Archive for March, 2008
March 31st, 2008
How To Save Money on Gas and Cut Global Warming
Stumble it!
As gas prices near $4 per gallon and artic ice shelves plunge into the ocean, there has never been a better time to save gas and help reduce your contribution to global warming. And hey, saving up to $100 per month doesn’t hurt either, eh?
There are many easy ways you can reduce your gas consumption, keep cash in your pocket, and be a better steward of the environment.
+ Use public transportation. Ride the bus, take the metro, ride your bike. Or, gasp!– walk.
+ Carpool. There is even a site that helps you find people to share with– eRideShare.com.
+ Telecommute. Could you work from home today? Got lots of emails and conference calls– consider doing them from home.
+ Combine errands and walk between stops. Can you go to the grocery store and the post office in one trip rather than two? Can you walk from the drug store to the tailor without re-parking?
+ Slow it down there, pardner. If you are driving, remember the faster you go the faster you burn fuel. And rapid acceleration is a big gas-burner too. Use cruise control when you can on the highway. Slow and steady wins the race.
+ Keep your tires well-inflated. Inflated tires help you get better gas mileage. It’s good to check your tires at least once per month.
+ Keep it light. Remove any un-needed weight from the car. Your fuel efficiency is highest when your vehicle is light and aerodynamic. Thus also remove any car racks you’re not using as they create drag.
+ Keep your car tuned up and change your air filter frequently.
+ Try to park in the shade. Gasoline evaporates out of your tank, and sitting in the hot sun speeds up that process. Parking in the shade also keeps it cooler inside, and you will need less A/C to cool off when you get back in.
+ If you’re in the market for car, please consider getting a low- or no-emissions vehicle. A hybrid can be a good option, or you can get a diesel and then use biodiesel fuel. To learn more about hybrids, click here. To learn more about biodiesel, click here.
+ Or what about a motorcycle or a scooter instead of a car? These two-wheel options are much cheaper than cars and they often get 70 mpg or better. You’ll save a ton of money over a car! Check out some cool motos and scooters here.
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March 29th, 2008
Top 10 Surprising Results of Global Warming
We would like to tip our hats to LiveScience.com and share with you their very interesting feature on the Top 10 Surprising Results of Global Warming. Check it out!
As they say, “Earth’s changing climate is already wreaking havoc in some very weird ways. So gird yourself for such strange effects as savage wildfires, 25-mile long icebergs, disappearing lakes, freak allergies, and the threat of long-gone diseases re-emerging.”
To learn more about the causes of global warming and what YOU can do to fight it by taking action in your life, please click here.
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March 28th, 2008
REGREEN: Guidelines for Sustainable Home Improvement
The ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Foundation and the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) have just launched a new program called REGREEN. They have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines for sustainable home improvement projects.
This purpose of the program is to increase understanding of sustainable renovation project practices and benefits among homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers and service providers.
REGREEN seems to us to be a good addition to the LEED program of the USGBC, in that the LEED program focuses on new construction and REGREEN focuses on improving existing homes. (They also reference LEED standards in many areas.) We particularly like the latter’s focus because the most eco-smart thing one can do is to improve and existing home rather than build a new one from the ground up. Renovation generally takes less energy, fewer resources and generates less trash than a new-build project. (more…)
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March 27th, 2008
Smithsonian EcoCenter: The Lands
Our friends at Smithsonian.com have published the second part to their ongoing EcoCenter– and this one is called The Land. They cover deforestation, urban sprawl, habitat destruction and even earthquakes. We particularly enjoyed the piece on our “Giant Footprint”– how the almost 7 billion humans on the planet are threatening the ecosystem’s survival.
Overall, The Land is a beautifully produced multi-media feature and also very educational. We encourage all of you to take a look.
If you missed the first part of the Smithsonian EcoCenter release on The Oceans, please click here to view it.
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March 26th, 2008
EcoMom Alliance: Grassroots Environmental Action at the Kitchen Table
“My concerns about global warming began soon after we had our first child. I was a new mom, feeling very overwhelmed with the realization that I was now irreversibly responsible for this tiny creature. There was no turning back.”
-Laurie David, ‘Stop Global Warming: The Solution is You”
Parenthood has a way of changing ones perspective and inspiring new passion for the wellbeing of future generations. Kimberly Danek Pinkson, founder of EcoMom Alliance, has always been passionate about the environment. What moved this longtime social entrepreneur was the influential power she witnessed among a small group of moms. Once Pinkston realized that a few passionate mothers could rapidly and radically change the environmental landscape, she set out to leverage that power to promote a sustainable future.
The EcoMom Alliance offers a variety of programs to suit every community of moms starting with the EcoMom Challenge to take the 10 First Steps for a sustainable future. Then there is the EcoMom One Night Off Campaign, where mothers choose one night a week to turn off all lights, TV’s, washers, dryers etc. – saving energy and creating better quality family time. Their EcoMoms All program works with various grassroots organizations to bring environmental health information to all moms and EcoMom Leaders trains mothers to become sustainability education leaders in their communities.
The EcoMom motto is: “Sustain Your Home, Sustain Your Planet, Sustain Yourself.” They place an emphasis on the importance of mother’s mental, physical and spiritual well-being through their Sustain Your Self events and an ongoing schedule of EcoMom Parties, EcoMom Circles and outreach education. If you are a mother who cares about the environment and want to make a difference in your community, get involved with the EcoMom Alliance. Join their EcoMom Challenge, Host an EcoMom Party or become an EcoMom Leader. It is grassroots action at it’s best.
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