Green Guide

Haven't you heard? Green is the new black. More than ever, people are finally becoming concerned with how the products they buy and the lifestyles they live affect the environment. Nearly every product has an eco-friendly alternative. From office supplies to beer, we have your guide to everything green.

Contents [Hide] 1 Green Home 2 Green Food 3 Other Tips 4 External Links

Green Home

There's no place like home to start saving the environment. Check out these tips to cut down on harming planet earth.

Green Appliances
Air conditioners Whether it's a window air conditioner or central air, if your system is over eight years old, it's time for a new one. Newer models are more energy efficient. During the summer, a newer air conditioner  will cut about $65 off your bill and prevent several hundred pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted.	Dishwashers If your dishwasher is more than ten years old, it probably uses between eight and ten gallons of water per cycle (when set on the normal cycle). The average new Energy Star qualified dishwasher  uses only four gallons per cycle. With a new Energy Star dishwasher, you'll save more than 1,000 gallons of water annually and cut about $95 off your bill.	Refrigerators Buying a newer model is once again more energy efficient. Look for refrigerators with the freezer on top of the fridge rather than a side-by-side model (models with the freezer on top save seven to 15 percent more energy). Try to buy a model without a water or ice maker installed. Most people hardly use them, and by sacrificing the ice maker you save about 20 percent more energy! Also make sure that your refrigerator  is large enough to hold all your food. Having an extra fridge in the basement to hold extra soda or other foods wastes lots of energy!	Vacuum Cleaners Bagless vacuum cleaners cut down on the amount of vacuum bags sitting in landfills. If you have severe allergies or asthma, however, you should opt for a vacuum cleaner  with a bag so dust and allergens are not released back into the air.	Washing Machines Energy Star rated models are your best bet. Energy Star rated models are at least 37% more energy efficient and use 7,000 gallons less water. Opt for a machine that loads from the front rather than the top. Front loading machines  save 40 to 60% more water and 30 to 50% more energy.

Green Bed & Bath
Bath Towels and Washcloths Look for eco-friendly materials such as cotton, bamboo, or wood pulp. Look for towels that are either unbleached or bleached with hydrogen peroxide. Whenever possible, buy towels  that have the Skal "EKO Sustainable Textile" or Oeko-Tex certification.	Toilets If your toilet  was installed prior to 1992, it's time for an update. Newer models use much less water than older toilets.  Replacing an old toilet saves about 14,000 to 25,000 gallons of water for a family of four annually. There are now dual-flush toilets, which cut down on the amount of water used by having a lower water flush for liquids and a full flush option for solids.	Bedding Whenever possible, choose bedding made from organic cotton. Softer, more breathable fabrics are usually more eco-friendly than fabrics that are not, such as polyester. Cotton and wool are usually relatively eco-friendly. According to the Green Guide offered by National Geographic, you should avoid textiles labeled permanent press, no-iron, crease-resistant, shrink-proof, stretch-proof, water repellent, or water-proofed.	Cosmetics Buying organic or vegan makeup can certainly help the environment. However, make sure that the packaging can be recycled or composted or is made from recycled material. Also, make sure that the organic makeup has a label that reads "USDA Certified Organic" or a similar seal.	Lighting Opt for compact fluorescent bulbs  (CFLs), light-emitting diodes  (LEDs) and halogens  wherever possible. Not only will you be using less energy and helping the environment, but you can cut your electric bill in half! Watts don't mean what they used to. Incandescents and CFLs provide the same amount of light at lower wattages. Lumens are a more accurate description of the amount of light given by these bulbs. Try to choose bulbs that give off the most lumens at the lowest wattages. Energy Star lists common lumen equivalences for incandescents and CFLs.

Green Food

You Can Eat Green Food Without Mom's Broccoli!
Beer and Wine Try to buy from a local organic brewery. By buying beer  locally, you cut down on the amount of carbon emitted by shipping products. Try to buy American ales because they use less carbon when shipped. If you live on the East Coast, however, a study found that buying beer and wine from Western Europe emitted less fossil fuels during the shipping process than beer or wine  shipped from California.	Meat and Poultry Look for meat  and poultry  that are labeled organic. Organic meat and poultry means that the animals were fed organic feed and no antibiotics are used. This means that if an animal gets sick, that animal is supposed to be removed from the organic farm rather than treated with antibiotics. The meat and eggs that are organic are produced with strict restrictions against chemicals used. Animals cannot be genetically modified and safe composting for animal waste must be maintained. Beware! Natural does not mean organic!	Chocolate Who knew that this delicious treat could be harmful to the environment? Conventional cocoa  is produced with many harmful pesticides under conditions that threaten biodiversity. There are, however, a few key terms that can be found on the labels of eco-friendly chocolate. Look for labels that read "Certified Organic", "Fair Trade", or "Rainforest Alliance". These labels mean that the cocoa is produced with little to no pesticides and on land that is deemed safe.	Milk The organic label is the only guarantee that the milk  is not produced from cows injected with hormones or antibiotics. Sheep or goat's milk does not have the rBGH hormone because sheep and goats cannot be treated with the harmful hormone. However, sheep and goat's milk could be from animals treated with other hormones or antibiotics if it is not labeled as organic.	Tea Tea is the second most popular (after water) beverage in the world. However, tea  production can cause harm to the environment. How do you make sure your cup is as eco-friendly as possible? Choose Certified Organic and Certified Fair Trade teas.

What are Energy Star Ratings?

The Environmental Protection Agency awards an "energy star" to appliances that are at least ten to fifteen percent more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard. Look for the Energy Star logo when shopping for appliances for your home.

Other Tips

• Use recycled paper  whenever possible.
• Switch to organic products.
• Buying a new computer? Try getting a laptop, as they use less energy than desktops. Also, look for the Energy Star rating.
• Re-use and Recycle. Bring a thermos for your (organic) coffee rather than using separate paper cups throughout the day.
• Be patient. Going green takes time. No one expects you to be able to completely makeover your life in a week or so. That would be costly and ridiculous. Try going green on one thing a week. And remember: every little bit helps.
• Don't forget your clothes! Get green with our guide to Eco-Fashion.
• Vacation time? Check out our Travel Guide to Eco Friendly Destinations.
• Try going vegetarian or vegan. Not only do you improve your health and help out our animal friends, but a vegan diet drastically helps reduce land degradation, climate change, air pollution, water shortages and pollution, and the loss of biodiversity.

External Links

• TheGreenGuide.com-- Brought to you by National Geographic. Helpful tips and blogs.
• GreenerCars.org-- Information on how to make your car more green and important information you should know when shopping for a new car.
• TreeHugger.com-- Everything from a green summer to a green funeral.
• GreenGuideforKids.Blogspot.com-- Everything kids need to know about being eco-friendly. It's never to early to teach them how to help the environment!
• GreenGirlsGuide.com-- Eco-friendly purses, baby wipes, and smoothies!
• GoVeg.com-- A guide to going vegetarian or vegan. Offers some astounding statistics and some tasty recipes.