Always on the fly? Here's some easy things you can do to be green

Switch off lights when they are not in use Unplug appliances when not in use Conserve water by turning it off when you don’t need it and turning it low when you do Use a dishwasher instead of washing by hand Buy organic cleaning products Lower your thermostat Go paperless for items like newspaper and magazine subscriptions Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to cold *You can easily integrate these into your busy schedule or replace old products with new ones by being a conscious shopper!

Now That Winter Break is Over...

At this time of year, if you’re in school, you’re probably just getting back into the swing of things after a nice relaxing winter break. Believe it or not, whether a student, teacher, or parent of a student, there are ways to green your schooling, and it doesn’t take a rocket science genius to figure this one out either. A super easy place to start is by putting together a stock of recycled school supplies that include: Paper Products: look for process chlorine-free labels (PCF) and the highest post-consumer waste (PCW) available, with 100% being the best choice. Pens and Pencils (with the highest PCW) White Tape instead of White Out: it’s highly toxic, flammable, and can be fatal if inhaled. Folders and Binders: keep your eye out for the “No PVC” symbol which lets you know that the product is free of harmful vinyl. Backpacks (PVC free) Lunch Tote(PVC free) These products are pretty simple to find at your local school/office supply store, and if you’re not sure, make sure to ask someone who works there. Study hard!

Household Tips

Water and Air, I would say that these two resources are vital for living, wouldn’t you? Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of your H²O and O² inside your very own home. Check your home for any leaks and fix them if you have any. An easy way to do this is by taking inventory of your water usage by looking at your water meter. Shut off the water in your home or make sure that water will not be used for a few hours. Look at the water meter reading when you shut it off and then again at the end of the time period. If there is change in your meter reading, then you likely have a leak. Take shorter showers. You’ll save water. Install a water-saving showerhead. You’ll save water. Use a cup of water when brushing your teeth, instead of running the water while you brush them. You’ll save water. Use water-based paint. A couple advantages include reducing volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions and hazardous waste generation, due to the easy cleanup, which requires only soap and water. If you have ceiling fans, make use of them because it saves money on cooling and heating, and reduces energy waste. Make sure you check your air conditioner filters for replacement. You will not only improve the efficiency of your air conditioner, prolong its life, but also reduce indoor pollution in the form of allergens.

New Year’s Greenolution

It’s a brand new year with brand new commitments. Very exciting! As awareness increases on protecting our environment I’ve listed here some basic tidbits of information to help get you started on your personal commitment to preserving our environment...it’s a real simple sort of back to basics type of thing here: 1. Recycle your aluminum cans. Did you know that aluminum is the most abundant metal on the earth’s crust? It would serve us to keep it that way, especially since it can take as little as 60 days to recycle one can and get it back onto the grocery shelf. That’s amazing! And it takes much less energy to recycle a can than to make a new one from virgin resources. 2. In most parts of the country it’s the chilly season right now, so I anticipate that many of you are burning candles to keep that cozy feeling going. Make sure that you buy soy candles, instead of paraffin candles. There are many great benefits in doing this: they’re cheap, all natural, they last longer, produce less soot, and they do not increase the CO2 level in the atmosphere. 3. Did you happen to make a commitment to yourself to practice a healthier lifestyle? Maybe start exercising more or develop better eating habits? Well you can hit two birds with one stone on this one. As you shop for your oh-so-yummy healthy stuff, make sure that you shop at your local farmer’s market. You’ll support the local economy, decrease transportation-related pollution for food delivery, and even get some fresh air. Make sure you share this information with your friends to help them commit too!