Going the Green Mile

Natural, Homemade Bathroom Green Cleaners

2009-09-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

Want to save money and protect the earth at the same time? Try these natural, homemade bathroom green cleaner recipes:

Shower and Bathtub Cleaner

Baking Soda
Vinegar

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the shower floor, or into the bathtub. You may want to close the drain. Pour vinegar onto the baking soda and let it bubble. Don't pour too much, as you don't want to dilute the baking soda - just wet it. Let this sit for a half hour, and then lightly scrub with a cotton rag. Rinse with water. Letting this soda/vinegar mixture sit does help to remove stubborn stains from shower floors (especially those with a rough surface).

Shower/Bathtub Drain Deodorizer

1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon cream of tartar

Mix above dry ingredients together and sprinkle into drain. Pour a kettle-full of boiling water down the drain to activate the cleansing, removal of debris, and odor.

Quick Toilet Cleaner

1 - 2 denture tablets

Drop into toilet bowl an inexpensive denture tablet between cleanings, to release debris and remove calcium deposits.

Mirror Spray Cleaner

1 cup vinegar
3 cups water
10 drops lavender oil

Keep a batch of this in a marked spray bottle - it's better than commercial window cleaners when it comes to streaking. Use a cotton rag for wiping it down (paper towels often leave tiny bits of paper and paper dust behind). And safe? Vinegar is edible, water is healthful, lavender oil is soothing and promotes a sense of well-being. This cleaner is actually good for you!

Earth Hour

2009-03-28T01:44:00.001-07:00

Earth Hour, Saturday March 28, 8:30 p.m.

2009-03-28T00:35:00.000-07:00

Lights Out for Earth Hour
Saturday, March 28, 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Original Source: http://www.earthhour.org/home/

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

You Can Help "Keep America Beautiful"

2009-03-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for ways in which you can do your part to "green" our world, there is no better way than to participate in the "Green starts here" message provided by the March 3 launch of the 2009 Keep America Beautiful (KAB) Great American Cleanup project. KAB will be hosting events around the country until the end of the program on May 31. It is a reminder to family, friends and neighbors that even though ‘Green Starts Here,’ the impact we create as individuals goes beyond our own community.

KAB is expecting over three million volunteers in 30,000 community improvement activities and educational workshops to get involved in this year’s Great American Cleanup. These volunteers will rid streets, waterways and public spaces of litter and illegal dump sites, hold recycling drives and educational events, paint out graffiti and much more.

The Great American Cleanup is not a small project. Last year, 86 million pounds of litter and debris were collected for proper disposal, reuse and recycling. The program also:

Removed 15,200 junk cars, recycled 10.2 million pounds of aluminum and steel and recycled 1.4 million tires
Recycled 5.3 million pounds of electronics and 137,000 batteries
Improved over 144,000 miles of roadway
Recycled 186 million plastic (PET) bottles
Improved and maintained 91,000 acres of parks and public lands; 7,000 miles of rivers, lakes and shorelines; and 6,000 miles of hiking, biking and nature trails
Recycled 37.1 million pounds of newsprint
Recycled 5.2 million pounds of clothing

The Great American Cleanup began with a national launch event in Waveland, Miss., which helped to restore a hurricane-ravaged town along the Gulf Coast. It will also host additional national events in New York City on Earth Day and Nashville on May 14.

Green Home Trends for 2009

2009-02-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the latest trends that people are buzzing about so far in 2009 that you may want to incorporate into your green-home design.

Backyard Turbines
With the economy seeming to be out of control these days, it may be a good idea to consider some ways to cut expenses, including those high electric bills! Why not consider taking matters into your own hands and turning to small wind energy. Even though there is a large upfront fee to build a turbine, you may be able to earn credits for becoming energy independent and reducing air pollution, as turbines produce no pollution.

Flat Roof Solar-Power Systems
Solar penels are easy to install on your rooftop They require only one simple hand tool. One such system, the Andalay solar panel, incorporates all electrical components inside the sleek panel. It looks like a sunroof and saves you loads of money.

Metal Roofing
Roofing materials may not get much "greener" than these. The covering is crafted of recycled material, is 100-percent recyclable and lasts for decades - up to 40 to 60 years. Traditional roofing materials last 10 to 20 years and end up in a landfill, which is certainly not good for the environment.

Synthetic Turf
What could be more convenient than replacing the fescue with fake grass? While you can hardly tell the difference, you need no lawn mower, no messy fertilizer, no wasted water, plus your "grass" stays in a state of perpetual greenness.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
To make your life easier, and cut down on potential arguments over the temperature, install a programmable thermostat. It allows much finer control over where the heating is set and always 'remembers' to turn down the heat at night, so the average family will save $150 a year, according to the EPA.

Programmable models can be found at most home improvement and hardware stores for $50 to $100. They are easy to install with the instructions,or are a quick task for a professional. A great way to increase energy efficiency and lower bills.

Benefits of Home Air Purifiers

2008-08-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone can benefit from cleaner air, especially those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems. Unfortunately there are increasing health concerns about indoor air quality within our own homes.

Even though your home may look spotlessly clean, the air in it could be contaminated with microscopic organisms that the eye can't see. Pollutant levels (airborne particles, gases, chemicals, and volatile organic compounds) are actually higher inside the home than they are outside. Poor quality indoor air affects people to different degrees, depending on an individual’s age and relative health. Indoor home air purifiers remove these microscopic organisms giving you pure, fresh air to breathe. There are different ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones against indoor air pollutants. Indoor air mold

One of the most common indoor air pollutants is air mold. Mold exists wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Molds can often be found in damp basements, closets, bathrooms, air conditioning systems, humidifiers, and any humid place inside your home. Here are some steps you can take to improve the quality of air in your home.

Improving indoor air quality

The first step in improving indoor air quality is to try to control the source of the pollutant. If the source stems from indoor air mold, smoke, or some type of chemical, you can actually remove it from your home through a thorough cleansing. On the other hand, some indoor air pollutants such as dust, pollen and pet dander are not so easily eliminated.

The next step is to improve the ventilation in your home. Bringing fresh air into the house by opening windows is not only helpful but also very simple. However, avoid opening those windows on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city as it will probably worsen the air situation in your home. Home air purifiers should be able to rid your home of a variety of contaminants including particles released during normal kitchen processes such as cooking and cleaning, tobacco smoke pollutants that remain suspended in the air, and air that gets stale and full of contaminants due to improper circulation.

Lastly, the addition of a home air purifier can greatly improve the air quality in your home. There are numerous types of air purifiers on the market—be sure to buy one that is well suited for the dimension and uses within your home.

Types of Home Air Purifiers

All home air purifiers are designed to clean and purify the air people breathe. They are made to reduce odors and airborne pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, and filter common allergens such as pollen, mold and dust. Air purifiers can be portable, to add convenience, or permanently installed. The most common air purifiers available for home use are HEPA (High Energy Particulate Arrestance), ionic, and UV (Ultra Violet) based. HEPA certified air purifiers must rid 99.97% particles in the air that measure 0.3 micrometers. Ionic air purifiers give a negative ion charge to all suspended particles making them heavy and allowing them to settle on the ground. These particles can be vacuum cleaned. You can also find models available that trap these particles, allowing you to get the filter cleaned later. UV based air purifiers circulate the air through it, destroying all the airborne particles using ultra violet light. Air that comes out of the unit is pure and free of any suspended particles.

Things to Consider When Buying A Home Air Purifier

Area Coverage – Make sure the square footage recommended for the air purifier is capable of handling the square footage of the room where you intend to use it. The coverage listed should be at least as large if not larger than the room.

Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This number tells us how frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air in a given room in an hour. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you will probably want a higher ACH rating.

Filter Replacements – Filters have to be replaced on many types of air purifiers. Make sure to find out the cost of the filters and how often they must be changed. Even the lower-cost filters can become quite expensive, so it is a factor to consider over time. Regular maintenance in changing filters is crucial to clean air quality. A home air purifier which uses a filter to trap the pollutants will circulate these very pollutants if not cleaned or changed at the specified time.

Noise Level – Some air purifiers are very quiet, while others can be quite loud. A good idea is to ask for a trial demonstration of the unit before purchasing it.

Energy Usage –Air purifiers operate on energy and run continuously, so the amount of energy they consume will be reflected on your energy bill. Be sure you are aware of this increased usage charge before you make your decision.

Whatever type of home air purifier you choose, you can be sure you will be breathing cleaner, more pure air in your own home.

2 days only get 50% off the Holmes HEPA-Type Air Purifier Tower with Remote Control. Use promo code F8PEE01. Valid August 29 – 30.

US Gov't Puts Off Greenhouse Gas Regulation

2008-07-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Environmentalists are seething after the administration of US President George W. Bush delayed any decision on regulating greenhouse gases, likely leaving any substantive action to his successor.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a 588-page report Friday that cites "the complexity and magnitude" of the issue and calls for 120 days of public comment.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling ordering the EPA last year to devise ways to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act.

"The Bush administration's refusal to respond to the Supreme Court and do something about global warming is not just illegal, it is grossly immoral," said Danielle Fugere of Friends of the Earth, an environmental group.

"President Bush's inaction in the face of this crisis is one of the greatest failures of leadership in presidential history," she said in a statement.

The EPA said there were doubts whether "greenhouse gases could be effectively controlled under the Clean Air Act."

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson wrote that regulating greenhouse gases under any portion of the act "could result in an unprecedented expansion of EPA authority that would have a profound effect on virtually every sector of the economy and touch every household in the land."

David Bookbinder, the climate counsel for the Sierra Club environmental group, said the EPA's decision underscores Johnson's "utter lack of credibility."

"The American public, Congress, world leaders, and even career government officials are counting down the days until this administration leaves town and a new president undoes the damage done by President Bush and makes up for nearly a decade of lost time -- time we didn't have to waste in the first place," Bookbinder said in a statement.

The EPA decision came after Bush agreed during the Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting in Japan this week to cut carbon emissions blamed for global warming by at least half by 2050. It was the strongest language yet signed by the US leader.

The Bush administration has fiercely opposed any imposition of binding emissions limits on the nation's industry and has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.

But the Supreme Court ruled in April 2007 that the EPA must consider greenhouse gases as pollutants and deal with them.

The ruling came in response to legal action undertaken by Massachusetts and a dozen other states and environmental groups that went to court to determine whether the agency had the authority to regulate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emissions.

Environmentalists have alleged that since Bush came to office in 2001 his administration has ignored and tried to hide looming evidence of global warming and the key role of human activity in climate change.

At a hearing in November 2006, Massachusetts argued that it risked losing more than 4.5 meters (15 feet) of land all along its coastline if the sea level should rise by 30 centimeters (one foot).

But the Bush administration, backed by nine states and several auto manufacturers, urged the court not to intervene, arguing that if the situation was so dire it could not be solved by a simple legal decision.

It further argued that reducing emissions from new US motor vehicles would have only a minor effect on global climate change.

While the court's decision is unlikely to change US policy, it has ramifications on several other ongoing issues, such as the agency's refusal to regulate emissions from electricity plants which produce some 40 percent of US carbon dioxide emissions. Motor vehicles are responsible for just 20 percent.

Original source:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080712/ts_
afp/usclimatewarminglaw_080712203403

The Purest Body Products on Earth

2008-06-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

The Purest Natural Organic Body Products on Earth

Look no further if you have been searching for the first full line of prestige skin, body and hair care natural organic products certified by the USDA National Organic Program.

Here are wonderful products which have been formulated with ingredients grown without the use of toxic or persistent chemical pesticides or herbicides. So they not only do beautiful things for your skin, they help keep the planet a more beautiful place. Why on earth would you use anything else?

Preakness Stakes Winner

2008-05-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown won the 133rd Preakness Stakes in Maryland on Saturday. Big Brown glided past the other three-year-old thoroughbreds in the race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Trained by Rick Dutrow Jr. and ridden by Jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown pounded to a 5 1/4-length victory in the one million-dollar, 1 3/16-mile race to remain unbeaten in five career starts. Hopes are high to see Big Brown succeed in winning the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes to be held on June 7th, where he could become the 12th winner of the United States' coveted Triple Crown.

Affirmed was the last horse to capture the Triple Crown 30 years ago in 1978. Within those 30 years, six other horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, but were beaten out in the demanding 1 1/2-mile course of the Belmont Stakes. The most recent was in 2004 with Smarty Jones.

The Belmont Stakes is held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the third leg of the Triple Crown, following five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. It is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and geldings.

Big Brown joins Majestic Prince (1969), Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew (1977) and Smarty Jones as unbeaten Derby winners who also won the Preakness.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-21T22:58:00.000-07:00

Earth Day, April 22, 2008 - Earth Day ,first celebrated on March 21,1970 and founded by John McConnell, is a day when Americans and other people from all over the world can participate in doing their part to change global warming and climate change by making small changes which make big differences.

It's a day when people celebrate by committing to changes, and participating in those changes, like riding a bike to school or work, hanging their laundry to dry instead of using a dryer, fixing leaky faucets or using cold water to do laundry instead of hot water. These things all reduce the amount of harmful carbon emitted into the air, referred to as our "carbon footprint."

Listed below this entry are a few ways you can make small changes which can make big differences when done on a daily and continued basis. It's not too late to start making changes. If we all pull together, we can start to rewind some of the damage we have created.

Also included below are some links to visit to understand more of what Earth Day is all about, plus many more things you can do to help. It's also a great way to spend time with your family and friends, and get kids involved and explain to them why it's important to change their world and help reduce some of the damage that has been done to it.

Associated links:
http://ww2.earthday.net/
http://epa.gov/earthday/index.htm
https://www.nsf.org/consumer/earth_day/earthday_faq.asp

Green Tips That Make A Difference

2008-04-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

A few small changes that can make a big difference:

Tip 1:
Fix leaky faucets. A faucet that drips once each second can waste over 8 gallons of water per day and more than 3,000 gallons per year. And that's per household!

Tip 2:
Install low-flush toilets. More than 4 billion gallons of water get flushed down the toilet every day in the United States.

Tip 3:
Buy recycled products. Buy toilet paper, paper towels and paper napkins that are made with post-consumer waste. You can find many brands available in your grocery stores, often at comparable prices.

Tip 4:
Reuse. Carry a reusable bag with you for groceries, shopping, and take out food. If you don't have one available, choose paper and recycle it or plastic and reuse it.

Tip 5:
Save energy with your computer.art by turning off your screen saver and cut even more energy that your computer uses by putting it in sleep mode when it isn't in use. Plug electronic equipment into power strips that can be switched off at night or when not in use.

Tip 6:
Clean green. Clean your home with non-toxic, natural cleaning products. Just about anything can be cleaned with white vinegar and baking soda.

Tip 7:
Buy local. Buy locally grown food that is in season. Food that hasn't traveled thousands of miles to reach you is fresher, tastier and drastically cuts down on pollution. Plus, you support your own community and local farmers, cutting down on costs for them too.

Tip 8:
Opt out of junk mail. Save a tree! You can log on to Catalog Choice to put a stop to unwanted catalogs.

Other types of junk mail:
To stop most other types of unsolicitated mail piling up in your mailbox, contact The Direct Marketing Association. It is a "trade association of businesses that advertise their products and services directly to consumers by mail, telephone, magazine, Internet, radio or television," according to its Web site. The DMA maintains a database of consumers who want to curtail unsolicited mail. DMA members must abide by the pledge to take your name off their lists. You can opt out by mail for free, but opting out online will cost you $5. And yes, you will save trees!

Support For Earth Hour

2008-03-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

Would you like to take a stand and let the rest of the world know you want to do your part to change global warming?

You can do just that on March 29, 2008, at 8 p.m. (your own local time) by participating in Earth Day and joining millions of other people from around the world by turning off your lights for one hour.

Earth Hour was created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007 in Sydney, Australia as an event in one city. In 2008 Earth Hour has grown into a worldwide movement which includes millions of people, businesses, civic organizations and governments participating. Everyone throughout North America and the rest of the world can participate, no matter where you may be. You are encouraged to turn off your lights at 8 p.m. for one hour to show your concern for our planet and that you want to do your part in helping to control climate change.

You can go to http://www5.earthhourus.org/ to sign up to partipate and show the world you are supporting Earth Hour. Give an hour, one hour, Earth Hour.

Learn To Recondition Batteries

2008-03-24T18:30:00.001-07:00

Most of us know that one of the ways to help lighten the load of our earth's huge waste problems is to recycle as much as possible.

What if you could learn how to recondition your own batteries and save the cost of new ones, and also be given the opportunity to make money at the same time?

Not only would you be helping the planet by diminishing some of the harmful waste we dump daily, but you could also be saving yourself some money by recycling and creating a source of added income for yourself, just by learning how to recondition batteries.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help decrease our earth's waste problem, and use this same knowledge to add to your own income at the same time, read on...

The Right To Know What's In Our Milk

2008-03-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article which claims that some state governments are considering label laws that would restrict milk producers from labeling their milk with information that consumers should be aware of regarding the use of rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone). A genetically engineered hormone, rBGH is used by some cattle farmers to artificially boost milk production. It has become a great source of controversy. You can read articles in most major news publications lately addressing this issue. I have included a few links below so you may read about it and see what is being discussed in the news.

As concerned citizens, we should take responsibility for our health, our children's health, and the health of our own environment by demanding more information on our food labels, not less! We need to let our federal and state governments know how we feel about these and other matters that affect our health and the health of animals receiving these drugs. After all, what goes into the animals essentially makes its way into our own bodies! We have the right to know what is used to produce the food we eat. We need all the information included on the food labels so we can make wise choices in the foods we eat. This includes whether they are sodium-free, if they are made without added sugar, or produced without synthetic hormones. We have a growing human health crisis in our country, and according to their own report, the FDA lacks the funds for research and regulation to protect us, so we MUST take the responsibility for our own health. Click on any of the links below to read more about the subject and related articles:

Fighting on a Battlefield the Size of a Milk Label
New York Times - March 11, 2008

Milk hormone label debate continues
USA Today - March 11, 2008

Battle over rBGH-free labeling continues in US states
The Organic & Non-GMO Report

Mystery milk: Rule change would keep Utah consumers in the dark
Salt Lake Tribune - 2-28-08

Eating The Organic And Natural Way

2008-03-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Since becoming a first-time grandparent last year, I have been made much more aware of what kind of environment my grandson was going to be growing up in. I started thinking about ways in which I could help him to grow up healthier by making his baby food out of organically grown fruits and vegetables.

While doing some research about the benefits of making your own baby food compared to the processed baby foods sold in stores, I found that there are also benefits to the environment by using organic and natural products. Organic foods are safer to eat and safer for our earth because they are not grown with harmful pesticides or artificial chemicals.

Being concerned for my grandchild also made me start thinking about my own health and that of my family and the foods we eat as well. It was difficult at first because I really didn't know too much about what was available or how to shop to change our eating habits. While looking online for information, I discovered a great website which had a detailed step-by-step guide explaining how to change to an organic and natural lifestyle. Before using this guide, I usually bought food that was less expensive to save money because I thought organic food would be very costly. Using the guide helped me realize that for only a few dollars extra a week I could buy organic food but still stay within my budget and feed my family in a much healthier way. This is not only better for our health, but also better for our planet because of the way organic foods are grown.

If you would like to change the way you think about organic and natural foods and learn about their health benefits, click here to get your own copy of the guide.

Conserve Energy - Hang A Clothesline

2008-03-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

Some of the smallest changes we make can conserve energy. For instance, the way we do our laundry can affect our environment. It has been found that up to 60% of the energy associated with one piece of clothing is spent in how we wash and dry it. Laundering just a single t-shirt can send as much as 9 lbs of carbon dioxide into the air over the lifetime of the shirt.

These little changes can make big differences over time:
- Wash clothes in warm water instead of hot water.
- Save up to launder bigger loads than many smaller ones.
- Replace an older washing machine with a newer, efficient one, if possible. Newer washers can save up to 3/4 the energy of some older ones!
- Dry clothes the natural way - hang up a clothesline!

Altogether, the changes we make can reduce the CO2 created by our laundry by up to 90%!

2008-02-09T13:17:00.001-08:00

Energy and Money Savers with your Car

2008-02-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

When you're on the road, think and drive safely. Aggressive driving, such as speeding, rapid acceleration, or hard braking wastes gasoline, and can lower your highway gas mileage by 33 percent and city mileage by 5 percent (not to mention raising your blood pressure)!

Keeping up with your car's maintenance is another energy and money saver in the long run and may prevent future problems for your car and the environment. A clean air filter keeps dirt and other foreign particles from entering the engine, and can improve gas mileage as much as 10 percent. Properly inflated and aligned tires can improve mileage by around 3 percent.

What We Don't know CAN Hurt Us - and How We Can Fix It

2008-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever really wondered what happens to all the stuff we use on a daily basis, and where it all goes when it gets thrown out? It's not something that really crossed my mind until recently. And I don't think it's so much that most of us dodn't care as much as we just aren't aware.

A website called "The Story of Stuff" was recently brought to my attention that really opened my eyes. I have a link below where you can view a clever video that tells the full life cycle of products including how they are made, priced, sold, consumed, and then trashed, but even more importantly it shows the far-reaching impacts of production, overconsumption, and waste. It’s a wonderful video, very artistic and professional. Even though it’s fairly long (between 15-20 min.) it goes by quickly, so please do yourself a favor and make time to sit down, relax, and enjoy the viewing. If you don't have time now, be sure to bookmark it for a little later today.

If you are ready for a somewhat shocking, yet very informative and pleasantly interesting little film, please view the video. If you are at all like I was, you will be inspired to change your views on how we consume, and why.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Looking for Eco-Friendly Products?

2008-01-17T23:18:00.001-08:00

If you are like most people, you look for the best quality and price in eco-friendly products. I have found a company based on good family values and who is truly committed to its quest to find, create, and offer a wide range of safe and natural products. Products range from books and candles, body and bath, kitchen and household, children, pets, clothing, even to a Green Wedding Registry.

The company favors manufacturers and artisans who dedicate their talents to creating clever, modern, and earth-affirming products out of unwanted everyday items. In addition, they look for fairly-traded products and those made from organic ingredients. They encourage manufacturers to use environmentally-friendly packaging and sustainable manufacturing techniques.

For those of you who enjoy the outdoors but want a little bit of "home" to take along with you, there are a number of solar-powered pockets, converters, bags and backpacks available, along with solar-powered batteries to charge your cell phone, iPod, PDA or other small electronics.

To check out these products and more,

Click here to visit 3rliving.com

Control Your Refrigerator's "Appetite"

2008-01-14T23:46:00.000-08:00

Did you know that your refrigerator has a monstrous energy appetite? It is, by far, the single biggest consumer of electricity in the average household, being responsible for 10-15 percent of the electricity you use each month.

Older refrigerators, as a rule, are far less efficient than the newest ones—as much as 50 percent more efficient in many cases. But buying a brand-new, energy-efficient refrigerator may not be in your immediate future. Fortunately, there are other things that will help.

Don't set the thermostat too high. Even 1 degree will make a big difference.

If your refrigerator is near a heating vent, or always in the sun, then change the location, cover up the heat vent near it or drape the window.

Turn on your "energy saver" switch near the thermostat.

Clean the condenser coil. This one, simple thing can improve the efficiency of your refrigerator by about a third!

Get rid of your second refrigerator, if you have one. If you don't need it, don't waste the energy.

Make sure the doors seal properly, and keep the cool air in.

Take Control of Your Temperature

2008-01-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

Did you know that about half of your household energy costs go towards just two things—heating and cooling. Additionally, and ironically, air conditioners inject additional carbon into the air and increase global warming.

However, even small changes make dramatic improvements in household fuel efficiency. That means we can all do something.

Because older heating and cooling systems are a third less efficient than the new systems, replacing the old with the new is a great idea, but it is not very practical for most of us. In the meantime, here are some things you can do right now to make sure you're setting the right temperature in your house:

Tune up your heating system. This one thing every couple of years can reduce your heating costs by 10 percent a year.
Clean vents, close unused vents, and change filters regularly in the vents. Again, just these simple things will save you 10 percent.
Buy a programmable thermostat, which can regulate different temperatures at different times of the day. If you have one, make sure to use it. Believe it or not, three-quarters of people who have programmable thermostats don't use them at all!
Add two degrees to the AC thermostat in summer, and lower the thermostat two degrees in winter. If everyone did this, the cumulative impact would be significant.
Check windows and doors to make sure they are sealed. This will dramatically improve your household fuel efficiency. Ceiling fans, instead of AC, can reduce your cooling costs by more than half.

Stand Up and Be Counted

2008-01-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

Are you interested in doing your part in the fight against global warming? I have found a great website that lets you show how you are taking steps to help stop global warming. They will print your number on a t-shirt that represents your position in the global count and how you add up!

These are cute designs and a fun way to show the world how you add up and where you joined in the count. They also offer the designs on organic bags and recycled water bottles. Help with a good cause and receive something useful and earth friendly at the same time.

To see and read more, please click below:

Change Your Lighting

2008-01-06T18:33:00.001-08:00

The climate crisis is real and happening right now. It’s easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed. People are asking, “What difference will changing my light bulbs really make? The problem is so huge, and I’m just one person.”

Lighting

Lighting accounts for about 21 percent of commercial energy consumption and about 12 percent of home energy consumption. In terms of heat-trapping pollution, that means the lights in the average household produce just over a ton of carbon dioxide each year. If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with CF bulbs, the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road!

Here are a few steps to lower those numbers:

Use energy-efficient lights. If you change just one 75-watt bulb to a compact fluorescent light, it roughly cuts 1,300 pounds of global warming pollution. They also last up to 15 times as long and save you money. (Learn how to pick the best bulbs.)
Turn off lights. A large part of lighting expenses is from rooms that stay unnecessarily lit.
Use natural light. Open your shades and use sunlight to help light rooms.
Install motion-sensors so that lights automatically turn on when someone is in the room and turn off when empty. Convenience is a plus.

Better than regular bulbs

Until the last decade, LEDs could only produce green, red, and yellow light, which limited their use. Then came blue LEDs, which have since been altered to emit white light with a light-blue hue.

LEDs produce twice as much light as a regular 60 watt bulb and burn for over 50,000 hours. The Department of Energy estimates LED lighting could reduce U.S. energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent by 2025. LEDs don't emit much heat, so they're also more energy efficient. And they're much harder to break.

Other scientists have said they expect LEDs to eventually replace standard incandescent bulbs as well as fluorescent and sodium vapor lights.

If the new process can be developed into commercial production, light won't come just from newfangled bulbs. Quantum dot mixtures could be painted on just about anything and electrically excited to produce a rainbow of colors, including white.

A New Beginning...

2008-01-05T23:19:00.000-08:00

As we begin a new year, I think it is a good time for new beginnings.. A new beginning for all of us. Whether you made a personal new year's resolution to change jobs, get your life in order, get your finances back on track, or maybe even to lose those few extra pounds that tend to creep up on us, these are wonderful and perhaps traditional resolutions that all have great merit.

But i would like to suggest a different type of new beginning. One for all of us and our futures in this world if it is to continue to exist. You see, a new focus has been taking place about our world and what we have done to it over the years. Whether that was because we were uninformed about our actions, or just plain neglegance, many people are beginning to stand up and take notice of what is happening. Air pollution and global warming is taking its toll in a very ugly way.

2008 is sometimes being referred to as the year of "Going Green". What I would like to do is focus on what that means, and what each of us can and should do to take part in trying to stop the damage that has been done, and will continue to do, unless we take action to change it.

Whether we take steps in our daily lives to make a change in a big way or just a small way, let's all at least take that first step.

I hope to inform and offer ways we can all take part in salvaging and maybe even reversing a little of what is happening to the environment, our wildlife, ourselves, our children and maybe offer some new hope for helping the planet heal.

Please add your comments and suggestions as I continue with my posts.

To a new beginning...