My Earth Day Action Community

Tell us how you’re doing with your Earth Day Action!

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:34:24 +0000

Earth Day Turns 40

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:13:10 +0000

April 22, 2010, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day that is celebrated worldwide to honor and inspire environmental awareness. Earth Day began in 1970 as a culmination of efforts taken by Senator Gaylord Nelson to bring political attention to environmental issues. More than 20 million demonstrators participated in grassroots protests that day, proving that the American people cared about what was happening to their land, rivers, lakes and air. As a result of these protests, the Environmental Protection Agency was founded that same year, leading to the monumental passage of the first Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

This year, join in celebration for the many milestones we’ve achieved, and make a commitment to help our planet even more. Check out these environmental volunteer opportunities:

Volunteer Opportunities >

Eco-Tip

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:10:44 +0000

Spring is the time to start your garden growing. If you’re a gardening novice, start by choosing native plants that don’t need as much water or fertilizer to grow. Visit the Wildflower Center to find recommended species for your area (www.wildflower.org/collections). If you’ve already got a green thumb, consider using compost as fertilizer and avoiding chemical pesticides.

Star Light. Star Bright. Your appliances are ENERGY STAR, right?

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:08:55 +0000

By Standard Renewable Energy

Earth Day 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of individuals joining together to protect the environment. One sure way to do this is by reducing the amount of energy wasted around the home. Replacing your appliances with ENERGY STAR rated appliances is an easy way to reduce your energy consumption, save money, and help make the earth a cleaner place to live.

ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 – 50% less energy and water than standard models. Did you know replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months?

Make an impact for Earth Day.

Standard Renewable Energy is offering Green Mountain customers a way to reduce the energy waste in their home and lower their overall energy bills.

Visit www.sre3.com/greenmountain to learn more.

Recycling to Eradicate Poverty

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:05:47 +0000

For over a year now Green Mountain has partnered with PhoneRaiser to help eliminate poverty through the Chiapas Project by recycling our customers’ and employees’ cell phones. Green Mountain includes a postage paid envelope in each welcome kit we send out, which our customers can use to send their old cell phones to PhoneRaiser for recycling. Each cell phone earns a nominal fee which is then donated to the Chiapas Project. Green Mountain customers are raising around $500 a month for this organization!

If you don’t have a recycling baggie and want to donate your phone, go to www.phoneraiser.com and request one or more bags be sent to you at no cost.

Become a Fan and receive a tree planted on your behalf!

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:02:58 +0000

To celebrate Earth Month, Green Mountain would like to give the gift of green to all of our Facebook fans! Between now and April 30th, we will be partnering with American Forests to plant a tree on behalf of anyone who becomes a fan of Green Mountain Energy Company on Facebook. With your participation, we can help protect, restore and enhance our national forests while continuing to spread the word about clean electricity. Simply visit Green Mountain’s Facebook Fan Page and click “Become a Fan”. As a fan you’ll be the first to know about new benefits offered to Green Mountain customers, energy efficiency and green-living tips, and renewable energy news. Don’t forget to check the page on April 30th when we will announce the final count for the tree planting. Thank you for your support and for helping us celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day!

Celebrate Earth Day with a Home Energy Makeover

greenadmin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:47:38 +0000

Reward yourself and your home this Earth Day with a three-step energy makeover. Just a few do-it-yourself improvements can lead to big returns in energy savings.

COMPLETE AN ONLINE ENERGY AUDIT: The first step to a home energy makeover is identifying the areas that need improvement. Green Mountain’s free online home energy audit makes it easy – in just five minutes you can fill out a home profile to analyze your home’s energy use and get valuable tips to improve its efficiency. Visit www.greenmountain.com/energysaver to get started.

UPGRADE YOUR LIGHTING: Brighten up your energy bill by replacing the incandescent lighting in your five highest-use light fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use up to 70% less energy than incandescent bulbs. This is an easy and cost-effective energy-saving solution for homeowners and apartment dwellers alike. Leave fluorescent bulbs on in the room unless you’ll be gone 15 minutes or longer, as CFLs use more energy to turn on than they do when they run.

TAKE CONTROL OF AIR LEAKAGE: Don’t let the A/C you pay for go right out the door! Sealing windows and doors can be done easily with just a few supplies from your local hardware store, and will help prevent air leakage year-round. Use outdoor caulking around windows and doors, especially anywhere you see damage or feel a draft. Weather stripping can be put along the sides, top and bottom of doors that lead to the outside. Believe it or not, electrical outlets can often be a source of air leakage, too. Purchase a few plastic plug caps and seal any unused outlets around your home.

Drive Smarter and More Efficiently

blueadmin — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:30:01 +0000

Summer is fast-approaching, and with the economy the way it is many of you will opt for a road-trip rather than an extravagant vacation this season. Road trips are fun and cost-effective, but if your automobile is not functioning efficiently you may spend more money on gas than expected. When trading in your car for a more fuel efficient model isn’t an option, the EPA offers some simple tips that will help your car cut back on gas consumption:

Take it easy—slamming on the brakes or accelerating too fast is a waste of gas and can also be unsafe. To improve your gas mileage, be gentle on the gas pedal and breaks. Also, turn your car off rather then idling when possible and remove excess items from your trunk.

Get check-ups—a healthy car is an efficient car. Make sure to take your car in for inspections and oil changes on a regular basis. Check with the manufacturer to determine what type of oil is best for your model. This will help reduce carbon emissions and improve your fuel efficiency.

Pump it up—make sure your tires are filled to the appropriate pressure. Driving with under-inflated tires will hurt your fuel economy and may increase the wear and tear of the rubber. Invest in a tire pressure gauge and use it regularly.

For more information on improving your fuel economy, visit FuelEconomy.gov

An Eco-Blog For Every Lifestyle

blueadmin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:44:02 +0000

Tired of checking the same old blogs every day? Want to read something that is not only juicy but also matches your lifestyle? Enter: eco-blogging.

Eco-friendly blogs are the newest trend, written by people who are addicted to green living. If you love entertainment news, check out EcoRazzi.com, which features the latest in green gossip. If you’re an entrepreneur wanting to keep up to date with green trends in the business world, try Ecopreneurist.com. Love to shop but wish you had somewhere to tell you all about the newest in organic and sustainable products? Ecofabulous.com is your new best friend.

There are plenty of eco-blogs on the web, so get out there and find your new addiction. Subscribe to their RSS feeds and never live a day without the latest in green news!

Make Better Use of Old Books & Magazines

blueadmin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:11:39 +0000

If your area doesn’t support the recycling of old books and magazines, here are a few ways to keep them out of the landfill:

1. Donate: Shelters are frequently in search of reading materials as are other organizations you can find through a search online. You can also try donating to libraries, churches, or schools.

2. Swap: Have friends come over with their used reading materials for a swap party. Or look online for a swapping community. Try Paperback Swap.

3. Repurpose: Depending on the material, turn it into kitty litter, craft projects, mulch for the garden, or wrapping paper. Search online for other creative ideas.

*If you really want to keep books out of the landfill, remember that the library has always been the greenest option for reading materials. Library books are the ultimate recyclables, so be sure to take check out your local library before you go out and buy a brand new book or magazine!