Goal For The Green

Living with the earth in mind doesn’t have to take a lot of money, years or even effort. In order to live a greener lifestyle in just two weeks, try these inexpensive earth-saving tips:

Reusable Shopping Bags

Paper or plastic? Choose neither — when running errands or grocery shopping, pack your own reusable bags. A cotton-mesh tote — which cost about $5-$20 — reduces waste, carries more and can be used over and over.

A Litter-less Lunch

Even if, it’s just once a week, pack your lunch (and not in a brown bag). Use reusable containers and plan on washing plastic utensils or packing your own silverware.

Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

A gallon of off-brand distilled white vinegar costs about $2-$5 and when diluted with water can cut through grease and clean messes just like other household cleaners. It’s non-toxic, anti-bacterial and effective at cleaning your house without chemicals.

No More Paper Towels

Stop buying paper towels and instead use washable rags to clean up messes around the house. Cut old T-shirts or buy a package of 10 heavy-duty wash cloths at the dollar store.

Switch to CFLs

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fluorescent light bulbs use less energy, reduce light bulb changes and lower greenhouse emissions. In turn, this saves money and of course the environment.

Rethink the Thermostat

Instead of turning down the air conditioner to mediate the temperature in your home. Focus on variables in the room, such as air ventilation and natural lighting. Use roller shades that are energy efficient and made out of eco-friendly materials to block harsh rays that could be making you and the room feel hotter.

Use a Mug

Drink your coffee out of a mug instead of a paper cup. Try a reusable water bottle instead of buying and tossing plastic bottles.

Wash Clothes in Cold Water

Always wash clothes in cold water. According to EnergyStar.gov, 90 percent of the energy used to operate a washing machine goes to heating the water.

Recycle Electronics

Learn what can be recycled and stop tossing items that could be reused. For example, Best Buy recycles computers, print cartridges, radios, washing machines and other electronics and appliances. Some stores will even pick up items, so you don’t have to drop them off.

Buy Bulk

Stop buying individually packaged items at the grocery store and instead buy in bulk to save production and packaging waste.

Shorter Showers

Take a waterproof timer with you in the shower so you aren’t zoning out and taking too long. Invest in a low-flow shower head to save 2,900 gallons of water a year, according to the EPA.gov.

Line Dry When Possible

Rather than throwing your laundry in the dryer, hang them on the line to dry. If you don’t have a backyard, open your shower curtain and use hangers.

Lighten the Load

Remove unnecessary heavy items from your trunk to save gas. According to FuelEconomy.gov, an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could be reducing your MPG by two percent.

Kill Energy Vampires

Use power strips to turn off unused appliances and stop wasting standby power easily. According to EnergyStar.gov, the average U.S. household spends $100 a year to power devices while they are turned off.

Borrow Instead of Buy

Instead of buying a New York Bestseller or the latest comedy on DVD, borrow it from the local library. After reading or watching your favorite books and videos, donate them to the library or a nearby shelter, thrift shop or school.

In the Valcucine Milan Brera space, during the Milan Design Week – April 9-13, 2013, 10:00Am-10:00PM, it will be possible to enjoy a direct experience of the elements that have always strongly distinguished Valcucine’s DNA: the handicraft expertise of the workmanship, the information that accompanies the company’s transparency, the research and analysis into materials and superior quality that make Valcucine special and unique.

In a previous post of mine, A 100% Recyclable Kitchen  you will notice the rigorous, minimalist, ergonomic design of the Invitrum kitchens. The attention to eco-sustainability lives in perfect harmony with natural materials and with precious handicraft workmanship, as you will notice in the video below.

No other company in the world can boast units as special as those produced by Valcucine. Technology and craftsmanship coupled together with the special attention to details are some of  the secrets that make Valcucine’s products fully resistant and reliable as years go by, guaranteeing their long life and use.

Wall units and those with coplanar, sliding doors are inspired by and designed following the concept of lightness. They offer a revolutionary interpretation of kitchen ergonomics and the Invitrum base units are the first 100% recyclable base units in glass and aluminum. The Living Valcucine base units make it possible to harmonize the design of the living room area with that of the kitchen. With the option to use the copious cupboard unit that has coplanar sliding doors, it is now possible to customize your kitchen and make it totally unique by means of an artistic and handicraft decor.

While the clean and ergonomic design may not suit everyone’s taste, one thing is certain, it is beautiful, and it is green.  You now have the option to purchase, assemble, disassemble and reuse your 100% recyclable kitchen. It is a wise investment to be able to take your kitchen with you when or if you move, making it money well spent and greenbacks in your wallet.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, nearly 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, 96.5 percent of which is in the oceans. The safety and health of the oceanic ecosystem is essential to help our planet thrive. Collectively, our current way of life is doing little to help the ocean ecosystem thrive. In fact, we’re actually doing more harm than good.

According to Greenpeace International, just off the coast of California, reaching all the way to Hawaii, is a trash vortex that covers an area the size of the state of Texas. In this floating mass, you can find everything from plastic bags, toothbrushes, garbage wrappers, polystyrene packaging, plastic drums, discarded bottles, disposable lighters and traffic cones. Greenpeace International notes that for every 100 million tons of plastic produced annually, roughly 10 percent of it ends up in the ocean.

This begs the question: why does so much trash end up in the ocean? Are people just too lazy to properly dispose of their trash? Are landfills too full? If so, landfill expansion from an environmental remediation company could help. Just last year, a Delaware landfill expansion was completed after 20 years that “extended the life of the landfill by about 20 years,” according to Sevenson Environmental CEO, Michael Elia, who oversaw the project.

There’s plenty you can do every day to help protect our planet’s oceans:

Use Less Energy

One the of ocean’s most serious problems is acidification. As the ocean grows more acidic, it becomes uninhabitable for coral, fish and other types of marine life. According to a recent article on the Daily Green, this is happening as a result of an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a byproduct from burning fossil fuels. You can curb your energy usage by:

• Using energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Taking public transportation or carpooling to work
• Upgrading to high-efficiency appliances

Use Fertilizer Sparingly

If you live near the ocean or in a coastal community, be careful to use fertilizer sparingly. The Daily Green notes that excess fertilizer eventually finds its way into the ocean, where it then depletes marine oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels create dead zones, destroying marine life in close proximity. Instead of using harsh fertilizer, consider making your own compost to fertilize your garden.

Upgrade to Reusable Bags

Plastic bags are harmful to birds and marine animals. As a main component of the trash vortex, plastic bags are often mistakenly ingested by sea turtles, ocean mammals and sea birds, which can cause deadly digestive blockages, according to the Daily Green. Instead of using plastic bags, bring your own reusable tote bags to the grocery store or shopping center. Keep a small bag in your purse or in the glove compartment of your car so that you always have a reusable tote on hand.

Buy Sustainably Caught Seafood

Industrial farm fishing practices are wreaking havoc on marine habitats around the world. According to a recent article on Huffington Post, about 50 percent of all fish caught by industrial fishermen end up being wasted, dead and discarded in the sea. Exercise your purchasing power by avoiding farmed fish. Instead, choose fish that’s advertised as being diver-caught, wild or line-caught.