Greenify Your Office

This week has been hell at work. I work for a multinational company, and for some reason, almost all of the bosses from the headquarters decided to pay us a visit. It’s not over yet and we’re expecting the biggest of the bigwigs to arrive on Monday. I guess it’s the best time to bring up some issues that are close to our hearts, and believe it or not, I am thinking of bringing up a suggestion about launching a greenifying project. Some of my ideas below…

Buy green cleaning products. Much like many other offices, we have supplies to keep the premises clean: carpet cleaners, glass cleaners, detergents for the rest rooms, hand soaps, etc. We normally have the commercial stuff that you can easily get at the supermarket. Perhaps we can make a change and buy products that are easier on the environment.

Go digital. We actually have been trying to do this in our department. We love print outs, I have to admit. However, there are many things that we do not really have to print. Perhaps an official memo on avoiding print outs if possible will help cut down on paper (and ink!) consumption.

Supply re-usable kitchen utensils. We always have plastic and paper cups in the pantries (we have two). We also have paper plates and plastic forks, knives, and spoons. Naturally, people would use them indiscriminately. If only re-usable utensils were supplied, we could cut back on the use of plastic materials.

What do you think? Will these ideas fly?

Camping: Green Vacation

I am supposed to be camping in this isolated island right now. I had been planning this weekend trip with friends for about a month and it really is a pity that I had to pass out on the trip. That does not mean that I will not go camping again in the near future. In fact, I am pretty sure that in a couple of months, I will find myself sleeping under the night sky.

If you think about it, camping is actually a great way to go on vacation and de-stress. It not only gives you time to totally enjoy nature but it is also a great alternative to the usual trip that puts a lot of stress on the environment.

One thing that you should always bear in mind when going camping is that you have to prepare to leave as little impact as you can. This is actually easier than it sounds. The little things that you do – or don’t do – can make a huge difference in maintaining the camp site.

For example, bring enough trash bags with you so that you do not have to leave any garbage behind. Cigarette butts, water bottles, tin cans, toilet paper, etc. – all these things should go into a receptacle that you can bring along with you. This way, you can dispose of your trash properly.

You should also bring environment-friendly soaps, shampoos, and cleansers. For sure you have to have these things for personal hygiene purposes. However, do make sure that you do not use products that can harm the water supply in the area. After all, you would want to have a clean campsite to go back to.

What other things can you do to keep your camping weekend fun and green?

Be Electric Smart!

Saving electricity is one big way by which you can save on expenses and make your contribution in environmental terms. It’s not a new argument, really, but sometimes, we tend to overlook some details that might just help us make some savings. Here are some tips for you to consider.

Better to wire for more: that is, if you’re building a new house or remodeling your current one, you should make contingency measures in terms of wiring. You’ll end up saving more (in all aspects) if you make plans for the future.

Look for entire systems: a perfect example would be a system that integrates lighting and heating control. This spells convenience, obviously, but it also is good for the environment. Most systems of this sort are more efficient and leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Ask for help: we have to admit it – we’re not all experts in this field. We may want to make some initial savings by not hiring the pros but this increases the risk of problems later on, which may end up costing us more. In addition to this, if you really want to go green in terms of your energy consumption, professionals might be able to find the most efficient solutions for your home. At the very least, if you are not willing to hire external help, do some research and don’t get hooked on the latest trend that may not be the best solution anyway. Gather information from credible sources before you make any decisions.

Plan A Green Wedding

June is the traditional month for weddings and many of those planning on getting married in June of this year probably are making plans as early as now. Indeed, those who are planning extravagant weddings are probably almost done with their planning. Have you considered having a green wedding? Of course I am not talking about the color theme for the ceremony; instead, I am referring to having a wedding that will have a lesser impact on the environment. Here are some ideas that can help you do just that.

Wedding rings. Have you had new wedding rings made? If not, why not consider using family heirlooms? This will not only help the environment but also make the symbols of your love even more significant. You may even get old pieces of jewelry and have them re-fashioned to suit your tastes.

Wedding attire. While many brides may want a totally new gown, the option of wearing your mom’s wedding gown is always open. Why not take it a step further and make it a theme? Instead of having new dresses made for the entourage, why not make it a point to “re-use” old (but no less beautiful or elegant) clothes for everyone?

Invitations. Have you checked out the prices of professionally-made invites lately? They are astronomical! Why not consider electronic invites? Or if you want something more concrete, make sure you patronize recycled products. Again, this does not mean that they will be less elegant or beautiful!

Go Green Expo In LA

Green overload – that’s what you will experience if you head on over to Los Angeles this weekend. From the 24th of January to the 25th, the Go Green Expo will be held. If you can’t make it to this one, there are other similar events to be held in other parts of the United States. From March 19-21, New York City will hold its own Go Green Expo. April 16-18 is Philadelphia’s turn, and Atlanta will have its Expo from May 21-23.

So what can you expect from the Expo? Treehugger tells us:

From Glee gum to Honda’s Insight, more than 300 exhibits of green goods and services will be displayed under one roof at the Go Green Expo this weekend in Los Angeles. Open to the public, January 24-25 and Friday for B2B. The floor is jammed with new earth-friendly products along with speakers, seminars, and films. Free yoga, poi dancing, food samples, and live music. Want to green your pet, a green job, and half-off admission?

Event keynotes are by actor/activist Ed Begley Jr. of Living With Ed on Saturday and Mariel Hemingway, author of Healthy Living from the Inside Out on Sunday. Other speakers covering the full-range of green-oriented topics, from wellness to eco-tourism, and clean energy, include Sophie Uliano of Gorgeously Green and sustainability consultant John Picard, founding member of the US Green Building Council on the latest exciting developments.

There is more than that though. You can watch films and short features about environmental issues. You can also find a job the career fair that will be held during the weekend.

The tickets are cheap – $10 for a weekend pass. You can also register NOW through Treehugger and get half price!

After Christmas: Where’d The Tree Go?

The first week of the year has come and gone – have you put away your Christmas decorations yet? I have to be honest and tell you that my Christmas tree is still at the corner where I put it up months ago. I am actually looking at it right now. It’s not so bad, though, since it is a “fake” tree. I just need to summon enough motivation to take it down and pack it up again.

Looking at the tree got me thinking about the “real” trees – countless trees! – that were used over the holidays. Where do people put them after the festivities are over? If you use real trees for decoration, what do you do when the month of January comes around?

It’s comforting to know that there are groups that help the average person to dispose of their trees with the environment in mind. One such group is the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. What the group does is to go around recycling centers in the state and gather used trees. They then sink these trees into fresh water bodies – making sure they’re upright. This is because the trees attract fish and provide an conducive environment for them to live in.

There are other groups which rent out Christmas trees. This is also great for the environment as they have options such as maintaining the tree for you for the rest of the year. There are groups like that offer this service in the UK, in Canada, and some states in the US.

At the end of the day, what matters is that you recycle that tree.

ThinkSound: Eco-Friendly Earphones

Gadgets are the most popular gifts this year, and the situation will most likely continue for a long while yet. We all know how much fun and how useful electronics can be, but are you also aware of the impact they have on the environment? From the making of a simple thing, such as earphones, to its disposal, the environment can be adversely affected.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to go through earphones quite quickly. I understand having to replace a set within a couple of months if the set is cheap, but even better quality earphones do not last that long. That’s why when I heard about ThinkSound, I got excited. I have been hearing lots of good things about them: aside from giving excellent sound, they are eco-friendly!

Let’s start with natural wood, which they use for the earphones. This makes for a lower impact on the environment and produces better sound quality as well. The company is proud to say that they use plastic materials sparingly – only when absolutely needed.
If you’re wondering about where the wood comes from, the good news is that the company makes sure that they get wood from renewable resources. Their cables are also PVC-free. Even the packing is made from recycled materials!

You can choose from Rain (9mm) or Thunder (10mm) headphones, the latter having enhanced bass. Rain costs $99.99 while Thunder costs $74.99. US orders costs an additional $4.95 for shipping. For international orders, contact them first to make sure there are no problems.

Is The Edge Going Over The Edge?

I don’t know if you’ve heard about it yet, but California environment activities are all up in arms about a project that U2 guitarist The Edge is planning on undertaking. The short version of the story is that he wants to build five – not one, but five – eco-friendly houses on top of a ridge in Santa Monica. So what’s wrong with wanting to build houses when they’re going to be “friends of nature” anyway?

This is what’s wrong, according to famed journalist Steve Lopez:

The U2 guitarist is lining up political muscle and environmentalist star power to support constructing his eco-friendly castles on a pristine ridge near Malibu. What’s greener? Not building at all.

And I can’t keep a straight face when I tell you that the five eco-friendly castles Mr. Edge wants to carve into the top of a pristine ridge near Malibu already have names. There’s “Clouds Rest” and “Panorama,” “Shell House” and “Blue Clouds.” And my personal favorite, “Leaves in the Wind.”

I think that the phrase “pristine ridge” says it all. As much as I love U2 – as much as I admire The Edge – I cannot find an argument convincing enough that would support tearing down that prime piece of untouched nature. Not even eco-friendly houses. It just seems extremely excessive to me. Why would his family need FIVE houses? Sure, he has the money to go all out; but that money could go somewhere else without having to tear down something that cannot be replaced, don’t you think?

Online GREEN Shops

I bless the day that Internet shopping was conceived. I have been saying this over and over again, and I don’t think I’ll ever change my mind. During the Christmas period, I appreciate Internet shopping all the more. It’s less than a week before Christmas, and I am NOT done yet, so you can imagine the state I am in; but thank God for Internet shops, you can buy gifts online and have them delivered before Christmas Day! Even better, there are so many shops online which offer green products – perfect for environmentally-conscious people like you and me. Here are some of the best online stores that you can take a look at if you’re still doing some last minute shopping.

Mountains of the Moon
From dresses to shirts and tops to baby clothes, you can find these in this web site. Their products are made in the U.S.A. – sweatshop free! The materials used range from cotton to hemp and the designs are actually quite beautiful. I took a look at some dresses, and prices range from $80++ to hundreds of dollars.

Eco-artware
This site offers all sorts of things made from recycled, reused, and natural materials. Some things that you can buy are bags, baskets, bath products, furniture, kitchen tools, and jewelry. Prices vary depending on the item but you can find things for less than $50.

Eco Express
If it’s food that you want to buy and give as a gift, then this is the site for you. Fruits, wines, and other products are on sale especially for the holidays. You can also buy wreaths and gift baskets.

Have fun shopping!

Top Green Christmas Gifts for 2010

Before I write anything else, let me just say that this list is absolutely biased. Everyone has his own idea of great gifts, and I do not expect all of you to agree with what I think is “cool.” However, the important thing about these gift ideas is that they are all eco-friendly! What better way to give gifts this year than to give without causing unnecessary stress to the environment?

“Green” food
I don’t mean green leafy vegetables, but that would also work if that is your preference. What I was thinking of was food products such as turkey, game fowl, honey, jams, etc. You can always get these at the supermarket but a better alternative would be to go to bazaars and markets where you can find products that are made in an earth-friendly manner. More so, you can never go wrong with food!

Beauty products
These may cater more to the women population, but who says men do not appreciate soaps and lotions? There are more metrosexuals out there than we probably know. Just make sure you buy organic products – they’re much better for the skin and they don’t have such a bad impact on the environment.

Herbs and spices
These days, you can buy all sorts of herbs and spices in pots. They would be excellent gifts for those who love to cook and don’t have space for their own herb gardens. Choose one or two pots and send them on their way.

Beeswax candles
I am a candle addict, seriously. While some people think that candles are generic gifts, I would love to receive tons of these! Again, choose natural products to lessen your impact on the environment.

Any other ideas?