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
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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!
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
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
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
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.
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
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
Thursday, May 14, 2009
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
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.
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