The first day of spring is March 20! Use the change in seasons to remind you to live green at home and work. To start, download this PDF of homemade, nontoxic cleaning recipes for your spring cleaning. Enjoy the longer days and warmer weather!
Bringing green to work
Do you live green at home? Why not work green, too? There are many things you can do, starting today, that will save energy and reduce waste. Don't underestimate the positive impact of these simple actions—they can add up to major savings for the environment!
Need a reminder? Print a copy of this list and refer to it often:
When you see other people doing these things at work, compliment them! Your actions and encouragement will start to change the expected behaviors at your office. Learn more: Read The Psychology of Sustainable Behavior, a handbook featuring research-supported tips for changing people's behaviors.
Teleworking
Working from home, or "teleworking," reduces CO2 emissions from traveling to work. It also promotes workplace efficiency, saves time and money, and reduces traffic congestion.
eWorkPlace Minnesota provides resources to help you try teleworking. If you pledge to telework for one or more days per week from April 11-24, you'll get free training and a sample telework proposal to address with your manager. They also have an online Commute Tool to track calculate your vehicle miles traveled, vehicle emissions, and calories burned based on your commuting and telework choices.
Green teams
Tap into the power of a group! Beyond our everyday behavior, many offices are adopting green policies or green teams to look at overall operations. You and a small group can improve your office in many ways:
Talk with you office manager about ordering earth-friendly office supplies such as used office furniture and non-toxic cleaners.
Install energy-saving motion detectors on beverage vending machines and save approximately $130 per year on energy costs for each machine. You can participate in a VendingMiser Bulk-Buy Program through the Clean Energy Resource Teams and EnergyMisers, LLC. between now and May 1, 2010.
The MPCA coordinates volunteers to help assess the health of Minnesota's waters to better protect and restore them. Volunteering as a water monitor is easy and fun.
Pam Carlson monitors the St. Croix River off the lift bridge in Stillwater. She's lived by near the river for over 30 years, but her volunteer job gave her a whole new prespective on the river.
"Watching the river from my window and strolling along its shoreline are enjoyable activities, but becoming a stream monitor got me more involved with the life of the river," Pam reflects. "On my weekly visits I collected water from the river and recorded its temperature and clarity. Although the quality remained acceptable, it was obvious that weather and recreational use affected its clarity.
"By monitoring the river water, I was reminded of my responsibility for its health. I now have a stronger desire to know more of the river's story so that I can be a part of its healthy future."
Get involved
Monitors are needed throughout the state, especially in rural areas. People who live outside the metro area, or visit a non-metro site regularly in the warm months of the year, should check out the MPCA web site for more information. The MPCA will provide training and supplies for your job.
The 2010 Living Green Expo is produced by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, a coalition of more than 80 Minnesota environmental and conservation organizations.
Days of our green lives: Community events and resources
Learn to green your neighborhood, congregation, school, or business, at the Alliance for Sustainability's Twin Cities Neighborhood Sustainability Conference, March 13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central Lutheran Church (Minneapolis).
Spring is a time for home improvement projects! Before you dive in, learn about Green Remodeling 101 - what it is and how you can keep more money in your pockets, improve the health of your home, and contribute to a better tomorrow, March 17, 7:30 p.m., White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church (Mahtomedi).
Do you need help understanding your home's energy use? You'll get loads of information at this workshop on energy efficiency for first-time homeowners, co-hosted by the Green Institute, the City of Minneapolis and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, March 24, 6-8 p.m., Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Warehouse (Minneapolis).
Learn to compost inside using a worm bin at Worm Wrassling 101, March 25, 6-8 p.m., Longville Family Center.
Get information and ideas for creating, supporting, or sustaining your community garden at the 6th Annual Community Garden Spring Resource Fair, March 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sabathani Community Center (Minneapolis).
Look for more events on the SEEK and NextStep calendars.
Missed an issue? Read past newsletters in our online archive.
The Living Green 365 Team and our partners are excited to pass on timely, simple, and fun ideas to lead healthier and more sustainable lives, 365 days a year.
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