We CAN Be Green

Green Quick: Reduce Waste by Eating Neater?

Going Green: Reduce Waste: Use One Less Napkin

There are a lot of little things that we tend to not think about that can make a big environmental impact. For example, think about how many unused napkins we all throw away.  It's like we are pre-programmed to grab a huge stack of napkins when we know we will only use one or two.  Did you know that each American consumes an average of 2,200 standard two-ply napkins per year, or the equivalent of just over 6 of these napkins per day?  If everyone in the United States used an average of one fewer napkin per day, more than a billion pounds of napkins could be saved from landfills each year. The Green Book - Elizabeth Rogers & Thomas Kostige

So what do you do with all those extra napkins?

Here's to Going Green!

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Going Green: Don't Throw That Away!

Green Tip: Hold a Family Swap Party

In these tough economic times, families are looking for ways to save money while still getting the things that they need. One way to do this is to develop a trading system like a family swap party. In case you don’t know what a swap party is, it’s a family get together where you trade items with other members of your family.

You might have things that you don’t use that someone else in your family might need. Before you add those items to the garbage, see if someone else in your family can possibly (re)use it.

A family swap helps to meet the needs of everyone and keeps many items from going to the landfill. You’ll want to get your extended family involved so be sure you let your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts & uncles. cousins and even your friends know about it. To make it easy, come up with a system that your family can use to post their items that they want to trade.

One idea is to use a free blog.  Each household will list what they have to swap and include pictures if they can. The blog can even be made private so just your family is able to gain access. If you see an item you want, offer something of yours in trade. 

Then, once every couple of months, you can gather at someone’s house and each family member can barter for something they may need or want.

Family swap parties can be fun for everyone. Kids can swap their toys and learn some good habits early on. And others can avoid buying baby clothes and other apparel.

While maybe a little unconventional, family swap parties are a great way for the entire family to save some money while preventing more garbage from going to the landfill.

Have you ever participated in a family swap party?  Have any tips to share?

Here's to Going Green!

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Green News: Stop the killing & hazing of wild buffalo

I just received the following email from the NRDC about senseless killing and hazing of wild buffalo. Take action now at this link:  http://www.savebiogems.org/takeaction/ and scroll towards the bottom.

Dear Jason,

I am sorry to report that government agencies continued their annual hazing and slaughter of Yellowstone National Park’s buffalo this spring.

Call on the Obama Administration to start defending Yellowstone's wild buffalo.

The Yellowstone herd is now down to only 3,000 animals -- the only continuously wild and free-roaming herd left in America. Each spring some of these buffalo leave snow-covered Yellowstone in search of food at lower elevations or to give birth.

This past April and May, they were met with cruel hazing operations aimed at stopping the buffalo from migrating to their spring feeding and birthing grounds.

Government agents used helicopters, ATVs and horses to force hundreds of buffalo back into Yellowstone. Videotape taken by the Buffalo Field Campaign documented the senseless hazing of a newborn buffalo calf with a broken leg. Buffalo were even hazed inside the Park!

Then, in June, four buffalo were killed. Three of them were sent to a slaughterhouse.

Enough is enough! Please send a message right away to President Obama's new Chief of the Forest Service -- one of the key agencies behind the hazing.

Tell him to start protecting Yellowstone's wild buffalo instead of allowing them to be hazed and killed on Forest Service lands.

And call on Chief Thomas Tidwell to designate suitable Forest Service land outside the Park as year-round buffalo habitat, where they can be safe from being hazed or killed.

The government claims that confining wild buffalo to the Park is necessary to stop the spread of brucellosis to domestic cattle in Montana. But there has never been a documented case of transmission of brucellosis from buffalo to cattle in the wild.

The government even hazed buffalo off their birthing grounds on the Horse Butte peninsula in Montana -- even though Horse Butte is cattle-free year round!

The time has come to end these inhumane policies that have produced years and years of needless suffering, slaughter and unnatural confinement of buffalo to Yellowstone.

Yellowstone's buffalo are an iconic symbol of wild America.

Tell the new Chief of the Forest Service to let the buffalo roam free outside Yellowstone once again!

Sincerely,
 
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

Going Green: Alternative Energy: Cost Of Solar Energy

Going Green: How Much Does Solar Power Cost?

The Cost of Solar Power

Solar power can save you money. What was once a fad has taken off in a big way as government scientists look for ways to break our dependence on fossil fuels. Now that you understand solar power, can you afford it?

Solar energy will pay for itself once you have set up the system but the problem is the initial cost to the consumer to get the system going. For a business, these costs can be handled because there is usually more capital available. For a homeowner, it is not as simple especially in the current housing market where home equity isn't available to draw from.

The first step is to determine how much solar energy you will need to power your home. This depends on your current and historical energy consumption. With solar power, many families learn how to live on less to gain the most cost savings not to mention the potential to "sell" back the excess power to their local utility.

Some want to eliminate their energy bill altogether. That requires more solar panels than someone who wants to subsidize their energy bill with a residential solar power system. Professional solar kits can run you anywhere from $20,000 to over $70,000. This includes the equipment, the cost of having the site inspected and hiring someone to prepare the land for the panels if mounted in the yard or having someone mount them on your home’s roof. You will also need the services of an electrician to wire the components into your home electrical system - even if you are on a grid intertied system (uses a battery to store solar electricity until needed). The cost can be higher than stated above for larger homes or estates.

The federal and state governments are offering incentives to those who are committed to saving energy and reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. Government tax incentives and grants can be used to defray a portion of the overall cost. A knowledgeable solar installer should be able to provide you with the most current incentives.

For those who are ambitious and like DIY projects, you can create your own residential solar power system. Choose a DIY kit that gives you all the information and blueprints for the system. They may even suggest where you can find the component parts for a lower cost such as on eBay or at your local hardware store.

The key to success with a DIY system is planning, planning and more planning. If you are not committed to the task it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. But, it does keep you from paying such a high price upfront for the benefits of residential solar power.

Only you can decide if you can afford the cost of a residential solar power system. Think about reducing your energy consumption and other fuel costs to save money towards your new system.

Here's to Going Green!

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Green News: NY Times declares incandescent bulbs make a comeback

From the NY Times, Incandescent Bulbs Return to the Cutting Edge

It is great to see a federal mandate actually bring about innovation. More efficient lighting is the low hanging fruit in the battle to get the masses to reduce their consumption.

More efficient incandescents are great to help convert those that are unwilling to go to CFLs, although not reducing their energy consumption by as much. Getting someone to step 1 is always the hardest and I hope this innovation makes it easier for people to take their first step toward a more green lifestyle.

Here’s to going green!

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Green Quick Tip: Waste Reduction: Use Refillable Soap Dispensers

Going Green: Cut Down On Plastic Waste

To help reduce the amount of plastic going to the landfills, you should try to purchase soap in bulk and refill your hand soap dispensers, instead of buying a new soap dispenser when you're empty. Did you know that the dispenser pumps are not recyclable? They end up in a landfill, even if you recycle the rest of the soap dispenser.

This concept also applies to cleaning products that come in spray bottles. Buying in bulk not only reduces waste, it will save you money.

Here's to Going Green!

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Going Green: A Letter From Al Gore: Declare Your Energy Independence

Dear Jason,

This Independence Day, we have a lot to celebrate -- including a major victory for our planet.

The historic vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act in the House of Representatives last Friday moves this bill to the Senate. Now, we must continue to build momentum and work for its passage.

Just as our founders struggled to achieve our nation's independence, we must encourage our leaders to stand up to the entrenched special interests in another struggle of great historical importance -- the fight for our energy independence.

Tell Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell that you support bold action on clean energy legislation. This July 4th, declare your energy independence and demand that they work to do the same in the Senate.

Declare your energy independence to Senators Reid and McConnell.

Today, our nation lives under the oppressive thumb of foreign oil, dirty energy and a climate crisis that could change life as we know it.

We are held hostage to volatile gas prices, as Americans send hundreds of billions of dollars overseas each year. This dependence on foreign oil leaves our nation vulnerable to unstable and hostile regimes, burdening our military and their families.

And our reliance on dirty energy continues to cost us -- average annual household energy spending increased approximately $1,000 between 2001 and 2007.

It doesn't have to be this way, and clean energy is the path we need. Add your voice and declare your energy independence now:

http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/declaration

Repowering America with clean energy can revitalize our economy by creating millions of clean energy jobs, stabilizing energy costs, strengthening our national security and addressing the climate crisis.

Show our Senate leaders that we mean business: stand together with us and demonstrate your support for change. 

Our founders fought to live in a free nation -- and they succeeded. The clean, prosperous and energy independent America we seek now and for future generations is closer than ever, but this legislation must succeed in the Senate.

That's why I'm asking you to declare your energy independence to Senators Reid and McConnell today:

http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/declaration

Thanks for all you do,

Al Gore

Green Tips: Composting: Composting Basics

Going Green: Composting 101

What's the secret to having beautiful, vibrant flower gardens or large, scrumptious looking vegetables?  In a word, compost. If you use compost, your soil has a richer composition that is better for your vegetables and flowers. This healthy and sturdy soil produces the gorgeous flowers and mouth-watering vegetables we all wish we could have in our own gardens. Guess what? It just takes a little know-how about composting and you can have one of those gardens that everyone talks about.

Composting is not hard and the entire family can get in on the act. If you have a family garden, composting will be quite helpful to you. Let’s discuss the benefits of composting as well as how to create a compost pile that can enrich your soil naturally.

Composting is healthy for the environment as it reduces the amount of trash in the landfill. We throw away a lot of food which is the majority landfill waste. Using those food scraps in compost gives precious nutrients back to the soil instead of to the garbage.

Basically, composting is the process of using plant matter and other materials to enrich the soil. You let the items decompose and blend them in with the soil as nourishment for whatever you are growing. You can also use compost as mulch in flower gardens instead of wood chips or pine needles.

Getting started with your own compost pile is not difficult.  First, find a place to compost in your yard that will get plenty of sun as well as rain. You can buy a compost bin or make your own compost pile (bins are more neighbor friendly).

Once you’ve chosen your location and storage unit (or none at all), it’s time to begin filling it. Composting problems occur when the wrong things are added to the compost pile. That’s why it’s important to know what you can safely and effectively add.

So what do you include in your compost pile?  There are two types of compost materials that fill two needs of the compost pile. First, there are the wood (brown) products. Those include wood chip, straw and leaves. You can also throw those pesky weeds on the compost pile as well. These materials add pockets of space to the compost pile so air can reach everything that goes into it.

Secondly, you have the food material and grasses (greens). Grass clippings, fruit rinds, vegetable waste, and even coffee grounds make great compost. Compost needs to be moist for the bacteria to survive and digest properly. This type of material is what provides the moisture.

As long as your compost pile has air and a moderate amount of moisture, the bacteria, along with insects and worms will do their job. When these two things are absent, you get the yucky foul smell of garbage. Ever wonder why food sent to the garbage doesn’t just decompose? It’s because it doesn’t get air in the garbage pile. So be sure to turn the compost pile over every day with a rake or hoe so all the material gets air.

Compost is ready when the ingredients are not recognizable anymore. It usually takes on a dark brown color once it’s ready.

Use your leftovers and lawn trimmings to grow a beautiful lawn, flowers or vegetable garden by creating a compost pile. You can start anytime. Why not today?

Do you have any composting tips to share?

Here's to Going Green!

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Green Quick Tip: Research Beach Water Quality

Going Green: Enjoy the Beach Safely

It's summer time and nothing says summer like going to the beach. However, did you know that the quality of beach water varies greatly from state to state and even within the same state?  Before you make your plans, head over to the EPA's site to find individual state contacts and websites.

Here's to Going Green!

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Going Green: Alternative Energy: Residential Solar Energy

Going Green: How Does Solar Power Work?

Solar power is energy from the sun. You feel it every day when you walk outside during the day. The sun provides heat and light for the earth. But, what is going on when people decide to use solar power for their homes?

Solar Energy Basics

It all starts with the sun’s rays which bombard the earth with solar radiation (UVA and UVB). Much of those rays are then reflected back into space but there is enough of that energy that is absorbed by the earth to fuel homes all across the planet.

You’ve probably seen solar panels on rooftops and in yards as they have gotten a bit more streamlined since they first came out. Until recently, only the well off could afford residential solar power but the systems are more affordable and commonly used now.

Each solar panel is composed of photovoltaic cells. These cells are usually made of silicon or other semi-conductive material. The cells are arranged uniformly with a positive and a negative end to create the solar panel device. When the light hits the panels (usually placed on the south side of the roof or the lawn), it is absorbed into the solar cells.

The light energy (photons) hits the solar cells and electrons are knocked loose. These loose electrons move through the array and create the electricity you need to power your home. At this point, the electricity that is produced is DC, or direct current. Your home uses AC or alternating current so the energy has to be converted.

This is where the rest of the system takes over. The electricity that is produced by the solar PV (photovoltaic) array, is then passed to a DC disconnect device. This device interrupts the flow of electricity from the array. From there, you can use one of two methods for funneling the electricity into your home. If you use a residential solar power system that is directly connected to your electrical system, the electricity will then pass through an inverter to change the DC to AC. If you are using a system that uses a battery to store solar electricity for later use, solar electricity is sent to a battery bank where it is stored until needed. When you are ready to use the electricity, it then passes through an inverter for use by AC outlets in your home.

Have anything else to add? Do you use solar power? What have your experiences been?

Here's to Going Green!

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Green Quick Tip: Reduce Waste: Recycling Electronics

Going Green: eCycle

eCycle by taking your old computer, DVD player, iPod, or other electronics to a recyling center. In addition, many computer manufacturers offer free recycling of your old computer when you purchase a new one from them.  By recycling your electronics, you will help keep hazardous substances out of landfills.

Here's to Going Green!

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