Green Globe

By now, you have probably realized that “going green” is a hot topic. Countries, governments, businesses and individuals are rapidly adopting newer, more earth conscious habits and regulations. You may think that one green individual will never possibly make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Well, the more and more people who start going green, the better for the planet. Every little bit helps. So where do you start? Are there any ways of going green that are easier or more attainable than others? Of course! The following list describes some of the “low-hanging fruit” everyone can pick.

1) Save on energy costs and wasted energy. Keep your thermostat at 72 degrees F or higher in the summer, and at 68 degrees F or lower in the winter. If you get cold, simply put on more clothing. Turn your water heater to 120 degrees F. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. According to Energy Star, a compact fluorescent bulb uses about 75% less energy and lasts at least 6 times as long as regular incandescent bulbs. Finally, feel around drafty doors and windows for cold air coming into the house. Purchase some inexpensive caulk and seal the leaks.

2) Reduce, reuse, and recycle–in that order. It is always better to reduce your consumption of resources. Only purchase what you really need, buy in bulk, and avoid heavily packaged items. A great going green strategy is to only use reusable tote bags on your shopping trips. The EPA estimates about 380 billion plastic bags are consumed each year. Help decrease that alarming statistic by bringing reusable shopping bags with you, such as a Planet Earth Bag. Reuse as many things as you can. Re-purpose food cans as flowerpots or for your child’s art project. Use old clothing as cleaning rags. Use steel water bottles instead of plastic disposable bottles. Recycling is the last resort for an item. Find out what the recycling rules are in your town or city and abide by them. Also make sure any electronics are disposed of properly, as these items are usually not taken by local city recycling programs.

3) Walk, bicycle, or take public transportation as often as possible. Automobiles contribute massive quantities of pollutants into the air. Save money on gas and improve your health by using your body as a means of transportation. Public transit is often less expensive than gas, and is easier on the planet than everyone driving their own cars alone.

There are many different ways of going green. Some take more time and investment to adopt completely. Hopefully these few ideas will help you go green without much effort or cost.

solar panel installation

Green living. It’s the new thing for Americans as more people become environmentally conscious. Some people have taken the whole green living thing a step further by transforming their home into an environmentally friendly house. Others have started anew and built houses that were environmentally friendly by using recycled objects. Every great thing starts with a single step. People can start out towards a green life by starting to compost, recycle, and reduce waste.

But first, the basics are: What makes a home “green”? The California Association of Realtors, http://green.car.org/homeowners/whatisgreenhome/, came up with a list for this. A home should be able to conserve natural resources, of course. This means using energy efficiently through the use of alternative energy and/or using energy saver appliances and light bulbs. Small wind turbines and solar panels can harness the energy of the wind and sun without using energy fueled by fossil fuels.

Another important principle of green home living is to create less waste. That means use all natural cleaning supplies and be sure to recycle your paper based things, aluminum, and glass objects. Last but not least of all, have a compost pile for food waste. The regular household trash can be reduced dramatically if more people composted their goods, which in turn provides excellent fertilizer for gardens.

Some homes are more environmentally friendly and “green” than others. These homes are made out of recycled objects such as tires and sometimes, aluminum cans and glass bottles. These homes are called Earthship houses and they keep tires out of the landfill. The tires make up the walls and they create excellent insulation. The goal with a true Earthship house is to be as off the grid as possible. A true Earthship house has a water recycling system where gray water is recycled but black water gets sent out to the sewer.

These homes are truly environmentally friendly but not everyone has the means to go off and build a new house. So in order to have a green home, people need to conserve natural resources and use energy efficiently. If a house is poorly insulated, insulation needs to be added because otherwise energy will be wasted trying to heat up or cool down the house.

Solar panels, wind turbines, extra insulation, energy efficient appliances, among other things can help a house transform into a green home, along with the right mindset of the people living in the home. After all, there are benefits of having a green home, as the California Association of Realtors points out: http://green.car.org/homeowners/whatisgreenhome/benefitsofagreenhome/.

One practical way you can go green is by switching from plastic bags to reusable bags. I encourage you to do an inventory of things you use inside and outside of your home. Discover how you can both protect your environment and save money.

green carbon foot print

Going green most often requires a change in how you think about, purchase, and use products sold today. These changes can be as simple as switching to reusable bags and recycling, or an investment in something significant such as a zero-emission car. Small changes that impact the amount of waste and pollution that you produce can make a big impact on the environment. These ideas can help you get started on a lifestyle that benefits everyone on the planet.

Reduce Waste

While living a zero-waste lifestyle can be a little too challenging for most families, there are a lot of simple solutions to reducing the amount of waste that you produce. For example, switching to cloth diapers can save about fifty percent of the garbage that you throw away annually. For families without children, other changes can reduce waste. Switching to reusable shopping bags, looking for items with less packaging, and opting for items that can be reused or recycled are the simplest ways to reduce the amount of waste produced by your home.

Get Creative

When deciding on what that you can do to begin going green, you will want to look for creative alternatives to traditional products. An eco-friendly lifestyle often requires that you reconsider the products that you are currently using to determine whether or not there are other, more Earth conscious, materials available that will serve the same purpose. For instance, switching to reusable sandwich bags or purchasing organic clothing made from sustainable sources are both green alternatives to traditional options.

Local Sources

Much of the pollution associated with buying commercial products comes from the shipping of these products over long distances. For example, if you are buying products made in China and live in the United States, you are contributing to the shipping pollution produced by these products. According to experts at World Watch, found online at http://www.worldwatch.org, buying local products can also boost the local economy. Farm raised foods can also ensure you are getting the freshest and most sustainably grown foods possible.

Buy Used

Secondhand games, toys, clothing, and household products are more eco-friendly than new products, and can also be purchased for much less than new. You can shop online for gently used clothing and children’s toys, or you can find local thrift shops that offer products for your family. While you may want to opt for some items new, such as shoes, any change in your buying habits to secondhand will impact your overall carbon footprint and help you make the change to green.

Go Electronic

E-communications, including emails and paperless billing, are a simple way to make the transition into going green. Some companies provide you with the option for paperless billing, even though you may need to ask for the service specifically before you are signed up.

Brown recyclable paper bag

One of the greatest sources of citizen pollution other than cigarette butts and car exhaust may come with a new price tag. Plastic grocery bags or sacks have been a convenient mainstay of most trips to the market for groceries, household supplies, and produce, a free staple and expectation for shoppers everywhere. But even with the recent explosion in reusable shopping bags option, plastic bags continue to be the go-to convenience – and though millions are reused as trash can liners, lunch sacks, and to scoop the kitty litter, still millions more find their way into waterways as bits of toxic plastic or entrenched in the earth for years.

Though plastic bag bans have yet to début in the United States many countries have already taken the bold initiative including Ireland, Australia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, and South Africa. In most cases these plastic bag bans take the form of a significant tax on the use of plastic bags – a price most consumers choose not to pay. Friends of the Irish Environment in Cork County have reported phenomenal success as a result of the 15-cent (20 cent U.S.) tax on plastic bags – a 95 percent reduction since March of 2002.

While the idea of a plastic bag ban or tax has not reached higher levels of legislation in the U.S. some counties and cities are making the move voluntarily. In October of this year Aspen, Colorado city council members approved an ordinance banning the distribution of plastic bags and charging customers 20 cents per paper bag used. This strict move is in support of Aspen’s Waste Reduction Program and will take effect in March of 2012. Soon to follow may be four counties in the state of Oregon – Eugene, Corvallis, Newport, and Ashland County are all considering plastic bag bans.

Opponents of plastic bag bans cite concerns regarding the loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs or arguments that bans have not demonstrated the ability to cut consumer use. But opponents may find their sails at half-mast with the increasing market (and job opportunities) in reusable bag companies and providers. With plastic bag bans on the horizon in many major cities (San Francisco and Los Angeles have bans in place) many consumers are hoping to beat the rush and invest in high-quality, expressive bag options. And companies have been quick to oblige with bags boasting their logos, motto’s, and catch phrases. Never mind the wide selection in materials, colors, and textures. For many consumers, a reusable shopping bag has become an addition to their wardrobe rather than a tacky detraction.

recyclable green bag

Lead by San Francisco back in 2007, plastic bag bans in cities are growing in popularity. It is hard to dispute the positive environmental impact of plastic bag bans, but heated debate still surrounds the topic. For consumers, those in opposition to such bans cite inconvenience and the expense of having to purchase bags. Merchants, especially grocery stores, also have reservations. In any case, it is obvious that a needed change is taking place. Here are some of the biggest benefits to plastic bag bans as well as some of the reasons critics give for opposing these bans.

Short Term Use Creates a Long Term Problem

According to the clean air council, American use more than one billion plastic bags each year. Further, a very small number are recycled. For those bags that are recycled, the process in an expensive one. Plastic bags are used for an hour or two for a shopping trip; but remain a problem for many years. They are not biodegradable and take up a lot of precious landfill space.

Beyond Landfill Problems; Plastic Bags Creating Problems in the Environment

When plastic bags are not filling up landfills or being expensively recycled they can be found around cities clogging sewer pipes and injuring and killing wildlife. The clean air council discusses the scary fact that when plastic bag particles enter the water, marine animals can ingest the particles and the toxins from the plastic are passed on to whoever eats that animal; including humans.

Still a Heated Debate

Despite the obvious environmental benefits that can be realized through plastic bag bans, it still remains a hot topic. In San Francisco, for example, shoppers must either bring a reusable bag or pay a small fee to purchase paper bags if they do not have bags or have forgotten them. Some shoppers dislike the inconvenience this causes. The largest distributors of plastic bags to the public are grocery stores. Grocery stores are concerned about the added cost of purchasing recycled paper bags rather than cheaper plastic bags. But requirements to charge shoppers a fee to purchase paper bags should help.

Personal Impact

If you are not already using reusable bags, plastic bag bans might concern you. But there are many benefits to using reusable bags and there are many great options available. Insulated grocery bags are a great way to keep food cold on the drive home and improve food safety. Cloth bags are also typically a lot more comfortable to carry than plastic bags and more convenient than paper bags that do not have handles. If you are concerned about forgetting your bags, keep a supply of reusable bags in your car; they are small and can be stored in a small space like the glove compartment or a pocket behind a seat.

With any large scale change comes a wide range of opinions from strong support to fierce opposition. Although plastic bag bans are becoming more common and support seems to be gaining; the public will need time to adjust to this large change. It is hard to argue, however, that this is a worthwhile goal to pursue.

Sources:

http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-03-28/news/17235798_1_compostable-bags-plastic-bags-california-grocers-association

http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html

http://www.ktvz.com/news/26763047/detail.html

The library promotes protecting the environment.

1. Use the Library. The local library is an excellent source for finding books, videos, magazines and more. Libraries provide a win/win situation all the way around. Your taxes already pay for the service, whether you use it or not. So, save some trees and get your books from the library.

2. Skip the printer and send an evite. No need to waste all the ink, paper, envelopes and stamps, an evite is perfectly acceptable for most occasions. Birthday parties, in-home parties, school or church events and even small graduation open houses can all be done with an evite via email. This will save you a ton of cash and help the environment at the same time.

3. Switch the water bottles. Forget about the disposable water bottles. The number of water bottles that end up in the landfill each year is astounding. According to the California Department of Conservation website, more than one billion water bottles make it to the landfill each year, and this is just in California. Drinking your own water from a re-usable water bottle can make a positive impact on the environment and save you money at the same time. Make a one-time purchase of a BPA-free plastic or aluminum water bottle and a filter for your faucet and fill up with your own water.

4. Carpool or better yet, ride your bike when you can. Get with two or three people who are going the same place you are on a regular basis, such as work or school, and ride together. Carpooling cuts down on fuel, which saves you money and helps the environment with less emissions going into the air. If you can, riding your bike provides many benefits to your health and your wallet.

5. Finally, use reusable shopping bags versus protect the environment. The environmental benefits to using cloth, reusable shopping bags are pretty obvious. Along with the environmental benefits, reusable shopping bags have a money savings aspect as well. How many times have you used a flimsy, plastic shopping bag only to have it rip out of the bottom and destroy the contents when you were carrying them in the house? A reusable shopping bag is not only environmentally responsible, it will hold the contents much more securely, protecting them from damage, which saves you money in the long run.

ecotourism

Ecotourism has been around since the 1980s, but is getting more and more attention with the modern push towards being green and conservative. There are dozens of companies you can use to book an entire trip based on eco-friendliness, though there are ways to be a “green” traveler on your own. Follow these tips to be a globally and environmentally conscious traveler:

1. Reduce your contribution to carbon emissions.
Carbon emissions are destroying the planet, so do what you can to reduce them. Take direct flights whenever possible and avoid domestic/internal trips. Walk or bike through cities instead of taking taxis or renting a car, or use public transportation and carpools.

2. Buy from locals whenever possible.
Supporting local economies is a key aspect of promoting a green world. Instead of souvenir shopping at tourist traps, check out local markets for beautiful handmade goods. You can also get fresh foods from local markets, which often tastes much better than commercially produced. In addition, instead of working with high-end travel agencies look into hiring local guides or participating in a home-stay.

3. Respect your destination’s culture.
You’re traveling to learn about another place, which means engaging in what’s important to that culture. Learn a little bit of the language, chat with locals, and be mindful of holy places and gestures of courtesy. If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution. Do your research ahead of time to avoid any embarrassing faux pas.

4. Pack light.
When you take less stuff with you, less energy is used transporting it. If possible, try to fit your belongings into one bag you can carry yourself. Do your best not to use wasteful products, such as plastic trash bags and packaging, which end up in the local trash collections. Carry a reusable water bottle if you’re somewhere you don’t need to buy bottled water. You can even use digital guidebooks and resources on your mobile devices instead of buying hard copies.

5. Participate in environment-friendly activities.
Check out local past-times and free activities in your destination, which usually have a much lower environmental impact than standard tourist traps. You can check out local architecture and free museums, or even religious services. Just make sure you’re appropriately dressed and follow custom so as not to offend anyone.

6. Volunteer.
One of the best things a traveler can do to support eco initiatives at his/her destination is to volunteer time and effort to a good cause. Whether you help with nature or wildlife conservation, the local economy, healthcare or literacy, or other charities, you support and promote the principles of ecotourism. Just do your research ahead of time and remember to stay safe!

Use reusable shopping bags wherever possible.

fast food waste

Adults and children alike eat fast food at an alarming rate partly because of its taste, mostly because of its convenience, and certainly not because of its health benefits. Fast food waste is the second major contributor to street litter-second only to cigarette butts according to a study conducted by Keep Britain Tidy, a British anti-trash campaign by a leading environmental group in the UK. Evidence in the US supports similar findings. What can consumers do to make a difference? Slow down; make better choices about food consumption and pack convenient meals for on-the-go lifestyles. Avoiding fast food is a healthy choice and a strong step toward greener living.

With golden arches on every corner and convenience stores open seven days a week and 24 hours a day, it’s too easy to swing through a drive-thru for a cold drink or warm sandwich in the middle of a busy day, on a tight schedule with a stomach that is growling. That unplanned drive-thru meal costs money-that adds up-and creates more consumer waste (and let’s not talk about the added calories). Packing food before leaving the house is a healthier choice and a greener one. Like a mother or father packs school lunches in the morning, adults can pack snacks and lunches on a regular basis as well.

Create waste-free lunches by buying food in bulk that is easy to pack in reusable containers and tastes good. Although time consuming at the most hectic time of day-trying to get out the door to school, work or a meeting-preparing and packing food beforehand can be just as convenient as fast food while producing less waste. Whether it is a warm piece of left over lasagna or cold water in a refillable container, a hot cold bag can help keep snacks and lunch a desirable temperature and ready to eat. When an evening meeting lasts longer than expected or the kids warn that they are starving to death after a long day of school and can’t survive the ride home, self-packed food can be a lifesaver.

While fast food establishments are working harder to be greener, foods wrapped in paper or cardboard boxes, placed in a paper or plastic bag, and handed over with a pile of napkins an inch thick with a straw wrapped in a tiny paper sleeve, hardly seems environmentally friendly. However, as long as consumers continue to accept the waste, restaurants and convenience stores will continue to hand it over.

Take a stand against the waste that fast food generates by packing healthy foods that taste good, shrink the wallet and might even shrink the waist.

eco friendly

Reusable shopping and grocery bags are one of the easiest changes to make to impact the planet in a positive way. Plastic bags are ubiquitous when shopping for goods, and people tend to take them for granted. The truth is that plastic bags are taking a heavy toll on the environment. Plastic debris can be found everywhere - on the roadside blowing in the wind, floating in the waters of the oceans, or worse yet - clogging up the digestive tract of helpless animals who mistook a piece of plastic for a food morsel. Sea turtles are especially vulnerable to plastic bags as they mistake the floating bag for a jellyfish, which is part of their natural diet.

In the US alone, an estimated 100 billion plastic bags are used - worldwide this number explodes to nearly 1 trillion. Only 3% of plastic bags are recyclable, and everything else ends up in landfills, and as litter. Plastic is not readily degradable, and it is estimated that they will sit for roughly 1,000 years before decomposing completely, all the while releasing toxic chemicals. Did you know that it takes vast amounts of petroleum (via oil) to produce plastic? About 12 million barrels of oil are used every year in the US alone just to produce plastic bags. Plastic is a serious blight on the beauty and health of our planet, and something must be done.

In a progressive move, San Francisco banned the use of plastic bags in its city in March 2007. This has inspired many cities around the country, and indeed around the world, to enact similar bans. Alaska has had 30 of its villages and towns follow suit. Plastic bag companies are of course reacting, and in many cases, threatening to sue areas that would like to ban them. They already forced Fairfax, a Bay Area city in CA, to abandon its ban. They argue that plastic bags are cheap, and that stores should be offering the consumer a choice - paper, plastic, or reusable bag.

It is so simple and straightforward to make the switch from plastic “disposable” bags to reusable eco-friendly bags. The benefits are substantial - even if you use just one reusable bag a day - that’s eliminating the need for 365 plastic bags in a years’ time! Reusable bags are also, as many users find, more practical - they hold more groceries, and are more comfortable to use, with larger handles (or shoulder straps). They are also often made with recycled or eco-friendly fabrics.

By switching to reusable bags, you are helping to lessen the use and production of plastic bags as well as the associated oil consumption and ecological damage. You can make a world of difference!