More Ways to Go Green - Tips from Mom Bloggers

There were so many great tips and comments for the week of the Blog Party that I've still got more to share.

Mnmom offered these tips for More Ways to Go Green:

1. Have been switching all lamps to compact fluorescent.
2. Use my own bags at the grocery
3. Keep the thermo at 68, even in frigid MN winters.
4. Use the back of paper in the printer. Rarely does anything need to have it's own clean sheet.
5. Use reusable gift bags for ALL holiday gifts. No more wrapping paper in our house!
6. Brooms only - no leaf blowers
7. We designed our yard to be mowed without needing an edger
8. Keep our tire pressure up and the oil changed regularly in our old clunker.

Even More Ways of Going Green came from Michelle.

Here are highlights Michelle's recent blog on no brainer ideas for moms to start going green around the home.

1. Go Unplugged.
Try unplugging appliances and electronics like the toaster, coffeemaker, or DVD player when you are not using them.

2. No to the Flow
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

3. Be a Bag Lady
There is no reason to use plastic or even paper bags to shop anymore. Besides the enormous environmental impact they have, green bags are easier to carry, especially with kids in tow, they are virtually unbreakable, and they just look nicer too.

4. Keep it cool baby.
Adjust your thermostat. For every degree you lower the thermostat in the winter months, or raise it in the summer months, you can cut your energy bill and usage by about 4%!

5. Fill 'er Up
Try buying hand soap, shampoo, dish soap in bulk and refilling the bottles you have instead of throwing them away and buying new ones each time. It saves money too.

6. Shut it off
Don't leave your car running. First of all, it's just not safe and from an environmental standpoint, you are cutting down on your emissions by turning it off.

7. Lights Out
Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Take advantage of the extended daylight hours in the summertime and leave the lights off for as long as possible and let the natural light in.

8. Buy Smart, Save Big
The next time you are shopping for a new appliance for your house, invest in one of the Energy Star, high efficiency appliances. Purchasing Energy Star appliances is worth the cost.

9. Cold Turkey & Air Drying
Try washing all of your laundry, or as much as possible anyway, in cold water. Up to an astonishing 90% of the energy used to do a wash of laundry comes from heating up the water.

Don't forget the dryer. Install a clothesline and hang your clothes outside to dry.

10. Pick It Up
Don't litter and please teach your kids not to litter as well. So please, dispose of your trash properly, and please recycle whatever and wherever you can!

Featured on Best Green Blogs

My Green Doc Blog has been included in the Best Green Blogs Directory under Green Blogs, Green Guides, Green Moms, Green Parenting, Green Tips & Tricks, Green Women, M, Personal Blog, and Sustainable Living.

Best Green Blogs is a directory of weblogs that focus on green and sustainable people, places, products, ideas & possibilities.

The directory was developed to give a voice to the green blogosphere, create community and support the thousands of independent green bloggers. Everyday green bloggers are posting news, information and ideas that are useful to transforming the world into a more sustainable and liveable place.

Save Green More Uses for Plastic Bags

To kick off the Mom Blog Party I posted 20 + Ways to Reuse a Plastic Bag and encouraged visitors sure to share their favorite ways of reusing a plastic bag.

While we'd like to see everyone converting over to reusable shopping bags, like My Green Sacs, until plastic bags are banned, we need to figure out ways of reusing the more than 100,000,000,000 (billion) plastic shopping bags used every year in the United States.

Visitors posted a lot of other great tips for saving green by reusing or recycling their plastic bags. Here are some more suggestions from our blog visitors.

Uses for Plastic Bags

Trash Can Liners
From That Crazy Mom We use our plastic bags for trash can liners also. I also use them for my regular kitchen trash. Rather than a big 13 gallon bag, I just put our garbage into the grocery bags then toss them in the kitchen trash.

We also have a local thrift store that takes the bags and reuses them to package up customer's purchases.

From callmekelly I actually just recycle all of the plastic bags I get, though I use cloth bags mostly so I don't have many. I find that may be better than using as liners. Instead, I don't use liners in the small trash cans but rinse them out when they do get dirty with collected rain water.

From ikkinlala We use our plastic grocery bags as garbage bags - if we tried to use full-sized garbage bags, it would stink too much before we got them full. We've been using cloth bags for a long time, but sometimes we need to leave them at home so that we'll have some bags for garbage.

Recycling Bag Programs
From Shannon I wish the grocery stores would actually get rid of plastic and paper bags and make everyone that wants groceries use the recycle bags!

Whenever I go to Wal-Mart though I try to remember to take any plastic bags I have received.

For Messy Jobs
From Angie I re-use plastic grocery bags for when I clean out the cat litter box.

From Monkey's Momma I am a nurse and when I did Home Health, one house I went to should have been declared unfit for inhabitation. Anyway, I would carry a ton of plastic Walmart bags with me in the car. Before I went in this house, I would step one foot in each bag, tie it around my ankle, and off I'd go. When I left the house, I removed the bags from my feet, then my gloves and disposed of them in another plastic bag.

Note to the Go Green Tip Winners:

Everyone who shared a Green Tip is eligible to receive one of the My Green Doc Blog's “Go Green” or “Live Green” sticker in the mail.

You will also receive the Go Green, Live Green or Save Green image via email to use as as a blog badge.

To claim your prize, please send me an email to mygreendoc-at-gmail.com with the information I need to send you your “Go Green” or “Live Green” sticker and blog badge by May 31.

Green Tips from Blog Party Visitors to Go Green and Save Green

Now that blog party has ended, I have pulled together all of the green tips suggested by visitors to the site. We've had a lot of great tips and comments for the week, so I will be running the tips over several blogs this week.

Go Green - Conserve Water

From Joy: GREEN TIP! This will save you money when you flush the toilet. Take a jug of milk (some toilet tanks can fit a gallon, others can only fit a half-gallon).

Fill it with rocks, weights, or whatever you can find that will give it weight. I used those melted marbles you find in craft stores.

After flushing, place the jug (or similar water-proof container) inside the tank, off to the side of the plug. And voila, less water is filling up your water tank!

Go Green Kids

From Katie My tip is let your children get involved. My youngest learned about recycling at school and ever since has become an advocate for it. It's his job to check containers to see if we can recycle it. He was thrilled when we bought reusable bags at the grocery store and we take them everywhere we shop!

Go Green - Neither Paper Nor Plastic

From dolls123 I'm using cloth bags instead of plastic ones.

Go Green at the Store

From Brianna We use our own bags at the grocery store and I'm even getting to the point where I take them to other stores, too. We also use cloth napkins instead of paper ones or paper towels. I'm amazed at what a reduction it is in our use of paper!

I sew, so I make pillowcases as "wrapping paper" for gifts. Just tie with a string and it is a great package!
From Audrey Our biggest contribution has been to only use reusable grocery bags. We love it. We even bought a dozen of them for my mom.

Save Green - Printers and Printing Paper

Another Tip From Ana When printing, to save on ink, click on preferences, then paper/quality tab, then on Draft. It will print out lighter than on the regular setting, but it's readable and saves on cartridge ink.

To save on paper, simply print on both sides of the page when printing multiple pages.

Source: Eco-friendly tip #8: Saving When Printing

Save Green - Alternative Fuel Sources

From michelle Another suggestion would be to do as I did and switch to bioheat. It's great because it uses heating oil and biodegradable products like soybean oil. If you're really into being green then you should be excited about this because you get to keep your home comfy, cozy, and warm during the cold seasons and help preserve the earth as well. I got lots of great tips from Oil Heat America.

Save Green - Compost

From Ana My tip that I would share is to compost when possible. It isn't as difficult as most would believe and creates reusable waste.

Note to the Go Green Tip Winners:

Everyone who shared a Green Tip is eligible to receive one of the My Green Doc Blog's “Go Green” or “Live Green” sticker in the mail.

You will also receive the Go Green image via email to use as as a blog badge.

To claim your prize, please send me an email to mygreendoc-at-gmail.com with the information I need to send you your “Go Green” or “Live Green” sticker and blog badge by May 31.

...and the Blog Party Winners are...

The Mom Blog Party was a lot of fun, getting a chance to meet many new Mom Bloggers. I am pleased to announce the big winners of the prizes donated from My Green Doc Blog, My Green Sac and the Imagine Peace & Love.

Prize Winners from My Green Sac

My Green Sac - $25.00 Gift Certificate
lovethatsara from ShesTongueTied.org

Prize Winners from the My Green Doc Blog

My Green Gift - Green Spa Package
Monkey's Momma a.k.a. M. Hall from Monkey's Momma

Prize Winners from Imagine Peace & Love
Imagine Peace & Love - $20.00 Gift Certificate
Mnmom from Happy to be from Iowa

Imagine Peace & Love - Buttons
Unycorne a.k.a. Heather Quarnstrom - The "Official" Heather Quarnstrom Blog

Note to the Winners:
To claim your prize, please send me an email to mygreendoc-at-gmail.com with the information I need to send you your gift certificate or gift by May 31.

Winners of the My Green Doc Blog “Go Green” or “Live Green” stickers will be announced in tomorrow's blog along with the collection of the best Green Tips from the Mom Blog Party Moms.

My Green Doc Blog Featured on Eco Street

My Green Doc Blog has been included in the EcoStreet Green Community Directory as another one of their Blogs that care and are working to raise green consciousness.

We are listed as one of the "blogs devoted to saving the planet & promoting a more ethical way of life."

EcoStreet.com started in 2002 as a way to raise green consciousness. It began as a directory of UK websites to spread the word about living green, help people who wanted to live more sustainable lives by making it easier for people to find green products and services.

Today EcoStreet is a thriving global community. It has grown over the past 5 years into a thriving global community and is the Web Directory for Eco Friendly & Sustainable Living.

Understanding CO2 Emissions Using Black Balloons

A compelling video messages that helps make the issue of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions more tangible and more visible.

Watch the Black Balloon advertising and be motivated to Go Green and Save Energy.



What is a Black Balloon?
A black balloon is being used as a simple way to help people visualize just how much greenhouse gas is produced around the home, in the office and in other places. Each black balloon measures 50 grams of greenhouse gas.

Making Carbon Emisssion Visible
This Energy Saving Campaign from Climate Protect gives a very powerful visual cue for remembering to conserve energy where CO2 emissions are represented as black balloons. The first ad from the Alliance for Climate Protection encourages everyone to decrease energy use in the home.

The bottom line: using less energy means less greenhouse gas emissions and helps to reduce the impact of climate change.

Find out More on We Can Solve It on the We Can Solve It on Squidoo.

10 Easy Ways to Go Green

These were a list of suggestions for easy Green ideas for Earth Day from one of my favorite T-shirt places, PeaceLoveMom. PeaceLoveMom and My Green Blog Doc encourage you to think green, go green and live green.

10 Easy Ways to Go Green:

1. Do not let the water run while you are brushing your teeth.
2. Take a shower instead of a bath.
3. Do not run the dishwasher until it is full & let the dishes dry naturally.
4. Pack daily lunches in a reusable lunch box and place food in reusable containers.
5. Recycle – newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans, plastic.
6. Turn off the lights when you leave a room & when you leave your home.
7. Wash clothes in cold or warm water.
8. Turn off your computer screen.
9. Use both sides of a piece of paper for note jotting or small children to create art.
10. Recycle your clothes – once you or your children grow out of your clothes donate them or pass them to a friend.

Remember while each action may seem small, over time, these easy to do tasks can make a big difference over time.PeaceLoveMom create designs that will both inspire and empower mothers everywhere, representing a collaboration and true celebration of motherhood.

We Can Solve the Climate Change Crisis

From the We Can Solve It Campaign to Solve the Climate Change Crisis:

The earth is sending us an urgent message!
We face a climate crisis.
You've heard it; you've done some things to help.
WE want you to do more.

Join We Can Solve it.

WE is a growing number of people who believe we can solve this.

Not just as individuals with strong beliefs but as part of a group where our strength makes governments and corporations change.

WE can put our planet on a new path. Clean energy solutions are out there waiting. Solutions that will not only save our planet but help rebuild our economy.

WE can lead.

Watch the Video and find out how.



Together We Can Solve the Climate Crisis

So far more than 1,235,988 people have joined We Can Solve It.

Solutions to global warming exist and we are calling on leaders to make them happen.

By coming together, we're showing overwhelming support for leadership on this critical issue. Add your voice to this important movement right now and help make climate change a priority:

"I call on leaders in business and government to solve the climate crisis."

You can sign up on the We Can Solve it Website.

We've Joined. Have you?

Find out More on We Can Solve It on the We Can Solve It on Squidoo.

20 + Ways to Reuse a Plastic Bag

While we'd like to see everyone converting over to reusable shopping bags, until plastic bags are entirely banned, the numbers show us that the average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. This adds up to the United States to going through 100,000,000,000 (billion) plastic shopping bags every year.

Target (one of my favorite places to shop of all times) has printed up suggestions right on their bags for ways of reusing plastic bags.

10 Ways to Reuse a Plastic Bag

Tiny Trashcare Liner

Doggy Duty

Water Balloon

Roadtrip Rubbish

Soggy Laundry

Ice Pack for Head

Toiletry Tote

Kitty Litter Liner

Tomorrow's Lunchbag

Care Package Padding

My Favorite Ways to Reuse a Plastic Bag
In addition to being my favorite store to shop, Target plastic bags are also my favorite plastic bags, because there are so many ways to reuse them. My personal favorites include

• Carrying Gym Clothes or Work-out Clothes and shoes
• Making portable Knitting projects to carry on-the-go
  
• Storing Yarn
• Packing Toiletries for a trip
• Easy Garbage bag for the car
  
• Gift Package Wrapping
  
• Package Packing/padding
• Filling with paper, colored pencils and coloring books as portable activity kits for the girls
• Keeping on hand in the car for emergencies e.g. storing wet clothes, shoes and other wet children things
• Mini garbage bag for the bathroom.
  

Other Ways of Using Plastic Bags
Some of the other ways of reusing a plastic bag include

• Turning Your Plastic Bags into Fabric to Reuse and make your own tote.
• Wet umbrella holders
• Create plastic 'yarn' for crocheting into different projects e.g. bags, hats
• Knee protectors for gardening
• Easy 'gloves' to protect your hands when handling food (or pet leavings)
  

Recycling Plastic Bags - The Retote
Target has found a way to Recycling all of their plastic bags that are turned in, creating a Retote. You get the latest issue of Newsweek, send in your old plastic Target bags and they send you a coupon for a Retote bag.

I decided not to get one, because we already have a lot of their regular reusable bags and the My Green Sacs. If you are interested in knowing more about Target's Retote program take a look at these related articles.

• Target + Newsweek + Terracycle = Bags!
• Calling All Target Plastic Bags
• NEWSWEEK, Target and TerraCycle Team Up for Innovative Program
  

Do you have more ideas?
Be sure to share your favorite ways of reusing a plastic bag as part of the Mommyfest Blog Party.

What I've Learned Since I Became a Mom

(This is a posting for one of the Mommyfest challenges)

I thought I had learned everything that I needed to know in College or in medical school. While I may have learned a lot about science and medicine, it took becoming a Mom for me to learn about living life.

After becoming a Mom, I there have been so many things that I learned from my daughters.

* Marveling at the workings of young minds.
* Sharing a Love for the Environment.
* Learning to Laugh More.
* Enjoying the Moment.
* Being Grateful for so many of the little things.

Having my children later in life after I'd been through school has put a different perspective on life for me. Having my girls has been one of my major life changing events.

While life is more challenging and a lot noisier and more stressful since having them, I wouldn't change what I am doing now and wouldn't trade them for anything.

A Mother's Day Wish Treat the Earth Well

A Wish for all Mothers, Fathers and Parents for this Mother's Day 2008

Treat the Earth well.

It was not given to you by your parents.

It was loaned to you by your children.

Kenyan Proverb

I thought that this quote was a very good reminder for Moms and for Parents of the special mission we have been charged with in raising our children and also in taking care of the planet.

Enjoy your special day.