 Green is my favorite color and it has been since I was a child. I love trees, grass, shrubs, and all the natural hues of green in nature. It’s unfortunate that I have been allergic to grass my whole life, but that is a different subject altogether. The desire to minimize the earth of toxins is not based on my love of green, but my interest in preserving the longevity of our planet for my children and future generations behind them. As we all have heard, mother earth’s eco-system is under duress, but the good news is each and every one of us can play a small role in improving the health of our planet. It’s not that difficult to recycle waste or to take shorter showers and shut off the bathroom sink while brushing our teeth. It makes more financial sense to purchase energy efficient appliances, CFL lighting, and low flow toilets for our homes. It is easier to landscape using plants and trees that are native to your climate so that nature can sustain itself without the need to overcompensate for lack of water. There are a number of reasons to take a greener approach to living but most of these reasons fall under one of three overall benefits: health, the environment, and cost savings. I have compiled a list of resources for you to use in the event you too have taken an interest in improving the health of the earth’s eco-system. Remodeling: Looking to remodel your home using sustainable resources? This is the place to go if going green is for you. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive or funny looking. Take a look for yourself! RESNET stands for the residential energy services network. This is a great website to learn about energy audit and rating processes. They also have a list of independent auditors, contractors, and builders that have met RESNETS high standard of excellence. WBDG has a “Construction Waste Management Database” that is good to recommend to your contractors for companies that collect, haul, and process recyclable debris from construction projects. Search for those rebates and other incentives for your energy saving projects. Closetheloop.com - Close the Loop offers innovative building materials made of recycled products, such as rubber mulch, rubber timbers for beds, cocoa shell mulch ,and others.
For the Office:
TheGreenOffice.com offers a wonderful selection of sustainable office products. Green Earth Office Supply is another terrific online retailer with an assortment of sustainable office products. Everyday Living: Earth 911.com is a guide to the latest in news and lifestyle. They have a great resource tool for looking up recycling centers. The GreenGuide.com is a resource for ever day green living. The site includes a section on home and garden, personal care, and travel. Recyledproducts.com is an online store with a number of green products for events, home, office, educational, and community services. Organic and sustainable products for home furnishings, apparel, yoga, and of course bean bag chairs. Learn ways you can reduce your carbon footprint at Carbonfund.org. The 1st step is to stop the average of 41 pounds of junk mail that each American receives per year. The service costs only $41 to reduce from 80-95% of your junk mail for 5 years. Do you have e-waste and you are not quite sure where to begin? Try recyclingforcharities.com and choose the charity you want the monies to go to. Interested in living in a community where walking is a easy because of the community planning. Walk for health; walk for the environment, and walk to save money. Take a look at walkscore.com and see if you find your community. Do you care about parks and “an enduring legacy for America’s wild places”? This is the site for you. The Sierra Club protects communities, “wild places, and the planet. Sierra Club’s founder is naturalist and conservationist, the late John Muir (1838-1914). Networking Sustainlane.com is a fantastic website for people interested in networking with others that have taken an interest in the green movement. There is a job list, food and drink section, city rankings, and a review section for your delight. Standardizing Sustainability: Greenseal.org is a non-profit organization with a charter to “create a more sustainable world”. They have strict standards that must be adhered to receive a “Green Seal”. A great resource to use if you are looking to purchase products that have been approved by 3rd party standardized testing. The U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit community that is leading the nation in the push for greener building practices. The Forest Stewardship Council’s charter is to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry. They have been successful in setting forth principles and standards to follow for sustainable forest management. Pets: Natural food and products for your pets, including flea and tick control, vitamins, holistic remedies, and treats. |