by holly on February 7, 2012
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Plan your route using an online map.
“The colorful paper maps sold at the gas station can be difficult (or impossible) to recycle because of the amount of ink used. Ut the internet to get directions and print an online map instead. You can use the “draft” mode on your printer to useless ink, print the map on scrap paper, and make sure it goes in the recycle box when you’re finished with it. You’ll get step-by-step directions to your destination and save yourself the hassle of trying to unfold and read a huge city map while you’re driving — all with less waste.
Make your driving directions even greener by using the “send to phone” feature offered by websites like MapQuest and Yahoo! Maps. Turn-by-turn directions will be sent to your cell phone. You’ll have paperless directions to navigate to your destination.
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on January 31, 2012
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Make a list of organic foods to try.
“On your next trip to the grocery store, add a few organic options to your cart. Organic porduce is gown with natural fertilizer and fewer pesticides than its non-organic counterparts. In the United States, produce with the USDA-certified organic label is at least 95 percent organic. THe environmental benefits range from keeping chemicals from polluting groundwater to providing a healthy environment for local wildlife. There is also another benefit to choosing organic fruits and vegetables: a lot of people believe they taste better than produce grown with chemical fertilizers.
Organic produce is often more expensive. If you want to buy organic but also want to stick to a budget, it’s important to know which fruits and vegetables are most likely to be contaminated by pesticides: apples, apricots, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, celery, green beans, peppers, and spinach.”
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on January 24, 2012
Friendly Planet Travel, a leading tour operator of high-quality, affordable vacation packages to exotic destinations worldwide is offering a sweepstakes for a chance of your lifetime prizes. Enter the “Win the World” sweepstakes on Facebook, and you could win one of six Friendly Planet trips to exotic destinations worldwide. Share the sweepstakes with your Facebook friends, to gain additional entries into the sweepstakes. This sweepstakes will span over a 6 month period with 6 total exotic tours prizes including Amazing Peru, Taste of China, Best of Turkey, Taste of Ireland and Taj Mahal Express. First up is the 13-Day Best of South Africa tour worth more than $8,500.
Wouldn’t this be AMAZING to win?
For more information about this Facebook sweepstakes, you can visit Friendly Planet’s Facebook, Twitter or blog. Good luck!
by holly on January 10, 2012
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Load your dishwasher for maximum efficiency.
“Before starting your dishwasher, check that dishes don’t block the detergent dispenser or spray arms. Know what makes up and ideal load, so you don’t over- or underload. Read the owner’s manual to find out how much (or how little) detergent you should use, to eliminate the need for a second wash.
From now on, instead of turning on the dishwasher every night, save energy by running it only when it’s full. Allow dishes to air dry, instead of using the heated drying function, to further cut down on energy use.
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on January 3, 2012
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Seal the leaks in your attic.
“A leaky attic can make the whole house feel cold and damp. Plugging any leaks in the attic prevents heat from escaping out of the house, saving resources and money. In the attic, look for any obvious holes and feel around for leaks. Use caulking and foam to seal the leaks. You might also consider adding extra insulation in the attic to help retain heat during the winter months.
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on December 27, 2011
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Skip post-holiday shopping.
“Instead of getting in the care, driving to the mall, and waiting in long lines to buy holiday decor at discount prices, start a new tradition: spend the day at home with loved ones. You’ll reduce fuel consumption and avoid cluttering your home and garage with mass-produced goods”
Yikes! This tip is hard to swallow. I like shopping after Christmas! I could do without extra clutter though….
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on December 20, 2011
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Pack Light For Holiday Travel.
“Excess weight in the trunk of your car (or in the cargo hold on the plane) will decrease your gas mileage. In the car, every 100 pounds of cargo decreases fuel efficiency by 2 percent. It might not sound like much, but it adds up on a roundtrip visit to relatives; so only pack the essentials.”
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on December 13, 2011
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Buy a Cut Christmas Tree.
“Nearly all cut Christmas trees were grown on a tree farms, which means their stock is replenished yearly and forests aren’t depleted. Cut trees are a much greener choice than artificial trees, which are made with petroleum-based materias and often shipped thousands of miles before they reach your living room.
Unlike artificial trees, which eventually end up in the landfill, cut tress can be recycled after the holidays.
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on December 6, 2011
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Put your holiday lights on timers.
“Leaving your holiday lights turned on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs — and create four times the pollution — as leaving them on for 6 hours. Set your time to turn the lights on at dusk and leave them on until you go to bed. You’ll be able to enjoy the lights all evening without burning energy overnight.”
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
by holly on November 15, 2011
Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Check your windows.
“Now that cooler temperatures have arrived, make sure your windows are closed tightly. Heat will disapear out the windows if they’re left open even if it’s just a crack. Take a few minutes to go from room to room to double-check that theat isn’t escaping outside through an open window. You’ll cut your energy costs dramatically and keep your home comfortable all winter long.”
Today’s tip was sort of a no-brainer but it doesn’t hurt to check! Especially in rooms you don’t use often.
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.
