It’s almost back to school time! You’re going to need stuff. How can you balance a green life with back to school shopping? We’ve got some tips for you. Don’t worry – it’s easy. Make a list. Before you start your back to school shop, plan out what you really need. Do you have to have a new backpack? If it’s not too worn, don’t buy another. Do you really need a new lunchbox? Just [...]

When you have a home office, it has advantages. One of those advantages is that it’s way easier to green your work space. You don’t have to ask permission or nag anyone to go green. You just do it. Another advantage is, of course, the money and energy you conserve commuting. It doesn’t take much energy to walk from the bedroom to your home office. (Unless you haven’t had enough coffee yet. ) The things [...]

We all know that using your air conditioner less during the summer means lower bills, using less energy, and being green. But we’re in the middle of a heat wave and your air conditioner seems to run all the time, no matter what the setting is. How in the world can you cool your home without maxing out your energy use? A few simple tricks can help you lower your energy use this summer. Some [...]

When you buy birthday gifts, are you being green? There’s a way to let the special people in your life know that you care about them without giving up your green philosophy. Make your own birthday cards. These can be absolutely beautiful. Take card stock and paint a small watercolor, if you’re creative. Know how to do calligraphy? This looks excellent on a card. Write a poem, use prose to tell them how you feel [...]

Recycling is the easiest way to go green.You just toss those items in the recycle bin, and they’re picked up curbside once or twice a week. But what, exactly, can you throw in there? There are different rules in every city, so you’ll have to check with your local sanitation department to find out for sure what you can recycle. Most places, however, recycle the following items. Every town has different rules so you’ll need [...]

Every single thing we do has an impact on our planet, either good or bad. You, as an individual, have power over your choices. Put simply, that means you can control the impact you make. As globalization makes the world smaller, your choices affect people around the world. Why should you care? I’ll give you an example. Did you know that about a fourth of the medications we take come from plants in the Amazon? [...]

It’s widely believed that going green can cost you money. That’s simply not true. Green living actually saves you money. Who couldn’t use some extra cash in their pocket? Let’s list some of the ways that you can go green and save money. Household: Lowering your thermostat in the winter and raising it in the summer saves you money on energy bills. It also saves energy use. Using cold water to wash clothing gets your [...]

Now that summer is officially here, you want to stay outside all the time. Or perhaps I’m confusing you with me. I love the summertime; I’d spend all my time in the fresh air if it were possible. Until, of course, the summer heat drove me either into the pool or under the air conditioning. I’ve been thinking hard lately about how to green my summer and I wanted to share these tips with you. [...]

We hear the terms all the time – reduce, reuse, and recycle. But what do they really mean in terms of our everyday life? Here’s a short explanation to help you with some ideas for going green. Reduce: This means cutting down on the energy you and your family are using, but that’s not all it means. Buy beauty products in bulk, choose products with less packaging, and do your laundry in cold water. It [...]

It’s summer time and you know you’re going to want to have a party one of these hot summer days. Whether it’s a barbecue or a picnic, there are ways you can make your summer party greener. Don’t use charcoal. Switch to a gas grill. You’re going to release much less carbon dioxide into the air, and the lighter fluid you use with charcoal is toxic. Fast lighting charcoal is soaked in cancer causing chemicals [...]