Chicks go green...

ewaste

Shopping for a new computer, TV, or cell phone? If so, how will you dispose of your old or obsolete equipment?  Electronic waste, better known as ewaste, is a growing environmental problem and health hazard. Electronics are often composed of plastic, glass, metal, and some very toxic chemicals, including lead, cadmium, and mercury. These components are not biodegradable and if discarded improperly, the toxins can pollute our soil, water, and air. Fortunately, you can prevent further damage to our environment by managing your own personal ewaste. Consider ways to reuse the item by selling it on eBay or donating it to charity. Check into recycling programs that can help recover steel, glass, plastic, and precious metals for other purposes. For more information on ewaste, as well as available programs and services in your local area, visit these resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/donate.htm
http://www.globalwarmingsolutions.org/personal-action/recycle-your-e-waste
http://www.cristina.org/donate.html

Manufacturers, federal, state and local governments, and environmental groups are all working together to manage the ewaste issue. You can help, too!

Green Investing

Money is a great way to green our world! By practicing socially responsible investing, you can support companies that meet your personal standards for social and environmental performance. Before you invest, learn more about  a company’s workplace practices to see if it’s a good fit for you.  Are employees treated fairly and provided with health insurance options? Does the company participate in fair trade agreements? Is the company in compliance with environmental regulations and committed to recycling?  Does the company support the local community?  The answers to these and other questions will help guide you to make good choices. 

These books are great resources to help you get started. Begin green investing and maximize both financial return and positive social impact!

(All books listed are in the Amazon widget to the right, if you are interested in purchasing.)

Socially Responsible Investing : Making a Difference and Making Money (Paperback)
by Amy Domini

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Socially Responsible Investing (Complete Idiot's Guide to) (Paperback)
by Ken Little

The SRI Advantage: Why Socially Responsible Investing Has Outperformed Financially (Hardcover)
by Peter Camejo (Editor)

Compelling Returns: A Practical Guide to Socially Responsible Investing (Hardcover)
by S. J. Budde

Kids Making a Difference!

Who says you need to be an adult to help our environment! Kids of all ages around the world are getting involved in projects to plant trees, clean up litter, and recycle soda cans and clothes. Your kids can make a difference, too. Encourage them to bike, jog, or walk to cut down air pollution, turn off lights, the radio, or TV to save energy, and turn off the tap while brushing their teeth. Make it fun! A weekly bike trip to the local farmer’s market not only supports local food production and improves air quality, but it’s also a great family outing.

 

You, too, can help inspire your kids to take action! For more information and kid-friendly ideas, check out these paperback books—the first book is my 9-year old’s favorite about the environment!

 

(All books listed are in the Amazon widget to the right, if you are interested in purchasing.)

 

Everything Kids' Environment Book: Learn How You Can Help the Environment-by Getting Involved at School, at Home, or at Play (Everything Kids Series
by Sheri Amsel and Christopher J. Maron

 

The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth
by Sophie and John Javna (to be published in September 2008)

 

Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying
by David Bach and Hillary Rosner

 

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth
by The EarthWorks Group

 

Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment
by Linda Schwartz

 

This Is My Planet: The Kids' Guide to Global Warming
by Jan Thornhill

 

Down-to-Earth Guide To Global Warming
by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon

 

Green Olympics

Have you heard? The 2008 Summer Olympics are going green! The city of Beijing will host this year’s games and the city has been working to get in better environmental shape for the athletes and international community who will descend on the city in August. Beijing is among the most polluted cities in the world and the bid for The Olympics has been a major catalyst to improve air and water quality. Efforts include closing or moving factories, converting dirty coal-fired furnaces and boilers to cleaner natural gas, improving wastewater treatment and reuse, as well as the planting of trees. The Olympic Village is green, too.  Buildings and stadiums are powered by clean energy like solar, wind, and geothermal power, to meet lighting and water demands. Beijing is a great example that environmental initiatives work and with continued effort can bring about improvements for everyone to enjoy!

To learn more, visit:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/12/12/greenolympics.shtml
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/15-08/ff_pollution

Let the Games begin!

Green Printing

Did you know that the printing industry is the single largest polluter in the world? Forests and forest habitats are sacrificed to paper production, but there is more environmental damage that is less obvious. Conventional printing processes release toxic chemicals, generate greenhouse gases, and consume large volumes of water. What can we do? Plenty! The next time you have a printing need or need to purchase office or promotional items, consider a green vendor, who shares your mission of sustainability.

Green vendors use recycled materials, non-toxic soy and water-based inks, organic textiles, sustainable fibers, and other natural ingredients. They produce quality products that are cost-effective and meet the highest environmental standards. Give a green vendor a try!   

Here are some of my favorite resources to help you green your next project or purchase:

Sustainable Group (recycled & customized office products) – www.sustainablegroup.net
Print.net Inc. (reasonably priced green printing) – www.printnetinc.com
Co-Op America (great resource for green vendors) – www.coopamerica.org
Rethreads (entirely green promotional products) – www.rethreads.com
GreenerPrinter (good eco-friendly printer) – www.greenerprinter.com

Favorite Green Magazines

There are some really great magazines available and they aren’t sold at your supermarket check-out stand! Green magazines are environmentally-friendly magazines that are chock full of relevant articles, timely tips, and new products to help you green your home and business. Do you have an interest in sustainability issues, energy conservation, recycling, natural home or health care?  You’ve come to the right place—these magazines offer something for everyone!    

Here is a list of some of my favorite magazines for you to check out:

·         *Ode http://www.odemagazine.com

·         The Ecologist http://www.theecologist.org 

·         Green Living http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Magazine/Spring08 

·         The Green Parent http://www.thegreenparent.co.uk

·         Body and Soul http://www.marthastewart.com/wholeliving?rsc=brandtray

·         *Better Homes and Garden (they have gone really green lately) http://www.bhg.com

·         *Natural Home http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com 

·         *Verdant Magazine http://www.verdantmag.com 

·         Living Green Magazine http://www.livinggreenmag.com 

·         Plenty Magazine http://www.plentymag.com    

·         EMagazine http://www.emagazine.com 

*Print and online publication, but full copy of magazine available in print version only.

Planet earth...

Carbon Offsets

You’re living green on a personal level—you conserve, reuse, and recycle. Great! Now maybe it’s time to also consider doing something globally. Carbon offsets are a way that you can offset the carbon emissions produced by your personal energy consumption at home, in your car, and when you travel by plane. When you purchase carbon offsets from a carbon offset provider, the provider in-turn funds projects like renewable energy initiatives (solar, wind, and hydro power), reforestation, fuel substitution, energy conservation, and methane capture, which help to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There are close to 100 carbon offset providers to choose from and if you buy from a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your carbon offset purchase may be tax deductible! Check out the following links for more information on carbon emissions and carbon offset providers:

www.carbonconcierge.com
www.carbonoffsetreview.com/categorylist.html?cat_id=576

You can make an immediate impact on global warming!

Choose to Reuse!

Do you ever feel kind of guilty for throwing away a perfectly good item? Next time, stop for a moment and ask yourself if it could be reused.  By applying a little creativity, we can find new-life purpose for things that would otherwise end up in our waste stream. Here are just a few suggestions that you can try at home and at work:

At home:
-Take unwanted toys and books to hospitals, schools, or play centers
-Save plastic grocery bags for freezing and storing food items
-Use plastic coffee canister lids under plants to protect tabletops
-Transform old towels into dust or cleaning cloths
-Save empty egg cartons for storing jewelry and for organizing paper clips, rubber bands, and other small desk supplies
-Use newspaper instead of petroleum-based Styrofoam to pack items for mailing.  The Sunday comics pages also make a fun gift wrap paper!
-Cut up holiday greeting cards to make decorative gift tags for the next holiday season
-A plastic margarine tub can enjoy new life as a paint can for touch-up painting, a pet dish, a starter pot for seedlings, or a freezer storage container

At work:
-Make memo pads out of waste paper
-Add a new label and reuse file folders
-Use reusable interoffice envelopes
-Refill the toner cartridges for your printer

Challenge yourself to see how many things you can use more than once!