The Daily Green

Welcome Back!

Today, Lisa told you about how to be healthier by eating greener.  Here’s a reminder of those tips.

1- Take Inventory Of Your Fridge.  When you are at home this weekend, take a good at what inside your refrigerator.  If you see a lot of processed foods and labels resembling things you would find in a chemistry experiment, you need to make some big changes.  Weed out all that food!  If it’s unopened, donate it to the Freestore Foodbank.  Otherwise, just throw it out.

2- Do Your Research.  Go online and look for local farmer’s markets to shop.  You may be surprised by what is available including cheese makers and local artisans, like bakers.  While you are online, check out a food calculator to see just how far your food travels to your plate.

3- Look For Sustainable Food Labels.  There are two types of organic labels.  The first is “Organic.”  This ensures at least 95% of the product was made by an organic process.  Meanwhile, “100% Organic” signifies the item is completely organic.

4- Plan One Meatless Meal A Week.  Bear with me here.  The livestock sector accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions.  By eating one meal without meat each week, you will take a significant bite out of  global warming.

5- Plan Ahead.  Sit down and think about what you and your family will be eating this week.  That way, you will have fewer opportunities to look for something quick and easy.  Most of the time, those options cost more, are less healthy and come in lots of wrappings.

That’s all for this week.  Tune in on Monday for more green tips and ideas.

Have a great weekend!

Welcome Back!

Today, Jonathan and Kristina talked about more ways to have an eco-friendly wedding.  Here is a quick review.

Green Your Wedding Party.  Order hybrid cars to escort your wedding party — who knows, you may even convince one of your friends to buy one.

Green Your Menu.  We’ve said it before, but farmer’s markets are great places to find fresh meats and produce.  You will be supporting the local economy and you will reduce the number of miles your food travels to your plate.

Green Your Registry.  Instead of asking for another mixer or blender, why not requests your guests donate to a green charity.  It will ensure your principles live on, plus it will last longer then any appliance.

Green Their Travel.  If many of your guests are traveling from out of town, they will create a large amount of carbon emissions while getting to your wedding.  Use an online Wedding Carbon Footprint Calculator and set aside some of the wedding money to purchase carbon off-sets.

Green Your Honeymoon.  You don’t have to visit a Caribbean island or expensive resort to bond with your new partner.  Instead, you will probably become closer over building a home with Habitat for Humanity or volunteering to help victims of a tragedy.

Thanks for tuning in!  Keep watching News 5 every morning for more tips on going green.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

Welcome Back!

Today, Jonathan and Kristina talked about ways to go green when you say “I do.”  Here’s a reminder of their tips:

1- Get An Eco-Friendly Ring.  Start off on the right foot by getting a ring with an eco-friendly diamond.  These are also called conflict-free diamonds, because they are not mined in war-torn African regions.

2- It’s All About The Dress.  Bring back the classic styles by getting a vintage wedding dress.  When it comes to choosing those bridesmaid dresses, try to find something they actually can wear again.  Preferably, a dress that is not fuschia.

3- Location, Location, Location.  A big part of the expense is where you hold the wedding and reception.  You can cut emissions by holding the ceremony and the reception at the same place.  Or, you can save energy by holding the wedding outside.

4- Inviting Your Guests.  Frilly paper and lace are not environmentally friendly.  If you really want to go green, you can send out electronic invitations.  For those of you who would prefer a more traditional route, send out paper invitations, but allow your guests to RSVP on your Wedding Website.  They are free to create and they centralize all the information your guests would need.

5- Rethink The Flowers.  The least eco-friendly part of a wedding is the flowers.  Mostly, they are covered in chemicals and shipped from half-way across the world.  Try filling the room with organic, local flowers.  Or you can use potted plants which your guests can take home and re-plant.

Thanks for watching — tune in tomorrow for more tips to go green while saying “I do.”

We’ll see you then!

Welcome Back! 

This morning, Jonathan and Lisa talked about ways you can get some much needed R & R, and still be good to the planet.  Here are their tips:

1- Before You Leave Home:  You can travel green before you ever leave your home by turning down your thermostat, stopping newspaper delivery and leaving your pet with a sitter.  Also, pack light — the lighter your bag, the less energy it takes to get it to your destination.

2- Travel By Train.  Now that you are packed and ready to go, take a train to your destination.  They emit less carbon per-traveler than most other forms of transportation.  You will also get to see beautiful parts of the nation you otherwise would have missed.

3- Volunteer On Your Vacation.  A great way to bond with your family and give back on your vacation is to volunteer.  You can take a day to rebuild a school, clean up trails in a national park or even repair flood damaged areas of our country.

4- Get A Green Hotel.  When you arrive, check in to a green hotel.  Here’s a list of the nation’s top 10 green hotels according to Forbes Magazine:
- The Fairmount, Washington D.C.
- Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge, Alaska
- Inn By The Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
- Asheville Green Cottage, Asheville, North Carolina
- El Monte Sagrado, Taos, New Mexico
- Las Manos Bed & Breakfast, Buena Vista, Colorada
- Habitat Suites, Austin, Texas
- Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco, California
- Journey Inn, Maiden Rock, Wisconsin

5- Use A Digital Camera.  You don’t have to worry about not getting a good shot, plus you can only develop the shots you would like to keep.

Here are a few more tips:

1- Purchase Local Souveniers.  It’s hard to pass up those airbrushed t-shirts or location shot glasses, but try to purchase locally-made goods when you can.  It supports the area’s economy, plus it cuts the emissions created by transporting mass-produced souveniers.

2- Rent A Smart Car.  If you have to drive while on your green vacation, try renting a hybrid or smart car.  They are better for the environment and who knows, you may actually decide to get one for yourself.

3- Don’t Generate Unnecessary Laundry.  If you don’t need to have your sheets and towels changed everyday, try to make them last.  A large amount of energy and water is wasted by unnecessarily washing those items.

4- Some Place Are Off-Limits.  While tourism dollars are important, remember some destinations should be left alone.  These include areas with fragile ecosystems and where there is great potential for humans to do severe environmental damage.

Thanks for tuning in.