EcoHangers

Couldn't we all use a little more advertising in our life? Hardly, but would you consider it, if it helped reduce over 3.5 billion wire hangers from filling landfills every year? Hangernetwork, a new company in New York, has developed 100 percent recycled paperboard hangers which are FREE to dry cleaners across the U.S. The only catch is that they display advertising on them, which is how Hangernetwork can offer them at no cost. Encourage your local cleaner to switch and have them call 1-800-568-7768 to get started.

Peanut Hotline?

Yes, that's right. A Peanut Hotline. Now I have heard it all. But it could make us all feel a little better. Who hasn't ordered an item on-line or gone into a store and had something shipped to us, only to open the box to hundreds of packing peanuts? Well now you can call 1-800-828-2214, the Peanut Hotline, and they will help you find a store in your city which can reuse your peanuts. Honest.

Urban Rooftops Cont...

After a little research about Chicago and the innovative ways in which this city is promoting green rooftops, I found myself with more questions than answers about how these rooftops actually work. And then I stumbled upon Roofscapes, Inc, a green roof installation firm in Philly. Their web site is overflowing with what the benefits are, which plants work best, what precautions need to be taken to prevent leakage and so much more. Well worth your time to browse and learn.

Rooftop Gardens

Next time you are in a city skyscraper, take a look outside and see just how many green roofs are sprinkled across town. If you are in Chicago, you'll probably see more than a handful, as this mid-West city offers tax incentives and technical assistance to encourage builders and managers to create urban gardens.

These gardens are not just for looks, but rather they offer so much more:
1. They insulate the building in the winter and lower temperatures in the summer, saving heating and cooling costs.
2. They reduce pollution, because electricity plants don't have to power as many air conditioners or heating systems.
3. They save water run-off. Instead of rainwater being funneled to the sewer system, which then dumps into rivers and streams nearby, 75 percent of the water is absorbed by the soil and plants on the roof. Only 25 percent becomes run-off (vs. 95 percent on a asphalt roof), which is "treated" by the soil and plants, thereby making it safer for a stream's water quality level.

Zero Waste

In a small factory in Indiana, Subaru is not only making cars, but also making history. For the past three years, their automotive plant has recycled 99 percent of their waste and the last one percent was used to create electricity.

Instituting a zero waste policy not only helps the environment, it has helped their bottom line too, and who doesn't want that in business?

Reducing Ozone Pollution

When the summer heat starts bearing down, the last chore you want to start at high noon is mowing the lawn. Mowing in the early morning or evening is actually more environmentally friendly too, as fewer gas fumes float into the atmosphere. That goes for filling up at the gas station and making sure any liquid solvents' tops are screwed on tightly. For more ozone saving tips, check out http://www.ozoneaware.org/

Unplug Your World

Did you know that your appliances use electricity without even being on? Next time you head on vacation or even to work in the am, consider unplugging your top electricity wasters - Your TV, home computer and cell phone charger. Saving money and a precious resource in just one pull.

Talk with Your Wallet

Every day we make thousands of choices - What to eat, what to wear, whether or not to go to work, etc... Why not start making some of your decisions based on a slightly altered set of criteria? The next coffee shop or restaurant you go to, ask them if they recycle and if they don't, keep walking. Just remember to tell them why you are leaving, as you walk out the door...

Little Milestones

With a population of over 300 million people in the U.S., we could make an enormous difference if everyone contributed to the same goal - Such as deciding not to print a seemingly tiny slip of a receipt at the gas station. While your contribution to this might be minimal, if everyone did it, we could save thousands of trees.

Energy Saving Lightbulbs

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs, known more affectionately as the energy-saving bulbs, have actually been available in the U.S. for a number of years, but Americans have been slow adapters. That's about to change as G.E. (who owns 60% of this market) and Wal-Mart team up to push these products on the public.

One bulb can last 6-10 years, saves you $30-35/year in energy costs and reduces carbon emissions. (Coal plants provide 50% of the country's electricity.)

While they are 6-8 times more expensive than ordinary bulbs, with Wal-Mart buying in bulk, look for those prices to fall, as competitors try to keep up with the retailing giant.

"Dirty" Towels?

When on vacation, new eateries, new sights and new friends are often the highlights of trips. But there's also something to be said for not having to do your own laundry. However, by choosing not to have your towels and sheets cleaned every day at your hotel, you can save hundreds of gallons of water. Imagine if everyone could use "dirty" towels while on vacation...

Public Sanitation

I admit that I usually ignore these electric hand dryers in the bathrooms when paper towels are present. There is something inherently concrete and reassuring about washing your hands, waving your hand under the paper dispenser for towels and then rubbing them dry.

But, there is a more environmentally friendly way - The electric hand dryer. It takes more time to wait patiently for your hands to dry, but you'll feel better about your choice afterwards.

And don't even get me started with those rotating cloth machines - ICK!

Recycling

Sometimes the most obvious solutions to problems elude us. Recycling, for example. Instead of throwing paper, cardboard or cans/bottles in the trash can, take a few minutes and set up a recycling "center." Three moderately-sized bins where you can store packaging until your local recycling truck swings by or in the case of some urban dwellers, until you can drive to a center on the weekend.

Running Errands

Saturday morning always remind me of errands - To the bank, to the grocery store and if I am feeling really ambitious on a home improvement project, to Home Depot (3-4 times actually). Make those trips in your car count by organizing where you have to drive around town and consolidating all your trips for one day. Saving gas, time and the environment, not to mention your patience.

Newspaper Freak

If you are a news junkie and just can't LIVE without browsing the headlines every morning, cancel your paper subscription and rely on your computer instead. Millions of trees are used every day to create daily newspapers across the U.S. and who wants all that ink on your hands after you have finished reading anyway?

On-line Bill Pay

When the Internet revolution began, the promise of a paper-less society was screamed from the rooftops in Silicon Valley. While we might not be there yet, there has been some major headway. One such example is on-line banking. Not only can you forgo paper statements, but you can also avoid writing checks and stuffing envelopes to pay your bills - With on-line statements saved on a server and the ability to pay your bills with the click of a button, here's to saving some trees!

Refill Anyone?

As landfills expand, it's time to start closely examining exactly what we dump and what we can reuse. A great example is shampoo, conditioner and lotion bottles. Try buying bigger sizes, or purchasing from a company, like Aveda, that welcomes refilling bottles at the store. Or even taking the time to make sure you recycle every bottle instead of dropping it in the trash.

Sharp Idea

While it may not be a huge or trendy topic, like wind energy or recycling, simple decisions about personal hygiene can make a difference. For instance, instead of buying the slightly cheaper disposable razors, buy the one with refillable blades instead. One less piece of plastic not decomposing in your landfill.

The World of Scooters

With the price of gas skyrocketing, isn't it time to reconsider your transportation options? Join the scooter movement and just try to be unhappy - You can't even say the word scooter without smiling and at 80-100 miles per gallon, you'll be laughing all the way past the gas station.