Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs

One very simple way to reduce your carbon footprint is to switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs. CFLs use far less energy than conventional bulbs and they last much longer, which is great for saving money and the planet! Be sure to look for the Energy Star logo. Changing a lightbulb may not seem like a big deal, but every little bit helps!

Check out Amazon.com's CFL store.


From ConsumerEnergyCenter.org:

Illuminating facts about fluorescent bulbs

We really can Change the World by changing just one light bulb. If each household changed one standard bulb for one compact fluorescent bulb, California could:

• Reduce energy use by up to 616 kilowatt hours of electricity in one year. That's enough energy to light all the households in Sacramento for 690 days-or almost two years!


• Save $74.7 million a year on household electricity bills.


• Reduce garbage by keeping up to 110 million (yes, 110 million) bulbs out of the trash. Each fluorescent bulb can last up to 10 times longer than an ordinary bulb, so think of all those bulbs that won't be thrown away.


• Keep 974 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2)-the most common gas that creates global warming-out of the environment. That's 450 pounds of CO2 saved from the atmosphere with each fluorescent bulb. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, are produced by the power plants that light your home. If every household changed just one bulb, it would be about the same as:
  
  
  • Removing 85,000 cars from California's roads for one year.
  
  
  • Filling 32.5 billion basketballs with CO2. Placed side by side, the basketballs would stretch for 4.6 million miles.

Earth Hour

From EarthHour.org:

On March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m., local time, World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour -- Earth Hour -- to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate their commitment to finding solutions. Turn out. Take action. Be part of this historic event.

Visit EarthHour.org to find out more!

Amazon Kindle

In keeping with the belief that technology creates convenience, companies such as Amazon.com have begun to offer books, newspapers, and magazines in digital form. These “e-books” can be read from devices such as the Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device E-books are the trendy new way to read, and many people have already taken advantage of the environmentally friendly tool.

The publication process of a book requires the use of many sheets of paper, on which the chapters of the book are printed. In addition, it relies on the industrial transportation of the finished product. This means that trees must be cut down and gallons of fuel must be burned in order for pieces of literature to reach the hands of the public. With e-books, the text is in electronic form and can be purchased from and downloaded directly to the e-book reader. This eliminates the need for paper and fuel, and cuts the cost of each text considerably!

And because e-book readers contain text that is in digital form instead of paper, they weigh much less than printed copies and are much easier to transport from place to place. Also, the device can hold more than one literary work at a time. In fact, according to Amazon.com, the Kindle weighs “only 10.3 ounces” and has a capacity of “over 200 titles.” This makes it almost effortless to carry a large quantity of literature from the house to the coffee shop, to the office or the park. So no matter where you are, you can scroll through hundreds of titles and choose whichever genre you wish.

In addition to this, e-book readers contain features that make reading easier. Some of the Kindle’s extras include a search option, a dictionary, and changeable font size. With these tools, you can search through each book for a particular word or phrase, look up an unfamiliar word, or adjust the size of the words to accommodate your vision needs.

With the demand for environmentally friendly products on the rise, what a great time for books to go green!






Visit the Kindle Store!

Timberland Earthkeepers™

Timberland now has a line of boots and apparel made with a gentler environmental impact. Their Earthkeepers™ series is made from recycled materials with energy-conscious methods. So now you can tread lightly while you enjoy the Great Outdoors!

From Timberland.com:

•Earthkeepers™
Recycled and earth conscious Earthkeepers™ footwear and apparel are made with our commitment to the environment in mind. We carefully choose materials like recycled PET, organic cotton and leathers that come from a tannery that received a silver rating for its reduced energy use, reduced waste, and quality water treatment. Earthkeepers™ footwear and apparel best represent our environmental values in action.

•Recycled PET
One or more major components (i.e. fabric, lining or upper) contain at least 50% recycled polyethylene therephthalate (PET), the plastic used to make soda bottles.



Check out Amazon.com's selection of Timberland Earthkeepers

Automobile Tips

We all know that our use of gasoline is detrimental to the environment. With the rising cost of fuel, it’s also becoming increasingly hard on our wallets. Here are some tips that will save some green.

Inflate your tires to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires result in poor gas mileage. Check your tires with a tire pressure gauge (inexpensive and readily available at auto supply stores as well as most large retail stores). The proper inflation pressure should be located on a sticker inside the driver’s side door panel.

Don’t idle your engine. Idling wastes gas and creates much unnecessary pollution. If you’re going to be stopped for more than 60 seconds, turn off your engine.

Take it easy. Driving a little slower and a little less aggressively can help save gas.

Dispose of your motor oil properly. Whether you change your oil yourself or have a mechanic do it, make sure the used oil is properly disposed of. Check to see if your garage has a program to recycle used oil. Many mechanics will also accept for recycling used oil that you’ve changed yourself.



Check out Amazon.com's selection of tire pressure gauges.

Preserve Products by Recycline

Feel guilty every time you shave or brush your teeth, knowing that your razor and toothbrush will eventually end up in a landfill for many years to come? Or perhaps you need some picnic table service, but cringe at the thought of paper plates and plastic utensils? Not to worry. A company called Recycline is here to help save the day (and the planet).

Recycline has a line of recyclable products made from recycled plastics. Their toothbrushes are made from Stonyfield Farms yogurt containers, and come in their own travel case. When you’re done with the toothbrush, instead of throwing it away you can send the whole thing, case and all, back to Recycline using their online postage-paid mailer. They will then grind up your old toothbrush and make it into plastic lumber.

Their razors and dinner ware are made from recycled plastics and are recyclable in communities which accept #5 plastics, or they can also be sent back to the company for recycling.

They also have a new line of recyclable kitchen tools, which they’re adding to all the time so check their website often for new goodies and gadgets.



Check out Amazon.com's selection of Recycline products.

Reusable Bags

Bringing your own reusable bags to the store is an easy way to reduce your consumption and help the environment.

Paper and plastic shopping bags require a lot of energy to produce and don’t break down in the landfill. While paper and plastic bags can be recycled, the majority of them are not and end up in landfills, as litter, or in the ocean. Plastic bags in the ocean are particularly dangerous for wildlife. Birds and other animals can be strangled by the handles or get tangled in them and drown. A floating plastic bag looks very much like a jellyfish to a hungry sea turtle, and if eaten, can cause serious illness or death.

Most retail chain stores are beginning to sell inexpensive reusable bags. There are also many online stores that sell different types of reusable bags in various colors and styles, so you can infuse your own personal style into your shopping bags!

Some of our favorites:

Reusablebags.com




Shop Amazon.com's selection of reusable bags!

Super Simple Ways to Go Green!

You don’t have to sacrifice everyday comforts to be green. There are many easy things you can do today that will have a big impact tomorrow.

• Recycle.
I know, you’ve heard it a million times, but it really is one of the most obvious and simplest ways to help the environment. It takes much less energy and fewer resources to recycle something into a new product than it would to start over from scratch. Many municipalities collect plastic, glass, cans, newspaper, junk mail, phone books, cardboard and more for recycling. Contact your town to see if a program exists.


• Reduce Your Consumption.
Reducing the amount of goods we consume reduces our environmental footprint, and that’s what it’s all about! Look for products that have minimal packaging (ie, a head of lettuce vs. a pre-packaged bag of salad; download music from iTunes vs. buying a CD). Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions you don’t have time to read, or subscribe to an online version of your favorite periodical. Go paperless by paying your bills online. Get off junk mail lists. Avoid using disposable dinnerware such as paper plates, plastic cutlery and Styrofoam cups.

• Around the House.
Simple changes around the house can translate to money in your pocket in addition to helping the environment. The next time you need to change a light bulb, be sure the replacement is a compact fluorescent bulb. Fix leaky faucets immediately, install sink aerators and a low-flow showerhead, and take shorter showers to save water (and the energy used to heat it). Wash your clothes in cold water. Turn down the thermostat by two degrees in the winter, and turn it up by two degrees in the summer to save lots of energy and money on heating and cooling. Make sure your fridge and freezer are working efficiently and are set at the correct temperature. Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics when they’re not in use. Don’t leave your computer on day and night; computers are relatively energy inefficient and waste much of the energy delivered to them, so be sure to turn them off when you’ve finished surfing, chatting and blogging!

• Be Smart About Plastic!
Plastics take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill, and even when recycled, they can only be used to make new things a limited number of times. There is also evidence that plastics can be detrimental to your health. The best plan is to avoid plastic as much as you can. Buy a reusable water bottle instead of the plastic ones. Choose glass over plastic whenever possible, such as for use in food storage. Bring your own reusable bags to the store. Many grocery and department stores now offer inexpensive reusable bags, and some stores are beginning to charge customers for plastic bags while others offer discounts for bringing your own. Obviously, there are times when you can’t avoid plastic, so recycle what you can--including plastic grocery bags. Many grocers now have boxes or bins where you can deposit your used plastic bags to be recycled.

• Buy Certified Organic.
From fruits and veggies to health and beauty items, the term “organic” seems to be popping up everywhere. Organic products don’t contain harmful chemicals or pesticides, and are therefore better for your family’s health as well as for the environment. Look for products that are labeled “Certified Organic.”