World Oceans Day

Ironically enough, today is World Oceans Day. Given the BP situation in the Gulf, it seems that we are more aware of the ocean than ever before, but that doesn’t make it a good thing, World Oceans Day was proposed by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Countries celebrated June 8th as World Oceans Day, but it wasn’t until last year when the United Nations finally made it official. Each year, the World Ocean Network, a worldwide organization to promote ocean sustainability, and The Ocean Project, a network of organizations to promote ocean education, … Continue reading →

Facts to Consider on Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! Yes, today is the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day. I’ve written several blogs about this day, but thought one more was in order. Here are a few interesting facts to think about on Earth Day: An acre of tropical forest is lost each second. Americans are among the worst environmental culprits. Although we only make up 5% of the Earth’s population, we use 33% of the paper produced and put out 72% of all hazardous waste. Americans also use 25% of the world’s energy and every two minutes, we use one million gallons of oil. The Environmental … Continue reading →

Earth Day Quotes

Tomorrow is Earth Day. There will be events all over the U.S. and the world to honor this day when we stop and learn more about our planet, our habits, and what we can do to leave less of a footprint on the world we leave to our children. Here are a few quotes about Earth Day that may make you stop for a minute and think about things in a different way: “Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, but loaned to you by your children.” Native American proverb “When one tugs at … Continue reading →

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day is rapidly approaching. It is the 40th anniversary and you may be wondering “What can I do?” This could be an excellent way to kick off the start of living a greener life. Here are a few tips that will help you make a difference on April 22 and every other day of your life: 1. Replace all your old light bulbs with LED or CFL light bulbs. 2. Carry reusable bags to the grocery store rather than using paper or plastic. 3. Buy locally grown produce whenever possible. 4. Lower the thermostat. 5. Turn off lights and … Continue reading →

Alternatives to Plastic Easter Eggs – Part 2

Yesterday, I talked about alternatives for plastic Easter eggs. Like many other things that can be bad for the environment, we have gotten used to the convenience of plastic eggs, but there are great (and fun to make!) alternatives. PETA lists a recipe on their web page for making Clay Easter eggs. All that is needed for this recipe is cornstarch, water, and baking soda. Combine one cup of cornstarch, 1 1/4 cups of cold water, and 2 cups of baking soda and stir in a saucepan over medium heat for 4 minutes. Once the mixture looks like mashed potatoes, … Continue reading →

Alternatives to Plastic Easter Eggs – Part 1

Easter is almost here and that means celebrations, including chocolate, Easter baskets, and plastic Easter eggs. Or does it? Plastic eggs aren’t very green, but they have become a staple of Easter egg hunts. They are cheap and convenient, but we may forget about what they could be doing to the environment. Here are some plastic Easter eggs alternatives that you might want to consider this year: Hard Boiled Eggs It’s like Easter the old fashioned way – pre-plastic eggs! Hard boiled eggs may be a bit more messy and if one is lost in the hunt, it can be … Continue reading →

How to Have a Green New Year’s Party

Ringing in the New Year does not have to mean an excess of waste and environmental impact. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy a great party and be responsible at the same time. Here are some thoughts about how to have a green New Year’s Eve party. Champagne Flutes Whether you opt for real champagne or sparkling cider, avoid the plastic champagne flutes. Not only are they pretty tacky, but they also negatively impact the planet. Real flutes aren’t much more money, especially if you buy them at Overstock.com or Amazon.com in bulk. Plus, you’ll have them … Continue reading →

After Christmas Green Living

The stockings have been hung. The carols have been sung. The Christmas tree has been decorated and admired, and the presents have been opened. What you do with all of it in the days after the holiday can make and impact on the Earth. Here are some tips for after Christmas green living. Non LED Christmas Lights You purchased all new eco-friendly LED lights. But now what do you do with the old ones. Throwing them away is not a good idea. Recycling these lights properly is the way to go. There are two services that will do this for … Continue reading →

Quick Green Living Tips for Christmas

Do you want to know what you can do during the holidays to be more environmentally responsible, but you don’t want to slug through a bunch of explanations on why you should or how you should? Take a look at the following simple green living tips that you can practice this Christmas season. Recycle your gift wrap. Reuse your gift wrap. Make your own gift wrap from cloth bags, newspaper or paper bags. Buy a locally grown Christmas tree. Recycle your cut tree. Buy a living tree that can be replanted. You can also rent a living tree. This is … Continue reading →