TIP for Friday October 31st, 2008

WHEN it comes to buying a new Halloween costume, the cost alone could give you a fright. Plus the mountain of packaging is destined to clog up our landfill - even the manufacturing of outfits causes pollution. Go for a homemade costume, it’s cheaper and more eco-friendly. Look around the house for any old material or unused buttons or clothes, anything that could be used to make that one of kind creative costume! Or check out a swap shop. If all that sounds like too much creativity for you and few extra dollars renting a costume is your next green alternative! Make it a GREEN Halloween!

TIP for Thursday October 30th, 2008

Got some parties planned for the weekend? If you have to use disposable plates and utensils, opt for biodegradable options made from corn or sugarcane, and then compost them. Your best bet is to go with reusable kitchenware, but if that’s not an option look for bio-plastics. They are usually marked as biodegradable or compostable, and with a number seven. Plastics that say "biodegradable" may contain toxins, so you have to send it to a special composting facility. A "compostable" label means it's nontoxic and breaks down as fast as paper in your home compost pile. Don't toss either kind into the recycle bin, since they won't mix correctly with other plastics. Before you buy, make sure you have a place to compost; otherwise, you will be throwing them in the garbage.

TIP for Wednesday October 29th, 2008

Budgets are tight these days, so if you've only got a little extra to spend on organics, put it toward the produce items that tend to have less pesticide residue. Pesticides aren't just toxic to the intended pests - they can also harm other animals and even you. More than 80% of the most common pesticides are potentially carcinogenic…cancer causing. So if you’re going to go organic here your top ten pick:

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Grapes (imported)
10. Pears

Check out http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php for a guide to the worst and best produce, in terms of pesticide levels.

TIP for Monday October 27th, 2008

The days are getting shorter and darker and that means higher electricity bills! Artificial lighting ads up to almost 15% of your homes electricity use. So....make the most of the natural sunlight. Open your curtains and shades during the day, then close them at night for better heat insulation. If you’re planning on doing some upgrades to your home, North and South facing windows are best because they let in the most even natural daylight. East and West facing windows let in more morning and evening light however they produce glare that doesn't help with temperature regulation. More sunlight in your life during the winter months also means better biorhythms and less depression!

TIP for Friday October 24th, 2008

All week I’ve been telling how you can be green and save green. Why not take it an extra step and put that all that money you’ve saved into an eco-friendly wallet? Look for ones made from reclaimed leather or recycled materials. Think about it…ones made from recycled plastic and rice bags will save garbage from going to the landfill.

This weekend you can prevent our landfills from getting bigger by taking part in Canadian Tire’s “Rewards for Recycling” program. Saturday and Sunday take in your old A/C’s dehumidifiers, and halogen floor lamps to any one of their stores, and in return get $25 and $10 gift certificates.

TIP for Thursday October 23rd, 2008

Keep your plumbing and the Earth cleaner by pitching stuff you might think is flushable into the garbage can instead. Flushing garbage just adds another layer to the disposal process since someone will eventually have to fish it out. Yes the wastewater treatment people have to sift out your gross bandages and condoms, but some trash can slip by and end up back in nature like in the lake. Throwing it in the trash ensures that it WILL get to the landfill. Plus flushing that tampon applicator, even the cardboard ones, down the toilet could cost you if it ends up clogging your pipes.

TIP for Wednesday October 22nd, 2008

Halloween is a few days away and here’s how you can make your Jack-O-Lantern GREEN. Use eco-friendly candles to light it. Look for candles made from non-petroleum-based wax, such as beeswax or soybean oil. Try and use as much of the pumpkin as you can. Bake the seeds, put the "guts" in a pie and then compost the rest. You’ll create less landfill! Plus Pumpkin seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids that aid with brain functioning; and the flesh is a good source of fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium. You and the Earth will be healthier!



Here’s a great recipe for tasty pumpkin seeds and homemade pumpkin pie

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/TOASTED-SALTED-PUMPKIN-SEEDS-102960

http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/pumpkinpie.php

TIP for Tuesday October 21st, 2008

Dry off in eco-friendly towels, made from bamboo and organic cotton, and your GREEN on!!! Conventional cotton accounts for more than 10% of the world's pesticide use and almost 25% of its insecticides; choosing organic can help lower those numbers. Another BONUS is Organic towels are soooo soft, especially the bamboo blends, and very absorbent. What do you do with your old towels? Cut them into smaller pieces for dishcloths, dusters, potholders, or rags; or put them to use for your pet, as wet-feet dryers, blankets, or sew them together to make beach towels. Be creative!

Make sure you take your old A/C’s and dehumidifiers to any Canadian Tire store this Saturday and Sunday, and in return you’ll get a $25 CT gift certificate. Take in your old halogen floor lamps and get a $10 gift certificate. Get involved in Canadian Tire’s REWARDS FOR RECYCLING program and BE GREEN! ;)

TIP for Tuesday October 21st, 2008

Dry off in eco-friendly towels, made from bamboo and organic cotton, and your GREEN on!!! Conventional cotton accounts for more than 10% of the world's pesticide use and almost 25% of its insecticides; choosing organic can help lower those numbers. Another BONUS is Organic towels are soooo soft, especially the bamboo blends, and very absorbent. What do you do with your old towels? Cut them into smaller pieces for dishcloths, dusters, potholders, or rags; or put them to use for your pet, as wet-feet dryers, blankets, or sew them together to make beach towels. Be creative!

Make sure you take your old A/C’s and dehumidifiers to any Canadian Tire store this Saturday and Sunday, and in return you’ll get a $25 CT gift certificate. Take in your old halogen floor lamps and get a $10 gift certificate. Get involved in Canadian Tire’s REWARDS FOR RECYCLING program and BE GREEN! ;)

TIP for Monday October 20th, 2008

Is your germ phobia keeping you from taking PUBLIC transit? You can be GREEN with out catching green. Yes buses, trains, streetcars, and subways harbor plenty of bacteria, but simple things like keeping hand sanitizer on hand help will fend off bacteria worries. If one person in a household takes public transit instead of driving daily, it'll decrease the household's carbon output by 10%. If 10,000 people switch to public transportation for their daily commute, it will have the same CO2-reducing impact of planting 24,000 trees. Plus think of all the extra cash you’ll have. On average, families who use public transportation save $6,200 a year. That’s a lot of soap and hand sanitizer!

TIP for Friday October 17th, 2008

Time to replace your outdated, energy-sucking appliances with new ones! If just 1 in 10 homes used Energy Star-qualified appliances, it'd be equivalent to planting 1.7 mil acres of trees, thanks to less pollution. Because of the new energy standards, new appliances will also save you money on your electricity bills. A new A/C uses at least 10% less energy than conventional models. So what do you do with the old one? Keep them out of the landfills! "Rewards for Recycling" This weekend Canadian Tire stores with support from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), is rewarding Ontarians for recycling their used air conditioners, dehumidifiers and halogen lamps. Drop of your old ones October 18th & 19th and 25th & 26th, at any Canadian Tire store for safe recycling and in return get hooked up with a $10 or $25 Canadian Tire gift card.

TIP for Thursday October 16th, 2008

Want a reason to get out of hand washing the dishes from dinner? Well the dishwashers on the market these days use less water, energy and soap than the old fashion method. But if you really want savings…flip the switch! Turn off your dishwasher's drying cycle, you'll reduce the energy your dishwasher uses by 15%-50%. You’ll save $25-50 per year on your electricity bill and help the environment! If 10,000 people turned off the dry cycle on the dishwasher, in a year it'll have the same CO2-reducing effect as planting 3,343 trees. If there's no off switch for your dishwasher's drying cycle, just open the door when the cycle starts.

TIP for Wednesday October 15th, 2008

FORGET THE BROWN BAG…put your lunch in a reusable container, BE GREEN and save money! Bringing your lunch to work a few times a week will not only lessen the landfill load, but also put extra money in your pocket!! Think about how much money you spend on lunch per week. You could save close to $3000 a year. A recent study found that about 1/4 of all litter comes from takeout packaging, second only to cigarette butts. In North America, takeout bags and containers create 1.8 million tons of garbage each year.

Check out this link to find out how many calories are in common lunch items http://www.lhj.com/lhj/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/lhj/category/data/InteractiveLunchbox_App.xml

TIP for Tuesday October 14th, 2008

Why BULK is Better! Pay for the product instead of glitzy packaging. A bulk pound of organic oatmeal can cost less than a buck, while a packaged version retails for $9. Product packaging makes up half of all our municipal solid waste by volume. Believe it or not, more of your grocery money goes toward packaging than to the farmers who produce the food. Buying in bulk reduces the number of trips you need to make to the store so you lessen your CO2 emissions.

York is U is hosting Green Week which is an event that aims to promote environmental awareness. York is U and York Federation of Students are very excited to announce that DAVID SUZUKI will be a keynote speaker during this event. It kicks off today thru Thursday with lots of fun green activities and entertainment including plant your very own tree at York’s
annual Arbour Day at Stong Pond for more infor log onto www.yorkisu.ca

TIP for Friday October 10th, 2008

Good news ladies! You can be green without turning your lips green! Have beautiful luscious lips without the chemicals! Researchers have linked standard lipstick ingredients like parabens, petrolatum and lead, to diseases such as breast cancer. Good news is that there are so many eco-friendly options made with natural minerals and oils that will still give you that sexy pout. Look for natural ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E, beeswax and veggie oils.

To find out which lipstick brands have the least amount of lead http://www.safecosmetics.org/your_health/poisonkiss.cfm

TIP for Thursday October 9th, 2008

Go green with Under-floor heating http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfloor_heating and cut your energy bills. After the initial investment, Under-floor heating slashes your heating costs from 25%-50%. It’s more energy efficient because warm air rises and you get even heat distribution throughout the room, therefore you feel warm all the time. You don’t have to set the temperature as high as you would a standard radiator. It’s healthier too! Because there are no vents, forced air, and ducts, under-floor heating can reduce dust mites by 80%. To find out more and to see pricing check out;

http://www.warmlyyours.com/

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1548320,00.html

TIP for Wednesday October 8th, 2008

Organic oils offer more benefits than soft skin and shinny hair! They are better for the environment! Organic coconut, flaxseed, and hemp crops grow extremely well without the use of herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides. You can also use flaxseed and hemp oils in coatings, lubricants, and paints - and opting for natural alternatives gives manufacturers more reason to produce them. Plus they are great for your health! Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which the body can use to kill certain viruses such as the flu. Flaxseed and hemp have mega omega-3 power, which helps lower cholesterol. And of course all three oils are terrific at fighting off dry skin and hair (especially this time of year!). Try cooking with hemp or coconut oil and add a little flaxseed oil to your favourite salad dressing.

TIP for Tuesday October 7th, 2008

Recently I decided to go back to the old school method of using a bar of soap to bathe with. Most body washes contain a lot of ingredients that I can’t pronounce and I found an olive oil soap (that is so fabulous for your skin, especially in winter) that is only available in a bar. But there is a GREEN reason to use the bar. Soap bars are eco-friendlier and cheaper than liquid soaps. In terms of weight, liquid body soap packaging accounts for 31% of the waste we send to landfills. Bar soaps have less packaging and cost less than liquid body wash. And studies have found that bar soap keeps you just as clean as liquid soap. Look for bars of soap made with all natural ingredients that will get you clean, exfoliated and moisturized. Ingredients like glycerin for deep cleaning, black pepper for exfoliating, and coconut, palm, and olive oil for moisturizing

TIP for Monday October 6th, 2008

Need a better nights sleep? If it’s time for a new mattress make sure you donate or recycle the old one. We throw away about 20 million mattresses each year in North America, so donating or recycling means much smaller landfills. If 10,000 people recycled a full-size bed instead of throwing it away, we would prevent enough waste to cover an NFL field with 8 feet of garbage…THINK ABOUT IT. Recyclers can separate the fiber, foam, steel, and wood for remanufacturing into…a new mattress! Check with the store where you're buying your new mattress to see if it offers donation or recycling services for your old one.

For a list of non-profit agencies that accept furniture donations go to www.toronto.ca

If you choose to donate it check out the link below on how to properly clean it first. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-clean-a-mattress_1/

TIP for Friday October 3rd, 2008

The leaves are falling which means time to pull out the rake. Just make sure you bag your leaves properly or turn them into your own garden mulch. Putting them in plastic garbage bags will only preserve them for years in the landfill! Between 20%-50% of the waste we send to landfills is biodegradable and compostable.

Aside from your lawn, mulching your garden will reduce your water usage by about 25%. Mulching also adds nutrients to the soil, controls weeds by blocking sunlight, and provides erosion control. Try shredding your leaves with a lawnmower to mulch them or get a leave shredder. Add grass clippings to make the leaves biodegrade quicker. Be sure to spread the mulch 4-6 inches around trees, and 2-3 inches around flowers and shrubs.

TIP for Thursday October 2nd, 2008

Have you made the switch yet? I’m talking about ONLINE banking. Besides being able to get rid of that eyesore of a filing cabinet in the corner of the den or clearing out your junk drawer, online banking prevents identity theft! A recent study found that people who bank online reduce their chances of identity theft by up to 10% since there's no paper trail. Just think of all the trees you’ll save. If all North Americans viewed and paid bills online, we could keep 18.5 million trees growing each year. Last banking online saves time. No more standing in lines at the bank because you can do all your banking from the comfort of your home (even in your underwear if you want!).

TIP for Wednesday October 1st, 2008

Why more is sometimes better…for the environment. Next time you go grocery shopping, fill up your cart. Overall you’ll make fewer trips to the store, save cash, energy, and hours in the process. Half the pollution it takes to transport your food comes from your drive to and from the store. The other half comes from the farm to the distribution center to the store. Both your fridge and freezer are more efficient when you pack them full (but not so full that cold air can't circulate). When they are full in a power outage, they'll even hold the temp for twice as long as half-full ones. Even the time you spend parking can make you think twice about going to the store for just a couple items. In the long run you’ll save cash on electricity bills and gasoline. If you’re fridge is half full try packing it with water-filled containers like pitchers or water bottles. A fridge full of cool items retains the cold temperature better and keeps efficiency high.