Green Tips

Green Drinks Potluck TONIGHT!

Greetings, Green Gainesville!

Please accept my apology for sending this info on Green Drinks so late…. As you may know, we had a fabulous Cinema Verde and I am still, five days later, a walking zombie. This just slipped my radar. I hope that you plan to attend and that the following [...]

Read more »

Recent Posts

Rachel Red Lips: Tips for Reconstructing Thrift Store Finds

Rachel tips

Wonderful ideas for recycling clothes from my darling daughter! –TR*
“Unfortunately, as the vintage scene grows throughout the country, more and more thrift stores are being picked over and laid out for dead….but with these resources becoming scarce, a bit of imagination and sewing savvy can open up an entire window of thrifting you may have [...]

Read more »

5 iPhone Apps for Green Living

By Louise Baker
With new apps hitting the iTunes store everyday, it can be hard to figure out which ones are truly essential for the tech-loving environmentalist. It is possible to just load your phone with every shiny app that catches your eye, but that rather goes against the spirit of the green movement, doesn’t [...]

Read more »

Toxic-free cleaning tips

Getting rid of odors the non-toxic way
Trish Riley is the author of the award-winning Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Living (Penguin/Alpha Books 2007) and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Greening Your Business (with Heather Gadonniex, Penguin/Alpha Books 2009). Trish was gracious enough to talk about how we can take care of getting rid of odors [...]

Read more »

12 Ways to Cut Your Oil Use – The Daily Green

clear-bag-tree-rm-lg

By Brian Clark Howard – The Daily Green
“A few simple changes to your driving habits can save dozens of gallons of gas a year, but you may be surprised to learn how much recycling cans and eating a single weekly vegetarian meal will save.”
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/reduce-oil-consumption?src=rss#ixzz0soxDOF63

Read more »

Putting the ‘I’ in Environment – CommonDreams.org

This article provides easy steps we can take – regardless of our income or employment – to dramatically reduce our individual dependency on oil consumption, thereby making disasters like the Gulf Spill less likely to happen in the future. Thanks to Ed Brown for sending this to us!

Read more »

Edible Landscaping: One Transition Step from Peak Oil – The Oil Drum

cornucopia_0

A practical guide to how we can reduce our oil dependency – as well as save money and enhance our lives – by growing our own food. Sent to us by local Green Drinker Ed Brown. Thanks!

Read more »

GRU First in Florida to Launch New Home Energy Reporting Program – GRU

If you’re not one of GRU’s select customers (and even if you are), you can sign up to track your energy/water/waste monthly to compare against yourself and your neighbors at the GoGreenNation Conservation Challenge!
“40,000 randomly selected Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) residential customers will be mailed comparative home energy reports as part of a three-year pilot [...]

Read more »

Go Green Nation’s Conservation Challenge

GoGreenNation would like to challenge you to see how many ways you can reduce your consumption of natural resources. In the process, you’ll save money and reduce your footprint on the planet.

Read more »

GRU Energy Fair today! Join me – Free Lunch!

Gainesville Regional Utilities will host the second annual GRU Community Energy Fair on May 15 to help customers take control of their energy use and save money. The fair will take place from 11 AM to 1 PM in the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center.
GRU Partnering Contractors at the fair will demonstrate the latest [...]

Read more »

“Green Exercise” Is Optimal for Good Mental Health

Just five minutes of exercise in a park, working in a backyard garden, walking on a nature trail, or other activity in a green space will benefit mental health.
Jules Pretty and Jo Barton explain in the study published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal that green exercise is physical activity in the presence of [...]

Read more »

Essential Oils for Cleaning

I use grapefruit and tea tree oils for cleaning…. love the clean feel of my home.
“Lemon, lime, lavender, cloves, and cinnamon are absolutely fragrant and delicious. Better yet, their juices and oils are scientifically proven germ fighters, explained herbalist Jeannine Vannais, Plant Stewardship Coordinator at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope, PA.
“The way we [...]

Read more »

Eco-Fair March 27, 2 – 9 p.m.

earth_hour

The Gainesville Environmental Film and Arts Festival will host an Eco-Fair 2-9 p.m. March 27 at the Sun Center downtown.

We’ve been inspired by the films, now let’s get the tools for change and make the commitment to do what we can to create a healthier future. Join the GoGreenNation Conservation Challenge, buy a rain barrel, [...]

Read more »

Indoor Air Pollution: Look at the Causes and Solutions

Here’s an interesting article detailing indoor air pollutants and ways to help clean up your atmosphere, sent our way by Healthy Living Interior Designer Denise Robinette:
Carpets, shower curtains, paints, upholstery, plywood, particle board, cabinets, computers, and synthetic materials all let off poisonous gasses and chemicals. Because most homes are well insulated, it leaves those poisons [...]

Read more »

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Living

The environmental movement and rising awareness of global warming have sparked an interest in green living. People want to know what they can do to live sustainable lives. In this book, you will find an overview of global warming and environmental degradation of air, water, and soil; what sustainable living is and how to do [...]

Read more »

Rachel Red Lips: Skin Deep Cosmetics Database

I have done my job!!!! :)
My mom is the Eco-Expert responsible for Gainesville’s green resource website GoGreenNation and for years she has been guiding me to a sustainable lifestyle. As I’ve gotten older and wiser, I’ve really realized how important it really is to be absolutely sure that I’m not overexposing myself to chemicals and [...]

Read more »

Green Your Halloween – LIME

“If you’re using makeup, choose organic products that won’t cover your kids with toxic synthetic chemicals,” adds Trish Riley, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Living.
via Green Your Halloween – LIME.

Read more »

GreenGov

greengov-heading

What a cool way to engage employees in helping the Federal Government to GoGreen! Will this work at your business or in your local government?
On Monday, October 5th, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order on Federal Sustainability – and in doing so, committed the Federal government to lead by example, practice what we [...]

Read more »

Tips for Promoting Environmental Events

People around the world are working to raise awareness of global warming issues, and events are being planned for Oct. 24. If you’d like to get involved or have an idea, here’s a great place to start:

www.350.org

Read more »

The Writing is on the Wall: Chemical Contamination is Dangerous

©Trish Riley

I believe that the problem of chemical contamination of our air, soil, water and bodies, although it is still largely under the radar of the public, will prove to be a more pressing immediate concern even than the current specter of global warming. These chemicals are killing life on this planet, us included. We should begin now to reduce our exposure to synthetic petrochemicals in as many ways as we can, by addressing our personal environments, our political regulatory system and industrial responsibility. Read a roundup of articles detailing the problem, with ideas on what we can do to reduce our exposure to these dangerous substances.

Read more »

Green Q&A: Cutting Costs by Conserving Energy at Home

Photo by Rachel Rector

Dear Trish,

I have heard that the best way to save energy is by only using your airco when you really need it. Isn’t that true?

Not quite…. Read on for several tips to reduce your energy consumption – the less we use, the more we can rely on truly renewable energy: solar and wind.

Read more »

Recent Headlines