Image by Horia Varlan

Remember when mom used to tell you…”Put on your sunblock.” “Don’t ride your bike in the street.” “Don’t eat the sand at the beach”. and more? Well, Summer is officially here, so it would probably be a good idea to get a refresher on some of those mom-approved green rules of Summer.

Now, don’t get me wrong, these aren’t hard-core, iron-clad rules or anything, more like tips or suggestions. But when it comes to greening up and enjoying your summer, mom would probably want you to take note:

1. Use sunblock or cover up. There is no reason to get burned  - whether or not you need Vitamin D, a sunburn will not help you in any way. But be sure to use a safe and effective sunscreen.

2. Drink plenty of water. If you buy a BPA-free water bottle, you can bring water with you wherever you go. When it’s hot out, drink more water to ensure you don’t get dehydrated.

3. Open the windows to cool your home down at night. Even when it gets hot during the day, you can turn off the a/c and cool down your home by opening up some windows at night.

4. Pack snacks for trips. Why spend lots of money on fast food, when you can be prepared and pack healthy snacks ahead of time? You save money and eat better too.

5. Vacation locally. Many people tend to want to “get away” during the summer, but who says you can’t do that relatively close to home? Check out local vacation spots (less than an hour away) first, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Image by 1suisse

6. Get outside. Don’t keep yourself couped up, get out and enjoy nature. Go for a walk, ride a bike, go hiking, go for a swim, go jogging on the beach, etc.

7. Lower your emissions – drive less. If you have to drive try car-pooling or ride-sharing and if you aren’t driving a hybrid or electric vehicle, then be sure to check out a proven fuel additive to lower your emissions even further.

8. If you do drive, drive smart. Check out these “Top 10 Summer Travel Tips“.

9. Water your plants in the early morning or evening. You don’t want to water during the hottest hours of the day, as the water tends to evaporate faster and you end up needing to water more often.

10. Keep your air conditioning off as much as possible. Here are some simple and cool tips for a cooler summer.

11. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables…ideally from local growers. A nice cold watermelon, sliced strawberries, some fresh squeezed orange juice or some cool, crispy grapes may be just what you need on a hot summer day. Bananas are a great boost too, especially if you need more potassium.

Image by The Gifted Photographer

12. Cut out sodas and other sugary drinks. They tend to make you more dehydrated on hot days, not less. Water is a great choice…maybe add a slice of lime, lemon or other fruit for added taste.

13. BBQ some of those Summer meals rather than heating up your home by using the oven/stove to cook. Whether it’s gas or charcoal, who doesn’t like to barbeque now and again?

14. If you can solar charge, do so. Summer is a great time to start solar charging your phone, computer, car, etc. Plus it will probably get you outdoors more.

15. Try camping rather than staying in a hotel. Camping is a classic summertime activity that you don’t want to miss. For those of you who have kids, check out some tips that can make your family camping trip better.

Image by Fiona MacGinty

16. Hang your clothes out to dry. No need to waste energy if you can hang your clothes on a clothesline and let the sun dry them for you.

17. Avoid spraying poisons and other chemicals to get rid of summer bugs/pests. Use organic methods that won’t adversely affect you, your family, your pet or the environment. For example, coffee grounds and/or cayenne pepper work well to deter ants.

18. Leftovers…make good use of leftovers. Especially during the summer, when we tend to have guests over or make more than we actually need, there are often leftovers. Be sure to put leftovers in the fridge/freezer and use them for simple meals throughout the week.

19. When cleaning up try using re-usable rags or towels. ShamWow towels or PeopleTowels work well when trying to clean up and they are better for the environment than paper towels.

20. Don’t buy more “stuff”. Rather than buying more things to have around the house, find creative activities that you can do using existing supplies.

So, there are your 20 green ‘mom-approved’ tips for this Summer. Do you have any other green tips that can help make Summer better? I’d love to hear them! Have a safe and happy Summer!

Image by joka2000 (via Flickr)

Well it’s that time of year again…it’s New Year’s Eve! The end of one year and the beginning of a new (hopefully even better) year. On this last day of the year, I wanted to provide you with some transportation ideas in case you are planning on ringing in the New Year away from home. Therefore, here are some ideas that could help you have both a great evening and get home safely at the end of the night:

1) AAA Auto Club is again offering their “Tipsy Tow” service in Southern California.  I’m sure they are offering similar services across the U.S. so if you want to take advantage of this service, please inquire with your local auto club.  The So Cal service begins at 6pm today and goes until 11:59pm on Friday, Jan 1st 2010.  They will tow your car home, as long as you live within 7 miles of your pickup location. Just call 1-800-400-4AAA and say “I need a tipsy tow” and they will come get you.  Note: There are restrictions to this service, so know before you go.

2) Some cities have cab service that is just a text away.  For example, GoFastCab offers service in San Diego CA, Los Angeles CA, San Jose/Silicon Valley CA, Orange County CA, Chicago IL, Phoenix and Tuscon AZ, Nashville TN and Charlotte NC.  You just text them with your complete pick-up address and within seconds you receive a text confirmation letting you know a local cab in on the way.  Seriously, how simple is that?! Just remember to put their number in your phone so you can text when you need to be picked up.

3) Many forms of public transportation have extended hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day so that you can enjoy the convenience of public transportation and not have to hassle with the holiday traffic on the freeways and roads.  The BART in San Francisco is extending their normal service until 3am.  The MTA in Los Angeles is offering 24-hour service, with Metro buses and trains running every 20 min from 9pm tonight until 5am tomorrow - New Year’s Day. Additionally, service will be free between 9pm New Year’s Eve and 2am New Year’s Day.  So be smart and check your local public transportation for their New Year’s Eve schedule.

4) Hire a designated driver service. It’s a little different than taking a cab or public transportation in that you actually drive to the party in your own car, then your “designated driver” comes and picks you up when you are ready to go home and drives you home in your own car. One creative company, YdriveLA, actually has their drivers arrive on folding scooters. The driver then puts the folding scooter in the trunk of your car and drives you home.

5) Last but not least is one of the simplest ideas of all, designate a friend or member of your group as the designated driver. I’m usually the designated driver when I go out with friends or family and I actually don’t mind at all. I have a good time, my friends have a good time and we can all get home safely.

So, plan your transportation needs ahead of time, don’t forget to make your New Year’s resolutions and have a safe, happy New Year’s Eve – see you in the new year!

Image by woodleywonderworks

When it comes to preserving the environment, what is the first thing you think of?  Recycling? Using solar panels? Water Conservation? Fuel Economy? Planting a tree? Cutting CO2 levels? Using “green” products instead of chemicals? Growing your own fresh herbs and vegetables?  How about making furniture and bedding?

To be honest, making furniture and bedding wasn’t one of my first thoughts either.  But, enter Hickory Springs and Preserve®, the world’s first bio-based foam for the furniture and bedding industry.  Preserve is made using a soy-based compound designed to cut down on the usual chemicals used in making foam.  It’s a healthier alternative to conventional furniture, as it is better for you and for the environment.  Another added benefit of their bio-based foam product is Hickory Springs estimates they conserve about 18,000 barrels of oil per year or enough energy to power over 1000 homes.

Not new to the industry, Hickory Springs has been in business for about 65 years and has been at the front of the ”green” movement in the furniture industry.  They were the one of the first to cut out CPCs and methylene chloride as auxiliary blowing agents and also one of the first to remove PBDE fire retardants as a result of health concerns about 5 years ago. 

That’s not all though….most of their furniture is made using many environmentally-friendly products including their Preserve® foam, scrap based steel makes at least 50% of their sinuous wire and upholstery coils, 100% recycled yarn is used on their furniture webbing, recycled materials are used for all fibers and sleeper/motion mechanisms in the furniture are made from 70-80% scrap steel.  

  Hickory Springs latest venture in preserving the environment really puts them in the limelight…it’s their EarthCare Challenge.  The EarthCare Challenge is a nationwide challenge that almost anyone (over 21) can enter.  All you have to do is submit a video showing why you are the most eco-oblivious or eco-chic contestant.  Videos will then be judged and six finalists will compete in a 45-day Green Makeover.  The contestants’ progress and actions will be tracked via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and EarthCareInside.   The grand prize winner is awarded an earth-friendly home furnishings makeover valued at $5,000! 

So, whether you are a seasoned environmentalist or someone who thinks “going green” means cashing in their bottles and cans, Hickory Springs new contest may just be right for you.  Send in your video, get your friends to send in theirs.  Who knows, we may just be cheering you on as one of the six finalists.  Remember….preserving the environment is for both the eco-oblivious and the eco-chic.