Going Green

If you reflect on what is important in your life you can change your semi-green life for the green-better. Think about how you shop, what you use on a daily basis and slowly change your habits. You can switch out your light bulbs as they burn out for energy efficient ones to get started. Here are some other ways to help you refine to a greener mind.

• Designate a recycle bin: Making n area in your home designated strictly for recyclable items only and make sure everyone knows where it is. Encourage guest that visit your home to use them as well.

• Make separate containers: Mark with labels the separate containers. One for glass, one for plastic and other for aluminum, paper and or other recyclable items. Also have a basket for things to donate. Anything you no longer want or need that is in good working order can go in this particular bin as well.

• Make recycling a game: Kids will be encouraged to recycle more if it’s fun for them. Show them the proper way to clean foil, rinse out bottle or cans and remove the lids before placing the item in the proper bin.

• Remind others: Remind guest or yours, family members or even the parents of the children that visit your children how important recycling is. Word of mouth is the best way to promote a greener lifestyle.

• Break down what you can: Always break down your cardboard. You don’t want most of your trash can to be filled with nothing but air.

• Change your thinking: It takes a small step to change your thinking about the items you can no longer use.

When it comes to cars which is the better bet when it comes to saving more money now at the pump. With the lowering of the gas prices it seems that saving money can be a bit easier anymore, but which car size is the better deal. Here are three types of cars that may help you achieve that extra money savings when you need it most.

1. For Compact Cars:

A. Ford Focus: Gets about 24 city/35 hwy. Offers other features like the voice activation system, and Bluetooth cell phone for going hands-free while driving, side curtain air bags and light changing options inside the car as well.

B. Honda Civic: Gets about 26 city/34 hwy. Offers other features like the antilock brakes, front airbags, stereo system and an option to plug in your MP3 player without any attachments needed extra.

2. For Midsized Cars:

A. Saturn Aura: Gets about 22 city/33 hwy: Offers other features like the side curtain air bags, and upgraded stereo system and very roomy interior.

B. Chevrolet Malibu: Gets about 22 city/30 hwy. Offers other features such as keyless entry, traction control, and even though this car ranked low on the Auto Trends, it still offer low gas mileage that can end up saving you big time at the pump.

3. For SUV, ORV Cars:

A. Toyota RAV4: Gets about 22 city/28 hwy. Offers other features such as front passenger air bags when an occupant is detected, rollover senor and option third row if hauling a large crowd.

B. Nissan Rogue: Gets about 22 city/27 hwy. Offers other features like traction control, easy shifting and front air bags on drivers and passengers side.

Many nonprofit agencies actually go to help the causes they support. There are nonprofits like the Green Peace actually bring in the money through donations and other sources that actually go to what they claim your donations and their other raised money profits go to help. But, unfortunately there are other nonprofits that do not use their money wisely or the money they raise doesn’t go toward anything good.

They actually are refereed to as “Astroturf” They are fake grassroots organizations that are typically funded by the polluters they are promoting. The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) calls itself a nonprofit and they are 100% behind the advancement of free enterprise and have said they help back up the climate change issue when in reality they are front funded by companies such as Exxon Mobile, General Motors and the American Petroleum Institute.

Nonprofits as well as individuals can talk a big talk and say they back up certain issue when in reality they can’t walk the walk. Make sure you are backing up the right company you keep when it comes to the environment and with other issue as well.

In our everyday life, many of us don’t stop to consider what our appliances are, our food we are eating or even how something is made. Many products are made in factories that not only harbor disease, but also use unnatural substances to get the product made and out the door to ride in gas-guzzling trucks then to the shelf where you ultimately buy them and place them in your home.

Instead of just going through the motions when it comes to buying products, consider the following, what is the product made of, where the product come from and finally, will this be a good eco-benefit inside my home when I purchase it?

When it comes to appliances consider Energy Star approved. With your air conditioning system and other cooling systems consider ceiling fans and also window shades before purchasing an energy guzzling air conditioner or window unit.

For your furnace consider the smallest unit possible or even installing new insulation before buying. For your windows consider low-E and Energy-Star approved as well.

There are many steps you can take to put the good stuff inside your home and without knowledge comes steps in the wrong direction. Pick up some literature on the latest and greatest energy saving practices. A good read is the National Geographic Green Guide. It covers most everything you need to know as a human to live a better life for yourself and your environment.