We found 80 results tagged with "living responsibly"
17 Articles
17 Articles found
Eco-Friendly Fabrics: Impact Facts
While there are no easy answers, we’ve pulled together a primer on the most important issues to consider when researching eco-friendly fabrics.
Eco-Friendly Fabrics: Know Your Textiles
Here is a quick guide to choosing eco-friendly fabrics.
Spend a Little, Save a Lot
Going green can be easy and it doesn’t have to cost a lot. Try these low-cost ways to make your household more sustainable.
Green for Free
Think going green is difficult or expensive? Not so! These ideas are free.
How To... Make Your Own Baby Wipes
You can make your own baby wipes using items you probably already have on hand—baby wash, baby oil, pure clean water and fabric scraps or recycled paper napkins or paper towels.
Make Your Kitchen Climate Friendly… for Free
The food on your dinner plate has a bigger eco‐impact than the car you drive. From Chef Laura
Stec, the cheapest, and tastiest, way to make your kitchen more efficient.
Where Chocolate Changes Lives
What is “fair trade” ” and why is it so important? Learn more behind the scenes at Theo Chocolate, the only organic, fair trade chocolate factory in the U.S.
Living the Green Life: Five “Eco-Principles”
How to apply eco-friendly concepts to home-building and renovation as well as to everyday habits.
The Delicious Good Deed
For culinary activist Poppy Tooker, saving America’s delicious, disappearing native foods means eating more of them.
The Ocean Is in All of Us
Find out what the Algalita Marine Research Foundation is disovering about giant kelp beds — and how you can help.
Eco-Friendly Grilling
Learn more about reducing your carbon footprint when using the grill.
Pitching In Around the Neighborhood
In an increasingly busy world, people are experimenting with new ways to redefine the word “community.”
Organic Farm Adventure
At a local farm, we learned all about sustainable farming, and we made some new friends too.
Natural Home Cleaning
Choosing environmentally friendly alternatives keeps your home healthy and also helps the earth.
Composting: Good for Plants and the Planet
Composting is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to create beneficial mulch.
Tips for Greener Living
Going green is simpler than you might think. Just remember: Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Go Ahead, Try Organic!
Organic food labels are popping up on shelves everywhere. Learn what they mean.
63 Challenges
63 Challenges found
Challenge
With kids, own up to overweight
Most of us have at least some awareness that obesity is skyrocketing in the U.S., including among children. But with 16% of America’s children clinically overweight, the time has come to step up awareness — and action — to the next level. Today, challenge yourself to learn all you...
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Celebrate Labor Day...naturally
In spite of its economic and civic significance, for many of us, Labor Day connotes barbecues and
camping, not workers’ rights. Today, challenge yourself to celebrate the holiday by giving something
back. Here are some ideas for making honoring workers and healthy working conditions a...
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Get an eco-friendly grill
Love grilling, but don’t like the effects your current barbecue has on the environment? Traditional
grilling options, including charcoal, propane, and natural gas, do have negative consequences
(regular charcoal emits toxins, and propane and natural gas are both chemical–releasing and...
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Natural odor eaters
Deodorizing your household’s stinky places doesn’t have to be a toxic endeavor! Today, challenge yourself to switch to natural tactics when it comes to the following typical stinkers:• Musty clothes — Spray lightly (spot-test first) with vodka, a naturally scent-free bacteria...
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Get awn it
Cooling a house in warmer climates can be a big energy drain come summer. One thing you can do to minimize energy output is install retractable awnings over your windows that provide shade by day (and can be retracted to let in light at anytime). Today, challenge yourself to examine your window...
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Log on
Crave the coziness of a hearth fire but worry about environmental impact? It may surprise you, but some artificial logs beat out real ones by a long shot when it comes to eco-friendliness. Yes, there are now options available that let you have your flame and love it, too. Today, challenge yourself...
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Gift in green
Whether it’s a birthday or anniversary, national holiday or personal moment, you can apply natural living principles to your choice of gifts. What does it mean to give a “green” gift? Think: Restraint. Far from the “regifting” faux pas of old, recycling useful...
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Avoid dry cleaning, try “wet cleaning”
Conventional dry cleaning almost always uses perchloroethylene, or “perc,” which is a probable carcinogen. Although some dry cleaners in states like California have begun to offer healthier options, there’s another type of cleaning out there: wet cleaning. Professional wet cleaners...
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Eat locally
There are so many benefits to eating locally that listing them all here would simply take too long. Here are a few great reasons:
1) With less transit time, locally grown produce is fresher (which means it usually tastes better too).
2) Local food is usually more “green” for the environment...
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Research energy-efficient cooking methods
When was the last time you thought about your energy consumption in the kitchen? Today, challenge yourself to identify some energy-efficient cooking methods and then share what you learn with everyone here.
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Check your tires
Properly inflated tires can increase your car’s fuel efficiency by more than 3%. Today, read your owner's manual to find out what optimal air pressure is for your tires and check them at a gas station. Every little bit helps.
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Make an environment-friendly suggestion at work
Lots of us have suggestion boxes at work where we can share our insights and ideas. In the next 24 hours, think of different ways your office (or office policies) might be improved to help save the environment. Then submit your ideas to a person in-charge.
To get you started thinking, here are...
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Start a carpool
This is a great way to get acquainted with your coworkers, and save money and the environment at the same time. Today, talk to a few people at work about their interest in commuting with you. Or send out an email blast letting people know you’re available for carpooling. It’ll be fun.
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Call your mechanic
Scheduling regular maintenance for your car can actually help reduce its impact on the environment. Small things like keeping your engine tuned properly can improve your car’s gas mileage by an average of 4%. More impressively, replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as...
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Bring a bucket to shower
How much cold water is wasted while you wait for your shower to warm up? Up to five gallons, according to some sources. That’s plenty to water plants or gardens with—and it’s soap-free! Today, challenge yourself to bring a bucket into your bathroom and start saving your not-so-gray pre-shower...
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Follow the Farm Bill
Farm Bills affect everyone who eats. Yet few people spend time studying them. Farm Bills determine - among other things - what foods are available to us, how much they cost, and how they are grown: pretty important stuff! Today, challenge yourself to look up the latest legislation surrounding the...
Challenge
Don’t leave a paper trail
Replacing paper towels with reusable cloths is a great way to spare trees – and an easy one. Today, challenge yourself to replace paper towels with cloth napkins, tea towels, sponges, rags – even cloth diapers. Cut up old white bath towels and t-shirts. Washable microfiber wipes are a good new...
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Take the train
Ah, the mystery and spirit of adventure of train travel! It’s a greener choice than planes and cars. Tickets, however, can be pricey. Why not make a train ride the focus of your next trip? Today, challenge yourself to map out a future trip, marking all the whistlestop sites you’d like to enjoy on...
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Cut packaging pounds
Shocking statistic: Packaging materials comprise up to a third of all garbage tossed in the US! Today, challenge yourself to permanently change the way you shop and consume packaging. Here are some ways to cut back:
• Buy in bulk and use reusable containers instead of buying single-serving items...
Challenge
Sign up for a CSA
When you join a Community Supported Agriculture group (CSA) you pay a fixed seasonal fee to a local farmer in exchange for a weekly share of the harvest, which is delivered to a location near your home. This option for getting greener, cleaner, locally grown food is popular, so don't wait. Today...
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Capture sink water
Water is our planet’s most vital resource – and in many places, it’s under threat. Yet, in industrialized parts of the world, we often take it for granted. One simple way you can save and reuse so-called “gray” water is to place a bowl, trap, or device like Hughie’s removable kitchen sink in your...
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Be needy, not greedy
We’ve all indulged in that scourge of budgeters everywhere: sport shopping. You know what we mean – the act of buying something you want that you really don’t need. Unfortunately, the temporary good cheer sport shopping lends doesn’t last. Today, challenge yourself to hit the register only after...
Challenge
Make your own laundry detergent
Commercial sudsy stuff can cost 30 cents per load – or more, depending on brand and outlet. Homemade, on the other hand, can run as little as 3 cents! Best of all, when you make it yourself you control the ingredients, which allows you to aim for better home air quality, less paper packaging waste...
Challenge
Share the harvest
Have fruit, nuts, or veggies growing in your yard? Come time to harvest, you’ll probably have too much to eat yourself. Here’s one way to reduce your “cookprint”: Challenge yourself to ask a local school, volunteer organization, or soup kitchen to help you harvest your bounty – and bring home...
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Magnum opus
Wine provides millions the world over with a pleasurable coda to meals and social gatherings. The thing is, how does the wine get there? Answer: By a complex global distribution system that produces significant greenhouse gas emissions. What can you do? Challenge yourself to order larger bottles –...
Challenge
Go for the greenest grape
Gifting a host with a bottle of wine is always nice. Why not an organic or low-sulfite variety? Organic wines are produced using organically grown grapes and are free of pesticides and herbicides. Winemakers typically add sulfites to stabilize wine and prevent spoilage, but a handful of vineyards...
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Stash your trash
How much trash does a person produce each day? Want to find out? Today, instead of throwing out everything you use (e.g. coffee cups, water bottles, fast food wrappers, egg cartons, plastic bags from produce), challenge yourself to carry around a sack with all of your trash inside. You’ll be...
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Have some heart on Valentine’s Day
How many trees are felled to make those glossy, glittery valentines every schoolkid exchanges each year? Answer: Too many. Fortunately, there are fun, from-the-heart alternatives. Today, challenge yourself to show someone you care with one of the following green “love” ideas:
• Homemade baked...
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Limit non-recyclable purchases
How many throw-aways should you throw away your money on? That’s really up to you. But here’s a fact: Choosing recyclable items whenever possible reduces waste. Today, challenge yourself to think about an item’s packaging, recyclability, and disposability before you make a purchase, with the...
Challenge
Solar-power your car battery
Here’s a way to let the sunshine in: Portable solar battery chargers can be used to power 12V engines in cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats – even RVs and mowers. As with other solar technologies, they use the power of the sun to build electrical voltage. Sometime this week, challenge yourself to...
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Bust your bottle habit
Water bottles, vitamin waters, bottled teas – all sound good and healthful, but all foster waste.
Today, challenge yourself to go cold turkey on single-use bottles, period. Some ideas for making the change:
• Invest in a filtration system at home and use tap water.
• Purchase a few reusable...
Challenge
Pack your power
There are backpacks that can carry a solar charge which is powerful enough to run your personal gadgets? Get out! Turns out it’s true: Powered by monocrystalline cells, these waterproof, scratch-resistant, UV-proof solar packs can fire up everything from cell phones and digital cameras to GPS...
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Plan a green wedding
Weddings are a great opportunity to set the tone for your new life – and inspire others. From recycled invitations and vintage rings to minimizing your guests’ driving and donating leftovers, you can do a lot to make it a blissful yet responsible day. Some guiding principles: Stay local with regard...
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Explore “living off the grid”
We’ve all heard of the phenomenon: Back-to-the-landers who build their own home, plant a garden, dig a well, install solar panels and wind turbines and call it a day. But what’s really involved in so-called “living off the grid”? What are the risks and advantages of such a life? What kind of...
Challenge
Green up your garage sale
Existing for the sole purpose of passing on pre-owned items, yard sales are inherently earth-friendly. Why not aim even higher? The next time you throw a garage sale, challenge yourself to go even greener:
• Package small or fragile items in reused or donated boxes or packing materials
• Donate a...
Challenge
Clean up the streets
When you see litter in a park or on a sidewalk, what’s your reaction? Instead of ignoring it, why not pick it up and set a good example? Today, challenge yourself to pay attention to your surroundings and collect at least one piece of litter.
Challenge
Refrain from the plane
Planning a trip to a far-flung destination this summer? If the size of your carbon footprint is important to you, you may want to consider a vacation that doesn’t include air travel, which is notorious for its high CO2 emissions.
If you can’t avoid air travel, consider purchasing carbon...
Challenge
Have a greener outdoor summer party
Outdoor summer entertaining can have a carbon footprint. However, there are a few easy ways to lessen your impact. When you entertain outside this month, challenge yourself to:
• Use a natural gas grill instead of charcoal
• Turn off unused indoor lights
• Use regular dishware, napkins...
Challenge
Observe speed limits
Speedy driving can lower your fuel economy by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets. In the next 24 hours, cut down on your energy consumption by obeying the speed limit.
Other pro-mileage tips:
• Reduce excess vehicle weight by removing unnecessary items (100 lbs. reduces MGP by...
Challenge
Quit your car
There’s no way around it: Cars pollute. Here are some cleaner ideas for getting places, ranging from “light green” to “forest green”:
• Walk – Fresh air, exercise, and a surprisingly quick trip if you work it.
• Bike – Some commutes are faster this way, and daytime errands are a snap.
•...
Challenge
Research green power options
Did you know that it may be possible for you to purchase electricity from clean wind, geothermal, solar, or hydroelectric sources? Today, challenge yourself to learn if your utility company lets you purchase green energy. The US Department of Energy's Green Power Network lists energy options by...
Challenge
Dare to spare the air
National Clean Air Month is a great time to remind ourselves that global change starts with each and every one of us. Today, challenge yourself to do something - big or small - to spare the air. Some ideas: bike to work, carpool, opt out of unnecessary air travel, and buy local produce.
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Be a good steward of the earth
You live here. We live here. International Earth Day (on April 22) brings the world together and it feels good. This year, participants are working to combat climate change.
One way to affect change is to vote. That’s why organizers suggest that if you do one thing for Earth Day this year, you...
Challenge
Grab a cup to go
Unless you recycle, disposable coffee cups and plastic lids pile up in our nation’s landfills. Next time you get your daily cup of joe, challenge yourself to bring a reusable mug from home.
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Be thrifty
Thrift shops, vintage, consignment, or tag sales - whatever you call them, they’re recycling opportunities. Buying used clothing, appliances, and furniture not only saves you cash, it reduces demand for newly made products, controlling the cycle of waste. The next time you go shopping, consider...
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Do your part for World Health Day
Personal change can be overwhelming, and making a difference globally even more so. This year, with World Health Day focusing on the effects of climate changes and how they affect everyone’s health, you can contribute by doing one simple thing to reduce your individual carbon footprint.
Today...
Challenge
Use recycled toilet paper
Tissue and TP made from other used products are less wasteful than conventionally produced options. The next time you buy this essential item, challenge yourself to look for the symbol for post-consumer recycled paper on the package. In particular, avoid brands that contain 100% virgin trees.
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Buy Fair Trade
Shopping at your local grocery store, you may have seen the “Fair Trade Certified” label on foods like chocolate, tea, coffee, sugar, wine, and fruit. But what exactly does it mean?
Essentially, the Fair Trade certification process ensures that farmers in developing countries get a fair price...
Challenge
Calculate your carbon footprint
While it’s practically impossible to eliminate your impact on the environment, you can minimize your carbon footprint. The first step is figuring out how much carbon your lifestyle generates.
Today, find a carbon calculator online and fill-out the questionnaire to identify exactly how much of a...
Challenge
Try “slow laundry”
Ever heard of the “slow food” movement, which emphasizes the enjoyment and preparation of foods? Well, here’s a slight variation on that theme. Slow laundry aims to get more people line drying their clothing to conserve energy. And then there’s the benefit of slowing down in general. Life is more...
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Learn about local tap water
Do you drink bottled water because you assume it’s better than tap water? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if you live in the United States bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water. In fact, some bottled water comes from municipal water sources; it’s tap water...
Challenge
Turn down your refrigerator
Did you know that refrigerators account for about 20% of the average household’s electricity use? Today, cut down on your energy consumption by using a thermometer to raise your refrigerator temperature to the most efficient level.
Your refrigerator temperature should be as close to 37°F and...
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Go carbon neutral
We all need to take responsibility for solving the issue of global climate change. One way to do this is to reduce our total carbon emissions. That means doing things like turning off the lights when we leave a room, taking public transportation when possible, etc.
Taking this one step farther —...
Challenge
Turn off the water when you brush
Today when you brush your teeth turn off the water after you wet your brush and leave it off until you rinse. Even small everyday gestures make a difference for the environment.
Challenge
Unplug your electronics
Even when they are not being used, electronics - like coffee makers, TVs, and stereos - consume some energy. Today or tomorrow before you leave the house, unplug any electronics that aren't being used.
Challenge
Clean up your cleaning products
The great thing about natural cleaning products is that they don’t contain harsh chemicals that float in the air after use or get washed down the drain. Make an effort today to research your options. Plan on replacing your current supply of products with natural ones when you run out.
Challenge
Reduce your junk mail
Drowning in junk mail? The earth is too. Most junk mail is not printed on recycled paper and ends up in landfills. In the next 24 hours, contact a few of your most prolific junk mail companies and request to be taken off their mailing lists. If you’re receiving huge amounts of junk, another tactic...
Challenge
Shorten your shower
When you reduce your shower time you not only save money on your water bill, you also conserve water and energy. The next time you hop in the shower, start a timer and see how quickly you can get clean.
Challenge
Opt for paperless billing
Over the next couple days, check in with your bank, utility companies, credit card companies, and insurance providers — or any other place that issues you a monthly statement. Ask them if they can switch you over to paperless billing. It's a great way to save a few trees.
_(We've given you 7...
Challenge
Greenify your commute
There are lots of ways to make your commute more environmentally friendly. It just takes a little planning and some effort. You might be surprised at how seemingly small changes can make a big difference.
During the next week, try one (or several) of these ideas for making your commute more...
Challenge
Help the environment
Do one thing in the next 24 hours to help the environment. It could be bringing your lunch to work in a re-usable container, carpooling, or recycling. Imagine if everyone did one simple thing everyday to contribute.
Challenge
Forego the bag
If you go shopping during the next 24 hours, carry a convenient fold-up cloth bag with you. Tell the cashiers you can skip the bag.
Challenge
Do a good deed
It feels good to contribute to making the world a better place. Sometime in the next 24 hours, do a good deed and spread a little happiness.