Earlier in the week I was at our local health food store waiting for my turn at the check-out counter when I noticed the lady in front of me had bought her own re-usable carry bags which suddenly made a lot more sense to me than choosing “paper or plastic”. When we witness examples of people choosing to live in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way, it causes us to stop and reflect on our own living and buying practices.

The Global Green USA program that invites celebrities to arrive at the Academy Awards in energy efficient transportation started in 2002 with just four participants. This year Jennifer Aniston and supporting-actress nominee Frances McDormand were among the 25 VIPs to participate in the fourth annual “Red Carpet, Green Cars” event sponsored by the environmental organization Global Green USA and Toyota Motor Corp. Participants in the program arrived in either Toyota or Lexus hybrids.

Considering that close to 40 million people watch the Academy Awards it creates a great opportunity for a lesson in green living and shows that you can be environmentally minded with style.

The same applies to planning a “green meeting”. In the process you are not giving up anything and can be saving a lot in terms of cost and waste in the process.

A green meeting or event incorporates environmental considerations to minimize any negative impact on the environment. There are also economic benefits to using recycles materials, reusing items and reducing the amount of materials used. Plan an environmentally responsible event and promote your event’s environmental features keeping the following ideas in mind:

Prevent and Reduce Waste
Use double-sided printing for promotional materials and handouts.
Avoid mass distribution of handouts and allow attendees to order copies.
Provide reusable name badges.

Recycle and Manage Waste
Collect paper and recyclable beverage containers in meeting areas.
Collect cardboard and paper in exhibit areas.
Collect cardboard, beverage containers, aluminum cans, and plastics in food vending areas.
If re-usable containers are not used, encourage use of recyclable beverage containers.

Conserve Energy and Reduce Traffic
Look for naturally lighted meeting and exhibit spaces.
Publicize mass transportation options.
Provide shuttle service from mass transit stops or hotels to the event site.

Food Service and Accommodations
Plan food service needs carefully to avoid unnecessary waste.
Consider use of durable food service items.
Donate excess food to charitable organizations.
Work with hotel on non-replacement of linens, soaps, etc.

Buy Environmentally Aware Products
Use recycled paper and vegetable- and soy-based inks for promotional materials and handouts.
Consider selling or providing refillable containers for beverages.
Provide reusable containers for handouts or samples (pocket or file folders, cloth bags).
Where reusable items are not feasible, select products that are made from recovered materials and that also can be recycled.

Educate Participants and Exhibitors
Request the use of recycled and recyclable handouts or giveaways.
Request that unused items be collected for use at another event.
Encourage participants to recycle materials at the event.
Reward participation by communicating environmental savings achieved.

For more information and support in planning your “green meetings”, go to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Green Conference Initiative http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings/

The Green Meetings / Conference Initiative was developed and is supported by the EPA’s Pollution Prevention Division to provide conference planners and suppliers of conference services, easy access to environmentally friendly goals of conference planning. The Initiative provides green options and opportunities for conference planning.

Read the original content at articlesbase

Europe’s evolution toward a heavier reliance on renewable energy is nicely documented in a report released this week by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency. The study, “Statistical Aspects of the Energy Economy in 2009,” provides a wealth of interesting detail without a lot of editorializing.

From 2008 to 2009 alone, the use of renewable energy in the European Union increased 8.3 percent. As I’ve reported as part of our continuing series, “Beyond Fossil Fuels,” some countries have made particularly great strides in this arena. Portugal now gets nearly 45 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, up from 17 percent five years ago.

The Eurostat report found that the production of energy from hard coal and natural gas showed an “important decrease” (9.2 and 10.1 percent, respectively). To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union is also aggressively pushing its members to cut back on their use of coal…

Read the original news at nytimes

There are few homeowners willing to ignore cost-effective ways of saving money on their household bills; so it comes as no surprise a growing number of homeowners are educating themselves on how to make their home more energy efficient.

The smallest changes can yield the biggest results. Whether it is the simple act of replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or larger tasks like installing low-flush toilets, every conscious undertaking is a step toward increasing your home’s energy efficiency.

Some homeowners may feel their home does not need to be energy efficient because it is either a new build or not broken or in need of fixing. Both are common misconceptions costly for not only the homeowner but also the environment.

An energy audit is a wise investment for many homeowners eager to see where their home’s energy efficiency could be improved. It is recommended homeowners hire a certified energy advisor from a licensed service organization to conduct the audit. The energy advisor will conduct a thorough evaluation of the home, and provide a detailed record of recommended upgrades or renovations.

Some of the most significant energy upgrades homeowners can make include:

- Installing a programmable thermostat, or lowering the heat during the cold months when you are not home. Each degree below 68°F (20°C) during colder weather saves 3%-5% more heating energy.

- Caulking to improve your home’s air tightness.

- Switching from incandescent bulbs to fluorescent or LED light bulbs.

- Installing water-saver flush kits or replacing regular toilets with low-flow toilets.

- Replacing regular shower heads with low-flow or energy-efficient shower heads.

- Weatherstripping around doors and windows.

- Replacing appliances older than 15 years old with Energy Star models.

- Using a room air conditioner to cool down one room rather than the entire cooling system.

- Turning off lights, computers, and household items like appliances and electronics when not in use.

- Using cold water to reduce the energy consumption of your washing machine and adjusting the water levels to coordinate the size of laundry loads.