Why Recycle?

We know recycling is beneficial, but here are some facts (some may be startling) that may make you think seriously about the importance of recycling.

1. About 40% of the waste in the U.S. is paper, but nationwide we only recycle about 25-30% of our paper waste.

2. Americans throw away close to the equivalent of 30 million trees a year, just from newsprint alone.

3. In America we discard enough motor oil per year to fill 120 supertankers.

4. In the United States right now, landfills are filling up and closing at the rate of approximately 2 a day.

5. By recycling an aluminum can per day we can save enough energy to operate a television set for 3 hours.

6. A glass bottle thrown away today will still be there in the year 3000.

7. In the United States, one in every six trucks is a garbage truck.

8. You would be able to circle the earth 436 times per year with the Styrofoam cups that are used in the United States.

These statistics are accurate and valid; they help to illustrate the importance of recycling in the United States. Start taking an active role in helping your community recycle and better your environment and prevent global warming.

Being a Green Grocery Shopper

Love it or hate it, we all have to eat – and that usually means grocery shopping. While you're browsing the aisles and checking items off your list, though, think about a few ways you can be a “green” grocery shopper and, in turn, reduce your footprint on the environment.

*Avoid individually packaged items. We often have options as the supermarket to buy items that are “conveniently” packaged in individual units to make packing lunches and eating-on-the-go easier. Food such as yogurt, pudding, granola bars, soft drinks, juice, cereal, and snack foods may come in packages of multiple single-serving sizes in addition to larger, “bulk” sizes. Even though the individual sizes do seem more convenient, they also produce more waste with their packaging than the larger sizes. You can buy the larger sizes and then divide up the food at home in reusable containers to avoid the excess garbage.

*Bring your own bags Instead of allowing the bagger to bag your groceries in disposable plastic or paper bags, bring your own bags made of cloth, mesh, or other recycled material to reduce the garbage produced by grocery bags. Some specialty grocery stores even offer incentives in the form of discounts to people who bring their own bags.

*Avoid as much packaging as you can In the produce aisle, do you really need to put your bananas, head of lettuce, or bunch of carrots in a plastic bag? You'll probably end up throwing the bag away anyway, so bypass the plastic in the produce aisle and wait until you get home where you can store the food in a reusable container.

*Buy items in recycled packaging Many items today are packaged in recycled paper or plastic, which is labeled on the bag or box. Look for items that are labeled as such, and that have a high percentage of recycled content in their packaging. Also look for items that are packaged in recyclable containers – either ones that you can drop off at a designated point, or ones that you can use yourself at home to reduce your own garbage.

Buying Organic Produce

Many people believe that buying organic produce is essential to their health and well-being – not to mention that organic produce is often tastier than non-organic. Buying organic produce means purchasing fruits and vegetables that are grown with less pesticides and with natural fertilizer (as opposed to synthetic). In America, if produce has a USDA Certified Organic label, consumers can be sure that they are buying fruits or vegetables that are at least 95% organic.

Although buying organic is an excellent idea, much organic produce is more expensive than its non-organic counterpart. If you're interested in saving money at the grocery store, but still want to be as green as possible, it's important to know which fruits and vegetables are most likely to be contaminated by pesticides -- and therefore are more important to buy organic.

The fruits that are most likely to be contaminated are:

• Apples

• Apricots

• Cherries

• Grapes

• Nectarines

• Peaches

• Red raspberries

• Strawberries

The vegetables that are most likely to be contaminated are:

• Celery

• Green beans

• Peppers

• Spinach

Note that most of these are fruits and vegetables whose skin is consumed, and therefore it's important to think about what kinds of pesticides and fertilizer they have been treated with. Remember, always wash your produce before eating it – even if you've bought organic – because even organic fruits and vegetables can have some residual pesticides or fertilizer on their skins.

Energy Improving Solutions for Your Home

Looking for energy improving solutions for your home? It's a good idea. You'll realize the perks of long term cost savings for your pocketbook and the added benefit of promoting a green environment. Here are some energy improving solutions to get you started.

• Tame those high electricity bills by sealing air leaks and installing additional wall and roof insulation.

• Keep the temperature of your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It'll be hot enough for every day usage, but will keep your bills down.

• Use light bulbs that are Energy Star CFL wherever you have a tendency to flick on the light switch.

• Check with your local utility company to see if they offer any discount programs for meeting certain energy requirements.

Buying All Natural -- Is It Worth It?

When you shop in a specialty store, a health food store, or even the organic or “natural” section of your grocery store, you'll be barraged with products that are labeled as “all natural.” What, exactly, does that mean? And are all natural products worth the extra money?

One thing to remember when buying “all natural” is that an all natural label does not automatically mean less calories, fat, or carbs. In fact, often all natural products are laden with sugar (sweeteners like cane sugar and honey are, indeed, all natural) or carbohydrates (whole grain bread, brown rice, and the like may be all natural but still high in carbohydrates). So if you're looking for a reduced-something diet, don't assume that all-natural is automatically the way to go. Even though all natural does not mean reduced fat, calories, or carbs, in general all-natural is a healthier way to go.

All-natural foods are made without traditional preservatives (all those ingredients you can't pronounce on the label) and use “alternative” sweeteners and preservatives that are made from fruit, vegetables, and other natural sources. Some not-so-great things you'll avoid if you stick with all-natural food are trans fats and corn syrup.

Trans fats (anything labeled “partially hydrogenated”) came into being in the 1950s and for a long time were widely used in food as a preservative. Recently, some doctors and nutritionists are reporting alarming side effects of trans fats (among them, a link between trans fats and heart problems), and many people are trying to stay away from them. Corn syrup is another ingredient often found in prepackaged food, and it is usually used as a sweetener. Like with trans fats, many doctors are now warning against excessive consumption of corn syrup, citing a link between corn syrup and a higher risk for diabetes.

One other thing to consider when buying all-natural food is that since they use less preservatives, the shelf life of all-natural foods is often shorter than their non-natural counterparts.

Computer Recycling

Computers, cell phones, remote controls and other devices containing circuitry are often tossed into landfills and forgotten. This is not the most green friendly way to go, especially when it comes to monitors and video displays, which may contain chemicals that can seep into the groundwater.

Instead of throwing away those old computers, donation is a very earth friendly alternative. Schools, local charities and churches are always in need of more computers, accessories, monitors and spare parts. Many thrift stores are eager to get computer donations, and larger operations may even feature free pickup from your home or office.

Before getting rid of your old television, do a quick search of the phone directory to see whether local hospitals or nursing homes could use a donation.

There are so many green alternatives to simply throwing away your old electronics that sending them to a landfill seems particularly wasteful. An excellent resource to help you find a new home for old electronics is www.freegan.info, which is dedicated to helping people both acquire and donate a wide variety of goods.

Improving Air Quality in Your Home

Most of the homes in the United States have more polluted air inside than outside. Because of high-efficiency in the insulation coupled with the heating fuel and household chemicals, the air inside your house could be toxic for your family. Here are some suggestions for cleaner air in your home:

1. Make sure your home is well ventilated. This is crucial for the safety of your family.

2. Use air-cleaning methods to compliment that ventilation.

3. Check your home for lead, mold and carbon monoxide leaks.

4. Clean with natural products instead of harsh chemicals.

Following these suggestions may drastically improve the air quality in your home and keep your family healthier too.

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Energy Efficient Business

Creating an energy efficient business can mean cost savings to your bottom line. And, you'll also be contributing to a better, greener environment. To get started, follow a few simple guidelines to becoming an energy efficient business:

• Make a commitment to turn your office space into a green building. Then make a plan of action to assess the energy performance of your building and then implement the plan.

• From faxes to water coolers to computers, look for office equipment that carries the Energy Star label on it. You'll purchase products that use 40% to 85% less energy than other models.

• Find an expert who can access your building and help you turn it into a green building. For qualified professionals, consult Energy Star at www.energystar.gov.