Archive for May, 2010
This Friday, eco-friendly fashionistas at EcoSalon are hosting a “pop up shop and green fashion tweet-up.” It will be held at Green Spaces [SoHo] in New York City. It’s a great opportunity for people to see the high-end design of these green designers, and to spread the word to some of fashion’s most influential crowd.
EcoSalon’s Editor in Chief [Sara Ost] and Fashion Editor [Amy DuFault] conveniently collected a group of green fashion designers to showcase their work and further carry out the green movement. Easy access to environmentally friendly fashion all in one place! Some of the big designers include Lara Miller, Doucette Duvall, and NatureVsFuture, but there are many more to be expected. This event will change the green fashion world as we know it, so make sure to stay tuned! A preview of the designers and what to expect in the future:
Once you take your recycling bin to the curb, ever wonder what happens next? Check out this great video via Earth911 and RecycleBank on how paper is recycled. The Facts About Paper and Paper Recycling via Earth911 -In 2008, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 340 pounds for every person in the U.S. -In 2008, a record-high 57.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. -Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. -More than 37 percent of the fiber used to make new paper products in the United States comes from recycled sources. -87 percent (approximately 268 million) of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs. For most of us, we start and end our day in the bathroom. So why not have it be as relaxing and sustainable as possible? You can either make simple changes to your bathroom or go all out and remodel, but I’ll focus on simple changes today. There are a handful of items in the bathroom that could be changed to create a healthier home. Here’s a start, but feel free to add your own in the comments!
Creating an Eco-Friendly Bathroom: -Switch to non-toxic cleaning supplies. Can easily be found online or in local stores. I’ve been using Green Works and 7th Generation lately, but the are numerous brands. -Use organic cotton towels. Organic products are made without harmful chemicals, keeping your home free of toxins. -Use an organic cotton or hemp shower curtain. Or use a shower curtain that will last for years to come. The important part is keeping products out of landfills, so look for products are are recyclable or natural. -Use natural body products. This is especially important since the products we use on our skin have more of a direct impact on our health. There are a ton of different body products available, just look for products with few ingredients that you recognize. Products with long names you can’t pronounce are normally chemical based. -If updating cabinets or shelving, use sustainable wood products or bamboo. -Use a low-flow shower head to conserve water. This is just a list to get you started, so feel free to go above and beyond! If your looking for more information or ideas, check out Verde’s eco-friendly bath products. I’ve always been a fan of the Re-Nest blog, which is part of Apartment Therapy. Their mission is “helping people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and community online.” Which fits in nicely with Verde’s mantra of urban green living and reducing your carbon footprint in as many aspects of your life as possible. My favorite though is their Green Home Tours. The homes are always unique and feature a range of eco-friendly products. Check out my top 5 and click on the images for the full story!  Samantha and Ron's Tranquil Oasis  Rama & Celeste's Former Mattress Factory Loft  Paul and Lisa's Green Dream Home  Chicago's Smart Home, Redesigned  Camela & Chris's Reclaimed Family Farm The weather is getting nicer and— while it’s important to stay healthy— there are other options for staying fit than using endless amounts of electricity in the gym. Instead of using the treadmill or elliptical for hours, try going for a walk with a friend. This will make it easier to get up and exercise, plus much more fun to keep going. Plus, 30 minutes of brisk walking you’ll burn approximately 150 calories. If you’re going for the real cardio workout, take a run along a nice outdoor trail. It will clear your mind and force you to push yourself. The average amount of calories burned in a moderate paced 30 minute run? 390.
Save the trip to the gym just for riding the stationary bike. Get in the habit of biking to run errands. This is a great way to get fit and eliminate carbon dioxide emissions and the use of natural gas of cars. You can get an inexpensive bike at garage sales, Goodwill or even brand new and on sale. Not only will you be positively impacting the Earth, but for every half hour of moderate biking, you’ll burn about 280 calories.
Not up for those extensive exercises? Try doing yoga outdoors. Nature’s sounds and the sunshine will calm you and really enhance your yoga experience. If none of these sound appealing, play a game. Organized sports are a great way to interact with friends and get some good exercise in. Or cool off from the summer sun and get fit by swimming laps or treading water. Water is a great place for exercise because your body doesn’t feel the heat, and you don’t realize how tired you really are. 30 minutes of breaststroke will burn about 350 calories, while treading water is about 150.
The options for outdoor health are endless when you put your mind in it, and you’ll be greatly reducing your carbon footprint. Gyms are using an immense amount of electricity, and you can get just as good [if not better] of a workout out in nature. It’s an easy step to take to further improve the world. And think about what you could do with the extra $40 a month you’ll save on gym memberships this summer. You could get a really great reusable water bottle for that! With Spring finally here, I’ve been seeing more and more community gardens. Five years ago there were only a few in our area, but now it almost seems mainstream. There’s even local apartment complexes that have their own gardens! So what is a community garden?  Community Garden “The basic philosophy of a community garden is that residents share the responsibility of the management and maintenance of the garden. Community gardens also serve as centers of recreation and education, providing a living classroom for schoolchildren. Fruits and vegetables supplied by community gardens also make for healthier neighborhoods.” So if you live in an urban area and don’t have room to grow your own flowers or veggies, you join a community garden instead. Sounds like fun doesn’t it:) So how do you get started?You can always ask your local chamber or search online. Here are a couple of resources I found: Garden Resources Via The Urban Garden Project Urban Gardening Help: Community Gardening Urban Gardening: You Can Grow Food, No Matter Where You Live  Community Garden
May
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Go Green with Greenwala!
Greenwala is a “conscious collective” company that strives to promote green living. Literally translated to “green people,” the Web site was created in 2008 as an outlet for all who care about Planet Earth to come together and make a difference. Whether you want to make your voice heard with the petition system or you want to ask/answer questions, Greenwala is the place to do it. Plus, you can join green groups based on your concerns and ideals. Become a member of Greenwala and you immediately receive 1,500 points. From that point on, each action you take will earn you points. The reward? The point system helps to fund a variety of “socially responsible programs.” Not to mention, you can be qualified to win some sweet surprises each month!
Make sure to check out what’s going on at Greenwala and to sign up so you can start earning points and making a difference! |
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