How to Use Dryer Lint

Did you ever wonder if there was something you could do with dryer lint besides throw it away? Here are a few tricks and hints to put that dryer lint to good use.

Dryer lint can be composted. Since compost needs nitrogen rich like vegetable scraps, lawn trimmings and carbon rich materials like dryer lint to make a good balanced compost, you can throw it right in.


Make a draft stopper. Don't pay money for a custom draft stopper. Take a piece of fabric the length of your door or window where the draft is coming in. Cut a 5 inch strip of fabric fold over and sew together. Before securing the ends stuff with dryer lint. Now you have a perfect customs draft stopper

Lint also makes a great camping tool. Pack along some lint to start fires easy. It's light weight so it's perfect for backpackers too.

Earth Day - Green Ideas

Green Products -
Save energy by buying a cold water detergent.

Change out all your light bulbs to new CFL bulbs. They are more efficient then incandescent ones and have come a long way since they first came out in producing brighter light.

Recycled rubber nuggets can be used as mulch and is non-toxic. They are made from 100% recycled rubber and look just like a dark brown bark.

Invest in a water filter and reusable water bottles. 1/3 of the water bottles today are recycled meaning 2/3 of them end of in landfills.

Replace all your faucets with eco-friendly water savers.

Tips to living green - 
Conserve water by not cutting your grass as short. The shorter it is the less water it needs to grow.

Have a small garden that your kids can dig around in and plant flowers. Getting them involved with nurturing plants early will instill a love for nature in them.

Replace old appliances with Energy efficient models. Not only will you save some green, but you will be doing your part to help the environment.

Turn  your thermostat down to 68 degrees. Even lower at night and sleep better.

Turn up your air conditioning to 75 degrees and help conserve more power.

Composters - Home Made or Store Bought

I have not personally made a compost pile. For one I live in the city and the space I do have is not far from neighbors or my own house. Secondly, I'm new to gardening organically. I have done a lot of research on square foot gardening, composting and organic pest control. I'm excited to get started this spring, but seem to still question how I can compost without it smelling or getting in the way.
I found this inexpensive one at Target but it had mixed reviews. For the price it seems I could chance it and see if it works for our small garden. It seems I could make a compost holder for cheaper but would it be as efficient? Does anyone have advice for me?

Starbucks is Helping you Go Green

Responsibility | Starbucks Coffee Company

All around the country Starbucks is giving you free coffee for stepping up and doing your part. Bring in your reusable mug and get free coffee today, April 15th 2010.

Starbucks has real time calculators running on their website to show how many people have pledged to make a difference by using reusable mugs. They are showing just how many trees are saved per day based on your pledges.

Check out their page today at The Big Picture. See what you can do to join with them and help save the planet.

While you are there head on over to their Responsibility Webpage. Starbucks takes the environment very serious and works hard to make green choices and act responsibly in all their stores.

It's really nice to see these large companies stepping up to make a difference and to encourage others to do the same. Nice Job Starbucks!

How to Find Green Towels and Sheets

Almost every store you run into will have some form of "green" products to sell you. Since there are not too many standards for terms like natural and eco-friendly how can you be sure the product you are looking to purchase can stand up to the test. Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure you get the most green for your green.

Look for Organic Labels - USDA organic products must be grown with out synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

Check out how the item is processed - Even organic products can be processed with chemicals like formaldehyde. Find products with the "Oeko-Tex Standard 100" certification and you can be sure your item has not been processed with restricted chemicals.

Don't be Fooled by Bamboo - While bamboo hard flooring is a green choice, watch other certified bamboo products closely. It takes a lot of strong chemicals to get those bamboo fibers turned into clothing. That process is definitely not green.

Coca Cola is a Leader in Company Recycling Programs

Coca Cola is blazing new trails when it comes to recycling policies within the company. Looking at new ways to recycle 100% of their products in to reusable items helps them to reduce their carbon footprint. Coke is also helping people to start recycling programs in their communities by working with local curbside collection organizations.
With water conservation projects and climate protection changes their company is working on creating the planet a greener place to live, work and play. Take a look at their site and see all the programs they are implementing.
Recently they released this statement "PlantBottle PET plastic bottles are made partially from plants, which reduces the Company's dependence on a non-renewable resource -- petroleum. It is 100 percent recyclable, and preliminary research indicates that from the growing of the plant materials through to the production of the resin, the carbon footprint for the PlantBottle packaging is smaller than bottles made with traditional PET."
The company has also just released their new cooling machine that works off carbon dioxide and eliminates HFC-Free insulation, eliminating 99 percent of the direct green house gas emissions. Take a look at the article.
Hopefully in the years to come many other large corporations will take a look at the model Coca Cola is setting and join them in creating sustainable products and the ability to look at reusing in a creative way.

Good Job Coke

Energy Saving Surge Protector

With all the technological advances in recent years, it has caused many of us to become wasteful users of energy. Computers being left on all night, routers that never shut off, charging numerous amounts of phones, game devices and batteries has us using power even when we sleep. A great new device is helping you become a wise energy user. 
Here is the new Smart strip surge protector. Using enhanced technology this power strip can auto switch off and on anything you plug into it. The Smart Strip has 10 outlets which give you many options in usage. Use in the home office or your entertainment center. When you power down your computer, or turn off the stereo the Smart Strip automatically shuts down the power to these devices. Now your saving even more money and taking down your energy usage.

With this smart strip you are using about 1 watt per hour when fully used and less then 1/4 of a watt per hour when the smart strip automatically powers down. Now that is some good green saving going on.

The cost of these power strips is quite reasonable, which is about 30.00 at online retailers. If your concerned about the environment and the rising costs, make the smart switch to the Smart Strip.