Do you share resources?

Sharing a bath saves water.

This month's Change The World Wednesday theme is "Sharing Resources". To live green, we might share information, products, natural resources, etc.

So that got me thinking about all the ways we can use "sharing" to walk gentler on the earth.

That's the basis of this survey:

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Join us on February 19th for the results.

Would you conserve if you had solar power?

The sun provides energy

Our new home will be solar powered.

As a "greenie", I am "geared" towards conservation. We turn off lights, use little or no heating/cooling, etc.

I spoke to someone who has solar power and they commented that they don't conserve energy.

That got me thinking and is the basis of this survey:

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Meet & Greet (#MtaGt) - August - Garry Rogers Nature Conservation

Welcome to Meet & Greet, a regular series designed to grow our green community.

Banner by Art Ist

Grab our banner for your site:<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A monthly link-up party for green blogs on Reduce Footprints" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkes4Ye110zbirkxMV6FAevl_7ymkBSWTCsXC7Li1_Vqm5HuIZkn81pN-CFX8iYJkLxAnDNccMjfHmFEMX8Hy8kFjkepmewEnRhBII4indKyexo3L1n6QDC0YrS0jY5Jy94ZyCLUx-_sg/s220/meet--and-greet-003-1000.jpg"/></a></a>
The rules:

1. Use the link-up tool below to share your green-living blog or collection of environmental posts.
2. Visit at least one other blog and/or the featured site and leave a pertinent comment.
3. The link-up will remain open for a month.
4. Random.org determines the featured site each month.

This month, Random.org chose Garry Rogers Nature Conservation as our featured blog. I first "met" Garry via Tribber. His articles captured my attention because many of them spoke about animals. When we think about endangered species, we typically think about elephants, rhinos, polar bears, and whales. While Garry does speak to the plight of these beautiful creatures, he also draws attention to some of the lesser known species like the pangolin (sometimes called the "walking artichoke"), the spiny dogfish , and a very cute little cat called a kodkod. In addition to endangered species, readers will find posts on animal rights and welfare. I was particularly interested in a recent article about circus animals and why circuses should be banned immediately ... it'll make you see events under the "big top" differently. Conservation is not just about animals. Garry presents information on fracking, solar use, sunflowers, and what to do with the blackened woodland left behind after a wildfire. Garry Rogers Nature Conservation is a bit like a quality news network ... it gathers together pertinent, timely, conservation news and serves it to us in a straightforward manner. It is an excellent resource!

For previous features & blogs, check out the Meet & Greet Page: http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html.

Our link-up is live. Please list your blog, visit and have fun!

It's All In Our Head ...

Here's a question to ponder ...

If you were having a house built or remodeling your current home, would you feel you were getting your money's worth if the contractor used salvaged building materials to construct your project?

Unfortunately, many people would answer that question with "NO". In our society, we seem to believe that the only quality products are brand new and that something salvaged, used, pre-owned or repurposed isn't the "best". I suspect that we can thank advertisers for that thinking ... after all, they are in the business of keeping companies afloat and that means making consumers believe that they need the newest items on the market.

In truth, "New" isn't always better. For example, salvaged construction materials, like lumber, are often sturdier and less expensive than new items purchased from a lumber yard. Pre-owned vehicles are often a much better value than brand new cars (if the brakes give out on your new car, it isn't good).

And what about the environment? When one considers the impact of new items ... the natural resources required and energy used to fabricate them ... new isn't really better. When we see landfills being swamped with last year's "New" items ... well, that isn't better either.

Imagine what would happen if our collective thinking changed ... if we viewed "New" as bad and "Used" as best. Imagine a world where landfills weren't filled with usable items. It could happen ... after all ... it's all in our heads.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

Vegan Recipe - Seitan and Mushroom Stroganoff

It's the first Friday of the month and that means a vegan recipe to share. Why? Well, eating a plant-based diet ... even occasionally ... is one of the easiest ways to walk gently on the earth. Simply put, it takes less natural resources to produce one pound of plant-based foods than it does to produce one pound of animal-based foods. And with recipes, like the delicious one I'm sharing today, it's truly a joyful way to save the earth.

This month's recipe is from the folks at ChooseVeg.Com who graciously gave me permission to share it with you. It meets my personal criteria for recipes ... it's delicious and it's easy to make. I hope you and your family will enjoy it as much as we do.


Seitan and Mushroom Stroganoff

Serves 4

* 2 tablespoons corn starch
* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1-1/3 cups vegetable broth or water
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
* 2 tablespoons tahini
* 2 teaspoons canola oil or olive oil
* 2 cups thinly sliced onions
* 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
* 4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
* 2 cups thinly sliced seitan strips
* ground black pepper, to taste
* egg-free noodles

Gravy: Stir cornstarch and soy sauce together in a 2-quart saucepan and make a thin, smooth, paste. Whisk in the vegetable broth or water and garlic granules. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until it thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and beat in the tahini. Cover the saucepan and set aside.

Place oil in a large skillet and heat over medium-high. When the oil is hot, saute the onion and garlic for 10 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, for 5 to 7 minutes.

Stir the seitan strips and the reserved gravy into the onions and mushrooms. Reduce heat to low and stir often, about 5 to 10 minutes, until the seitan is heated through.

Season the stroganoff with ground pepper. Serve at once over egg-free noodles.

My Personal Notes:

• The Stroganoff is wonderful over brown rice or vegan mashed potatoes as an alternative to the noodles.
  
  
• Substitute Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) for the seitan for a "hamburger" texture. Just be sure to soak it in water/broth first to rehydrate.
  
  
• If you don't have fresh mushrooms, try using dried mushrooms (we tried Shitake). Dried mushrooms will also need to be rehydrated before cooking.
  
  
  
• Try adding thinly sliced peppers with the onions for a slightly different flavor.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

Guest Author - Kelli from Thoughts of a Sober White Woman

On Monday we heard from Lesley who is just beginning a "Buy Nothing New Year". Today I thought it would be fun to hear from my bloggy friend Kelli who has just finished a whole year of a "No Spending Diet". You might remember Kelli from last June when she stopped in and shared a few of the unique ways she uses plastic bags (you can read that article HERE). Kelli also writes a fine blog called Thoughts of a Sober White Woman where she shares all kinds of things, including Eco-friendly ideas.

So ... sit back, relax and let's hear what Kelli has to say about her year:


Reduce Footprints asked me to write a follow up on a no spending diet, since I did it for a year.

Now let me explain a few things. I live in California, I have four teenagers, 2 dogs, and several cats and I have the honor of being mom to any marine that walks into my house. Oh and I have a husband who works his bum off just to provide for us, and he is the love of my life.

My daughters have traveled the world and one still wants to be a missionary, so every summer she is in a different country. I have a handicap son who tears his clothes up or he will hit a growth spurt and I still won't be able to have decent jeans for him. Our oldest son has a job and is joining the service. I am just glad that he does not grow anymore. Now if only I could fill up his hollow leg.

I started on my no spending journey, right after I got of the hospital. I was sitting in bed reading a magazine, when I read this article about a family that tried to spend no money ( except for basics) for a whole year. I guess I need something new to challenge me, after all what else does a mom with four teens suppose to do. I was just getting started on the challenge when my girlfriend and her mom flew in to see me. I shared the article with my girlfriend, and she said that she was going to try it as well.

So how did it go for me? I must say that it went rather well for ME. Hubby really did not want to do the challenge and the children could really care less weather I did it or not. However since I am the mom I made them make changes.

I had to go back and search my blog for some of the things that I did. First we got nothing "new". If we did not have it, then we bought it used. Now this may sound simple, and to some extent is. Lets talk about clothing for a moment. Hubby and I are not growing so it is very rare that either of us buy new clothing anyway. Our son Ryan however is very hard on his clothes. So this is where I had to get real creative at. Ryan will only wear white socks, but when I do his laundry I would notice that a lot of them had huge holes in them. I would throw those into the rag bag, and put the other one aside. I would eventually take all my one socks and match them up and put them in his drawer. Does anyone really see his socks? How many people are going to ask him to lift up his jeans so they can see if socks match? Who care if one has a green ring at the top and the other one does not.

For me personally I realized just how much clothing I had. During the summer I live in flip flops and swim suits. OH and Hubbys t shirts. So when I start going through all my summer stuff I realized how much I did not wear. I grabbed a bag and all of that went into the yard sale pile. You know, I am happy with my summer skirts, and two pairs of shorts. I NEED nothing more.

The same thing happened when winter came around. I must have gotten rid of a ton of sweaters and sweat shirts. It is amazing that when you force yourself to not buy new clothing you do realize how much you have and how much you can live without.

When it came to our food, I put down a few basic rules. If it was not bought when we went shopping then I would have to do without it until next payday. I also only allowed my self a certain amount of money, so that way I could not go out on payday on buy everything in sight.

There were times when I had to get real creative and force myself to not run to the store for one item. One time I was going to make bbq chicken sandwiches for dinner. Well I guess I forgot to buy bbq sauce. I started digging in the fridge and I found three half used bottles. I mixed them up and boom there was dinner. No emergency trip to the store, no wasted gas, no wasted money, and no wasted time. This also got me back to making a few things from scratch instead of buying it boxed. However once again it makes you realize how much you have. I must laugh because just today I found a box of those single serving things you mix into water. I actually made a pitcher of whatever it was.

I am a quilter so cutting back on material is just very hard. I had started cutting back a little bit, simply because material was getting very expensive. The more people I talk to, the more ideas I got. I now use "old" sheets as back of quilts. I use old blankets as batting for my quilts. Yes I am spending money, but I was not spending nearly as much as if I was going to the fabric store. My own local yard sales have worked out just fine. I have also found people giving away material and sheets, so I try to pick them up as much as possible.

My pets are my life. I have two big dogs. I don't think they are big, but I have been told that they are. I really did not change to much with them. I still bought the same food, and everything. However this summer I needed some extra water bowls for them to drink out of, so I found some old pans and buckets and I just used those when the dogs were outside.

I also have cats, and I do foster care for cats. While cats are very low maintenance animals they are also very picky animals. One of the problems I had was when they would get out of the litter box the would track litter everywhere. I could have gone out and bought one of those plastic mats, but I am not suppose to spend money. So I found some old sheets and towels. Now my litter boxes sit on top of them and they catch all the litter. Now all I have to do is shake them out and wash them.

I also foster bottle babies. At one point last year when I was at the shelter one of the workers took me into a storage room. She started offering me stuff and I turned it all down. I did not need dishes, I would find something at my house. No I don't need a litter pan, I had saved all my pie pans. No I don't need formula. I was digging in my pantry and I found some. I only ended up needing nipples. I know this is a no spending diet, and they were giving me the stuff, but I just could not see taking what I did not need.

I use a ton of lotion. Yep you guessed it I ran out. So I started going around to my daughters room and I gathered up all the lotion that had an inch of dust on it. Then I noticed they had a ton of body wash that was also covered in dust. I mixed all the almost empty bottles together. I used that body wash for the next two months, and I am still trying to use up all the lotion that I found. The girls now ask people to please not buy them lotion and body wash any more.

I have no idea how much money I saved. I would wait until the day before payday and what ever was left I would transfer into savings. However this is a list of things I was able to do with the money I did save.

1. I bought a new carpet cleaner, o.k. it was used but it was new to me.

2. We replaced the engine in hubby's truck, and paid cash for it.

3. We had a $200 vet bill and it did not stress us out.

While I was thinking about what else to say I caught myself not spending, and here is what I have learned. hornet spray will kill ant's. My daughters old tennis shoes fit me perfectly and they were in good shape, so guess who got a new pair of shoes? LOL I am drinking from an old star wars cup. It has lasted all these years and somehow my children have not broken it, so I don't care if people laugh me. It holds my drink.

I have finally decided that I am going to challenge myself again. Today I heard a saying: "If your grandmother would not recognize the food, then you should not be eating it." I wonder if my grandmother would recognize my cookies or cakes? After all mine come from a box or a bag. So this year I am going to make all of my cakes and cookies from scratch. The interesting part is going to see weather or not I can make a red velvet cake from scratch.

Remember by consuming less you are reducing and if we all reduced then there would be less in our trash and recycling cans, and we would be putting more green in our pockets.

I'd like to say a big Thank You to Kelli for sharing her experience with us. She really proves that one person can make a difference.

Do you think you could go on a "No Spending Diet" for year?

As always, I would love to hear from you!

Environmental Beauty

I have this belief that living an environmentally-friendly life means not just protecting the earth but also protecting every living thing on the earth. While I personally try never to kill anything .. plant, animal or otherwise ... that's not really what I'm talking about. I'm talking about how and what humans take from nature ... that desire to be excessive ... the idea that if one thing is good, then a billion things is better ... with no thought to sustainability.

If one studies nature, it is apparent that there is balance ... and if left alone, nature seems to check itself. When food is available, a species thrives and typically becomes food for another species, higher on the food chain. Or, if predators don't control populations, the species will grow until the food source can no longer sustain it ... and starvation will check population growth.

At one time in human history, people were part of that balance. We took what we needed to survive but nothing more. Then, man got greedy and decided that more was better. And that had an impact on every species on the earth.

Even at that point, man could almost be forgiven his gluttony ... after all, he was taking plants and animals which would be sold for food and clothing. Necessities! But then, man got preoccupied with status and wealth and looking good. Exotic animal populations were devastated because man (and woman) wanted unusual boots, furs, beautiful feathers in their hats, and trophies on their wall. And "balance" became a thing of the past.

And that's the part I have a problem with ... taking so much from nature that species become extinct. Let's face it ... we don't exactly know what will happen to us as various species forever disappear. We don't know what it will do to the quality of our life ... or to our very existence. I'm guessing that it could be devastating.

While I wandered around the Internet last month, I came upon a disturbing trend ... ornamental feathers. I started to see posts and ads about jewelry made with feathers ... about boas and headbands and dusters and shawls ... all made with beautiful, exotic feathers. They were, indeed, beautiful! But I began to wonder how those feathers were obtained. I'd like to say that feathers were collected as birds molted. But, that's just not the case. They are obtained in ways that I won't mention here ... it's too ugly.

In the US, laws state that feathers can only be obtained from domesticated birds. So, the majority of them are a by-product of the poultry industry. But are we simply using every part of the bird, as advertisers would tell us ... or are birds being raised specifically for their feathers? We've talked about the environmental cost of raising animals ... it's extremely high. Additionally, if the demand for ornamental feathers increases, does anyone believe that it won't be met ... and met with more and more exotic species? That opens us up for the reduction and/or elimination of bird species because of their beauty. It happened in the 1800s ... it could happen today.

We've talked about meatless meals ... because they are environmentally friendly. Let's expand that to include meatless, or animal free products ... because they are also environmentally friendly.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

I can see the light (a recycled article)

Whenever a light bulb in my house burns out, I (of course) switch to energy efficient bulbs. But even then ... do I really need 10 light bulbs over the mirror in the bathroom? My answer ... No! So, this conservation tip is easy ... just twist off as many light bulbs as you can. For us, two bulbs over the mirror in the big bathroom, and one bulb in the small bathroom, is plenty.

And, of course, turn off lights whenever possible. Have you ever tried watching a movie in the dark? Grab some popcorn, cuddle up with someone special and relax ...

As always, I would love to hear your ideas for reducing, reusing and recycling.

Let's get started ... (a recycled article)

Since we have so many new readers at Reduce Footprints, I thought I'd recycle some of my original posts. Even if you've been following this blog for some time, you may have missed the earliest articles ... after all, as with many blogs, it takes awhile to reach the viewing public. So ... that being said ... here's Reduce Footprints' very first post:


If you're like me, you want to do your part in saving the planet but ... it all seems so overwhelming. Not all of us can rush out and buy an energy efficient car or have an energy efficient house built.


So, I decided to create a blog where we can share "easy to do" ideas on reusing, recycling ... and basically, all things associated with reducing our footprint on the earth. Hopefully, something you see in this blog will inspire you to look around and discover new ways to help Mother Earth, in an easy-to-do, inexpensive way. And for those of you already making the effort, perhaps this blog will give you ideas that you hadn't thought of. I should add that I don't take credit for any of these ideas ... they are things I've read, things that friends and family have shared and yes, once in awhile, I actually come up with something myself. With that in mind, let's get started ...


We recently went through the house and noted how many electronics contained a clock. There's a clock on the VCR, the TV, the Microwave ... well, you get the point. All those "clocks" require electricity to keep the time. So we looked at each device and determined which ones actually need to keep time ... it turns out, in our opinion, that the VCR was the only one (need those daily recorded programs). Everything else got plugged into a power strip so that we can turn it off when it's not in use. This includes the TV, all of our computers and associated external "stuff", any chargers (cell phone, batteries, etc.) and timers.


Sure, there's minor inconvenience ... when we go to turn on the TV, we have to bend over and turn on the power strip. But hey ... we get a little exercise and ... "unplugging" cut our electricity bill in half.


That's it for this first posting ... I hope you will visit often and share your ideas.

Get ready ... only two weeks left!

Are you ready for Earth Hour 2009? As you know, this blog is all about easy ways to reduce our footprint on the earth ... and Earth Hour is one of the easiest, and fun, ways to do that.

On March 28th at 8:30 pm, for one hour, simply turn off your lights.

Simple, right?

Now here's the fun part ... turn Earth Hour into an environmental "holiday". We celebrate all kinds of things throughout the year ... why not a celebration for the earth. Make it fun ... something that you and your family will enjoy ... and will look forward to each year. Here are a few ideas:

• Pull out those board games which are collecting dust in the closet and play by flashlight ... your kids will love it.

• Have a romantic, candlelit dinner.

• Grab some blankets and lounge chairs, head outside, and watch the stars.

• Prepare some fun foods ahead of time and have a picnic in the living room ... by candle light.

• Tell ghost stories.

• Do you live in a warm climate? Perhaps close to the beach? Take a moonlight stroll.
  

• How about a bubble bath in a candlelit room with soft music from a battery operated CD player.

• Have a scavenger hunt.

So now it's your turn ... what ideas do you have for celebrating Earth Hour 2009? How creative can you get?

And here are two more things you can do:

1. Click over to the Earth Hour site and sign up. You'll be added to their "count" and they'll send you updates on the Earth Hour effort.
2. Tell everyone you know and encourage them to participate.

Join me in celebrating Earth Hour 2009.

Become part of a global effort!

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

8 Quick "Green" Tips

Here are a few quick "green" tips:

1. When going to an ATM, "Pay at the Pump" gas station or Starbucks ... say "no" to a receipt. You'll save tons of paper.

2. Here's a great idea for towels, pillows, blankets, jackets and coats (even furs) that aren't in good enough shape to either use or donate to a thrift store ... donate them to an animal shelter or Humane Society. They'll use them for bedding, baths, etc.
   

3. Rather than defrosting food on the counter or using a microwave, plan ahead and defrost food in the refrigerator. It'll take a little longer ... but it will lower the temperature of the refrigerator and ... save energy. Brilliant!

4. Have a pair of shoes that are no longer wearable because of a hole in the bottom or a broken heel? Before rushing out to buy a new pair, take them to a shoe repair shop and see if they can be fixed. Often times, the fix will be far less expensive than a new pair of shoes and ... you'll keep one more item out of a landfill.

5. Receive and pay your bills online ... and, rather than print out the receipt or confirmation ... save it to a file where it will be accessible if you need it. You'll save time, a stamp and paper.

6. Get a few houseplants ... they'll clean up the air and decorate your home.

7. Rather than buy bagged vegetables from the grocery store ... buy whole vegetables. Bagged veggies, like salad mixes, are washed using ... yep ... you guessed it ... chlorine. Chlorine causes all kinds of environmental problems. If you'd like to read a good discussion about it, click HERE (towards the end of the article there is a discussion about bagged lettuce).

8. Spring is just around the corner and that means that birds who have wintered in warmer climates will be returning to nest. Help them along by building a bird house. If you have kids, invite them to participate ... it is a great way to get them interested in "green" activities.

What quick green tips do you have?

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

The year in review ..

I love the news programs on TV that review the year and remind us of all the events that took place in the last 12 months. So, what better time than the last day of the year to update you on some of the green living changes we made and how they worked out. Here are a few of the things that had the biggest impact on our house.

Composting and Recycling

This year we began composting ... something that we thought would be difficult in an Apartment. It has worked surprisingly well. We turned planters, not in use, into compost bins and started tossing raw fruit and vegetable matter into them. We now have three bins "working". There is no smell, no bugs and no "icky" factor. The food scraps are decaying rapidly and hopefully we'll have fertile soil in the spring.

Recycling was another activity that we thought would be difficult in a small space. But ... where there is a will, there is a way. We converted trash cans in our office to "paper only" cans. We also put some boxes in our laundry room, which is right off the kitchen, and now toss all recyclables into them. Every week or so ... we make a run to the local recycling area.

The result of these two actions is that the garbage bin has become our smallest can. And, before tossing anything into any bin, we consider whether or not it can be re-purposed.

Energy Consumption

This year we kicked up our energy saving practices. Out of 12 light bulbs in two bathrooms, we twisted off 8 (no one needs that much light). All electrical devices, with the exception of the VCR, the refrigerator and the stove, were put on power bars and when not in use, the power was completely off ... no phantom power gluttons. Things like cell phone chargers or battery chargers were unplugged until needed and then, they were only plugged in long enough to charge up the device. In the summer, rather than use air conditioning, ceiling fans were employed and we ... well ... opened the windows. Adjusting the curtains throughout the day also helped keep temperatures comfortable. In the winter, we dressed warmer and used blankets while watching TV. If the temperatures dipped too low, we turned on the heat ... but only long enough to warm things up and take the chill out of the air.

By far our biggest energy change was the use of the hot water heater. Rather than leave it on, all the time, we opted for turning it on for 30 minutes a day. Our water heater doesn't have an on/off switch but ... the circuit box is easy to get to so ... we just flipped it on and off as required.

These efforts were rewarded by lowering our electric bill considerably ... from $90.00 at it's highest to $34.00 last month. More importantly, there was an energy savings ... from a high 1054 kWh to the current 320 kWh.

Starting this blog

One of the most important green living changes in my life has been writing this blog. Through it, I have learned so many things. In addition, I've met wonderful people ... people who care about each other ... and the planet. In the beginning, my goal was to create a place where we could share ideas and perhaps, between us, compile a large enough list that everyone could do something. Thanks to all of you, that goal has been met.

Now it's your turn

What green efforts have you made this year? What are the efforts that you are most proud of ... and why? Of the green efforts you began this year, which has had the most impact? And has there been anything that was a bust?

I look forward to 2009 and sharing even more green ideas.

To all of you ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

Winter Solstice

"Yule, is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider." - Yule Lore

Winter Solstice marks the beginning of longer days ... and the promise of spring. But in most of the U.S. the weather is cold ... and we can expect colder weather for at least the next couple of months. Does colder weather mean we toss out our green living ways in order to stay warm and toasty? Nope! Here are some ideas:

• Every energy saving website on the Internet will tell you to turn down the thermostat in the winter to 68 degrees or lower. The fact is, for every degree you lower your heat in the 60 to 70 degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs. But no one likes to be cold. So, to keep frost bite away ... put on some extra clothes. Layering clothing traps in the warm air created by your body. Use cozy "throws" or blankets, to wrap up in, while watching TV. Put on extra socks or use slippers. Got some thermal underwear? They're not just for outdoor activities. Use stocking caps indoors if your ears are cold. I've even been known to use mittens with the fingers cut out to keep my digits warm while typing away on the computer (we're trying not to use any heat at all this winter ... I'll update you in a later post about that). Snuggle with a loved one ... body heat is a great source of warmth (both physically and mentally).

• In the fall we talked about cleaning furnaces and getting them tuned-up for the winter. Now, be sure to replace or clean the filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use.

• Let the sun shine in. Open drapes and let the sun heat your home ... at night, be sure to close them to help insulate.

• Rearrange your rooms. Move your furniture around so you are sitting near interior walls ... the areas near exterior walls and windows are cooler.

• Traditional fireplaces are energy losers - they pull heated air out of the house and up the chimney. When not in use, make sure the damper is closed. One word of caution ... before closing the damper, make sure that there aren't any smoldering embers present. If the fireplace isn't going to be used at all, block off the chimney with a piece of rigid insulation from the hardware store that fits snugly into the space (dampers don't shut fully without some leaking).

• Do you have rooms that aren't being used? Close any heating vents and close the door ... no sense heating rooms that no one goes into to.

• If you live in an apartment, check doors and windows for cool air. Most apartments are built with economy, rather than efficiency, in mind ... and things like insulated windows and seals around doors don't come cheap. To stop the cool air from coming in, use rolled up towels, blankets or rugs along the bottoms of doors and windows.

• Use what you have ... for example: After using an oven to cook a meal, leave the door open so that the left-over heat escapes into the room. While doing laundry, leave the laundry room door open so that heat from the dryer warms the adjacent rooms. The same goes for taking hot showers ... leave the door open and make use of the hot steam. Another shower idea is to put the plug in the tub and, after you've finished your shower, let the water sit there until it's cold ... warmth from the water will slowly escape into the room.

And finally ... I'd like to offer one more piece of advice:

• Do not use a BBQ or camp stove ... or any other equipment which is designed and intended for outdoor use ... as a heating source. Not only are they fire hazards, they can produce high levels of carbon monoxide which has no odor and is deadly.

The weather outside might be frightful ... but using these tips will make your home ... delightful!

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Sharing ... and a green life

I've been thinking about the concept of sharing. As children, we were taught to share our toys. As adults, we are encouraged to share what we have with those less fortunate. We share our opinions in surveys, our time through volunteering, and our thoughts by blogging. Whether it is a learned idea or something inherent in our genes, the fact is that we share.

When it comes to green living, a little sharing goes a long way towards a healthier environment. Here are a few ideas:

Carpooling and ride sharing - We all know that cars pollute. So it only makes sense to reduce the number of cars on the road. Less cars ... less pollution. One way to do this is through carpooling. It's easy to get started ... check with co-workers to see who lives close (being on the same schedule helps but, if one is a little flexible, slightly different schedules can also work ... or ask your employer about adjusting your hours to accommodate carpooling). Organize shopping trips with neighbors. Craigslist has a "rideshare" category where one can post trips, either looking for riders or needing a ride. In addition to helping the planet, carpooling is cost effective. Where there are rotating drivers, there is less wear and tear on one's vehicle. If one chooses to drive and offer rides instead, the riders usually help with the cost of gas. And ... imagine the opportunity to have lively discussions while commuting.

Car Sharing - In Washington state there is a beautiful place called Stehekin which is at the end of Lake Chelan, a 55-mile long, glacier fed lake. Stehekin is remote ... the only way to get there is by water craft or a long, long hike. When I visited (years ago), the first thing that I noticed was the lineup of several cars. This seemed strange since there are no roads leading out of Stehekin. There are, however, roads in the area leading to cabins and private little hideaways. So, the residents share cars ... with each other and with guests. Each car is parked near the dock with the keys inside (and the doors unlocked). When one arrives off a boat, they can choose a car and drive it. When they leave, the car is left at the dock for the next user ... with a full tank. This idea has taken on new interest in many cities throughout the world. There are car sharing groups popping up everywhere. The idea is that, without owning a car, a car is available whenever one needs it. They are parked throughout a city and members use one whenever it's available. It's a brilliant way to share a car, cut down on pollution and ... cut down on the costs associated with owning a car. Here are a couple of sites to check out for more information: http://www.carsharing.net/ and http://www.zipcar.com/. For additional resources search the Internet for "car sharing".

Living Space - On this site, we usually think of "footprint" as our carbon footprint. But what about our actual footprint ... the actual amount of ground that we live on. With populations throughout the world soaring ... we are using more and more land for housing. Trees are being cut ... aquifers are being covered up and polluted ... and animals are becoming extinct as they run out of habitat. Sharing living space reduces our footprint. This isn't a new concept ... for years, it was traditional for more than one generation of a family to occupy the same home. So, if you find yourself looking for new "digs", consider an apartment or a condo. If living in a large house is your pleasure, consider renting out rooms or some portion of the home not in use. More people in one space is a good thing!

Office Supplies - Do you work in an office ... or are you the owner of a business? Consider cutting back on the amount of office supplies purchased and ask employees to share them. For example ... is it really necessary for each person to have a stapler or scissors? Can people share computers and paper shredders? How about sharing trash cans and recycle bins? If one looks around, I'm sure there are all kinds of office supplies which could be shared. And the less stuff we buy and use ... the less stuff gets tossed out.

Showers - Save water by showering with a friend. :) Planning to build a house ... instead of one bathroom for each room, put one between rooms.


Share the road - Here's an easy one ... share the road with bicyclists. Encourage this pollution free mode of transportation by slowing down and giving them plenty of room. And if you have a bicycle ... see if there are times when you can use it instead of driving a car.




Clothes - As kids, it seemed natural to share clothes. Usable clothing was handed down from older siblings to younger ones ... sisters shared wardrobes ... and friends often traded outfits. As adults, we can continue sharing clothes. Many items are unisex ... couples can share T-shirts and sweat shirts/pants. Dads and sons are often about the same size ... so share jeans, shirts and even shoes. The idea, here, is to share what's in your closet with others living in your house ... you'll increase your wardrobe without spending a cent or adding more stuff to the mix.

Donate - Here I'm talking about donating usable items which you no longer want or need. Rather than toss them out, take them to the nearest thrift store, shelter or Good Will. And while we're at it, before shopping for something new, consider buying previously used items.

Toothbrushes - before you get grossed out, I'm talking about battery operated or electric toothbrushes ... and not the manual kind. Why have one device for each person? Simply buy a supply of heads ... each person has their own but uses one electronic device. It'll give you all a brilliant smile!

Electronics - Advertisers would have you believe that each and every person in your house needs their own TV, computer, phone, radio, etc. That's a lot of stuff ... good for them but not so good for the environment. So ... rather than equip each room with the latest and greatest ... and never seeing the occupant again ... consider sharing electronics.



Pass it on - And finally, the best way to share is to pass on the "green" word. Share your ideas, your experiences, what works and what doesn't ... share tips, hints and advice. The world will be a better place for it.




Sharing ... who knew it was so "green".

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Food ... Glorious Food

Recently, to kick off the holiday season, we watched "A Christmas Carol". I love the scene where Scrooge comes out of his bedroom to find the Ghost of Christmas Present sitting atop a bountiful table of delicious food. This scene seems to represent everything we hold dear ... a table with plenty ... a generous and happy spirit ... the very essence of human kindness. In homes around the world, we try to recreate that opulence and generosity ... offering our guests much more than they could ever consume. And what is left over often becomes landfill waste.

As landfill contributions go, I've always thought that food would be less imposing than other items. After all, it will compost down and ultimately enrich the soil, right? Unfortunately ... there are problems with this thinking. To maximize the space used for landfills, the trash is compacted before being buried in the soil. These tidy bricks of garbage are air tight ... preventing decomposition. Simply put, the process of composting requires air. No air ... no compost. For landfills which allow organic materials to compost, there's another problem. We simply have too much waste. According to the EPA, methane (the gas produced by food waste) traps 23 times as much heat in the atmosphere as the same amount of CO2. Landfills account for 34 percent of all methane emissions in the U.S.

So ... how do we prevent food waste? I'm glad you asked. Here are some ideas:

• Planning a party? When entertaining, consider sending leftovers home with guests.
  

• Plan ahead ... twice. When I shop, I have an idea of what I'd like to cook during the week. This ensures that I have a use for everything ... and if I stick to my plan, everything gets used. But what happens when that dish that sounded oh so great at the beginning of the week, sounds less than appetizing today? That's where planning ahead twice comes in. Be sure that for every item purchased, an alternate dish is considered.

• Don't shop hungry ... and bring a list. Grocery stores are in the business of selling. They plan out their displays to entice us. And who can resist that box of donuts when their stomach is growling. So eat before shopping and make up a list ... it'll help avoid any impulse buying.

• Buy local produce. Have you ever purchased a bag of produce at a supermarket chain, just to get it home and find that there are rotten items at the bottom of the bag? Or how about those lovely tomatoes ... grown halfway around the world ... that are black inside? Produce in big chain supermarkets is older and typically isn't handled with care, causing many items to become bruised or broken which speeds up the decaying process. Buying produce locally ensures that the item is fresh ... which means less waste.

• Buying in bulk saves money and lessens the amount of packaging that gets sent to the landfill. However, one must use caution when buying large quantities. Ensure that the item being purchased has an adequate "use by" date. Also, make sure that the item is something you'll actually use. Most items, regardless of their shelf life, will get tossed out if, after a year or so, they haven't been used up.

• Store foods properly. If the food you purchase doesn't come with storage instructions, check out the Internet. Storing food properly will ensure it's maximum shelf life and safety ... not to mention it's taste.

• Check your refrigerator ... and your pantry. Adopt the grocer's strategy and rotate. Foods that are out of sight, usually get forgotten. Browse the contents of your food storage areas often ... at least once a week. You'll remind yourself what's there and you can move forgotten items to the front where they'll get used instead of turning into fuzzy, green stuff.

• Use what you have before shopping for more. In our house, we have fun with this. We try to use almost everything before making another shopping trip and this has generated some very creative meals.

• Cook only what is needed. If you're cooking for two and the recipe is for eight ... cut it down. Even if your family adores leftovers, there comes a point when everyone is tired of the same old thing.

• Don't toss out bits and pieces. You know the ones ... that last piece of bread in the package ... the crumpled chips at the bottom of the bag ... the peelings from the carrot you had at lunch. These things can be re-purposed. Save pieces of bread to make your own bread crumbs or take them to a park and feed the ducks. Crushed chips are great for topping a casserole or use them as coating for your favorite fried food. Vegetable peelings can be saved and turned into a natural, additive free, broth.

With a little effort, we can reduce ... if not eliminate ... food waste. And that ought to make the Ghost of Christmas Present joyous indeed.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

Don't let the price of gas fool you ...

Before I get started on today's post, I'd like to suggest that you visit one of our bloggy friends: Water Once a Week. PlantBuddy has posted an excellent article on "green" giving this holiday season. She has some excellent ideas for living gifts. You can read her article here.

OK ... on to today's subject:

The price of gas, in our little town, is under $1.80/gallon. Not long ago it was over $4.00/gallon. I'm not sure what has caused the reduction in price. Some say that we, the consumers, are being manipulated into buying bigger, gas guzzling cars ... and well ... the "Big 3" have been begging for a bail out recently so ... that idea isn't totally without merit. However it happened, gas prices have dropped.

When the prices were at their highest, we all started looking at ways to reduce our gas consumption. We considered public transportation ... we planned our errands to make the most of a trip ... we stayed close to home instead of taking off on long driving vacations. We maintained our cars ... filled the tires appropriately ... and used cruise control ... all in an effort to make the most of each drop of gas. We did all of this because it was just too expensive to drive our cars. But guess what ... it's still too expensive to drive our cars. The cost is to our environment and our health.

Gasoline is a non-renewable resource. That means ... once it's gone, it's gone for good. And that day is rapidly approaching. At one time, they talked about running out of oil many generations into the future ... so far away that no one considered it to be a threat ... not even a remote threat. Now, just a few years later, they say it may happen within our lifetime. Think about all the ways we use oil and then imagine the day that there just isn't any. It will totally change life as we know it.

Even if one is a skeptic and feels that the chances of running out of oil are remote ... it cannot be denied that gas run automobiles pollute. We're talking greenhouse gas emissions here ... those gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. We're also talking air quality. Have you noticed how many more asthma cases there are these days and how many more people seem to have allergies? Pollution carries a high cost.

So here's the thing ... don't let the price of gas fool you into believing that it is no longer necessary to conserve. It is now more important than ever to conserve gas. We simply can't afford not to.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

Comfort, Convenience and Disposable Items

It has gotten chilly in North Carolina. When I step outside, no matter what time of day or night, I hear heat pumps running. In the summer, it was air conditioning units ... running all the time. It occurred to me that we are a society which loves comfort, convenience and disposable items. Unfortunately, the quest for those things hurts the earth.

Let's consider ...

Comfort - did you know that one of the largest drains of energy in a home is the home heating/cooling system? When we set the thermostat for optimal comfort, we also use a lot of energy. In times past (some call them the good old days), people dressed warmer in the winter and opened windows in the summer. They didn't use central heating or air conditioning. We can take a lesson from the "good old days" and use less energy. "Progress" may offer us absolute comfort ... but it's also hurting the planet.

Convenience - no one would deny that convenience items (fast food, prepackaged meals, etc.) are bad for the environment. What about activities? Activities like driving to the mailbox instead of walking ... or tossing paper into the trash can instead of recycling. These activities may be convenient ... but they aren't kind to the earth.

Disposable Items - this one is easy. Basically, anything which is disposable is probably not environmentally friendly. Here are a few examples: plastic utensils, paper towels, disposable razors, pretreated disposable cleaning cloths.

Not everything that falls into these three categories is bad for the environment. But they serve as indicators to help us live "greener". When considering a purchase or an activity, ask yourself these questions:

1. Does it make us comfortable?
2. Is it a convenience?
3. Is it disposable?

Answering yes to any of these doesn't mean that one shouldn't act ... more, it is a signal that perhaps we need to dig a little deeper and consider whether there is a better choice ... one which helps us reduce our footprint on the earth.

As always ... I would love to hear from you.

Soap

The more that I get into green living ... the more I see that it's about everything. It's about what we do and what we think ... it's about everything we touch and everything that touches us. That's good news because it means that there are all kinds of opportunities for each and every one of us to do something which will benefit the earth. It doesn't matter what one's economic situation is or where one lives ... regardless of which government, religion or lifestyle oversees one's life ... there is something ... big things and little things ...that each one of us can do to reduce our footprint. If we each do one little thing ... they will add up to become big things. And the earth will smile.

With all of that in mind, I started looking around at every little thing I touch. And that brought me to soap ... body soap.

There seems to be an endless variety of body soaps in the world today. There are bars, liquids, gels ... which come in various colors, fragrances and packages ... which contain ingredients professing to condition, soften and remove wrinkles. There are natural products ... there are not so natural products. There are expensive products ... cheap products ... products just for men ... products just for women. The choices seem endless.

While there are many environmental considerations (ingredients to name one), the aspect which I really started thinking about was bar soap versus liquid soap ... and which was kinder to the earth while still being effective. Here's how they stack up:

Both varieties of soap clean as well as kill germs. Liquid soap significantly reduces any exchange of germs between users, which is a plus. However, the risk of transmitting disease from bar soap is pretty remote. Studies have found that bar soap (even when you share it with others) keeps you just as clean as liquid. So, in terms of how well they do the job ... no clear winner.

How about the stuff that goes down the drain? Most mass produced soaps, bars as well as liquids, contain laboratory-generated chemicals and detergents. There are Eco-friendly soaps on the market which don't contribute any toxins to the waste stream and if those are available to you, I recommend them. But if your choice is one of the soaps in most retail stores, which is less toxic to the waste stream? Again ... no clear winner.

What about the stuff that sits on the shower shelf? Bar soap turns slimy or mushy in standing water (and most bar soap holders collect water) ... liquid soap sits nicely in a container and never gets mushy. The degraded bar soap represents a waste. The winner on this issue ... liquid soap.

Now here's one that I've never thought about ... liquid soap typically contains moisturizers which leave a residue that requires extra rinse time to remove (rinse time equals water used). Bar soap, on the other hand, typically does not contain moisturizers so there is less rinse time involved. The winner here ... bar soap.

While we're on the subject of water use, think about this: liquid soap requires a two-handed process of opening the cap to a container, inverting it, squeezing out the right amount of product, closing the cap, and then ... putting the container back on the shelf. Even the pump varieties seem to require two hands. Doesn't seem important ... except ... every minute spent working the dispenser is another 5 gallons of water down the drain. On the subject of water conservation ... the winner is bar soap.

Since liquid soaps come in a dispenser, it's often hard to tell if enough soap has been dispensed to do the job. With bar soap, it’s pretty easy to tell when you’ve got enough suds. Consequently, three 4-ounce bars will outlast a 12-ounce container of liquid. The economic winner ... bar soap.

Let's move on to packaging. Liquid soaps come in fancy bottles ... plastic containers with some kind of dispensing device. Even the bottles of refill soap are plastic. Bar soap typically comes in a paper or cardboard wrapper which is more easily recycled. The packaging winner ... bar soap.

Now ... the verdict? Bar soap is the environmental favorite.

Here are a few tips to maximize it's use:

• Use a wire dish to keep it from degrading in water.
• Worried about germ transmission (even in that rare case) ... give it a rinse before and after use.
• Try using natural, locally produced, environmentally friendly varieties.
  

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Check this out ...

If you have a moment, click over to Tomus Arcanum and check out these two posts:

English Course Goes Green

It's all rubbish really

Both of these posts deal with the author's "green" efforts and show that living green doesn't have to be time consuming or costly. Thanks to Argentum Vulgaris for showing us how easy it can be.

The perfect read ...

Reusing and recycling are two "basics" of living a green life. Did you miss my posts on these subjects? If you'd like to read them, click on the following: Reuse Recycle

The following article on repairing books is brilliant. Maybe you have a dear book that is getting tattered and you're thinking of tossing it in the recycle bin. Perhaps that beloved classic needs a face lift so that your children will have many pleasant hours reading it. Imagine giving books a new life and then giving them to libraries, thrift stores or the next door neighbor. And who wouldn't adore a collection of a loved one's favorite books ... all fixed up and given as a gift? With a little work, books can be repaired and ... in nothing flat ... be back on the shelf. So check those closets, basements, and attics for boxes of old books and ... fix them up. This is reusing and recycling at it's finest!

How to Repair a Paperback Book

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you have a trade paperback that has fallen on hard times? Loose pages? Cover come loose from the pages? Here's how to resurrect that book for a few more years of good reading.

Steps

Missing One or Two Pages

1. Open the book to the place where the pages belong.
   
2. Place a thin bead of glue along the crack of the spine.
   
3. Carefully place the page(s) back into place, taking care to align the edges of the page with the edges of adjacent pages. To prevent glue "ooze" from making the book hard to open, place a strip of waxed paper on each side of the glued section, at the glued edge.
   
4. Close the book.
   
5. Wipe away any excess glue.
   
6. Place the book under several heavier books to press it while it dries.
   
7. Wait 3 or more hours for the glue to dry before opening the book.
   

Entire Cover Separated From the Pages

1. Open the cover and lay it on a flat surface.
   
2. Use plastic glue[1] to wet the spine area.
   
3. Carefully place the page spine edge into the glue.
   
4. Close the covers.
   
5. Wipe away any excess glue that squeezes out the end of the spine.
   
6. Rubber band the cover to the book and press it under several heavier books to hold it while the glue dries.
   
7. Leave the book for at least 3 hours to allow it to dry. Overnight is best.
   

One Cover Torn Off

1. Use tape[1] to re-attach the cover.
   
2. Place the tape parallel to the spine so that half of the tape sticks to the first page of the book.
   
3. Bend and fold the tape back on itself.
   
4. Carefully align the cover to the spine edge.
   
5. Press it onto the sticky half of the tape.
   
6. Follow the instructions in Cover a Paperback Book With Clear Plastic Film to reinforce the spine.
   
   • Alternatively, you could cover the spine edge with heavy duty clear tape. Librarian book repair tape works best, but packing tape would suffice for a year or two (after a year or so, packing tape will yellow, dry out and cause more problems).
     
   
   

Cover Creased or Tattered

1. Tack down all loose flaps or tears with plastic glue.
   
2. Cover the book with plastic film once the glue has dried. Follow the instructions in Cover a Paperback Book With Clear Plastic Film or Make a Hard Cover for a Paperback Book to reinforce and/or protect the cover from further damage.
   

Tips

• Patience is a virtue... Don't hurry this! Take your time and do a careful job. Hurrying only increases the likelihood that you will end up with an unsatisfactory result.
  

• Plastic glue is not necessary to fix your fallen literary friends. Plain old Elmer's School Glue (yes, the kind you used in 1st grade) works just as well for fixing tatters and separating covers. You can purchase it for less than $1, it dries clear, and really does hold. It won't survive the apocalypse but your book will be secure enough to read (and will look better too!).
  

Things You Will Need

• Helpful supplies to have on hand.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cover a Paperback Book With Clear Plastic Film
  
• How to Repair a Book's Binding
  
• How to Make a Hard Cover for a Paperback Book
  

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Plastic Glue and Book Repair tape are available from Library Supply companies such as Brodart and DEMCO.

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Repair a Paperback Book. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

There now ... wasn't that just the perfect read?

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

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