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!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Eating Green...Not the Vegetables
Spring is in the air, and it's time to purchase your share...of a CSA farm. Eating local and organic is one way to green your eating habits.
One way to eat local and organic is to become a member of a Community Suppoted Agriculture (CSA) farm. So here's how it works:
-buy a share of the farm for set fee, essentially investing in the farm
-then, each week head to a pick-up location to get a week's share of locally, grown, organic produce
In Fort Collins, the main CSA is Grant Family Farms. It was the first farm in Colorado to be certified organic. Located in Wellington, the farm grows an array of herbs,root crops, traditional vegetables, and even flowers. These are the items to epxect in the pick-up box. The pick-up dates for Grant go from June-December. That's 26 weeks of fresh produce!
CSA farms are not the cheapest option ($725 for a family share). But, you get what you pay for. Along, with quality, CSA farms also ensure socially and environmentally responsible practices. Fewer pescticides, fewer food miles, and fair wages are just a few benefits of CSA's.
I can't wait to get my share; or rather my portion of my parent's share.
One way to eat local and organic is to become a member of a Community Suppoted Agriculture (CSA) farm. So here's how it works:
-buy a share of the farm for set fee, essentially investing in the farm
-then, each week head to a pick-up location to get a week's share of locally, grown, organic produce
In Fort Collins, the main CSA is Grant Family Farms. It was the first farm in Colorado to be certified organic. Located in Wellington, the farm grows an array of herbs,root crops, traditional vegetables, and even flowers. These are the items to epxect in the pick-up box. The pick-up dates for Grant go from June-December. That's 26 weeks of fresh produce!
CSA farms are not the cheapest option ($725 for a family share). But, you get what you pay for. Along, with quality, CSA farms also ensure socially and environmentally responsible practices. Fewer pescticides, fewer food miles, and fair wages are just a few benefits of CSA's.
I can't wait to get my share; or rather my portion of my parent's share.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Every Day is Earth Day
Watercolored blobs of blue and green painted on a paper bag....maybe a little chat about recycling. This is what Earth Day meant to me as a child. But over the years I have learned the true meaning of Earth Day.
Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson in a series of movements in the 1960s leading to the first official celebration in 1970. The thought was more attention needed to be directed towards environmental issues. Earth Day is a day to celebrate Mother Earth and create conversation concerning ways we can preserve it.
One way people can practice preservation is with their consumption practices. With "green" being the latest trend, there are plenty of resources and entire web sites dedicated to educating consumers on how to lessen their impact. Here's a few resources:
1.) Treehugger: I frequent this site. There's news on green events, green products, green vacations, green celebrities. Treehugger is all about the earth.
2.) Ecologue: This site is less newsy, and has more general information on living the green life. For example, there are sections on how to save energy, conserve water, and reduce waste.
3.) GenGreen: First off, it's a Fort Collins-based company! Pretty meat....anyways, they provide info on how to be green in your specific community. You can find a job with a green company, learn what local businesses are green, or perhaps find a recycling center.
With a little education, its easy to be green not just on Earth Day, but every day.
Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson in a series of movements in the 1960s leading to the first official celebration in 1970. The thought was more attention needed to be directed towards environmental issues. Earth Day is a day to celebrate Mother Earth and create conversation concerning ways we can preserve it.
One way people can practice preservation is with their consumption practices. With "green" being the latest trend, there are plenty of resources and entire web sites dedicated to educating consumers on how to lessen their impact. Here's a few resources:
1.) Treehugger: I frequent this site. There's news on green events, green products, green vacations, green celebrities. Treehugger is all about the earth.
2.) Ecologue: This site is less newsy, and has more general information on living the green life. For example, there are sections on how to save energy, conserve water, and reduce waste.
3.) GenGreen: First off, it's a Fort Collins-based company! Pretty meat....anyways, they provide info on how to be green in your specific community. You can find a job with a green company, learn what local businesses are green, or perhaps find a recycling center.
With a little education, its easy to be green not just on Earth Day, but every day.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Would You Like Your Groceries in Paper or....Your Pockets?
Like small children awaiting the arrival of Jolly Ol' St. Nick, hippies and environmentalists are abound with anticipation for the arrival of Earth Day, just one week away.
Some people may choose to ride their bike on Earth Day. Others may attend an Earth Day Event. If you're Whole Foods, you may decide to no longer offer customers the plastic-bag option.
Last year Whole Foods celebrated the holiday by handing out free cloth bags to customers. This year, they will celebrate Earth Day by no longer giving customers the old-age option, "paper or plastic."
The decision to no longer offer plastic was announced by Whole Foods in January. Ten million bags will be kept out of the environment as a result of this move, said a January article in USA Today.
I wonder how many paper bags will end up in landfills. How many trees will be cut down to accomodate the paper demands of Whole Foods?
Some people may choose to ride their bike on Earth Day. Others may attend an Earth Day Event. If you're Whole Foods, you may decide to no longer offer customers the plastic-bag option.
Last year Whole Foods celebrated the holiday by handing out free cloth bags to customers. This year, they will celebrate Earth Day by no longer giving customers the old-age option, "paper or plastic."
The decision to no longer offer plastic was announced by Whole Foods in January. Ten million bags will be kept out of the environment as a result of this move, said a January article in USA Today.
I wonder how many paper bags will end up in landfills. How many trees will be cut down to accomodate the paper demands of Whole Foods?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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