TIP for Thursday November 27th, 2008

A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, and a healthier and more productive place to work. How do you start? An easy way is to digitize. The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office). Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. New software like Greenprint http://www.printgreener.com/index.html helps eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and can also convert to PDF for paperless document sharing. For more info log onto http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/greenprint_1.php



Congratulations to Garrick Fung winner of the Black & Decker "Go Green and Save" prize a B&D Power Monitor. It can save you as much as 20% on your monthly energy bills as it tracks you energy usage and tells you what your energy consumption means in dollars.

Listen up tomorrow at 2pm for the Green Tip and your chance to win!

TIP for Wednesday November 26th, 2008

The end of the month is just days away, and so is that old tradition of putting up the Xmas tree! You may be surprised to find out which is greener. An artificial Christmas tree might seem like the greener option, since no real tree is being destroyed and it can be reused year after year. But they’re usually made of PVC, and the recycling center can’t recycle old PVC trees. Not to mention the fire hazards that are associated with fake trees. Christmas tree farms, on the other hand, have sustainability built into the business. When you cut your tree down and take it home to trim, they’ll plant another one to sell a few years down the line. In the meantime it’ll be turning carbon dioxide into oxygen and providing habitats for animals. Plus the benefit of a real tree is the fabulous pine smell of the outdoors in your home through out the holidays.

Congratulations to Matthew Fenty winner of the Black & Decker "Go Green and Save" prize a B&D Power Monitor. It can save you as much as 20% on your monthly energy bills as it tracks you energy usage and tells you what your energy consumption means in dollars.

Listen up tomorrow at 2pm for the Green Tip and your chance to win!

TIP for Tuesday November 25th, 2008

We’ve moved into a digital world that makes CD’s seem like they are prehistoric. Once you’ve transferred them to you PC or iPod what do you do with them? Well you could be creative and use them as Christmas tree ornaments, make some gifts…like coasters, wind chimes you could even make a very funky room separator! But if you’re like me and you just can't depart with your favourite CD even though it’s scratched, try this little trick… polish! The theory behind fixing a scratched CD, is similar to fixing scratched paint on your car. The key is to polish out the deep scratches by using a substance that will create very fine scratches, and essentially polish the CD. Try using Brasso or Greener methods like toothpaste! Look for an all natural toothpaste then finish it off with all natural 100% carnauba car wax.

To find out to use this method log onto http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/repair-scratched-cd.html

Congratulations to Rhonda Haynes winner of the Black & Decker Go Green and Save prize…a B&D Power Monitor. It can save you as much as 20% on your monthly energy bills as it tracks you energy usage and tells you what your energy consumption means in dollars.

Listen up tomorrow at 2pm for the Green Tip and your chance to win!

TIP for Monday November 24th, 2008

When it comes to your favourite bottle of wine, which is GREENER, cork or screw cap? You’d be surprised. Cork forests are endangered, however, Cork is made from stripping bark off cork oak trees without damaging the trees. Cork trees can live for well over 100 years and keep regrowing their bark. Plus rare wildlife, such as the Iberian lynx, depend on cork oak forests for their survival. New metal and plastic have to be mined and manufactured for those screw caps or plastic corks. And corks are compostable. Put used corks on top of the soil in your houseplant pots - work great as mulch.

Fore more on this tip and more green tips go to www.idealbite.com

Congrats to Paola Medina winner of the BLACK & DECKER “Go Green and Save” Prize a B&D Power Monitor! Listen up tomorrow at 2pm for the GREEN TIP and your chance to win!

TIP for Friday November 21st, 2008

If you want to be eco-conscience this winter and save money there are a few more things you can do besides turning your thermostat down that will also keep you cozy.

*Plug drafts with caulking and weather stripping.

*Use left over bubble wrap by placing it inside windows to act as an insulator.

*Put clear plastic dome covers over basement window wells to keep cold air out and allow solar heat in.

*Hang some blankets or quilts inside window frames with adjustable shower rods to insulate and stop drafts. Roll small ones up to use as draft stoppers for doors and window sills. Add a blanket or two to the top of your mattress just underneath the fitted sheet and you have a homemade pillow top bed.

TIP for Thursday November 20th, 2008

First snowfall means…treacherous ICE!! Time to pull out the rock salt!! Sodium chloride is a very effective de-icing agent, it’s very easy to obtain and is inexpensive. The problem is that up to 90% of the salt enters the soil near the road as runoff and may even wind up in waterways. The widespread use of salt has created a number of environmental problems, including damage to roadside and garden vegetation, contamination of well water and corrosion of vehicles and infrastructure. You can use green solutions around your home and help the environment. Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) and Potassium acetate (KA) are both biodegradable materials that have less of an environmental impact than rock salt however they can be expensive. Try some cheaper green methods like, Fireplace ash, sand, birdseed, bio-degradable kitty litter or try sprinkling some baking soda over your steps.

TIP for Tuesday November 18th, 2008

Getting ready to travel soon? Be GREEN and skip the unnecessary luxuries. In a study three quarters of travelers still felt it was necessary to have fresh sheets and towels every night of their stay at the same hotel, something few people practice at home! If you're staying more than one night, let the housekeeping know that you don't require fresh bed linens and towels each day. Sleeping on the same sheets for a few nights will save both energy and water. Use safety pins to mark which towel belongs to which person and hang them up to dry after use. And yes, it's okay to take the soap and shampoo when you leave. Used bars of soap and open bottles end up in the hotel dumpster. Instead, you can use them up at home or take them along on your next trip. During your stay, finish the bottle of shampoo and bar of soap before opening another one. Voila you have become a GREEN traveler!

TIP for Monday November 17th, 2008

Green labels! When shopping check the garment label and try to avoid ones that say DRY CLEAN ONLY. The common dry cleaning chemical, perchloroethylene http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/perc.html, is a probable carcinogen and has been classified as a groundwater contaminant by the EPA. Plus 70% of perc used in dry cleaning ends up in nature. Another green reason is avoiding the wire hangers…where do they all go after you get your dry cleaning home? If you have to dry clean look for greener cleaners like ones that use eco friendly methods.

TIP for Friday November 14th, 2008

The spirit of the holiday season is upon us. The Santa Clause parade is this weekend and snow is in the forecast…Time to send some holiday cheer with Green Christmas cards! This year send your holiday cheer on recycled cards, e-cards or something fun and send an important message. Thinks of all the trees you'll be saving! 2.65 billion cards bought in North America each year are not made from recycled paper and are most likely NOT recycled. Why not give a plantable card that will grow when you throw it in the backyard! Check these out - Greene Street Cards www.greenestgreetings.com - eco-friendly and proceeds go to a green cause!

TIP for Thursday November 13th, 2008

You’re trying to be green by reusing your plastic water bottle to tote H2O around in…but it turns out those reusable hard-plastic bottles can possibly leach toxins. Polycarbonate plastic used in bottles can leach bisphenol-A, which has been linked to birth defects, miscarriage, and prostate cancer. Also plastic water bottles require 1.5 million barrels of oil each year to make. Even if the bottles are recycled, plastic doesn't recycle 100% like glass or metal does so it just makes sense to eliminate as much plastic consumption as possible. Choose stainless steel or glass bottles instead for a reusable container so you can stay hydrated and green. Some companies have started to bottle water in glass bottles. To see a list of eco conscience bottled water companies check out Raynwater at www.raynwater.com. They supply a water available in a glass bottle called 10,000 BC. Canadian water, from a real live glacier, completely isolated and unreachable by humans or animals!

TIP for Tuesday November 11th, 2008

Is the changing weather wreaking havoc on your complexion? Feel like your back in high school? Why not try products made with body- and eco-friendlier ingredients and avoid the harsh chemicals. Ingredients from blemish busters will ultimately end up in nature, so the fewer synthetics we use, the better. The cosmetics industry has only screened about 11% of the 10,500 ingredients in personal care products for safety, so opt for less questionable ingredients. You can use tea tree and willow bark to spot-treat breakouts, and look for products that contain fruit hydroxyl. You’ll have fabulous skin and a GREEN conscience!

TIP for Monday November 10th, 2008

It’s that time of year to start decorating for the holidays! Make it GREEN by leaving those PVC holiday yard decorations at the store (put the plastic Santa down and step back from the Snowman). PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the most dangerous plastic around due to the cancer-causing chemicals it releases during and after production. PVC used for outdoor decorations degrades after long sun exposure and seeps into groundwater. By using natural pieces you’ll save yourself more cash for gifts! Those plastic Santa scenes can cost upwards of $150 and natural decorations can go right back to where they came from…nature

TIP for Friday November 7th, 2008

Have a GREEN sleep with eco friendly pillows. Sleep on pillows made from non petrol, humane materials such as natural rubber latex and save a bird! Farmers grow alternative materials like kapok, rubber trees, and buckwheat without pesticides and that helps to keep soil free from chemicals. The polyester in conventional pillows is a byproduct of oil plus, it's not biodegradable - unlike eco-options. If you do make the switch remember to recycle your old pillows. You can often donate them to animal shelters, or use the stuffing instead of packing peanuts when you're shipping stuff.

TIP for Thursday November 6th, 2008

When was the last time you went to the LIBRARY? You know that big brick building with all those books? A trip to the library will make you smarter and GREENER. More than 1.6 billion books are purchased in North America each year. That’s a lot of trees! Plus the majority of inks used by printing houses are petroleum-based. Borrowing books will not only save resources but money because it’s FREE! New books start at about $25…are you calculating? Libraries also constantly update and add new titles all the time. So go get carded today! ;)

TIP for Wednesday November 5th, 2008

You haven’t needed to pull out the good ole electric blanket this week but next week we are back to cooler temperatures so why not get green and warm with an organic or recycled blanket. Organic and recycled fabrics are easier on the earth than conventional ones, since they forgo pesticides and the production of new materials. Electric blankets produce electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) that are potential health hazards. The jury's still out, but EMFs, like the ones produced by cell phones, may be connected to diseases like cancer. PLUS Electric blankets are responsible for thousands of fires each year. Last you’ll save on your electricity bills because you won’t have to plug your blanket in!

TIP for Tuesday November 4th 2008

Fashion Takes Action Presents Canada’s Greenest Fashion Events: The Sustainable Style Show & Green Gala Saturday November 8th at the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District. Proceeds from both events will benefit Environmental Defence http://www.environmentaldefence.ca and the launch of Fashion Takes Action http://www.fashiontakesaction.com . Both events will feature many sponsors and suppliers that strive to provide eco-friendly options. The Sustainable Style Show will feature hand-selected, eco-friendly fashion and beauty vendors, selling their products to the eco savvy consumer. The second annual Green Gala will once again feature ten of Canada’s top fashion designers, each creating three couture or evening wear garments made from eco-friendly fabrics. The goal is to raise awareness around the potential that these fabrics have to make higher end clothing. For a list of participating designers and celebrity models visit www.fashiontakesaction.com.

The following examples further emphasize the event’s light carbon footprint:
· The events will be powered by Bullfrog Power http://www.bullfrogpower.com, which uses clean, emissions-free power sources like Eco-LogoTM Certified wind and low-impact water power instead of carbon-intensive sources like coal and oil;
· Green Beauty http://www.greenbeauty.ca , an eco-conscious styling agency, will be using eco-friendly products on the models, and will also follow a zero electricity policy when doing their hair;
· The runway will once again be LED lit, and all ambient lighting will be a combination of LED’s and energy efficient halides provided by Eurolite http://www.eurolite.com
· Organic, local and fair trade floral arrangements will be provided by Eco Flora; http://www.ecoflora.ca
· The bar will be organic and eco-friendly featuring Canadian Brewery of the Year Mill Street Brewery http://www.millstreetbrewery.com, carbon-positive wine Plantatree http://www.plantatreewine.com/flash.html and eco-friendly 360 Eco Luxury Vodka http://www.vodka360.com/ageverify.php?accesscheck=index.php
· The food served will be vegetarian and either local or organic
· All plates, napkins, cups etc will be biodegradable courtesy of Green Shift http://www.greenshift.ca
· No bottled water will be served at either event. Toronto tap water http://www.toronto.ca/water is the greenest choice
· All printed materials are on FSC certified, high post consumer recycled paper, with eco-friendly inks via CJ Graphics http://www.cjgraphics.com
· Gift bags are made from tree free paper using Mitz Terraskin’s http://www.mitzart.com/default4.asp stone paper which will also be used to make three garments in the runway show;
· Volunteer t-shirts are made from 100% recycled materials from Eco Gear http://www.eco-gear.ca

For more information on these events please visit www.fashiontakesaction.com.
To speak directly with Kelly Drennan please call 416-778-5934 or email kelly@fashiontakesaction.com