Family Friday: Creating Compost

Setting up a compost area is one of our goals for this year so we were delighted to read this month’s article from Lucas Miller on composting. The tips we shared in Five Easy Steps to Reduce Food Waste (Without Going Insane) have significantly reduced the amount of food we throw away but we still toss the occasional moldy item in the trash. (I swear the back of our refrigerator is connected to a black hole.) We’ve now decided where to place our compost area; I hope this article spurs you on as well.

So you’re recycling your bottles, cans, and paper, right? I think that’s a given for our faithful readers. Hopefully, you’re not even taking the plastic bags in the first place but, if you are, you can recycle those, too.

How about composting? My wife and I have been composting off-and-on for over a decade now so I thought I’d provide some thoughts on our experiences. I’m no expert, though, so by all means feel free to contribute your own comments and tips! Read more

Going Green Can Save You Green on…Insurance?

I’ve got to admit that insurance was not one of the first items on my mental list of ways to save green while going green. In fact, it didn’t even make my top ten.

But it turns out that insurance companies are realizing that many green choices are cost-effective over the long-term. that means many companies are offering lower insurance rates for both people and businesses making green choices including driving a hybrid vehicle or owning a green building.

Some companies have even added environmentally-friendly incentives such lower rates for reduced driving. If you have already cut back on your driving or you plan to, it is worth a call to your insurance company to see if they offer discounts for driving reductions.

For more information, see the Wall Street Journal. (BTW, I love that this article was in their Wealth Manager series the day after Earth Day!)

Reflecting on 2008 and Looking Ahead to 2009

There has been a lot of discussion in our house about the new year. Many of the conversations involved things we changed during 2008 that made us happier. As we talked about those changes, it soon became clear almost all of them also made our lives greener. It was nice to see the two characteristics line up so nicely so I thought I would share!

First is an overview of the greening steps we made during 2008. Since I love hearing about other people’s resolutions, this is followed by the resolutions we have currently made for 2009. Read more

Love Your Local Library

We’ve been on the birthday party circuit lately and now more than ever conversations are turning to ways to save money. I’ve had several great discussions about how much we love our local library so wanted to bring the dialogue online.

We are true fans of public libraries. Our first trip out after our eldest was born was to our local library. (Really – we have pictures and everything!) Our eldest has a library card in her name and our youngest has been practicing writing her full name so she can obtain her own card. I cannot overstate how excited she is about this prospect!

Why are we such fans? Here is what our local library, which is quite small, has for us to checkout and enjoy at home:
•    Books for both children and grownups
•    Magazines
•    Audio books
•    Videos
•    CDs
•    Computer games and programs

Our family loves books. We like being able to enjoy stacks of new-to-us books every week without paying for them even more. Since the pulp and paper industry is the third largest industrial emitter of global warming pollution, we also love knowing that our reading habits aren’t harming the planet. (Check out the National Resources Defense Council’s page on the paper industry to learn more.)

As an added bonus, our library also hosts:
•    Story times
•    Puppet shows
•    Other children-friendly events such as children’s musicians
•    Book groups
•    Craft and hobby group meetings
•    Computers with online access

Visit your local library today to discover all the ways it can help your family go green while saving green.

Have you discovered other ways to save green while going green?  Please share your success stories here!

« Previous Page