First of all when it comes to the nursery there are many things one wants to do with it; paint it, put in new flooring and clean it. Carpets, paint and cleaning products all can emit toxic fumes called volatile organic compounds of which some are carcinogenic and can irritate the lungs and thus one’s breathing. Children are much more susceptible to toxins then adults as their lungs are smaller and they also breathe much faster. Babies are even more susceptible especially as their lungs are much smaller and haven’t developed as far as a child’s or adult’s. Their immune and nervous system are only in the early stages of development. They also breathe faster. As a result they inhale more toxins than adults do and have much smaller bodies. This is also a caution for pregnant women, as inhalation of toxins can also affect the baby.

First of all one will want to paint the nursery and many people leave to the last minute. If you are going to paint the nursery it is best to do it as soon as you can and ventilate it well. If you are pregnant this is a job best left to someone else to be extra safe. When painting you need to give at least a month or so for the room to properly air before putting your baby in there. The longer you leave a room to dry and let the paint settle the better. It is also best to avoid conventional paint and look for eco friendly paints and ones low in VOCs. You could also try looking for milk or natural paints. There are also paints that are completely VOC free and thus do not emit any fumes. These are well worth looking for to be extra safe.

Besides paint there is also the floor to contend with. Carpet is far from ideal when it comes to toxins and being green. New carpet will emit VOCs and with its flame-resistant properties will also add more toxins into the mix. Carpets can also trap in dust, mold and pesticides and your baby will be crawling on it and be very close to it. Carpet is best avoided but there are some great alternative carpets such as cork or bamboo that you could use without the toxic issues. If you do not like the idea of a bamboo or cork carpet then wood flooring is the better option. You can also use natural rugs on the floor for particular areas to add some cosiness and make it softer for your moving baby.

Lastly there is the issue of furniture. Many people do not think that furniture could possibly admit toxins – I didn’t at one point. However if you are buying cheap MDF/chipboard style furniture, this type of furniture usually contains formaldehydes that can be hazardous to health. Avoid them at all costs and only go for furniture that is formaldehyde free or solid wood.

Here are some clean and green date activities to help you pull off a fun and earth-friendly date:

Forget the car – A little sacrifice goes a long way. While driving is convenient, it creates air pollution. Try walking tours instead and save on fuel consumption while partaking the beauty of your local architecture. Plus, you can lose some calories, too. If walking is such a pain, then opt for public transportation, such as buses and trains. Or better yet, take the bike, which is the most eco-friendly way to get around.

Dine at a local restaurant – Green your dining options, too! Browse your local events guide and check for restaurants in your area that practices green hospitality and cook meals using lesser energy consumption. You can also look for a dining establishment that supports local agriculture or serves organic cuisine.

Visit the farmers market – As going to the farm is rather inconvenient, instead, meet your date on a Saturday morning at a local farmers market and shop for some homegrown produce. Try an organic wine, bread or cheese if you please. A lot of farmers markets are popping up in communities, and visiting one is a wonderful way to support the local agriculture. You will be even surprised to know that these farmers markets not only offer a wide selection of the freshest and luscious fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, but they also have delectable recipes to share!

Have an earth-friendly picnic at the park – With all those locally grown products you bought, you should consider planning a green picnic at the park. Stay away from plastic utensils and other disposables. Bring your favorite china, silverware, wine glasses, and cloth napkins instead. Whip up some fresh salads, sandwiches, a bottle of wine; pack them neatly in stainless steel food containers, and you’re all set for a hearty meal. Spread the tablecloth or blanket; get cozy and enjoy the fresh air.

Give back to the community – Pledge your date time to a local non-profit organization. You and your significant other can either support a cause by donating or volunteering. For instance, you can serve meals at a soup kitchen or help out a retirement facility. Most big cities also have green projects that you can be part of. Just find something you both enjoy, and beneficial for the community.

Check out the outdoors – What is green dating without heading outdoors? The best earth-friendly date is involving Mother Nature! And your options are simply infinite-hiking, swimming, rafting, skiing, kayaking, sailing, surfing are all fantastic green date ideas that allow you to enjoy nature’s beauty, and each other!

If you are into green living, arrange a perfect date that minimizes carbon footprint and contributes to earth preservation. Just refer to the green dating ideas above, and surely, your date will appreciate you even more. And he or she might be inspired, too, to start a green lifestyle!

Now that Americans are green – what do we do about it?

US industry has taken terrific leaps and bounds to ‘green-ify’ its image – from the confusing eco-marketing campaigns for hip clothing apparel  to the pastoral package imagery of organic  foods.  The word ‘Organic’ itself has traveled generations in meaning and is now worth billions of dollars to companies like Whole Foods, whose brand fully depends on people thinking they are ‘greener’ by buying their food.   The truth  is, most companies like these are rapidly re-branding with the primary goal of getting a different sort of green.

There are a handful of companies which the public needs to keep an eye out for and support for being genuinely green-focused.  These are companies that are often targeting a niche environmental problem and are doing their jobs very well.  These businesses deserve the utmost support from both the private and government sectors – for our future truly depends on their continual evolution.

So what are a few of these companies?

Tesla Motors: Tesla Motors is truly an innovator in creating cars of the future that can have an impact on today.  Space enthusiast Elon Musk’s company has already created a successful electric sports car, the Tesla Roadster, that has caught the eye of many a celebrity.  The next endeavor will be the cheaper and more accessible Model S.  Hopefully smaller manufacturers like Tesla will have the support to grow and accommodate for many of the unemployed workers from teetering auto-industry giants. Grid Alternatives:  Grid Alternatives is a California non-profit that provides power to communities in need through alternative energy sources like Solar Cells.  Companies like these not only address growing environmental problems, but also do so in a socially responsible manner that impacts communities across California. Green Energy Technologies: The developer of the WindCube- a cutting edge wind turbine that is designed to be installed on commercial urban and suburban locations.  Technologies such as the WindCube represent an eco-friendly option for  city dwellers.   More of our population is now condensed within urban centers than ever before.   Transporting power over shorter distances will play an important role in stemming our energy-usage.

How can we support companies like these?

One way for other companies to support green technology is either by utilizing their products for enterprise needs, or by offering helpful services to them.   Large and small businesses  alike can consider making an investment in the future by purchasing something like a WindCube to supply their energy needs.

One great example of this  is Newton On Demand, a recruiting software company whose technology is currently powering the hiring and applicant management efforts of Grid Alternatives.  This is extremely important because finding and retaining the brightest minds for an eco-friendly company like this will put the green-technology sector one step ahead.  The more genius applicants that can be pulled towards helping our planet, the better.

The easiest way for the public to support companies like these is also to utilize their products or services.  Although most people still don’t have the cash (especially in the current economy) to purchase a new Tesla or WindCube, a non-profit like Grid Alternatives is largely supported through donations, where even a small amount can help.

Once such thinktank is Worldwatch, a leading research institute that tries to encourage green initiatives in business and society. They issues advice into the latest ways people go green and here are their latest top ten ways to become more eco friendly and save money:

1. Save Energy – They advise you take measures to turn down your thermostat, use energy saving lightbulbs and use eco friendly products and methods when you wash clothes.

2. Save water – they emphasise the importance of water conservation and how showering instead of bathing can drastically reduce our water consumption

3. Save petrol – walking and cycling are possible replacements for he car on many journeys, they suggest.

4. Think about the environment when you eat – Worldwatch suggest you cut back on the meat in your diet as the rearing of livestock has quite a large impact on the environment.

5. Don’t drink bottled water – the thinktank suggests that bottled water creates a lot of waste with empty bottles filling landfills.

6. Buy second hand – by recycling other people’s unwanted items you’ll save money and help the environment.

7.Borrow when possible, they recommend using libraries rather than buying books and hiring tools as examples.

8.Buy longer lasting products and not things that won’t last. Eco-friendly products will save money in the long run too.

9. Try not to dispose of electronics – they urge you to keep hold of old electronics because of the environmental impact of some of the metals and chemicals that make up their composition.

10. Their final suggestion is to try and make your own cleaning products instead of buying harmful cleaners

For more information from Worldwatch why not visit their website.