Change The World Wednesday - No Circling

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we took action to help bees. Art Ist and I have recently become the proud owners of land ... over two acres of beautiful, Blue Ridge Mountain property (more on that in the future). So this week, we planted wild flowers and researched native fruit trees. I have already put "dibs" on a perfect site for a vegetable garden. We also cleaned up a recovered bee house ... one of the treasures left behind by the previous owners. Our property includes a pond and two mountain streams, but just to be sure that the bees have a comfortable place to drink, we added a bird bath ... might as well help out all our flying friends. In the back areas, we found logs which, judging by their condition, have been laying there for many years. Since bees love using old wood for nests, we'll leave the logs undisturbed. It was fun to view our actions, this week, in terms of protecting bees. Hopefully, this summer, we'll have many pollinators taking up residence.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Alicia stopped by and left a comment regarding our Kidney Health challenge. She said, "This is an easy challenge for us since we started pretty much eating Vegan about two years ago now. It really is so easy to find better ways of getting protein other than eating meat and cheese! Your body will definitely thank you!" For this week's challenge she shared this: "Great post! We already have eliminated toxins from our home and always have a veggie and herb garden. We have a small pile of old tree limbs and grass clippings we keep on a small area of our property. We don't have a water source for the bees but I am looking into finding something that we can use year round for them. Our neighbor around the road has quite a few bees which I think is awesome."

Deborah accepted the bee challenge and shared this, "I have been concerned and baffled by the disappearance of bee hives so I am delighted that you are calling attention to this issue. I look forward to researching this problem, learning more about the causes and ways to help save the bees as part of this week's CTWW Challenge."

Remember our challenge to go vegan for a day? Well, Argentum Vulgaris (a "true blue" carnivore) gave us little hope that he'd meet the task. And no, he didn't go vegan for a day ... he took it on for TWO DAYS! WhooHoo! Not only that, he found (and shared) a recipe for making vegan cheese. Wowee! He made quite a few environmental changes last week, including trying a new air freshener. Read Change the World Wednesday – 23rd Apr to find out about his improvements and how he helps bees. Totally awesome, AV!

Melanie dropped by. Here are her comments: "We are lucky to have a home nearby that keeps bees. We plant lots of veggies, plus have native plants in our yard, and have areas where bees can make nests. Additionally, we do not use pesticides anywhere in our garden, lawn or home. I'm pleased to see an increase of bees in our area in the last few years. I think I will have my husband help make a bee house soon. since he works with locally sourced, untreated, naturally aged wood in his wand and crochet hook making, we have all the supplies on hand!" Nice, Melanie ... I hope you'll share pictures of the new bee houses!

Lois wrote Change the World Wednesday; Bees. Towards the end of the post (which contains a lot of great information), she talks about companies who disregard the plight of bees in favor of their own profits. She also offers a possible way in which we can turn that around.

EcoGrrl joined us this week. Here are her thoughts on bees: "Great challenge this month! It's pouring down rain this week but I can address most of these as having been done already this spring:
* Plant at least one native, flowering plant in your yard - here in Portland I ransacked the annual Native Plant Sale in February where I planted ferns, wild ginger, and salmonberry (the latter which should blossom).
* Plant a vegetable garden - already done in March/April, with tomato starts in progress for planting next month :)
* Let pests live (natural pest controllers, like Lady Bugs, need them for food) - I would have to disagree with this as a generalization. Ladybugs aren't in great enough quantity (even if I buy them by the bag) to eat all the aphids, so I use neem oil to take out the aphids organically that love to eat my roses :)
* Keep your lawn and garden pesticide-free - always :)
* Eliminate chemicals in your home - always :)
* Provide a year-round, clean source of water for bees (rainwater collection, a small garden water feature, bird bath, etc.) - I'm not too worried about this with the Oregon rain :)
* Leave some dead trees or plants in your yard ... bees will nest in them. Or, place a bee house in your garden. - I actually put dead matter in my compost bin, as rats are attracted to piles as well here in the city. Fortunately, the bumblebees have a nest somewhere near our garage as they always like to rumble out in the summer when I'm go in :)
* Buy organic food - always!
* Take up beekeeping - not in the plans for us but support local beekeepers who sell via http://www.beelocal.com/about/ "

Alaiyo left a comment via Triberr: "Bees are so important, and we depend on them. Thanks for writing about these necessary insects."

CelloMom joined us this week. She shared this, " Important challenge with many side benefits! What's good for the bees is also good for us: for instance, I am personally not RoundUp Ready - are you? Keeping pesticides out of our lives is the smart thing to do. A lot of my neighbours are putting out bamboo cuttings in their yard spring cleaning. If I collect some, cut it to length, and tie the lengths in a bundle, that's a 15-minute bee house. Maybe those gigantic bumble bees will like that better than burrowing into my car port. Hmmm.... "

This edition of Sunflowers & Edibles gave CTWW a nice mention. Be sure to scroll down the paper because there are a couple of other bee-related posts mentioned including one entitled "What If The Bees Stop Buzzing By June". Good stuff!

Clare accepted the challenge and offered this, "So glad you're highlighting the plight of bees! Almost everything in my garden is native / indigenous, I grow veggies, I use only neem as a pesticide and use almost no chemicals indoors. I do have some dead banana trees (not a tree strictly speaking but anyway).
I have definitely noticed an increase in the number of bees in my garden since I moved in here. What I'm not doing is buying organic food all the time as it's available only in very limited quantities where I live, but of course my own home-growns are organic. I'm not planning on keeping bees, but I do buy from local beekeepers. As always, your blog makes me try ever harder, so my new task will be to provide rainwater for bees (I collect it anyway).
I've got a couple of articles on bees: Why Bees Are So Important To You - http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/why-bees-are-important and also Disappearing Bees - Solutions - http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/disappearing-bees-solutions. Thanks for another great challenge!"

Katie wrote How I Save the Bees [#CTWW] where she offers some great ideas for protecting bees. I especially like the "bucket a day" idea! Under "Native, Flowering Plants", she asks a question about how to determine whether or not a plant is hybrid. Does anyone have an answer for her?

The Shopping Charity mentioned CTWW and included a link to one of your posts. Was it yours?

Finally, I'd like to point you to a fascinating article entitled Buzzing for Solutions: 13 Organizations and Initiatives Helping to Save Bees.

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @GiveTreeGifts
- I'm happy to report that the only thing on your list I'm not already practicing is beekeeping :)
- Insecticide free plants hit nursery shelves to protect bees ow.ly/w4Hn5
- How to protect bees in my yard and garden ow.ly/w4Hr4
- Save the bees: 'Raging Granny' urges Grand Rapids to ban pesticide ow.ly/w4Hx5
- Why bees need our help and we need the help of bees ow.ly/w4HBR
- 11 plants to make your garden bee-friendly ow.ly/w4Io3
- Nationwide gardening challenge to plant bee-friendly flowers ow.ly/w4IsM
- Bee-friendly garden can help struggling species ow.ly/w4Ijg

From @green_vibes
- Our food depends on bees! Sign this petition on the @greenpeaceusa Facebook page! http://t.co/lLQaTAk7NU

From @ByLittleNea
- Growing a lot of my own food during the summer. I need bees for that.

From @VioletsBuds
- I think our yard needs a bee house. Oh @GipsonWands , I have a project for you!

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie	@aussiemoose
@barbhoyer	@barrydarrdixon	@biggreenpen
@bylittlenea	@cleannergyphoto	@collegegogreen
@counselorholley	@debsmikdav1	@dehelen
@eco_novice	@ecoexpert1	@ecothrifty
@erbaviva	@factorydpromos	@familybetty
@frederickbrooke	@freshcleanersaz	@geekgirlusa
@givetreegifts	@green_vibes	@groovygreenlivi
@guayaba	@herbgir1972	@hismerecry
@jamiastarheart	@johannamhaack	@kaitlingarder
@kanelstrand	@kaskadia	@kiser_krafts
@krmbalclothing	@laalicia	@lady_bren
@ladyjcmuses	@madeinusablog	@magnushrm
@marikokoloco	@marjoriemcatee	@mdg276
@michaelinla3	@mitlamoda	@momfindsout
@mommiesnetwork	@nolafusion	@ourboudoir
@pamela_o_plays	@pberk	@pepesplants
@proamusa	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@renatogianuca	@rulesofgreen	@sbs_brands
@sensuouspromos	@sfcouncil	@shannongrissom
@soulfullab	@sowandso	@spafloating
@superbsolutions	@susanheaney	@tammycurry
@thesoftlanding	@theworld4realz	@treesgroup
@twicecreations	@veggiebeet	@violetsbuds
@whopaysthepiper	@witteeme	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

While visiting a park in North Carolina, I noticed that the care-takers had a hummingbird feeder hanging outside of their trailer. As I got closer, I saw that, on the next tree, there was a wasp trap. Evidently the wasps didn't understand that a hummingbird feeder was only for the cute, little birds. So, the care-takers took action to keep them away from the feeder. The wasp trap was full of dead wasps and bees. I felt so sad. Society tends to protect cute and pretty creatures. The less-than-sweet critters, or those that can bite or sting, are typically considered pests ... and there are all kinds of products on the market designed to kill them. It's time that we stop seeing bees and other pollinators as pests and, rather than destroy them, offer them protection. It's not about the inconvenient buzzing around a picnic table or even a sting when we get too close to a hive ... it's about our food supply and life on earth.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

"Circling" wastes a lot of gas

Have you ever found yourself circling the parking lot, looking for the closest parking space?

Unfortunately, that practice wastes a lot of fuel.

Here's your challenge ...

This week, park in the first available parking space and then walk the rest of the way. The goal is to use very little fuel once we enter the parking area. It's a small thing with a big impact. And ... it's great exercise!

OR ...

If you don't drive, or want more of a challenge, please focus on other ways to reduce petroleum use. Here are some suggestions:

• Buy local products (they don't travel as far to get to your market).
• Go "Scent Free" or use essential oils (95% of the chemicals in most perfumes and scents are derived from petrochemicals).
• STOP using plastic bags!
• Air dry your clothing (saves energy which means reduced oil consumption).
• Choose natural, Eco-friendly cosmetics (most lipstick and glosses are made with petroleum products).
• Switch to soy-based printing inks (most inks on the shelf contain petroleum products).
• Say "NO" to nylon and polyester (both petroleum based).
• Avoid aspirin which contains ... yep ... petroleum.
• Avoid hair color and opt for a natural dye like henna ... or just go natural!
• Grow and/or buy organic foods (fertilisers and pesticides contain petroleum).

Oil seems to touch so many areas of our life. Are you ready to reduce your consumption? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Sneak Peek: Do you love natural, Eco-friendly body care products? Join me next week and you might win some.

15 "Green" Tips, Hints and Interesting Facts

Here are some miscellaneous "green" tips, hints and interesting facts:

1. According to the The Auto Channel, 147 million gallons of gas, each year, vaporize into the air due to loose, damaged or missing gas caps. Keep your fuel in the tank by making sure you screw the cap on tight.

2. It's time to get out those cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and mouthwashes and check the labels. 1,4-Dioxane is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. The State of California, under proposition 65, listed 1,4-Dioxane as a chemical known to cause cancer on January 1, 1988. Like many solvents, it forms contamination plumes in groundwater when released to the environment. Groundwater supplies have been adversely impacted in several areas. But you won't find 1,4-Dioxane on the label ... instead look for names that include: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (and any other "eth"), PEG, polyethylene, polyoxyethylene or oxynol.

3. Here's another good reason to look for products made out of recycled materials. According to the executive director of the Zero Waste Alliance, recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than producing it from scratch. Recycling glass uses 31% less; newsprint, 45%; steel, 61%; and plastics, 57-71%.

4. Thinking of a new TV? Those with the Energy Star label are up to 30% more energy efficient than others.

5. Do you use flea collars on your pets? According to Pets for the Environment, they are a "source of constant toxic exposure for your pet and family. Instead, vacuum often and thoroughly, bathe your pet regularly, and ask your vet or local pet store about safer flea treatments and repellents." For more great Eco-friendly pet care tips, click HERE.

6. Pat yourselves on the back. Accordingly to a 16-month survey conducted in 2007 by the research firm Mintel, 36% of adults regularly buy green products. That's an improvement of 12% over previous studies.

7. Want to persuade your boss and co-workers to green up the office? Check out Ideal Bite's Top 10 Easiest Ways to Green your Office. They have a great list which can be printed out (on recycled paper, of course) and posted for all to see ... and hopefully act on.

8. Here's a great idea ... help our bird friends stay warm all winter. Instead of tossing out dryer lint, put it in your yard. Birds will collect it and use it to cozy up their nests.

9. Want to have a little fun? Host a green-cleaning party. Women's Voices for the Earth conceived the idea ... basically, people get together with glass jars and Eco-friendly ingredients and then ... they mix up everything from laundry detergent to furniture polish ... all environmentally safe. Check out their site womenandenvironment.org for information and party kits (which are for sale) ... or ... click HERE for their favorite recipes and design your own party.

10. Got the sniffles? Instead of using disposable tissues ... use a handkerchief.

11. According to the EPA, Americans toss out 2 million tons of "e-waste" each year. That includes approximately 130,000 computers. Instead of sending them to a landfill, consider these ideas:

• Donate computers and any peripherals to a nonprofit organization. Many will refurbish them for disadvantaged or disabled people.
• Check with stores like Staples for recycling programs ... some offer credit towards another purchase.
• Check with manufacturers ... some, like Dell and Apple, recycle their own brands for free. Others will take any brand when one of their own is purchased.
• Another idea ... turn them in to a local Computer Recycling shop where usable components will be turned into new products.

12. Each year, the average American throws away 68 pounds of clothing (from Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association). Think reduce, reuse and recycle instead.

13. Replace one outside incandescent light ... yearly CO2 savings: 210 pounds. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit ... yearly CO2 savings: 214 pounds. Wash clothes in cold water ... yearly CO2 savings: 327 pounds. Source: Rocky Mountain Institute.

14. Interested in watching a short "green film"? Click HERE to watch dozens of them ... for free.

15. Here's a unique recycling idea ... put your used green tea bags in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Use them as cleansing pads in the morning. The bag helps exfoliate skin gently and tea has anti-inflammatory properties which will help to reduce puffy skin on the face.

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

Cut Flowers and the Environment ...

For many, beautiful arrangements of fresh cut flowers are a must for a holiday table. Bouquets of unusual flowers make easy gifts ... grab a bundle from most supermarkets or order a bouquet online to be delivered. Whether one needs a hostess gift, something for a special someone or a gift for the "hard to please", cut flowers will accommodate. That's what the $40 billion a year, cut flower industry tells us. What they don't tell us is how bad they are for the environment.

Most cut flowers, approximately 79%, are grown in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. They are grown in climate controlled greenhouses using pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides ... including DDT and methyl-bromide which are banned in the U.S. These substances have been linked to health problems such as skin conditions, respiratory problems, impaired vision, and birth defects. Many of the people who staff the greenhouses, and who come in contact with the flowers on a daily basis, are now suffering from these problems.

Not only are workers being hurt ... the environment is suffering as well. Methyl-bromide has been linked to the destruction of the ozone layer. DDT usage has caused serious problems for many animal and bird populations. Small amounts of these chemicals are dangerous ... most greenhouses, however, aren't using just a little ... they are using a lot. It contaminates the ground and water, hurting animal and fish populations and it reduces the amount of drinkable water in many communities.

Once the growing stage is complete, the cut flowers are sent all over the world. They travel far distances, and as we've talked about before ... anything that travels a long distance is causing pollution and using a lot of resources to make the trip. An estimated 500 million make their way into the U.S. In order to pass inspection upon entry, they are often sprayed with more toxic chemicals so that no bugs or insects make the trip ... and so that each and every blossom looks it's best. Florists in this country touch these flowers and are reporting skin rashes and breathing problems.

There's still more ... once the flowers get to a florists shop, they are typically arranged using floral foam which helps to hold them in place. This foam is a petroleum bi-product that off gases formaldehyde when soaked in water. It is also non-biodegradable. A leaf shine product is typically used to shine up the greenery ... this is an aerosol product and aerosol products hurt the environment.

What about the flowers produced in the U.S.? Are they better? While they may not use banned chemicals, many farms and greenhouses use a lot of pesticides. These are harmful ... to the earth and all of her inhabitants.

So ... should one forgo cut flowers as a gift? Not necessarily. Look for organic flowers, grown locally if possible. Make a point of asking about that beautiful bouquet ... is it arranged with floral foam ... is it sprayed with anything. And by the way ... many live plants are grown in the same conditions so ... know where your product comes from. Basically, use the same guidelines buying cut flowers and plants as you would buying food.

As always ... I would 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!

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!

13 (more) Ways to Easily Go Green

Here are 13 more ways to easily reduce our footprints on the earth.

1. USE YOUR CRUISE CONTROL - When using cruise control your vehicle could get up to 15% better mileage. Good for the environment and your wallet.

2. GO TO A CAR WASH - Professional car washes are often more efficient with water consumption. If everyone in the U.S., who washes their car themselves, took just one visit to the car wash we could save nearly 8.7 billion gallons of water.

3. WAIT UNTIL NIGHT - Do not fuel your vehicle or mow your lawn during morning hours ... all those emissions bake in the sun all day causing more ozone.

4. RECYCLE UNWANTED WIRE HANGERS - Wire hangers are generally made of steel, which is often not accepted by curbside recycling programs. Instead of tossing them, take them to the nearest dry cleaners ... they typically accept them back to reuse or recycle (just call them first to be sure they'll take them). If they won't, donate them to thrift stores or homeless shelters.

5. WHEN NOT USING A FIREPLACE, KEEP THE DAMPER CLOSED - Keeping the damper open (when you're not using your fireplace) is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter. It allows warm air to go right up the chimney. This can add up to hundreds of dollars each winter in energy loss.

6. CHOOSE MATCHES OVER LIGHTERS - Most lighters are made out of plastic and filled with butane fuel, both petroleum products. Since most lighters are considered "disposable," over 1.5 billion end up in landfills each year. When choosing matches, pick cardboard over wood. Wood matches come from trees, whereas most cardboard matches are made from recycled paper.

7. USE COTTON SWABS WITH A PAPERBOARD SPINDLE - Some brands of cotton swabs have a paperboard spindle while others are made of plastic. If 10% of U.S. households switched to a paperboard spindle, the petroleum energy saved per year would be equivalent to over 150,000 gallons of gasoline.

8. DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE - Most software comes on a compact disc, and more than thirty billion compact discs of all types are sold annually. That's a huge amount of waste, not to mention the associated packaging. Another bonus to downloading your software is that it's often available for download at a later date when you upgrade to a new computer or are attempting to recover from a crash.

9. PAY BILLS ONLINE - By some estimates, if all households in the U.S. paid their bills online and received electronic statements instead of paper, we'd save 18.5 million trees every year, 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and 1.7 billion pounds of solid waste.

10. SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRER - Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. To stir without stirrers, simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee ...it should be well mixed. Determined to stir (and didn't bring your Swiss Army Knife)? Ask the establishment for a spoon (a real one ... not a plastic one).
    

11. SHORTEN YOUR SHOWER - For every 30 seconds you shorten your shower, you'll save up to 4 gallons of water.

12. EAT LOCAL - It takes 17 times more oil to transport non-local food compared to that which is produced nearby.

13. FIND A BETTER WAY TO BREAK THE ICE - When a big winter storm heads our way, most of us use some sort of ice melter to treat steps and sidewalks. While this makes the sidewalks safer, rock salt and salt-based ice-melting products can contaminate wells and drinking water causing health problems. It's also harmful to pets, plants and the environment. Searching for an Eco-friendly alternative, however, is tough because almost everything used to clear away ice is bad for the environment in some way. So ... the message here is moderation ... if you must use an ice-melting product, use as little as possible.
    

Yes ... these 13 tips can be yours for the low, low price of a little time. BUT WAIT ... there's more!! If you act now, we're giving you a bonus ... another easy way to reduce your footprint on the earth:

• Share these easy ways to go green with everyone you know. Together we can make a difference!

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

Turn off the engine

Today I was at the bank ... the drive-thru window to be precise. The tellers were busier than usual and my transaction was taking awhile. I noticed that there were three other cars in line ... all with their engines idling.

At fast food drive-thru windows, it's the same thing ... orders take awhile to fill and while waiting, the line-up of cars idle away.

And what about when we get into our vehicles ... most of us start the car, then get settled. We adjust the mirror, put on the seat belt, check the cell phone ... all while our car idles ... and pollutes.

So here's an easy idea ... turn off the engine. When you're waiting for the teller at the bank or your food from a drive-thru, turn off the engine. When you get into your car, make all your adjustments first, then start the car. By the way ... at this time of year, there really isn't a reason to let your car warm up before driving away.

Pay attention to all the times that a car is idling without moving and see if the engine can be turned off at those times. Every little bit will help!

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