Lean and Green Tips

5. When it comes to commuting, there are a few things you can try. For those nearby, a walking or biking "pool" is not only an ozone-saver, it's a calorie-zapper. Carpooling is an option for those not nearby, and better yet try working when you can from home.

The choice is ours. Yours and mine. Earth Day doesn't only have to be one day a year
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Take Action: Write a letter with your children to the President or your local, state or federal government representatives asking them to focus on a particular environmental issue. Write to a corporation and congratulate them on their "good" environmental practices or ask them to clean up their act. Set an example for your children on environmental responsibility. Happy Earth Day!
 

The term green, meaning environmentally friendly, has become a buzz word, sometimes overused. To most people, the term clearly means environmentally friendly,which is why the media and many others have chosen it. Even so, green can be confusing because it is used as a catchall for a complicated set of concepts. The following are some examples of how the term is used to denote anything that conserves our natural resources while protecting the environment:

* All things grown organically, without petroleum based chemicals from food to organic cotton.

* All things natural and from raw materials grown or found in nature and not made from petroleum.

As an example, clothing made from soybeans is green.

* Any renewable resource, like sunshine, wind and water is green when used to power homes and factories.

Products and processes that are less toxic or non toxic such as non petroleum bases cleaning products, low VOC paints and bio based plastics.

* Recycled content is green and so is the term recyclable.

* A technology, product or service that saves energy, water or resource. Fair trade products are considered green.

More Ways To Make Your Business Greener...

Here are a few more simple ways your business can help lessen the impact on the environment and potentially save some money too:

Reduce and Reuse
Purchase durable file folders that can be reused over again, simply by peeling off labels. Three-ring binders can also be re-purposed many times.

No Print Rule
Make it a company practice not to print emails unless absolutely necessary.

One Printer
Use one printer rather than individual ones to discourage unnecessary use.

Think
Encourage everyone in the organization to think before they throw away.

Rethink
Many offices are now going paperless, forgoing things such as memos, faxing, invoicing, etc. Try converting to electronic files. 

Recycle
Recycle items such as paper, plastic, aluminum and glass. Make it easy for everyone to do this.

Are you are ready to compost? Well the good news is you do not need to buy a fancy composting bin or have a big heap of decomposing matter in your front lawn to get started. Here is an easy way for you to turn an old garbage can into a bin ripe for composting.

Here is what you’ll need:
   •  an old garbage can
   •  a watering can or hose
   •  nails
   •  hammer
   •  2 bricks

Poke Holes in the Garbage Can:

You will want to begin by puncturing holes into the old garbage can. Organic material needs oxygen in order to break down into rich fertile compost, so you want to take a nail and hammer it into the side of the garbage can.

Position the Compost Bin:

Now you are going to take the bricks, lay them on the ground and place the bin on top of the bricks. This step is especially important for anyone using a metal garbage can as they have the tendency to rust if they are placed directly on the ground.

Compost Bin Materials:

For your compost bin you are going to want to use two types of materials, green material and brown materials.

Brown includes:
   •  cardboard
   •  junk mail
   •  newspaper
   •  wood shavings

Green materials include:
   •  grass
   •  all vegetable peelings
   •  tea bags or coffee grinds
   •  weeds

Add Contents to the Compost Bin:

Begin by filling the can in alternating layers of green and brown material. You will want to aim for an equal serving of both. Don’t worry about filling the bin all at once. You can simply add items through the week.

Compost Bin Moisture:

You will want the contents of your bin to be as moist as a wrung out sponge, so if your material looks a little dry, go ahead and water it. Put on the lid and give it a good roll. Composting can reduce your garbage by at least 1/3 and give you great organic compost for your garden!

For the best results, you will want to roll your bin at least once a week and water it, if it becomes too dry. Do this, and your compost should be ready in 4-8 weeks!
 

Why color your eggs with artificial dyes when organic ingredients can be used? Check out these natural and fun alternatives this Easter.... 

Tips:

1) Try both fresh and frozen produce.


2) Canned produce will produce much paler colors. 


3) Boiling the colors with vinegar will result in deeper colors (add 2 Tablespoons of vinegar per 4 cups of boiling water, and add your chopped fruits and veggies to that).


4) Soak eggs 10 minutes in each color.

Colors:

Lavender: Purple Grape Juice

Violet: Red Onions Skins


Blue: Blueberries

Red: Cabbage Leaves or juice from pickled beets

Green: Spinach Leaves 


Greenish Yellow:Yellow Delicious Apple Peels

Yellow: Orange or Lemon Peels 


Brown: Strong Coffee

Pink: Beets or cranberry juice

 

 
A Greener Spin on Washing Clothes... 


1) Hang once or even twice-worn clothes on a shower rod to air out, and then wear again before you wash. Try to save the hamper for truly dirty clothes. 

2) If an item gets a single stain on it, see if you can wash it out by hand. 

3) Be energy-efficient by washing only full loads. 

4) Look for greener detergents that are free of phosphates, which cause overgrowth of algae and harm marine life. 

5) Avoid conventional bleaches, dryer sheets, and fabric softeners, which routinely contain toxic chemicals.

6) Washing your clothes in cold water gets them just as clean as washing in hot water, but uses half the energy. 

7) Use your washer’s “suds saver” function, which reuses soapy water from a first load of laundry in the second load. 

8) If you do use your dryer, use the moisture sensor, if it has one, so that the dryer will shut off after clothes are dry, rather than continuing for longer than necessary.


9) Electricity demand goes down at night and begins rising in the morning, peaking at mid day. It is our peak demand that determines the expansion of coal-fired power plants and other polluting forms of energy generation. Whenever possible, to do laundry at night and as far as possible from mid day. 

10) When it’s time to buy a new washer, choose an energy-efficient front-loading model with an Energy Star label.  For your “dry clean only” clothing items, look for green alternatives that avoid toxic perchloroethylene.

Canning local fruits and veggies will tantalize your taste buds and reduce your carbon footprint all year round. It's not just eco-chic—it saves you money, too. You'll cut costs when you buy in bulk when the harvest is plentiful—and cheap—and preserve what you can't eat for later. You'll also avoid the extra costs associated with packaging, cleaning, or shipping, which are often added to corporate farmed produce. And, if you can some produce from your own garden, all it will cost you is the little bit that goes toward seeds, reusable gardening tools and canning equipment, and the few additional ingredients you'll need.

Eating local produce—either from your own garden or a nearby farm—helps limit your “food miles,” or the distance food travels from the farm to your plate, thereby cutting CO2 emissions. Buying from a local farmer also supports your community’s economy.

Perhaps best of all, preserving fresh produce by canning it allows you to enjoy the freshest-tasting peaches, berries, tomatoes, and green beans long after the summer farmers’ markets close up shop. Here’s are some things you need to know:

Canning may seem like an obscure chemistry project or a long-forgotten art from yesteryear, but don't get intimidated. To can foods like tomatoes and peaches, all you need are glass jars and a pot of boiling water. Basically, you'll mix in a few natural ingredients like salt, water, or fruit pectin to help preserve the fruit or vegetable of your choice, pour it all into glass jars, and boil the jars to seal them shut. Home canning is a safe DIY project, as long as you follow safe canning procedures to avoid any chance of harboring botulism bacteria. Botulism is a serious and potentially fatal form of food poisoning caused by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Botulism spores thrive in moist, sealed environments, and a sealed can of food could be a place for them to reproduce.

High-acid foods, including all fruits, are resistant to botulism, so all you need to can them is boiling water and sterilized jars. All vegetables and most types of tomatoes, however, have low acidity; only a pressure canner can reach 240°F, the proper temperature for killing botulism bacteria in low-acid vegetables.

To be safe, always use a pressure canner when canning vegetables and tomatoes, and follow the processing time and heat requirements outlined in the recipe you are using. Never eat food from a can with a bulging lid or that smells strange. Keep your canning area as clean as possible, and make sure all the equipment you use is sterilized in boiling water before you begin. For more information on botulism and how to protect yourself, check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site.

It is worth a try. You CAN do it!

 

 

Buying coffee used to be a simple matter: either drip grind for filters or regular grind for percolators. Later, there was the additional choice of whole bean versus ground. Starting in the 90’s, however, new terms appeared: fair trade, organic, and shade grown. Now the choices have gotten harder and consumers are getting confused. Here are some things you should know...

The logo indicates that an independent group of certifiers has made sure that farmers receive a fair price, workers receive decent wages, working conditions are good, and no child workers are involved in planting, picking and processing the coffee. “Fair Trade” coffee is purchased from a cooperative--- a collective of farmers in each country’s region.  

Both the coffee grower and the roaster must be certified and registered with TransFair (www.transfairusa.org). In the past six years, TransFair has certified 74.2 million pounds of coffee. This has provided coffee farmers in some of the poorest communities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with over $60 million more than they would have earned selling their crop to local intermediaries.

Although not all Fair Trade coffee is necessarily organic, certification requires strict environmental stewardship such as prohibiting the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the most hazardous pesticides. Seventy-eight percent of all Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee sold in the United States is also certified organic.

Growers who receive this certification make sure that the farmers, the soil, the coffee plants and the local watershed (and of course, the consumer) are not being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. U.S. requirements for organic coffee production also include sustainable crop rotation to prevent erosion, the depletion of soil nutrients, and control for pests.  Since certification standards are high--- for instance, the organic coffee must be stored in a separate area of a warehouse from inorganic--- there are coffees that have adhered to organic practices but are not able to use the organic label. For more information, go to www.ota.com.

Shade trees are mixed in with the coffee bushes to provide a better ecosystem for growing. The natural canopy under which shade coffee is grown often provides the last refuge for birds who have lost much of their habitat to the vast destruction of tropical forests. The environmental benefits also include bird droppings that fertilize the soil and preservation of trees that prevents erosion. Shade-grown coffee matures more slowly which is said to result in higher quality coffee. (For more information, go to www.shadecoffee.org)

 

 

Toxin Alert! Help Keep Your Home Safe....

There are more than 80,000 chemicals used in consumer products and manufacturing in the United States.

In addition, more than 2,000 new chemicals are introduced every year. Only about 200 of these have been tested for safety. The government does not require testing or health studies for chemicals found in household cleaners, pesticides, paints and stains, skin and hair care products and hormones used in the meat and dairy industry.

Here are 3 steps to reduce dangerous toxins in your home:

1) Get rid of conventional cleaners. Most contain ingredients including volatile organic compounds (VOCs)such as formaldehyde, harsh acids and hormone disrupters linked to cancer reproductive toxicity. They also contain chemicals that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. 

What can you do? Use nontoxic biodegradable cleaners that are free of synthetic fragrances. Most cleaning can be done with baking soda and vinegar.

2) Filter your water. The public water supply in 19 of America's largest cities delivered drinking water that contained contaminant levels exceeding EPA limits, including rocket fuel, arsenic, lead fecal waste and chemical by-products created during water treatment.
The solution? Get a water filter and ask your water utility for its "Consumer Confidence Report." Avoid bottled water since most brands are not much better than tap water. Plastic bottles also contribute to the mountains of waste. Carry and refill your own reusable water bottle instead. 

3) Use care when buying paints and stains for your home. Conventional paints contain three dangerous chemicals. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fungicides and biocides. The answer? Use super low or even zero VOC paints and stains. Look for "biocide-free" paints and those that use natural pigments. If your home was built before 1970, consider having both your home and your children's blood lead level tested. Paint over lead based paint to minimize both dust and chipping.

Americans toss out an extra 25 million tons of trash over the holidays, largely due to packaging.

After the holiday, morning rituals, when it's time to clean up, take care to neatly roll and fold the glittery paper and tuck it away for reuse. Once that paper has wrapped its' last gift and it's time to buy a new roll, don't. Instead, scan the house for other ways to wrap.

Get some use out of an poster that came off the wall ages ago. And, some sheer curtains that are a bit too flimsy for window dressing can become lovely Victorian-inspired packaging. Whenever possible, don't wrap gifts at all, but rather, make the wrapping part of the gift.

Give Mom fair-trade jewelry tucked inside a jewelry Case made from recycled materials. Or, give your outdoorsy brother a pocket LED flashlight slipped inside a reusable water bottle. Think about the environment before you wrap and help make a difference.
 

Recycling saves trees and conserves energy, but how do you know if you're doing your part? Manufacturers have created various symbols to let consumers know if a product is made from recycled materials or can be recycled after use. So which symbols mean what? The following recycling symbols are the most commonly used in the U.S. today and will give you a good idea if you're buying an eco-friendly product.

1. Universal Recycling Symbol

What it Means: The universal recycling symbol is recognized around the world, and it is used to designate recyclable materials in a product or a product’s packaging.

What it Means: When the Universal Recycling Symbol is found inside a circle shape, the object has been made from recycled materials.

What it Means: Though most plastic products carry this derived triangular symbol and commonly display a number in the center, that does not mean all are recyclable.

What it Means: This symbol designates that a paper or paperboard material (like boxes, overnight envelopes, or other paper products) is made from 100% recycled paperboard. Essentially, this symbol means that the paper product it appears on was made strictly with post-consumer recycled paper.

What it Means: Corrugated is a type of paper material commonly found in boxes, but other materials too. This symbol does not mean that the item is made from recycled materials; it only means that the corrugated material can (and should) be recycled after use.

Brown Rice. An Environmentally Friendlier Choice...

Brown rice is not only better for you, but it's better for the environment than white rice. So what's the difference? Here is some information that may help you decide to switch...

Rice goes through a variety of processes before it's ready for cooking. After harvesting, the seeds are run through a rice huller/husker for milling to remove the outer grain husks. After this process, you're left with brown rice. Nice and simple.

To create white rice, there's added steps. The germ and the inner husk (bran) is removed, the grain is then polished, usually using glucose or talc. These added steps to turn brown rice to white remove nutrients that are sometimes then introduced back in via synthetic sources - this is called fortified white rice. The same thing happens in brown bread vs. white bread.

The loss of nutrients is broad and substantial. The dietary fiber contained in white rice is about a quarter of brown rice. So, brown rice certainly appears to be more healthy, but where does the environmental benefit come from? It's basically down to processing - the less processing of a food, the less energy required. There's also the issue of the synthetic vitamins added back in - produced in laboratories and factories from a variety of chemicals; and these sorts of processes are well known for their negative impact on the environment.

If you're accustomed to white rice, making the switch to brown suddenly can cause a taste bud rebellion. Try adding extra sauces or spices to flavor the "wilder" taste of brown rice. Once you've acquired a taste for brown rice, it's likely you'll never go back to white! 

Here Are 12 Foods To Buy Organic!

Not all of us can afford to go 100% organic. The solution? Focus on just those foods that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, chemicals, additives and hormones. Can't find organic versions of these foods? Here are some alternatives that contain similar valuable vitamins and minerals.

1. Meat. Contrary to a widely reported "fact," meat typically contains less pesticide residue than plant-based foods, according to the director of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs. Raising animals with conventional modern methods often means using hormones to speed up growth, antibiotics to resist disease and pesticides to grow the grain fed to the animals. As the EPA puts it, "Antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones are organic compounds which are used in animal feeding operations and may pose risks if they enter the environment." Consumers looking to avoid meats raised with these substances can seek out certified organic meat. To meet USDA standards, this meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics.

2. Milk. Pesticides and other man-made chemicals have been found in human breast milk, so it should come as no surprise that they have been found in dairy products. While any residues detected have been rare, and of low concentration, milk is of special concern because it is a staple of children's diets. Organic dairies cannot feed their cows with grains grown with pesticides, nor can they use antibiotics or growth hormones like rGBH or rbST.

3. Coffee. Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don't regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. Look for the Fair Trade Certified Organic label on the coffee package or can; it will give you some assurance that chemicals and pesticides were not used on the plants. It will also mean that fair prices were paid for the end product in support of the farm and that farm workers are treated fairly.

4. Peaches. Multiple pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.

5. Apples. Scrubbing and peeling doesn't eliminate chemical residue completely so it's best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: watermelon, bananas and tangerines.

6. Sweet bell peppers. Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They're often heavily sprayed and victim to pesticides commonly used to keep them insect-free. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: green peas, broccoli and cabbage.

7. Celery. Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: broccoli, radishes and onions.

8. Strawberries. If you buy strawberries out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: blueberries, kiwi and pineapples.

9. Lettuces. Leafy greens are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

10. Grapes. Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape's thin skin. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: blueberries, kiwi and raspberries.

11. Potatoes. America's popular spud ranks high for pesticide residue. It also gets the double whammy of fungicides added to the soil for growing. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: eggplant, cabbage and earthy mushrooms.

12. Tomatoes. A tomato's easily punctured skin is no match for chemicals that will eventually permeate it. Can't find organic? Safe alternatives: green peas, broccoli and asparagus.

 

 

Get great nutrition & enjoy tastier food:

Many studies have shown that organically grown food has more minerals and nutrients than food grown with synthetic pesticides. A good reason why many chefs use organic foods in their recipes?  They taste better!

Saves you money:
Growing your own food can help cut the cost of your grocery bill. Just compare the cost of produce at the supermarket.

Protect your kids future:
The average child receives four times more exposure than an adult to at least eight widely used cancer-causing pesticides in food. A pesticide free garden is a great start!

Prevent soil erosion:
More than 3 billion tons of topsoil are eroded from the United States’ croplands each year. In conventional farming, t he soil is used more as a medium for holding plants in a vertical position so they can be chemically fertilized. As a result, American farms are suffering from the worst soil erosion in history.

Protect your water quality:
Pesticides -- some cancer causing -- contaminate the groundwater in 38 states, polluting the primary source of drinking water for more than half the country’s population. Your garden can serve to create awareness in others about this issue.

Save energy:
Modern farming uses more petroleum than any other single industry, consuming 12 percent of the country’s total energy supply. More energy is now used to produce synthetic fertilizers than to till, cultivate and harvest all the crops in the United States.

Keep nasty chemicals off your plate:
The EPA considers 60 percent of all herbicides, 90 percent of all fungicides and 30 percent of all insecticides carcinogenic. Pesticides may cause an extra 4 million cancer cases among Americans. You can do without these nasty chemicals on your produce!

Protect health of farm workers:
Farmers exposed to herbicides have s ix times more risk than non-farmers of contracting cancer. And organic farming could be one of the few survival tactics left for family farms.

Promote biodiversity:
Mono-cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year. The lack of natural diversity of plant life has left the soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients, and single crops are also much more susceptible to pests, making farmers more reliant on pesticides.

Beautify your community and inspire others:
Besides being used to grow food, community gardens are also a great way to beautify a community, and to bring pride in ownership. You can set an example for others to follow!

Healthy Hops and Eco Friendly Ales...

Organic beer is getting to be big business. In the past few years, some large national brewers have all introduced organic products, joining a growing number of micro breweries offering organic beer. The next time you stock up on eco-friendly ales, here are a few things to look for.

Certified Organic: When you buy organic beer, you're supporting a farm system that uses fewer pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which in turn enhances soil fertility, increases species diversity, conserves water and produces fewer greenhouse gases.

"Certified Organic" beers are made with at least 95 percent organic ingredients following all the standards set by the USDA, which include standards for the chemicals used to clean breweries.

Organic Hops: The USDA's National Organic Program allows non organic hops in organic beer, if the brewer can't get access to sufficient quantities. And because hops are important ingredients that add aroma and bitterness to beer, this has generated some debate about the "organic ness" of organic beers that use non organic hops. If you want a 100-percent organic beer, buy from breweries that use organic hops.

Distribution: As with any food product, local, organic brews reduce fossil-fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions related to shipping, and they support local businesses. Fortunately, micro breweries with organic products have become popular over the last few decades, since beer may be brewed in small vats even in confined urban spaces.

Cool it Down...
 
Washing your clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot saves about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, according to climatecrisis.net. Drying your clothes on a clothesline six months out of the year would save another 700 pounds. They smell great too!
 
 
Powder Power...

Save water with powder detergents. Laundry liquids contain up to 80 percent water. It costs energy and packaging to bring this water to the consumer. So save three ways by using powder detergents to wash clothes. The same holds for dishwashing detergents, when there's a choice, choose dry powders.
 

Healthier things you may want to try before reaching for that can of insecticide.

- Pouring lemon juice around areas ants frequent.

- Sprinkle cinnamon or place in cheesecloth bags in affected areas.

- Baking soda can also deter ants - pour a solid line in areas of activity and they won't cross it.

- A ring of coffee grounds around sensitive plants can discourage ants.

- A puree blend of orange peel and water can be applied to an area to discourage ants from crossing.

- Ants hate vinegar; so spray it around doorways and other areas they frequent to repel them.

- Sprinkling a circle of ground cloves around the pet food bowls.

- Planting mint around vegetable patches, flower beds and around the house

- Cinnamon sprinkled across ant scent trails seems to be very effective.

- Citrus oil is a good deterrent; it can soaked into a piece of string and place around scent trails.

- Use a piece of chalk to draw a line over trails - again, the ants won't cross it. Chalk also has the advantage of being able to be used on vertical surfaces

- This last suggestion is friendly to the ants! Make a sugar trail away from the house to the compost pile (hopefully you have one).
 

Ants invade for a reason - usually for food or water, so be sure to keep food items well secured and clean up after you prepare food. Also check plumbing for leaks, particularly under sinks. Dead insects can attract large numbers of ants, so check window sills and other areas where they may accumulate.
 

 

Between reducing our impact, reusing what we can, and recycling legitimate waste, the planet is bound to become a much cleaner, greener place to live. Recycling is good, but reusing is even better, and it's entirely necessary to get thrifty when it comes to going green. The following five tips will help you get started living a greener life by helping you get thrifty:

1. Know where to look.

You have a lot of options when it comes to buying used. However, if you're looking for a senior level hockey stick that has a regular flex, you might want to check out a used sports equipment store instead of the local Goodwill. You might find a specific item at a general thrift store, but your chances are far better if you have a specialty store you can check out.

2. Know what you're looking for.

Buying secondhand can save you a lot of money, but it can also waste a lot of your time if you don't know what you're looking to find. If you've got an afternoon to browse, you may not need a plan, but you're search is much more likely to turn up something useful if you've got a mission in mind.

3. Be open to what you might find.

Even though your hunt will be best if you've got some direction, you never know when you might happen upon a vintage sewing machine that just needs a few screws and a new spool of thread. If it's been in the back of your mind and you see some potential, it's best to never pass up a good deal.

4. Look for the diamond in the rough.

If you're buying used, sometimes used means USED. But even though that retro toaster that's on display is tarnished and has a ding (or two, or three) doesn't mean it won't toast your bread to perfection. Polish that baby up and tap out that ding for a toaster that will suit almost any kitchen.

5. Keep coming back.

Whether you're sifting through stuff at a thrift or consignment store, or you're browsing bins at a local garage sale, you may be put off when you don't find what you're looking for. Turnaround at such stores, and varying lifestyles mean that each week you'll find a random array of used goods. Don't get discouraged if you don't find what you're looking for right away. Instead, check out your other options, and, if necessary, be willing to wait it out.
 

 

While fair trade generally has a positive impact on the environment, it was actually designed as a social standard to help workers and farmers in developing countries. Though small scale farmers and laborers benefit most directly, there are some large scale benefits for consumers and the environment as well...

Producers:

Farmers and laborers in developing countries benefit greatly from fair trade in large part from the wages they earn. By earning appropriate wages, they not only raise their standards of living, they also feed more money into their communities. This allows producers to help establish better healthcare and education, and a wider variety of skill sets among community members. Additionally, farmers can move beyond making the bare minimum, and further their production by purchasing more advanced equipment.

Consumers:

Consumers benefit from fair trade practices because by buying fair trade, they are making a global impact. Before fair trade, consumers were helpless in determining the principles that make the world go round, but now consumers have the option of higher quality products that come from ethical sources.As for agricultural products, consumers enjoy the added benefit of a healthier product.

Environment:

While not every fair trade item is organic, many of them are. If a product isn't, producers still follow specific production practices that are environmentally sustainable.If their farm is not organic, producers practice some organic farming techniques such as minimizing pollutants, herbicides and pesticides. Many of the most dangerous pesticides have even been banned from use on fair trade farms. While it may not seem like much, by banning and limiting use of harmful chemicals, farmers are producing more natural crops and reducing their environmental impact.

 

 

Oceanic waters cover 72% of the Earth's surface and harbor an abundance of the world's animals and plants. We have a need to restore the ocean's fisheries, safeguard seabirds and other marine animals, and conserve our coasts. The following are some ways you can help protect our oceans and beaches this summer...

1- Keep it clean. Support measures to stop dumping of sludge and sewage into harbors, rivers, and streams.

2- Keep it safe. Endorse creation of marine reserves to protect fish and other marine life.

3- Don't touch. When snorkeling or scuba diving, take particular care to look at but not stand on or even touch coral reefs or underwater plants.

4- Stash your trash. Pick up litter, stow plastic bags, reel in fishing line, and avoid six-pack rings.

5- Prevent pollution. Don't dump motor oil, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals into streets, onto the ground, down storm drains, or anywhere else where they can eventually find their way to the ocean

6- Do your part. Participate in local beach clean-up campaigns.   According to the Federal National Research Council: ·  As many as 8.8 million tons of oil enter the ocean each year as a result of human activity. ·  At any given time, the ocean contains 280,000 tons of tar balls. ·  Each year, as much as 27 million tons of fish are unnecessarily caught-then thrown overboard because they are too small, the wrong species, of inferior quality or simply not needed. ·  The U.S. could lose 10,000 square miles of coastal property due to sea level rise associated with global warming and climate change.
 

 

You can green you flying! It's a small step but it all adds up. Flying isn't exactly healthy or environmentally friendly, but, you can take a few measures to be as green as possible. You as a traveler can make a difference too. 

Here are some green flying tips:

    •    Travel as lightly as possible. It takes more fuel to fly a heavier airplane.  Alaska Airlines found that it could save $10,000 per year in fuel costs by removing just five magazines per aircraft!

    •    Spend the extra money to book a direct flight. It is the taking off and landing that is worst for the environment.

    •    Throw your trash in the provided bags. That’s not only environmentally responsible - it is also polite.

    •    Bring your own snacks. That way, you can go with something organic and avoid excess trash from plastic-wrapped goodies that the airport provides.

    •    Decline the cup. Most airlines give you your bottle or can of beverage along with a cup. Instead, just get the beverage and bring along sanitizing wipes to ensure it's clean.

    •    Fly economy, not business class. Business class seats are responsible for 1.5 times more CO2 because they are bigger and an inefficient use of space. 

If possible, the best tip I have is to choose not to travel. Businesses can use video conferencing, phone, and email to keep in touch, and if you must travel, using train or bus is always the better option. Keep that in mind the next time you book a flight. Try putting a little green in your next trip!
 

 

Sustainable Summer Vacation Tips!  

Did you know that many guidebooks and web resources include environmentally-friendly vacation options? Whether you are planning a trip to a local park or to a jungle far away, keep some basic tips in mind:  

1) Stay on the right path. Get quality, established trail maps from an information center or ranger station before you start trekking.  

2) Try the unknown -- or at least the lesser known. Visiting a less well-known destination will minimize the crowds and your impact on the environment. Check out www.nps.gov for the full list of National Parks.  

3) Leave no trace. Be sure to carry out what you carry in. Even orange peels and apple cores are bad for the environment (and give local critters bad habits) when every tourist leaves one behind.

4) Pick hotels, transportation, and travel agents that are members of the international Ecotourism Society (TIES) or have made green commitments like using natural building products and/or renewable energy.   Remember to do your part by turning off lights, asking if your hotel recycles, and being conscious of water use.   Last note...use public transportation where available.


 

 

Going driving this summer? Summer driving can take its toll on our environment and our health. Ground-level ozone, also called smog, is formed when vehicle emissions mix with sunlight and heat. It can result in lung irritation and breathing difficulty, especially in the summer.Before you leave home, make sure your car is ready for hot weather. That will ensure that your car works safely and efficiently, costs less to drive, and produces less pollution — and that your summer travel doesn’t take a wrong turn! Here are some tips to keep you sailing safely down the summer road:

Check your tires to make sure they can withstand heavy loads and high temperatures. Make sure you have the correct tire pressure in all tires, including the spare. If you’re not sure what’s correct, check the recommendations listed on the side of the driver’s door. Also make sure to check that your tires aren’t overly worn. If so, you should replace them.

Make sure your radiator core is in good shape. If you live in a place where they salt the roads in winter, the salt can cause your radiator to become rusty and leaky, and your car to overheat. Have your radiator inspected and tested. Use antifreeze in your radiator, even in the summer. It contains corrosion inhibitors that will help reduce rusting.

Don’t forget to change the oil. This is especially important in the summer because hot weather requires extra lubrication for the engine. If you will be pulling a trailer, use “severe duty” oil.
 

 

Keeping Your Cool - Keeping your cool during the hot months can use a lot of costly energy. Here are some tips for maintaining a comfortable home — and a lower energy bill:

1- Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They work best at night, when the outside air is cooler than the air inside. Consider getting a programmable thermostat that will let you set the air conditioner to start half an hour before you get home. This allows you to keep the AC turned off when you don't need it.

2- Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances. This is often overlooked!  

3- Plant leafy trees or shrubs that shade air conditioning units but do not block the flow of air. An AC unit operating in the shade can use as much as 10% less electricity than the same unit operating in the sun. Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your AC. A dirty air filter can lead not only to less efficiency, but can shorten the life of a unit.

4- Insulate your attic. A poorly insulated attic or windows that leak can lead to overworking your fans and AC. It's worth the investment!  
 

Just the Fax...

Transmitting documents via fax machine can eliminate the need for extra paper products, such as envelopes, mailing labels and even stamps. Faxing can also save a substantial amount of energy...provided you have the right equipment. To extend the "green" factor of your fax machine even further, follow these suggestions:

Send scans instead of faxes.  
Use your computer to send and receive documents, thereby eliminating the need for hard copy faxes. Buy recycled plain fax paper. 

Besides the usual advantages of buying recycled, such as saving energy, water and forest resources, plain paper costs less than the treated, rolled paper some types of fax machines use.

Look for energy-efficient rated machines. 
Ironically, a fax machine consumes the most energy when it's not being used. To waste less energy, some machines, like those that bear the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label, "power down" when they're not transmitting a document. If you are buying a new fax machine, choose an Energy Star model. You could reduce energy costs by almost 50%. 

 

 

Cleaning a dirty air filter, wrapping your hot water heater in an insulation blanket, properly insulating your walls and windows, and caulking and weather stripping can save a total of 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, according to climatecrisis.net, the web site for "An Inconvenient Truth."

Nudge your thermostat up two degrees in the summer and down two degrees in the winter to withhold another 2,000 pounds of CO2. Buying appliances with the Energy Star certification and installing a programmable thermostat helps too. You get your reward in lower gas and electric bills.

 

 

Every gallon of gas burned emits 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, so make the most of your tank.

Driving aggressively (including braking and accelerating suddenly) wastes gas, and every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon, according to fueleconomy.gov.

Keeping your tires properly inflated reduces fuel use by 3% to 4%, according to Ford Motor Company's Eco-driving tips. Also, filling your gas tank during cooler times of the day gets the most bang for your buck and prevents fumes from heating up and creating ozone, the EPA advises.

 

 

3 Tips To Going Greener!  

Pay Your Bills Online...

For every 38,000 bills paid online, 5,058 pounds of greenhouse gases are avoided and two tons of trees are preserved, according to NACHA -- The Electronic Payments Association, a non-profit. Using direct payment also saves a person about $150 annually in stamp and check costs and late fees, the NACHA estimates.Have your employer pay you through direct deposit if possible to further cut back your paper trail.

 

Nix the Junk Mail...

The Postal Service delivers 17.8 tons of bulk mail each year, 44% of which goes unopened, according to the EPA. Just 22% of bulk mail is recycled. To stop the flow, visit the Direct Marketing Association, the largest supplier of mailing lists for commercial advertising, at dmaconsumers.org, and get put on the "do not mail" list. It costs one dollar, but it'll remove your name from the lists for five years.Also visit optoutprescreen.com, an official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry site, to opt out of receiving credit card and insurance offers. It's free.

 

Rethink Your Laundry...

Washing your clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot saves 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, according to climatecrisis.net. Drying your clothes on a clothesline six months out of the year would save another 700 pounds.

 

 

 The Natural Cleaning Kit...

Have you ever wondered why you use chemicals you can’t pronounce to make your home sparkle and shine? Really, when was the last time you took a look at the label on your favorite blue solution? You probably grew up helping your mother clean the house with Windex and Pine Sol, so of course you never questioned why. But what if I told you there was a different way? A better way? Ultimately it’s up to you, but if you’re looking for a more natural way of cleaning that’s equally effective, consider equipping your cleaning kit with the following agents:

1. Lemons or Lemon Juice

What Can it Clean? Lemon juice is an all around natural cleaning wonder. With it, you can remove lime scale, make windows and mirrors shine, polish copper or brass, clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and remove sweat stains. Why Does it Work? Lemon Juice is one of the strongest food acids, marked by its sour taste. Because the pH is so low, lemon juice can kill most household bacteria, while also leaving your home smelling fresh.

 

2. Baking Soda

What Can it Clean? Baking soda is unrivaled in its wide variety of uses. It not only cleans, it also polishes, deodorizes and softens water. For these reasons you can use baking soda as an agent when cleaning multiple surfaces, jewelry, carpet, ink stains, fish tanks, windows, and window screens. Baking soda also works well as an air freshener, and in your personal care routine. Why Does it Work? Baking soda is a naturally occurring, but often artificially produced, substance that is slightly alkaline. Because of its basic nature, baking soda works well as a water softener and can easily break down proteins. Baking soda also works well as a deodorizer because as a basic compound, it easily neutralizes acidic scent molecules.

 

3. Castile Soap

What Can it Clean? Castile soap might sound fancy, but it’s really not. Liquid, powder, or bars of soap that are unscented are biodegradable and can clean just about anything. Castile soap, however, can be made with just oils, lye, and water, so you can be sure it will get your home clean without leaving any buildup. Why Does it Work? Any surface you want to clean probably has a build up of both dirt and oils. Dirt can simply be wiped away with plain water, but oil is another story. Thanks to some basic chemistry, soap is what makes these oils stick to your damp cloth so they can be easily wiped away.

 

4. Borax or Boric Acid

What Does it Clean? Borax is best known as an alternative to bleach. However, this natural cleaning product also cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, and effectively renews painted and wallpapered walls. Note: While borax has a wide array of uses, and is naturally occurring, it can irritate the skin, and is toxic if ingested. Please keep borax out of reach of children and pets, and make sure to rinse clothes and surfaces before use. Why Does it Work? Borax has many defining properties that make it an excellent cleaning agent. When mixed with water, borax reacts to make a hydrogen peroxide / water solution. It also can act as a chemical buffer when cleaning, so the pH is what it needs to be to make something effectively clean.

 

5. White Vinegar

What Does it Clean? While you actually have the option of using typical yellow vinegar as well, white vinegar cleans without the possibility of staining. White vinegar’s is best used to cut grease, clean wood floors and multiple other surfaces, remove mildew, deodorize, and clean certain stains and wax build-up. Why Does it Work? Vinegar is actually weakly acidic, making it a powerful cleaning agent. The acid in vinegar cuts through grease and germs found on counter tops while also inhibiting bacteria and mold.

 

6. Washing Soda

What Does it Clean? Washing soda is scientifically known as sodium carbonate decahydrate, a naturally occurring mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans walls, tiles, sinks and tubs. How Does it Clean? When it comes to chemical properties, washing soda is a close relative to baking soda, with a slightly lower pH level. As a stronger base, washing soda easily breaks down proteins and neutralizes odors.

 

7. Cornstarch

What Does it Clean? Cornstarch is one of the lesser known natural cleaning agents though it is a very effective ingredient in home solutions. Cornstarch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, be used when ironing, and shampoo carpets and rugs. However, one of it’s most amazing cleaning qualities is its ability to remove grease stains. Not many products can claim to do that!

 

How Does it Clean?

Corn starch is actually derived from corn and is known its fine, silky texture. Since it is a great deodorizer and can get into very small spaces, corn starch is great for cleaning carpets and shining smooth surfaces. Also, as a starch it can be added to water to make a liquid starch solution perfect for ironing.

 

 

Green Business Tips That Won't Cost a Penny!

A business can “go greener” and not spend money doing it. How? Here are some tips...  

1. Switch off the lights. Wherever possible, switch off the light, and make sure your staff knows to do the same. Make use of natural light wherever possible; keep blinds open, make sure windows are clean and try to remove any obstacles that prevent areas from being naturally lit.

2. Turn off electrical equipment when not in use.  A computer on standby still uses electricity, and it all adds up. Switch off monitors, unplug any power packs, chargers etc. and, switch off at the socket if possible or simply unplug.

3. Turn down the thermostat  If you're heating the premises, turn the thermostat down a bit. We've become so used to having tropical temperature workplaces that it’s no wonder the heating bill has gone up. Encourage staff to close drafty windows and doors and wear another layer of clothing if you like being warmer.

4. Open the windows.  Keeping cool is more economical if you simply open the windows. Air conditioning is expensive and uses huge amounts of energy. It's healthier to let fresh air in and allow it to circulate.


5. Change your driving habits.  For companies that use vehicles, it might be time to drive a little more effectively. Hard accelerating and braking wastes gas...so drive smoothly. Cruising saves fuel and you get to your destination less stressed. Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Incorrectly inflated tires reduce gas mileage. Less usage of your vehicle, encouraging car-sharing and walking will also cut your costs.

6. Reduce printing.  Think about your office printing needs. Do you really have to print off every email or document that gets sent to you? Even the first drafts? By keeping documents on your PC you will dramatically cut your paper and ink/toner costs. If you do have to print documents, consider printing on both sides.

7. Save water.  A dripping tap can waste a lot of water each year. Be sure you turn off the taps. If you're on a meter you'll see your water bill reduced. You can cut down on the amount of water in toilet cisterns by placing a water-filled bottle in there or a bag filled with stones.

8. Coffee or tea break.  Use mugs, cups and glasses and small plates in your workplace rather than plastic or Styrofoam. This encourages you to reduce and reuse.

9. Remove individual waste baskets.  Using a centralized bin as part of your plan to reduce and recycle waste encourages staff to think about what they are discarding before just throwing it in a nearby waste basket.

10. Pass it on!  By being a greener business, you can promote sustainability to your customers and your suppliers.  Taking action to become an environmentally aware business is worthwhile to your bottom line and it inspires others!

 

5 Energy Saving Tips 

1. Adjust your water heater. 

If you lower the thermostat on your hot-water heater from about 145 degrees to 120 degrees, the change isn't likely to be noticeable. This step could save you more than $20 a year if you heat water with gas and more than $50 if your water heater is electric. 

2. Do laundry efficiently. 

Horizontal-axis (front-loader) washing machines use far less water and 60 percent less energy than top-loaders. Regardless of the type of machine you own, save energy and money by using cold water instead of warm or hot. Run only full loads when drying clothes, and dry two or more loads in a row to make use of the heat already in the dryer. 

3. Don't drive so fast. 

Driving your vehicle 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve your mileage by about 15 percent and reduce emissions considerably. You'll also get better mileage if you avoid quick starts and sudden braking whenever you can, and if you keep your tires properly inflated to the maximum recommended pressure.

4. Watch that idle time. 

Letting your engine idle for more than 30 seconds will burn more gasoline than restarting the engine, so turn the engine off if you expect a lengthy wait. Instead of idling at a drive-through for several minutes, park the car and go inside.

 

Sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyConsumers Union’s GreenerChoices.org

U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

 

TEN ECO FACTS:

 

Fact 1:  Each year some 1.5 million tons of plastic are used on the bottling of 23 billion gallons of drinking water.

Fact 2: If everyone in America recycled their junk mail, $370 million in landfill dumping fees could be saved each year.

Fact 3: If every household paid just one bill online, it would save almost $2 billion a year in postage costs, enough to pay off the average credit card debt of 250,000 consumers.

Fact 4: About 70 percent of the fresh water used in southern Nevada goes to water lawns and golf courses.

Fact 5: Almost 10 percent of the waste at dump sites consists of telephone books.

Fact 6: If every American who washes a car at home instead went to a professional car wash -- a single time -- more than 8.5 billion gallons of water could be saved, and the country's rivers, lakes and streams could be spared about 12 billion gallons of dirty, soapy water.

Fact 7: If just 10 percent of U.S. households attached shut-off nozzles to their hoses and saved 30 seconds water flow each week, the water saved would fill more than 128,000 bathtubs a day.

Fact 8: One live nighttime concert event can burn as much electricity as 700 households use all year.

Fact 9: A single fast food order of a hamburger, fries and soda takes 1,500 gallons of water to make -- including the water needed to grow potatoes, the grain for the bun, the cattle and everything for the soda.

Fact 10: If tap water replaced bottled water in the U.S., it would save about $8 billion and help prevent 60 million plastic bottles from being discarded each day.

 

Many of our daily activities affect the environment, but few people have stopped to consider the most important: their personal contribution to global warming. The fossil fuels we burn to satisfy our transportation and energy needs generate carbon dioxide (CO2), the heat-trapping gas primarily responsible for climate change!

Several online calculators are available to help you determine your own annual production of CO2, or carbon "footprint." (see related links below) Transportation. Choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle for your needs. If you own more than one vehicle, use the one that gets the worst mileage only when you can fill it with passengers or cargo.

Drive less. Carpooling two days a week can reduce your annual CO2 emissions by 1,590 pounds. Combining errands into one trip can lower emissions even further.

Energy Use. In general, every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity used in your home 20 generates 2.3 pounds of CO2.

Change a bulb. If every American family replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb, CO2 emissions would drop by more than 90 billion pounds-the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

Go digital. Replacing a mechanical thermostat with a digital model allows you to save energy by programming your heat to turn on and off at preset times.

 Look for the Energy Star label. Appliances bearing this label use significantly less electricity than their counterparts.

 Recycle. Reducing waste in landfills reduces emissions of CO2 and methane (another heat-trapping gas).

 Buy local. Food grown on local farms does not have far to travel, minimizing transportation-related emissions.