Monday, December 31, 2012

Ladies, Consider Downsizing


Ladies, I know that it can be nice to have a whole pocket book of luxuries at our fingertips, but consider downsizing. Many purses are made of leather and metals, and probably use a lot of resources to make (especially if you have several!). Most days I find that all I need are my license, money, phone, keys, and chapstick. When it comes down to it, that's really not that much. I recently bought this coin pouch that is no larger than a debit card, and it fits my needs perfectly. Better yet, it is made out of recycled plastic! So, how do I manage? It helps that it is winter and so I am always wearing a coat with pockets. My money and license fit perfectly in the pouch, and then I just use my pockets for my phone, keys, and chapstick. In the summer this might need some adjusting, but we'll see. It works for now and if I can make it a habit then it will also save some resources.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Reuse tea bags


It is common to use a tea bag once to make a cup of tea and then immediately throw it away. But what if once you finish that cup you realize that you want another? You can reuse the tea bag. Yes, reuse it! You're tea won't be any weaker or less delicious, I promise. Save yourself from having to open up a whole new package. Simply steep that same bag in hot water again, and voila! 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

95% Savings

You are always told to recycle, and I am sure that you know to recycle aluminum cans, but have you ever been told why? Recycling aluminum cans actually uses 95% less energy than making a new can from bauxite ore requires. I knew that recycling saved energy, but I never realized how huge the energy saving was! 95%! And by recycling we are also avoiding needing to mine and strip the earth of natural resources. Mining is a hugely disruptive and polluting action of natural environments and ecosystems. So, hopefully recycling cans has a new meaning for you now.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Floor Heaters Need Space


It is important to remember not to crowd floor heaters. If you place your furniture right up against the heater then the heat will be blocked from spreading into the room. This will lead to inefficiency and will probably cause you to turn the heat up higher and longer than you would need to otherwise. If it is unavoidable that you put furniture in front of a heater, be sure to leave space (maybe 6 inches minimum) between the wall and the furniture. You need to allow it to actually do its job, and that job is increasingly important during these chilly months.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Cantle Piece (Can-Mantle)

If you have a mantle or shelf where you place all of your fancy knick knacks and decorations, here is a new idea: decorate with fancy cans and bottles. It is not the most elegant of decorations, but who cares. Some labels can be really flashy with bright colors or cool designs. And, if they don't really have anything special to them then you can decorate them yourself and turn them into a nice piece of art. Do whatever you have to do to keep your items from being waste. Maybe having a few cans around will remind you that waste can't really go "away". It is going to stay with us for the rest of our lives, so we might as well enjoy it if we can.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Wrapping with Newspaper


It may be a little late for a Christmas post, but for the future: wrap presents in newspaper. It achieves the same goal as wrapping paper but it is reusing something old rather than using something new. Also, newspaper is not glossy or anything so it is probably easier to recycle or biodegrade. You'd think that the paper would be boring or ugly but I actually got kind of excited about what was on the paper. If nothing else, your gifts will be unique.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Coffee & Plates


If you frequent Starbucks or any other coffee shop a lot I am sure that you've gotten something to eat there while you study or work. Usually it is given to you in a paper bag. But, if you're staying in the store then you really don't need the bag. I was in Starbucks the other day and ordered banana bread. I was working at a table that was just a few feet from the counter, so the bread was literally in the bag for no more than a minute before I took it out. The bag was really not used. Instead, ask for your order "for here" or "on a plate"... whatever it takes. They should give you a ceramic, reusable plate that will serve its purpose much better than the bag. Unfortunately, despite my request, I still received this bag. I assume there was just a miscommunication, because I have seen it done before. Keep trying!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Tape

Here is a product to keep an eye out for at the grocery store or office supply store: greener tape. I like the title, because it is "greenER" not "green". I am not sure that they meant it that way, but anyhow...the tape is made of 75% recycled OR plant-based materials. I am not really sure what the "or" means and this product might not be quite as exciting as it initially looks: but it is something! They are on the right track. Greenish tape is better than ordinary tape.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Homemade bottle


Now it might be a little late to make any Christmas presents like this, but here is an idea for the future!  My uncle made this decorative bottle out of an old wine bottle that he found at my grandmother's house and a string of battery operated lights.  He drilled a hole through the side with a drill bit so that the battery pack could rest outside of the bottle. I'm sure if you looked you might find some kind of lighted bottle, but none as special as this. Reused and homemade is just better! Better for the environment and better as a thoughtful gift. Old or new, pretty bottles can always be used for all sorts of crafty things.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Recycle Your Chapstick


Have you ever thought about recycling your chapstick once you were done with it? I never have, until I saw this picture on the side of a Burt's Bees chapstick. Now I couldn't tell you the last time that I actually finished a chapstick because it does take a while. But the next time that you do, recycle it! This chapstick says it is made with #5 plastic so make sure that your town takes #5 plastic first. If it does, great! If it doesn't, take it to a Gimme 5 box.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Wrapping Ingenuity

In my last post I mentioned saving wrapping paper strips for things like bookmarks. Well here is an even better idea! If you're wrapping things in tissue paper, attaching stickers, tape and bows to them is pretty much death. The paper rips too easily if you try to remove those things. Here is a solution! Secure the tissue paper around the present using solely ribbon. This does the same job as tape, without the permanent impact! Then loop a strip of used wrapping paper around the ribbon, and use that as a tag (to: _, from:_). 
The strip is used and the paper is saved! This is a win win wrapping design. Have fun!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Wrapping Strips

If you're finding old wrapping paper scraps to reuse from last year but there's some rips and tears in them: just work around them! You can trim the edges off and it should still fit your gift. Then, instead of throwing all of those strips out find a use for them! Book marks and scrap paper are always my default. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Recycled Purses


This coin pouch is made entirely out of recycled juice boxes, and you'd never know! It might not sound nice, but it still looks nice. If you have a weakness for purses, look into one of these. It might spruce up your collection, or make a great gift! Usually with these kinds of items, the profits also go to nonprofit organizations. This pouch benefits the KILUS Foundation.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Plain Is The New


When you are wrapping presents this holiday season, don't go for extravagant. I found this old plain paper that would otherwise go unused, and wrapped a present with it. It may not look the most exciting, but it does the same job and will feel the same when my friend opens it. I could add a bow or a ribbon maybe, or I could even draw on it and decorate it myself, but I was satisfied with plain. Because it is what's inside that counts the most, right?

Monday, December 17, 2012

Newspaper Pencils


Next time you're in search of something to write with, don't settle for ordinary pencils. Look for recycled newspaper pencils! They use our garbage and turn it into something useful! They come with cool writing designs as well.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Happy Birthday!


Happy Birthday! But wait, those candles are still good! You only lit them for 30 seconds!
When you light candles for a birthday cake, or any other purpose, blow them out, cool them down, and stash them away for next time. Candles don't have to be one time use. Their still good, I promise! So keep them around, don't throw them out yet!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Clothes box

Consider wrapping your presents in clothing boxes. These boxes often have cute designs on them already, so no extra paper is necessary. They also do not rip as easily as paper might so they can be reused for longer. There is not really an excuse to throw them out, and they don't produce that much waste! And don't worry, just because they're called clothing boxes doesn't mean that you have to put clothing in them. If you have something that would not fit in this shape, there are plenty of other boxes out there that are different shapes but have the same idea.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Peanut Disaster

We don't always have control over how boxes are shipped to us, but if you have any control over it: avoid this! This is an unnecessary packing peanuts disaster. Little bits of styrofoam that get all over the place and don't biodegrade sounds like a nightmare. This box contained an empty photo album which would have been fine without any peanut padding.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thrifty!


Look at what I found at a thrift store! A perfect little dog sweater! 
This season consider looking for gifts and clothing at a secondhand store. You might think it sounds gross or creepy to get something used, but I promise that it is not that bad! It might be a hit or miss kind of way to shop, but it is fun to get something a little worn in and off beat. I think that this kind of store is great because it is making do with stuff that we already have, rather than creating new stuff. 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Contain The Excitement


When you open your gifts try to save the paper. I know you might be excited, but try not to rip the paper! Contain yourself! Opening the package just a little bit more carefully goes a long way. This way, you can reuse the paper next year and generate less trash. If not, at least the bows are easier to save! Rip them off of the paper if you must, but keep them somewhere safe (anywhere but the trashcan or the yard!). 
And hey, opening the packages more delicately might make your special day last longer too!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Useful Scraps


If you find yourself trying to wrap a particularly large package that is just too big for the wrapping paper roll...give up! Instead, use odd ends and scraps of paper (that you've saved from previous years of course) to cover the package. If you have a little patience it will be a good use for all of those pieces you may not have been able to use otherwise. The gift will certainly look unique too!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Give The Gift of Food

If you're not sure what to give for Christmas this year, make it! Food will always be a good gift because everyone loves to eat! You can be sure that your present will not end up in a landfill or in the ocean. And your recipient will probably reuse the container that you put it in as well.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Reclaimed Edgings Are Hot


If you buy firewood, consider getting something like this: reclaimed edgings from local wood mills. It takes scraps and uses them rather than throwing them away, and it prevents new trees from being cut down. Make use with what you have, I like to say! As the tag says, Save our forests! 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Terracycle For Christmas

 
Are you stumped on what to get your friends and family this Holiday Season? Do you want to avoid being "trashy" but don't know how best to do that? Consider getting gifts from Terracycle.com. Terracycle is a company that takes trash and turns it into usable, practical items. Then in turn, anyone can buy those "upcycled" items and enjoy. Trash is removed from a landfill and someone gets a really cool gift. Yay!

Friday, December 7, 2012

A Foot of Innovation

Let's admit it, I am short. And the desk that I use is kind of high. Therefore, my feet do not touch the ground when I sit at my desk. I was going to ask for one of those footrest things for underneath desks for Christmas, but then I realized that I didn't really need one. All I needed was an object that my feet would reach. For example - an old 1-800 pet meds box. Perfect! Most of us already have too much stuff, so don't add to the clutter unless you need to. Find solutions to your problems by finding uses for things that you already have. 
P.S. The box works great, and it was free (plus shipping and handling), and it is reusable once I am done with it.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Seriously...Get an Energy Audit!!!


So a couple months back I suggested getting an energy audit done on your home. Well this weekend I finally had one done on my own home. We recieved $800 worth of free CFL lightbulbs and discovered that our walls had no insulation. The CFL's will save my family about $700 per year, so even if we had bought them on our own they would have paid for themselves within a year. Getting insulation will save on heating as well. Wowza! So really...Get an energy audit!!! It is free of charge (because you are already forced to pay for it in your taxes) and you receive boatloads of free stuff that save you even more money. (And all of those money savings also translate into huge energy savings which translate into environmental savings.) Other than the fact that it was at 8:00 am it was totally painless. So I am telling you, take advantage of your home energy audit!

*pictured above are all of the light-bulbs that got removed and replaced with CFL's...that's 8 boxes full!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Bamboo Birdhouse


I know that I have posted about birds before. When we cut down trees and forests we take away bird habitats, so it is important that we put out houses and feeders to help them out. But additionally, check out this cool thing! It is a birdhouse made entirely out of bamboo! Bamboo is incredibly renewable...it grows up to 2 feet per day! This house is made by Duncraft (in case you were interested) and is said to decompose after 4-5 years of use in about a year. So to recap: it is made from renewable resources and does not make any trash when you are done with it. Let the bird-mating begin!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

All I Want for Christmas is Some Nice Clean Air

UPS offers emission free shipping when you want to send a package with them. Depending on what kind of shipping you require it is only $0.05 to about $0.75 I believe. Your extra cents will go to things such as reforestation, landfill gas destruction, wastewater treatment, and methane destruction. These types of services help to offset the carbon output from the trucks, planes etc. that UPS uses to ship. Since shipping uses so much fuel and energy it is great that they are trying to offset their impact. So, while you are shipping all of your boxes this holiday season think of adding a few extra cents to your bill for Mother Nature and cleaner air. Because I know that all I want for Christmas is some nice clean air!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Therostats Need Sleep Too


Running your thermostat as little as possible is best. We all know not to set it too high, and to get a programmable one so that it is only on when we are home.However, what about at night? Have you ever thought of that? Obviously we don't want to freeze at night and wake up to an icy house. However, there is no need to set it to the normal 68 degrees or whatever your normal is. If you're unconscious, bundled up under layers of blankets I do not think that your body will mind if the heat is down to 60 degrees or whatnot. Just set it to turn down around the time that you usually go to bed and then to turn back up about 30 minutes before you usually get up.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Clipping Your Nails Outside


Now I am sure that nail clippings are never an issue when it comes to trash dumps and pollution...but they are all natural and don't really neeeed to be thrown in the garbage. Instead, choose to clip your nails outside. In the summer it is nice to catch a little sun and not worry about getting the clippings all over the floor or the table. In the winter when it is colder this may not be so nice, but maybe a little outdoors might still be nice. If not, chuck 'em out the window when you're done!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

BuyGreen.com Surprise!


I recently ordered from buygreen.com. It is website full of useful, environmentally friendly things! When I first opened the package I realized that it was unusual, and was confused as to why the box said Duracell on it. Then I realized, duh! They reused packaging to ship me my order! How appropriate. I love this so much. They even put a sticker on the side about shamelessly reusing packaging. So, if you're looking for some joy this season, order something from buygreen.com! Who knows what kind of box it will come in!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Itty Bitty Button Bags

You know those button bags that always come with sweaters, but you never seem to use the button? Don't throw those bags away! They are the perfect size for bagging and gifting earrings (or rings...etc). You can put the button safely away in a sewing box where it will not need its bag. Now the earrings can be safe too! So if you bought a lot of sweaters for yourself on Black Friday/Cyber Monday, now you have an idea for others for Christmas too!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Seatbelts First


  
When we get into our cars, the first thing that many of us do is turn the car on. Then we scramble around for gloves, put on our sunglasses,  look for directions...we do whatever. Instead, we should make sure to do those things first and then turn the car on. It's only a matter of a few seconds or minutes, but we really want our cars to be running for as little time as possible. So, when I get into the car the first thing that I always do is put on my seat belt. Then I turn the car on. That way I can just go and I minimize how much I idle.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Xmas Light Timer

 If you have lights up, either indoor or outdoor, get a timer! A timer ensures that your lights are only on when you need them. Because let's face it, you can't see lights in the day! An alternative is unplugging the lights, but I'm sure there will be nights where it is cold and snowy and you won't want to go turn te lights off or you're just too tired and will forget to turn them off. Therefore timers are a sure fire way to run your lights minimally and save energy this holiday. My tree is set to only be on between 5-10 pm.



Tuesday, November 27, 2012

LED Xmas Lights

If you're putting up holiday lights this week, look for LED lights to put up. My neighbors house is all lit up with them so you would think I would suggest using fewer lights to save energy. However, truth is that my little outdoor tree with some strands of old fashioned lights probably uses more energy than their entire house display does. Make a smart display with LEDS!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Recycled Toilet Paper

Just like with tissues and paper towels, we don't need a fresh new tree to make our toilet paper. Recycled sounds just fine to me. I knew switching to recycled toilet paper would be good, but I didn't realize how good. Did you know that if every household in America replaced one (just one!) virgin fiber roll with one recycled roll it would save 295,000 trees? So even if we all realize we hate recycled toilet paper but just give it a try one time, we would be doing good.

Ps. Seventh generation toilet paper comes in a paper wrapper, not plastic! Woo! Also, like most recycled paper products, it is whitened without chlorine which is a dangerous toxin for the environment. Remember to look out for things like that.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Keep The Front Door Closed


It is getting cold out! If you're looking to cut down on running your furnace make sure you keep the door closed! I have a double door where there is a glass door and a wooden door. It is easy to leave the wooden door open by accident. However, that lets in a lot of cold air! Keep that door tightly closed! 
If you have a large pane of glass like I do, consider putting some kind of curtain or covering over the glass. This should make sure your door isn't letting in too much air.


Saturday, November 24, 2012

My Xmas Tree is Alive!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we've all got Christmas on our minds, right? Are you thinking about buying your tree? Here's a tip! This year, buy a live tree rather than a cut tree! You can bring it inside and decorate it like normal, but afterwards instead of trashing it or burning it you can plant it! Mother Nature would appreciate gifts as well this holiday season, so give her a tree! (instead of taking one). This tree is being sold at Whole Foods Market. Pick one up as part of your shopping trip!

Here's another benefit: if you hate cleaning up the pine needles that get all over the floor, this live tree won't shed!

Friday, November 23, 2012

Tea Bags


Did you know that you can compost teabags? Not just the tea but the entire bag? Now you do! We will all be drinking a lot of tea this season to keep warm and to cope with sickness...it is inevitable! So don't worry about all of the trash you are making, compost it all! If you want to be extra good, look for tea bags that don't come in an extra wrapper, or ones that come in a paper wrapper rather than a plastic one. Then you could compost that too!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Parchment Paper

Baking cookies is easier and cleaner when you use parchment paper to line the pan rather than using grease. However, parchment paper is one use and toss. Instead, get some silicone mats! They work just as well if not better than parchment paper, clean easily, will last for years, and make a great gift for the holidays!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Do Some Math For Food


When cooking for a lot of people, it is easy to overestimate how much food you will need. You may be tempted to cook everything in sight for your guests, but hold back! Think rationally about what you will need. Do some math equations if you have to. Whatever it takes, just don't cook more food than you need to this weekend! On average Americans throw out 40% of their food, and I am sure that this number increases during the holiday. 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Entertaining with Cloth


When you're entertaining guests this Thursday, be smart about what you put on the table. Instead of using paper napkins, be sure to use cloth napkins! While these napkins may be slightly more of a hassle (you'll have to throw them in the washing machine and dry them and fold them) they do not generate any trash! Also, they do not come in plastic bags when you buy them (like paper ones do). I think that they look nicer anyways! Maybe your guests will be neater eaters when they're confronted with something so pretty!

Monday, November 19, 2012

My Decorations Are Alive!


When decorating your house for the fall, look for living decorations! Flowers, pumpkins, and gourds all make beautiful, seasonal decorations for any room. I think this is better than going out and buying a lot of plastic nick-nacs that may break or go out of style within the next year or so. All living decorations can be composted and recycled into the Earth after they have done their job of brightening up the place. 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Poster Disaster!

For one of my classes I recently had to make a poster. I am not the most spatially talented, so I chose to print the information and glue it onto the poster. However, I did not really read what I had written before I printed it. I ended up having to print things 2 or 3 times due to small, careless mistakes...certainly more than necessary! I am always being told to proofread my things, which is obviously very important! But I never applied that logic to anything other than an essay. Avoid wasting paper! Proofread everything so that you only have to print once!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Pet Waste Baggies

If you have a pet, look for biodegradable pet waste bags! They are a good alternative to plastic bags, and feel about the same. They make great pet stocking stuffers!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Newspaper Bags Transformed

At my house we reuse newspaper bags as dog waste bags. They're similar size at shape to those that you can buy. Of course these bags go right in the trash, but at least we use them twice rather than only once. 
Other uses might include: packing material, bags for flip flops after a day at the beach...other suggestions are welcome!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Produce Bags Part II

Unless you're buying 24 limes or some amount of fruit that would be ridiculous to try to carry, skip the produce bag at the grocery store! Most times you don't really need it. We wash and peel most produce before we eat it, so it doesn't really matter what it touches in between the shelf and your home. If you're still die hard about having a bag, try bringing your own plastic bags, or reusing the produce bags each time. Either way, try to be more aware of how many plastic bags you use each time you go to the grocery store.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Produce Bags

If you go grocery shopping I am sure you've obtained your fair share of produce bags. Don't immediately throw them out. Reuse them as small trash bags, lunch bags or storage bags. You may only get one more use out of them, but two uses is better than one. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Dryer Lint

Dryer lint is compostable! It is just a collection of fibers (probably mostly cotton). So don't throw it in the trash! One load may not seem to produce that much lint, but overtime it all adds up. Keep it in a bag somewhere and compost it when it gets full.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Winter biking

To all of you avid cyclists and bike commuters, don't let cold weather get you down. Obviously I do not advise biking through a blizzard, but there are ways to stay content when it's chilly out. Bike stores sell plenty of cold weather gear! Pictured above are booties that help keep your toes warmer and dryer (so I've been told). There are also big mittens, "lobster mittens" I like to call them, that will keep your hands happy. Since it gets darker earlier, be sure to buy a couple bright lights! Add some layers and I think you are all set. Be safe and peddle onwards!