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?

Thanksgiving In Green

This weekend’s going to be a busy one for those who are getting ready for Turkey Day. Yeah, I am sure that you are very much aware that Thanksgiving is less than a week away and that you are up to your neck in preparation tasks. Let me ask you though, is the environment part of your Thanksgiving plans?

Perhaps you may be too caught up in all the other “regular” aspects of this holiday: making sure there is (more than) enough food for everyone, buying presents (if you do this), buying drinks, decorating the house, planning entertainment, and so on. Why don’t you take a look at a few simple reminders that can help you with your planning? At the same time, these tips will go a long way towards helping the environment.

Let’s start with portion control. I have a feeling that some may have problems with this suggestion, but hear me out. Year in and year out, TONS of food go to waste after Thanksgiving. That’s because no one wants to get caught with “not enough” food. If you think about it, though, you don’t have to go overboard. Why not estimate how much each person eats and prepare just enough? Call it portion control if you wish.

Now on to setting the table…what decorations and utensils do you use? Instead of using paper napkins, consider cloth napkins. If you have a huge crowd coming over, why not consider going potluck where the guests have to bring their own utensils and napkins – just so you can avoid using plastic, Styrofoam, and similar products? On the other hand, you can opt for disposable plates and utensils – this will help reduce water and detergent use for cleaning up. However, make sure that you buy earth-friendly products.

Recycling And Reusing Tips For Students

The obligation of doing our part for the environment lies on the shoulders of each and every person, never mind the age or the background. In this particular post, I would like to focus on college and university students. These years could be some of the best years of one’s life, but that doesn’t mean forgetting to do one’s part in saving the earth. Here are some simple ways by which students can contribute through recycling and reusing.

Newspapers and other periodicals. Most, if not all, colleges have their own newspaper. Students normally get these papers on top of regular newspapers and magazines. In many cases, students tend to immediately throw away or recycle these materials. My suggestion? Reuse them instead! Put them in the dormitory reading room. Donate them. Before you recycle, try getting more use out of them.

Plastic bags. Many grocery stores and shops do not use plastic bags anymore. If you do go to a store which makes use of plastic bags, don’t throw them away. Instead, find good use for them. I like using used plastic bags as trash bags. It saves me on money – I don’t have to buy garbage bags as often. You can also use these plastic bags to carry around wet things.

Readings and other papers. Again, instead of immediately bringing your stacks of used paper to the recycling center, why not make the most of them? Cut them up and use the unprinted side for notepads. Use whole sheets of paper as scratch. If you’re printing drafts for yourself, then print on the other side.

Remember, try to get as much use as you can from your things. You’ll not only save money, but help the earth as well.

Be A Green Traveler!

The year is almost over, and it is time to make your travel plans for the holidays yet again. At this time of the year, a lot of people pack their bags and hit the road (or the skies) to visit friends and family or to simply discover new places. If you are traveling in the next month or so, why not take the time to re-think your plans and see if you are contributing towards the welfare of the environment? Here are some things that you can consider.

Fly economy instead of first class. The latter may be more comfortable but since there are fewer people in first class (more space is given per person), it technically uses up more fuel. More than this, however, you should also consider taking the most direct route. It is common sense, as it will get you to your destination faster, but flying directly also lessens your carbon emissions contribution.

Better yet, take the bus. Yeah I know, the bus is not your first choice. If you have time to spare, however, and you do not have that much luggage on you, why not take the bus instead of driving or flying? You will save a LOT on fares and your carbon footprint will benefit from it as well.

Avoid holiday traffic jams. We all want this, but probably for a different reason – who likes getting stuck in traffic anyway? Another reason for avoiding traffic jams, however, is the fact that your car uses up much more fuel when sitting idly. This means higher emissions. As such, plan your trip so that you won’t have to battle it out on the roads with other travelers.

Any tips of your own?

Photo courtesy of Boeing

Be A Green Shaver

We see and hear about all sorts of green tips that can help us save the environment in our own little ways, but we don’t really pay attention to some of the little things that we take for granted. Take for example shaving. Have you ever thought that in doing this mundane task, you can also help the environment? Here are some tips to prod you on your way to becoming what I want to call a “green shaver.”

Use an electric razor. There are a lot of electric razors in the market today, and while they cost considerably more than the disposable ones, they do last much longer and save you money in the long run. More importantly, you do not have to throw away electric razors as often as you do disposable ones. Can you just imagine how many disposable razors are thrown away each year?

If you just have to use a disposable razor, then you might as well look for the ones which impact the earth in the least harmful way. There are disposable razors made of recycled plastic – go for them. Also, instead of merely throwing away those disposables with the rest of the trash, gather them and bring them to a recycling center.

Don’t you just love the sound, feel, and convenience that running water brings? Well it is a waste, and you know it. Instead of leaving the faucet running the whole time you shave, get a small basin and dip your razor. It may not be as fun, but it does the job and saves water as well.

Photo courtesy of Nivea For Men