Going Green

If you have issues with someone in your household wasting water, or you, yourself tend to waste water in the shower, there is a solution. The shower-timer is not only earth-friendly as far as saving water, it is also quick, handy, and some models are very inexpensive to purchase. Get a shower timer and make long showers and water waste a thing of the past.

Here are a few site that carry the shower timer.

•Green Feet $4.95

•The Shower Manager $115

•The Shower Timer $399

•Nigel’s Eco Store $5

*The Earth and Me, Go Green Tip: Most of the pet products that are out on the market today that help control fleas and ticks are chalked full of harmful chemicals that you, your pet and the environment don’t need. So always choose natural pet care and natural, organic shampoos and pet fur conditioners. Your pet can not only do without the fleas they can do without the harsh chemicals on their coats, skin and internal organs as well.

Transforming Your Bedroom Into A More Peaceful Place….The Way It Should Be. Here Are 10 Ways How!

1. SOFTEN THE COLORS: Bedrooms are meant to be “yin rooms”, which facilitate passive, feminine spirit rather than generate active masculine yang energy. Yin rooms should be clam so you can walk into them and relax.

2. CLEAR THE CLUTTER: You need not sleep in a Zen den, but a clean, open space allows you to rest better at night. Throw out, or put away items you haven’t read, worn, or looked at in a few years. If you don’t love it and you haven’t used it in several years, get rid of it. Reducing clutter is modern day alchemy. Anything you don’t love only drags you down more.

3. PURIFY YOUR PILLOWS: One of the best ways to purify your sleeping space is also the cheapest. Replace your current pillow with an organic cotton or wool pillow or cushion. Your nose is right there breathing in fumes from the foam. For less than $60, you can make a significant change in your health.

4. TAME THE DECOR: Displaying photos of loved ones brings positive energy into a bedroom, as long as the wall décor is kept simple. Don’t put up too many pictures. One per wall is plenty, and avoid art with violent or chaotic imagery. In feng shui, the first thing you see when you wake up is very important. If it’s a great piece of modern art, but the imagery is jagged, that’s not great for your energy upon waking.

5. DIM THE LIGHTS: Streetlamps and other outdoor lighting can wreak havoc on your sleep cycle because melatonin, the hormone that helps govern sleep, responds to light and darkness. For the soundest snoozing, din your bedroom at night with a think, dark cotton canvas, and let in the morning sun when it’s time to wake; this will help you stay synchronized with your own body rhythms.

6. SEND IN THE SCENT: Filling the air with a luscious yet subtle fragrance makes your bedroon nearly spa-like. Add a few drops of calming essentail oil like neroli, rose, and/or jasmine to an aromatherapy diffuser. Or try a combination of chamomile, lavender, or clary sage.

7. CLEAR THE AIR: Keeping your windows open works wonders toward purifying indoor air and dust, mold, pet dander, and chemicals from household cleaners. Fresh outdoor air is essential for good health.

8. POWER DOWN: Television pictures tubes, wireless Internet connections, electrical wiring, and cell phones emit electromagnetic fields that may contribute to frequent waking, aches and pains, and muscle spasms. To reduce your EMF load, remove electric cords and devices from the bedroom or at least from within 8 to 10 feet of the bed. And disconnect Wi-Fi and multihandset cordless phones.

9. MODIFY THE MATTRESS: The bed is where your go to spend your key rejuvenating time, it’s where your wipe the slate clean. But you do know what’s underneath you. A typical foam matress is made from petrochemical derivatives with fire retardants and other chemicals added, all of which can be absorbed through the skin. A matress made of organic cotton, pure grown wool and natural rubber is prefered for a better nights sleep.

10. REMAKE YOUR BED: When shopping for new bedding, look for 100 percent natural fibers, ideally organic cotton or organic hemp. To avoid chemically treated linens, make sure your purchases aren’t labeled “permanant press”.

*Green Living Tip: Grow your own herbs inside your home. The plants will add happiness and harmony to your kitchen or bedroom and will also provide you with an abundance of natural, pesticide-free addings to your cooking.

WE all are guilty of this and other paper wasting feats just the same.

The next time you are at the ATM (automated teller machine), forget the receipt. Why do you need it? All your information that you are looking to know about your account is placed right on the screen for you. So next time you need to know something, such as account balance, check it out on the screen and save paper by not getting the paper receipt.

Other ways to save paper are:

Don’t get a receipt at toll booths.

Parking garages.

Check Stands. Unless you are buying for a gift or a large purchase that has some sort of warranty. Nix the receipt.

Use paper at home, front and back. This means 50% less waste. Monoculture farms, in which the paper is made from these cultured trees, take the place of forests that once provided homes for animals.

Gas pumps. Unless it’s a tax deductible purchase or a business purchase, why the receipt? The paper and pulp industry is the 3rd most polluting in North America.

Attempt to get your office on a “paperless office” practice. When messages need to be sent, either call that person or walk your message down instead of using a memo system. Americans throw away enough office paper to builkd a 12 foot high wall that can stretch from Los Angeles to New York

Save the massive amount of toilet paper from the environment. Use 2-ply and seperate it which means using less, or better yet….use a recycled toliet paper brand.

Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins and reusable dish rags instead of paper towels.

Little changes can make a big difference. PLEASE DON’T WASTE PAPER!

*GreenLiving Tip: Lower energy use and save money by installing motion lights. Motion lights only come on when motion has activated the sensor inside and go off when the movement or motion has stopped being present in front of the sensor. Some motion lights are even sound activated. They are one way of saving energy, lower your cost to operate lighting around your home or business and also protect your property from harm. It’s a natural way to give more light to dark areas.

Just because it’s fall, doesn’t mean you can’t still sport a great cap on your head. With all the different types of caps on the market anymore, there are a lot to choose from, but make sure you wear one that is made from sustainable material, recycled material, or salvaged material. With that in mind you are sure to sport a cap with pride as well. Here are few that are great for those nippy, fall nights as well as the Earth.

Stewart + Brown uses only Fiar Trade Mongolian cashmere for this cap. They carry other apparel as well that is made from organic cotton, green fabric and they are known as the “Organic Pioneers”.

Schuessler Headwear’s Jepp Cap. It’s constructed from EcoRagg, a blend of wool and plastic that has been recycled. It’s a great cap and an Earth-conscious cap as well.

Of The Earth has been using recycled material, hemp, merino wool and Lyocell ( a plant-derived fiber woven from wood pulp) for years. With their take on sustainable material this hat is a great way to start the summer with.

With slavaged sweaters a lot of designers have taken the best approach and made a renewable resource with them. Same with Sue Eggen of Giant Dwarf Designs. She has taken this clothing means and made some unique headwear. By adding wool felt and vintage buttons onto slavaged sweater hats, she has made her mark in the design world, and they’re cool too.

*Going Green Tip: Going “gluten-free”, what does it mean to you? Gluten is a product found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is a protein that gives breads and cakes the ability to spring back to the touch. Americans have a lot of issues with digesting it. In more serious conditions it is considered celiac disease where the intestine can’t absorb nutrients, ultimately leading to malnutrition, chronic fatigue, and even infertility. Products that are gluten-free are made with a wheat-alternative, like corn or rice. For a directory of gluten-free products, click here.

1.  Sunlight Sl-2-flashlight:  This flashlight is the light you need when the others that take batteries fail on you when you need them most.  Can be used as a regular/standard flashlight or used with it’s wide-beam capabilities.  It works for a full 20 hours on one charge alone and comes in a wide variety of colors to choose from.  Runs about $39 and can be purchased online here.

2.  Citizen Eco-Drive Watches:  These watches never need a battery and charge with any type of light that you are near.  So even if you are wearing it in the evening at a dinner date, the watch with charge with the dim lights of the dinner table.  They are kind of on the higher priced side of watches, ranging up into about $525, but for what the watch does and the look of the wide-range of styles they are well worth the amount spent.  The diamonds around the watch face are from conflict-free diamonds as well.  Check out the watch selections here. 

3.  Soji Solar Lantern:  These lanterns are the greatest thing since sliced bread.  You can place them in and around your patio or garden area in the day and then by nightfall they are a glow all around.  They are cordless which means no trips and falls by your guests or even yourself.  They are made of weather-resistant nylon material and will last for up to six hours with one charge.  They run about $20 and come in a wide range of different colors.  You can purchase one right from the Soji site here.

4.  Branch Home’s Natural Wool Stuffed-Animals:  Made with natural wool yarn and are hand-knitted and dyed with natural dyes as well.  They come in a zoo-load of different animal shapes and are eco-friendly for the planet and your child or pet.  They run about $26 but are on sale right now for $20.80.  You can pick up one or a few at the Branch Home website here. 

Sustainable Materials
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100% daily dose of happy feet: wool, cork, and bamboo flooring
110% charm:Doors salvages from 150 year-old barn
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Water Efficiency
100% free irrigation: Rainwater collection system
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Energy Efficiency
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Big dose of Vitamin D: Beautiful windows and skylights
55% off your electric bills: Solar photovoltaics
65% more off yourheating bill: EnergyStar® roofing geothermal heating
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Indoor Environmental Quality
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Healthy family: Low toxic paints and stains
Comfy rooms: Radiant floor heating with no drafts
Cozy beds: Organic cotton fabric
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Design Innovation
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70% less stuff for landfill: Carefully seperated and recycled construction waste
100% cool to talk about at parties: Certified Green Home

*Green Living Tip: Organic ketchup contains 83% more cancer-fighting lycopene than conventional ketchup. Experts say organic tomato sauce should offer the same boost.

The United Postal Service is known best for their “brown” trucks with the “yellow” UPS lettering on the side. We have all seen them and some might have even gotten a package or two from them at one time. The benefit of getting a package sent through UPS or even the United States Postal Service, snailmail as some call it, is not only easy but now it also helps the environment in a BIG way!

UPS has gone green in more ways then one. The company is now operating 50 hybrid electric trucks that will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 452 metric tons annually. They are also testing a hydraulic hybrid estimated to have 70 percent better fuel economy. Phoenix, as well as California, have already seen the truck-change and more cities and states will follow in the future.

The U.S. Postal Service, which operates the largest alternative-fuel fleet in the nation, recently unveiled a new delivery truck that conserves fuel by 30 to 50 percent.

Anymore most people send mail and correspondence through email or text-messaging, with the new trucks and their earth-friendly changes, more and more of the public may just change to sending mail the good ole’ fashion way. Because, quite frankly, it is difficult to send a birthday card with $20 dollars in it through texting.;)

*Going Green Tip: Lotions and cremes that are out on the market today not only leave a baby’s skin feeling unsatisified, they are also chalked-full of harsh chemicals and ingredients that are horrible for your child’s body. If your child have sensitive skin like mine does, there is three products that score an A+ on my mommy scale. They are great, long-lasting products. And they don’t have harsh ingredients that dry out my son’s skin. Little Twig Bodymilk with lavender , lemon, and tea tree ($15) ; Avalon Organics Baby Gentle Tear-Free Shampoo and Body Wash ($10) ; Welda Baby Calendual Cream ($10) . It is a great practice to get into, teaching children at a young age, what products are better for the environment and their body’s and what products we could all do without.

A typical incandescent bulb burns for about 1,000 hours, using anywhere from 60 to 100 watts of electricity per hour. But only about 10 percent of the electricity emits lighting. The rest is lost as heat from the light bulb.

With Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs_ they last up to 10 times or longer and use 1/4 the energy while still producing the same lighting by being just as bright.

How to buy a CFL:

1. Choose the right wattage. You only need one-fourth the wattage of your old incandescent bulbs, If you normally use 60 watt, try using a 15 W CFL.

2. Keep it light. A bulb that is light for its size is made with an elctric igniter, which prevents buzzing and flickering.

3. Check the label first. CFLs with the Energy Star seal meet strict efficiency requirements, and encure the best quality color and brightness. For more information on CFLs click here.

*Conserve Money And Energy With CFLs.*

*Green Living Tip: Look past the minicookie and bags of honey-roasted peanuts, major airlines now cater to health-conscious passengers. American Airlines being one. They have added more salads to its menu and United Airlines being another by adding Right Bite snack box that contains organic raisins. British Airlines has also made some changes. Offering their first class passengers menus such as roasted salmon with green papaya salad. If you are a health conscious passenger, try flying with one of these airlines. Or the airline you fly frequently ask if their is an alternative to the fat ladden choices. With more and more health conscious flyers, I am sure in time a lot more airlines will follow suit.

Some Earth happy quotes to live by:

“What we are living with is the result of human choices and it can be changed by making better, wiser choices.”
– Robert Redford

I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.
– Mother Teresa

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
– New England proverb

“75% of colleges and universities have a recycling program.”
–Colorado State University Recycling Program

We are not to throw away those things which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they can be used for good: they are instruments for good, in the hands of those who use them properly.
– Clement of Alexandria (150?-220?)

“Solid wastes” are the discarded leftovers of our advanced consumer society. This growing mountain of garbage and trash represents not only an attitude of indifference toward valuable natural resources, but also a serious economic and public health problem.
– Jimmy Carter

There appears to be a deeply embedded uneasiness in our culture about throwing away junk that can be reused. Perhaps, in part, it is guilt about consumption. Perhaps it also feels unnatural. Mother Nature doesn’t throw stuff away. Dead trees, birds, beetles and elephants are pretty quickly recycled by the system.
–William Booth

Much of our waste problem is to be accounted for by the intentional flimsiness and unrepairability of the labor-savers and gadgets that we have become addicted to. — Wendell Berry

When I visited coffee farms in Ethiopia, the farmers could not believe we spend a week’s wages in their country on a cup of coffee in ours, because they see so little of the profits. Oxfam’s fair trade campaign helps right this wrong.
– Colin Firth

*Going Green Tip: Make positive changes today in your lifestyle and ways, that will ultimately last forever. When taught the right way of living, it will stay with you and in turn you will show others the right way to live. Do it for you, your children, and your children’s children and most of all, do it for the Earth.

1.  Endangered Species All-Natural Chocolate Bars:  Your choice of purchasing a simple candy bar can go toward a great impact on the earth.  10% of the net profits donated to help support endangered species such as the Polar Bears along with their habitat and humanity as well.  These candy bars can be found at your local Walgreen’s or other find retail stores worldwide. 

2.  Light Mountain Natural Hair Color and Conditioner:  Made with all natural henna dye and when it says permanent, it really is.  If the color isn’t right you may have a hard time removing it later on.  It is considered botanical and everything you need comes right in the box. 

3.  Vickery & Clarke:  These products are an all-natural approach to apothecary remedies and personal care products.  They help you to feel better inside and out.  They offer a cold and sinus soak for stuffy heads and a body wash that is guaranteed to make you feel like a hundred and ten percent once again.  They are available through CVS Pharmacies nation-wide.

4.  SolLight Solar-Powered Water Bottle Cap:  This cap fits a normal/standard sized water bottle and will allow for solar power to light the water to give light for the night of camping or just sitting out in the back yard.  It works great for any occasion and runs about $20.

5.  Noon Solar, Solar-Powered Handbag:  This bag is made with hemp, organic cotton and dyed with an all natural veggie-dye as well.  It has a built-in solar panel that can help charge your cell phone, iPod or other powered electronics.  The bags are kind of spendy but come in handy to save you money over all.