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Posted on
Apr. 1, 2008
@ 3:26pm
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185
Green Tip Tuesday: Car Maintenance And Saving Gas
Now that the bulk of winter appears to be behind us, perhaps it's time we all get around to heading outside and taking care of some auto maintenance. Of course, you can save plenty of gas by simply driving less, but that's not necessarily going to work for everyone. For those of you that do drive, here are some general ideas about keeping your car well maintained and fuel efficient:
- Change your oil regularly, as dirty oil has a direct, negative impact on the efficiency of your engine.
- The same goes for your air filter. Changing it regularly not only ensures that your engine is operating efficiently, but also keeps impurities like dirt and sand from damaging the inside of your engine.
- Remove unnecessary weight from your car. We're not talking about taking a power saw to your car, but rather, just don't lug around unnecessary items in your backseat or trunk. It's estimated that every 100lbs of weight removed from your car can increase fuel efficiency by 2%. So, don't lug around a heavy toolbox, golf clubs, that old stereo you're planning on dumping, and any other items you can do without.
- Under inflated tires can increase fuel consumption. Check your tire pressure regularly to ensure that your tires are inflated to the level specified in the owner's manual.
- Staying at a constant speed helps to save fuel, so if you drive for long stretches on open road, make use of cruise control.
Of course, there are the usual money and gas saving tips like car pooling, combining errands, and shopping with a friend or neighbour when you can, but auto maintenance is good for the life of your car, your wallet, and for the environment, so stay on top of it! For even more ideas on saving gas, you can check out the Canadian Auto Association's page on the subject and even more tips at care2.com.
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Posted on
Apr. 15, 2008
@ 3:48pm
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168
Green Tip Tuesday: Composting
Today, as a continuation of the gardening theme from last week, we'll be tackling the subject of composting! Just so no one is left wondering, compost is the end result of different organisms (such as bacteria and worms) breaking down organic materials. It's a cheap, highly effective, natural fertilizer and mulch, which is fantastic for gardens big and small. The only cost associated with composting is a composting bin (which you can do without, if you want to), and only as much time and effort as you want to put into it. As for the benefits, you will reduce the amount of waste you produce, and have natural and free fertilizer for your garden and plants.
So, how does one go about composting? It's quite easy.
- Select a place in your yard to have a compost pile. Just about anywhere will work, but if you are going to have a loose pile with no bin, pick somewhere shaded and offers some protection from rain.
- You'll need matter to get going. When referring to compost, there is generally "green" and "brown" matter. Most compost friendly kitchen waste (most items excluding meats, bones, dairy products etc.) falls under the green category, as do things like grass clippings. Brown items include things like leaves, woody material, shredded paper/newspaper and cardboard egg cartons. Make sure you have some green and brown matter to start and layer them (starting and finishing with a brown layer).
- As you add kitchen and yard waste to your compost pile, there may be periodic maintenance, but it's a simple process - add some water if it is too dry, add some brown materials if it is too wet, turn the material from time to time, and you should be well on your way.
- That's about it! Give it time, and add green and brown material sensibly. Try not to leave green items on top as covering them in brown materials will speed up decomposition and reduce the chance of odours.
- In anywhere from a few months to a year or two, you will have compost ready for your garden. This all depends on how much effort you want to expend. Keeping your compost pile balanced in terms of green/brown material, keeping it moist, and turning/mixing the matter regularly (like once every couple of weeks) will speed things up.
You can find more information on composting at CompostGuide.com (including a broad list of materials that are good and bad for composting) and this Environment Canada page (which contains an informative PDF document that you can print out).
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Posted on
Dec. 13, 2007
@ 2:18pm
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158
New Feature Article: Dreaming of a Green Christmas
For many online shoppers, the idea of a green Christmas no longer merely stirs up the image of sad children and a depressing weather forecast for the holidays - far from it, in fact. With environmental concerns at the forefront of current events and social consciousness, it comes as little surprise that consumers and retailers alike are responding. Since this is the heaviest shopping period of the year, many are indeed hoping for a "green" Christmas. In this new feature, staff writer Jessica deMello takes a look at the uptrend of ecologically-aware shopping and how it is starting to impact the consumer landscape.
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Posted on
Feb. 26, 2008
@ 4:05pm
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Green Birthdays For Kids
Sure, you're green, but are your birthday parties green? We have some neat tips here for green-friendly parties for kids: you might find that your green birthday parties are more fun (and a whole lot cheaper!) than your old parties used to be.
- Every child's birthday party has a craft or activity, and the internet is FULL of green-friendly crafts just waiting to be plucked from your recycling bin. To start we have the adorable plastic bag snowman, perfect for a winter party, and the Blue's Clues Bank, made out of clean, used drink mix containers, and last but not least, the super-sweet bunch of daffodils made out of drinking straws, paper towel rolls, and other odds and ends.
- Now, this tip might not be super-popular, but hear us out: your kid probably has enough plastic stuff. What if you had a themed birthday party and instead of asking for (plastic) gifts you asked for canned goods for the local food pantry, or, better yet, children's books for a local shelter. That way, you're not accumulating more plastic junk, and the less fortunate benefit, too. This idea is probably best used for kids who are too young to "get" the idea of birthday presents, or old enough to know it's a nice idea.
- Another green idea, perfect for a little girl's party, is to make a trip to the local Goodwill or consignment shop and buy old prom dresses, frilly skirts, and other odds and ends for a Dress Up/Costume Box. You might even let each girl take home a costume piece as their party favor!
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Posted on
Jan. 22, 2008
@ 4:56pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Pet-Care the Green Way
So, you're very conscientious about the "greenness" of your lifestyle, but what about those around you? No, we're not talking about your brother or your sister or your lazy roomate - today, we're talking about pets! Here are some ways to incorporate some green ideas into how we live with our furry companions:
- Considering rescuing a pet instead of buying one from a pet store or breeder.
- Use biodegradable poop bags instead of plastic bags. In the same vein, use biodegradable kitty litter instead of the regular variety.
- Where possible, wash your pet at home instead of taking it to a groomer. You (should) end up saving water and money, even if you might get a little wet in the process.
- Instead of using manufactured chew toys, old items around the house can certainly suffice (something many of you are familiar with). Use old shoes (delace them first!), tie knots in old socks or other rags, or old tennis balls.
- Combine your errands (like walking to the mailbox or corner store) with walking your dog instead of firing up the car.
For even more ideas, check out TreeHugger.com's ideas on how to "green your pet".
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Posted on
Mar. 4, 2008
@ 4:15pm
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146
Green Activities For March Break
March Break is here, and with it, a whole new vista of green activities! By now, most of the snow has started to melt and you're itching to get back outside again. Here are some green activities you can share with kids over March Break:
- Canada Trails is a comprehensive online directory of bicycling, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails in Canada. It's well-organized and provides a fair bit of information about each possible use (whether bike, foot, ski or otherwise) for the trail.
- If you're in the GTA, High Park has some neat drop-in programs for little ones over March Break. All the info you need is right here. And even if you're not into a drop-in program, High Park has some other great green activities -- a zoo, a pond, and lots of room to roam. And if you're not in the GTA? Check out a park near you.
- Outdoor Adventure Canada is another website that full of information about the great outdoors in Canada.
- Last but not least, IKEA has some free, green-themed kids activities planned for March Break: they're going to be planting trees, decorating a plant pot, and making garden tags.
And, listen, while you're out and about on March Break? Why not bring a plastic bag or two with you to pick up the litter you come across. You can think of it as a little Thank You to the Earth!
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Posted on
Jan. 29, 2008
@ 4:54pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - Green Around the Kitchen
In this week's Green Tip Tuesday installment, we'll take a look at some simple ideas to keep your kitchen running efficiently and with an eye toward green living.
- Ensure 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 require service.
- Use cookware that is appropriate to the size of your meal. You don't need to cook with a large pan if you're only preparing a meal for one.
- Boil water in an electric kettle instead of a stove top version.
- Keep problems like a drippy faucet in check. Every bit helps!
- Find a reusable alternative to paper towels, be it much sturdier wipes, sponges, or towels.
- If you must use your dishwasher, wait until you have a full load. Once washed, consider letting items air dry or towel them off.
- If you're doing dishes the old fashioned way, fill your sink or a basin with water instead of leaving the tap running while washing dishes.
For more ideas on keeping your kitchen green and efficient, you can check out this Greenpeace.org page and the wealth of other ideas at GreenLivingTips.com.
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Posted on
Mar. 16, 2008
@ 8:33pm
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Posted on
Jul. 29, 2008
@ 3:58pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Revisting Green Laundry
We've already covered some green laundry tips in a previous Green Tip entry, but we've put together some further ways to get your clothes and linens clean while keeping things environmentally friendly.
- Instead of using store bought stain removers on clothing or other items, treat stains promptly (this is key) with some common items around the home like baking soda and Ivory Soap. Check out this Care2.com article to learn about simple and effective ways to remove stains without resorting to harsh and expensive stain removers.
- Use a clothes line while the weather is warm. In the winter, you can set up a drying rack in a spare room if you have one. Hang drying clothes will also increase the lifespan of clothing.
- Cut back on the number of towels you use. Appearances to the contrary, you probably don't need a giant towel to dry yourself after you shower. Shake or brush off some water while still in the shower and then use a smaller towel (say, hand towel sized) to dry yourself off. You might be surprised!
- If you do have to use a clothes dryer, be prompt! Get clothes in quickly, and remove it as soon as the dryer cycle rather than letting it sit in the dryer. This will result in less wrinkles and result in the need for less ironing - saving you time, effort, and some electricity.
This is particularly true for items like dress shirts.
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Posted on
Feb. 19, 2008
@ 4:01pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Green Laundry
No, we're not talking about grass stains, we're talking about ways to save money and help the environment when doing your laundry! There are a few ideas to cover here, but the most explicit tip is to do laundry loads with cold water. According to the U.S Department of Energy, "about 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water". Roll that figure around in your lint trap for a while! As it turns out, the practice of washing clothes and linens in warm or hot water is increasingly unnecessary as the technology in washers and in detergents has come a long way and continues to advance. The only time you should really need warm or hot water is for particularly tough stains. For those situations, you can use spot remover or presoak the affected item/area to get a head start. Cold water washing not only uses less energy, but it also has the wonderful bonus of maintaining fabric integrity and colour longer. Save on your energy and your clothing bill.
Looking for more weighs to green your laundry load? Keep these ideas in mind:
- Wash and dry full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
- Use cold water specific detergents and environmentally friendly detergents where possible.
- Be sensible and conservative with your dryer usage - don't over dry, use a moisture sensor if you have one, or better yet, hang dry when you can.
- Keep the the lint trap and dryer vent clean for efficiency and safety purposes.
To learn more, check out the U.S Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy page covering laundry.
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Posted on
Jan. 8, 2008
@ 1:22pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - 8 Ways to Make 2008 Greener!
We're back with the first installment of Green Tip Tuesday for 2008. In this edition, we'll take a look at some simple and accessible ways you can make 2008 much greener.
- Forgo harsh cleaners, detergents and solvents and switch to some inexpensive and natural alternatives. With readily available and safe products like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and borax, you can clean just about anything around the house.
- Install low-flow shower heads to conserve water.
- Lower your thermostat by a few degrees. It's simple, effective, and gives you a great reason to wear that new sweater or to get warm and cozy under a blanket with a person of your choice!
- Walk, jog, rollerblade, and bike more often. Your New Year's resolution to get fit and active ties in very nicely with a green lifestyle.
- Ease up on the plastic shopping bags. Use reusable alternatives, or at the very least, reuse your existing plastic shopping bags instead of throwing them out.
- Turn off your computer and or monitor when it's not in use!
- Buy only as much as you need, and where possible, buy in bulk! These two may seem slightly contradictory, but shopping smart is the best way to be green. Don't buy so much as to be wasteful, but if you can buy in larger quantities that you will use, do so! It'll help save money and packaging.
- Rechargeable batteries - use them!
For more green goals that you can work toward in the new year, check out this feature from Green Living Online.
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Posted on
Nov. 27, 2007
@ 1:06pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - Grocery Shopping
Welcome back to another round of Green Tip Tuesday. Today, we'll take a look at being eco-conscious while grocery shopping. There's more to it than just "buying organic", so here is a selection tips including some seen on Earth911.org and TreeHugger.com.
- Buy seasonal and local produce. Locally sourced foods cuts back on the environmental impact associated with transporting foods.
- Farmer's markets can offer great prices, great atmosphere, great people, and great, locally produced food. Take advantage!
- Buying in bulk can save packaging and money. Staples like cereal, sugar, flour, rice and toilet paper are among the easiest items to buy in large, usable quantities.
- Eat a little less meat. The amount of resources required to bring meat to your table (ie. raising and feeding the animal) is higher than any other food.
- Consider grocery shopping with a neighbour or friend. Taking a single car cuts down on pollution and resource consumption and gives you some company!
- As we've mentioned before, shop with reusable bags or bins.
- Buy organic. It's not always cheap or convenient, but when circumstances allow, avoiding products that support pesticide use, factory farming and other such practices is a great green practice.
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Posted on
Nov. 20, 2007
@ 1:34pm
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103
Green Tip Tuesday - Green Offices & Workspaces
So far, we've looked at a some ways to make our homes a little more environmentally friendly. Today, we'll have a look at the office space. Here's a sampling of ideas to "green up" your office including some culled from websites such as EnvironmentalDefense.org and the World Wildlife Fund.
- Turn off all monitors, printers and computers where possible when leaving the office for lunch and in the evening
- Replace those old CRT monitors! LCDs on average use at least 50% less power than our old CRT friends of equivalent size.
- As mentioned last week, don't bother with screen savers. They don't save energy - just turn off your monitor instead.
- Publish or distribute documents electronically wherever possible. If you have a web site, make your publications available for viewing and download. Send email versions instead of hard copies of documents. An added benefit is that emailed publications can readily be distributed by the recipient to additional recipients - much easier than making another photocopy and taking a trip to the 14th floor.
- If you're going to make electronic presentations, don't make hard copies for everyone unless it's really necessary.
- Before you print a document, always use the spell check and print preview functions (it saves paper and ensures your work looks professional).
- Avoid using disposable cups for water dispensers or coffee - take a mug or glass instead. While you're at it, avoid using loads of plastic knives and forks.
- Replace tungsten filament lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
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Posted on
Jan. 21, 2008
@ 1:35pm
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Posted on
Oct. 17, 2007
@ 12:34pm
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Energy-Efficient Home Mortgage Incentives @ CMHC
If you're in the market to purchase an energy-efficient home or looking to renovate your home to be more energy efficient, The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation may be able to offer you a 10% refund on the mortgage loan insurance premium when you use CMHC insured financing (mortgage loan insurance allows you to buy a house with a smaller or no down payment). You might also be eligible for extra flexibility on the time required to repay your mortgage (amortization) from 25 years to a max of 40 without surcharge, thereby reducing your monthly payments. For details on how to qualify and restrictions on this offer, visit CMHC's page here.
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