According to the Environmental Protection Agency, transportation is also the fastest-growing source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 47 percent of the net increase in total U.S. emissions since 1990, and is the largest end-use source of C02, which is the most prevalent greenhouse gas.

You might think it would be impossible to attend to all your personal and professional responsibilities if you didn’t own a vehicle, but consider this: The Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey found that 25 percent of all trips are made within a mile of the home and 50 percent of the working population commutes five miles or less to work. Yet more than 82 percent of trips five miles or less are made by personal motor vehicle.

It’s easy to see that eliminating some of these short car trips would drastically reduce your personal carbon footprint, save you money and probably time (the average urban commuter spends around 50 hours in traffic every year).

Here are three ways that you can give up your car without restricting your life to a two mile radius from your home.

Bike Commuting: Bike commuting is an ideal solution to the need for moderate physical activity, which can be practiced five times a week. A 130-pound cyclist burns 402 calories while pedaling 14 miles in an hour. Biking is the only form of personal transportation for which no fuel is required and absolutely no emissions are produced. Bikes are infinitely easier to park and cheaper to repair. If it’s been a while since you’ve cycled more than a few blocks, you can find great tips for biking safely and efficiently at www.bikeleague.org/resources/better.

Public Transportation: After bike commuting, public transit options are the second most popular form of alternative transportation. Let’s face it; snow and rain aren’t the best conditions for riding a bike. When you need a roof over your head but still don’t want to worry about fueling or parking a car, local buses, paratransit, shuttles, trolleys, light rail, and subways are a great way to get where you’re going. If you need help finding public transportation options in your area, visit www.apta.com and look for the “Find Public Transportation Near You” search bar on the right-hand side.

Car Sharing: There are some times when biking or using public transit options just won’t meet your transportation needs, like if you want to take a loved one out for a fancy dinner in the city, shopping for groceries, or out of town business trips. In these situations, utilizing a car sharing service can be a great way to maintain a small carbon footprint while still traveling in style. Zipcar is one of the only national car sharing services in the U.S., but there are dozens of regional and local car sharing services in urban areas across the country. If you have a car, but don’t use it every day, joining a peer to peer car sharing service provides a safe and legal way to share your car with your neighbors.

Do you currently have a car? What do you think would be the hardest part of giving it up? Share your thoughts in a comment!

Beth Buczynski is a freelance writer from Colorado. She enjoys exploring new energy technologies and home solar financing options over at GreenMarketingTV, the green entrepreneur’s source for interviews with the industry’s top thinkers.

Image Credit: Socialfirestarters

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Don and Daphne at Zephyros Farm have taken the farm visit a step further: more than just a tour, their educational visits give kids the chance to see earthworms up close, weed and plant, and cuddle any adorable quadriped that might happen to be grazing nearby.

Zephyros is part of the Kids On Farms program, funded by the Kampe Foundation; they’ve set up a curriculum that gives students a hands-on experience in organic farm life. Activities vary by season, but usually involve getting your hands dirty and sampling some of the produce or (mmmm) goat’s milk.
Don and Daphne are big fans of the agritourism movement, and welcome anyone who wants to come through and learn how things are done.

They also host gourmet farm dinners for kids and grownups alike who appreciate good food and the farmers who grow it. They’re both good teachers, incredibly knowledgeable, and (most importantly) very talented at this farming thing; their crops, livestock, and ability to rattle off Latin names of plants all hint that despite unassuming exteriors, these two are ag experts.

I wasn’t on the farm long enough to follow any classroom tours myself, but my co- WWOOFer Karina Salinas Heredia was; her photos are so good, and the classroom trips such a great idea, that I thought it was very much worth sharing. Enjoy— and if you’re a teacher or know someone who is, talk to them about helping kids get to a local farm. We could all use a little dirt under our fingernails sometimes, right?

View Jessica’s profile here.

For more info on keeping backyard chickens or goats click on the links below:
Backyard Chicken Basics
and
The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide

It didn’t take long for me to decide that the “quick & easy” design was less than adequate for a hardcore hippie like myself. The bin didn’t drain well, and the worms were always in danger of drowning, and it filled up too fast, and the overall result was completely and totally disgusting.

So when I moved into my new place last month, I decided to build a big bin, something designed for my admittedly prodigious composting habit. You can do this too: all you really need is a wooden box with ventilation, and voila! Worm bin. Here’s how I made mine.

I went to the Habitate ReStore and picked up two hinged closet doors for $5 each, to make the box. From the surplus yard, I got a useful-looking slatted piece for $2, to make the ends.

I removed the hinges from one set of doors, and attached them at a right angle with long wood screws. Then I attached the other door, leaving the hinges intact. Instant hinged lid.

I cut the slatted piece in half and attached one half to each end of the box. That’ll keep the compost in, but provide airflow for my wee wrigglers. Plus they can escape through the slats, should they wish to flee the scavenger’s heaven I’m about to create in there.

Uh… then I dumped a bunch of crap in it.

MamaHun came to visit, and brought me worms from her own bin. I shredded some paper, wetted the whole thing down, dumped a little dirt on top with the remnants of my old compost bin… whee! Worm heaven.
It’s huge, imperfect in many ways, but it cost me $12 and under an hour of work, and I bet it’ll function just fine. Now I’ll have compost for spring planting.

PS – Why didn’t I cut the ends shorter so they don’t stick up? Because I’m lazy, that’s why. And because they hold the lid open so I can muck around in there with both hands.

PPS – A few months later, I decided to rodent-proof this box by stapling aluminum screen over all the gaps that were bigger than 1/4 inch. I recommend you do the same.

Want the definitive guide to worm composting? Everything you need to know EVER is here: Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture (PDF)

View Jessica’s profile here.

In a recent article, Times reporter Catherine St. Louis profiles a variety of people–including a paralegal, a salesman, an actor and the owner of a skin-care company–who bathe rarely and use deodorant even less. Their claim: it’s not necessary, and nobody seems to notice.

Your intrepid author washes her hair but once or twice a week and showers every couple-few days. Deodorant is for hot afternoons and important situations, but most of the time I don’t wear it. Unless I’m sweaty, I just don’t see the need for underarm perfume. Showering dries out my skin badly. So I bathe less, but I don’t mention it. People have a tendency to judge.

Catherine St. Louis describes our “culture of clean” as the result of incessant marketing. “Personal cleanliness in the United States has long been big business,” she writes, and 93% of American adults shampoo almost daily. But scientists are discovering good reasons why you shouldn’t: soap strips your skin of its natural lipids, aging it faster and causing dry skin and eczema. Thank jeebus there are expensive lotions for that, eh?

But lotions can’t replace the host of friendly bacteria that prevent infections and irritation of your skin. The chief dermatologist at UC San Diego told St. Louis that your skin bacteria don’t just fight disease, they’re “educating your own skin cells to make your own antibiotics.”

Last but not least: skipping a shower can save nearly 40 gallons of water a day. Yipes.

Everybody’s going to make their own choices about soap, shampoo, deodorant, perfume, toothpaste, lotion, body wash, night cream, conditioner… and you should always wash up after you ride the subway or go to the gym. Aside from that, there’s a lot of leeway.

View Jessica’s profile here.

Unfortunately, scientists predict that as the effects of climate change become more pronounced, extreme heat will become the summertime norm rather than the exception. When the temperatures climb above 80, 90 or even 100 degrees you need something more than a cold shower to stay comfortable.
Even the most climate conscious among us usually has to fire up the air conditioner once or twice during the dog days of summer. And even using a small air conditioner for a few hours a day is likely to have a considerable effect on your energy bills.

Although many people know that a home solar system can help offset their dependence on grid-supplied electricity, few realize that it doesn’t take a solar lease to reduce their utility bills.

This summer, many energy conscious families are turning to solar powered air conditioning as a way to reduce their bills as well as their environmental impact.
There are four main ways to utilize solar energy for cooling purposes:

1. Photovoltaic Solar Cooling: One of the simplest ways to cool your home using the energy of the sun, this method connects a solar photovoltaic array to an energy efficient conventional air conditioner. However because of the intense energy consumption of most conventional air conditioners, solar power only contributes about 10-20 percent of the power used.

2. Solar Powered Evaporative Cooling: Evaporative cooling is the process of reducing air temperature by drawing it over a moist surface with a fan. Because most evaporative cooling units (also known as swamp coolers) require far less energy to operate than a traditional air conditioner, the power can be supplied easily by a small photovoltaic array. The only drawback is that this approach tends to be successful only in arid climates.

3. Solar Powered Absorption Chillers: In this type of system, solar heat is used to separate the absorbent and the refrigerant from each other. The refrigerant is then compressed and evaporated to create a cooling effect for your home.

4. Solar Desiccant Cooling: Instead of actually cooling the existing air, this system achieves a cooling effect by reducing the amount of moisture in the air. Water in the air is removed when a fan draws it over special material called a desiccant. Once the material is soaked with water, solar heat is used to evaporate the moisture into the outside air. In this way, humidity inside your home is reduced, which has a cooling effect.

Beth Buczynski is an editor and solar enthusiast at GreenMarketing.TV the green entrepreneur’s source for start-up ideas and insightful interviews with the industry’s top thinkers. She also enjoys discovering socially responsible companies at EntrepreneursforaChange.com.

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Here are 10 ways to green your summer vacation that will leave you feeling like a kid again!

1. Ask Liz First – According to Liz, from  Ask Liz First for Green Planet Solutions,  research has proven that many products that families are using around their children and family, can be detrimental to their health and that’s not fun!  Before you reach for that sunscreen, Liz suggests you consult with EWG.org (Environmental Working Group) which has an easy to use, Sunscreen Guide full of over 1700 sunscreens, lip balms and makeups.  The guide will help you choose the safest sunscreen for you and your family.  You can even check your brand of sunscreen to see how it rated.  
2. Green your Bar-B-Q – There are so many ways to make your summer Bar-B-Q green from choosing organic and free range meats to using recycled utensils and plates. Involve your kids by asking them to go with you to the local farmer’s market to choose veggies to grill.
3. Make a Date at the Strawberry Patch – Find a local strawberry patch that lets kids pick with you and make memories with your kids that will last a lifetime.  Take your strawberries home and make a delicious pie from scratch.  It will make your heart swell with love and happiness when you see how proud they are of their accomplishment.  I still remember doing this with my mom.
4. Green your Ride – Before you hit the road, use these eco-tips to save money on gas that you have to put into your car. These are real ways you can save money on gasoline with the car you have, right now – no matter what kind of car it is. Who doesn’t love saving money to feel carefree?
5. Get Out of the Kitchen – The hot days of summer offer the perfect excuse to get out of the kitchen and let someone else cook for a change.  Be sure to give a little leftover love and bring your own to go containers instead of using petroleum based plastic containers like Styrofoam.   
6. Turn on the Sprinkler – The next time you need to water your lawn, turn on the sprinkler and run through with abandon.  Granted, if you don’t have kids to run with you, your neighbors might think you have lost your mind, but I know firsthand that it will make you giggle your cares away. 
7. Green your hurricane preparations  - In a Hurricane Zone?  Prepare your supplies before you need them.  You will be able to enjoy your summer so much more if you know you have all you need on hand in case of a hurricane. If you have experienced a hurricane, like I have, you will understand how important this is.  Put it off, and you will have one more thing to worry about when you should be having care free days in the sun.
8.  Join the Kids in Some Edible Fun! -  If you can’t beat them in their silliness, you might as well join them right?  Take a page out of the Peaceful Housewife’s playbook and eat your own play dough!  No worries over using petroleum based, artificial  food colors with this recipe!!
9. Open the Windows – Keep yourself and you family healthy by getting the toxins out of your home.  Two simple ways to start creating a healthier environment are by choosing non toxic cleaning supplies and periodically opening the windows to air out your home. 
10. Get a Sugar Buzz – Avoid artificial sweeteners and stick with real stuff to make yourself sweet.  Artificial sweeteners can cause a host of health problems and even trick your body into thinking it needs more sweets.  When you need a little sugar buzz, go for it with organic chocolates,  organic gummy worms or anything homemade.  Sometimes a little sweet treat is all we need to make the day just a little more fun.

View Shane’s profile here.

Some travellers mistakenly think that it is more expensive to travel abroad than vacation in the United States. People often hear about the relative weakness of the U.S. dollar and automatically calculate that a trip overseas will break their vacation budget.

But, this not always the case if you consider that parts of Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and South America are relative vacation bargains given that the value of the U.S. dollar against the local currency remains high and the abundance of green and sustainable travel choices.

Compared with the euro zone of Western Europe and some of the more summer tourist areas in the United States, where economies are affecting the price of ecotourism services and price negotiations are relatively shunned, green travellers will be pleasantly surprised at how far their dollars will go in these nature and wildlife paradise areas.

These regions of the world have embraced the concept of ecotourism as a necessity not only for elevating their standard of living and conserving their natural and cultural heritage, but also providing a competitive edge in the travel industry. Lastly, combine any of these trips with a frequent flyer mile reward seat and no foreign transaction fee credit card, and you have got yourself a smart green vacation value destination.

1. Poland is blessed with striking mountains and rolling hills, as well as wild rivers and wetlands. It is a haven for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds as well as avid hiking enthusiasts. With 23 National Parks and forests covering nearly 30 percent of the country, travelers will marvel at unique wildlife viewing where guides can expertly show you Poland’s own Big Game including the European bison, lynx, stoats, martens and red deer.

2. Jordan is a fascinating mix of modernity, ancient wonder and hospitality with nature tourism slowly taking a foothold. Whether you mix it up in the modern city of Amman, travel through the timeless beauty of the desert to Wadi Rum, discover the spectacular city of Petra, take a dip in the salty waters of the iconic Dead Sea or trek through the Dana Nature Reserve with its stunning scenery and wildlife such as ibex and mountain gazelles, Jordan will impress you.

3. Indonesia offers opportunities beyond the beaten path of Bali onto more remote beaches, such as those on the laid-back Lombok and the Gili Islands where you can snorkel the pristine waters of the islands or laze on Sengiggi’s beaches. Alternatively, Java Island boasts lively cities, lush rice terraces and active volcanoes. You can spot exotic wildlife in Pangandaran, soak up the cultural atmosphere in Yogyakarta, climb to the top of Mt Bromo and relax on the beaches of Lovina.

4. Thailand is a feast for all the senses. Take an unforgettable ride aboard an elephant, visit indigenous hilltribe communities for a glimpse into traditional life, or explore the Golden Triangle. You may also want to cycle the streets of ancient Sukhothai before heading south to lounge on peaceful island beaches or to hike the magnificent lowland rainforest of Khao Sok National Park, where tigers still roam freely.

5. Morocco allows you to embark on an exotic camel safari through the desert dunes, sleep in Bedouin-style tents, or journey through the scenic Draa Valley as you watch the abundance of almond, date, orange, lemon and olive trees glide by. With luck, you can even learn how to bake fresh bread in the sand.

6. Peru is a gem whether you visit the colonial city of Arequipa, travel to Paracas National Reserve (considered one of the most unique and richest ecosystems in the world) or explore the many islands of Lake Titicaca. Don’t miss visiting Cusco or taking the train to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. You can even stay at an authentic eco-lodge in the middle of the Amazon where you can spend your days in the rainforest learning about traditional medicinal plants, and spotting birds and forest animals such as giant river otters and the capybara, the world’s largest rodent!

7. Belize is host to more than 87 distinct types of ecosystems, which make ecotourism and agriculture the lifeblood of its economy. The country is well known for its Mayan temples and tropical rainforests, and boasts the world’s second longest barrier reef. There are 150 identified species of mammals ranging from the jaguar to the howler monkey. Belize also can be counted on for great snorkeling and scuba diving where manatees, stingrays, sharks, dolphins, coral and turtles are easy to spot.

8. Vietnam invites you to sail beautiful Halong Bay, view spectacular rice terraces, laugh during a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi, learn about rich emperors in Hue, and swim in the South China Sea. The natural, cultural and historical features of this country will not soon be forgotten.

9. Amazon region allows you to take your pick of seeing the rainforest and jungle regions closest to Brazil or Peru. For the more active traveler, there are opportunities to enjoy jungle walks, piranha fishing, night trips to see alligators and visits to local villages. You can also soak up the sunshine on the beaches of Ilha Grande and snorkel through its underwater worlds.

10. Ecuador has a lot more to offer than a Galapagos Islands adventure. Try river tubing, rappelling, hiking, or horseback riding through the middle of the Mindo forest. The area is known for its bird-watching and abundance of wild orchids. Alternatively, you can hike the snow-capped volcanic cone of Cotopaxi, the world’s highest active volcano and one of only a few equatorial glaciers on earth.

View Irene’s profile here.

Sadly, the system of greenwashing or the misleading advertising by companies that stealthy promote their operations as reducing carbon emissions and efficiently using scarce resources only in the name of profiteering, is rampant in the tourism industry.

A lack of transparency about the criteria for operating in a green manner has not only resulted in shades of green, but also a lot of confused travelers who are having difficulty distinguishing eco-vacation authenticity from duplicity.

Rather than agonizing over reviews, guide books and definitions of sustainability; instead ask five simple questions that will help quickly evaluate the green merits of an advertised eco-vacation.

1. Are your vacation dollars helping to support the local community or a large conglomerate? Genuine green travel organizations understand that tourism can be utilized as a tool for poverty alleviation as well as achieving community economic and social goals. Therefore, a crucial distinction for green tourism is not only use of local employment and resources, but local ownership of the business.

2. Are the listed eco-activities emphasizing environmental awareness or just outdoor adventure? Here’s a hint. If you are being taken by a gas-guzzling double coach bus to experience your unique “eco” activity, it’s not about green travel. True green activities, which can include kayaking, hiking and sailing, are led by certified naturalists, who guide small groups of no more than 12 to allow for first-hand interpretation and education of local flora and fauna.

3. Are you sustaining wildlife conservation efforts or treading on ancient migratory pathways? Devoted eco-tourism organizations not only teach tourists about the plants, birds, insects and animals of the region, but also how wildlife is crucial to the surrounding ecosystems. Learning about the fragility and sensitivity of ecosystems becomes much more important than just a great photo opportunity.

4. Are measures being taken to minimize tourist waste or are you being asked to carbon offset your travels instead? Sincere green tourism operators realize that tourists not only need to be informed about ways to minimize air and water pollution, waste and soil erosion, but also be led by example. Whether it is learning about how an eco-lodge harnessed solar or wind power for their operations, the destructive role of invasive or exotic plant species, or how regions are implementing renewable energy to power engines, true green travel will effectively teach consumers sustainable land development.

5. Are your activities respecting local cultural traditions or creating an escape from them? Part of the joy of traveling is sampling local delicacies, learning a few words in new language and maybe even discovering a new way to interact with people. If you are isolated within an oasis of exotic plants, dinner shows, swimming lagoons and wait staff, it will be difficult to also absorb the local heritage.

Eco-travelers generally establish deeper, longer-lasting connections with the regions they are visiting during an eco-vacation thereby not only learning more about themselves, but about how they can make a more positive impact on the world.

May 17, 2011 by Irene Lane
Greenloons.com

View Irene’s profile here.

I remember as a kid I used to get so excited when I earned enough allowance to go buy a new toy. I would be ecstatic in the car on the way to the Meijer. I was literally building up the joy I would have once I had a new Barbie or new My Little Pony. I remember half-walking, half-running through the store to the toy isle and finding my treasured toy.

The moments that lead up to purchasing my new toy were invigorating, addicting even, like a drug!

But once I got home, I found myself bored with my new toy and would find something else to play with. That is what shopping does to us. It lures us in with enticing and strategic commercials that show us the body we should have, the clothes we have to have, the house we will go into massive debt over, and the endless, useless and unnecessary products we will ultimately buy and never use.

Such as the Snuggie! No one ever needs a Snuggie. Wear a bathrobe backwards, you’ll get the same effect!

After I decided to become a nanny I really had to take a look at not only how much I was purchasing, but who I was purchasing it from. I didn’t want my hard-earned dollars going towards a company that supported exporting manufacturing to lessen the cost of labour and materials.

I don’t believe any company should legally be able to employ children, grossly under pay employees, make employees work in a hazardous environment, or deplete our natural resources by means such as clear cutting precious forests.

With my new, low budget, I took on the task of researching companies, buying local and organic, and spending less. I didn’t need all of that stuff to begin with. Why was I buying a new pair of jeans when I had 8 pair at home? Why was I buying another new top, when I had dozens at home?

Because I felt as if I had to.

We’ve been raised, and not completely intentionally, by our family, friends, and society to be a consumer. We’ve been told to go to college, get a good paying job, get married, buy a house, and have 2.5 children. All the while, we’re supposed to spend our paychecks on needless items that will collect dust around our house, which is probably much bigger than we need in the first place.

I guess we need the space for all the stuff we buy?

I decided to purge my belongings. I had so many items, including bins full of crap at my parents’ house that I just didn’t need. I sold what I could, gave away what I couldn’t sell, and got rid of the rest. It was so liberating to get rid of my stuff. Though I still have one bin at my parents’ house full of items from my childhood. After purging, I could fit everything I owned into my, then, Ford Explorer!

There was an ulterior motive to purging my belongings; I wanted to get out of debt!

Getting out of debt meant freedom to me. Freedom from “The Man,” freedom to travel, and freedom from the guilt of being in debt. The person who inspired me to get out of debt was Adam Baker from Man vs. Debt. – http://manvsdebt.com/ I began my “Get out of debt” process by becoming anti-consumerism, and the second step for me was the debt tsunami.

The debt tsunami is Adam’s term where you tackle the debt that holds the most emotion for you. The debt that would lift the greatest weight off of your shoulders to create a ripple effect to pay off the rest of your debt.

What I didn’t realize is that I’m not the only person in the U.S. with $20,000 in debt between a credit card, student loan, and car loan. According to Creditcard.com, the average credit card debt per household is $14,750.

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-industry-facts-personal-debt-statistics-1276.php

That’s what consumerism does to us. It makes us feel that we have to have something so bad that we go into debt because of it. The intoxicating rush of shopping quickly fads, which is why we do it so much. It is like any other addiction, it has its ups and downs. And like any other drug, it has its consequences… debt!

There are roughly 330 million people in the U.S. and yet there are 609.8 million credit cards held by U.S. consumers. The total U.S. consumer debt is $2.4 trillion according to creditcard.com. These numbers are outrageous and we need to take control of our buying habits.

While shopping we need to stop and ask ourselves, do I need this or do I want this? If it is not a need, then we must ask ourselves why we’re purchasing it? If you still want the item, put it back on the shelf and come back in a couple days. If you haven’t thought about the item during those days, you probably don’t need it.

Minimizing your purchases isn’t an easy task, but it is a necessary one.

The less stuff you have, the less you have to clean. The less stuff you purchase, the more money you have to do what you love. Whether it is traveling, hiking, rock climbing, sky diving, etc. The list is endless when you free yourself from stuff you don’t need.

Becoming anti-consumerist gave me the freedom to do what I love. Write, photograph, and travel with my boyfriend. What freedoms will anti-consumerism give you?

Written by Kates Bailey

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