Happy St. Patty's Day---GO GREEN!

In light of St. Patrick’s day, I wanted to share some tips on how to “go green”. I guess I am a hippie/treehugger at times, but I promise if you read through this list you will learn something new!

Become more earth friendly without changing your lifestyle too much:

1. NO MORE JUNK MAIL. Subscribing to the websites below will:
Save you time by eliminating 80-95% of your daily junk mail.
Save trees - 100+ million trees destroyed annually for junk mail.
Save the water that is used to produce and recycle junk mail.
Reduce global warming - energy used for junk mail.
Support your favorite charity and plant trees in your name when you sign up-it's only about $20 dollars.
http://www.41pounds.org/ , http://www.greendimes.com

2. Recycle! The 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle):
BE aware of what you throw where. Just make sure you don't litter and if there is a recyclying bin around, make the effort to throw your trash there rather than with everything else.

3. Avoid nonbiodegradable substances:
Certain plastics, aluminum, many chemicals used in industry--check out the new Greenworks products by Clorox.

4. The Big O:
When you eat organic, don’t just picture the healthy food you are putting in your body, picture the healthy ecosystems which produced that food, the workers who are safer from chemicals, the land, water, and air that is being protected, and the wildlife that is being allowed to thrive. Organic vegetables, fruits, grains, juice, dairy, eggs, and meat are grown and processed in ways that support healthy people and a healthy planet. For details on the meaning of organic, see the USDA Organics homepage.

5. FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS!!:
If every house hold in the U.S. were to buy just ONE fluorescent light bulb, it would be equivalent to taking1 MILLION cars off the roads. Although they may cost more, they are more efficient and last longer.

6. Re-route your commute:
Bike or walk to work/school and save money on gas and parking while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

7. Buy local:
Shop at your local farmers market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on higher quality product. It saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other itens across the country and around the globe.

8. Compost your scraps:
This helps reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill.

9. Skip the bottled water at the grocery store:
Filter your tap water for drinking rather than using bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of container waste.

10. Add one meatless meal per week:
I LOVE meat but industrial meat production requires huge energy inputs and creates noxious waste problems. The proliferation of factory farms is damaging the environment, and the global nature of the industry creates conditions that promote the spread of diseases such as avian flu, potentially costing society billions. Austin and I actually stopped eating meat other than seafood at the beginning of the year for health and environmental purposes. Did you know that if we turned all of our cow farms into wheat farms we could end world hunger?

11. Activities outside:
Go, hiking, biking, swimming, etc., and play general sports outside and get in better shape rather than sit and watch tv all day and play video games. The average human being watches 3 YEARS of commercials throughout their entire life.

12. Think about your household appliances:
- Clean and replace your air conditioning filter: Running clean, you can save up to $150 each year.
- Unplug idle appliances and electronic devices: Don't just turn something off: unplug it. The average household can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by pulling the plug on silent energy vampires.
- Buy a low-flow shower head with a shutoff valve: since water heaters account for about 25-percent of home energy use. Put several hundred dollars back into your budget each year and keep water use to a minimum.
- Drive smarter: Use your cruise control on the highway for up to a 15-percent improvement in mileage; Driving less aggressively is the single most effective way to save gasoline: accelerate out of lights more gently, avoid rapid braking, and only drive as fast as you must.
- Get an annual tune-up for your car: A loose or poorly sealed cap will vent gasoline vapor, polluting the air and costing you up to 2 miles per gallon.

13. Last but not least: Educate yourself:
How can you solve the problem if you don’t know what the problem is? Luckily, fun, accessible information on green thinking, environmentalism and sustainable living is everywhere these days. Why not start with online sources like our very own Green Guides.

How to have a “greener” summer:
1. Steppin’ light:
Find local activities with low environmental impacts like a trip to the local park, woods, zoo, ballgame, or beach with friends to relax. Picking up that new book you’ve been meaning to read while lounging on the deck is another great way to pass the time and leave a smaller footprint behind.
2. Cool and easy:
Air conditioning can offer much-needed respite from the heat and can make sweaty nights bearable, but be sensitive to overuse. Turning up the thermostat a few degrees on your AC is a great way to save tons of cash while making the planet a cooler place at the same time.
3. Up in your grill:
Love to BBQ? Propane burns much cleaner than either wood or charcoal briquettes. Of course, when you’re done grilling, use natural cleaning products such as SoyClean organic grill cleaner to keep your summer as chemical-free as possible. Tests show it’s just as tough on grime as traditional cleaners, but won’t leave that chemical residue behind to leach into your next burger or grilled tomato. Also try the new “Greenworks” product by Clorox. It works like a champ and it is all natural!
4. The local roundup:
Buy food locally. Farmers markets are great places to shop, and ensure that the veggies you’re eating hot off the grill or mixed in a salad haven’t traveled thousands of miles just to reach your plate. That cuts down on the use of fossil fuels, which leads to significantly reduced levels of pollution and resource depletion over your typical tomato bought at the local supermarket. Websites like Local Harvest can help you find one in your area, even if you’ve never seen one in your life.
5. The green plate special:
Use reusable dishes rather than plastics or Styrofoam. If you absolutely must use disposables, make sure to pick up compostable varieties beforehand to put in the compost bin when you’re through.
6. Charge:
Pick up a solar backpack or device like the Freeloader or the Solio to take with you on day trips. That way, whether you’re at the beach or on the go you’ll be able to run and recharge a wide range of portable devices on solar energy.
8. No poison, please:
Use products like garlic barrier to ward off mosquitoes. Traditional products certainly do the job, but they can end up turning your backyard into a deathtrap for every other kind of living thing that drops by for a visit. That means birds, butterflies, ladybugs, and even the family dog gets an unhealthy dose. Not to mention yourself, the kids, the neighbors’ kids, and even your bratty nephew who lives down the block. Make sure to apply it when you think it won’t rain for several days, and the garlic alternative should treat you right. Planting rosemary is a natural and low-tech way to block skeeters.

I found this cute website for moms and their children: This website provides fashions made by conscientious companies who are committed to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. I showed Austin this website and he said he could totally see our kids wearing these "green" outfits and bibs. My favorite is the one that says "I Heart Peace" =)
http://www.greenmommyguide.com/

I was so exited to read that NYC has planned the first ever bike only parking lot (with attendant). I wish it was built before we move out there in April because Sierra and I have planned to ride our bikes the 4 miles into Manhattan a of couple times a week: Check out this website for more information-it's pretty cool:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/nyc-bike-only-parking-lot-attendant.php

Anyway, Happy St. Patrick's day. I hope we all can be alittle "greener"! =)