One-Year Anniversary Contest - Win an Eco-Friendly Gift Basket!

Leave a comment for your chance to win!  Read on for bonus chances!

We're celebrating GreenFixes 1 year anniversary by giving away a eco-friendly gift basket from Cornucopia!  It's been a great first year for our blog.  We would like to thank everyone who has commented on posts so far and subscribed to our RSS feed and we look forward to your participation in the contest.

This gift basket contains an eco-friendly shopping bag and features the DVD "The 11'th Hour" along with a host of healthy, organic, and environmentally friendly packaged goodies and kitchen towels made from bamboo.  Two bottles of Beckmen wine are also included - this is a favorite, as their wines are made by implementing biodynamic farming methods and all grapes are estate grown, as well as an organic cookbook.

Contest Eligibility:  If you can read this post, you're eligible!  The prize is the above mentioned gift basket.

How To Enter:  To enter the contest, all you have to do is leave a relevant comment on any of our posts and that you'd like to enter into the contest.  Please remember to leave your email address at the end of your comment so we have a way of contacting you if you win.  That's it!  But wait, there's more...there are more ways you can get an extra entry into the drawing!

BONUS Entries:  You can get entered into the contest more than once- You have a chance to have 6 entries!  See how below:

1.  Subscribe to our RSS or email feed for a bonus entry!  

2.  Got a blog?  Link back to us for another bonus entry!  If you have your own blog, write a post spreading the word about this contest and site or add GreenFixes to your own blogroll.

3.  Tell a friend about our site and have them enter the contest.  If they comment, they will need to state that they were referred by you.  

4.  Make an additional comment on a different post within the 1 month contest period and be entered twice!

5.  Sign up and attend our February webinar, "From Commuting to Carribean Getaways: Greening Business Travel".  

...And the WINNER is....check back February 23'rd for our announcement on who won the gift basket.  This gives you an entire month to get your entries in for this contest!  Good luck and can't wait to see our readers' participation!

**Gift basket is from Cornucopia, a local Santa Barbara gift basket company.  They create custom made gift baskets with healthy, natural products.  They use locally produced products and send in containers that are wooden boxes that can be reused as storage bins or containers that are made from renewable resources and recycled materials.  The company also is environmentally friendly as they recycle packing material and boxes, and request reusable, recyclable packing material in the shipments they receive (they do not accept anything shipped in a styrofoam container).**

Climatic Disaster: Future Global Warming or Ice Age?

While many scientists and journalist discuss the current trend of global warming, on the back-end there are a few who are looking at the other spectrum for a future ice-age era.  The cold winter temperatures have definitely been noticeable in areas of the country this year and last year, record cold temperatures were recorded all around the world, leaving many to question global warming and turn to an ice-age explanation.  In this recent article, the cold temperatures around the globe are discussed:

"Parts of Alaska have experience temperatures reaching 78 degrees below zero, North Dakota has record December snow, a Minnesota sled-dog race was actually cancelled due to heavy snow, and Ohio ski resorts have called a recent winter snow, a 'stimulus package for their industry'."

Some scientists are just now starting to jump on board with the ice-age theory.  Science has already originally found that Earth experiences 1500 year cycles of warming and cooling.  We are now beginning to experience longer "seasons", of which we experience a slight increase in global temperature, also known as global warming.  However, at the end of each "extended season", the increased temperature ends and the Earth should return to ice-age conditions for an estimated 100,000 years.  

Scientific evidence is showing more and more signs that we may in fact be entering into ice-age conditions.  For one, even though many have read that polar bears are on the endangered species list, polar bears are in fact actually thriving in population, which challenges the global warming theory that they are supposedly affected by.  The number of polar bears is five times greater than it was 50 years ago, increasing from 5,000 to around 25,000.  Canadian biologist Dr. Mitchell Tayler, one of the foremost authorities on polar bears states: "We're seeing an increase in bears that's really unprecedented, and in places where we're seeing a decrease in the population, it's because of hunting and human interference in their environment, not directly related to climate change."  According to other studies, polar bears have actually thrived in warmer weather in their environment in the past.

I would agree that all aspects of nature should be taken into consideration before we all jump onto one main train of thinking.  If we only worry about one thing and not take into account there might be another vicious thing nature can attack us with, we will not expect nature's attack of a coming ice-age.  It is not a matter of how it will happen, but when.  We already know the Earth's past season cycles and understand that warming and cooling periods happen...so we need to be prepared and what better way to predict the future than to learn from past Earth cycles.  Experts are divided in determining whether we are entering a global warming period or an ice-age.  We just need to be ready for both and understand them both, no matter what, so in the end the experts need to come together to figure out what our issue is so we can fix it.  This is just a reality check that we still don't have a full understanding on what is going on with Mother Nature...What do you think:  Are we entering into a global warming period or an ice-age era?

Top 4 Green New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year again when we all have to take a look at the past 12 months and decide what we would like to change or do differently next year. Maybe you would like to lose some unwanted pounds, quit smoking once and for all, or take up a new hobby. Well, I think that we can make positive changes for ourselves while still doing a little something to help the environment in 2009. Below is a quick list of 4 things we can all do to make a positive impact on our health, business, and environment. These examples are not groundbreaking by any means, but they are simple things that would not be too hard to implement.

1. Make a commitment to ride a bike, commute, or take public transportation as often as possible. By leaving your car at home, it will not only benefit the environment, but you will find additional personal benefits. By riding a bike you improve your health and your pocketbook by spending less on gas. By commuting you can reinforce good relationships with friends and coworkers.
2. Try to implement eco friendly habits at work. For example, if you find that your company doesn't have a recycling program for old paper, cans, bottles, etc, then talk to HR about making the change. Does your company use energy efficient office products and lighting? Organizing a small "Green Team" made up of like minded individuals is an easy way to brainstorm and discover simple ways to help your company become more sustainable.
   
3. Replace old electronics or other household appliances with more efficient, eco-friendly ones moving forward. Make a commitment to looking for energy star labels or research how environmentally responsible the companies are before making your next big purchase. You will find that these new products may not only be cheaper, but they will also save you money in the long run.
4. Lastly, the number one theme for 2009 is to "save green, while going green." With a lingering recession it will be important to make wise purchasing decisions. Save money, for example, by buying a refurbished TV instead of a brand new one, save raw materials by resurfacing your old kitchen cabinets, or even reupholster your old couch instead of buying new products and dumping the old ones in our landfills.

Have you made any resolutions that have a positive effect on the environment? If so, please share your tips and ideas.

What to do when trying to go green doesn't take hold in your life

Every now and again, I hear from frustrated eco-friendly people who are trying to change their daily habits and install green changes within their lifestyle.  They’re frustrated that the habits don’t seem to change and take hold as fast as they want or thought they would, that the new ways of life aren’t working the way they want them to.  They tend to get down on themselves when they catch themselves doing something not eco-friendly.

The kneejerk rejection is always the same:  Forgot it!  I can’t do this!  Go back to the old ways of how I used to live, not needing to be careful to being green!  Enough with this nonsense!  The new habits didn’t work, I need the old way of reacting to things.

This is an age-old struggle everyone has with changing old habits.  But the good news is that we can all have the power of being in charge of at least one thing:  what we do.  In this sense, we are strong enough to have the motivation and determination to keep ourselves in check with the little things in our life that we have the power to change.  There are many things in our lives that we cannot change, however this is one of the biggest issues for future generations that we do have the power to help change and be proud that we were a part of it. 

From the start, you have to choose a path and stick with it.  Whether it is being on the path of remembering to recycle or sort our items when throwing things away to purchasing carbon offsets to help offset our own carbon footprint, we all can do something to help.  Old habits are hard to change, but once they do you will have new eco-friendly habits formed in their place.  Keep up the hard work and keep going with those changes in your daily habits!

Don’t get stuck in the middle.  It’s painful.  When the new habits don’t work right off the bat, don’t give up – do the new habits MORE and BETTER.  You’re prepared…just embrace it in your life and soon you’ll notice a change in your lifestyle that’s there for good.  Here’s to 2009 with new, better, eco-friendly green habits!

Green with Envy: Disney gets greener

"Environmentality" has long been Disneyland's mantra.  Disney has been green for a long time now and actually getting greener.  Rumors have it that Walt Disney himself used to walk through Disneyland picking up trash.  These days, custodial workers scoop up the unsightly debris.  But what else does Disney do that make it a true "green" pioneer and not just "green-washing"?

Frank Dela Vara, the resort's director of environmental affairs and conservation, helps to point out some of the green innovations Disney has.  At the 'Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage', Dela Vara shows that the colorful coral display is not paint, but actually recycled glass.  He states that the 30 tons of crushed glass won't break down from UV light or chlorine and exceeds all Air Quality Management standards.  A walk down the streets of Disney show that the paint on all Main Street buildings contain no volatile organic compounds.  Another green aspect of Disney are the Jungle Cruise boats and the Columbia sailing ship all run on compressed natural gas.

Among all of these rides and concrete might lay Disney's brightest development.  Dela Vara says, "Disneyland is an oasis of flora in a sea of urban concrete.  [This is the reason for] the famous topiaries (sheared into festive animal shapes) that surround the exterior landscaping.  Rather than using chemical pesticides and insecticides, we sought out nonpolluting methods."  These methods included joining researchers from UC Berkeley to conduct the first release of Tamarixia in California.  Tamarixia (stingless wasps) control aphid-like insects that live inside the flora at Disney, without any chemicals being used to rid the plants of these insects.

Not many people knew that the "kingdom" was green...but Disney had been contributing to the environment long before the current green trends took hold.  Along with all the other key features they do, Disney also recycles 4,000 tons of waste materials per year.  So, all in all, the above evidence proves that Disney is definitely being eco-friendly.  Given it's economic footprint, going green only made good corporate sense.  With its massive amount of visitors also demanding changes, Disney only cemented its commitment to the environment with these new changes.  Our hats are off to you, Mickey & Disney! 

Traveling Green in 2009

As 2009 begins, many of us will make plans to travel and see what lays outside of our normal everyday world.  Travel inherently has the potential to pollute and most likely does.  Cars, buses, ships, trains, and planes all emit carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide, and hotels and resorts use energy to operate.  But while these are all factors in traveling "green", you can see the world while still looking after it and travel in a way that's environmentally responsible. 

In a poll conducted by the Travel Industry Association of America, more than half of U.S. adults said they'd be more likely to choose a hotel, airline, or rental car company that uses and practices more environmentally friendly products and processes.  So what is a responsible traveler to do?  Fortunately, it's easier than it once was to find travel companies, hotels, etc. with eco-friendly practices.  Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was a lonely beginner in 1990 when it first started to recycle materials in hotel rooms and offer guests the option to reuse towels and sheets more than once to reduce water usage.  Now many others are following in their steps:  Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Hilton all have green programs.  And the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa opened in 2006 as the first hotel to be Gold-level certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.  

But hotels aren't the only ones instituting green practices.  Cruise lines are getting "on-board" too, pun intended!  Princess Cruise's ships dock and the ships plug into shoreside electricity for power in all ports of call.  Most Holland America Line ships recycle all the vessel's water, including wastewater, which is then used for things like engine cooling.

So when you're getting ready to book a trip what should you be considering? Here are tips travelers can use to travel green in 2009:

• Find a place you want to travel to through the 'Green' Map System.  The green maps system is a locally-led system that communities put together themselves to chart their green living, natural, cultural, and civic resources.  There are over 50 countries to explore.  See more here.
• Research online and through books on how to be an eco-friendly traveler. There are many other sites you can go to that have tips that can help you be prepared as a "green" traveler in 2009, such as the Traveling the Green Way blog and also the Green Passport site.  
• Visit Eco-Hotels to book your hotel stay.  Eco-hotels is a website that you can go to that helps you find the hotels who practice being eco-friendly.  Before booking your hotel ask these key questions: 1.)  Is the hotel locally owned and operated?  If not, then is it at least staffed by local employees?  2.)  What kind of recycling program does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)?  3.)  Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day?  4.)  What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power?  5.) How does the hotel contribute to the local community? 
• Reduce carbon use.  Use public transportation in cities.  When renting a car, rent a hybrid or other fuel-efficient vehicle.  If you cannot reduce carbon use, consider purchasing carbon offsets.
• Conserve energy and water.  Turn off all lights, heating, and air-conditioning when you leaver your hotel room.  Use towels and sheets at least twice.  Pack light- more weight equals more fuel.
• Minimize bottled water use.  In developing countries, sealed bottled water is probably still safest.  But in developed countries, use tap water and refill your water bottle.  Use recycling bins wherever you find them.  You can still use less bottles if you are in undeveloped countries by purchasing water by the gallons and filling up your reusable water bottle when needed.
• Stay in a national park.  You'll find it easy to be eco-friendly in these refuges, which typically have recycling bins, low-flow water fixtures, and buildings designed for minimum impact.  But visit off-season to ease overcrowding- fewer people means less of an impact on fragile ecosystems.
• Be active.  Opt for hiking or biking vacations.  You'll not only cut down on pollutants, you'll also get a workout.

Making these efforts can build knowledge and help ensure that future generations will also be able to travel and enjoy the wonders of our world.