Archive for July, 2009

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Follow the Lead of an 11-Year Old Friday, July 31st, 2009 In June, I wrote a blog  about a site where “children celebrate giving.”  Echoage,  a charity website, allows children the hands-on opportunity to do something for the planet, their peers and even their parents!  With all the overindulging many children are accustomed to, it is refreshing to come across Echoage that offers other options besides children receiving gifts. While we want to remind everyone of this great site, there are many other charitable opportunities for kids to get involved.  It is essential for us to not only talk with our children about charity, but to also show by example that they can make a difference.  One of President Obama’s many mantras focuses on volunteering and serving your community.  According to SERVE.gov : “A new report released by the Corporation for National and Community Service finds that even during a time of prolonged economic recession, volunteering has remained steady, fueled by a compassion boom led by young adults and a wave of do-it-yourself volunteers working with their neighbors to fix problems.” My good friend’s daughter, Sydney Kulok did just this.  For her 11th birthday, she decided to make a difference.  Sydney lives in Virginia and frequently visit her grandparents in South Florida.  Her choice was to help the Loggerhead Marinelife Center  in Juno Beach, Florida.  The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is an ocean conservation organization and sea turtle hospital located adjacent to one of the most heavily nested sea turtle beaches in the world.  Their mission is to promote the conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystem through education, research, and rehabilitation, with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles.   On her birthday invitation, she informed her friends to make a contribution to save sea turtles in lieu of receiving gifts. This was completely Sydney’s idea and is the type of benevolent action we should be advocating. Sydney was kind enough to grant us an exclusive interview about her birthday decision as well as her thoughts on the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Earth Promise: Why did you decide to do this? Sydney Kulok: Because I went to the Marine Loggerhead Center once and read what happened to the Sea. Turtles and felt bad for them. I felt that if I did this it would raise money to save at least one sea turtle and make people know what’s going on EP: Do you know any friends who have done this? SK: I don’t know anyone else for certain who has done this EP: How is this different for receiving a gift? SK: When I get a gift I feel really excited but after awhile it gets old. But helping sea turtles is so different.  It is a feeling that will stay with you forever. EP: Will you encourage friends to do this? SK: More kids should definitely do this. Whatever interests them.  It could be helping animals, helping neighbors, helping your community or the environment. EP: Should parents encourage their kids to do this? SK: Yes. But not too much. Don’t force your kid because it won’t mean as much for anyone. But they should encourage their kids. EP: What would you tell the director of this Loggerhead Sanctuary? SK: Thank you for bringing this problem to our attention. I hope I can do more help. EP:  Thank you, Sydney, and Happy Birthday! Tags: birthday party, camp, carbon footprint, chairty, change, changes, charitble giving, climate change, donate, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, echoage, eco-friendly, energy, energy efficient, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green changes, green future, green hour, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, Juno Beach, Loggerhead, nature, Obama, organic, party ideas, President Obama, serve.gov Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

myEarth360 Product Review and Special Offer! Friday, July 24th, 2009 Usually through my internet surfing, I come across sites to review.  This time, myEarth360.com  contacted me about using and reviewing a few of their ultra-cool green products.    Before I agreed to evaluate their products I spent some time on the site. Ok, I thought, one of the many “green” hyped sites that sell eco-products.  But I must admit, this site caught my attention.  myEarth360  “where everything you buy counts for our Earth,” was created by Lynn Hasselberger.  This eco-mom on a mission first started her environmental agenda about the impact of pollutants on the planet when she sold reusable water bottles to sell at her son’s school.  Hasselberger then “developed I Count for myEARTH, a fun, interactive school program that promotes a green, eco-conscious lifestyle.”  The whole story  behind the initiation of myEarth360 is worth a read.   So, what do they sell?  Products you and your family uses every day.  From household products (BioBags – that I reviewed– kitchen cleaning solutions); art, school and business supplies; books, clothing, greeting cards, water purification, glass straws, etc.  myEarth360 has an earth-friendly version of items we use every day. Most of these products you can purchase elsewhere (other online retailers, brick and mortar stores) but the best part about myEarth360 is that you can sign up your school or organization in the Shop & Share Program  to receive a percentage of the sales.  Even if your sales will not go towards a specific school/organization, myEarth360 donates a portion of their sales to the National Environmental Education Foundation.    As I opened up my goody package from myEarth360, I was impressed by their eco-packaging.  The personalized note from Lynn Hasselberger was written on recycled paper and the products were wrapped in recyclable/reusable packaging.  The first item was the SKOY cloth .  It is to be used in place of your everyday sponges and paper towels.  It can even be washed in the dishwasher or zapped in the microwave (be sure it’s wet!) granting it a longer life. “It is a European made product and 100% biodegradable because it is made from a natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp. SKOY cloth is a chlorine-free product using water-based colors and inks. After an independent composting test, SKOY cloth broke down completely within 5 weeks.”   I absolutely love the SKOY cloth.  It doesn’t have that nasty stench my regular sponges get. (And I do try to disinfect my sponges by zapping them in the microwave). Standard sponges actually contain plastic which is just another product that is a derivative of oil.  According to Green Living Tips, “There’s an added environmental danger with many synthetic sponges these days; often they are impregnated with chemicals such as Triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent and is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as being a pesticide. It’s also used in many antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and cosmetics.” These SKOY cloths come in a variety of designs and colors.  I cannot wait to order a package of these! The next items I was privy to receive were the Aspenware Biodegradable Wood Utensils  and the VerTerra Eco-friendly Party-Ready Plates.  Like the SKOY cloth, these products are reusable many times if rinsed off thoroughly.  The Aspenware utensils are feather-light and (although not of the most importance) pretty chic looking compared to the basic plastic utensils.  Perfect to tote along for a picnic or school/work lunch.  My daughter was a bit skeptical about using a “wooden” spoon with her cereal, (“I might get a splinter in my mouth!”), but she was pleasantly surprised by the smooth texture.  Rinsing off was simple and they dry quickly.  A definite thumbs up!  “Aspenware cutlery is made from birch and aspen — hardwoods that are ordinarily burnt or left to rot during regular industrial logging. Each package is made of paper and cellulose (not plastic); and contains 12 forks, spoons, or knives for only $5.99. Only $4.99 per set when you buy in quantities of three.”   I was sent one small VerTerra plate to try.  A bit rough-looking on the edges, this plate is truly sturdy compared to a paper plate.  Although it states “single-use” they can be reused if rinsed off thoroughly.  It is not recommended to use for raw foods (i.e. sushi) as I suppose bacteria would be challenging to wash off completely.  These, too, are quite lightweight and are great for picnics and school/work lunches. VerTerra dinnerware is created from fallen palm leaves, gathered and pressed into distinctive shapes. Using fair wage labor and sustainable production methods Verterra is the elegant, guilt-free choice to help make a difference in the world one party at a time. * All natural — chemical and bleach free * Non toxic — no plastics or waxes * Naturally biodegrades in two months after disposal * 100% compostable * No trees or plants cut down — made from fallen leaves * Microwave, oven, and refrigerator-safe Package of 8 for $6.99 Be sure to take full advantage of the fantastic offer myEARTH360 is offering:  Earth Promise readers get a 10% discount on your first purchase! Simply enter the code PROMISE10 and you will get 10% off of your order. Tags: carbon footprint, change, changes, climate change, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, Green as a Thistle, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, Lynn Hasselberger, myearth360, organic, picnic, plates, recycle, reduce, reuse, utensils Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

A 366 Day Eco-Journey Monday, July 20th, 2009 Echoing Julia & Julia, Julie Powell’s daily-blog-turn-book concept of partaking in a 365 day life altering journey (tackling all 524 of Julia Child’s recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking), Toronto journalist, Vanessa Farquharson  decided to use 366 days to document her days moving into a “greener” lifestyle.  Vanessa’s challenge was to post her daily tips on her blog, Green As A Thistle . With a dash of wit and drawing her audience into a world swarming with environmental tips, Vanessa’s audience grew.  Day 366 came and her challenge was complete (even though she did continue her blog, but just not on a daily basis).  June 2009 her book, Sleeping Naked is Green: How an Ec0-cynic unplugged her Fridge, Sold Her Car and Found Love in 366 Days was born.  The blog, is more of an eco-advisor filled with how-to tips, while the book, Sleeping Naked is Green is more of a memoir that is an inspiration to all.  Everyone can make a small change each day, that will make a difference. Mother Nature Network  offers a fabulous review of Vanessa Farquharson’s debut book, as well as interview.   As a twenty-something Canadian journalist and self-proclaimed sustainability-novice, Farquharson challenged herself to make one green change to her life every day for an entire year and blog about it along the way. Over the year, she tackled the radical (e.g. unplugging her refrigerator and foregoing toilet paper) and the small (e.g. streamlining her beauty care products and attempting to date green), while trying not to alienate her friends or family by turning into a “smug hippie.” To read more, click here. Tags: carbon footprint, change, changes, climate change, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, Green as a Thistle, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, Julia & Julia, organic, recycle, reduce, reuse, Vanessa Farquharson Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

An Open Letter to President Obama About the Environment – Repost Monday, July 20th, 2009 In addition to marking the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon, today also marks 6 months since President Obama took the oath of office.  Six months.  Wow, it seems longer than that.  It is good to see that even with all the items on his agenda, from two wars to a financial crisis to working out the healthcare issues and more, that he has kept the environmental issues at the forefront.  His goals remain and we need to help in any way to show him their importance so they can be achieved.  In honor of this 6 month milestone, I am reposting an entry written the day before the inauguration and will post on his official websites and others today and invite everyone to do the same.   Spread the word on this letter or write one of your own.  Either way, let your opinions be heard.      Dear President Obama, Congratulations to you, your family, to this country and all others around the world.  With you as our president, many aspects of our society will improve as we leave one administration and start another.  Today is a day of service your wife has led, Martin Luther King Day, and the final countdown to your inauguration.  While you have a lot to turn your attention to, I ask you to make the environment and the climate crisis a focal point.  It is connected to so many aspects of our lives and policies, and as you have indicated, it is important to make it one of our top priorities.  I am the Founder of Earth Promise (www.earthpromise.com), an online community dedicated to bringing people together who want to take better care of the environment.  We provide an easy way for people to make, track and keep promises about actions that will benefit the earth.  I am writing today to learn about your Earth Promises and how you can impact those made by others.  You are the leader to move us forth.  President Bush did not view this as a top priority.  I ask you to please make it one. Why am I writing this letter to you?  It is for Sasha and Malia.  It is for my two daughters.  It is for their generation and the ones that follow.  Yes, we will pay the price for inaction on this issue.  But left as is, it will get worse and worse for them.     We all need to think about the environment, and how it affects us and our future generations.  The polar bears, the trees, the ice caps cannot speak.  We need to take action and help them.   We need to take action to protect them.  We need to take action and speak for them.  I think Dr. Seuss said it best in his book The Lorax, written WAY ahead of its time (1971).  “I am the Lorax.  I speak for the trees.” We need to speak for the trees. Your New Energy Plan for America is an outline for success in this area with support.  We need the backing of politicians and corporations to help us down the path to fix this crisis.  We also need the average person.  They need to be educated on the impact of global warming and know they can take steps to help.  While there are many sites, TV shows, and movies about this issue, no voice can come through stronger to people than yours.  Speak for the trees. An individual has many opportunities to take action and make Earth Promises or changes in their lifestyles to benefit the environment.  From reducing ones use of water, electricity, and gas and reducing the amount of waste, all of us can make a difference.   These potential changes can be seen in all aspects of our lives from the home and school to shopping and food to travel and cars.  Many are easy steps that may not appear to be a lot on its own, but when many people take similar actions, the impact grows exponentially.  You can help with these Earth Promises as well.  We need your help to generate momentum to create programs that enable, incent and drive groups of people to make these Earth Promises.  Encouraging schools to implement recycling programs and give them an incentive to do so.  For top schools, maybe that incentive is new energy efficient computers, or even a trip to visit you.  The effect of such a program will not only have a direct effect on the environment but will teach students about the crisis.  Think of the viral impact.  How about working with retailers to eliminate the use of plastic bags?  Give a tax credit not just for being in a certain tax bracket, but for taking action to help the environment.  What about a program revolving around planting trees?  While many people are already taking steps to help the environment, there are still many who are not.  We need to change them from just thinking green to acting green.  With your words, with your guidance, with your encouragement, you can make these Earth Promises part of the lives of more and more people.  As my colleagues and I worked on taglines for Earth Promise, we kept coming up with ones that included the word Change.  Of course, you ended up taking a lot of the good ones! But it is what we need to do regarding global warming and the climate crisis.  In the end, we decided on a tagline that works as well.  It is Caring Together.  We need to care for this planet, care for our trees and animals, and care for ourselves.  But mostly, together we need to care for our future generations.  For our daughters, and for our future. I wish you nothing but the best as you steer this country down the path it needs to go. Regards, Adam Berg Founder, Earth Promise www.earthpromise.com Tags: administration, Barack Obama, carbon footprint, climate change, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy efficient, environment, environmental issues, global warming, green changes, green economy, green living, green practices, green tips, inauguration, Obama, politics, President, President Obama, white house Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

BioBags Put To The Test Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 I was very excited when my BioBag Lawn & Leaf Bags arrived in the mail.  Perfect timing as my hedges needed to be trimmed back a bit.  Usually, I use the thick, black lawn bags to collect my shrubbery trimmings.  Even with these heavy duty ones, twigs do poke through. Although on the site  they say the BioBag Lawn & Leaf bags can hold up to 33 gallons, I must say, this claim made me a bit wary: the bags felt quite delicate.  How were my thorny branches going to remain in the bag?  I decided to cut the twigs into smaller pieces than I usually do and this definitely helped.  A few poked out, but I was able to tie the bag closed. (On the website, it mentions that the bags “even come with a removable tear-strip at the top of each bag for easy tying.”  Mine didn’t have this tear strip, but I had no problem closing up the bags).    The mere fact that these bags are biodegradable is just fantastic.  Whether you have your own compost or your local waste management separately picks up lawn clippings, you can feel good that one less plastic bag will take thousands of years to decompose.   I was also privy to receive one of BioBags newer products.  It was one of their BioBag Shopping Bags.  Adorned with fresh looking apples and the BioBag logo, the double handled bag will be added to my ever-growing cloth bag collection.  The best part?  It can eventually be used to collect compostable scraps (or lawn clippings!) and tossed into the compost bin.  The BioBag Shopping Bags  can be made with your store logo and are “For supermarket chains, health-food stores, etc., who wish to contribute to a better environment as well as enhance their environmental profile, the BioShop bag is an excellent choice.” This is, no doubt, one Earth Promise I will be adding: purchase BioBags in lieu of plastic garbage bags. Tags: biobag, biodegradable, biodegradable bags, carbon footprint, change, changes, climate change, compost, decompose, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green changes, green future, green hour, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, landfills, Martha Stewart, nature, Oprah, organic, outdoor, plastic bags, polyethene, reuse, whole foods Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

It’s Time To Change The World Monday, July 13th, 2009 You may have a heroic social and/or environmental proposal to change the world; to make our earth a little bit better.  Where do you start?  How do you spread the word so that everyone, globally, can take part in the change you are initiating?  Yes, there is Facebook and Twitter.  You may even have your own website to share your vision.  Is this adequate in today’s cyber cafe? Two of my earlier blog posts (The Big Green Bus and Christopher Swain) are just two of the many social and environmental eco-Agents identified on the Changents website.  Changents  “connects Agents of Change with a fan base of ‘Backers’ around the world, enabling them to create change together.”  The best part about Changents is that it brings global awareness about uniquely fascinating people and their do-good actions.  Combining storytelling and social networking, Changents, partnered with Timberland and EarthKeepers , promotes these praiseworthy environmental ambassadors (and their adventures) in the hopes of gathering supporters from around the globe. So how does it work?  To start, you can nominate a “Change Agent” (meaning yourself, a person you know, a group of people, etc) or if you don’t have a nomination to share, but feel the do-good itch, you can visit the Take Action  page and search through the myriad of action requests.  For example, two of Changents’ many environmental stewards, Sami Nerenberg & Nate Bastien, are requesting people to try to find lead in your home .  Other  agents who are looking for some support are: Colin McCullough,  requesting backers to support and “ follow our progress as we journey across the U.S. filming an eco-video series for kids about renewable energy and sustainable living, done by a kid!” Dorothy Royal-Hedinger  who is exploring America’s sustainable Food landscape.   Just say you want to locate a Change Agent in your community?  No problem.  The Changents’ site clearly provides the option to focus by area (disaster, environment, energy) or location. Here at Earth Promise, we believe this broadcasting of social change combined with environmental awareness is the key to a better world.  “We’re in this together. Let’s start right now.” Tags: agents, carbon footprint, change, Changents, changes, christopher swain, clean water, climate change, colin mccullough, dorothy royal hedinger, earth, earth promise, earthkeepers, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, organic, recycle, reduce, reuse, The Big Green Bus Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Green Restaurant Dining Friday, July 10th, 2009 With our wallets being tight these days, it is justifiable to be a bit choosy as to where and what to eat.  Lime  posted an article concerning the decisions we make when selecting an eco-responsible restaurant.   “…with restaurants, being green goes beyond the food they serve — restaurants can, and should, be conservative with energy usage, use eco-responsible construction methods, and treat their staff fairly. Do a little research on the restaurants in your area, or before you travel to other cities, to find businesses that care about the environment.”   Click here to read more about how to make the best choices when dining out. Do you have any sustainable restaurants that you reccommend?  We, at Earth Promise, would love to know all about it! Tags: carbon footprint, change, changes, christopher swain, climate change, dining, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, organic, recycle, reduce, reuse Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Big Green Bus is on a Mission Thursday, July 9th, 2009 June 16th, fifteen eco-eds from Dartmouth College packed up their modified 1989 MCI motor-coach bus for a summer adventure that is making a difference.  This eco-mobile (aka, the Big Green Bus), has been gutted and now fitted with a living area, kitchen, solar panels, surround sound, LCD TVs, sleeping areas, and wireless internet. Since this is an environmental road trip, the fuel du jour is WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil).  They don’t purchase large plastic jugs of this bio-fuel, but rather “go dumpster diving behind restaurants and fast food joints to get our grease (always after asking politely first though).” Believe it or not, this is the fifth road trip Dartmouth students have ventured on to educate America on environmental issues.  This green journey across the country has  a mission that is clear: “With a grass roots approach, meeting American citizens one-on-one across the country where they live and work and play, we can prompt individual action and lifestyle changes that will all add up to a difference for the future.”  Just like we proclain here at  Earth Promise , any change that we make in our everyday life, whether large or small, will improve the earth’s condition and can have a tremendous effect when grouped together.  The passion from these college students to promote sustainable living practices is genuine; and it will make a difference.   The bus itself is an impressive motorized learning tool.  Housed on The Big Green Bus are  “green living” exhibits the students are sharing along the way.  They are promoting sustainable agendas that include: reduce, reuse, and recycle; energy efficiency; cleaner and renewable energy and fuel; food choices; and action through voting on the local, state, and national levels.   Be sure to visit their site  to read all about how the diesel engine works using the WVO; or get to know each of the incredible stewards involved on this journey.  And what a perfect stay-cation idea!  If you check their schedule and see that the Big Green Bus will be rolling through near you, you just might pick up some pertinent green information.  By the way, if you have any extra vegetable oil, I’m sure they will gladly take it! Tags: big green bus, bio-fuel, carbon footprint, change, changes, christopher swain, clean water, climate change, Dartmouth, disposal, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, organic, recycle, reduce, reuse, solar panels Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

A Swimming Journey to Support Clean Water Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 What would you do for the planet earth?  As I blog, Nathan Winters  is in the midst of uniting his love of nature and biking across the continent to bring attention to the conservation of land and nature.  On April 22, 2009, Christopher Swain, born and raised in New England, started a swim down the Atlantic coast down to Washington, D.C., to “put the problems facing our water planet squarely in the public eye.”  This is no new feat for Swain.  He previously has combined his love of the earth’s most abundant resource with his passion for swimming.  In a nutshell:  Swain swims our polluted waterways to in hopes to bring worldwide support for clean water.  Some of his past swimming-for-clean-water-awareness feats include: the Columbus River, the Hudson River, Lake Champlain and the Charles River. Swain’s present “1000+ mile swim from Marblehead, Massachusetts to Washington, DC, isn’t just designed to raise awareness of the challenges facing the ocean, but to help students in over 2,000 classrooms launch projects designed to improve the health of our waterways and our world.” Be sure to visit Christopher Swain’s site  so that you can follow and support his every stroke. Tags: carbon footprint, change, changes, christopher swain, clean water, climate change, disposal, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, organic, polluted waterways, recycle, reduce, reuse, swim, swimming Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Change The World Wednesday Friday, July 3rd, 2009 Yes, I know today is not Wednesday!  Reduce Footprints , though, encourages a positive weekly challenge: Change The World Wednesday.   This eco-challenge  is  driven by the  belief that “if we all do the same green activity during the same week, we’ll have an (enormous) impact.”   When I first came across this blog-site, I knew Reduce Footprints and Earth Promise were a perfect match. Their weekly challenge’s ideology parallels to Earth Promise’s goal: “One small Earth Promise that a person makes can grow with the care and attention that is needed. Let’s say, you promise to use recycled paper. On its own, it does not appear to be much. But what if 100 people made that same promise? What about 1,000 people? Or 1 million? Or we can think of it differently. What if you told ten friends about the promise you made and then they told ten friends and so on. That can turn into a lot of people. In both instances, this one single promise has a very positive impact on the environment. That is powerful.” So here’s this week’s Change The World Wednesday Challenge from Reduce Footprints: Earlier this week, President Obama announced a plan to make lighting our homes and businesses more energy efficient. So, let’s do our part: Replace at least one incandescent bulb in your home with either a CFL or LED bulb. Since lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill, it is a no brainer to switch.  According to Energy Star,  compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) “last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes. That would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars.” The majority of my traditional bulbs have been replaced in my house.  I’m just waiting for the last few energy gulping incandescent bulbs to burn out to make the lighting in my home fully energy saving .  Since I began the bulb swap a few years ago, I’ve recently encountered the disposal dilemma: CFLs contain mercury, which complicates their disposal.  Although there is a small amount of mercury compared to the traditional incandescent bulb, the CFL’s should truly be recycled rather than sent to the landfill where the bulb will most likely break, and this is where the mercury will be released into the air or water. You may be surprised to learn that your local recycling program may offer separate pick-up for CFL’s, Flourescent bulbs, batteries, oil, etc.  Give them a call to find out.  You can also try to locate a recycling drop-off center on Earth911 (found in the middle of the Earth Promise home page.)  Conveniently, many stores, including IKEA, Home Depot and ACE Hardware will take your burnt out CFL’s to recycle.  This seems like an easy enough assignment even for the neophyte greenie!  If all your lights have been switched, then make a point of spreading the word to join the Reduce Footprints  challenge.  Use word of mouth, send a Tweet, update your FaceBook status; just imagine the impact we can make working together.  As citizens we share this important responsibility. Tags: carbon footprint, CFLs, change, changes, climate change, disposal, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-blogger, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green challenge, green changes, green future, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, mercury, nature, organic, recycle, reduce, reduce footprints, reuse Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

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