How to Go Green - The First Steps

REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS

A reusable shopping bag reduces landfill waste, and saves money at the grocery store. The money saving occurs at some stores which are paying 5 cents for every non-plastic bag brought in, while others are charging a new 5 cent bag tax. The EPA estimates that U.S. consumers throw away 100 billion of the bags a year. So, whether or not it takes the sun 500 years or 1,000 years to degrade a standard plastic bag, (a fact scientists cannot prove yet), experts agree that it takes a really long time. So, it's up to humans to reduce the pollution by simply remembering to do things like carry their own reusable bags when shopping.

Reusable Shopping Bags

BIODEGRADABLE TRASH BAGS

100% compostable and biodegradable kitchen, lawn and leaf, and compost bags reduces toxic landfill waste. Made primarily of corn starch, these bags break down in weeks, rather than centuries, like their chemically-ridden counterparts. All bag types have a large capacity and are durable enough to handle the toughest lawn care or composting jobs.

Biodegradable Trash Bags

ENERGY EFFICIENT COMPACT FLUORESCENT & FULL SPECTRUM LIGHT BULBS

If every home in America replaced just one standard incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would save enough energy to light more than three million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars annually. These cfl bulbs reduce energy consumption, lowering your bills. For only 13 Watts of energy usage, a bulb can product the light equivalent of a 60 Watt incandescent bulb. And they have a long life span of up to 10,000 hours, which saves money on replacement bulbs and save the earth from excessive replacement bulbs in the landfills. Some CFLs are full spectrum, natural light bulbs that simulate the sun.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

WATER CONSERVATION SHOWER HEADS

Eco-friendly shower heads deliver a maximum flow shower, while the ShowerStart™ technology inside the head saves water, energy and money. A family of 3 saving as little as one minute of hot water per shower can save a yearly average of 2,700 gallons of water, and up to $75 off a utility bill (based on 2.5 gpm and $.03/gal hot water cost). The way energy is being saved is by technology inside the shower head knowing when it's time to enter trickle mode - when the water reaches 95F. When ready to enjoy a full-strength, luxurious shower, just flip the switch or pull the cord on the shower head to resume normal flow. Not hot water wasted!

Water Conservation Shower Heads

SOLAR WATER BOTTLES

Choose to use one drinking water bottle, and help to reduce the harmful effects of plastic toxins on health, and the environment. A solar bottle has a lid light that charges fully in just 4 hours, and provides up to 12 hours of light - great as a night light, or when activities last until dark. With visibly mounting landfills, and certain plastics causing proven health risks (such as PVC #7 plastics, for example, that have toxic additives which can leach into groundwater), it makes sense to think "less waste" for the health of generations to come.

Solar Water Bottles

WIND-UP & RECHARGABLE FLASHLIGHTS & GADGETS

Batteries not required... Eliminate the need for batteries with wind-up and rechargable technology in flashlights, radios, lanterns and more. Batteries in landfills can pollute the natural environmnet, and contaminate the groundwater. The money savings combined with the freedom from batteries will be a guilt-free and toxic-free pleasure for years to come.

Wind-up Flashlights & Gadgets

BUY GREEN GIFTS

Want to be a gift giving hero to friends, family and the planet? Then consider a present that can save the recipient money, lower their utility bills, or use less environmental resources. Could Mom resist custom designed vase for her garden flowers made of recycled copper? Could Dad use a cell phone charger that is solar powered? For all the holidays and birthdays that occur, and the billions of dollars spent in the US alone on gifts, if everyone began to give energy saving or recycled gifts instead...it would be something for the Earth to celebrate.

Green Gifts