Back-to-School shopping with green supplies and a happy planet

It's August, a time when parents are Back-to-School shopping.

According to a National Retail Federation survey, families will spend just about $100 on back-to-school supplies this year, this includes notebooks, binders, writing instruments, backpacks and good ole lunch pails. Try to make some, or all, of your school supply purchases, "green" purchases.

The most obvious choice is to use last year's supplies, or a sibling's old supplies. But kids must have the latest in chic school accessories, so here are a few green ideas...

Eco-friendly School Bags are very popular! Pass on nylon, vinyl and other plastics, instead grab a bag made from recycled materials or natural materials, such as hemp. Will schools allow hemp bags? I swear I started to hear Jefferson Airplane in the background while typing.

Paper, paper, paper. Reach for the recycled paper and folders. And Consider the environment before printing this document is more than a tagline. :)

While preparing this story I learned that we can buy disposable pens made of recycled materials. If you can't find disposable pens, choose a pen with a refillable ink reserve, it produces less plastic trash.

Two years ago, independent tests of vinyl lunchboxes, what most soft insulated lunch boxes are made from, showed a high levels of lead. As a result, many manufacturers now have their products tested. So if your kid gets a vinyl lunchbox, make sure it is labeled "lead-safe" or "lead-free". Go Retro and use a metal lunchbox, or a popular reusable lunch tote. Some totes are reusable and recycled, from things like recycled plastic soda bottles. So when your kids complain they never get soda, point to the tote :)

http://astore.amazon.com/shopgreen-20
GREEN online shopping. Reduce Global Warming

Super Cars Go Green. Green Hybrids Are Here!

Beira V-8 roadster

No longer does driving a hybrid means rolling down the highway in a weird looking Toyota Prius, the modern day styling answer to AMC (remember the Pacer and Gremlin?).

Ferrari’s hybrid supercar, currently in development, promises to spin heads without draining your wallet at the gas station.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said the company plans to reduce CO2 levels by 40% before 2012 using hybrid technology, as well as new turbocharged V6 engines which are both smaller and more fuel-efficient.

The new system will a Kinetic Energy Recycling System to recover energy from braking, as well as a completely new gearbox.

Other super car manufacturers that produce a hybrid or have a green car in development are The UK's Electric Lightning GT capable of 0-60mph in four seconds; Breckland Technology, also in the UK, with its Beira V-8 roadster and a top speed of 155 mph; Austin, Texas-based Ronn Motor Company with its Scorpion supercar entry; Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine Sports Car and Lotus’ Eco Elise.

All this is encouraging news for autophiles to feed their obsession, with a bit less guilt. A far stretch from the Lamborghini Murcielago, which gets a mear 6 miles per gallon.

World Environment Day 2008

People around the world celebrate World Environment Day on Thursday, so what does World Environment Day actually mean?

Naturally there's a World Environment Day website you can visit for a bunch more information, but I'll try to summarize it on one page.

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP. Every year on June 5th the United Nations sets out to grow worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action. This year the them is "Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy" and the main international celebrations are being held in New Zealand. New Zealand was one of the first countries to pledge to achieve carbon neutrality, and will also focus on forest management as a tool for reducing greenhouse gases.

The Chicago Botanic Garden will serve as the North American host.

So how did you start your carbon neutral day? After switching off your climate neutral wind up clock and brushing your teeth and having breakfast, consider the following:

-Opting for non-electric toothbrush will avoid nearly 48 g of CO2 emissions;

-Heating bread rolls in a toaster versus an oven for 15 minutes saves nearly 170 g of CO2;

-Switching from regular 60-Watt light bulbs to energy-saving ones will produce four times less greenhouse gas emissions;

-Taking the train rather than the car for a daily office commute of as little as 8 km will save a big 1.7 Kg of CO2;

-Shutting down your computer and flat screen both during lunch break and after working hours will cut CO2 emissions generated by these appliances by one-third; and

-Investing in a water-saving shower head will not only save 10 liters of water per minute, but will also slash CO2 emissions resulting from a three-minute hot shower by half.

Your Greener Yard

When greening up your yard this summer, here are a few “green” alternatives to consider.

Try Xeriscaping your yard. Xeriscape is a way to landscape your yard without requiring additional irrigation. This technique is heavily promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of fresh water, and as climate patterns shift is also catching on in other areas too. Which plants do you use when xeriscaping your yard? It all depends upon your local climate.

Keep and maintain surroundings that favor the naturally occurring beneficial insects, as well as those that you are releasing. Food, water, shelter, and a poison-free environment are their major requirements for survival and good performance. Remove toxic chemicals from the equation. Realize the hazards associated with the use of Pesticides. Learn about natural alternatives to pest control, that really work. Ant problems? Try damp coffee grounds, or squeeze lemon juice on the area. Fleas or ticks driving your pooch crazy? Try a rinse with rosemary. Boil 2 pints of water, add two tablespoons of Rosemary, and let soak twenty minutes. Drain and let cool. Wash your pet as usual, with soap and warm water. Towel dry and apply the herbal rinse. Apply this to the pet with a spray bottle or sponge, and let it dry completely, on its own before letting your pet out.

If aphids are eating vegetable garden, Ladybugs offer a natural solution and Praying Mantis will eat any insects they can catch.

Looking for more Green Alternatives?
Discover, learn about, and shop for environmentally-friendly products on the Amazon Green page.

Summer Vacation Tips

Tips for Green Summer vacation savings

Its about that time of year. Summertime, the time of year when Americans meet the asphalt. And a lot of the driving public share a common concern, how will their wallets be affected by skyrocketing fuel prices.

Traditionally the demand for fuel rises in the warmer weather, and unfortunately with an increased demand comes increased prices at the pump.

Here are a few tips for cutting your fuel spending.

• Pick a closer destination. An obvious solution, but sometimes a great vacation in our own backyard is overlooked.
• Be sure your auto tires are properly inflated, the oil and oil and air filters are fresh, and the air-conditioning is working properly.
• Avoid road rage. Jack rabbit starts, speeding and abrupt braking is dangerous, and it significantly increases your vehicle’s fuel consumption.
• Use the octane recommended for your vehicle. Regular fuel is cheaper and unless you've got a high-performance engine, premium usually won't improve your fuel efficiency.
• Try to pack light and if at all possible, the heavier the baggage the lower the miles per gallon.
• Avoid putting anything on top of your vehicle. This increases drag, in turn lowering fuel efficiency.
• If you're renting a car, choose a fuel-efficient model, such as a subcompact, compact or economy car. A bonus is these models are usually cheaper to rent than the larger cars.
• Rent a hybrid like the Toyota Prius, Camry or Hyundai Sonata, which average 31 miles per gallon or better.
• Plan your driving and have a road atlas in the car, or opt for an electronic navigation system (also known as a GPS) and avoid excessive driving around lost.

Compared to a year ago, many more hotels are offering guests a greener alternative, from low-flow toilets to biodegradable cleansers. KLTA produced a Video on Green Hotels which highlights some things hotels are doing. So, what are "Green" Hotels? They are environmentally-friendly properties who have programs to save water, save energy and reduce solid waste.

The Green Hotels Association encourages travelers to green up their travel, and offers several tips on their website. Thinking of staying at an eco-motel? Green lodging listings can be found on Greenhotels.com and GreenSeal.org.

And you can more about Ecotourism at SustainableTravelInternational.org.

Have a safe and healthy green summer vacation, and drop a postcard :)