Your New Years resolutions should include at least one green features for the coming year. 2009 is the year to go green — It’s never been easier. With more and more people improving their habits, it’s become more appealing than ever to implement an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Green solutions don’t have to mean expensive alternatives. With the popularity of going green on the rise, it’s become cheaper and easier to improve your living habits. For instance, you should try and unplug all the electronics when they aren’t in use. Similarly, try turning off lights you are not using. Try reducing your heater use, and wear extra layers of clothes to keep warm. You should also try and switch from toxic and chemical cleaners to the eco-friendly and home made alternatives to improve the quality of your indoor air.

Try taking an adventure with your local transportation. This is not only a great way of supporting your communities green public transportation efforts, this can also save you money. Another fun and easy way to go green in the year is to invest in energy efficient light bulbs. Purchase some energy monitors and programmable thermostats in order to avoid wasting energy in your home. If your closet is full of clothes you don’t wear anymore, consider donating them to local charities. Doing so will lessen the need for new products in the marketplace, and can offer a sense of gratification for helping people in need. You may also cut the junk mail because this is a secure way to get rid of the clutter. The excess is to be removed because it can block you and make you waste your time and efforts.

Another way to implement a green lifestyle is by eating organic foods and avoiding packaged foods. Such products can be harmful to your body, and depending on the packaging, may be harmful to the environment as well. You play an important part when it comes to stopping the effects of the global warming, and the best way to help is by becoming greener. For instance, if you are planning to go less than 1 mile, try walking instead. This will help the environment, and is a healthy and a fun activity. If you are a smoker, make an effort to quit smoking this new years. Cigarettes are one of many sources of litter. Replace smoking with healthier habits for you as well as the world around you. Organic fruits and veggies are one of many alternatives to help rejuvenate your body.

You have to focus your attention and energy on the things that are related to the environment in order to understand how you can help. For instance, you can join the community supported agriculture program to provide yourself with organic and fresh fruits and vegetables in exchange for a couple of hours work. The key to a great Green New Years Resolution is to match your own talents and interests with a particular green organization to best utilize your efforts in contributing to the improvement of this planet. Greening your community should become one of your top priorities.

Amelia Yap is a mother who is very conscious about global warming and the future or our environment. She has made it her mission to educate others to go green, reduce their carbon foot print, and help save our environment.

You can download her FREE report, “Simple Ways to Go Green and See Green” to see how easy it is to go green and save money along the way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amelia_Yap

“Food Miles”, the distance our food travels between the farm that produced it and our table. Preliminary estimates in some areas suggest that less than 8.5% of our diet is produced on local farms. While fifteen years ago it was almost double. The environmental pressure that our food transportation produces is enormous. Food that has been locally produced and traveled less “food miles” not only is better for the environment but often tastes better too, Food has to be harvested in a much less mature state so it can “ripen” in transit while locally grown food can “ripen” on the plant. Fortunately people are becoming more aware of the source of their food.

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa reported in July 2003, that the weighted average source distance (WASD) for locally locally grown produce to reach institutional markets was 56 miles, while the conventional WASD for the produce to reach those same institutional points of sale was 1,494 miles, nearly 27 times further.

According to Statistics Canada’s, Food Consumption in Canada, imports of food as a percentage of net supply are going up. Between 1964 and 2001, imports of fruits (and fruit products) have gone from 67% to 97% of supply. Imports of vegetables (and vegetable products) have gone from 20% to 48% in the same time period. While dairy products, poultry, and eggs have remained relatively stable, imports of red meat have risen from 4.2% in 1964 to 24% in 2002

Critics tell us that this debate risks turning consumers off imported products from the developing world and fails to take into account the emissions produced by farmers who would fill the market gap.

We know the booming aviation market is also very good for farmers and consumers. The millions of tonnes of flowers, fruit and fish flown around the world every day is staggering. BUT, complex chemical reactions that occur when aviation fuel is burnt at high altitude make aircraft emissions nearly three times as damaging as the carbon dioxide to our environment over ground transport, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The British Government has the right line of thinking because they would like to reduce the environmental and social costs of food transport by 20 per cent by 2012. The country’s supermarkets are considering labeling produce with “food miles” showing the distance goods have traveled. Some of the large retailers like the US Wal-Mart, has started favoring suppliers that aggressively cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The ideal would be to have a system of labeling that would enable us to compare a product’s carbon footprint just as we currently compare price or nutritional value.

Take a minute to think of how many shopping carts are passing through supermarket checkouts each and every minute of every day in your country. How much precious fossil fuel is being burned up and added to the critical state of our atmosphere every single day to get this food to the shopping carts. Buying locally grown food, or taking the responsibility of growing some of your own food is no longer just a lifestyle option, it’s becoming a necessity for life itself. We all need to do our part if our children and grandchildren are going to have a safe place to live.

The most efficient way of producing our own food consists in the use of hydroponics systems. Using a hydroponic system such as the ebb and flow system, Nutrient film Technique, aeroponics, etc. which recycle the nutrient solution can save up to 80% of the water over a soil system. The plants can grow 30%-50% faster and you can grow as much as 3 times many plants in the same space.

Learn more about growing hydropoinc produce for your family at http://www.hydroponicsgarden-howto.com – you will find information on the different hydroponics systems and how to build your own. Get details on growing herbs and other produce indoors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carm_Paynter

For solar energy, as well, there are kits which kids can put together and experiment with– some for as low as $7.99. Here are a few examples:

And finally, a ‘toy’ that will appeal to many of us no-longer-kids as well: a solar powered car!

Or for a gift that blows away all the nintendo nonsense, there’s this Thames and Kosmos Fuel Cell Car and Experiment Kit:

Whether you buy a kit or simply fashion a few home grown experiments from instructions readily available for free on the web (such as building this simple solar still, or building your own solar panel), trying out a few green energy solutions with your– or someone else’s– kids is a great way make your holidays, and holiday gift giving greener.

Are you overwhelmed by the thought of all the changes you’d have to make to your life to be as green-as-you-wannabe? Join the club and stop beating yourself up. Sure your neighbor, friend, sister in law, favorite Hollywood star is so green they’re growing algae in their pool to make biodiesel. Yes, I know that even Republicans are talking about maybe doing something – somewhere in the future – about climate change and the price of gas. And I’m also painfully aware of how you can be ostracized if you haven’t gone vegan, adopted a square mile of rainforest and saved a whale before breakfast.

But don’t get your 100% organic, no-sweat shop, fair trade knickers in a twist. Relax. You can do this. After all, remember how hard it was to remember zip codes when they first came out? You don’t? Hmm, well, I do. I’m that old. If I, at my advanced age, can change my lifestyle to protect the planet, improve my health and do the right thing, so can you.

The problem is that most people go for the instant makeover and try to adopt a completely eco-conscious, sustainable lifestyle, as if it’s a wardrobe that you can buy at the local big box store. The impossibility of doing this leads to feeling like a failure, discouragement, overspending and being overwhelmed to the point where you just want to give up. Don’t.

Sit down, pour yourself a cup of that green tea you bought because Oprah recommended it and get some perspective on the whole Eco Thing. The earth has been ticking over for a long time with very little help from the human race. It’ll manage to survive for a few minutes while you plan your change to a healthier, more eco-conscious lifestyle. Trust me.

Decide, first of all, where you want to put your effort. Do you want to go out and picket the big corporations who are raping the earth or would you rather start with something more manageable like changing the brand of coffee you drink? How about starting with something that can have a big impact on the earth and your family’s health? If you’re still using conventional cleaners and household chemicals, switch to green brands.

Figure out where you spend the most time, which foods you eat the most of, which products you apply the most to your skin and hair. Then, gradually, not all at once, replace them with healthier, more earth-friendly options. You don’t have to go crazy, throw out everything in your house and replace it all in one swell foop. There’s no law that says you can’t do it in more wallet-friendly stages.

But, you say, my friends are dissing me because I drive an SUV and my kids’ school friends are accusing them of trashing the planet because they haven’t gone totally vegan yet. Well, it sounds like you need new friends and now you know one reason I home school. (Kids can be so cruel, especially when they’re cooped up in little rooms and don’t get to go outside and play and socialize.)

If you can trade in your SUV, do it, that is, if you don’t need it because of your location or the weather where you live. (I can’t. And I can’t afford to move either, not until house prices go up again.) Don’t judge yourself so harshly. Just take one step at a time toward a healthier, greener lifestyle on your own terms, not anyone else’s.

Someday, you’ll look around and realize that there isn’t a piece of plastic in your house and composting is just second nature to you and you’ll know that you’ve done it. You’ve gone totally Green without spending a fortune or having a nervous breakdown. But first, finish your tea.

It’s not easy being Green, but you’ll find lots of help at Lill’s List. Save the earth. Save money. Get healthier and happier with information from http://lillslist.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lill_Hawkins

There are many green alternatives to the harsh chemicals used every day in businesses and private residences. Best of all, these natural cleaners can be cheaper and smell a lot nicer than chemicals!

For easy shower and tile cleaning, mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water and spray on moldy spots, followed by a brisk scrub with a stiff scrub brush. For especially hard to clean areas, mix 1 part water and 1 part vinegar, mix and add 2 parts baking soda. This will form a powerful oxidative paste.

To control odors around the house, dry out orange peels and place in a mesh bag. Hang them around closets, under kitchen sinks, and in restrooms for a fresh orange smell. When grilling or firing up the fireplace, use dried orange peels instead of a harsh flammable accelerant.

Dried rosemary sprigs also make a nice deodorizer. Rosemary is very easy to grow in your backyard. In fact, once it is established, you will have to trim it back every so often to keep it from running wild. Once it is well established, simply cut a few sprigs about 6 to 8 inches in length, bind them together and hang them in one of the aforementioned areas of your home. Throw them out and replace them when they become too brittle and start falling apart.

For toilet cleaning, use ¼ cup of borax instead of harsh bleach-based products to deodorize and disinfect. You can also use borax on your pots and pans instead of S.O.S. pads for a scratch-free clean.

Recycling is an assumed part of green living, but there are more ways to recycle than just throwing something into the bin. Recycling also includes re-using items creatively. Instead of throwing away old t-shirts and socks, re-use them as dusting cloths or rags. Instead of buying new books, go to your library and save paper by just checking out books with your library card.

Speaking of recycling, make sure that you actively take part in your cities recycling program. Make sure that your household actively recycles everything that it possibly can. Though we all know that aluminum cans are recyclable, paper, glass, cardboard and plastic bottles can also all be recycled. You will be amazed at how much less waste your household will be producing once you fully embrace recycling, most homes reduce the amount of trash they produce by 50%.

You also want to make sure that you do not simply throw out yard clippings. Yard clippings can be used to make excellent compost if you have a flower or vegetable garden in your yard and produce gasses that can cause major problems for landfills. Compost your clippings or use your yard waste can if your municipality provides one.

Megan Holley, a mom who wants to encourage others to take even one tiny green step with your family. Our website is designed to give you information on making positive changes, inform you about why natural products are so important and give you “how to” instructions. Check us out at http://recyclinggreenmoms.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Megan_Holley

The problem with many ‘money-saving’ environmental tips is that they save money only in the long run: you often have to spend quite a bit of money up front before you begin to earn it back in savings. But one of the best things you can do for the planet is also one of the easiest on your wallet: stop buying bottled water! The cost of energy, use of oil and the pollution from the production of plastic bottles and the addition of so much plastic to landfills is a huge, unnecessary drain on our natural resources. What’s more there is evidence that plastic bottles can release residues which have unknown health consequences. To top it all off, many water companies simply bottle tap water–so you are often paying money for resources you have literally ‘on tap’ at home.

Now that you’ve stopped adding so many plastic bottles to your trash, what about plastic bags? Using reusable cloth bags instead of paper or plastic will make a big difference. But what if you can’t remember or don’t want to go that far? Well, you could simply recycle your plastic bags when you’re done. Or, stop buying plastic trash bags! Use your grocery bags as garbage liners. That way you save money and reuse your grocery bags at the same time.

Another simple, money-saving tip: use less paper. Instead of buying paper books, buy e-books. If you hate to read on the computer, consider investing in a kindle from amazon or another e-book reader. The newer ones are well designed to have the look and feel of a real book and to be easy on the eyes. Sign up for paper-less billing and keep your records permanently on discs or hard drives. Use single-ply, unbleached toilet paper and cloth rather than paper towels.

Weather-stripping your doors and windows is another way to save energy – and money. Weather-stripping is inexpensive and easy to install. You can find it any home-improvement store. Such stores may also offer instruction if you’re not handy and are uncertain how to work with the materials they sell.

Finally, save water by putting aerators on all your faucets. These are easy to attach and mix air with water. It saves water, but doesn’t change the water pressure. Just this one small change can save you up to 280 gallons of water per month.

To read more green living tips, visit http://www.greenenergyhowto.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C._Greene

Global climate change has become a matter of increased significance among many companies. As a result, products and activities have started to turn “green.” The world of cleaning products is no exception to this trend. “Green cleaning” is a term used to describe the use of cleaning materials that contain environmentally friendly ingredients and chemicals for industrial, manufacturing, and household cleaning. The reason that many people are “going green” is to deal with the human illnesses and environmental damage that result from exposure to and disposal of certain products. Toxic chemicals that can cause personal and environmental damage are eliminated with green cleaning techniques, protecting both the environment and the health of individuals. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits the amount of human exposure and the release of toxic chemicals into the environment, but still allows some of these chemicals to be used. Green cleaning aims to eliminate use of these toxic chemicals entirely. Advancements in chemical technology have made it possible to create equally effective cleaning products without these harsh chemicals.

Green cleaning also includes environmentally friendly manufacturing, packaging and distributing processes for cleaning products. If a product is created in a certain way and it is made of biodegradable material, it can be considered “green.”

There are a number of advantages to using green cleaning methods, one of the most important being improved health. Harmful chemicals are found in a wide variety of products used today, including certain foods, clothing, and construction materials. Reducing exposure to these chemicals by using green cleaning reduces health risks. A few examples of the common cleaning agents that can be harmful include all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, and bathroom cleaners. All-purpose cleaners may contain ingredients that can cause headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, and can also irritate the eyes, nose, throat and mouth. Glass cleaners irritate the eyes, nose, throat, skin, and can cause coughing and shortness of breath. And some bathroom cleaners can severely irritate the skin, may cause eye damage, in addition to coughing and shortness of breath. Without these harmful ingredients, cleaning agents are safer.

A green cleaning program in a commercial or industrial setting can also create many other benefits. In order to gain the maximum results from a cleaning program, there are a few guidelines that can be followed. The program can use procedures that result in the most effective cleaning results, but also offer the best protection to workers and other occupants of the facility. Proper training of techniques and education of the products to the cleaning staff is also contributes to a successful program. The products that are used are important as well. As ecologically friendly cleaning products become more and more available to consumers, companies can replace traditional, harmful products. If these guidelines are followed, a number of benefits may result. Some health benefits include a reduction in liability from worker safety issues, and the health of building occupants and cleaning staff improves, which can result in fewer sick days. The community may give recognition for reducing pollution and protecting the environment, which can increase business. The morale of employees may increase, resulting in improved productivity and confidence. And by initiating a green cleaning program, one can also gain a sense of satisfaction from helping to make the community and environment a healthier place.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

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Learn more about quality Green Cleaning and janitorial cleaning services in Chicago IL, including construction project management and building maintenance in Illinois.

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