Stop getting those pesky print phone books

Do you, like me, want to stop getting a print version of your local phonebook delivered to your doorstep every month? Well, now you can opt out. Check out www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org.

Ways to go green and save green

We had planned a Recession Buster workshop for a few weeks back that was canceled because of our super eco-conscious customers who had recycled a bunch of electronics. Kudos to them for recycling!!! So, since we didn't have the workshop we are posting all of our earth-friendly money-saving tips right here on our Green Alternatives blog. Enjoy!

• Ditch prepared meals. Go for healthy & cheap eating by picking up in-season fruits and veggies and making your own meals. It’s better for your body and wallet. Planning is key. Make sure you have a stocked pantry and plan ahead.
• Cook meatless meals. It’s definitely cheaper to prepare a meal that is meat-free than the latter. And, it’s considered more green because an extreme amount of methane is released into the atmosphere by the animals that are raised for consumption.
• Travel locally. Be a tourist in your home town. It will save you time and money. And, Hampton Roads has a slew of historical sites to check out.
• Squeeze to the last drop. Get every last smidgen out of your products before tossing them. Then, when you think you are near the end, fill with water and use that very last bit.
• Use only recommended doses. If your detergent gives you an amount, use it. It’s designed to work with the recommended, noted amount.
• Bring your lunch. It will save you a tremendous amount of time and will greatly reduce the waste that is provided by getting processed food. Make sure to get a reusable lunch set.
• Eat breakfast at home. Or, bring it with you to work. For the same reason that was mentioned in number 6 it will save money and diminish waste.
• Consider a pellet stove. The pellets are way more eco-friendly than wood-burning stoves and produce just as much heat and comfort.
• Green clean your home. By making your own cleaning supplies, you can save money and will get a great result. Look for spray bottles that have recipes on the side so you will never be without your recipe when you need a refill. Or, buy products that are super concentrate so you will reduce waste and save money.
• Green gift giving. Wrap your presents in newspaper funnies. It provides great reading material, saves money, and it a fantastic reuse of your newspaper.
• Turn off your lights when you’re not in the room. Makes sense, right?
• Use public transit. I know, I know...our area is not too well-equipped with a public transit system, but at least look into it.
• 5 minute showers. Get a timer and stick to it.
• Compost. Get a composter and make a project out of it. It will reduce your waste and you can use the fertilizer for gardening.
• Unplug appliances. When not in use, unplug your appliances so they are not drawing energy.
• Don’t over consume. You won’t waste money on stuff you don’t need and it’s kinder to the earth.
• Lower your thermostat. Drop it by a few degrees and wear a sweater at home.
• Wash in cold. Wash clothes in cold. Colors and whites can be washed in cold and it saves energy because you’re not using power to heat the water.
• Use a dryer rack. It will save you money on your energy bill.
• Get a low flow showerhead. It will reduce the amount of waste water you produce when showering and will lower your water bill.
• Plant drought-tolerant plants. Consider your watering needs when gardening. Or, save rainwater with a rain barrel and use that to water your plants.
• Walk or bike. Anywhere that’s close enough to walk or bike. Do it. It will save you on gas and is carbon-neutral.
• Buy local. Supporting your local farms and dairies is crucial. Check out your local farmer’s market that carries all in season fruits and veggies from nearby. Our Norfolk Farmer's Market in at Church & 26th Street.
• Reusables. Use a reusable water bottle and don’t buy disposable water bottles.
• Thrifty shopping. Check thrift stores or www.craigslist.com if you need something. Chances are it’s there…it’s definitely green because you aren’t supporting the virgin harvest of materials to produce consumer products, and it will save you big bucks.
• Go to the library. The library is a fantastic resource for books, videos, and more. Get a library card and take books out instead of buying them to read once and have them sit on a shelf in your home.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. It will save you from having to replace it over and over again while saving the earth because you aren’t consuming as much.
• Green recession-proof grocery shopping. Check for coupons, plan out what you need, and stick to the outside. The outside is where all of the more natural, fresh foods are…stay away from processed foods.
• Telecommute. If your job will allow you, work from home when possible. It will save on gas and money.
• Carpool. It’s great fun to have someone to ride with and will definitely save on resources including finite oil and money.
• Back off rapid acceleration and breaking. It lowers your mpg when you do this.
• Take luggage rack off. It creates drag and hence lowers your mpg.
• Check your tire pressure. For maximum gas efficiency, your tire should have the right amount of pressure.
• Deduct charitable contributions. A lot of green practices are also tax deductable like electronics recycling.
• Freecycle. Don’t trash your unwanted items, post them on freecycle. Maybe someone else needs just what you are getting rid of.
• Wash full loads only. It will save you money and saves energy.
• Reduce hot water temp to 120’. There’s no need to heat your water up that much.
• Wrap your water heater. It will keep your hot water hot without using as much energy.
• Ceiling fans. Use fans instead of a/c. It uses way less energy.
• Put a white panel on the outer part of your curtains. White will keep the hot in or cold in during the appropriate seasons.
• Move lights away from cooling applications. The heat from the lamp will keep your a/c on for longer than needed.
• Change filters. Keeping filters changed and clean will maximize efficiency.
• Flat panel monitors. If you need to replace your computer or monitor, get one…they use less energy. If you have a laptop, you’re good because they use even less energy than a desktop. And, there are now energy star certified laptops.
• Rechargeable batteries. There's an initial cost out of the gate, but you will definitely save big time over the life of your batteries.
• Reusable bags. You'll get a few cents back at many retailers for using them and they reduce waste big time.
• Look for rebates. If you need a big ticket item, check to see where you can purchase an Energy Star rated appliance and get a rebate from the government.

Writing Letters to the Editor

I'm not sure if you all heard, but Environment Virginia is working very hard in the Hampton Roads area to gain support for green jobs. If you are interested in supporting this cause, please write letters to the editor at the Pilot. Keep it under 150 words and follow the guide below.

To submit a letter to the editor to The Virginian-Pilot, e-mail letters@pilotonline.com. Include your full name, street address and daytime telephone number.

To the Editor:

RE: Previous article on date by author, if applicable

• State the problem/topic (failing planet, failing economy
• Describe the problem in a way that makes it real, use a personal story or angle
• "As a ...." (citizen/longtime resident/student/parent/business owner
• State the solution, generally (more funding for green jobs) and specifically (Reps Nye and Scott supporting the funding for green jobs and greener, cleaner infrastructure)
• Reason for feeling the way you do. This can just be a second personal story emphasizing why your suggested solution is important

Sincerely,
Name
Address
Phone

Community Advancement of Norfolk {C.A.N.}

Community Advancement of Norfolk has announced a new campaign collecting bulbs for baskets. Read below to learn more about the program and where you can donate.

New Norfolk Grassroots Organization Announces “Bulb for a Basket Campaign”

Donate household items to help homeless families and receive an energy- efficient light bulb for your generosity!

Community Advancement of Norfolk (C.A.N.), a new grassroots organization comprised of Norfolk residents, will be collecting household and non-perishable food items, to benefit ForKids, a Norfolk agency serving homeless families.

From 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, January 17 and Saturday, January 24 in Norfolk at the following locations:

• Five Points Community Farm Market on 25th and Church Street
• Yorgo’s Bagels at 2123 Colonial Avenue
• Yorgo’s Bagels at 215 East Plume Street

Everyone donating a “basket” (or any other container of items) will receive an energy-efficient light bulb. Paper goods, toiletries, supplies for school, office, laundry, and first aid are needed. Go to homesforkids.org to see a more detailed list of suggested items.

Inspired by Colin Powell’s call for a national day of service, this event is the first project for Community Advancement of Norfolk (C.A.N.), a non-partisan, grassroots organization of Norfolk citizens devoted to helping the Norfolk community.

For more information on the project or how you can get involved with C.A.N., visit advancenorfolk.com or contact Patrick Austin at 757-889-1339.

Green Home Systems

A local Norfolk resident has installed a green roof and rain cistern system for her home.


A Green Roof is a layer of living vegetation that is installed on the top of a conventional flat or sloping roof. The Great Lakes Water Institute notes that a green roof is beneficial because it

• Conserves energy by moderating the temperature on the roof and surrounding areas,
• Dramatically reduces storm runoff volume and peak flow rate,
• Restores the ecological and aesthetic value of urban open space, and
• Protects conventional roofing systems, typically doubling the service life of the underlying waterproofing membrane.

A rain cistern is is like an extremely large rain barrel that can be above or below ground. The water collected can be used for landscaping and watering flowers, but can also be used for graywater systems like toilets and washing machines. Rainwater harvesting contributes to water conservation, low-impact living, watershed protection, and stormwater management.

Did you know that rain water is better for your plants than tap water? Why?
Because it lacks chlorine and fluoride. Rain water is soft and mildly acidic which helps plants grown and pull necessary minerals form the soil. (Compliments of www.bewatersmart.org.)

If you are interested in checking out these systems and want to learn more about what this Norfolk resident has done with her green roof and cistern installs, email rma@cox.net.

Starting a new group...

I have this fabulous idea that we should start a few community groups and would love to get feedback on them. Check out the ideas below and if interested, email or call the store.

• Knitting: Knitting is a fun craft to learn and possibilities are endless. We can meet at Green Alternatives in the workshop room we have in the store.
• Book Club: There are a bunch of book clubs out there already, but why not start one more. Of course, we can meet in the Green Alternatives workshop space in the store.
• Stroller Strides: Ok, I don't have any kids yet, but I still think this is an awesome idea and am encouraging our greenies to partner up to start a Stroller Strides group. It's a 30-minute exercise WITH your baby stroller. Green Alternatives can help you get started and coordinate your group.

We can start any of the groups above with as little as 5 people per group. Just send over an email to shop@greenalternativesstore.com if you're interested.

Initiative to Encourage Renewable Energy

If you are looking for ways to see Hampton Roads go a little greener, check out the information below that was passed on to me by one of our greenie shoppers.

A proposal was submitted for increased use of renewable and fossil-fuel-free energy to Dominion Resources. The outcome will probably take several months. If it is accepted for inclusion in voting, however, a large group of supporting votes will be needed. What's needed?? As many people as possible to each buy $1000 of Dominion stock, and vote in the May 2009 proxy, it would help send the message that this is something people are concerned about.

Admittedly, even if I get 1,000 people to each buy $1000 worth of stock, it is still a very small fraction of the vote, but the number of people voting would have power.
So, if you are able in these hard economic times to find any sum to purchase a few shares of Dominion stock, please do. To vote in the May 2009 shareholders' meeting, you would need to purchase shares before the end of February, and you will need to tell your broker to be sure to pass the proxy through to you (some will vote proxies for you). You can buy Dominion stock through a broker, or directly at http://www.dom.com/investors/index.jsp.

If you know anyone else who might be able to do this, or are part of any group that might be interested, please feel free to forward on.

Local Green Businesses

Looking for local green businesses in Hampton Roads? We just listed a bunch of them on our website (www.greenalternativesstore.com). You can check out www.gogreenhamptonroads.com to get detailed information on services and products that our local eco-businesses offer. On this site you will find contact information and a brief description about each business.

It's a great resource to bookmark!

Happy New Year

So it's 2009 now and I am determined to make my 2009 the greenest year ever. How about you? Every day there are new green bits that pop up online on various sites that tell about new ways to save water, conserve energy, save trees, and pretty much save our favorite planet.

The reason for this post is to encourage you to make a greener lifestyle part of your resolutions for the upcoming year. And, try to encourage others too!