With the holiday season coming to a start and the year already coming to an end, why wait until the new year to start living a greener lifestyle? Get into the swing of the holidays by putting some eco-friendly practices to use. Bonus: They’ll help you save money as well.
Here’s a list of some sites that offer great tips and advice on how to green your holidays this year:
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Halloween has and always will be one of my favorite holidays. It is the one day of the year that you can actually walk out of your house wearing just about anything and you get a ‘free pass’ on weird or strange looks from neighbors. Hey, anything goes on this day, right? Not to mention the candy – oh, the candy.
So how can one ‘green‘ up the holiday a bit and teach the neighborhood kids a good lesson about recycling and reducing trash? The famous candy aspect that the kids know and love is a start. Realistically, it is hard to give out any fresh made organic goodies as it has long been taboo to do such a thing with rumors of poisoned candy and the like that has been circling for generations. So, instead, hand out pre-packaged organic candy like the ones found at endangered species chocolate. Then use a pillow case to hand out the candy, it looks funky and scary and limits the use of the regular plastic containers. The kids will happily be surprised to try something new and tasty that is also better for the environment.
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The Issue
We try so hard to make eco-minded decisions for ourselves that we forget about man’s (and woman’s) best friend!
-Typical dogs produce 274 pounds of waste each year, and each pet litter bag take up to 100 years to biodegrade!
-We wouldn’t eat low quality foods, so why should our pets? Read the rest of this entry »
I’m sure many of us have all tried in one form or fashion to become more eco-conscious and tread a little lighter on this planet. Most of you have heard about the concept of the carbon footprint (greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product) and probably practice recycling, conserving water and energy in your home, etc., to try to reduce your carbon footprint. But we can always do more.
Take, for instance, No Impact Man, Colin Beavan, and his No Impact Project where he and his family tried to live with no environmental impact for one year in New York City. Think: making no trash, only eating food grown within 250 miles, using no carbon producing transportation (cars, subway) and finally, and using no electricity in their home. Of course, they didn’t go cold turkey and omit all of these things from their lives all at once, they did so through phases – and so can you.
Huffington Post is hosting No Impact Week, starting Sunday, October 18, to “give people the opportunity to examine and reduce their ecological footprint by taking part in a short and intense period of conscious consumption supported by local and online communities”. They’ve even created a day-by-day guide to help you go greener gradually and learn practices that make less of an impact on the environment. Each day will focus on a different theme (i.e.: trash, energy, food, transportation) and give you tips on simple practices you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. This doesn’t mean you have to stop driving your car or turn off your electricity – it gives simple, achievable goals for each day.
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Accessories are a big part of any girl’s life. They help to dress up and enhance any outfit while giving you a chance to show off a little of your personality. What better way to do so than with unique eco friendly bracelets and cuffs? In the past, it was difficult to find accessories for the person that was trying to incorporate green living into their life but that is no longer the case. GoGreenItems.com now offers many products that are both stylish and eco-friendly. Unique bracelets and cuffs made from old vinyl records are a great example of trendy eco-fashion.
Recycled record cuffs and bracelets are designed from using part of a recycled vinyl record. You’ll find a variety of styles available to choose from. Some of them are hand painted using acrylics that are sealed with a clear coat. Others are black, which match any outfit. They’re a great way to enhance your favorite outfit while showing your love for music and the environment all at the same time.
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The City of Tampa has a limited supply of affordable housing that is also environmentally friendly. City Council, led by Councilman John Dingfelder, passed an ordinance last year that would promote green building practices for new construction. That ordinance while still a long way from achieving its goal of prompting mainstream builders to incorporate green building practices into their projects. Although several buildings have been LEED certified in the area, they have considerably higher price tags than non-green projects.
One company, Rising Force Construction, has undertaken the task of creating affordable, energy efficient homes that promote sustainable living in Terrace Park, an established neighborhood just south of the University of South Florida. Residents have the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint on several levels: They can live, shop, work and enjoy recreational activities; and they can live in a home that reduces utility consumption by 30 to 40 percent over an existing home of the same size. For those that are tired of seeing their budgets eaten up by ever rising gas prices, they can walk, bike or take public transportation.
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Do you remember the old VHS cassette tapes that have long been replaced by DVDs? Do you ever wonder what became of all those outdated tapes? Many of them, no doubt, ended up in landfills but some of them have actually been put to good use. Many of them are being used to design beautiful cosmetic bags and handbags for your fashion pleasure. You’ll be amazed at just how lovely these items look especially when matched up with one of your favorite outfits.
Recycled VHS cassette tape handbags and cosmetic bags are a real piece of art. They’ll go with anything and they can be used for any occasion regardless of whether its business or social. They make great gifts for the holidays or as a gift for yourself when you feel like you deserve something special. The handbags are designed in several different sizes and shapes to suit most any taste or need. You’ll find they have enough room to carry all of your necessities.
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The Issue: Cleaning products that are full of chemicals!
The Larger Issues:
-Certain glass cleaners contain isopropyl alcohol which can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat, and ammonia which can irritate the skin and eyes and cause coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
-Many all-purpose cleaners contain 2-butoxyethanol which can cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness and confusion, and eye, nose, throat and mouth irritation.
-Certain bathroom cleaners contain Sodium hypochlorite/chlorine which can irritate the skin; and cause eye damage, coughing and/or shortness of breath. Read the rest of this entry »
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
Finding an emotional connection with our planet- Doing so allows us to look at what our needs are in life and what is of the highest and greatest importance to us and our environment.
Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll 2009: The race for Greenest Politician has Linda Saul-Sena in the lead- Who do you think should take the title of this year’s Greenest Politician in the Bay?
Clean energy and anti-offshore drilling rally in Ybor this Thursday- Thursday, August 27th, join Sierra Club, 1Sky Florida, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other environmental groups for a real grassroots rally outside Big Oil’s staged gathering.
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So you’ve installed CFL bulbs in all of your light fixtures, low-flow shower heads and toilets, and use eco-friendly paint for your walls. That’s pretty green, right? That’s just “light green” compared to this house in Venice, CA that was renovated and is now green – literally.
As more people get turned on to sustainability and try to make more environmentally responsible choices, the usual starting point from which they begin is in their own homes. To be certain, they are varying degrees of ‘green’ homes. Some people install CFLs and call it a day, while others create 100% off-the-grid earth shelters built into the ground. Unfortunately, those attempting to further embrace sustainable ideals and lifestyles usually go ‘light green’ when it comes to their own home constructions/renovations. The bamboo floors, low flow toilets and the recycled glass countertops are nice gestures at sustainability, and can be components of a sustainable design, but in the grand scheme of things these features and fixtures by themselves do little environmentally speaking.
The newly renovated and retrofitted Brooks Avenue house in Venice, CA is one example of a home addition where the only thing that is ‘light green’ is the foliage of the vegetation growing on the exterior walls and roof. Designed by Bricault Design, the 1700 square foot addition was done out of need for more space to accommodate the owners’ growing family. Attaching to the original cottage, the addition almost takes up the entire lot.
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Play time with your dog is a special time. It’s when the two of you get to spend quality time together doing the things that you love. All dogs have a special toy that they play with the most such as a bone or a Frisbee. Many dogs enjoy playing ball with their owners.
If your pet loves chasing after a ball for hours on end then the Orbee-Tuff Ball toy is the perfect choice for your best friend. The Orbee-Tuff ball is eco-friendly dog toy and recyclable. It’s made in the US from non-toxic recyclable materials. Natural oils are used to create flexibility so it’s easy for your pet to hold onto it. They’re infused with natural mint oil that your dog will love and they’re extremely bouncy. Your beloved pet is sure to make it one of his favorite toys.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
St. Petersburg College’s new Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building is certified LEED® Gold- St. Petersburg College recently announced that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings.
Best of the Bay of the Day: Best organic smoothie- Believe it or not, algae and bee pollen add up to a delicious drink called the Spirulina Power Buzz. Read this to find out where to get one.
Tips to improve gas mileage (and save some green)- Do you have a lead foot or drive an inefficient automobile? Here are a few simple tips to improve gas mileage and save a bunch of green!
Living Sustainably in Tampa Bay: Darren Brinkley, owner of REAL Building- Brinkley is the owner of REAL Building and home that he built for his family in St. Petersburg is the first home in Florida to achieve the LEED for Homes Gold Rating.
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Everyone needs a good quality wallet and there is none better than The wallet from English retreads. This is a stunning but practical wallet that any man would love to receive. It’s a bi-fold wallet that is designed with a bill holder for cash and four credit card pockets. Its simple but functional design makes it one of the best wallets available today. It’s also an eco-friendly product because it’s made from recycled inner tube.
When you open up the wallet, you’ll notice circular cutouts on both sides of the front two credit card holder slots. This exclusive design gives the wallet more flare, which in turn makes it more unique and fun. If you’re searching for the perfect gift for the loved one on your list, consider this item. It’s an excellent choice they’ll surly love and definitely a conversation piece.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
The Earth Charter: How ethics can change the world (video) – The Earth charter was created by thousands of people representing hundreds of countries aiming at a universal ethical code of conduct for human beings. How do we treat each other? How do we treat the world? These questions were raised and answered.
City of Tampa Green Business Designation Program- As of this week, the City of Tampa became one of just a handful of cities nationwide to start a green business designation program. Outside of the West Coast (California and Washington state), Tampa will join major metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Knoxville in rewarding private businesses that have become or want to become more environmentally-friendly.
Why buying recycled, repurposed products is so important- Preserving the Earth’s natural resources is vital to the future of the planet and all of its inhabitants. Buying recycled and repurposed products is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment by cutting back on waste and the resources needed to make new items.
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Do you receive way too much junk mail? Here are some tips to lighten your junk mail load:
The issue:
-Every year, each of us receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail, accounting for 43% of all delivered mail!
-Every year, the US EPA estimates 44% of junk mail isn’t even opened, creating four tons of waste!
-Every year, junk mail uses as much energy as almost three million cars!
-Every year, junk mail consumes 100 million trees or approximately 550,000 tons of paper!
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Buying “green“, eco-friendly products is becoming more and more popular in this day and age. But why is it so important? Preserving the Earth’s natural resources is vital to the future of the planet and all of its inhabitants. Buying recycled and repurposed products is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment by cutting back on waste and the resources needed to make new items.
Everything you do for the planet, no matter how small, can add up to make a huge difference. Just imagine how much energy and other natural resources would be saved if everyone made it a point to buy some type of green products regularly, whether its clothing, accessories, personal care products or something else.
By making that type of a commitment you’re taking the first step to saving the planet and its natural resources. Plus, there’re many other benefits to buying green. Some of them are listed below:
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
Living with the land: Florida’s first Earthship (video) – Eric Stewart gives a firsthand look at Florida’s first Earthship in Manatee County, and gets his hands dirty while helping out.
Not getting a million-dollar bonus this year? Think local stimulus- Scott Milinder shows us a real stimulus package that will work for us: we all commit to “Buying Local First.” According to recent economic studies, shifting your buying habits to locally owned businesses creates more circulation of money, more economic activity and more jobs in the local economy.
Eco-friendly summertime fashion accessories- Are you searching for a unique and beautiful purse to enhance your summer wardrobe? Then why not consider one of these recycled handbags that are made from recycled items that help to promote a cleaner and healthier world, reports Jen Meier.
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As you’ve seen from a post earlier this week in the Green Community, Florida is getting its first Earthship. But what exactly goes into making an Earthship and what makes it so energy efficient and eco-friendly?
Not only do Earthships utilize solar and wind energy (for heating, cooling, and electricity), they are made completely of natural and recycled items and are built to harvest their own water, have contained sewage treatment, and their own built-in gardens so inhabitants can harvest their own food.
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There are many exciting and fun outfits available for summer wear and if you’re like most women, you can’t wait to start wearing yours. Along with these summer fashions, accessories are a must and there is nothing better than accessorizing with handbags and clutches.
Are you searching for a unique and beautiful purse to enhance your summer wardrobe? How about a stunning clutch to dress up your “night on the town” outfit? Then why not consider one of the recycled handbags that help to promote a cleaner and healthier world offered here at www.GoGreenItems.com.
These are some of the most gorgeous purses and clutches found anywhere and they’re made from recycled items that are used everyday. It’s amazing how ordinary items that would have normally been discarded can be transformed into such exciting and attractive handbags.
The names of a few of your options are listed below:
Recycled Juice Box Purse (pictured at right)If you’re a careful shopper with a genuine desire to reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll fall in love with these handbags as soon as you see them. You can make a bold statement and look great while doing it. Everyone will ask you where you got such a unique accessory item.
Once you take a closer look at some of the options available, ordinary handbags just won’t have the same appeal as before. Be the first on your block to sport one of these designer recycled handbags around and you’ll be the envy of the neighborhood. Everyone will want to know where you shop.
These purses are fun, inexpensive and they’ll add beauty and flare to your summer wardrobe. When you purchase one or more of these amazing eco-friendly handbags, you’re helping to save the environment with style.
For more infomation visit www.GoGreenItems.com
Saving the earth one item at a time!
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
Celebrating Independence Day or creating environmental disaster? – Kelly Rothwell looks at the littered aftermath of Fourth of July celebrations and wonder why, instead of giving back in celebration of their freedom, people decide to light off fireworks, leaving mass amounts of debris in the water and on the beach.
Local Food: Dinner in, and from, the garden at Gateway Organic Farm – Chef Gui Alinat gives information about Gateway Organic Farm’s next “Dinner in the Garden” event, an incredible local foods experience featuring nine Bay area chefs.
Quivira Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley is not only an organic vineyard and farm, but also a biodynamic one as well, producing sustainable vineyards and crops. They specialize in varietals known to excel in the Dry Creek Valley, such as Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc and small lots of Rhone Varietals. Quivira also has their own farm, where they supply local markets with fresh, organic food. “Biodynamic farming practices help create healthy porous soils which allow water, gases and nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil strata. This fosters strong, wide, deep root growth that enables the vines to absorb elements from the soil and transfer them as flavors to the fruit.”
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
Steps to becoming greener: Reducing your waste, reusing and recycling: Joshua Poll gives some useful tips for ways to start reducing, reusing, and recycling things you thought you could just throw away.
Genetically engineering cows that will produce less methane, reducing greenhouse gases: Geneticists in Canada are trying to engineer a cow that produces less methane, resulting in less greenhouse gases, reports Brian Roberts.
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Here are numbers 5 and 6 from my list of 12 ways to start living greener and smarter.
Picking up trash on the ground is part of living green, if we all took 10 minutes a day and cleaned up the waste and trash we walk over, everyday, it would make a difference, not only in our environment but in taking pride and investing in our communities.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this past week:
Cool-N-Save: An eco-friendly energy saver for your air conditioning unit (Video): Jennifer Meier writes about how the Cool-n-SaveTM system affixes to the top of most home air conditioning units, resulting in a substantial drop in ambient temperature of up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The Cool-N-Save(TM) system has also been rated by the US Department of Energy and EPA as an Energy Star Partner.
Signs of hope: are our environmental efforts making a difference?: Linda Taylor shows us an example of how environmental efforts can make a difference, even if they take years to come to fruition.
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Cool-n-Save™ is an awesome new patented product that is actually based on the same scientific principles that large corporations have used to save themselves money for years.
Installed in less than five minutes with no tools required, the Cool-n-Save™ system affixes to the top of most home air conditioning units. The system is activated only when the AC unit turns on; hot air from the condenser unit’s fan raises the flap on the patented Cool-n-Save™ control valve allowing water to flow to the misters that surround the AC unit. When the ultra-fine mist is released into the air, it evaporates almost instantly creating what is known as a “Flash Evaporation,” which literally sucks heat out of the air as water absorbs the energy it needs to evaporate. The result of the immediate evaporation constitutes a substantial drop in ambient temperature without wetness- up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Cool-N-Save system fits on top of most air conditioning units and expels a filtered, ultra fine mist around the AC unit, which creates a “chill zone.” This “chill zone” allows your air conditioner to work more efficiently and reduces the electricity it draws. This results in consumer savings and reduced CO2 emissions . The efficiency of the Cool-N-Save(TM) system has been scientifically proven by Tulane University .
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Woken up this morning at 7:30 again by my neighbor’s “yard guys” with their gas-powered leaf blowers, mowers and edgers (a.k.a.: power tools for the yard). I cant help but wonder why they have to come out, seemingly once a week, to groom his bright green lawn. How is this sustainable? Not only are they soaking their grass with drinking water and chemical fertilizers, but also using gas powered tools to keep it in check, every week!
Michael Manlowe, owner of Twigs & Leaves Florida Native Nursery & Garden Center has a solution: “dig it up, lose your lawn and plant native, it makes sense.” Florida native plants require a fraction of the water and no mowing or fertilizers.
Native flowers and berries sustain wild life like butterflies (the nursery is swarming with butterflies), birds, bees – a whole native ecosystem will thrive here with little help from us humans. Left to its own, a Florida native landscape reseeds, provides habitats and becomes a beautiful, self-sustaining ecosystem. Native yards allow for free time and much less yard work, compared to a typical labor-intensive lawn. Read the rest of this entry »
Nowdays, everyone is jumping on the ‘Green’ bandwagon, including the sex toy industry. More and more adult stores are offering eco-friendly relationship enhancement products” to help Mother Earth and offer non-harmful product alternatives(and probably boost sales by following the trend).
VibratorShopping.com, a reputable online retailer of adult products, now features an entire green line, and claim to be “one of the industry’s pioneers in the ‘Go Green!’ initiative.” Not only are they selling ‘eco-friendly’ vibrating and non-vibrating toys, they also offer a glass collection, natural lubricants, and 100% phthalate free (a harmful type of plastic) products. “Phthalates are currently being investigated for causing cancer, harming the reproductive system as well as harming the planet.” (Associated Content) Read the rest of this entry »
The ChiliPepper Hot Water Heater
Do you turn your sink faucet on and wait for hot water? Now there is a great green product that offers you a solution, so waiting for your hot water is a thing of the past.
Have you ever heard of “The Chili Pepper” hot water pump? The Chili Pepper is a small micro-processor pump that is very powerful. It mounts right under your sink. With a touch of a button the hot water is being pumped right to your sink or shower. This is all done without running a single drop of water down the drain. When you turn the faucet on to your sink or shower you will have instant hot water. The Chili Pepper hot water pump can supply hot water to several sinks and multiple fixtures. You can do this be using just one Chili Pepper hot water pump. Who doesn’t want to save water, energy, and money? Read the rest of this entry »
Being tired of all the down economy talk, I have decided to really go full steam with Go Green Items: eco friendly clothing, recycled handbags, recycled jewelry, green home environmental products including natural organic products, solar powered gadgets and much more. We are starting to get alot of notoriety in the Tampa Bay area.
On March 21st, I was fortunate enough to be involved in a event put on by The Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts called the Chalk Walk, which was a free event to support and link area artists with local businesses and the community. The local artists were amazing. The event also had a silent auction in which I donated a recycled juice box purse. I featured my recycled eco friendly purses in a 10 x 10 tent in beautiful Hyde Park, Tampa, and had a wonderful day.
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