Short answer – absolutely you can save money going green! The term “going green” typically refers to any activity that lessens your impact on the environment and/or doing your part to conserve and recycle our everyday resources. There are literally thousands, if not more, ways to actually “go green”, and with the help of blogs and the internet in general, we have a real shot as we move into 2009 of going green by leveraging and taking advantage of many different and unique methods.

In contrast to going on a diet when you’re trying to lose weight – generally the diet food costs more than “regular” food, so besides actually losing weight, there is no other benefit to going on a diet, and it can be quite expensive, but that’s quite the opposite when you go on an earth diet (conserving less energy, recycling, etc…). When you make a concerted effort to “greenerize” yourself (yes, new word!), you stand the chance to save quite a bit of cash in the process!

For instance, let’s look at a few popular ways that your every day consumer can go green:

1. Carpooling

2. Public transportation

3. Using compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s)

4. Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in summer

5. Wash clothes in cold water

6. Instead of using a dryer dry your clothes naturally.

7. Install low flow shower heads

8. Using reusable water bottles

I could go on and on about different ways to go green, but the eight ways listed above are perfectly easy and acceptable ways to help the environment, and best of all, you’ll save money using every single method!

Doing a quick average, I would conservatively say that just by doing the above, you could save anywhere from £100-£250 per month, and to your average 4 person family, that’s a nice chunk of change that can be saved or used for other bills (like your mortgage!). Recently, a poll came out that said only 12% of consumers are really “going green”, while another 41% were considered “light green”. Just imagine if we could get that first number higher, it would make a much greater impact than most people could imagine.

So I encourage you to make a list right now that lists out ten ways you can start going green today. At the end of 30 days, give yourself a true estimate on how much money you saved by comparing it with your regular costs. Saving money by going green is so addictive that you’ll find yourself cutting back and conserving even more to enjoy all the extra cash you’re putting back in the bank!

Posted under How To's & Guides, Lifestyle & Fashion

It seems that there is much more going on in environment legislation about packaging in other countries. In fact, at the World Packaging Organization meeting in Beijing last week it was announced that China is working to develop “green packaging” as part of its efforts to build an environment-friendly society. I also have had the opportunity to read some very interesting facts including this titbit: the world consumes 25 billion pizza boxes annually. So, if your pizza box is “green” you can save the world.

Seriously, it’s great to make an announcement and to get the word out about all new packaging innovations, but the real test is integrating your “green” packaging products into your brand.

People are jumping on the environmental band wagon because it’s a hot topic right now. The recent Earth Day activities made people think about things that have to do with the environment. Global warming issues are on the news daily and people are looking for scapegoats as the cause. The packaging industry is often chastised for having unfriendly environmental policies. I’m not here to debate this point, but to talk about using environmental issues in a positive manner.

Let’s take the word “green” as an example. Obviously, we think of the colour first.
But what about the variations of the definition that relate to packaging? How green is your packaging world?

• Green could mean less damage to the environment;

• Green could be producing packaging from renewable resources;

• Green could be designing products for environmental sustainability;

• Green could be the use of less material and recyclable and degradable materials.

So “green” can be maximized for branding purposes in a host of different ways. If you have a “green” packaging product what ways are you capitalizing on the current media exposure (in addition to send out a press announcement)? Here are a few points to consider:
• did you support or promote participation in any Earth Day activities?

• Do you belong to any one of the many organizations that support “green” and the environment?

• Did you orchestrate your new packaging introduction to coincide with Earth Day or other environmental events?

• Have you submitted your green product to the numerous packaging associations’ opportunities for environmental awards?

• Have you submitted your package to any of the non packaging related organizations that have “environmental” awards?

• Do you have a plan in place that your entire staff understands and utilizes to build your “green” brand?

• Do they believe in being “green” (very important)?

• Have you looked at any websites such as treehugger.com (great site with lots about packaging) to see what they are doing?

I just saw this:
“The last day to enter our “Unexpected Green” Contest is quickly approaching – this Friday, May 5th. Just as a quick refresher, we are looking for green items you have found in normally not so green places, big box retailers, mall stores, the Exxon-Mobil gift shop (OK that might be a bit of a stretch). Send your “unexpected green” items to: CONTEST@treehugger.com and tell us that the product is, where you found it, and why you think it was an unexpected find. So, if you want to get your hands on the contest prize, a $350 gift certificate from Earth is sure to get your entries in pronto to contest@treehugger.com”Sure it seems a bit far fetched but Treehugger lives in the blogosphere world and we all know how important blogging is to the media. Try a quick GOOGLE search for “green packaging.” Yes, there are a few products listed but what is more important is what is not there. A huge area of untapped marketing potential is available for increasing the visibility for your packaging products.

No matter how unusual the opportunity seems you cannot under estimate that will see and read about your “green” brand. Let me use a personal experience as an example: I wrote two e-zine issues entitled “Earth Day Battle: Packaging VS the Environment.” I received lots of new inquiries from all over the globe with a simple headline.

The branding issue I want you to think about is: (1) is your “green” packaging product is a flash in the pan? (2) Has there been serious brand integration of the “green” message throughout your company? (3) Are you using your “green” message in all the promotion, literature and media exposure? Remember it’s never too early to plan your “green” branding campaign for Earth Day 07 and to maximize your brand.

Packaging Experts, Packaging Consultants, Packaging Speakers:

The Public Relations Department at Packaging University can connect you with the country’s top leaders, experts, consultants and speakers, in packaging and related industries. Our experts work in all facets of packaging and they will speak with you about new innovations, trends, legislation, technology, and other packaging news. Contact us if you need experts to interview, article ideas, news, hot topics, or quotes, opinions, and insights from prestigious sources.

Go to PackagingUniversity.com and get your free special report: “Why Packaging Fails” by JoAnn Hines Packaging Diva.

Attention inventors! Look for our new white paper “Packaging Your Invention to Sell” available soon at PackagingUniversity.com

Article By: JoAnn Hines Posted By: elgunvo (Ashley Johnson)

Posted under Corporate, How To's & Guides

What is Green Energy?

Green energy is all about the production of 100% renewable electricity which typically originates from wind turbines, solar panels and hydro. Its paramount purpose is to combat the emissions of carbon dioxide with zero tolerance vis a vis the involvement of fossil fuels. Good Energy and Ecotricity are lucent examples of green energy suppliers. Doubtlessly, they are conquering the market by offering competitive prices and having the environment at heart. By switching from a conventional energy supplier to a green one, you are also proving that you care for the environment.

What about Green appliances then?

Green appliances have grown in importance and popularity as they stand out to help customers like you and me and above all, the environment. Rooted in their design, they operate similarly to ordinary appliances, with the exception of being energy efficient. They save you money and tackle the problem of climate change as less CO2 is released.

Below is a list of greeny stuffs one should begin to consider:

Green Energy is the Best! It is Anti-CO2 and it makes your bill smile too J

• Apply to a Green Energy company such as Good Energy which supplies 100% renewable electricity. Read our article on Good Energy to understand how it rescues our planet.
• Even conventional energy companies such as EDF offer green tariffs.
• You can install your own domestic wind turbine and/or solar panel depending on your location. Why depend on coal and oil when you can benefit from wind and sun?
• Switch your normal light bulbs to eco ones which utilise 80% less energy and once switched on, they shine as brightly as ordinary bulbs. Your bill will drop significantly.
• We encourage you to buy the Energy Saving Recommended Green Appliances as they are the most energy efficient appliances available on the market. For your information, this brand is a government body that certifies green appliances which ecoswitch.com is currently reviewing.
• Check for the Energy Saving Recommended Green Appliances logo on the products before you buy.  
• Make the switch to an energy efficient dishwasher which saves 40% of energy. It lowers both your electricity and water bills. Among the most popular ones is the Whirlpool ADG 7560 model.
• Choose an Integrated Digital TV (IDTV) instead of a standard one as the former saves you money on your energy bills.
• Order a green kettle as it can reduce your electricity bill by 20%.
• Eco fridges and freezers are designed to reduce emissions of CO2 and alleviate the use of electricity by 60%. The result will reflect on your bills too.
• Cut your energy consumption by 1/3 when doing your laundry by buying a green washing machine instead of an ordinary one.
• An Energy Saving Recommended printer uses about 25% less power when being switched on and 40% less in sleep or standby mode when compared to a normal printer.
• Instead of a desktop buy a laptop, or even better, an eco laptop such as Asus, MacBook or Sony. Desktops might be cheaper in price but they use ten times more energy than laptops.
• Cooking is a passion for most of us. Why not enjoy cooking whilst using less energy with an A/A energy rated oven such as the Leisure LEVC66W 50cm Double oven or the Leisure 100cm CM101FRKP Dual Fuel Range Cooker?
• Did you know that cooking in a microwave saves more energy than in a conventional oven? How more efficient will your cooking time be if you use an microwave oven such as the Whirlpool AMW510.
Now that you know the tricks, stop thinking that you were born to pay excessive bills. Make your money worth it and be gentle to our environment!

Posted under Gas & Electricity, House & Home, How To's & Guides, Money & Finance, Renewable Energy

There is no escape from paying bills. The continuous rise in gas and electricity prices does not ease the situation either. But fortunately, you can change your lifestyle habits which will not only cause a drastic reduction in your bills, but will also save energy and the planet too.

Save Energy and Start Paying your Bills With A Smile:

1. Switch off every light when you leave the room

2. For background sound, favour the radio over the TV

3. Unplug your devices after the battery is charged. For example, mobiles

4. Use a washing line or drying racks, rather than an electric drier

5. Avoid keeping your room thermostat more than 21C

6. Keep the water thermostat less than 60C

7. Boil your kettle with only the amount of water needed

8. Use the water once the kettle is boiled to avoid reheating

9.      Remove washed clothes from washing machine within 2 hours to avoid rewashing

10. Hang your clothes after ironing to avoid another ironing session due to creasing

11. Utilise the eco setting on your washing machine and/or dishwasher

12.    Keep your fridge running properly by defrosting it regularly

13. Turn off the dishwasher prematurely to allow the heat inside complete the job

14. If you have a heater, programme it to drop by half or off after an hour

15. During the day draw the curtains to allow free light to penetrate

16. At dusk close your curtains to retain the heat

17. Keep the back of your fridge clean to boost its efficiency

18.    Switch to a green energy provider such as Good Energy or EcoTricity

Save Water As It Saves Life:

1. Use baths sparingly

2.      Utilise a (non power) shower

3. Use a bucket of water for car washing rather than a hose

4.      Use a watering jug for plants

5.      Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth

6. When washing by hand, use a bowl to soap dishes and avoid running water

7.      When rinsing, use warm water to speed up washing.

8. Use hot water from the kettle to degrease the sink rather than bleach

9. Favour the plunger over the toxic unblocking solution

10. Make sure that you turn off all taps properly after use

11. Check that there are no leaks in the water pipe system

Be Green and Wise in the Kitchen:

1. Use a toaster to make toast instead of a grill as the toaster is more energy efficient

2. Boil water in a kettle to use for cooking

3. Remove contents from the fridge to cool to room temperature before cooking

4. Maximise the efficiency of your fridge by keeping it full

5. Use a pan matching the amount of food to be cooked

6. Use the smallest pan as far as you can

7. Use a pan that matches the size of the burner, not smaller, to avoid 30% of heat loss

8. Cover the pan with a lid to avoid the loss of heat

9. Keep the oven window clean to avoid opening the oven during cooking time

10. Use the right lid for the right pan to avoid loss of heat through the peeps

11.    Turn off the heater prematurely to allow the steam to complete the cooking

12. Use less fat and liquid to cook at a quicker pace

13. Plan your cooking and make extra to freeze and reuse

14. Leftovers take less time to be reheated. Use them as quick ‘fast food’

15. Pressure cooker and microwave are more energy efficient compared to the oven

Waste can be Recycled

1. Turn your wasted vegetable and fruit peelings into compost

2. Use the compost to plant your own vegetables, fruits, herbs or flowers

3. Do not buy excessively to avoid wastage

4. Reuse aluminium foil for packing food

5.      Where possible, buy loose fruit and vegetables without the wasteful packaging

6. Donate your clothes which you do not use anymore

7. Reuse plastic objects for other purposes

8. Use plastic food containers to plant herbs

9. Use shoe boxes to store items

10. Use food before they expire to avoid wastage. If expired, convert them into compost

11. Recycle cans, paper, plastic, etc…

12. Reuse newspaper for cleaning windows, for instance

13. Think twice before buying

14. Take your Recyclable bag or Bag for life to the shop

15. Reuse old T-shirts to sleep in or when doing messy work such as painting

Good Luck!

Posted under Gas & Electricity, House & Home, How To's & Guides, Lifestyle & Fashion, Money & Finance

While the green pound may have become a mighty force, consumers have been slow to get ethical in one particular area of financial planning – and that is your mortgages. Ethical home loans currently represent a tiny fraction of the UK housing market, sold only in their thousands. But what is it that makes the mortgage go unnoticed under the ethical-spenders nose? And is it this level of public-unaware that makes us question whether a mortgage can in fact be Green – it may be so.

They’re almost everywhere now, all you have to do is type in “Green Mortgages” into your search engine and hundreds of eco-option will pop up on your screen, proposing to make life easier for you and greener for your environment. The most difficult task – if it pops up in your own search engine – is to discern which ones are authentic and have grown from stringent Environment Policy and EMS schemes, and which are the ones that have been green-washed for the benefits of the market.

With green issues breaking the headlines, more and more homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their homes, and are switching their mortgages and improving their homes to make them much more eco-friendly. However, an ethical lender is not one who just plants a few trees.

Whilst only offered by a few mortgage lenders at present, lenders that offer green mortgages are certainly becoming much more popular, and its only a matter of time before they become commonplace.

Essentially, a green mortgage aims to reduce the negative impact our homes make on the environment, and they work in one of two ways: the lender will make a donation on your behalf to environmentally friendly schemes, which in affect offsets some of the impact your home may cause; or the lender will only lend on properties that will, or currently, benefit the environment.

The Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH) defined what it is to be a lender of a green mortgage:

A green mortgage offers a financial incentive that encourages the homeowner to buy or work towards a high energy performing home.

A green mortgage may also offer incentives for other positive environmental features of a new or existing home.

A green lender encourages customers to buy or work towards an energy performing home.

A green mortgage offers one or more financial incentives linked to the home’s energy use.

The Ethical Investors Group (EIG) classified mortgage lenders in terms of their ethical positioning:

• Category 1 Very few mortgage lenders will be filed in this category. They are very selective about the attributes of the property they will lend on, so the average home would not qualify. The most common properties that this type of loan is made on are derelict buildings and environmentally friendly new-build properties.
• Category 2 These will be institutions that operate an ethical policy, or apply some form of environmental criteria or standards to their loans. Their business may be run according to an ethical code of conduct, and they may even exclude customers that operate in an unethical way. And it will not be uncommon for a category two lender to offer special mortgage terms of discounts to borrowers that meet environmental standards on their properties.
• Category 3 Mutual lenders, such as building societies, who are owned by their customers and not their shareholders, are found here. Because mutuals do not lend to companies, your interest payments won’t be used to lend to companies that may act in unethical ways.
• Category 4 Includes banks that were once building societies but are now run and owned by shareholders, and as such are no longer mutual. If a lender implements a comprehensive ethical policy when dealing with companies it could climb to category two, if it chooses not to it will drop to five.
• Category 5 This category is formed of most high street banks, or ex-building societies that are now owned by banks. These organisations are ranked according to how much they contribute to both society and the environment.

So there we have it, the green mortgage, we may choose to understand, works in the same way as if we were calculating our carbon footprint – it is not what the product claims to be on face value, instead, a green mortgage is the ‘hidden’ policies it implements to benefit the environment, on a local, nation, and international scale.

Posted under Articles, How To's & Guides, Money & Finance

The way preservative works, essentially, is by killing cells and preventing them from cultivating and multiplying. This is why the majority of preservatives are found in our foodstuffs and certain products which rely on bacteria and fungi prevention to make it through that long journey that ends with our shopping baskets. It has been part of the status quo to check the back of a packet, to really know what it is you’re buying. But did you know that preservative chemicals are also used in the bulk of our cosmetic and body care industry?

Research shows that there can be a considerable amount of bacterial and fungi contamination occurring during in the manufacturing of a variety of products. Corporate officials will usually point the blame at consumers for introducing microbes into a product, for instance; dipping fingers into tubs, leaving caps off, buying inappropriate large quantities, incorrect storage, etc. This is encouraging formulators to add more and more cocktails of preservatives to the mix, rather than simply addressing the problem at a factory-floor level.

The truth is, no preservative will prevent contaminants from getting into your product – their purpose is to keep bacterial growth to an absolute minimum. So the chances are, preservatives included or not, there will be some trace of bacteria in your daily cosmetics.

No harm in that, right? The widespread concern about the use of body care and cosmetic preservatives stems from a simple science – that being, the human skin is comprised of living cells and the essential function of preservatives is to kill cells at some level. Even if they are used in small quantities, preservatives present a risk to the integrity of the skin and to the rest of the body, if they were to enter your bloodstream. Because of this, preservative are measured under standards of control. However, no single preservative, synthetic or natural, satisfy the complete criteria, which is why cosmetics will include a mixture of several regulating preservatives in one given product.

Mercury-based preservatives such as thimerosal are often used in eye makeup and eye makeup remover. Scientists have correlated these neurotoxin chemicals to harmful eye damage through long-term exposure.

Other commonly used cosmetics preservatives include those that end in EDTA (e.g. disodium EDTA) which can irritate skin and effect mucus membranes, and their disposal often has a negative impact on the environment. EDTA preservatives are renowned for their inability to biodegrade and their ominous facility for binding with heavy metals in our water supply, causing them to re-enter the food chain.

And while the notion of a preservative-free cosmetic product may appeal to the majority of us, with companies adopting products based on botanicals, which claim to be preservative free, this may all be a misnomer, as the active plant ingredients used also function as preservatives.

The best advice is to think ‘truly natural’. Essential oils, sugars and grains, will not last as long as other products propose, but choosing these truly natural products will ensure an overall better skin health.

Looking for smaller plant-based products will also reduce your exposure to potentially toxic preservatives. Such products will often be hermetically sealed or come fixed with a pump, squeeze top or another metered-dose application – this allows fewer contaminants in during storage, thus systematically diminishes the need for the use of those harmful chemicals.

Posted under Articles, Companies, House & Home, How To's & Guides

Posted under Climate, Environmental News, How To's & Guides, Lifestyle & Fashion

Many people want to act in a more environmentally friendly way. Whether they are focused on the small scale, like simple lifestyle choices, or have their sights set on mountainous political heights, there are a large number of people out there who are not content to simply know about environmental issues, but want to act. Maybe you’re one of them.

It can be hard, sometimes, to decide upon the best course of action. After all, for each ‘idealist’ environmentalist activist there are a large handful of disillusioned, ‘seen-it-all before’ types who, despite caring about the environment, feel impotent to act in any meaningful way. And for each one of those people there are many hundreds of others who simply do not care about the environment at all – the global warming-denying SUV driver, the miscreant, molten wax-faced oil company executive – who will never support, let alone commit, an act of environmental kindness.

It is all too easy for cynics to dismiss individual acts as being ineffective beyond their symbolic, if not supercilious, weight. However, the very foundation of much green-thinking is the idea that small acts, if they were universalized, would make a huge difference. Even small acts, such as turning a thermostat down or only eating meat every other day would make a massive dent on an individual’s carbon footprint when multiplied over a month, a year or a lifetime.

Everyone knows how disheartening it is to try and make these changes when surrounded by cynics. We’ve all had that moment when some house-mate or relative feels obliged to ask why you’ve switched to Soya milk and, before you’ve strung the words ridiculous and carbon footprint into a sentence, they have helpfully remind you that a) you flew to Spain just last year, and not even on business or b) those are leather shoes, you cow hypocrite or c) global warming is not able to be proven, like God.
A key bit of green baiting came this week, and not just from some smart-Alex house-mate or cocky motor show presenter, but from the Prime Minister of a country.

The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has distinguished between the environmentalist who “prance around”, that is when they are not being “idle”, and the true environmentalists, his government – who have just signed up to lame-duck, compromised Kyoto. Environmental groups, the Prime Minister said, are comprised of “people who try to do something with their spare time.” He went on to add “We have signed the Kyoto protocol. Did they even stop to say thank you?”
Speaking to a group of campaigners during a visit to Rize on the Black Sea he said “Where were you until now? Why were you silent? The government is trying to do something now. Why didn’t you do anything when the fish farms were first built? There is this tendency to hit at the government and Tayyip Erdogan no matter what. You don’t have the right.”
Whilst it might be nice to imagine that the people in charge don’t normally say this kind of thing, it may well be the case that they often think it fairly loudly. Just don’t let that fact put you off your Soya milk.

Posted under Climate, Corporate, Environmental News, How To's & Guides

Officials for the Queen announced on Wednesday that the Queen is investing in the world’s largest wind turbine. The Crown Estate, property owned by the Queen, has rented out the seabed land to wind farms but has never before invested in a wind turbine.

The turbine purchased for the Crown Estate is a prototype of the world’s largest offshore wind turbine. The turbine will be built by London-based Company, Clipper Wind power. The turbine has a massive capacity with 7.5 mega watts and has been dubbed the Britannia project.

The company’s offshore manager, Ben Barton said, “This is not something we’ve ever done before and I think it will raise quite a few eyebrows.”

At a conference in Aberdeen, Barton said that the Crown Estate decided to invest in this green movement in order to overcome turbine supply difficulties.

The project is said to up and running by 2010. The company has decided on an area in North East England as a possible site for the project. Clipper Wind power has recently received support from one northeast, the Regional Development Agency for the North East of England. All the power generated from the turbine will be sold to the national grid.

“It is widely recognised that offshore wind energy will provide the majority of the required contribution needed to ensure that the UK meets its demanding renewable energy target to supply 15 per cent of our consumed energy from renewable sources by 2020,” said Rob Hastings, Director of the Marine Estates at The Crown Estate. (Quote from Clipper Wind power)

Posted under Articles, Companies, Environmental News, House & Home, How To's & Guides, Product Innovations

UN’s Environmental Programme (UNep) said this week that the world’s rich nations are dumping electronic waste in undeveloped countries, creating a “growing mountain of e-waste”. (Quoted in BBC News Online)

An estimated 50 million tonnes of waste from discarded electronic devices is generated annually. In the US alone, 40 million computers become obsolete each year.

Computers, cell phones, routers and other electronic equipment contain hazardous materials that can be released into the environment if not disposed of properly. These materials include: lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and brominated flame retardants. The burning of the materials releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere and barium and mercury can be leached into the soil.

E-waste has been said to be the fastest growing part of municipal waste in developing countries. Less than 20 percent of products on the market are built to recycle. The majority of electronic devices end up in landfills. Of that majority, 80 percent are shipped off to developing areas in China, India and several countries in Africa, where the rubbish is searched by the poor who sell the pieces for cash or it stays in the landfill. A study by Basel Action Network said that a least 100,000 computers a month enter the Nigerian port of Lagos.

Technology companies are constantly upgrading their products to keep the consumer interested and fit the times. The rate at which these products go out of date and new products arrive for sale, contributes to the quickly growing mountains of electronic devices in developing nations.

Posted under Articles, Environmental News, House & Home, How To's & Guides