Bring Recycling With You!

Check out the iRecycle app from Earth 911 on iTunes. With this iPhone download you can just type in your location and what needs recycling and voila...the closest disposal locations are in your hot little hand!

T.O.M.T.

If you're into upcycling, then T.O.M.T. is definitely a site that you need to check out. From an ottoman made out of a garden hose to a lamp made out of an old Hoover vaccuum cleaner, you are sure to be amazed and the crazy yet elegant creations you'll find. Oh, and don't call it "recycling" - the good folks at T.O.M.T prefer to think of it as "refitting." And they aren't involved in "waste handling," but rather "object career counseling." Learn more and be amazed at the T.O.M.T web site!

Make Some Music

Don't worry! Thinking about the green-ness of your music does not mean you'll be stuck listening to earthy, hippie music all the time (unless of couse that's what you're into). A recent white paper by folks from Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University takes a look at the carbon footprint and energy usage of various music acquisition methods. Do you buy CDs at the music store, or do you download music? How you get your music may have ecological impacts that you've never really considered. Learn more by looking at The Energy and Climate Change Impacts of Different Music Delivery Methods!

Get to Know Your Farmer

Five Farms is a combination of audio stories and photographs produced by Wesley Horner Productions and the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and distributed by Public Radio International. It shares the stories of five different farming families throughout the country in an effort to connect the food on our tables with the people who worked hard to grow it. Through a series of five one-hour radio documentaries and accompanying photos, you will get to know the individuals in each of these five families - hear about their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs - as they provide others with sustenance. I'm pleased to say that one of the families showcased is a hard-working couple in North Carolina - Eddie and Dorothy Wise from Wise Family Farm near Whitakers. Their farm is home to about 250 hogs raised from brith without hormones or antibiotics and even sold to a local pork processor. Their story is inspiring, as their journey to own their own farm was a long and hard one. Find out more about this amazing family and four others through Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families.

Healthy Home Tips

If you've kept up with this blog, you already know that we're big fans of the Environmental Working Group and the wealth of information they offer consumers. Last month they began their Healthy Home Tips Series for Parents. You can sign up via e-mail to be alerted of the next installment of the Healthy Home Series, and you don't have to be a parent to benefit from the content. The series is check full of ways that you can ensure your home is as healthy as possible. The latest installment is all about personal care products and how you can be a better label decipherer. Click your way on over to a healthier home for you and your family!

Personalize Your Drink

Sure, your water bottle is BPA-free, but does it represent you as an individual? SIGG bottles now can be designed specifically for you! There are thousands of designs to choose from, but with seven special-edition designs you can actually add your own wording. Just go to Cafe Press to design your SIGG bottle. You can even preview just how it will look clipped to a backpack or sitting on your desk. Now you can cut down on disposable bottles AND be your own unique self while doing it!

Go Green Tube

Haven't you ever wished for an all green YouTube? Well, now you have it! Go Green Tube was launched just a year ago. It hosts videos with information on the environment, green technology, products and services. Find out how you can repurpose your old t-shirt into a sexy little number. Join a New Yorker on his fire escape to see how he's gardening organically in buckets. It's all at Go Green Tube!

Company Practices

You already spend time looking at the products you purchase and how your purchasing behavior can impact the environment, but what about looking at the companies behind the products? Is a green product still green if it's made by an un-green company? Should a company be considered green if it treats the environment well but not its employees? We're getting so philosophical here! Before I start asking about trees falling in the woods, let me urge you to take a look at the Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire. It's a great resource to learn about socially responsible steps that companies are taking. The great thing about it is the wide range of topics that are covered. Not only can you sign up for news on the environment, green building and renewable energy, but also on such topics as diversity, fair trade and socially responsible investing. CSRwire can provide you with a wealth of information on which companies are taking socially responsible actions in today's marketplace.

You've Got the Green Power!

EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that supports organizations purchasing green power options. You can look at their Top Partner Rankings which highlights the annual green power purchases of leading organizations across the U.S. It is updated quarterly, so you can always see which companies are making large-scale efforts to power themselves with alternative energy options. It's interesting to see which companies are listed as well as which companies don't show up on the list. It's a quick way to see who os taking the lead in supporting alternative energy, because hwith so many companies out there making green claims, it's gettin' kinda hectic!

You Mean I'm Supposed to Observe the Speed Limit?

Go to FuelEconomy.gov for their helpful Gas Mileage Tips. Learn how you can drive more efficiently, keep your car in shape, plan and combine trips and choose the most efficient vehicle possible in order to save fule and funds! FuelEconomy.gov is maintained by the US Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The information on the site helps consumers make informed fuel economy choices when purchasing a new vehicle and helps them achieve the best fuel economy possible from the cars they already own. If you're looking for fuel economy estimates, energy and environmental impact ratings or fuel-saving tips, go to FuelEconomy.gov!

Your Water Footprint

You may have used carbon footprint calculators or ecological footprint calculators, but H2O Conserve has a handy-dandy water footprint calculator that you should try! It not only tells you how much water you are using, but where you are using it and how you can work on using less of it. What's great about this footprint calculator is that it doesn't just look at the water you are using in your house. It asks you questions about fuel use and eating habits - things that impact the amount of water you use beyond the faucet. Check it out!

Saving the World...One Cow Burp at a Time

This story was just too crazy not to share! The folks at Stonyfield Farm have been looking at their carbon footprint for some time. Stonyfield, the world's leading organic yogurt company, knew that the biggest carbon contributor in their overall footprint was the milk production itself. While they had worked to decrease carbon emissions from transportation, farm energy, etc., they figured they couldn't do much about their largest source of farm emissions - methane from cows. I mean, you can't green a cow...can you? Well, it turns out you can! Stonyfield learned about research from it's global partner, Groupe Danone, that indicated a diet higher in natural omega-3 sources would reduce the number of burps coming out of their cows. That is how the Stonyfield Greener Cow project was born. The result? Fewer methane emissions from the cows and milk with more omega-3s and lower saturated fat content. A win-win-win, for poeple, cows, and the planet!

Looking to Drive Greener? Don't Drive Like my Brother!

Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, host NPR's Car Talk radio show each week (please tell me you already knew that... SO funny!). Did you know that they also host Car Talk's Eco Area on their cartalk.com Web site? It's full of ways that you can reduce the impact of your automobile. With driving and maintenance tips, new car options, and even "ideas from the fringe," the site is loaded with information and resources to help you drive a little greener. Plus, it's Tom and Ray Magliozzi, so it's hysterical - snort-out-loud funny, in fact! My favorite part are the tips, which are each rated with a "Tree-Hugging Factor" of up to five trees. For example, "stop your idling" gets one tree, while "carpool with the yutz next door" earns four. So, check out Car Talk's Eco Area and, in the words of Click and Clack, "before you know it, you'll be wearing Birkenstocks and eating free-range tofu!"

Green by Design

Green by Design is a great site filled with information and products for living a greener lifestyle. Learn more about green living with their blog, online shop with hand-picked goods, product guides, and green designer profiles. The products in their online shop come from a variety of sources and include furniture, household items, and fabric (my husband is now panicking and placing a freeze on our checking account). Each item listing includes a Green Scorecard with information on packaging, recycled content, company practices and more. There are also a number of buying guides to help you choose more environmentally friendly options for insulation, linens, water heaters, paint and on and on... it all can be found at Green by Design!

Is Your Facial Tissue Green? Ewww...Is it Environmentally Friendly?

Everyone has a line that they won't cross when it comes to looking for environmentally preferable products. If yours doesn't come before the bathroom, then you should take a look at the Greenpeace Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper Guide. They looked at more than 100 brands and divided them into three categories (recommended, could do better, and avoid). Product placement in these categories were based on whether they were made from 100% overall recycled content, at least 50% post-consumer recycled content, and whether they were bleached without chlorine. You can download and print (on recycled paper, of course) a handy pocket card, or download the iPhone app.

So You Think You're Smart?

But are you water smart? Test out your water IQ with Planet Green's Water Conservation Quiz! Which household item uses the most water? How much do most homes lose through leaks? No cheating! Don't go looking up the answers before you take the quiz! Still feeling brainy? Check out the other Planet Green quizzes online - from cycling to happy hour to topics that cannot even be mentioned on a state employee blog. See, now you really want to go check it out, don't you?

A Fair Trade

Most of us are familiar with the term "fair trade," but do you really know what it means? If you are interested in learning more about it, a great resource is Green America's Guide to Fair Trade. Do you think the fair trade label only applies to coffee? Not true...find out about the people behind fair trade chocolate, tea, fruit, sugar, fashion, jewelry, home decor and even sports equipment. Learn about what the term means and why it matters. Explore some of the places where fair trade is in action. Finally, learn about how you can get involved. It's all in Green America's Guide to Fair Trade!

With Budget Cuts I'm A-R-Y Stationary

I have a confession to make...I love paper. The eco-conscious and the paper-philes don't generally hang out in the same circles, but this year's National Stationery Show indicates that things may be changing. I did not actually attend the stationery show. Insane, I know, that with huge budget cuts and travel restrictions I was not able to convince the powers that be to allow me to travel to a trade show that has nothing to do with my job. I am fortunate that the good folks at Treehugger reported back on some of the amazing eco-friendly paper products that were showcased at the show.

Now, the stationers that made this best of the best list are doing some amazing work. We're not just talking about 10% post-consumer fiber. We're talking reclaimed cotton, carbon neutral, paper mills running on landfill gas, carbon-footprint labeled eco-friendly stationery! And it's gorgeous! The whimsical designs are matched by whimsical company names like Two Trick Pony and Fugu Fugu Press. Check out the dazzling stationery slideshow at treehugger! If you think you'll forget, just jot a note on your hydroelectric-paper-mill-made-soy-based-ink-printed notepad. Oh, you don't have one? Check out these companies and you can remedy that situation.

How Much Is That Rebate In the Window?

Who doesn't like a rebate? Or better yet, a tax credit? Want to find out what eco-friendly rebates are available in your area? Check out the Energy Star Rebate Finder! This easy-to-use resources allows you to type in your zip code and find what rebates are available for appliances, fans, heating and cooling, lighting, office equipment, residential water heaters, and your home envelope (yes, your home has an envelope). Are you considering energy-efficient windows for your home? You could be eligible for a tax credit! Take a look at Energy Star's Rebates and Tax Credit page for more information. So, get a check in an envelope when you check you home envelope...how great is that?!

Your Insulation Is So Fashionable

So maybe the skinny-leg jeans weren't such a good idea after all. Whatever the reason for being done with your denim, you can now ensure your old jeans will get new life! Cotton Incorporated is holding their From Blue to Green denim drive. Get your denim in by June 30th and it will be converted into insulation...not only will it be recycled, but it's being recycled into something that helps saves energy in homes! That rocks! But your old jean jacket does not rock, so go ahead and send it in to be recycled!

This Forecast is for Green

Terri Bennett is a meteorologist, earth scientist, mom and all-round eco-guru! Folks from the Charlotte, NC area may recognize her from her weather reporting days, but Terri's Do Your Part initiative should earn her recognition across the state and beyond! Check out the Do Your Part Web site to find out what you can do at home, at work, at play, with your kids and on the road to reduce your ecological footprint. Learn water consrvation tips for the bathroom, greener grilling techniques for the backyard an ways to make the office break room more eco-friendly. I'd say the forecast looks bright from here.

What's Green About eBay...Besides the "y"?

Why, the eBay Green Team, of course! What started back in 2007 with 40 people is now over 1,000-strong. Go to the eBay Green Team site for great resources on not only how to buy green, but also on selling green - from operations to shipping to marketing. The site has fun, lighthearted content like the "What's Your Green Personality?" quiz, but also more serious sections with questions to ask yourself before making purchasing decisions. You are even invited to join the eBay Green Team and share your own experiences with the green community.

Re-Duce, Re-Use, Re-Nest!

Who can't get into a site that says it's at the intersection of the "green" movement and the "home decor" movement? That's re-nest, and their goal is to "connect people to the resources they need to improve their homes, while reducing their reliance on stuff." A noble goal indeed! From shopping guides to home tours, it's surely worth a visit.

A Gold Project Gone Green

I must admit, my own career in the Girl Scouts was short-lived - one year as a Brownie and that was it. Luckily there are other girls out there who stick with it, and some accomplish some pretty amazing things. Enter Margaret, a high school student from Winston-Salem who decided that for her Gold Award Project, she would teach small groups how to re-purpose old t-shirts into reusable tote bags.

If you're like me, you don't know what a Gold Award Project is. It's a big deal. It is the highest award that a Girl Scout aged 14-18 can earn, and it has been described as the thing that you really want to be remembered for as a Girl Scout. It should be something that the girl is passionate about and that fills a need in her community. Oh, and this one will just happen to impress hipsters, crafters and the eco-minded everywhere, although that is not a requirement.

Margaret chose her project because it combines many of her interests - sewing, repurposing clothing and living green. She is scheduling sewing workshops to teach as many people as possible how to sew the t-shirt tote bags, and she is requesting that each workshop attendee teach at least one other person (how's that for community building?). In addition, she is sewing t-shirt totes to give away at a local supermarket. In each tote she's placing a copy of the sewing instructions and information about the City of Winston-Salem's recycling program.

Margaret hopes that her simple sewing project will empower others by showing them that one person can make a difference and that small steps can be accomplished cost-effectively and creatively...so that everyone can say NO to "paper or plastic."

Congratulations, Margaret, on a thoughtful, needed, timely, creative and eco-chic job well-done!

Do They Have This Stuff on Snopes?

Check out The Christian Science Monitor's discussion of Climate Culture's Top 10 Green Living Myths! There are some things that may really surprise you, and it highlights the reason why critical thinking skills are such a fundamental focus of environmental education. Recycled paper is always better than virgin paper, right? Well, not necessarily according to the list. There are so many factors that we need to consider that the answer to "what's best for the environment?" can get pretty tricky. This list and the discussion and comments that follow will definitely get you thinking, and that's a good thing!

PaperbackBookSwap

What a cool idea...it's like Netflix, but with books (you remember books, dont you?). And the best part...it's free (for now, at least)! At PaperBackSwap you list books that you are willing to swap with other members. Once you do that, you get two free book credits with which you can order two books online from the more than 3 million available. That book is now your book to keep. For each book you swap, you get another credit with which you can choose another book. Read on....

Guide to Greener Electronics

Every three months Greenpeace comes out with an updated Guide to Greener Electronics. Find out which companies were docked points for breaking their promises of phasing out toxic chemicals. Learn which companies really are cleaning up their act. It's all inside...the Guide to Greener Electronics!

Time to Address Your Drinking Habit

Interested in knowing exactly how much money you would save if you cut your consumption of bottled water? Well, the Center for a New American Dream is interested in you knowing. Check out their Bottled Water Cost Calculator to find out exactly what you spend on your habit. You'll also see how much water, oil and energy is used to get you that bottled water as well as the amount of CO2 produced. Just in case you were wondering...

Do You Have a Health eHome?

WebMD and the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World have partnered to produce Health eHome. Wander through the kitchen, family room, bathroom, bedroom and even out to the yard and find out what items may be impacting your health or that of the environment. Click on the shower curtain in the bathroom, for example, and you'll get a short blurb on cleaning options and PVC health issues. Want to know more? You can click to watch a video about offgassing, or read about ways to prevent mold and allergies. Learn about the issues, test your knowledge and find out ways that you can take action...it's all at the Health eHome!

The Electronics Recycling Superguide

It is hard to keep up with which manufacturers and retailers offer which services for recycling your old electronics. PC Mag has developed a comprehensive list that can help you figure it all out! Their folks researched all of the major electronics manufacturers to find out what kinds of recycling programs they offer, where they are available, and whether there is a cost or opportunity for cash back associated with them. Also included in the Superguide are programs run by major retailers and opportunities for cash back or gift cards when you recycle your used electronics. It's all in the Electronics Recycling Guide...Landfill shmandfill!

Because Old is the New Green!

Check out the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Green Home Tips. As they say, "the greenest house is the house already built." So, how can you save energy and save money in your historic home? Learn more about winterizing your home, how to make wood windows more energy-efficient, and much more with these Green Home Tips!

You've Got the Power!

Interested in learning more about green power options where you live? Check out the U.S. Department of Energy's Green Power Network. This great resource, operated and maintained by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, shows you which organizations in your state offer green power. It includes three different green power markets - utility green pricing programs, retail green power products offered in competitive electricity markets, and renewable energy certificate products sold separate from electricity. To learn more about these markets and about how you can help support green power options where you live, visit the Green Power Network!

Mother (Nature's) Little Helper

The latest in green news is MNN - Mother Nature Network. You know this won't be your run-of-the-mill news site when the Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones, is the founder and director of environmental affairs. MNN covers loads of topics including transportation, business, food, home and family. It also offers a wide range of blogs, RSS feeds and photo galleries. In March of this year, MNN Local will be launched, with students reporting from college campuses aross the country. That's not the only way that folks out in the community can get involved. MNN doesn't just invite you to read their blogs, they invite you to ceate your own blog on their site. With so many features, it's sure to bring some satisfaction (sorry, I couldn't help it).

It's All Good...

I am a frequent user of the Environmental Worling Group's Cosmetic Safety Database, so I was extremely excited to see another product database called GoodGuide. GoodGuide ranks products not only on environmental performance and health performance, but also on social performance. Rankings go from 0 (the worst) to 10 (the best). This "higher number is better" scale is the opposite of the Cosmetic Safety Database, so be careful. GoodGuide also goes beyond personal care products to include toys and household chemicals. I, for one, am excited to dive deeper into this new resource!

Cucumbers are Liberal and Zucchinis are Conservative...Food Politics!

I just finished reading Food Politics by Marion Nestle, and highly recommend it. She provides an extremely thorough explanation of how our nation's food and political systems are intertwined and interact. Do you know...

• How nutrition guidelines get developed?
• Where the food pyramid came from?
• Why we all learned about the 4 food groups growing up?
• Why some sugar cereals are labeled as "heart smart" and others are not?
• Why dietary guidelines never say to "eat less" of anything?
• That there is a Western Pistachio Association? (who knew??)
• How olestra got produced?
• That enough soda is produced in this country for every person (man, woman, child, baby) to drink 556 12-oz servings a year?

If any of these topics and issues are of interest to you, Food Politics is definitely worth the read!

Even His Font Is Green...

We've all heard about printing less and printing double-sided to save paper, but what about saving ink? Creating those cartridges uses up natural resources as well. SPRANQ, a company based in the Netherlands, has created ecofont, a green font that uses less ink than your more traditional fonts. When enlarged, you can see that the letters in ecofont have holes all over them. At regularly-used font sizes, the holes cannot be seen, but 20% less ink is used. Ecofont is free to download, so check it out and save some ink!

Have Your CAKE With No Guilt!

The Sacramento-based band, CAKE, isn't just paying lip service to their support of renewable energy. They have taken matters into their own hands! CAKE's sixth album of original songs is being produced with 100% solar energy. The band had solar panels installed on their recording studio. You can even check out the process in a short video on their Web site, and the background music rocks!

Red Light, Green Light...Actually, Just Green Light

The Environmental Working Group has a handy-dandy shopper's guide to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Where should you replace them first? How much money and energy can you save by switching to CFLs? Which bulbs have the lowest levels of mercury? Find out all of this and more! Plus, there's a printable one-page information sheet covering most of what you need to know.

Room by Room

Check out the Green Guide's Room by Room Interactive where you can click on household objects to learn how to save energy and make smart purchasing choices. Each clickable object provides helpful tips and a link to a complete buying guide. From the bedroom to the bathroom to the laundry room and beyond...you'll be making greener choices all over!

Looking for Something to Read?

Check out Green Cotton's list of the Top 10 Green Books for 2009! It includes some green favs that have been around for a little while like Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. It also has some very recently published books such as My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolt Taylor. Dr. Taylor and her book were featured on NPR's Fresh Air last summer. So, if you're looking to curl up with some good green books this winter, this is a list you'll want to see. Grab your cup of fair trade coffee and start reading!

rent A toy!

Our kids do it now just as we did it to our parents a generation before...beg for a toy and then tire of it in a month or two. A friend of mine asks her son to choose several of his toys to donate to less fortunate kids every year before the holidays and his birthday - a great idea for extending the life of an item and making somebody else's life happier. Another idea is to check out rent A toy. It's kind of like Netflix, but with toys instead of movies. Pick out the toys you and your little ones want, have them delivered to your house, and send them back when you're done! What if one of the toys becomes a cherished favorite? You can purchase the item for a below-retail price. The Web site gives all of the details. My favorite part of the rent A toy site? The description of the staff members includes their favorite childhood toys...that tells you much more about a person than most employee descriptions I've seen!

Combine Artist and Do-It-Yourselfer, Mix with Reuse and Sprinkle with a Dash of Humor

That's my best attempt at describing Jim Rosenau and his This Into That collection. Rosenau uses second-hand books and turns them into functional works of art. His pieces range from themed bookshelves to bird houses made from books about birds. Shown here is a piece Rosenau calls "One Fish." Five different fish-themed books and a giant hook make a wall-mounted bookshelf. Past shelf themes have included cooking, gardening and woodworking. He'll even do custom made designs. Creative reuse of materials is a topic of interest to lots of eco-smart consumers out there. Jim Rosenau has made it into a fine art!

Who'll Take My MTV?

We've been hearing a lot about electronics recycling in the computer industry, but what about old TVs? The Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a national coalition of non-profit organizations promoting green design and responsible electrionics recycling, has launched the Take Back My TV Campaign. On their site you'll find the TV Recycling Report Card. It grades 17 television manufacturers and retailers on their recyling efforts. Companies are evaluated on the scope of their program, the level of responsible recycling provided, program visibility and volume, and public policy. With the TV digital deadline quickly approaching, responsible disposal programs will be more critical. Find out how the brands measure up!

Bill Nye is Back

The whole point of Eco-Smart Consumer is to help illustrate the connections between natural resources and our everyday actions. I don't think anybody puts this idea quite as simply as Bill Nye in the title of his show "Stuff Happens." Yep, that Bill Nye, the Science Guy...he's back! On his show Stuff Happens, which airs on Planet Green, Nye seeks to explain what happens when we use stuff, make stuff and toss stuff and how it can impact the environment. He does so in a manner that is both easy to understand and upbeat. So, whether you're eating breakfast, in the garage or on the beach, stuff is happening...and Bill Nye can tell you what it is!