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Jan 27, 2012

Move Green!

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“The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.”

Richard Rogers

Are you willing to get involved?   Regardless of age, race, religion or culture, everyone can be part of the green movement to reduce air pollution. Adopting a green life doesn’t require a big sacrifice- just a commitment to the environment and to life itself.

We can significantly improve air quality and give a light of hope to our planet by changing our transportation habits. Let’s open our minds and start considering new transportation means that are more eco-friendly. Let’s mark the beginning of our new green era. For short distances, walking and bike riding are excellent alternatives; they are absolutely harmless to environment and are healthy choices for us. For longer distances, public transportation and carpooling are ideal and efficient alternatives that will notably reduce pollutant emissions.

According to the American League of Bicyclists, only 1.1% of Atlanta citizens are bicycle commuters. Let’s raise that number and save our environment. Let’s adopt eco-friendly alternatives as our new means of transportation. A new green era is just in front of us, and through commitment and motivation we can significantly improve air quality.

Think green. Live green. Move green!

What will you do today to make a change?

Category: Environmental Issues, Transportation | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 25, 2012

Why Shop Organic, Anyway?

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I’m a lover of all things delicious. Chocolate, french fries, berries, milkshakes, sandwiches, pastas… I could go on. Usually I don’t think about what I eat beyond whether or not the food in question tastes good. But recently I’ve learned more about organic foods, and why it’s important to think about where our food comes from, rather than just how it tastes.
One of the most surprising facts I’ve learned is that the fertilizers used on non-organic foods have been linked to cancer. Not only are these chemicals bad for us, they can also impact the people who harvest the fruits and vegetables.

Another benefit to shopping organic and local is saving energy. According to Georgia Organics,  if we all ate just one meal of local and organically raised meats and produce, we could reduce the U.S.’s oil consumption by 1.1 million barrels of oil per week! Yet another reason to buy organic is to support local farmers who will continue to produce organic foods for future generations.

Even if you or your parents can’t shop organic all the time (it can be expensive, after all), try to buy the following foods organic when you can. The non-organic versions of these common fruits and veggies are grown with the most pesticides.

  • peaches
  • strawberries
  • apples
  • spinach
  • nectarines
  • celery
  • pears
  • cherries
  • potatoes
  • bell peppers
  • raspberries
  • imported grapes

If organic foods are a topic you care about, look for ways to get your friends and family behind this movement, too. If you live in Georgia, check out the Georgia Organics website to learn about advocacy opportunities near you.

Another way to get motivated to buy organic is to try a recipe using organic ingredients. I love this Black Pepper and Lime Fries recipe from the blog 101 Cookbooks. It’s super easy, totally delicious, and gives you an opportunity to buy organic potatoes!

Do you have a favorite recipe using organic foods? Let us know–we’d love to try it!

 


Category: Organic Food | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 20, 2012

Save Time, Money, and the Environment by Carpooling

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Do you and your friends all drive to school? Here’s a thought—carpool! According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if you carpool with four friends, you will be emitting 200 fewer pounds of pollution per week, assuming an average ten mile trip per person—or even more if you travel farther!

Have you ever run out of cash by the weekend because you had to gas up your car during the week? According to the American Automobile Association, it costs an average of $13.10 a week to drive a car, assuming the same ten-mile per day trip. So if you and four friends were to alternate driving each day, you would save $10.48 a week—that’s the cost of a movie ticket to the latest blockbuster hit!

Have you ever been stuck in traffic and missed the homeroom bell because of it? Carpooling can help with this stressful situation, too. Fewer cars on the road will lead to less traffic and congestion, which means you can make it school on time.

Talk to your friends and try to coordinate a carpooling schedule—you can even visit The Clean Air Campaign website to help you get started!

What’s your take on carpooling? Do you carpool now? If not, would you consider it?

Category: Air Pollution, Transportation | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 17, 2012

Recycling Ideas that Work for Teens

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So you recycle, right? (We hope so!)

But are you making the largest impact you can?

We’re huge fans of the Green Youth Movement, a group founded by a teen who agrees that youth like us can make a difference for the future of our environment. They have some awesome ideas for making sure we’re making the most positive impact through reducing, reusing and recycling. The following are some of the tips I’ll be following myself this year:

Buy products with less packaging. This one is tough, because I usually think more about the product than the packaging. But the more materials are used in packaging, the more energy has been used to produce it. Even if the packaging is recyclable, it’s better to use less (remember that “reduce” part?).

Use less AC and heat. I like to be comfy, but it’s critical that we reduce our energy consumption to help our planet. Throw on a hoodie instead of cranking up the heat, or drink a glass of ice water to cool down rather than using more air conditioning.

Choose “washable” over “disposable”. Forego paper plates for reusable ones, replace paper towels with cloth napkins, and use a travel mug for coffee and tea rather than disposable cups. These small everyday actions will reduce the amount of materials we add to landfills.

Recycle electronics, too. Paper and plastics aren’t the only items we can recycle. Find an electronics recycling day in your hometown, or see if you can donate your unused phones and other electronics to a local charity organization.

Plant a tree. This action is both fun and rewarding: trees help clean our air and they’re beautiful, too. You can do this action on your own, with friends or through an organization like Trees Atlanta.

For more tips, check out GYM’s recommendations here.

How do you reduce, reuse and recycle?

 

Category: Recycling | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 13, 2012

Hybrids are Happening

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Hybrids are the current “it” car of the automotive industry. Why does this matter to you? For many of us, it’s almost that time—time to start thinking about what type of car we want. So why not make a choice that is not only stylish, but beneficial to the environment as well?

The distinguishing factor between a hybrid car and a traditional car is that a hybrid uses two or more power sources, unlike gasoline engines that strictly burn fossil fuels—mainly petroleum—to power their movement (Diesel Engines vs. Gasoline Engines). While hybrid cars still use gasoline, they get an average of 15 more miles per gallon. Better gas mileage means fewer fill-ups, which translates to money in your pocket from savings at the pump!

But the question remains: can hybrids actually help the environment? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, for every one hundred miles driven, hybrid cars emit 23.3 fewer pounds of pollution than traditional vehicles. Therefore, hybrid cars will be able to significantly reduce the carbon footprint for which the transportation sector is currently responsible.

If you still don’t think that a hybrid is for you, there are other ways you can get similar benefits. Walking and riding a bike are both options that would not only save you money, but would also help improve air quality.

Whether choosing the option of the newer, more innovative hybrid, or the option of simply walking, always remember that your actions have an affect on air quality—so choose wisely!

You can check out the Hybrid Cars website for more helpful information about hybrid cars. What are your thoughts? When it comes time to buy a car, would you consider a hybrid?

Category: Environmental Issues, Transportation | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 10, 2012

Spotlight on an Eco-Friendly Company: Alternative Apparel

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In our last post, we listed eco-fashion as one way to make 2012 your greenest year yet. One fashion company we love that is really making a positive impact is Alternative Apparel.

Based here in Atlanta, Alternative Apparel has locations across the U.S. and is known for comfortable, versatile and vintage-style pieces. In addition to comfort, they value inspiring wearers and supporters to make a positive difference with how we live and what we wear.

I first heard about Alternative Apparel through celebrity fashion blogs and fell in love with their look and mission. You can see which celebrities support Alternative Apparel here, and even shop the same items they’re wearing.

Some of their classic items include soft tees, tanks and hoodies in understated colors. The look is simple, clean and totally classic.

To get more familiar with their style and values, check out their website and blog, which explores a range of do-good topics, including sustainability. They even highlight other companies committed to the environment, giving us more resources to choose eco-friendly clothing options as consumers.

If you dig their mission and need some basics for your wardrobe, I encourage you to shop their Alternative Earth line. These pieces are the most eco-friendly because they’re made with organic cotton, recycled polyester and other fibers from sustainable raw materials. In addition to material, they are colored using non-toxic dyes, biodegradable fabric softeners and natural enzymes–making them both super soft and low-impact on the environment.

Comfy, stylish, and making a difference? Yeah, we can get behind that.

Which eco-fashion brands do you support?

 

Category: Environmental Heroes | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 6, 2012

Resolutions to Make our World a Better Place in 2012

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There are tons of resolutions out there with tips about self-improvement. But what about resolutions to improve our community? We hope this list helps you make 2012 your most environmentally-friendly year yet!

Go outside.

This one seems simple, but it’s an important first step in achieving your environmental goals. The more often people experience the beauty of nature, the more they want to protect it. Visit a farm, join a community garden, walk around your neighborhood, play a field sport, or watch a theater production on an outside stage.

Learn the other R’s.

You know them: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. In our efforts to recycle, we often forget to think about the other two. To reduce, think about cleaning out what you don’t need and donating extra items to a local charity. For reuse, try a DIY project with materials you have on hand for a birthday gift rather than buying a new present.

Make mindful transportation choices.

We’ve talked about how walking and biking help save our air, but how do we really commit to making meaningful change in a lifestyle choice as big as transportation? Take note of where you travel, how often you go and how you usually get there. Then think about alternatives. The more aware we are of our habits, the more power we have to change them.

Support Eco-fashion

More and more companies are beginning to consider how their production of clothing effects the environment. Dying for a new pair of jeans? Consider investing a pair that uses less water to make, such as Levi’s Water<Lessjeans. For sportswear, think about shopping at Patagonia’s reuse store on ebay, the Common Threads Initiative. Read clothing tags and online product descriptions to see if the materials used are organic. Ecouterre offers a list of eco-fashion predictions for 2012, along with some links to organizations already making a difference.

Join a green organization at your school.

Many high schools have clubs committed to saving the environment. If there isn’t a group you’re interested in, consider starting one. Organize a group to pick up litter, write letters to political leaders about the environmental topic you care about most, or start a carpool chain.

Help your parents make green choices at home.

Does your family compost? Shop local and organic? Eat vegetarian? Find a recipe that uses local ingredients and cook a “green” meal for your family. You can also attach a list of the recyclables your neighborhood collects on the fridge, or offer to take your bike somewhere rather than asking for a ride.

Keep educating yourself.

If you’re on this blog, you’ve already started learning about how young people can make a positive impact on the environment. The more you know about environmental issues, the more power you have to create change. Learn as much as you can through online research, reading books, watching documentaries, and talking to environmental sustainability professionals.

Share your green knowledge.

As you learn more about eco-friendly choices you can make, tell your friends!

Make a list of your own green resolutions.

Once you discover the topics you care most about, make a list of concrete goals that you can accomplish. (Example: I will ride my bike to school at least once a week.) This time next year, review your original list and see how far you’ve come. You may be surprised!

What “green” goals do you want to achieve in 2012?

Category: Air Pollution, Environmental Issues, Recycling | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Jan 4, 2012

Asthma and Air Pollution Go Hand in Hand

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What pops into your mind when you hear the word ‘asthma’? Is it a grandma, struggling to catch her breath, chasing after her grandkids?

What if I told you that as of 2010, 22 million Americans were affected by asthma (according to Environmental Defense Fund)? They can’t all be elderly people, right?

There really is no distinct category of asthmatics; nowadays the disease is no stranger to people of all races and ages, dictating their daily routines. Asthma is clearly turning into an epidemic, sweeping through our planet on the wings of air pollution. Picture yourself coughing and sneezing constantly as if you had a cold that just won’t go away. Or- imagine having to carry tons of medication with you at all times to soothe your symptoms, and being forced to follow weekly air pollution reports to see if you can even step outside without worsening your condition.

Asthma and the entire family of respiratory diseases are no longer a distant threat. Are you willing to let you and your children’s future hang in the air because you did nothing when you had a chance to change everything?

You can start at home by monitoring your family’s energy consumption. Or, join your mom on her shopping trip and ask her to buy reusable products with less packaging. And as exciting as driving may be, plan your trips. It will help the environment, make you feel good about being actively involved in solving this issue, and save your family quite a few extra bucks.

Step up and dictate your future! Let’s tackle air pollution today and do everything we can to eliminate our chances of suffering from asthma!

Do you know anyone affected by asthma? Or, do you battle the condition yourself? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can work together to improve the outside factors that cause it.

Category: Air Pollution | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment »

Dec 30, 2011

A Walking Lights Tour You Don’t Want to Miss!

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Have you ever been to the Atlanta Botanical Garden? If not, it may sound like a tourist attraction your grandmother would make you see, but it’s both beautiful and “green”—in more than one way!

Right now through January 7, you can see almost one million colorful lights glowing in the gardens. All the lights are LEDs, which means they use a lot less energy than your standard lightbulb. In addition to energy-efficient lights, the Christmas tree and shrubs are made from completely recyclable materials!

In years’ past, my family drove around Atlanta to see Christmas lights, but this event is a walking tour. Since we walked instead of drove, we emitted fewer chemicals into the air. You can even walk around the Great Lawn, where a modern, whimsical light display changes colors and brightness in tune with Christmas carols.

Yet another perk? While walking through the lights, you can munch on s’mores and drink hot chocolate. Eco-friendly lights plus delicious treats? That’s pretty much my perfect holiday.

For more information, check out Atlanta’s Botanical Gardens website here.

Have you seen the garden’s light display? What did you think about it?

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Dec 28, 2011

Have you made an environmental difference this year?

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With 2012 just days away, have you made an environmental difference this year? I know I have! 2011 has definitely been an amazing environmental year for me. Who knew that I would be interning for The Clean Air Campaign writing a blog on the importance of reducing air pollution and improving air quality or that I would become a member of the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia and attend a conference that would educate me on the lack of human diversity within the environmental industry. I must say, this year has taught me so much. Through my research and findings I feel like I’m a walking billboard for clean air. Every person that I encounter I want to share the benefits of improving air quality and reducing traffic congestion.

I never valued the importance of alternative modes of transportation until I realized the effects that driving had on the environment or the importance of turning off lights and unplugging electronics to conserve energy. I have realized that these small actions have made the biggest difference in my life and my environment. We take so many things for  granted but we must remember that we only have one world and should preserve it for the next generation.

In case you forget, here is what you should remember from OnAir in 2011 to take with you in 2012.

  • Clean air equals better air quality and better air quality is better for our health
  • Actions are things that occur when we all put in a helping hand
  • We are never to cool to carpool.
  • Alternative modes of transportation such as walking and biking help reduce our carbon footprints.
  • Going green helps our environment in so many ways. Every small action counts!

Have you made an environmental difference this year?

 

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