GO Greener With Tracey ODonnell

I recommend pinning this list to reference later due to the volume of valuable information. This list is an amazing compilation of everyday items that we use in our everyday lives- with a minimal effort we can do the right thing, recycle or dispose of - the right way.  This list was found on the ABC news website and posted 6 years ago,  so i gave it a once over to ensure all the links are still working and feel the information is worthy of a re-post.

  Does your basement or attic have a similar appearance?                                                               Not sure what to do with your retired electronics? Here is what I did with mine.. I recently decided that I am no longer going to be “chained to my old electronic devices” and that I was going to free myself of my E-Waste.  While this is was an extremely difficult task for me to complete, I can honestly say that it’s been refreshing and inspiring to achieve and has led me on a path of living a more minimalist lifestyle. I’ve now embarked on “cleaning out all my closets” so to speak but let’s focus on your e-waste and what to do with it. Perhaps you may not be aware that our cell phones, computers, laptops, tvs and other electronic devices can contain da...

Were you aware that there are numerous government programs that will help pay or pay fully for you to implement appliances or solar into your home?                                                                                        I've been researching this topic over the past few weeks because I'm so sick of paying $250/month just for lights. Forget about summer time, my power bill is out of control with the A/C. Here is some information I found, please read all the way through as the final resource on this list is endless in its capacity. 1. Click the link below to bring you to a huge list of approximately 2,500 links.  This list will contain varying programs whereby you can then filter out your specific interests and search further. Click the blue key...

I suppose there isn't a person on our planet that hasn't either voiced his or her opinion or thought about this question and its validity over the past decade..."Does Global Warming Really Exist"? According to Merriam Webster, the definition of global warming is.. " an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution" . The answer to the question, "Does Global Warming Really Exist"  should be simple, Shouldn't It? Every time I turn on the tv, radio, podcast or video, the topic of global warming and how its believed to be "a fabrication by tree huggers" by many - is being relayed to the listeners/viewers and causing false unreliable information.   Global warming doesn't exist? Step outside, watch/study a reliable weather resource or just stay in touch with the global news and it should be qu...

   What are you going to do to play your part for Earth Day 2016 ??  So far, we have achieved close to 3 billion "acts of green" together as a planet.  Sounds like a great achievement...so how about joining in? "Acts of Green" are an easy way to do your part and stay connected as a community and planet working towards the common goal of creating a greener planet by reducing our Carbon footprint. Let me brief you on what is considered as an "act of green" or I might say... an act of service to the environment. The list below contains things that we can do to make a difference. 1. Paris Agreement !!!  sign the petition - take the 80 seconds it takes to complete the petition to help put pressure on our world leaders to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in 2016. http://action.earthday.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18560 2. Limit your meat consumption.This might be tough for some but its only one day a week.  The meat i...

On December 12, 2015:  Base your own opinions on the new plan by visiting the official white house webpage:                           https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change                                    

                                                                                  Having babies 60-100 years ago must have been a real headache.  I've  got to hand it to moms of the  past who had no disposable diapers and  didn't  have our fancy disposable wipes. What are our modern parents really doing to the environment by using these fancy disposable baby wipes? Are those disposable wipes what we think they are? Most of the disposable wipes come in a nice compact container that seals closed to ensure their  freshness and moisture remains with the product. These wipes can be very handy items,even for  things other than a baby’s bottom. It’s very convenient to wipe up a quick mess on the floor or rub clear  your 10 year old'...

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Earth Day than to participate in the "Canopy Project".  We don't need to be wealthy or even well-off to make a difference.  The only thing needed is for you to care; care about the environment around you, care about the ground you walk on and the air you breath.   An excerpt from www.earthday.org:  "As part of its mission to protect natural lands and preserve the environment for all people, Earth Day Network developed The Canopy Project. Rather than focusing on large scale forestry, The Canopy Project plants trees that help communities - especially the world's impoverished communities - sustain themselves and their local economies. Trees reverse the impacts of land degradation and provide food, energy and income, helping communities to achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability. Trees also filter the air and help stave off the effects of climate change. "  In order to read more or fi...

GAS PRICES GOT YOU FRUSTRATED??  Check the prices before you fill up at the pump to ensure you are paying the lowest possible price in your area. Just click the link below and when you land on the Gasbuddy website type in your zip code and click the green 'search' button. http://www.gasbuddy.com Its really that simple and very fast. In addition to the website, they also offer app's for your smartphone ( i haven't loaded the app so I can't comment on it's usage).   Addendum to this post!!  I have the Gas Buddy app on my Android smartphone and I love it.  Its accurate up to the second and you can use it on the fly.  What I mean is, it uses gps locating to find your location wherever you are and loads a list of all the stations in your surrounding area with their prices.  The list will even come up by price, listing the lowest to highest for your convenience.  I use my several times a week depending on my driving habits.  I highly rec...

                                          Whether you like your eggs scrambled or poached, nearly everyone has a carton of eggs in their refrigerator. Eggs are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Eggs super charge your immune system and fight off all the nasty bugs you come in contact with. Eggs increase your visual distance potential and help prevent some eye disorders. Eggs are thought to reduce the risk of Breast Cancer, improve hair and nail growth & regulate brain functioning. So, eat up the eggs and if you are watching your fat intake, just eat the egg whites with a small taste of the yolk as the yolk carries most of the fat.

In May 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled the most dramatic overhaul to fuel economy labels since they were introduced 35 years ago. When the new labels start to appear in showrooms and online, shoppers will have more information at their fingertips than ever before. The redesigned label's provide the public with new information on vehicles’ fuel economy, energy use, fuel costs, and environmental impacts. For the first time comparable fuel economy and environmental ratings will be available for all new vehicles, including advanced technology vehicles like electric cars. Consumers will be able to make comparisons – car by car – to ensure they have the best information to help save on fuel costs and reduce emissions.

        It's Real Have No Doubts! Greenhouse Gas Effects       If you haven't followed the environmental news of late, you may not know about the prodigious change that President Obama signed into office with regard to carbon, that's right, carbon. Up to this point, there were no restrictions or regulations on the amount of carbon pollution that is fumed into the air everyday by factories, production plants and numerous other sources.      As you may or may not know, its the carbon in the air that is the main culprit for global warming, the carbon actually traps the hot air into the environment and keeps it in our atmosphere.      Friday, September 20th, 2013 was a turning point within the environmental field when Gina McCarthy, the administrator of the US EPA, made the announcement and reviewed the new reasonable limits on carbon pollution regulations emitted by power plants and factories of tomorrow. ...

                                                                                                            We can't wait another 30 years. Tell the EPA we need clean water safeguards now! Really, if you care in the least or the most possible way, click the text above and submit a comment card that takes ~45seconds-1min to complete.   Seriously.

                                                                                                                                                                     Most definitely m...

                                                                             What with the digital technology today the phone book has become obsolete as it takes too long to search and doesn't supply the extensive amounts of information a simple Google search can provide.  Did you know that 660,000 phone books end up in landfills every year? An estimated 5 million trees are cut down each year to create those white & yellow pages that just collect dust in your home.  We can do our part by recycling these very "recyclable" items.  The books are often made of recyclable paper...

                                                                             One simple and affordable thing you can do to participate in this years Earth Day celebration is to live and play by candle light. Pledge to yourself; one, two, three hours of candle time and see how it goes. You may enjoy it so much that you no longer flick the light switch.  I did it last year and it was awesome.

                                                                                                                                                               Heres a bit of "food for thought" ...

                                                                       Who doesn't love a win win situation? Insulate your home the green way! Lower your utility bills this winter by making some insulation changes and you will reduce your Carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.  A double wammy is choosing your insulation products that are recycled materials or items and/or are environmentally friendly manufactured products.  I haven't found a person who doesn't like to save money and the majority of the people I meet want to live a cleaner and greener lifestyle.     *old jeans, the cotton...

                                                                               Are you still going through the trouble of bagging your grass clippings and putting them to the curb for pickup?  Do you cringe at the idea of composting?  Well, take the bag off of your lawn mower forever and just cut your grass.  DYK that leaving your grass clippings where they fall is the GREEN way to complete your landscaping and grassing chores? Just cut the grass and go, the cut grass will decompose in a few days and return to the soil, helping your lawn stay healthy and saving money and energy on bagging and discarding. For some simple yard tips from the EPA; http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/tip10.htm.

Do you care about our environment?  What about the magnificent Yellowstone National Park? Help save old faithful with 2 minutes of your time.... According to the Sierra Club; "coal pollution from power plants like the Colstrip coal-fired power plant in Montana is impacting the magnificent views and unique Yellowstone experience. There is cost-effective technology that could clear the air at Yellowstone and dramatically improve the views, but Big Coal is lobbying the EPA hard to install second-best technology to help their bottom line." Click here to volunteer your two minutes;  http://tinyurl.com/82v6g9u