photo credit: A Girl And Her Camera
We are taking two weeks off for the holidays so there will not be any new posts. We will be back the first week of January and back to business as usual.
Hope you will have a wonderful and green Christmas (or whatever you happen to celebrate) and take a moment to enjoy this holiday season.
MERRY GREEN CHRISTMAS! And see you in two weeks.
There are many ways in which we can celebrate this holiday season without adding to the waste it would otherwise accumulate and by reusing and recycling products and various items instead of disposing of them. Not only will it save you money (which is always a good idea but especially in the present state of economy) but also help the environment and even other people.
Here are three ways in which you can make this Christmas green:
• Donate—instead of simply disposing of the still-working electronics, donate them. There are always people that are less fortunate and can use your used electronics (as long as they still work), e.g. community groups, local schools or non-profit organizations. And a bonus for you—some donations may get you a tax cut…
• Shop smart—if you shopping for new electronics, find ones that are eco-friendly and have an Energy Star rating. Go for gifts made with recycled materials or at least packaged in them. Recycle the paper packaging, wrapping paper and such after opening gifts. And don’t forget to bring your reusable shopping back while you’re out there going through your list.—by upgrading your computer instead of buying a brand new one; purchase an analog-to-digital converter for your TV set instead of going all out and buying the LCD or plasma. And for your parties, try renting or borrowing certain items instead of purchasing all new supplies.
• Extend your electronic life
Here are some useful tips fore reducing holiday waste and making this year’s season as green as possible:
• Bring a reusable shopping bag for all your holiday shopping and tell the clerk you don’t need a bag for small or oversized items.
• Wrap your gifts in recycled paper or reuse wrapping pare you have. And try to give gifts that don’t require much packaging.
• Send e-cards or recycled-content greeting cards and thus reduce the amount of virgin paper used this season.
• Buy rechargeable batteries (reduce the amount of harmful substances ending up in landfills and save money in the long run) for all your new and old electronic equipment. And consider buying a battery charger as a gift.
• Turn off and unplug your holiday lights during the day. Not only will it save energy and money on your energy bill but it will also make the lights last longer.
• Purchase trees smartly and find out smart ways of disposing trees after the holidays. For more information about buying an eco-friendly tree go to “Tips for Choosing the Greenest Christmas Tree”.
• Make your own decorations and turn it into a party!
• Check the labels on items you plan to give for recycled content or recycle ability. Purchasing more recycled items will force manufacturers to produce more of said items.
• Consider using or renting regular dinnerware instead of using paper or plastic plates, cups and cutlery for your holiday gatherings and parties. It will help reduce the number of plastic and paper waste.
• Don’t forget your camera. That will enable you to capture those unforgettable holiday moments and reduce waste by limiting a number of disposable cameras thrown away.
photo credit: jekert gwapo
Christmas tree is essential to many holiday celebrations and for most constitutes a centerpiece with the beautiful decorations. But how do you choose the greenest tree available? Nowadays, there are many options to choose from but all are eco-friendly so how do you pick from live, fresh or artificial trees?
The artificial tree may seem like the greenest choice but they are mainly made in China from oil-derived, polluting PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and may even contain lead. And when they end up in landfills the artificial trees will last there for centuries and contaminate soil and waterways. Fresh trees may be a better choice these days, mainly because they are grown on farms, which prevents deforestation. However, these trees usually require the use of pesticides and are often shipped from long distances.
Here are some ideas for an eco-friendly Christmas tree:
1. Buy live, plantable or bulb tree—these trees come in a pot and can be decorated like any other tree, and after the holidays these trees can be planted outside, which will help the planet breath easier, fight global warming and provide habitat for wildlife.
2. Make your own tree—possible the greenest option available since you’ll be making your tree out of natural materials, e.g. driftwood, pine boughs, felled branches, pine cones etc. Not only will you not be using up precious resources and contributing to waste but also you’ll have a unique creation that can be surprisingly beautiful when decorated. And it may end up being the talk of the neighborhood.
3. Purchase organic or local sustainable farm trees—by buying either organic or from a local sustainable farm, you will reduce CO2 emissions and support local farmers as well as prevent environmental degradation. And after Christmas, make sure that your tree is made into mulch or compost.
4. Buy American-made artificial trees—if you prefer artificial trees, make sure that you purchase American-made since it lowers the chances of the item being contaminated with toxins or lead. Some experts claim that one-time purchase of an artificial tree saves on greenhouse gasses as well as pesticide use. If you’re disposing of your artificial tree, try donating to charity organizations since most recycling programs will not accept them.
Keeping your home clean should not be a battle with the chemicals, most of which are toxic enough to cause some serious damage to your health and the health of your family (especially if you have children). So why reach for these often harmful products when you can have a perfectly clean house with all the natural remedies?
Here are some tips and information about the most potent natural cleaning agents:
• Borax—one of the most powerful cleaning compounds that can be used as a disinfectant, fungicide, preservative and even bug repellent, among other things.
All-purpose cleaner: mix 1 gallon (3-4 liters) of water with a half a cup of borax.
Grease remover: 1 teaspoon of borax with 1 liter (4 cups) of hot water and some lemon juice or vinegar.
Toilet bowl cleaner: pour one cup of borax into the toilet bowl and leave overnight. Scrub or simply flush in the morning for a sparkling effect.
• Vinegar—one of the least expensive natural cleaning agents that can be used for virtually anything, from disinfecting to preserving your fall harvest (for more information about the many uses of vinegar go to “The Many Uses of Vinegar” )
Fabric softener: adding a few drops of vinegar to your load will make the clothes soft and prevent color bleeding. Rubbing some vinegar on the gum stuck to your clothes right before laundry will also help remove it.
Cookware cleaner: a few tablespoons of vinegar mixed with a few teaspoons of salt forms a great mixture for removing stains from your stainless steel or copper pots and pans.
Window cleaner: 1 cup of vinegar mixed with 4 cups of water and a few drops or flakes of soap (optional, depending on how dirty the windows) makes a potent eco-friendly cleaner.
• Baking Soda—another wonder agent that can be used not only in cooking or as a tooth whitening solution but also as a potent cleaner. Its chemical properties make baking soda a great odor neutralizer, gentle dirt, grease and stain remover as well as all-purpose cleaner.
For laundry: for whiter, brighter and odor-free clothes as well as reduced detergent consumption, add a cup of baking soda with the regular detergent (preferably and eco-friendly one).
Deodorizer: pour some baking soda in the trash can to remove the odors; keep an open box of baking soda in the fridge to get rid of the usual fridge smells; and use it anywhere there’s a foul odor you want to eliminate, e.g. shoe closet.
To unclog drains: pour a cup of baking soda and a half a cup of salt down the drain and leave overnight. Flush with two cups of boiling water in the morning.
