Empowered by Lennar » Live Green

Recycling And Reusing Greeting Cards

Lennar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:38:12 +0000

Do you have a stash of greeting cards you’ve received – Xmas, birthday, or whatever occasion – that you really don’t want to keep any more? The recycling bin is certainly a greener option that disposing of them with your household waste, but they can also be reused. Even though around half a billion email greeting cards are sent each year globally, paper based cards are still very popular. While unwanted greeting cards can be put in your recycling bin; there are also organizations that can make use of them. For example, check with your local childcare center or primary school as they may be able to re use the card fronts as craft materials. One of the world’s oldest greeting card reuse programs is run by St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Nevada – a refuge for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Children and volunteers make new cards of out card fronts sent in, which are then sold to the public. The children are also paid for their efforts, with the money they receive being divided between spending, savings and a fund for outings. [Read this article]

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Blow Your Nose – Without Blowing Away More Trees

Lennar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:36:11 +0000

It’s cold season and runny noses are making their annual appearance. The most eco-friendly way to blow your nose is to use the old-fashioned handkerchief. However, if carrying a used hankie in your pocket adds a stomach ache to your symptoms, look into the option of purchasing tissues made with 100% recycled paper. According to the Resource Conservation Alliance, each American uses approximately 800 pounds of paper per year. By using paper products made from 100% recycled material you not only help protect forests by lowering the demand for trees, but you also help lower the formation of toxic dioxins and furans in the environment by avoiding products bleached with chlorine. [Read this article]

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The Energy-Hungry House: Why And How Energy Use Is So High Today

Lennar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:19:20 +0000

The picture of U.S. electricity usage has changed dramatically over the last few decades. In 1950, total electricity usage was 288 billion kilowatt hours. In 2001, the electricity used by U.S. households alone was nearly four times that, totaling 1,140 billion kilowatt hours. So what gives? Where does all of that juice go? And what are the factors that are contributing to that increased consumption? [Read this article]

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How To Throw A Zero Waste, Eco-Chic Birthday Party

Lennar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:32:00 +0000

If kids can have eco-friendly birthday parties, then so can adults. It may sound daunting, but you really can be zero waste, eco-chic, and still have a blast celebrating your very adult birthday. The zero waste magic happens before and after the party, so while you’re mingling with your guests, don’t worry, just party! Try digital, paperless invites like Evite or Punchbowl. If you really need to use formal paper invites, try recycled or plantable paper cards. If you’re having a small party, real, reusable tableware is the most eco-friendly option. If you’re having a big party, use compostable dinnerware. Use cloth napkins and in general stick with reusables as much as possible. If you do need to rely on disposable items, be sure to get recyclable or compostable items. [Read this article]

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Tips To Make A Toddler’s Room Sustainable

Lennar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:27:55 +0000

Whether you’ve been taking steps toward green living or you’re a newbie and want to jump start your efforts and reduce your carbon footprint on earth, one area of opportunity is your toddler’s room. “Sustainability is a popular subject, and most experts in design agree sustainability has to be a way of living and incorporated into our every day,” says Kristina Held, interior design instructor at The Art Institute of Charlotte. “Wooden toys are a small investment and a good place to start.” Held recommends Plan toys or Haba toys which are wood and naturally antibacterial. For fabrics, consider bedding, curtain treatments and upholstery. “Think about choosing natural fibers such as linens and bamboo,” says Kelly Spewock, interior design department director at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. “Bamboo is the most popular at the moment, and it is also a renewable resource.” A blend of cottons with acrylic and rayon make great upholstery fabrics, Held says. Carefully consider flooring and carpeting because toddlers are just a few feet off the floor and on their hands and knees all day. [Read this article]

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4 Tips On Guiding Employees To Greener Energy Habits

Lennar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:26:01 +0000

Your employees’ behavior can make the difference between whether your company’s energy strategy produces outstanding results or insignificant savings. In a report, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy distills five case studies on the subject to offer advice. ACEEE Senior Researcher Shui Bin took a look at the federal “Green the Capitol” program in the United States, the Empire State Building’s energy management program for tenants, and programs in Canada at a utility, a government building and a university-owned hospital. Based on that review, Bin found four elements common to each of the efforts: Leadership Set the Tone; Programs Involved Strong Teams; Smart Use of Communication Tools; and Use of Multiple Engagement Techniques. Two other recent reports indicate that now is the time to tap into Americans’ interest in saving energy. A survey by the Consumers Union and the Building Codes Assistance Project found that upwards of 75 percent of respondents support energy codes being adopted by a growing number of cities and states. [Read this article]

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18 Simple Ways To Declutter Your Home By Going Green

Lennar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:57:11 +0000

These simple steps will not only clear space in every room, from the bedroom and kitchen to the home office and hall closet – but they’ll also cut waste and reduce your environmental impact. Clutter is what we bring into our homes that we don’t want. The first step in successfully reducing clutter is to stop bringing clutter into our homes! Here are two easy ways to do that: stop receiving junk mail, and stop receiving phone books. Never in history have we had so much stuff – but never in history have we had so many ways to get rid of the stuff we no longer want. Start with your closet, and all those clothes you think you might wear one day. Take a tip from Good Housekeeping and have an annual fashion show. Be ruthlessly honest about what the mirror tells you, and get rid of anything that doesn’t make you look good. [Read this article]

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Enter Stage Left: The Giant Indoor Tree

Lennar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:49:17 +0000

Thoughts of indoor trees often evoke the aptly named “weeping fig” commissioned into so many soulless corporate atria, food courts and hotel lobbies. But lately we’re seeing indoor trees – both perennial favorites and snappy greenhorns – bringing bold, tonal and soulful architectural elements to interiors modern and traditional. Flora Grubb, landscape designer and owner of the eponymous San Francisco nursery, has singled out a few of her favorite trees that adapt well indoors. She advises selecting mature specimens, as trees often take years to grow up. All of her picks, she said, keep their green year-round and tolerate dry air, pests, confined root space and the lower light of the indoors. Most require little more than weekly watering and occasional pruning. And all enjoy indirect light and grow with ease to eight feet and up, blending in while standing out sculpturally, like a favorite work of art. [Read this article]

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7 Green Home Tech Trends Of 2011

Lennar — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:15:43 +0000

2011 was supposed to be the breakthrough year for home energy management. That didn’t quite happen, but there was a lot of progress. Here are the top trends of the year. Being energy efficient is no longer about being green. It’s about saving money, eliminating waste – and maybe doing the right thing. Though studies show that while most are more receptive to being energy efficient, they either don’t follow through or have wrong ideas about how to save energy. Conclusion: More education – much more education – is needed. And that’s not such a bad thing. Service providers have rolled out basic energy management systems with wireless thermostats and lighting control – operable from your smartphone. With every sale of energy management options they are showing people that it’s easy to be energy-efficient. Maybe even fun. Reasonably affordable energy monitoring/management systems are available or becoming available. TVs are markedly more energy-efficient than they were two or three years ago. And now even the cable TV industry is looking to make their set-top boxes, which can consume 20 to 30 watts of power 24/7, more efficient. [Read this article]

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5 Tips For Healthier, Cleaner Air For You And Your Family In 2012

Lennar — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:13:48 +0000

According to the EPA, most of us spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. And although there are plenty of laws and regulations about outdoor air pollution, most of us don’t give a second thought to the air in our homes. But we should: ”… a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors,” advises the EPA. You could choose to invest in an air purifier or filter, but getting significantly cleaner, healthier air in your home doesn’t have to come from making big changes or even spending any money. Here are some simple and mostly free ways to clear the air. [Read this article]

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