Environmental Tip of the Day

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Unplug it! When you leave the house or when you stop using electronics, make sure to unplug them from the wall. Unplugging them will not only be easier on the environment but will also save you money on your electricity bill. Believe it or not, you are still using electricity when your items are plugged even if they are not turned on. Hence the reason your laptop batter is hot even thought the computer is off. This is because electricity is still flowing through.

The ENERGY STAR program, 40% of the electricity that home electronics use is consumed while the products are turned off. One Berkeley study suggests the savings would be 6 to 26% off your total bill.

The Main culprits;

• Cell phone chargers
• Lamps
• Small kitchen appliances
• Sound systems
• VCRs and DVD players
• Computers
• Computer printers
• Cable modems/DSL
• TVs

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Say NO to Plastic Water Bottles.

Instead of wasting money buying numerous water bottles, purchase a reusable water bottle for the same price as a pack of wasteful plastic water bottles. Make sure the water bottle is BPA free. BPA is a cancer causing agent in plastic water bottle. Hence the reason why we should not leave our plastic water bottles in the car on hot summer days. The heat from the sun can cause chemicals from the bottle to seep into the water we digest. So be careful! Reusable water bottles are no more than $5 but of course you can purchase the "fancy" ones. Try this reusable water bottle that tracks how many plastic bottles you save from landfills!


The Facts;

• According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, store-bought bottled water is a rip off. Tap water is often subject to more stringent regulation and testing than bottled water. It costs a fraction of the cost from the tap. It is cleaner, cheaper, and thus healthier.
• Ten percent of the plastic produced every year worldwide winds up in the ocean. 70% of which finds its way to the ocean floor, where it will likely never degrade.
• Every square mile of the ocean has 46,000 pieces of floating plastic in it. (UN, 2006)
• 2,480,000 tons of plastic bottles and jars were thrown away in one year (2008). Tap water is cleaner, cheaper and healthier than store-bought water.
• 60 billion single-use drink containers were purchased in 2006, and 3 out of 4 were thrown out directly after use.
• Plastic bottles are among the most prevalent source of pollution found on our beaches.

Also, go a step further and invest in a water filter for your sink. You can purchase a detachable water filter for your faucet for about $20. Or you can purchase a water filter pitcher. Either way, these two options are a lot more cheaper than buying packs of water bottles every week. This is easier on the environment and also on your pockets!

Four More Years

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Election time is right around the corner. Do you know who you're votin for? What's that? Obama? Of course you are! Check out a couple of the environmental strides President Obama has done for the environmental movement so far;

• Nearly doubling renewable energy usage while our dependance on nasty foreign oil is at a 16 year low!


• Investing in over 15,000 clean energy projects which supported nearly 225,000 clean energy jobs .


• By 2035, Obama proposed that America gets at least 80% of its electricity from CLEAN energy and not dirty coal and/or oil which are horrible for the environment.
• Proposed the first ever carbon pollution standard for diry coal plants which is the leading cause of air pollution from the CO2 it emits daily cause greenhouse gases to pollute the environment and contribute to global warming. Whew! That was a mouth full.
• Signed one of the largest wilderness protections which set aside more than 2 million acres as protected wilderness.
• Investments which contribute approximately $427 million and 3,200 jobs in restoring ecosystems such as Everglades, Great Lakes, and Chesapeake Bay.
• Helped restore more than 5,200 acres of coastal habitat and protect more than 54,000 acres of coastal areas
• National Clean Water Framework which helps ensure the integrity of the water we rely on.
• Established the first-ever national standards for toxic air pollution which will prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, and 130,000 cases of asthma symptoms each year.

Remember, Obama is not superman. He is not a dictator either. Therefore, everything he may want to happen, may not happen. Especially with a house full of Republicans who continiuously shoot down every clean energy attempt he proposes. These are a list of his achievement in the environmental movement so far. This says a lot more than what our previous presidents hav done for the environmental movement. Last year, Obama even directed $2 billion to developing solar power plants so that we can take our dependence off of dirty fossil fuels and focus more on using energy from our most natural energy source, the sun. After all, plants do it and they are getting along pretty well if you ask me. And Obama is no hypocrite either. He set a carbon reduction target for the government itself to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 28% by the year 2020.

Picture of the Day

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Environmental Tip of the Day

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Make it a full load!

Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Don't pre-rinse dishes - tests show pre-rinsing doesn't improve dishwasher cleaning, and you'll save as much as 20 gallons of water per load. When you buy a new dishwasher, look for one that saves water. Water-efficient models use only about only about 4 gallons per wash.

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Opt for E-Books.

Instead of buying new books in paper form, try purchasing the e-book version online. That way there will be less trees cut down to supply the demand for paper form books. Also, e-books are easily accessed whenever and whereever without having to tote along a heavy book.

Students, opt for the e-book version of your textbooks for class. Trust me when I say this is much more efficient. Not only will you have less to carry but e-books are easily accessible with great features! You can highlight lines and also leave notes in the e-book. As long as you have your computer, you have your textbook. You can also borrow and/or rent textbooks.

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Use less paper and/or use recycled paper.

When buying products such as toilet paper and regular writing paper, make sure that it is made with "post-consumer recycled fiber".

Post Consumer means that the product was made with recycled materials. The higher the percentage of recycled fiber, the better. The U.S. alone is responsible for the chopping of 1 million trees.

Adding More Land to NYC

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"Lower Lower Manhattan"


In an ambitious move to expand the downtown economic powerhouse, adding more land to Manhattan is proposed by the Center for Urban Real Estate also known as CURE. Manhattan is a highly populated area housing the Financial District and Midtown. The plan is to connect Lower Manhattan to Governor's Island with a land bridge made from landfill. This would make add 88 million square feet to Manhattan and would also house office buildings, stores and restaurants. "Lower Lower Manhattan" could possibly generate $16.7 billion in revenue over the next 20-30 years! As crazy as it may seem, adding artificial land is nothing new to NYC being that 10% of the borough is already made up of landfill located at Manhattans southern tip.

Lo Lo has already been dubbed the new name for the new land of Lower Lower Manhattan. Catchy much? Soho, Noho..

However, do not get too excited. This plan is only an idea and for now, is not going to happen. It is being argued that the money put towards this creation could be used for other much needed projects.

photo credit; NY Times

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Bring your laptop to class.

By bringing your laptop to class, you are limiting your paper usage from taking notes. Think of all the notes that are taken during class. Tons of notebooks are being used for taking down notes. Instead, use notepad, microsoft word or any other program you have on your computer to take notes in class. This way you will always have your notes with you and you will not have to scramble for your notes. You can even organize your notes better on the computer than on paper and keep them forever with less clutter.

Environmental tip of the day;

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Try eating a more vegetarian diet.

Vegetarians leave less of a carbon footprint than meat eaters. Forests are suffering from deforestion due to the trees being cleared for livestock grazing. Farms used to house the animals are not only slaughter houses but also horrible on the environment. Try to include more fruits and vegetables into your diet.

Think of it this way-the more beef we eat, the more forests we lose.

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Stop recieving junk mail.

Always opt for the "Green Choice" when signing up for services such as your cell phone bill and bank statements. Instead, sign up to have your bill/statments emailed to you. That way there will be less paper used and less gas used for actually shipping them to you.

Also, some stores are starting to email reciepts such as Urban Outfitters. Having your reciept email to you is definitely more convienient being that you wont have worry about losing the reciept.

According to DoNotMail.org, it takes 100 million trees to produce the junk mail delivered every year to U.S. mailboxes, including the roughly 800 pieces that arrive in your mailbox, if yours is a typical household.

If you register for the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association, your name and address will be removed from mailing lists within 90 days.

You can also opt out of home phone book delievery if you do not need it (which most of us does not). Try usings Yellow Pages Goes Green.

Did You Know?

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Toilet paper in the U.S. alone is responsible for the chopping of 1 million trees.

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Drink shade-grown coffee!

Coffee lovers! Be environmentally aware of what you are drinking and the effects that it has on the environment. Be sure to drink shade-grown coffee.

What is shade-grown coffee?
Shade-grown coffee are grown on plantations which preserve the native rain forests rather than open fields that have been cleared of all native trees.

Here are a couple shade-grown coffee sellers:
Arbor Day Foundation coffee
Audubon Shade Grown Coffee
Birds & Beans

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Hey you!
Yes, you!

Put that prehistoric incandescent light bulb back on the shelf!

After all, they'll be banned here in the US pretty soon. Some countries have already beat us to it;
* Ireland by early 2009
* Australia by 2010
* Argentina by 2010
* Italy by 2010
* France announced by 2010 but no further details
* UK by 2011 via voluntary retailer agreements
* Netherlands by 2011 voluntarily
* Canada by 2012
* US by 2014
* China in 2017
* Cuba providing free CFLs
* Venezuela providing free CFLs
* Brazil subsidises CFLs
* Russia has begun a marketplace initiative
* Belgium announced a ban but no further details
* Japan considering ban
* New Zealand considering ban

Environmental Tip of the Day

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Plant a tree!

Planting trees provide many benefits for the environment and home. Trees absorb CO2 emissions which are pollutants we put into the air. This function helps to combat greenhouse gases/global warming.

Not only are trees good for the environment but they are also good for your home. Planting trees in your yard can keep your home cool in the hot summer days which reduces your energy bill. Trees also increase the property value of a home as well.

You can buy tree seeds online. Also, Home Depot sells trees that you can actually plant without the seeds.

Happy Earth Day!

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Here is a suggestion. Why not get out and have a pic-nic/cook out today? Enjoy the beauty of the environment. You could even RSVP to local picnics going on for Earth Day today. Or you could host your own picnic.

GREEN your picnic;

Choose a local park. This way you can save on gas and lessen the amount of emissions we put into the air daily. Walk, run or bike to your local part for great exercise as well.

Use recyclable material. Stay away from paper. No paper plates or cups. Do not insult the trees. Instead, reuse the containers already in the home. Glass is a bit better than using plastic.

Eat healthy! The lower the food is on the food chain, the more eco-friendly it is. So incorporate as much fruits and vegetables into your picnic as you can. For today, try a vegetarian diet or even a pescetarian diet which consists of seafood. It literally takes up to 634 gallons of water to make a hamburger. So let’s give it a break today.

Do not forget to clean up your site. Keep your park beautiful. Recycle and compost your unwanted items at the park.

Make this a habit! Summer is on the way which is a perfect time to enjoy nature.

Cant make it out? Try these tips.

GUESS WHAT?!

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EARTH DAY

is

SUNDAY, APRIL 22!!


And I want to know, what are your plans??? Don't know? Here are a couple suggestions for you!


First off, pledge an act of GREEN!

• PLANT A TREE!!
• Go paperless at work. Distribute company information and post company material online.
• BRING YOU LAPTOP TO CLASS instead of taking notes on regular paper. Take notes on your computer instead.
• Save energy by washing your laundry in COLD water.
• PURCHASE A WATER FILTER opposed to numerous water bottles. In the long run, you save HUNDREDS of dollars.
• Lessen waste by buying in bulk from Cosco, Sams and the like.
• Start a compost in your back yard or on your rooftop.
• Buy foods locally at your local Farmers Market. Only buy vegetables and fruits that are in season.
• Shop eco-friendly products. Whole Foods has the best!
• Reduce your impact of the Earth. Reuse products such as containers and bottles. RECYCLE of course!!
• Use eco-friendly transportation such as carpooling, ride your bike and/or use public transportation.
• Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room.
• Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it.
• Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).
• Walk, jog, or run
• Bring your own bags to the grocery store. When given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper.
• Purchase cloth diapers! Find out how here.
• Buy fuel efficient or hybrid cars.
• Recycle. If you’re not at home, take the extra steps, (literally), to find that recycling can.
• Limit the length of your showers. Challenge yourself to take 10 minute showers if only for a day. Go a step further and take a “navy shower,” shutting off the water while soaping up and shampooing.
• Don’t run the water when brushing your teeth, washing dishes or hands. My BIGGEST pet peeve.
• Recycle your technology. Dell, Hewlett Packard, Apple, and IBM, among others, offer recycling programs.
• Protect your local watershed.
• Stop purchasing ancient regular batteries. Instead, purchase rechargeable batteries. Save money in the long run as well.
• Use desk lamps instead of overhead lights.
• Turn off computers at the end of the day or if they will not be used heavily.
• Invest in a reusable mug, cup or bottle.
• Park and turn off your car, instead of letting it idle
• When driving, slow down and make sure your car's tires are properly inflated.
• Don't use the toilet as a trash can.
• Use a microwave instead of a conventional oven.
• Open blinds instead of flipping the light switch.
• Open windows instead of using the air conditioner.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
• Donate old clothes, electronics and furniture.
• Get rid of paper waste by switching to e-billing.
• Eat less beef and more fruits and vegetables.
• Going hiking. Take a trash bag and help pick up litter.

And remember! You don't only have to do these things on EARTH DAY! This should be an everyday year round thing. Make a habit of it :)

Don't forget to check out the official website for EARTH DAY 2010!

NBA Green Week

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If you know me, you know that I am a die hard basketball fanatic. Therefore, I was excited to learn that the NBA promoted a Green Week! The NBA teamed up with the Natural Resources Defense Council to promote environmental initiatives. Teams from all across the organization invested time in "going green" and to promote green living. All 30 NBA teams wore adidas Revolution 30 uniforms which were made from 60 percent recycled materials. Several teams also encouraged fans with incentives to take public transportation to and from the games. Also, three NBA teams installed solar panels on their arenas, garages, or practice facilities.The NBA continues to take steps in becoming more environmentally conscious and spreading the awareness to the community. My two favorite things coming together? Sounds like a match made in environmental heaven!

“The NBA’s commitment to reduce its ecological impact and to help educate basketball fans worldwide about the importance of environmental protection confirms why this league is regarded as one of the world’s most responsible sports organizations,” said NRDC Senior Scientist Allen Hershkowitz, who coordinated the organization’s development of this work. “Besides the tangible public health benefits that this initiative will advance, having the NBA embrace ecological criteria in its operations represents a watershed in our nation’s movement toward environmental progress.”

Here are what some of the NBA teams are doing to "go green";

• Chicago Bulls encouraged fans to join the United Center's recycling program to support the Ronald McDonald House.


• Cleveland Cavaliers teamed up with Soles4Soles to collect and recycle old shoes.


• Dallas Mavericks hosted their 4th Annual Dallas Mavericks E-Cycling Drive where the team encouraged fans to recycle their old or unwanted electronics for free.


• Golden State Warriors
  
  • hosted their Green Mob BART Giveaway to promote eco-friendly transportation options in the Bay Area and to encourage their fans to take eco-friendly public transportation.
  • The practice facility has more than 500 solar panels on its roof.
  
  
  
• New Orleans Hornets staff spent a day planting trees at the Wetlands Project.




• Phoenix Suns teamed up on a solar-energy project which switched on 966 solar panels on the roof of US Airways Center parking garage.




• Portland Trail Blazers unveiled 10 electric vehicle charging stations making it the region's largest publicly available electric vehicle charging site.



and the winner is..

• New Jersey Nets!!
  
  • Hosted several in-arena Green Nights.
  • Became the first NBA team to go carbon neutral. They are the only major pro sports team to earn the industry’s most rigorous CarbonNeutral® Accreditation. The Nets are purchasing guaranteed and verified carbon credits which supports renewable energy projects around the world.
  • Also plans to lower their carbon footprint by focusing on improving energy efficiency, recycling rates, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and establishing green policies for the materials the Nets use on a regular basis.

Also, five NBA team arenas have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council including;

• Philips Arena (Atlanta Hawks)


• AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami Heat)


• Rose Garden Arena (Portland Trail Blazers)
  
  • Received Gold certification.


• Toyota Center (Houston Rockets)
  
  • Eeceived Silver certification.


• Amway Center (Orlando Magic)
  
  • Received Gold certification.
  
  
  • The first NBA facility to earn LEED new construction certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Also, the Staples Center where the Lakers and the Clippers play have installed 1,727 solar panels which cover half of the total roof area.

The Green Sports Alliance is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the environmental impact of professional sports and to inspire fans to join in these efforts. The founding members of the Alliance include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Storm(WNBA), Toronto Raptors and the NBA league office.

The Minimalist Lifestyle

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Definition of MINIMALISM

min·i·mal·ism
noun \ˈmi-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm\


1 :a style or technique that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity


Not only is minimalism easy on the pockets but it is also beneficial for the environment. Buying less will reduce the need to overproduce while lessening the waste in landfills. It is called supply and demand. If we demand less materials then the supply will/can reduce. Practicing to consume less and realize what you don't need and the neccessities in life can bring simplicity into your life. Besides, no one wants to be caught on Hoarders. The minimalist lifestyle will prevent unnecessary clutter around the house and save money as well.

BENEFITS;
Less of an impact on the environment
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. This is not only the mantra of environmentalist everywhere but also key to minimalism. Reduce your consumption of unnecessary materials, reuse and recycle merchandise that you already have to cut down spending and more "stuff" which will eventually turn into clutter. Less consumption will also lessen waste going into your trash and the landfills. Be easy on the Earth.

Less money is spent so you can save
Obviously, if we consume more, that is more money in our pockets. We can save money by not making unnecessary purchases for things we do not really need.

Less stress gets you what you want
Unneccasary clutter is one of the most stressful and annoying obstacles in the home. There is nothing more irritating than searching through a bunch of items that you never use and do not need just to get to what you want. It is less to deal with when you practice minimalism. Living a simpler life is very rewarding and calming.



TIP;
Lets face it, I am a female. As are a lot of you out there. So therefor, we like to shop. I am pretty sure the main thing that women hoard would be clothing, shoes and accessories. Here's a trick that I use while shopping. When you take the mountain of clothes into the dressing room or while you are modeling that new shoe in the mirror, ask yourself, "Can I absolutely live without it?". Seems a bit extreme but my shopaholics and fashionistas understand. If you don't need it or have something that looks like it, DON'T BRING IT HOME!

We really don't need everything that we "want".

Here are a couple cool sites about minimalism;
the minimalists
miss minimalist
everyday minimalist

Picture of the Day

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Look what I came across during my routine Saturday morning errand run. I found this baby right outside of the local Rite Aid Pharmacy. "The Promise of PepsiCo" is what the headline on the machine says. I wasn't too familiar with the Pepsi Company project and its green initiatives so, I decided to do some digging.

I found the actual Pepsi Co Promise which reads;

At PepsiCo, Performance with Purpose means delivering sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet. As a global food and beverage company with brands that stand for quality and are respected household names–Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade, Lay's and Pepsi-Cola, to name a few–we will continue to build a portfolio of enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages, find innovative ways to reduce the use of energy, water and packaging, and provide a great workplace for our associates. Additionally, we will respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate, by hiring local people, creating products designed for local tastes and partnering with local farmers, governments and community groups. Because a healthier future for all people and our planet means a more successful future for PepsiCo. This is our promise.

Good stuff Pepsi! It always gets me excited to find a company taking steps toward a greener future. The recycling bin machine lets you dispose aluminum cans and pet plastics (for when you are walking you dog I assume). That's awesome! Take THAT, Coca-Cola!

Kudo Pepsi, kudos.