Is your lunch causing global warming?!?! It is possible. Did you know, the food system is responsible for 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions? With every meal you eat, you have the power to reduce climate change.
A relatively new phenomenon is the E-Reader, be it Kindle, iPad, or a number of other new competitors coming into the marketplace. When you think about it, these devices would seem to be more environmentally friendly than your typical paper and cardboard book, even a paperback. Should we be buying our loved ones e-readers or traditional books this holiday season?
Source 44 LLC, the world’s leading provider of Supply Chain Sustainability data services and Product Footprint Data Sheets (PFDS)™, has been selected for membership to The Sustainability Consortium, an independent organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives product sustainability innovation.
It seems that the battle between real and artificial holiday trees is as old as the tree-decorating tradition itself. Artificial trees were invented in the 1930’s by a toiletbowl brush company. That’s right, the first artificial tree was not much more than an oversized, green toiletbowl brush.
If you can’t go a Christmas without gazing at colorful, bright lights on the tree and outside the house, consider buying LED lights. LED lights consume less energy watts per string than regular lights. Admittedly more expensive to buy than regular lights, LEDs will save you money when it comes time to pay the electricity bill…
Sierra Club Green Home has compiled a list of 25 Eco-Gifts for the holidays. From wind powered chargers to tree logs that play iPods. Not only are these ideas and gadgets cool, but they’re a great way to decrease your carbon footprint. SCGH is not endorsing these items as we have not tested or inspected them.
The season for giving is fast approaching, and it’s time to start looking for the perfect gifts for all of the special people in your life. When we know we selected just the right gift for our loved ones, it gives us a warm and fuzzy feeling, right?
Children often put toys in their mouths, and yet many on the shelves today are made with toxic materials. Natural toys, on the other hand, are made from materials that are safe for the child and the environment. They can also be one of a child’s first connections to nature. A wooden rattle in a child’s hand comes from a living tree and feels familiar and nurturing in a way that man-made materials can’t match.
Even the most avid “greenie” can become a little overwhelmed during the holiday season, and perhaps even find that they forget some of their regular eco-friendly habits. Keeping the spirit of sustainability alive all year long – yes, even during the holidays – is really not as difficult as you may think.
White Christmas is a cultural and traditional icon of our society. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, Green Thanksgiving will also become an American standard.
Fuel cells provide an alternative to solar, wind and other types of renewable energy. They can power your home and take you “off grid.” They can also work in concert with solar, wind and other renewable energy sources to power a home or commercial structure. Fuel cells were once considered the technology of the future, but have quickly become a clean energy solution for today.
1BOG, which stands for One Block off the Grid, is a company focused on providing homeowners with group discounts up to 15-20% on solar panels. One Block off the Grid is a metaphor for eliminating one block’s worth of dirty energy usage out of every city per campaign by switching to solar energy.
If you have a programmable thermostat, you can automate your heating and cooling systems to save energy when you’re not at home or asleep. In winter, for example, your house can be a nippy 60ºF while you are at work, and then–while you are still boarding the bus for your commute back home–it can automatically move up to a toasty 68º or 70ºF.
Any company that installs solar electric systems (also known as photovoltaic, or PV, systems) can help you figure out if PV makes sense for your household. But as with any home improvement project, buyer beware. While reputable companies won’t try to talk you into a deal that doesn’t make sense, unscrupulous companies may overpromise on performance, overestimate how big a system you need, or underestimate potential problems at your site.
Cold air can’t hold as much water as warm air. So in many parts of the country, humidity is low in the winter, making the air in the house uncomfortably dry. Low humidity dries out mucous membranes, making you more susceptible to colds. It can make your eyes and skin itch, chap your lips, and irritate your throat and nasal passages. It can cause nosebleeds and aggravate asthma and sinusitis–not to mention the toll it can take on your furniture and musical instruments such as guitars and pianos.
The latest and greatest in green gadgets are those powered by fuel cells. As our need for clean energy grows, technologies including fuel cells have spawned some very intriguing gadgets. Portable fuel cells can be incorporated into items like laptops, cell phones, and sound systems.
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