EarthShare

Green Holiday Meals

Green Your Holiday Meals

Americans will spend billions on feeding their guests this Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years Eve, with most of that money going toward food. Wouldn’t you like that money to go back into your local economy? Here’s how you can buy locally, save some time, and give some love back to the environment during the holidays.

Produce.

Farmer’s markets may seem more prevalent during the summer and fall seasons, but many markets move indoors during the winter months or farmers sell their organic produce through larger grocery stores. This means that much of your holiday meal can be found locally and in season thanks to local growers. Beans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, eggplant, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, squash, and more are Thanksgiving staples and stay in season throughout much of the winter. Buying locally not only puts money back into your region’s economy, but it also reduces your food’s carbon footprint because many grocery stores ship fruits and vegetables from across the country and even overseas. If you’re shopping at a regular grocery store, look for stickers and signage that tell you where your produce is from - and if it's organic - before you choose. You can also use American Farmland Trust’s online farmer’s market map search to find a fresh foods market near you.


The Organic Turkey.

Millions of turkeys are consumed throughout the holidays, but have you ever thought about where that delicious bird comes from?

Sadly, almost all mass produced turkeys in America are raised in a factory or farm under poor, crowded conditions that involve overfeeding with the aim of producing larger birds, faster. (More) These conditions are deplorable and unhealthy for the animals and the people who eat them, but there are alternatives.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving feasts are always an option, and we’re not just talking tofurkey – check out these delicious vegetarian menus from Gourmet. But if you’re not willing to face a meatless holiday, consider purchasing a Heritage turkey or an organic turkey. These birds are raised naturally, fed organic food, and allowed to grow at a normal, healthy rate. The natural slow-growth method means the turkeys are better for you and your family, plus they taste a lot better! You can often find them at local farmer’s markets, regional farms, and specialty grocery stores.

Check out LocalHarvest, an online organic and local food store to find a fresh, organic turkey farm near you or consider purchasing a Heritage turkey. Learn more at Heritage Foods U.S.A. What is an organic turkey? An organic turkey is one that is raised humanely, grass fed, and allowed to roam free (free range).

It’s easy to incorporate local, seasonal foods into your desserts. Sweet potatoes, rhubarb, and pumpkins are in season from late-fall to early-winter in most of the country. If you like to do the cooking yourself, check out these pumpkin pie and rhubarb pie recipes.  They're tasty, healthy and fun for the whole family to prep and bake.

Festive Beverages.

Last, but definitely not least, you can even make environmentally responsible choices when buying alcohol. Technically, beverages can’t be certified as organic because more than 60% of their content is water, but there are many breweries and wineries adhering to organic, environmentally-conscious standards when producing their products.

Some companies, like Sierra Nevada, use strictly organic wheat when making their beer. They’ve also implemented a private solar array and are working toward operating with 100% sustainable energy. They even recycle their own wastewater.

Is wine on your menu? Consider the carbon footprint of your vino! While it may be easy to find wines from overseas and Napa Valley in the average store, it probably traveled a long way to get there. Try arranging a tasting of local options for your guests, if you're lucky enough to have vineyards in your region. Many parts of the country have local wineries that produce delicious, organic products each season. If close-to-home varieties aren't available to you, check out The Daily Green’s guide to organic wines to help you make some great green, healthy picks.

Have your own ideas for going green during the holidays? Share your tips with us -- we  may feature you here! Contact us at info@earthshare.org or use our comment section below.

Go back to the Holiday Green Guide main page

Green Holiday Parties

Green Your Holiday Gatherings

Hosting a Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Years Eve party can be a daunting undertaking for you - and it can be hard on the environment. If you’re playing host this year consider these tips to help make your festivities earth-friendly.

Party prep.

We all go a little crazy with the housecleaning when we’re anticipating a crowd of guests in our home. Keep in mind that using certain household cleaners can greatly increase the air pollution in your house or apartment, making the air you breathe irritating and even unsafe for your family and guests. Consider using safe, non-toxic cleaning methods and products – this handy guide from our friends at the Center for Health, Environment & Justice can help. Make sure to also properly ventilate with fans and open windows if it’s not too cold outside. Learn more about indoor air pollution.

Serving food? Of course you are. Use your regular dishes and flatware instead of buying paper or plastic. This can dramatically reduce your waste. If you have to use disposables, try biodegradable paper plates and compost them along with your leaves, produce scraps, and coffee grounds.

As you’re planning the menu, consider basing it around local and seasonally-available food. Foods that travel across states or around the globe to get to you have high carbon footprints. Check out more holiday food tips here.

When you’re sprucing up your home with decorations, reuse last year’s if you still have them. Want to keep it simple and natural? Gourds and pumpkins make excellent and colorful accents, and finding them is easy this time of year. They can usually be purchased at almost any store, including your local farmer’s market. Plus, they’re decorations that can be composted – and sometimes eaten – once you’re done with them.

During the party.

Saving energy on home lighting isn’t just for regular use overhead lights and floor lamps anymore. There’s even environmentally-friendly holiday lighting! LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, are available for both indoor and outdoor decorative lighting. LED lights are cooler to the touch, last 10 times longer (some come with a guaranteed 50,000 hour bulb life or a lifetime warranty), and they use 80% less energy than your standard string lights. Consider LED flickering lights to inspire a cozier feel.

Help your guests contribute to the green effort by providing clearly marked trash receptacles for different types of party waste – paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, food scraps, liquids, etc.

Clean up.

After the guests have left, you’re faced with the daunting task of throwing out food scraps, packaging up leftovers, and cleaning up piles of dishes. Even this part of the day can be environmentally-friendly! Much of your food waste can be composted in an indoor composting bin – just combine your veggie scraps, produce peels, coffee grounds, teabags and more with some of the autumn leaves you’ve been raking up, and you’ll have an excellent foundation for nutrient-rich soil. Be careful not to put any meat or bones in your compost pile. Save those items for leftover sandwiches, soups and stews.

And finally, relax – you don’t have to worry about hand washing your dishes! Using a dishwasher is actually more environmentally-friendly than washing each dish by hand. You’ll use much less soap and about 80% less water. If you rented the linens or plates for a formal party, send them back dirty. Rental companies are required to wash the items upon return, so there’s no need to wash them before you send them back.

Have your own ideas for going green during the holidays? Share your tips with us -- we  may feature you here! Contact us at info@earthshare.org or use our comment section below.

Go back to the Holiday Green Guide main page

Green Holiday Travel

Holiday Travel

Holidays are the most traveled days of the year, and many of us find ourselves stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic when we’d rather be home and having second helpings of the feast. Whether you’re just heading to a friend’s house for dessert or traveling across the country to see your family, here are a few ideas to help you save money and travel efficiently.

When you’re driving, do what you can to remain calm and drive carefully. Aggressive driving can lower your highway miles per gallon (MPG) by 33%, and city MPG by 5%! Performing vehicle maintenance prior to driving, like changing your oil and properly inflating your tires, can also greatly improve the efficiency of your vehicle. Greater efficiency means less fuel is consumed.


If you’re traveling by air, pack lightly or just carry one bag on the plane. Any extra weight causes an airplane to lose efficiency and use more fuel to travel. You can also purchase inexpensive carbon offsets to help mitigate the impact of your air travel. Calculate your carbon footprint with the Carbon Calculator by Conservation International, and they’ll tell you how much it will cost to offset your travel!

Avoid crowds and high-traffic roadways to reduce your carbon impact and save money. Traveling on off-peak days can save you hundreds of dollars at the airport or prevent you from sitting in traffic on congested highways. Put your vacation time to good use by traveling off-peak; you'll save time, money, and have a little time to relax before you go back to work. Need another reason to take more time off? Americans lose a half billion vacation days every year - don't lose your well-earned time off!

And, it should go without saying, but... Don’t drink and drive. This may not seem like a tip that has anything to do with the environment, but it does! Share cabs with your friends, hire a party bus or nominate a designated driver to take a group to and from the festivities. By acting responsibly and encouraging your fellow travelers to do so, not only will you prevent accidents but you’ll lower your carbon impact by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

Need carpooling resources? Want to find a ride share group near you? Try erideshare.com!  If you want to learn even more about getting there greener, EarthShare member Union of Concerned Scientists' Green Travel FAQ will help.

If you have your own great ideas for keeping making holiday travel eco-friendly, we want to hear from you! Comment below or email us at info@earthshare.org to share.

Go back to the Holiday Green Guide main page

Button Up Your Home

Button Up Your Home

Baby It's Cold Outside! 

As the seasons begin to change your family migrates indoors for the winter, a lot of energy can be wasted to keep your family and your home comfortable. Between 40 and 70% of all home energy is wasted, but we could save about half of that by buying efficient appliances and taking energy-saving measures.

The 10 Biggest Energy Users

Water heaters	Refrigerators	Freezers	Air conditioners
Ranges	Clothes washers	Clothes dryers	Dishwashers
	Portable heaters	Lights

And here are some inexpensive solutions to consider:

Cover your air conditioner: If you can’t remove your window unit, consider covering it both inside and out. Besides protecting your air-conditioning unit, these covers also help keep cold air from entering your home through the space around the air-conditioner, cutting heating costs.

Caulk it: Small spaces and gaps around windows and pipes and wires entering the home create create energy wasting drafts that can cut the efficiency of your heating system. Most caulking products cost under $10; rope caulk, one of the easiest types to apply, sells for about $4 for 40 or 50 feet.

Block drafts: Draft blockers are foam plates that fit behind light switches and electrical outlets to reduce drafts that enter through those spaces. You can get a packet of 10 for about $3 and they're easy to install with just a screwdriver.

Install heat reflectors: These are thin sheets that fit behind radiators, to reflect heat away from the wall and into the room, thereby maximizing each radiator’s efficiency.

Upgrade your thermostat: Changing your thermostat to a programmable one allows you to control the temperature in your home at different times of the day without you being home. Keep the heat off when you're out of the house and set it to turn back up before you get home. Some also have a second set of settings for weekends, when people usually spend more time at home. The thermostats range from $90 to $175, but can save 12% or more on your energy bill and pay for itself within three years.

Reflective Window Film: Place these thin, plastic sheets directly on the inside of window panes and glass doors. The film reflects inside heat back into your home, reducing the amount that is conducted outside through windows. The film costs about $10 a window and is easy to put on -- it adheres to the window directly, or with the help of water from a spray bottle.

Storm Window Kits: It can be expensive to have storm windows installed throughout your house, but there is a less-expensive alternative. Storm window kits consist of plastic film or sheets to cover the window. Attaching the plastic is done with tape or tacks. Prices range from about $3 to $10 per window.

Weatherstripping: Create a tight seal around all your windows to reduce heated and cooled air from escaping outside. Weatherstrips are plastic, foam, felt or rubber strips that fit around window and door frames with a self-adhesive backing. Prices vary, but average about $5 per window or door.

Need More Help? The Home Energy Saver allows you to enter information about your home and compute what specific changes would result in energy and environmental savings. www.homeenergysaver.lbl.gov

Cabin Fever?

Cabin Fever?

Feeling stuck inside this winter? So is the air inside your home.

Recent research has found that air inside homes can be more polluted than the air in the largest, most industrialized cities.Indoor air pollution is caused by a lack of ventilation and can lead to more frequent colds, respiratory problems, and other ailments and diseases. Here are tips to keep your home and your family healthy:

• Keep the house clean. House dust mites, pollens, animal dander, and other pollutants can be reduced through regular cleaning. Install and use fans vented to the outdoors in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
  
  
• Ventilate the attic and crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup. Keeping humidity levels in these areas below 50% can prevent water condensation on building materials, which can breed bacteria and mold. High levels of mold can be incredibly dangerous to your family's long-term health.
  
  
• Clean humidifiers regularly and refill with fresh water daily. Humidifiers can become breeding grounds for biological contaminants that can cause illnesses. Evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators should be cleaned frequently to prevent contaminants from building up.
  
  
• Thoroughly clean and dry water-damaged carpets or consider removing or replacing them. Wet carpets can harbor mold and bacteria. It is very difficult to completely rid them of contaminants once they've grown.
  
  
• Minimize pollutants in basements. Clean and disinfect the basement floor drain regularly. Operate a dehumidifier in the basement if needed to keep relative humidity levels between 30%-50%.
  
  
• Be careful when you clean. When you spray cleaners, pollutants are released into the air. Make sure to spray cleaners into a towel if not in a properly ventilated area. Also, never mix chemical products, especially chlorine bleach, with an ammonia cleaner. Follow instructions for use of all home chemicals - including hobby materials such as solder, spray paint, and paint stripper.

 

Cold Facts About Fireplaces

Cold Facts About Fireplaces

When you light a blazing fire on a cold winter day it looks and feels wonderful, but it can be an expensive and inefficient endeavor. A fireplace sends most of the heat in your house straight up the chimney emitting as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside! But, there are ways you can limit the loss of heat when enjoying a quiet evening by the fire.

• Reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly - only about an inch - and close doors leading into the room.


• Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.


• Check the seal on the flue damper and make it as snug as possible.


• Use grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.


• Keep your fireplace's damper closed when you aren't using it.
  


• Consider a gas fireplace if you are planning to install a new one. These provide the enjoyment of looking at flames but can be 70% more efficient than regular fireplaces.

Read our other green tips on weatherizing your house and keeping the cold air out this fall and winter!
 

Give the Gift of Green

Give the Gift of Green

...and we're not talking cash! This holiday season, consider giving gift to friends, family and co-workers that will last the whole year through... plants!

Among your many options:

• House plants with particular air-purifying qualities, like pathos, philodendron and spider plants.
• Miniature azaleas, rose bushes, hibiscus, Christmas cactus or holly.
• A set of seed packets for the vegetable or flower garden.
• A gift certificate for plants or seeds from a gardening supply catalog or shop.
• Landscape plants native to your region of the country.
• A basketful of tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs.

Go live!

Why not consider planting a living tree for the holidays?

• Choose a healthy tree whose roots are balled and wrapped in burlap.
• Keep the tree outside until you're ready to bring it in for decoration.
• Make sure the tree remains well-watered.
• Keep the tree inside for no more than a week.
• Transplant the tree into a hole prepared before the ground froze.
• Plant the tree with plenty of organic matter; mulch and water well.
  
  

Remember: If you opt for the traditional tree instead of a live one, make sure to recycle it when the holiday is over.

• Put the tree in a corner of your backyard, where it can become habitat for squirrels, birds, and other local wildlife.
• Trim off the branches and use them for mulch under acid-loving bushes and shrubs.
• Participate in local tree recycling programs.
• Chop the tree trunk into pieces that can be converted into firewood. 

Other festive tips to save some green:

• Recycle last year's cards into this year's gift tags. Use serrated scissors to cut the front of the card into appealing shapes and sizes.
• Make sure this year's cards are made from recycled paper.
• Put E-mail to work and send paper-free electronic greeting cards.
• Avoid wrapping paper. Use newspaper or brown craft paper that you can decorate yourself. Sunday comics also make a colorful, recyclable wrap kids will love!

Go back to the Holiday Green Guide main page

Holiday Hints

Holiday Hints

The holidays should be a time to celebrate meaningful moments with friends and family. But sometimes they become so commercialized that their value gets lost amid the stress of shopping, wrapping, and cleaning up. This year, why not take a break from the frenzy? Plan a special celebration with your loved ones that maximizes the quality time you spend together and minimizes the stressful hours you devote to shopping. At home, consider the following ideas to enrich your festivities:

• Recycle used ribbons, bows and decorative wrappings. Store used paper and accessories in a convenient place for the next birthday or holiday occasion.
  
  
• Try alternatives to storebought wrapping paper. Leftover fabric, lightweight wallpaper, colorful scarves and even the Sunday comics work just as well.
  
  
• Buy a live holiday tree. The tree will survive inside for about a week with ample watering and somewhat cool air temperatures. When you're ready, transplant it outside to a spot you have already prepared, or donate it to a school or community center. If you buy a cut tree rather than a live one, recycle it.
  
  
• Decorate with delight. Ask your children to make garlands and wreaths from leftover construction paper, wild berries, fruits and nuts. Craft homespun centerpieces from boughs and pinecones gathered in your yard. Brighten up doors and hallways with holiday greeting cards. Trade decorations with friends or family to add a "new" flair to your home without having to buy new products.
  
  
• Purchase greeting cards from a non-profit organization. In many cases, a part of the purchase price can be deducted as a contribution to the organization.
  
  
• Entertain efficiently. Replace throwaway plates, cups, silverware and napkins with durable goods you can use season after season.
  
  
• Reuse cookie tins, baskets and festive food containers. Refill these next year and give them as gifts.
  
  
• Try catalog shopping. You'll save energy and reduce your own stress levels by not driving back and forth to various shopping malls.

Keep Warm This Winter

Keep Warm This Winter

Adding a sweater and keeping your thermostat set a couple degrees cooler are smart ways to save some energy. But there are many ways to save energy that will conserve energy resources and save you money.

• Install a programmable thermostat. Being able to turn down the heat for large chunks of time, such as at night or while at work, can make a difference in your overall energy consumption. Consider turning off the heat to rooms that are not heavily used. Learn how to button up your home here.
  
  
• Perform regular maintenance. If you have a forced air furnace, make sure to clean or change the furnace filter about once a month. Most furnaces will need to be professionally cleaned and tuned once a year.
  
  
• Insulate your home. The best way to quickly save energy is by installing good insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends an R-49 rating for attics. Visit www.energy.gov to learn more about these ratings.
  
  
• Plug leaks and holes. In addition to insulating your attic and walls, another easy energy saving step is to add caulking and weather stripping. Feel for cool air around windows, electrical receptacles and pipe and wire entry points and learn how to block drafts.

Windows and Energy: No Panes, No Gains

Windows and Energy: No Panes, No Gains

Windows waste plenty of energy and money. Experts say as much as 25% of your home's heat can escape through leaky windows. Here are simple things you can do to make your existing windows save energy and keep your home a little cozier:

• Install weatherstripping on drafty doors and windows. Storm doors and windows should have weatherstripping on all movable joints.
  
  
• Use stretch-seal, heat-shrink plastic sheeting kits for windows as an inexpensive and easy way to seal warped or single-glazed windows.
  
  
• Use window quilts or shutters over your windows to keep the cold out in the winter and the heat out in the summer. An uninsulated drape can cut window heat loss by one-third. An insulated drape can reduce it by half.
  
  
• Remove, clean, and store window air conditioners. If this isn't possible, wrap the unit with a thick layer of fiberglass insulation and seal it with plastic sheeting and duct tape to keep out moisture.
  
  
• Apply glazing compound to leaky wooden windows where the glass meets the frame and seal where the frame meets the house. If you have aluminum windows, you may need to replace the weatherstripping, available at most hardware stores.
  
  
• Don't try to seal cracks in the glass. Instead, replace the whole pane.