Share and Swap

Most people don't toss their used books, DVDs and CDs in the trash, but buying new consumes unnecessary resources (and a lot of cash), so why not trade your old ones for something that's new to you?

Swaptree.com is a cool website that allows you to keep a fresh, rotating selection of reading material, movies, and music for zero dollars. Who doesn't love free stuff? Just sign up, list your unwanted stuff, and choose the items you'd like to receive. Then, you simply complete the swap through the mail. Easy!

Kiss from Mother Earth

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group has created a video piece that focuses on taking aim at one of our planet's most serious problems, global warming. You can watch and share the video entitled to "Earth to Humanity." CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
Visit stopglobalwarming.org to find out more about how you can help save the Earth.

Earth Day video

Our models Alex Kushneir, Dakota Williams and Hasani Bryan share some tips on how you can make Every Day an Earth Day.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

Ways YOU can help

Wash and rinse your clothes with cold water. About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. Using cold water keeps your energy bill and carbon emissions down.

Bring reusable bags when you go shopping. More items fit in a cloth bag than paper or plastic. If you forget your bag when running an errand, decide at the check out counter if you really need a bag for this purchase and, if not, tell the clerk to skip the bag.
Use revolving doors instead of swing doors when possible. An MIT study claims that one person walking through a revolving door on a cold day can save enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for nearly half an hour.
Kick the water bottle habit. Americans buy 28 billion water bottles a year, many of which end up in landfills.
Use less paper by using both sides of the sheet. And only print out materials or emails if you absolutely must have a hard copy.
Car pool, bike, walk or take public transportation at least once a week, and you can save thousands on gas and maintenance.
Call the companies that send you catalogs and ask to be taken off their mailing lists.
Use power strips that can be turned off for appliances and electronic devices to avoid energy vampires. These devices often use power and act like vampires silently sucking away energy even when they are turned off.
Reduce energy consumption at your home and office. Turn off the lights and TV when no one is in the room and if you haven’t replaced your light bulbs with florescent bulbs get with the program and buy some today.

iPhone App: Real Tree

Much as the name implies, this app plants a real tree in one of twelve countries facing deforestation. Lest you get confused (like some of the app’s reviewers) the point is not the the app itself, which simply shows a growing tree animation. Instead it’s created to give iPhone users an easy way to donate, simply by buying the app. If you’d like to learn more check out Mokugift. Their site allows you to virtually gift a tree to a friend. (cost 0.99)

iPhone App: Good Guide

Let’s say one of your goals is that you’d like to make a difference. You walk into the grocery store and try to figure out what to buy, but you can’t tell which products are the most “green.” Are any of them actually better for the environment? Are they worth the extra price? Use Good Guide’s comprehensive database to figure out which products are best for your health, the environment, and society. This app even has a barcode scanner so you can quickly check out products before you buy them. Also, each product has not only a rating but a breakdown of why they were given that rating so you can make your own judgments.  (free app)

It's All Good

Do you have a towel to tattered for the Salvation Army? To grungy for Goodwill?

Take those used items to a nearby animal shelter where cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets can use them as bedding. It will save landfill space and help keep the critters comfy.

Often, shelters struggle from reduced budgets and lower donations during financial hard times. Donating these items will free up their funds for other items. There isn't a dog around that would complain about a little drool on their blanket.

Top 75 Green Tweeters

Twitter has a huge green community. There are green media, green companies, and green charities all active on the microblogging service, as well as a whole bunch of individual environmentalists and green bloggers. The #EcoMonday hashtag — the environmental equivalent of #FollowFriday, in which Twitter users suggest “green” tweeters to follow and share green news and info — has grown into a regular trending topic every Monday, along with a variety of other green initiatives.
Read the article for more than 75 environmentalists, conservationists, green-living enthusiasts, eco experts, and green organizations that offer up some excellent eco information on Twitter. We’ve broken the list up into two categories, people and organizations/publications. Please leave other great green Twitter users that deserve a follow in the comments, because we couldn’t possibly list them all. Read the entire Mashable article here.

One Cup at a Time

You can make a difference to our environment, conserve trees and reduce waste one cup at a time.  When you visit your local coffee shop... do ceramic.  Get your favorite beverage to stay!  Save the paper cup and the lid and the sleeve.  If your local hangout only has paper; ask them to help and get mugs.
We all need a chance to stop and relax so this can be a way for you to slow down.  See, it can help the environment and you.  Chris Rountree, an On Display Men model, is working at the Frosted Java and got his hot chocolate to stay!
You can even go a step further and ask for some coffee grounds to take home to use on the plants.  Then, the grounds don't have to take up space in the ground.

Once you go digital

You don't have to be a digital geek to take advantage of the digital revolution.  In fact, chances are, once you see the benefits of the digital thermostat, you'll never go back.  For one thing, you'll spend a lot less time messing with knobs.  For another, you'll combat rising energy costs by programming automatically to use less A/C or Heat while you are at work or sleeping.
Using a digital thermostat in your home can eliminate 1,800 pounds of air polluting CO2 per year.  You can expect to save as much as  $150 per year on energy bills.  That's money you can spend on geeky things like a digital pizza cutter.

Eco Cocktails

Give thanks to Mother Earth and enjoy an eco-friendly cocktail - the perfect complement to the perfect holiday dinner courtesy of 360 Eco Vodka!

• 2oz 360 Vodka
  
• 1/2 oz Grape Juice
• 10 muddled grapes
• 5 slices of Granny Smith apple
• Top with Champagne

Muddle grapes and apple in shaker. Add ice, 360 Vodka and grape juice. Shake sharply. Double strain into chilled martini glass. Top with Champagne.  Facebook fans click here to see the video from 360 Vodka

Natural Holidays

Want to get noticed for having a great-looking holiday setup? Try natural elements like pinecones and pumpkins for your holiday centerpieces. They make for one-of-a-kind decorations and guarantee your table will outshine the rest.
Items like gourds are biodegradable and won't clog up landfills like traditional plastic decorations. You can toss these centerpieces in your compost pile after the holidays and they'll help beautify your garden come spring.
If you're hosting a holiday soiree, your centerpieces can double as gifts or door prizes.
Thanksgiving - How about a cornucopia? Or just set out a variety of colorful gourds and pumpkins (later, remember to toast pumpkin seeds and maybe even whip up a pie).
Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa - Use festive potted plants (like poinsettias). Make an evergreen wreath or garland. Build a pinecone tree.
New Year's - Use all those empty champagne bottles as candleholders. It's a great way to celebrate a green new year.

Recycling Never Gets Old

Recycling is an easy way to be kind to the environment because everyone can do something. Here are some simple things you can do to be green that you may never have thought about.

•  Return all your hangers back to the drycleaner.
•  Bring reusable cloth bags to the grocery store instead of using plastic bags.
• Have a swap party with your friends. Everyone brings over items or clothing they no longer want, and trade.
• Before donating books or magazines, check with the hospital or schools to see if they will accept the donation. Keep in mind, some schools only accept new school supplies.
• Repurpose items. A small flower pot or festive coffee mug can become a pen holder. A Kleenex box can hold plastic bags that you collected (before switching to the cloth bags).
• Reuse plastic bags for smaller trash cans, packing in boxes or holding wet bathing suits from a trip to the beach.
• Fill up a reusable water bottle or coffee mug instead of plastic bottles or paper cups.
• Many appliances use energy when not in use. Unplug things like hair dryers, phone chargers and coffee pots to reduce your energy usage.

When it comes to going green, you don’t have to be perfect. Just remember that every little bit helps.