GOOD: Use Less Plastic

A Message from President Obama

Happy Earth Hour!

Today is Earth Day! Today, at 8:30 PM, whatever time zone you are in, turn your lights off for one hour. For more information, go to http://www.earthhour.org/. Above is Chicago during and before Earth Hour.

Eco-Tip 48

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 48
Go for a walk! The weather is warm (but not too warm) and the sun is shining, so get off the computer or television and get some exercise. Not only does it reduce your consumption -- you get a better appreciation for the very environment you're trying to save.

Eco-Tip 47

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 47
Recycle ALL your paper! On recycling day, you'll usually see stacks of newspapers tied up on people's curbs... but what about all the other paper they use? When you want to get rid of a piece of paper, slip it into one of the newspapers on your recycling pile (so it doesn't fall out when you take it outside) so you don't send recyclable material to the usual trash heap.

New layout!

Eco-Tip 46

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 46
Make your next computer a laptop! Laptops use less energy and are made of less material than desktop computers (plus a ton of other benefits that I couldn't even begin listing). Some new laptops even have energy-saving mechanisms. Mine - a Toshiba Satellite, has an "eco-utility" setting which changes the hue on certain parts of the screen to save a significant amount of power over time. Apple MacBooks are excellent too -- they're specifically designed to use less energy and material (that's why they're so slim!)

Eco-Tip 45

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 45
Leaving the room for more than ten minutes? Leaving your computer for more than an hour? Leaving your phone so you can go to sleep? TURN THEM OFF!! Turning off electronics is probably the easiest green tip in history; for some reason, people seem to believe that the wasted electricity isn't so bad because they're not in the room. It's not okay! When not in use, turn off the juice.

The Hummer

General Motors is, more likely than not, going to discontinue their line of monstrous gas-guzzlers known as Hummers. You know what I say? GOOD RIDDANCE!

Bill Gates: Innovating to Zero

Eco-Tip 44

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 44
Don't throw out hangers. I've never understood why people would ever buy hangers. They're made of plastic (or even better, metal!) -- they last a lifetime! Bring your hangers to college, to your new home, hang your kids' clothes on them, have them bring them to college. Of all the things we throw out, I never understood why someone would throw out a hanger. Unless it broke of course... so don't buy any hangers UNLESS they break (which hardly ever happens anyway!)

Eco-Tip 43

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 43
Take notes electronically! If you need to take notes on a book, you don't have to waste paper. Even if you don't have a computer available, many smartphones now have notepad applications that are very convenient.

Eco-Tip 42

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 42
Looking to buy a watch? There are solar-powered watches! Citizen, Casio, Junghans and more now sell solar-powered watches. It's a little difference, but every little bit counts. And it's a great icebreaker!

Eco-Tip 41

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 41
Take the right car for the occasion! Smaller car = lower emissions; bigger car = higher emissions. If you're driving alone or with one other person, a sedan or two-seater is the car you should be driving. If you have six, obviously you need a minivan. But if you have a minivan available when you're driving alone or with just one other person, take a smaller car. It's just common sense. Don't be that guy who drives alone in a minivan.

Eco-Tip 40

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 40
It's winter, it's cold, but you don't need to turn the heat up that high to stay warm! Instead of turning your house or car into a sauna in the winter, dress a bit more warmly (wearing a sweater indoors isn't as much of a hassle as you think, really!) and try having more warm foods and beverages. You shouldn't have to have your thermostat above 68 degrees in the winter. If you're wearing swimwear and drinking iced tea indoors in the winter, you're doing something wrong.

Eco-Tip 39

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 39
Are you considering getting a new phone and MP3 player? Instead of buying a run-of-the-mill phone and an iPod, go buy a smartphone, like a Blackberry, iPhone or an Android-running phone. Why? A smartphone has (or at least the majority of them have) storage for music, videos, pictures, etc., i.e. everything you store on your iPod. Save production costs and buy just one gadget instead of two. As usual with environmental tips, this will also save you cash too. But don't just sporadically toss your iPod and phone for a smartphone -- that defeats the purpose. Only do this if you were already planning to get a new phone and MP3 player, so as not to create unnecessary waste.