It Is Easy Being Green

A Greener Way to Cut that Green Grass

2009-05-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today, you might want to cut the grass before the next rain, right? So here comes the clunky gasoline powered lawn mower, I can just hear the CO₂ coming out of that thing. Maybe you should try a green alternative to that mower. How about a reel mower or an electric one? The grass would be much greener without all that gas. Gas-powered lawn mowers account for almost 5% of U.S. air pollution, not to mention all the fuel that gets spilled. Each year, Americans spill more fuel from lawn mowers than was spilled in the '89 Exxon Valdez oil spill. People made a big deal about that, so you should be making a big deal about this, too. Not only is this a green option, but it will also help you save some green, too. With a gas-powered mower you spend $5 on fuel every other mow. With an electric mower you spend that much in an entire years worth of mows and with a reel mower it is completely free. So trash that old clunky gasoline mower and go buy a green one!

Tackling Weeds: The Green Way

2009-05-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, so we're halfway through spring now and you have probably planted some vegetables or at least some flowers or potted plants. Right about now those pesky green weeds start springing up from under the ground and detract from the natural green beauty of your garden. So you say, "Where did I put that weed killer?" It must be around here somewhere. Next thing you know you are spreading harmful chemicals all over your garden, trying to kill off those weeds. Maybe you should try something a little more green.

Herbicides are not green at all and are very bad for the Earth. The majority of the herbicide you spray on weeds don't actually go towards killing the weeds. It spreads through the soil killing off worms and being taken up by the roots of your flowers. It basically goes on a very un-green rampage through your garden. In addition to that there are about 110,000 human poisonings every year from herbicides, not to mention Fido your curious dog who is out there devouring the chemical coated plants right now.

Here is a much more green option: Deadeye, a vinegar based spray formula. Try it and remember to keep being green.

A Green Earth Day

2009-04-26T13:39:00.003-04:00

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to post on Earth Day. I have been rather busy lately. I hope everyone did their part to be green on Earth Day. And even though some may say that one day isn't going to make a difference (you know who you are), it will trigger action among people and make them more aware of our environment. I think we should do our best to make everyday Earth Day. Everyday it seems is about us as humans and what is best for us. But without a green Earth there is no more us. So do your best to keep the Earth clean and green everyday.

Garbage Disposals Are Not Green!

2009-04-08T10:45:00.005-04:00

It has been a long time since I have posted. I didn't even post on Earth Hour Day! But I did participate and I all of you did, too. Anyone who turned off their lights is spreading a green message to the whole world.

Anyway, we all know the three R's of recycling, right? Reduce, reuse, and recycle - in that order. When we're talking about food sometimes it's hard to do any of those. Maybe you are already buying food at a minimum due to the rough economy, so you can't reduce the amount of food you use. The easiest way to reuse food scraps is to compost it. (Do not feed the extra food to your dog just to be green!) But sometimes it isn't easy to start composting. Recycling is pretty much out of the question for food. So what to do?

I know, Put it down the garbage disposal! Wrong! Garbage disposals are not green at all, not to mention you could lose a finger. If you can't reduce, reuse, or recycle the food you eat, make sure it goes into the trash, not the garbage disposal. The garbage disposal wastes water and energy. To be exact, everyday Americans waste 500,000 gallons of water due to garbage disposals. In addition, all that ground food is going straight to the water treatment facility where it might leach into the environment and do more damage there then it would in a landfill.

So, if you want to be green...don't use the garbage disposal!

Landmark!

2009-03-02T08:00:00.004-05:00

Today we reached 1,000 hits! That is the first major landmark in this blog's history! Don't forget to tell everyone about this blog so we can have a greener world! It Is Easy Being Green!

Another Green Look into the Future: Cars

2009-02-27T20:00:00.005-05:00

So, you have probably heard all about alternative fuel for cars in the past few years. But you might be confused because you have heard about all sorts of fuel sources. For example there is ethanol, hydrogen, electric battery, bio-diesel. What are future cars going to run on? Futurists might be able to give you an answer, but in the end it will come down to the car makers and the public's preference. You may have heard of the new concept car, the Chevrolet Volt. This car has something called an E-Flex fuel system. It is able to switch between ethanol, hydrogen, and electric battery. So whatever the future might bring GM will be ready. Personally I would go for hydrogen. I think it is cool that the only byproduct is water. And it has already started to make an appearance in California and some foreign countries. What do you think?

Update on Home Composting

2009-02-11T20:00:00.000-05:00

A couple months ago I posted an entry on home composting. Hopefully you might have started to make some. In that case, a great thing to add to it are the ashes from your fireplace. After enjoying a nice fire, let the ashes cool and then mix them into your compost pile. The leftover ashes are a valuable component and will help nourish your garden.

Green Getaways

2009-02-08T16:18:00.005-05:00

Right about now we start planning for spring vacation. Why not make it a green one? It might be a little inconvenient to be as green as possible while on vacation, so make your plans right now so that your vacation can be as green as possible. First you should research a green hotel. The Green Hotels Association has a list of hotels that have implemented programs to conserve resources and reduce waste. When you arrive you should ask housekeeping to turn the heat or AC off while you are out. While on vacation you should try to use public transportation or travel by foot but if you absolutely have to rent a car you should research hybrid rental cars. Most major rental companies have fleets of eco-friendly vehicles. Besides using less gas hybrid vehicles also emit less carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide, the gas that contributes to depletion of ground-level ozone. Do your best to make every vacation a green one.

Preventing Slippery Sidewalks

2008-12-21T17:43:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year when the snow starts to fall and the everything seems to freeze. The snow plows and salt trucks come to clear the mess but it turns out that using salt to melt ice isn't very green. Salt can kill trees and increase the acidity of water. Not only that but it attracts wildlife which makes for collisions on the roadway when they smell the salt. Sand is a chemical free alternative that works just as well. So if you plan on trying to melt the ice on your driveway and porch, use sand not salt.

A Look into the Future: Vertical Farms

2008-12-11T15:52:00.007-05:00

Today, I am going to do something a little different. Rather than giving you a tip to further green your life, I will give you some insight into a relatively new idea called vertical farming. By 2050 the population is expected to increase by three billion people. This means that we will need a piece of arable land the size of Brazil in order to feed the additional population. The world cannot spare this land. So a new idea called vertical farms is being developed. A vertical farm is a farm inside a skyscraper; each level has an expanse of crops, fish, and chicken. A year round crop production level in one acre of indoor land is equal to four to six acres of outdoor land. Although there are some obvious obstacles that need to be overcome (like $), vertical farms are the future for farming. It will soon become evident that vertical farms will be necessary in order to feed the growing population. Find out more about Vertical Farms.

Sorry!

2008-12-07T19:30:00.002-05:00

Sorry about the lack of posts in the past week or so. I have been very busy being green. Posts are coming very soon! Maybe even tomorrow. Don't forget to be green!

Take Action!

2008-11-28T10:28:00.011-05:00

View Full Size

Thanksgiving: PVC Paradise

2008-11-26T22:45:00.003-05:00

If you're like me, you eat a lot of food on Thanksgiving (I think most people do) yet somehow there always seems to be food leftover. And I'm sure that if you get stuck with the leftovers, late Thursday night you'll be whipping out the Ziploc bags and the plastic Tupperware. But wait! What if someone told you those plastic bags and containers were a toxic wasteland? Would you put your food in them? Well, they are! Plastic bags and containers can leach toxins just like plastic water bottles. These poisons can cause severe problems in your body.

The solution: Pyrex containers. A Pyrex container is microwave safe, completely nontoxic and the plastic looking lid isn't plastic, it's silicone! In addition, Ziploc bags can take up to one thousand years to decompose. So, why would you even think about putting all those Thanksgiving leftovers into plastic? If you're interested in healthy food choices on Thanksgiving, dont worry about what goes into the food! Worry about what the food goes into. Have a happy, PVC free Thanksgiving!

Green Day!

2008-11-18T16:00:00.005-05:00

Today is national green day. Don't forget to wear green and continue to practice your green habits!

Keep being GREEN!

Busted: Dry Cleaning

2008-11-17T21:26:00.007-05:00

Another one of humanity's establishments has been deemed: ungreen: your local dry cleaners. First, the dry cleaners waste resources by giving you a new metal hanger every time you go there. Second, one of the chemicals they use in the process of dry cleaning is perc, a carcinogen that may cause cancer. And not only can it harm you, but it harms the environment as well. About seventy percent of the perc ends up in nature, specifically contaminating groundwater! To combat this problem opt for clothes that do not need dry cleaning whenever possible. If you cannot avoid this kind of clothing try to find a "wet" cleaner in your area; this is water cleaning that can be used on dry clean only clothes. And make sure to keep and reuse the metal hangers they give you. Go for greener cleaners!

Keep Your Habits Green

2008-11-16T10:19:00.006-05:00

Are you one of those people who can't function without a cup of coffee everyday? Who makes a trip to the grocery store 4 times a week? Who keeps bottled water in the house at all times? If you are, odds are you are not being very green. More than 365 paper cups a year, more than 500 paper and plastic bags a year, and more than 1000 plastic water bottles in a year is not a good record, especially when many other people are doing the exact same thing. Today there are many other alternatives such as an "I am not a paper cup" cup or a cloth grocery bag or a stainless steel bottle filled with tap water. By just one hundred people switching to these alternatives you could save many trees, 20 barrels of oil, and cover up that HUGE carbo footprint you used to leave. The Tyee puts it great: "We can destroy trees for pulp to make paper coffee cups, which, after 15 minutes of use, we throw in the garbage can. Then, we pick the cups up with pollution-belching trucks and throw them in a dump, where they rot and create more greenhouse gases."

OR, we could give the forests a coffee break and bring resuable materials when carrying out our nasty ungreen habits.

The Internet: It Can't Get Greener

2008-11-14T21:49:00.002-05:00

If you think about it, the internet is one of the greenest things that exists. By being completely electronic, the internet does not use any paper and is easily accessed. Having the internet means you don't have to call up a friend or drive (using gasoline) to the library just to get the information you need. And it is one of the easiest ways to connect to people. The internet has made life easier for everyone while still being green and efficient (except for the use of energy). And taking it one step further, blogging is a great way to spread a message, especially a green one.

So be green. Take a walk to the supermarket, bike to work, and spread the green message.

Recycling: Compost for Your Garden

2008-11-13T17:57:00.006-05:00

All your kitchen waste is sitting in a landfill right now. What it could be doing right now is helping your garden or flowerbed to look nice. Home composting is a great way to recycle your kitchen waste. To do this set up a can, in addition to your regular garbage can, and add the following types of waste to it. You will need a combination of "green" and "brown" materials. You can add green waste, such as grass cuttings, tea bags, coffee grounds, unusable vegetables and vegetable peelings, and unusable fruit and fruit scraps. These materials are quick to rot and provide important nutrients to the compost. Brown waste, such as cardboard, egg boxes, crumpled paper, saw dust, and dead leaves are also usable in your compost. Once you have enough waste to fill a large garbage bin you can set it on some level ground where grass is growing. Over nine to twelve months your compost will rot and you will be able to use it in your garden. More about Green Composting.

Saving Energy At Home: Refrigerators

2008-11-13T15:21:00.004-05:00

Electric bills can get expensive...very expensive. Everyone thinks that air conditioning is very expensive and it is. It can take a lot of money just to keep your house at a livable temperature in the summer. But imagine, a refrigerator and freezer have to be much colder than your house. Granted, it doesn't have to cool as large of an area, but it still takes a lot of energy. These five tips to help make your refrigerator more efficient can save you money on your energy bill:

1. Refrigerators are much more efficient when full...so stock up!

2. Glass containers will keep your food colder for longer, so the refrigerator doesn't have to work as hard. Besides, you don't have to worry about the possibility of toxins leaching into your food when it is stored in glass containers.

3. Vacuum the coils often. This can save a lot of energy; just make sure you unplug the refrigerator first...you don't want to get shocked.

4. If you move your refrigerator away from sunny windows and the oven, it will be much more efficient.

5. Replace your old refrigerator! An Energy Star approved refrigerator can help save the atmosphere and can save you up to $55 per year.

I hope these tips are helpful.

Hybrid Cars: Not Right Now

2008-11-11T16:14:00.004-05:00

In the midst of the economic downturn even blue chip companies are feeling the strain. In recent days, the leaders of the big three carmakers have been up on capitol hill asking Congress to help them. If you're feeling the strain too, getting a hybrid car may not be the best way for you to go green right now. Instead, try and maximize your fuel economy in other ways. Make sure your car is properly maintained: fill the tires, have the proper tire balance, and fill the engine with low-weight engine oil. If you have anything heavy in the car, take it out if you don't need it. Hypermilers may try to maximize their fuel economy to the extreme by drafting behind trucks, or driving at slow speeds, but this can compromise your safety. Also to save money, find the cheapest gasoline station in your area. If you drive past a particularly cheap station (I saw $2.13 the other day) try to fill up, even if you have a half-tank full. These techniques will help you to be green and save green.

Solar Panels

2008-11-10T17:24:00.008-05:00

I'm considering getting solar panels for my house! Solar panels are a great way to save money on your energy bills because the energy will be coming from the sun, not your local utility company. And guess what...you can get them and their installation right from Home Depot! They may have a long payback time and they may not increase the value of your house. However, if you don't plan on selling your house anytime soon, solar panels are a great investment.

My New Blog

2008-11-09T17:53:00.008-05:00

Hi, I'm Brett. Today, I created my new blog. In the future it is going to be about going green and what you can do on your own to help slow global warming and cut your energy bills. However, today I want to congratulate our new president-elect Barack Obama and commend all those who voted for him. His election was historic and I am sure he will make a great president. Check out his transition to office here.