Green Leaf

Here’s your chance to display your recycling knowledge about common household products. Are you a recycling hero? We bet you are! Take this week’s quiz and find out. Earth911.com Quiz #27: Are You a Recycling Hero?   Test your recycling knowledge with five questions about common household products. Are they recyclable? What’s the safe way to recycle them? Simple, right? Test your recycling chops.   Every week, Earth911.com challenges you with quizzes that test your sustainability savvy and help you make environmentally friendly choices when you shop, use products, and dispose of unwanted items. What is the quickest, safest way to recycle latex paint?   When you are done with a house painting project, hopefully, you won’t have leftover latex paint. If you do and need to recycle it, what should be mixed into the paint to dry it out before sending it to the transfer station? Can a pet food can be recycled?   Americans spent  more than $29 billion...

For many professionals, working from home has become the “new normal” over the past few weeks and months. Indeed, while remote employment has been rising steadily for years now, a… The post How Green Companies Can Transition to a Remote Employment Strategy appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2TI1Zvu https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Protecting the environment requires collaboration and cooperation between eco-friendly activists. This is true of individuals, small groups, politicians, and, of course, business owners. Indeed, support from the private sector is… The post 4 Ways Eco-Friendly Entrepreneurs Can Improve Their Business appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3d68U9x https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The field of energy development has been constantly expanding, improving existing methods of gaining electricity from green sources, and developing or discovering new methods of generating power. One facet of the field of green energy is biofuel, fuel made from a biological source that regrows quickly. You may already be familiar with ethanol fuel or biodiesel. But there have been several advances in the field within the last few years. Fuel From Bacteria Big advances can come from small places. A recent project conducted by HelioBioSys found that three strains of cyanobacteria — aquatic organisms that grow in massive colonies — release an extremely high amount of sugar into the waters they live in. Extracting these sugars from the water is relatively easy, and those sugars could be processed into alcohol-based biofuels, such as ethanol . Given how easily the bacteria grows, the main issues are preventing bacterial overload and preventing other things from growing in the sugary ...

If all toilets in the United States were upgraded to EPA WaterSense standards, we could save 512 billion gallons of water annually. It makes sense to modernize your toilet! Data source:   Efficient Toilets: A Buyers Guide Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. Would you like to share a photo and story? Drop by the Earthling Forum  to contribute your photos and ideas. You Might Also Like… Biofueling the Future May 26, 2020 We Earthlings: Modernize Your Toilet To Save Water May 26, 2020 Stop the Summer Reading Slide With Eco-Themed Kids’ Books May 26, 2020 The post We Earthlings: Modernize Your Toilet To Save Water appeared first on Earth911.com . from Earth911.com https://ift.tt/3eksf72 https://ift.tt/36zEzxB

Summer is a time for playing outside and enjoying the environment. At least one study has shown that playing outside as a child is an important predictor of protecting the environment as an adult. But parents need to ensure kids keep up their reading skills, which often slide over the summer . These books with environmental themes, sorted by reading level, will improve both your kids’ literacy and their environmental awareness. We suggest reading them in a treehouse or on a picnic blanket in the sun. Earth911 teams up with affiliate marketing partners to help fund our Recycling Directory . If you purchase an item through one of the affiliate links in this post, we will receive a small commission. Picture Books A Leaf Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas A leaf can be a… shade spiller, mouth filler, tree topper, rain stopper. Find out about the many roles leaves play in this poetic exploration of leaves throughout the year. The Tantrum That Saved the World by Megan Herbert and Mic...

Do you dread opening your summer electric bills? If you’re like many U.S. residents and rely on air conditioning to stay cool over the summer, the corresponding increase in your utility bills can be frightening. But keeping cool in the summer doesn’t have to break the bank. There are lots of little things we can do to promote home energy efficiency and summer comfort . Look at the Big Picture Let’s start by exploring how energy is used in the average home. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), heating and cooling the home accounts for the greatest percentage of energy consumption in the residential sector. Some of the other major home energy uses are broken down in the EIA’s chart below. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration What do you know about energy use in your home? Some utilities have programs that show real-time home energy use. Gaining an understanding of how your home uses energy is really helpful in boosting efficiency. The New York T...

Gardening, though aesthetically pleasing, can also provide numerous environmental benefits; offering the opportunity to contribute to protecting the natural world. Living more mindfully and creating an eco-friendlier garden will reap… The post LIVING MORE MINDFULLY: THE TOP GARDEN UPDATES appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2TuwbtS https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Ever noticed that you have a sudden headache, runny nose and coughing just after you have come back from somewhere. This is not the beginning of a flu, though it… The post Outdoor air pollution reduces average life by three years – Study appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3bVsvId https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Brightly colored, upcycled birdhouses are among the most charming forms of garden art. But if you want a birdhouse that’s actually for the birds, you need to consider a lot more than human aesthetics in your design. Birds will only use nesting boxes that mimic the ones they build or find in nature. They usually have specific requirements about size, shape, and placement of entry. No matter how cute they are, most of the birdhouses sold at the craft fair don’t even look like houses to the birds. This article contains affiliate links, which help fund our  Recycling Directory , the most comprehensive in North America. Specificity It’s obvious once you think about it, but different kinds of birds have different nesting needs, so it helps to know which bird you are building a house for. Many Audubon Society chapters provide building designs for bird species that are local to their area and likely to appreciate a well-designed birdhouse. (Not all birds can be convinced to take up res...

Crafting with kids is a great way to get creative on lazy afternoons at home. By using upcycled materials, you’ll not only spend less money, but also teach kids the value of reuse and recycling. So, the next time the family is feeling crafty, try one of these awesome projects made from upcycled food packaging and show the kids that reuse can be fun! Classic Tin Can Telephone Most of us have at least one cherished childhood memory involving a summer afternoon, a sibling, and a tin can telephone. If you want to pass those nostalgic, feel-good moments on to your little ones but can’t quite remember how to put the makeshift phones together, Joel Henriques of Made by Joel has you covered. The designer, artist, and father of two created this handy tutorial , complete with tips, photos, and everything else you need to keep the tin can tradition alive. Note: Do yourself a favor and make an extra telephone. You’ll probably want to play with this yourself! Photo: Joel Henriques/Made by ...

Yes! I did it. I invented something to replace fishing. It’s relaxing, rewarding and undeniably planet friendly. Welcome to Earthing, your new favorite activity. Reeling You In With fishing, anglers say they enjoy the outdoors, the sunshine and the tranquility. Does the alternative Earthing stack up? Yes, yes and yes. You’ll stroll along the water’s edge, wielding a stick and keeping watch for an opportunity to snag a whopper. No measuring necessary. In Earthing, everything we pull out is a whopper. We’re aiming our trusty sticks at empty pretzel packages. Wayward grocery bags. Glistening candy wrappers. And assorted UFOs — unidentified floating objects. If it doesn’t belong in the water, Earthing enthusiasts nab it. You’ll Be Hooked For those who enjoy the sportier side of an activity, Earthing accommodates. You’ll rely on your wits, your resourcefulness and your prowess. Sometimes snaring a piece of debris is a snap. Other times, it req...

Challenge your knowledge about where your trash and recycled materials go after they leave your home. In this Earth911 Quiz, we’ll explore the difference between landfills and dumps, how they are regulated, the percentage of all municipal waste recycled in the United States, and more. Do you know where your trash goes? Earth911 Quiz #76: Where Does Your Garbage Go?   Most folks don’t give much thought to what happens to their waste, and recyclers need to understand how their hard work sorting materials leads to reuse instead of the landfill. In this Earth911 Quiz, you’ll explore the path from your curb to the landfill or a specialized recycler who reprocesses materials for their next lives as recycled products. What is all the stuff we throw away called by policymakers and waste professionals?   All the stuff we throw out and recycle become a part of a stream of materials that policymakers and waste professionals call “_____.” What is the catch-all phrase for your ...

No matter what kind of business you are planning on setting up, there are a lot of things to take care of, from coming up with plans, buying equipment and… The post How to Get Financing for a Clean Energy Start-up appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2A4U7NF https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

George Monbiot once wrote in the Guardian that a recession might not be a bad thing, and that perhaps there can be too much growth. He also wondered if we all have enough cars and cellphones, and don't need to keep making them. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/3fp7qZw https://ift.tt/2WfKFj7

Advice to eat less meat and dairy is seen as "biting the hand that feeds." from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/3beE8cT https://ift.tt/3bfIz7g

This week’s quote is a Somali proverb: “Be a mountain or lean on one.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click to get a larger image. Share your favorite nature and sustainability quotes in the Earth911 Earthling Forum . We’ll use your suggestions in future posters! You Might Also Like… Earth911 Inspiration: Be a Mountain or Lean on One May 8, 2020 5 Tips To Cultivate Happy Gardening With Your Children May 8, 2020 Good, Better, Best: Reducing Your Transportation Carbon Footprint May 7, 2020 The post Earth911 Inspiration: Be a Mountain or Lean on One appeared first on Earth911.com . from Earth911.com https://ift.tt/2WEHVea https://ift.tt/3dxUCyt

Getting children excited about gardening is one of the easiest ways to boost their connection to their food and to get kids to eat vegetables. And yet many children don’t know that grapes grow on vines and that carrots are the roots of a plant. I’ve made sure that’s not the case with my kids. Last summer, my 3-year-old son would go out into the garden, harvest a bowl of kale, and then eat much of it. He took pride in his little garden plot, and would offer cherry tomatoes to neighbors passing by. Growing a gardening curiosity Kids love hands-on learning and exploration. Follow these five tips for fun and healthy gardening with children. Give them a good plot with lots of sun My kids each have their own small garden bed to tend. They have good plots with rich soil and lots of light. I try to set them up for success. I do some weeding here and there. My kids are still young and I want their early gardening experiences to be positive yet realistic. Ensure it is a manageable size...

Restoration ecologist Karen Holl explains why it's not that simple. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2YKw7de https://ift.tt/2AaC9JR

Gone are the oppressive schedules, replaced with long stretches of glorious free time. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2A58WzP https://ift.tt/2L9yoGE

This is the first in a series of five articles that help you find ways to reduce your carbon footprint by changing your use of the main carbon culprits in the average American’s lifestyle. It’s no secret that Americans love their cars. We drive more miles than any other nation — 30 percent more than second-place Canada. But all those miles on the road come with a high environmental price. The typical passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Few of us are willing or able to give up our cars, but everyone can cut their transportation carbon. From reducing your carbon a little to a lot, here are some good, better, and best steps you can take. Carbon Footprints Because carbon dioxide emissions are a leading cause of climate change , measuring the amount of carbon dioxide released by a particular activity can serve as a useful shorthand for that activity’s environmental impact. This greenhouse gas measurement is known as the carbon footprint of that activi...