Clean Air



                               

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a smidge excited when, a few weeks ago, Tim from CREDO Mobile contacted me about featuring their company on 5 Minutes for Going Green. You see, while I’m currently contractually obligated to one of the major U.S. cellular companies — and truth be told, even though CREDO offers a contract buy out option, I’m not entirely prepared to switch since my current company is one of only two carriers that offer my beloved Palm Pixi — CREDO doesn’t offer just phones. They also carry the Solio Solar Charger. A smart little device that I have been eying for quite sometime.

If working with Tim was any indication of the customer service CREDO Mobile offers their clients, dissatisfaction is not something members of the CREDO network are familiar with. Within a couple days my UPS man was out front tossing my dogs biscuits on his way to the door to drop off the Solio Mono (in Red — my favorite color, no less). In fact, it arrived a day earlier than even Tim expected; a very nice surprise indeed. And as much as I would love to carry on all day about the Solio — telling you how it will hold a charge for up to a year, making it a great tool for an emergency preparedness kit; or how it comes with just about every adapter known to man, making it about as universal as any charger can be; or how even in a cold, dreary, overcast Michigan winter it managed to gain a charge sitting on my kitchen windowsill, a far cry from direct sunlight; or how you can even charge it from a wall socket or your USB in a pinch and take that charge with you — the thing is, CREDO the company is just as cool.

According to their Real Green Mission:

Our commitment to a better world is not about symbolism. Since 1985 we’ve donated over $65 million to progressive groups like Doctors Without Borders and Planned Parenthood — $10 million alone to environmental groups like Sierra Club and Greenpeace. And we’ve backed up our donations with real activism. The one million activists of our citizens lobby are leading the way on important environmental causes…

That $65 million didn’t come from client donations or fundraising drives, either. CREDO automatically donates a portion of each member’s bill to get things done; things like pushing congress to pass stricter fuel efficiency standards and championing stricter catch limits in oceans. And not just that, they’re also operating eco-friendly on a daily basis themselves; printing their bills on 100% post-consumer recycled paper and with soy-based inks, off setting their carbon emissions and planting trees to replace the paper they use.

:: :: ::

Diana Prichard is the Managing Editor of 5 Minutes for Going Green, a freelance writer and editor and green junkie living in Michigan with her husband, two daughters and a menagerie of animals large and small. More of her life and work can be found at her personal blog, DianaPrichard.com.



                               

This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you support this site. Thank you!
See our Disclosure Policy for details.

Why My Kids Ride the Bus

Photobucket

Because I make them.

It’s as simple as that. Just like I make them turn off lights when the leave a room and make them turn off the tap water while brushing their teeth and make them place empty cereal boxes in the recycling bin.

They don’t like it much. They say the bus smells (it does!) and sometimes, kids are rowdy. Often, they tell me, the bus driver is grouchy. If I drove them to school, they argue, they could sleep in a bit later (not that they would!) and would get home a bit earlier in the afternoons.

It’s true.

Read the full article →
 


                                       

Staying Warm in the Winter

One of the best ways to reduce our carbon footprint is to use less fossil fuels- pretty simple right? The complicated part is expanding our awareness so that we understand the ways that we are consuming.

In the winter I notice my energy use raising.  A few examples: I turn the lights on earlier in the day, I sneak the heat on, I tend to watch more TV, and I eat more cooked foods and less fresh out of the garden.  Some of the less obvious might be: I buy more stuff. Ever notice all the catalogues that show up in late October, early November?

Read the full article →
 


                                       

Indoor Air Quality

Every day we are faced with many types of pollutants. It can come from buses, autos, smoking, factories, detergents, pesticides and more.

Although it seems as though the safest place to be at times is your home, you may not be entirely right. Many indoor pollutants can trigger a LOT of different health issues. Asthma, allergies and carbon monoxide are just a few of the issues your home many have.

Luckily there are a few things you can do to make sure the IAQ (indoor air quality) in your house is up to par.

In the Bedroom:

  • Washing bed linens in warm water weekly and keeping a low humidity (30-50%) will keep dust mite levels low
  • Dust mites also hide out in other places so wash stuffed toys, dust often, and vacuum regularly

In the Bathroom:

  • Mold is the allergen here and can easily be remidied by proper ventilation.
Read the full article →
 


                                       

May Is EcoDriving Month

May is EcoDriving Month!

It’s a great time to learn to change your driving habits. Just small changes in how you drive can help you get better gas mileage. Not all of us can run out and by an electric car or a hybrid, so learning to drive better can make a real difference.

Here are some basic tips that can help increase your gas mileage-
1.    Check your tire pressure. Properly inflated tires can increase fuel efficiency by around 3-10 percent.
2.    Have a lighter foot. Slowly accelerate and decelerate.
3.    Clean out your car. Extra weight will lower your mpg.

Read the full article →
 


                                       

Throw Open the Windows!

With spring finally in full force in most areas around the country, many people are tackling, or finishing up, their deep cleaning to welcome summer.

Something you may not have considered cleaning, however, is the air in your home.  Did you know that most homes have much higher percentages of air pollution than anything you would find outdoors?  Scary, but true!

So, what can you do to help clear the air?  Well, there are a few simple steps you can take to help your family breathe easier.

-Open the windows and let the fresh air in!
In our efforts to seal every nook and cranny in the summer and winter months so as to not let in (or out) any hot air, making our homes more efficient, we often don’t consider that we are trapping in the pollutants along with the temperature.  A nice cross-breeze can not only simply regulate the temperature of your home in these warming days, but also help rid your home of congested, poor quality air.

Read the full article →
 


                                       

The Science Behind Saving Gas

gas pump

There has been lots of talk in the past and even recently about how to increase your fuel efficiency. This talk is usually associated with gas mileage, but in places like where I live, that also includes power. Our power comes from a petrol generating plant. Gross, I know.

While saving gas is very important, where, exactly, does all of the information floating out there in cyber-space come from? Is it reliable?

The most quoted numbers are actually from a company subcontracted by the US Government to do these studies. The researchers are known as Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. and helped compile most of the information on FuelEconomy.gov.

Read the full article →
 


                                       

Dry Your Clothes Green

After a reading a few comments on my post called Saving Green by Going Green, I thought that the topic of clothes drying could use a little more attention. So, this week I am going to focus in on a few different issues about living green and drying our clothes that I believe everyone can benefit from.

First of all, it was brought to my attention that the dryer balls I referred to in my original post were, indeed, made of PVC, which is obviously not a green material. With that said, I was assured by distributors of these balls that they are made with safe practices, but let’s face it, any way we can avoid PVC (especially heating it) is probably a good idea.

Read the full article →
 


                                       

2009 Tax Breaks For Going Green

Are you ready to install solar panels or a wind turbine at your house? How about adding insulation or installing more energy efficient windows? 2009 may just be the year to take the plunge, thanks to some new, extended and improved tax credits.

Details can vary depending on your project but energy efficient home improvements including replacement windows (capped at $200), insulation (10% of the cost, capped at $500), sealing cracks in the shell of your house and in the duct work, and energy efficient water heaters and furnaces (capped at $300) can get you some very helpful tax credits.

The existent tax credit for installing solar panels was extended for 2009 giving you a 30% credit against the cost of your equipment with the previous $2,000 cap removed.

Read the full article →
 


                                       

Fall Cleanup With A Little Elbow Grease And Manpower

Leaves blowing around the yard may be a discouraging sight to the tidy landscaper, but with the right lens, leaves covering the ground can be seen as ample opportunities.

Many outdoorsy folks look forward to the fall as an opportunity to work in their yards during comfortable weather and to get outside and play. Last week, Amy, also known as the Crunchy Domestic Goddess, shared a few tips on how gardeners and composters may make use of fallen brown leaves to create a nutrient-rich compost throughout the year.

When it comes to managing fall leaves, you may also wonder how to remove leaves from your yard in an environmentally friendly way, and whether or not it makes sense to remove leaves at all.

Read the full article →