Everything and Anything

I’m reading on yahoo as I usually end up doing a few times a day and I come across this story on global warming and how we really could be in some big trouble soon. Now I was enjoying my reading until I got to this part.

Longtime global warming skeptic Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., citing a recent poll, said in a statement, “Hansen, (former Vice President) Gore and the media have been trumpeting man-made climate doom since the 1980s. But Americans are not buying it.”

Taken from Yahoo

The first though in my head after reading this was “who are you to tell me what I believe and what I think!” Personally I feel that most Americans are not stupid and can see what is right in front of their damn face. Now if this man stopped getting his income from oil and other environmentally harming companies then maybe he would see differently.

This brings me to my question, the title of my post. Global Warming are you buying it or do you think it’s just a made up dooms day scenario?

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Many people have flags that are worn out and used, but they just don’t know what to do with them. A government approved way to dispose of the flag is to have it burned at an American Legion, Veterans group or boyscout group. If you know how the ceremony goes you can burn it yourself. Another way that is not as well known is to recycle the flag so that new one’s can be made from the old.

Back when burning a worn out flag was approved, flags were made of Cotton, today they are made of nylon that can harm the environment when burned. Nylon is also a petroleum product, so not only are we harming the environment, but we are increasing our dependency on foreign oil because we need the oil to make more flags. If we recycle used flags we cut down on this need for oil and reduce the demand for it.

Recycling flags is easy, again you contact the same groups as you would if you wanted to burn the flag, but you have to mark your flag’s header with the word RECYCLE. I would call ahead to the group of your choice and make sure that they are involved in the recycling part of this program. Many are still not. You can also check with your local recycling company to find out if they are involved in this.

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Maybe this is why I was kept up bored and trying to find something to do. It’s Monday, at least for another hour on the east coast. This also means that it’s going green Monday. Today I’m going to share something personal with you. My quest to help the environment and the US economy.

The first thing I did was buy a car that got good gas mileage, the next was to make sure the car ran well and the tire pressure was good. Then I started to think of other things I could do. One was to take classes online this summer so I’m not driving much at all. I work from home so it’s all good. The next was thinking of next year and that was when I decided I needed to move. I’m not only wasting my money on gas, but all of that gas use is polluting the environment. Now I know not everyone can move, but I can so I should.

The next thing I want to do is get a laptop and a solar powered charger for that laptop. I know they have them, I’m just not sure where. I’ll find them eventually. So here is my question. What are you doing to go green?

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I was reading today that more and more people are going green with their weddings. I love this idea and I had planned on doing the same if I ever get married. As I was reading I thought I wonder how you could go green at a wedding. I thought of a few things that I wanted to share with you. If you have any other tips feel free to share them also.

One that is almost a given is to get a horse and carriage for your ride away from the church. Plan the reception at a close location and it should be an easy trip. You can also encourage people to car pool to the wedding.

Use recycled paper for everything, invitations, menus, programs and anything else you use.

Throw bird seed instead of rice.

Have the wedding outside so you can reduce your energy use.

Buy locally grown flowers or pick your own and have a crafty person put them together for you.

buy all organic, the dress, the food and more, but don’t worry about organic if it’s all locally grown and produced. If you can get both go for it.

Have the reception outside and light it with LED lights.

Give out LED or Florescent lights as wedding favors along with a list of things people can do to help save the environment.

Thats my list what can you think of?

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I am really happy I have decided to move. It’s sad when you add up all of your gas to drive just 3-4 days a week and you end up spending more money then you would paying rent. I decided that I am tired of foreign countries getting my money. I would rather it go to someone local who needs it. Yes the same foreign people may still get some of it, but at least it switches hands a few more times first.

The best way to combat these prices is to find ways to stay as local as you can. I’m lucky I can move closer to where I drive. I know many can’t but there are still ways you can help to cut down on the need for foreign oil. I was reading about this in a magazine yesterday, and one way you can do this is to buy local. Spend money on fruits and vegetables that are grown in your area. If you live in a city, check and see if there is a farmers market available. Not only do you save oil use, but you are helping to support the local small farmer who I’m sure needs the money more. The bad part about this is that you may not be able to get some of the things you like. My suggestion is once a month splurge on that item. Trust me there are somethings you can live without.

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One thing that I have always wanted to put into a home I will eventually own is a tankless water heater. There are many good reasons to use one, they heat water fast so you don’t have to wait for it. Also you never run out of hot water. It’s also nice because a tankless water heater can save you cash too. The energy used to run a tankless heater is much less then is used to run a regular water heater. Instead of energy used to heat gallons of water several times a day you only need to heat what you are going to use that minute.

This helps not only you get ready for your day quicker, but lowers the emissions from our energy use. It also will help lower your electric or heating bill depending on what type of energy you use to heat your water. Example, my mom has propane, she has no choice unless she switches to electric. So if she installed a tankless heater she could save hundreds of dollars off her propane bill. Now thats a nice idea.

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I love to hear when business decide to go green. I think many more need to think about it. The cost is really not that great and the benifites are amazing. It helps wild live and makes a better envirionment for your workers and visitors. You want people to feel good when they come into your place of business and for some knowing it’s designed green will make them feel really good about comming in and checking out your product or service.

Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center is one business that has gone green, yes a nature center is usually a very green place, but most of the time time buildings and other stuctures are not built to fit into the green design trend. In this case these buildings are. In fact Shangri has been one of the few projects to be awarded with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum certification for LEED®-NC. This is something they should be proud of and you should want to see more of. Not only is this great for their Public Relations, but it’s good for the animals and plants in the nature center since they benifit from the lack of chemicals and other mass produced products that could harm them.

Shangri La Gardens is located in Orange Texas just east of Houston. It’s along the gulf cost and in a great part of Texas. I have never been there but I have always wanted to go to that part of Texas. The only part I have been to is Dallas and just north of there. But I have heard the gulf area is a great part to be in. A little humid maybe but still worth a trip. Now it seems I have a new reason to go there. I would love to check out this nature center and see what exactly they have done to go green.

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