Have a Better Life

Do you recycle your ink cartridges? What about your toner cartridges? If you don’t then you should. There are programs offering incentives when you recycle hp toner cartridges or other brands and cartridge type. Some stores offer a gift certificate on a certain amount if you return an empty original cartridge when you go to the store to buy a new one. Other programs offer an amount of money for each cartridge even if you don’t buy a new one.

Keep yourself informed of recycling programs and do your share. Recycle.

Image via Wikipedia

Generally it is just not possible to get away by the throw-away coffee cup. Of course, you can lessen the amount of waste by using regular ol’ coffee mugs or thermoses in spots for example your private home, in a vehicle, or perhaps at the job. The more substantial issue lies inside coffee shops and restaurants utilizing throw away coffee cups because of high customer demand. Switching to an eco-friendly throw-away coffee cup would drastically assist with today’s pollution problem, but at their costly price tag and poor construction, it might just not be simple for small businesses to order in large quantities.

Several merchants do use throw away cups made with 10% recycled materials, but are under the opinion that the good quality may be sacrificed with any bigger of a percentage, causing the product to leak. If you still favor using throwaway coffee cups, as opposed to a travel mug or thermos, because of the convenience, take a stab at the biodegradable cup. It could just be well worth your attention doing all your part. I have stumbled upon a couple of earth friendly throw-away coffee cups and want to tell you about the various options out there on the market.

One of the most popular eco friendly disposable Coffee Machines on the market is named the ecotainer(TM) also it comes from the combined effort of International Paper and Green Mountain Coffee. Whilst common throw away coffee cups use petrochemicals, the ecotainer(TM) employs a plastic lining created from plants to prevent leaking. They are utterly compost able, breaking down directly into organic materials when used.

GreenGood has presented their substitute for utilizing two disposable cups of Coffee Machines Ireland when handling hot coffee considering the AIR Insulated Disposable Coffee Cup. These cups have a couple of layers of walls that form a blockade of air in the middle, keeping the surface from changing into too hot and your coffee within hotter. Along with being revolutionary using this type of design, the AIR cup is made 42% of post consumer recycled materials. They also have a completely biodegradable and also compost able CPLA hot cup lid to go in addition to it. CPLA is usually a nature based plastic created from corn.

There exists a disposable cup along the way of being manufactured by the company Micro Green Polymers. Apart from being created from recycled plastic, this cup can even become a lot more durable, lighter weight and also heat-resistant compared to traditional disposable coffee cups out there. By using a technology that makes plenty of tiny little bubbles within the plastic, developing a honey-comb effect, can cause the item to create a high temperature resistance. We have yet to listen to on whether or not the product being produced can alone be reprocessed, but so far feels like a pretty good idea.

I continue to see people buying party invitations cards that are not made of recycled paper. Although I understand that there are beautiful invitations cards we can choose from, I prefer to buy them when they are made of recycled paper. Another alternative that I’ve been choosing lately is handmade cards. I buy recycled paper and print the invitations or even handwrite them. Whether you need birthday invitations or Halloween party invitations make sure you choose recycled ones.

Image by AaverageJoe via Flickr

If you’re taking a family vacation this year, there are smart ways to travel that will reduce your carbon footprint and make for a more sustainable traveling experience. Fortunately, our three simple suggestions are budget-friendly and won’t cut into the family fun you’re planning on this summer!

1) Transportation

One of the worst parts to traveling is the transportation. This increases carbon emissions, especially as families depend on vehicles to get them around. Instead, let your vacation take a different turn. If possible, take a train to your destination, which is the more affordable choice compared to plane tickets or fuel. And, kids can save 50% on their train tickets on some Amtrak lines, such as Amtrak Cascades that connects Seattle, Portland and Vancouver.

Another aspect to traveling green is to pack lighter. It’s recommended that families set out what they would like to pack and divide it in half. By over-packing, the additional weight requires more fuel, which produces more carbon dioxide emissions. Since it can be hard to manage everyone’s packing habits, provide each member of the family with their own moderately sized suitcase or bag. Allow them to bring what they want, as long as it fits within the bag. Also encourage kids to share their books and handheld devices.

2) Lodging

Many families stay in hotels during their travels, but don’t think this is the only option. If you plan your vacation in a remote location, consider renting out a family-friendly cabin. You can also enjoy the beautiful scenery by camping out under the stars. Not only do these rental lodges save money, but they are gentler on the environment.

If you must stay in a hotel, look for those that have recycling programs. Bring your own bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and keep the air conditioning off when you’re not in the room. If you’ll be staying in the hotel for a few days or more, treat the space like your own home. Turn off and unplug appliances for instance, and provide snacks that don’t contain wrappers such as fresh fruits and family-sized containers of raisins and nuts.

3) Dining Out

When families travel, it’s almost expected that they’ll have one nice meal out. This is especially true when traveling to new parts of the country where such foods as seafood are highly recommended. Avoid large food chains and look for restaurants that get their ingredients from locally grown farmers. Also choose restaurants that use a lot of organic and hormone-free products in their dishes.

While dining out is certainly fun, you’ll nearly deplete your pocketbook if you do so for all three meals. Bring along snacks for the family and shop at farmer’s markets to stock up on a few fresh foods for the duration of your trip. By taking the time to shop locally, you may even find exotic breeds of fruits and vegetables that are specific to the location.

When tourists push for Eco-friendly options during their travels, popular destinations will be more inclined to changing their own habits and offering a wide range of sustainable choices for travelers.

John is a fulltime environmental writer and interior decorator. He is in the process of designing a few dining tables for his home.

In January 2011 I decided to change from my regular electricity company to a new one. I checked the top alternative energy companies and decided to change to one that offered a discount during one year.

Changing from a regular electricity company to a alternative energy company was a necessary and wanted step. I feel I’m helping the environment and at the same time using a discount that saves me money.

I am also more careful with the home appliances and electricity in general.

I tend not to leave the tv on or the light on if I will be away from the room more than five minutes.

The refrigerator is opened a small amount of times. I usually think first about what I want from the fridge and get everything out and in in one single time. With kids in the house this rule is hard to apply.

I only turn on the iron when I have a large amount of clothes to iron.

I do the laundry when I have a full machine. Doing the laundry with a half full machine makes us waste energy and water.

The only gadget I have all day connected is the laptop. But during the night it is turned off also.

So I think I am doing my share when it comes to saving energy and using alternative energy. What about you?

The more “green” a product is that you buy, the less green your wallet usually is right after. Although those of us that strive for a more eco-friendly lifestyle probably won’t want to admit it, the fact is that “going green” is a fad being capitalized upon by corporations that are taking full advantage of the demand for environmentally safe products. This isn’t to say, however, that the products being advertised as “green” aren’t eco-friendly – it’s just that they are usually considerably more expensive, and aren’t even that much better for the environment than their eco-unfriendly counterparts. Here are 5 of the most blatant examples of corporations cashing in on people’s faddish natures (in my opinion), so you can spend on products that are actually designed for the environment and not for your money.

1. Hybrid cars
Yes, hybrid cars give you better gas mileage, but is it really worth the price? For instance, a Honda Civic gets 40 mpg on the freeway and is around $20,000 – a Toyota Prius offers 50 mpg and is around $28,000. Since both cars have similar selling points, you’re basically trying to justify paying an extra $8,000 by an increase of 10 mpg. This will eventually pay itself off if the car is driven over a long enough period of time, but it will most likely take years. By that time, you probably would have bought a new car already.

2. Organic food
Organic food justifies its higher prices by the absence of synthetic chemicals used in fertilizer and its more stringent standards. However, using real manure is a breeding ground for bacteria like E. coli. Granted, farms that follow the regulations for organic farming will compost the manure for 60 days to kill any harboring bacteria, the fact is that this is not a full proof. We’ve learned the hard way time and again that bacteria mutates at an unprecedented rate, and it’s only a matter of time before a strain will come out that can last longer than the 60 day composting period.

3. Eco jewelry
Eco jewelry is probably the most faddish expenditure on this list. Although you may feel cool buying weird stuff made out of dried fruit skins, the fact is that you’re paying high prices for perishable jewelry. Even if you douse it with preservatives and keep it in the fridge every night, the novelty will wear off, and you’ll still be spending money on “real” jewelry before long.

4. Solar power
Although solar panels are an eco friendly move per se, the majority of people don’t live in environments where you could completely rely on a solar powered system. Having an inconsistent source of energy is not only annoying, but risky if you rely on power guzzling types of alarm systems for home security. Even if you live somewhere that’s always sunny, most solar panels convert only 10-15% of solar energy into electricity, leaving you to rely on “conventional” electricity generated from coal and water.

5. Eco-clothing
Eco clothes are usually made with natural dyes and hemp instead of cotton or wool. Although the natural dyes are better than synthetic versions, cotton and wool break down at essentially the same rate as hemp, making them neither worse nor better for the environment. Add the fact that any shirt labeled eco-friendly comes with a less than friendly price, and if you didn’t know any better, you could probably say that these companies are trying to capitalize on something here.

Image via Wikipedia

Earth day is quickly approaching, and what better way to celebrate it than to make yourself a tiny bit less of a nuisance to the planet. Instead of just thanking mother earth on April 22nd, get her something really special this year: less waste. Following are five easy ways to greatly reduce the detrimental impact that you have on the environment.

1. Use rechargeable batteries
If you live in California, you might not even be aware that throwing away batteries has been illegal since 2006. However, this virtually unenforceable law shouldn’t be your sole motivation to keep your batteries out of regular trash cans. Batteries contain a litany of acids and other toxic substances such as lead and cadmium, causing a wide range of ailments in your brain, kidney, and liver, as well as birth defects if ingested while pregnant. It’s always better to use rechargeable batteries versus regular ones, but when it comes time to throw them away, make sure you drop them off at a local household hazardous waste center.

2. Switch to fluorescent lights
Fluorescent lights use a quarter of the amount of energy that incandescent lights use, not only cutting you a break on your power bill but reducing the amount of fossil fuels that power plants must burn to generate the electricity in the first place. Although fluorescent lights contain mercury, it is only a few milligrams, and is compensated for by their much more efficient use of electricity. Just be sure to drop them off at a household hazardous waste center along with your batteries.

3. Stop using water bottles
We all love to get a giant pack of water bottles from Costco, but the truth is that even though the plastic is recyclable, most of us will throw them in regular trash cans, sending them away to take up more valuable space in already packed landfills. Instead, try using a tap water filter… not only does this save you money and eliminate plastic waste, but it also discourages the amount of water (albeit in a very small way) that the water bottle companies are taking out of the environment.

4. Get new internet
No, that wasn’t a typo. Although it’s not one of the first things you think of when someone tells you to “go green,” the type of internet that you use does have an impact on the environment. If you have cable or fiber optic internet, then chances are that someone has dug miles upon miles of holes in the ground to lay copper or fiber glass wire just so you can check your facebook. However, if you switch to internet like this, you almost completely eschew the use of landlines, saving miles of earth and future plant growth from being destroyed.

5. Use less paper
This is one that has been hammered into our head since most of us were in elementary school. However, people still are a lot less than efficient when it comes to being conservative with their paper use. If you carry a notepad, try using the one on your phone or tablet PC. An average person uses about 700 lbs of paper a year – this is not only as bad as it sounds, but is really quite ridiculous in a day and age where everything is digitized.