chemicals are actually still used in many products. Gift smart!

Share the importance of taking care of our planet with your family. Start small - like teaching them to recycle cans, bottles, and papers. No, new homework can't go in the recycling bin!

Start a garden in your backyard or even a small window garden. Have everyone in the family help take care of the plants - from planting, watering, eating, and composting!

Help balance what movies, shows, and games your children are engaged with by including eco-themed options that are becoming more available (and are also alot of fun for adults).

A car is a near necessity as a parent. Discuss what your needs are and research the green family cars on the market. More and more are making it on the scene.

Inspire your kids to reach for whole foods rather than relying on heavily processed foods. Start them off being aware of health and nutrition and it will pay off later.

Plan to use the hotel van instead of renting a car on your next trip. Use public transportation in your destination city when possible. It may slow you down a bit, but that might be a good thing!

If the hotel provides complimentary newspapers, pass yours on to someone else or leave it in the lobby for another reader. Ask the hotel to see that it's recycled.

When staying in hotels, remember to turn off lights, air conditioning/heating, etc. when leaving. Just because you don't see the electricity bills doesn't mean it's not affecting you. :)

Next time you stay at a hotel, you can help to keep it green by not taking any of the hotel's complimentary soap or shampoo for your collection. Use only what you need or better yet, bring your own!

Stay at a Green Hotel. Hotels usually use 218 gallons of water per day per occupied room. Help save water by reusing your hotel towels and sheets when staying at hotels that are green.

Next time you travel, purchase carbon emission offsets. Currently, this is your best way to counter the damage caused by greenhouse gases. Planes, cars, and hotels create a large carbon footprint on the planet.

Eco-tourism, green tours, and sustainable travel have all become new phrases to refer to ways of traveling that are in-line with ecological and social awareness. These types of trips promote the conservation and well-being of local people, offering travelers ways to travel responsibly and conscientiously.

Use electronic tickets rather than paper tickets when booking transportation or events. Electronic tickets generate less waste and cost less to replace if lost.

Ensure that your vehicle is “road-ready” by properly tuning your engine and properly inflating your tires to help save gas and money.

Contact your newspaper publisher to ask if you can stop your subscription while you’re away, or if it’s possible to donate the newspapers to schools or other organizations.

Rental cars are a must have for many travel destinations. Many rental companies are now offering alternative fuel vehicles. Check which agencies are offering these cars. Sometimes they cost a bit more, so take a moment and reflect on what’s important to you.

Make an effort to stay in hotels that practice waste reduction, energy conservation, and recycling. Many hotels advertise their recycling and conservation programs on their Web site or you can also request information when calling to book your room.

If you are at a visitors’ center, take only the brochures you need and recycle the ones you don’t keep. Above all, don’t litter—carry your trash or recyclables with you until you find an appropriate waste or recycling container.

Green your holiday shopping season by checking THIS list with what you can do to shop responsibly, raise awareness, and have fun: Co-op America's holiday tips.

Shopping for wedding rings? Seek out conflict-free diamond jewelry and precious metals that are recycled! Metal mining (gold in particular) is incredibly destructive to our environment.

Buy products that are designed to be long lasting or at least can be reused more than once. You'll save money in the long run rather than buy over and over again.

Next shopping trip, stop and ask these questions: Do I really need this? Is it overpackaged? How long will it last and how will I dispose of it? Taking these steps helps us recognize impulsive buying versus self/planet-care.

Bargain-priced merchandise is often produced by exploited workers. It's profitable for these companies but the social/economic cost to our society often goes unseen. Buy local and recognize "real" cost of products.

Use rechargeable batteries in toys, flashlights, radios, etc. You can save $200 a year by using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables in one cd player used two hours a day.

Buy Organic Wool! There are certificates of sustainable textiles for wool which includes no pesticides in the field where sheep graze, no tattooing of the sheep, and the shearing room must follow rigid cleaning guidelines. And it is more hypo allergenic than the carbonized wool, which accounts for approximately 85% of wool allergies.

Buy Organic Cotton! It takes a third of a pound of pesticides and chemical fertilizers to produce the cotton for one T-shirt! That's lots of unhealthy exposure for farmers and wildlife, and tons of unnecessary pollution. Organic cotton is becoming easier to find.

Buy a hemp shower curtain. "(A) shower curtain made of hemp will naturally resist mildew and is machine washable." ("It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living" - Gibbs Smith, 2006)

Avoid the store-bought air fresheners and try boiling cloves, cinnamon, or any other herbs you like! It's fun, fragrant, and Eco-Friendly!

Shopping locally reduces food miles, it keeps resources circulating within the community, and it's a great way to get to know your neighbors! When was the last time you talked with the person who grew your tomatoes?

Give an existing item a new lease on life instead of purchasing brand new. That means no new manufacturing resources, no additional pollution, and no carbon emissions. Old is the new, new.

Seek out your local farmer's market. This is a great way to shop for produce and other farm-fresh items. Often, these are done organically and you're supporting your local economy. It's also a great way to meet other like-minded shoppers too!

Everyone loves getting a present. Take this opportunity to buy eco-friendly items and share the importance of going green! Rather than wrapping in paper, use recycled fabrics or containers. - Marc M.

Buy the larger sized cans for all canned foods, including pet foods. Even though these cans are recyclable, one of the key steps is minimizing our use of material.

Explore the new materials being used in the fashion industry. Shoes, clothes, handbags, even home furnishings are being made from bamboo, hemp, recycled and reclaimed fabric, and even coconut shells!

Sushi lovers - Make sure to be up to date with the Monterey Bay Area Aquarium Seafood Watch. Not all fish that lands on your plate is the best for you or our planet.

Think globally, can locally! Canning fruits/veggies so they're available to you all year cuts out the environmental cost of shipping foods thousands of miles when out of season.

Tetra pak brand cartons are a relatively new and an ideal packaging system for liquids and some foods. Recycling is currently limited to select areas. See if your area is covered: http://www.aseptic.org/index.shtml

Buy locally - Eat seasonally - Promote sustainability! Visit this site for stories, tips, recipes, and seasonal foods in your area: http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal/

Hard-to-recycle plastics often contain toxins that can leach into food and water, especially when heated. Transfer foods to paper or glassware when microwaving and try not to store items for too long in plastic containers.

Study the ingredient labels of what you eat. Many foods are filled with chemical additives which ultimately mean environmental and health hazards. Eat more whole foods for better health and a better world.

Choose restaurants that serve local and organic foods. More and more are popping up across the globe. Search the internet for options near you typing in search words such as “green tips eating out.”

Many establishments are using new take out containers made from more eco-friendly materials such as corn or potato starch. If you’re favorite restaurants are still using styrofoam, encourage them to switch to new materials!

Frequent restaurants and stores whose meats and fish are sustainably sourced. There are many inhumane practices all across the globe that torture animals and use antibiotics, growth hormones, and improper feed.

Bring your lunch to work in reusable containers. It's the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. If you order delivery, maximize efficiency by joining coworkers in placing a large order. Bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins.

Eat less meat. Most people don't realize the harm being done to the environment (land, water, air) because of the massive meat production industry. - Jane L.

Bring your own cup to drink from to your favorite local coffee or tea house. Or, better yet make your own beverages at home or work using washable cups.

Support great organizations that are helping make a difference. www.WeAddUp.com wakes up those who wear and those who see their individually numbered, boldly stated shirts. Wear YOUR statement!

VOTE!! Speak out! Trust that it counts. And equally important is to be sure you make time to really know who and what you're voting for. Vote true, Spread the Peace!

Be aware of what you take in regarding news, tv, and entertainment. These can also be like junk-food, depriving your mind of what it needs to be clear & healthy. Check out www.grist.com for options.

Take a moment and think about all the wonderful things you have in your life. Express gratitude today and feel how that state of being creates the ability to care about others and our planet.

How are you doing today? Sharing your feelings and connecting with others helps to bridge the gap between "us" and "them." This is a reminder tip that we are all connected.

This is certainly a critical time to think about our personal and national finances. Use this time to see how you can have green ideas while saving and spending your green bills.

What do you believe? Take some time to consider what inspires you and where you place your values. It may help you take steps toward whatever area is calling for your attention.

Practice yoga, tai chi, Qigong, or any other physical form that energizes your body, mind, and soul! Sometimes just starting is the hard part. Commit to one class and maybe start with a friend.

Take a moment and see what options you have before you buy or throw away: Can you borrow what you need? Can you sell what you don't need? Swap meets, thrift stores, garage sales, and internet services are fun and great resources!

If you take public transit, compost your scraps, or buy organic, tell people why! If people show an interest, help them get started! You could even help organize workshops, or discussion groups.

Stop smoking. Not only does the smoke cause pollution, but the cigarette butts, tobacco additives, and production create numerous toxic wastes. If you can't stop, try smoking all natural cigarettes.

Avoid using antibacterial soaps. Many standard versions contain chemicals known to cause birth defects, liver damage in animals, and destroy aquatic ecosystems. Scrubbing hands vigorously with regular soap works well.

Enjoy the great outdoors for your exercise. Cardio machines and other electrically powered machines in gyms or even at home require a lot of energy to operate. Use your own energy by heading outdoors for a great workout with friends.

Aerosol spray cans for hair, deodorant, and widow cleaners, have numerous harmful effects. Not only can they explode in high heat, many contain fluorocarbon which when inhaled can cause detrimental health effects.

Start an initiative in your neighborhood, apartment building, at work, school, etc. to help encourage people to practice the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle! You can make it fun while helping to create good habits to help save our planet.

Cat owners should avoid clumping clay litter at all costs. Not only is clay strip-mining bad for the planet, but the clay sediment is also permeated with carcinogenic silica dust. There are many safe litter options.

Adopt your next pet. Pet breeders tend to overbreed, inbreed, and may make poor choices for the sake of money. Why buy when you can rescue or adopt one of the 70,000 puppies and kittens born every day in the U.S.?

Try using wood pellet cat litter. It's 100% chemical-free, recycled and biodegradable. The pine pellets breathe easier than chemical-based litters. There is less mess tracked away from the litter box and it's virtually odor free. - Peggy S.

Feed your dog or cat a high quality pet food that is "consistent" in contents from bag to bag, in whatever city you purchase the product. Just ask your veterinary clinic staff what they recommend! - Patty H.

To use kitty liners on the litter box, or not to use...Here's my answer: Save money and avoid using plastic by going without a liner! I found that even with the liner, I still ended up cleaning the litter box itself. -Tham S.

Every day I give the cat & dog fresh water. The "old" water goes in the plants instead of down the drain. - MJ A.

Spaying or neutering domesticated animals helps cut down on the overpopulation of homeless animals. It has also been proven to help animals to live longer, healthier lives with less chances of uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer.

Many pet food suppliers use low-grade foods for their food ingredients which can contribute to deficiency and disease. Choose ingredients that use whole foods rather than the disguised “-meal” suffix after meat ingredients.

Many specialty pet food stores now offer natural and organic pet foods that use meats that are raised in sustainable, humane ways. This means there are no pesticides, antibiotics, artificial ingredients, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Call your local veterinary clinic/animal shelter and ask if they can reuse your old newspapers to line the bottom of kennels and crates, or use your shredded paper as cat litter. - Patty H.

Use biodegradable bags when taking care of pet waste, whether out for a walk with the dog, or scooping out the cat’s litter box. Millions of plastic bags are getting caught in landfills and our oceans. Anyway we can reduce plastic is helpful!

The health and well-being of your pet is important. Now there’s a range of options to help make better choices from grooming and cleaning products, to natural toys and collars. Give them as gifts to help friends learn about this too.