greenliving

The kids are outgrowing their clothes and toys faster than you can buy them. You wish you could treat yourself to a new dress and perhaps some shoes, but money is tight and so is your wardrobe space. Your home could do with a bit of updating, but you’re loath to throw away your old furniture. Sounds familiar? Most of us would love to update our clothes, furniture, kids toys etc, but it all costs money, not to mention that extra space you have to make for it.

Enter good old fashion bartering. You want something someone else has; they want something you have - a simple exchange and you are both happy. You don’t have to spend money or throw away stuff, which means the planet has with one less landfill to accommodate.

Swap Clothes at http://swapstyle.com

Swap DVD’s, Games and CD’s at http://barterbee.com

Swap Kids Toys and Kids Clothes at http://totsswapshop.com

Swap stuff for your Home at http://swapathome.com

All these sites are free and they all work on a point system. You upload information about what you want to get rid off, you earn points depending on your giveaway’s value, and then you use those points to get the items you want.

It’s been a while since I last blogged and thanks to my careful planning, I have lost the weight I intended to. However, with food being constantly on my mind (dieters will relate to this), it’s no wonder that recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance it plays in our lives and yet, how much for granted we take it.

Every 60 seconds, there are 250 people born! And of course, China and India are leading the world’s population race, with each country being inhabited by more than one billion people. Scientists claim that at this rate, the world’s population will touch more than 9 billion people by the year 2040! To feed such a population, we must either grow more food on existing farmlands or carve out more space from our wilderness on which to harvest it. And what about the other challenges that food cultivators face? Electricity consumption, disposal of waste products and pollution are only some of the side effects that have to be dealt with.

And that’s only one side of the picture. Currently, we produce enough food for our 7 billion inhabitants. But not everyone gets a taste of this production. Food distribution is still widely unbalanced and families in poorer nations will still feel the pangs of hunger each night as they lay their heads down to sleep. In the recent years, food production has increased, but the question is what goes into creating this extra food. While ‘organic’ farming is on the increase, so is the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the production of crops and the use of steroids and hormones in cattle farms.

So in the end, whose problem is this really? Rich nations often lay blame on developing or poorer nations with high birth rate figures. But can a family of 4 with a gas-guzzling SUV and an extra large home really afford to point fingers of blame elsewhere?

And so, as I munch on my apple and contemplate not only my future, but the future of the two children I’ve brought into this world, I can only think of ways I need to contribute, small as they may be. And I hope that this can be a lesson to my children and theirs too; to think before buying, to stop before wasting, to recycle before throwing out and to appreciate all what they have, instead of wishing for all they do not.

I’ve not been updating this blog as much as I’d like to. But ‘Green Living’ is something important and something I believe needs sharing; so as of today, my earth day gift to myself is to update this blog with simple, easy to follow ’single tips’ on a regular basis. And if and when I get the chance to turn out good articles, I shall add them on.

Carbon Footprints

Aviation may account for 15% of all greenhouse emisisons. You may not be able to avoid flying, but you can do something about it. Companies like Carbon Fund (www.carbonfund.org) will allow you to calculate your carbon footprint online and negate it by buying offsets. They then reduce your Co2 emmissions by various methods such as planting trees.

It’s been a busy last few weeks, and I’ve neglected all blog writing. So I’m happy I have something to post today. I received a badge from one of the groups I’ve joined- Brighter Planet. Check them out, it’s worth it! I joined their 350 Challenge and so they donated 136 pounds of offsets in my name, making me ‘carbon neutral’ for a day. For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, please do visit my blog post on ‘carbon emissions’.

Here’s how they summarize it:

The average American emits 136 pounds of carbon dioxide each day. About 36 pounds come from driving, flying, and other travel. Another 22 pounds come from heating, cooling, and powering our homes. The final 78 pounds come from producing, transporting, and disposing of all the stuff we buy, and from shared services like schools and street lights. 136 pounds would fill 5,000 balloons — imagine releasing that every day.

And check out their link to get a donation in your name:

http://oneday.brighterplanet.com/users/4626/passes/public/6FX-Q1E

When it comes to recycling, try thinking outside the recycle box. Nowadays, there is so much more that can be recycled, not just paper, plastics, glass and aluminum.

Here are some of the things you may or may not not have thought about:

1. Eyeglasses - Drop off your old prescription eyeglasses at an eye wear store, where it can be given to someone who needs it. Find a store that accepts them at Give the gift of sight

2. Cell phones - Give back your outdated cell phone to the store.

3. Sneakers - Check to see if your store accepts its old sneakers back, or go online and visit Nike reuse a shoe. They recycle the rubber in old shoes to create newer items, including playground flooring.

4. Also check out, a network in which people offer up gentle used items of all kinds.

5. You can put up gently used items for sale on sites like Craig’s list and surreyreuses.com

6. Give to charity - you will always find someone who is willing and grateful to accept something you don’t need.

Did you know that plastic comes in many forms and not all are recyclable? No matter how Eco conscious you get, there are times when you can’t get away from using plastic. What you can do however, if learn to differentiate between good and bad plastics.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) - This is one of the most popular of plastics and probably the most recycled as well. You’ll find shampoo, soda and water bottles all made from PET. They do contain UV stabilizers, but probably have fewer harmful additives in them .

High density polyethylene (HDPE) - This is the kind of plastic found in your milk jugs and shopping bags. Some of it can be recycled, a lot, such as margarine tubs, at times, can’t. Check to see if your container has #2 on it, and is the kind your municipality accepts.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - Another popular household name, PVC probably ranks as one of the top Eco offenders of all. PVC is make up of vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. Used mainly in the construction business, you’ll also find old vinyl records, vinyl sofa seating and vinyl clothing, all containing PVC. If your plastic bottle or container has the number 3 or V on it, it too contains PVC and probably won’t be recyclable.

Polypropylene (PP) - In many municipalities, this cannot be recycled, making it an unfavorable choice for single use items.

Polystyrene (Styrofoam) - Another plastic which commonly cannot be recycled.

You can generally find the kind of plastic your container is made up of, by looking at the embossed logo at the bottom of the container. Try to choose the types that are recyclable, such as a #1 (PET or PETE) or #2 (HDPE). In addition, speak to your municipality to see the kind of plastic they accept.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is an essential component on planet earth. All manner of activities generate carbon emissions, right from breathing to driving a car or operating machinery.

We need CO2, which essentially traps some of the sun’s rays in the atmosphere, causing the planet to remain at a habitable temperature. However in recent years, human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, has led to an increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, creating a blanket of sorts. The current level of CO2 is the highest ever in the last 650,000 years. This blanket could drastically alter the earth’s atmosphere, making life on this planet, impossible. We can already see the results in what is known as global warming, with climate changes occurring throughout the world. And its impact is already being felt, right from the threat it poses to Polar bears who are struggling to survive as the polar ice caps melt earlier in the year, to the rising sea levels, tsunamis and increase in forest fires, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions.

The average American generates around 20 tonnes of CO2 per year. If we are to limit climate change, scientists estimate that we need to reduce it to less than 2.5 tonnes per year. Sounds impossible? It is in fact achievable through a number of changes in our daily lifestyles.

To calculate your carbon footprint no matter where you live, visit http://www.safeclimate.net/calculator

Founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson, the first Earth Day gathering was held on 22nd April 1970, and this date continues to celebrated as the birth of the modern environmentalist movement. Along the way, the movement has continued to grow and establish its own milestones. The 1990 Earth Day celebrations, helped pave the way for the 1992 UN Earth Summit. In 2000, the Internet helped over 5,000 environmental groups reach out to millions of people around the world. 2007 was one of the largest Earth Days to date, with an estimated billion people participating in countries around the world. This is one of the only world-wide movements that does not look to religion or nationality to garner support. Earth Day 2008 is expected to have over a billion people participating in it.

So, what can you do to help? Use Earth day to begin making small daily changes in your lifestyle (or you can start tomorrow and that’s even better!). The following 10 tips should get you off to a green start.

1. Take small steps at a time. Going green can be quite overwhelming. There are hundreds of books out there and lots of information on the Internet. Green touches all aspects of our lives and it sometimes feels easier to give up even before we’ve started. Realize that even the smallest of contribution really helps.

2. Visit your local Earth Day website to see what events are happening in and around your area. A great site to visit is www.earthday.net. The site to visit for Canada is www.earthday.ca. Your local libraries and community centers should also be able to provide you with information as to local events.

3. Read as much as you can. I’m still learning new things each day, and it’s a whole load of fun to keep adding to your discoveries.

4. Give up the car for the day and take the bus, train or bike to work. Every 4 mile trip by bike as opposed to a car, prevents around 15 pounds of air pollution. And think of the excellent shape you’ll be getting into!

5. Share your newspaper with family and colleagues and then toss it into the recycle bin, so it doesn’t get picked up as garbage.

6. Turning down the thermostat by even one degree will make a huge difference, which is also reflected in your heating bills. Make sure your heating valves and ducts are regularly cleaned, which increases their efficiency.

7. Take in a packed lunch to work and make sure it’s in a re-usable container.

8. Switch off your computer screen when taking your lunch break. A computer in screen-saver mode, uses almost as much energy as it does when it’s being used. And don’t forget to switch off your computer before you head back home. Unplugging all appliances will in fact save you almost 10% on your electricity bill.

9. Skip your long bath and go in for a quick shower. The average bath uses around 20 gallons of water; the average shower, around half that amount. You decide. You can buy an inexpensive timer from the dollar store to time your showers. Try keeping them under 5 minutes. It’s also a great idea to install a hand held shower so you can direct the flow where you want it.

10. And finally, cook your dinner from scratch, using as much local and organic produce as you can. By buying locally, you not only support your farming community, but you also help cut back in the transportation of the goods from other countries to your own.

Try these for a start, and see how easy going green can be.

With Earth Day soon approaching on the 22nd April, it’s a great time to get a new blog on green living out.

If you have a lot of questions about Eco living and find it hard to know where to begin, I hope this site will be a starting point for you, and one to which you frequently return. I’ll be writing on a variety of issues under different sections. Each section will be sub-divided, for easy reference. If you’re an Eco friendly organization, then I urge you to send me information to include. If you’re a visitor who has any questions or concerns, please do share them with me. Let’s go on this journey together and save the world!