Environment
Green Round Up
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
In honor of Earth Day, here are a few articles I found useful. This one includes links to sites that will help you turn your old unused electronics into cash. This one has some good ideas for cutting back on electricity use. And for some less predictable ideas, here’s how to have an eco-friendly wedding ... [Read more]
Should You Pay Kids to Go Green?
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
A new web site, Green Allowance, encourages parents to use allowances to motivate their kids to develop environmentally friendly habits. The site fosters a deal between parents and their kids: the kids take on various energy saving projects, the parents split some of the estimated savings with their kids. Green Allowance sends report cards, showing ... [Read more]
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Paper or plastic? At first, it was polite of grocery store cashiers to ask which sort of bag we’d prefer. But today, the question often sounds like, “Environmentalist or Polluter?” Everyone knows that paper is the best choice for protecting the planet. Or is it? A recent Wall Street Journal article noted, “There is growing ... [Read more]
Another Solution for Old Electronics
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
I’ve written in the past about how to dispose of old cell phones, TVs, and other electronics. A recent post on ChristianPF.com highlighted a program I hadn’t heard of before called Flipswap, which enables you to exchange an old cell phone or iPod for an Amazon.com gift card. Devices received by the company are either ... [Read more]
Where Old TVs Go To Die
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
It’s spring-cleaning time, and with television stations switching to digital signals many people are getting rid of old analog TV sets. However, a Chicago Tribune article noted that it’s not so easy. Many thrift stores are no longer accepting analog sets or other older electronics, so there’s concern that a lot of electronic gear will ... [Read more]
Money Down the Tube
Monday, March 9th, 2009
The average U.S. household now has three televisions, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. That’s one reason why electronic devices today consume 15 percent of the average home’s electricity–up from 5 percent in 1980. A Chicago Tribune article highlighted several ways to tame those energy monsters, starting with your choice of TV. The larger the ... [Read more]
What’s In Your Light Socket?
Monday, January 12th, 2009
Okay, so you’ve joined the green movement by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs. But did you know that all CFLs are not created equal? While they all last longer than traditional light bulbs and use less energy, it turns out that there’s quite a range in how long they last and in how much ... [Read more]
Recycling is the Rage
Friday, August 8th, 2008
Recycling must be getting trendy because the number of places that accept various items for recycling seems to be growing. As reported on the blog Blueprint for Financial Prosperity, the office supply store Staples will accept old computers and TVs for $10 each. To properly dispose of used batteries or ink/toner cartridges, Staples and Best ... [Read more]
Upcycling – the Next Generation of Recycling
Monday, July 7th, 2008
Today, there’s a lot of stuff that can be recycled–newspapers, magazines, bottles, cans, plastics. But there’s a lot of other stuff, especially newfangled containers such as juice pouches, the cellophane-type material that encases packages of cookies, and energy bar wrappers, that can’t be recycled. Until now. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, a company ... [Read more]
A Good Green Guide
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Bankrate.com has put together a helpful list of over 100 eco-friendly tips, many of which are also easy on the wallet. The ideas are grouped in eight broad categories, each of which is further grouped by “quick fixes,” “short-term,” and “long-term.” For example, under the category of “Leisure & entertainment,” a quick fix idea is ... [Read more]
Don’t Dim a Bright Idea
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
There’s been a big push to get people to replace traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). As a result, sales have skyrocketed—from about 17,000 bulbs in 2000 to 380 million last year. However, there’s been less focus on teaching people how to properly dispose of such bulbs. As was pointed out in ... [Read more]
The Stuff of Life
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
The next time you sip from a can of soda consider this: the average American will consume more than 43,000 cans of soda in his or her lifetime. Opting for something a bit healthier, like an orange? We’ll each consume nearly 13,000 of them in our lifetime. Those are among the facts and figures from ... [Read more]
Shades of Green
Thursday, April 24th, 2008
Green is in, and that means store shelves are lined with products claiming to be environmentally friendly. However, according to an article on Smartmoney.com, many supposedly eco-friendly products are more hype than environmentally helpful. The story reported on one study of over 1,000 products with eco-friendly claims, which found all but one containing claims that ... [Read more]
