Goal For The Green

How to be Safe and Green

We just celebrated  Earth Day and Earth Month,and that helps bring communities together.  I just wanted to share a story about “getting the (your) neighborhood to go green.”  To do that, I wanted to make sure you knew about Nextdoor.  It’s the free private social networking site for neighborhoods that’s now in 46 of the United States (and growing) rapidly. With the rash of home invasions and burglaries on the rise across the nation, this is a very welcome way to keep neighborhoods safe.

Here are 4 Ways to Go Green in your Neighborhood

It’s the time of year that means people are recycling, focusing more on sustainability and perhaps thinking about “going green.”  It’s not enough for just one person to do it, so have you ever wondered how you could get your entire neighborhood onboard with the idea?  Here are some bright ways to go green, and take your neighbors along with you in the adventure, using the new, free and secure social media service for neighborhoods.  It’s called Nextdoor.

1. Organize an e-cycling event for neighbors. It’s not always easy to properly recycle your old TVs and electronics, but what if your community had a day where a local volunteer stopped by your house and hauled away your unwanted gadgets? Communities using Nextdoor, can create calendar events and and invite their neighbors. Is someone in your community willing to donate an afternoon to drive people’s old gadgets and electronics to an e-cycling center? Let your community know, set up a calendar event and invite your neighbors to add their unwanted gadgets to the drive.

2. Share and share alike. You don’t have to break the bank every spring and buy new gardening gear and tools. Think sustainably and use Nextdoor to borrow a ladder (instead of buy one). Do you have power tools that you only use once a year? Post a notice to your Nextdoor community and let people rent or borrow your equipment. Do you have a service, like landscaping or plumbing, to offer? Let your neighbors know and stay local. Think of all the time and money you can save.

3. Donate your unwanted possessions. Organize bi-annual donation drives, or have a neighborhood sale. Designate a drop-off location for clothes, books, furniture, games and more, and donate it to your favorite charitable organization.

4. Organize a neighborhood cleanup.  Post before and after pictures from the event to Nextdoor when you’re finished.

Why Go Social With Neighborhoods? Data & Insights:
– Over 65% of all online adults use social networking sites. (Pew Research)

– One in three Americans don’t know their neighbors by name. (Pew Research)

– Social networks in a neighborhood lower crime, improve public health and raise test scores. It helps keep neighborhoods safe, like a blockwatch but is conductd on line by those who want to participate. (Robert Putnam, Harvard Professor and Author: Bowling Alone)

About Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a free and secure social network that connects people across the United States with their neighbors. Nextdoor communities are self-started by individuals like you and  me, in communities who want to connect with their neighbors over a verified, secure infrastructure.  Nextdoor is a San Francisco based startup, founded in 2010 by internet veterans with deep experience in creating thriving online communities.

Nextdoor has been featured in publications like USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, AARP, TIME, Forbes, FastCompany and more.

– Learn More About Nextdoor
– Nextdoor in the News
– Like Nextdoor on Facebook!

Here is a little about What People are Saying About Nextdoor:
– We’ve seen lost pets returned in minutes, ping pong tables finding new homes in a matter of posts, and a heightened sense of security in the neighborhood when a recent crime wave hit. – Brent Bamberger, Nextdoor Sleepy Hollow

– We have an elderly neighbor who has cancer and is quite frail. She had a security issue and when other neighbors got wind of it through Nextdoor, they came out of the woodwork to offer assistance. – Bob Thornburg, Nextdoor Sol y Lomas

So check here at Nextdoor to see if it is available in your community.  If it’s not,you can be the one to get Nextdoor started in you community. You’ll be the center of the buzz in your neighborhood, while working toward a safer and better tomorrow for everyone.

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!

Who would have thought that there is a profile on who decides to go solar at home.  The results of a survey are here in this info- graphic by 1Bog. By clicking on the link you will be able to view the graphic full size.

The surprising thing to me on the information presented here, is the fact that most people don’t do go solar for the sake of helping the environment.  The decision is made primarily to help the wallet of the purchaser.  Most purchasers of solar systems are middle of the road income earners, who are liberal conservatives.  They care more about jobs, than they do about the environment, and regard their decision to purchase a solar system, basically as a wise and sound financial investment.

Solar systems can be paid off  in as little as five years. Depending on the cost of electricity in your area, they give you a good return on your investment, especially after they are paid for.

I hope you find this idea as interesting and informative as I did.  Consider solar in your “green” future, while working toward a better tomorrow!