Are you planning a backyard bash to kickoff the dog days of summer (hot dog, that is)? Calling all moms & grillin’ guys: We’re looking at you when we talk about green grilling! Below, find our top tips for an eco-friendly event, complete with grilled goodies, biodegradable options, and plenty of fun for all (but without as many harmful carbon emissions)!

 Unfortunately for the old-fashioned summer pastime, grilling can be toxic, polluting, and even dangerous, especially when done improperly or with old, outdated equipment. Thankfully, along with new technology comes a lower carbon footprint and a reduction of carbon emissions. Find our top tips, below:

Hybrid Grills: No, you didn’t read that wrong. Cars aren’t the only technology that comes in a hybrid format these days! Consider these babies the Rolls Royce of green grilling.

Electric Grills: A more economical option, electric grills release 99% less carbon monoxide and 91% less carbon dioxide than grilling with traditional charcoal.

Natural Gas Grills: Many modern grills have a “natural gas” option. Natural gas burns as the cleanest fossil fuel, with a lower carbon footprint than propane. Be sure this option is engaged, if it is a feature on your grill.

Fluids/Charcoal: Avoid lighter fluids and self-lighting charcoals, as these fuels release petrochemicals into the atmosphere – substances that can contribute to the human cause of climate change.

Don’t “over-preheat”: Most grills only take five or ten minutes to warm up. Don’t lose track of time and let your grill preheat for longer than necessary.  Staying vigilant will conserve fuel and energy.

Clean Your Grill Regularly: A clean grill means less smoke (and less pollution) during your next event.

Avoid Plastic/Paper Dishware: Look for biodegradable options, or go green by utilizing re-usable utensils, cups, plates, etc.

Host a Neighborhood Shindig and Encourage Guests to Walk/Bike: If you’re hosting an event for your neighbors, ask them to walk, bike or carpool, if necessary.

Do you have any tips we’ve missed or any recommendations for hybrid/electric grills? Share with us and our fellow readers in the comments, below!

A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge — but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-grilling-bbq-460519

http://bbq.about.com/od/grillinghelp/a/aa091308a.htm

http://www.electricfireplacesdirect.com/Green-Grilling

Whether it’s your graduation, or you’re hosting a party/celebration for the green grad in your life, we’ve got some helpful tips on how to host an eco-friendly affair.

Invitations: Opt for the e-vite instead of traditional paper invitations, or get even more creative and design a graphic invite that can be sent out via smartphone (an idea Martha Stewart herself utilized for her son’s college graduation)!

Photo Ops: If you’ll be hiring an event photographer, or playing paparazzi around the recent graduates, consider setting up an online, digital photo album after the event. Email the link to party guests, instead of printing out photos for an album. Think before you print – try to limit the number of printed photos for frames/gifts and opt for digitized options, instead. 

Party Favors & Hors d’oeuvres: Catering locally ensures that your party hors d’oeuvres are as eco-friendly as they are delicious. As we’ve covered in previous posts (linked), eating/drinking local is one way to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in your community, as well as a way to support the local economy. Keep in mind that almost anything comes in organic form these days, from baked goods and cakes to locally brewed beer.

For party favors, consider organic treats, sweets, or a bottle of local, organic wine.

Avoid Paper/Disposable Dining Ware: One of the biggest sources of waste from events such as graduation parties comes from those pesky paper/plastic plates, silverware, and utensils. Opt for biodegradable alternatives, or traditional re-usable dishware (which can often be rented, or may be part of a local catering service’s party package).

Encourage Carpooling: Encourage your guests to go green and cut back on carbon emissions by carpooling, biking, or walking, if the party venue is close by.

Do you have any helpful tips for how to offset the carbon footprint of your graduation party or event? Share with us in the comments, below!

As a graduation goal this year, resolve to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle! We’re here to help. Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.marthastewart.com/275168/an-eco-friendly-graduation-party/@center/307033/spring-holidays

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/environmentally-friendly-graduation-party-planning

http://www.motherearthliving.com/wiser-living/green-your-life-a-green-graduation-party.aspx

What are the human causes of climate change? How does our collective carbon footprint affect the atmosphere and the weather? What can be done to lessen the human impact on our planet?

Below, we’ve investigated some of the main human causes of climate change. In further posts, we will cover steps we can take to lessen these negative impacts.

The Science Behind Climate Change

It is true that the Earth’s changing climate is a natural occurrence, and that periods of both heating and cooling have occurred numerous times throughout the planet’s history. Today, however, most scientists agree that humans have a significant impact on climate change and the overall warming of our planet.

In a nutshell, most of this impact comes from heat and gasses that radiate from Earth back towards space. These gasses become trapped in the atmosphere, intensify in heat and then re-radiate back to Earth.  This phenomenon is more commonly referred to as “the greenhouse effect.” Some of the top “greenhouse gasses” produced from both human and natural activities include: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, F-gasses, and tropospheric ozone.

If the greenhouse effect becomes too severe, it could have vast and devastating consequences to our planet, the environment and life on Earth as we know it.

Carbon Emissions

You may have heard the term “carbon footprint” before. This term refers to the measure of carbon emissions each of us produces in our everyday lives, through activities such as driving, working, cooking and other daily activities.

Your carbon footprint, when combined with your neighbors’, friends’ and the global community’s, add up to produce greenhouse gasses that may contribute to the human causes of climate change.

Top Human Contributors to Climate Change

The top activities that lead to the human causes of climate change include:

• The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and carbon dioxide (driving your car, heating your home, etc.)
• Industrial processes (smog/pollution from factories, production of products, etc.)
• Agriculture (conversion of land, etc.)
• Conversion of land for forestry
• Decomposition of wastes in landfills

So, what can we do to make a change? Stay tuned for upcoming posts on our website, where we’ll be investigating how we can lessen the human causes of climate change and the resulting negative impacts on our planet.

Do you have a question or comment to add on this topic? We’d love to hear your thoughts, as well as suggestions for solutions to the problem of human causes of climate change. Feel free to let us know in the comments, below.

A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge — but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=65CD73F4-1

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

Below, find our top suggestions for “green” fun in the sun this coming season:

Get outside!

With the warm weather and sunshine comes the opportunity for a number of outdoors activities: hiking, nature walks, biking, roller blading, swimming, camping… the list goes on.

Get up! Get off the couch! Get the kids outside and out in nature! The more your children enjoy the great outdoors, the more inclined they will be to take measures to protect the planet in their adult lives.

Take a moment to explain global warming issues to your children: explain what is causing climate change and global warming, how to stop global warming, etc. Early education is one of the best ways to ensure an eco-friendly mentality for future generations!

Visit Local Ecological Hot Spots

A trip to the park, local botanical garden, nursery, or organic farm is a wonderful way to take the kids on a “green” field trip, not to mention another way to instill an appreciation for nature/the environment.

Gardening

Summer is the perfect time to get in the green thumb groove. Check out our tips for growing your own garden (in the most eco-friendly way possible), in our post from last week.

Pool Time

Is there anything better than a cool dip in the pool on a hot summer’s day? We can’t think of much. To conserve energy, be sure to set your pool filter to the lowest setting possible for efficiency/safety, and check out these tips for eco-friendly pool maintenance. If you’re planning on building a pool in your backyard this summer, these natural pools are simply lovely, not to mention a greener way to cool down!

Sprinklers

Running around in the sprinklers is almost a right of passage for kids during childhood summers. This summer, create an eco-friendly sprinkler system with these tips:

1. Use a recycled bottle to create an awesome, do-it-yourself sprinkler. NOTE: This is a project for the adults to complete, as it requires the use of tools.
2. On a day when you plan to be watering your garden or lawn, let the kids run around in the sprinkler where, regardless of their play, you would normally be watering. From time to time, move the sprinkler’s location. This way, you’re conserving water instead of giving the garden a double dose.  Two birds, one stone!
3. Enjoy! Keep the time limited to 15 or 20 minutes, so that you’re not wasting water.

Do you have any tips, ideas, or suggestions for eco-friendly summer fun? We’d love to hear them in the comments, below, or on Facebook or Twitter!

A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge — but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be taking some time to examine sustainable initiatives, projects, events, and policies around the globe that we believe set great, green examples. This week, we’re focusing on Environment Week in Canada.

Canada may be famous for its maple syrup and hockey, but did you know that environmentalism plays an increasingly important role in the Canadian lifestyle? There are a growing number of environmentalists, movements, and organizations dedicated to sustainability and solving global warming issues.

Canada’s Environment Week is one example. This year, Environment Week is June 2-8, and it aims to celebrate the various environmental achievements across the country that tackle human causes of climate change and air pollution. Below, find some of the highlights of Canada’s Environment Week 2013:

The Commuter Challenge – June 3-9 this year, the Commuter Challenge is a nationwide event to promote friendly competition amongst employers, organizations and cities. The goal is to see who can get the most employees to commit to more eco-friendly methods of commuting, such as biking, walking, or carpooling.

World Environment Day – Canada’s Environment Week coincides with World Environment Day, which falls on June 5^th.

Clean Air Day – Clean Air Day falls on June 6^th, and is a wonderful opportunity for Canadians to participate in events, activities and projects to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. Since Canada is a global leader in clean air science research, Clean Air Day is an important part of Environment Week.

World Oceans Day – On World Oceans Day, June 8^th, Canadians around the country will participate in events to raise awareness about the threats to our oceans.

Imagine if every nation in the world took a week to celebrate our planet. Who knows what kind of possibilities, ideas and opportunities would emerge!

Environment Week is still a growing phenomenon, so be sure to spread the word to your Canadian friends, family members and colleagues, in order to mobilize the movement!

Will you participate in or host any events for Environment Week this year? Do you believe such a week would benefit environmental efforts in other countries around the globe? Let us know in the comments, below!

Resolve to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle this year. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.worksofwellness.com/event/canadian-environment-week.html

http://www.ec.gc.ca/?lang=En

Now is the time to start thinking about which flowers and plants you’ll be growing and nurturing for the coming months. This year, nurture more than just your garden – help out our planet, too!

Below, find some of our eco-friendly, green gardening tips to help cut down on the global warming issues and contribute to a reduction of carbon emissions.

Vegetable and Herb Gardening:

Growing your own veggies, herbs, and produce is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and offset carbon emissions of traditional grocery shopping.

An herb or veggie garden can be as small as a few plants on an apartment windowsill, or it can take up an entire backyard! Dedicate some time to research online and/or ask your local nursery about which plants will grow best in your climate/region. During your research, be sure to inquire about sustainable soil, plant food and pest control options.

Gardening the Green Way:

Keep your garden as green as possible this spring! First and foremost, conserve water by setting your sprinkler system to use the minimum amount of water possible. Choosing drought tolerant, low maintenance plants (especially if you live in a warm or dry climate) is one way to ensure that you’ll be conserving as much water as possible.

Be sure to check your hose for any leaks, and repair leaks/leaky faucets as soon as possible. Never leave a hose running unnecessarily! Installing an adjustable nozzle on your hose will help conserve water, too.

When it comes to pest control, consider implementing an integrated pest management system in your garden. This type of pest control is more carbon neutral than traditional methods.

Do you have any tips for “greener” gardening? We’d love to hear them! Share with us in the comments, below!

A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge — but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Even kids these days are consistently plugged in: to video games, tablets, and the Internet. When was the last time your son or daughter asked to go play outside, or picked up an actual (*gasp*) paperback book?

This April 29^th-May 5^th marks “Screen Free Week,” a chance for us all to unplug and get back to basics – not to mention a wonderful way to lower our carbon footprints and reduce carbon emissions caused by the constant use of electronics! Below, find a few suggestions for celebrating (or surviving) the occasion:

In the Office

We understand that going completely screen free in the office might be a challenge, or even unrealistic. For the purposes of Screen Free Week, simply try to reduce your screen time as much as possible. Take the initiative and bring up Screen Free Week in your work environment, and brainstorm with your colleagues about ways to honor the commitment.

At Home

In the comfort of your own home, it’s a little easier to go screen free. That’s not to say that it isn’t tempting to plop down on the couch and veg out in front of the TV after a long day

To resist temptation, come up with some ideas ahead of time about how you can spend your free time and evenings without resorting to the Internet, television, apps, video games, etc.

For the Kids: Alternatives to TV/Internet

• Go on a nature hike
• Build something as a family – a tree house, dollhouse, or puppet show theatre. Perfect weekend projects!
• Two words: Arts & Crafts
• Read an actual book (we know, a novel idea)
• Learn a new skill
• Family board games or charades
• Build a fort
• Paint, draw, sketch, or try poetry/creative writing
• Attend one of these awesome Screen Free Week events

For the Grown-Ups: Alternatives to TV/Internet

• Take a nice, long bubble bath
• Take the time to clean the house/tackle that messy attic, basement, closet or garage
• Read a book or magazine
• Learn to cook a new recipe or meal
• Work out – but leave the iPod at home

Even if completely unplugging isn’t a feasible option, you can still contribute to a world with lower carbon emissions! Check out JustGreen Lifestyle carbon offset products at justgreencommunity.com . It is a perfect way for the average consumer to support a healthier, greener planet and help stop global warming.

How will you be spending Screen Free Week? We would love to hear your comments, suggestions, and ideas in the comments!

Unfortunately, many of the products and practices commonly associated with spring cleaning – such as ammonia-based cleaners that can end up in water supplies – aren’t exactly the most “green.”

Earth Day may have come and gone, but here at JustGreen Lifestyle, we’re committed to making Earth Day every day! Cleaning house can be a green affair, too. Below, find our top tips for reducing your carbon footprint and offsetting carbon emissions while cleaning your home.

Recycle Whenever Possible: If you’ll be digging through closets, garages and the basement in an effort to clean house this spring, don’t simply throw away old toys, clothes and furnishings. The old saying rings true: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Consider donating, re-purposing or re-using these items instead of tossing them in the garbage. When the weather warms up, a garage sale may be in order! Stay tuned for future posts, where we’ll outline the most eco-friendly way to host such a sale.

Avoid the Worst of the Worst: Certain cleaning supplies are more harmful to the environment (including water supplies) and produce more carbon emissions than others. The ones to avoid, in particular, include: drain cleaners, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, spot removers, silver/metal polishes, window cleaners, and bleach.

Go Au Naturale: You may be surprised to know that a variety of basic cleaning supplies can be made at home using ingredients you’ve likely got lying around the house. Vinegar, salt, lemon juice and baking soda combine to make easy, eco-friendly cleaning supplies for glass/mirrors, vinyl, and even for polishing furniture.

Opt for Green Cleaning Products: “Green cleaning” is all the rage these days, resulting in the emergence of a number of brands specializing in eco-friendly cleaning solutions/products. Our best advice is to do some thorough research online and browse through customer reviews to determine which brand or specific products work most effectively.

Reduce Paper Towel Waste:  Instead of reaching for the paper towels, cut old tee shirts, towels or clothes into strips or manageable sizes to re-use as cleaning cloths. This practice is a great way to reduce carbon emissions, and helps to stop global warming and to reduce pollution.

Have any clean, green tips to share? Let us know in the comments, below!

Committed to a carbon neutral lifestyle? We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

• http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/10-green-home-cleaning-tips.htm
• http://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-cleaning.html
• http://www.care2.com/greenliving/clean-house-top-10-eco-friendly-ways.html

Did you know that the average woman uses a dozen products (containing an average of 160 chemicals) every day – often all before breakfast?  Men use about half this amount – or 80 chemicals a day.  Not only are these chemicals hazardous and harmful to your skin and body, but they also take a toll on your carbon footprint and contribute to global warming, too.

With Earth Day just behind us, we’re encouraging all our readers to “green” their lives!  This process extends to your daily beauty regimen. The chemicals in perfumes, makeup, and skincare products can end up in the air and even in the local water supplies, and the manufacture of such products produces harmful carbon emissions. Below, find our top tips for purchasing eco-friendly makeup and skincare products:

 Find Out What’s in Your Products: The helpful cosmetics database Skin Deep, created by Environmental Working Group, helps consumers figure out which chemicals, toxins and potentially harmful ingredients are in the products they use and purchase every day. Look for a score of 0-2 for products with the least amount of toxins/harmful chemicals.

Avoid Certain Chemicals: Many makeup and skincare products on the market contain chemicals with unnecessary toxins. Some to look out for include: sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, diethanolamine, propylene glycol/polyethylene glycol, formaldehyde, PEGs, synthetic dyes and artificial fragrances. For a full list of ingredients to avoid, check out this helpful guide.

Read Labels Carefully: As a general rule of thumb, the longer the list of ingredients, the more toxins or unnatural chemicals. Look for ingredients you recognize (and can pronounce).

Go Natural on the Hair Color: There’s a reason that the smell of hair dye/bleach stings your nose: Most of these products contain little other than chemicals.  Here’s the bad news – to date, a 100% “green” hair dye does not yet exist. The good news is that many eco-conscious companies are coming close. Consider going the natural route for now.

Beware of Suspect Marketing Claims: Beware of labels claiming “all natural” or “nontoxic” ingredients. Carefully reading the label and looking up the products on this free database is the best way to ensure a truly natural product/cosmetic.

Buy in Bulk/Avoid Travel Sizes: On a purely eco-friendly level, buying in bulk is the best way to avoid excess packaging. If you’ll be traveling, purchase small, refillable containers that can be used multiple times.

Tell us: What’s a part of your “green” beauty routine? Let us know in the comments, below!

Resolve to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle this year. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/green-beauty-routine-make-up-bag-makeover#slide-1

http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/natural-makeup?click=getstarted

The average family contributes about 48,000 pounds of carbon pollution to global warming every year.  It seems staggering, which can make counterbalancing that impact can seem like an impossible task.

Yet, a shift in mindset and a few small changes can make a big difference in the reduction of carbon emissions and your household carbon footprint.

Here are my top tips for reducing your family’s environmental footprint — during Earth Week and all year round.

In the Kitchen

We put Mother Nature on our plate three times a day so the choices you make about what food to buy, how often and from where has a direct impact on the planet.

Livestock puts more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere than all forms of transportation combined, so going meatless – even just one day a week – is a positive way to help fight global warming.

Wherever possible, choose grass-fed beef, because a diet of grass is much easier on the cow’s digestion and reduces flatulence.

This is a great time of year to discover farmer’s markets, where you can meet local farmers and learn more about how livestock is raised and what farm-friendly food share programs are available in your area.

At the grocery store, stick to the perimeter, which is where you’ll find the fresh, non-processed foods.  The stuff in the middle – the crackers and cookies and canned goods – are shipped a  long way to your store and rely on a lot of packaging to keep them fresh.

In Our Community

What we drive and how far, together with how we heat/cool our homes make up our biggest contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.

We can walk or bike instead of drive when possible – I ride my bike for trips under 10 kilometres (when weather permits).  As a result, my hybrid car stays put more and I’m in far better shape.  I barely go to the gym in the spring and summer.

We all owe it to the planet to get the most out of every drop of gasoline we use.  Ensure that your tires are inflated properly to boost fuel economy by 3%; and use the recommended grade of motor oil to improve fuel economy by 1 to 2%. Keep your engine tuned for a 4% improvement in fuel economy and regularly replace air filters for 10% boost in fuel economy.

But for those emissions we simply can’t eliminate, personal carbon offsets are a great way to help balance out the impact that our work commute, weekend drives to the cottage, or heating/cooling our homes has on the environment.

Carbon offsets are green credits that invest in renewable energy projects across North America – including wind and solar power projects and advanced methane gas capture technologies that help mitigate the impact of landfills.  You can read more about how it works here.

It’s important to buy from a reputable company, such as JustGreenCommunity.com, that operates according to strict eco-standards and retires and registers offsets in a transparent way.

At Home

At home, energy conservation is the key goal, so think of the planet and turn your thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter by just a degree or two to make a major reduction in energy use.

Just a 1 degree change for more than eight hours at a time reduces your energy bill by 1%.

Energy efficient appliances can cut your energy bill by up to whopping 60% and washing in cold water will save you another 10% on your bill. Good for the planet, good for your wallet.

Remember the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – in that order!

And to go totally carbon neutral, look for carbon offsets.

Leslie Garrett is the author of The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder, Healthier World (and one our kids will thank us for!).   Visit her at www.lesliegarrett.com.