The Facts About Hybrid Car Emissions and Global Warming by Alexandria Haber

In recent years, hybrid cars have become increasingly popular. With rising gas prices and greater environmental awareness, consumers are turning to alternative technology. Manufacturers are making significant efforts to design cars that will satisfy all of their customers’ demands: low fuel consumption, low cost, low noise pollution, state-of-the-art technology, and environmentally friendly. Enter the hybrid car - not only is it fuel efficient, but its emissions are much lower than conventional cars.

Hybrid Technology
Far from being a new technology, hybrid technology has been in use for years in the making of locomotives, submarines, and buses. In a similar way, hybrid cars rely on a combination of two powers – electricity and fuel injection.

An idling or stopped hybrid car automatically uses electrical power. Once the car begins to accelerate, it reverts to using the fuel engine. Also most hybrids recharge the batteries automatically by converting the energy during braking. Different models of cars vary in terms of when the electric power is used. For example, the Honda Civic Hybrid uses electric power to assist the gas engine during acceleration or going up hills. Other models run on rechargeable electricity during city driving at low speed but run on gasoline when the car’s speed increases such as during highway driving,

Low Emission
Hybrid cars emit far lower levels of pollutants in the air than conventional cars, resulting decreased pollution and reduced effects of global warming. Because no two people drive the same way, it is therefore difficult to estimate, but emissions can be reduced from 25% to 90%, when comparing hybrid cars to conventional gas-powered vehicles. Hybrid car emissions also vary depending on the type of car. Some manufacturers add hybrid technology to existing car models while other manufacturers completely redesign cars with low emission and efficiency at the core. In any case, lower toxic fumes are appreciated in our oil-based economies.

Hybrid vs. Electric
Many people associate hybrid cars with electric cars. However, the two are quite different. The hybrid does not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet to recharge. Gas motors switch on automatically when the battery gets low, and proceeds to charge the battery. Therefore, hybrid cars still use gas while electric cars do not.

A Green Design
Fuel efficiency in hybrid cars stems from numerous improvements.

• Improved aero dynamics
• Lower body weight
• Smaller, lighter, and less powerful gas engines

Reducing weight, especially engine weight, will substantially improve a car’s mileage. Hybrid cars were essentially designed for use in the cities, where traffic is a daily occurrence, in order to reduce gas emissions and slow down global warming. What a great way to help save the environment and improve our overall quality of life.

About the Author: Alexandria Haber is a freelance writer and is the head researcher and content manager for http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/.

This article is free for republishing.
Source: http://www.guidemegreen.com/articles/article-detail.html?aID=611

THE POT OF GOLDEN GLOW

Eating a Variety of Colors Improves Health,
and Here's a Little Secret About It

A recent issue of Consumer Reports pointed out the health benefits of eating a "rainbow of produce." Even on the face of it, this seems more sensible than a monochrome, all-mauve dietary approach, even if it is the latest thing in Hollywood.

Indeed, the body does benefit from eating a variety of hues. In this article, we'll talk about why that is, and we'll tell you about a small but very important detail that the magazine article forgot to mention.

YOUR DIET — MICRONUTRIENTS, FOOD COLOR, AND HEALTH

We all know about protein, fat, and carbohydrates—they're the most rudimentary classifications of food. Beyond that, we know about important vitamins like A, C, E, D, and B complex, as well as essential minerals like zinc, chromium, calcium, and magnesium. But there are also hundreds of "micronutrients"—nutrients that are required in lower quantities but are nonetheless essential to keeping your body's intricate systems functioning properly

Eating the full rainbow assortment of fresh raw fruits and vegetables on a regular basis—in addition to eating whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes while moderating intake of animal fat, refined flour, sugar, and stimulants—is the key to giving your body the nutrients it needs to build cells right and strengthening your immune and detoxification systems so they can do a better job of fighting off disease and aging.

Many nutrients are associated with various colors. Take the carotenes, for instance, which are important antioxidants that range in color from deep yellow to deep red. (Note: There are many carotenes other than top-dog "beta carotene.") Anthocyanins are another class of essential "phytochemicals" and can be found in foods colored anywhere from black, blue and purple to reddish. Flavinoids come in a similarly varied assortment of colored foods. Even white vegetables can be helpful; for instance, those from the onion family supply allicin, which is thought to boost the immune system, fight heart disease, and reduce the risk of cancer.

Perhaps the most important color in the "rainbow diet" is green. Dark-green leafy vegetables—such as kale, collars, chard, spinach, tat soy, and bok choy—are packed with important nutrients. These include omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are critical for building good quality cells in the body and may be important in regulating inflammation. Most people eating a Western diet are deficient in omega 3's. Other great green veggies include broccoli, cabbage, and the green portions of scallions, chives and leeks.

WHAT CONSUMER REPORTS FORGOT TO SAY ABOUT THE RAINBOW DIET

In the farm field, all foods are not created equal. The nutrient quality of the food you eat will largely depend on the nutrient quality of the soil the food was grown in. In industrial agriculture—the type of farming that supplies the vast majority of fruits and vegetables in the supermarket—farmers usually apply a only a nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus (NPK) fertilizer to the farm fields. While the NPK fertilizer does supply the primary ingredients needed to make plants grow fast and tall, it does little to supply the nutrients needed to allow plants to grow RICH—that is, rich in macro- and micronutrients alike.

On an organic farm, soil quality is maintained through the use of organic matter like manure and field waste, which is digested and turned into useable nutrients by worms, nematodes, bacteria, mycorhizal fungi, and other organisms found in healthy soil. Additionally, cover crops are often grown to improve soil quality and prevent loss of precious top soil.

All this care and nurturing of the "dirt" ends up creating soil that is richer in nutrients than soil found on industrial farms. When the plants suck up sustenance from the organic soil, the nutrient mix results in a fruit or vegetable that is more densely packed with a wider variety of nutrients. Not only do soils on conventional farms not get the broad-spectrum replenishment they need, the toxicity of the chemical pesticides and fertilizers used kill a large percentage of the beneficial organisms that are essential for good soil health.

There's one other reason why the rainbow diet will benefit you more if it comes from organic or "sustainably grown" food. Many of the beneficial micronutrients in the food fall into the class of "phenolics." It turns out that plants make these compounds to ward off pests. But with industrial farming, chemical pesticides keep insects off the plant almost completely. The plant has no need to defend itself, and therefore produces fewer phenolics, resulting in less-nutritious food for us. This was confirmed for several plant species in recent studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The last thing to think about here is the variety of toxic pesticides applied to conventionally grown crops. One of the goals of the rainbow diet is to enhance your detoxification processes. When you ingest pesticides, that just places more burden on the detox system you're trying to help. So, organic food not only gives you more of the good stuff, it gives you a lot less of the bad stuff.

WRAP UP: THE RAINBOW DIET—EAT IT!

Finally, we advise that you eat your rainbow of fruits and vegetables fresh and raw. Cooking destroys enzymes and some other compounds and can lower the nutritional value of the food.

We were pleased to see Consumer Reports reminding people that good nutrition can be a pretty easy concept to grasp, and now we're happy to have given you the full story. The rainbow diet concept is a good mnemonic device, and we encourage you to make sure your daily intake of food comprises as many colors as possible. Except pink, maybe. Stay away from the Manhattans and Pepto-Bismol.

Source from : http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/12-28/rainbow-diet-food-color-article.htm

Air pollution

Air pollution is a broad term applied to any chemical, physical (particulate matter), or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet earth.

Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the earth's ecosystems. Worldwide air pollution is responsible for large numbers of deaths and cases of respiratory disease.

Enforced air quality standards, like the Clean Air Act in the United States, have reduced the presence of some pollutants.

While major stationary sources are often identified with air pollution, the greatest source of emissions are actually mobile sources, principally the automobile.

There are many available air pollution control technologies and urban planning strategies available to reduce air pollution; however, worldwide costs of addressing the issue are high.

The most immediate method of improving air quality would be the use of bioethanol fuel, biodiesel, solar energy, and hybrid vehicle technologies.

The World Health Organization estimates that 4.6 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution.

Many of these mortalities are attributable to indoor air pollution.

Worldwide more deaths per year are linked to air pollution than to automobile accidents.

Research published in 2005 suggests that 310,000 Europeans die from air pollution annually.

Direct causes of air pollution related deaths include aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung and heart diseases, and respiratory allergies..

For more information about the topic Air pollution, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Automobile emissions control — Automobile emissions control covers all the technologies that are employed to reduce the air pollution-causing emissions produced by ... > read more
Indoor air quality — Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be ... > read more
Tropospheric ozone — Ozone (O3) is a key constituent of the troposphere. Photochemical and chemical reactions involving it drive many of the chemical processes that occur ... > read more
Smog — Smog is a kind of air pollution, originally named for the mixture of smoke and fog in the air. Classic smog results from large amounts of coal ... > read more

Note: This page refers to an article that is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the article Air pollution at Wikipedia.org. See the Wikipedia copyright page for more details.

Source from : http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/air_pollution.htm

Five Ways to Travel Green

Five Ways to Travel Green

Just because you are traveling does not mean that you have to damage the environment along the way. Believe it or not, there are many easy ways to go green when you travel. Not only does this allow you to save the environment, but it can also be a lot of fun at the same time. Green travel is becoming very popular, and this is sure to continue well into the future.

Here are five easy ways to go green when you travel:

1. Instead of flying or driving to your destination, take a bike. This may sound like a lot of work, but imagine how much you will get to see when traveling by bike. If this does not suit your needs, you may want to take a bike tour when you reach your destination as opposed to renting a car or touring by bus.

2. Where are you going to stay on your trip? There are many green hotels that you will definitely want to consider. What does this mean? Simply put, these hotels are built with energy efficiency in mind. They feature systems that save power, are solar powered, and much more. Before you book your accommodations you should definitely try to find a green hotel in the area. They offer the same amenities as a traditional hotel while adding much more!

3. Trains are more energy efficient than planes or cars. To go along with this, carbon emissions from trains are much less when compared to airplanes. And with most countries offering an extensive rail system, you should be able to find a train that will take you to your destination.

4. During your hotel stay, there are many things that you can do to keep up with the green travel lifestyle. Some options including taking short showers, turning off lights and other electronic devices when leaving the room, reusing sheets and towels instead of having them washed each day, and bringing your own toiletries.

5. Do you have to rent a car? If so, choose the smallest one that will suit your needs. This will allow you to take advantage of a more fuel efficient vehicle while also saving money on gas.

The above five easy ways to go green will allow you to reduce the impact that traveling causes. Most people agree that these tips are easy to implement in most cases. Even if you do not take advantage of all of them, looking into just one can go a long way.

Source from : http://gogreenlifestyle.net/green-travel/five-ways-to-travel-green/

5 Simple Ways To Go Green At Home For Free

As mentioned in the article showing you 5 simple steps on how to go green at work, the energy efficient light bulb idea has been put forth. However, it is repeated over and over by environmentalists because we all have to use artifical light, and we all have to change light bulbs, so next time they burn out, replace them with Energy-Star rated light bulbs that will last you longer and save you money!

Now, with the light bulbs out of the way (and assuming you have made the plans to replace yours!), here are 5 simple ways to go green at home to get you started on a go green lifestyle that won’t cost you anything.

1. Stop Junk Mail And Read Online!
   You don’t put up with junk mail in your email inbox, right? Why would you want it coming to your home, cluttering up your space and just going straight to the recycling bin? All it takes is a few phone calls to tell the companies in question to remove you from their mailing lists.

   Aside from getting yourself taken off the advertising lists, there are a couple other ideas that would drastically help reduce the wasted paper, especially with the resources available on the Internet today. For example, how often do you use your phone book? If you’re not using 411 or fridge magnet reminders, you are probably looking online to find the phone number most of the time, am I right? If not, why not give it a shot? That’s a BIG book that we can easily live without nowadays.

   Have you ever checked out your favorite magazine online? If not, do it. You can often get the same articles for free on their website, ot if not, you can probably subscribe for less and save yourself money by reading the online version. Do the same with newspapers, and other periodicals, and you just done the planet a huge favor!

2. Install (And Use!) A Laundry Line
   Ok, another reaosn to not cut down that tree in your hard is because you’re going to need it as an anchor for on end of your clothes line. Your dryer is an energy hog and you’ll be saving yourslef some money and going green by hanging out your laundry to dry. On top of that, you will smell like the fresh outdoors and not have to buy Bounce sheets either.
3. Reuse Ziplocks
   This one is a little bit of work and maybe something you won’t feel like doing, but it’s another good way to easily start going green at home without spending money. Save and reuse those freezer bags by rinsing them out really well. Trust me, those things are built to last and you will get lots of extra use out of them. After you’ve quickly rinsed out a bunch you can even use your laundry line to hang them to dry!
4. Say No To Pesticides On Your Lawn
   There are so many good reasons not to use pesticides on your lawn that it deserves it’s own article. However, here’s a quick overview of why this one is on the list. Your children, pets, and local wildlife can be harmed by interaction with pesticides used on your lawn.

   Did you know that there are quite a few pesticides that are either known or suspected of being a cause of cancer?

   Pesticides send toxins from our lawn into nearby bodies of water which can then harm fish and other wildlife. It’s even possibly in some areas to affect your drinking water.

   If you are a lawn care addict and really love for your lawn to look like a golf course, there are alternatives to harmul pesticides that will be featured here soon on Go Green Lifestyle.

5. Don’t Stock The Fridge With Bottled Water
   Water is one of the top most important resources we have and need! Help save it by investing in a water filter for your tap. You will recoup your money in no time from not buying cases of water. For your trips out of the house, pick up a non-toxic, durable travelling water bottle and fill it before you go.

Going green at home can be simple, free, and still have a huge positive impact on the environment. Stay tuned for lots more easy and low cost ways to introduce you and your home to a go green lifestyle!

source : http://gogreenlifestyle.net/go-green-at-home/5-simple-ways-to-go-green-at-home-for-free/

Toxic Plastic Water Bottles

by Debra Lynn Dadd

I recently received a question from one of my readers about the safety of drinking water from clear plastic water bottles. These bottles, made from Lexan polycarbonate resin (a plastic polymer), are widely used for single-serving sales to one-gallon of water in stores and home-delivery bottles.

These bottles appear to be safe because they do not impart any taste or odor to the water. Lexan polycarbonate is also used to make compact discs and DVDs, bulletproof windows, mobile phones, and computers.

The water delivery company sent my reader a notice saying that their Lexan polycarbonate bottles are perfectly safe to use. They suggested their customers visit a website that was designed to portray this plastic in a positive light.

But, actually, a toxic chemical is lurking in these bottles that does end up in the water you drink. Lexan used to be used to make baby bottles, but these are no longer sold. Hmmmmm...

Stay Away From BPA

In 1998, Dr. Patricia Hunt of Case Western University in Ohio discovered that one of the components of Lexan polycarbonate resin--bisphenol-A (BPA)--can leach into water from water bottles. BPA is a potent hormone disruptor. It can impair the reproductive organs and have adverse effects on breast tissue and prostate development.

Who do we believe? The water delivery company or Dr. Hunt?

I'm inclined to go with Dr. Hunt. I went to a website maintained by the authors of Our Stolen Future: How We Are Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival, who are continuously searching the scientific literature for information on endochrine disruptors. The Our Stolen Future page on bisphenol-a (http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/oncompounds/bisphenola/bpauses.htm#recentimportant) gives a whole page of links to scientific studies that show that BPA damages the endocrine system in a variety of ways.

BPA can leach from water bottles when exposured to heat and cleaning agents, but detectable levels of BPA can also leach into water from bottles just sitting at room temperature, according to a 2003 study conducted by the University of Missouri published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Better Safe Than Sorry

Is there is a level of BPA that may be acceptable? To answer that question we have to ask: acceptable to who? A healthy male? A woman? A child? The elderly? And how would you know how much leaching has occurred in the water? It could easily vary from day to day depending on how long the water had been in the bottle, whether or not the sun was shining on the bottle in the delivery truck, and a variety of other factors.

I'm concerned enough about the possible danger of BPA that I am no longer purchasing bottled water in plastic bottles.

Health concerns aside, plastic is also not good for the environment. Americans use about 10 million tons of plastic every year, but recycle only about two percent of it. A plastic milk jug takes about one million years to biodegrade. And, getting back to health concerns, the manufacture of plastics produces toxic wastes that return to us indirectly through polluted air, water, and soil.

But we also have to use common sense and choose the greatest benefit at any given time. If your choice was to drink spring water in the polycarbonate bottle or drink tap water or drink no water at all on a hot summer day, I would say drink the purer spring water in the polycarbonate bottle. Once in a while, a single exposure will not do much harm. But you don't want to be using water contained in a Lexan polycarbonate resin bottle as your everyday source of water supply, or drink from these bottles all day long, every day.

There are other options.

Better Options

My best recommendation is to get a good water filter that is right for your water and filter your water at home. That way there is no questionable leaching at all. Even though this may be expensive, it is one of the best investments you can make in your health and will save thousands of dollars in medical expenses in the long run.

For those of you who carry or purchase water in the small, single-serving polycarbonate bottles, you can purchase plastic-free refillable bottles in various sizes to suit your needs. They are lightweight and much more attractive than the disposable plastic bottles.

It's a good idea, particularly in the summertime, to carry clean water with you, as your body needs water throughout the day for good health. The Mayo Clinic suggests you divide your weight in half and drink that many ounces of water every day. So if you weigh 128 pounds, that would be 64 ounces or 8 8-ounce glasses of water per day. It's better to carry your own clean water in a safe container than drink tap water or water in a plastic bottle.

For sources of water filters and reusable plastic-free refillable bottles, visit http://www.debraslist.com/water/index.html .

Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website to learn more about her new book Home Safe Home, to sign up for her free email newsletters, and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products. http://www.dld123.com

How Toxic Is Your Home?

We like to think of our homes as being a safe place to be--a refuge from a dangerous world. Yet some of the exposures that you have day-to-day that are most hazardous to your health and the health of your family happen right at home.

The good news is that for every toxic product you'll find in your home, there is a safer alternative. You just need to know where to look for those toxic exposures and what safe solutions are available.

Here are ten common toxic exposures most Americans have in their homes, and some simple, inexpensive things everyone can do to reduce household toxics.

1. Save yourself from exposure to toxic ammonia by washing your windows with vinegar and water. Ammonia can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, and burn your skin. Instead, mix distilled white or apple cider vinegar half-and-half with water in a spray bottle. Squirt on windows and wipe with recycled newspapers for a streak-free super shine.

2. Free yourself from toxic formaldehyde exposure by sleeping on untreated cotton sheets. Formaldehyde exposure can cause insomniaÒyes, insomniaÒand respiratory problems, among other symptoms. Bypass formaldehyde-coated polyester/cotton sheets and no-iron cotton sheets and choose cozy cotton flannel sheets or untreated cotton percale sheets, both available at major department stores and online.

3. Put up a detector to protect your family from carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide starves the body and brain of oxygen and can be fatal. First symptoms include sleepiness, headache, dizziness, flushed skin, and disorientation. All homes with gas appliances or heaters should install carbon monoxide detectors, available in most hardware and home improvement stores or on-line.

4. Replace toxic mothballs with sweet sachets. Mothballs are made from 100 percent paradichlorobenzene, a volatile toxic chemical that can cause headaches and severe irritation to nose, throat and lungs. Over time it can cause liver and kidney damage. Because the balls look like candy, they are a very attractive poison to children. Protect your woolens from moths by making sachets from dried lavender, equal parts dried rosemary and mint, or whole peppercorns. Cedar products are also effective moth repellants.

5. Use soap-based cleaning products instead of poisonous detergent. While detergents seem safe, they are a petrochemical-based product that is responsible for more household poisonings than any other substance. Soap, on the other hand, is made from natural oils and minerals and has been safely used for centuries. Natural and organic soap-based products can be found in natural food stores and online.

6. Refill your own non-plastic water bottle instead of using toxic plastic water bottles. While it's good for your health to carry your own water and drink it throughout the day, if it's in a clear polycarbonate plastic bottle, it is leaching a toxic substance into your water--even if the bottle is sitting on table at room temperature. Bisphenol-A. BPA is a potent hormone disruptor that can impair the reproductive organs and have adverse effects on breast tissue and prostate development. Drink from a glass bottle or carry an aluminum or steel bottle, available online.

7. Avoid toxic pesticides by making dinner using fresh, organically-grown produce. Most food sold in supermarkets are sprayed heavily with pesticides, many of which cause cancer. Find out where to buy pesticide-free organically grown food in your community, go there and purchase what looks good and is in season. One taste and youll go back for more. A great variety of organically-grown food can also be ordered on-line.

8. Wash away petrochemical perfumes and take a botanical bath. Many commercial bath products contain detergents and artificial fragrances that can be irritating to sensitive areas. You can have a luxurious relaxing bath by adding natural substances to warm bathwater, such as fragrant dried or fresh herbs (try lavender, rosemary, or peppermint), a quart of buttermilk, or 1 cup Epsom salts. For bubbles, use a natural or organic soap, available in natural food stores and online.

9. Get some color in your life without toxic solvents by choosing colorful water-based pens and markers. Check through your pens and markers and throw away any with "permanent" ink. They contain very toxic volatile solvents such as toluene and xylene. Every office discount warehouse and art supply store I have been to carries water-based pens and markers in every size and color.

10. Clear the air with a couple of houseplants. In addition to being beautiful to look at, houseplants also freshen the air by absorbing the carbon dioxide we exhale and releasing the oxygen that is vital for us to breathe. Some plants, such as the popular spider plant, also remove some air pollutants.

To learn more about toxic products hidden in your home and safer alternatives, buy and read Home Safe Home: Creating a Healthy Home Environment by Reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products (http://www.dld123.com/homesafehome.html). To find nontoxic products online, visit Debra's List at http://www.debraslist.com.

Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website to learn more about her new book Home Safe Home, to sign up for her free email newsletters, and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products. http://www.dld123.com

Have A Simple, Small, Green Wedding

A wedding is one of life's major rites of passage. It is certainly something to celebrate! Today, wedding books and magazines promote large weddings so that more and more wedding products can be sold. Wedding expenditures run into many thousands of dollars. And after this major outlay of money, most of what is purchased is never used again.

On the Spring Equinox 2004, my ex-husband (yes, that's right! my ex-husband!) Larry and I remarried. We had been together for almost seventeen years, and had divorced several years ago when our relationship problems seemed impossible to resolve. But we still loved each other, so we figured out what to do to make things better, and are now happier than ever.

In planning our wedding, we wanted to keep it simple, small, and full of meaning. We wanted a ceremony and celebration that would be easy to prepare for and manage. We wanted an intimate occasion, surrounded by our closest friends who would participate with us in the intention of our union. And as we planned our wedding, we used the same guidelines for health and the environment that we practice in our daily home life.

Since most books and articles are about planning big weddings, I want to offer some tips on planning another sort of wedding that can be beautiful and meaningful in it's own way.

* Make it your day. Each wedding can and should be a unique expression of the couple getting married. So create the day just the way you want it, to please the two of you.

* Choose the wedding traditions that are important to you. When it comes right down to it, the essentials of a wedding are the two people to be married, the minister or justice of the peace who performs the ceremony, the ceremony itself, and the guests who witness it. Everything else is decoration and tradition. Learn about wedding traditions and choose to do those that will make your day special.

* Write your own ceremony. The entire reason for having a wedding, really, is the ceremony. The most important aspect of a wedding is not the decorations, but the vows and intentions that are stated in the ceremony and that you give to each other. Research the time-honored patterns to wedding ceremonies and follow this pattern in your own personal way.

* Invite meaningful guests. When you have a small number of guests, you can spend more time with them and really experience their presence. Minimum is just the two of you, the minister, and a witness. Invite family and friends with whom you have real relationships. Eliminate those that might be invited out of social obligation.

* Have your wedding at home, either indoors or in your garden, or in a park. Rather than spending a lot of money on floral arrangements, we put that money into tidying up our back yard and planting perennial flowers that we are still enjoying today.

Looking back on our wedding day, we are very pleased with our simple, small wedding. We were able to relax and enjoy the day and experience the love and support of our best friends. Best of all, we still had energy left for the honeymoon...

For many more details on planning your simple, small, green wedding (including choosing flowers, rings, clothing and reciption, and photos of Debra's wedding), visit http://www.debraslist.com/wedding and click on "You are invited to... My Simple, Small, Green Wedding". Debra is also available as a consultant to help you plan your wedding.

Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website to learn more about her new book Home Safe Home, to sign up for her free email newsletters, and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products.http://www.dld123.com

50 FREE ways to go greener without spending a penny!

Who said it costs money to go green? Here are 50 easy tips for greener living at home that don’t involve buying anything. If you do just a few of them, it’s a great start!






Energy
1. Turn off standby on appliances
2. Fill your kettle only with as much water as you need
3. Wash clothes/dishes on a full load, and use the economy programme when you can
4. Wash clothes at 30C, and use a short wash where possible
5. Turn off lights when you leave a room
6. Dry your clothes on hangers and reduce the time and energy you spend ironing
7. Use a washing line, not an electric drier
8. Plan your ironing sessions so that the clothes that need a lower temperature are done first - then you don’t have to keep heating and re-heating the iron
9. Turn off the dishwasher before it has completed its drying cycle – the dishes will dry in the heat inside
10. Don’t leave appliances such as mobiles on charge once the battery is full
11. Defrost your fridge regularly to keep it running efficiently
12. Clean the back of fridges regularly to keep them running efficiently, and also check door seals are working properly
13. Keep your room thermostat no more than 21C and your water no more than 60C
14. Programme your heating to come on half an hour later or go off half an hour earlier
15. Keep your windowsills clear to maximise natural light but close your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in

Cooking
16. Cut vegetables into small pieces so they will cook faster
17. Take bulky food out of the fridge an hour before cooking so it can reach room temperature first
18. Cook with pan lids on
19. Boil cooking water in a kettle first
20. Use glass or ceramic dishes rather than metal as they shorten cooking time
21. Match your pot sizes to your hob rings, and keep the flame under the pan rather than going up its sides
22. Keep the oven door window clean so you don’t need to open the door, letting heat escape when checking on food
23. Batch cook and freeze so you only have to reheat food rather than cooking a whole meal again
24. Use a toaster rather than a grill to make toast
25. Keep your fridge and freezer full to maximise their efficiency
26. Let chilled food come to room temperature before putting in the oven to cut cooking time

Waste
27. Find out from your local council exactly what can and can’t be recycled locally
28. Compost leftover fruit and vegetable peelings
29. Take reusable bags to the shops
30. Make a meal plan to reduce food waste
31. Donate old clothes, books, CDs, DVDs and household linen to charity
32. Reuse aluminium foil for sandwiches etc
33. Check use-by and sell-by dates of food to avoid waste
34. Make a shopping list so you don’t over-buy
35. If you’re preparing a packed lunch take reusable containers for sandwiches

Water
36. Take a (non-power) shower, not a bath, to save both water and energy
37. Invest in a water butt to make the most of free rainwater
38. Turn off taps while you’re brushing your teeth to save water
39. Fill an old plastic milk or fizzy drink bottle with water and place in your toilet cistern – the heavy weight displaces the water meaning you’ll use far less each time you flush
40. Use warm-up water for washing, watering plants or cleaning
41. Wash your car with a bucket and sponge rather than a hose
42. Cut back on water use by filling a large jug with water and keeping it in the fridge so you have chilled water all day instead of allowing the tap to run each time
43. Use leftover boiling water in the kettle to sluice out sinks, rather than bleach, or keep it for next time in a thermos flask
44. If you wash up by hand, use a bowl rather than leave the tap running, and rinse in a batch at the end

Re-using
45. Stuff old tights with rags to use as draught excluders
46. Don’t throw away old T-shirts etc - use them as cleaning cloths instead
47. Use nylon mesh packaging eg from satsumas as plastic scouring pads
48. Use cardboard egg cartons to make seed starter trays
49. Reuse yoghurt pots, shoe boxes and other packaging as pen/peg holders, food containers etc
50. Reuse old newspaper to clean your windows for some extra sparkle

This article is taken from :

http://www.tesco.com/greenerliving/at_home/articles/50_free_ways_to_go_green.page

Green Cleaning : Using Natural Ingredients to Save Money and Mother Earth

Green Cleaning

Using Natural Ingredients to Save Money and Mother Earth

© Ashlee D. Parker

Environmental responsibility, health, and cost are all great reasons to consider natural alternatives to costly and potentially dangerous consumer cleaning products.

There are plenty of factors to promote green cleaning, the obvious being a positive impact on the earth. Eliminating dangerous chemicals from your cleaning routine lessens your family’s exposure to toxins in the home. But if you still need a push, consider your pocketbook.

The cost of household consumer products can quickly add up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007), in 2005 the average family spent $611 on housekeeping supplies. People over age 65 spent less on household supplies than average, whereas those between 35 to 64 years of age spent the most. All households with two or more people spent more than average, while single person households spent well below average at $321 yearly. Families with children and two parents spent well over $800.

The annual cost of household supplies is small compared to some expenses, but when combined with other costs like personal care products and food it can really add up.

Simple and Inexpensive Solutions

Spending less on cleaning is easy with natural ingredients. Generations before us, and maybe even our own grandparents, can teach us that the simplest answer is often the best. Nearly every cleaning task at home can be tackled with baking soda, vinegar, olive oil and essential oils. While there are plenty of recipes out there to concoct with numerous ingredients, part of the appeal of natural ingredients is the simplicity, so don‘t overdo it.

Baking soda is an excellent cleaner and deodorizer. Throw a cup in with the laundry, mix with water for a soft scrub, or combine a couple tablespoons in a spray bottle for an all-purpose cleaner - baking soda does it all. Instead of covering up smells with harsh perfumes, set out a small dish of baking soda. Vinegar also serves many purposes: it softens fabric when added to the rinse cycle, it leaves your dishes sparkling in the dishwasher, and it cleans glass to a streak free shine.

More tips to try at home:

* Olive oil moisturizes wood and makes it shine - combine with a little

vinegar or lemon juice and rub on into furniture wiping off excess

* Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide and disinfectant, add to vinegar and water and spray on shower curtain and other mildew prone areas

* Use undiluted vinegar in toilet bowls or add water for an all-purpose cleaner

* Use a sprinkle of baking soda followed by vinegar on clogged drains

The biggest adjustment to cleaning green is the difference in method. Natural products clean just as well, but often require some time to sit. The patience is worth your health and the money you will save.

If you miss the flowery scents of consumer products (although, you may begin to notice the strong essence of chemical those pretty scents mask after going natural) look into the wide range of essential oils available. While essential oils are pricey, don’t let the small size fool you. You only need to add a few drops to your spray bottle to get all the benefit and scent. Most organic markets carry a wide variety and typically put out testers, so you can pick your favorites. Use different attractive spray bottles and cleaning could actually turn into something you like to do.

There are some products you may want to replace but don’t want to make yourself. There are many companies providing safe and natural products, some can even be found in your grocery or department store, but organic markets are way ahead of the curve and provide a wider variety. You can purchase laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and dish soap with the savings from all the other expensive cleaners you used to buy.

The copyright of the article Green Cleaning in Natural Products is owned by Ashlee D. Parker. Permission to republish Green Cleaning in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A Free, Green Education

Guide to No-Cost, Online Environmental Courses

© Shirley Siluk Gregory

Online resources for free college courses in green subject matters.

Do you feel as if you've subscribed to every possible green-living-oriented email newsletter, studied every green-minded magazine and read every book there is on eco-friendly, sustainable living? If you want to attain a more in-depth and academically-backed education in green and environmental issues, consider checking out a free, online OpenCourseWare program.

OpenCourseWare, based on the same concept as open-source software (which lets users access license-free software codes for their own personal and development purposes), provides free and easy online access to college and university courses in a wide range of subjects covering everything from agriculture and environmental science to nutrition and population issues. These are programs for self-starters who can set their own study schedules, seek out their own supplemental reading materials and delve into subjects without a lot of supervision from teachers or professors.

Browse the following sites to find curriculum offerings of the greatest interest to you; you won't be able to earn college credits but, if you're sufficiently motivated, you'll learn the same things as full-time university students -- all from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. What better way to expand your knowledge of environmental responsibility and build a foundation for passing that knowledge along to others?

Carnegie Mellon University's Open Learning Initiative: Carnegie Mellon's OpenCourseWare classes include programs in biology and chemistry, among many other topics.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health OpenCourseWare: Johns Hopkins' OpenCourseWare site offers online classes in environmental health, principles of human nutrition, and population change and public health, as well as in many other subject areas.

MIT: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which originated the concept of OpenSourceWare in 2001, offers online classes in everything from biology, ecology and geobiology to environmental Earth science, industrial landscapes and environment and society.

The Sofia Open Content Initiative: These online courses from the Foothill-De Anza Community College District in California include a class in physical geography.

Tufts University: Tufts' online courses include programs in agricultural science and policy, population medicine, producing films for social change, and tropical ecology and conservation.

Utah State University: Utah State's OpenCourseWare curriculum includes classes in such university extension programs as "Plant Diseases and Chemicals," "Climate and Landscapes" and "Soil-Based Hazardous Waste Management."

You can also search for or browse other online college course offerings in a variety of subjects, offered by institutions around the globe, at OpenCourseWare directories and searchable databases such as OpenCourseWare Finder, iberry, Open Content Online and OpenCourseWare Consortium.

The copyright of the article A Free, Green Education in Green/Simple Living is owned by Shirley Siluk Gregory. Permission to republish A Free, Green Education in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.