Green Options

If there’s a LEED rated building in your area, whoever built it probably wants you to know about it. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a green building standard developed by the United States Green Building Council
(USGBC.)

LEED is essentially a checklist for architects and builders to determine how green a building is. Factors that make a building green [...]

Disposable chopsticks are reserved mainly for Chinese take-out in America, but are an everyday staple for several Asian countries. Unfortunately, all of those chopsticks add up to a lot of deforestation.

China is the biggest consumer and exporter of disposable wooden chopsticks, producing 45 billion pairs each year, which uses up about 25 million trees. Last year the Chinese government imposed a 5% tax on disposable wooden chopsticks in an attempt to [...]

Do you know where your coffee comes from? Next time you reach for your cup of joe, consider these three things before you drink.

Fair trade. The fair trade certification label ensures that the workers or farmers who produce a product receive a fair price for their goods and have improved labor conditions. The fair trade label also often includes a measure of environmental sustainability and responsibly managed farms. [...]

When you get a new eyeglass prescription, even though your old pair of specs will no longer be useful to you they might be useful to someone else. Next time you get new frames, instead of throwing your glasses away donate them to an organization that will give the gift of sight to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Several charity organizations accept your old prescription glasses to help people in [...]

Many residential recycling programs don’t accept yogurt containers because of the type of plastic they are made of. Many yogurt containers and margarine tubs are made with #5 plastics (polypropylene) or #2 (HDPE - High Density Polyethylene), while many clear soda and water bottles are made from #1 (PET - polyethylene terephthalate) and cloudy bottles, such as milk jugs, are made of #2 plastics. 

Why can’t the makers of yogurt switch plastics? For [...]

In going about our daily routines we all add to the carbon pollution in the atmosphere that contributes to global warming. We produce carbon dioxide emissions directly by driving or flying, and indirectly through goods we purchase and the energy we use. This all adds up to what’s called a carbon footprint.

By calculating your own carbon footprint you’ll be able to roughly find out how [...]

Trees are good for people and for the environment. Forests act as natural sinks for absorbing carbon dioxide, prevent and reduce soil erosion and water pollution, and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees also add green space in urban settings and offer a sense of beauty and community. When appropriately landscaped around buildings, trees serve as wind buffers, create shade to reduce energy costs, and improve overall property value. [...]

Did you know you can choose where your power comes from? More than 600 utility companies in 36 states offer their customers the option of green power. That means you can support renewable energy sources such as wind and solar instead of conventional coal fired or nuclear power plants just by paying your monthly electricity bill.

How it works. When you sign up to a green power program, you are supporting your [...]

Keep your home free of flies by taking some common sense precautions and trying out a few non-toxic pest control methods.

Keep it clean.

The first step in pest control is to make sure areas around food, compost and garbage are kept clean.
Wash garbage bins regularly and use tight fitting lids.
Take compost outside or keep it in your refrigerator.
If you do have food out for extended [...]

Whether you do it yourself or leave it to the professionals, conducting a home energy audit will help you determine what improvements you’ll need to make your home more energy efficient, so you can live more comfortably and start saving money on utility bills.

An energy audit requires a look at your annual energy usage and an examination, or walk through, of your home. Unfortunately, since houses aren’t built as energy [...]