Archive for the ‘Conservation’ Category
Jul
28
Greening Your Home OfficeIf you get a lot of use out of your home office, chances are it uses up a lot of energy. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your home office more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Use Dropbox to share files and projects. Download the application for free onto your computer and/or smart phone and access your documents and their most recent changes. This is a great way to eliminate unnecessary paper waste! Trade in your planner for a computer or phone organizer. Some great alternatives to paper planners: Google calendar, iCal, Outlook, the Organizer iPhone app, Action Complete for Android. Utilize natural sunlight as much as possible. When you need to turn on a light, screw in an LED lightbulb, which last longer and are much more energy efficient than regular light bulbs. Definitely worth the investment!
If you depend on sticky notes, try the recycled kind. Use biodegradable pens to write on them! Recycle your printer cartridges. Many cartridges come with instructions for recycling on the box. For more information about recycling office supplies, visit Laser-Tone.com. Instead of buying new office furniture, check out used options at cubicledepot.com.
Reduce your energy and your carbon footprint by cutting down on the electricity you use. Keep appliances and electronics that you don’t use often unplugged and only plug them in when you need to use them. When you turn things off, make sure they’re really “off” and not on “standby”–this setting still sucks up energy. Plug your computer and other often-used electronics into a Smart Strip, which monitors energy consumption and cuts off the power supply when your electronics aren’t in use. It’s simple, but effective: keep a receptacle for recyclables in your office. Use Skype or another video-calling service to conduct meetings instead of burning gas to drive to them. Last but not least, eco-friendly and sustainable furniture and accents will complete your space. Don’t forget! There are only a few more days to use the Verde Lifestyles summer coupon code! Use summer2k10 to get 15% off of orders of $100 or more until August 1!
Jul
21
The Power Is Yours!In light of recent events, we thought it would be appropriate to remind everyone of one of the world’s most awesome and long forgotten hero’s, Captain Planet. For those of you too young to remember this legend, he and his team of kick ass planeteers fought polluting villains all over the world. With all of their powers combined, these kids summoned Captain Planet in times of great peril, when their own personal efforts just could not withstand their enemies.  Captain Planet and The Planeteers Using their five elements; earth, wind, fire, water and heart, the Planeteers fought everything from narcissistic planet sapping scientists to warlike spirits whose only goals were to destroy Captain Planet and Mother Earth. Although many stories told through the animation were exaggerated by magnificent feats of nature, the underlying themes of greed, corruption, polluting and irresponsibility are still very prevalent today. Captain Planet tells a timeless message, we must always be aware of our actions. Unfortunately, our forgotten hero is only as real as our thoughts and dreams and cannot be summoned on a whim to clean up massive oil spills in seconds or prevent lazy people from throwing away recyclables. That power is ours. Do your part to help the planet, even if it’s as simple as washing out that empty yogurt container and tossing it in the recycling bin instead of the trash.
We’re all very thankful that BP’s leaky pipes have finally been patched up, but the aftermath left in its wake will leave lasting effects for years to come. There are still plenty of ways you can help the efforts going on in the gulf, check out our post a few weeks back on what you can do today: Help Clean Up For old times sake, here’s a little parting tune to get you in the mood… Link to Captain Planet Theme Song We’ve all been inundated with information on the oil spill over the past month. Most of the articles are focused on the politics of the situation and the latest updates, so I thought I’d include links to articles for helping out. There are so many ways to become involved, here are just a few that I found. Please feel free to include any other sites you find in the comments. Gulf Oil Spill Aftermath: How to Help How You Can Help Wildlife Impacted by the BP Oil Spill Want to learn more about the oil spill? Here are sites that have up to date information on the spill.
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! We all wonder what we can do to improve our home without damaging the environment, but sometimes it’s hard to find viable answers. So we’ve composed a list with the three best green home trends of 2010, as well as ways to make them affordable and fun! Energy Efficiency: Not only is saving energy incredibly beneficial to Planet Earth, but also lifts a load off the wallet. One of the simplest ways to decrease our carbon footprint is by purchasing LED or CFL light bulbs. LED light bulbs are extremely efficient. Though they can be pretty expensive, LED’s last up to 10 times as long as standard light bulbs by using only 2-10 of electricity. That can be up to 1/30th of traditional fluorescents. Another option is CFL light bulbs, which are very popular right now. Although they contain mercury, they are still much more energy efficient than standard light bulbs. Other great options may require a bit more work, but certainly retain some incredible benefits. These other options include R 38 insulation, high efficiency AC systems, passive solar orientation, solar panels, energy rated appliances, and tankless water heaters. Make sure to do your research and compare prices, and you’ll be pleased to see how much money [and energy] you’ll save in the long run.
Bamboo in the Home: There are countless benefits to using bamboo in your home. Whether used for hardwood floors or countertops, it’s easy to install and maintain. Bamboo is an incredibly durable material, so it also works well for dishware, especially if you have kids! Bamboo is also very pretty, so it looks fabulous as an indoor and outdoor plant. It can be fairly cheap to purchase, especially compared to traditional flooring and countertops. Perhaps the greatest benefit of bamboo, though, is the fact that it’s the world’s fastest growing plant. This makes it the perfect renewable source. Also because of its abundance, it’s super easy to come across a quality and inexpensive lot of bamboo. There’s no reason not to try, especially since you’ll love how the bamboo looks in any situation!
Sustainable Home Products: We’ve given you tips for more efficient energy and green building, so to complete the triangle, we now address green decorating. In the bedroom, use organic cotton bedding. Living areas can be spiced up with decorative throw pillows. You’ll love the limitless options of designs, textures, and colors! When decorating your kitchen, use products made from organic clay or recycled glass. Your kitchen will be beautiful and eco-friendly! In the bathroom, don’t forget organic towels and natural soaps to keep the place bright! Finally, when decorating the dining room, think organic table toppers and accents. No matter what part of your home you plan to decorate, there is always a sustainable product fit to make it look great!
These are only three suggestions for ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. For more ideas, make sure to check out Verde Lifestyles! And don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone when decorating and researching new green home ideas.
Here at Verde Lifestyles, we want to wrap up Earth Week with a reminder to recycle any and all household products. Whether it be reusing, donating, or disposing of recyclable products, make sure to do it properly! Visit our Guide to Green Living for some helpful tips, as well as some creative ideas to reuse your loved home goods. Another great way to recycle is to buy products that are refurbished or made from recovered parts. Many of our table top accents and serving pieces are 100% recycled. It’s a great first step to keeping Mother Earth happy! Make sure to check back for other interesting facts to think about, as well as more tips on how to keep your home environmentally friendly.
Apr
17
Earth Day Events: EnviroExpoThis year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! There are so many great events to go to this month that we thought we would highlight the ones we’ve checked out. Today we went to Windsor for the EnviroExpo, an event for consumers to educate and entertain on environmental issues. Here are a few of the vendors we met:
Recharge Mower: I’ve seen different types of electric and manual mowers, but with the electric you have a cord and the manual is a little bit more labor intensive. But with a rechargeable mower, there is no gas, no oil or emissions. Jamieson: A health product manufacturer that is really going the extra mile. Their goal is to plant 20,000 trees by Canada’s Environment Week in June. They were giving small pine trees at the event and if you planted them would plant a tree in return. Natural Passage: This is one industry I have not heard of going green…funeral homes. It was a company that offered a greener choice for your funeral arrangements. They had sustainable wood coffins that were manufactured without nails, soy candles for your funeral, and bamboo clothing. Not something I really want to think about, but good to know those type of services are offered. Enfinity: This is an Canadian company that leases unused land to install solar panels. I had never heard of land lease for solar and thought it was such a cool concept. Any 1,000 sq.ft. of land can be used, whether its barren agricultural fields, used landfills, deforested areas, or unused/unusable land. Verde Lifestyles will also be selling products at the “Urbane” Green Networking Event in Corktown on the 22nd and the Western Market Earth Day After Party in Ferndale on the 23rd. Other Earth Day events we will be going to are the MI Earth Day Fest in Rochester on the 23rd-25th and the Green St. Fair in Plymouth the first weekend in May. We’ll also be writing about each event. Hopefully we’ll see you there!
Despite the fact nearly every store carries a variety of water bottles, people are still buying cases and cases of bottled water. According to Planet 911, about 80% of Americans’ water bottles end up in landfills every year. That’s over 23 billion plastic water bottles a year polluting our home. Make the switch to a reusable water bottle and you’ll not only be happy with how fresh your water will taste, but also with how much better it is for the environment!
Once you picked out your favorite water bottle, it’s time to fill it up! The drinking water in most US cities is very clean, so tap water is the standard. This is not only eco-friendly, but it’s easy on the wallet! You’ll save more than 80% of what you’re spending on bottled water when you just use the tap. Not to mention, you’re saving even more of the planet!
Another option [if your tap water isn't up to your standards] is to buy a filtering system. Whether in ground, attached to the faucet, or a pitcher in your refrigerator, you’re going to be pleased with a filter’s crisp water. Make sure to always select filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), because they are tested to make sure each filter removes and does what it says. National Geographic offers some information regarding how to pick an appropriate filter, whether it be through carbon-filter, reverse-osmosis, ultraviolet light or distillation. No matter if you choose to drink from the tap or buy a filter, you’re sure to be pleased when you make the switch to reusable water bottles. Mother Earth will be thrilled, too!
Apr
11
Recycle Your Bottle Caps!Ever wonder what goes into your favorite organic throw pillows? Danielle and I went to a local Douglas J Institute (Aveda) to get our hair cuts and saw a cap recycling station!
I’ve never actually seen a small bin dedicated to this particular item, but I know that the Whole Foods we shop at allows you to put the caps in with plastics #3-#7. Speaking of Whole Foods, the one up in Rochester is going to be recycling more unique items soon including batteries and corks. We’re super excited for the corks because we’re major wine-o’s and love our cabernets. We’ve got a small collection going (see below) for the day they open up the new recycling section.
Also below this is a before shot of my hair, ridiculous. You’ll have to come see us at Westborn Market in Berkley on the 23rd to see what our new hairdos look like. We’ll have some sweet products on hand including new soaps, fall scented candles, bamboo rugs and decor pillows with the aforementioned recycled bottle cap inserts.
Suggestions from our Guide to Green Living: We highly recommend reusing all products after their current life-cycle. Our fabrics, although durable and of only the highest quality, will eventually fade. Old fabrics work great for dusting and cleaning, as well as mop heads and other floor cleaning materials. Our fabulous pillows are made to hold their shape far longer than others due to quality recycled plastic and down alternative fillings. When their life has ended, they can still work well as cushions. One of the best alternatives is to pamper your pet and turn these items into a cozy bed! Our fantastic duvets can function as curtains and tapestries, offering a simple and refreshing change in home decor without getting rid of your favorite old bedding. You can also get creative by placing them over canvas for a decorative piece of wall art! No matter what the product, you can always donate it. Whether it has outlived its life-expectancy, has outgrown its appeal or has simply been replaced, there is someone out there who would cherish it and give it a new home!
Turning Duvets to Tapestries: Once you’re ready to replace your duvet, don’t be afraid to turn it into a beautiful set of curtains! Simply sew a desired piece of fabric to the back in order to line your curtains. Then hem the top of the duvet so you can stick a hanging rod through it. Then you’ll be able to hang your beautiful, organic cotton tapestries wherever you please! It’s a simple and quick way to make a change in your bedroom and to transform an additional room in your home! Mounting Bedding over Canvas: Making a gorgeous piece of wall art is really easy! Just buy an appropriate sized canvas, stretch the fabric tightly over [with no wrinkles!] and fasten the fabric in the back. For this, we highly recommend using a staple gun. Then place it on any wall in your home and immediately alter the decor in your home! Your beautiful fabrics will never again go to waste! |
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