onthegreen - Recently Updated Pageshttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/pageSearch/updatedRecently Updated Pages on http://onthegreen.wetpaint.comen-usinfo@wetpaint.comMon, 30 Jun 2008 18:30:08 CDTMon, 30 Jun 2008 18:30:08 CDTwetpaint.com60onthegreenhttp://www.wetpaint.com/img/logo.gifhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.comBUILDING GREEN = GREEN HOUSE!http://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/BUILDING+GREEN+%3D+GREEN+HOUSE%21nancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/BUILDING+GREEN+%3D+GREEN+HOUSE%21Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:30:08 CDT
CFL LIGHT BULBS (Compact Fluorescent) save money and the environment. Here's the deal in plain English! Watch this now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF5g0FgZQsA
WHAT IS LEED?
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222
An independent publishing company committed to unbiased and timely green design information.
http://www.buildinggreen.com/

GOOD GREEN KITCHENS

New Books (available at Westport Public Library)


Building Green Materials ( for the serious green builder!)

GOT SUN? Go SOLAR!



NEW: For tips on saving energy and money at home from the U.S. Department of Energy, visit www.energysavers.gov

Sustainable ABC.com (Architecture, Building and Culture)

USGBC (U.S. Green Building and Culture)

Sierra Green Building Association

New York City Green Buildings

Green Building.com











]]>EAT GREENhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/EAT+GREENnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/EAT+GREENMon, 30 Jun 2008 18:06:48 CDT
HEALTH FOOD STORES IN CONNTECTICUT:
Connecticut
• Lim's Health Food - In Business over 25 years. (Bloomfield) • Super Natural Mkt & Deli - . (Bristol) • Health Food Junction - Natural Food Store. (Canaan) • Sunflower - . (Danielson) • Health Matters Natural Foods - Natural foods, bulk items, bodycare and more.. (Enfield) • Mrs Green's Health Food Market - Natural Foods Retailer serving Fairfield!. (Fairfield) • Garden of Light Pure Foods Market - Grocery, Deli and Bakery. (Glastonbury) • Greenwich Health Mart - Herbs, Supplements, some grocery and more. (Greenwich) • Country Grocer - Open for over 24 years.. (Guilford) • Thyme and Season - Natural Food Store. (Hamden) • Amazing Grains - A small natural foods store with a little bit of everything!. (Litchfield) • Fiddle Head's Market - Natural Food Store. (Litchfield) • It's Only Natural - Natural Food Store. (Middletown) • It's Only Natural Market - . (Middletown) • Sunwheel Health Foods - Friendly, personal help. (Monroe) • Puritan & Genesta Natural Foods - Natural Food Store. (Mystic) • Lexington Gardens - . (Newtown) • Natural Food Store - Natural Food Store. (Niantic) • Norwalk Natural Foods - . (Norwalk) • Ginger Root Health Food Store - A variety of products. (Norwich) • Green Planet Co-op - Green Planet - Improving the quality of your life. (Oakville) • Green Planet Market - Green Planet Market. (Oakville) • Foodworks - . (Old Saybrook) • Harvest Moon Health Foods - Healthy Foods for Healthy Lifestyles. (Putnam) • LaBonnes Market - Organic Produce, Meat,Grocery, Dairy,and Frozen Items. (Salisbury) • Mrs. Greens Health Food Market - Natural Food Store. (Stamford) • Natural Nutrition Shoppes - . (Stamford) • Champlion's General Store - Natural organic foods cosmetics vitamins homeopathy herbs spices. (Storrs Mansfield) • The Good Life - Natural Food Store and Holistic Wellness Center . (Torrington) • Willimantic Food Co-op - Full line vegetarian natural food store specializing in bulk, organic, and local foods. (Willimantic) • Wilton Organic Gourmet - Wilton Organic Gourmet. (Wilton) • New Morning Natural & Organic Foods - Natural and Organic food store with Deli. (Woodbury)

Health food stores in other states:
http://www.greenpeople.org/healthfood.htm


Can chocolate save the planet? NPR reponds.

HAPPY COW'S VEGETARIAN GUIDE

Fresh Produce? See what NPR has to say about expensive veggie washes and practicing food safety.




Westport Farmers' Market




Places to eat:

Newman's Home Grown Restaurant


Try this restaurant in Fairfield- a feminist, restaurant and bookstore w/a veggie menu.
http://www.bloodroot.com/


IN WESTPORT


Other Food-Related Information:

Slow Food USA


Farm and Food

Organic Delivery!!

GREEN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION!























]]>BLOGGING GREENhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/BLOGGING+GREENnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/BLOGGING+GREENThu, 19 Jun 2008 13:58:12 CDT Dot Earth is a blog worth a look, brought to us by New York Time's reporter, Andrew C Revkin.

A Little Greener Everyday

Yahoo Green

Going Green at your Library

Environmentally friendly practices for libraries and beyond!

Green Blog Green Blog is a newly created multi-author environment blog. Daily updates and posts from authors around the world.

BUSY MOMS GO GREEN. Join the conversation!


More Green Bloggers

Mommy Greenest: Organic Gardening
The Lowdown: Cows or Cars?
Fresh Finds: Making Use of Ocean Trash
The Ecopolitan: America’s greenest city
Home Green Home: Stained, Sealed and Suckered



































]]>BUSINESS GREENhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/BUSINESS+GREENnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/BUSINESS+GREENThu, 19 Jun 2008 08:52:09 CDTAn online communiy for eco-entrepreneurs:
http://www.greenbusiness.net/

Join the global conversation courtesy of the Internaional Herald Tribune


JOBS OF A DIFFERENT COLLAR!
According to the New York Times (March 2008), "the environmental work force is difficult to define, but one thing is certain: it's poised for growth."

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company going green?(May 2, 2008)
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/kkr-gets-a-little-greener-with-environmental-pact/



















]]>WESTPORT LIBRARY GREENER THAN EVERhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/WESTPORT+LIBRARY+GREENER+THAN+EVERnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/WESTPORT+LIBRARY+GREENER+THAN+EVERThu, 19 Jun 2008 08:43:28 CDT (Or...at least he'll be coming to inspire your dinner!)
Local chef, Michel Nischan, author of Taste Pure and Simple and Homegrown Pure & Simple: Great Healthy Food from Garden to Table shares his ideas on sustainable farming, local and regional food systems, and heritage recipes. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

AUTHORS@THE LIBRARY: Michel Nischan


Monday, August 4
7:30 pm
McManus Room
NEW: We have KILL A WATT EZ Power Meters!
You can check out these nifty devices (take them home for one week) and see how green you
really are. Measure the amount of wattage that your appliances use. Here's more about it:
EZ Watt Power Meters

The greenest books, speakers, and programs will keep you thinking and entertained, while the most beautiful natural backdrop (the Saugatuck River) borders our prime location. Sit under a tree (check out the gorgeous Ginko Baloba tree) or listen to music "on the green"!

SOME NEW BOOKS. (Please add any suggestions or favorites of your own.)
Clean : the humble art of Zen-cleansing Help keep your house ship shape without hurting the environment.



Ignition: What you can do to fight global warming Essential guide on how to help.
Good Green Kitchens Create beautiful and eco-friendly kitchens.

Green This! Deirdre Imus' guide to a healthy house!

Courage for the Earth Celebrates life and writing of Rachel Carson.

CLASSIC GREEN

Silent Spring America's first warning.

An Inconvenient Truth If it isn't one yet, it probably will be!!!

The Next One Hundred Years From 1990, maybe a little out of date but beautifully written.










]]>Homehttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/Homenancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/HomeThu, 19 Jun 2008 08:40:16 CDT

Welcome to Westport Library's
"OntheGreen" Wiki!




Guess who's coming to dinner?
KILL a WATT EZ POWER METER. Check out these cool devices from our library. Keep them for a week. Find out more.


This wiki is a place to share ideas, information and thoughts related to the concept of a sustainable environment, i.e. keeping our community and the world cleaner and greener.

Please feel free to add and prune widely but judiciously.

The whole point is to put in your two cents and have a place that's informative and fun!

What's a Wiki?

To participate in our Wiki, just go over to the right hand column and click on
"Join this Community". It's easy.

Then, take a look at the categories running down the left hand column.
Point and Click!














]]>LISTENING AND WATCHING GREENhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/LISTENING+AND+WATCHING+GREENnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/LISTENING+AND+WATCHING+GREENFri, 06 Jun 2008 16:15:03 CDTNEW GREEN TV!!!!
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/?campaign=dpg-launch-1-nyt001

YOU TUBE GREEN
TOP TEN DVDs on the Environment (According to Booklist, a well respected review journal)
http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=2509649

SONGS FOR AN OVERHEATED PLANETMSN's Live Earth site has videos o f concerts and a collection of articles on environmental issues: http://www.liveearth.msn.com and
http://www.liveearth.org


Directory of Environmental Podcasts:


http://www.naturepodcasts.com/index.html






















]]>GREEN KIDShttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+KIDSgreengodesshttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+KIDSWed, 28 May 2008 08:35:59 CDT
Welcome to the Kids' Green Wiki
This wiki is a place to share ideas, information and thoughts about nature and keeping our world clean and green.
To join in our Wiki, just go over to the right hand column and click on
"Join this Wiki". It's easy.
Then you can share all your green ideas with us.






Enjoy a day outdoors and get a free parking pass to Connecticut's many state parks, including Sherwood Island. Just ask for the pass at the library's main circulation desk on the 2nd floor.

Plant a tree in one of our national forests by sending a Give-A-Tree card ($5.95) from the Arbor Day Foundation at http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm.


Take a trip to a garbage museum and learn all about recycling
http://www.crra.org/pages/edu_museums.htm#strtfd



Here are some other fun web sites to look at:
Find a Connecticut nature center or park to have fun in.
http://www.westportlibrary.org/children/funsites/daytrips/nature.html

Take an underwater tour of Long Island Sound.
http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/lis_uwtour/

Learn all the ways kids can recycle.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/kidspage/

What's it like where you live?
http://www.mbgnet.net/

EPA Environmental Kids Club
http://www.epa.gov/kids/

Kids Saving Energy
http://www.eere.energy.gov/kids/

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/eek/

Games on the Net:
ASPCA Animaland - For kids who love animals http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer? pagename=kids_home

Frogland - Games and jokes about frogs
http://allaboutfrogs.org/froglnd.shtml

National Geographic Kids -Games, videos, stories and activities http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home


Do some outdoor exploring.

We have an Outdoors Backpack you can use with a compass, magnifying glass, binoculars, butterfly net, field guides and more. Just come up to the children's library and we'll show you where it is.


Do you have some ideas to share about how kids can go green? Join Kids' Green Wiki and tell us!











]]>WESTPORT TOWN PROJECTS & INITIATIVEShttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/WESTPORT+TOWN+PROJECTS+%26+INITIATIVESnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/WESTPORT+TOWN+PROJECTS+%26+INITIATIVESTue, 20 May 2008 14:18:51 CDThttp://www.westportct.gov/default.asp




Contact your local offices for up to the minute information:

http://www.westportct.gov/government/boards/sc.htm


RECYCLE! TALKIN' TRASH
http://www.westportct.gov/agencies/townmanagement/publicworks/Recycle.htm


Solar Panels!

Want to know more about what's on the roof at the Westport Fire Station?
The System.


Westport Community Gardens the official communication channel for those interested in The Westport Community Gardens.
























]]>SHOPPING GREENhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/SHOPPING+GREENnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/SHOPPING+GREENTue, 20 May 2008 14:06:46 CDThttp://green.yahoo.com/earth-day


ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR PRODUCTS from MOTHER JONES
http://motherjones.greenhome.com/products/


Skin Deep is a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group



WHAT IS FRAGRANCE?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN5IiaOaIt8

Green Make-Up...
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/119/makeup










]]>GARDENING GREEN (Green Thumb!)http://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GARDENING+GREEN+%28Green+Thumb%21%29nancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GARDENING+GREEN+%28Green+Thumb%21%29Sun, 04 May 2008 15:24:54 CDThttp://www.organicgardening.com/


How Difficult is Organic Gardening?
http://www.organic-gardening.net/articles/how-difficult-is-organic-gardening.php


Organic Lawn Care - offered on the University of Florida Extension Service web site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP140


How to Green Your Garden
Treehuggers.com offers tips on how to green your
garden:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/how-to-green-your-gardening.php

So how do I find out more about composting?
http://www.organic-gardening.net/compost/


Natural weed whacking compliments of YAHOO! Green
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/144/natural-weed-whacking.html








]]>GREEN TIPShttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+TIPSnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+TIPSSun, 04 May 2008 15:15:06 CDTSimple tips to green your kitchen (From YAHOO! Green):

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/amorylovins/39/simple-tips-to-green-your-kitchen.html


































]]>GREEN PETShttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+PETSnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+PETSThu, 01 May 2008 16:02:58 CDT
* Earth Animal- natural pet food and supplies


Want to make your own dog biscuits? We can show you how! Check out books at our library:

Ultimate dog Treats





















]]>Past Postingshttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/Past+Postingsnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/Past+PostingsFri, 25 Apr 2008 15:30:23 CDT
MOLD in the Westport Schools ( As reported in Westport Now):

http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2/section/category/Education/

Special Committee to review mold and air quality



Thoughts from our community:
(Martin Yellin wrote this piece for the Westport News)
April 20, 2007.


Global Warming/Climate Change What we can do about it
 Climate change is the most serious problem we face in the 21st century. Our children and grandchildren are depending upon us to help turn things around. Global warming can be slowed, and stopped, with practical actions that yield a cleaner, healthier atmosphere. The question is: will we act soon enough. The longer we wait to do something about it, the more change we will have. 

Ultimately it is up to each of us, as individuals and families, to take action to slow down and eventually reverse global warming through everyday awareness of our energy use and attention to ways we can conserve electricity and minimize fossil fuel usage. What we can do:
The goal is to bring global warming under control by curtailing the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping "greenhouse" gases into the atmosphere. In the US individuals release 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person every year. Compare that to Western Europe where the number is less then 3000. 
We can help immediately by becoming more energy efficient. Reducing our use of oil, gasoline and coal also sets an example for others to follow. 
 
Reduce electricity usage around the home. The largest source of greenhouse gases is electric power generation. The average home actually contributes more to global warming than the average car. This is because much of the energy we use in our homes comes from power plants which burn fossil fuel to power our electricity needs. We can significantly reduce our electricity usage by the following : · Switch to energy-efficient lighting - Replace the familiar incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). For each CFL bulb replacement, you'll lower your energy bill and keep nearly 700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's lifetime. CFL bulbs last 10 to 20 times as long as an equivalent incandescent lamp and use only a quarter of the energy consumed by conventional bulbs · Buy energy-efficient appliances - When shopping for a new appliance - especially a major appliance such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or air-conditioner - select the one with the highest energy efficiency rating. By opting for a refrigerator with the Energy Star label -- indicating it uses at least 15 percent less energy than the federal requirement -- you can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in total. It pays to operate appliances that use hot water wisely. Running the clothes washer with a full load and using cold water whenever possible can lead to big energy savings. Use detergents that clean clothes effectively in cold water. · Reduce energy needed for heating and cooling - According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling systems in the U.S. emit over a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Much of the energy used for heating our homes is wasted, and yet the prevention is, in many cases, simple and inexpensive. Move your thermostat up five degrees in summer and down two to five degrees in the winter during the day and down to 60 or less during the night. The lower the nighttime setting, the moister and healthier the air will be. · Weatherize your home; caulk and weather-strip your doorways and windows. You can even add insulation. Not only will all this save energy, it will save you money too! · Unplug your cell phone charger, TV and other electronics from the wall when you are not using them. Did you know that even when turned "off" your cell phone chargers, DVD players, computers, and cameras use small amounts of energy? The process can be made easier if you have everything plugged into a surge protector with its own switch. If you're leaving your computer for a while, put it on stand-by. You'll be able to restart it quickly, and it'll take less energy than shutting it down and then restarting it. · 

Choose clean energy options- In Westport you can choose your electricity supplier. . Call your local utility and sign up for renewable energy. Pick a company that generates a significant portion of its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources Improve vehicle fuel-efficiency
The second largest source of greenhouse gases is transportation. Motor vehicles are responsible for about a third of all carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. We can significantly reduce our energy needs by the following: · Practice fuel-efficient driving - Every gallon of gasoline burned puts 26 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can boost the overall fuel-efficiency of your car as much as 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and by maintaining constant mph values no higher then 60 - 65 · Buy a fuel-efficient car - Even more important is the choice of car or truck you buy. If you buy a new car that gets 10 more miles per gallon than your old car, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction realized in one year will be about 2,500 pounds. The new hybrid cars, using efficient gas-electric engines, can cut global warming pollution by 30% or more. In fact if everyone drove a hybrid, our oil import requirements would drop to zero!

 Conserve energy in the home and yard Yard maintenance contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions. Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weedeater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more. Don't use a leaf blower. Instead, buy a rake and do it by hand. It will help your lawn get more oxygen and sun and you'll get a little bit of exercise. Your neighbors will thank you for the noise reduction, too! The same goes for other yard work, including mowing (with a mechanical push mower), weeding (instead of weed-whacking), and fertilizing (using a compost bin or heap instead of a shredder). Compost your food waste too and avoid using chemical fertilizers, which are made from fossil fuel · Reduce lawn size - Lawn size can be reduced by adding shrubs, beds, ground covers and mulched areas. Try creating a lawn area small enough to be mowed using an efficient reel (push) mower. Lawn edging can be set low enough to mow over, reducing or eliminating the need for a weed-eater. · Recycle whenever possible - aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, glass - anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products.· Eat locally produced food - Today, the food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. All of this 'traffic' in food requires staggering amounts of fuel - generally by refrigerated airplanes or transport trucks. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. 

 While it may be difficult to adopt some of these suggestions, any amount of energy saved is significant. 

Making energy conservation a part of our daily awareness is essential to the goal of reducing global warming. 
























]]>WESTPORT SPEAKS...http://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/WESTPORT+SPEAKS...nancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/WESTPORT+SPEAKS...Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:44:47 CDTBe sure to check the Past Postings under Westport Speaks (see navigation column to the left.)


Thoughts from our community:


(Martin Yellin wrote this piece for the Westport News)
April 20, 2007.


Global Warming/Climate Change What we can do about it
 Climate change is the most serious problem we face in the 21st century. Our children and grandchildren are depending upon us to help turn things around. Global warming can be slowed, and stopped, with practical actions that yield a cleaner, healthier atmosphere. The question is: will we act soon enough. The longer we wait to do something about it, the more change we will have. 

Ultimately it is up to each of us, as individuals and families, to take action to slow down and eventually reverse global warming through everyday awareness of our energy use and attention to ways we can conserve electricity and minimize fossil fuel usage. What we can do:
The goal is to bring global warming under control by curtailing the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping "greenhouse" gases into the atmosphere. In the US individuals release 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person every year. Compare that to Western Europe where the number is less then 3000. 
We can help immediately by becoming more energy efficient. Reducing our use of oil, gasoline and coal also sets an example for others to follow. 
 
Reduce electricity usage around the home. The largest source of greenhouse gases is electric power generation. The average home actually contributes more to global warming than the average car. This is because much of the energy we use in our homes comes from power plants which burn fossil fuel to power our electricity needs. We can significantly reduce our electricity usage by the following : · Switch to energy-efficient lighting - Replace the familiar incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). For each CFL bulb replacement, you'll lower your energy bill and keep nearly 700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's lifetime. CFL bulbs last 10 to 20 times as long as an equivalent incandescent lamp and use only a quarter of the energy consumed by conventional bulbs · Buy energy-efficient appliances - When shopping for a new appliance - especially a major appliance such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or air-conditioner - select the one with the highest energy efficiency rating. By opting for a refrigerator with the Energy Star label -- indicating it uses at least 15 percent less energy than the federal requirement -- you can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in total. It pays to operate appliances that use hot water wisely. Running the clothes washer with a full load and using cold water whenever possible can lead to big energy savings. Use detergents that clean clothes effectively in cold water. · Reduce energy needed for heating and cooling - According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling systems in the U.S. emit over a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Much of the energy used for heating our homes is wasted, and yet the prevention is, in many cases, simple and inexpensive. Move your thermostat up five degrees in summer and down two to five degrees in the winter during the day and down to 60 or less during the night. The lower the nighttime setting, the moister and healthier the air will be. · Weatherize your home; caulk and weather-strip your doorways and windows. You can even add insulation. Not only will all this save energy, it will save you money too! · Unplug your cell phone charger, TV and other electronics from the wall when you are not using them. Did you know that even when turned "off" your cell phone chargers, DVD players, computers, and cameras use small amounts of energy? The process can be made easier if you have everything plugged into a surge protector with its own switch. If you're leaving your computer for a while, put it on stand-by. You'll be able to restart it quickly, and it'll take less energy than shutting it down and then restarting it. · 

Choose clean energy options- In Westport you can choose your electricity supplier. . Call your local utility and sign up for renewable energy. Pick a company that generates a significant portion of its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources Improve vehicle fuel-efficiency
The second largest source of greenhouse gases is transportation. Motor vehicles are responsible for about a third of all carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. We can significantly reduce our energy needs by the following: · Practice fuel-efficient driving - Every gallon of gasoline burned puts 26 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can boost the overall fuel-efficiency of your car as much as 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and by maintaining constant mph values no higher then 60 - 65 · Buy a fuel-efficient car - Even more important is the choice of car or truck you buy. If you buy a new car that gets 10 more miles per gallon than your old car, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction realized in one year will be about 2,500 pounds. The new hybrid cars, using efficient gas-electric engines, can cut global warming pollution by 30% or more. In fact if everyone drove a hybrid, our oil import requirements would drop to zero!

 Conserve energy in the home and yard Yard maintenance contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions. Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weedeater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more. Don't use a leaf blower. Instead, buy a rake and do it by hand. It will help your lawn get more oxygen and sun and you'll get a little bit of exercise. Your neighbors will thank you for the noise reduction, too! The same goes for other yard work, including mowing (with a mechanical push mower), weeding (instead of weed-whacking), and fertilizing (using a compost bin or heap instead of a shredder). Compost your food waste too and avoid using chemical fertilizers, which are made from fossil fuel · Reduce lawn size - Lawn size can be reduced by adding shrubs, beds, ground covers and mulched areas. Try creating a lawn area small enough to be mowed using an efficient reel (push) mower. Lawn edging can be set low enough to mow over, reducing or eliminating the need for a weed-eater. · Recycle whenever possible - aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, glass - anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products.· Eat locally produced food - Today, the food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. All of this 'traffic' in food requires staggering amounts of fuel - generally by refrigerated airplanes or transport trucks. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. 

 While it may be difficult to adopt some of these suggestions, any amount of energy saved is significant. 

Making energy conservation a part of our daily awareness is essential to the goal of reducing global warming. 























]]>GREEN NEWShttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN++NEWSnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN++NEWSThu, 03 Apr 2008 13:53:01 CDTNPR TOPICS: ENVIRONMENT


RSS FEEDS:
NEW YORK TIMES ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Gore, U.N. climate panel win Nobel Peace Prize Warming is ‘greatest challenge’ ever, he says, earning praise and criticism

GLOBAL WARMING FACTS



































]]>GREEN PARENTINGhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+PARENTINGnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+PARENTINGMon, 17 Mar 2008 10:56:50 CDT


NEW BOOKS:

Raising Baby Green: Thre earth friendly guide to pregnancy, childbirth, and baby care.

Blogs:

Busy Moms Go Green Blog Join the conversation!
Defamisher: part of the parenting blog Offsprung, gives (humorous) advice on feeding children a healthy diet.



















]]>SAVE THE PLANEThttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/SAVE+THE+PLANETnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/SAVE+THE+PLANETTue, 11 Mar 2008 15:07:27 CDT

http://www.savetheplanetsong.org/






















]]>GREEN EDUCATIONhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+EDUCATIONnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+EDUCATIONTue, 11 Mar 2008 14:11:21 CDT
The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
The Story of Stuff

Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and Global Environment:
http://chge.med.harvard.edu/index.html












































]]>GREEN MEDIAhttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+MEDIAnancelahttp://onthegreen.wetpaint.com/page/GREEN+MEDIAThu, 07 Feb 2008 18:15:16 CSTAll GREEN

A new Magazine has been launched in Connecticut. Visit the web site: www.allgreen.com





































]]>