Being a friend to the environment is everybody’s business. Here are some simple ways to give back to Mother Nature and lessen our impact to our surroundings.

We should never tire of giving each other eco tips and teaching everyone around us how simple going green can be. If everyone had the same mindset, that is to lessen our impact to the environment, we can all look forward to living in a healthier planet.

Here are the top 10 eco tips to living an eco-friendly life (and we promise that all of these are simple to do):

1. Use less plastic. Stay away from those ultra-convenient sandwich and shopping bags, and bring your own cloth bag or reusable grocery bags when doing your groceries. Resist the urge to buy new plastic cups for your upcoming party. Bring out the old glasses or go for paper cups.

2. Use less paper. When printing documents, do a print preview to be sure that you’re only printing what you need. Use both sides of each page, or write on clean sides. Go for recycled tissue paper, these require less virgin pulp thus saving more trees. Think about using recycled paper when wrapping gifts, or do away with paper wrappers altogether.

3. Start taking public transport to work. Give up two days in the week to do so. Do a car pool with co-employees who live near you. This will save fuel costs and help reduce CO2 emissions. Remember, fewer cars on the road means less harmful emissions.

4. Stop using chemical pesticides. Look for organic alternatives, or use compost. These toxic chemicals are harmful not just to the environment, but to you and the people around you.

5. Help your water heater. Have insulation installed around your hot water heater, and insulate the pipes connected to it. These ‘jackets’ only cost between $10 and $20, but will help keep water warm longer.

6. Plant a tree. This not only beautifies the environment, but will help shield your home from strong winds and extreme heat.

7. Have your HVAC checked regularly. Heating and cooling your home takes a lot of energy, and if your systems aren’t working right, you can waste a lot of energy. Have a professional check out your HVAC every two years; this will also serve as preventive maintenance.

8. Fix leaky faucets or pipes. Avoid unnecessary water wastage around the house.

9. Use a broom instead of a garden hose when cleaning the yard. Hosing down the pavement means wasting gallons of water when the same effect can be achieved by sweeping up the leaves.

10. Purchase Energy Star appliance. These use up to 50% less energy than old or conventional appliances.

There are more eco tips available if we do more research and consult the experts.

Car Pool · Chemical Pesticides · Co Employees · Co2 Emissions · Eco Tips · Friendly · Going Green · Harmful Emissions · Hot Water Heater · Live · Old Glasses · Organic Alternatives · Paper Cups · Paper Wrappers · Plant A Tree · Plastic Cups · Printing Documents · Reusable Grocery Bags · Shopping Bags · Toxic Chemicals · Virgin Pulp · Wrapping Gifts

Mission: The EcoLife Store aims to provide environmentally friendly products to communities in order to improve the health and sanitation of current living standards while reducing carbon emissions. Through education and marketing efforts, EcoLife products can replace kerosene, three stone fires, and other harmful items used for everyday needs, in order to better the lives of the people. Vision: Rural Indian villages lack access to a secure 24-hour energy supply. Many rural people do not have the means to buy electric water filtration systems and remain unaware of the negative impacts of smoke inhalation and chemical pesticides. Eco-friendly products that remedy these problems are currently provided through non-profit agencies or sold directly by distributors. Rather than endorsing any specific product, the concept of EcoLife is that local people, especially the poor, should have a choice in deciding which products are right for them. The store is also a centre, where customers can learn about the threat of global warming and ways to reduce their households carbon footprint. We offer a selection of low-cost solar lights, smokeless stoves, and other items with the aim of expanding our product range in the future. The EcoLife Store was officially launched as a project of the Auroville Village Action Group in the Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India at the end of November 2009, and has sold over $4000 worth of products each month to customers, some of which subside on less …

Carbon Footprint · Chemical Pesticides · EcoLife · Electric Water · Energy Supply · Friendly Products · Global Warming · Health And Sanitation · Households · Indian Villages · Kerosene · Marketing Efforts · Profit Agencies · Reducing Carbon Emissions · Smoke Inhalation · Solar Lights · Stores · Stoves · Tamil Nadu India · Villupuram District · Water Filtration Systems

Copyright (c) 2008 Virginia Ginsburg

Raising your baby green, much like living your life green, involves many options. It is exactly these options that can make an impact on the health of the global ecosystem. That said, the options and opportunities for going green can feel overwhelming at times.

There are many small steps that you can take to start down the path of being an eco-conscious consumer. Your baby will thank you for your attention when she grows up to find native species still in place, clean air, and thriving oceans.

There are many reasons to dress your baby in green clothing. First, green or “eco-friendly” baby clothes are better for the environment because of the three main factors that are taken into consideration by their manufacturers:

1. Energy
Green baby clothes are typically produced using less energy. This is because they undergo fewer chemical processes and are often produced by manufacturers that are held to higher regulations (by their customers) than traditionally-made clothes

2. Chemicals
Green baby clothes are grown with few or no chemical pesticides or herbicides. They are also minimally processed using chemical dyes and colors. All of these chemicals can be harmful to the ecology of our planet by seeping into groundwater and affecting the ability for native plants to thrive.

3. Sustainability
Green baby clothes are produced using sustainable farming methods that take into account the natural ecosystem and creating the least impact possible.

Aside from the ecological reasons for purchasing green baby clothes, you can also dress your baby in them knowing that there are additional benefits, including:

1. Comfort
Although it shouldn’t be surprising, natural fabrics tend to be soft and comfortable – exactly what you want for your newborn.

2. Cleanliness
The eco-friendly bamboo fabric features amazing moisture-wicking and antibacterial properties, which are greatly appreciated by today’s parents.

3. Goodwill
Knowing that you dress your child in clothes that are not actively disrupting the Earth’s delicate balance can create a sense of well-being that simply isn’t possible using traditionally-farmed fabrics.

Your options in buying green baby clothes are many and increase almost daily. As people throughout the U.S. and elsewhere recognize the value of purchasing eco-friendly clothing, more and more manufacturers are expanding their capacities and even some of the greatest designers are turning to green fabrics.

It is increasingly easy to find organically-grown cotton. Even some of the large chain stores carry certain items made of this fabric. Organic cotton is grown with natural fertilizers and is free from toxic chemicals. Farmers rely on crop rotation and age-old cultivation techniques to maintain soil quality and grow healthy plants. A field must be pesticide-free for at least three years to qualify as organic, and the cotton must be processed based on International organic standards.

Bamboo fabrics are one of the more unique eco choices. Softer than even the softest cotton on the market, bamboo fabrics have a natural sheen and are frequently compared to silk and cashmere. It is less expensive and more durable than silk or satin, but can be used in place of either fabric. A great benefit of using bamboo fabric for baby clothing is its antibacterial properties. Bamboo fibers contain a naturally-occuring anti-microbial agent that prevents bacteria from cultivating on it. Bamboo also naturally provides UV protection.

Like bamboo, hemp fibers grow quickly, making it a highly sustainable and eco-friendly crop. The yield from a field of hemp or bamboo is more than double that of an equal acreage of cotton. Hemp fabric still tends to be “nubbier” than cotton, as it is the traditional choice of consumers interested in minimally-processed fibers. That said, in recent years hemp clothing manufacturers have made huge strides and greatly increased the softness of hemp clothing, making it a great option for babies.

Overall, dressing your baby in green clothing has many benefits both for the Planet and your baby. Luckily, it is increasingly becoming more affordable also.

Antibacterial Properties · baby · Baby Clothes · Chemical Dyes · Chemical Pesticides · Chemical Processes · Cleanliness · Clothes · Conscious Consumer · ecofriendly · Ecological Reasons · Ginsburg · Global Ecosystem · Groundwater · Herbicides · Moisture Wicking · Native Plants · Native Species · Natural Ecosystem · Natural Fabrics · Oceans · Small Steps · Sustainable Farming Methods