Environmentally friendly products and practices are becoming the way of the world and they are also a major part of life today. With the environment worsening under the weight of problems like pollution, global warming and deforestation, it has become essential that everyone do their best to save the earth from further destruction. Switching to green alternatives, utilizing eco-friendly products and using environmentally friendly practices are a few ways of doing this. To further the impact, businesses around the globe are starting to employ greener business practices, and you can too.

According to a survey conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, even during these times of economic instability, many Americans are willing to pay extra for eco-friendly products. Half of the respondents said they would “definitely” or “probably” pay 15 percent more for eco-friendly clothes detergents (51percent) or for an automobile (50 percent). Forty percent said they would spend 15 percent more on “green” computer printer paper and 39 percent would do the same for “green” wood furniture.

As these statistics show, consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and, therefore, it has become necessary for businesses to follow suit too. The selection of environmentally friendly products and green alternatives has grown exponentially in the last few years. This makes it easy to integrate eco-friendly products and practices into advertising goals and business routines.

A great way that businesses and individuals can show their support for a healthier environment while promoting is through the use of eco-friendly promotional products. One such product is the reusable water bottle, most commonly made out of BPA-free plastics, stainless steel and aluminum. Reusable bottles are a hot commodity right now and the population loves them. Reusable products are a great way to replace disposable products and to cut down on unnecessary waste.

Reusable grocery bags and totes are another great products that can be reused as well. They are very popular right now for retail businesses, grocery stores, tradeshows, business events and promoting. Reusable shopping bags help cut down on the use of disposable bags while potentially gaining exposure for your business or event.

Seeded products and biodegradable paper products are another fantastic choice for businesses looking to grow their brand identity. Items like custom printed seed packets, seed infused business cards, and seeded bookmarks are a great ways to promote any business or event. They help support a healthier environment while providing a fun and memorable promotional item. What better way to promote than by providing a interactive product that you can grow?

Purchasing eco-friendly products is an important way of helping keep the environment as healthy as possible. If everyone makes small steps to make a difference, the impact could be huge, especially if businesses and corporations get involved. Could your company go paperless, switch to energy friendly alternatives, recycle or use eco-friendly promotional items and green office supplies? Look for positive ways you or your business can help the environment and use green alternatives whenever possible.

Strive to make your business leave a positive impact on the environment while building brand credibility with green promotions and eco-friendly practices. A little effort can make a big impact. Start going green today.

Many people think that recycling is the be all and end all of helping this planet, however, this is simply not true, as many people have seen there are no truly perfect ways for recycling but true recycling does no start at the bin, it starts with the buying of products.

The first thing that you need to learn is that not only do you have to dispose of your material correctly but you must also buy the correct kinds of products to eliminate your waste, a quick example would be to buy your milk in recyclable plastics or to get your butter wrapped in wax paper rather than it being put inside a non recyclable plastic container.

As you can see not only do your disposal techniques have to change in order for the environment to get better but you also need to change your buying habits, for example, earlier mentioned was the buying of recyclable containers rather than the non recyclable ones. Granted you may end up paying a penny or two more but in the most case these products will usually cost you less to buy as the manufacturing costs of them are a lot cheaper.

Plastics are not the only thing you can look into though, for example, with food waste you would usually put it on a compost heap, however, you can not put a battery there and you can not put, or at least should not be putting your batteries in the bin. In fact with a quick search of the well known search engine Google you should be able to find companies that will actually take your batteries of you in order to dispose of them correctly.

This is also the same for old mobile phones as companies will take rather old and pathetic phones of you and may even pay you for them in order to either recycle for computer parts or to give to the elderly, as even without a sim card they can still dial the emergency number.

Also remember that those plastics you can’t seem to find a way around could still be washed out and maybe given to your local school or nursery as many play groups like to cut up egg containers and milk containers in order to make something to give their parents (that’s right your distributing the waste to others secretly). These are just a few examples of things you can do, in fact if you have children of our own then maybe you could use them in your day to day activities, lets face it playing with new things that you would normally put in the bin costs a lot less than buying your children new toys.

Lastly remember that cloths and other items that you don’t want can easily be sold in a car boot or given to charity, good luck with your recycling.

Growing your own vegetables and herbs is highly fashionable again. Not only is it cheaper than buying them, but is also healthier, if they are grown organically. Instead of using chemical fertilizers, it is recommended that you use compost. Making your own compost is not necessarily a pleasure, and often yards are such that they cannot easily accommodate them. So allow me to introduce you to kitchen composting!

As you know, compost is made up of garbage, which rots, reverts to mulch and then to rich soil, and becomes fresh nourishment for your growing plants. For anywhere between $20 for a compost pail, and $500 for a complete unit, you can now buy a kitchen composter, that is small enough to place on a counter, attractive, and convenient.

You scrape your leftover foods into the bucket. Coffee grounds, egg shells, vegetable peelings, tea bags, and any fruit or vegetable parts can be placed in the composter. You cannot put any meat, bones, whole eggs, or dairy products (milk, cheese, etc.), in there. If you purchase the composting pail, you simply carry it out and add it to your compost heap in the yard at your convenience.

If you have but the full composting unit, the leftovers will be scraped into the bucket and usable soil will come out, ready to be placed right in your garden. The charcoal filters protect your kitchen from unwanted odors. They come in good looking crocks made of glazed ceramic that are dishwasher-safe, or bamboo, which is not. Composters are easily available and a convenient change from the stinky compost heap in the back yard!

With the planet in so much peril of just burning up all resources that are used to exist, it is little wonder that many are jumping on the bandwagon of living green in order to save what is left of the earth. There has definitely been a major concern that future generations will not have a world to enjoy if steps are not taken immediately. That’s why education in living eco friendly is so important.

A misconception about going green is that it is very hard work and a difficult lifestyle. While, admittedly, it IS a seriously big commitment, there is no need for it to make your life one of only hard work. You’re probably thinking about the pioneers of years ago and how they had to live. Wipe those thoughts completely out of your head. People today are far more advanced in the conveniences they have than those poor settlers were. Think of it in this way: You will only be finding better ways to do things you are already doing.

For example, something that most people already do without really thinking about it is recycling. This is an eco friendly practice that has been going on for years in an effort to keep the earth from being so cluttered with useless products. You may already have been collecting soda cans for a little bit of extra money. That is considered to be recycling when you turn them in to the recycling collection center. By simply designating a bin for plastic, paper, and glass, you can toss each item in its own spot. When the bins are full, simply haul them in to the local recycling plant. You may even be lucky enough to live in a town where your recycled items are picked up for you on a regular basis.

Something else that many people do in order to live green is by just planting a garden each year. This is another way of conserving the planet that you may not realize is something green families do. It is an activity that has been engaged in for centuries. In the beginning, a garden was mostly created so that families would have food. Later, it was done by many as a way to have vegetables and fruits that were fresh and tasty.

The canning and preserving of the vegetables and fruits is another green activity that is still practiced today. Pantries all over the world are stocked each summer with jars and jars of vegetables, jams, jellies, preserves, and sauces. These will be enjoyed all through the winter months until spring comes and it’s time to plant again.

If you are someone who is already doing these very basic things you can consider yourself as someone who cares about the earth and is actively working to save it. Maybe you will want to get a bit more involved by taking some extra, more complicated, steps to live green. However, even if this is all you ever do, know that you are still contributing to the salvation of the planet for future generations.

For more information on going green, visit http://greenmicroblog.com and http://earthmicroblog.com

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

The new Obama administration has indicated a strong focus on developing America’s renewable energy resources. So whether you believe global warming is man-made, or purely a result of the earth’s natural cycles of warming and cooling, now is a perfect time to adopt an individual green lifestyle that will conserve energy, save water and result in a cleaner, sustainable environment. The availability of eco-friendly products and services is becoming a great green wave that will make it easier for everybody to become more environmentally friendly. And it doesn’t take a major change in lifestyle to contribute to a cleaner and greener world.

Historically there has been a high cost barrier to moving to green products, but that is becoming much less of a hurdle as more companies compete to offer better, greener products. While certain high-end goods remain out of reach of all but the most well off, the energy saving benefits of many green products quickly offset any higher up-front cost. Green cleaning products are often more concentrated than the regular chemical products and therefore offer good cost comparison for their total use.

In most areas of the country recycling programs are the first introduction to helping protect the environment we live in. Unfortunately, the incredible variety of different collection programs leaves much to be desired and there is much to be done in the future to improve the effectiveness of this process. Maybe this is one area where sensible State or Federal regulation could create common recycling procedures and improve the efficiency of collection and re-use. Back yard composting can reduce the disposal of yard and food waste which is estimated to make up around 30% of the waste stream going to landfills.

With the increasing pressure on energy costs around the world and the improving technology developments in solar and wind power, we can expect to see greater utilization of these natural resources in the future. Solar technology is developing very quickly and becoming more usable and cost effective. Solar lighting and water features are now very efficient and an attractive, clean addition to any garden landscaping. While solar leasing programs are making solar power more available for individual homes. Wind power is a very hot topic right now with the Pickens Plan receiving a great deal of publicity. If we are able to capture the tremendous wind energy resources in the US, and then develop an environmentally friendly means of distributing it around the country, it could make a significant contribution to the greening of America.

Along with the growth in the availability of green products has come the problem of identifying what is truly green and “how green is it?” As with any product for sale, the claims of the best and the greenest can often be somewhat exaggerated. However, this need not be too big a distraction. It is not necessary to choose the most energy efficient, or the most natural cleaner, to contribute to a greener world. A higher efficiency rating in a replacement appliance, or a natural cleaning product that gives the best results, enhances the green footprint but should also fit in to the personal choices of a modern lifestyle.

The decision to go green can be as dramatic or as gradual as each individual or family wish to make it. Once the “green light” goes on however, it does appear to take on a life of its own. Each green choice, small or large, contributes to the growing movement towards a more eco-friendly world.

If the choices are there and the barriers to their use are coming down, who wouldn’t want to reduce their use of the earth’s finite resources and convert to a cleaner, less polluting, healthier, green lifestyle.

Peter O’Grady is the owner of It’s Eco Time.com and writes on a variety of subjects involving our impact on the environment and the options available for living a healthy and sustainable green lifestyle. To find products to save money, energy and water and for other green topics visit http://itsecotime.com and share your comments and questions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_O’Grady

When you hear the term “green living”, you may get an image in your head of hippies living in communes making everything they use. Truth is:  the definition of green living has changed. The concept simply includes doing things to help the environment be viable for future generations. If you don’t feel like shedding your worldly possessions and living in a mud hut, here are a few steps you can take to make your life a little greener.

Buy local organic products. Organic farmers not only use little to no chemicals, they also take steps to reduce water and soil degradation, along with other problems caused by traditional agriculture. Grocery store vegetables have usually been shipped a long way, which causes environmental pollution trucks and planes. Buy your produce from a local farmer’s market or coop. If you can’t find one, start your own organic garden.

Use natural products. Household products that don’t contain chemicals are not only better for the environment; they’re safer for your family as well. You can make various cleaning products from stuff in your kitchen, like vinegar. If you don’t have the time, there are products you can buy. Just make sure they’re all natural and don’t just have a few natural ingredients. 

Reduce. We’ve all heard the spiel about reduce, reuse, recycle; however, most of us focus on recycling and completely ignore the reducing. Try to use products that don’t end up in landfills like cloth diapers instead of disposables or regular towels instead of paper ones. Buying concentrated products or products in bulk also helps reduce packaging materials, production and distribution costs.

Reuse. Many people have gotten in the habit of sending their recyclables away in the bins, but there’s more supply than demand in the recycling market. That’s why it’s also important to reuse items if you can. Before you throw something in the recycling bin, consider whether you could reuse it for something else. Also consider programs like freecycle, Craig’s list or garage sales which allows you to offer your gently used (or even broken) items to someone else. You really never know when your trash is someone else’s treasure or learning tool. 

Recycle. We should all have a recycle bin in our homes, but you can do stuff to recycle on your own. Make your own rich soils with a compost pile and you can recycle plants, shredded paper and uneaten bits of fruit or vegetables. You can also use products like shredded plastic bags to mulch your garden.  If you get creative, there’s lots of recycling you can do on your own.

Conserve Energy. There are so many things you can do to save energy. The big plus on this is that it also saves you money. Get low energy light bulbs for your fixtures. You could also take more drastic renovation steps by getting new energy efficient windows or installing solar panels. Even small steps like setting the thermostat a degree higher or lower or unplugging appliances not in use can make a big difference. A big way to conserve energy is to get a more fuel efficient car, or get rid of your car altogether. If you don’t need a big SUV, then don’t get one. You’ll be doing the environment a big favor.

Teach your children. You might not be able to change the world on your own, but you can start a trend by teaching others to be more environmentally friendly, starting with your own kids. Make sure your children know what steps you are taking to improve the environment and why. And most importantly, make sure you are all doing all you can for a sustainable future!

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Source: solar energy

Turning the fruits of a recycling program into tangible results has proven hugely successful for the Chicago Park District and the city’s residents.

Chicago’s 563 parks are now being covered in garbage. But it is in the form benches, playground barriers and other items composed completely of plastic donated by residents in the city’s Plastic On Parks (POP) program.

At the start of the two-year-old project, 400 pounds of plastic was being collected each week, said Fred White, director of recycling for the park district. Now, more than 40,000 pounds of plastic are brought to the city’s 260 recreation centers every week.

“When you contribute to a project and can see what your efforts are creating, it’s a lot easier to get excited about it,” White said. “They know their plastic bottles are becoming useful items.”

Under the program, residents bring their empty plastic milk, water and pop containers to their local city recreation center. Because of the volume, the park district has dedicated a truck solely to collecting the bottles, and must stop at some of the centers every day.

The bottles are then sorted and bailed before being shipped to Hammers Plastic Recycling in Iowa Falls, Iowa. This company creates plastic lumber out of the plastic and returns it to Chicago.

“Our contract says the company must return the plastic we give them,” White said. “This is why people do it — they can see what is being done with the plastic.”

A majority of the plastic wood received so far has been used to refurbish some of the city’s 630 playgrounds. A 12-inch-high perimeter wall is built around each playground using the lumber, and the inner area then filled with a soft material like wood chips or sand, he said. The unique lumber also has been used to build park benches and floating docks.

“Our carpenters have no problem with the plastic,” he said. “It cuts like wood, saws like wood and nails like wood.”

But the plastic lumber doesn’t deteriorate like wood, and children don’t have to worry about splinters. Also, the plastic is graffiti resistant because it is non-porous and can easily be cleaned, White added.

“We’ve collected more than 2 million pounds of plastic since we started,” he said. “If we’ve diverted that much material from landfills, then we’ve helped lengthen the lives of those landfills and benefited everyone here.”

The park district has received many inquiries from other cities regarding the POP program, White said, and has offered lend whatever assistance it can to help establish similar recycling programs in other communities.

(Tip/Stat) Approximately 350,000 plastic bottles are used to refurbish one playground

under Chicago’s POP program.

Technorati Tags: recycling programs, recycling, landfills, plastic, green stories, environmental heroes, green communities

Earth News Media is a pioneer in the field of environmental news and information. The company was founded in 1991 as an international news service. Its efforts have led to a syndicated environmental news column being published around the world.

Source: recycling programs

While recycling itself is a worthwhile endeavor, when intertwined with charitable organizations, its power for good is taken to far greater heights.

A perfect example has been under way in St. Petersburg, Fla., for several years now. By picking up used paper donated by various companies and eventually hauling it to a local paper company, a developmental training program is helping build better lives for its mentally handicapped trainees.

“It’s really been exciting — much more far-reaching than we ever expected,” said Kathy Roegiers, manager of the local Goodwill Industries’ program. “It has allowed our trainees to be more a part of the community, rather than a burden, which is the ultimate goal for our program.”

When the recycling idea was first conceived, most paper companies told Goodwill that the amount of paper was too small for them to deal with, Roegiers said. However, one local paper company said it would start referring all its smaller customers to Goodwill.

This simple effort made the project happen. Soon company after company was calling to donate used paper to the training program. Today, more than 100 companies take part in the project.

Between the Goodwill’s transportation department and the trainees, all the paper is picked up at the participating companies and brought back for sorting. Goodwill drivers coordinate paper pick-ups on their regular routes to collect used items, Roegiers said, while the trainees travel in their own bus to pick up the rest of the paper.

The training program provides mentally handicapped individuals with paid work experience in preparation for eventual community jobs. The recycling project has been a perfect addition because it teaches trainees social skills when they go out to pick up the paper, Roegiers said. It also has provided them with plenty of physical activity due to the continual and substantial flow of paper.

“The need out there for someone to pick this paper up is tremendous,” Roegiers said. “A lot of people are interested in donating if it will just get picked up. It’s done us a lot of good.”

In another example, a group of Ohio grocery stores recently held an aluminum can drive, with all proceeds going to benefit the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland.

At the Square to Square street festival, which attracts upwards of 300,000 people to downtown Cleveland each year, Stop-N-Shop grocery stores set up a collection site with ALCOA, and awarded a $1,000 gift certificate to the person who brought in the most cans.

Held in conjunction with the national Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, the event was an Ohio approach to raise money for its local children’s hospital, said Harry Graham, executive director of Stop-N-Shop.

“Our intent was to help clean up area neighborhoods, sponsor a recycling effort and raise funds for a worthwhile cause,” he said.

With similar activities being developed and undertaken in other parts of the country, recycling and charity will continue to be a powerful union — benefiting both the environment and society.

(Tip/Stat) Recycling one ton of office paper will save 17 trees.

Technorati Tags: recycling, environment, charity, charitable programs, earth news, environmental issues, earth news media

Source: charity

Transforming useless, black rooftops into prosperous, green gardens — that is the goal of Dr. Paul Mankiewicz.

As director of the Gaia Institute, an environmental research group in New York City, he has designed a unique greenhouse which solves the complexities of gardening on rooftops and will provide fresh produce for thousands of residents below.

By using a lightweight soil, a simple steel-frame structure wrapped in plastic, and a unique planting and harvesting system, this new greenhouse could add a new facet to agriculture. And that has the biologist excited.

“If we have a system that can purify the air and lower the amount of traffic needed to ship produce — and have that system in cities where pollution problems are serious — that is certainly a big improvement for society,” he said. “And by having a new center of economic activity right in the cities, it makes for a much greater increase in wealth for those urban areas.”

After seven years of research and development, Mankiewicz has applied for a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to build a prototype greenhouse on a building owned by the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City’s fifth most popular tourist attraction.

Tied to the grant is New York City’s Recycling Division, which will help supply the ton of solid waste the greenhouse will use every day. Food scraps and other waste material will be composted in large bins, Mankiewicz said, then slurried up to the roof where the material will be used in both the soil and the nutrient system.

The greenhouse’s soil is the unique feature that makes the system work. Most soils are too heavy to use on rooftops, he said, and building additional reinforcement is too expensive.

However, he has created a super lightweight soil by using both synthetic and organic materials, including recycled styrofoam. The styrofoam works as filler — the purpose sand and clay serve in most soils.

Feeding the crops involves a series of underground tubes linked to a controller, which delivers precise amounts of water, nutrients, microbes, carbon dioxide and oxygen to maximize plant growth.

Covering the plants will be a lightweight steel frame covered with a thin glazing of plastic. By his calculations, Mankiewicz said the amount of petroleum needed to produce all the plastic used in the greenhouse would get a truckload of produce only 300 miles down the road from California.

For planting and harvesting, a space-saving gantry system will span the garden and roll over the top of the growing space. Workers will be able to work from above, he said, eliminating the need for aisles and increasing crop yields by 30 to 90 percent.

On a larger scale, Mankiewicz envisions rooftop greenhouses eventually adorning the tops of shopping malls. With tens of thousands of square feet available, a shopping mall greenhouse could supply all the produce for an entire community. And by increasing the profits of both store and mall owners, he said the technology could leap ahead, becoming a new green layer of the urban environment.

(Tip/Stat ) Composting can reduce solid waste by more than 15 percent.

Technorati Tags: rooftop greenhouses, environmental protection, pollution, recycling, green houses, environmental issues, earth news, earth news media

Source: environmental issues

1. Planting trees

• Trees help to filter out dangerous pollutants from the air, and provide habitat for animals.
• Visit the Arbor Day Foundation and TreeHelp.com for information about planting trees in your area.

2. Testing water and soil

• Water and soil tests can help to identify sources of pollution and keep your family and community healthy.
• Visit Earth Force for water testing information
• Checkout ReeUSDA.gov to find testing stations in your neighborhood

3. River cleanups

• Picking up trash and debris in rivers and streams will help to keep our waterways and sources of drinking water free from pollution.
• Contact your local government to learn which rivers and streams need attention.

4. Recycling programs

• Curbside pickup programs are available in many communities for your convenience. These programs also provide income for your local government keeping property taxes lower.
• If you do not have curbside recycling programs, contact your local waste management to inquire about recycling in your area.

5. Vacant lot cleanup

• Helping to clean vacant lots will keep your neighborhood clean and environmentally friendly. A community effort will make this process fast and painless.

6. Removal of non-native plant species

• Your local Parks and Recreation Department can help you locate plants that are not native to your area.
• Non-native plant species may take over valuable nutrients and water that native species need to survive. Though not all are invasive, many species can destroy the environment more than then help.

7. Beach cleanup

• Keeping your local beaches free from debris provides a safe place for fun and recreation.
• Plants and animals will thrive when their habitats are not being over run by garbage.

8. Preventing erosion

• Fixing areas that are prone to erosion can be remedied by planting root plants, shrubbery, and trees where no foliage is currently growing.
• Locale biologists and scientists can point you in the right direction for locating problem areas and the proper plants to grow.

9. Cleaning of gutters and drains

• Removing trash and debris from gutters and drains helps by not allowing these items to flow into drinking water and rivers. Eventually, local rivers flow into the ocean, carrying debris with them.
• Remove garbage from streets when possible and keep drains free helps to prevent storm drain backup and flooding.

10. Composting

• A compost pile in your backyard is simple to start and maintain.
• Place grass clippings, and yard waste into your compose pile.
• Compost can be used as fertilizer and keeps more matter from entering our landfills.

These are all things each person can get involved with throughout their community to help cleanup the environment, rivers, and oceans. Contact your local government for more information on how you can begin a local environmental service project for your community.