A Simple Way to Stretch your Gas Dollar

I have mentioned this tip before, but in light of today's outrageous gas prices, I wanted to share it with you again. Plus I just did it today with incredible results. Like I said, having the appropriate amount of air in your tires can help increase your MPG. Here's how you do it: Buy a tire pressure gauge or just go to the gas station. Your tires say the amount of max psi or pressure they will take, so fill all 4 slighly lower than that level. That's it. My car (that is up next month, hooray!) gets an abysmal 15mpg in town but cranked it out to 18.8mpg! Ok, it's only 3 miles extra, but for my 25 gallon tank, that's an extra 75 miles per fill up. Cha- ching! Read more!

Recycle your Batteries at Retailers Nationwide

Finally. I have a bag of old rechargeable batteries next to my recycling bin, but I was unsure of what to do with them. Thanks to the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, a non-profit public service organization, you can now drop off your used Energizers as well as rechargeable batteries for cameras and camcorders, portable cordless phones, power tools and laptop computers at convenient locations nationwide. They even take old cell phones too. Participating retailers include The Home Depot, Lowe's, Staples, and Target. So clean out this spring and dispose of your old batteries properly!

For more info, go to:
http://www.call2recycle.org/

toll free 877-2-recycle

USA & Canada Read more!

Save Money & Energy with Balls!

Blue balls are usually not a positive thing, if you are male anyway! In this case, it's all good.

If you must use a clothes dryer, which is hard not to, consider spending $10 on a 2 pack of these dryer balls. You use them in place of those expensive dryer sheets that have that artificial perfume scent on them. Ick. They work to fluff and soften your laundry, as well as help the heat of the dryer circulate more efficiently, which reduces drying time. Naturally. No chemicals here. The balls last for about 2 years and really work.

Less energy used, fresh laundry scent, & you save on dryer sheets. Win win win.

Find them on http://www.asseenontv.com/.

Read more!

Fast, Energy Efficient Cooking

No, it's not a campfire or a blow torch.

I have a childhood memory of my mother making our dinner using a pressure cooker. It had a small weight on top of it that would bobble around when it reached full steam. I have to admit, it seemed a little intimidating, knowing that if you touched it the wrong way, it might explode all over the kitchen.

Fast forward to adult life. One of my holiday gifts was a pressure cooker. ( So much for jewelry and clothes.) Oh no, I thought. I'm not using that thing. It's old fashioned, it's passe, and most importantly, that thing is dangerous!

After a few years, I decided to open the box. I read the instructions. I inspected the pot. Hmmm...no more bobble weight on the top. The new models seemed pretty much idiot proof now. So I gave it a try, with careful supervision. I sauteed a little onion, carrots and celery and threw in some chicken parts, seasoning and water. I sealed it up and turned on the heat. I sat there, staring at the thing to make sure it didn't explode. It didn't, naturally. And in 15 minutes, I had made chicken soup. I was amazed. I will try this again, I thought. And I did. Again and again. Now I am a huge proponent of pressure cookers. I use it all the time, and my family is amazed at what comes out of there so quickly. Pot roast, chicken, our lamb and french bean stew...in the time you would boil pasta!

At some recent family gatherings, the ladies would congregate and swap stories, one of which was about their beloved crock pot. In only 8 hours, they would come home to a nice hot meal. That's all good but 8 hours? Not only is the pressure cooker faster, but it uses a heck of a lot less energy. 8 hours vs. 15 minutes. I mentioned this to the ladies. And they say,"Oh yeah, but I'm afraid of it." Aren't we all? Hell, if we can give birth, this is a cakewalk.

There are several good ones on the market. If you have an interest in an energy efficient way to cook your family a nice, healthy meal, this one is my choice.

Fagor Pressure Cookers. This is a great company out of Spain that makes good quality products. Go to www.fagorpressurecookers.com. Read more!

New Year's Resolutions - Get Green!

Happy New Year World!

I'm sure, like myself, many of you are thinking about ways to make the New Year much healthier and better than the last one. Maybe add some purpose to your life? Just kidding. So, I have put together a few suggestions that can be simple to implement yet meaningful to your health and to the planet! ( We had thunderstorms on New Years Day in New York, uh hello, not normal weather! Is this getting your attention?)

1. Go Organic. First of all, Americans are the fattest people on the planet because we are the richest. In reality, we don't need to buy or eat much of what we bring home, but we do so because its socially more acceptable than a nice drug or alcohol addiction! How about buying less and buying quality, such as organic? Start with staples like milk, eggs, tomato sauce, salad, things that you eat a lot of, and then move to veggies. And get off the processed food. It's not real!

2. Consume less. AKA "reduce." I mean this in every way. Think twice before buying meaningless nonsense that does nothing more than take up space. If you really don't need them, think again. And I'm not saying to trade your Manolos for Birkenstocks, grow out your underarm hair and live in a hippee commune! Just be smart about it. Being too materialistic is simply tacky anyway.

3. Recycle more. You would be surprised how many containers from the market can be recycled. It's not just about glass and bottles anymore. Plastic egg container, olive oil drums, crumbled Gorgonzola containers, even those dreaded plastic bags from the supermarket too. More detail coming soon.

4. Change those light bulbs. I have said it before and I'll say it again. Buy the compact fluorescent bulbs from my man Rob on EBay (Seller ID 6801goodbuy) - he has great deals- and change every light bulb in your house. They are much cheaper than they were last year and you will save $$ on your utilities too. This is a biggie!

5. Reconsider beef. Did you know that the methane gas that cows produce from their waste is more harmful to the environment than the carbon from automobiles!?? I know it sounds ludicrous, but it's true. Not only that, but meat processing is a major cause of e coli poisoning and its loaded with antibiotics and other harmful drugs. Do you ever wonder why we are getting those colds for longer and longer and why antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are surfacing, and killing people? We eat food that contains antibiotics and our bodies are/have become resistant. I quit the stuff 6 months ago and don't miss it at all. More on this in future posts.

I hope someone on this planet will find this advice helpful and will take action because I would really like to see some snow in winter in New York. I'm not asking a lot here, greenies! Read more!

12 Days of Xmas Green Gifts - Part III

Here are today's green gift picks.

1. EDUN Shopping Tote. This tote bag is made from 100% organic cotton and bears their very artful logo. Use it at the market or the beach. EDUN is NUDE spelled backwards and was founded by Bono's wife, Ali Hewson. Their mission is to provide sustainable products while promoting economic development among developing nations. It's a great tote, a great company, and who doesn't love Bono? $25 at www.edunonline.com.


2.Patagonia Eco Rainshell Jacket. Patagonia is a pioneer in the area of plastics recycling and this jacket is no exception. It's 100% water and windproof and made from 100% recycled materials. You can't get much greener than that! $190 at www.patagonia.com

3.Energy Star Programmable Thermostat. This one is for Mom, Dad or Grandma. If one of your loved ones still uses those old fashioned thermostats, you can replace it with a programmable model, and Nana can save up to 33% on her home heating and cooling costs, as well as reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Installation doesn't require a professional either. About $35-40 bucks at www.homedepot.com.

Those are my fabulous green gift choices for today. I am ready to receive some feedback on my picks and/or if anyone actually has any of these products to provide reviews. Thanks greenies!
Read more!

The Green Gift Guide, Continued

I promised my loyal following a new green gift idea every day for 12 days. Well, I am feeling quite giving this holiday season and have decided to offer several gift options each day. Damn I'm good.

1. Kill a Watt Power Usage Monitor. This is another one of those cool gadgets for Dad or Uncle Bob. This monitor connects to appliances and other electronics to assess their efficiency, or inefficiency. LED screen indicates how much power is used even when equipment is turned off, helping you to save some coin, not to mention Co2 emissions. www.amazon.com.

2. Root of the Earth Basket. This handcarved basket which is made from a reclaimed Chinese fur tree, is a natural art sculpture that doubles as a beautiful fruit or citrus basket. It comes in 3 sizes. Also check out their bowls, servers or platters which also make great gifts. Go to vivaterra.com and enter "root of the earth" in their search box.

3. Eco Mule Slippers. This one is a treat for anyone on your list. These cozy, spa like slippers are made from organic cotton and hemp and alledgedly mold to your feet, are skid resistant and are super soft. At only $48 bucks, they are a good deal too. www.gaiamliving.com.


4. Organic Long Johns. For those of you living in cold climates, this is perfect. These Long Johns are made from organic cotton in a cute holiday stripe. They make these for ladies, men, kids and even babies. For adults, you can just buy the top or bottom if you want. Adorable! www.hannaandersson.com.

Happy shopping folks.
Read more!

Carbon Contributors to Climate Change

As most of us already know, unless we have been living under a rock, global warming is a direct result of overpopulation and over industrialization. Our world simply has too many people in it, and our increasing demand for more goods and services creates by-products called waste. Whether it be the packaging a product comes in, the output of carbon from our car, or the energy it took to make millions of mass marketed goods from our local superstore, it is a contributor of climate change. In fact, 75% of carbon output is a direct result of human use; the other 25% is primarily from the change in land use, principally deforestation. According to the Earth Policy Institute, here is a breakdown of that 75%:

42% is from the use of electricity, in which we burn fossil fuels.
24% is from transportation, in which we burn fossil fuels.
20% is from industrial use, in which we use electric, that burns fossil fuels.
The balance is from residential and commercial use, that burns fossil fuels.

No wonder those Saudis are so rich!

Obviously, necessities like vehicles and electric are not going away anytime soon. We can be more efficient, however, and utilize existing technologies that will significantly decrease the amount of carbon that is borne into our atmosphere each day. Solar, wind and geothermal power are becoming more and more efficient and with subsidies from state and federal government, more financially feasible as well. Auto makers have started to answer the call on reducing fuel consumption. According to JD Power and Associates, the US hybrid/electric vehicle market will see a 247% rise in sales volume from 2007-2011, and US and world auto makers are working on developing these autos as we speak. And in January 2006, the US Department of Energy increased its standards of new appliance efficiency, requiring manufacturers to make big improvements.

So it seems that things are starting to head in the right direction, but there is more work to be done. Additional lobbying is needed to improve tax credits for all things environmentally responsible, from cars to solar panels. Consumers need to shop at stores that are socially responsible, support our local businesses and make a statement each day at the cash register by purchasing something that is good for you, and the planet.

Here are a few suggestions to reduce your carbon output and get you on the green train:
1. Plan your schedule and run errands in the same vicinity to conserve on gas.
2. Buy power strip cords and install them on your audio/video and computer equipment. Those 10 cords plugged into the wall are still drawing tons of power, even when off, but if you turn of the power strip, it stops the flow of electric.
3. Unplug all cell phone and Blackberry chargers when not in use.
4. Use Compact Fluorescent light bulbs and conserve a ton of energy.
5. Buy from your local hardware store and local market whenever possible rather than hauling it to the giant superstore.
6. Less is more. Do you really need that sweater or knickknack? The less you consume, the better so make your purchases count.
7. Go au naturale. Buy organic whenever possible, and cut back on anything artificial or processed.
8. Recycle. Reuse. Reduce. Rrr.

Interested in finding green merchants and products that you can feel good about? Need some new boots or a new sofa? IDOG is planning a resource guide to arm you with consumer information to help you make the smart choice. Subscribe to our regular email and be sure not to miss it! Read more!

Oil at Record Levels, Homeowners Seek Options

Unfortunately, many of us rely on oil to heat our homes during the winter season. Not only is this a major contributor of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, but it's also quite expensive. Especially now. On Monday, crude oil futures closed at $93.53 a barrel, approaching the inflation adjusted high of $101.70 in 1980. Today, prices dropped $3 a barrel on profit taking, but we might not necessarily be out of the woods quite yet. Traders and analysts alike are trying to find fundamental reasons why oil prices are peaking, yet there are few rational reasons. Tensions brewing in the Middle East with Turkey and Iraq raise a few brows, as well as the drop in Mexican production, but the bottom line is that this news combined with supply and demand and the drop in the US dollar just isn't enough to justify it. Call it irrational exuberance if you will, and anything can happen next.

As a result, homeowners all over the country are panicked, according to several oil companies we spoke with today. Many are locking into contracts that allows them to hold a fixed price for one year. Others are taking contracts with a price cap, while floating their price to the downside for a year. I personally decided on a fixed rate contract, but don't let that sway you! Both of these are good options for those who believe we may hit a new record.

Also, I noticed that prices were erratic and very different from company to company. My due diligence resulted in a price range of $0.50, which was huge. I highly recommend shopping around for price.

Besides an oil contract, homeowners can do several other things to reduce their oil bills and overall consumption.

1. Add insulation to the attic if need be, and try weatherstripping around your windows and doors.

2. Schedule a maintenance service call on your oil burner so that it's running clean and burning efficiently.

3. Set a timer on your thermostat to lower your heat when you are not at home or sleeping. Older thermostats need to be upgraded to the newer varieties.

4. Turn the temperature down! Learn to layer your clothes like the San Franciscans do. By reducing the temperature by 2 degrees in the winter and higher by 2 degrees in the summer, you can reduce carbon emissions by 2,000 lbs!

5. Research alternative heating/cooling sources. Geothermal technology is once again starting to reemerge as a viable option. For more info, Geocomfort.com explains how this process works.

Hopefully, if we do all these things, we will be utilizing our fuel in the most efficient way possible and getting the most bang for our buck. Stay tuned on Halloween Day for the results of the Federal Reserve's meeting at 2pm EST. A 25 bps rate cut is expected, so if it doesn't happen, consider calling that oil company to talk. Read more!