Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Green Gift Ideas for the Holidays

The Daily Green's gift guide features the season's best green gifts — including many unique items made by independent artisans that you can't find in any shopping mall. Even if you've only got a few dollars to spend, you'll find incredible green gifts for under $20 that you can be proud to give. And, because we know less is more, we've highlighted creative ways to give without giving stuff at all.

Check them all our here: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/green-gifts

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

How to Have a Eco-Friendly Halloween

(from Ecologist Website)
Creating extra waste and encouraging over-consumption; Halloween isn’t the greenest holiday. But as Ben Hudson explains, you can still have a scarily good time without it costing the planet.

With the global population set to reach seven billion on the 31st of October and no end in sight to economic and environmental turmoil, this year’s Halloween could just be the most terrifying since the Middle Ages. Once associated with mystery, magic and superstition, modern Halloween celebrations are more about dressing up, revelry and spookily shaped sweets. More than 2,000 years old, Halloween is one of the world’s oldest festivals for commemorating the dead and making the transition into winter. But commercialisation has turned this rather simplistic idea into a multibillion dollar business. Next to Christmas, more money is spent at Halloween than on any other holiday. The US spends a whopping $6.5 billion on candy, costumes and decorations.

Unfortunately, this translates into a whole lot of waste and carbon emissions. But there are ways to reduce the impact of your spooky celebrations. ‘In truth, to celebrate Halloween, you don’t need to spend a penny,’ says Lynn Colwell from US not-for-profit organisation, Green Halloween. ‘We’re not taking anything away, we’re trying to help people have a great time and that does not involve mum and dad going out and buying stuff. We promote healthy and eco alternatives so it’s good for the children and good for the planet.’ Here’s how to get involved the green way.

What to wear
Masks and costumes are an integral part of Halloween and unlike sweets, are a genuine part of Halloween. On the 31st, it was believed that the dead would return to earth and roam the streets so to avoid being recognised people would wear masks to misdirect spirits and ghosts. When Halloween reached America it became more about communal parties and festivities where it lost much of its religious and superstitious undertones. But Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without the costumes everyone from one to 100 loves to wear. After all, it’s the one night of the year where anything goes wardrobe-wise as long as you’ve got a good back story.

For most people, costumes are store-bought rather than home-made. Cheap mass-produced non-recyclable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) costumes often don’t last the night and end up littering the streets until they are committed to landfill. Rather than splashing out, get creative and make you own costume from old clothes. If you are having party, make it a rule and give prizes for the best (and worst) designs. Look through your old clothes; you’ll be surprised what you will find at the back of your wardrobe. Ask friends and family for help and if you need to buy something go to a charity shop. The same applies for make-up; Halloween is a great chance to use those odds and ends of old make-up left at the bottom of your bag. You can make a pretty convincing ghost or Greek God with an old bed-sheet and it’s just as easy to scare up a zombie costume with the right combination of ragged-clothing and make-up. If you are still struggling, you can always rent a costume or swap clothes with a friend for the rather lame ‘we’ve come as each other’ look - just don’t expect to win any prizes

Friday, September 16, 2011

Green Expo Saturday, Sept 17.

Last weekend Huntington Beach was a hub-bub of activity. I'm sure most of you know it was the big celebration for the Ocean View Little League World Champions. It was great seeing all the local support with so many people there for the parade and the rally. If you missed it, I posted some photos: http://thelocalhb.shutterfly.com/.

This weekend also has plenty in store,,, all listed on the calendar on TheLocalHB.com. One of the highlights, however, is the Green Expo at the Pier on Saturday. It runs 9am-5pm. There will be over 50 vendors showcasing all ways to be eco-friendly. From solar companies to artificial turf to water conversing landscaping and much more,,,,there will be all ways to learn, learn, learn. Thousands are expected to show up for this event. Don't miss out.

After you are done at the expo… why not venture up to north Huntington Beach and enjoy some time at Bella Terra. The Huntington Beach Concert Band will be playing in the amphitheater (6-9pm) - free concert for all. While there, how about a bite to eat??? Check out Pizzarito (established in 1984) if you want a quick slice or other menu favorites like their mouth watering meatball Parmesan sandwich to enjoy during the concert or any night before the movies or just dine on the patio while relaxing & enjoying the fall weather and people watching all while you munch on the authentic taste and feel of New York pizza with sauce and dough made fresh daily using, of course, only the finest ingredients. By the way, they offer FREE delivery! Currently they also have a great special going on for a limited time: Mon. thru Fri. 3-6pm, buy one slice and get the second FREE. They are located in Bella Terra - 7101 Edinger Ave. (714)374-7678

Get outside and enjoy these final days of summer!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

REALLY Go Green for St. Patricks Day with Eco-Friendly Activities

(This Article Posted by Ian Andrew on Greener Ideal)

Although it's the first thing that often comes to mind, St Patrick's day isn't all about drinking green beer. To make your St. Patrick's Day even greener than it already is, we've come up with a few eco-friendly activities that are best suited for environmentalists living a green lifestyle on St. Patrick's Day.

1. Eat Green - Bright Green Dishes
It may be the easiest way to brighten your day with the color green, but try to find some green foods to eat. Look beyond a traditional salad, and think outside the box. Mint leaves on top of a bowl of organic ice cream could be a great St. Patrick's Day treat for the kids (and be much healthier than a Shamrock Shake)!

2. Get outside and plant something green
It may not be quite warm enough to get the shovels in the ground yet, but it's starting to look and feel a lot like spring here. It might be a good time to take stock of what you plan to do in your yard this year, and if it's too cold to get outside, look at some greenery online and choose what plants and trees you want to invest in this year.

3. If you're going somewhere, use green transportation
This tip goes double-true if you're partaking in any green beer festivities, but if the weather allows it you should leave the car keys at home and join the St. Patty's Day parade on foot. A second-best alternative for green transportation on St. Patrick's Day is public transportation. Whether you're riding the subway or the bus, fewer drivers on the road means fewer carbon emissions.

4. Wear green clothes made with organic cotton
Although most people don their favourite shade of green clothes for St. Patrick's Day, be even greener and one up them with some organic cotton duds. Many retailers are now offering organic lines of clothing to appeal to their green customers, so don't be shy to ask if you find yourself at the mall tomorrow.

5. Drink Green Organic Beer
Lastly, because it can't be avoided on St. Patrick's Day, drink some green beer. While most people will throw some food colouring in their beverages (although avoid the artificial stuff), take it a step further and order something organic.

Local to Toronto, we have a great green brewery, Steam Whistle, who pride themselves on brewing with natural ingredients and taking part in other great green initiatives like packaging made from recycled materials and biodegradable cups for events.

If you're going to indulge in the green beer today, find a local brewery near you that sources natural ingredients, and make this year's St. Patrick's Day green beer extra green.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Dreaming Of A Green Christmas: Tips For An Eco-Friendly Holiday!

(by Lisa Martin on December 14, 2010 from Green Earth News)

The holiday season doesn’t have to be a burden on the environment. Making small changes in what we do can lower the impact of this holiday season.

Replace your holiday lights with energy efficient LED lights. According to Energy Star, holiday LED lights consume about 70% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than traditional holiday strands. The lights will pay for themselves in electricity savings in less than five years! For a typical holiday tree illuminated with 1,100 lights and operating for six hours every day of the week, you can expect to save up to $8 per month, or 70 kilowatt-hours of electricity, by using LED lighting. The best part is that you can find them virtually anywhere and they come in various shapes, colors, and sizes. There are weather resistant ones for outdoor use too! Also, if one light goes out, the strand still works. I’m still amazed that most of us will use 180 hours of electricity per month this holiday season to illuminate our trees and our holiday decorations.

Use a power strip for your holiday decorations. By using the on/off switch on a power strip, you can fully power down decorations. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is actually consumed when they are turned off. This can be as much as 10 percent of a home’s overall energy usage.

Be mindful of the gifts you choose to give. Choosing gifts from recycled sources helps reduce the waste stream. Also, give battery free gifts. According to the EPA, 40% of all battery sales happen this time of year. Even rechargeable batteries find their way in the trash, and discarded batteries (both kinds) are an environmental hazard. Check out some fantastic eco-friendly gift options that require no batteries!

Choose a live tree. Although an artificial tree can be used year after year, real trees are still the more sustainable choice. Eventually artificial trees (which are made from petroleum products) will end up in the landfill and their plastic content will make them last forever. Live trees are a renewable resource grown on tree farms. While they are growing, they contribute to better air quality, and over 90% are reduced into mulch after the holidays. Live trees tend to be locally grown and sold also.

Recycle old electronics. When the latest version of an electronic gift shows up under your tree, make sure that you recycle your old ones. Older models of computer monitors, laptops, cell phones, etc can be donated to shelters. Also, stores like Best Buy will also pay you to recycle these things!

Reuse boxes and gift wrapping materials. Throughout the year, I personally keep all the boxes that I think I can use to wrap gifts in whether the box came from Amazon or Green Earth Bamboo. I also keep the tissue paper enclosed with the gift too. A trick I learned from my grandmother is that you can actually iron out creased wrapping paper! It turns out as good as new. If you get gift bags, those are very easy to reuse too.

I hope these suggestions will help you care for the Earth and celebrate the season! Make sure to visit Green Earth News’ Green Is Grand section for more on eco-friendly living!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Green Expo in Huntington Beach is right around the corner!!

Do you have the Huntington Beach Green Expo on your calendar yet? If not, here you go: September 18, 10am-4pm. This year we will be at the Huntington Beach Pier. We expect a great turnout being at the beach. Plus there will be live concerts during the event for your listening enjoyment. If you'd like to be a vendor at the expo, please visit the expo website at www.HuntingtonBeachGoesGreen.com . All the info about the event as well as the vendor application can be found on the website. I know some of you expressed an interest in being part of the expo this year, if you are one of those folks, you can either email me back your contact info and someone from the chamber will get in touch with you or fill out the vendor application on line and email it in.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Huntington Beach - are you green?

Coming up in September is the Huntington Beach Green Expo. 9/26, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Central Park Library parking lot.

This expo expects to have around 100 vendors and thousands of visitors. If you feel you are a green business and would like to have a vendor booth, visit www.huntingtonbeachgoesgreen.com to get all the information. Or if you are just interested in how to be green, come give the expo a visit. Last year was the first year for this expo and it went over VERY well. We expect this one to be bigger and better.

Also check out the online green guide for Huntington Beach at www.HuntingtonBeachGreenGuide.com. on the site you will find how to tips, calander of green events, rebate & tax credit info and local business resources that are eco-friendly!

Monday, April 6, 2009

An eco-friendly 'green' Easter

(from the starpress.com)
The Easter Bunny has gotten an eco-friendly makeover. Before you hide any chocolate eggs, Jodi Helmer, author of The Green Year, suggests making a few changes to "green" your Easter celebrations:
  • Make eco-friendly Easter egg dyes: Use common kitchen ingredients, such as vinegar and grape juice to dye Easter eggs. (Choosing eggs that are free-range and organic makes the activity even more environmentally friendly).
  • Hide organic chocolates.
  • Skip plastic eggs and basket fill, which can contain BPA and PVC and opt for natural materials instead.
  • Celebrate locally: Take the kids to the Easter egg hunt in your neighborhood instead of driving across town.
    The Green Year ($14.95, Alpha Books), provides 365 simple and inexpensive eco-friendly ideas for each day of the year. Organized by date, the green living tips suggest small changes and environmentally friendly ideas that make a big green impact.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Consider Bamboo Furniture for Your Home!

(thanks to OZO Life)
Get bamboo, not bamboozled, the next time you're on the market for new furniture. There are many eco friendly options out there but the best type of furniture for you remains the kind made from the quick-growing, air-purifying mighty bamboo plant. Unlike other comparable hardwoods, bamboo emits 35 percent more oxygen. That means less carbon dioxide in your home, more room for you to breathe. For those seeing flashes of ugly wicker-looking furniture in your future, don’t panic until you've checked out the fine bamboo pieces by Washington-based Greenington. From clean and simple dining sets to Zen-inspired end tables, each piece is made using maturated Moso bamboo that is 20 to 100 percent more durable than oak. Furniture that will not only make you feel better but actually last longer is definitely something to breathe easy about.
Even more info about bamboo furniture can be found at: http://bambooathomes.com/

Friday, March 20, 2009

Eco-Friendly Office

(Story thanks to: Caymanmama.com - green News)
At work, are you the token eco-friendly co-worker? If not, you should be! Going green at the office will not only preserve the environment, it can help to save money and time in the end.

There are many simple ways to be a greener worker at the office. One option is to use recycled printer labels. These labels are a great option to go easy on the environment and are 100% recycled and whitened without chlorine bleach, which releases carcinogenic dioxins into waterways during production.
Another great idea is to sort the trash with recyclables. It’s amazing how much trash can actually be recycled! In fact, the recycled printer labels can be recycled again as well as the packaging they come in, too.
Junk mail is a drag, so when random charities send your company free address labels in an attempt to collect a donation, use them if possible or take then home to the kids to play with instead of throwing them away.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Be eco-friendly and recycle at Rainbow Disposals Stop & Shop

Did you know Rainbow Disposal has a Stop & Swap where you can drop off your household, yard and car care products you no longer need and pick up others you can use? It's free and available here in Huntington Beach at 17121 Nichols St. (between Bothard and Beach), open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Tips on having a "green" Christmas: both eco-friendly and money wise

A "green" Christmas can be good for your wallet as well as the Earth, according to environmentalists who advocate doing more with less."We're suggesting cutting back 20 percent. Twenty percent in gifts, 20 percent in greeting cards, 20 percent in gift wrap, 20 percent in miles traveled," says Peter Sander, co-author of Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season. The result would be a trimmer holiday budget.
Read the rest of the story HERE.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Did You Know the Huntington Beach Independent is 'Green'?

What is green and black all over? The HB Independent with help from its parent company, The Los Angeles Times. They are an industry leader in recycling. In fact, the Los Angeles Times has won several honors including a national Environment and Conservation Challenge Award for its recycling efforts and other programs.

According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, The Times is the largest user of recycled newsprint. More than 70% - about 216, 360 metric tons – of all newsprint used by the Times contained a recycled fiber content of at least 40%.

They were the first U.S. daily newspaper in 1992 to transition entirely from petroleum based black ink to water soluble soy based ink. The soy based ink is highly resistant to rub-off; it significantly reduces the airborne release of volatile organic compounds and the issues that arise from recycling newspapers that are printed with petroleum-based ink. Almost all of the ink used at their printing facilities is returned back into the production cycle for reuse. The South Coast Air Quality Management District Clean Air Award was given to the Los Angeles Times for this particular initiative.

Their Aluminum plates they use to print onto the paper are also recycled, in fact, they usually come back to consumers within two weeks as a soda or beer can. Good thing they use the soy based ink so they can be environmentally friendly to your stomach.

As a company they are committed to their readers, advertisers and our environment. Just thought it was worth passing on this information!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Free online conference for green building and renewable energy

www.VirtualEnergyForum.com is offering a FREE online conference and trade show for green building and renewable energy professionals. At this event you will be able to view live presentations; network and share contact information with other attendees, and browse virtual booths of energy innovators. Present will be Fortune 500 energy executives, public policy leaders, & innovators of energy products & services.

Topics: Sustainability, alternative energy, clean technologies, green buildings & manufacturing & more.

Questions answered via live video by 40+ energy leaders, such as:· Joseph T. Kelliher, Chairman, US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission · James E. Rogers, CEO, Duke Energy · David J. Manning, Chief Environmental Officer, National Grid · Senior executives from Delta Controls, Hess, Johnson Controls, Pacific Gas and Electric, Siemens, Staples, Steelcase, Yale University, and more.

The date is Wednesday December 10th and Thursday December 11th, 9 am to 7 pm EST. It all happens online at www.VirtualEnergyForum.com . Register now , then return & Login December 10 & 11, 2008 to experience this live, interactive event, all from the ease of your PC!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Have a Green Thanksgiving

(By Mary Beth Breckenridge Beacon Journal staff writer)

We usually associate Thanksgiving with brown, gold and orange, the hues of fall. But maybe the holiday's color should be green.
After all, Thanksgiving celebrates the bounty of the earth. Why not show our gratitude by demonstrating we care about our planet?
We've gathered some ideas for making your holiday a little more environmentally conscious. Mother Earth will thank you.


For the full story, click HERE.