Weekly green tips at Green52.org

Green tip for week #52 — Week of April 26, 2009

Composting and Using Rain Barrels

For week 52 of Green52.org’s year-long mission of providing weekly green tips, we are providing a two-for-one weekly green tip.  Instead of only one green idea this week, we want to celebrate the past 52 weeks of weekly green suggestions and environmental responsibility initiatives by providing two new ideas in this 52nd green tip post.  This post caps off a complete year of successful weekly green tips, and a strong readership who have hopefully learned to reduce their environmental impact and support the advocacy efforts made by our site.

On to the tips for week 52:

Composting.

For those of you not already familiar with composting, this is a great way to help the environment, while helping your garden, naturally.  According to the EPA, yard trimmings and food residuals make up a total of 24% of the municipal solid waste in the United States.  Composting, in its most natural form, is a ecological process where plants or vegetation fall to the ground, decay, and ultimately return minerals and nutrients to the surrounding plants, animals and microorganisms.

You can easily and cost-effectively create compost in your own yard, which can then be used for plants and gardening. Not only does this provide a way to recycle and reuse yard waste, it can save money, save garbage/collection costs, and reduce your contribution to the landfill . The compost you create can be used in lawns and gardens to help condition the soil and replenish nutrients.

You can find an extraordinary number of composting barrels or bins by simply searching online.  To find out more about how composting works, or how to make it work for you, check out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site on composting here.

Using rain barrels.

Rain barrels are an easy way to harvest rain water, to offset part of your water demand, so some of the water used for yard/gardening can come from rain water, rather than from city/municipal water.  Many commercially available rain barrels connect to your home gutter/downspout system, so you can collect a significant amount of rainwater during a rain storm, in turn using that water during  drier day to water plants or your garden.

There are a great variety of sources for rain barrels, and various styles and systems.  Although you need to make a choice that makes the most sense for you, a few resources we can suggest include: http://www.composters.com/rain-barrels.php; and http://www.rainbarrelsource.com/.  There are even companies that use eco-friendly recycled barrels, like repurposed wine barrels, such as BarrelDepot from Minnesota, here.

If you start composting or using a rain barrel outside your home, you are helping reduce your own “carbon footprint” and environmental impact.  Composting helps utilize yard waste, instead of sending it to the landfill (and it can help you get rid of grass clippings, leaves, etc. without paying trash collection costs for removing them.  Rain barrels allow you to conserve water, and have a “free” water supply for gardening and other plant watering needs.

EDITORIAL NOTE AND THANK YOU:

With these two tips on post #52, Green52.org has now completed one full year of green tips, with a total of 52 weekly green idea posts.  Thank you to each and every one of our many readers who have helped make Green52.org a success, and for each of you who have incorporated one or more of the ideas to help the environment, which was the sole focus of the last year of our initiative.  Please contact us by email at: info AT sustainable thinking DOT org if you would like to suggest an idea for future Green52.org posts, or if you would like to partner with Green52.org for a future environmental responsibility and sustainability project.

_____

For more weekly green tips, review the 52 weekly green tips at Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #51 — Week of April 19, 2009

Celebrate Earth Day in a Profound Way (Earth Day is April 22, 2009)

Photo courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit - Warren Gretzv

Unfortunately, for many people Earth Day only comes around once a year.   It is a day that has gone from insignificant and unnoticed by the masses, to the subject of marketing exploitation and media blitzes with every conceivable celebrity appearing on your favorite tv show reminding you to “go green”.

Earth Day must not last only a day. Earth Day should not have a beginning and an end, and April 22, 2009 should only be the start of new habits, environmental responsibility, and sustainable thinking.  It should not be a momentary diversion from routines that you will continue once the media campaign has vanished.

For Earth Day, 2009, Green52.org encourages you to try to do something profound. Instead of planting a tree on April 22, mobilize your church, your community group, your office, or your school to plant 50 trees.  Instead of using reusable bags for yourself, buy 10 and give them to a few people who you know may be interested in using them but who may be reluctant to purchase them.

Want to really make a difference for Earth Day 2009?  Team up with Green52.org.

Here are a few significant ways to do that:

1. Make a pledge to incorporate one of our weekly green tips as a change in your routine each month, using a total of 12 of the tips throughout the next year;
2. Use our site as an opportunity to be an environmental responsibility advocate by telling others about the importance of environmental responsibility and sustainable thinking, while letting others know about our 52 weekly green tips so they can also make an impact;
3. Suggest to your local newspaper or television station that they should offer weekly green tips throughout the year, rather than ending their environmental awareness initiative on Earth Day (they can contact Green52.org to partner with us to even reproduce our content).

This year, in 2009, make Earth Day the kick-off to a year of improved energy and focus on environmental responsibility.  For those of you using Facebook, Twitter and other social media, spread the word about Earth Day, Green52.org, and your ideas for a sustainable environment.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #50 — Week of April 12, 2009

Use sustainable / recycled paper products

The consumption of paper, in homes, schools, businesses, and elsewhere, has a massive environmental impact.  Many times, people purchase paper without consideration for where it came from, and expect that when it is used, a new ream of paper will appear like magic.  There is a massive disconnect for most people between paper (the product) and trees (the source); many times paper is used without a moment’s thought about the fact that the consumption of paper means the consumption of trees.

How can we reduce that impact?  First, cut back on your use of a paper in general.  Recycle discarded paper, particularly mail, printing drafts, and newspaper.  If you can print drafts on both sides of a page, do so.

Next, look at sustainable paper products, or those that have less environmental impact.  There are many paper products made with postconsumer fiber, or recycled materials.  There is a great paper-purchasing checklist available at mohawkpaper.com that specifies what paper products to select to find the greatest environmental benefits.  Here is their checklist, in order of least impact to most:
1. choose paper made with 100% postconsumer waste fiber
2. choose papers with FSC-certified fiber to preserve forest lands
3. choose papers made carbon neutral with Verified Emissions Reduction credits
that fund additive, clean energy projects
4. choose papers made with emission-free renewable energy, such as wind
5. choose papers made with process chlorine free (PCF) or elemental chlorine free (ECF) pulps
6. choose uncoated papers; coated papers yield much less recyclable fiber
7. choose paper mills with a positive environmental track record
8. choose paper mills who have received third party certifications from organizations such as Green-e, Green Seal, and the Forest Stewardship Council    (Source: http://www.mohawkpaper.com/pdfs/Tips_Specify_Sustainable_Papers.pdf)

You may also be interested in learning about the paper-making process, and the interesting facts that can be found at Conservatree.com.  That site states that U.S. printing and writing paper averages a mere 10% recovered content.  That is terrible.  Even though some paper is fully 100% recovered/recycled/post-consumer content, other paper has no recovered content.  An average of 10% recovered content is abysmal, and needs to change.  That will require individuals, companies, schools, churches, political leaders and more to spread the message.

In the current focus on sustainability, environmental responsibility, and resource conservation, let’s not forget about paper, and the trees harvested to make the paper we use.  Harvesting trees and natural forests to make paper results in less habitat for animals, less oxygen production, and the emphasis of consumption over conservation.

Take charge of improving that situation by changing your paper consumption practices, and by sourcing paper made with recovered, recycled, or post-consumer content for your future paper needs.

Tell others about the importance of using environmentally responsible paper products, and the other great green tips you see on a weekly basis at Green52.org.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #49 — Week of April 5, 2009

Use Social Media to Promote Environmental Responsibility

Many of the readers of Green52.org are people who are using the many technological resources available to them on a daily basis.  You obviously use your computer to research issues of importance to you, which is probably how you found Green52.org and our weekly green tips.  Since many of you also already use social media resources such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other similar sites, why not use some of these resources to help promote environmental responsibility?

Although we should all be doing our part to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve our natural resources, and leave the least environmental impact possible, doing this individually only fights the small battles.  To make a more substantial impact, you should tell others about the importance of environmental responsibility, and the more quickly and widely you can spread that message, the better.  Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are tremendous outlets to help spread the word about environmental responsibility and awareness.  Maybe on Facebook you can update your status with a comment such as: “John Doe is reading another weekly Green Tip on Green52.org”, or “John Doe is sorting his recycling to help protect our environment.”  Maybe you can post an update on Twitter that you and your friends “Just planted 10 trees to help the planet” or that you are “stoked about doing something significant for Earth Day”.

However you want to use your favorite social media resources is up to you, but this week we would urge you to consider whether you can promote your perspective, knowledge, and enthusiasm for environmental responsibility by spreading that momentum in your friend and social groups.  Remember that environmental responsibility, climate change, and sustainable resources are incredibly important issues.  We should not be bashful about taking an interest in these issues, and we need to tell our friends an those we connect with on a regular basis how important these issues are, and what they can do to help.

Start today by hopping on your Facebook or Twitter page and telling people about the great article you just read at Green52.org.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #48 — Week of March 29, 2009

Join a local food co-op or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program

If you haven’t already heard much about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) yet, you will.  Despite the fact that our country and our world have become a very globalized and “the world is flat” economy, the concept of shipping produce from one country to the next and trucking tomatoes from state to state is far more destructive to our ecosystem than first obtaining the food resources you can from the local region you live in.  There is a resurgence of family farms, individual efforts to grow your own food, and communities or individuals who are growing organic produce.  Support of these farms and programs can be a small and easy way to support sustainability.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is typically a community of people with a shared goal — to support a farm operation in such a way as to make it essentially the community’s farm.  This may mean direct ownership in the farm by having each CSA owner or member purchase stock or membership interests in a coop or LLC, or it could simply be a pledge to support the farm with financial resources, ensuring everything grown at the farm is purchased, or other support from the members.  Many of the models involve a shared risk/reward by the members of the CSA, where the shareholders absorb costs of farm or garden operation, while receiving shares of the farm or garden’s crops or produce during the growing season.

This type of member-driven or member-supported community enterprise not only creates interconnection within the community that it is formed, but it provides an invaluable support structure for the farm, helps encourage more sustainable growing practices, and fosters local self-reliance.  All of this contributes in a very significant and tangible way to environmental stewardship, conservation of resources, and “green” thinking.

One of the tangible benefits for members or shareholders of a CSA is fresh, bountiful supplies of whatever produce or crops that farm or garden produces, as each is at its growing and harvesting season.  Becoming a member of a CSA can enable you to get more local, fresh, and healthy produce than you may otherwise have access to.  Sometimes the quantity of food you receive as a member or shareholder can be based upon how much stake you purchase, but you can always get a large share and use this as an opportunity to share with your family and friends, in turn helping them learn about CSA.

If you are looking for a CSA or Community Supported Agriculture farm in your local area, there are several resources you can use, listed below:

• Local Harvest is an excellent resource for learning about and finding CSAs — find more information about Local Harvest here: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
• Rodale Institute has a farm locator you can use to find CSAs or even farms that sell produce direct to consumers or restaurants (choose CSA in the “market type” section and pick your state in the pull-down menu for state): http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/farm_locator
• The Eat Well Guide has resources for finding local, sustainable, and organic food by area/region, here: http://www.eatwellguide.org/

For a general resource, the United States Department of Agriculture has a section on CSAs, here:  http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml

This week, in April, we should all be thinking about spring, being outside, and enjoying the outdoors.  As you start planning your summer and think about efforts you can make to be more environmentally responsible this year than last, consider investing in or joining a CSA.

For those of you using Facebook, Twitter and other social media, spread the word about Green52.org, and tell others about the ideas you have heard here.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #45 — Week of March 8, 2009

Teach respect for the environment

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a business owner, a President, Governor, Mayor, community leader, or just an individual hoping to make an impact, to improve the environment we need to improve our own habits, and improve the habits of those around us.

For parents, it is important that you teach respect for the environment as you raise and educate your children.  Be sure that camping, hiking, and other outdoors activities are part of your routine, so they learn to appreciate the environment and so they develop a respect for the world around them.

Make sure that you recycle and adopt environmentally responsible practices (like the green ideas found here on Green52.org) and teach them to follow your example.  Create ways for your kids to get involved, by leading a recycling program at their school, helping you find ways to conserve energy at home, and other practices that will increase their awareness.

For teachers, business owners, community leaders, church leaders, and politicians, it is important to lead by example.  Environmental responsibility is an issue that is unifying, and should not be controversial.  Teachers can help improve the environment simply by incorporating environmental responsibility into your classroom.  Recycle paper, glass and plastic, reduce the amount of waste, and encourage your students or your school to engage in community projects with an environmental focus.

Create new programs for your community to encourage environmental responsibility, as improving the environment is a great way to bring people from all political affiliations, all socio-economic backgrounds, all ages, and all belief systems together.  We all want the environment to be preserved for future generations.

To realize the impact of leading the masses toward an environmental responsibility mindset, consider the impact that political discussion has had in making environmental awareness issues mainstream.

Since our newly elected President, Barack Obama, took office, media attention, political discussion, and dinner table conversation have now turned to issues that need attention, such as wind energy, geothermal energy, plug-in hybrid technology, solar power, and smart-grid systems.  Increasing the level of discussion, and increasing awareness, can ultimately have great impact on changing habits, fueling new ideas, and improving environmental responsibility on a wide-scale basis.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #44 — Week of March 1, 2009

Incorporate native plants in your landscaping

Many people plan their landscaping around whatever looks nice, regardless of its cost, environmental impact, or the challenges of maintaining such plants, flowers, or specialty grasses year after year.  This year, as you begin breaking ground in the spring, consider the environmental benefits and ease of maintenance that can be had from using native plants.

What are native plants?   Native or indigenous plants are plants that have adapted to a particular environment, climate, or geography over thousands of years in a specific location.  As a result, such plants are very hardy and tend to be an appropriate and natural environment and habitat when used in their appropriate region.

Benefits of native plants include drought resistance, the fact that they require less maintenance than other non-native plants, and the elimination of many of the fertilizers, pesticides, water and other resources or contaminants that impact the environment.

Reduced use of pesticides in maintaing native plants means they tend to be safer choices for homes with pets and children, and they help reduce water contamination from rainwater.  In some instances, the use of native plants provide a nice alternative to grass lawns in areas where grass is hard to maintain, or where someone is interested in an alternative with less environmental impact.

Next time you are planning landscaping at your home, church, office, community center, or even as a volunteer project to restore natural habitat to an area in your community, spend some time learning more about the plants that are native plants for your area.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #43 — Week of February 22, 2009

Use reusable bags

This is pretty obvious, but for some reason, Americans are either reluctant (or downright unwilling) to use reusable bags for shopping.  I know, it’s very convenient to drive your big SUV 3 blocks to McDonald’s and then drive two more blocks to the grocery store, only to buy two items, place them in a plastic bag, and drive back home to throw the bag away.  That type of “convenience” is a big contributor to the climate crisis and environmental ignorance our society is faced with.

As a simple change, which will drastically reduce plastic or paper bag production, consumption, and waste, consider storing reusable cloth, nylon or even previously used paper/plastic bags in your trunk, with your bike, or near your door.  Next time you walk, bike, or drive to the local store to pick up an item or two, carry them and tell the clerk to skip the bag, if it’s only a couple of items.  If you have several items, place them in the reusable bag you brought with you, and put the bag back in a handy place where you can remember to take it with you next time.

As a challenge, write down the number of plastic bags and paper bags you use from shopping, the grocery store, etc. during the course of one month.  Just put a tally sheet on your fridge, and add one for each bag that makes it inside your home.  After that month, commit to cutting that number in half, and keep doing so each month until you have the number to zero, or as few as you can possibly get by with.

Then, you will be incredibly well-informed and in a great position of knowledge and personal experience to tell your friends and coworkers to do the same.  For the bags you consumed during the month, be sure to recycle them, and reuse any that you can as trash liners, garbage bags for the car, and other “repurposed” uses.

Like many of the green tips and environmental responsibility ideas found on Green52.org, this is not breakthrough news, it is not rocket science, and most importantly, it’s not difficult.  This idea alone won’t fix the perils facing the planet, but every bit helps.

If you don’t have tote bags or other reusable bags at home, check at your grocery store next time you go, as many have now offered reusable bags as alternatives to paper or plastic.  Obviously there are many retailers and online vendors who carry every variety of organic cotton bags, bags from recycled materials, personalized bags, etc.

If you own or operate a business, consider branding reusable bags with your logo or website to give away to employees to encourage them to use them, or to donate to charities or give away at trade shows.  There are several good resources for reusable bags on the web, including Reusable Bags.com , EcoBags.com, and many others.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #42 — Week of February 15, 2009

Get a home energy audit

Once you have been living in a home for awhile and see the monthly utility bills, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that those bills may be higher than they need to be.  The simple fact is that many homes consume more energy than they should, due to ineffective insulation, poor sealing of doors, attics, garages, and more.

There are several ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption, and a home energy audit is usually a good place to start.  Although it is possible to do your own self-diagnosed audit, it sounds a bit like giving yourself a medical check-up.  Since you are not likely trained to find all the potential problems and identify the most effective solution, it may only get you part way there.

In some areas, your utility company will provide a free, reduced-cost, or negotiated-price audit by a trained professional.  Energy audits may involve equipment that helps with the diagnosis, such as blower doors, which measure leaks within the home, or infrared cameras which can identify air infiltration, leaks or missing insulation.

Check with your utility provider to find out what energy audits they may offer or suggest.  You can learn more about home energy audits at the U.S. Department of Energy website, here.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell
your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at
Green52.org.

Green tip for week #41 — Week of February 8, 2009

Insulate your water heater

When you step outside in the winter, you usually remember your jacket, but when you step back inside a warm home, have you ever thought about adding a jacket to your water heater? Probably not.  However, simply adding an insulating sleeve to your water heater in your home can be a quick and cost-effective green tip that will not only save energy, but it can save money.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adding insulation to your water heater can reduce heat losses by 25%–45%.  That could save 4%–9% in water heating costs.  Find the U.S. Department of Energy’s page with more information here.

You should be able to find a hot water heater blanket or insulating sleeve for $20-$30 at your local hardware store or online.  This week, spend the $20 to conserve energy, and may be able to recoup that cost within a year or so.

Remember, saving energy, saving the environment, and saving money can sometimes go hand in hand.  Not all environmental responsibility initiatives have to be complicated — encourage your family, friends and colleagues to start with some of the ideas you have found here at Green52.org, and please tell others about our site.

_____

For more weekly green tips, come back to Green52.org and tell your friends and colleagues about the weekly green tips found at Green52.org.