Delray Beach’s efforts over the years

In the last ten years, Delray Beach city officials have been focusing on using reclaimed water for irrigational purposes by collecting storm water. Reade adds that locals can save significantly by turning off the water faucet when not in use, whether they are washing dishes or brushing their teeth. Taking shorter showers also helps save a lot of water. Victor Majtenyi from public utilities revealed that almost 70% of the water used in Delray Beach is mainly for irrigation. By utilizing rainwater for such purposes, the city can save water for the ongoing dry spell. Approximately two million gallons are used everyday for water irrigation.

EPA’s contribution towards Earth Day celebrations

Recently, the city officials focused on educating the youth of southern Florida on the importance of conserving water. The city also designated a week in March reminding homeowners and local businesses to look for water leaks in toilet valves and faucets. The Fix a Leak Week was organized by Delray Beach with the help of the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) WaterSense initiative. Reade planned the Earth Day event with Old School Square, Downtown Development Authority and the city government. The event included the distribution of eco friendly promotional items to encourage more residents to take up water conservation seriously.

Festivities at the Earth Day celebrations

To deal with the potential water crisis, the Earth Day events will included numerous discussions on sustainability initiatives that homes and businesses can take up. The Mayor  presented the proclamation on April 21. The event began at 10 am and focused on children by featuring fun activities. Some residents of Delray Beach have shown great support by saving rainwater in barrels for future use. One of the biggest challenges faced by the tropical South Florida city is the increased tourist population during the dry months. Being a popular beach holiday destination, Delray Beach requires more water between the months of October and May.

Representatives from Whole Foods and the Farm Fresh Market in Boynton Beach will be present at the event. Local librarians will read out educational stories about the environment while the entertainment will be provided by an environmental DJ. A lovable character from the WaterSense program named ‘Flo’ will meet the children for the Earth Day celebrations. Children can take home sunflower seeds and saplings to plant at home. The city is organizing a beach cleanup program where several local businesses will hand out attractive reusable totes to the attendees.

Start a home garden!

Whether it is utilizing the reusable bags distributed by local businesses or switching to energy efficient lighting, saving the planet can achieved with small tasks accomplished everyday. An interesting way to incorporate sustainable living practices into your daily routine is to grow your own food. While this may not be feasible for urban working professionals with limited outdoor spaces, starting with a few vegetable plants can go a long way. Instead of opting for expensive chemical filled produce, you can grow organic fruits and vegetables in your home at much lower costs. You will also reduce the number of trips to the supermarket in your car, thereby saving fuel costs and electricity.

Walk instead of drive

Useful as it may be, your car is one of the biggest polluters that not only uses up precious fossil fuels but also causes great danger to the air quality as well as the general health of the community. If not everyday, you can assign one day or a particular activity that makes using your car unnecessary. Whether it is visiting the local grocer or a nearby bank, you can save a lot of energy by walking or biking to your destination. Similarly, you can also start a carpool with your friends or co-workers if you are traveling to the same location together.

Save petrol by giving up plastics

Another efficient to save petroleum is to cut down on disposable plastic products. Whether it is disposable coffee cups, water bottles or plastic bags, manufacturing plastic products consume millions of petroleum barrels each year. Eliminating plastic is one of the biggest challenges faced today and many businesses are encouraging safer practices by distributing reusable bags to spread the message. It is estimated that over 500 billion disposable plastic bags are discarded and a majority of the 2.5 million bottles thrown out every hour are not recycled.

Switch to energy efficient lighting

Replace incandescent light bulbs in your home with energy efficient CFL lights. LEDs and CFLs produce the same intensity of light without emitting heat, saving additional cooling costs. Additionally, CFLs help save electricity costs as they consumer lower amounts of energy, saving you thousands of dollars in the long run. It is also a good idea to eliminate vampire energy i.e. energy consumption even when the device is switched off. Most home appliances functioning on electricity continue using power from the outlet. You can install a power strip and connect frequently used appliances to ward off unnecessary wastage of power.

Going green with memorable catchphrases

The reusable bags distributed by DNA Evolution are designed with catchy quotes like ‘Don’t Be Mean, Go Green!’ and ‘Save the Planet, Dammit’! These unusual saying are catching the fancy of young eco-enthusiasts in Guam as more people are supporting the store’s initiatives. These messages are being displayed on the reusable bags available at DNA Evolution. All stores under DNA Evolution like Volcom, Kicks/Hi and Stussy are offering these eco friendly bags to all their patrons. The store does not offer plastic bags and instead carries reusable bags in different sizes.

Choosing reusable bags over plastic

Regardless of how the small the purchase is, DNA Evolution provides reusable shopping totes to all its patrons. The store awards free reusable bags to customers who have purchased only one t-shirt. Additionally, people can also visit the store to buy the bags. In fact, several customers have shown great interest in these attractive bags and often purchase them and use them as gift bags. More shoppers in Guam have shown an interest in purchasing these eco friendly bags for affordable prices. While the small sized bags are available for $1 each, the larger ones are sold at $2 per bag.

Grabbing attention with catchy words

The administrative assistant of DNA Evolution, Karen Ejan, revealed that the bags were designed to draw attention to the hazards of plastic contamination. With the main purpose of keeping Guam clean and encouraging its customers to recycle more often, DNA Evolution is being respectful to the local environment. Ejan admitted that the interesting slogans may either be interpreted positively or considered offensive. She adds that the purpose of the reusable cloth bags is to grab the attention of the public and help speed up the conservation process. Many businesses in Guam have been using recyclable bags over plastic ones as their remote location makes disposing difficult.

Residents of Guam find it difficult to dispose of plastic bags safely without endangering the ocean life. With thousands of new tourists visiting the island every year, local businesses are taking the responsibility more seriously by keeping plastic usage to a minimum. Local residents of Guam as well visiting tourists have been immensely supportive of this green project and often purchase reusable bags during their stay on the island. Some even purchase them as souvenirs. The bags sold by DNA Evolution are attractive, durable and easy to carry. The store also makes it a point to change the designs of the bags every season to keep them interesting and fresh all through the year.

The annual fair included live music from The Luv Brothers and fun activities and contests for children as well as green demonstrations with over thirty booths displaying different products and actions that aid sustainable living. To support the cause and honor Earth Day, the 21 Day Reusable Challenge was recently launched on April 2 and ended on April 22 i.e. Earth Day. The challenge included eliminating the use of disposable products for the assigned 21 days. This includes plastic bags, disposable plastic bottles as well as Styrofoam. Local green business will make a significant contribution by distributing reusable bags to the attendees.

Earth Day v disposable plastic bags

Single-use plastic bags are frequently used by most shoppers as they still rely heavily on these hazardous products. Despite being informed of the environmental dangers, most people cannot forgo their need for plastic bags. To help combat this situation, the event will hand out eco-friendly promotional items to encourage greener habits. Small steps like carrying a cloth bags for groceries can help reduce the number of plastic bags in circulation. Both paper and plastic disposable bags take a heavy toll on the dwindling resources in the world.

Plastic bottles and their contribution to landfills

Disposable plastic bottles are another reason for concern as over seventeen million barrels of crude oil are used every year to produce almost 1 million tons of plastic. Of these, at least 86% of disposed water bottles never reach the recycling plant. Numerous studies have shown that more 90% of tap water in the United States is safe for consumption while more often than not, “purified” water is just packaged tap water. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars each year on mineral water bottles, you can invest in a stainless steel bottle and use tap water. You will not only save thousands of plastic bottles but also keep your expenses to a minimum.

Dangers of Styrofoam

Styrofoam is another substance commonly used to manufacture disposable cups and packaging material. It is produced from petroleum and does not recycle easily, occupying a majority of the landfill space. According to recent studies, Styrofoam has been associated with toxic chemicals if heated. Avoid purchasing take-out in Styrofoam and opt for aluminum foils or reusable containers. Most of the toxic disposable materials are sent to the Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating landfill estimated to be the two times the size of Texas State. This landfill is causing extensive damage to marine life as it has been discovered that the ocean surrounding the landfill contains 46 times the amount of man-made plastic than natural plankton.

High Country Conservation Center Organizes 21-Day Reusable Challenge for Earth Day
According to a HighCountryConservation.org report, the Earth Day Action Fair in Colorado will be held at the Silverthorne Pavilion. Local green businesses and environmental organizations will join the festivities to highlight the importance of living green. Offering simple tips through demonstrations, these organizations will help you follow effective measures to celebrate Earth Day all through the year. The event organized at the venue will be held from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm on April 19 with free invitations to the public. The Earth Day Action Fair will also include the presentation ceremony of the Green Scene Awards of 2012.

The annual fair will include fun activities and contests for children as well as green demonstrations with over thirty booths displaying different products and actions that aid sustainable living. To support the cause and honor Earth Day, the 21 Day Reusable Challenge was recently launched on April 2 and will end on April 22 i.e. Earth Day. The challenge includes eliminating the use of disposable products for the assigned 21 days. This includes plastic bags, disposable plastic bottles as well as Styrofoam. Local green business will make a significant contribution by distributing [wholesale reusable bags] to the attendees.

Earth Day v disposable plastic bags

Single-use plastic bags are frequently used by most shoppers as they still rely heavily on these hazardous products. Despite being informed of the environmental dangers, most people cannot forgo their need for plastic bags. To help combat this situation, the event will hand out [eco friendly promotional items] to encourage greener habits. Small steps like carrying a cloth bags for groceries can help reduce the number of plastic bags in circulation. Both paper and plastic disposable bags take a heavy toll on the dwindling resources in the world.

Plastic bottles and their contribution to landfills

Disposable plastic bottles are another reason for concern as over seventeen million barrels of crude oil are used every year to produce almost 1 million tons of plastic. Of these, at least 86% of disposed water bottles never reach the recycling plant. Numerous studies have shown that more 90% of tap water in the United States is safe for consumption while more often than not, mineral water is just packaged tap water. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars each year on mineral water bottles, you can invest in a stainless steel bottle and use tap water. You will not only save thousands of plastic bottles but also keep your expenses to a minimum.

Dangers of Styrofoam

Styrofoam is another substance commonly used to manufacture disposable cups and packaging material. It is produced from petroleum and does not recycle easily, occupying a majority of the landfill space. According to recent studies, Styrofoam has been associated with toxic chemicals if heated. Avoid purchasing take-out in Styrofoam and opt for aluminum foils or reusable containers. Most of the toxic disposable materials are sent to the Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating landfill estimated to be the two times the size of Texas State. This landfill is causing extensive damage to marine life as it has been discovered that the ocean surrounding the landfill contains 46 times the amount of man-made plastic than natural plankton.

1. Corrugated Fiberboards

Every year, hospitals use tons and tons of corrugated fiberboards that are not disposed of responsibly. They add to the solid waste of hospitals. Since they are bulky, they need more storage space and are known to raise the costs of waste disposal considerably for the health care industry. They are known to be one of those materials that can be easily recycled. Instead of trying to dispose them of all by yourself, you can give them to the distributor who is involved in collecting them for recycling from all hospitals in your area. This can be profitable for you while being eco-friendly as the distributor does not charge any additional costs for recycling. Identify alternatives to cardboard boxes if recycling is not your choice.

2. Reusable bags

Another way is to opt for reusable bags. Some of the top eco-friendly companies are involved in wide spread distribution of recyclable bags. You can use these bags to market your hospital effectively. You can get your logo imprinted on them and distribute to your customers, employees and other staff. This makes sure that you gather some goodwill from your customers as you will be displaying your corporate social responsibility. Don’t forget, you are doing your bit towards a sustainable environment. Encourage all the employees to use them as often as possible and replace them with plastic bags that are harmful to nature. Instead of the fiberboards, you can use reusable bags to fill in all the items that you would fill in the box.

3. Vendor consolidation

Instead of getting your orders delivered frequently, you can get them delivered once in large quantities. The point here is that you will be contributing towards saving non-biodegradable fuel in the process. You can consolidate all your orders into one large delivery so that the vendor can save some fuel that gets used up for frequent deliveries. Some vendors participate in programs like SmartWay Transport Partnership (conducted by EPA, Environmental Protection Agency) that are aimed at bringing innovative ways to increase environmental sustainability. Here, incentives are created that help in improving the efficiency of supply chains of freight companies.

4. Eco-friendly products

Manufacturers today produce medical products that are more natural and less expensive. Some of the biggest pharmacy companies are trying to do away with products that can cause potential threats to the environment as well as human health. Replacing the tubing and solution bags that cause harm to nature with eco-friendly materials can save millions of dollars to these companies. Hospitals can include in their policies to incorporate green practices and encourage green products. Besides practices like these, you can also reduce the use of paper by making use of e-commerce. You can order your products electronically, by doing which you will be saving tons of trees that are cut to manufacture paper. You can also include certain simple steps like incorporating ideas that can increase your energy awareness. According to BeckersHospitalReview.com, purchasing light bulbs that guarantee energy efficiency, or setting up motion sensors in different rooms with lower frequency, etc are some of the ways to raise energy awareness in your organization.

Westchester Senior High School, CA green initiative

Students at Westchester Senior High School, California have started an eco-friendly business called The Green Comets, Inc. It was started in November 2011. The company has been established by the department of Special Education in the school. Students of the department have actively taken part in making the launch of this business a success. The staffs here have been known for the different kinds of green initiatives they have taken along with their students in the past few years.

The department has been actively promoting recycling activities that are aimed at making the environment cleaner. Some students that have been a part of this department, Kamron Portier, Lonzorod Record, Alma Belasco, Najai Lowe, Isaac Jones and Joshua Erenmark along with their teachers have brought the business forward. They have taken a step ahead in making the business a success. Besides recycling, it is now involved in promoting reusable items. They are selling reusable bags that are handmade. You can use them for your grocery shopping. Students take part in other kinds of activities like collecting plastic bottles to recycle them, working on making grocery bags and washing aluminum cans, etc. They scour the entire school premises to collect recyclable items. These kinds of activities are aimed at increasing the environmental consciousness of the student body.

What the students have to say

My.HSJ.org interviewed Joy Bukhardt, a teacher at the department and Alma Belasco, a student representative of the company last week. They found out that the students have a “system” in place that helps them run the business. They make the promotional reusable bags themselves. First, a paper bag pattern is traced on the fabric using chalk. Then, the pattern is cut out with sewing scissors. The patterns are then sewed together and reusable labels are added to them. The labels are made from cereal boxes. The company got an opportunity to sell the products recently. Their reusable bags were sold at ‘build a garden, grow a community’ event that was held in Westchester. The students got to display their business skills in the event where they advertised the products of The Green Comet, Inc to their prospective customers and carried out business transactions with them. This event helped them to gain public exposure.

What the future holds for The Green Comet, Inc

The company is still in its initial stages of growth according to the students. They are aiming at making the company a success. Also, they are expecting a boom in their business in the near future. Many patterns of reusable bags are sold by the company at $5. The bags are not only environmentally friendly, they are also stylish. The company is open to business transactions and you can buy from them anytime you want.

Amazon Forests Still Being Logged Today

Areas that are of major concern to Greenpeace are eastern Africa and Brazil.  According to the World Resources Institute,  up to 90 percent of West Africa’s coastal rain forests have been logged since 1900.  Brazil and Indonesia, which contain the world’s two largest surviving regions of rain forest, are rapidly being stripped by logging, fires, and land-clearing for agriculture and cattle-grazing.

Affects of Deforestation

There are many environmental concerns regarding deforestation, including global warming.   Trees are natural consumers of carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide  is one of the greenhouse gases whose buildup in the atmosphere contributes to global warming. Removal of trees, tree burning and tree decomposition pump into the atmosphere even more carbon dioxide, along with methane, another major greenhouse gas, and all of these factors combined contribute to global warming.

What Can Be Done

Buying products made from 100% recycled paper, and biodegradable products like recycled seed paper,  is an important part of the solution to ending deforestation.  Greenpeace wants consumers to know they have the power to put pressure on companies that have bad environmental practices by not buying thier products.  Supporting companies with zero deforestation policies  sends a message to other companies to embrace zero deforestation policies.

Greenpeace also continues to work with governments around the globe to help them promote more green legislative programs like the Lacey Act, Roadless Rule and Forests For Climate.

Although logging in the United States has stabilized, it is still an important issue in other areas of the world.   Citizens can help support Greenpeace in their efforts to protect global forests by purchasing products made from 100% recycled materials.

Bicycle sharing systems provide free or affordable access to bikes in urban areas as an alternative to cars or public transportation to reduce traffic congestion, noise and air pollution.  Cities like Denver, Minneapolis and numerous cities throughout California have also started the programs.

To date, no publicly owned bicycle sharing program has yet been able to sustain itself as a self-funding business through memberships.   In Boston, rentals costs are $5 a day or $85 for annual memberships.  To keep the rental costs low,  most publicly owned bicycle sharing systems accept funding from public governmental and charitable sources.

In Europe, several European cities have signed contracts with private advertising agencies that supply the city with thousands of bicycles free of charge or for a small fee. In return, the agencies advertise both on the bikes themselves and in other select locations in the city.  Other eco friendly promotional products such as stainless steel water bottles and eco friendly reusable bags are also used for advertising.

Biking is a great form of transportation if you live in an area that supports it.  The benefits are not only great for the environment, but also your pocket book and your health.

The good news is that the forest resources in the United States have remained relatively constant through the entire 20th century.  Tree farms and recycling have contributed to the stabilization of deforestation despite continued growth into undeveloped areas.

Using recycled paper is better for the environment as paper can be re-used rather than having to cut trees.  Recycling paper does not require any more energy than producing more paper, so the more that is recycled, the better.

Custom Earth Promos sells seed products made from 100% recycled paper instead of the traditional products made of paper from trees.  All of the paper products are biodegradable and can be planted after use.  The dyes used to color the paper are all natural, ranging from soy and water based inks to organic pigments. In all of these areas, these eco-friendly components cause no harm to the environment.

Take the seed paper cards or invitations for example, both are a great way to share your message without leaving a footprint on the earth.  They are a non-waste product that is custom made for that special event.

Although deforestation in the United States is not as much of a problem today as it once was, using recycled paper products is still better for the environment.

•  Scraps of construction paper
•  Blender
• Packet of flower seeds
• Wooden spoon
• Water
• Dish rag
• Colander/strainer
• 3 towels
• Pieces of felt (optional)
• Scissors
• Blank card or a piece of card stock
• Glue
• Markers

Directions:

Pick the colors of construction paper you want included in your card.  Take the scraps and tear them into small pieces of paper and put them into the blender.  Add water to the blender, enough to cover the pieces of paper.  Blend the paper and water together.  This will not harm your blender.  Next, unplug your blender, pour the seeds into the blender, and gently stir in the seeds into the paper with a wooden spoon.

Take your colander and put a cloth over the colander.  Pour the mixture in the blender onto the cloth and let the extra water run out of the colander.  Let the mixture sit in the colander for about 10 minutes to let as much extra water drip out as possible.  Lay another cloth down on a counter with the piece of felt over this cloth.  Pour the mixture from the colander onto the felt and gently spread the mixture out on the felt into the thickness of thick paper.  This is your seed paper.  Let that sit out on the counter over night until it is dry.  You can also dab at it periodically to try to help it dry quicker.

The next day, you will have your dried seed paper.

Take your blank card or card stock, and create your card design with your markers.  Cut out the seed paper shapes that you want to add to your card, and glue that on in the design you have created.  You now have your custom seed paper card.