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Go green! Go Paperless! Here’s a simple way to cut down on energy and paper use, while saving money on stamps. Save natural resources — as well as late fees — by enrolling in easy, online bill-paying options with your bank, credit card companies, cable and utility providers. In fact, these days it seems that almost any outfit that sends you a monthly bill through the mail probably has online payment options. I’m surprised that people still pay their bills at the bank! Check out the Websites of the companies you do business with for details. Paperless billing not only saves trees; it also eliminates the fossil fuel (read: CO2 emissions) needed to get all those dozens and dozens of billing envelopes from them to you and back again. Plus, you’ll save money on stamps, which can really add up over time. That will cut down on inks and adhesives needed by the Canadian Postal Office, and every little bit helps. www.thedailygreen.com
Go green! ecolocoblog: TEN WAYS TO STOP WASTING WATER.
Go green! 7 Ways to Save Energy Turn off unneeded lights Your dear old Dad wasn’t just being stingy, he was trying to teach you to save energy and money, back when he fussed at you for leaving lights on after you left the room. See, Dad knew that lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of a home’s energy bills. By turning off lights you don’t need, you’ll begin saving right away, and will extend the lifetime of all those bulbs. Switch Out Your Lighting CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) are well known for substantial energy savings (they use about 75% less energy than standard incandescents), plus they last much longer. These days, you can get CFLs in many different shapes and sizes, including ones that work with all your lamp shades! You aren’t stuck with that now-iconic swirly shape, unless you want to be. Do remember to dispose of them carefully, but don’t over worry about the small amount of mercury they contain. Install Motion Sensors Install motion sensors on lights in your home, which turn on only when movement is detected and turn off automatically. These work particularly well for outdoor lamps, which can also boost security. Leaving lighting on all night can be disruptive to wildlife, especially when it comes to flood lights. So save electricity and money (and reduce the chance of getting shocked) by installing sensors. Isn’t that smart? Turn Off Your Computer at Night Many of us spend so much time on our computers, and check e-mail and other services so frequently, that we never turn the things off. It may occasionally take you a few more seconds to get to work, but you’ll save energy and money if you turn your computer off at the end of each day. It will also reduce wear and tear on your hardware, extending its life. According to the Department of Energy you’ll save an average of $90 of electricity a year. Use a Laptop Instead of a Desktop If you have the choice between powering up your desktop or a laptop, choose the latter. Also, when it’s time to upgrade to a new computer, think laptop. Laptop computers draw only 15 to 25 watts during regular use, as compared to the 150 watts used by a conventional desktop computer and monitor. Plus, laptops also draw just a fraction of a watt when in sleep mode. Get an Energy Monitor Get a close handle on your home energy use with an advanced energy monitoring device. One good example is The Energy Detective (TED), which starts at $139. TED is a small display that indicates household electrical usage in real time and projects your monthly bill — all without using batteries. Research has found that real-time energy feedback leads consumers to reduce their electricity consumption. According to the company you’ll save 15 - 20% on each bill, which would amount to hundreds of dollars a year. Get an Energy Audit Now that you’ve been making some small changes around the house to save energy, you may want to consider a home energy audit. Many people think of them only when it starts getting cold, and heating season begins. But summer cooling is also one of our largest energy users. An energy audit will help you determine exactly how much juice you are using, and will identify ways you can reduce it, through better insulation and other techniques. We can help you get started! Contact us at info@greenfish.ca -dailygreen.com
Go green! What’s your 2012 resolution? mothernaturenetwork: Looking to go greener in 2012? Let Mother Nature’s Idea Lab suggest some eco-resolutions for you! Have a great green suggestion? Submit it to the Idea Lab to inspire others!
Go green! mothernaturenetwork: How to create less waste during the holidaysFollow our guide to a less-wasteful holiday season — with everything from package-free shopping to Christmas tree recycling — and give a gift to the planet this year.
Go green! mothernaturenetwork: Wrapping paper and the recycling binEco-friendly ideas to wrap up the holiday season.
Go green! What’s the Greenest Christmas Tree idea? Live, plantable or bulb tree! According to many environmentalists, the greenest option for Christmas is a living, plantable “bulb” tree. This adorable one is from Smith & Hawken. Inside, the tree can wear ornaments and garland, and after Christmas it can be transplanted outdoors. You’ll be adding to the planet’s lungs and fighting global warming, as well as providing wildlife habitat. If you live in an apartment, or don’t have room in your yard for an evergreen, see if you can donate it to someplace in your community. Plus, it’s sooooo cute, ain’t it? -dailygreen.com
Go green! Christmas brings the colour green everywhere, why not make it even greener!starts-with-one-step: I know some of you have already started shopping for gifts for your loved ones, but have you considered changing some small things up for the environment? Here are some ways you might do it: Keep all tissue paper, bows, gift bags, and ribbons you get from gifts. They can be reused on other gifts later. Ban people in your house from using wrapping paper. I mean really; buying paper for the point of ripping it up and throwing it out? It’s a waste of money and trees. Wrap differently. Use reusable(fabric) wrapping paper, or you could even give gifts in reusable shopping bags; that way even the bag it comes in is a gift.  Set timers. Set your Christmas lights on a timer so they turn off when you are in bed. It will save you money as well. Use a fake tree. Real Christmas trees shed needles, can have pesticides, needs to be bought every year, and not to mention it kills a tree. On the other hand, a fake tree usually only has to be bought once in a life time. Switch to LED Christmas lights. It will save you money. Hand make gifts. Some people actually prefer hand made gifts over store bought. Find out who on your list who does, and make them something nice.
Go green! Souping up your bicycle can be just as satisfying for less than half the price of dressing up your car secretrepublic: Wait for it, wait for it…. Ladies & Gentlemen: Beautiful Bicycle Monday americanclassic: Porteur. via CycleEXIF.
Go green! Use a Programmable Thermostat to save on energy bills Why pay to heat an empty house? Winter is typically the time most homeowners think about energy bills, as cold snaps and high heating oil and natural gas prices send monthly bills soaring.  You can save significantly on energy bills in winter by using a programmable thermostat on heating system that allows you to moderate the temperature when you’re home (about 24 degrees Celsius is a good target temperature) but not when you’re away. Using a programmable thermostat wisely year-round can save up to $150, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you’re in the market for a thermostat, look for theEnergy Star label to choose the most energy-efficient models. -dailygreen.com
Go green! mothernaturenetwork: If Hoyoung Lee’s concept printer becomes reality, you’ll never throw away another pencil stub and never buy another ink cartridge. The pencil printer separates the wood from pencils and uses the lead to print documents. There’s even a built-in eraser component that allows you to remove text from a page and reuse the paper, so you’ll be saving money and trees.15 bizarre — but cool — green inventions
Go green! Check the Temperature in Your Fridge and Freezer You’ll be surprised how much energy you may be wasting. it’s easy for those dials to get knocked out of whack by oversized tubs of leftovers or marauding children or houseguests, so make sure you have the temperature set optimally in your appliances. You should consult with your manufacturer, but in general the Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping refrigerators at 2.8 degrees Celsius and freezers at -16 degrees. Anything colder is probably overkill, and a waste of energy. That’s important, because refrigerators and freezers use about a sixth of home electricity. Not sure if the internal temps are actually correct? Place a weather thermometer inside to check the temperature and adjust the dials until you get the desired results. -dailygreen.com
Go green! Turn Off Your Computer When Not in Use Standby or sleep mode doesn’t mean it’s not eating up that energy When you are done stalking people on facebook for “business”, turn off your workstation. It will save energy and wear and tear on your hardware. In one year, if you shut your machine off before bed each night, you’ll save as much as $90 worth of electricity. The Department of Energy recommends shutting off your monitor if you aren’t going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you’re not going to use it for more than two hours. The agency says time spent off extends your machine’s life. Although computers don’t complain (yet) about all the work we make them do, why not give yours a break? -dailygreen.com
Go green! Use the Incredible, Energy-Saving … Toaster Oven?! Toaster ovens use much less energy than conventional ovens.  If you have the option, use a toaster oven instead of a conventional oven, and you’ll consume far less energy. Tests have shown that a well-insulated toaster oven, with plenty of room for air to circulate around it, consumes a whopping 50 percent less energy. As an added bonus, using a toaster oven will keep your kitchen cooler. Not just for toast and bagels, toaster ovens can be used for casseroles, mini meat loaves, cheese nachos, fish in a foil pouch, small pizzas and your all-time fave “grilled” cheese. Surprise! And, Hello Kitty makes saving even more delightful! -dailygreen.com
Go green! Use ceiling fans to keep warm Ironic, you say?  In cold weather, use ceiling fans to increase your comfort. Set the fan to drive air upward to break up the heat that rises and collects against the ceiling. It’s simple physics. By creating a more consistent temperature in the room, you get the heat you are paying for. Thus, the thermostat may not need to be set as high. Saves you a dollar, saves the ozone a hole.