Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Where to Recycle Just About Anything!
Vali Heist, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of the Clutter Crew, talked about ways to get rid of clutter in your home last week at our Green Drinks event. She had handouts about Green Organizing - emphasizing the environmentally-friendly principles of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose, and Remix". Click here to view the handouts in PDF format.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Energy Savings Checklist
Here is a checklist for energy saving tips, courtesy of Jim Kurtz, General Manager of Reading Electric Renewables.
To Do Today
• Turn down the temperature of the water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees).
• At night and whenever you leave your home, adjust your thermostat to save heating energy in the winter and cooling in the summer.
• Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescents or LED bulbs.
To Do Within a Month
• Purchase a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators.
• Caulk leaky windows.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryer. Replace old machines with new high efficiency rated models.
To Do Within the Year
• Insulate. If your walls are not insulated, have an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Replace or add insulation as necessary to your attic.
• Schedule an energy audit for expert advice on your home as a whole.
• Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house especially on the west side.
To Do Today
• Turn down the temperature of the water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees).
• At night and whenever you leave your home, adjust your thermostat to save heating energy in the winter and cooling in the summer.
• Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescents or LED bulbs.
To Do Within a Month
• Purchase a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators.
• Caulk leaky windows.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryer. Replace old machines with new high efficiency rated models.
To Do Within the Year
• Insulate. If your walls are not insulated, have an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Replace or add insulation as necessary to your attic.
• Schedule an energy audit for expert advice on your home as a whole.
• Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house especially on the west side.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Green Resolution Winners Announced!
Thanks for all of the great posts to our blog last week. Good luck with your New Year's resolutions.
We randomly selected the winners of the blog:
Kristina D.
Michele
Nancy K.
Winners will receive a $10.00 Gift Certificate for the Berks Conservancy store.
WINNERS: Please email Kim Lewis at the Berks Conservancy at kim.lewis@berks-conservancy.org for complete details on how to redeem your certificate.
Thanks to all who participated!
We randomly selected the winners of the blog:
Kristina D.
Michele
Nancy K.
Winners will receive a $10.00 Gift Certificate for the Berks Conservancy store.
WINNERS: Please email Kim Lewis at the Berks Conservancy at kim.lewis@berks-conservancy.org for complete details on how to redeem your certificate.
Thanks to all who participated!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Most Interesting "Green" New Year's Resolution
New Year's Eve is a day away and a lot of us have started making resolutions for a better year already. Most famously, the resolutions are about losing weight, eating better, and exercising more.
The Berks Conservancy wants you to think outside the box this year - tell us your new year's resolution RELATED TO GOING GREEN. Submit an entry to our blog and get a chance to win one of the items from our online store. Three randomly selected entries will receive a $10.00 Gift Certificate for the Berks Conservancy Store.
Some resolutions from our staff include:
•Lorri Swan wants to start composting to reduce waste.
•Kim Lewis wants to reduce her heating bills by getting some energy efficient curtains.
•Larry Lloyd would like to share his knowledge of organic gardening and sustainability (providing your own food supply).
Contest ends on January 6th and we'll announce the winner in our next enews!
Make sure you put your first name on the post and check back next January 7th to see who won.
If you never posted a comment on a blog before, the easiest way is to type in your comment, and select "Name/URL" for your comment as selection. Just type in your first name. You don't need a URL to post.
The Berks Conservancy wants you to think outside the box this year - tell us your new year's resolution RELATED TO GOING GREEN. Submit an entry to our blog and get a chance to win one of the items from our online store. Three randomly selected entries will receive a $10.00 Gift Certificate for the Berks Conservancy Store.
Some resolutions from our staff include:
•Lorri Swan wants to start composting to reduce waste.
•Kim Lewis wants to reduce her heating bills by getting some energy efficient curtains.
•Larry Lloyd would like to share his knowledge of organic gardening and sustainability (providing your own food supply).
Contest ends on January 6th and we'll announce the winner in our next enews!
Make sure you put your first name on the post and check back next January 7th to see who won.
If you never posted a comment on a blog before, the easiest way is to type in your comment, and select "Name/URL" for your comment as selection. Just type in your first name. You don't need a URL to post.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Take the Challenge for a Greener Berks
50 ways to go green. You pick 25.
Complete them and check 'em off.
We challenge you to accomplish AT LEAST 25 items and submit them online to the Berks Conservancy by June 1, 2011 to be entered to win some great prizes.
RULES: Listed here are 50 things to do to "Go Green". We challenge you to accomplish AT LEAST 25 items, once you are finished, submit it online to the Berks Conservancy by June 1, 2011 to be entered to win some great prizes. The contest is based on the honor system. We encourage you to do as many challenges as possible.
Click here to download a PDF with complete details. (4 pages)
Remember, you need to accomplish and check off at least 25 by June 1, 2011!
Prizes
A special thanks to the businesses who donated prizes for the Take the Challenge for a Greener Berks contest.
Over Twenty-Five Prizes!
$300 Gift Certificate
JB Mountain Bikes
$300 Gift Certificates
Maidencreek TV & Appliance
$300 Gift Certificate
Emotion Kayaks
60 gallon Rainbarrels from Home Depot
Other prizes include:
Free weeks at Eco-Adventure Camp
Berks County Goodie Gift Bags
Berks Conservancy apparel
AND MORE!
Follow the Conservancy Staff complete the challenge
Even though the staff members at the Conservancy are ineligible to win any prizes, we want to complete the challenge too! Follow us as we determine how "easy it is to be green" - OR NOT! We will give tips and other advice on our blog a couple times a week and on facebook.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Ways to Reduce Plastic Consumption
Because plastic is 100% non-biodegradable, plastic items that are used every day are finding their way into our water ways. Did you ever hear of the Great Pacific Garbage? It is not a pretty sight. Click here to see a video with photos. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page for U-tube video.)
Below are some tips to REDUCE your plastic consumption.
Bring your own cloth bags when shopping.
Don't buy beverage bottles in plastic - look for ones in glass bottles. If you purchase to-go coffee or hot drinks, bring your own reusable cup. When purchasing milk or orange juice at the grocery store, buy the ones in paper containers.
Pack waste-free lunches with Easy Lunch Boxes. These recyclable lunch box containers and cooler bags can be used for work or school lunches. These were tested by a staff member at the Conservancy and are great to use! Packing lunches are faster, and you just wash them and reuse. They make it simple to organize, and quickly pack healthy lunches without wasting time, money, paper or plastic.
Go to the farmer's market and purchase fresh fruits and veggies that are not packed in plastic.
Put empty cardboard boxes in your car to transport heavy items to and from your car without a bag.
Recycle all of your plastic that is allowed by your municipality. Check out the specialty recycling program with the County of Berks.
Any other green ideas to reduce using plastic?
Post them to our blog and you will be entered to win an Easy Lunch Box. One randomly selected entry will receive a FREE Lunch Box shipped to your home. Make sure you put your first name on the post and check back next Tuesday to see who won.
If you never posted a comment on a blog before, the easiest way is to type in your comment, and select "Name/URL" for your comment as selection. Just type in your first name. You don't need a URL to post.
Below are some tips to REDUCE your plastic consumption.
Bring your own cloth bags when shopping.
Don't buy beverage bottles in plastic - look for ones in glass bottles. If you purchase to-go coffee or hot drinks, bring your own reusable cup. When purchasing milk or orange juice at the grocery store, buy the ones in paper containers.
Pack waste-free lunches with Easy Lunch Boxes. These recyclable lunch box containers and cooler bags can be used for work or school lunches. These were tested by a staff member at the Conservancy and are great to use! Packing lunches are faster, and you just wash them and reuse. They make it simple to organize, and quickly pack healthy lunches without wasting time, money, paper or plastic.
Go to the farmer's market and purchase fresh fruits and veggies that are not packed in plastic.
Put empty cardboard boxes in your car to transport heavy items to and from your car without a bag.
Recycle all of your plastic that is allowed by your municipality. Check out the specialty recycling program with the County of Berks.
Any other green ideas to reduce using plastic?
Post them to our blog and you will be entered to win an Easy Lunch Box. One randomly selected entry will receive a FREE Lunch Box shipped to your home. Make sure you put your first name on the post and check back next Tuesday to see who won.
If you never posted a comment on a blog before, the easiest way is to type in your comment, and select "Name/URL" for your comment as selection. Just type in your first name. You don't need a URL to post.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Ways to Get Your Kids Outdoors
Plan and pack a picnic. Nothing says summer like eating outdoors!
Go on a nature walk/scavenger hunt. There are many trails in Berks County to go for a walk.
Try one new playground or park every week. Mix it up by visiting different parks and playgrounds in the Berks County area.
Designate one day every week when the family does not drive the car. Whether it is during the week or one day on the weekend, you can use alternate ways of transportation such as the bus, riding your bikes or walking.
Teach your kids about gardening. Kids love to watch things grow - whether it is flowers or vegetables and fruits.
Get some sidewalk chalk and make hop-scotch. Or just draw photos on the sidewalk.
Go camping. There are many resources in Berks County to camp. Bring games, go birdwatching or fishing, take some photographs of nature.
Go on a nature walk/scavenger hunt. There are many trails in Berks County to go for a walk.
Try one new playground or park every week. Mix it up by visiting different parks and playgrounds in the Berks County area.
Designate one day every week when the family does not drive the car. Whether it is during the week or one day on the weekend, you can use alternate ways of transportation such as the bus, riding your bikes or walking.
Teach your kids about gardening. Kids love to watch things grow - whether it is flowers or vegetables and fruits.
Get some sidewalk chalk and make hop-scotch. Or just draw photos on the sidewalk.
Go camping. There are many resources in Berks County to camp. Bring games, go birdwatching or fishing, take some photographs of nature.
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