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