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I got this great email from Kudzu (a reviewer based website for local companies) on tips to keep cool this summer while not taking a big dip in you Electric AC bill.
1. With a programmable thermostat, you can auto-adjust your air conditioner setting at night or when no one is home. There’s no need to cool the house when you are out enjoying the sun.
2. Move lamps, TVs and anything else that heats up away from your air conditioning thermostat. They may cause the air conditioner to run longer. Since the thermostat only reads the temperature around it, it thinks that the room temperature is hotter than it actually is.
3. Give your south-side some attention. Install awnings on south-facing windows, or apply sun-control or other reflective films. Some solar-friendly homes have overhangs on the room that efficiently shade the house during the hot summer months and also allow the light to strike the house during the winter months.
4. Let your windows wear white. Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
5. Plant smart — trees or shrubs can help shade air conditioning units. Just make sure not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity, thus saving you money.
Want some more tips - keep reading.. Read the rest of this entry »
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When the yellow pages delivered a big stack of new telephone directories to my building, not one resident picked up a copy. Why would they when people use the internet or services like Google SMS (if you’re not sure what this is - keep reading- it’s awesome!)
Here is one thing you can do to help save the earth!
http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/
Register to no longer have paper telephone books be sent to your
house. You know you use the internet to look up phone numbers anyway!
and help SAVE SOME TREES!
Now about Google SMS.. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tomorrow is the big green day - EARTH DAY!!
And I just had a big Earth Day success.. Unfortunetly, my office is a culprit of using the styrofoam cups. However, we (my coworker and I who are the underground Earth Day team in the office) pitched and sold the idea to management to remove the styrofoam cups for one day - Earth Day - and encourage workers to bring their own cups in or use a reusable one the office has in the cupboard. Well - they loved the idea.. So PLEASE feel free to use that idea in your office!
I really hope to just raise awareness..
So our 2 big Earth Day goals for today are:
1) Use a mug for coffee and glass or reusable water bottle for water in the office.
2) Conserve your water usage
Learn how.. Read the rest of this entry »
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Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd.. Are you ready?
Well, okay to most people - this day doesn’t mean much.. but what can you do for Earth Day this year.. Let me give you ideas all week in Celebration of Planet Earth!
** Plant a tree and spend some time outdoors ***
Read the rest of this entry »
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So I knew that having a plant in your house is a good idea.. but I didn’t realize it was a GREAT idea..
An article by Nicholas Harter entitled Use Plants to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality discusses a NASA study and the top 10 plants and what each can do in your home.. I have some highlights below but you can read the whole article here.
Read the rest of this entry »
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I’m not a big news watcher - it usually just brings me down. However, there are sometimes when news is pretty imperitive to your life such as say a peanut butter salmonella outbreak.
I heard on the radio that there have been 8 reported deaths, over 100 hospitalized, and over 400 sick from this outbreak.
For a full list of products potentially affected by the outbreak and on the recall list visit the FDA website.
Want to know more about this awful incident? Read on.. Read the rest of this entry »
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I think we’d all be on board for eating organic food if it was more available for all food products AND it didn’t cost more.
But until that day comes, should you really be trying to eat more organic, spending that extra money??
From a March 2007 article in TIME magazine, author John Cloud states -
Nearly a quarter of American shoppers now buy organic products once a week, up from 17% in 2000. But for food purists, “local” is the new “organic,” the new ideal that promises healthier bodies and a healthier planet.
Want to know which foods are most important to buy organic? Read the rest of this entry »
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Between now and February 28th - Delta is giving away 1,000
miles to the first 10,000 SkyMiles members who donate $50 or more
to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund while booking a flight at delta.com.
The Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters - and the Red Cross needs resources now more than ever.
To donate and earn miles, choose your itinerary at delta.com, click on “Trip Activities” and select your donation amount. Then confirm your trip summary and finish your delta.com purchase. Be sure to provide your SkyMiles number during booking to ensure your miles are received.
Disasters change lives - you can too. Give back today.
Want to know more about the Red Cross organiztion? Read the rest of this entry »
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Well what better day than Inauguration Day to talk about how our new President feels about environmental issues..
In his inauguration speech this afternoon he mentioned:
* Not depending on energy sources that make our enemies stronger
* Utilizing natural energy sources like solar energy
Here are more specific issues he says he supports… Read the rest of this entry »
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Shower versus Bath
An average bath requires 30-50 gallons of water. The average shower of four minutes with an old shower head (pre 1992) uses 20 gallons of water. With a low-flow shower head, only 10 gallons of water is used.
Dishwasher versus Handwashing
A dishwasher uses only half the energy and one-sixth of the water, less soap too. Even the most sparing and careful washers could not beat the modern dishwasher. Also a dishwasher can get those dishes alot more clean!
Want some more fun facts? Read the rest of this entry »
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This is a tough subject if your offices uses styrofoam, completely horrible for the environment cups and you feel helpless in making it change. I understand your grief.
Getting your coworkers to stop using styrofoam cups and bring in a coffee mug from home to use is like telling a smoker to quit smoking. No one’s going to change his or her habit until it becomes import then himself / herself. All I can really say is to change yourself and set a good example.
But while we’re talking about, here’s why using styrofoam cups is just so bad… Read the rest of this entry »
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So everywhere keeps telling you to start a compost pile to help lead an environmental life, but how do you start a compost pile??
Want to know - read on… Read the rest of this entry »
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Ok, So I’ll be the first to say that bike riding as a means of transportation scares me. I don’t want to get hit by a car. However, I really think there are some huge benefits to bike riding:
1. It’s good excercise
2. Save on gas
3. Enjoy nature
Here are some tips to get started riding a bike again… Read the rest of this entry »
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Hello environmentalist friend or those random online visitors who don’t recycle…
Lets make these easy resolutions in 2009 that will help our world:
1. Put a recycling bin in our kitchen
2. Start a compost pile
3. Only buy compact fluorescent light bulbs - Interesting fact: My brother told me they only sell this type in NYC now. The rest of the US is about 2+ years behing NYC, start the trend earlier
4. Buy and use a re-usable grocery bag when going to the grocery store. Helpful Hint: Put that bag back in your trunk when you’re done using it. Otherwise, you’ll forget it everytime you go to the store. 
5. Re-use plastic bags. Helpful hint: Take your lunch to work in it, use it as a trashbag, etc
Want some more ideas or help on keeping a New Year’s resolution? Read the rest of this entry »
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In order to simplify my own life I have scaled down some more and that includes leaving this blog. I started a personal blog for fun called Simple Living Revolution and we’ll see where that goes.
I have a couple other writing gigs that are enough for me right now. I’ll miss it here but am also excited about focusing on other things. I’m into simple and frugal living but that doesn’t mean I’m into being broke.
I’ll miss you all but sure I’ll bump into some of you on our mutual quest to learn how to go greener. Whoever takes over here will probably do well, and I would rather leave now than stay and do a half assed job.
