Tip of the day to help SAVE THE EARTH!

With summer coming up, and the temperature in most places starting to rise, this one is a great reminder!

OPEN WINDOWS instead of using the air conditioning. Consider getting a few fans to help circulate the air a bit. This is obviously not practical in ALL areas, some places are JUST too hot, but for temperate climates where the temperature inside is close to the temperature outside, then save some money, electricity, and the EARTH by just opening windows at night! If you do this, then your house will cool down on it's own without costing you a cent! If your windows are energy efficient, all you have to do is close the windows in the AM before the temperature goes up, and your house will remain cool throughout the day!

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Tip of the day to help SAVE THE EARTH!

It's a very easy one today! USE BOTH SIDES of paper if you have note paper, or taking notes in a class. Don't just throw the paper away, make sure you RECYCLE when you're done completely! Get useless paperwork from classes, junk mail, etc? Don't just chuck them immediately, use them as scrap paper first. Keep a few around for the next time you need to jot a number down. Having a few around is a great way to keep yourself from wasting new sheets each time!

As always, feel free to comment with any questions or if you have anything to add!

SLC Dealership GOING GREEN!

I am very pleased that a local Salt Lake City car dealership has decided to take a huge step in the right direction toward Going "GREEN"! Mark Miller Toyota in Downtown SLC is Utah's only LEED certified dealership! For starters, they are a Toyota dealership! Toyotas are overall the 'cleanset' car company as far as emissions and gas mileage. Mark Miller's new state-of-the-art facility was built using a lot of recycled materials, natural lighting systems, water conservation systems, and much more. Please visit their website at http://www.markmillertoyota.com to see what they've done!

As always, feel free to comment with questions or anything to add!

Greener Beers! Happy St Patrick's Day!

More and more beer breweries are starting to think about their carbon footprint and taking steps to reduce it! So do the earth a favor this St. Patrick's day, and Drink a few GREENER beers!

In 2003, the BROOKLYN BREWERY was the first to switch to using ALL wind energy. Brooklyn Brewery's green power stops 335,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,500 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 500 pounds of nitrogen oxide from being emitted into the atmosphere annually.

The Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland Ohio uses a delivery truck that runs on 100% recycled restaurant vegetable oil!

At Sierra Nevada in California, they've installed four fuel cell power units to supply electric power and heat to the brewery. They also recycle 33,738 tons of materials annually --97.8 percent of their total waste!!

If I've missed any that you know of, please feel free to comment, and I hope you're having a GREEN St. Patrick's Day!

A New Concept from Porsche - A HYBRID!

Porsche will be releasing the first (non-hybrid) models of the PANAMERA in Late 2009, with a Hybrid version soon to follow. There have also been murmurings about a hybrid version of the Porsche Cayenne SUV as well, but the one that caught my attention is this new Panamera! It's a totally new model from Porsche. Perhaps this car will capture a whole NEW breed of hybrid drivers...

http://www.worldcarfans.com/6061027.003/spy-photos-porsche-panamera-latest

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/01/hybrid-drive-on.html

As always, please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

It's a GREEN Ski World!

Our ski resorts here in Utah are doing their part to reduce the carbon footprint! Last year, Park City Mountain Resort commissioned a study prepared by researchers and scientists out of Boulder, CO, that looked at the impacts that climate change will have on the area, and it's surrounding community in 25, 50, and 75 years. There were presentations all over, called "save our snow" which highlighted the results. If nothing is done and business continues as usual, the snowline in Park City will start at 9500 feet in the year 2075!!! When you consider the highest elevation at PCMR, Jupiter Peak is 10,000 feet, it leaves only 500 feet of snow cover - not exactly the greatest snow on earth!! Utah ski areas aren't taking the news lightly - The following article is GREAT, and shows what all of the resorts here in Utah are doing.

I found this article in Sports Guide Magazine - CLICK HERE to download article in PDF, and view a larger version of it! Definitely worth a read!

As always, feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Water Due Diligence!

Do you live in a house with a well? Are you thinking about buying one? Have you ever considered that the water might not be good enough quality to drink? That it might be contaminated? That the water right with the well might not be valid?

If you are currently considering buying a house with a well, or if you're concerned at all about your water quality, It's definitely worth a look to visit this website: http://www.cascadewaterresources.com/news.htm. John files of Cascade Water Resources can help you verify that the well is in good condition, the water is safe to drink and shower, and the water right is in place to give you legal rights to use the water from the well!

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions or if you have anything to add!

Water Works

Water is a BIG DEAL here in Utah! Some facts about the water situation here are below - and if you aren't already taking measures to CONSERVE water, please follow my BLOG for the next few days for some great water conservation suggestions!

1. Utah is the 13th Driest State in the US

2. Utah is ranked #2 in use of water per capita

3. 67% of water from public water systems is used for outside watering.

4. By the year 2012 an average precipitation year will not be enough water without going after other supplies such as Bear River and Lake Powell.

5. By the year 2050 ALL water in the state including Lake Powell and Bear River will not be enough if the population increases as expected.

6. Poaching of water from other States has already started, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (Las Vegas) is currently drilling wells on the Utah / Nevada border south of Wendover and plans to pipe the water to Vegas. Interestingly Utah has plans to poach surface water that would end up in Southern states or Mexico as well. http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=15778

Links to useful Utah Water Facts.

http://www.water.utah.gov/waterplan/uwrpff/Chp-04b.htm#F11

http://www.water.utah.gov/waterplan/uwrpff/Chp-03b.htm

http://www.water.utah.gov/waterplan/uwrpff/Chp-02a.htm#F2

Thanks to John Files of Cascade Water Resources for his contribution to this post. John specializes in water rights, and water quality. If you are buying a home with a well, John can help you insure that the water quality is good, and that the water right is valid.

As always, please feel free to comment with questions!

Foods to Buy Organic Whenever Possible!

A Friend sent me this article, and I thought it was interesting. We all know that it's healthier to eat organic foods... and that there's a LOT of benefit to doing so, including but not limited to the use of pesticides on non-organics. But let's face it - Buying organic IS more expensive - and sometimes it's A LOT more expensive. But some foods are worse than others, so if you're on a budget, the top foods to make sure you buy organic whenever possible are: Meat, Milk, Coffee, Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Strawberries, Lettuces, Grapes, Potatoes, and Tomatoes.

The MSN article that points all this out, and explains the reasons that these 12 culprits are the worst, can be found HERE. Take a look, it's worth it!

As always, feel free to comment with any additional info, or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - A few miscellaneous ideas

Here are a few ideas you can use! You know those spots you get on your cement driveway when a car leaks all over it? The Stain and Spot remover below works GREAT! The dry cement absorbs the grease or oil spot, and without the use of harsh chemicals, that would otherwise end up in the water table!

Stain and Spot Removers:
1) Concrete Grease Spot Remover: To remove grease from concrete flooring sprinkle dry cement over grease. Allow it to absorb the grease, then sweep up.
2) Ink Stains: Use a non-aerosol hair spray to remove ink stains.

Tar Remover:
Food grade linseed oil. Wet rag with linseed oil and rub hard

Vinyl Cleaner:
1 tsp. to 1/4 cup washing soda, and 1 cup boiling water. Dissolve the washing soda in the boiling water. Apply with sponge, wipe off with a damp cloth.

Wallpaper Cleaner:
1) Roll up a piece of white bread and use it to "erase" marks on wallpaper

As always, Please feel free to comment!

Greener Cleaners - Shoe Care

Here are 7 great ideas for caring for, polishing, and deodorizing your shoes, WITHOUT the use of harsh chemicals!

1) Cold Pressed Nut Oil, Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, or Beeswax: Apply oil/wax to leather then buff with a chamois cloth to a shine.
2) Lemon Juice. Good for black or tan leather shoes. Follow by buffing with a soft cloth.
3) Vinegar; Remove water stains on leather by rubbing with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.
4) Petroleum Jelly. A dab of petroleum jelly rubbed into patent leather gives a glistening shine and prevents cracking in the winter.
5) Vinegar. To shine patent leather, moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar and wipe clean all patent leather articles. The color of the leather may be slightly changed.
6) Art-Gum Eraser and Sandpaper or Emery Board.
Dirt marks on suede can be rubbed out with an art-gum eraser. Then buff very lightly an emery board.
7) Add a shine by polishing it with the inside of a banana peel, then buff.

As always, feel free to comment if you have questions or anything to add!G

Greener Cleaners - A few miscellaneous ideas

Here are a few miscellaneous ideas! Lemon juice, the first idea, when used as a grease cutter works great! It's acidic enough to get the job done!

And paint brush cleaner - yet another great use of vinegar! This stuff is good for just about everything!

Grease Cutters:
1) Use lemon juice, vinegar, or sprinkle with borax and scrub with scrub brush.
2) 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil-based liquid soap, 3 tbsp. vinegar, and 2 cups hot water. Mix in spray bottle, spray and scrub, wipe clean.

Paint Brushes:
Soften hard paintbrushes in hot vinegar for a few minutes. Then wash paintbrush in soap and warm water and let dry.

Rust Remover:
1) To remove rust from tin-ware, rub with a peeled potato dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt.
2) Aluminum Foil. Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil, shiny side up.

As always, please comment if you have anything to add, or any questions!

Waste Not.

Waste not.

~Take Tupperware Containers for leftovers to dinner with you, to avoid the use of a Styrofoam container! http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2008/02/restaurant-to-g.html

Waste not.

~ Reduce, Reuse, RECYCLE! For some it’s a given, but others are still just to lazy to take the time to do it! Just do it! Set up a system, separate as you discard, and it really is not that time consuming, and makes a HUGE difference.

Waste not.

~Switch all your light bulbs to CFL’s. (Make sure to properly RECYCLE these when you’re done with them too, as they contain mercury!) http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2007/10/a-note-about--1.html

Waste not.

~Use Re-Usable Grocery bags at the store! Some Ideas: Hemp, organic cotton, etc, or the bag you got at your last few conventions!

Waste not.

~Turn DOWN your heat (winter) or Air Conditioning (summer) when you leave, just a few degrees makes a big difference, and will also save you $$!

Waste not.

~Waste less water! Consider xerascaping your lawn, with water-efficient buffalo grass. WINTERIZE your lawn before winter to save. http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2007/10/conserve-water-.html

Waste not.

~Try to buy more local/organic/natural foods! Your local farmer’s market is a GREAT source, and will keep your $$ in your local community! You will also know you’re consuming ONLY natural foods, and not pesticides, growth hormones, and other stuff that’s just BAD for you!

Waste not.

~Join a program to purchase wind power. Our local company, Rocky Mountain Power (owned by Pacificorp) has a program called “Blue Sky”. You can purchase wind power in 100KWH increments. Most companies offer a program similar to this. Kudos to Rocky Mountain Power for this outstanding program. http://www.rockymtnpower.net/Article/Article65531.html

Waste not.

~Use NATURAL and safe cleaners for your home! I have posted many blogs about this topic, from household cleaners, to automotive cleaners you can make out of all natural ingredients you usually already have in your house! This way, you don’t breathe in harsh chemicals, and you’re helping the environment at the same time! http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2008/01/eco-friendly-cl.html

Waste not.

~Downsize your vehicle this year! Consider buying a hybrid! Try to use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION when possible, carpool, and if it’s close, WALK!

Waste not. These are just a few of many things you can do to lower your impact on the environment, and reduce your carbon footprint!

Restaurant "To GO" Boxes

When most people go out to dinner, they order their drinks, and an appetizer. Then they wait, and eventually, order their main courses. Out come the soups and/or salads before the main meal… then (even though they’re already mostly full!) out come the entrees! Maybe they order desert, and/or after dinner drinks. When they are done, they usually have some leftovers. The portions that restaurants typically serve are HUGE, and (I believe) are a large contributor to this country’s problem with obesity!

So here they are, with half their entrée still sitting on their plate, and they just can’t finish it. They don’t want to just waste it, so they ask for a “to go” container, which is usually made out of Styrofoam, plastic, or some other material (usually not recycled) that they will end up throwing in the trash to rot in the landfills!

Here are just a couple ideas to lower your impact when you eat out: 1) Bring a washable Tupperware container to dinner WITH you if you plan to take leftovers home with you! This way you can enjoy them as tomorrow’s lunch, and not add anything extra to our landfills! 2) consider sharing an entrée, or ask for a half-portion. Many restaurants will accommodate, and you won’t feel so stuffed later! Your waistline will thank you later too!

As always, Please feel free to comment if you have questions, or anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Cars!

Here's a few ideas to use when washing and waxing your vehicles! Keep in mind, the Windshield Wiper fluid may possibly freeze in colder climates - This solution works GREAT when you're scrubbing to get stuff OFF of the windshield, but I'm a little to wary of it freezing to actually mix it up and put it IN the washer fluid compartment.

Windshield Wiper Frost Free Fluid
Mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the car windows with this
solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free.

Car Soap
1/4 cup vegetable oil based liquid soap, and hot water. Mix in pail. Wash your car on the lawn instead of your driveway to reduce runoff to the street or storm sewer. Remember to conserve as much water as possible.

Car Wax (This one's a LOT of work... but it does look great when you're done)
1 cup linseed oil, 4 tbsp. caranuba wax (available at automotive stores), 2 tbsp. beeswax, and 1/2 cup vinegar. Put ingredients in top half of a double boiler or saucepan. Heat slowly until wax has melted. Stir, and pour into a heat resistant container. After wax has solidified, rub it on the car with a lint-free cloth. Saturate a corner of a cotton rag with vinegar and polish the wax to a deep shine.

As always, please feel free to comment with questions or if you have something to add!

Greener Cleaners - Metals!

Here's a few ideas you can use for your metal! There's a few ideas for Silver, which you can use for your jewelry as well as for silverware, goblets, etc!

Silver:
1) Use toothpaste instead of toxic silver cleaner to clean and brighten even your best silver. Use an old soft bristled toothbrush and warm water.
2) Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.
3) To magnetize tarnish away, soak silver in salted water in an aluminum container; then wipe clean.
4) Soak in boiling water, baking soda, salt, and a piece of aluminum foil.
5) When a quick dip for silverware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and
brush with a soft toothbrush.
Brass:
1) Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar, then rub.
Chrome:
1) Rub with undiluted vinegar.
Copper:
1) Rub with lemon juice and salt, or hot vinegar and salt.
Stainless Steel:
1) Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Floor Cleaners!

Here are a couple of ideas you can use to clean your floors, WITHOUT the use of toxic chemicals!

1) A pencil eraser removes heel marks from a floor.
2) For greasy, no-wax floors:

1 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon vegetable oil-based liquid soap
2 gallons hot water
Combine all ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the baking soda. Mop as usual.

As always, feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Furniture!

Here are some ideas you can use to keep your nice wood pieces clean, and looking their best! These work great.... despite how weird you may think mayonnaise sounds as a furniture polish!

Furniture Polish and Scratch Covers:

1) This polish should to be made fresh each time you use it.

1 lemon
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon water

Extract the juice from the lemon. Mix with oil and water.
Apply a thin coat on your wood surface and let sit for five minutes. Use a soft cloth to buff to a deep shine.

2) Use 3 parts light mineral oil and 1 part olive oil and a drop of lemon juice.
3) Use a little olive or lemon oil and some beeswax.
4) Hide wood scratches by rubbing with the meat of a walnut.
5) Use a soft cloth and wipe with a bit of mayonnaise.
6) Rub furniture with a cloth dipped in cool tea.
7) Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Apply mixture to furniture with a soft cloth and wipe it dry.
8) 1/8 cup linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice. Mix ingredients, using soft cloth, rub into wood.
9) To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth.

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Carpet and Upholstery!

Here are some ideas you can use to clean your carpets and cloth upholstery (including couches, vehicles, etc) without the use of harsh chemicals!

Carpets/Upholstery:

1) A great non-toxic carpet stain remover is club soda. Soak spot immediately with soda and blot until the stain is gone.
2) Pet Urine on Carpets: Dab area with toweling to absorb as much as possible, wash spot with liquid dish detergent, and rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt warm water. Lay towels or paper towels over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6 hours, then remove toweling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. Use an electric fan to speed drying.
3) Red wine stains can be removed from carpet by rubbing baking soda in and vacuuming.
4) Sprinkle cornstarch onto carpet, vacuum.
5) To remove grease spots from carpets, first sop up the liquid with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of baking soda into the spot. Let it absorb overnight. Next day, remove the excess and vacuum the area.
6) To remove grease spots from carpets, first absorb excess with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of corn starch into the spot. Let sit overnight, then vacuum.
7) Dry cornstarch sprinkled on rug and vacuumed.

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaner - Misc. Kitchen!

This will finish off the cleaning tips for kitchen! Here are a few other miscellaneous things in the kitchen, such as your garbage disposal! I will post later about more household cleaners, including ones for your carpet, upholstery, floors, furniture, and even your cars! Check back for more tips!

Drain Opener and Garbage Disposal Cleaner:
For slow drains, use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2 to 1 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon boiling water
1/2 a used lemon
Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.

Garbage Disposal:
To eliminate garbage disposal odors and clean and sharpen blades, grind ice and used lemon and/or orange rinds until pulverized.

Kitchen Safety: Fire
1) Emergency fire extinguisher: if a greasy pan catches on fire, turn the heat off and try to cover the pan. Sprinkle powdered baking soda over the fire. (Fill a large coffee can with baking soda and keep it near the stove.
2) An oven fire is easily extinguished by closing the door after shutting off the heat.)

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions or with anything to add!