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Dorm Life Goes Green

By Alison Wood on Saturday, May 29th, 2010 | No Comments

As a college student, you are no doubt opening your eyes to the world and beginning to developing a social consciousness. As you study economics and sociology, you may start to notice the iniquities inherent in a capitalistic society. Psychology classes will make you look at your own genetics and upbringing in a whole new way. And you, like many other students, may look around in horror at the many ways humans pollute the planet that is our very source of life. But let’s face it, you’re on a tight schedule and what can one person do, anyway?

Actually, there’s a lot you can do when it comes to making your dorm room environmentally friendly. And you can start before you even hit campus. Instead of going to Target to get the latest offering from Todd Oldham, (or whoever they have designing for them this year) think about buying green bedding. Linens in eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and hemp can be found online (along with towels, drapes, and even clothing). It can be more expensive than Target, but websites like Overstock (www.overstock.com) often have prices similar to discount home stores. As for furniture, the best way to be green is to re-use. Go to local thrift stores and see if there’s something unique and retro that will fit your style just as well as something new. Chances are, older furniture will be a lot more sturdy than something new anyway, and it can save you a bundle of money. If you have to have it new, at least skip the hardwoods or plastics and go with something renewable like bamboo (you can find desks, chairs, beds, and storage in this highly sustainable alternative). And don’t overlook the basics like a recycle bin and energy saving light bulbs and appliances.

The last thing you can do to help the earth is also excellent for your health: eat green. Organic, free-range, and sustainable foods will not only do wonders for the planet, they will also keep you going through those long study sessions. Unfortunately, you will almost certainly have to go off campus to find these foods, but you should petition to bring them to your cafeteria. There are probably a lot of other students who will support your cause and champion healthier dining options. You may even be able to get a local business to partner up with your school on deliveries.

You will find that going green in your dorm is not nearly as difficult as you think. And you can feel good about the fact that you’re doing your part to ensure that the world you enter when you leave college is a little better than before because of your efforts. Plus, if you do a little legwork, you can save a lot of money and still have a totally chic living environment for the next four years!

Alexis Montgomery is a content writer for Online Schools, where you can browse through various online degree programs to find a college that suits your needs.

The Health Benefits of Going Green

By Alison Wood on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 | No Comments

We hear it everywhere nowadays, but what does it really mean to “go green?” Are there really benefits?

Scientists are constantly discovering new information about how our bodies work, and perhaps more importantly, how certain chemicals affect us. For most of human history, we lived without houses, cable TV, Slurpees or video games. Hard to believe, but it’s true.  We lived a radically “green” life compared to today.  It’s only in the last few hundred years that we’ve regularly exposed ourselves to harsh chemicals that can be harmful if not handled properly.

One of the biggest controversies concerns the use of pesticides on our food. Cheap chemical mixtures sometimes called organophosphates are used in farming, primarily to control bugs. The effects of some of these pesticides can cause cancer, ADHD in children and even infertility. Feeding your family organic fruits and vegetables, which have not been sprayed with pesticides can greatly reduce these risks. Getting to know your local farmers is a great way to verify the quality of the foods and which, if any, pesticides are used. There are many natural ways to control pests and smaller farmers tend to have a lot of knowledge about these alternatives. Another option is to grow your own! Nothing brings a family closer together than planting and tending to a pesticide free family garden.

Meat, eggs and dairy products are also receiving a lot of attention when it comes to being green.  Because so many factory farms crowd so many animals into cages or feed lots, high doses of antibiotics are given to animals preventatively. (Or, in other words, all the time.) The animals are also fed growth hormones so they grow bigger faster, meaning there are more animals on the land in less time than ever before, and that means a lot more animal waste. All of this ends up in our water, polluting our air and rendering the soil useless. This practice is extremely damaging to the environment, which has negative health effects on humans. We are also at risk of health problems such as e coli and salmonella by eating animal products not raised in organic conditions. Seek out organic sources of animal products or just skip them altogether.

Around the house we can unsuspectingly expose our families to chemicals that may be harmful to them and the environment. Bleach is a very strong chemical that can damage lungs and is particularly dangerous for individuals with heart or respiratory conditions. Chlorine is extremely caustic, damaging the environment, polluting the water, soil and air. There are dozens of safe, chlorine-free products available to clean your home with. (You can even try regular white wine vinegar for much of your cleaning needs. It works just as well and costs less than any fancy brand name chemical cleaning product.)

In many cases, going green can save you money, but even more valuable, it always saves you peace of mind.

Guest Post by Michael Krauss of DiscountVouchers.org where you can find Apple Discount Vouchers.

For Kids, It’s Easy Being Green

By Alison Wood on Saturday, May 15th, 2010 | No Comments

You’ve always felt very strongly about keeping our environment clean for future generations.  But now that one of them is living in your house, you’re not sure how to get your little bundle of joy started on the right path.  Kids can be stubborn when it comes to doing what is right.  They often prefer to push the boundaries by doing exactly the opposite of what you ask them.  So how can you raise your child to respect the earth and go eco-friendly?

For starters, there are areas in which you don’t have to give them an option.  As a parent, you control most of your child’s consumer choices, from food to toys to clothing.  They are pretty much stuck with whatever you get them.  But in order to ensure that they continue on a path of responsible spending as they enter their teenage and adult years, the best thing you can do is talk to them.  Explain why it’s better to buy organic foods (no pesticides to pollute the planet) or humanely raised meats (they’re sure to get on board with this one, although keep in mind that stories of the slaughter-house may not be appropriate for young children).  Let them know that eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton or bamboo are preferable to those that pollute because they don’t use of pesticides and they opt for low-impact dyes and green processing.

But education is only part of what you can do to get your kids to go green.  One area in which kids can really see the outcome of their efforts is recycling.  They can even get instant gratification if you have them sort bottles and cans and then take them to the recycling center.  Let them keep whatever money you make and use it to buy a treat or toy they want.  This way they can learn to associate recycling with rewards (and the feeling of satisfaction that corresponds).  They can also recycle clothing and toys for needy children (make them feel good about helping another child in need) and shoes can get turned into flooring for tracks, playgrounds, or gymnasiums through programs like Nike’s Re-Use a Shoe (www.nikereuseashoe.com).

If you’re still having trouble getting your child on board with going green, you can make it a game.  Engaging your child’s mind is a good way to get them interested, and there are a lot of websites available to help you out.  Sites like Kid’s Planet (www.kidsplanet.org) and Web Rangers (www.nps.gov/webrangers/index.html) will teach kids about how to protect animals and nature, while Recycle City (www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm) is a fun way to show them the recycling process and The Green Squad (www.nrdc.org/greensquad/) will help them find ways to implement eco-friendly processes at school.

It’s never too soon to get your child involved in learning to live responsibly, and protecting the planet is a big part of that.  And with all the resources at your fingertips via worldwide web, it’s easier than ever to get your kids to go green.  There’s just no reason a cleaner future can’t start in your home.

Guest post by Sarah of Maxi Dress Mania where you can find maxi dresses for your body type.

Choosing a DIY Solar Energy Guide That is Right for You

By Alison Wood on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 | No Comments

How many spare time activities can you name that can essentially wipe-out your electricity bills while lending a hand to saving the great green earth of ours? Well, picking up a DIY solar energy guide and building your own solar energy panels is a great place to start. Known to enthusiasts as “off grid living”, lessening your dependence on the commercial electrical grid and practicing self-sustainable methods of energy production is becoming quite popular.

Most Do it yourself solar energy guides will give you step by step instructions on how to build your own solar panels, battery specifications, calculating the amount of power needed for your system, etc. These are all important elements required to successfully install and run your own.

Look for a guide that is clearly written, contains lots of images, graphs and videos and lists out exactly what it is you need to do – and the tools and parts you will need to do it. You may think that building your own solar panels would call for some advanced equipment, but it’s a lot easier than you think! Most local hardware mega stores will have everything you need at decent prices under one roof.

Be sure you pick up a solar energy guide that is meant for DIY homeowners. Otherwise you may be getting product plugs and sales pitches in between your instructions. Conducting a simple search on Google for the term “diy solar energy” will give you pages of results to sift through. Check the customer reviews section and see what others have said about the guide you want to buy – usually if the people say it’s good, it’s good.

After reading through your DIY solar energy guide, it’s time to sit down and discuss the benefits with your family. Get everyone involved with the project and soon they will realize why you’re going green and it will only be a matter of time before they jump on the bandwagon with you.

Seeking the help of commercial installation companies can run you up a tab worth tens of thousands of dollars. There is absolutely no reason to spend this amount of money if all you want is a couple of solar panels to run your kitchen appliances. Converting to solar energy is about saving, and going with a big name company will incur a debt – plain and simple. Invest a few hundred dollars and a couple of weekends and you’ll be on your way to your very own solar energy system.

Alison Wood brings you ideas to live a green life and in the process save money. If you want to start making some substantial savings on your power bills then check out this easy step-by-step guide to building your own solar panel => http://www.solarenergydiyguide.com/

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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Indoor Vegetable Gardening For Beginners

By Alison Wood on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 | No Comments

Indoor vegetable gardening can be very rewarding, but there are several things to think about before you start. First, do you have enough light? Plants do require a good amount of light to grow strongly and produce a crop. This does not matter so much for general house plants where you just want the plant to survive, but if you intend to grow a plant for its vegetable crop then it will need more light.

A large sunny window ledge is fine for smaller plants. If you have a conservatory or a room where the windows reach the floor, that is even better because you can use the floor space.

Clearly, choosing what to grow will be important. In fact, the most important thing you will do for your indoor vegetable gardening project is choosing the plants.

Tomatoes can work well indoors because they grow upward and do not need much space. They do like a lot of sun so you will need to put them right in the window. You can buy a trellis to stand in your container to support them.

Herbs also make good indoor plants. They usually like well drained soil. Too much water can cause fungal growth. They also like a good supply of fresh air. Most herbs will grow happily in pots on a sunny windowsill. Some, such as parsley, rosemary, mint and thyme, can handle less sunlight.

Root vegetables do not work well indoors in most cases because they need a bigger depth of soil than most homes can provide. The exception may be if you have a conservatory with large containers.

It can be hard to treat indoor pests. You should not have a major pest problem if you are growing from seed, but be very careful when buying growing plants. Be aware of the pests that target different plants, such as red spider mite for tomatoes, and check that they have not infested any plant in the store. It is not enough to check the plant you plan to buy because there could be eggs on it.

Also, check your house plants for pests before you start. There is no point in buying the perfect vegetable plant and then putting it right next to something that has an aphid infestation when you bring it home. It is possible to spray indoor plants although you would probably not want to use chemical pesticides in your home. Organic is better for anything that you plan to eat. Plant garlic with your tomatoes to deter red spider mite.

Hydroponics can be an excellent solution for indoor vegetable gardening. This is an intensive growing method that allows you to control the water, nutrients and light that plants receive. You can use grow lights to augment natural light. Hydroponic equipment does not have to be very expensive either. Simple starter kits are available for indoor vegetable gardening beginners.