The kitchen is typically one of the biggest energy-consuming rooms in the house. With such a powerful drive to “go green” these days, the kitchen would be a great place to begin an energy-efficient campaign in your home.

Just take a look through your cabinets, what do you see? Chances are, like most consumers, you have a cabinet full of plastic packaging. It should be rather obvious that a landfill full of plastic is not going to be good for the environment. One of the best ways to utilize excessive plastic so it does not end up clogging landfills, is to recycle or repurpose what you can. Plastic bottles and jugs work wonders as gardening tools:

A two-liter jug with holes poked in the bottom works wonders for spreading grass seed.

A diagonal cut down the side of a bottle will transform it into a nifty little scooper for scooping fertilizer and other materials.

With a little creativity and ingenuity, any jug or bottle can become a bird feeder. Moreover, you can involve the kids with this project and inspire their creativity as well.

Aside from plastic bottles, you probably have a surplus of plastic grocery bags piled up from numerous shopping trips. If this is the case, simply donate them to any local church or organization as they usually always have a need for them. A local animal shelter may also have a need for plastic grocery bags for cleaning and other tasks.

Another easy way for your kitchen to become more sustainable actually begins at the grocery store. Instead of purchasing all sorts of prepackaged and frozen foods, try purchasing fresh ingredients and produce. To boost your efforts, buy foods that you know have come from local sources. Think about it, food grown from outside sources have likely traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles in the back of a diesel-guzzling tractor-trailer. That truck’s exhaust certainly is not helping the environment.

Moreover, food trucked in has most likely been infused with all sorts of additives and preservatives to ensure their freshness during their potentially long transit to your local grocery store(s). Lastly, on items that simply cannot be bought fresh, consider purchasing them in bulk. This will not only reduce the amount of plastic being brought home but, ultimately, reduces the amount of trips you take to the grocery store.

Oddly enough, you and your family are not the only consumers in your kitchen. In fact, the other consumers in question are responsible for the high cost of your utility bills—your appliances. That’s right; your appliances are notorious for consuming an excess amount of electricity, even when not in use. However, a great deal of emphasis has been put on the manufacturing of energy-efficient appliances. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and even smaller appliances are being outfitted with more efficient parts so that they consume less energy than their older counterparts. Therefore, if your budget allows for it, shop around for newer appliances (especially those featuring an Energy Star rating). Aside from that, be sure to unplug any appliance that is not being used.

The kitchen is usually used every day in any given household, so doesn’t it make sense to make it as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible? Of course, the environment will be the ultimate benefactor from your green efforts. However, when you think about it, your wallet shares part in the benefit as well. I think most will agree that a low utility bill, as well as a low grocery bill, is quite enticing. With a little extra effort, your kitchen will work harder for you and the environment while, at the same time, consuming less resources.

This guest post is contributed by eco-warrior Andrew Brusnahan. While driving a Prius would be great, Andrew realizes that it is the little steps that can be taken by the average consumer on a daily basis that really saves the planet. If you would like Andrew to write for you, contact him at abrusnahan@yahoo.com

On average, eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every single day in the United Kingdom. Many families use disposable nappies for convenience. However, once they factor in the costs and long-term effects, they will realize that cloth nappies are the overall better choice. In addition to the fact that disposable nappies are not cost-effective, they also are responsible for 4 percent of the country’s household waste.

Hurting the Environment

In a home with only one baby, disposable nappies can make up 50 percent of the household waste. Unfortunately, these nappies take at least two hundred years to decompose. Since the vast majority of waste in the UK is landfilled, environmentalists are concerned with the release of methane from the decomposition of waste in the landfills. As previously stated, since it takes hundreds of years for the disposable nappies to decompose, they will be waiting at the landfills for what seems to be an eternity. Unfortunately, there is also a short supply of land, which conflicts with the large amounts of waste brought over to the landfills. This also causes negative impacts on the environment in terms of odour and water pollution.

Wasting Your Money

If you count from birth to being potty trained, the average baby who uses disposable nappies can go through 5,400 nappies. This number is remarkably higher than the baby who uses cloth nappies. Parents who enforce the usage of real nappies only need 20 to 30 nappies in total. If a family opts to use cloth nappies, they will save hundreds of pounds on one child alone. With 200 pounds, you can buy all the waterproof covers and nappies that your baby will ever need. However, if you choose to stick with disposables, you will end up spending 800 pounds on your baby’s nappies over time. That number does not factor in car gas expenses for picking up disposable nappies once you have run out. Even when you factor in laundering expenses and other occurrences, such as misplacement, you can save at least 500 pounds. If your family expands, you can reuse your firstborn’s cloth nappies and save another whole two years’ worth of nappies.

Increasing Health Risk

Most than half of one-month-old babies in the UK have experienced a rash from a disposable nappy; 16 percent of the rashes were serious. Disposable nappies have caused a widespread new phenomenon of nappy rashes. These rashes have been linked to allergic reactions to chemicals found in the disposable nappies, limited amounts of air and high temperatures. Since the plastic of the disposable nappies retain body heat, the babies may feel dry when they are really wet. If the parents are not able to detect that the baby needs changing when they do, it increases the baby’s chances of contracting a rash.

For families who would like to adapt a green way of living, which will also benefit their baby’s well-being, refraining from using disposable nappies is the first step. Disposable nappies may seem to be convenient, but they come at a great cost. Stopping the use of these nappies is extremely beneficial for the environment as well as for a family’s overall personal savings.

This guest post is contributed by Emma Lamb on behalf of  Direct Baby Changers

In order to get a really good understanding of why so much monetary and technological efforts are being invested into solar power and the development of new facilities for solar energy, it may be worthwhile to go over a few of the very important benefits that are attained as a result of using solar power.

A number of these reasons might seem quite obvious, a few might be debatable and some might even be surprising to some individuals; however, make no mistake about it, in spite of the cynics, solar power is a priceless resource for developing and refining.

Below are some of the benefits of utilizing solar power :

• Not only is solar power sustainable, it is also renewable and that means we will never be able to use it all up.  This source of power is just about as natural as is possible to produce and it allows us to refuel our motor vehicles as well as light our homes and heat our water.
• Our very own source of electricity can be generated by the use of solar panels which will potentially enable us to go off the grid.  As a matter of fact, solar panels allow us to be independent of the public utility companies and we would no longer need them to supply our electricity. This means, we will no longer be required to pay those ridiculously high electricity bills that become a pain every month.
• The generation of solar energy does not require a lot of maintenance.  As soon as the troughs or solar panels are installed and they achieve maximum efficiency, there is very little else that needs to be done in order to ensure that the panels are working properly.
• One of the great features of the solar panels is that they silently produce energy.  There is entirely no noise generated from the photovoltaic panels since all that is required of them is to convert sunlight into functional electricity.
• Solar power creation is unobtrusive, especially solar electricity that is produced from photovoltaic panels which sit on the roofs of buildings.
• A number of governments locally and all over the world provide generous monetary incentives and rebates to individuals who install solar water heaters and solar panels.  The governments of a variety of nations appreciate the magnitude of the generation of electricity from sources that are renewable to the whole world and they are making these offers as attractive as possible in order to encourage individuals to undertake this environmentally friendly venture.

So what are you thinking about? This is the best time to invest in solar power because it is the only future that will help us live longer.

To find out the healthier option between the organic and regular milk is a complicated process, as both the sides have the similar number of pros and cons linked with it.

Regular milk comes from mammals that are allowed to nibble on in an open environment. They taste great and are a wholesome food. The regular milk also contains higher fat and carbon content thus cannot be considered as the greenest option for milk. On the other hand the temperature, on which regular milk is pasteurized, actually makes it less beneficial as all the good bacteria, natural enzymes and chemical composition like calcium gets destroyed. The regular milk available today in the open market is not fit for human consumption. Pasteurization has also been associated with other diseases like cancer, allergies and coronary diseases.

Organic milk on the other hand stands out in comparison with the regular milk. The cows are not given the synthetic growth hormones which are harmful to the human body. So, all organic dairy cattle which graze in open pastures, rather than indoor feeding enclosures seem to give more natural and healthier organic milk as they feed on conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), a healthy fat. However, organic milk can be considered safer only if the farm or dairy is not using antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and other artificial compounds to produce more milk.

Organic Milk or Raw Milk: Does it really make any huge difference?

The claims made by the USDA and FDA prove that there are no significant differences between organic and regular milk as far as nutrition, quality and safety is concerned. However, research has proved that there are still prohibited amounts antibiotics being used in a high percentage on lactating cows. These antibiotics and hormones can affect the physical well being of the cow and also contribute to some major illnesses in human beings. However the mammals, allowed grazing in pesticide free farms, produced milk which contained larger amounts of healthy antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids beneficial for the human body.

The Nutritional Benefits of organic and raw milk

An investigation of the nutritional benefits of raw and organic milk shows the following results:

Organic Milk

• Has a neutral, succulent rich flavor. It is sweeter, smoother and creamier.
• It is a complete food and has proteins, minerals, calcium and vitamins.
• It has a long shelf life.

Regular Milk

• Tastes more watery and has a complex flavor.
• It is easier to digest.
• The beneficial enzymes and bacteria are useful to the human body and helps digestion.
• It has a lesser shelf life when compared to the organic milk, but pasteurized milk does stay longer.

How to find the right milk?

Today, people are becoming more aware of the benefits of organic milk and raw milk products. You would need to locate a farm which does not use artificial hormones, antibiotics, etc. to produce milk. There are a large number of small organic farms across the country which are selling raw organic milk, and milk products; strictly following the directives of the FDA.

Go and check it out and start going greener and healthier.

This guest post is contributed by Alia Haley who is a blogger and a tech freak.  She has a weak side for gadgets and fashionable stuff like beach bag and dresses and she loves cars. Beside this she writes for Concept cars and Wireless Usb Adapter .

Way back in the 70s when too much of garbage was creating a problem for dumping sites, apart from being unhealthy for the surroundings, there arose the crucial need to find a solution. Hence, the authorities came upon the idea of recycling some of the waste for creating new outlets for use. Gary Anderson, a college student created the simple triangular logo at a contest held in 1970, which has now become the universal symbol for recyclable products. Although, there are different variants of symbols used all over the world, in the US the following are the most common symbols for recycling.

1. Triangular symbol

This is signified by a triangle of arrows in big strips pointing in a one way triangular direction. This is the most common symbol which stands for metals, plastics and bottles which can be recycled. This symbol is seen on containers, recycling centers and anywhere else, where there is an accent on the smart use of products and materials.

2. Plastic recycling symbol

This indicates that the plastic is a kind of resin which can be recycled by the indication of triangle arrows with a number in the middle. There are seven different kinds of plastics in this symbol which can all be recycled. There are some brands of plastics which are not accepted by the recycling plants, so there is a need to find out the specified plastic before dumping them for recycling.

3. Aluminum recycling

In a configuration of curved triangle arrows with a number in the middle and the word ALU at the bottom, this symbol is meant for all recycled aluminum and aluminum recycling. In many areas, more than 95 % of aluminum is recycled and is one of the greatest success stories for environmental movement.

4. Recycled symbol

When the product is made of recycled material, it is indicated by the symbol with three triangular arrows within a circle. This is mainly found on paper and cardboard and sometimes the percentage of recycled material used is indicated on the arrows. When a particular product is made of a combination of new and recycled content, there is a white background for the black arrows. Likewise, a black background on white arrows indicates that the product is 100 percent recycled.

5. Glass recycling

This symbol has a single arrow in a triangular form and is green in color to indicate glass recycling with the word glass recycles at the bottom.

6. Recycled paperboard

This symbol has a series of arrow heads in a half circle and the word 100 percent Recycled Paperboard written on the right side of the half circle. This is often indicated on cereal boxes and the amount of consumer sources of recycled paperboard is given the symbol.

7. Corrugated cardboard recycling

The Corrugated Packaging Council developed this symbol which has a single enveloping arrow in a circular form with series of arrows within. This label is not carried on corrugated packaging items that have some wax substance since these cannot be recycled.

Most of these recycle symbols from 1 to 4 can be adapted and used by anybody, as long as they do not violate the environmental marketing claims as envisaged by the Federal Trade Commission. The last three symbols were created for specific uses by industrial groups.

This guest post is contributed by Alia Haley who is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and luxury. Beside this she is fond of cell phones and bags. She recently added two Burberry Handbags to her collection. These days she is busy in writing an article on LED Bulbs.

The global temperature and the global debt amount are seen to be increasing day by day. This is supposed to make things worse for one and all and so steps should be taken in order to solve these problems. It is said that people should rather try investing their money in all that is related to going green, thereby saving themselves from debts and also saving the earth from further destruction. For example, you can invest your money in the green stocks of those companies that are somehow related with going green like producing green energy, other kinds of green or environment friendly products and so on. This can help you make that extra money and use that money to pay off debts through debt settlement.

Green investments and debt

Nowadays, most of the solar, water and wind companies offer green stocks. So, you can invest your money in the different green stocks that are available. Even the green mutual funds and ETF funds are also available and you can invest in those. Moreover, green is now the “Hot Topic” so you have good chances of making more money out of your green investments.

However, other than investing in stocks, you can also invest money in the environment you live in by making it more efficient and eco-friendly.

For example, you can build a green home with better water facilities and lighting and air facilities. This is going to help you save money on electricity and water. You can replace the fittings in your bathroom to save water and money too. You can replace old windows with new ones and at new places to allow increased light dispersion.
Install a water filter at the tap itself so that you do not require buying bottled water. This can save you lots of money.

In addition to this, invest your money in buying a programmable thermostat that is going to cost you on average $40. These units not only help you save money, but also help you in leaving the tension of adjusting the temperature to the thermostat itself. Furthermore, get the energy auditions done. This can help you in reducing the consumption of energy so you can get help from the different energy utility companies who offer services to check with the energy consumption of a home.

Get a hybrid or fuel efficient car that is going to help you save money on consumption of gasoline. These cars require less fuel and so even if these cars initially may seem to be high on costs, in the long run it saves money.

In verdict: you can see that there are various ways you can invest your money other than the simply direct stock and mutual fund. Try to consider all the options and go green Feedbacks welcome

This guest post was contributed by Rick Murphy who is a contributory writer associated with the Debt Consolidation Care Community and has written several articles for various financial websites. He holds his expertise in the Debt industry and has made significant contribution through his various articles. To get Debt settlement related help visit:www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-settlement.html

It is a known fact that trees are cool and we need them to live better and longer in this world. It’s good to know that lots of businesses have started using recycled paper and stuff. Maybe because Internet has made things easier; people use emails and iPads and kindles now. Regardless of what technology has given us, we will still continue using paper and other stuff. An interesting fact that most people are unaware of is that only seventeen trees are saved, for every ton of recycled paper that is used. So the more recycle products the better it is for the environment. Join the campaign of saving more trees, just start using more recycled stuff.

Another advantage of recycling products is that they are very effective in helping to decrease the greenhouse effect. Gas emissions are released into the atmosphere as a result of manufacturing, and the use and disposal of things in the environment that are non-biodegradable. When gas emissions from the greenhouse rise to very high levels of concentration, the effects include global temperature changes, alterations in the sea levels, and other changes in the climatic conditions. As such, recycling will help to decrease the need that people have to make glass, metals, plastics and paper. Additionally, this would also save the energy that is required to make these various products. Lets not create extra stuff, waste and overpopulate; just recycle them.

By using recycled products, you will also be able to help decrease the amount of non-biodegradable products that get dumped at landfills. A majority of the products that get dumped at landfills will most likely decompose and cause it to release methane gas into the atmosphere. Landfills are known to be the primary cause for the release of emissions of methane gas in the environment. Not only is this harmful for the plants and animals in the environment, but also for you and your family as well.

Another non-biodegradable material that is dangerous to the environment is plastic. By using recycled products, you will be able to reduce the amount of plastics in the environment; and thus will help to conserve energy. It has been proven that plastics are very hard to dispose of, and if left buried, they will last for a period of seven hundred years. Therefore, the next time you use a plastic cup, try thinking about recycling it before you throw it away. You should try your best not to use products made from plastic, and you should also consider taking reusable bags to the grocery store, so that you are not left with a bunch of plastic bags that you will never use

More and more people and businesses are becoming aware that the exhaust from gas operated cars is causing a lot of damage to the environment. Due to this, there has been an increase in the development of environmentally friendly cars to help reduce the emissions that are released into the atmosphere on a daily basis. This has led to the expansion of the market of eco-friendly cars, and it is expected that this market will continue to expand.

2 Common Types of Green Car

• Electric Cars – Initially when electric cars were introduced to the market, there were quite a number of persons who believed that these cars would not fit into the market. However, this opinion has changed overtime, and now electric cars are one of the most popular eco-friendly cars currently available. There are many people who are now favoring these cars as their mode of travel; however, in order for them to dominate the market, these cars will need work.

• Hybrid Cars – If you are looking for cars that are more eco-friendly than the conventional cars that are fueled by gas, then you should consider purchasing hybrid cars. These eco-friendly cars were designed to use both conventional gas powered engines, and electric motors. Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular among the driving population, due to the fact that they are very effective in helping to decrease the damage that gas emissions are causing to the environment.

Green Gas

• Recharging Stations – In order for electric cars to work effectively, they need to be charged from time to time. Because manufacturers of electric cars are aware of the fact that not everyone who owns these types of eco-friendly cars will be able to charge them at their homes, they have placed recharging stations in different areas of the country. Because of the lack of sufficient investments, recharging stations are not as popular as conventional gas stations; however, manufacturers of electric cars are hoping that this will change, as these cars become more popular. Trust me, it will be soon.

• Solar Recharging Systems – While the issue of recharging stations for electric cars are being worked out, other methods of charging these cars are being developed. One of these alternatives is the solar panels recharging systems, and they are used to charge the batteries of electric cars while you are on the move; additionally, it will enable you to store energy that you can use at a later time. Solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of energy; as such, automobile manufacturers are starting to take advantage of its benefits.

Today, more than ever, it is extremely important to make a positive contribution to the environment. We can do our part to make a bit of a difference in stemming the worsening situation. Even though we are unsure of the effects of our small efforts, we should continue to play a role in energy conversation and take other steps to reduce our environmentally destructive actions.

Reduce Paper Usage

The first step you can take is to reduce the amount of paper you use during your daily routine at the office. Is it really necessary to print a hard copy of everything that you read? If not, then read the information from the computer screen and if you must, ensure that you place it in recycle bin or use the backside for message taking or to be printed on again. If your company does not have a recycling program, then volunteer to implement one and encourage your co-workers to join you in making a positive contribution to the environment.

Whenever new employees come on board, set the right pace by emailing documents such as standard operating procedures and employee manuals instead of printing them out. In so doing, the employee will be able to look through the essential practice and procedures on the computer and you will be able to save the company a ream or half a ream of paper for every new employee that comes on board.

Get Plants in your Office

Literally go green! If your office is devoid of a living plant or two or three, then now is the perfect time to remedy that situation. Incorporating plants into the office décor is a very easy way of increasing oxygen and keeping your environment nice and clean. Give a gift of a plant to co-workers on a special occasion and by so doing, you give a gift to the environment as well.

Save Energy, Save Money

Turn the lights out in those vacant offices and conference rooms. It is your responsibility to assist in mitigating the effect of climate change and saving the environment in the process.

Instead of allowing the computers to hibernate every night, turn off and unplug the system. It might end up taking a few extra minutes out of your day to reboot every morning but this is a great and easy method of conserving energy and saving on electricity costs. If your office windows are not outfitted with blinds, then you should consider investing in some new blinds. They are a very effective way of moderating the temperatures in your offices.

You most likely know what wind power is and you are also aware that it can save you money. There are 3 indicators of economy of wind power – installed cost, electricity generated, and the cost of running the turbine. Keep these indicators at the back of your head as we take a look at some real savvy, smart ways of saving money with this green technology:

The Buying Process

Do not base your buying decision on the turbine’s power rating. Instead, ask for the rotor diameter. The rotor is located behind the blades and it enables the blades to cut through the air and generate electricity. The bigger the rotor diameter, the more electricity your wind turbine will generate. Wind turbines for homes can have rotors with a 100 feet diameter. Also, while calculating how much you will save, find out the rates you will be able to sell the electricity to the utility companies. You should also know that the prices of windmills are going down and so you must shop around. These tactics will help you save money even before you get started, and you will be happy to know that US households using wind power get their electricity bills reduced between 50% and 90%.

Tax Rebates

The American government offers tax incentives for home owners opting to install green energy power generators. The tax incentives are facilitated by the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). The first tax incentive is a Production Tax Credit, which saves 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour on energy generated by reasonably-sized (utility scale) wind turbines. To qualify, the wind turbine should create enough energy for the whole community and not just for 1 household. The other tax incentive is Investment Tax Credit, which gets you 30% credit of the wind turbines cost. To avail of the second credit, you must produce the bills and a statement from the manufacturer that the turbine qualifies for a tax credit.

Build or Assemble the Wind Turbine

Installing a wind turbine is an expensive process. If you want to save money, you can install the whole wind turbine yourself, and it is not as difficult as you think it to be. The tools are easy to get and the instructions, complete with diagrams, are available as well. However, you should take into account the complexity of the turbine, its size, your technical skills, the time on your hands, and your experience in engineering projects before deciding to install the wind turbine yourself. If you can do it, it will save you a lot of money.

There are many eBooks available that can even help you build a wind turbine for less than $200 (plus the cost of the book, which is around $30)! A commercial grade turbine costs $20,000 or more, and if you’re just getting into the green energy arena, it makes sense to go with an eBook and start off with a small investment.

Buy a Low-maintenance Wind Turbine

Don’t buy an old model. The wind turbine technology is racing ahead and the wind turbines of today feature lesser number of moving parts, and therefore are low on maintenance. So, the lesson is to buy a new model that is created using the latest technologies. It may cost you slightly more, but will save you big on maintenance. Even while buying a modern turbine, inquire about how much repairs and maintenance it will need and buy a model that needs the least maintenance. All wind turbines need some maintenance and you must be ready for that if you want to save money.

Calculate The Opportunity Cost

Now, this is a weird tactic of saving money on wind energy! If it is electric bill saving that you’re after, you must calculate the opportunity cost. The cost of wind power includes investment, repairs, maintenance, and any other expense required to be paid to the electricity company (in case you are selling the energy). Deduct the unit’s estimated salvage value, energy sale revenue, and the tax credits. Now, divide the net cost by the total number of energy units that the wind turbine is expected to produce over a period (say, 3 years). Compare this rate with the rate charged by the electricity company to see if you are actually saving money. Invest only if your calculation shows that you are indeed saving some money. This opportunity cost comparison will not matter if you have anyway decided to go green.

This guest post is contributed by M.H, who is the editor of Alternative Energy Geek where he shares his knowledge about the renewable energy sources.