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.