San Diego Beaches’ Fourth of July Hangover

From our friend Ken over at Surfrider.


Pacific Beach – 6:30 a.m., July 5, 2006

Left behind at 7 SD County Beaches on July 4, 2006: 8,000 pounds of trash 45,000 cigarette butts


This Fourth of July…and every day…“Respect The Beach”

• Consume less and buy products that do not have a lot of packaging.

• Take less to the beach and use trash cans or bags during your celebration.

• Bring home any trash or recyclables that you cannot dispose of properly.

• When you leave the beach, take at least one additional piece of trash with you.

• Help clean your community after ANY celebration—not just the 4th of July.

• Spread the word to “Respect the Beach!”


Surfrider Foundation’s Morning After Mess beach cleanup, presented by Sun Diego Boardshops. Thursday, July 5, 2007, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. 7 beaches throughout the San Diego County. More info: www.surfriderSD.org

Tunes for Trees: iTunes + Trees = Cool!

I was just cruising the net and found a really cool site. Tunes For Trees. If you shop iTunes for music, you should shop through this site. For every 10 songs you purchase, a tree will be planted for you.

This is the type of product we LOVE! You're going to shop for music...might as well help the environment while you're at it! Just like our EPIC products...you're going to clean...clean green!

Earth 911 Survey - Win a gift card

I really like the quality of information that comes out of Earth 911. They are planning to build a new website and have a survey they would like you to fill out.

Earth 911 has plans to build a new Web site devoted to things we all can do individually to improve the environmental friendliness of our homes, and particularly, our garages.

We need your input. Your opinion is important as it will help direct us as to what we should include on the new Web site.

Please take 5 minutes to fill out the What’s in Your Garage survey and help us learn what is important to you. Once you complete the survey, you will be eligible to win a $25 Gift Card from Best Buy. Also, registering for the prize at the end also entitles you to return to view the survey results we compile.

Thanks in advance for completing the survey and, as always, for making every day Earth Day.

The Earth 911 Staff

Green Drinks SD, this Thursday June 28th, Downtown

Make sure to mark the date! Green Drinks is coming to Hotel Solamar this Thursday, June 28th. Salomar is a cool green hotel in downtown SD...I look forward to checking it out.

Jbar, Hotel Solamar, 435 6th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 531-8740

Every month, people all over the world working, studying or just interested in the environment are meeting up at informal gatherings known as GreenDrinks – it’s a chance to mix with other like-minded folks, to network, share info, enjoy an ice cold beer and make new friends. Now GreenDrinks has come to San Diego, and you’re invited!

Know your electric bill (Part 1)

A discussion about saving electricity and money can not begin until we understand how we are charged for electricity. This week’s blog will provide an explanation of your kWh’s (kilowatt hours) and current electric costs.

Your bill is in direct relationship with the amount of electricity you use each month. When you look at your monthly bill you’ll notice not only the cost of the bill but the # of kWh’s that you’ve used.

Where do those kWh come from? A standard 100 Watt bulb uses 100 Watts of electricity an hour. 10 of these bulbs would use 1000 Watt hour or 1 kiloWatt in one hour.

I know you’re thinking, “Aaron, that was simple”. If your electric bill is handy I reference it in this next section.

The utility company, providers of your electricity since power lines were built, decided to bill you more for the more electricity you use. That’s right, the more electricity you use the higher the rate that you pay, per Watt.

Rates are confusing, explaining your electric bill would take page after page of explanation. As mentioned above the more you use the more you pay, and utility companies bill on tiers, 1 being the first tier and the least expensive and 5 is the most expensive. As an example:

Bill tier: Price per kWh $:
1 0.13
2 0.15
3 0.23
4 0.24
5 0.26

As you can see tier’s 1 & 2 are $0.02 apart and tier’s 2 & 3 are $0.08 apart, an incredible increase in cost.

If you’re looking at an electric bill you will notice on page 2 of your SDG&E bill there are different charges at different costs. These prices per tier do not accurately reflect your entire bill due to the additional charges which are also directly related to your electric bill.

Now the tricky part is finding out how many Watts fit into each tier. Depending on where you live you’re given a different amount of kilowatts for tier 1. This is because a home on the coast without A/C will use less electricity than the same sized home in the desert.

At the beginning of your billing cycles you’re usage is 0 and as your kilowatts add up your bill increases. If you’ve been paying attention, you’d of realized it would be best to use electricity within the first 2 tiers. Of course that sounds good but when we look at the amount of kW given per tier we realize this is difficult to accomplish.

Next week we will discuss the percentages per tier and how conservation, energy efficiency and solar electricity can provide you with an attractive return-on-investment and the power to help save your environment.

Arnold Answers Tough Question

I thought this was a great response to a tough question. I really like his green tie too...

Powered By The Sun (part 2)

Our PV system is finished! Now we're waiting on our power company to inspect it so we can throw the switch. It's beautiful...and kind of sad. Here we are, a day away from the longest day of the year, PV panels perfectly situated to soak up the sun's energy...and we wait.

Here's the second most important part of the system, the inverter. The PV panels take the sun's energy and converts 22% of it (SunPower panels have great efficiency) into DC (direct current). It runs through this inverter and out comes AC (alternating current)...the stuff that powers our house. Now we sit and wait for inspection....

Green Racing?

Hello. My name is Mary, or "sportbikerchic" to the motorcycling community. I'm a motorcycle racer and an instructor on the track. I was recently reading an article about LiveGreen that got me thinking about my motorycle racing and the footprint that it may be leaving on the world.

As much as motorcycles are supposedly better on the eco-system than most cars (at least as far as fuel-economy), I'm not so sure that's the case once we introduce racing into the equation. My bike could get about 40mpg if I rode sedately on the streets, but on the race track with the RPM needle knocking on redline the whole time, that gas mileage drops to something closer to 15mpg. Add in aftermarket exhausts, engine modifications and suped-up race fuel, and we're probably not doing so well.

So I started wondering how we (the racing community) can try to recoup the damages that we've done with our bikes. Possibly something as simple as organizing a collection to buy trees to plant. I'm not looking to change the racing community, just to come up with a one time thing we can do as a whole. Perhaps some of you can help us with ideas. I can't promise I can get the community to back up the idea, but it's very much worth a try!

Powered by the Sun

The day has finally arrived...we're having our solar installed! This was the first project that we started in November of last year. After trying to do a little research here and there on solar, I decided it would be best to find a turn-key service provider. Turn-key means that everything is prepared for you, all you have to do is sign your name (on applications and of course, the check!). We decided to try out Clean Power Systems after talking with a couple of solar providers in the area. I was very impressed after talking with Kirk Mulligan, CEO of Clean Power Systems. We have referred three clients so far!

Clean Power Systems is a company with a bright future (pardon the pun). Not a typical solar company, CPS is a clean energy company...currently that energy is solar photovoltaics. From the start, we have had friendly and open access to the company and have met some very smart people.

Stay tuned for updates on our solar system...we are very excited.

Why We Love Our Vespa

My wife and I started carpooling to work twice a week on our Vespa (we already carpool in our Escape). It's really a lot of fun...especially on the ride home when we can split lanes between the waiting traffic. The best part came when I filled up...a full tank was only $3.43...that really feels good.

Greetings Fellow TreeHuggers!!!

We are so excited to have an article posted on TreeHugger.com...it's really amazing. TreeHugger has been a HUGE help in deriving inspiration and information in order to develop our company. We are really thankful to Tim for the wonderful article he wrote.

I thought I'd make an easy link to some of our favorite places on our site (you are free to troll along by yourself of course).

We have had some interesting interviews with companies that we really like. Check out our chat with GreenDimes, New Belgium Brewing Co., Green Drinks, Resource Revival, and Green Options. We're a little backed up on writing, so look for more interviews to come - E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, gDiapers, and EPIC.

We have some eco-friendly products that we are especially fond of. We decided to offer these after using them in our daily life and realizing their impact. We recently started gathering some new authors to contribute to our site, please welcome Charisse, Aaron, Justin, and Michael. As well, please check out our local green companies that we use and refer; Earth Friendly Moving, Pure Cleaning Services, Clean Power Systems, Blue Summit Financial Group...and many more to come.

We are eager to hear from any green businesses interested in us testing and (if we like them) showcasing your products or services, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for stopping by, be sure to subscribe to our feed!
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Greens We Dig: Earth Friendly Moving

Last month my wife and I moved to our home in Encinitas. We wanted to move green and were fortunate to see a TreeHugger article that led us the Earth Friendly Moving. I sent an email over to ask about their service. A couple days later I received a phone call from the Owner or EFM, Spencer Brown. An hour later I hang up...I had to try and digest all the information he gave me. I thought about how to write up an article...spouting off stats like 20% of America moves every year or that the average move generates 250 pounds of trash! Spencer is truly a unique individual...I had to get him on camera.

So, please take a look at the first in a series of clips about the first ZERO-WASTE packing solution invented and created by Spencer Brown of Earth Friendly Moving.

Having trouble streaming? Try YouTube

Welcome Contributing Author: Michael McClure

by Michael McClure

Hi I’m Michael McClure, but you can call me the ECO ELF.

I wanted to be a marine biologist 'when I grew up.' As a kid in the 70s I learned about pollution, overpopulation and endangered species. I remember spending my weekends sport fishing on my dad's 20 foot Blackman fishing boat. My father has some great stories about all the different kinds of fish he'd catch and it seemed the variety of life had dropped since he was a kid. But that was a long time ago wasn’t it? (My dad is only 20 years older than me).

When I went off to UCLA, I didn’t hear much more about overpopulation. My focus was real estate and making money, and so I didn’t hear much about pollution, except that it wasn’t a good idea to surf in the Santa Monica bay. I heard that air pollution had gotten better in LA since the 70s. Through my eyes, it seemed that the EPA and Greenpeace and “they” were doing a good job protecting our environment, our endangered species and keeping toxins out of my food and water. The occasional report I read seemed to say birth rates were going down in the 1st world. Maybe the over-pollution scare was over too?

A few years ago, I decided to start a family with my sweetie Kamala Devi and I began to think about what I would teach my son or daughter about the environment that we live in. I began to ask the question: How healthy is our planet? I reached out to find out who was studying this question.

The name Jim Bell came up as a legend in San Diego (he built the OB Peoples co-op and has run for San Diego Mayor.) He has a brilliant, very workable plan to make San Diego energy, water and food self-sustaining with solar power generation, rainwater harvesting and organic farming. So I went to see Jim. It turns out Jim is extremely positive and if implemented, his plans may save our planet. Jim took me on as his student.

When the movie An Inconvenient Truth came out I vowed to dedicate my life to finding and implementing solutions to this massive problem. Jim, in his wisdom explained that global warming is merely a symptom of humankind not living in a sustainable manner on earth. He went further to explain that global warming is just one of many ways that we humans could become extinct. Jim came back with his wisdom. He told me that it does no good to depress ourselves by worrying about all the possible things that can go wrong on planet earth. Good advice.

My focus is now on what we can do, what I can do, what each of us can do in a positive direction to help bring Mother Earth to a sustainable balance. Last year we bought a house in Pacific Beach. With Jim's help, I decided to make the house self-sufficient in energy, water and food. I, like many new homeowners, have limited resources, so it was vital that I began by focusing my money on the items where I could get the biggest bang for the buck. Conservation didn’t cost anything, it only reduced cost. Soon, I realized that simplicity was the greenest approach. I began to learn how to reuse and repair items. I learned about non-toxic paints and how to source free comfort features like a spa. I even found free solar water heating panels and got a system working that doesn’t need power from the grid. You can see more detail at http://www.GreeningEmerald.com

Fortunately, we were able to create a non-toxic environment in our house, before last January when our baby was born at home. He’s a beautiful, healthy happy boy named Devin Echo McClure.

Now, as a proud and concerned parent I'm starting this column as the ECO ELF to advise people on how to build and remodel green in order to save time money and energy. Builders have also hired me to consult with them about how to make their projects less expensive. Homeowners have gotten my suggestions on how to remodel their homes in clean ways, and most recently, parents have consulted with me on how to keep their infants and children safe from the toxins that are all around us.

To make this process easy and fun, I have developed a fun program called the Green Sweep. It allows you to score how green your home and life are and then to play the game of increasing your green score. Devin loves it (though he’s too young to tell us.)
Sincerely,
Michael McClure (Eco Elf)
For more information about these services please call me at 619-871-2828 or you can visit http://www.greeningemerald.com

Welcome Contributing Author: Aaron Husak

My name is Aaron Husak and I work for a Solar Electric company in San Diego, CA. I'd like to thank LiveGreen for building this blog and promoting a green"er" lifestyle.

About me: I've lived in San Diego just over a year and have been doing solar electricity just as long. I keep up-to-date on current issues regarding the solar electric industry and, although I am not an expert, I am proficient on the operation and benefits of solar.

I will be posting on LiveGreen about energy efficiency in the home and how solar works, occasionally discussing trends in the industry as well as updates to the current Million Solar Roofs initiative in California.

California has taken steps to promote solar, I hope to provide additional information on how you can make your home a green home.

Welcome our newest Contributing Author: Justin Martello

by Justin Martello

Socially Responsible Investing for the Long Term
The past few years have hammered home the importance of corporate integrity, as investors watched former Wall Street darlings collapse in the aftermath of corporate scandal. In fact, a majority of investors now believe that companies that operate with higher levels of social responsibility carry less risk (55%) and deliver better returns (52%).1 And 71% of investors contend that knowing that companies are rated higher in terms of their social performance would make them more likely to invest in such companies.2

But how do you go about investing in companies with higher levels of integrity? An investment strategy called socially responsible investing (SRI) provides an option. SRI is based on the principle of investing in well-managed companies that act responsibly towards shareholders, communities, employees, consumers, and the environment.


Socially Responsible Investing
So, what exactly is SRI? SRI is an investment strategy that integrates social or environmental criteria into financial analysis. Although the term has a contemporary ring to it, socially responsible investing is hardly new. SRI was first formally practiced by religious investors who, nearly 100 years ago, avoided companies involved in tobacco, alcohol, and gambling. During the 1980s, there was a resurgence of interest in SRI as investors shunned companies operating in apartheid South Africa. Now many investors are concerned about a broader range of issues, including environmental protection, workers’ rights, product safety, and business ethics. In fact, SRI represents nearly one out of every 10 dollars under professional management (or $2.29 trillion), up 258% from 1995 ($639 billion).3


How SRI Works
Of course, most investment managers look for companies with strong balance sheets, sound management, and viable products. But socially responsible investments add another layer of analysis on top of traditional financial analysis that seeks to identify companies that meet specific social and environmental criteria. Many social investors believe that this social research process can identify companies with lower risk and better quality management, thus helping to contribute to better long-term financial performance.

In addition, many socially responsible investors also actively use their position as owners to push companies to improve. For example, Calvert, the nation's largest family of SRI funds, often works with companies to encourage them to address issues of social and environmental concern. In 2005, Calvert successfully resolved 21 shareholder resolutions. Shareholder resolutions are formal requests that can come to a vote in front of all shareholders asking companies to take specific actions, such as working to diversify their boards, enhancing their corporate governance practices, and improving their environmental policies. Everyday shareholders can have an impact by simply voting in support of such social resolutions, much like you might cast a political vote.

Lastly, many social investors direct some of their assets to promote community investment projects in the US and around the world. In addition to earning competitive returns, these assets contribute to ending poverty by increasing affordable housing, community development, access to capital, and more.

Millions of Americans are looking to integrate their financial goals with their concerns about the environment, safe products, fair labor practices, and other quality-of-life issues. SRI offers investors the opportunity to build sound portfolios for their financial futures, while helping to build a better future for the world.

Justin Martello is a financial advisor with Blue Summit Financial Group. Founded in 1994, Blue Summit specializes in sustainable and socially responsible investing options tailored to a person’s values and goals. Justin provides values-based, comprehensive financial planning for individuals, families and business owners. He is also a founding member of the San Diego Green Business Network. For more information on Socially Responsible Investing please call Justin Martello at (888) 698-4330 or visit http://www.bluesummitinvest.com.

1. “Attitudes Toward Socially Responsible Investing,” Yankelovich Study, January 2006.
2. Ibid.
3. 2005 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the US. The Social Investment Forum, 2005, p. iv.

Green Home Buying and Selling

Your official LiveGreen resource to tips and tools you need to live green in your own home.Your official LiveGreen resource to tips and tools you need to live green in your own home.

by Charisse Charters

The question I am asked more than any other is “Is this a good time to buy?” The question seems to come up a lot more now that the market has taken such a drastic turn from the frenzied pace of the previous 5 years. My answer is that it is definitely a great time to buy. Interest rates are still at reasonable lows (face it, the days of the 4% inter-est rate are GONE) and prices are falling. There is also more supply on the market than ever. As of March 2007, there were over 18,000 resale homes available in San Diego county....compare that with 5 years ago when there were less than 4000 proper-ties on the market and you’ll understand why record low interest rates, low supply and high demand (which created bidding wars and) helped fuel record prices for sellers.

The next question is whether or not to search for a “green” home. This becomes a little more complex. The problem I have found is that many of the more substantial green modifications on homes come with substantial cost. Traditionally, owners who are willing to make this type of investment do so knowing that they intend to keep their home for a long time or risk not being able to recoup their initial investment. For example, a solar system is estimated to take 7-10 years to pay for itself. A recent study in the real estate trade publication Appraisal Journal reported that for every utility-bill dollar saved annually because of an improvement, a homeowner gains about $20 in property value. So if solar cuts the annual electric bill by $1,000, the owner could gain $20,000 in home value. That’s an appreciable gain, but still may not offset the initial investment costs (even with the state rebates) if the owner of the system sells the home too soon.

Other green investments such as tankless water heaters, recycled insulation in walls and attics, water reclamation systems, organic gardens, and green landscaping offer a far lower initial investment cost. They can offer the individual owner pride in knowing that they’ve made a contribution to their own sustainability but do little to drive up the listing price.

Another great question: Is this a good time to sell? My answer to that is: Why do you want to? I always ask that question of my clients because inevitably it is a question that the buyers will also ask. Your answer to that is important because buyers are ultimately looking for a weakness or reason to lower their offering price. Buyers will wonder: If this house is so wonderful (good condition, great neighborhood, great features, etc.), why are you leaving? Was this merely a flip or investment? What aren’t you telling me? All of those can factor in to a buyer’s decision as to how much to offer for a property.

Once you’ve made the decision to sell, you’re going to end up being one more home in a market of 18,000 other homes. What’s going to make your house stand out? What will make your house memorable? What will drive potential buyer traffic to your listing? That’s where green improvements may give you an edge. If you can boast certain amenities that can tastefully and appropriately improve the home, your real estate agent can use them as an tool to promote your home and help attract more buyer traffic. Note the emphasis on “tastefully.” Example: a clothesline in the backyard may be great for energy savings, but may not be the most attractive feature for a backyard during showings. However, showing a buyer that you have created an area for the attachment of hooks and the line, you plant the idea that the modification is possible if the buyer chooses it.

So do green homes sell any faster or for higher asking prices than non-green homes? The simple fact is that there isn’t enough data to measure this for certain. First of all, what modifications are needed to declare a home “green”? What percentage of the home has to be modified to earn that title? Is it enough to just install solar panels for energy savings if you contrast that with wasting water by having landscaping requires more water than Sea World in the summer time? What if I have a blue recycling bin outside my garage for bottles and cans.... is that enough? Does a home have to be truly 100% “off-the-grid” to qualify as green? And if so, how many homes in San Diego truly meet this criteria? When talking about a home at this level in San Diego, you are most certainly talking about homes in the higher price ranges ($1 million+). Homes in this range naturally take longer to sell simply because the price limits the number of potential buyers due to budget constraints. Without any clear criteria, it’s almost impossible to get a clear projection on the incentives for sellers.

My advice to buyers....buy the home that you want at a price you can afford. Make modifications that fit your lifestyle and budget. For sellers, modify your home to a level that suits you without making resale your sole motivator. When it’s time to sell, provided the asking price is right, the right buyer will come along and be thrilled with the changes that you’ve made and hopefully purchase the home and continue the tradition of sustainability that you worked so hard to achieve.

Great Green Father's Day Gifts

Stumped on what to get your dad for Father's Day this year? LiveGreen has some great green gifts just for your dad.

How about a six-pack of Fat Tire and a cool Resource Revival bottle opener?

For the hip dad we've got a cool green t-shirt made of organic cotton?

Is your dad always complaining about junk mail? Give a gift subscription of GreenDimes!

If you're in the San Diego area, be sure to bring your dad to Stone's Father's Day Fest! If you have an idea you'd like to share, post a comment!

Funny Green Videos, Not So Funny Problem

My sister sent this on to me and I just had to share. I really thought obwan-canoli was awesome! These videos are a funny way to make light of a serious problem, industrial farming. Did you know that 70% of the antibiotics made are used in farming?


It has the same kind of feel as another video series I would recommend, The Meatrix. Organic farming practices create sustainable markets where food is raised without the use of pesticides, hormones or antibiotics. Luckily, organics are proliferating and can be found in most grocery stores. If you eat meat, try replacing your favorite meal with an organic meat. When my wife and I switched to organic meats seven years ago, we noticed a dramatic improvement in the quality of meats. Along side of the improved taste comes increased nutrition as the animals are raised naturally (not the label) and are able to deposit vitamins and minerals that can be transferred to the consumer.

I really didn't mean to write about organics, just to post the video. Have a nice Monday!

Arnold Corrects Flawed CSI Making Residential Solar More Appealing

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill into law that will fix a problem in the new California Solar Incentive (CSI). This bill will eliminate a Time of Use (TOU) requirement in the CSI.

From Renewable Energy Access

AB 1714, which is designed to fix an unintended flaw in legislation passed last year hindering the California Solar Initiative (CSI). The program, administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), has been touted as the best in the country. But issues with Time of Use (TOU) rates have slowed applications for residential solar systems significantly.

"This legislation will result in lower rates for solar customers and will help us work to maximize Californians' participation in the program."-- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

If you would like more information on solar, contact Clean Power Systems.

Urban Assault Race: Biking, Sustainable, Fun!

I was pleased to read the latest newsletter about this year's Urban Assault Race. Seems they are trying to make their events "Zero Waste". I signed my wife and I up for the San Diego race this year because it looks like a blast. Now I'm really excited that this will be a sustainable event!

snip-it from the newsletter

Also - as one of our efforts to become a "Zero Waste" event, instead of giving you everything in the packets, we are asking you to choose only what you want. You will visit sponsor booths to learn more about their products and services, rather than cutting down trees for tons of advertisements. Everybody will still receive: an American Apparel Shirt, draw string bag, and water bottle. Every little effort makes a big difference!

Greens We Dig: Varian Designs

Check out Varian Designs



Varian Designs was created to provide you with beautiful, inspiring, and original furniture. Our forms are contemporary but our materials are traditional.

We are committed to making intelligent, referential, and environmentally conscious furniture that enriches the lives of all those involved in its creation and use.

The positive impact of the Varian Designs collection extends from the tradesmen who harvest the materials to those who enjoy an evening of conversation around our tables or relaxing on our chairs and benches.

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What Do I Do With This? - rubber bands

My wife and I have started to work towards a zero-waste home. Generally, we check what we buy to make sure it is recyclable or compostable, but sometimes a piece of trash is attached to what we buy and we are left with no other option but to throw it out. In the series What Do I Do With This? we would like to ask you for help. We would like this to be an interactive blog article where we can discuss useful tips for keeping trash out of the landfill.

Our first guest to the show is the rubber band. I thought we'd start with something easy. Our asparagus and broccoli come with two rubber bands each. So, what should I do with these rubber bands? Please leave your comments below.

Bag-O-Demic

As I was riding home from work today on the back of our Vepsa I came to a sad realization. Growing up, my brothers, sister and I always played Slug Bug...you know the game the first person to see a VW Bug screams at the top of their lungs "Slug Bug," and at the end of the drive that is how many times you get to slug your sibling. What a great game!

Today I realized that my kids won't be playing Slug Bug, instead they will be playing Spot the Bag, because there are so many plastic bags littered around that they'll be easier to spot than VW Bugs. I counted on our drive home which is 13 miles and I saw 5 plastic bags. Plastic bags. Americans use 100 BILLION disposable plastic bags every year yet recycle less than 1%. Plastics which don't biodegrade.

Tomorrow on your drive, no matter where you are going try it yourself. Count the number of plastic bags you see on the roadside, in the bushes, stuck in fences, they're everywhere.

Greens We Dig: Ideal Bite

Ideal Bite is a site that I stumbled upon sometime last year. I signed up to their newsletter and have been pleasantly surprised with their content. Sign up to their newsletter and a new eco-tip will be sent to you every day. I have found more than one useful tip, like Recycle 101 and plenty of tips on subjects I never thought of as green...such as help for a hangover

I recently had a chance to chat with Mindi Picotte, Marketing & PR Associate at Ideal Bite. She re-confirmed my choice of Ideal Bite as our first Greens We Dig post.

What I like most about Ideal Bite is that it’s about light green living – we keep it real, fun, and positive - no doom-and-gloom allowed. I can go home at the end of the day feeling good about what we do here.

Amanda and I truly believe that simple solutions can really be a factor in helping to restore this world. If you see a tip from Ideal Bite that you really like, let us know! As for Mindi, I asked her what her favorite tip was...

As for one eco-tip, that’s a tough one because there are so many! I’d have to say one of my favorite tips is “Beware of the Phantom Loads” – a phantom load is the energy used by appliances that are plugged in but not turned on, and simply by using a power strip to ‘unplug’ everything at once you can save tons of energy and cash – in the average home, phantom loads account for 40% of the energy bill!

Ideal Bite offers bite-sized ideas for light green living. Easy eco-living tips are presented in a short, sassy and free email each weekday. From organic wine to eco-friendly fashion, the Daily Tips provide level-headed advice for people who want to do the right thing without giving up creature comforts. The mission is to create a more sustainable world by connecting enlightened companies with Ideal Bite's 115,000+ subscribers who want to vote with their dollars by making small changes that add up. Far from eco-perfect themselves, the editors candidly share their humorous trials and tribulations in the blog. The secret sauce is a spoonful of “incremental environmentalism” with a keeping-it-real attitude... a perfect mix that empowers subscribers to align their values with everyday decisions.