9 Green Tips on "How To" Cut Your High Energy Bill

By: db
In this article we will cover some easy and simple things you can do to save energy and help reduce your monthly energy bill. Think Green!

Green Investments:
A good place to start is with your light bulbs. If you're still using incandescent bulbs, you should switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or regular fluorescent bulbs. Many cities in the United States have an exchange program, where your city will replace your incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs -at no cost.

Green Power Save gadget:
This handy gadget will help to monitor the supply of power to your home and regulate the usage. It will use the minimum needed to supply all your power needs.

Green Usage:
The first thing you need to do is become aware of the extra energy your using. When you go to another room, be sure to turn of the lights. Even if you are gone for only a few minutes, this will help to get yourself trained to continually turn off unneeded appliances.

Your Green Perception:
What do you perceive as an electronic appliance? Would you turn off a TV or a
radio, but not the reading lamp? These small and simple tasks will help in a huge
way to reduce your energy usage.

Green Appliance Usage:
If we start thinking green when it comes to using our major home appliances, we can eliminate the myth that the more gadgets we have, the higher our power bills will be. Some of the typical high energy usage appliances include:

Washer and Dryer- Try do laundry only when you have full loads, and if possible, try switching to a gas dryer.

Water Heater- Set the water heater to be on the minimum amount of time, and if possible, switch to a tankless water heater.

You might think that purchasing these new appliances defeats the purpose of saving money on your energy bill. However, you will find, most of the time, that you will get an energy credit on your taxes for making this purchase, and saving energy in the long term.

Heater & Air Conditioner- By setting these appliances to only the minimum amount required to be comfortable, you can greatly reduce the energy they use.

Computer- By turning off your computer monitor when you take a break can make a huge difference. It only takes a second to turn it back on... think of it as a light bulb.

You must stick to this energy saving lifestyle to reduce your energy bills and help save the world. We need to stop thinking about ourselves, and think of the next generations to come!

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill.
Get our complete guide at Earth4Energy
About the Author
Do your part to provide a environmentally safe future for the next generation! Peace

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An Alternative Way of Gardening: The Organic Garden

By: Hank Gordon
A lot of people seem to think that an organic garden is just for hippies and vegetarians. They think it is a difficult and hard way to grow vegetables and flowers while in fact they could not have been further from the truth. Having an organic garden is not difficult at all and it certainly is not just for hippies and vegetarians. When you know that most organic fertilizers are made from animal products you will understand that vegetarians need to be very careful with organic gardening.

Owning a organic garden is not hard at all the only thing where you should be aware of is that you do not use synthesized products. You can use normal seeds and plants they do not need to be organic at all. The only seeds you can not use are genetically modified seeds.

The same people who think that having an organic garden makes you a hippie also often think that your organic garden needs to be animal friendly. Well most gardeners also those who have an organic garden are not always the greatest friends of the local wildlife. And be honest would you be, when your carefully grown crops are being eaten by some rabbits?

There are all kind of gardeners and those that have a organic garden will never use chemicals or pesticides but some are known to shoot a rabbit occasionally, to scare it away or to eat it. A more natural meal is hard to find.

Is an organic garden the same as a natural garden?

A natural garden does not exist, every garden is in fact artificial when you are the one that decides what to grow and at what place in contrary to nature where nothing is planned. a organic garden is not a natural garden if we have land where we let nature do its thing we usually do not call it a garden we call it wasteland. In our gardens we like to decide what are considered weeds and what we consider to be plants or flowers and a organic garden is no different. If our organic garden is suffering from drought you would be crazy not to water those carefully planted flowers and vegetables. As you can see an organic garden also takes some unnatural growing methods.

Vegetarians who own a organic garden should be aware that many of the
fertilizers and other organic garden products contain animal products like fish oil, leather and bone. They need to read all the ingredients on these products.

Although it is not necessary to call your garden an organic garden a very good and "natural" way to control bugs and pest is to mix specific plants together, if you do some research you learn that by placing for example onions and carrots together you will reduce pests and insects. Sometimes you can even use certain weeds to repel bugs and pests. You can also use insects like ladybugs to reduce louse, the ladybugs eat the louse and your organicly grown roses will be more beautiful then ever.
About the Author
Hank Gordon has a passion for gardening and wants the world to know how relaxing and rewarding it can be. On his website he talks about front yard landscaping and landscape ideas

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Herb Gardening With your Children

By: Mary Hanna
Herb gardening with children is a delightful way to engage children in gardening as a hobby. Both your teenagers and young children will enjoy herb gardening. Teach them about the history of herbs and their many uses. Not only will they get a feeling of satisfaction about growing the herbs but they will feel a sense of contribution to the family when the herbs are used in cooking. They will be amazed at what they have accomplished through a mere seed.

For centuries herb gardening has been popular. In addition most of the very popular herbs are disease resistant and can overcome very arid climates. There are two advantages to an herb garden hobby. One, they can be planted indoors at any time and if you want to plant outside they only take a few weeks to sprout giving your children a sense of wonderment quickly. So if the kids are bored during the cold months being cooped in side an indoor herb garden is perfect. Choose fragrant smelling herbs or herbs that will spice up your food. Imagine how much fun they will have when they sprinkle fresh basil from their garden on their pizza.

To begin an herb garden with your children you will need to get some easy to find basic items. Start small with six pots that have holes in the bottom. Have the kids paint the pots for an additional activity. Next you will need either seeds or already started plants from your nursery center or from the internet.

Only a few basic easy to find items are necessary to begin an herb gardening project with your children. The most popular herb plants for children are Lavender, Sage, Mint, Coriander, Basil, Parsley and Oregano. You will need some good potting soil also available at the nursery center. Have on hand some plastic wrap, Popsicle sticks, a marking pen and poster paints if the kids are going to paint the pots.

Once you have gathered your supplies it is time to plant. Fill the pot with soil and have the kids scatter a few seeds over the top (check to make sure the seeds don't overlap). Have them gently place soil over the seeds and light tamp down. Plant more then a few seeds since some seeds won't sprout.

Water the soil but don't drown it. Herbs do no like to have "wet feet". However do not allow them to dry out. With your marking pen, label the Popsicle stick with the name of the herb and insert into the pot.

To conserve on moisture cover the pot with plastic wrap. Make sure you uncover them for fresh air every other day so mildew cannot form.

Now it is time to find a sunny spot to place your herb garden. Herbs need 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. In two to six weeks, depending on the herbs you have chosen, your seeds will begin to germinate. Off with the plastic wrap now that they are ready to grow.

The kids will love watching them grow and smelling their fragrances. It's time to enjoy your herb garden with your children.

Once the kids have been successful in this project you may wish to branch out and start growing some other herbs. This project of herb gardening with your children will truly inspire your kids with a love and appreciation of gardens and herbs.

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
About the Author

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No Cost,Fun Summer Activities for the Whole Family

By: Aurelia Williams
Summer is coming up right around the corner. Families everywhere are planning out some fun vacations to celebrate the beautiful weather. Amusement parks and renting cabins are popular ways to spend your summer, but not everyone can afford them. Here are some no-cost ways to spend your summer with the whole family throughout the season:

Start a book club-Pick a spot in the backyard, and lay down a blanket large enough to fit the whole family. Have some cookies, lemonade and whatever snacks you choose to have. Use a book from the library and take turns reading it out loud. You can even discuss some things that occur in the book. Consider making it a weekly event and invite your neighbors and friends to participate as well.

Treasure Hunt- Some kids are into anything to do with pirates. You could plan a treasure hunt with their help. Scour your backyard, local beach or park and find things you could put into a treasure chest. The kids could also make some of their own items to place in the chest too. Spend some time searching for pirate information on the internet and use what you find to make up your very own treasure map. Then bury the chest or hide it in the house and let the kids try out the map they created.

Gardening- Make up a small garden or use a small portion of your existing garden. Let each of your children have a row or small area to use to grow whatever they choose to. Each child is responsible for taking care of their own crops. Help them research the item they chose to grow so they can see how to best care for it. When their crop is ready to harvest, they can reap from the hard work they put into growing it.

Help your child's interests to grow- Find out what interests your child and help them research it. If your child is into sports, you can research their favorite team or print images off the net and start a scrapbook of their team. If your child is into crafts, you can research craft projects on the net and find some that are no-cost and interest the child. Teenagers may be more interested in playing a game of basketball, baseball or visiting a zoo.

Movie night- Some libraries have movies you can rent. Pick a night each week and watch a movie the whole family could enjoy. The children can take turns picking out what they want to watch for that week. Have your bowl of popcorn or whatever snack you choose, and sit back with your family in your own "home theater".

There are plenty of ways to spend some fun time during the summer that doesn't cost you money. Use your creativity, imagination, and get ideas from your children on what they would like to do. Plan some of those activities as a family and enjoy your summer.
About the Author
For more help, visit Finding More Family Time for tips for a happy family life.

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Simple Bird Feeder

Last week I spruced up the entry way of my home. Well in front of my home I have a large window where my desk looks out into the front yard. In front of the window are three bushes, a palm tree and a bench. Each year I paint my bench to help protect it from the extreme heat we experience here in Arizona. This Year I painted my bench a teal.

The bench looked great and goes well with my Tuscan/ Spanish flair. I moved to Arizona from New Mexico and I have always been surrounded by Spanish culture. These influences inspired my Tuscan/Spanish motif and I love all the rich colors and textures you find in the style. However the bench needed something else, so I made a simple bird feeder.

I went to my Home Improvement Center and bought a plant stand (14”), a plastic plant tray (14”), a colorful pot plate (15”), fern and bird seed. I first dug a hole next to my bench and planted my fern. I then assembled my bird feeder by placing the plant stand over the fern next to my bench; I then placed the plastic tray snug into the holder, then placed the colorful pot plate on top and filled with bird seed.

All the colors work well together and it looks great from the street and my desk. The cats enjoy hours of entertainment with all of the different birds who stop by to eat and the sweet tweets tell me spring his here.

Home Improvements in the Air!

Well you can tell its spring, the lines are long at Home Improvement Centers with people buying flowers, potting soil and everything else to brighten up their homes. I stopped in to buy some plants and potting soil so I could spruce up my entry way.

Exhibit A (Entry Way)

My entry way was boring and covered with leaves. It needed a little color, a little piazza! I had just stopped at a Garage Sale prior to stopping at my local Home Improvement center and found several different size pots, a yellow flower candle holder, door mat and three hanging clay bull heads. They were perfect to add to my Tuscan/Spanish home feel.

Exhibit B (My Fines)

Here is a picture of my treasures. The best part is they cost me under $15 and they are in great shape. I like Garage selling because I feel I get a great deal and I am helping recycle Items that other wise would end up in a land fill. Not everything needs to be brand new or pricey to look good.

Exhibit C (The final Results)

Much more inviting and I love how it makes my entry area pop! These Items work great and go well with my other plants; I think the cat likes it to.

My Blog is Carbon Neutral

Did you know that a blog with 15,000 visits a month produces an equivalent of 8 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions? Who would have thought Blogging would be environmentally damaging. To off set these emissions a team In Germany have created an eco-friendly invitation to blogger called “Make it Green”

Since Blogging has become so popular it is up to us to lessen our carbon footprint. The people behind this eco-campaign are a German company called Kaufda. They are planting trees in cooperation with The Arbor Day Foundation. The trees will be planted in the Plumas National Forrest in Northern California to help neutralize the carbon footprint. Plumas has had its share of fires in the last 10 years has lost 88,000 acres of trees. So when you join and support carbon neutral Blogs they promise to plant one tree. One Blog = One Tree!



Let’s do our part and spread the word. Join and improve our carbon foot print! Way to go Kaufda.de thanks for caring for the world around us. I will proudly display my carbon neutral button and look for other ways to minimize my footprint on this planet.

Camping With Kids

By: Paul Banas

There's nothing 6 year olds or older kids love more than being in the outdoors. Camping is an outdoor recreational activity involving spending one or more nights in a tent, a primitive structure, a travel trailer or recreational vehicle at a campsite with the purpose of getting away from civilization and enjoying nature. National parks and other publicly owned natural areas are popular venues for camping. Camping is often restricted by law to designated sites in order to prevent campers from damaging the environment.

You can use camping to teach the kids independence and self-sufficiency. Survivalist campers set off with little more than their boots on the roughest of trails—the idea being to really gut it out. However, you might prefer to set up a tent within a few hundred feet of a campsite. This can serve as base camp from where you can set out on nature hikes, which include fishing and swimming.

Camping usually is a breeze with kids this age. They can help set up the tent and unload the car and can be trusted to remain nearby without continual supervision. One thing though—every child must have their own flashlight! Everyone loves making cool shadows on the tent walls and all hell breaks loose if sharing is required. Kids enjoy looking at the different kinds of insects that they can find. They might even catch frogs and minnows near the lakes and streams. You could let them examine these creatures and return them unharmed to the wild. Also, carry bug jars, nets, and buckets.

Hiking with six to eight year olds is generally a comedy of errors. Buy some of those disposable cameras or provide your kids with cheap cameras at the start of a hike. The novelty of being able to carry their own cameras will get you through your travels that day. Get the photos developed at a one-hour place if possible while you are still traveling - and then make a huge deal about their incredible pictures. Alternatively, you could provide them with some of the latest digital cameras that give an instant printout—however, you better be a "richdad" if you decide to make this choice. The next time you hike, the kids will be eager as long as you provide them with enough batteries and enough film or digital storage media!

Pick a theme for the trips. It helps you organize activities around a central concept. Much easier! Some favorites are "Western" including a chuck wagon meal, corn bread muffins and tea. You could come up with 20 ways to use a bandana around camp and practice tying knots with one-foot sections of rope. At night, you could have a small campfire with twigs and sing old western cowboy songs, try some cowboy poetry and learn a little about the stars.

The "Survivor" theme is another hit, focusing on back-to-the-basics camping essentials. Children this age can grate cheese, stir a cooking pot, fetch water, hand wash and hang laundry, clean up around camp and even pitch the tents with a little help. They love to hike (1 to 2 miles) with frequent breaks. Be sure to take along a trail mix snack the kids can make themselves. You could even make it a bit of a competition. Kids love competitions.

"Explorer" themes like Lewis and Clark are great for this age group, too. They naturally love to explore. Take along magnifying glasses, containers, nets and plastic cups to catch and examine insects. Set a firm, no touching policy for reptiles, insects and plants until they've been identified—this saves a lot of worry. Use handbooks to make identification.

Always involve the kids in the basics of the camp. If the adults do all the preparing, cooking, and cleaning, the kids don't learn. The look on children’s faces is priceless when they’ve made their first wood campfire or pitched their first tent. The best advices is plan with the kids, but always leave plenty of room for running, swimming, biking or just kicking around a ball. Kids love to comb beaches, draw in the dirt and gather rocks. Always have paper and crayons handy, cards are good, too - but don't worry about entertaining the kids 24x7. Camping is all about learning to entertain you without TV and games. Throw in a book or favorite magazine for yourself, and use your imagination to fill in the rest.

If the kids behave well, reinforce their behavior with a prize. The prizes can be simple little things usually picked up at the local five and dime store...i.e. bubbles, a comic book, a toy car, a box of crackerjacks...etc. You could also shop for your prizes online. Wrap the prizes to make it even more exciting. Gift wrapping material is available in an assortment of colors. With the short attention spans kids have, the new prize will tide them over 'til the next stop.

Take the illuminated "glow" sticks (the kind in the foil cover that you break and shake) to use at bedtime for night lights. Tie one to the ceiling of the tent when the children retire and untie and lower it when you retire. Bring one for each night of camping. The soft glow becomes softer as the night wears on and is gentle on adult eyes! You may prefer the green ones versus the red one—the red are brighter it seems.

The camp journal. Take plain white paper - about 5 sheets per kid. Get you kids to fold the pile in half and hold it together with a paper clip. Get them to color the front cover and title it My Camp Journal. Kids are very proud of their journal. If there are some kids who can't read or write yet, tell them to do pictures instead of writing in them. They will have a nice memory of their first trip.

Bring cards. You can play many games with a simple deck of cards. They can even be a deck that is missing cards. Young kids don't know/care. Go fish, and war, and let the kids explore their wild side under controlled conditions.

Pack lots of socks for each child—at least two pairs or more per day. If there is a drop of water, or mud puddle of any kind to be found, they will find it! Don't expect the socks to come clean even with the best of detergents.

If you have an FRS (family radio service walkie talkies), one of the neat things you and your kids could do, is a game of high tech hide-and-seek of sorts... they can hide out, and you have to find them (providing they can see you when they hide, for safety's sake)... and vice versa... lots of fun, and you can use the walkie talkies all the time, in stores when you go shopping and she is with her stepmother, or other times. A walkie talkie is a wonderful little gadget for kids!

Just use your imagination and remember what it was like to be a kid... ideas of things, little things you can do to make anything more fun will fill your mind almost instantly! One last thing, when talking with a kid about anything serious, get down to their level! Squat down or get them up on something high so they can see eye to eye with you and not feel intimidated... hug your kid, and be thankful everyday for the blessing they truly are... they can be a challenge, but they are there for you too... remember that.

About the Author

Paul B.



For more information about parenting dads, please visit: http://www.greatdad.com

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Simple Green Parenting Tips

By: Bounce Energy

I’ve noticed that the topic in everyone’s conversations these days (aside from employment and the economy), is going green. It’s all over – TV, newspapers, magazines – you name it and it probably has something about going green. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great. I do think it is important to care for the environment, but everything I hear to do to help seems to be on a larger scale. So it got me thinking, what could I do as a parent to help the environment? Well, I discovered some simple green parenting tips to follow, which can help save the environment.

Tip#1 – Rethink the baby wipes
I was on one of my most favorite sites, babycenter.com, and they had an article on steps to take to go green and something caught my eye. They reported that most baby wipes take several hundred years to break down. To be honest, I never really gave much thought to wipes or the footprint they leave on the environment. I read that on average people use about 5,000 wipes per baby, which means there are a lot of wipes in landfills. So as an alternative, I found that there are companies that have created 100% biodegradable wipes. One company I’ve seen in particular is Nature Babycare (www.naty.com), and they offer a variety of biodegradable products including biodegradable wipes.

Tip #2 – Switch to cloth diapers
According to an article from the Mother Nature Network, kids use an average of eight diapers a day until they are potty-trained. So if you take an average age of 2 ½ years to potty train a child then you are looking at approximately 7,300 used diapers and that is just for one child! Just think of all the diapers out there that are in landfills for years (along with the wipes). An alternative to using disposable diapers are today’s version of cloth diapers. I know what you are probably thinking, “cloth diapers, never”, but the thing that makes it different from our parents’ time is the inserts that fit inside the cloth diapers. A company called gDiapers has created a 100% biodegradable insert that is actually safe to flush down the toilet.

Tip #3 – Purchase wood toys instead of plastic
In the book, Green Parenting, it says that plastic and battery operated toys can contain hazardous materials such as phthalates or plastic softeners. This can be dangerous for many reasons, one primarily because it seems that most babies learn by putting things in their mouths, I can personally attest to this, my child is at this stage and puts everything in her mouth. So the answer to this is to purchase wood toys finished with nontoxic paint instead of the plastic ones. They may not be as shiny or as loud (which actually may be a good thing for parents), but they don’t contain the dangerous toxins which is key. The company Wooden Toys carries over 500 wood items that are each crafted with non-toxic paint and 100% child safe design.

Tip #4 – Toy and clothing swaps
As most parents have probably seen, it is amazing the number of toys, activity centers, and clothes. that are recommended for babies to grow and learn. Personally, my daughter’s clothes and equipment seem to outnumber our belongings by at least two to one, and she is only four months old! Not only are these things generally bulky and take up space, but it can also get expensive keeping up with her development. To try to combat this, I‘ve started to see parents exchanging toys and clothing. This can help save a lot of money plus it can save on storage space.

Tip #5 – Make your own baby food or buy organic
In an article on green parenting called “10 Tips for Green Parenting” they say that “[i]n addition to being better for the environment, natural healthy food from the start reduces the later risk of heart disease, allergies, behavioral problems, and many other ailments”. Whether this is completely true or not, it is something to think about. One way to do this is by making your own baby food. This has been a “hot” topic for many of my friends with babies, and I’ve read that it is pretty easy to make yourself. But if you like the idea but would prefer some assistance to make the job easier, then Williams Sonoma has a product called the Beaba Babycook. It is a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster in one small appliance that makes it easy to prepare fresh, healthy meals for a baby (I haven’t tried it out personally but it looks easy). But if making baby food isn’t your thing you can always purchase organic baby food at your local grocery store, which is also healthy and nutritious.

About the Author

Bounce Energy is a Texas Electric Company based in Houston. Bounce Energy's goal is provide more than low Texas Electric Rates to our customers. With innovative and flexible plans, excellent customer service, and superior customer rewards, Bounce Energy offers a unique approach to Texas electricity.

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Getting Your Kids to Eat Better

By: Genesis Davies

Healthy snacks are almost always refused by today’s savvy kids. I can’t tell you how many times, as a parent, I’ve wished my kids had never seen a cookie or tasted a soda, but there are ways to get kids to eat better.

Even if you aren’t a big fan of the “sneaky food” idea where you make cakes with carrots and zucchini, you can still get your kids to eat. Here are a few tips:

Make it for dip. Kids love dip. They might not be too impressed with veggies and dip (though you can try!) so you might want to try making the dip the healthy part. Mix yogurt or sour cream with pureed cooked carrots and a little liquid cheese for an orange dip, or blend one part cream cheese with two parts sour cream and then blend it with spinach and a little roasted garlic.

Add it to pizza. Pizza isn’t as unhealthy as most people think. In fact, you can make it something even healthier by adding a ton of veggies to it. A great way to do this is to have vegetables on hand, already sliced and ready to go. Then get your kids to help you make the pizza . . . it works best to create individual size pizzas. Ask them to choose three or four veggies to put on their pizza, or show them how to make faces with olive eyes, red pepper mouth, etc.  This will get at least a few veggies on their pizza!

Make a three bite rule. In our house, you can’t say you don’t like something until you’ve tried it. Most kids will reject that first bite just out of principal, so why not make it a three bite rule? They don’t have to be big bites, just a little taste will do. If your child still doesn’t like the food, ask them to describe WHY they dislike it before allowing them to discontinue. For some, this won’t be worth it and they will just eat their food after all.

Respect their tastes. One woman I know let her children choose three foods they didn’t want to eat. They did this each week and she could see at a glance which foods, such as onions, had been on the list nearly permanently and allowed the children to skip those foods. It made for fewer mealtime battles and let her kids have some control over what they ate.

Repeat favorites. There’s no rule saying you have to give your kids a gazillion different greens. If your kids like a couple of fruits and vegetables, let them eat those over and over. Eventually they will expand their horizons and their taste buds.

The big thing is not to get into fights over healthy food. Kids go through stages and if you fight, you will not only turn mealtime into a war zone and possibly turn them off good food for a  very long time, it’s not enjoyable for you, either. So, keep it low key, offer them variety and don’t stress out if your little children refuse to touch a leaf of green . . . just offer them something they will eat.

About the Author

For some fun, kid-friendly recipes, check out Gourmet Mama. We offer a variety of quick meals, plus food your kids will actually eat!

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Going Green Tips: 5 More Easy Things to Do At Home

By: Ellen Bell

Eco friendly living, sometimes also referred to as going green, is a growing trend in the United States and around the world.  People are becoming more conscious of the negative impact that our daily actions and choices can have on the environment around us.  If you want to participate in the movement to go green, but aren't quite sure where to get started, then this article is for you!  Read on to learn about five easy things you can start doing at home today to make a real difference in the world around you.

1.  Compost.  Composting is a great way to send less waste to the landfill.  Furthermore, compost is the best possible fertilizer you can add to your plants.  Compost bins are readily available for purchase through internet and catalog stores.  Stop throwing away those yard clippings and food scraps, and put them to good use in a compost bin instead.

2.  Plant a vegetable garden.  Produce purchased at many grocery stores has traveled hundreds, if not thousands of miles to get to your dinner table.  Growing your own produce at home is not only eco friendly, but it will save you a lot of money, too.  For every $1 invested in planting a vegetable garden, you'll reap an average of $4-5 in fresh produce.  Your vegetable garden is also a great way to use the compost you'll be making with your new compost bin!

3.  Install a programmable thermostat.  These thermostats will automatically adjust the temperature up or down when you're asleep or away from home.  They are inexpensive, can be easily found at most hardware stores, and can save you as much as 10% on your heating and cooling costs.

4.  Turn off the lights.  This is such an easy way to save energy, and yet so easy to forget to do.  A lot of energy is wasted every year when we leave lights on in rooms after we've left.  Making a conscious effort to always turn out the lights will not only save energy, it will save you money, too.

5.  Install low flush toilets and low flow shower heads.  A huge amount of water that is used in U.S. households goes down the drain in the bathroom.  Low flow shower heads will cost you less than $10 each, and will save thousands of gallons of water every year.  Furthermore, low flush toilets can save as much as 3 to 5 gallons per flush!  Multiply that by the number of people in your household, assuming each person flushes several times per day, and the water savings will really begin to add up.  For an even more ecological option, next time you need to replace a toilet, consider installing a composting toilet instead.  These toilets cost more up front, but many of them use no water at all, so the savings in the long run can be huge.

Going green is something that every American household can take part in, even if we just choose a few simple things to participate in.  Remember, eco friendly living habits are learned young, so get your kids involved now; they'll be learning things that will stay with them for a lifetime.  With just a few easy steps and changes every day, we can all save some water or electricity, and start impacting the environment in a positive way!

About the Author

For more information on waterless toilets and how they can save you money, visit The Composting Toilet Store at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Compost_Toilets_s/34.htm

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City Girl and Her Nature Adventures!

Okay it has only been a couple of weeks since I started this compost adventure. Boy, it’s going to take some getting used to. First you have to have a small container next to your sink to collect your recycling materials. They have all of these cute mini canisters and decorative jars you can use to disguise the recycled material. It’s a good idea to have one; at first I thought I would just place it on a plate and then take it out to the compost bin. But it was nasty, I did not like looking at egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags and what ever else I thought was going to be great for the science project in the back yard. So get a container and make it cute, because what’s in it is not.

The next thing I noticed was we wasted a lot of food, especially food that is good for the compost like spinach, carrots, bell peppers, grapes and sprouts. It’s funny I recall requests for these items and promises I will eat them in my lunch next week but here they are stinking up the fridge. However, I don’t see any pudding packs, go-gurt’s, cinnamon rolls or beer left :O)

So, as you can see I have lots of stuff to go into the compost and I’ll drop that stuff in, then give it a turn and put the lid back on to wait another day. Hopefully as the weeks go by I’ll become more conscious of the items we are discarding.

Oder Free Composting In 3 Steps

By: Ellen Bell

One of the biggest complaints people have about composting is that it smells.  And in some cases, this is true.  When organic materials are heaped up in a pile and left to sit, they essentially rot, and we all know that rotting food and plants are going to smell.  But did you know that composting doesn't have to stink?  It's true!  In this article we'll explain the 3 simple steps that anyone can follow to go from smelly to odor free composting.

The first step in odorless composting is to understand the two basic methods of composting: aerobic and anaerobic.  As the name would suggest, aerobic composting requires air, specifically oxygen, to be successful.  Anaerobic composting, on the other hand, is what occurs when the compost isn't exposed to the air.

The primary differences between aerobic and anaerobic composting are speed of decomposition and odor created.  Aerobic bacteria work very quickly and efficiently.  Compost that's properly aerated can decompose to a finished product within a month or two, under the right conditions.  Anaerobic bacteria, on the other hand are very inefficient, sometimes taking as long as a couple years to produce finished compost.  Anaerobic bacteria also product methane and sulfate gasses as a byproduct of the composting process.  These gasses are bad for the environment; they are greenhouse gasses that deplete our ozone.  Furthermore, these are the gasses that smell offensive to humans.  When we think of a smelly compost heap, what we're really thinking of is anaerobic composting.  Aerobic bacteria, on the other hand, do not produce these gasses, thus the reason that aerobic composting results in little to no odor.

One of the best ways to ensure that your compost is aerobic is to use a compost tumbler.  These drum-shaped devices are usually mounted on an axel so they can spin or rotate freely.  The action of the compost turning and tumbling inside the bin aerates the material, providing the necessary oxygen for the aerobic bacteria to do their job.

If you don't have a compost tumbler, or simply don't want to invest in one, you can encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria in a regular compost heap by simply turning the material on a regular basis.  You may want to invest in a long handled tool such as a large shovel or pitchfork to make the turning process easier.  Regardless of whether you have a compost tumbler or a basic compost heap, you should aim for turning the material every 2 to 3 days for best results.

The second step in odorless composting is to maintain the appropriate ratio of browns and greens in the bin.  Examples of browns, or carbon rich materials, include dried leaves, shredded paper, sawdust, and dryer lint.  Examples of greens, or nitrogen rich materials, include green grass clippings, vegetable or fruit peelings, cooked rice and pasta, and seaweed or other aquarium plants.  If you get compost bin with too many greens, the material will begin to smell.  This is easy to adjust by simply adding more browns.  In addition to the items listed above, other browns might include peat moss, pencil shavings, shredded paper napkins, coffee grounds, chopped hay or straw, potting soil, nut shells, and tea bags.  Finished compost will also act as a brown material.

The third and last step in avoiding a smelly compost bin is to keep out all meats, eggs, and dairy products.  When the proteins in these items break down, they create an unpleasant odor.  Also to be avoided are any fatty wastes including butter, shortening, cooking oils, lard, and other animal fats.

And that's all there is to it!  With 3 simple steps, you can change your smelly and slow compost heap into a lean, mean, and odorless composting system that will turn out finished compost in a matter of weeks.  So what are you waiting for?  Begin your odorless composting system today!

About the Author

Ellen Bell works for Home Products 'n' More, a retail website offering composting tumblers and other compost bins, all with free shipping and handling! For more great gardening products, visit us at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Garden_Edging_s/144.htm

(ArticlesBase SC #855303)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Odor Free Composting In 3 Steps

City Girl turns Nature Woman

I am just getting into the “green” life style and I am realizing just how much work and education you need to pull it off. My mother is a nature woman and is always talking about how I need to be more aware of my foot print on this earth. How, it is up to me to provide a better tomorrow for my family not the government or anyone else- just me!

So, I got a compost barrel (box) and I am getting ready to put all of our “household waste” into it and make “Black Gold” which consists of rich decomposed leafy stuff and once living material. These common materials like: leaves, tea bags, egg shells, peels, coffee grounds (and the list goes on) are then place in this box to break down. Once it breaks down I have wonderful rich dirt like substance to fertilize my yard. This helps not only my yard but reduces the amount of trash going to the landfills.

I guess let the adventure begin, I have never been too concerned about saving the earth. Not because I am selfish or to good to do so, it’s just been very overwhelming and time consuming which with children and work it has always seamed to difficult to take on. Well not any more, I am going to teach myself how to become an earth friendly person. I’ll keep you posted on my journey and hopefully help change my small part of the world.

Compost Box

Moms: 3 Going Green Tips for Baby That Save You Money

By: Lesley Mattos

Once upon a time... not that very long ago, really, green was pretty much just a color - people just naturally paid more attention to money, not the environment, and "going green" meant changing you kitchen's color scheme. But no more: we're all trying to save money and be eco-friendly these days, so here are some tips that will help you go green and save money to boot on baby products.

Going Green Tips: Recycled, Repurposed Clothing

Let's face it, no one wants to spend big bucks these days on baby clothes, especially when your tot or toddler is growing out of everything almost daily. One way to both go green and save money on kids' clothes is to get comfortable with the concept of recycled and repurposed kids' clothing. Get together with a group of friends (and friends of friends to widen the circle) and have a clothing tradeoff. Check out local swap meets and garage sales, which often offer brand new items at bargain basement prices. And save gas money and carbon emissions by shopping online - many parents are selling used and new baby clothes on eBay or other online outlets. Check out the photos and item descriptions carefully and keep an eye out for items that are NWT (new with tags) or NIB (new in box) or large lots of pre-worn clothes that can look good as new after a good wash (in eco-friendly detergent, of course!)

Going Green Tips: Green Cleaning

Baby and everyone in the house will benefit - both environmentally and financially - if you make some household cleaning products yourself. It's less expensive than buying commercial products, and these homegrown green cleaners use less harsh chemicals (a special bonus for delicate baby skin!) For starters, you can make an all-purpose cleaning scrub with baking soda, water and a few drops of vegetable-based liquid soap.

Distilled white vinegar can be put to a number of green cleaning uses, including:

* Using a spray bottle, combine 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of borax and hot water; shake until the borax is dissolved, add a few drops of vegetable-based liquid soap, and you've got a terrific all-purpose green clear for just about any surface in the house.
* Add 1 cup of vinegar to the final rinse in the washing machine to help break down soapy residue and make clothes fresh and soft - especially helpful with diapers and baby clothes!

Going Green Tips: Bottoms Up Baby Wipes Kit

Many moms are choosing cloth diapers as a way to go green and help the environment. And reusable cloth baby wipes are another excellent choice. The Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit is an easy - and portable - way to go green. Each Bottoms Up Baby Wipes kit includes 25 all natural 100% cotton terry cloth baby wipes, one container for the clean ones and another, with a mesh bag insert, for the dirty ones, clean and dirty wipes waterproof travel bags and essential oil blends to combine with water to pre-soak the wipes before using them. Once the wipes have been used, the mesh bag can go straight into the washing machine with your next load of wash and will quickly be ready for reuse - the cloth baby wipes don't even have to go into the dryer! Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are chemical free, and since you're reusing them, much less excess trash is being sent to landfills. Also, compared to buying disposable baby wipes every week or so, you'll have saved hundreds of dollars before it's time to toilet train your baby!

About the Author

Lesley Mattos, Founder of Bottoms Up™ (http://www.bottoms-up-baby.com) is helping moms nationwide give their babies a clean, green start with the Bottoms Up all-in-one, washable cloth baby wipes kit which is good for the planet, baby and their wallet! As a thank you for reading this article - enter this discount coupon code ART1209 and you'll get 10% off your kit orders at checkout.

(ArticlesBase SC #1728129)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Moms: 3 Going Green Tips for Baby That Save You Money

Green Living

ELECTRONIC WASTE
Here’s a Jeopardy question for you, What is 200 million tons?

Answer - the amount of electronic waste that goes into our landfills every year. Computers, cell phones, monitors, DVD players, copy machines, TV sets; you get the picture. Most, if not all of this electronic waste, contains hazardous chemicals like mercury, lead and chromium that end up leaching into our ground water from landfills or being emitted into the air from incinerators causing a GROWING environmental and health crisis. This problem is fueled by the fast pace growth of new technology that renders things obsolete long before their normal lifecycle ends and the fact that most people do not know how to properly dispose of these types of products; in fact, most don’t know that these products can be recycled and reused.

There are ways to properly dispose of or recycle these products and it is easier than most people think. There are many companies with programs that allow you to donate usable electronics to churches and schools as well as companies that will recycle usable components, raw materials and materials like plastics, glass and aluminum. Many cities also have e-waste pick up as part of their hazardous waste pick up programs. There are even tax breaks you can take advantage of when donating your unwanted electronics. The 21st Century Classrooms Act for Private Technology Investment allows large companies to donate used equipment to public and private schools for tax breaks and individuals can write off their donations to non-profit groups. You will need to check with each non-profit organization regarding their particular documentation for your tax returns.

The environmental benefit to donating or recycling used electronics goes far beyond just keeping harmful chemicals out of our landfills; it also helps conserves our precious natural resources. It takes approximately 530lbs of fossil fuel, 50lbs of chemicals and 416 gallons of water to produce one desktop computer. Recycling of electronic components can help preserve these resources and also uses far less energy than production of new components. As an example, mining of aluminum uses 20 times the amount of energy it takes to recycle the same amount of aluminum from electronic components. Last year alone, electronics recyclers recovered over 100 million pounds of materials like aluminum, steel, glass and plastic which was reused, saving energy and natural resources.

Now that we know the benefits of e-cycling let’s get to how to find an e-cycler in your area. You can start with the Electronic Industry Alliance . They have an easy to use map that allows you to search by state along with a several other helpful links to guide you through the process. You can also check with your city to see if they offer e-cycling as part of their hazardous waste programs and with Goodwill industries . There are several additional organizations you can check that offer training programs that teach students and individuals how to refurbish used electronics that are then donated to local schools:
StRUT - Students Recycling Used Technology
LINCT - Learning and Information Networking for Community via Technology
ReDO – Reuse Development Organization

Even Sam’s Club has an interesting program they run in cooperation with NEW, Customer Service Companies Inc. Members who want to recycle computers, LCD monitors, printers, camcorders, digital cameras and MP3 players can log onto the program website and print a FREE shipping label to have the products shipped to NEW and they will receive a Sam’s Gift Card for the value of the donated item. All donated items are either refurbished or disassembled and the parts are used to rebuild electronics or recycled into raw material and reused.
The final pieces to this recycle cycle are personal data security and rethinking your purchasing habits. You need to protect all your personal data contained on computer hard drives and cell phones. Please make sure to remove ALL stored phone numbers and call logs from your cell phone and you may even want to remove the SIM card to insure protection. Cleaning up you computer may prove a little more difficult but is equally important. If you are unsure of how to do this you can find FREE hard drive erasers through a simple search on your favorite search engine: “free hard drive eraser cleaners”.

Although there are no laws governing the use of hazardous materials in electronics equipment you can help to encourage manufacturers to move in a “greener” direction by considering the following when buying your next piece of equipment:

1. Does the manufacturer use recycled materials in their products?

2. Are they designed for easy upgrades and disassembly?

3. Does the manufacturer offer a lease or “take back” program?

4. Does the manufacturer use minimal toxic materials in their equipment?

5. Does the manufacturer us minimal or recyclable packaging?
The age of electronics is upon us and with the constant introduction of new technology, system upgrades and fancy new gadgets coming at us daily we need to be more conscious of what we do with our e-waste. Take the time to do the right thing, remember one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and you may be surprised at who would love to have your “old” computer?

This article was contributed by Gary Hillery, owner of The Green Path Company.
He is an advocate for simple green living and is dedicated to helping build a greener path to the future. He writes for his blog and is a guest blogger for several other sites and his Simple Green Living Tips are used by several online groups like Mommy Perks, Arizona Mamas and Vegan Family Living.

Simple Green Living

2010 Simple Green Living Tips “Green” Resolutions
Every year about this time we start to think about 2010 and begin to conjure up a new set of New Years Resolutions. Lose weight, exercise more, and eat out less often…. these are just a few of the many we have all come up with over the years. I would like to propose a new set of resolutions this year, how about “green” resolutions? I have come up with a list of 10 simple, inexpensive, “green” resolutions for your review. My proposal is that we each try to accomplish these 10 “green” goals this year and if you have already accomplished any of these, then just add one of your own. Some of these are “1 time” things, some take an ongoing commitment to “remember” and others require a minimal investment of your time. Please take the time to read each of these resolutions and feel free to contact us with any suggestions and success stories.
1. Give the gift of trees! In 2010, plant trees for presents through The Arbor Day Foundation or American Forests Global Releaf project. You can also check your local Parks Department for programs they may have that will allow you to plant trees in local parks and green belts. Even if you don’t go the tree route, think about the gifts you do give and find ways to reduce packaging waste, wrapping paper waste and be as green as possible.

2. Eliminate Junk Mail! Please take 5 – 10 minutes today and stop almost all of the unsolicited credit card offers, mortgage offers, insurance offers as well as much, much more. Contact any of these sites and find a plan that works best for you. DMAchoice, ProQuo, Junkbusters, New Dream and Eco-Cycle all offer a program that will help stop the madness.

3. E-recycle! Do your part to keep over 200 million tons of toxic electronics out of our landfills this year. You can contact the Electronic Industry Alliance to find an e-recycler in your area or donate your used “stuff” to Goodwill Industries. Even Sam’s Club has a program that allows you to recycle your used electronics AND you may qualify for a Sam’s Gift Card as well!

4. Replace the Plastic! Most of us have a cache of reusable shopping bags in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The problem isn’t having the bags; it’s remembering to bring them with us when we shop! If you are like me your “RPI” or remember percentage index is 50% or 1 in 2. Either way it is pretty sad! I am shooting for 90% RPI this year and ask that you take the challenge to do the same. Here are a few tips to help make this happen:
• Write “remember the bags” on your shopping list (highlight it so it stands out)
• Keep your bags in the car in a conspicuous place
• Put a reminder sign on your garage door
• Tie a ribbon around your steering wheel

5. 100% CFL! Our goal in 2009 is 100% CFL bulbs, including our outside security lights. So as your bulbs burn out replace them and go for 100% in 2010!

6. Go Low Flow! Install low flow shower heads in all your bathrooms. It’s simple, it can save a family of 4 over 500 gallons each month!

7. Keep up the pressure! Check your tire pressure at least once a month to insure it is up to manufacturer standards. This is not only a gas saving issue but also a safety issue so please take 5 minutes to save up to $.08 per gallon on gas!

8. Unplug and save! Up to 5% of your monthly energy use comes from a “phantom” load on appliances and electronics. Even when they are turned off they still use energy if they are plugged in. So get in the habit of turning off and unplugging your computer each night and keep appliances, phone charges and electronics unplugged until you are ready to use them.

9. Go Aluminum! Replace your A/C and heating fiberglass filters with reusable aluminum filters this year. You will save money in the long run and keep the disposable filters out of the landfills! Just remember to clean it off at least once a month!

10. Renewable Energy! Make an effort to walk your children to school at least one day each week and promote “renewable energy”! If you can’t walk them to school how about a walk or a hike in a nearby park. The key is to do something each week with your children that involves nature. Exercise and nature, what a great combination!
Good luck and we look forward to hearing back from you on your progress towards a greener 2010!

Contributed by Gary Hillary. To see more of Gary's green articles click here, http://www.thegreenpathcompany.com

How to recycle (almost) anything!

Make the garbage can your last resort. You can dump computers, batteries, and other bulky stuff — guilt free!

You probably sort paper, plastic, and household metal on a daily basis — but what about the tough stuff? There are reasons to go beyond the usual recycling: Unwieldy household toss-outs take up tons of space in landfills. Worse, items such as computers and cell phones leach hazardous materials like mercury and lead into nearby water supplies. Now, thanks to environmental groups, retailers, and municipalities nationwide, doing the right thing is a lot easier. Here's how.

Computers

• Give to a charity. If you have a computer or a component that still works, contact Share the Technology (www.sharetechnology.org), which will match you with a nonprofit organization that needs equipment.
• If the computer isn't working, take it to a recycling center or a traveling electronics recycling fair. To locate a center in your area or to find out when a fair will visit your city, go to the Web site for Earth 911 (www.earth911.org), click on Electronics, and put in your zip code.

Cell phones

• National programs like Donate a Phone and Collective Good accept used phones and resell them, giving the proceeds to charities. To find links to these and other groups, visit Earth 911's Web site.

Printer ink cartridges

• Many branches of OfficeMax, Staples, and other office-supply stores have set up on-site drop-off recycling bins. Check your local stores.

Batteries

• Most municipal collection centers allow you to bring in your used batteries for recycling and disposal.
• If you're a heavy battery user, consider switching to rechargeables, which also save you money. But even these batteries eventually wear out. When they do, they need to be disposed of responsibly (at a Radio Shack drop-off center, for instance).

Old clothes and linens

• Your best bet is a local Salvation Army or Goodwill. Anything in poor condition will be made into rags. And you'll get a tax write-off. Just be sure to ask for a receipt.

To see more great Green Tips, go to:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/green-living/recycle-almost-anything-0805

How to Buy Green (and Not Get Fooled)

Many of the planet-friendly claims on labels are meaningless, misleading, or downright false. Here, the words to look for — and a chart that answers your biggest questions

Environmentally conscious consumers are reshaping the U.S. marketplace, and maybe you're one of them. Forty-two percent of Americans are willing to pay more for products labeled "environmentally friendly" or "organic," according to a 2005 survey by the research firm Global Market Insite — great news for marketers, who now package everything from lipstick to lemons in a way that suggests they're all somehow healthier for your family and/or kinder to the planet. The shopper-unfriendly result: Whether you're cruising the aisles at Wal-Mart or the local organic grocery, you're bombarded with feel-good terms like "recycled," "natural," "biodegradable," and more. What do these words really mean? Is the label always accurate? Even if it is, does it stand for a real environmental or health benefit? Click here for a chart that will inform you, surprise you — and help you make better choices.

Photo by: Lara Robby/Studio D

Environmentally Friendly Bottles Article by Good Housekeeping http://www.goodhousekeeping.com

Growing Up Green

I have been reading a lot about how to raise "green" kids, "green" parenting and educating our children to grow up green. There are some very innovative ideas covering a wide variety of subjects from recycling, to composting, to reusing "trash" for art projects and many, many more. We know we need to educate them on the 3 R's, CFL bulbs, water conservation and energy conservation but I don't think we put enough emphasis on being outdoors, teaching respect for nature, animals and in the case of my granddaughter, bugs! She is 2 1/2 years old and loves bugs and creepy crawly creatures like ants, beetles, lizards almost anything that plays or crawls outdoors. We have a cabin up in the mountains in northern Arizona and when we take her up there she spends every waking hour outside. She wants to look for lizards, loves to watch ants crawl on the rocks and dirt and is enthralled by the numerous beetles that gather around our porch lights. The first thing she wants to do when she wakes up is to go out "into the garden", that's what she calls the front yard of our cabin. She likes to fill the bird feeders and then sit on the porch and watch the woodpeckers, humming birds and blue jays that feed on the "breakfast" she provides. She likes pine cones, running in the woods and looking for squirrels and is so excited when one runs up a tree. Her parents take her hiking during the winter and spring and she loves looking at the cacti, birds and rocks along the trail, basically being outside. Well enough about her, my point is that children are never to young to learn and the best way to teach them respect and love for nature is to get them involved. Let them play outside, expose them nature and teach them not to be afraid of what nature has to offer. It has been a great learning experience for me as well. It is an amazing opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a child and nature is much more interesting when you experience it with them. So take the time to look at a bug, pick up a pine cone or sniff a flower with a child, you will rediscover what's really important in life!

Written and contributed to us by Gary Hillary of http://www.thegreenpathcompany.com