2013 is finally upon us. There isn’t a better time to implement some green tips in our lives by consulting a few of the green guides published on Greenr in the past. Whether it’s improving our home heating system, applying some energy saving ideas in our home, office or school, or looking at ways to reuse some everyday household items, we have it covered.
Green Tips for the Whole Family
- Efficient Home Heating
While the temperatures drop outside, it’s possible to enjoy a nice temperate climate inside thanks to home heating systems. Here are some ways to make heating your home as green as possible. - 5 Energy Saving Tips (Home, Office or School)
Saving energy, whether at home, work, or school, is easier than you think with these five emission-reducing tips. For the most part, all it takes is a little forethought and common sense. - Waste-free Lunches – Putting Landfills on a Diet
Plastic sandwich bags, aluminum foil, and plastic utensils all contribute to needless lunchtime wastefulness. Learn how we can change these hard-to-break habits and create zero waste at noon. - 5 Green Ideas to Use at Home
Some of our most precious resources, such as water and trees, can be spared by following these simple tips for ‘greening up’ your home. - Reuse – Items with an ‘Afterlife’
Doesn’t it make us feel good when we think of innovative ways to reuse things? Here are are a few items we can learn to reuse and information on how to extend their lives.
Have you got a green tip you plan on implementing this year? Let us know in the comments!
Have you ever wanted to recyle something but were unsure of where you could take it? You’re not alone. Certain types of batteries and plastics can only be recycled at specific depots, and, if you have hazardous waste like oil and grease, the list of drop-off locations gets even slimmer. However, if you live in Manitoba, you no longer have any reason to fret (or any excuse not to recycle).
The Manitoba government has recently launched a new website and iPhone app that enables local residents to enter their location and each item they would like to recycle (such as cell phones, pharmaceuticals or plastic). The website then generates a list of the closest recycling depots and displays them on a handy imbedded map.
The iPhone app, called MB Recycling, also enables users to find recycling centres close to their homes, along with driving directions to each centre. The app is available for free download on the iTunes store.
Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh was pleased to annouce both new services: “If you need to find a place to recycle your phone or laptop – now all you need to do is ask them. Green Manitoba’s new online tools make it easier than ever to find the many accessible recycling depots in the province.”
The development of both the iPhone app and the website are part of Manitoba’s Green Plan called TomorrowNow, Manitoba’s eight-year plan for protecting the environment while ensuring a prosperous economy.
There’s something about rich Italian coffee that I love. Espresso is the base for all of my favourite drinks, like smooth foamy lattés, spicy cappuccinos, and chocolaty mochas. That’s why, when I discovered the Hammacher Schlemmer Hand Powered Espresso Maker, my heart skipped a beat. Did someone create an espresso machine that delivers my favourite beverage while still thinking of the planet? Yes!
The Hammacher Schlemmer Hand Powered Espresso Maker creates rich Italian coffee drinks without any electricity. All you have to do is pour hot steaming water into the top of the machine; pushing down both levers drives a piston down, creating up to 10 bars of pressure to extract rich, complex espresso topped with that dark reddish-brown foam we all love called crema. The included hand-powered frother also produces foamy milk for cappuccinos or lattés. The espresso maker itself is made from durable cast aluminium and the water reservoir is made of hard plastic. A perfect gift for that eco-conscious coffee lover.
Are you a student with a big “green” idea? Walmart Canada has a special contest just for you. Walmart’s Green Student Challenge is looking for post-secondary students across Canada that have an idea that will change the way Canadian companies do business. Those that come up with the best, brightest and most innovative green business idea will have a chance to win $30,000 (as well as $30,000 for their school).
They’re not just looking for any green idea either. (Jump Rope flashlights are sooo 2010) They want submissions that consist of a new way of doing business, that have a significant sustainability benefit and have a strong business plan to back it up. Will your idea save money or create revenue? They want to know! Judges will be scoring submissions on the basis of originality and ease of implementation. Five semi-finalists will pitch their concepts to a panel of Canada’s top CEO’s in Toronto in March of 2012.
So, what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming, read all about how you can enter and get inspired by taking a look at how Canadian businesses are changing the world!
For years now, experts have been encouraging kids to engage in physical exercise and abandon their x-box, even just for an hour a day, with slogans like “get outside”, while we, as adults, workout either within the confined spaces of our living rooms or at the nearby gym. However, there’s now reason to believe that humans of any age should: get outside!
The fact that there is a strong co-relation between physical activity and mental wellbeing is well-documented; exercising in a ‘green’ space is even more beneficial, according to researchers, even if it’s just for five minutes a day.
The importance of getting sufficient exercise each day has become mainstream ideology, but not so stressed is the fact that our exercise should take place in natural, green surroundings for optimum mental benefits and overall wellbeing.
U.K. researchers conducted ten studies involving 1,250 people in various outdoor activities, including walking, cycling, gardening, boating, etc. and found quick improvements in mood and self-esteem, especially among young people. The effect was even greater in an area with some ‘blue’, such as a lake or a river.
