Reducing our impact on the Earth doesn’t have to be complicated, and it can also have many benefits for our pocketbooks, as well! By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our use of natural resources we can significantly decrease our Global footprint. Here are some simple things that you can do today to go green.

1. Change Your Light Bulbs

A “normal” light bulb is known as an incandescent light bulb. You probably use incandescent bulbs to light most areas of your home. The trouble with incandescent light bulbs is that they generate a high level of heat while running, which wastes a lot of electricity. Thus, they are very inefficient.

Comparatively, fluorescent bulbs create light without generating heat. This allows them to be much more efficient and produce between 50 and 100 lumens per watt, making them four to six times more efficient than incandescent bulb. They also last much longer than incandescent bulbs.

Replacing your bulbs is simple. The next time one blows, simply note the wattage on the incandescent bulb and visit your local hardware or lighting store. Fluorescent light bulbs are marked to indicate their actual wattage and the comparable wattage to an incandescent bulb. This means that if you had a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you can buy a fluorescent bulb marked as 15-watts (equivalent to 60-watts incandescent).

Once all of your bulbs are replaced, you will notice a significant cost-savings in your energy bill. This is a truly win-win situation, as you will also have the added benefit of replacing your bulbs less frequently!

2. Switch to Low-Flow Shower heads

Water is a precious resource that is limited in many regions of the U.S. This natural resource is increasingly affected by our population growth: the EPA reports that the public demand for water has more than tripled since 1950.

One of the largest household uses of water is showering: the average shower takes 10 minutes and 20 gallons of water. Significant progress has been made towards creating low-flow shower heads that feel just as powerful as regular shower heads but can cut water use by 25% to 60% and reduce annual water bills by almost $100 for an average family of four people. These cost (and environmental) savings include both the use of water and the energy cost of heating it.

Installing low-flow shower heads is simple to do. Simply visit your local home improvement center and choose from the many options available.

3. Recycle

The reasons for recycling are many. First, recycled materials allow us to conserve land and use less energy to harvest virgin natural resources. Secondly, it usually takes significantly less energy to make a recycled product than it does to refine it from raw materials. Aluminum is one of the best examples: it takes 95% less energy to create it from recycled materials. Thirdly, recycling cuts down on the space and resources required for landfills.

The ease of recycling varies based on where you live. Some cities have curbside recycling bins that require you to separate items, others have you place all items in a single bin, and some cities have not yet adopted a curbside recycling program, which means that you may need to take your recycling items to a recycling center.

Typical items that can be easily recycled include paper, aluminum and glass. Plastic containers, bags and packaging can be difficult to recycle, so you have to check for the recycling code on the packaging. Better still - reuse plastic bags, or avoid them altogether, as much as possible.

Some cities pay for certain recyclable materials, so check with your local recycling center to see if you can financially benefit from your good deeds.

By taking these three simple steps, you can greatly reduce your impact on the Earth, while also making a positive impact on your wallet. There are many resources available online through government agencies to help you make green decisions about your household - check them out!

Author, Virginia Ginsburg specializes in research related to ecologically-sound life and business practices. She writes about green living and socially-conscious investing. Her company, Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , specializes in gifts that are both beautiful and ecologically-sound.

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I know, you are thinking you can’t power your vehicle with water, however it’s absolutely true.

There is a inexpensive way to <b>convert water to hydrogen</b> and use to supplement the gas and make your car 20 to 50% more fuel efficient.
It’s called HHO or <b>Browns Gas</b>.

The relatively simple device uses a little electricity out of your car’s battery, to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 parts Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also called Hydroxy , burns beautifully and provides 3 times the power of gasoline. HHO is a fast growing trend for boosting performance and MPG / KM/L

I am sure you are curious perhaps even suspicious as to why you haven’t heard about this from big business. Reason is actually quite simple. This technology is in the public domain and open source so anyone is free to replicate it and it can’t be patented. Consequently big business can’t profit from this. You will be hearing about this only from the grassroots level, friends, fliers and small businesses that don’t have shareholders. Did you know publicly traded companies have a legal obligation to earn a profit for their shareholders?

There are plans widely available on the net to construct this device. For your convenience I am providing a list of key words so that you can do your own Google search and see for yourself this is indeed real: “browns gas, <b>cars run on water</b>, car that runs on water, <b>easywatercar</b>, HHO, hydroxy fuel cell, improve gas mileage, map sensor enhancer, pcv enhancer, run your car on water”.

Easy to install & maintain. Good for carb/fuel injection,gas/diesel. Old/new cars and trucks big and small.

Widespread development and experimentation by numerous back yard engineers has proven this is feasible. With this method you can run your traditional automobiles partially on water (that’s a “<b>Water Hybrid</b>”) with little or no modifications.
* You should be able to increase your gas efficiency by 20 to 50% or more on some vehicles.
* You can drastically cut down emissions and help reduce Global Warming.
* You can improve efficient burning of fuel and consequently lessen wear and tear, engine clatter, high temperature in the engine, carbon deposits, etc.

You see, you have just hit upon some unique information. (This may not be unique for much longer) You can find people selling kits and doing installations, however they are not in the yellow pages as yet.

It would seem the most complex part of the system is getting it to work with the computer on all cars since 1996. When the oxygen sensor senses more oxygen it automatically sends in more gas lowering your fuel efficiency instead of increasing it. Not to worry though you can purchase or even build your own MAP Sensor which will allow you to adjust the mixture of gas and air.

You can obtain complete informational products or ebooks, packed with guidelines and suggestions. There are discussion groups with 1000’s of members helping each other with any mechanical, electrical or tuning trouble. Please keep in mind people will always have different opinions and you must use your own judgment when listening to what they have to say. If you are offered a conversion kit or installation be certain they are willing to provide you with after sale service, returns warranty etc.

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Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is right in the world!  So you’ve diligently joined the other millions of people in a spot of spring cleaning and starting to feel better about life in general?  I don’t mean to put a spanner in the works but you may be slowly poisoning yourself.  Don’t worry though as I have some practical advice for you.

Count up which cleaning products you would need just to tackle a couple of rooms in your house - bathroom and kitchen for instance.  You probably have a multi-surface cleaner, a more powerful cleaner for the nasty bits (yuk!), a floor cleaner maybe, air freshener, brightly coloured liquid that resembles alien slime that makes your toilet smell nice.  The list goes on but you get the idea.

The manufacturers have been educating us for years now (and it is working) on how brilliant their products are.  How we would all die of terrible diseases if we were to stop using their latest product, (which is better than their last one they always add).  They tell us how we would be neglecting our duty as a good citizen if we didn’t de-contaminate our house so it becomes sterile and un-lived in.  Some of these products are so strong that they make your eyes water.  You are advised to wear gloves, keep away from your eyes and seek medical attention if it comes into contact with your skin AND you still trust them when it comes to coating all the surfaces in your house with these industrial strength toxic products.

Enough moaning, I could go on and tell you more but I think you get the idea.  The good news is that there are alternatives.  You may have to experiment with the right recipe or product that suits your needs but once you’ve got that you’ll be well away.  It’s just about changing the way that you think and act from now on, and ridding your home of those nasty chemicals!

I’ve done some homework for you to get you started

Use soapnuts.  You can use them in the washing machine.  I use them all the time for light-normal washes and I can honestly say that our clothes are always clean and fresh.  I add a couple of splashes of clear vinegar to the drawer to soften the clothes and to remove stains.  I also add a couple of drops of essential oil to make it smell nice.

There is a great company that I use, their prices are good and they also ship worldwide.  http://www.gogreen.cellande.co.uk/shop/products/soapnuts/soapnuts.php and I’ve not had any problems.  There is a list of other great things you can use soapnuts for too, including cleaners, soap and dishwasher solution.

If this isn’t enough for you try this link to uses for vinegar.  Vinegar is strong stuff as you may already know.  It’s no surprise that it’s good for cleaning, and much healthier than the industrial alien slime too.  Follow these tips and your house will be gleaming in no time http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

So there you have it.  You don’t have to compromise your health for heavenly cleanliness in your home.  You’ll save money, improve your own health and help the environment too.

Just one more tip, don’t wear yourself out going mad on the cleaning this week!

Kate Would Holistic Practitioner publishes her weekly newsletter for ‘normal’ and busy people like you.  If you’re tired of living a life that seems to revolve around other people and leaves you feeling washed out and lifeless, you can subscribe by clicking the link below.  You can also claim your FREE therapy session here too. http://www.shakethedisease.com

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To know that one has a divine right to live in abundance means that one has a respect for nature’s supply. Usually those who have become abundance conscious are also environmentally conscious. With respect to nature, many who have aligned themselves with universal laws strive to incorporate every aspect of their lives with abundance principles and concepts.

Consequently, as we become more conscious, we understand that money is a seed and in many ways we are responsible for where we plant our seeds. It is only wise to search for investment options that reinforce our beliefs and lifestyle.

Environmentally sound investments are more available this century than ever before. Such investments are known as Social Funds. Social Funds made its debut on Wall Street in the 1970’s and has been soaring ever since. Years ago there was concern with these funds ability to be profitable. But with growing technological advancements and an ever increasing interest in the age of spiritual and environmental consciousness, socially conscious investing has proven to be not only profitable, but consciously probable.

From investing in solar panels to buying fuel efficient cars, living a green lifestyle has never been more attractive. Due to increasing popularity with becoming environmentally conscious, one is not labeled as a weird tree hugger with too much time on their hands. Instead, taking care of Mother Earth has been championed by influential celebrities, well respected politicians, and altruistic business leaders.

With the flow of wealth and consciousness beginning to take root and manifest in many, there has been a growing concern among conscious green and holistic individuals regarding the atrocities that may have been funded using their money. Individuals who once invested, through stocks and mutual funds, for example, in companies that have been responsible for damaging the earth (i.e. alcohol, tobacco) and abusing its people (cruel labor) are now conscious and aware of their prior investments. Those living a conscious, abundant, and green lifestyle are appalled that their dollars have contributed to situations that do not match their personal values.

According to The Social Investment Forum, an environmentally friendly organization made up of like minded investors, estimates that 10 percent of all investments are made with social values in mind. The forum also counts 151 socially responsible mutual funds with assets of more than $148 billion, up from $111 billion in 2001; an outstanding increase from its humble, yet highly influential beginnings.

Many who are environmentally and socially conscious gain the greatest return on their investments knowing that their money hasn’t supported or had any type of horrid effect on nature, its people, and the community at large. These types of investors have seen the bigger picture and realize that the end results yield the highest return.

But still there are those individuals who don’t quite yet feel comfortable trading their conventional stocks for socially conscious funds. One shouldn’t beat themselves up. Start slowly. Begin to use the profits of conventional investing to further your socially conscious agenda. Use the funds to reinvest in your causes by:

1. Becoming a “Green” Angel Investor. By supporting start-up/ environmentally conscious organizations, in time nature and its people will begin to feel the positive trickle effects of these worthwhile efforts.

2. Independently invest in organizations that advocate social change. Become involved and rally around organizations which lobby and challenge congress to create “greener” laws.

3. Diversify your investment portfolio by having more Social Funds than Conventional Funds.

Spirituality and morally, if you take care of nature, nature will in turn take care of you. It is never too late to discover spiritual and universal laws that will guide you into creating the life that one desires. Trust in and align yourself with the Laws of Nature and you will soon see that living green will yield much green, spiritually and financially.

Roslyn Randle is an accomplished writer. Create a life of continuous wealth and flow. Visit Abundance Training 101: The Universal Law of Abundance at http://universalclass.com/i/crn/14056.htm . Also learn how to Lose Weight While Becoming A Wellness Coach at http://universalclass.com/i/crn/9478.htm
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Raising your baby in a green environment has multiple rewards. First, green products tend to have fewer dangerous chemicals associated with them. Second, by taking care of your baby’s world today, you are ensuring that there will be trees, flowers and bees for her to enjoy in the future.

There are many reasons for adopting a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, not the least of which is that it is usually healthier for you and your family because most products that are considered “green” contain less chemicals and hormones. On a larger scale, going green can have a significant impact on the health of our World. The world population continues to grow at an alarming rate: 1 billion people in 1800; 2 billion by 1922; and by 2000 an estimate 6 billion are estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is estimated that the population will swell to over 9 billion by 2050.

That means that if we evenly distributed the Earth’s natural resources (which we don’t), the population in 2050 - when your children’s children are growing up - will have only 25% of the resources per capita that we had in 1950. With limited resources available on Earth, we need to watch our consumption. We must become more ecologically-minded and preserve precious resources in order to leave the world in a state that can sustain our grandchildren.

Becoming environmentally-friendly doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, one of the best ways to do it is in small stages - one or two steps at a time. The deeper you get into green living the more you will see that there are infinite things that we can do, both big and small, to improve our environment. It is easy to become overwhelmed, but don’t worry - just do as much as you can, and remember that every little bit helps!

Here are three small steps that you can take today to raise a green baby:

1. Organic Foods: Thanks to the growing popularity of organic foods, it is increasingly easy to find organic options for your baby. In many supermarkets you can find organic fruits and vegetables, organic cereals, and other baby staples.

2. Household Cleaners: Having a baby makes you realize how many chemicals there are in the home. Chemical-laded cleaners can easily be replaced by environmentally-friendly cleaners that are better for the world and your baby’s skin.

3. Diapers: There are two green options in diapers: cloth and organic/unbleached. Diaper services can take much of the headache out of using cloth diapers, but some people simply don’t like them. Luckily, you can now get affordable organic diapers that require fewer chemicals to produce, thus reducing overall stress on the Earth.

4. Milk: If you can, then breast feed your baby. If you are looking at it from a strictly environmental and economic point of view, this is the way to go. Of course, if you cannot breast feed for any reason, then you can still purchase organic baby formula, which will cut down on the chemicals and hormones in your baby’s milk while reducing the impact on the environment.

5. Recycle Gift Packaging: Babies bring with them a lot of gifts! Every gift that you receive probably comes wrapped in cardboard, paper and plastic materials that can all be recycled. You can save nice gift bags and ribbons to wrap future presents, and recycle everything else.

As more people adopt a greener lifestyle, we are seeing more and more organic and environmentally-sound products in local supermarkets and even stores like Target and Wal-Mart. Keep your eyes open, and you’ll realize that raising a green baby doesn’t have to be a struggle.

As a mother, writer and entrepreneur, Virginia Ginsburg is constantly working to minimize her ecological impact. Please visit http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com

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