FYI Archives

Replace your regular light bulbs with CFL bulbs and save money.

I'm always talking about how going green can save you money. And it's true. If you're trying to cut back on expenses, the easiest ways to do so probably also are eco-friendly.

Here now, 8 ways to save a little money, and making friends with the environment at the same time ...

Monday, March 16, 2009 -- 11:30 a.m.

I like the way Dean Karnazes, of Dean's Blog for Runner's World magazine, thinks ...

Friday, February 27, 2009 -- 5:45 p.m.

The New York Times really likes their toilets, I guess. Here's one more: A column titled "Yellow is the new green."

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 -- 11:04 p.m.

I finally caved--I'm on Twitter. I'll post green tips, along with random thoughts and events--though it might take me a little while to get the hang of it.

Follow me @PracGreen!

Update: A friend of mine that's more well versed in Twitter than me told me I should put this down to lead you to my Twitter: http://twitter.com/PracGreen. I'll catch on eventually--I promise!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 -- 10:18 p.m.

Post-holidays, the catalogs and junk mail I canceled the previous year always seem to creep back into my mailbox. It must be that online shopping--or the catalog companies think I've suddenly changed my mind.

I figured some of you must be having the same problem, so I thought it would be helpful if I reprinted the post I wrote last year about where you can opt-out of junk mail and catalogs.

If you notice the date of the old post below, I clearly was having the same problem this time last year. Coincidentally, I didn't realize that it's been almost exactly a year since this old post until after I started writing this one! :)

(Originally published Monday, February 18, 2008)

I love getting mail--who doesn't? So when I see a pile of letters addressed to me, nothing disappoints faster than a handful of credit card applications and Crate and Barrel catalogs.

Even worse, millions of trees are cut down every year (numbers vary too much for an exact amount) to produce all that stuff we hardy ever read.

The good news is, you can get yourself off those lists and start living a (mostly) junk mail-free life. I opted out about a year ago and I rarely get junk mail anymore.

Here are some sites that can help:

Opt out of firm offers of credit or insurance

Opt out of blue ValPak coupons

Get rid of catalogs you don't want

DirectMail's do-not-mail list

A few more tips and links from the Native Forest Network

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 --8:54 a.m.

Looking for something cool, educational and fulfilling to do this summer? And maybe want to spread the green knowledge wealth? Go to China!

A friend of mine is looking for people to join her in China at an International Peace Camp as part of Bridges for Education, whose mission is to promote tolerance and understanding using English as a bridge. You'd get the opportunity to teach kids what you know, as well as help them improve their English.

Plus, there are a few trips planned, so it's not all work!

Ideally, you've got a teacher's certificate or teaching experience, but not having those things doesn't necessary mean you can't participate.

So what does this have to do with spreading green knowledge? Well, since the teachers get to make up their own lesson plans, you'd have the chance to teach kids in China about what you know about the environment, which is something they might not necessarily be educated about in their regular schools. What better way to help the Earth than spread information across the world?

I know that things like recycling and global warming are words appearing in our everyday lives, but that's not always the case in other places. According to family in India, "environmentalism" is something that just recently was introduced as a topic in schools.

If I could go, I'd be there in a heartbeat. But just because I can't go doesn't mean that one of you green-minded people can't.

Knowledge is power, right?

Friday, September 26, 2008 -- 4:35 p.m.

Post-Localvore Challenge, I've been re-thinking the way--and the places at which--I shop. So it's nice to know that Chicago now has a green option--Jewel.

While your local eating options may not be any more than any other Jewel in the area, you may be comforted by the fact that the store, located at 370 N. Desplaines St., went all out to ensure it was built and run in a green manner.

The Jewel, which is seeking LEED certification, used building materials with recycled content--and it was obtained from within a 500-mile radius. The heating and cooling systems are energy-efficient, as is the lighting. And it even has a green roof. Plus--not that this has anything to do with being green--the Jewel will also house an in-store dietitian to help shoppers.

I'm planning on swinging by later tonight to check it out, so I'll let you know what I see, first-hand. It sounds like a great initiative, especially if they plan to extend this to more of the new stores going up.

Now, if only they carried more local produce and products ...

Monday, September 22, 2008 -- 4:58 p.m.

Would you like to meet Chicago's greenest person? The Tribune's Tempo section went searching for the person with the lowest carbon footprint in Chicago--and they've got a winner.

Find out here what this guy does to maintain such a minimal impact.

Friday, August 15, 2008 -- 11:52 a.m.

OK, here's yet another link I've found recently. I know there have been a lot of 'em lately, but they're just too great not to share!

The Local Beet: Chicago is pretty much what it's name implies. It's all about eating local in Chicago! It's pretty new, so there isn't a ton of stuff up yet, but the site is a great place to discuss and read about local food.

One of the contributors to the blog is Robert Gardner, whom I blogged about earlier here. You can still read his regular blog too.

And if you're trying to eat local, now's the time to jump on the bandwagon. It's the best time of the season to get locally grown produce!

Thursday, August 7, 2008 -- 10:03 p.m.

I came across this story in The New York Times about a town in Germany that is requiring its citizens to install solar panels. Anyone not in compliance will be hit with a $1,000 euro fine.

It poses an interesting question about how far is too far when it comes to governments working to go green. Where is the line? How much can you actually require your citizens to do before it becomes a "dictatorship"?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 -- 5:53 p.m.

Just a quick note ...

I've had a few readers ask about the RSS feed to this blog, which is not seen on Practically Green's main page. However, it can be found here, at RedEye's blog page. Just scroll down until you see my smiling face!

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, May 1, 2008 -- 8:08 p.m.

Seeing more dandelions at the park these days? That's proof the lawn is healthy and mostly pesticide-free, according to a recent press release from the Chicago Park District.

The park district, along with the Department of Environment and Safer Pest Control Project, is working to limit the amount of pesticides being used in Chicago's parks in order to "minimize the impact on our environment."

Go, park district. (Although, a skeptical part of me says that it saves them money and labor too ...)

But, in addition to their own efforts, they are encouraging residents to do the same.

“We are asking everyone to consider natural alternatives to chemicals for maintaining landscapes,” said Environment Commissioner Suzanne Malec-McKenna.  “Options for a healthy and vibrant garden include choosing species that are adaptable to our climate, utilizing natural fertilizers, and implementing an Integrated Pest Management program.”

If you've got a lawn, here are some tips to keep it green the "green" way, according to the release:

>> Water your lawn 1 inch per week and early in the morning, which encourages deep root growth and minimizes issues with disease.

>> Step away from the mower--only mow if your lawn really needs it. Grass should be kept at 3 inches or higher, which "naturally shades out weeds."

>> Use an organic fertilizer, or keep grass clippings on the lawn as another natural option. Your dog will also thank you for avoiding toxic weed killers.

>> Reseed your lawn every year, and fill in holes left by pulled weeds with grass seed and soil.

And if you don't have a lawn, go smell the dandelions in the park instead. 

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 -- 5:48 p.m.

Check out this link, sent to me by a friend, for ideas on how to use things twice before tossing them. Some of them are kind of bizarre, like the one about plastic bread clips being used as scrapers. But there are a bunch of great ideas on there too!

We see studies and lists all the time listing the best, worst, hottest, most expensive ... the list can go on. But a co-worker forwarded me a study today that caught by eye: Forbes' list of America's Cleanest Cities.

Some of the cities that ended up being in their Top 10 cleanest didn't really surprise me: Portland, Seattle, San Jose, San Francisco. What did shock me a bit was that Chicago seemingly ranked pretty low in their study.

According to the story, in their search for the cleanest cities, they mostly looked at air quality (air pollution rankings and ozone levels). After they looked at the cities that ranked highest in air quality, Forbes measured 29 cities on water quality and solid waste management.

While the new EPA smog limits put Chicago above the air test's limits, I certainly didn't think it put it down there with Detroit. The story doesn't specifically say where Chicago ranks among the rest of the nation--here's the Windy City reference:

Beyond health, cleanliness appears to have an important economic impact. While nine of our 10 cleanest cities showed population increases between 2000 and 2006, major metro areas losing residents over that period tend to rank near the bottom of the cleanliness list; they include Philadelphia, Chicago, Buffalo, N.Y., and Detroit. Many factors, notably economic ones, go into a person's choice to move, of course.

Yeesh.

I've never really given any thought to Chicago being particularly dirty, but I guess it's possible. Perhaps Forbes took these factors into consideration?:

• The CTA--need I say more?
• BP's pollution into Lake Michigan
• Post-St. Patty's Day sidewalks--blech!
• Car and truck exhaust--especially while biking
• Remember when they closed the beaches last year?
• The river is GREEN! (but non-toxic and vegetable-based)
• Horns from honking cars--noise pollution counts in my list

The list could go on ...

Do you think Chicago deserves to be low on the clean list?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 -- 7:03 p.m.

I blogged earlier about my hatred of junk mail, as well as how to get rid of it. So when I heard about ForestEthics' Do Not Mail campaign, I had to get the whole story.

ForestEthics, a conservation group, launched this campaign for a national Do Not Mail Registry 5 years after the Do Not Call registry went into effect.

"The Do Not Call Registry of 2003 addressed a nuisance--telemarketers’ calls at dinnertime," said Todd Paglia, Executive Director of ForestEthics, in a press release. "Do Not Mail also addresses a nuisance, but junk mail has the added consequence of serious environmental effects that must be confronted if we are to stop climate change and reckless deforestation."

Where do I sign up? It makes perfect sense. Even though you don't have to physically answer any annoying phone calls from credit card companies, dealing with junk mail from those same companies takes time too. And just think about how many painful papercuts you've gotten along they way. Makes the Do Not Mail Registry take on a whole new appeal, huh?

So if you hate junk mail, take a minute to sign ForestEthics' petition--it's already 21,000 signatures strong. And, while you're at it, take a look at the facts and numbers behind junk mail and how you can get off junk mail lists.   

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 -- 9:12 p.m.

More and more, I've been seeing bamboo furniture, clothes, sheets, and anything else you can think of. But I never was quite sure what made the stuff greener than regular trees. Treehugger posted a short piece Tuesday about bamboo and the reasons for its green title, and links to Core 77, which has a much longer and more thorough description of how it's processed and what it's merits are.

Who knew that some types of bamboo can grow 4 feet in one day?