Why Building Green Matters

Did you know that the indoor environment is often more polluted than the outdoor one? It's true because of the building materials we use, the inadequate lighting, and a variety of other reasons. They are also created to minimize the negative impacts on the community and on the natural environment.

A green building should:

1. Provide a healthier and more comfortable environment.

2. Incorporate energy and water efficient technologies.

3. Reduces construction and demolition wastes.

4. Includes renewable energy technologies.

5. Improves indoor air quality.

6. Is easier to maintain and built to last.

7. Brings a higher resale value.

Green Clothing for Men

Buying green clothing can be difficult enough with all of the greenwashing claims out there, but buying green clothing when you are a man is even more difficult. Finally, a solution. GreenCollective.com uses low impact dyes or even vegetable based dyes and the clothes have decent prices on them. No, they cannot comapre to Wal-Mart prices but if you are really into green living, this might be a good alternative.

Where to Buy Green Fencing

Do a search for where to buy green fencing and you will get places like Amazon.com, Nextag.com and other online sites. Come on! When you need green fencing you want to go to a real place in your town and see the actual fencing you are going to take home. So, where do you buy green fencing? I think the best place in Lowe's because they have a fencing material called Fibertech. Fibertech's composite fencing is made entirely from recycled products that were destined for the landfill, so I don't think you can go wrong with it plus you can see it, hold it, measure it and take it home with you.

An Argument Against Reusable Bags

I posted a story about the usefulness of reusable bags as a green solution to all of the plastic bags clogging all of our landfills and causing so much harm to the environment. I received an email stating that their opinion was that reusable bags aren't as green as we might be led to believe. I decided to look into the matter and this is what I found. It is very interesting.

According to environmental consultant Catherine Greener ( a great name for an environmental consultant), not all reusable bags are created equal. In fact, Greener says that there are all different shades of green when dealing with reusable bags.

Check this out: Whole Foods makes a bag from mostly recycled plastic. Greener claims that this is ecologically better than bags made from PVC or with harsh chemical dyes, but that the bags are also shipped thousands of miles from overseas, so each of these bags is actually a mixed bag that confuses consumers and experts in the environmental field.

Wal-Mart started selling a bag last year made entirely from recycled bottles, but today if offers a cheaper thinner bag that uses less plastic. On the other hand, only a third of the plastic in the new blue bag is recycled and the bag only lasts about half as long as the old one.

Bob Liliend, editor of Use Less Stuff answers the question: Even if we eliminate billions of grocery bags from the market how much good will it do? "I hate to say it, but not much," Lilienfield says. In the big picture, he says, the big fuss around shopping bags is really just a distraction.

"The bag is not the environmental bogey-person that everybody thinks it is," he says. "If you look at the entire grocery package that you bought, the bag may account for 1 to 2 percent of the environmental impact.

"The other packaging may account for 7 percent. Ninety percent is accounted for by the products you buy. That's where all the environmental impact is."

As people begin to think more about their shopping bags, Lilienfield says he hopes they'll also start to think more about what's in the bag as well.

I told you this was interesting and I hope it makes you think about. Thanks to the person who emailed me and made me think.

Reusable Bags and Other Ways to Save Money and Go Green

People often look at "going green" as an investment in the planet They often don''t realize that green living can be a great way to save money as well

People often look a "going green" as an investment in the planet. They often don''t realize that green living can be a great way to save money as well. Here''s a couple quick and easy things you can do to save the planet and some money:

First, using reusable shopping bags. This can have both direct and indirect economical impacts on your life. Each year, millions of tax dollars are spent disposing of and recycling plastic and paper bags. By reduce our use of these disposable bags with reusable bags, we can reduce the amount of tax dollars that go toward these tasks. More directly, you can receive discounts on your groceries from most stores when you bring your own bags. Grocers have to pay for the bags and they build this cost in to the cost of groceries. When you don''t use the bags, the store gives you some of that money back. In fact, I have been using the same set of reusable bags for years and the savings I have received in groceries has more than paid for the initial investment.

Change your light bulbs! Though the initial cost of CFLs (compact florescent lights) is higher than incandescent lighting, the energy savings and longevity of this switch far outweighs the few extra dollars spent up front. You''ll be reaping the benefits of this investment for years to come...

Third, reducing your dining out is, believe it or not, environmentally friendly. Fast food especially creates a lot of waste, consumes a lot of paper, and relies heavily on conventional farming methods that slowly destroy our farmlands. Of course, eating at home more will save you money. Further, most people drive when they go out to eat, which contributes to pollution.

Walk! With today''s gas prices, you can save loads by walking, biking, carpooling or taking public transportation. Don''t forget the savings on wear and tear of your vehicle as well! Less use means less maintenance! You''ll end up with a car that lasts longer, meaning that you won''t have to replace it as soon either.

Finally, you can improve the health of your lawn and the environment by using an old-fashioned reel mower to mow your lawn. You save money by having a cheaper lawnmower that doesn''t need gas or oil to operate and help the environment by reducing emissions and making your lawn healthier. The added benefit is that this is a much better workout than the lawnmowers that move on their own, so you''ll get some personal health benefits as well!

Doing one, or all, of these simple things can have a big impact on your long term electic/grocery bills as well as the environment. Next time you need a new lightbulb, opt for a CFL, and get yourself some reusable shopping bags to carry it home it! Spend less time driving, eat out less, and you''ll be well on your way to living "green" - both environmentally and fiscally.

David Kraft is a freelance author that writes about a variety of subjects. He supports eco-friendly living and green products such as reusable bags. For more information about eco-friendly living, visit his reusable shopping bags site.

Many Go Green People Have No Sense of Humor

I made a couple of posts last week that were actually intended to be sarcastic. One of them showed a nude woman from behind and stated that she had found a way to go green. The other was remarks about Kate Bosworth being green and how I felt that celebrities who say they are green actually harm the environment more than some small cities, but then I mentioned that she looked good. I was really just playing around.

I received a number of emails ripping into me for attacking a celebrity and for showing a nude body on a blog that was supposed to be serious. To all of you, I apologize. I apologize that I was not more politically correct and that each of you need to get a life. Thank you.

Have You Ever Wondered How Wind Power Works?

Diane Stroup gives a very easy to follow explanation of how wind power really works. I never knew some of what she discusses and it makes it much more easy to understand. Give it a read and see what you think.

How Does Wind Power Really Work?

Author: Diane Stroup

Wind power will eventually be vital to our planet in the near future but do you actually know how wind power works? At first glance it looks pretty self explanatory but in actuality, there is a good deal more involved. Wind power is really worthwhile for us because it can greatly reduce the pressures on our earth and it also saves us money on our bills.

Even though air merely appears like it is there and is not actually anything tangible, the truth is that air is really a liquid that is formed of gas particles. Other fluids that we are familiar with have particles that are liquid. When the wind gusts these gas particles are also in motion and create kinetic energy which can then be harnessed and converted into power.

To be able to seize this wind energy, blades are employed which are joined to a shaft. Then this shaft is attached to some kind of generator which produces available power by changing the wind energy to electricity. Basically, wind power is simply taking one type of energy and changing it into some other form of energy.

The most essential component of this process, besides wind which is pretty apparent, is the turbine blades that are spun around by the wind. These blades are produced aerodynamically similar to an airplanes wings. This design is really important to maximize the effectiveness of the turbine but something else is also important. The other critical component is simply the size of the blade. The bigger the blade is, the more energy is seized and more power can be created for us in the form of electricity.

By utilizing a blade diameter that is twice the size of another, we can step-up power output by up to four times! Much also depends on on where you live to figure out the correct blade size. In regions with low wind levels, smaller blades work better because more wind is necessary to drive the larger turbine blades. In an area that is very windy, it is much better to use the biggest blades feasible in order to use all of the wind available.

There is definitely more involved with how wind power is made but this gives you the fundamental principles of how electricity is produced from the wind. In the near future, wind power will be a good deal more common and will be used by not only big companies but also by homeowners. Today is a wonderful time to do as much research as you can about wind power so you can make wise decisions in the future.

About the Author:

If you would like to learn more about Home Wind Power, you might want to visit http://www.homewindgenerators.org

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How Does Wind Power Really Work?

How to Cut Your Environmental Impact When Using Your Car

Greg Murry gives us a great article that discusses eco-friendly car tips. Do you want to cut your environmental impact and save money at the same time. Then, you need to read this article.

EcoFriendly Car Tips - Best ecotips to cut your environmental impact and save money when using your car

Author: Greg Murry

There is no doubt that your car contributes a major cost to your budget. In many cases, your car is an invaluable way for you to get around, even if its just to the closest commute point. If you have a family, I don't have to tell you that the car is an essential part of coping with kids, shopping and commuting. As important as the car it is, everyone is now well aware of the affect cars have on the environment, let alone your wallet when petrol prices go up. However, there are a few things every car owner can do to make a difference, not only to how much you car expenses are, but also to the environmental impact of running it.

These are a few car Eco-Friendly tips that are know to be effective at saving money and being eco friendly :

• Slow down your Take-off (acceleration). Accelerate at about 0 to 60 mph in 15 seconds. Average improvement in fuel economy: 31%
• Drive the at the speed limit. Average savings: 12%
• Use cruise control on normal roads but not hilly areas. Average savings:7%
• Switch off your car if idling for more than 1 minute (eg stuck in traffic). Savings up to 14%
• Keep your tires inflated to recommended levels. Savings vary.
• Keep your tires properly aligned (check alignment every 5,000 miles)
• Purchase long-lasting, fuel-efficient Radial tires
• Turning off A/C and opening sunroof (but keep windows UP- windows down creates drag. Savings are small, but vary by vehicle.
• Combine car usage/chores and consider your route.
• The heaviest car emissions occur during the first two miles that a car is driven as the engine warms up, so for short journeys - walk or bike & keep fit.
• If buying a car, avoid the real gas guzzlers ie. automatic transmissions, larger, more powerful engines, power steering, air conditioning, and 4-wheel drive.
• Keep up car maintenance, especially ignition timing, spark plugs and idle speed setting (a poorly tuned car can loose up to 20% fuel efficiency)
• Compare different brands of gasoline - some may give you better mileage.
• If you own more than one vehicle, try to use the one with the best gas mileage.
• Drive the speed limit - you can save 15-20% by driving 65 instead of 75
• Avoid quick starts and stops.
• In general, drive as smoothly as possible and maintain a constant speed.
• Keep windows shut at high speeds.
• Don't start your car until you are ready to drive off.
• If you drive a car with a manual transmission, upshift at the lowest speed
• Have your air conditioner serviced by a trained mechanic with access to a "vampire" machine, which recycles freon. These machines drain the coolant, purify it, and reinject it into the air conditioner.
• Use antifreeze which does not contain ethylene glycol
• Avoid carrying unnecessary, heavy items around in your car. The car has to "tow" and work harder, burning more fuel.
• On trips, if at all possible avoid using roof-racks, car-top packs or towing a trailer as they produce drag, burning more fuel.
• Use the overdrive feature if available

Even applying just some of these suggestions can make a significant difference not only to your budget, but also the environment. Generally you will find, you don't have to make radical changes to your lifestyle to make differences in your environmental impact. Just a few small changes like this add up. You will find more Eco Friendly Tips on the DIYEcoEnergy website that can help you make a difference in cutting costs and going green.

About the Author:

Providing information to online users interested in living, lifestyle and marketing. Helping people find DIY and Eco-Friendly solutions to everyday living. Visit SolarDIYTips for information solar DIY solutions.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - EcoFriendly Car Tips - Best ecotips to cut your environmental impact and save money when using your car

Kate Bosworth is Green - WhoopTeeDoo

I just read that in addition to Ed Begley and Leonardo DiCaprio, we need to realize that Kate Bosworth is green too. What do I have to say about it? Who gives a great big crap if Kate Bosworth is green? I don't! You shouldn't either. What matters is if you are green or if you, at least, practice some green in your life.

I can guarantee you that celebrities who are pegged as green are way less green than any of us average normal people. One celebrity, Johnny Depp, buys an island and builds a huge green house but he travels to it in an airplane that burns more non-green emissions than any of us do in a month or even a year, so give me a break celebrities. You are all a bunch of greenwashing idiots. Thank you very much. Oh yeah, Kate Bosworth is nice to look at though, isn't she?