Christmas Decorations

I, like many others in the world, love to decorate for the holiday season.  In recent years I have been thinking of how to do this in a way that helps the enviroment.  The first thing I decided to do was buy a fake tree. (Don't scream about PVC hazards just yet) This was back in college almost 7 years ago now, and finding a sustainable live tree was both impossible and my poor college kid salary couldn't afford it. So I searched for sales and got really lucky with a nice sized tree that didn't look to fake and was metal and plastic, but spefically did not contain PVC, for the cost of 2 real trees, at the corner lot. I have not been able to find any clear cut stats on whether a fake tree or a live one is more sustainable, most seem to split down the middle, but I have to go with fake, simply because the amount of reuse it provides seems to have to outway the impact of cultivating, cutting and transporting the live ones every year, not to mention the pesticides, ick. Then if you don't recycle that tree (the City of Chicago does by the way, click here) it ends up in a landfill and so on. However, the benefits of some carbon dioxide scrubbing might be useful, so if anyone finds any research that points one way or the other, please let me know!  I did see one suggestion for getting a tree with roots in tact that you could replant, but problems with that are A. I don't have a yard big enough and B. you only can keep it in the warm indoors for a week before you have to plant it. This just doesn't seem like a good alternative for me, so I'll stick to my fake tree.  The next step I took was last year when my lights gave out, I went for LED's and found a place that would recycle my old lights, click here.  I love the new LED's, they so much more vibrant then my old ones.  Well, those are the steps I have taken so far, below are my ideas for the rest of decorations, I'll keep adding as I come up with ideas:

• Lights - Replace and recycle standard lights with more efficient LED lights
  
• Cards - If sending holiday cards consider e-cards, if not make sure to buy only cards with recycled content
  
• Wrapping Paper - Either buy recycled content paper only or reuse paper scraps (I am an architect and our scrap drawings make for some nice wrapping paper, you can even spice it up a bit with stamps or markers and such.)
  
• Recycle - We can't always control what lands on our doorstep as gifts, so make sure in the frenzy of the day you remeber to get a bag out to put all the paper in for recycling.  If you decide to go for a live tree make sure it gets recycled.  When you take down the cards make sure to recycle those as well. 
• Food - All of the holidays seem to be surrounded with food. Make sure what you bring to the table is organic and/or locally grown/produced.  It is healthier for you and the environment that way'
• Ornament and Decorations - Sometimes too much, is too much. Keep things simple here, buy local handcrafted items rather then those made and shipped from overseas.  In general buy less, remember there are 3 R's, REDUCE, reuse and recycle. 
• Gifts - For the kids buy made in the US items (I have a couple sites listed on my links page) For the adults think sustainable, fair trade or organic if your giving food. Homemade treats are always a welcome present and if you make them yourselves reuse containers to give them in then you control how environmentally friendly your gifts are.  Locally crafted items are always a good way to go as well. 

Most Important Produce to Buy Organic

Since we can't all afford to buy only locally grown, in-season organic produce, here are the top items to purchase organic due to pesticide residue.  In addition to Organic, look for local, in-season produce to make that much more of an impact.  

Apples

Bell Peppers

Carrots

Celery

Cherries

Cucumbers

Imported Grapes

Green Beans

Hot Peppers

Nectarines

Lettuce

Peaches

Pears

Potatoes

Raspberries

Spinach

Strawberries

Sources:

http://www.foodnews.org/

http://www.coopamerica.org/

Turn off the lights

I have become obsessive about this one, not sure why, but it is good because it is just becoming a habit. I watched a Mythbusters episode where they busted the myth that leaving the lights on all day actually saves energy.  Not only did they bust it but they found that even being out of the room for a few seconds you save energy by turning off the light, so I have made it a habit to turn off the light of all rooms I am not using at that exact moment. I do this at home and my husband has started too as well. We used to leave the hall light on (4 downlights) on all evening so we could get around the house, now those stay off unless we are in the hall.  

I do this at work to an extent as well, I sit near the conference rooms and our materials library and I am constantly turning those lights off after people when I get up to go somewhere.  Another place would be the break room, copy room, mail room, server room, etc... 

Mythbusters - Lightbulbs On or Off

Use Marker Boards for your notes

We got these great 4" x 8" marker boards from a rep (Idea Paint) and I thought wow, this is great for greening up the office or near the phone in your house!  Just put this and a reusable non-toxic marker near your phone and take your days notes on that instead, you can then just erase your notes as you complete them and reuse, no wasted paper. I love it. Now obviously some notes have to go into project files, so my plan is here to either type the notes from the board into a word doc and save electronically or use my pad of recycled paper from the misprints bin in the copier room to take those notes that need to be filed.  You could also use chalk boards, but chalk scratching while on the phone may not be ideal for a work scenario, maybe better at home. 

Use reusable bags for your gifts

I noticed at Walgreen's today that they are now selling the smaller reusable bags, like the ones I keep in my purse from Target, the ones that zip into a nice small pouch, and it reminded me of a tip for gift giving.  This should be especially useful with the holidays coming up.  Instead of using recycled wrapping paper, bags, etc... buy these bags for just $0.99 and put the gift in the bag with some recycled tissue paper, newspaper or whatever you find around the house to reuse. Not only are these cheaper then buying bags or paper at the store the front pocket makes for a great place to put the card!  The bag itself is about the size of a regular plastic shopping bag, perfect for so many gifts and the receiver can keep on using it, so it is like the gift that keeps on giving.  Well I hope it helps, enjoy.

Consumer Reports: Greener Choices

Consumer Reports launched a new website called Greener choices.   It is basically just a bunch of links back to the main consumer reports site, but all the links are green tips and advice in a handy format. I hope they will expand this and give more lists of what is greenest for different types of items. There is a great area called eco-labels center that breaks down what all those labels out there mean and if they are viable, like USDA Organic, Free Range, Dolphin Safe, etc...  Well, enjoy, I hope it helps. 

http://www.greenerchoices.org/home.cfm

Julia goes Green

A friend of mine sent me a link today and I thought I'd pass it on as this green guru to the stars seems like my kind of people.  I loved that she said that she isn't talking about the kind of women that wants to be a "crunchy granola, Earth-mother type who never wears makeup." The article mainly highlights this women's work with Julia Roberts, but she apparently has a book.  I will have to get my hands on it and right up a review for everyone. Enjoy.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/living-green/articlegh.aspx?cp-documentid=8566371&GT1=45002

Green "duh" of the day

So someone asked me a couple of days ago if using things like swiffer pads to clean your house was considered green.   Seriously, someone asked me this.  The answer is no, especially since there are ways to dust that take just a bit of elbow grease and a reusable/washable microcloth or duster.  Now I do have some swiffers in my house, as I use them to clean the cobwebs on our very high ceilings because ladders are not my friend.  Like I've  said on this blog before, I'm not perfect.  It just takes a little thought some days to be green, wasting a partially used piece of cloth everytime you dust creates needless trash that ends up in a landfill.   So that's my Green "duh" for the day. Enjoy.

Down with Shopping Bags!

I vowed one day some time ago, see my personal blog, to never use a plastic bag again. This was after reading a number of articles about bags getting caught in odd places, the cess pool in the oceans and learning how many bags we consume and needlessly throw away or try to recycle (which appears to be a joke, since it costs more to recycle them then you can sell the recycled material for). So this is where I will keep my list of bags saved and how I do it so others can follow in my footsteps. Since starting this quest, I try to not carry out any type of bag at all, including paper, veggie/fruit bags and plastic shopping bags. We will occasionally get one of these items to reuse as bin liners or for special cooking techniques. For the most part, though, I'm working hard to change how I think about how I waste things, by simply getting a bag from a store I never needed. Feel free to follow along on my journey.

Plastic bags consumed this year:

My total of saved bags as of 04/16/10 (stats kept since 11/10/08):

• 244 Plastic Shopping Bags
  
• 66 Fruit/Veggie Plastic Bags
  
• 35 Paper Shopping Bags
  

Tips to reducing your bag consumption:

• Buy reusable bags made from post consumer recycled content or organic fabric
  
• Keep these in your car
  
• Buy one reusable bag small enough to carry on you (mine is from Target, zips up in a pouch)
  
• Carry your small bag everywhere, you never know where you'll need it
  
• Preplan your shopping trips and take reusable bags into the store with you (this will become habit evenutally, I promise)
  
• Hand your reusable bags to the sales person when you start the checkout process
• Buy or reuse mesh or breathable organic fabric bags for Veggies and Fruit or simply don't bag them (Our bags are the mesh bags we buy our dog's tennis balls in)
  
• If you completely forgot your reuseable bag which is the BEST option, go with Plastic and return them to the store for recycling, this should be a last hope option though. (Paper actually takes more fossil fuels, and natural recourses to make than Plastic but if you don't recycle then go paper as the toxins and trash created by unrecycled bags is overwhelming)

My bag saving activites:

• 04/14/10 - Grocery run (+2 Boxes, +6 Plastic)
• 04/13/10 - Chipotle for the Hubby and New walking shoes purchase (+1 Paper, +1 Plastic)
• 04/09/10 - Birthday card and Lotto tickets for gift (+1 Plastic)
• 04/06/10 - Chipotle take home for the Hubby (+1 Paper)
• 04/01/10 - Farmer's Market purchases in SLO (+3 Plastic)
• 03/31/10 - Food purchase at the Airport (+1 Plastic)
• 03/25/10 - Quick grocery pick-up (+1 Plastic)
• 03/23/10 - Chipotle for the Hubby and Walgreens purchase (+1 Paper, +1 Plastic)
• 03/13/10 - Whole Foods trip (+2 Plastic, +1 Produce)
• 03/07/10 - Costco/Grocery Store/Chiptole run (+2 Veg, +7 Plastic, +1 Paper, +2 Boxes)
• 03/06/10 - Liquor store (+4 Plastic)
• 03/04/10 - Walgreens (+1 Plastic)
• 02/27/10 - Clothing Purchase (+2 Plastic)
• 02/23/10 - Chipotle (+1 Paper)
• 02/12/10 - Lunch from Whole Foods (+1 Plastic)
• 02/11/10 - Prescription pick-up (+1 Plastic)
• 02/10/10 - Prescription pick-up (+1 Plastic)
• 02/09/10 - Groceries and Chipotle (+2 Plastic, +1 Paper)
• 02/07/10 - Target (+1 Plastic)
• 02/02/10 - Chipotle (+1 Paper)
• 01/29/10 - Prescription pick-up (+1 Plastic)
• 01/28/10 - Walgreens prescription and purchase (+1 Plastic)
• 01/26/10 - Chipotle (+1 Paper)
• 01/23/10 - Grocery store and Costco (+6 Plastic, +4 Veg/Fruit bags, +2 Boxes)
• 01/19/10 - Chipotle (+1 Paper)
• 01/02/10 - Chipotle (+1 Paper)
• 01/03/10 - Costco and Grocery (+2 boxes, +8 Plastic, +2 Veg/Fruit)
• 12/30/09 - Return/Exchange and purchase at BBB and Groceries at Jewel (+2 Plastic)
• 12/26/09 - Grocery store in KC (+2 Plastic)
• 12/21/09 - Chipotle for Remo (+1 Paper)
• 12/18/09 - Last minute xmas shopping (+3 Plastic)
• 12/09/09 - Costco and Grocery store monthly run (+6 Plastic/+2 Produce)
• 12/01/09 - Chipotle for Remo (+1 Paper)
• 11/17/09 - Brought home chipotle without a bag (+1 Paper Bag)
• 11/09/09 - Shopping relief post test (+3 Plastic)
• 11/03/09 - Purchased some local brews after a beer tasting (+1 Plastic)
• 10/31/09 - Last minute run for Halloween Party (+2 Plastic)
• 10/28/09 - Grocery run for Halloween Party (+4 produce/+9 Plastic)
• 10/21/09 - Exchanged a birthday gift at Greenheart (a fantastic fair trade, earth minded store in bucktown) and used my work bag to carry the returned item and the new alpaca gloves... (+1 Plastic)
• 10/15/09 - Lunch in the Phoenix airport, skipped the bag, crazy I know, I used my hands (+1 Plastic)
• 10/14/09 - Little Birthday shopping spree in SLO, CA (+1 Plastic)
• 10/13/09 - Lunch and some lovely sencha instant green tea at a local SLO wholistic grocer (+1 Plastic)
• 09/30/09 - Small grocery/beer run (+2 Plastic/+1 Fruit/Veg)
• 09/22/09 - Brought home Chipotle in my bag (+1 Paper)
• 09/16/09 - Monthly grocery and costco run (+5 Plastic/+2 Veg/Fruit/+2 boxes (not tracking))
• 09/10/09 - Brought home dinner in my reusable bag (+1 Paper)
• 09/07/09 - Used my reuseable bag in my purse while on vacation picking up groceries (+2 Plastic)
• 09/01/09 - WW purcahse, Chipotle carry out (+1 Plastic/+1 Paper)
• 08/26/09 - Grocery store run, but no car or my reusable bags, used my backpack and my purse reusable bag and then put the rest in paper bags. (+3 Plastic)
• 08/22/09 - Grocery store run (+2 Plastic)
• 08/14/09 - Camping supplies (+4 Plastic)
• 08/05/09 - Gift and Camping purchases, used my work bag, although REI thought I was stealing and checked my bag and receipts when I left for both stores, oh, well. (+3 Plastic)
• 08/03/09 - WW purchase and Chipotle carry out (+1 Plastic/+1 Paper)
• 08/01/09 - Camping resupply (+2 Plastic)
• 07/29/09 - Camping supply purchase (+3 Plastic)
• 07/24/09 - Random Clothing purchase while waiting on something (+1 Plastic)
• 07/21/09 - Souvenior purcahse while travelling (+1 Plastic)
• 07/11/09 - Family food stock up (+4 Produce/+7 Plastic)
• 07/03/09 - Dinner and bevie purchase for firework presentation (+2 Plastic/+1 Paper)
• 06/30/09 - Chipotle take home (+1 Paper)
• 06/27/09 - Grocery stock up (+3 Produce/+9 Plastic)
• 06/23/09 - WW purchase, used my back pack (+1 Plastic)
• 06/18/09 - Costco and Grocery Store for Bachlorette Party (+2 Boxes (not counting), +3 Plastic, +1 Produce)
• 06/17/09 - Various stops during on the KC trips (+3 Plastic)
• 06/07/09 - Costco and Grocery Store run (+3 Boxes (not counting), +7 Plastic, +2 Produce)
• 06/04/09 - Chipotle take-out for dinner and quick trip in Walgreens for sundries (+1 Paper, +1 Plastic)
• 05/30/09 - Picked up a couple of brewskies and used my bag in my purse (+1 Plastic)
• 05/28/09 - Stopped by the new enourmous Whole Foods to check it out and picked up some fantastic fresh food, huge artichokes! (+6 Plastic, +2 Produce)
• 05/26/09 - Picked up snacks at WW and used my work bag to get them home, also brought dinner home for my other half (+1 Plastic, +1 Paper)
• 05/22/09 - Quick grocery store run for Memorial Day (+3 Plastic)
• 05/16/09 - Greenfest in Chicago! A great timed we learned a lot and purchased a few items including a new larger but more compact bag for my purse. (+3 Plastic)
• 05/05/09 - Brought Chipotle home (+1 Paper)
• 04/26/09 - Stopped at a dairy farm on the way home for Cincy and used my Target bag for all the fresh milk and Cheese we bought... Nothing like dairy right off the farm. (+1 plastic)
• 04/22/09 - Purchase at a local produce store, for my Earth day plan of no meat, I didn't have my produce bags on me so I skipped them where I could, it is hard to carry loose mushroom without a bag... Lucky for me the plastic bags they use are made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic. (+2 Plastic, and +2 Veggie)
• 04/15/09 - Stopped to purchase wine for our dinner tomorrow on my walk home and got a new reusable bag. It is a fantastic bag with bottle separators! Such a great idea, I can't wait to use it again. (+1 Plastic)
• 04/14/09 - Quick stop in Aveda and bringing home dinner for my husband, oddly both fit in my Target bag. (+1 Plastic, +1 Brown)
• 04/09/09 - Sally's for a replacement (+1 Plastic)
  
• 04/08/09 - Grocery store trip (+3 Plastic, +3 Vegetables)
  
• 04/03/09 - Fruit and Veggie purchase at the local produce store (+1 Plastic)
• 03/26/09 - Grocery store and Costco trip (+2 Plasic, +2 Boxes (not counting))
• 03/24/09 - WW purchase (+1 Plastic)
• 03/22/09 - Grocery store (+2 Plastic)
• 03/22/09 - Gift purchase (+1 Plastic)
• 03/13/09 - Grocery store (+1 Plastic, +1 Veggies)
• 03/06/09 - Grocery store for quick dinner (+1 Plastic)
• 03/04/09 - Waiting in CVS for friends leads to finding a fun new headband which I promptly put in my purse. (+1 Plastic)
  
• 03/04/09 - Stop at grocery store for dinner supplies (+2 Plastic)
  
• 03/03/09 - Walgreens run (+1 Plastic)
  
• 02/24/09 - Bed, bath and beyond trip for rechargeable battery storage case (+1 Plastic)
  
• 02/17/09 - Walgreens run after dinner with a friend (+1 Plastic)
  
• 02/15/09 - Costco Trip with the new enourmous Canvas bag I won at a charity event, that definitely saved a few boxes.
  
• 02/12/09 - While I didn't save any bags today for shopping I won two very large, almost duffle bag size heavy duty canvas tote bags that I will now be adding to my reusuable bag collection. I can't wait to use them.
  
• 02/10/09 - Saved bags at Target all though I feel a bit guilty since I was only in Target waiting out getting new tires on the car, but when they won't release your car because the treads are two low what are you going to do? (+2 Plastic)
  
• 02/03/09 - Chipotle take home for my husband (+1 Paper)
  
• 01/31/09 - Last minute trip for forgotten Superbowl food needs (+2 Plastic)
  
• 01/25/09 - Grocery store (big trip in prep for superbowl) (+7 Plastic, +5 Fruit/Veggie)
  
• 01/19/09 - Walgreens run during lunch (+1 Plastic)
  
• 01/17/09 - Small Grocery store run (+2 Plastic)
  
• 01/03/09 - Trip to Home Depot and Grocery store (+4 Plastic, +1 Fruit/Veggie)
  
• 12/28/08 - Grocery store (+2 Plastic, +3 Fruit/Veggie)
  
• 12/23/08 - Walgreen's run during lunch (+1 Plastic)
  
• 12/20/08 - Grocery (+6 Plastic, +2 Fruit/Veggie) and Costco run (a couple of boxes)
  
• 12/17/08 - Kohl's trip (+2 Plastic) finally done with christmas shopping, whew.
  
• 12/14/08 - Trip to Costco and saved a box or two, which I am not tracking.
  
• 12/13/08 - Trips to Pet store (+1 Plastic), and a big trip to the grocery store (+6 Plastic). Too bad I forgot my reusable produce bags, bad Kelly...
  
• 12/12/08 - Walgreen's run (+1 Plastic)
  
• 12/09/08 - Brought my husband Chipotle home, in my own bag (+1 paper bag)
  
• 12/01/08 - I forwent the bag at a rest stop, like I need a bag for 1 item... (+1 plastic bag)
  
• 11/24/08 - Black Friday shopping (sorry had too for the out of town family while I was there) I used only my bags which helped because I filled them rather then dealing with a cart, I saved 1 bag at the first store, 2 at the second and 3 at the third (all plastic), what nice round numbers...
  
• 11/23/08 - Trip to the store prior to T-day dinner (+1 Plastic Bag)
  
• 11/19/08 - Trip to Whole Foods and Sam's(+2 Plastic Bags, +1 Produce bag and +1 box)
  
• 11/15/08 - During the evening trip to Jewel to pick up the suprise cake and a few odds and ends for a friends suprise party (+1 Plastic Bag)
  
• 11/15/08 - During the afternoon trips to Costco, Ulta and the grocery store where I used all of my reuseable bags (+4 Plastic Bags, +1 Produce Bag and at least one box, all though not tracking these)
• 11/12/08 - Put my purchase at a clothing store in my work bag (+1 Plastic Bag)
  
• 11/11/08 - Used my bag to take my purchased lunch to the office (+1 Paper Bag)

Ebay goes Green, Sort of

I just read today that Ebay launched a website called World of Good where everything you buy is eco-friendly.  Their slogan is: "Ensure that every choice you make here is a good one." Each item is marked as People Positive, Eco Positive, Animal Friendly and Supports a Cause.  Many fall under multiple categories.  A great site to find just before the gift giving season. Enjoy. 

About this Blog

Welcome to my green blog for ordinary people.   Here you will find tips, tricks, lists and ideas to help you pick up everyday habits to help our environment. I would love for my morning to look like this: Wake up slip on my fair trade, organic cotton slippers and robe, head for my solar heated, rain water shower, brush my teeth with my recycled wooden toothbrush and baking soda, get dressed in my fair trade, organic hemp or cotton suit, head to my sustainable kitchen to make my organic, fair trade breakfast before walking to my office. Let’s face it though, I am not a millionaire and I live in an 8 unit condo building in Chicago. While my dream is to make my life as green as possible, I have to be realistic and work in those aspects as I can, by changing my attitude towards my life. I started years ago by recycling what I could and donating items I couldn’t and then throwing away the rest.I have recently pledged to never use another plastic bag and I make sure to turn off any light I am not immediately using. I figured if I can work these things into my hectic life others could too, they just need to be inspired. That is where the idea for this blog came from. What I do to be more green probably doesn’t even combat a ½% of the problem, but if I can inspire others by my daily actions and this blog then that ½% gets compounded and starts to add up to real numbers. So join me in my quest for a healthier planet for ourselves and our future generations, by becoming Ordinarily Green. 

I set up the blog to have an open dialog, to hand out my ideas and get feedback if they aren’t right and praise if they are. I do not claim to know everything about the environment and what is best for it, but I know that something has to be done and I hope this blog helps others to take steps towards improving our environment. 

Most of all I hope this blog inspires more people to do what they can to help.

Green Links

Say No to Plastic Bags:
http://www.noplasticbags.org.au/home/default.aspx (For Retailers)

Shopping:
Earth Easy
Terrapass
Free Cycle
World of Good (E-Bay)

Green Team (E-Bay)

Toys of USA (They have a Go Green section)

All-American Baby (Various toys listed as Green)

Our Green House

Fat Brain Toys (Lists toys made in the USA - No toys made in China)

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

Eco-Ink and Toner

Holiday Green Guide (Coupon book good until December 31, 2009)

Renewably Power Products:
Reware
Solio (We have two now)

Shopping/Products Advice:
Care2
Environmental Working Group
sub of this one: Cosmetic Database

Greener Choices (Consumer Reports)

Understanding Plastics

Earth friendly search engine using Google:
Blackle

Search for Recycling centers near you and learn how to Recycle:
Earth 911

Green Calculators:

Microsoft Hohm (Beta)

U.S. Department of Energy (Homes, Building, Industry, Vehicles)

Free Clicks to help the Environment:
Stop Global Warming
Save the Planet and Win

Informational/Take Action:
Climate in Crisis

Care 2
Climate Protect
Grist
We Can Solve It
EPA - Earthday

Recycle Caps with Aveda

Green Building:

Green Building Initiative

U.S. Green Building Council/L.E.E.D.

Green Dining:

For the Restaruant

For the Diner

For the Manufacturer

For the Distributor

Green Chicago:

Dirk's Fish (A sustainable Fish Market, owned by two very knowledgable people)

Shedd Aquarium (Where I volunteer, they promote conservation and sustainability everyday)

City of Chicago Permanent Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility