Goal For The Green

In case you didn’t know May is National Military Appreciation month.  Military is a big part of my life with an active duty SIL, and soon to be going to serve, Grandson.  We live near Naval Base Kitsap, and I am very thankful for the benefits I have thanks, to my husband.

This is a press release from Marketwire, and a reminder to you to give thanks anyway you can, to those that serve and have served, to protect our freedom.

Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Arlington to place more than five thousand donated Christmas wreaths on headstones in the cemetery. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can Pay Tribute to Veterans and Active Military With Free Thank You Cards From Wreaths Across America.

The National Nonprofit Aims to Help Supporters Distribute One Million Thank You Cards During National Military Appreciation Month in May,2012.

COLUMBIA FALLS, ME–(Marketwire – April 10, 2012) – Wreaths Across America (WAA), a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery was begun by Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992. Today they announced its specially designed military appreciation thank you cards are now available. The organization has been designing and printing the cards since 2010, and is challenging its supporters to distribute one million cards during National Military Appreciation Month in May, this year. The cards are available for the cost of shipping and handling and can be ordered online at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

“There are so many occasions in life where we wish we had the time — and the right heartfelt words — to thank a service man or woman who has put their life on the line to protect our freedoms,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “We created these cards to make it easier to approach veterans when the opportunity arises — they provide the perfect excuse to step forward and express your gratitude. We’re excited to be a part of reaching one million deserving men and women with a special message of thanks this May.”

The business card-sized military appreciation cards feature a scene of wreaths placed at Arlington during the holiday season. On the back of the card, below the organization’s stated mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, is space for the card-giver to sign their name as a way to personalize the note. Many card-givers present several appreciation cards with each exchange, so the recipient may also share in the experience of giving.

Earlier this year, WAA announced the creation of a virtual Honor Wall on its official Facebook page, creating a place for users to submit personal stories and post photos of veterans or members of the active military, to share with family and friends. The appreciation cards and Honor Wall, are examples of WAA’s year-round mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach about the service and sacrifice of our veterans, a mission that culminates each December with the annual wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington, and more than 700 participating veterans’ cemeteries, and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

Follow Wreaths Across America on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WAAHQ and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WreathsAcross. For more information, or to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit their website above.

Special Thanks to Amanda Green, for this guest post. Here are just 3 simple and easy tips, that will help you go green.  You can get started right NOW, and you don’t have to break the bank in the process.

Going Green on a Budget

by Amanda Green

Lately, I’ve noticed a huge increase in the number of small businesses in alternative energy fields. In the past month alone, I’ve received two phone calls regarding the potential adoption of solar technology in my home.

Aside from the obvious, if only minor, annoyance that such in-home solicitations cause, I’m also concerned about another potential problem associated with these types of green offerings. By reaching out to many Americans who are unable to afford the high initial costs of such technologies, they potentially shadow the smaller, much more cost-effective and simple green home solutions,that even folks with poor credit can and should employ.

Going green doesn’t have to be about spending inordinate amounts of money on big alternative energy solutions for the home.

Aside from the obvious financially helpful solutions like finding the right credit card for bad credit, Americans struggling with financial issues should be looking to much simpler green solutions around the house to save them money while also helping the environment.
The following are just three simple tips for saving money while going green at the same time.

Save on Energy Costs

-Set thermostat temperatures just a few degrees warmer in the summer and a few degrees cooler in the winter – you’d be surprised at how much this can save in annual energy costs.

-Install energy-efficient bulbs when your current ones go out – CFLs or LEDs are particularly energy-efficient and can save tons of money over time.

CompactFluorescentLightBulb (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

-Wash clothes in cold water when possible, and dry using a clothes line instead of a dryer.

-Turn all appliances and energy users off and unplug them when not in use, or use smart power strips to reduce energy use and costs.

Smart Checking

-If your account offers paperless checking, sign up – this not only helps reduce your impact on the environment, but can actually save you money by allowing you to check your statements more frequently online, ensuring beneficial spending habits and that you’re not being charged unnecessary fees.

-Read up on your account details and make sure you’re not incurring any usage fees –if you are, use a service to compare checking account fees and find one that better suits your needs that can save you money.

-Don’t pay for checking – there are plenty of free account options out there that can save you money while offering high quality service.

Save on Water Costs

-Take shorter showers – this will lower your water and heating bills considerably over time.

-Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators – these appliances are often relatively inexpensive and will save you tons of money on water and energy costs.

-Don’t buy bottled water – instead, use a water purifier that will save you money as well as eliminate the use of environmentally hazardous plastics.

-Use a reusable water bottle when traveling – aluminum or other non-plastic,non-toxic options are usually best.

While there are certainly a number of other ways to go green for less around the house, these three considerations are some of the easiest to get you started on the path to green savings and solutions. By doing just a bit of research one can find a huge number of green tips to save and use energy efficiently around the house.

Start today: you’ll be doing yourself, your family, the environment, and your bank account, a big favor. We’re working toward a better tomorrow!