Use ‘Green’ Energy

More and more people are choosing energy generated by wind- and solar energy, e.g. in Canada:
http://www.bullfrogpower.com/about/about.cfm

Remove yourself from Junk Mail lists

Did you know that 17 billion catalogues are delivered to American households each year, 95% of which are discarded unread? That amounts to nearly 60 catalogs for every person in this country including children - produced at a cost to the earth of more than eight million tons of trees. You can do something about this. Visit the opt-out guide at the Center for a New American Dream website and follow the simple steps to have yourself removed from junk mail lists by, clicking here…

Simplify the Holidays
The New American Dream has an informative site devoted to simplifying the holidays, complete with resources, creative and eco-friendly gift ideas, and other alternative ways to celebrate the spirit of the holidays. Explore the website.

Eat More Sustainably
Eating a variety of fresh, whole foods purchased from local farmers is not only a healthy thing to do for you and your family, but it is also the right thing for the nation. The people who grow true variety for us are family farmers, who care about the future of their lands, and farm with sustainability in mind. Moreover, they are often committed to using a variety of crops and seeds, in contrast to the dominant agricultural movement towards genetically engineered monocultures.

• Eat a Variety of Foods
• Buy Locally Produced Food
• Eat Fewer and Smaller Portions of Animal Products
• Choose Minimally Processed and Packaged Foods
• Prepare Your Own Meals at Home

Use Tree-free, Recycled or Certified paper
Ancient forests are one of the earth’s most spectacular natural wonders, yet after years of logging, most old growth forests have been destroyed. As consumer demand controls the market for wood, our choices can make all the difference in saving these irreplaceable world treasures. To preserve our last unprotected ancient forests while ensuring a supply of lumber for future generations, we have to support sustainable harvesting methods and use sustainable alternatives.

Solarize Your Home
Adding solar panels to your home can greatly reduce, even eliminate your electric bill. The initial investment can be a bit pricey, but it can pay for itself in a few years and then it’s all savings.

Become a Conscious Consumer
In today’s global marketplace, we rarely see what is behind the stuff we buy. Where does a particular product come from, what are the working conditions for the people who created it, what impact has the materials’ extraction had on the natural environment and nearby communities? Watch the Story of Stuff and become a conscious consumer.

Explore Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel
Biodiesel is beginning to drive its way into the automobile market because of higher demands and skyrocketing gas prices. Did you know that consumers are able to produce their own biodiesel fuel which costs around $360 per year for 600 gallons as opposed to $1,122 per year of gasoline at $1.87 per gallon for the same 600 gallons. Car manufacturers are also starting to introduce models that are biodiesel friendly. To learn more about this alternative to gasoline, click here…

Use Fluorescent Bulbs
Get all the light you’re accustomed to, yet only using one third of the energy! Conserving has never been easier than with these fluorescent light bulbs that are three times as efficient as standard, incandescent bulbs. Still, they emit a soft glow similar to that of incandescent lights, so your home won’t have that harsh, washed-out look. Average life span for these bulbs is 8,000 hours — more than five times standard 1,500-hour incandescent bulbs.
http://www.smarthome.com/903220.html

Reduce the Use of Plastic Bags
Did you know that the United States alone uses an estimated 380 billion plastic bags annually? The widespread use of plastic bags is adversely affecting our environment, health, and wildlife. Thousands of whales, sea turtles and other marine mammals die every year from consuming discarded plastic bags, and slow to breakdown, non-biodegradable plastic contaminates our water and soil. For more information on how you can reduce your usage of plastic bags, click here..

Reduce Battery Consumption
Explore rechargeables and other alternatives. Batteries are wonders of convenience because of the transportable nature of their energy. They are also mobile environmental concerns. Did you know that once landfilled, toxic materials from batteries such as cadmium and mercury can contaminate ground water as well as release toxins into the air? Click here to find out how you can reduce battery consumption.

Explore Alternatives to Driving
Did you know that automobiles are the single largest source of air pollution and a major source of water pollution? In addition to the negative impact on our environment, motor vehicles account for some of society’s leading cost, both to the economy and car owners. Whether you live in the city or in a more rural part of the country, there are ways to reduce one’s oil consumption, for which the single-occupant car is most responsible. This month, explore your options for driving to/from work or around town. Try biking, walking, carpooling, or using public transportation for a day, and find out how rewarding it can be to make conscious choices on behalf of a more sustainable world. The following websites can be used as both practical and inspirational resources:
http://www.commuterchoice.com/
http://www.carfree.com/

The True Cost of Bottled Water
Did you know that this $22 billion industry delivers a product where 89 billion liters of it are consumed beyond its country of origin every year? Consider the amount of energy transportation used for a resource we can get locally. Every year 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water, increasing toxins in our environment AND our bodies, and creating higher demand for petroleum. Sustainable alternatives are as close as the kitchen sink, where tap water has stricter regulation standards than bottled water. Also, home filtration systems are inexpensive and have a high output per filter change. If bottled water is your only option, consider a local source, and try to find glass bottles. For more information, click here.