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.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
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.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Cool off with these tips this summer
Set your air conditioning thermostat to 78. Go higher, if the humidity is low enough and you feel comfortable.
Drink lots of water. Cold drinks drop your body's core temperature and cool you down quickly.
Keeping your blinds, shades and curtains closed. It helps keeps heat from getting inside your house.
Do laundry early in the day and late at night. Don't forget clotheslines: they generate no heat in the house.
Skip your dishwasher's dry cycle. Let them air dry instead.
Open the bathroom window when showering. Vent heat and humidity outside, rather than back into the house.
Limit cooking in the oven on hot days. This tends to really heat up the home quickly. In fact, grill out often to help keep the home cooler and save on energy.
Switch off your computer and lights when not in use. They generate heat.
Plant trees on the south and west sides of your home. They will provide enough shade in the summer (and wind blockage in the winter) to save you between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually, according to the US Department of Energy estimate.
Drink lots of water. Cold drinks drop your body's core temperature and cool you down quickly.
Keeping your blinds, shades and curtains closed. It helps keeps heat from getting inside your house.
Do laundry early in the day and late at night. Don't forget clotheslines: they generate no heat in the house.
Skip your dishwasher's dry cycle. Let them air dry instead.
Open the bathroom window when showering. Vent heat and humidity outside, rather than back into the house.
Limit cooking in the oven on hot days. This tends to really heat up the home quickly. In fact, grill out often to help keep the home cooler and save on energy.
Switch off your computer and lights when not in use. They generate heat.
Plant trees on the south and west sides of your home. They will provide enough shade in the summer (and wind blockage in the winter) to save you between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually, according to the US Department of Energy estimate.
FREE Skoy Cloths
Thanks to all who posted to our blog last week. If you posted to our Ways to Reduce Paper Consumption blog prior to today, please send your mailing address to kim.lewis@berks-conservancy.org so we can send you a sample of the SKOY cloth.
Great ideas to go green!
Great ideas to go green!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Ways to Reduce Paper Consumption
Paper products are one of the easiest items to recycle.
Here's a few ways to reduce your paper use and save a few trees:
Choose recycled paper products. Everything from recycled office paper to recycled toilet paper is available at local grocery stores.
Replace your paper napkins with cloth napkins, and your paper plates with regular dishes.
Sign up for e-statements and pay your bills online. It saves you money because you won't have to buy as many envelopes, stamps, and checks.
Use cloths instead of paper towels. A product called SKOY cloth saves 15 rolls of paper towels. It can be reused and is machine washable.
Any other green ideas to save paper?
Post them to our blog and win a sample SKOY Cloth. Ten randomly selected entries will receive a FREE sample of the SKOY Cloth.
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.
Here's a few ways to reduce your paper use and save a few trees:
Choose recycled paper products. Everything from recycled office paper to recycled toilet paper is available at local grocery stores.
Replace your paper napkins with cloth napkins, and your paper plates with regular dishes.
Sign up for e-statements and pay your bills online. It saves you money because you won't have to buy as many envelopes, stamps, and checks.
Use cloths instead of paper towels. A product called SKOY cloth saves 15 rolls of paper towels. It can be reused and is machine washable.
Any other green ideas to save paper?
Post them to our blog and win a sample SKOY Cloth. Ten randomly selected entries will receive a FREE sample of the SKOY Cloth.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
