New Year's Resolutions for those with a shorter attention span

The Daily Green has served a nice slide show for the New Year that gives you some simple ways to change your habits and live just a little greener in 2009. For those of you with more focus and less of a hangover, checkout this lighthearted article my wife found last night and mentioned in her previous post. HAPPY NEW "GREEN" YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS! (REMEMBER IT'S A PROCESS) -Glen

THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR FROM A GUEST BLOGGER (MY WIFE !!)

A few days back, Glen took a trip to the library with our 4-year-old to pick out some new books. It resulted in an exciting pile of Picture Books, a few Chapter Books to read together, some Music CD's and a few DVDs. Needless to say, our daughter was thrilled, as we hadn't been to the library for new materials in a while.

Well, Glen stumbled onto the Dr. Seuss section when they were browsing and took it upon himself to suggest The Lorax. Last night, just on the heels of New Year's Eve, our daughter chose Seuss' The Lorax as her bedtime story. She was full of questions and offered many opinions. She scowled with displeasure as I read aloud how the Once-ler chopped down his first Truffula Tree with one chop. She was further dismayed as the Once-ler said to the Lorax, "Look, there's no cause for alarm. I chopped just one tree. I am doing no harm." I was proud at our daughter's reaction, in knowing that we'd done something right. And as I continued to read, she became increasingly curious, asking more questions - and she saw how that one tree being chopped down, which the Once-ler saw as harmless, had consequences. Later on I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if one day the story of The Lorax is as well known as the story of The Grinch?

On this New Year's Eve, many of you are busy making new resolutions. Are you planning to lose some weight? stop smoking? go to the gym more? eat healthier? While those are all fine goals to strive for as we go about "renewing" ourselves in the new year, perhaps you might also consider resolving to do something positive for the world we are leaving our children. The things we do every day, big or small, can make such a huge difference. Here's a few simple resolutions that can help you return your thanks to our mother earth: Start a compost pile, Hang a load of laundry to dry, Walk to the corner store, Start bringing your cloth grocery bags with you, Stop using paper plates, Replace your light bulbs, Try public transportation, and last but certainly not least....Set a good example every day for your children - you can start by going to the library and reading The Lorax to them - make them understand the impact that we all have on our earth.

Or if you need some help coming up with some worthwhile resolutions, you might get inspired from this amusing but serious list of eco-resolutions from thedailygreen.com.

Also, enjoy this clip from The Animated Story of Seuss' The Lorax (What a brilliant man...) and I'd like to just close by remembering what Mahatma Gandhi said: He said, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." Wise words that we should all reflect on.....

Happy New Year!

Green Building and Design

Here is a couple that realized their green business ideas in a new business. They use the LEED Standards to help individuals and businesses build more efficient and sustainable living and work spaces. What kind of green business will you start during the new year?

A LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEA ! Eco-Friendly Snow Removal!

Want to remove your snow, save your back, save the environment and get a great work out all simultaneously? Or maybe you are lazy and you have someone on your gift list who would benefit from advantages like these. Well these three links will provide you with the perfect gift for you or them! While growing up my father didn't use a snow shovel much but instead a contraption he called an aberdickie (sp?) basically a big wooden sled/plow/shovel that was much easier on your back than a snow shovel. Today a similar product is available on the web for sale of course! One guy built a "pedal powered" snow plow. Below are a few amusing videos featuring these eco-friendly snow removal devices. They are pretty cool!
--Glen P.S. Many thanks to my Brother-In-Law for the idea for this post. He still lives in the North East, where they have been getting a lot of snow as of late. He also maintains a blog (Check it out!)about the First Day Cottage he and my Sister are building with their own hands in Upstate N.Y..
http://www.snowmaster.com/

Can't Afford a New "Green" Home?... How About Remodeling "Green"

From Berlin, Germany to Berlin Maryland, USA "Green" Business is the Operative Word. Ryan Murphy of Berlin MD, has started a green remodeling business for people who want to go green but have less to spend. He uses a combination of recycling existing features and items in the house and making green updates. Any contractor could easily turn his business green much like Ryan did.For more details read this article about him and his business. Below I have posted 2 videos that tell the story of a more extensive "Green" Remodeling but any of the things covered in this extreme make over could be implemented on a smaller scale in individual projects in your home. Besides that these projects provide plenty of work for contractors and opportunities for new green businesses.

Tight Budgets and a Poor Economy Lead to "Green" Building Trend

Despite the current Credit Crunch some people who are still building houses are consciously building "Green" and incorporate energy saving features into their homes. Obviously this investment makes sense even in hard economic times because it saves you money in the long run.

From Promoting Rock Bands and Movie Studios to Organic Restaurants...???

Lab one is a marketing company in Germany whose usual clients are Rock Bands and Movie Studios. But this time they are promoting one of the first totally organic and "carbon free" restaurants in Berlin. The name of the Restaurant is Foodorama. Could this be a trend of the Future or will we just continue to support the need for more McDonald's? Of course here in America we already have a Restaurant Chain promising only organics and promoting green practices like installing solar panels on their restaurants. That Restaurant would be Jason's Deli which is mostly found in the South Eastern United States and I must admit it is our family's favorite. It's our oasis here in Upstate South Carolina where we live because it is reasonably priced and we know we are feeding our family good REAL food. So to any of you food entrepreneurs out there... I believe there is a market for good healthy food from restaurants with a conscience. Below is a promotional video from Jason's Deli.