Moving in the Right Direction

Are you considering the switch to a fuel-efficient car? In 2008 the average cost of gas topped four dollars a gallon at times, which resulted in increasing popularity for fuel-efficient vehicles. Another reason to make the trade, many people are finding themselves more concerned with the impact we have on environment daily when it comes to driving to and from place to place. If you’re in the market to buy a hybrid car or are simply looking for further information these helpful hints will get you moving in the right direction:

Research the pros and cons of continuing to drive the car you already own.

Use Car Talk’s Auto Advisor to select preferences and receive new-car recommendations.

Visit the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Hybrid Center Comparison Chart for counsel on hybrid cars.

Read Consumer Reports’ free list of the most fuel-efficient cars it has tested. By subscribing you can research gas mileage, and other details, by vehicle category.

Look into Yahoo! Autos’ Green Center for a list on the top 100 cars by green rating.

Use Fueleconomy.gov’s nifty comparison tools to research mpg, air pollution, annual petroleum consumption, and cost-to-fill-at-the-pump information for specific cars.

For further reading go to: http://green.yahoo.com/living-green/buying-a-fuel-efficient-car.html

Business Appeal & the Environmental Sphere

Looking for the latest green buzz in the business realm? Here’s your go to site: GreenBiz.com. This site features newsletters on the green economy from the voice the industry. Check out full articles on the latest GreenBuzz topics:

o Why Doesn’t Green = Better? Unilever Pushes Concentrated Detergent, and More …

o Green Wineries Embrace Innovation, Nike’s Leather Sourcing Policy, and More …

o Walmart’s Sustainability Index, Xerox Saves $7.3M Through Earth Awards, and More …

o The First Green-Collar Grads, Yahoo! Abandons Offsets, and More…

Do you know what’s going on the environment by way of business practices? If not, here’s your moment…go to www.GreenBiz.com.

Ways to Spot Misleading “Green” Ads

It can be difficult to decipher whether an ad is providing you with legitimate facts, or falsifying information so you’re more prone to buying their products. How do you tell if an ad boasting “healthier” or “greener” products is claiming truth?

 There are certain clues you can follow to determine whether that product you’re holding is truly healthier, safer, and greener. In getting started, keep in mind that words matter, so be sure to look for specific claims vs. general claims. 

 General claims (the following words are essentially meaningless because they hold no concrete definition):

• Natural
• Hypoallergenic
• Nontoxic
• Fragrance-free or unscented
• Free range
• Hormone-free
• Antibiotic-free
• Eco-friendly, environmentally preferable, or eco-safe
• Green

Meaningless claims are ubiquitously lining the shelves we come across. When shopping, look for specific attributes. Remember, there are no guarantees because in many cases no one is verifying the manufacturer’s claims.

Specific claims:

• Made from post-consumer recycled paper
• Formaldehyde-free
• No additives
• No animal byproducts
• No parabens
• Phosphate-free

For further information visit Consumer Reports’ Eco-labels center to find out which labels and terms you can trust.

Read further about this topic at: http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/79/how-to-detect-misleading-ads.html

A Multi-Faceted Approach to Recycling

Our very own, Chuck Riegle, published an article that appeared recently in Recycling Today entitled, “A Multi-Facted Approach.”  Following is a preview of the piece along with a link to read the entire feature.  It’s well worth the read.

There’s no denying that successful, sustainable beverage container recycling is complex and requires consensus on goals and targets among multiple stakeholders, including material producers, beverage companies, bottle manufacturers, retailers, waste collection companies, recycling processors, consumers and policy makers. The varied special interests found among those responsible for the recycling “value chain” are the primary reason no single, “one-size-fits-all” model exists today.

Beverage companies, material producers, retailers, the government, recyclers and environmentalists all have their own ideas about what sustainable recycling of plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers means to them. Some consumers themselves have a strong desire to participate in recycling, but want systems that are accessible, convenient, low or no cost, trustworthy and rewarding. Although all stakeholders agree that recycling is a responsible environmental aspiration, depending on one’s interests, recycling is often viewed as either a feasible imperative or a difficult issue rife with cost dilemmas.

As a result, it’s easy to see how one can get bogged down in circuitous debates, which is why it’s important to foster strategic negotiations that result in a short- and long-term vision for broad-based recycling success with clear goals to facilitate practical planning and a singular understanding of the environmental imperatives. To ensure a successful course, four core elements must be addressed: incentives, real estate, cost reduction and setting meaningful targets.

To read the entire feature, click here. 

Making a Difference for the Planet and Your Home!

People that have green on the brain are always looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to run-of-the-mill cleaning products. It’s not difficult to come by natural cleaning products; however, they’re often times a lot pricier than the average products on the market.  The positive news is that greening up your daily life is easier than you may know… (and don’t forget to add mixologist to your list of capabilities)!  

Instead of using… Use Eco-Friendly Alternatives

Bleach… Borax

Detergent & Soap… Elbow grease

Scouring Powders… Baking soda. Or rub area with one-half lemon dipped in borax, then rinse

General Cleaner… Baking soda and vinegar. Or lemon juice combined with borax paste

Floor Cleaner… One cup vinegar + 2 gallons of water

Window Cleaner… One cup vinegar + 1 qt. warm water. Rinse and squeegee

Aluminum Cleaner… 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar + 1 qt. of hot water

Brass Cleaner… Worcestershire sauce. Or paste made of equal amounts of salt, vinegar, and water

Copper Cleaner… Lemon juice and water. Or paste of lemon juice, salt, and flour

Chrome Cleaner/Polish… Apple cider vinegar to clean; baby oil to polish

Stainless Steel Cleaner… Baking soda or mineral oil for polishing, vinegar to remove spots

Fiberglass Stain Remover… Baking soda and salt in a wet paste

Mildew Remover… Paste with equal amounts of lemon juice and salt, or white vinegar and salt OR diluted tea tree oil

Drain Opener… Dissemble or use plumber’s snake. Or flush with boiling water + one-quarter cup baking soda + one-quarter cup vinegar

Wood Polish… Olive or almond oil (interior walls only)

Rug/Upholstery Cleaner… Dry corn starch sprinkled on; vacuum

After-Cleaning Cocktail… One part rum mixed with 2 parts fruit juice. Add ice as needed.

We’re always trying to stay in the loop on green blogs offering fresh ideas that are chock full of valuable real-life information; see http://thegreenmamas.blogspot.com/ for more ideas!

A Greener Lifestyle

Are you ready to incorporate green living into your personal life and home? If you’re ready to take that next step, then you have to check out Livingreen. This great resource is for those striving to make earth-conscious and healthier choices in their personal lives. This online venue offers tips and ideas and promotes alternative products for your home and workplace. With a wide range of offerings from books, furniture, cleaning products, gardening, and nursery items…plus more! Check it out if you want to start really living – living green that is! Go to: http://www1.livingreen.com/

Recycle Glass and Reap the Benefits!

Do you recycle because it invokes in you feelings of earth-friendliness? Perhaps you recycle because those around you do and you don’t want to be the odd man out. Whatever the reason, continue to unleash the recycler in you! Many of us recycle and are completely unaware of the positive impacts that unfold as a result. Recycling glass has significant recompenses – here are a few of them:

Glass is Infinitely Recyclable Glass used to make our pickle, salsa and olive jars and the glass that makes up our milk and cold mocha bottles is infinitely recyclable. This glass can be recycled over and over without affecting its quality.

Recycling Glass Saves Energy Too many recycling detractors claim that recycling uses more energy than the value. It’s a clear shut case – they’re entirely wrong. Want proof? The energy saved from recycling one bottle will:

Power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour

Power a computer for 25 minutes

Power a color TV for 20 minutes

Power a washing machine for 10 minutes

Reduce Landfill Size Glass never biodegrades. Let’s reuse it instead of burying it in a hole.

 Preserving Raw Materials For every ton of recycled glass used, 1.2 tons of raw materials are preserved.

Good for Society Another positive influence that recycling glass has are its societal benefits. It can create green jobs and even raise further recycling awareness.

Do you recycle glass? We highly recommend it!

To read more on this topic click on the link: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/shattering-reasons-recycle-glass.html?campaign=daylife-article

25 Best Eco-friendly & Great Green Blogs

With more than 6,000 blogs in relation to the environment, including news feeds, and webzines, it can be difficult to find the best ones. Check out WebEcoist for their top 25 Best Eco-friendly & Great Green Blogs. This site is a great tool for research, pleasure reading, or specific findings in the environmental realm. WebEcoist manages to narrow it down while represent diversity and a broad range of blogs with topics including news, lifestyle, and tech. Go to: http://webecoist.com/2008/09/03/25-best-green-blogs-by-category/

Recession polls unveil strength in recycling

Every year Earth Day comes to pass, echoing our world’s environmental trends and habits. In more recent years, this day has begun to encompass recycling practices as well.

 

Rasmussen’s latest survey of 1,000 Americans revealed that 70% actively partake in recycling programs in their households, and 53% of those polled rated their workplace’s recycling efforts between “good” and “excellent.” A recent MSN survey validates these numbers, indicating that 20% of Americans do not have access to a recycling service in their local area. Call2Recycle’s most current survey found that 92% of respondents regularly recycle at least one item, while 84% said they’re likely to recycle glass, plastic, or newspaper in the upcoming six months, which leads many to believe that the current “green” trend is withstanding the economic downturn.

 

According to Call2Recylce, we live in a time where feelings of “green guilt” have the ability to run rampant if consumers don’t feel like they’re somehow directly contributing to a reduced carbon footprint and overall waste. Regardless of the economic climate, or the positive polls, everyone needs to continue to focus on the environment and take individual action. 

 

What did you do this past Earth Day?

 

Source: Resource Recycling

Unwind on the Green Side

Spring has arrived and summer is fast-approaching and we all know what that equates to, it is time, time to do some travelling. According to TripAdvisor, a number a vacationers plan to travel to “greener pastures” literally, by way of incorporating environmentally-friendly travel choices into their plans this upcoming season. Their survey found Portland, Ore., to be the highest on the green-friendly chart, and New York City was determined the least green-friendly. With that in mind, do a little digging prior to finalizing your vacation plans and you can read the full article at: http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/04/tripadvisor_man.html