How To Go Green & Save Money On Eco Friendly Products: June 2010

Thursday

Go Green and Save Money At the Same Time!

If there's one thing that everyone can agree on, it's the fact that saving money is of utmost important. Going green is great because not only does it benefit the environment, but you can save a little green at the same time. Here's how:

1. Turn off the air conditioning. Although it's summer and it gets pretty hot, you can save a tremendous amount of energy by waiting for the real dog days of summer before using the A/C. Unless it's miserably hot, a ceiling fan will do just fine and your energy bill will thank you.

2. Buy generic. Generic brands are more efficient because by definition, they are produced with as little waste as possible. Not to mention, the store brand is usually significantly less expensive than the popular brands so you will see a huge decrease in your usual expenditures.

3. Bring your own lunch to work. Brown bag lunches may not be as glamorous as chicken salad from your favorite restaurant, but spending $5 or more every single day during lunchtime really adds up quickly. Even if you can't completely give up going out to lunch, bringing your own food at least a couple of times a week will make a sizable dent in your spending.

4. Eat what you buy. This one is simple, wasting food is wasting money so stick to buying whatever you or your family can actually finish.

5. Fire the dog walker. Taking your own dog out for a 30 minute walk will not only improve your own health, but it will strengthen the bond between you and your pet while saving you some cash.

Sunday

The Jonas Brothers Encourage Disney to Go Green

Those Jonas Brothers are at it again . . . they're trying to make the world a better place! They were recently interviewed on Radio Disney and their mission was to get the word out to their young fans. They talked about the things they do to save energy and gave some great eco friendly tips and ideas that their fans could use.

For example, Joe Jonas talked about how he and his roommates always try to recycle and turn off any appliances which aren't being used. Kevin also made a great point about leaving things plugged in even when they're turned off. Lots of people leave their laptop charger plugged into the wall even when the laptop isn't being charged. Remember that whenever something is plugged in it is using up energy so either plug everything into a surge protector that can be turned off or just be careful about unplugging whenever you're done using your electronics.

Monday

Does Sunscreen Do More Harm Than Good?

For years and years we've constantly been reminded to apply sunscreen whenever we go outside so we prevent the damage caused by UV exposure. Putting on sunscreen has become so casual that a lot of us either don't use enough or fail to reapply it when necessary. On top of that, more and more UV rays are penetrating Earth's atmosphere as a result of ozone depletion, so adequate sunscreen is becoming more important than ever.

The controversy surrounding the usefulness of sunscreen stems from a recent research study which found that sunscreen caused genetic damage in rats which made them more vulnerable to cancer. Does this mean that sunscreen gives humans cancer, as well? Thankfully, the answer is no. Turns out, the particles which cause genetic harm to rats cannot penetrate human skin so feel free to use sunscreen for cancer PREVENTION. Just be careful with the kind that can be sprayed on because inhaling those chemicals can indeed do harm.

Wednesday

Go Green During the World Cup!

The World Cup is finally here and it's time for soccer fanatics to unite and cheer on their favorite teams. Did you know that this glorious event is also the perfect way to go green and save money? Eco friendly televisions for example are the perfect way to save energy during the World Cup because Energy Star qualified TVs allow you to leave the tube on 24/7 without worrying about how much juice you're burning.

You can also have an eco friendly World Cup by using recycled and biodegradable products to serve food instead of Styrofoam and plastic. Even if you plan to watch the festivities at a friend's house or a bar, you can be more efficient by car pooling to and from the destination.

Sunday

Your Shoes Are Hazardous To Your Health-Leave Them At The Door

Just imagine where you walk with your shoes, toilets, dirty sidewalks, filthy alleyways, dead animal carcasses, human waste etc and when you get home, you walk straight to the kitchen, bedroom bathroom with these deadly toxics on your shoes.

Reduce toxins entering your home by leaving your shoes at the door because it is not only dirty that you will be spreading in your house but deadly toxins.

Be polite ask your visitors to leave there shoes at the foyer and give them house shoes. Purchase extra ones for your guests. Socks are also great because you do not want your visitors walking on your carpet bare feet since sweaty, smelly feet are not sexy.

Keep your floors clean by using safe floor clears- 1-cup white vinegar and 1-gallon hot water

You do not have to rinse just mop and for extra cleaning power add ¼-cup liquid plant-based soap.

Always keep your floors clean especially if you have young children

Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, Free & Clear, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

Life Without Plastic The Ultimate Go Green Strategy

About a year ago, I came up with an idea to get rid of plastic from my life for good, from shopping bags to food storage containers. At first it was really hard since everything is packaged using plastic right from ketchup to bread.

Here are the steps I took and this can help you too get rid of plastics from your life

1. Start shopping using reusable bags
2. Get rid of plastic storage containers from your house instead use glass containers
3. Cook most of your food from scratch and save yourself from food stored in plastic
3. Shop the local farmers market
4. If you cannot find milk in glass bottles switch your milk to glass container when you get home
5. Switch your ketchup, mustard etc to glass bottles

It might not be easy to get rid of plastic at first but as time goes, you will realize the benefits since choosing glass is best for your health and the planet. Remember glass does not release chemicals like plastic.

Another habit I had was microwaving food in plastics. I found that some plastic leach chemicals so I have since switched to tempered glass or ceramic as long as they are microwave, oven safe.

Remember too that those containers marked “microwave safe” plastic containers release a dangerous chemical known as Bisphenol in to your food. If you must use plastic, choose Low-density polyethylene (LBDE) with recycling code # 4 or polypropylene (PP) code #5. Using these types of plastic will save you from toxic chemicals found in plastic.

Microwave -safe food containers you can buy easily are glass containers made by

Anchor Hocking, Frigroverre and Pyrex ceramic by Corning Ware.

Anchor Hocking 10-Piece TrueSeal Storage Set

CorningWare French White 17-Piece Bake and Serve Set

Saturday

Free Yourself From Bottled Water For Good- Go Green

Just think if every one stopped buying bottle water that will equal millions saved plastic from the land fields. So free yourself from the bottled water habit and you will save the planet.

NALGENE Tritan OTG BPA-Free Water Bottle,Slate Blue

Drink tap water by refilling your own reusable bottles and you will benefit in 5 ways:

1. You will save money roughly $400 a year

2. Bottle water uses too much energy than tap water-depending on how far the water must travel to get you

3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by keeping at least 2.5 million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere

4.You will save the nonrenewable fossil fuels used in making plastic

Tap water is good for your health-Remember tap water is by far more regulated in the USA than bottle water. According to the Environmental Working Group tests from 10 of the top brands found bacteria and toxic chemicals.

You can save yourself the agony of buying bottled water by installing filters from Brita, Pur or Zero water.

Brita 35503 Pitcher Replacement Water Filter Cartridges, 3-Pack

PUR CRF-950Z 2-Stage Water Pitcher Replacement Filter, 3-Pack

ZeroWater ZJ-003 Filtration Water Cooler Bottle with Electronic Tester, Filters Included

Find a Safe Bottle For Your Tap Water

Choose reusable drink bottles made from:

1. Tampered glass -baby bottle
2. Stainless-steel beverage bottle
3. Reusable bottles -
-bottles with high-density polyethylene(HDPE #2)
-Low-density polyethylene (LDPE #4)
-Polypropylene (PP#5)
-Tritan coplyester (#7)

Avoid water bottles made from:

-Polycarbonate (PC#7) also known as lexan
-Disposable bottles made from polyethylene (PET or PETE #1)

Summer The Best Time To Walk Or Bike-One Green Solution For You

Spend at least thirty minutes walking or biking and you will cut CO2 emissions plus lose weight.

Increase your walking and drive less, to get your walking regimen off to a good start, treat yourself to some shoes that tread more lightly on the earth.

Here are some brands that are great for you and the earth

Earth shoes: 70% recycled materials in their insoles

Earth Women's Exer-Walk Sneaker,White/Sky Blue Leather,8 M US

Earth Men's Ash Slip On,Sandstone Eclipse,8 M US

Chaco sandals: PVC Free shoes, sandals, flip-flops

Chaco Z/1 Unaweep Sandal - Men's

Adidas SLVR Eco-labeled shoes: Made with hemp, and soon will not contain PVC

adidas Women's Barricade 2 Tennis Shoe,White/Metallic Slvr,6.5 M

adidas Kids' Defiant Running Shoe,Metallic Slvr/Sun,12 M Little Kid

KEDS Green label shoes: PVC-free sneakers made of 100% organic cotton, 20% percent recycled rubber outsoles, recycled insoles, recycled PET bottle laces

Keds Men's Chukka Chambray Fashion Sneaker,Brown,10.5 M US

Birkenstocks: Cork soles are renewable-they take back their footwear and resole for you so they can last forever

Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor Sandal,Dark Brown,39 Regular EU

Brooks: Uses FSC-certified paper for all packaging; soles are biodegrades more quickly in landfills-100% recycled laces.

Timberland Earth keepers-shoes and booths: use natural rubber soles, 30% recycled, and 70 percent recycled linings; uses organic cotton