Phone book Opt-out
(If you can’t read the sign, it says “Dear Bell & Yellow pages, We all have a thing called ‘the internet’ Please stop wasting stuff.”) Haha, anyways, we just received the latest version of the phone book for our area, and got to wondering, have the phone companies and local advertisers really not realized there is no longer a demand for their product? Most people we know immediately put their phone books in the recycling bin (although they should be recycled through special containers due to their bulk size). The internet has revolutionized the way people receive their information, and while there are still a few stragglers, most people can quickly find what they’re looking for without the phone books. After a bit of research we were able to find a website hosted by the Yellow Pages company (now Local Search Association). Log on to yellowpagesoptout.com and simply follow the steps on the site.
It’s really as easy as creating a user account, plugging in your address and zip code and they provide you with a list of the possible books you can receive in your area. From there, you can easily select which books (if any) you would like to receive direct to your home. Just be aware that if it’s within a few weeks of the next delivery date, you may still end up with the latest edition. This site should provide a great means to stop the waste from being produced, we’ll see how well the delivery people follow the list though. Ultimately a better method would be to require an opt-in program where people would have to sign up to begin receiving these books.
A few quick tips about registering on the site.
1. Use a trash email address – I don’t know if they’re going to sell my information ( I hope not), but to prevent a massive influx of unwanted emails to my regular addresses, I used one I don’t care about and check infrequently. You need to have access to it though to confirm your registration.
2. Give your real address – This should be a fairly obvious one, but in order to stop receiving the books you have to give your real address where you’re receiving them. (Don’t worry about privacy, they already know where you live and they tell Everyone!)
3. Phone number – They make you give them a phone number and say that without it they can’t process your request. I gave them my real one, but I have yet to receive a phone call. I’m sure this was just to prevent abuse from companies trying to get your money to opt you out of programs.
4. Sit back and enjoy your phone book free life and knowing that you’re helping to eliminate a massive amount of waste.
*Photo courtesy of nicheproof on flickr
On Begley Street Success!
We’re pleased to announce that the Kickstarter Project by the Begley family was a success, even raising almost $5,000 dollars more than they had initially aimed for. This will be an exciting project to keep an eye on as they work to create the most sustainable house possible. I’ll be sure to monitor it and post updates as the project steps off. Ed Begley has been one of the most vocal and visible members in the green movement, so it will be great to see what his next venture has in store for us. Since this will be a web-series, I would imagine everyone will have access to the episodes when they are completed, but I will be sure to keep you up to date as they come out.
Recycling Trucks: Littering our towns
Curbside pick up seems like the best thing in the world to increase our ability to recycle our goods doesn’t it? But as with anything there are usually some negatives attached, and no, we’re not talking about just the use of fossil fuels to get the trucks around, although that is an issue. It’s true that curbside pick up has been a huge help in increasing the countries recycling rates, especially in rural areas where you could have to drive 30 minutes or more to get to the nearest recycling center. So what’s the downside? Littering, you know that thing you can get fined for by the police for doing.
Since we started walking our dogs again after the move to a new neighborhood, we really began seeing the side effects of curbside pick up (we previously lived on a dead end street so it wasn’t as prevalent). Everywhere we walk, there are a variety of items, from newspapers to cans and bottles, they litter the neighborhood especially the day the truck comes through. It’s discouraging to see the neighborhood the way it is, we’ve personally picked up numerous items from our own yard and put them in our recycling bin, hopefully they’ll make it into the truck next time. It may be time to contact the companies that serve the area to address their littering issue, it’ll be interesting to see their response. It would be quite hilarious to see a police car following a recycling truck all day and citing them for each piece that falls off the truck, after all, they were hired to complete a service and have a duty to act and follow the same laws we do right? Let us know what you think!
Phase out the bad
Here’s our plan. It’s not a big secret to saving money on going green, but definitely the easiest method you could think of. Rather than running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off as you try to find every bad thing in your house and create a list 300 pages long of things to replace them with as you try to go green, do this: Every time you notice something you use may be running low, make it your goal to replace it with something better or healthier. Make a list of alternative options, ranging from better manufactured products to all natural. It doesn’t have to be 100% organic or the “perfect” product, but every step helps. Obviously if you’re able and willing to make that big jump, then all the better!
Our theory is that if we make better choices in our products and change things bit by bit, once we get to a product that is all natural, it won’t be a massive shock to our systems or lifestyle. The first thing we started with was hand soap and automatic dish cleaner (which we will be blogging about soon). These are incredibly simple changes that have very little visible effect on your daily life, but can have a big impact since they effect your skin and what you consume. So how do you make an informed decision on what products to buy? Start by comparing your product to others on the GoodGuide website. So far, this is the most comprehensive guide we have found to compare most common commercial products against their alternatives. Let us know how you make out with some of your small changes!
On Begley Street
We are proud to announce that we are backing a new project by actor Ed Begley. If you’re new to the green lifestyle, you may not be aware how involved Ed is with sustainability and living a lower impact life. He starred in his own television show on HGTV called Living with Ed – Livingwithed.net, on this show he would drive his wife crazy with some of his green, and albeit, unique ideas. So what’s Ed up to now? He’s working on a new project with his wife to create a web series that shows the entire process of building a sustainable home. They’re looking to raise $25,000 to market and produce the show, and better yet, if they reach that amount, they are going to double it by putting up $25,000 of their own money!
So if you’ve never heard of Kickstarter, it’s a unique site that allows people with projects of their own to post them, offer some incentives for donations (for $25 we’re getting a dvd of the series, high def downloads of every episode and our name in the credits), and then raise money to fund their project. These projects could be anything from a documentary to music, art projects, the sky is really the limit. The best part is that you can make a donation, but if the entire amount they are requesting isn’t raised by their deadline, you’re off the hook so you don’t have to pay for a project that will never get completed. So if you have a couple extra bucks and want to be a part of a great project check out the video below or on the link on our sidebar! And when you’re ready to donate simply visit Kickstarter!
Conservation Photography
We all know the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. But can that same picture actually inspire people to create change in a world that desperately needs it? I think so. Photographs of wild animals, natural places in both pristine condition and squalor have both inspired and infuriated me over the years.
Photography has slowly become a hobby of mine. There’s nothing better than capturing some of life’s greatest moments so you can view them over and over again. Many people are beginning to make a career out of what we call Conservation Photography, photos that inspire change within people. Many of these photographs are graphic and depict animals tangled in barbed wire, fish deceased due to toxic chemicals dumped in the water or a rhinoceros killed for it’s horn. The video below is about 17 minutes long, but well worth the time if you have any interest in the people behind the photographs you see in major magazines like National Geographic. They also do a much better job discussing the ideas behind conservation photography than I ever could. So sit back, watch the video and check out some of the amazing photos.
Leave a commentIdling Vehicle Syndrome
I have what I would consider a great commute to work, generally speaking it takes me less than 3 minutes. So how much sense does it make to let my vehicle idle for ten minutes before hand? Not much at all. I’ll be the first to admit that, but having an electronic starter has given me the power to make my truck, nice and toasty on cold winter days and I take full advantage of that. Until now! I’m going to vow to only use it when absolutely necessary, and maybe just for short stints(a minute or less as I walk to get in, just to get the fluids moving).
It’s in the best interest of your vehicle’s maintenance to let it run briefly prior to driving to ensure the fluids are warmed up and flowing within the engine properly. Failure to do this on a continual or long term basis can cause damage to your engine, but most maintenance savvy people will probably come to a consensus that a minute or two is more than enough to get the fluids going, thus outweighing the benefits of long term idling.
So let’s recap the cons:
- Waste fuel – Which equals your hard earned dollars going up in fumes for nothing
- Carbon output increase again for no gain
- Excess wear on your vehicle
- 10 minutes a day would be equal to running your vehicle for 60 hours a year or roughly 2 and a half straight days!
So for the excess expenses, wear and tear on your vehicle, and of course carbon output, maybe you should stop and think next time you let your vehicle warm up or cool down before getting in. It could just save you a few bucks! I know that since I broke down the simple math on this, it really doesn’t make much sense.
-Chris
Winter Colds
As a lot of you know, winter time is best known for cold and flu season. Chris and I have developed head colds while our four month old baby Ben appears to have gotten by unaffected so far. While most people take an over the counter decongestant or start boosting their vitamin supplements when they feel a cold coming on, there are other ways to combat a cold. Ben is still breast feeding so what I put in to my body affects my baby. Being careless about what I eat is not an option. Though I know a lot of you do not face the same issue, here are some quick ideas to help your body naturally.
1. Be sure you are drinking lots of fluids. 8-10 glasses of water are usually what is recommended. The more fluid you consume the less congested you will be. Try to avoid the sugary based sports drinks. They taste good but have little to no nutritional value to help vitamin intake. If you have a juicer at home that is the best!
2. Make sure you are getting enough of the right vitamins by eating lots of fruits and dark green leafy vegetables. Boost your consumption of fruits and greens when you have a cold. If you are not a vegetable fan, try juicing them with your favorite fruit into a tasty drink!
3. For those who are willing to try, ¼ teaspoon of salt mixed in to 1 cup of warm water for an at home saline solution. Get a bulb syringe and put a few drops into one nostril and leave it for one minute. Hold your head over the sink and let the saline solution drain out. Do that a few times and repeat on the other side.
4. Remember when your mom told you to, “stop sniffling and blow your nose!” She was right! Inhaling the mucus your body is expelling is just reintroducing the germs your body is trying to get rid of and you will stay sick longer.
5. Wash your hands often. Washing your hands will prevent the spread of germs to your family, friends and loved ones. I was able to buy locally made soap the last time I went to the store!!
6. While sitting in a steamy room letting the shower run can help clear your nasal congestion, that can be costly when it comes to the end of the month. Run a humidifier or boil water on the stove or your wood stove for the same effect. Warm a pot of water, submerse a towel in it and then carefully lay the towel over your face to open your pores and sinuses.
Good luck and feel better quickly!!
Oolong Tea
Everyone has heard of Green tea or black tea, but how many of you have heard of Oolong? Oolong tea comes from the very same plant that creates Green tea, Camellia sinensis, but is processed in a different manner. It’s a unique mix between a green tea and a black tea, being that the leaves are only partly oxidized. When they begin fermenting the leaves (which is traditional for black teas), they stop the process just as the leaves begin to change color. Oolong tea can help provide you with numerous benefits such as reducing your cholesterol, helping combat obesity by increasing your metabolism, removing free radicals through antioxidants and fighting off skin disorders. In addition to these benefits, Oolong tea also provides you with a bit of caffeine to help keep your energy up all day, and at almost no calories compared to that can of soda or energy drink you were considering.
Not a fan of tea? I wasn’t either for the longest time. I like to get some natural honey and mix that in to sweeten it up a bit and bring the earthy taste back to my liking. I would strongly suggest buying organic, like most things, since it will be produced without harmful fertilizers and pesticides that could potentially destroy the natural benefits of the tea. Prince of Peace makes a great set of organic Oolong tea bags that are available in a lot of locations. Making it is incredibly simple, especially if you get the tea in premade bags, simply heat up some water, mix in honey, agave, etc if you want it, and place the bag directly in the water. Let it steep until the water turns a nice earthy brown or dark red color and you’re good to go. I tend to leave the bag in the water as I drink it, and they’re usually good for a couple of steeps. So what do you think, have you tried Oolong before?
Start Going Green Guide
Our treat for you this week is our new beginners guide to going green. It encompasses ten quick tips to help you start the process of simplifying and greening your lifestyle. Our hope is that it will provide some basic information to help get the going green mindset rolling. We know it can be difficult to start the process and it took us a while to start to grasp our minds around too. So, to ease that process, we provided you with some of the easiest tips to implement that take little to no time or investment to make. Let us know what you think, please leave a comment!
Thanks!
Chris& Susannah
