Make your child's birthday party green

Here's the dirt: Kids' birthday parties generate a lot of trash. Wrapping paper, disposable plates and cups, paper tablecloths, birthday cards, balloons, favors and other items add up to several bags of garbage. By making more environmentally friendly choices, you can keep the earth green — and save a little green in your wallet.

Invitations

One of the easiest tips for a green party is to use online rather than paper invitations. You'll save on paper and postage, and it's an easy way for other harried parents to reply

Dishes and Table Ware

Some of the biggest sources of waste at children's parties are the plates, napkins, tablecloths, cups and cutlery that get tossed away after one use. Rather than buying paper products, offer reusable, kid-friendly cups and plates.

Decorations

Forget the streamers and balloons that often pop before the party.  Instead, use materials you already have on hand to create longer lasting decorations.

PBS parents

Go Green with efficient lighting

Go Green with Energy Efficient Lighting. Replace conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs for greater energy efficiency and longer life. When buying new lighting, look for energy savings from great looking fluorescent lighting and LED Lights that help pay for themselves with energy savings. Use timers, motion sensors, and occupancy sensors to turn lights off when they're not needed, another great way to go green. Consider replacing outdoor halogen lighting with green lighting like energy efficient HID Flood Lights.

Repurposing Baby Food jars

If you’re a parent or know a parent of an infant, repurposing baby food jars for storing paint is both attractive and cost-effective. A 4-6 ounce baby food jar is ideal for storing mixed paint, leftover gesso, mediums, or any substance associated with creating artwork in an air-tight container.

♦ Clean jars thoroughly.

♦ Allow jars to completely dry before using.

♦ Mix paint inside jar or transfer from another container or surface.

 

by project mixed media

Green tip = Get rid of junk mail

1. At least 100 million trees are destroyed each year to produce junk mail. Of this mail, is thrown away or unopened. The rate of response is less than 2%. With increasing CO2 and global warming, we can't afford to lose those trees to junk mail. Remember: trees clean the CO2 causing global warming.,
2. An estimated $320 million dollars of local taxes are used to dispose of junk mail annually. WOW!
3. An estimated $550 million dollars per year is used in transporting junk mail.
4. The average adult spends 70 hours per year dealing with junk mail. Another estimate indicates that an average person will lose 8 months of their life dealing with junk mail. No wonder why it drives me crazy!
5. $56 billion is spent to produce and distribute junk mail.
6. Recycling is great, but it won't bring back the extinct species.

You can save your sanity and the planet by getting your name off direct mail lists.

We use 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water to produce junk mail for just one year.

Green gear for when you are out and about!

When you leave your house it’s good to be stocked up on all the green gear you’ll need when you’re out and about. Here are some ideas…

Reusable bags – it’s silly to use paper and plastic store bags when you can take your own. A good set of reusable bags for a large family can cost as little as $40 – less if you’re willing to settle. Keep in mind though, the better the bags the longer they last. You’ll have to re-buy less frequently and that means a smaller footprint. I have some recycled cotton reusable bags that are super nice – and didn’t cost much.

Other reusable baggies: Besides reusable grocery bags you can also invest in some reusable produce bags and snack bags for kids on the go. Good options are:

• Snack baggies from Plum Creek Mercantile
• Cloth produce bags

Reusable water bottles: Each family member should have their own reusable water bottle. Water bottles are sort of a long topic though. There are some that are made safer than others, some that can be recycled and some that can’t, and some that leak or don’t. To get an idea about good water bottle choices read the following:

• EarthLust water bottles
• Green Product Review: SIGG Water Bottle
• Green Product Review: Klean Kanteen Water Bottle

Reusable coffee mug: If you like to stop for coffee or tea, make sure you’ve got at least two reusable coffee mugs in your car. Two is smart because you can switch out as each one needs washed.

Above are the most basic green items you need when you’re on-the-go. Of course if you own a laptop, have a baby, or carry work stuff around you can focus on keeping gear for these activities green too. For example, choose organic cotton laptop bags over conventional and so fourth.


Sierra club

Your water footprint

How much water you use on a daily, weekly or monthly basis - might be a lot bigger than you think. If you tend to go about your daily activities without considering how much water is literally going down the drain, it's likely that there's room for improvement. The good news is that there are plenty of easy fixes that can help you reduce your water footprint. 

1.   Use a high-performance front-loading washing machine. They typically use far less water than top-loaders.

2.   Limit the amount of time you spend in the shower by setting a timer.

3.   With your dishwasher make sure you're washing a full load and using the most efficient setting. 

4.   If you need to water your lawn,  do so early in the morning or at dusk to cut back on evaporation.      Consider  switching to drip irrigation as an effective and more efficient alternative.

Decorate eco friendly

Choose to decorate with real sustainablility in mind, using less energy,

less water, and fewer non-renewable resources while still beautifying

your home.

Most people think Green is for the wealthy-no so, green is for everyone.

Consider places like Goodwill and the Salvation Army.  For a modern

take on old accessories, pick up shapely items at these stores

and spray paint them white.

Choose home decor that's recycled, reused, will last a long time and

require very little maintenance.

Detroit News

Green Valentine tips

• Skip the cards and recite! Who says you need a card to express your love? Why not begin your Valentine’s day by expressing your love for your guy or girl through reciting your words rather than a wasteful tree eating card? A little shy? Send an ecard or make your own out of used magazines, catalogs, etc.

• Don’t go out to dinner. Stay in, buy some fair trade or organic wine or beer, make dinner, and eat by candle light. You will spend less money by eating in, reduce your carbon foot print by not driving around, and you are closer to the bedroom…

• Don’t use dishes…This may take some planning, but if you have dinner at home, go without dishes. Use each other as plates and feed each other your food with your fingers. Again some planning should be involved, you should probably stay with finger foods…spaghetti could be difficult…This will make for an entertaining and romantic setting.
  

• You are the greatest gift. Save money and go green by being your man or woman’s gift. Make a list of services you will perform for your man or woman to be used anytime. Maybe a list of 5 romantic ones and 5 helpful ones? Example of a romantic one: Massage with massage oil. Example of a helpful one? Do his/hers laundry. Let him or her know they can be used right away…