1. I will not be as obsessed about what I can get for a buck

Don’t try to tell a fib. You probably have gone in a dollar store. Most of us do, and, yes, there are some good deals if you stop to think about your purchase first. But there’s a reason many plastic goods, for example, in these stores are a buck and not recyclable: they are churned out on assembly lines, in far away places with low-paid workers, with no attention to environmental concerns. It’s one reason that a year never goes by without another health warning about dollar-store toys containing harmful levels of lead.

2. I will help animals in need

Don’t wait for a TV informercial and images of animals in distress to spur you into action. Make a donation to an animal rescue shelter. The overwhelming majority of these facilities manage to sustain themselves solely on donations from the public. Everything from medical supplies to food is needed from caring people like you.

3. I will donate or plant at least 10 tree seedlings

Find a seedling grower in your area (seedlings, such as pine, usually cost less than $3 each) and either plant them yourself, or donate them to a school or girl guide or boy scout troop for Earth Day.

4. I will visit at least one farm and tell the grower how much they are appreciated.

We’ve all heard that message about getting closer to where our food is grown. Usually that typical message involves visiting a farmers’ market. Here’s a twist: actually visit a farm. Many farmers are now selling directly from their farms. You can’t get any closer than that, to where your food is grown. Your visit will be appreciated, and it’s a great way to tell a farmer how much they are appreciated. Plus, you can eliminate the middeman (the grocery store) and ensure all your money for a product goes to the true source.

5. Yep, I will really think seriously about wearing Dad’s old jacket

Relax. We’re not telling you to start wearing a leisure suit. We’re talking sports jacket or winter jacket or (yikes) dinner jacket. Remember, no matter how funny the plaid pattern looks (hey, it will be in style again!), part of reducing waste is recycling and reusing. That includes clothes. And if you really can’t stand the sight of dad’s old jacket, consider visiting a store selling gently used clothing.

6. I will not build a single Inukshuk this year

OK, we know that sounds a little extreme, but we’re noticing a lot of makeshift Inukshuks these days built by people who aren’t Inuit. These makeshift Inukshuks dot the edges of major highways across the land. They are usually made by motorists and their occupants who feel the need to disturb and remove rocks from their natural place. Every rock on the ground represents a habitat. When you remove rocks for activities such as ‘Inukshuk’ building, you destroy a potential home for an amphibian, reptile, mammal or insect.

7. I will speak out when I see a grocery store or restaurant selling items it shouldn’t

Spot frog legs at your local grocery store? What about Chilean sea bass on the menu at a restaurant? Just don’t stand there with your shopping cart, or sit there in your chair. Speak out. Ask to see the grocery store or restaurant manager so you can tell them why it’s not socially responsible (always use the term ’socially responsible’ — it hits a nerve in a more positive but yet impactful way than saying ‘irresponsible’) to sell endangered or threatened species. And don’t always assume you’ll be setting yourself up for a confrontation. You may in fact be educating someone which is often appreciated.

8. I will drive less like Mario Andretti

That means taking your foot off the gas and coasting if a traffic light ahead is red, and accelerating gradually from a stop. If you hear the engine rev, you’re acting like Mario again. It’s time to cool your engines.

9. For my next project I will choose my wood carefully

It’s pretty much a given that in 2010 you will make something out of wood, or buy something made of wood. This is where you can educate yourself about making the right choice. Forest Stewardship Council is an international certification and labeling system that guarantees that the forest products you purchase come from responsibly managed forests and verified recycled sources. Usually, products made of solid wood are best, but look for the FSC label. Be aware that many composite, veneers, wood strawn products are made through processes that typically include 1) toxic volatile organic compounds (also known as VOCs, which are carbon-containing gases and vapors such as gasoline fumes and solvents); 2) particulate matter (PM) which consists of airborne particles in solid or liquid form. These can often produce a haze in the air. PMs can be a health concern and may aggravate asthma and respiratory diseases; 3) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) which is forned by the gases nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can cause acid rain and other ecosystem-damaging impacts such as vegetation and crop loss; 4) Carbon monoxide; 4) Acelatdehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, and methanol.

10. I will convert at least one paper newspaper or magazine subscription to online digital edition

Let’s be realistic: Many people still like to ‘hold’ a newspaper or magazine. But many newspapers and magazines also now provide digital editions. Not sure if you will like it? Ask for a trial edition. Even if it’s only for one issue, or one month, you’ve helped reduce paper use.

Article by Gregg McLachlan – Founder of WorkCabin.ca, Canada’s online outpost for environmental jobs
www.workcabin.ca

With gas prices continually in flux, interest in domestically produced bio-fuels like ethanol (E85) is on the rise. These flex fuels have been gaining popularity not only for their lower cost, but also their lessened impact on the environment.

Helping to lessen the impact on the environment even more, Coskata Inc., a leading developer of alternative bio-fuels, announced the successful start-up of its semi-commercial flex-ethanol facility. Unlike other technologies and facilities that often rely on one primary source of feedstock, the company’s flex ethanol facility will be producing ethanol from numerous sources, including wood biomass, agricultural waste, construction waste and even household garbage.

In addition, their patented microorganisms and bioreactor designs will produce ethanol for the same as, and in some cases less than, the cost of producing a gallon of gasoline. This new technology also reduces CO2 emissions up to 96 percent compared to gasoline.

Flex Fuel vehicles that can run on gas, E85 or a combination of both, are already available from major U.S. automotive manufacturers. One of these automakers, General Motors has built 5 million of these vehicles to date.

Article by Eric Klein

It’s well documented that the youth of today are more environmentally knowledgeable and conscious than any other current generation.  Knowing this, Planet-Connect.org wants to help foster the outstanding environmental ideas that so many teens already have.

Planet Connect’s newest round of Student Grant Applications has just been released, and we welcome all to apply.  There will be many grant winners, giving you a great chance of receiving funding – especially if you believe your project can help the environment and local community.  Isn’t the environment the winner, anyways?  At Planet-Connect.org, we are happy to provide you with the funding to make a lasting difference.  We hope to see your application.

Some previous winning project’s titles include:

• Water Monitoring Stations
• Educational Trail at Long Hunter State Park
• The Greening of the East Side Cafeteria
• Replanting a Garden for the Community
• Educating Latino Communities about Healthy Fish Consumption
• And many more

Application page: http://www.planet-connect.org/planet-connect-grants

In addition to becoming a one-stop shop for info on Green Colleges, Careers and Grants, Planet Connect is also a social networking site, where high school students can share ideas, videos, comments and suggestions with each other.  Hope to see you there!

Student Grant Application Deadline: November 15th, 2009

Planet-Connect.org

Follow us on Twitter: planet_connect
Join us on Facebook

Article by David Lanham and Anna Burke

I was in the Sea Life Aquarium on London’s South Bank. We were here to mark the fact that we’re now 100 days away from the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen Denmark, one of the most important meetings in human history.

At this meeting world leaders need to agree a fair and safe deal that prevents catastrophic climate change. For this to happen we need Western leaders to accept their country’s historic responsibility for climate change and do two things.

They have to take a lead in agreeing to slash carbon emissions by 40% by 2020. Then they need to earmark $150 billion a year to help poor countries adapt to the impact of climate change and reduce their own emissions. Poor countries are already feeling the effects of climate change but without a deal this December then 50 years of development gains will be lost.

Sea levels are predicted to rise anywhere from 5 metres upwards over the next couple of centuries. The most conservative estimates would wipe out most coastal cities – including London – and would change all of human life dramatically.

To make these very serious points we assembled a front room, dumped it into a tank full of sting rays, turtles and sharks and then got 3 people down there while assembled media took pictures and filmed. This was possibly the quirkiest depiction of some future apocalypse that I’ve ever seen.

It’s far from doom and gloom. We’ve got 100 days left before Copenhagen and in that time we all need to do or bit to make sure that our leaders do everything that they can to make the right deal. In the UK there will be lots of lobbying, petitions and a big demonstration were a “blue wave” descends on London.

A lot can be achieved in 100 days. We must make sure that our leaders know that t Copenhagen is our big chance to save the planet and the people who live on it.

By Ian Sullivan

While this meeting is a crucial step in the global fight against climate change, it is certainly not the only step which needs to be taken. In addition to the international agreement we entreat our political leaders to negotiate, we need to band together as a global community to take real and local action starting right now.

The International Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 found that unless we take action now we could potentially be facing:

• by 2020 – 60 % of our Great Barrier Reef will be bleached
• by 2050 – 50 % of agricultural lands in Latin America are likely to suffer desertification and salinisation
• by 2080 – between 25 – 40 % of mammal species in national parks and sub-Saharan Africa will become endangered

And unless we take action globally islands such as Tuvalu will be told within the myths and legends of future generations.

The solution is in our hands and we need to act now.

Sixteen years ago Clean Up the World www.cleanuptheworld.org, a global environmental campaign formed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme was born. Since then we have actively inspired and empowered people from all across the globe to take environmental action. It has since grown to engage an estimated 35 million individuals in over 120 countries, all heeding the call for urgent action.

Those 35 million people know every one of us has a duty to preserve and protect the environment in which we are just temporary occupants.

They understand that if we are to leave our children and grandchildren an intact ecological, social and economic system the one cannot be achieved without the other.

That 35 million want action, they know we need government action, but they also know they hold the power in their own hands – the power to influence change. It’s the power of grassroots, community-based action.

Come the weekend of the 18-20 September, Clean Up the World participants from all across the globe will simultaneously take that grassroots action as part of the Clean Up the World Weekend. Actions such as tree planting, local clean ups, education campaigns, and water conservation projects.

It never ceases to amaze me just how passionate people are about protecting our environment and the lengths people are willing to go to protect it for our future generations. It is those people that will make the difference our environment needs.

Article by Ian Kiernan AO

So today we are having a face-off between Freecycle.org against garagesalestracker.com.

In the right hand corner standing 6’2 with a reach of 50 states plus the UK we have Freecycle.org is a nonprofit organization that organizes a worldwide network of “gifting” groups, aiming to divert reusable goods from landfills. It provides a worldwide online registry, and coordinates the creation of local groups and forums for individuals and non-profits to offer and receive free items for reuse or recycling, promoting gift economics as a motivating cultural outlook. With the tagline “Changing the world one gift at a time”.

In the left hand corner standing 6’0 with a reach of 50 states and a stretch into Canada Garage Sales Tracker is a website and upcoming iPhone application where the visitors can find and list their garage sales, consignment/re-sale shops, and flea markets. Whose motto is “Find, Post, Sell”

Pre round commentary- Advantage Freecycle.org due to hopping over the pond but with some might flea markets and garage sales are big in Australia so Garage Sales may not be lagging that far behind.

Round 1- Ease of Use

With the Freecycle network set-up with Yahoo! Mailing lists and having to wait to be accepted before you can start bartering and making deals for swapping items can be rather frustrating, while Garage Sales Tracker lets you dig right in on local sales and if you want to post your own item all you have to do is sign up without a delay or confirmation email.

Advantage – Garage Sales

Round 2 – Green Factor

Garage Sales are a great way to sell your unused items instead of throwing them out having them go to the landfill only to be saved by a Freecycler. On the other hand you can walk out your door on any given weekend and go to any local yard sale without having to drive and burn fossil fuels, whereas Freecyclers may have to drive their Hybrid to swap.

Advantage – Freecycle.org. Since Freecyclers are probably driving fuel efficient cars and after a garage sale it is likely to drive to goodwill or the Salvation Army they will ultimately pollute more.

Round 3 – Participants

As of July 2008, Freecylce.org membership stands at 5,531,000 across 4,556 communities. All of them volunteers. Garage sales however are a $3 billion dollar a year industry and over 155,000 sales were listed online in July 2008 in well over 4,556 communities.

Advantage – Garage Sale Tracker

Round 4 – Deals

While you can always buy items for pennies on the dollar at a garage sale and purchase items cheap enough where it would be possible to re-sell for a profit on eBay or craigslist there is nothing like a donation to those who need it more than you do.

Advantage – Freecyclers

Final Bout Decision – Split, because it ultimately depends on your taste and style, whether you like to donate, swap items, or bargain for a great deal, the important thing is that you are practicing being green and saving the environment because it takes more than one person to make a difference and we can all do our part one day at a time.

Article by Richart Ruddie

LED lights are fundamentally different than ordinary incandescent bulbs. Incandescent lights work by passing electricity through a thin filament. While this does create light, up to 90% of the energy used is wasted as heat. Not only does doing this waste precious natural resources, that higher operating temperature can become a fire hazard in poorly installed applications. The energy loss adds up quickly. If every American home switched to Energy Star qualified bulbs enough energy would be saved to light more than 3 million homes for a year. Not only that; making the switch would eliminate greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of over 800,000 cars. Not to mention the landfill space, since LEDs are lasting 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting.

The best thing is, there are just as many functional as environmental reasons to make the change. LEDs are cool in both meanings of the word. Energy efficient LED lights run at a much cooler temperature than incandescent lights, meaning they can be used safely in more applications. For why LEDs are cool in the other meaning of the word, just take a look at iColor Tiles provided by Superior Lighting. These tiles, which can be used on walls or ceilings, are the most creative thing to come to the lighting design industry in years. The tiles, powered by energy efficient tri-color LEDs can display effects, animation, and even medium resolution video, creating a luminescent display that is sure to captivate all viewers. Since video can be shown on the LED tiles, this could be a great way to project that next eco-friendly message.

In short, eco-savvy business owners are making the switch to energy efficient LEDs at a rapid, and ever quickening pace. These owners are doing so because of the numerous economic, functional, and ecological reasons. LEDs are using less energy and lasting longer than incandescent bulbs ever could. We urge all stakeholders to make the switch to energy efficient lighting today.

Written by Bobby Peck for Superior Lighting

Superior Lighting prides itself on helping customers choose the most energy efficient lighting possible. We lead the lighting industry by providing the best value in products and services to all of our customers, and we differentiate ourselves on the basis of our honesty, expertise, and environmental awareness. For more information please contact us via our website, www.superiorlighting.com, or by calling (800) 432-7995

We’ve been using water to clean for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until recently that advances in technology allowed us to activate water’s natural cleaning ability to transform it into a powerful cleaner without the use of added chemicals.  By using activated water, we can replace many of today’s general-purpose chemical cleaners, which will help improve our health and the planet’s well being.

Electrically Activated Water

Recent findings show that activating, or adding a slight charge of electricity, to tap water makes it behave differently and clean more effectively than water in its natural state.  This activated water provides an efficient cleaning method while eliminating the need for harmful cleaning chemicals.

The science of activated water begins with a process called electrolysis.  Electrolysis involves placing two electrodes into water, connecting one electrode to the positive end of a power source and the other electrode to the negative end.  Applying a small amount of electricity to water breaks down the water’s molecules, lowering water’s natural surface tension and creating positively and negatively charged water ions.  In some applications it can add microscopic oxygen gas bubbles that also carry an electrical charge.

When applied to a surface in this electrolyzed form, water can spread to contact dirt, just like it does when mixed with chemicals.  The charged ions in the water attach to the dirt and help lift it from the surface.  Studies show that electrically activated water cleans as well as, or better than, traditional general-purpose cleaning chemicals.  Furthermore, the electrically activated water is completely safe and returns to its natural state in about 45 seconds.

The Benefits to Electrically Activated Water

For people who regularly touch and breathe in typical cleaning chemicals, electrically activated water is a welcome replacement.  As professionals turn to activated water to clean hospitals, schools, hotels and restaurants, this new cleaning method eliminates the serious health risks caused by touching, breathing or accidental splashing of toxic cleaning chemicals.

Beyond its safer qualities, activated water helps sustain greener environments.  Electrically activated water eliminates the disposal of harmful toxins into the earth.  It also reduces the resources required to manufacture, package, and ship dangerous chemicals because with activated water, there is no need to purchase bottles of cleaner, reducing unnecessary waste in landfills.  When it comes to the activated water system, all that’s needed is tap water.

Activated water works as well as general-purpose cleaning chemicals and contains no toxic chemicals, making it safer and healthier for people and the environment.  It’s the safest way to clean and the only way to clean without a chemical-related health warning being required.  The health benefits, environmental impact and cost savings are sure to make the use of electrically activated water systems the future of the cleaning industry.

Article by Todd Schaeffer
Vice President and General Manager for Activeion Cleaning Solutions, LLC

Activeion Cleaning Solutions recently launched the Activeion Pro, the first hand-held cleaner that uses activated water technology to transform tap water into a powerful cleaner. www.activeion.com

How Does Environmental Policy Affect Public Health?

There are two levels of health consequences associated with dirty industry, both direct and indirect. The direct consequences are examples like increased asthma rates in areas with high smog indices. Chlorofluorocarbon release into the atmosphere has shown to decrease the filter of direct sunlight on the planet, resulting in more concentrated ultraviolet light reaching the surface of the earth. Perhaps it is no surprise then that in countries with depleted atmospheric gas, skin cancer rates are among the highest in the world.

The indirect health consequences are harder to see immediately, but closer examination reveals that these are, in fact, perhaps the most hazardous. Bi-products of dirty and backwards industries, such as coal and oil processing, include cancer causing substances like asbestos and benzene. A U.K. study conducted in 2002 indicated that coal and oil industry workers are at a much higher risk of developing mesothelioma (associated with asbestos exposure) and leukemia (traced to benzene and heavy-metal exposure).  Dr. David Sugarbaker among many other doctors who specialize in this area understand that these are substances that can be directly traced to antiquated pre-regulation equipment in industries whose environmental hazards are even more inherent.

Can we really afford to continue on the path we were on before? Investment in clean industry means not a healthier planet for our children and grandchildren, but also a healthier place for us to live today.

Written by Bill Hawthorne with the maacenter

1. Heat-energy recovery system

Sensible Heat Energy Recovery System (SHERS) uses heat generated from an air-conditioner or refrigerator to heat water. Payback period is anywhere from six months to two years

2. The Eco Bio Block

Made of volcanic stones and beneficial bacteria, is used to purify water in home aquariums, water tanks and big bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and marshes. When placed in aquariums around 20 gallons or less, there is no need to filter, clean or change water for a period of one to three years.

3. Biowash ball

Washing clothes without using a detergent may seem strange. Introducing the Anabess biowash ball, it’s made of natural ceramics & alters the chemical composition of the water so it can wash clothes more effectively without liquid detergent. It should last over 3 years. Think of the savings in petro from never running to the store for more detergent.

4. Air-con with inverter technology

The Panasonic Envio series of air-conditioners makes use of an “inverter technology” that changes compressor operation speed to match a changing room temperature and adjust power output accordingly, which leads to reduced energy consumption of up to 50 percent, while product only costs about 14% more than the average AC. The payback period may be expected in about seven months..

5. Low Flow faucets

Moen has mother natures call for water conservation by coming up with a line of WaterSense-certified bathroom faucets. With the help of new aerator technology these Moen faucets use 30% less water than other models but still feel just as powerful on your hands.

6. Compact fluorescent lamp

Much has been said about the efficiency of compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs. They have a life expectancy that is 5x longer than incandescent lamps and consume 80% less energy with the same level of lumens. Companies such as Purely Products even carry CFLs that double as ionizers for the room, eliminating the need for an unsightly ionizer on the floor.

7. Reusable shopping bags

The impact of just one person changing to reusable bags over a two-year period is significant. Used twice a week for two years a consumer would save 832 plastic bags from going in a landfill.

8. Biodegradable Cellulose Sandwich bags

Typical plastic bags are derived from petroleum and take well over a lifespan to decompose. These biodegrade in 1-3 months in soil BUT actually keep food lasting longer, unlike evil plastic, they don’t release gases which spoil food taste.

9. Smart Surge Protector

Green Home introduced a smart surge protector. The power strip can ’sense’ the flow of electrical current through the strip’s control outlet. This new option enables the Smart Strip to completely deactivate selected items when it’s not in use saving you money and time!

A small electronic device inside the Smart Strip monitors the current on a single outlet. Let’s say the computer is plugged into that single outlet. When your PC is finished shutting down, the current draw from the computer drops to its idle current — and the Smart Strip monitors the current change, automatically powering down all of the computer peripherals.

The Smart Strip Power Strip is the only surge protector in existence with energy saving electronics. The 10 outlet version has 1 Control Outlet, 3 Constant Hot Outlets, and 6 Switched Outlets.

10. Compostable Trash Bags

These BioBags are made from GMO free starch and are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable.

Now that you know about these products start using them daily. We each can do our part by changing our daily routines 1 item at the time.

Article by David Patterson