Posts Tagged ‘green tips’
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Thursday, June 17th, 2010
 Walk into any school lunchroom (well, school is over now) or summer-camp cafeteria and what do you see? Single serving containers! Everything, unfortunately, comes single-serving: utensils, yogurt, cheese, crackers/chips, popsicles, juice/water, I can go on and on. But this is not limited to the children’s arena. In offices or at home, too, you can find a plethora of single serving food and drinks. Oatmeal, coffees (Starbucks VIA ready Brew) or coffee pods that you (yikes!) throw away. At least compost, please. How about Crystal Light’s single serve powders that I’ve seen people empty into their plastic water bottles. Now that’s a double eco-whammy! Don’t get me started on the condiments.
The one single serving product I remember vividly as a kid: mini cereal boxes. Not only are most of these horridly unhealthy (that’s a whole different blog), but they sit right beside their larger counterparts on the grocery store shelves. Talk about a marketing ploy: what kid wouldn’t want that cute mini box of Fruit Loops? I have seen large platters of these stacked boxes, in neat pyramids, I might add, at hotels as part of the free continental breakfasts.
I find it surprising that these single-serve products are not only still here, but more and more seem to be available. As consumers, we are growing more concerned about the environment and demanding more eco-friendly products and packaging. To many of us, then, it’s a no-brainer. Single-serving products are more expensive and use more packaging which is therefore, wasteful. Corporations, though, always feel the need to be one step ahead of its consumers. With obesity on the rise, these “single servings” are supposed to help with portion control. Wouldn’t you think purchasing a larger container of yogurt (cheaper) and using a reusable container (better for the environment)be the better choice? Unfortunately, in the fast paced world that we live in, the battle of convenience often trumps the opportunity cost and that’s sad.
Here are two blog posts that I found interesting about single serving products.
Fake Plastic Fish
Growing a Greener Family
Tags: eco-friendly, green ideas, green tips, single serve, single serving, VIA Ready Brew, water bottles
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Thursday, May 6th, 2010
 The Garbage of Jupiter Beach, Winner of the Best Green Short Delray Beach Film Festival 2010, was written, directed and produced by Cyndi Lenz and Tina Valant (a friend of EarthPromise) is the still photographer for this winning documentary. How exciting to have such an award winner right in our backyard! By the title of this environmental documentary, you’d think it was solely pertaining to a beach clean-up group. Oh, but it is so much more…..
So how did this all come about? Dog lover and Jupiter resident, Anita Lankler, enjoyed going to Jupiter beach with her furry friends, but soon found out there were many who were opposed to the droppings left behind. Spearheaded by Anita, a remarkable woman who tirelessly took on the position of leader and administrator, formed a dedicated group of volunteers, cleverly dubbed, The Friends of Jupiter Beach. They decided to make a deal with the city – not only will dog owners pick up after their dogs, but they will clean up the beach allowing humans and dogs to enjoy the beaches harmoniously.
In 1994, a prototype doggy–doo plastic bag was presented to the Jupiter Town Council to be used for beach clean-up and today there are over 250,000 bags printed a year. Volunteers from The Friends of Jupiter Beach go weekly to replenish these bags. Also, the first Saturday of every month for the past 15 years there is an organized beach clean-up. All different groups and ages participate including Cub Scouts, middle schools, colleges, and just plain dog lovers who show up to pick up trash and even sort out the recyclables. A local company also plays a part, Rapid Removal, and takes the recyclables to the Solid Waste Authority. Everyone helping to keep our landfills to a minimum! One Saturday, there were over 300 volunteers. As of August 2006 (when they started calculating the weight of trash collected) over 20,000 pounds of trash had been collected from Jupiter Beach! “The weight of a fire truck!” one woman proclaims. Now that gives you some perspective.
So who pays for all of the doggy-poop bags, signage, and complimentary beach clean-up breakfast? The devoted volunteers from this small beach town, along with local sponsors keep it going. Anita Lankler passed away in 2003, but The Friends of Jupiter Beach work diligently to keep her vision alive. Together the volunteers maintain her promise of allowing dogs and dog lovers to enjoy the beaches.
Watching the film, The Garbage of Jupiter Beach, makes you want to jump right in. Not only does it look enjoyable (the catchy tunes and adorable photos of the dogs add to it), but all the assistance obviously contributes to keeping the beaches clean, saving the marine life and keeping the mangroves free of debris. (For information on what mangrove forests protect, click here.) This is the message director, Cyndi Lenz is sending. Work together as a town and you can make a world of difference. The people who have spent time volunteering receive a sense of satisfaction that is immeasurable and it is obvious through this film.
Be sure to visit Cyndi Lenz’s website, where you can watch the trailer of this award winning environmental documentary. If you live in the area, there will be a screening of The Garbage of Jupiter Beach at the Mosart Theater in North Palm Beach on Sunday May 9th.
Tags: Anita Lankler, beach, beach clean-up, Best Green Short, Cyndi Lenz, Delray Film Festival, documentary, dog, environmental, Garbage of Jupiter Beach, green, green tips, Jupiter Beach, Rapid Removal, recycle, Solid waste Authority, The friends of Jupiter Beach, Tina Valant
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010
In April, Earth Promise posted a blog on various Earth Day activities that some schools conducted. Del Prado Elementary in Boca Raton, Florida had a variety of effortless activities going on. One day was dedicated to making Earth Promises and posting them as they wish on their classrooms doors or bulletin boards. Below are some of the fabulous ideas. (To view individual pictures click on the specific photo. To zoom in click on the photo again or hit back to return to the Earth Promise blog page):
Tags: april 22, changes, children, climate change, conservation, del prado, del prado elementary school, earth, earth day, earthpromise, eco-friendly, education, environment, environmental, environmental issues, global warming, green, green changes, green living, green practice, green practices, green tips, reduce, reuse, school program, waste
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
There are many ways we can make changes, whether small or large, that can have a positive influence on the environment. From simply recycling to putting solar panels on the roof of your home….it all makes a difference. All steps you take help. Earth Promise was developed with the idea of tracking one’s changes but also as a tool to both learn from other members as well as teach others. As we make these changes individually, it is important to teach, inform and inspire others. What better way then in our schools. Whether a student is in kindergarten or in college, they can each learn about changes they can make for the environment and which have an impact on helping our earth.
With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day coming up next week, we ask that parents, teachers and everyone involved with schools, help teach and promote the importance and awareness of Earth Day.
Below are programs that two schools are doing over the next week which are inspiring examples of teaching students about the issues and helping the cause. Promote change among students. Come up with a plan to help the environment. Make Earth Day 2010 special for our students.
Del Prado Elementary School – Boca Raton, Florida
The celebration of Earth Dayis right around the corner. It is a time when people around the world hold events to honor our planet and to remind everyone to love and care for the Earth.
At Del Prado Elementary, what better way to honor Mother Earth than to celebrate the days leading up to the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Starting Monday, April 19th through Thursday April 22nd, there will be activities that promote environmental awareness. These will provide the students with the idea that “Every day is Earth Day”.
Monday, April 19th—Write the change you will make on the Earth Promise wall located on your classroom door. There are many little things we can do to make a big difference, so make sure your promise is something you haven’t done yet. Most of us recycle by now, so talk about some new ideas with your family and share them with us. Then the top 5 classes, based on content, visual and uniqueness will get posted on the Earth Promise website! (http://www.earthpromise.com)
Tuesday, April 20th—If you bring your lunch, let’s make it a waste-free lunch day by using only reusable containers, thermoses, reusable water bottles and cloth napkins. Say NO to the single-serving packaged foods or juice boxes/pouches on Tuesday! (Check out www.kidskonserve.com)
Wednesday, April 21st– Pick up at least one piece of trash from the school grounds and put it in the garbage or recycling bin.
Thursday, April 22nd– Wear an Earth related t-shirt to school (i.e. a recycling logo/environmental slogan on it).
Together, we will be a caring and positive voice for the environment.
Linden Avenue Elementary School – Glen Ridge, New Jersey
CELEBRATE WATER DAY!
The Community Service Committee is proud to announce
Water Day on Earth Day, April 22nd
and the Linden Avenue Dime Collection
In honor of Earth Day we will be focusing on the importance of water, one of our most precious resources. We will be talking about ways in which we can help conserve and protect our sources of water and how we can help children around the world who do not have access to clean drinking water.
This week, Linden Avenue children will be introduced to the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program and the PUR Packet®. One packet can turn 10 liters (or approximately 2.5 gallons) of dirty water into safe, clean drinking water. And each packet is only 10¢. Go to www.csdw.org for details about the program and to see the demonstration your children will see at school.
Help us provide children around the globe with clean, safe drinking water by donating to the
LINDEN AVENUE DIME COLLECTION
(yes, we only want dimes!)
So, clean out those sofa cushions, check the car seats and shake down those piggy banks!
Dimes will be collected Thursday, April 22nd – Friday, April 30th.
Caring Together
Tags: april 22, changes, children, climate change, conservation, del prado, del prado elementary school, earth, earth day, earthpromise, eco-friendly, education, environment, environmental, environmental issues, global warming, green, green changes, green living, green practice, green practices, green tips, reduce, reuse, school program, waste
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Friday, April 9th, 2010
The “Go Green” community website, Greenwala has a fabulous post for recycling all sports related paraphernalia! From sports garments, to latex swimming caps, this list is a must read! If there is anything not mentioned here, please leave a comment below and share your wealth of information!
Tags: green tips, greenwala, recyle sneakers, sports, sports equipment, yoga mat recycling
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Thursday, March 25th, 2010
It is definitely debatable as to when and what started the environmental movement. Some may say May 28, 1892, when the Sierra Club met for the first time to discuss the potential boundary reduction of Yosemite National Park. Others may believe it was in 1962 when Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day, planted the “seed” for Earth Day, in President Kennedy’s head. Others may suggest it was the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Today, it really does not matter when it started, who started it and what they did. What does matter is that it is significant enough that the idea that our environment is valuable and needs to be cared for.
We can undoubtedly say that over the years, environmentalism has become a powerful force in American culture. There have been ongoing efforts to educate the public in terms of how to use our natural resources without depleting them. It used to be that terms such as “hippie,” or “tree hugger” were used to describe only those interested in respecting the environment. A cultural shift has been happening: a new generation of environmentalists is being born, creating a shift in thinking and practice. Many of today’s youth have embraced environmental protection as a priority, and they are no longer dubbed hippies. And the hippies who did start this, are now thought of as visionaries.
 A group of middle school girls from Boca Raton, Florida recognized the need for student involvement in environmental affairs. They witnessed the apathy among their peers as well as their parents’ generation regarding the mindless purchasing and disposal of plastic water bottles. As a result, they have taken the initiative to spread the word through a program cleverly coined, Tap In. I was fortunate enough to meet and interview these four inspiring 7th graders to hear about this new generation of thinking.
Earth Promise: Tell me about Tap In; how and when it was started and who is involved in its growth.
Tap In: Tap In was first created in the fall of 2009 when our teacher, Mrs. Gates, ask if we wanted to start an environmental program. All of us go to Loggers Run Middle School and are in 7th grade. We are very close friends and loved the idea of starting an eco-friendly program together. We brainstormed several ideas, but we wanted something that kids our age could relate to. We were all guilty of grabbing a water bottle and heading for school or sports activities. We knew that all this plastic waste could not be good for the environment. We developed a program that promoted the use of TAP water IN reusable water bottles.
EP: Is this an after-school club or do you work on this on your own free time?
TI: We do Tap In on our own free time. We have meetings at our houses after school and on weekends. We are constantly thinking of new ways to share Project Tap In with others. We are always adding and making changes to our website. We thought this would be a “little” project that would take a “little time”. However, we are becoming more and more active promoting our program and spreading the word about the dangers of disposable water bottles. We have visited Eco-fairs, met with politicians and educators, been interviewed by radio stations and magazines. We love what Tap In has become!
EP: I see you have developed a fabulous website, TapinBottle.com. Who designed it and keeps it current?
TI: TapInBottle.com was created as a group effort with all members contributing their special talents. We started by conducting an education experiment in 5 classrooms. After recording great success, we felt the need to share our work with other schools. We couldn’t afford to distribute the information by mail or in person. So, we started with a free web site called Yola (we learned about it last year in Girl Scouts). This was met with great success. As our program grew, we decided to buy a domain name that was easier to market. Now, we have www.TapInBottle.com which is a work in progress. We are continually making improvements to our site. We have added more educational tools, music videos, interviews, pictures, special graphics, and a visitor counter to name a few.
EP: Tap In offers “Instructions” so that others can implement your project at their schools. Can you elaborate on this?
TI: The instructions tab on our website has everything you need to start Tap In. Tap In is comprised of many teaching techniques. We used videos, speeches, displays, competitions, raffles, and even surveys. All these tools are available for free at www.TapInBottle.com . We hope that kids around the world will use our program in their classrooms.
EP: Do you go to other schools or venues to talk about Tap In?
TI: We are in the process of scheduling a meeting with the school board. We want to receive their support in distributing Tap In throughout Palm Beach County Schools. Due to the website, we can have a school start a Tap In program anywhere in the world, without us going there ourselves. However, we are offering assistance via our comments page and email address at info@TapInBottle.com .
EP: What changes, or Earth Promises as we call them, have all of you made in your lives to be greener? Changes in home, travel, school, and your community…
TI: We have all strived to make environmentally friendly changes. We now understand the difference an easy change can make on our environment. We have all made different types of changes – depending on lifestyle and budget. Some of the changes are:
* We all carpooling to and from school everyday.
*Having our family purchase hybrid cars instead of gas guzzling vehicles.
*Converting light bulbs to the energy saving Compact Fluorescent Lights. They use much less electricity (about 75% less) and last much longer than regular bulbs.
*To stop using plastic disposable bags and start using reusable storage containers.
*Using the back of school paper as scrap paper.
*Recycling plastic bags which reduces gases released in the atmosphere.
Since visiting the Earth Promise website we have all become more aware of the many other simple changes we can make to help our planet. We are definitely going to begin making more Earth Promises!
EP: What was your first, “aha!” Green moment?
TI: All of us have different experiences regarding our first “aha!” green moment! Our list includes: realizing how much water is wasted with just a small leak, taking reusable grocery bags shopping, and the importance of reusing and maximize every product we buy. We have a reanalyzed our habits and have decided to avoid garbage pile up whenever possible.
EP: Sometimes if a message is played over too much, people will tend to ignore it after a while or tune it out or turn against it. How can “green” leaders, like yourselves, be more effective in making sure we are relevant but not overbearing?
TI: We believe that our website is a great solution to a large problem. If visitors want to be a part of the solution, they can participate privately or actively (by incorporating the program at their school). However, we understand that not everyone is willing to change their behavior and be environmentally friendly. Green leaders need to change their goals with the times. Recycle, recycle, recycle was the slogan of the 80’s and 90’s. But, the best solution is not buying unnecessary disposable items that will pile-up in our landfills.
EP: What are some of the things that anger you or drive you crazy that you see people do that hurt the environment?
TI: Everyone has their own environmental pet peeves. Our groups’ main peeve is seeing people buy and drink expensive water in harmful disposable bottles. Another environmental pet peeve of ours is when people litter. It seems like a lazy and disrespectful action that says “I don’t care about the environment”. It’s really frustrating that people don’t take care of the only planet we have.
EP: I hear Tap In won an environmental award. That sounds exciting, tell me about it .
TI: We are currently entering a national eco-competition. We have lots of ideas for our schools winnings. For example, our current water fountains are original to the school and not very appealing. We hope to win money so the school can purchase new filtered water fountains and reusable water bottles for all the students. We think new filtered-water fountains will further promote the use the reusable water bottles. The teachers would also like to have smart-boards to reduce the use of handouts and paper in the classrooms.
EP: While we are being hurt by the climate crisis right now, your generation is in big trouble if we don’t take action. How can educators, like yourselves, inspire others to be involved and help the environment?
TI: The best way to spread the word about helping the environment is through education. If we can change a student’s mind about an environmental cause they will go home and educate their family. This domino effect has been proven to work for Tap In. We also try to lead by example and through social websites like Facebook. If logical and simple solutions are offered people will change their wasteful behavior. And if they can save money, even better!
EP: What message would you give others who want to spread their eco-ideas?
TI: The best way to spread eco-ideas is to be positive and persistent. Show your friends and family how easy it is to go green. Gather a group of people with similar interests and try different approaches. Set yourself as a role model to emulate. We always bring our reusable water bottles to school and have them with us on the weekends. Never give up!
EP: Who do you believe are the influential “green leaders” today?
TI: There are so many green leaders today. A few of our favorites are: – author Chris Baskind, (read our interview on our website), Al Gore, Leonardo Dicaprio- DiCaprio Foundation to promote environmental issues and producing “11th Hour” about global warming, Ed Begley Jr. and his “Living with Ed” show, Dave Matthews Band –involved with tree plantings and wind turbine construction to offset the CO2 emissions from their tour bus and Brad Pitt-co –creator of environmentally friendly homes. There are many green celebrities such as Coldplay, Pink, Rihanna,Chris Rock, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Jay Leno and John Mayer. Anybody could be a green leader, from the youngest children to the oldest adults.
EP: What is the one Earth Promise you are going to make in the future that you have not done yet?
TI:We have a list of Earth Promises which include not sleeping with the TV on, activating the sleep mode on the computer and letting the natural light in and the light bulbs off, using reusable food containers instead of disposable plastic baggies.
EP: Thank you, and the best of luck!
Tags: earth day, environmental movement, Gaylord Nelson, green, green tips, Rachel Carson, Sierra club, Silent Spring, tree hugger
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I stopped using all paper products over a year ago and haven’t looked back. Here’s a post I wrote back in 
Last week, I came up with a Challenge idea based on one of Reduce Footprints’ interesting posts. They liked it so much, they took advantage of it:
Earth Hour began three years ago capturing the world’s attention 
