The Death of a Yard Sale

Often being eco-friendly is cheap. By reducing, reusing, and recycling, people can save a lot of money. So, why don't all people follow the R's?

1.) Knowledge: if people don't know how to reduce, reuse, or recycle, they won't. Simple enough.
2.) Ease: it's just too darn easy to stop-by WalMart to get what you need.

Craigslist, however, is a great tool to help people reuse. Two out of three of the couches in my living room are Craigslist purchases. With Craigslist people can find each other's old things and make them their treasures.

Pre-CL (Craigslist) Era, people has to wake up early on summer weekends and scurry around town trying to find a worthwhile yard sale. Craigslist is like a yard sale from the comfort of your own home.

And Craigslist would surely put a smile on Mother Earth's face. Pre-CL Era people's old stuff most likely got tossed in the garbage. Now, people can sell their "junk" and keep it out of the landfills.

It's all about reusing!

Green Power

I hate wind. I have always felt it is the most useless weather element. Who needs wind? Well, turns out, it's a pretty good alternative energy source.

And by filling out a simple application, Fort Collins residents can power their homes with alternative energy sources such as wind as part of the city's Green Energy Program.

Wind is probably the most common alternative energy source, but several other alternative energy forms exist. Water, for example, is another great source.

According to the City of Fort Collins Web Site, 83 percent of the renewable energy comes from wind sources and 17 percent comes from landfill gas.

Residents simply pay an extra 1 cent per kilowatt hour to subscribe to the program and green their living habits.

Agreement forms can be found on the city's site.

On a windy day, rather than shaking your fists at the sky, subscribe to wind power and rejoice!

I Want to Ride my Bicycle: A Tribute

My bicycle. It's not the greatest bike in the world, but it has offered me so much through its amazing attributes:

1.) Its bike bell: fun and functional
2.) Its ability to never get a flat (I'm knocking on wood right now)
3.) Its positive effect on my health
4.) Its positive effect on my wallet
5.) AND, its positive effect on the environment

Bicycle riding is quite possibly the most fun "green" activity out there. The City of Fort Collins, a "bike friendly town" has been a wonderful arena for my bicycle passion. Bike lanes, bike trails, bike breweries, bike shops, bike rentals, bike coffee shops...oh yes, and the other bike lovers.

So, thank you Fort Collins, and thank you to the bicycle. Go forth, be green, listen to Queen, and ride you bike.