green posts

Earth month (and Earth Day) are annual reminders of what we can do as individuals to help Planet Earth.

Since it's the only planet we can call home, it's worth the effort to keep it as pristine and sustainable as possible. And changing just a few bad habits can make a world of difference if we all decide to commit to those changes, once and for all.

For those of us who want to be more active in helping the environment, here are 10 tips that will save pennies and make sure the Earth is around a lot longer.

Congratulations shoppers - you've survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

No matter what side of the border you live on, the kickoff of the holiday shopping season is fast and furious with advertising slogans and flyers coming your way to lure you into the store or to click purchase.

But wouldn't it be nice to do some good along with finding the perfect gift with the rest of the holiday budget?

For those of us who want to be more eco-friendly with our gift giving this season, here's ten suggestions that will be happily received and a gift to the planet too.

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Oh summer - a time of vacation, spending time in the backyard by the bbq and trying to avoid paying too much money to keep the house cool every night.

So when we spend money on the latest smartphone or add a tablet or blu-ray player to the arsenal of home electronics, we get excited about what we can now do.

But what about the house? Doesn't the house deserve some TLC and a technology tune-up?

No matter if the house is a vintage model or a newbuild, there are five choices that can help save money and make the home tech-savvy efficient.

Hanging the stockings on the mantle is a long-standing tradition for many families in the holiday season. But did you ever think that would be considered eco-friendly?

With the whirl of parties using disposable plates, cups and bowls or the endless amount of gift bags, tissue paper and boxes to display those gifts, the environment isn't always the winner this month.

So how to be more eco-responsible, still celebrate and decorate so Santa Claus will visit and the family gets into the holiday spirit?

I'm very suspicious of "green" unless we're talking about money. Otherwise, when I see people with those anti-plastic bag shopping bags, neighbours installing solar panels on their roofs or guys honking at me from their newly-minted Prius, I wonder if they're seriously interested in doing their part for the environment or if they're just engaging in a little "Conspicuous Conservation" aka engaging in green activities in a bid to show off to their peers and increase their social value.

For some, buying green cleaning products may be just another example of conspicuous conservation. But for those who genuinely want to cut harmful chemicals out of their lives and reduce their ecological footprint, it's not getting any easier to do so. In Canada, words like "green", "natural", "organic" and "eco-friendly' are not regulated by the government, so they may be nothing more than buzz words to boost sales for all a customer knows. There's actually a term for this kind of PR -- greenwashing -- and 98% of those bottle labels are lying.

Related Links

• Kids Can Make an Eco-Difference
• Parents: Six Cheap Ways to Go Green
• Switch to Natural Cleaning Products for a Healthy Home

By Barbara Thau

As the automaker who was the focus on much discussion in 2010 with its massive recall, Toyota continues to face challenges.

Last month, the Japanese car manufacturer issued another recall, affecting 147,000 vehicles in Canada and 2.2 million cars worldwide. The company has also faced a US Government investigation and was cleared of any intentional wrongdoing with its car electronic systems and vehicle acceleration.

According to an article in Postmedia, 12 million Toyota cars have been recalled in the past year and a half- so with all this continued need to repair various safety issues of different model years, would you buy a Toyota? Although some may say no, its the eco-friendly contingent that says yes.

The development of offshore wind farms in Ontario would earn billions of dollars for the provincial economy and create thousands of jobs, investment opportunities and a significant amount of clean energy, a report has found.

The study, financed by wind energy company Vestas Offshore and researched by independent think-tank The Conference Board of Canada, found the emergence of the new industry would boost the Ontario economy by "a conservative estimate" of $4.8-billion to $5.5-billion a year between 2013 and 2026.

Over this time, the development would lead to a cumulative total of $10 billion in real capital investment and operations spending.

The Conference Board went on to say that development would create between 3,900 and 4,400 jobs a year during the construction phase and result in 600 permanent positions in operations and maintenance.

The estimates are based on the development of seven new offshore wind energy projects by 2026. If realized, these projects would reach a generation capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW), an amount the Conference Board describes as conservative compared with the market potential. At present, no offshore wind farms exist in North America. However, a number of offshore farms are in the pipeline, including two in near Kingston, Ontario.

Want to get something brown in your mug? Just pledge to do something green in your neighbourhood.

Starbucks is currently offering a free tall Pike Place coffee for anyone who signs up to their Facebook-based environmental movement. Here are the required steps:

1. "Like" this Facebook page.

2. Figure out what green action you are taking (suggestions include: backyard composting, creating a children's garden and starting a rooftop garden).

3. Fill out the pledge form.

4. Get your free coffee!

Of course it's not all about the free java. You're doing something great for the environment, and many of the suggestions (vegetable gardening, for example) will pay off and save you more money in the long run.

The program runs until September 30, 2010.

To all those pooch lovers out there: I know how much you love fashioning a glove out of an old grocery bag, stooping down and realizing - seconds too late - that it is festooned with holes.

However, should you desire a change, here's an opportunity to score some free PoopBags.

Yes, PoopBags.

There's a silver (actually, green) lining too: these guys are biodegradable and compostable.

Just click here, enter your name and address, and they'll send you a free sample within two to four weeks. How's that for a scoop?