Benefits of Windmill Electricity

When you think of windmills, the Dutch countryside may come to mind, but states like California have been using windmills for electricity since the '70s. Before you dismiss using a windmill to provide electricity to your home or business (or both), consider the advantages to your bank account and to the environment.

Benefits of Windmill Electricity
1. Windmill energy can reduce or eliminate your power bill.
2. It's great for the environment because it's a renewable energy source.
3. It's inexpensive to build a windmill.

How do Other Countries Handle Trash?

As you see a barge full of American trash float down the river in your city or you drive past the smelly mound that is the trash dump, do you ever wonder how other countries handle their trash? You may be intrigued to find out.

For example, Germany is one of the leading countries in recycling. While Americans only recycle or reuse approximately 30 percent of their trash, Germany recycles or reuses approximately 70 percent of their trash. That's more than double the U.S. One way that Germany achieves such a high rate of recycling its waste is that the manufacturers of German products are highly aware and involved in creating products that can be recycled or reused.

There are also some German recycling laws thrown in for good measure that require product companies to consider waste avoidance, waste recovery and environmentally compatible ways to dispose of waste before they begin the manufacturing process. This and as you wander around Germany, you'll find a variety of recycling receptacles where German citizens can easily deposit their items in the appropriate recycling container, which is something that isn't as prominent in the U.S.

Attention Green Crafters and Artists in South Florida

Green Saturday Ft. Lauderdale will be taking place at Cinema Paradiso!

Vendors will set-up in Cinema Paradiso's outdoor, covered courtyard from 12pm - 10pm on December 5th. Two live performances (one in the afternoon and one in the evening) will take place inside the theatre.

Booth spaces are 6 ft. or 7ft. for $150. If you do not need a table, then vendor space is $100. If you are interested in becoming a Green Saturday vendor at the Ft. Lauderdale event please email:

GreenSaturdayEvents@gmail.com with:
1. A link to your website or pictures of items you plan on selling
2. A brief description of your art/craft/design business
3. Whether you are requesting a $150/with table booth or a $100/without table booth
4. Your contact information

Vendor submissions deadline is October 1, 2009.

Yay for Aluminum Can Recycling

The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released 2008 figures revealing that 54.2 percent of aluminum cans were recycled in 2008. This makes aluminum cans the most commonly recycled beverage container.

Go aluminum cans! Maybe we can get the glass beverage containers to join in.

Green Your Next Dinner Party

Having friends, family members and co-workers over for a dinner party is a nice way to unwind and enjoy a great meal. While paper invitations can be cute, you can green your dinner party by using e-vites instead.

It not only saves paper, but it also saves money on postage and emissions on the mailman or woman delivering them all over town. It's a phenomenon that's really catching on--www.evite.com sends out 19.5 million invitations each month.

With a huge selection of evites to choose from, you can easily find an evite that's appropriate for formal and informal events. Go green when it comes to your next dinner party by saving the paper, the cash and the time it takes to stuff and address envelopes. Use evites instead!

5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Eco-friendly

Getting married does not require you to throw caution to the wind and throw the environment under the proverbial bus. Instead there are measures that you can take to turn your wedding into an eco-friendly celebration.

1. Tighten up the guest list. Travel for weddings can really wreak havoc on the environment. It can also deplete your wedding budget. Keep you guest list tight by only including close friends and family members rather than everyone you know. Not only does it cut down on the amount of emissions it takes for guests to get to your wedding, but with less guests you'll have less food, need less space and less energy to heat, cool and light the venue.

2. Do it in the great outdoors. Another way you cut down on energy use such as heating, cooling and lighting is to throw your wedding ceremony and reception in the great outdoors. There are plenty of beautiful outdoor venues such as parks and gardens that make perfect natural backdrops for your wedding event.

3. Use natural light. Even if you have an indoor ceremony or reception, plan the time of your even to use the natural might of the sun. You can save a great deal of energy by using light from outside rather than turning on lights in the church and the reception venue.

4. Double up on the use of venues. Instead of booking one venue for your ceremony and another for your reception, combine the two venues into one. Many churches have reception space you can use and most hotels and wedding halls have plenty of space to hold the ceremony and reception in the same place.

5. Plan an organic menu. Turn to local farmers to gather the ingredients for your wedding meal. This helps to support local farmers but it also cuts down on transportation costs and emissions when your food is brought in from out of the state or even out of the country.

Build Your Own Solar Panels for Your Home Energy

Mercedes-Benz Goes Green