Author: Ginny Green

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Eco Tips Featured

Simple Ways to Make the Holidays Greener

According to Robert Lilienfeld of the ULS Report, Americans dispose of 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s over any other time of the year. Make some slight holiday modifications to help ease the effects of the holidays on our planet.

Holiday Cards. Send e-cards versus traditional paper cards. If you are absolutely set on paper cards, buy cards that are made from recycled card stock.

Conscious Presents. Put thought into what family or friends really want or need. Try to avoid giving a gift will result in more clutter  or waste. Instead, send in a donation to a friend or family member’s favorite charity or use WorldVision.com to give a unique gift of clean water, a fishing kit, or goat to a family in a developing country.

Gift Wrap. Recycled gift bags, magazine pages with holiday themes or the comic pages from the newspaper are all good ways to be eco-conscious when wrapping a gift. Top the gift off with raffia or a cloth ribbon that can also be reused by the receiver.

Holiday Wreaths & Trees. Call your local recycling center to get a list of free tree and wreath drop-off locations. These centers will usually shred your holiday greens for use as mulch. Tree mulch can then be used as an erosion barrier for lake and river shoreline management or as soft bedding for parks and playgrounds.

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Eco Tips Featured Gadgets & Gear

Eco-Friendly Fitness

You make a point of going to the gym or yoga studio in order to be healthy, so it only makes sense to shop for fitness gear that’s healthy for the environment. We searched the best online shops and came away with these five great green gear finds.
 
Gaiam Sol Suddha Eco Yoga Mat. Gaiam is one of the most popular purveyors of yoga mats. The Sol Sudda made our list of green gear finds because it’s made from eco-friendly plastic and is biodegradable.
 
Manduka’s Practice Tote. This awesome tote from Manduka is made from natural cotton and non-AZO dye. Grab one of these bags as a gift for any yoga fans you know, they’ll have plenty of room for a mat and extra change of clothes.
 
Omala’s Kimber Ballet Tank. Slimming side ruching and made from 90% recycled material. The fibers are spun from 90% repurposed plastic bottles, so these tanks take 84% less energy to make.
 
Moving Comfort’s Juno Bra. It can be hard to find an athletic bra that is both supportive and comfortable. We are a fan of Moving Comfort’s Juno Bra since it’s constructed with fabric made from recycled coffee grounds and is odor resistant.
 
Under Armour Catalyst II Hoody. Made with advanced green technology and 100 percent recycled polyester. Ultra-thin and sleek while providing sun and odor protection.
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Articles Eco Tips

4 Tell-tale Signs of Greenwashing

You may have heard the term, but wondered how exactly greenwashing is defined. Greenwashing occurs when more time and financial resources are spent on advertising, labeling and marketing green products than is spent actually implementing environmentally sound practices. Unfortunately, the terms “natural”, “non-toxic,” and “eco-friendly” are often misused. Here are four tell-tale signs of product greenwashing to be aware of:

  • Fluffy or Vague Language. Terms like “all natural” or “free of (insert toxic chemical name)” are not regulated by the government and are unverified.
  • Partial or Absent List of Ingredients. All ingredients should be listed to provide 100% transparency.
  • Unverified Health Claims. Sad, but true, many companies do fabricate claims or data. Request to see supporting scientific studies.
  • Questionable Parent Company. If a product is marketed by a company that is known for toxic outputs, the chances are good that the product’s formula has not undergone the proper level of greening.
Source:  These tips were in part provided by actor, author and pioneering environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. who is a prominent figure in the green movement. Begley’s Earth Responsible Products are plant-based, sustainable, and made from rapidly biodegradable ingredients.
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Articles Eco Tips Featured

6 Ways to Green Your Bath & Body

Bathrooms tend to be one of most wasteful places in our homes. Water runs longer than necessary in the shower or in sinks, paper products are over-used, and many dollars are spent on high-end spa or beauty products that usually aren’t very healthy for our homes or bodies. Get greener in the bathroom and make a few of these easy modifications using eco-friendly products.

Create a Home Spa. Use natural ingredients you already have at home to create your own body scrubs such as sugar and sea salt. Blend with herbs and essential oils.

Watch the Water. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth, shave, or lather up your hair.

Go Low Flow. Invest in a low flow shower head and toilet to conserve water.

Use Multi-Purpose Castile Soap. Organic castile soap has many uses. Use it to clean kids, adults, pets and even as a cleaner for the bathroom.

Buy Recycled Toilet Tissue. 100% post-consumer content tissue cuts back on over consumption of trees, water, and energy resources.

Recycle Empty Glass Jars. Reuse empty glass jars to store cotton swabs, toothbrushes or cotton balls instead of spending the money on special containers.

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Eco Tips

7 Eco-Friendly House Cleaning Tips

Most standard cleaning products and processes are either wasteful or just plain hazardous to humans and pets. Green your cleaning routine by putting these tips into practice.

Keep Cleaning Solutions Simple. Use simple, readily available cleaning solutions made with vinegar, salt, lemon juice and baking soda to make your own safe homemade cleaning solutions. Vinegar and water is great for cleaning glass windows and tile floors.

Naturally Freshen Air. Skip all those toxic artificial air fresheners and boil cinnamon or cloves to scent the air instead. One of our favorite ways to naturally scent the air is by sticking cloves into an orange to make a fragrant orange pomander ball.

Wash Clothes Wisely. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to run the washing machine. You’ll save big bucks on your water bill and spent less time listening to a noisy washing machine.

Recycle Your Rags. Make your own dust rags from old t-shirts, sweatshirts, and socks.

Conserve Cleaning Water. Don’t let the water run unless you are filling a cleaning bucket. Sweep instead of wet mop when possible, and put a tracking mat at the door to collect dirt so you don’t have to wash the floor as often.

Call for Household Hazardous Waste Pickups. Call your local recycling center, town or city hall. Most communities have several Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Days each year.

Start a Compost Bin. Composting food waste minimizes landfill burden and supports healthy soil in which you can grow your own food. Buy or make a compost bin and get the family involved. Household waste that can be composted includes things like paper towels, paper bags, cotton clothing (torn up), egg shells, hair (human, dog, cat etc.) Use all these items in moderation.

 

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Articles Featured Furnishings Home Design

Ways to Get Green When Refurnishing

As our world continues to become more heavily populated, we need to be concerned with the amount of resources that are being consumed and wasted. Homeowners who remodel or refurnish frequently tend to add to the problem; however, the good news is that many are now seeking out environmentally conscious refurnishing and remodeling methods. We found five in particular that are easy to implement.

CFL Light Bulbs. Use lighting that requires the least amount of energy. Incandescent light bulbs have set the standard for household lighting. However, these bulbs pollute the earth and give off excess heat. A much more efficient alternative is the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, in combination with natural light. These newer bulbs use less energy and last up to ten times longer that incandescent light bulbs. And by using natural light during the day you will use even less energy.

Furniture Made From Recycled Materials. Purchase furniture that’s been made of recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Recycled materials have many uses in the home, so it’s really no surprise that furniture manufacturers are now recycling used materials. When furnishing your home, search for furniture made from recycled woods, cork, or bamboo. These materials are readily available and can easily withstand everyday wear and tear. They are also available in neutral colors that will match any home decor.

Earthy Wall Decor. Plain white walls can definitely bring down the energy in a room. Fortunately, there are options available to liven up those walls without hurting the environment. Wall accents made from glass, paper, shells, and even bamboo will add a sense of quirkiness to any room. Not only are these materials fairly easy to get your hands on, they are also able to be used for multiple purposes when you want to change the decor in the home afterwards.

Live Plants. Plants are a good way to accentuate tables and counter spaces. They add a splash of color to your home environment while also cleaning the air. Another way to add a bright splash of color to your home is by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables to use as a centerpiece on a table.

Reuse Household Items. Many people throw out candles and other items once they are no longer usable. Instead of being wasteful, recycle the candles by melting down the leftover wax into an empty container.

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Articles Featured Recycling

5 Things You Should Be Recycling

You should already have the basics of recycling down — glass, plastic, paper. However, there are plenty of other household items and materials that can be re-used. Have you thought about recycling hangers, pantyhose or sporting equipment? We’d love to hear about other household items that you recycle. Feel free to send us an email or post helpful comments with your suggestions.

Dry Cleaning Hangers. Dry cleaners are thrilled to have you bring your hangers back for recycling since it saves them the added time and money it takes to buy new ones.

Plastic Grocery Bags. Check to see if your local grocery store has a recycling container for plastic grocery bags outside the main entrance.

Panty Hose. No Nonsense started the first panty hose recycling program and they accept all brands. No Nonsense turns used panty hose into park benches, playground equipment, ropes, and even carpeting. Call 1-800-575-3497 for more information.

CFL Light Bulbs. CFL light bulbs can be taken in to your local Home Depot for recycling. These bulbs also contain mercury, which is toxic to people and the environment, so it’s especially important that they are disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.

Used Sporting Equipment. Equipment that is still useable can be donated to a local Goodwill store or taken to a second-hand sporting good store such as Play It Again Sports.

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Articles Featured Gadgets & Gear

Saving Money with Power Strips

Guess what? If your electronics are plugged in, they are leaching electricity … even if they are turned off. This is referred to as “phantom load” and it accounts for nearly 20% of all electricity that is used in your home. What a waste, right?

You can eliminate “phantom load” and go greener by plugging most of your appliances into a power strip. A power strip will halt the energy drain as long as the switch on the strip is in the “off” position. Flip the power strip switch to “off” or unplug as many appliances as possible before going on vacations or leaving home for long periods of time.

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By Topic Home Decor

Where to Find Eco-Friendly Beverage Glasses

Handmade in Colombia of recycled glass from old car windows, these eco-friendly stemless beverage glasses are super sturdy and make great conversation pieces. The thick glass also has a slight green hue from the tint originally added to lessen the sun’s glare.

The best part of owning a set of these glasses? They are dishwasher safe, which is a big bonus. Who doesn’t dread hand washing all those delicate wine glasses after a big cocktail party?!

The texture of each glass differs due to the hand-crafted process. Air bubbles and small “imperfections” add distinct charm and character. Purchase recycled car window glasses at Uncommon Goods: http://tinyurl.com/2atam8m

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Articles Home Decor Recycling

3 Great Ways to Recycle Wine Bottles

Most of us have played the role of party host and then noticed an array of empty wine bottles left around the house in the aftermath. Sure, you can toss the bottles into a blue recycling bin, but how about getting a little creative? Here are three fun ways you can get the most out of those empty wine bottles after the toast:

  • Cut a small circular hole about a half inch wide in the bottom of the bottle with a glass cutter, fill with a short strand of Christmas lights, put the cork back in the top, and add some raffia to create a unique lighting solution for the top of your wine cabinet or bar area.
  • Use angled cuts on bottles with a glass cutter to create an eco-friendly vase for flowers or vines.
  • Look online or ask your local wine boutique if they sell forged iron wine bottle candelabras. Wisteria.com and WineEnthusiast.com both sell wine bottle candelabras that can be inserted right into the neck of the empty bottle.