WBL Going Green Tips

Burn Bans and Burn Laws in Your Area

January 9, 2011-Thinking about a cozy fire this winter season but don't know the burn bans and burn laws in your area? Visit www.whentoburn.com to get clean and green burning tips, local burning guidelines, Spare the Air Days, and local weather information. Enter your zip code and get up-to-date alerts for your community.

Leaf It for Compost

December 5, 2010-Instead of bagging up all those pretty fall leaves and stacking them out at the curb, turn them into compost, and save energy and landfill space.

Yard waste is the second-largest component of our trash stream (behind paper), according to the EPA, and makes up roughly 20 percent of most communities' haul. Plus, trucking all those bulky bags from homes to the dump requires a lot of fuel, not to mention heaving and sweating by waste collectors. The kicker is that the leaves of one large shade tree can be worth as much as $50 of plant food and humus, according to CompostGuide.com. Dead leaves are rich in minerals that can help your garden and landscaping grow. To get the best results in your compost bin, shred leaves up. Layer with other types of materials, especially manure, green weeds or grass clippings, or add a nitrogen supplement like cottonseed meal, bone meal or dried blood. Keep the pile moist and turn it over frequently.

Article by Brian Clark Howard

Going Green This Holiday Season-Have an Eco Friendly Holiday

November 28, 2010-It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the most wasteful. Here are some ways you can be kind to the environment and still celebrate in style.

Look for locally made gifts—many gifts in today's marketplace come from halfway around the world, and the impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions and global warming. Local craft fairs and artisan shops are a good source for gifts that come without the added costs of transportation.

Choose gifts made from recycled sources—many individuals and small businesses have developed great products using recycled materials. Supporting these businesses helps reduce the waste stream while promoting the concept of making best use of available materials.

Give “battery-free” gifts—According to the EPA, about 40% of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Discarded batteries are an environmental hazard. Even rechargeable batteries find their way into the waste stream eventually.

“Re-gifting” is OK—There is much discussion about etiquette behind the trend to 're-gift', that is, to pass on a gift you received but do not need. What's to discuss? Re-gifting makes perfect sense. If you receive something you really don't need, look for ways you can reuse this gift by passing it on to someone who can use it. Of course, re-gifting needs to be done with care so as not to offend the original giver, but keeping a gift you don't need is wasteful.

Get (Slow) Cooking!

November 28, 2010-Stephanie O'Dea isn't a professional chef — in fact, she claims she isn't much of a cook at all — she's just a mom who loved her slow cooker and had to start a blog for research at work. Her blog, CrockPot365.blogspot.com, A Year of Slowcooking, became hugely popular, and she created a cookbook of some of the best recipes from her yearlong experiment with slow cooking. The book includes recipes for classic slow-cooked fare, like soups and stews, plus lots of surprising recipes like peppercorn steak, Rice Krispies treats, baby food and crayons (yes, crayons!). The cookbook also features tons of side dishes perfect for Thanksgiving.

O'Dea had seven slow cookers going last Thanksgiving with all of the recipes plugged in and cooking by noon, leaving her time to clean up and even relax before her guests arrived. A relaxing Thanksgiving? Sounds amazing. Even if you're not hosting your own Thanksgiving dinner this year, O'Dea says a slow-cooked side is perfect to bring over to your relatives' place, because although oven space may be limited, you can always find an outlet to heat up your dish when you cook in a slow cooker. Enjoy these recipes courtesy of Stephanie O'Dea's new book, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking, and let us know any easy cooking tips you'll be using this holiday.

Recycle your sunglasses and eyeglasses

October 24, 2010-Sunglasses, reading and prescription glasses are items that we tend to collect or just toss out once we've finished with them for whatever reason. By recycling your eyeglasses you'll not only lighten the impact on the environment, but you can also benefit a less fortunate person.

Do you have old eyeglasses or sunglasses kicking around at home that are still in good condition? Don't throw them way - keep them out of landfill and help someone else in the process.

Over 150 million people have eyesight problems that could be addressed with a suitable set of glasses. While prescription eyeglasses have dropped in price substantially since I was a young 'un; they are still out of reach of many.

Sunglasses are as cheap as chips these days, but again they may still be unaffordable to people in developing countries; people who could benefit from the eye protection sunglasses can provide.

According to the World Health Organization, about 87% of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries. Correction of refractive errors could give normal vision to more than 12 million children (ages five to 15).

Lions Club International have been running Eyeglass Recycling Centers for some years. The organization will take prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames. The glasses are sorted and the strength of the glasses is determined with a lensometer. After cleaning and packaging, the eyeglasses are then distributed to people in need around the world.

Lions Club have eyeglass recycling centers in the USA, Canada, Australia, France and Italy. You can learn more about how and where to send your glasses here http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/sight-programs/eyeglass-recycling/lions-eyeglass-recyclingcenters.php If you're in the UK, check out the Vision Aid Overseas web site http://www.vao.org.uk/showpage.php?id=164.

There's always a bit of a warm and fuzzy feeling associated with recycling; but when it can benefit someone who is really struggling, it makes this little effort all the sweeter. Clear sight can make such a difference in people's lives.

6 of the Best Ways to Enjoy Fall

October 17, 2010-Whether it's taking a leaf-peeping hike or creating a masterful homemade Halloween costume, we have tips for enjoying the best that Autumn has to offer.

The Autumnal Equinox, the official first day of fall, was Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. On the Autumnal Equinox, the sun is directly over the Earth's equator, and there are equal hours of day and night. Since the Summer Solstice, the days have been getting shorter, and from now until the Vernal Equinox, the days will remain shorter than nights. *Sigh*

The first day of Fall shouldn't be confused with the end of Daylight Savings Time, which 2010 ends on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2AM. At that time all clocks need to "fall back" one hour.

How should you spend the fall season? Here are a few thoughts to get you started:

Winterize your home so you spend less on energy this winter. Particularly, now is the time to insulate, install new windows or do other energy efficiency improvements and that qualify for federal tax breaks of up to $1,500. (Most tax breaks expire at the end of 2010, so don't delay!) For some humorous (but useful!) tips on trouble-shooting your home for common fall problems, check out these tips from the Green Cheapskate and Inspector Bob.

Start composting! The wealth of leaves that fall off trees (along with that jack-olantern) makes for a great source of material to start your compost. Move from basic composting to advanced as you learn to compost almost anything, reducing your household waste and waste-hauling expenses.

Go for a local fall hike, kayak trip or other outdoor adventure. Enjoy the fall foliage (hey - why do leaves change color, anyway?) and take some photos.

Plant fall bulbs so that you can enjoy early spring flowers next year. Don't forget to plant your own garlic, too. It's one of the easiest perennial vegetables to grow.

Head to the farmers' market for fall produce: The bounty of apples, greens, root vegetables, heirloom pumpkins and gourds and other produce is incredible at this time of year.

Make a homemade Halloween costume (for yourself or your kid), carve a pumpkin or put together your Thanksgiving menu, full of local, vegetarian, heritage turkey or even slow-cooker recipes.

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

October 3, 2010-How do leaves change from green to yellow, orange and red? And what's in store for us this year? We have the answers. By Dan Shapley

Why do leaves change color?

It's one of those questions –like, why is the sky blue? –that can stump a parent on an otherwise enjoyable fall walk. So let's answer the question.

Most simply, to survive the winter, deciduous trees need to store nutrients in their roots, which means they must absorb the nutrients in their leaves. Changes in color are triggered as the trees absorb essential nutrients. Here's how it works:

Throughout the warm sunny months, trees are lush and green because they're working hard. Tree leaves are green because the abundance of the pigment chlorophyll, which is essential to converting sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into energy-rich sugars. If plants hadn't figured out the trick of photosynthesis, we'd all be out of luck, since the energy humans need to live comes from plants, or the animals that eat plants. Tree leaves are also busy using other essential nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus (the same main ingredients in most store-bought fertilizers, or in compost), so these nutrients are abundant in summer foliage.

As summer wanes, changes in tree leaves are triggered by the cooler temperatures, changes in rainfall and weather, and most of all, the shortening of daylight hours. Much of the change happens without our knowing it, as trees begin to absorb essential nutrients and store them in their roots so they are available for the following spring. As the trees absorb the last of the chlorophyll, however, the brilliant colors we associate with autumn begin to appear.

6 Steps to Mastering the Farmers' Market

September 26, 2010-Eating local has never been so easy with these quick tips for shopping your farmers' market. Also try your hand at backyard organic gardening.

Never Fear the Market

Everyone knows that eating locally and seasonally is good for both you and the environment, but keeping track of what to buy, where it comes from and how to get it can be confusing. Shopping your local farmers' market is the easiest way to ensure that what you're buying is seasonal, fresh, and local. Click here for specific how-to's on making the most of your farmers' market experience, and for help finding a farmers' market in your neighborhood, plug your zip code into the Get Local Info tool on The Daily Green's homepage.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Great Deals on Home Supplies

September 19, 2010-Donate your old, but still-usable building materials by bringing them to a Habitat ReStore run by Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit responsible for building 225,000 homes around the world for low-income families. Across the country, Habitat ReStore retailers sell donated, good-quality used and surplus building materials at a fraction of retail prices.

Proceeds from ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat houses within the community. You'll receive a tax-deductible receipt. Plus, it helps put less pressure on our landfills. Locate a ReStore near you with this online directory.

Pesticides

September 12, 2010-Take your plants off chemicals and grow them in a healthy way. Did you know, according to the EPA, at least 74 pesticides have been found in the groundwater of 38 states? Ironically, pesticides don't seem to be improving agricultural yield. Before their use, farmers lost about 33 percent of their crops to pests. Today farmers still lose the same 33 percent. Many garden pesticides are known or suspected carcinogens.

Instead of using pesticides try some tactics of Integrated Pest Management:

Attract beneficial insects to your garden sources such as basil, dill, and alyssum.

Utilize plant barriers; surround your tomatoes or prized roses with natural pest repellants like chrysanthemums and marigolds.

Use a strong spray of water to wash away aphids and mites, and use sticky traps for whiteflies. For serious infestations use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

To rid your garden of slugs, encircle your plants with crushed eggshells.

You can always use non-toxic alternatives to chemical pesticides. If you have unwanted or unused pesticides in your garage or tool shed take them to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center; find one in your area using Earth911.

Green Bagging

September 5, 2010-Did you know that one child’s average school lunch generates 67 pounds of waste over a year? Did you know that kid’s are less wasteful than adults? There are lots of ways you can cut back on lunch waste (and save money).

When you go to the grocery store: buy chips, cookies, crackers, applesauce, carrots, yogurt, cheese, soup, and other food in bulk, not single-serving packages; buy juice in large bottles, not small boxes or pouches; and don't buy plastic sandwich bags, plastic water bottles, disposable utensils, paper napkins, or paper lunch bags. (And don't forget to bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store.)

When you pack your lunch: put sandwiches, small fruit, snacks, and other food in reusable containers; put juice or water in a reusable bottle; and put metal utensils, a cloth napkin, and your food and drink in a long-lasting reusable lunch bag or box.

If you buy lunch, reduce waste by bringing a reusable water bottle and a set of utensils with you. Don't get more food than you can eat or more napkins than need.

Dry Cleaning

August 22, 2010-Don't take the planet to the cleaners! Did you know dry cleaning is a hazardous process that uses toxic chemicals and poisons the environment, our clothing, and us? Eighty percent of the dry cleaners in the U.S. use a solvent called perchloroethylene, or perc. Perc and other solvents are placed in a rotating cleaning drum along with clothing. The drum spins out the majority of the solvent, and hot air evaporates the remaining fluid before the garment is pressed and bagged. These solvents excel at removing soils and stains without damaging fabrics. Unfortunately, they also excel at making us sick. Perc has been linked to cancer, liver and nervous system damage, infertility, and hormonal disruption. Some 57 million pounds of perc are used each year by the country's 34,000 dry cleaners, and around 12 million pounds are released into the air.

Clothing washed in perc or other solvents often comes home from the cleaners a little less than clean. Residues of these toxins can remain in the fibers of dry cleaned garments, especially when clothes are placed in a plastic bag soon after processing is completed. For this reason, it's recommended that you remove the plastic bag and air your garment out for several days in a safe, isolated, and well ventilated location to let these residues evaporate.

Of course, it's better and safer not to dry clean at all. In fact, many "dry clean only" garments can be hand-washed and air dried or machine-washed using the gentle cycle and a mild detergent.

There are also new and non-toxic professional dry cleaning alternatives emerging. These technologies have found a way to clean delicates safely without solvents like perc.

Higher Learning, Greener Living

August 15, 2010-Going to college can be a great opportunity for independence—all your own stuff, all your own responsibilities. If you're headed to college (or shopping for someone who is), try to get furnishings and whatever else you need secondhand. When shopping for anything that uses electricity—if you've determined that the common area doesn't have what you need—choose Energy Star rated products. To clean clothes, buy vegetablebased laundry detergent. Try to find solar-powered chargers for your phone and digital devices.

Good school habits aren't limited to studying. Make sure you turn off the lights when you leave the room (and if you can, change the bulbs to compact fluorescents or LEDs). Plug electronics into a power strip and turn off the strip when you don't need power. Do only full loads of laundry. Shorten your showers, and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your face. Eat more vegetarian meals. Take reusable bags with you to the bookstore. Recycle everything you can—once you've used it thoroughly. Any time you share your mailing address—when you subscribe to a magazine, open a bank account, get a credit card—make sure you say that you do not want your address added to any mailing lists. Finally, see if there's a green group you can join. If not, start one!

Start the School Year on a Green Step

August 8, 2010-Whether you or your children are heading back to school, there are many simple things you can do to have a greener year.

Back-to-School Shopping

After you've made your list and before you buy anything, decide what you really need—did you use up last year's supplies? Did you outgrow those clothes? Then figure out what you can get secondhand (think about what comes between "reduce" and "recycle"). Then see what you can get from recycled and sustainably made materials: notebooks, binders, backpack, planner, organic cotton clothes. But remember, the greenest thing you can buy is what you already own.

Plan a Waste-free Meal

Reuse containers and reduce waste. Did you know that one kid's average school lunch generates 67 pounds of waste over a year? There are lots of ways you can cut back on lunch waste (and save money). When you go to the grocery store: buy chips, cookies, crackers, applesauce, carrots, yogurt, cheese, soup, and other food in bulk, not single-serving packages; buy juice in large bottles, not small boxes or pouches; and don't buy plastic sandwich bags, plastic water bottles, disposable utensils, paper napkins, or paper lunch bags. (And don't forget to bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store.) When you pack your lunch: put sandwiches, small fruit, snacks, and other food in reusable containers, preferably glass; put juice or water in a reusable bottle; and put metal utensils, a cloth napkin, and your food and drink in a long-lasting reusable lunch bag or box. If you buy lunch, reduce waste by bringing a reusable water bottle and a set of utensils with you. Don't get more food than you can eat or more napkins than needed.

Paper Towels

August 1, 2010-Did you know if every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of 180-sheet virginfiber paper towels with 100-percent recycled paper towels, we could save: 1.4 million trees, 3.7 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 526 million gallons of water, and prevent 89,400 pounds of pollution? Several companies make paper towels from 100-percent recycled paper, with a minimum of 90-percent post-consumer materials. You can find these products at many grocery stores, particularly those that specialize in natural foods. Better yet, make do without paper towels. Use dish towels instead.

Water Saving Tips In The Garden

JULY 25, 2010-Gardening can be a fulfilling activity to help you relax outdoors. But, if you aren't careful, an environmentally-friendly activity can quickly turn into a sink for precious natural water resources. Millions of gallons of water are used in gardens and lawns each year—many of them wastefully. Here are some ways to cut back on the amount of water you use in the garden:

»Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass retains water better.

»Water in the early morning, when temperatures are cooler, to minimize evaporation.

»Check your sprinkler system regularly and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.

»Collect and use rainwater for watering your garden.

»Direct downspouts or gutters toward shrubs or trees.

»Install a drip irrigation system around your trees and shrubs to water more efficiently.

Recycle Your Old Cell Phone and Save a Gorilla

JULY 18, 2010-Zoo Atlanta and The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International are working together with Eco-Cell (www.eco-cell.org) to recycle cell phones, help the environment, and raise money for gorilla conservation.

Many of us have one or more old cell phones stuck in drawers or closets just waiting for a place to go. You don’t want to throw them in the trash because you’ve heard its bad for the environment. Well, here is a solution for you!

Take your old cell phones to the special phone recycling containers in the Willie B. Conservation Center or in the Zoo administration building.

Or mail them to: Cell Phone Recycling Program Zoo Atlanta 800 Cherokee Avenue Atlanta, GA 30315

Top Green Gizmos for Summer-Part 5

JULY 11, 2010-You’ll find that your oven uses a lot of energy and creates heat in the home you are trying to cool. One alternative to consider during the summer is a Sun Oven. It reaches temperatures from 360° to 400°F or steams any kind of food with the power of the sun. The Sun Oven weighs 21 pounds, opens and folds up in seconds and comes with a carrying handle.

With a bit of research on the Internet, you can also find detailed instructions on how to make your own DIY sun oven from materials like cardboard, all for less than $40.