Green Inspired Topics

Remember the days when you had to write out everything by hand?  What about when people had to use typewriters?  Every time something would get messed up with what you were typing, you would have to throw out the sheet and start over again.  But now with the digital age taking over and people wising up to more environmentally-friendly ways of thinking and acting, I'd like to believe that we are wasting less and saving more. 

Computers, The Internet , and Technology

The Internet has been nothing short of a godsend.  And while it has opened up entire worlds to us (which we may have not been exposed to previously), it also offers us another opportunity to be eco-friendly while we surf the net.  For example, while in college, I went to Office Max to buy more ink for my printer only to have the sales associate ask me if I had brought my old, empty cartridges with me (which I happened to have on me).  Before I could even ask why she was asking for my old cartridges, she informed me that they recycled old ink cartridges. In return for me turning the cartridges in, I received two packages of recycleable paper for my printer.  I thought that was a pretty sweet deal.

Getting free, recycleable paper and recycling your ink cartridges isn't the only eco-friendly thing there is.  Take the recent popularity of WiFi spots that are growing more popular by the day.  Now, you can bring your laptop to your favorite coffee shop or library and do your work.  Laptops run on battery power when they're not plugged in, so instead of sitting in your apartment using electricity, take your computer with you to the park or whatever your favorite meeting place is and chances are (if you have wireless or if there's a WiFi connection), you'll be able to hook into the Internet with no problem.   

To Summarize

1. Recycle your ink cartridges; don't just throw them out!
2. Buy recycleable paper for your printer!
3. Email papers versus printing them/Invest in a thumb drive!
4. Take advantage of WiFi spots (Not only will you get exercise, but you'll save energy)!
5. Take advantage of using your laptop battery versus plugging it
   

   

   

   

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When some people think about eco-friendly vehicles , the last thing on their minds is visual appeal. However, with the increasing cost of gas prices reaching well over $4 a gallon in the United States, car manufacturers are beginning to make concept cars that are not only eco-friendly but attractive as well!

Company Glance

One company, Hybrid Technologies , is hoping to change the way that people look at hybrid vehicles. Hybrid Technologies, according to their web site, is a concept and brand development corporation in the field of alternative-fuel automobiles, motorcycles , scooters, bicycles and alternative-fuel products. Currently, they are focused on developing and marketing lithium-powered vehicles and products in order to make the environment a cleaner, more fuel-efficient place to live and work.

According to a recent article published in the Huffington Post , Hybrid Technologies is planning to produce two working eco-friendly vehicle models by the end of the 2009/beginning of the 2010 year. The two models are said to be,

an all electric that will have a range of 150-180 miles, and a plug-in hybrid model that they are entering into the Progressive Automotive X-prize competition and will boast a 220 mile per gallon efficiency...

I don't know about you, but 220 miles per gallon is enough to get me excited!

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All across the United States, the rising cost of gas, health insurance and food  prices has caused community supported agriculture (CSA) as well as farmers markets to become more and more popular.  The theory behind buying locally grown food is just that- to purchase food that is produced or grown as close to your home as possible. While many people may realize it, others may not be fully aware of the fact that most food is currently grown and processed in fewer locations, which means that it has to travel further to reach its final destination (your refrigerator) and this can be extremely harmful to the environment.

What is CSA all about?

 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) provides a direct link between local farmers and consumers.  According to Sustainable Table , each season, members of the CSA purchase a share of a farmer's crop before it's planted.  This allows the farmer to pay for seed, water and equipment up front so that he/she is less dependent on the bank for loans.  Each week (usually from June-October), the farmer delivers great tasting, healthy food to pre-determined spots in the area.  Some people can even pick the food up directly from the farmer's property (depending on where you live ).

CSAs are great for many reasons:

• Local farmers connect directly with consumers, thereby helping to develop a regional food supply and stronger local economy.
• Costs of food are lower because the "middleman" has been cut out.
• Consumers get a variety of FRESH produce, which means that there are no preservatives, etc.
• CSA farmers typically use organic or biodynamic farming methods, thereby minimizing environmental pollution.

To locate a CSA farm near you or to find out more about CSA, click here .  Similarly, you can find out more about where the best organic foods and local farms are in relation to you by visiting Local Harvest .

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Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to receive anymore energy bills or electric bills for your home or apartment? Well, it might actually be possible. According to a recent article in the New Zealand Herald , a woman named Charmaine Watts (ironic last name, isn't it?) hasn't had a power bill for eight years now!

Watts is in charge of the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand, which is a group that represents small-scale wind, hydro and solar power generators. She claims that anyone who has a roof has the potential to make their own electricity. So, what's the problem then? It turns out that a lot of people are still somewhat anxious when it comes to renewable energy because it is still on the expensive side and a lot of governments don't subsidize renewable power.

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I was at UNC Chapel Hill just last week with my boyfriend and aunt visiting the Ackland Art Museum when I had to use the bathroom. As it turned out, the bathrooms were eco-friendly, asking those who used the toilet to please push up on the green handle if they were flushing liquids and down on the handle if they were flushing waste. Above each toilet and on the backs of each door, there was a simple explanation as to why they had installed these eco-friendly toilets and how the toilets were going to save a ton of money in water usage, etc. etc. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is just one of many college campuses around the United States that is proud of its efforts to go green. For instance, the campus' new FedEx Global Education Center has two "green" roofs and stores excess rainwater that is then used to help flush toilets. There are also numerous recycling bins beside every regular garbage can, and the university prided itself with a record number of 43% recycling in 2006.

 

For more information about drug and alcohol recovery , visit Mark Houston Recovery today! 

 

 

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When others think of "environmentally conscious" people, there are several not-so-nice names that come to mind. However, if you think about it, people who are environmentally conscious are simply people who refuse to be wasteful. They are constantly looking for ways to re-use good things; they are always looking for ways to improve the environment in which we live and conserve energy.

It's true that you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Whenever I used to ask my dad for money to go to the movies with friends or to the mall, he used to look at me and say, "You know Janelle, money doesn't grow on trees.." I wouldn't realize the value of these words until years later when I got my first car, job and apartment all at once and was struggling to make ends meet. In order to save money, I still turn lights off if I am not using them; I have reduced the amount of laundry I do to one or two full loads on the weekend (versus like 5 half full loads numerous times a week). I wash my car only when it is absolutely necessary, and instead of using papertowels to do my weekly cleaning, I have taken old, tattered running t-shirts and cut them into little rag squares to use instead.

The great thing about conserving energy and being more environmentally conscious is that you can spread the good news around. Feel free to debate about it with family or spouses. For example, my boyfriend and I had a huge debate over how best to save water. I argued that it was the laundry machine and the dishwasher that were the culprits; and he argued that it was my long showers and dishwashing by hand. Well, we marched ourselves over to the computer and did a little research together to figure out the answer. And the results? You'll have to read my next blog post to find out!

Keeping energy conservation in mind, I pose the question: "What things have you done in the past week to recycle your life?"

For more information on health insurance in North Carolina , please visit Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina !

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If you're like most college students, chances are you're probably always low on cash; but there are plenty of things that you can do to create a healthier living space as well as conserve energy resources. The following suggestions are just a few ways to to this:

1. Paper Deadlines- If you know you have a big paper due soon, see if the professor will allow you to email it versus having to print the entire thing out. If the professor prefers a paper copy and you don't want to use your paper, head to campus. Most college campuses are equipped with computer labs that will allow you to print out a certain amount of material for free before they start charging you. If you absolutely must print a paper out at your humble abode, make sure that you're using recycled paper. *Note that most stores like Staples or Office Max will actually give you recycled paper for free if you give them your empty ink cartridge from your printer!
2. Flatware- If you tend to make a lot of your own food, try to use something that you can wash by hand versus something that will just get thrown away (i.e. paper plates vs. plastic bowls). If you do use paper products, try to make sure that they are recycleable.
   
3. Park that Car ! Have you ever noticed how a lot of college campuses will make it really difficult to find parking? There's probably a reason for that. If you live on campus, don't use your car. Walk, ride a bike or (if your college offers it) ride the bus. It'll save you money in gas expenses, and you'll get the exercise!
4. Books- Did you ever notice how expensive books can be when you're in college? A lot of people like nice, new things. However, it's sometimes smarter (whenever you can) to buy used books. Think of it as recylcing. So what, someone used the book before! When your semester is over, a lot of universities will actually buy your books from you, so sell your book back to the bookstore when you're done!
5. Thirsty? Have you ever noticed how many vending machines there are on a college campus? If you're taking classes during the summer, there's a good chance that those machines will even be sold out. Buy a bottle of water. When you're done drinking it, don't throw it out; reuse it! Fill it up with one of the many water fountains on campus. If you're picky about tap water, buy one of the larger gallons of drinking water from the supermarket. If you feel like having something other than water, then fill it with whatever your favorite drink is.

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