New Blog Location

I'm moving my blog, so this will be the last post here. Please check out my new and improved blog here!

Jeni

TIP for Monday October 26th, 2009

Is the changing weather wreaking havoc on your complexion? Try products made with eco-friendlier ingredients and avoid the harsh chemicals. 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 Friday October 23rd, 2009

Thinking about hiring a cleaning service. Whether its around the
office or your homeŠhire a green cleaning company that uses
eco-cleaning products or non toxic cleaning chemicals. The EPA says
indoor air pollution is usually 2-5 times worse than outdoor air
pollution, and harsh cleaning chemicals contribute. Plus a study found
that 6 out of 100 cleaners get sick just from the products they use.
And of course those chemical all end up in the environment.

TIP for Thursday October 22nd, 2009

Get organic under the covers and sweet GREEN dreams. If you're in the
market for new sheets look for ones made out of organic cotton.
Non-organic cotton farming uses more pesticides than any other crop.
Whether you're on a budget or you're looking for solids, stripes,
patterns, flannel or sateen, you'll find organic sheets to suit you
that will be less harmful to the environment.

TIP for Wednesday October 21 2009

This weekends weather is going to have you stuck inside. Looking for
some fun activities for the little ones? Let them create some GREEN
masterpieces! Just make sure you use eco friendly art supplies. Up to
36 billion pounds of toxic acrylic polymer solvents, found in many
traditional art supplies, are produced each year. Plus, many standard
art supplies emit asthma-inducing chemicals. Look for ones that don't
contain ammonia, formaldehyde, or turpentine, especially since
supplies can sometimes end up in kids' mouths.

TIP for Tuesday October 20th, 2009

Winter is almost upon usŠtime to put that summer wardrobe away and
pull out the winter one! But how many of your summer outfits stayed in
the closet all summer? Maybe time for fall cleaning! If you haven't
worn something in a year you probably won't wear it again. Instead of
tossing those unwanted threads have a clothing exchange party with
your friends. Invite your friends, coworkers, and family up and tell
then to bring their unwanted clothes then everyone exchanges items.
Everyone benefits. You're able to get cool new clothes for free, save
the landfills, and have a party with your friends!

TIP for Monday October 19th, 2009

Here's something simple you can do to be GREEN. Drive less. Driving is
the most polluting thing we do: burning gasoline - or any other fossil
fuel - releases pollutants that cause smog, global warming and water
pollution. Of course no one is suggesting you park your car
permanently, just drive LESS. Combine several errands into a single
trip, take a minute before you leave home to plan multiple errands and
map out your route. Start using public transit as much as possible.
Leave the car at home if you can get there by walking, cycling or
taking the bus or subway.

TIP for Thursday October 15th, 2009

The Microwave…more than just for warming up food. Have you ever tried
to cook with it? Microwaves save both time and carbon. They use about
60-90% less energy than a conventional cooktop or oven. It might take
some practice, but you can learn to cook almost anything in the
microwave. Some people even use the microwave to make bread and cakes!
Log on to for tips how to cook and microwave recipes
http://www.microwavecookingforone.com

TIP for Wednesday October 14th, 2009

Do you love the one wipe cleanup? I know it seems more convenient but
its not eco-friendly. Save cash and lower your eco-impact by ditching
the one wipe habit. Clean up with reusable cloths and natural
cleaners. Microfiber dusting cloths and mops naturally attract dust
and dirt and can be washed and reused, instead of thrown in landfills.
Look for natural cleaners, they are safer and use fewer non renewable
resources. Re-use old clothes like T-shirts and socks and try
moistening them lightly in a olive oil and vinegar solution to dust
around the house. It works great on wood!

TIP for Tuesday October 13th, 2009

Make Halloween GREEN. Instead of buying a Halloween costume that you
or your children will wear once and throw away, make your own costumes
from old clothes and other items you already have around the house.
Send your kids out trick or treating with reusable bags like cloth or
canvas shopping bags, or even pillowcases. These are all eco-friendly
alternatives to paper or plastic bags, or to the molded plastic
jack-o-lanterns PLUS they are more durable.

TIP for Wednesday October 7th, 2009

Want to save energy when cooking? Don't preheat the ovenŠunless you're
baking. Meats and veggies don't need it. When you preheat an oven,
you're spending a lot of energy to heat up a small amount of air. That
hot air then goes out when you open the door to put in the food.
Preheating can really waste energy if you turn on the oven before you
start doing food prep, leaving it running on empty for half an hour
or more. Some other ways to save energy while cooking; Dont open the
oven door to peek at your food while it cooks, and turn off your oven
a short time before the food is done. It will retain its heat as long
as you don't open the door.

TIP for Monday October 5th, 2009

Your favorite pair of Gucci's heels are worn...or those sexy boots you
rocked all last winter have lost their heels. A brand new pair sounds
great, but the cash is a little tight this month, so what to do?
Repair them! New heels for your shoes cost around $12 - much less than
a new pair! Plus putting a new sole on your shoes uses a lot less
material and energy than manufacturing a new pair. It's cheaper and
doesn't require the extraction of raw materials from the earth.

TIP for Friday October 2nd, 2009

Make your home manicure green with non toxic products and reusable
tools. Opt for glass or metal files rather than disposable ones,
you'll prevent waste plus save yourself some cash! Look for products
that are made from nontoxic materials like organic plant oils for
example moisturizing grape seed, jojoba, and sunflower. Use only non
toxic nail polishes that are free from formaldehyde and phthalates,
that can cause birth defects. Look for nail polish remover thats made
from organic ethanol.

TIP for Thursday October 1st, 2009

AST week in the USA California put in place a ban on VOC (Volatile
Organic Compounds). The new regulations apply to consumer products
such as air fresheners, paints and solvents. VOC's released into the
environment can contaminate soil and groundwater and react with
nitrous oxides to form ozone and ultimately, smog. High levels of
ozone are also a threat to asthma sufferers, cause serious lung
inflammation and decrease lung function. Plus VOC's continue to be
emitted after the paint has dried. Look for paint that is VOC free and
opt for natural air fresheners and do your part in being GREEN!

TIP for Wednesday September 30th, 2009

Its Pay It Backwards Day! Head into any Second Cup location around
the GTA and buy the person behind you their coffee and $5 will be
donated to SICK KIDS Foundation. Make it a GREEN event! Bring your own
reuseable coffee mug and help reduce the amount of garbage going into
our landfills. If you don't have a washable takeout mug be sure to
recycle. Some more ways to lesson your carbon footprint while taking
part in this event is to take transit to the nearest second cup or
carpool with friends.It¹s all the small steps that add up and allow us
to get together and create change. Make sure you join me, Jwyze and
Jus Red at the PIBDay headquarters Second Cup at Queen and John St
from 3-5pm. Pay it Backwards and help SickKids!

TIP for September 29th, 2009

We have recently witnessed one of the worst natural disasters to hit
the Philippines in 40 years. Toronto-area Filipinos have banded
together to pray and raise funds for victims. Its times like this
that we have to come together and help one another. Honestly I can¹t
watch any of the news footage without getting emotional. Living in
Toronto, if we are not directly affected by this, we know someone who
has family or friends in Manila who are trying to survive this
tragedy. Right now clean water is one of the most important things
needed to survive the aftermath and you can help by making donations
at any branch of the CIBC. The account number is 56-24010, transit
number 7012. Or Non-perishable food and other items are being
collected at Our Lady of Assumpton Church, 2565 Bathurst St.

Tip for Friday September 25th, 2009

R U still buying bottled water? Use a reusable bottle instead and fill
it up with tap water. We are fortunate to live in a city where we can
drink the tap water! We use billions of plastic water bottles each day
and most still end up in landfills. About 10% of every one of your
shopping dollars is used to pay for packaging and approximately 30% of
contributes to municipal waste. If we were to take a travel mug to
work with us every day instead of those plastic bottles or paper cups
the impact would be huge!

TIP for Thursday September 24th, 2009

Be GREEN at work and digitize! We may live in the digital age but we
still consume enormous amounts of mashed up, bleached tree pulp, most
of which gets used once or twice and then tossed or recycled. The
greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital whenever
possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files
on computers instead of in file cabinets this also saves space! Review
documents onscreen rather than printing them out, especially for
meetings. Send emails instead of paper letters.

Tip for Wednesday September 23rd, 2009

Have you made the switch from paper to cloth at your dinner table? On
average we use 2,200 paper napkins a year, and if 10,000 people used
cloth napkins 1 day a week for a year instead of paper ones, we'd save
374 trees. So opting for reusable, washable options keeps more trees
standing. Plus organic cloth napkins keep synthetic pesticides out of
the environment.

TIP for Tuesday September 22nd, 2009

Dog got fleas? Many flea collars don't work and some conventional flea
control products contain pyrethroids, which can cause seizures and
heart attacks in your pets. Typical flea pesticides also pose human
cancer risks and contain brain toxins up to 1,000 times the levels
deemed acceptable by the EPA. Less than 0.1% of pesticides reach the
target pests, so more than 99% are left to impact the environment. Opt
for natural products like essential oils and citronella oils and be
sure to vacuum your carpets daily during flea season and wash your
pets bedding regularly.

TIP for Monday September 21st, 2009

Youre sitting at your desk right now tapping away at the keys on your
computerŠand it sounds a little crunchy! Time to clean that keyboard!
Clean GREEN by avoiding keyboard cleaners that contain toxins. A 10-oz
can of chemical duster will have the same greenhouse gas-creating
effect as burning 100 gallons of gas. Clean naturally with a cotton
swab and some alcohol and use two sided tape between the keys to get
the gross crunchy stuff out!

TIP for Friday September 18th, 2009

We're all guilty of those hour showers? I know cleanliness is next to
godliness, but by shortening your shower by just 30 seconds you could
save 4 gallons of water and be GREEN!! If you want to see how much
water you use to shower just put the stopper in the tub and see how
much water collects. You'll be very surprised. Another water saving
trick is to turn the water of while you soap up or lather your shampoo

TIP for Thursday September 17th, 2009

Do you still push yes for a receipt at the ATM? NO!! Over 10 billion
ATM receipts are printed in North America every year! That's a lot of
trees used to make them and a lot of waste because most of them end up
in the trash! You can view all your transactions on your bank's
website. PLUS you won't have to worry about anyone getting a hold of
your receipt and stealing your info. So next trip to the ATM just push
NO for receipt and be GREEN!

TIP for Wednesday September 16th, 2009

Many older homes were built without real consideration of energy
efficiency. BUT you can easily transform your home and dramatically
reduce your heating and cooling needs, slash your energy bills and
greenhouse gas emissions, and make your home much more comfortable all
year round. Even when a house is fully insulated up to 48% of the heat
loss occurs through single glazed windows. Double glazed windows can
cost a lot of money so a simpler and cheaper solution is to apply
films or tints that can provide shade during the hotter months.

TIP for Tuesday September 15th, 2009

Next time your kitchen counter's wet, reach for a cloth instead of a
paper towel. If your household uses a roll of paper towels per week,
you could save more than $100 per year by switching to dishcloths and
tea towels. Cotton tea towels are thicker and can hold more water.
PLUS its GREENER. To make paper towels white, many producers use
chlorine bleaching, which releases cancer-causing toxins into the
environment. AND even if you use recycled paper towel we still send
3,000 tons of paper towels to landfills each day.

TIP for Monday September 14th, 2009

Style your self, GREEN! Who says your styling tools can't be
eco-friendly? Some companies make low energy hair dryers that use 2/3
less power than conventional versions. They may take slightly longer
to dry your hair but they are also gentler on you locks. Also ceramic
curling irons and flat irons that have automatic shut off if they are
being used for more than 10min. You can also find a large variety of
hairbrushes made with wood from sustainably managed forests or ones
made from recycled plastic. Just check the labels and style yourself
GREEN!

Tip for Friday September 11th, 2009

Want to keep your carpets smelling fresh and clean while being GREEN?
Carpets absorb aromas and pollutants from outside, they come in on
your shoes, the dogs feet, AND they absorb smoke and every day odors.
Avoid using a carpet powder or deodorizer that contains chemicals,
they can cause skin irritation, abrasive eye damage, and sometimes the
dust can irritate lungs or aggravate asthma symptoms. The GREEN
solution? Use baking soda on the carpet and leave on for a while then
vacuum up. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the
baking soda if you want it to have a natural aroma.

TIP for Thursday September 10th, 2009

Have you been pulling into the gas station too many times this week?
It may be that roof rack from the summer camping trip that you haven't
taken off yet! Racks weigh around 15 pounds, which makes your car
heavier so it burns more gas per mile. Taking it off lightens the load
and decreases wind resistance plus is GREENER. The less gas you burn =
the less pollution you create.

TIP for Wednesday September 9th, 2009

Are you an idler? Be GREEN and avoid idling your car for more than one
minute. Instead of letting your car idle, turn off the ignition. It
uses less gas and emits less CO2 to stop and restart your car than to
let it run. In fact, idling uses twice as much gas as driving! If
every driver in Canada avoided idling for five minutes a day, we could
prevent 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 from being emitted.

TIP for Tuesday September 8th, 2009

Back to School…exciting and expensive! Buying new school supplies
every year. If you can, re use school your supplies from last year, If
not then buy recycled paper, use canvas or cardboard binders instead
of plastic, and use refillable pens and pencils. Some other ways kids
can be GREEN when they go back to school, ride your bike or walk
instead, Use reusable water bottles instead of plastic and use a lunch
box instead of paper bags.

TIP for Thursday September 3rd, 2009

Lots of sunshine this weekend makes ideal weather for washing your
car. Go GREEN and use a waterless carwash! Save water and money! Make
sure you look for an eco-cleaner that ammonia free. Besides being
toxic, ammonia can degrade the rubber and window tint on your car over
time. You can pick up a waterless car wash kit for $15-20 and get
about 6-8 washes out of it. Or you can find a waterless car wash and
let them do the work for you! Check out http://www.eccosave.com/

TIP for Tuesday September 1st, 2009

Make your house feel tropical and protect your sinuses at the same
time! Maintaining indoor humidity at around 45 to 65 percent is a
great way to avoid sinus infections and sore throats? Electrical
humidifiers work well but they use electricity and cost money. An
easier way to add humidity to a room, is to put a few areca palms in
it. Plants in the home are always a great way to purify the air and to
make your house a home. Areca Palms release a considerable volume of
moisture in the air as part of their natural transpiration process.
Most plants release water into the air, but a 6 foot Areca Palm can
release up to 1 litre of water in every 24 hours.

TIP for Thursday August 27th, 2009

If youre looking for a natural and organic way to purify the air in
your home or office, look for Himalayan salt crystals. They can help
naturally cleanse the indoor air in an energy efficient way. When
heated, the salt crystals cause an ionization effect that can
neutralize airborne bacteria and other pollutants in the air. The
negative ions emitted by the orange-glowing salt crystals lamps and
candle holders may provide relief from sinus migraine headaches,
allergies, and hay fever, along with other common ailments such as
asthma. They are also more pleasing to the eye and energy efficient
than the mechanical purifiers.

TIP for Wednesday August 26, 2009

Save electricity and money with motion sensor lights around the
outside of your house. If your just going outside to put out the
garbage, the area only needs to be lit up for a short period. So why
not use motion sensor lights. You can find solar powered motions
sensored floodlights that will work for two weeks without sun. They
are not only good for the environment but they are also great for
security.

TIP for Tuesday August 25th, 2009

Mmmmm the NOT so wonderful smell of mothballs! Moths are a nuisance,
but how do you keep them from eating your favourite winter sweater
while its put away for the summer? Mothballs are not only harmful to
moths but to you as well! They contain a compound called
para-dichlorobenzene which is a carcinogen. Avoid the chemicals and
the mothball smell with safer alternatives. Look for lavender and
cedar wood, theirs scents will keep moths away.

TIP for Monday August 24th, 2009

If youre a student youre probably already struggling with the many
expensive textbooks you have to buy. The problem is that these
textbooks are not only a burden on your budget, but also impact the
environment with all the trees cut down for their production. Buy used
textbooks save money and trees! You can save up to 90%! Some companies
even rent them!

TIP for Thursday August 20th, 2009

It only takes a minute to remember to pack your own mug. Changing the
way you have your morning coffee or tea can have a real impact on the
amount of waste you send to the landfill. Styrofoam is not recyclable
and paper cups are rarely recycled. Bringing a reusable mug will
lessen the amount of garbage and can even get you a discount on your
coffee at some retailers. PLUS It tastes better in your own mug

TIP for Tuesday August 18th, 2009

This green tip will keep some green in your pocket. Got a budding
athlete? New sports equipment is costly and your kids are growing
faster than your wallet. So check out stores that sell used gear! At a
used gear shop, you can expect to pay 50% less than what you'd spend
on new equipment. Bonus, some places you can trade stuff that the
kids' have outgrown instead of having to buy new equipment each time
they sprout up a few inches! Also used equipment means fewer resources
needed for the creation, transport, and marketing of new equipment.

TIP for Monday August 17th, 2009

It’s HOTT! These types of temperatures make it quite a challenge keeping food and drinks cool enough so they don't spoil quickly. If you’re away from a fridge an eco friendly way of keeping your food and drink cool, other than using a cooler with ice, is a ZEER pot. A pot-in-pot fridge consists of two unglazed terracotta pots, one larger than the other. A layer of sand is placed in the bottom of the large pot and the smaller pot placed inside. Sand is poured in the gap between the two pots. You pour water on the sand and then place the pot in a shaded area with good ventilation. The water then evaporates and cools the pot! Check out http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/296/1/Cooling-food-without-electricity.html to read more and find out how to make one.

TIP for Wednesday August 12th, 2009

North Americans chew over 300 billion sticks of gum a year. That’s a lot of gum wrappers! Tossing a gum wrapper course isn't going to end the world, but even the smallest things have an impact. Avoid buying gum that is packaged excessively in plastic, in a box and then wrapped in foil. Opt for gum in bulk. Prevent waste and wasted resources.

TIP for Monday August 10th, 2009

I know you love the toys but small engines are incredibly inefficient and dirty. Running a leaf blow for one hour is equivalent to driving your car 350 miles!!! So here are some simple GREEN solutions; Don’t blow leaves, rake them. It’s a fantastic workout! Use an electric mower or a push, they cut a better lawn, and have 0 emissions. If you can’t convert, just mow less. Your lawn does not need to look like a putting turf all the time. Let it grow. You’ll save water because it will require less watering.

TIP for Friday August 7th, 2009

DJ Starting from Scratch and DJ Carlos 2nd annual DJ Golf Classic is on Sunday at Remington Parkview Golf Club in Markham…so I thought it would be good idea to play some GREEN golf! Walk the course, instead of renting a cart. You'll burn a few calories, save a few bucks, and pollute less. The carts may be electric but the energy has to come from somewhere. Use recycled or recyclable golf balls like Wilson Eco-Cores. They comply with all U.S. and Canadian Golf Association regulations and they are made from recycled car tires. Also use biodegradable tees that break down in about 60 days when exposed to the elements. Now you’ve got a GREEN swing!

TIP for Thursday July 30th, 2009

Yesterday we talked about practicing your GREEN habits even while on vacation. If you’re staying at a hotel leave the small bottles of shampoo and conditioner. That’s plastic that will end up in a landfill, so instead take your own toiletries in reusable bottles from home. If you’re only staying for a few days stick the “Do not Disturb” on your door, or just call housekeeping and tell them you won’t need their services during your stay. Help prevent the hotel from wasting water by changing your sheets and towels, wasting electricity by vacuuming, and spraying harsh chemicals all over your room if you’re only going to be there for two days.

TIP for Wednesday July 29th, 2009

You’re living GREEN at home, so why not practice the same habits when you’re on vacation. Try to conserve water and electricity while staying at a hotel. For example use your towels more than once just as you would at home, and turn off the lights when you leave your room. More than 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown away in North America each day, remember to recycle and reuse water bottles or bring your own to lessen the waste. Last remember to unplug all you electronics when you’re not using them.

TIP for Tuesday July 28th, 2009

Do you have a box of baking soda in the fridge or cupboard that never see the light of day? Get green clean with so many different ways to put that baking soda to use! It is great for scrubbing fruits and veggies safely. It also gives dish detergent a boost when scrubbing greasy pans or use it to clean sinks, tubs, and to get stains of countertops. Plus it doesn't scratch. Use it to remove stains from wooden furniture. Make a paste of baking soda and linseed oil. Rub it in the direction of the wood grain, wipe it clean then follow with plain linseed oil. Remove oily stains from fabric on furniture with a 50/50 mixture of salt and baking soda. Leave it overnight, and vacuum it. Mix it with vinegar to unblock drains. Pout the mixture down the drain then follow with boiling water. So many ways to use it around your home without and keep it clean without harsh chemicals!

TIP for Monday July 27th, 2009

It is all the rage now…tote bags! The alternative to plastic bags that is a green solution. But how many cloth bags have you picked up at shows, conferences and events full of promo items that you have piling up around your home? Here’s a cool solution. Turn them into pillows! You can use them for a funky look around your home, use them as pillows for the beach or the park, or give them as gifts! Leave the handles on and turn them into a “tote pillow”!

TIP for Thursday July 23rd, 2009

What do you do with all this rain? Catch it in a rain barrel. Collect all the water running off your roof and awnings and reuse it around your property, to water your plants, lawn or wash your car. You’ll save water and money plus you’ll help lower the demands on the City’s water system, especially during peak summer periods. You can purchase a rain barrel from the City of Toronto for $85 (they usually cost anywhere from $100-250) http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/activities.htm

Tip for Wednesday 22nd July, 2009

Give a Gift or donate a gift?

Sure, it's the thought that counts, but how many times have you beat your brains out trying to find the perfect gift for someone who has everything? In this age of hyper-consumption and a planet under the stress of environmental problems, this is an aspect of our lives we can all make changes to.

So the next time you are deciding on a gift for someone, make a donation to a charity on his or her behalf.
Because a gift of help, a gift of hope or a gift of nutrition. Could be all the difference to someone that needs it more then you!

There are many different Organizations that would appreciate the cash and use it well.
Here are a few green tip suggestions that are cheap, helps the earth and someone else in the process. They are all very beneficial gifting ideas, with prices ranging between $10 to $50.
·Charity Gift cards
·Adopt an Animal
·Help Send One Million Books to Children in Africa
·Trees For The Future
·Gift a solar cooker
If this idea doesn't appeal and you would like to give a gift directly consider giving fair trade items.

So, less clutter unwanted gifts, and a warm fuzzy feeling for you and the recipient. Get a tax deduction for you and a worthy cause being assisted! Giving a gift doesn't get any better or greener than that!

Websites for general research:
www.canada.amref.org
www.universalgiving.org
www.justgive.org
www.evergreen.ca

Tip written by Delecia Claxton.

TIP for Tuesday July 21, 2009

Here’s a simple GREEN TIP…Keep your car tires properly inflated. Proper car maintenance is essential to eco driving. If your tires are under inflated then you are increasing your vehicles resistance on the road and as a result you burn more fuel to achieve a given speed. Almost 50% percent of the vehicles on the roads have at least one tire that is not properly inflated. For every psi that 1 tire on your car is under inflated your fuel consumption increases by 1%. So if each of your tires is between 2 and 3 psi under the manufacturers recommendation, then your fuel consumption will be 10% more than usual. So check those tires!

TIP for Monday July 20th, 2009

If you want to make your BBQ GREEN, look for natural charcoal options. You can find charcoal made from maple and oak scraps OR coconut shells, that burns hotter, longer, and with less ash than any other charcoal. Light the coals with electric lighter wands that can be used over and over rather than a lighter that can’t be recycled. Or look for a chimney starter that you put your charcoal into and use newspaper to light it.

TIP for Friday July 17th, 2009

Here’s an GREEN idea…do you have some old dishes, glasses and cutlery stored in box somewhere trying to figure out what to do with all the mismatches? Use them for the beach or picnic! You’ll avoid buying plastic plates and cutlery and save yourself some money. But the best part is you’ll help the environment by removing the need to purchase plastic picnic ware.

TIP for Thursday July 16th, 2009

Today we are getting really GREEN…philodendrons, spider plants, and ivy. They are just a few of the green friends that can help scrub harmful compounds from household air. Just one plant per 100 square feet of living space will help absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are everywhere. Carpet, paint, foam insulation, household cleaners, air fresheners, and even cosmetics contain them. And, unfortunately, exposure to these toxins has been cited for causing fatigue, headaches, asthma, and allergies in certain people. Turn your home in to a GREEN clean space!

TIP for Wednesday July 15th, 2009

This tip is for the gardeners. Aphids! Those tiny little yellow bugs that destroy all your beautiful flowers, herbs and veggies! How do you get rid of them? There are commercial bug sprays that work but the last thing you want to spray on your veggies is a pesticide. Plus it might kill off good bugs like ladybugs and other helpful bugs in your garden. Try grandma’s GREEN method. Dishwashing liquid! I’ve tried and it works! Mix 1tsp of liquid detergent with 4 cups of water in a spray bottle and spray away!

TIP for Tuesday July 13th, 2009

Swishing! It’s new concept that that has recently been launched where you get friends together to exchange fashionable clothes. You benefit the environment by reducing the amount of new products you buy, in addition, you benefit from a new wardrobe and new friends!
Swishing is defined as:
The Art of Swishing involves getting your friends together to swap gorgeous clothes and party at the same time. Every lady must bring at least one good quality, clean item of clothing, or an accessory, that she’d feel proud to hand on.
It’s like Freecycling, and giving your clothes to charity shops, but there’s a social aspect to it, and you also benefit from some new clothes.

TIP for Monday July 13th, 2009

The strike continues with no end in sight. The garbage piling up is starting to strike some nerves. The best way to deal with the mounds of garbage is to reduce the amount of trash you throw away. Think before you buy. Avoid wasteful and bulky packaging and buy in bulk. If you haven’t already, use a refillable coffee mug or water bottle. Toronto uses over 1 million disposable coffee cups every day. Bringing your own to your fav coffee spot will reduce the amount of coffee cups that are getting left all over the streets. Take a small bag with you when you go out to put any trash in and take home to dispose of. Return your bottles to the LCBO and Beer Store get back the deposit.

TIP for thursday July 9th, 2009

Having trouble sleeping? Try this! Before you toss it here’s a great way to reuse an old pillow case. Make an aromatherapy pillow, they are great way to help you get a good nights sleep. Buy some fresh herbs or get them from your garden, like lavender, sage and rosemary and place them inside the pillow case. Sew it up and place that inside another one with your pillow in it. Enjoy the aroma of the herbs and have GREEN dreams!

TIP for Wednesday July 8th, 2009

Have you made the ECO-switch to a GREENER detergent? If every household replaced one box of 48-ounce, petroleum-based powder laundry detergent with a vegetable-based one, we would save enough oil to heat and cool 5,300 homes for a year. PLUS fragrances and harsh solvents such as ammonia in some conventional detergents can trigger allergies and asthma, and cause skin irritation. Look for eco-detergents that are concentrated so their production and transport uses less energy and packaging. Now you’ll have GREEN clean clothes!

TIP for Monday July 6th, 2009

If you’ve got the AC running this summer and you want to save on your electric bill here’s a few tricks. Houses lose 50% of the A/C you burn through windows, but planting shade trees around the house and near windows will help naturally cool your house. Plus along with treatments like window films, you will cut your household energy use by up to 10%. Another bonus…Keeping out heat and UV rays from the sun means you don't have to worry about your furniture or artwork fading. AND If you like the look, you can also install awnings with a variety of styles to choose from nowadays.

TIP for Thursday June 25th, 2009

Do you need to be saved from JUNK MAIL…especially with the strike there is nowhere to toss it! Each household receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail per year and 100 million trees are used to make junk mail. Here’s another fact for you, the production and transport of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars use every year. It’s simple just put a sign on your mailbox that says NO AD MAIL and mail carries will NOT deliver Junk mail to your box. Find out how you can get your name removed from mailing lists http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/business/productsservices/atoz/mailinglists.jsf

TIP for Wednesday June 24th, 2009

It stinks! So now is the time to reduce how much waste you create. Change some simple habits. Do you use wipes or a disposable mop to clean? They create major waste, with 83,000 tons of them being thrown away each year. Try using a microfiber mop head. They clean really well and they can be dropped into your washing machine. They require less space in the washer/dryer than conventional mop heads. You can toss them in with some old towel saving detergent, energy and water.

TIP for Tuesday June 23rd, 2009

A/C’s may use tons of energy, but days like today make it difficult to live without them. So if you’ve got one in your home or office, make sure the filters are changed and the units are serviced regularly, that will cut your energy consumptions 5 to 15%. Examine the unit's air filters once a month and clean or replace filters when necessary. Many air conditioner units have reusable filters that can be cleaned under running water. PLUS Keep heat-producing appliances, like TV’s or lamps, away from the thermostat. The heat they produce can fool your thermostat into continuing to cool.

TIP for Monday June 22nd, 2009

With about 24,000 city workers going on strike today affecting many services including garbage pick up, and hot temps for the next few days…this week is going to be a stinker! Some things you can do is reduce the amount of trash that you toss! Stop before drop and think about what you’re tossing it out. Can it be reused? Can it be composted? This is great time to start composting if you have a back yard buy a composter from the city they cost about $15. Buy products with less packaging and postpone any projects that will create a lot of waste. For more tips on what to do with your garbage during the strike log on to http://greentenant.blogspot.com/2009/05/10-ways-to-survive-garbage-strike.html

TIP for Friday June 19th, 2009

It’s a Friday so here’s a no-brainer. Want to save water? Turn the tap of while you brush your teeth. Think about it…you brush your teeth for an average 2 minutes. If you have the tap running the entire time, think about how much water you’re wasting. You could probably fill the sink up twice! Here’s another trick…try brushing your teeth while your in the shower and rinsing yourself off…if you’re multi-talented and can you can do two things at the same…

TIP for Thursday June 18th, 2009

Pool owners this one’s for you! BTW I’ll be coming over to take a dip ;) Do you have your pool covered? Solar pool covers attract and store heat from the sun's rays to help raise the water temp anywhere from 10-15 degrees and save you up to 70% on heating costs. Covers reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation by up to 50%. Last, it keeps debris out of the pool, which means less energy you have to use to clean it!

TIP for Wednesday June 17th, 2009

When you want your house to smell nice you reach for the spray can. There’s a great deal of energy and processing that goes into the manufacturing of aerosol-based sprays. The can itself is made from steel, often with plastics for the nozzle and cap. PLUS Some of the chemicals and propellants in aerosols can be pretty nasty too. Try a green method like pot pourri. You will be recycling tree and plant matter and you can always refresh it with new fragrances when the scents wear off. Use eco-friendly oils and organically grown flowers or dried fruit peels. You can save a lot of landfill waste and avoid aerosols!

TIP for Monday june 15th, 2009

The summer heat is on which means so are the A/C’s. A small adjustment on the dial will save you money and still keep you GREEN and cool. Turn you’re A/C up by 2 degrees, a small temperature change that can make a big difference. You can save almost $100 on your electricity bill not to mention the carbon dioxide emissions. Turn the A/C off when you’re not home, and try turning it off when the room reaches a comfortable temperature and use your ceiling fans to keep the cool air circulating.

TIP for Friday June 12th, 2009

Kill two birds with one stone…or a few CD’s. Keep the birds out of your vegetable garden with used or scratched CD’s and DVD’s. They are great at scaring birds away from nibbling on your hard work. Get two wooden poles, and dangle the CD’s from the string and tie it between the two poles. When the CD’s move in the wind they splash a little bit of sunshine in the eyes of birds, and they will fly off! It’s a great way to be green and reuse!

TIP for Thursday June 11th, 2009

Got a leaky faucet? That tiny little drip can cost you money and waste a lot of water! A slow drip can waste more than 100 gallons of water per week. A plumber may cost close to $50 and hour BUT a medium-size leak that you let continue to drip can cost you over $100 per month. Have your water bills seemed a little high? If you’re sure if you have a leak try this…turn off all the water inside and outside your house, then look for your water meter. If the meter's hand is moving, you've got a leak. If it's not moving, note the position of the meter and recheck it in 10 minutes. If it moved, you've got a slow leak

TIP for Wednesday June 10th, 2009

Does it look a little dull outside? Are you turning your lights on early in the evening? When was the last time you really looked out your windows? Give them a clean. A simple cleaning will let more natural light in and cut down on your electricity bill. You’ll help the environment and the natural light will help YOUR environment. Make sure you use natural cleaners or make your own; mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and put it into a used spray bottle and scrub with newspaper for a streak free shine. You can also use straight lemon juice or club soda.

TIP for Tuesday June 9th, 2009

Got a package to send to dad for father’s day? Forget the expensive packaging materials and make your own. Packing peanuts are expensive and made from Styrofoam that is not recyclable, and neither are those padded envelopes. Try using cut up cereal boxes to make your own package and shredded magazines and paper to pack around the item. Then stick a note inside asking the recipient to recycle it or reuse it.

TIP for Monday June 8th, 2009

If you want to really save on your utility bills every year and help
the environment at the same time, it's time for an upgrade. Since it
takes energy to treat our water, if one out of 100 homes upgraded to
water-efficient fixtures, we'd save enough energy to power 909 homes
for a year. A few changes can save you $170 per year on your water and
sewer bills alone. If you're dishwasher was built before 1994 and you
replace it with a newer model you could save more than $30 per year in
utility costs. Your bathroom and kitchen faucets can pour out more
than 2 gallons of water per minute if they're not a low flow version.
Your showerhead can blast more than 3 gallons per minute. Switch your
showerhead to a low-flow one and attach a faucet aerator, save water
and money up to $80 per year.

TIP for Friday June 5th, 2009

You grab a handy single serving of yogurt for breakfast then what do
you do with the container? Toss it in the garbage because it's made
from plastic that can't be recycled. So why not reuse them around your
home? They can be used in the garden as small pots for seedlings. Cut
them into strips and use them to label your plants or veggies in the
garden. And here's a use the kids, and kids at hart will loveŠ fill
them with squashed fruit or juice and freeze them to make freezies!

TIP for Thursday June 4th, 2009

If you wan to get GREEN and get in shape at the same time buy a push
lawn mower! It will keep your grass green and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions. You'll save money on gas and the gym! It will do a better
job at keeping your lawn neat. And after all that hard work pushing
the mower around you can reward yourself by leaving the grass
clippings on the lawn. As they break down they will release nutrients
back in to the soil.

TIP for Wednesday June 3rd, 2009

Yesterday we talked about keeping limescale out of your kettle is like
defrosting your freezer, or getting your car a tune up. Well have you
ever defrosted your freezer? Do you get that crunching sound every
time you open the door? To elongate the life of your freezer and
improve efficiency it is best to regularly defrost it at least every
three months. A build up of frost in the freezer restricts the airflow
of the cold air and makes it work harder. That's means more energy is
used which means higher electricity bills. Keeping your freezer
frost-free could save you as up to 30% on your yearly electricity bill.

TIP for Tuesday June 2nd, 2009

Limescale?. If you have Hard Water then your kettle is probably a
victim. Limescale drastically reduces its efficiency. If you de-scale
your kettle, then it will last longer and you will reduce your
electricity usage. Limescale in your kettle is like never defrosting
your freezer, or not servicing your car every 10,000 miles. You want
your appliances to last as long as possible. Try using an equal mix of
vinegar and cold water. Leave it in the kettle for an hour and pour it
out. Then boil a normal amount of water, and use it to wash your
dishes, so you don't waste it. Your kettle should now be de-scaled.

TIP for Monday June 1st, 2009

Here's cool tip that will keep you cooler and save you money this
summer. Make sure your ceiling fans are set to rotate
counterclockwise! Running your fan counterclockwise in the summer
directs the cool air downward and creates a breeze. In the winter,
running it clockwise will force cold air upward and warm air down to
you. Managing the airflow, will save you up to 40% on A/C in the
summer and 10% on heating in the winter. Try cutting you're A/C off
once the room reaches a comfortable temperature and just use the
ceiling fan. You'll save energy and money because most ceiling fans
use only about as much power as a 100-watt bulb.

TIP for Friday May 29th, 2009

I hate ironing. I know you do too! Are you guilty of tossing your
clothes in the dryer to get the wrinkles out? That uses a lot of
energy and isn't very environmentally friendly. Here's a cool old
school trick that will help you iron faster and reduce your
electricity bill. When we iron on a regular ironing board we are only
effectively ironing on one side. Inserting a few sheets of aluminum
foil in between the ironing board and the board cover will reflect the
heat of the iron andŠyou are now ironing from both sides, meaning you
iron quicker and therefore use less electricity.

TIP for Thursday May 28th, 2009

Take your GREEN habits to work and keep them at the water cooler!
Break the paper cup habit and use a glass. Just think of how many
paper cups your office goes through every time someone walks pass the
water cooler and grabs a quick drink then tosses the cup into the
garbage! Reuse is better than recycling and even better is your own
glass that you can wash at the end of the day. Bring one from home or
encourage your boss to make the switch from paper to glass and then
put up a sign by the cooler to remind your coworkers to be GREEN.

TIP for Wednesday May 27th, 2009

So you've spent money, time and sweat getting your garden beautifulŠso
the last thing you want is to get slimmed by slugs! Slugs can destroy
all your hard work and gorgeous flowers! Pesticides have been
officially banned here in Ontario. Good news there are effective
alternatives that are environmentally friendly! Pennies! The copper
serves as a great barrier for slugs, giving them a small shock when
they try to cross it. By using old pennies to create rings of copper
surrounding your plants, you can have a natural, non-toxic, slug-free
garden and get rid of your loose change. Since slugs are most active
in damp nighttime conditions, watering in the AM instead of the PM can
reduce slug damage by 80%. They also don't like coarse surfaces.
Surround your plants with rocks, gravel, egg shells and other rough
materials.

TIP for Tuesday May 26th, 2009

Find GREEN love! We have all heard of eHarmony and Match.com, but what
about a dating site focused on helping people find a date with someone
with the common interests of going green? Now there is one,
EcoDater.com. It¹s an online dating community for single men and women
who care about living an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Members
include vegans, vegetarians, organic farmers, outdoor enthusiasts,
yoga practitioners, activists and many more. They also donate a
portion of their revenue to eco-friendly nonprofit organizations
including World Wildlife Fund

TIP for Monday May 25th, 2009

It's green, it's clean, it's quiet, cheaper, and gets us into shape!
Today is the kick off of "Bike to Work Week², and our mayor David
Miller and fellow councilors did just that! You may have caught them
riding by on their way to city hall this morning! This week they will
debate the bike-friendly issue of removing the centre lane of traffic
on Jarvis St. and replacing it with bike lanes and green space. Right
now you can head down to Nathan Phillips Square and check out the
Bikes Without Borders Concert until 7pm this evening. It¹s just one of
the 100 bike events that are taking place around the city. You can log
on to our
http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/uds/cyclingcal.nsf/AllEvents?OpenView

TIP for Thursday May 21st, 2009

Today feels like summer time to show off those legs! Now if you want
the sexy sunglow look without the wrinkles go GREEN and get an
Eco-sunless tanner. Tan in a can or fake and bake has come a long way
these days and you don¹t have to worry about having that orange glow!
Plus tanning beds have the same damaging UV rays that the sun has. A
tanning lamp contains four times the mercury in a regular fluorescent
tube, and the average bed uses 45 lamps. The active ingredient in most
self-tanning products is just a naturally occurring sugar, DHA. Look
for ones made with natural ingredients and have that sun kissed look
all year round!

TIP for Wednesday May 20th, 2009

Use GREEN bug repellents this summer, help the earth and save brain
cells! The chemical DEET is currently the most common ingredient used
in insect repellents. New studies show that it might damage your brain
cells. Try using natural bug repellents like oil of lemon, lemongrass
oils, eucalyptus and catnip to repel mosquitoes and neem tree oil to
work against ticks and flies. At home in your garden try planting
plants that are known for being natural repellents. Log on to our
http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

TIP for Tuesday May 19th, 2009

Got to remember something? Forget the post it and remember to be
GREEN! Use the MemoPad, Calendar or Tasks on your phone or use the
digital desktop notes on your laptop. They are cost-free, tree-free,
and you don¹t have to worry about losing them because they never lose
their stickiness. Sticky notes don't use all that much paper, but the
average North American uses the equivalent of a tree 100 feet high and
18 inches in diameter each year for paperŠso every little bit counts.

TIP for Friday May 15th, 2009

Now that the warmer weather is here its time to put out that fire!
Switch off the pilot light on your fireplace or furnace during warm
summer months and save money and your natural gas. The pilot light
alone, on a gas fireplace can use 1/2 the total gas a gas fireplace
burns in a year. Depending on gas prices, you can save about $50 on
bills each year if you turn off the pilot light during warm months. To
calculate how much gas your pilot light uses log on to
http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/home/appcalc_gas.aspx

TIP for Wednesday May 13th, 2009

This one¹s for the ladies! On average we spend $100 a month on
cosmetics. Be GREEN, prevent waste, save money and get the most out of
your cosmetics! If your liquid foundation or mascara start to get
chunky, soak the sealed container in hot water for 5 minutes to get
more life out of it. Lipstick down to just a nub or broken? Paint the
rest on with a lip brush. With tubes of makeup like concealer or eye
shadow, when most of the product's gone, cut off the end of the tube
and use a use cotton swab to get at the rest inside. Makeup brushes
that are old can have a second life as keyboard dusters, paintbrushes,
even tools for gluing.

TIP for Tuesday May 12th, 2009

This tip was suggested by our engineer, Scotty, who is sitting in a
room filled with bubble wrap and boxes! If you want to save your
office some money and help the environment out, Re-use! When you get a
package that comes in shipping materials like boxes, packing peanuts,
bubble wrap or the big padded envelopes, save them and re-use them to
ship things out of your office. An average sized storage box with
bubble wrap costs between $13-16. If you shipped once a week you could
save over $625 a year! If your office doesn¹t have the storage space
most shipping companies will take them off your hands.

TIP for Monday May 11th, 2009

I¹ve got an environmentally friendly and wallet-friendly way to
shopŠConsignment boutiques, Vintage or second-hand stores. You can
find fabulous designer clothes, shoes and bags and funky one of kind
items that are easy on your wallet and the earth. Another option is
Online shopping with sites that offer recycled handmade items like
bags, accessories and jewelry. If you want new items, read the
labels. Look for clothing made from organic cotton, bamboo, hemp or
organic wool. AND Good news! These days it¹s easier to find affordable
and fashionable green and organic clothing. Log on to for local links
www.fashionandearth.com www.whiteapricot.com

TIP for Wednesday May 6th, 2009

We are being told daily that to prevent the spread of germs and the
H1N1 flu virus, that we need to wash our hands frequently. Regular
soap and water will do the trick. Researchers reviewed 27 studies
conducted between 1980 and 2006, and found that plain soaps are just
as effective as those containing the common antibacterial triclosan.
Triclosan may disrupt thyroid hormones, and can form several chemicals
with health and environmental concerns. Plus it¹s been found that
antibacterial soaps with triclosan can reduce the effectiveness of
antibiotics. Health Canada has even put triclosan on their Cosmetic
Ingredient "Hotlist"
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/person/cosmet/info-ind-prof/_hot-list-critiqu
e/hotlist-liste_3-eng.php It¹s important that you wash your hands frequently
with nonantibacterial soap (make sure you check the ingredient list) and
water for at least 20 seconds and only consider using an eco hand sanitizer
when you can't get to a
sink.

TIP for Tuesday May 5th, 2009

Are you just becoming GREEN? Here¹s a really simple tip to do in the
morning that will get you off to an easy start. When you boil water
for tea and other hot drinks, heat only the amount of water that you
will use. It heats up faster, so you can have your tea sooner and it
saves energy! It's a small, simple step that can make a difference
over time. Even better when you¹re done, put cold water in the kettle
so it can sit and reach room temperature for the next time you want to
boil some water for tea.

TIP for Friday May 1st, 2009

Wondering how you can keep your kids from spending the weekend on the couch watching TV and playing video games? Get your children outside with activities that involve them in the environment, instill respect for the planet and create family time and memories. Eco-friendly activities don’t have to mean a trip to the wilderness, something as simple as working on an outdoor project, growing a garden, or getting crafty. Turn cereal boxes into magazine or book organizers by covering them in used wrapping paper, or paper grocery bags. Decorate them with your kids and explain the importance of reusing materials that still have a useful life, rather than throwing them in the landfill.

TIP for Thursday April 30th, 2009

It’s almost ice cream season…cone or cup? The greener answer is the edible container, cone! One less paper cup or plastic spoon isn’t going to save the world, but it’s one of those little things that add up. In North America we throw away over 25 billion polystyrene/styrofoam cups a year. Help keep those cups and plastic spoons out of our landfills that will still be sitting there in 500 years. Plus cones are more fun anyway!

TIP for Wednesday April 29th, 2009

North America uses 1 billion tonnes of pesticides each year and some of that includes on produce. That’s one good reason to buy organic produce, but another is it tastes better. If you’ve decided to have your own little vegetable garden this year to avoid the pesticides, consider heirloom seeds (ones that haven't been genetically modified or hybridized) for your spring planting. Heirlooms offer unique flavors and appearances you won't find with species cultivated for uniformity and climate adaptability. For example heirloom tomatoes, they can be big, small, fluted, smooth, red, orange, purple, yellow, green, striped and they even vary in taste. Of course there are there veggies available in heirloom too like peppers, corn, beans, kale, eggplant, squash, lettuce and potatoes. Make your vegetable garden ROYAL! For more on heirloom veggies check this out http://www.halcyon.com/tmend/heirloom.htm

TIP for Tuesday April 28th, 2009

Recently I’ve switched back to the basics…bars of soap in the bathroom
over plastic containers of liquid soap. It’s a better option for the
environment and it turns out to be cheaper! In terms of weight 31% of
the waste sent to landfills is made up of packaging. Bar soap is
available with little or no packaging, and there are more all-natural
options. Studies have also found that bar soap kills off bacteria just
as well as liquid. If you have a liquid soap dispenser you can save
all your soap bar scraps, warm them up in a little water, let them
soak and soften and then put in the liquid soap dispensers.

TIP for Monday April 27th, 2009

North Americans buy over 4 billion batteries per year. Each year in
Ontario about 5,000 tonnes of single-use batteries are discarded, and
less than 5 per cent, are recycled.
Some people throw out batteries because they don't realize the
dangers. Batteries are toxic little time bombs." Some contain heavy
metals, such as lead, chromium and mercury. When batteries end up in a
landfill, the heavy metals can leach into the ground and find their
way into the water system. Heavy metals are toxic to biological
systems and affect brain activity or metabolic processes. Keep a jar
around your house to toss your old batteries into and when it gets
full make a trip to one of the cities six depots. Log on to
www.toronto.ca to find a depot nearest you.

GREEN TIP for Friday April 24th, 2009

Go on pop ya colla! I see you getting GREEN! Green ideas have become a
part of our everyday living and are becoming easier and cheaper! For
example, you separate your garbage, compost and recycle. The green
bags that you put your compost in are already biodegradable. But did
you know that the regular blue and black bags that we put our
recyclables and garbage also come available as biodegradable bags.
That¹s important because they break down quickly in landfills unlike
their plastic counterparts that can last for hundreds of years. The
best partŠthey only cost a dollar more! You can afford to spend a
dollar to save the environment. Don¹t forget when you are doing yard
work this weekend be sure to use Biodegradable Gardening bags. They
cost $9.99 for 20 XL Bags and contribute to making our planet healthier.

Thank you to Matthew Gray our intern here at FLOW who provided this
useful GREEN TIP!

TIP for Thursday April 23rd, 2009

This weekend you may be getting involved in some of the clean up
programs around our city as part of Earth Day, but what about cleaning
up around your home? The grime and dirt around the corners of your
home from the winter is waiting to be attacked. Choosing greener
cleaning products will improve the air quality in your home, reduce
your exposure to chemicals, and help keep our waterways cleaner. Many
conventional cleaning products contain chlorine, which is an effective
cleaner, but highly toxic, and something you don't want to spray in
your house, or leave on surfaces in your home. Read the product labels
carefully to find out how green the product is. You should look for
those with an Environmental Choice or Eco Logo label, which means
they've gone through a certification process. Another option is to use
natural ingredients around your home like lemon juice, vinegar and
baking soda all mixed with a little H2O!

TIP for Wednesday April 22nd, 2009

HAPPY EARTH DAY! What are you doing to be GREEN? The city is hosting a
20-minute makeover on Friday @2pm and on Saturday the mayor is hosting
Community Clean-Up day. Today some businesses around the GTA are
participating in Earth Day by getting you involved in the environment.
Starbucks is encouraging you to bring your own mug for a free coffee,
while some stores are giving away reusable shopping bags. Brita is
giving away 3,600 free water pitchers @ Yonge/Dundas from 1-6pm as
part of their FilterForGood pledge, encouraging the reduction of
bottled water waste. Log on to http://www.filterforgood.ca and find
out how they are helping students around the country get involved with
protecting the environment. You can get green online with
www.travelocity.ca they have launched a new GREEN directory ofeco-friendly hotels and destinations. GREENtuity.org is another group of volunteers coming together to raise funds for the Toronto Green
Community and raise awareness about restaurants and other businesses
in Toronto that are eco-conscious about the ingredients and materials
that they use on a daily basis www.greentuity.org

For a complete list of Earth Day activities check out www.earthday.ca

Tip For Tuesday April 21st, 2009

Earth Day has been observed all around the world since 1970. This
year, here in Ontario, Earth day will mark the toughest ban in North
America on cosmetic pesticide. Beginning tomorrow, the province is
banning the sale and use of about 250 pesticides and ingredients. Plus
the city is hosting clean up efforts all around the GTA tomorrow and
throughout the weekend that you can participate in to do your part.
Log on to www.toronto.ca to find out where and when. Many Toronto
businesses are getting involved tomorrow by giving discounts for GREEN
actions. Log onto www.earthday.ca to find out more. And remember
tomorrow be GREEN!

TIP for Monday April 20th, 2009

Earth day is Wednesday April 22nd and get on the GREEN wagon by
implementing some simple green activities into your day ³Buy what you
need, not what you want². Consider renting and borrowing things that
are seldom needed. Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand
stores. Choose local and organic foods that are in season, and support
local food producers. Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and
hang to air dry. Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries,
electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or
recyclers. These are simple things you can do not only on Earth day
but everyday!

For more on earth Day and more tips check out
http://www.earthday.ca/pub/resources/top10.php

TIP for Thursday April 16th, 2009

Change for the Environment, a new organization looking to improve our air quality is launching it’s first annual campaign April 30 to May 3 throughout GTA. Lung disease is on the rise and up to 20 percent of our children are suffering from asthma. They are asking Torontonians to donate spare change, and this is what it can do; five loonies will buy a tree, known for improving air quality and associated with lower asthma rates in young children; one tree means two people breathe clean air for a lifetime, and 500 trees can counteract the negative impact of an average car. its time to take action. Where can you find spare change around your home? Keep a swear jar. Take your lunch to work and save the money you’d normally spend on lunch. Every time you turn off the lights, wash your clothes in cold water, reward yourself by dropping some coins in a jar. Play along with a TV game show when you get it right pay yourself! Then take your spare change and donate it to Change for the Environment with funds raised benefiting The Lung Association, and Toronto and Region Conservation. Spare change drop-off locations can be found at http://www.changefortheenvironment.org

TIP for Wednesday April 15th, 2009

Earth day is Wednesday April 22nd,just a week a way, and a great time to teach your kids about the environment. Get them involved with fun activities that will show them how to take care of the earth. Teach your kids the joys of gardening. From veggies to flowers, bugs to butterflies, kids of all ages love getting their hands dirty.
Make herb pots and watch them grow all summer long! This project not only recycles, it creates new life. Get them involved at home with recycling duties or let them create their own compost container for their garden! For more ideas check out
http://family-fun.kaboose.com/gardening-ages-stages.html

TIP for Tuesday April 14th, 2009

Get your patio ready for this summer with solar power! Get nonpolluting solar patio lights that run off free power. Solar energy is clean, renewable and FREE! For each outdoor light that you replace with a solar light, you’ll notice a definite drop in your electricity bill. Over time, the lights virtually pay for themselves, because of the energy savings that they provide. You’ll save your own energy because they are easy to install! Solar lights require no wiring all you have to do is mount or place them wherever you want. They are also safe to have around children and pets because they don’t produce heat.

TIP for Monday April 13th, 2009

The grass is starting to get greener and soon it will be time to pull out the lawn mower! This year go for a greener choice and opt for a reel or electric mower instead of a high-polluting gas-powered one. Each year on average, we use 800 million gallons of gas to mow our lawns, and we spill most of it while filling the lawn equipment. Using an electric mower, you'll pay about $5 per year for electricity. With a gas-powered mower, you'll pay that much in just two uses. PLUS Gas-powered lawn mowers account for up to 5% of air pollution. Last you’ll save money on earplugs. Reel mowers are basically silent, and electric ones make a tenth of the noise of gas-powered ones.

TIP for Tuesday April 7th, 2009

We are looking forward to some good gardening weather this weekend. Time to get your weed ammunition out and get a head start but make it green this year. Leave the chemicals behind and look for eco friendlier herbicides. The majority of the herbicide you use doesn't actually reach the target weed, and all of it eventually impacts the environment including helpful earthworms. Plus there are over 100,000 human poisonings from herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides each year. Look for vinegar-based solutions, fertilizers with corn gluten or make your own herbicides. Pour boiling water or white vinegar on smaller weeds in your walkway cracks, and for larger areas lay down old fabric or newspaper. For more info check out http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/hostile-takeover-garden-week-0

TIP for Monday April 6th, 2009

This weekend the forecast calls for a break from the miserable weather and promises sunshine and warm weather. It’s the perfect time to get out your green thumb and start working on your garden. This year make your garden greener by planning ways to save water and money. 50%-70% of the water used by the average household goes to the lawn and garden. Install and use a rain barrel to capture rainwater from your house's gutters & downspout. Use the collected water to hydrate your lawn, garden, plants and even wash the car or driveway. For more on rain barrels, installation and benefits check out http://www.riversides.org/rainguide/riversides_hgr.php?cat=2&page=39&subpage =46

And for another type of gadget that attaches to your gutter and redistributes the rain water check out http://www.cleanairgardening.com/drbudorare.html

TIP for Friday April 3rd, 2009

Drop it like it’s hot and save some cold cash!! You don’t have to take a cold shower to save energy, just turn the thermostat on your hot water heater down. Many heaters are set to 60 C, but you can adjust it closer to 50 C. It will still be hot enough to keep bacteria from forming in the tank, but it will save you 6%-10% on your water-heating costs. If 10,000 households turned down their electric water heaters by 10 degrees, we could avert the same amount of CO2 created by 300 Americans in a year. If you're going to be out of town, you can turn your electric water heater off completely, or turn gas ones down to the lowest setting. You can also get a water heater timer that turns off your heater when you’re not at home and at night and can save you an additional 5%-12% off water heating costs.

TIP for Tuesday March 31, 2009

Spring is here! Time to get the patio furniture out and get those decks ready! Make sure you GREEN your deck before the next rain and finish it with a low-emitting, low-VOC, finish or sealant. They offer the same durability and aesthetic appeal without polluting the air. Eventually the finish on your deck will wash off into the environment, which is far less of a problem if they're made with ingredients like veggie oils, rather than the usual petrochemicals. Look for sealants made with fruit oils and recycled veggie oils that you could indoors and outdoors, even on cutting boards!

TIP for Monday March 30th, 2009

Well we did it! Thousand of Torontonians joined in on Earth Hour and we almost doubled our drop in electricity. The weekends’ Earth Hour resulted in a 15% drop in electricity usage when we turned off our light for one hour on Saturday night. Canada was one of the 90 countries that took part this year in trying to bring about awareness of climate change. To see some awesome video footage of some of the worlds biggest cities in darkness check out http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/03/earth-hour-2009-video-roundup.php See Rio De Janeiro, Beijing, London’s Big Ben New York’s Times Square and even Dubai in darkness!

TIP for Friday March 27th, 2009

Earth hour is tomorrow at 8:30pm. With the flip of a switch, we'll send a powerful message of concern beyond our city that demonstrates a readiness to address the harmful effects of climate change. Last year Toronto had the biggest drop in electricity in out of all the Canadian cities that participated. This year WWF and Toronto Hydro are taking it a step further and asking participants to use battery-powered laptops during Earth Hour. Even Research in Motion (RIM) has launched a special website, accessible only through BlackBerry devices, asking smartphone owners to turn off their devices for one hour to support Earth Hour. The site allows users to access the latest news and videos about Earth Hour. BlackBerry owners can also access Earth Hour profiles on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. If you have a BlackBerry Bold, Storm, Curve, Curve 8900, 8800 or Pearl go to the website www.earthhour.msite.tv

The city is hosting Earth Hour events around the GTA. For a list go to http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/608257

TIP for Friday March 27th, 2009

Earth hour is tomorrow at 8:30pm. With the flip of a switch, we'll send a powerful message of concern beyond our city that demonstrates a readiness to address the harmful effects of climate change. Last year Toronto had the biggest drop in electricity in out of all the Canadian cities that participated. This year WWF and Toronto Hydro are taking it a step further and asking participants to use battery-powered laptops during Earth Hour. Even Research in Motion (RIM) has launched a special website, accessible only through BlackBerrys devices, asking smartphone owners to turn off their devices for one hour to support Earth Hour. The site allows users to access the latest news and videos about Earth Hour. BlackBerry owners can also access Earth Hour profiles on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. If you have a BlackBerry Bold, Storm, Curve, Curve 8900, 8800 or Pearl go to the website www.earthhour.msite.tv

The city is hosting Earth Hour events around the GTA. For a list go to http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/608257

Don’t forget to turn your lights off at 8:30pm and join millions of people around the world during Earth Hour.

TIP for Thursday March 26th, 2009

Earth Hour is almost here. Millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world will all turn off their lights Saturday for one hour, to show there concern and bring about awareness of climate change. Homes, businesses and famous landmarks, from Toronto's CN Tower to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower, will all go dark from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Last year Toronto's electricity demand dropped 8.7% during Earth Hour, the highest reduction of any city in Canada, proving that everyday actions such as turning off non-essential lights can make a big difference.

This year once again Nathan Phillips Square will host, along with the World Wildlife Find, a free concert featuring Suzie McNeil, Karl Wolf and many others starting at 7pm. Saturday afternoon at 4:30pm Yonge Dundas Square, the heart of the city, will have BRITA on hand giving away 3,600 free BRITA water pitchers. Each pitcher represents one second of Earth hour, and is a part of BRITA’s effort to help switch from bottled to filtered water to reduce waste. Earth Hour has shown us that small changes, like switching off your lights, can reduce your carbon footprint, and so can switching from bottle water to filtered tap water in a refillable bottle.


For a list of more Earth Hour events around the GTA go to http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/608257

TIP for Wednesday March 25th, 2009

Earth Hour is almost here. Saturday March 28th at 8:30pm, the city of Toronto will join hundreds of cities around the world in an effort to bring about awareness about climate change, and demonstrate that people from all over the world care about the issue. Last year, 50 million people in 35 countries turned off their lights for one hour and here in Toronto we dropped our electricity demand by 8.7 %. That's the equivalent of taking 262 megawatts off the grid, or approximately 5.8 million light bulbs! To increase participation in this year's Earth Hour, when everyone is asked to turn off the lights for an hour, Toronto Hydro is launching an online contest asking Torontonians How Low Can We Go T.O.? You can go to http://www.howlowcanwegoto.ca for more details.

TIP for Tuesday march 24th, 2009

Ok…go ahead and POP YA COLLA! The green tips are finally paying off! A recent report published in the journal of Environment and Urbanization shows that Torontonians are responsible for 8.2 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, while the average Canadian produces 24 tonnes. This makes us the greenest residents in Canada when it comes to climate change pollutants. If you haven’t jumped on the GREEN bandwagon this weekend is your chance. Earth Hour is this Saturday at 8:30pm. You can do your part to fight global warming by switching off ALL your lights for 1 hour. Last year is was very cool to see all the buildings downtown turn their lights off and even the CN tower in darkness!

TIP for Monday March 23rd, 2009

It’s time to GREEN your home room to room. Start with the kitchen it’s the easiest way to get in to the GREEN spirit. Make sure that your fridge is in good operating condition and well sealed. If you can close the door on a piece of paper and then pull it out, your fridge seal may need to be replaced. Boil water in an electric kettle instead of on the stove top. Fix any faucets that drip. If you must use your dishwasher, wait until you have a full load and let them air dry. If you're doing dishes in the sink, fill it up instead running the tap while you wash. Find a reusable alternative to paper towels, like sponges, kitchen clothes and towels and for cleaning windows try using old newspaper with your window cleaner for a steak free shine.

TIP for Friday March 20th, 2009

Use digital desktop notes that act as reminders on your laptop or your phone instead of Post-its. They're cost-free, and tree-free. Sticky notes don't use that much paper, but the average person uses the equivalent of a tree 100 feet high and 18 inches in diameter each year in paper. If 10,000 people used digital desktop notes instead of three packages of Post-its, we would save 36 trees. Post-its aren't that expensive either but free is even better. Mac users have STICKIES already installed or you are a PC user you can install the freeware Stickies 6.7a. http://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/index.html

TIP for Thursday March 19th, 2009

GREEN clean power with stuff you already have around the house.

Toothpaste, not the gel kind, but the paste is a great mild abrasive that polishes chrome, silver, enamel and it even gets food stains out of clothes. To find out to clean with toothpaste http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/how-to/cleaning-with-toothpaste-015118

Lemon Juice is a natural acidic cleaner. It's best used for copper-bottomed pots or fixtures, countertop stains, and it's a great bleach alternative. Place it on white linens or clothing and let them dry in the sun to bleach away stains. For more info check out http://housekeeping.about.com/od/environment/a/lemonscleaning.htm

Cornstarch absorbs grease, and, when it's mixed with warm water it makes a nice countertop cleaner. To find out how check out http://www.ehow.com/how_2199277_use-corn-starch-clean-kitchen.html

Olive Oil, when mixed with lemon juice (two parts oil to one part lemon juice) makes a non-toxic furniture polish. To make it go to http://www.doityourself.com/stry/furniturepolish

TIP for Wednesday March 18th, 2009

Going on a trip? Make your hotel stay green. We are all guilty of indulging in extra long showers when we stay at a hotel. Hotel guests use double the utilities at hotels than they do at home ...but the impact on the environment even though you may be paying for your stay the impact on the environment doesn’t change. How often do you change your sheets at home? How many towels do you use each day at home? Not three? So why let your hotel change all your towels and sheets every day you are staying there? We can help make normal hotels more of a green hotel while we are there. Keep your towels and sheets for your three-night stay and you save 66% of the hotel's laundry emissions.

TIP for Tuesday March 17th, 2009

Go White to be Green! Whiteboards, especially if they are made from recycled materials, and refillable erasable markers, are the eco friendly way to go around the office. Erasable markers are less toxic. Most disposable permanent markers are made with a chemical called Xylene that increases indoor air pollution in classrooms and your office. Also make sure you use refillable erasable markers and save some cash! One pack of six refillable markers with refills included equals 246 disposable ones, which in turns means less trash! Here’s a trick if you’ve accidentally used a permanent marker on your whiteboard, just write over top of it with a dry erase and wipe it.

TIP for Monday March 16th, 2009

Have you ever received an email that has “please consider the environment before printing this” in green at the bottom? Well have you considered it? If you have to print something save ink and paper by using Draft Mode and, if you can, printing double-sided. When you print double-sided you use half as much paper, and if you print 100 pages in Draft Mode instead of regular mode, you'll save as much as $2 on ink. It’s faster too! In a PC World test, a typical inkjet printed 12 ppm (pages per minute) in regular mode but printed 36 ppm in Draft mode. Plus in a year the amount of ink cartridges used around the world could, when stacked end to end could circle the earth three times! So consider the planet before you hit print and then if you have to switch to Draft Mode. For more on this tip http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/draft-dodger-0

TIP for Friday March 13th, 2009

Do you wear glasses? Have you got some old spec lying around the house? Or have you had Lasik surgery and have no need for those glasses anymore. Why not donate them instead of trashing them? Be GREEN and help someone less fortunate at the same time. Reusing glasses means saving the energy and materials needed to create a new pair. Most Optical stores will accept them. OR You can donate your old eyeglasses to Hakim Optical they have partnered with Lions Clubs International to provide used eyeglasses to needy people in Developing Countries.

TIP for Thursday March 12th, 2009

Do you flush more than your dead goldfish down the toilet? Well here’s something to think about, where do you think your Qtips and bandaids go when you flush them? They go to the Wastewater Treatment Plant were workers have to sift through your bandages, condoms and other unmentionables and throw them in the trash so they can go into the landfill. The gross part is that some of that trash can slip by and end up back in nature floating around in the lake and wash up on the beach. By tossing the garbage yourself there is a better chance of making sure it goes directly to the landfill and prevents you from clogging your pipes. So unless it's toilet paper, throw it in the trash, even used facial tissue or cotton balls.

TIP for Wednesday March 11th, 2009

Yesterday I told you about stainless steel straws, today…cast iron cookware! Why cook in grandma’s favorite frying pan? Well first of all it’s free of chemicals. Non-stick cookware is made from a chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the EPA has a labeled PTFE a likely carcinogen, in other words cancer causing. When oiled properly cast iron pans are as nonstick as the usual options. They also cost half than a non-stick pan and last forever. Plus foods cooked in cast iron absorb valuable iron that's good for your health. See below for tips on how to properly oil your cast iron pan.

To initially season your cast iron pan:
1)Heat it on the stove while you brush the pan's surface evenly with cooking oil
2)Bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour
3)Let it cool in the oven.
To keep your cast iron nonstick, only use salt (or very mild soap, if you must) for washing, dry, then drizzle on some oil and wipe with a cloth.

For more on why you should avoid using Teflon pots and pans check out IDEAL BITE
http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/real-stickler

TIP for Tuesday March 10th, 2009

Ditch the plastic straws and get with the times…stainless steel reusable straws! Most disposable straws are made from polypropylene, which means they can’t be recycled. And plastic never fully biodegrades, so it ends up pilling up in landfills. Look for reusable stainless steel straws that are durable and not all that expensive, a box of 4 for about $10. Or try the ultra chic glass straws that are see through for about $10 each that come with their own scrub brush for easy cleaning. Or skip the straw all together if you’re not worried about lipstick stains J

TIP for Friday March 6th, 2009

You only use cold water to wash your clothes to reduce your washing machines energy consumption. BUT, the type of detergent you use can also be a factor. Too much detergent makes your machine work harder and therefore uses more energy. The manual for your washing machine should indicate the amount of soap to use in hard or soft water. (If you’re not sure what kind of water you have contact the city). Try using eco-friendly detergents, they will not only prevent dyes and chemicals from getting into our waterways but also increase the efficiency of your machine. Always make sure you fill the machine up to its capacity before you do a load and with heavy loads, adding an extra spin cycle can reduce dry times. The permanent press wash cycle uses extra water, as much as 20 litres for the additional rinse.

TIP for Thursday March 5th, 2009

You’ve been really good at being GREEN this year. You separate you kitchen and household garbage into compost and recyclables, but what about the bathroom? Do you recycle your toilet paper tubes? A family of four uses about 240 rolls per year, that’s a lot of cardboard tubes being tossed into landfills. It’s easy to just toss them into the bathroom trash but you can have a separate bin just for recycling in the bathroom too. Or stack them on the plunger handle then toss them into your regular recycle bin. Another thing to do is reuse them for arts and crafts or donate them to a school for a kindergarten class to use. For more on this tip check out http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/deserving-your-throne

TIP for Wednesday March 4th, 2009

Got some white vinegar in your cupboard? I’ve got a great GREEN use for it…use it to rinse away pesticide residue from your fruit and veggies. A diluted vinegar rinse kills 98% of bacteria on produce and researchers found it works even better than a scrub brush. Plus it’s cheaper than the produce wash that you buy from the store that can cost you around $4. Making your own wash means less plastic bottles and waste because most of us keep vinegar in our kitchens for other uses. Mix water to white vinegar 3:1 in a spray bottle, spray then rinse!

TIP for Tuesday March 3rd, 2009

Press NO for a receipt and avoid the paper trail and save a tree! We make about 8 billion ATM transactions a year, that’s a lot of paper waste that usually ends up in the garbage not the recycle bin. Now just think of the number of trees being cut down to make those receipts. If 10,000 people went electronic with just one credit card account, over a lifetime we'll save a collective 3,481 trees. You can view all your transactions on your bank's website, and some stores, such as Apple, will send an e-receipt to your email. And the biggest bonus is that without a receipt there’s less of a chance of identity theft.

TIP for Monday March 2nd, 2009

Has your office made the switch to electronic faxing? We consume over 730 lbs of paper per year, that’s enough to construct a 12-ft high wall from Toronto to Vancouver.
If 1% of all paper faxes sent in North America each year were sent electronically, 73.5 million trees would be saved. Electronic faxing also reduces landfill dumping, and saves you money on paper and ink. No more paper jams or missing pages, and you can keep documents nicely organized as image files on your computer.

TIP for Friday February 27th, 2009

Turn it off! In the City of Toronto, 63% of all the electricity used is consumed by small to mid-size commercial industrial outlets such as retail shops, restaurants, laundromats, and small offices. Most of the energy wasted is from inefficient equipment, and inefficient lighting. If a small retail business in Toronto is paying approximately $24,000 per year in energy costs, by making energy efficiency upgrades and changing a few operational items, that business can reduce consumption by up to 30%. That's approximately $7,200 in energy savings. Replace lights with energy efficient ones, turn the thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter and perform regular maintenance on your equipment. For more tips go to http://www.torontohydro.com/electricsystem/business/savings_tips_for_businesses.html

TIP for Thursday February 26th, 2009

What’s under your arms? The active ingredient in most antiperspirants, aluminum, has been linked to cancer and Alzheimer's disease. So for a green piece of mind make the switch to natural body odor busters. Believe it or not sweat is odorless, it’s the bacterium that accumulates on skin to break down the sweat that causes the odor. Natural deodorants neutralize smells and provide antiseptic action against bacteria. Plus most natural deodorants are hypo allergenic and contain aloe vera to soothe sensitive skin.

TIP for Wednesday February 25th, 2009

Bottle or Box? Boxed wine used to be a headache in $3 dollar container, but these days boxed wine doesn’t have to be cheap tasting. It’s the eco-friendly way of bottling some of the best tasting wines. Glass bottles require a lot of packaging during transport so they don’t break. Boxes use up to 90% less. A glass wine bottle that travels across the country generates about 5.2 pounds of CO2; a 3-liter box produces half that and gives you four times the wine. Another bonus is that a box can last for a month once you open it, while bottled spoils within a few days.

TIP for Tuesday February 24th, 2009

Next load of laundry you do make it GREEN by making the switch from dryer sheets to balls. Dryer balls will fluff your towels, soften your sheets and are reusable. Dryer sheets cost up to $10 for about 50 loads and can only be used once. Dryer balls can be reused over and over and last for years. They also don’t contain animal byproducts like tallow that is found in dryer sheets. Make sure you look for dryer balls that are PVC free. Another green option is to use tennis balls or make your own wool dryer ball. Check out this link to find out how http://goodmama.typepad.com/goodmama/2008/05/make-your-own-wool-dryer-balls.html

TIP for Monday February 23rd, 2009

Need to spice up your house? Try growing herbs indoors. It’s an easy way to add culinary, aromatic and medicinal flavor to your home. You’ll have your own free, fresh, organic herbs to cook with all year. They add tang, zip, and a flavor that their dry herbs just can’t compare to. Plus you’ll keep chemicals out of your savoury dishes. When you grown spices and herbs there’s no pesticides, and the EPA considers 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all insecticides to be cancer-causing. If you don’t have green thumb start with rosemary it’s easy to grow then expand your herb garden from there.

TIP for Friday February 20th, 2009

Is it time to do some spring cleaning this weekend? Time to toss those Christmas gifts you pushed to the back of the closet? Before you toss it in the trash to go to the landfill consider donating it to charity or give it to someone who could use it. In North America we generate trash at an astonishing rate of 4 lbs per day per person…that’s hundreds of millions of pounds per year. Reusing eliminates the need for new items whose production requires the extraction of natural resources from our land, plus water, energy and/or chemicals to turn them into new products. Common reusable items include books for libraries and schools, old towels for local animal shelters, and computers and office equipment for all kinds of organizations. Or put it on Craigslist and trade it.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/cities

TIP for Thursday February 19th, 2009

Parents to be stay solid with hardwood cribs. Babies are more sensitive to chemical exposure. Laminated wood, pressed wood, chipboard and particle board all release formaldehyde. Hardwood cribs, particularly those protected with low-VOC paints or finishes, limit a baby’s exposure to formaldehyde. Take it a step further and buy an eco friendly crib mattress too. Fire-resistant and flame-retardant finishes must be applied to crib mattresses, it’s the law, the most common of which is toxic PBDE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybrominated_diphenyl_ethers. Choose PBDE-free mattresses made from materials like natural rubber and organic wool which both meet government standards. Putting together a sustainable crib with all the fixings is a greater expense than conventional cribs and bedding but it is worth it!

TIP for Wednesday February 18th, 2009

Got a spot that won’t come out? Try the GREEN method that will be kind to the planet and kinder to your clothes. Cleaning products, including traditional stain removers, are responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures. Keep yourself, your kids and your pets safe by using non-toxic alternatives. Look for plant based stain removers or products like OxiClean that are dye and fragrance free. Don’t using the washing machine for one shirt, the average washer uses 40 gallons per load. Check out this link for natural stain removers and tricks http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-laundry-stains-12-tips.html
If all else fails send your clothes to an Eco-cleaner!

TIP for Tuesday February 17th, 2009

Instead of a disposable paper or foam cup, tomorrow morning sip on your coffee out of your own travel mug or tumbler. It’s a simple change that can make a big difference, especially for daily drinkers. Individually, one cup of coffee purchased every day in a disposable container contributes about 22.75 pounds of waste per year. You’ll also be preventing the use of highly non-biodegradable Styrofoam that contributes to an annual 25 billion cups of trash. Plus you’ll save money, most coffee houses will give you a discount for bringing you own cup. If 15.1 million coffee customers brought in their own mugs, an estimated 655,500 pounds of paper would be kept out of landfills.

TIP for Friday February 13th, 2009

Are you ready for this? An environmentally friendly cell phone made from water bottles and solar powered. Hitting the UK in the second half of 2009, the Samsung Blue Earth phone is a touchscreen smart phone that can apparently generate the power it needs to make a call any time from the solar panel built into the back. Most of the phone is constructed from PCM, a plastic extracted from recycled water bottles and both the handset and energy efficient charger ditch harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate. Plus the phone comes in recycled packaging. Now that’s GREEN! For more on this check out

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/samsungs-new-blue-earth-phone-is-solar-powered-and-made-from-water-bottles.php

TIP for Thursday February 12th, 2009

The biggest appliance in our kitchen is also one of the biggest energy consumers in our home. The refrigerator. To make help your fridge run more efficiently and save you money make sure it’s not leaking cold air. Test the seal on the door by trying to slide a $5 bill in and removing it. If you can very easily you need to change the seal for better insulation. Keep the coils in the back and bottom free from dirt and dust by vacuuming them regularly. Keep a few inches of space between the refrigerator, cabinets and countertops to maximize air flow around it. Make sure the fridge is set a the proper temperature, and think about what you want before you open the door to prevent from standing with the door wide open. Last keep your fridge full, it helps it recover the cold more quickly when the door is opened. If you don’t have much in your fridge fill it with containers of water.

TIP for Wednesday February 11th, 2009

Make your Valentines Day GREEN with eco-friendly alternatives to the traditional gifts, so you can satisfy your partner’s Valentine’s Day requirements without investing in a bunch of environmentally harsh consumer products. Give organic flowers, or try making flowers from recycled paper. They last longer and the thought put into the gift will be far more appreciated even if they look like Charlie Brown’s Xmas tree. Give fair trade chocolate or make something sweet in the kitchen with organic ingredients. Skip the crowded restaurants, overpriced fixed meals, and make a homemade meal based around organic, local ingredients and wines. Purchase eco friendly scents and lotions to spice up your evening, and last send your sweetie a Valentine e-card!

TIP for Tuesday February 10th, 2009

While recycled paper can’t compare to Kleenex softness, there are some eco-tissues that can come close enough to wipe you nose and your green conscious. Virgin tree fibers are used to make soft tissues and recycled fibers are, by nature, longer, which makes them coarser. But most tissue paper is bleached with chlorine, which can combine with chemicals and gases in nature to form harmful toxins. So look for chlorine-free or oxygen-bleached tissues or cotton tissues. If every household in North America used a box 100% recycled tissue instead of a regular box tissue, we'd save 163,000 trees.

TIP for Monday February 9th, 2009

Clean out your dryer's lint filter before each use, and you can cut down on your energy bill, a typical family spends between $200-$300 per year washing and drying clothes at home. A clean lint filter can decrease that energy usage up to 30%. Plus your clothes will dry more quickly and cleanly and you’ll reduce your home's fire hazards. Dryer lint is the leading cause of fires started in the laundry room of homes.

TIP for Friday February 6th, 2009

HAPPY BOB MARLEY DAY! Bob rules!!

We’ve made the switch from plastic shopping to cloth and you recycle already but if you want to be really GREEN change your garbage bags! Go for the biodegradable ones. Regular plastic garbage bags are filling up landfills and take years to decompose. They actually help preserve the garbage, even fruit peels will be preserved before they decompose. Biodegradable bags decompose in as few as 10 days BUT they are surprisingly strong. They also don't cost much more, a pack of biodegradable or recycled trash bags might only cost you $1 more than a box of the regular ones. So the next time you go shopping don't just pick up biodegradable bags for your compost, pick them up in all sizes for your trash and your recyclables.

Tip for Thursday February 5th, 2009

Shower or bath, which uses more water? A typical shower uses 12 gallons of hot water, while a bath takes about 20 gallons. But if you fill your bath up an inch less than regular, you'll save up to 4.5 gallons. Now if you're looking for all-out relaxation and a shower just won't cut it, treat yourself to a bath. To make your indulgence a little greener just make sure you don’t fill the tub up all the way. If you can’t help your self and fill it to the rim, you can ease your green conscience by reusing the water in the tub to flush your toilet or even wash your car!

TIP for Wednesday February 4th, 2008

Shoe polish can be very toxic. Just look at the hazard label! In some cities across North America shoe polish is not allowed in the regular trash. It must be disposed of as a hazardous material, because it often contains chemicals like naphtha and turpentine. So…The next time shoes look like they could use some buffing, grab some vegetable or olive oil from your kitchen counter or a BANANA! Yes a banana! After you eat it use the inside of the peel to polish the shoe. The oils and the potassium in the banana polish and preserve your leather shoes. For the final touch, buff the shoes with a chamois cloth. You have now polished shoes without damaging your health or the environment, leaving behind zero packaging waste. How GREEN of you!

TIP for Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Cruelty-free couture is the look for 2009! When it comes to fur, faux is the way to go. Just make sure your faux fur is GREEN. Look for North American grown, organic cotton fakes. Now some will argue that many fakes are made using oil, but the energy it takes to raise an animal for fur is still 20 times the amount needed to make a fake plus it’s less cruel. And some of the new imitations made from organic cotton are oil free. Rock you eco friendly faux fur with style and a GREEN conscious. To find out if your favourite designers uses real or faux fur check out this link http://www.hsus.org/furfree/fashion/retailers/furfree_retailers_designers.html

TIP for Monday February 2nd, 2009

Do you have a drawer full of old cellies? With all the new cell phone models coming out practically every few months the temptation to upgrade your cell phone is hard to resist. So what have you done with your old cell phone? Many of the cell phone providers here will accept your old cell phones for recycling. They even provide a bag with pre paid postage in the box with your new cell phone to recycle your old phone. BUT beware! Properly erasing information is a very important step when recycling any e-waste. When 2,000 recycled cell phones were sampled, 99% of them had personal data still stored in them, including sensitive information like bank account information. If your cell phone is in good shape when you send it in to a company for recycling, sometimes it will be spiffed up and sent off to a new owner - and that new owner could have access to everything you left on your phone. Some recyclers may erase the data for you, but some may not. So, be sure to erase your data yourself before sending it away for recycling.

TIP for Friday January 29th, 2009

You’ve already made the switch from wire to plastic hangers. BUT if you are trying to be GREENER this year trade your plastic hangers for eco friendly bamboo ones! Very cool and very chic! Bamboo is a highly renewable plant and bamboo hangers are just a sturdy as conventional hangers. You can also find more hanger options like ones made from wheat (yes wheat!) that are fully compostable. BUT don’t worry they won’t break down in your closet.

TIP for Thursday January 29th, 2009

Online billing are you on it? Not only is it FREE, easier, saves time and money it’s GREEN. Think about that big thick 8x10 envelope that comes in the mail with your cell phone charges. Phone companies alone use over 20,000 tons of paper per year just to bill residential customers. That’s a lot of trees. Paying bills online can save the average consumer $6 in stamps and 4 hours of time each month. You can pay all your bills online and you never have to worry about missing a payment or paying a late fee again. Plus you can keep a track of your past bills and payments and finally get rid of that filing cabinet or clear out that drawer in the kitchen!