EBook Excerpt: I Want a Greener Lifestyle – But I Don’t Want the Inconvenience

Here is the first in our weekly series of excerpts from the EBook, “6 Weeks to a Greener Lifestyle.” See the note at the end of this post for more information. — Paula

A common sentiment today is the desire to live greener – reduce waste, use less energy, conserve valuable resources – but many people are held back by a fear that living greener will mean a lot more inconvenience and hassle in their lives.

I know.

I had that same fear, and the fear of being inconvenienced created an inertial barrier to my actually doing anything.

But the only way to create a greener lifestyle is to take some action, some positive step toward “greenness.” You really can begin to establish greener habits right away with minimal inconvenience or upset to your current lifestyle. Living green and saving energy is good stewardship of the world we are privileged to live in.

There is also a very practical reason for establishing a greener lifestyle: it will save you money.

You will be rewarded for your efforts to “go green” not only by the realization that you are doing your part to conserve valuable resources and reduce your carbon footprint, but also by saving significant money as well.

The mission of this book is to help you create a greener lifestyle by taking practical, cost-effective steps that will minimize the inconvenience and maximize the financial benefits to you. Continue reading “EBook Excerpt: I Want a Greener Lifestyle – But I Don’t Want the Inconvenience”

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E-book: 6 Weeks to a Greener Lifestyle

One of our bloggers at Village Green, Steve Stillwater, has written an EBook entitled, “6 Weeks to a Greener Lifestyle.” The book lays out a plan that most people can follow to create a greener lifestyle, including how to conserve water, reduce energy consumption, increase recycling, and reuse many items. In addition to establishing a greener and healthier lifestyle, another happy result is a significant savings of money. We like the book so much at Village Green that we are going to run a series of weekly excerpts here on our blog to give you an idea of what the book contains. If you like what you see, follow the link provided to learn more and, if you choose, buy and download the entire EBook in pdf format. And remember, EBooks are green!

To your greener, healthier lifestyle,

Paula

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GMO Salmon? What Next?

I don’t think you should mess with nature. We have more than enough food on this planet to feed everyone thousands of times over, yet we still believe that tampering with nature is going to help with food quality and quantity. AquaBounty Technologies announced that they have genetically engineered a faster-growing Atlantic farm salmon that they want to make available in grocery stores. The FDA has just concluded 2 days of hearings to try to determine if this “frankenfish” is safe. For the time being, permission has not been granted to proceed, as the FDA is asking for more research. But we surely have not heard the end of this.

There has been much resistance to allowing GMO fish to enter our food supply. Some arguments include:

1. Genetically altered salmon will not have to be labeled as GMO. If AquaBounty Technologies can prove that it’s “safe,” the FDA would require no further labeling.

2. AquaBounty and their advocates can’t prove that it is safe in the long run. GMO salmon could have a big impact at both environmental and human levels.

3. Farmed salmon in general have been found to be less safe to eat than wild caught salmon, as they have a higher concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the concentrated fish meal used to create their feed.

Weigh in. How do you feel about GMO foods?

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Benefits of the Virtual Office: Dramatically Lower Energy Consumption & Carbon Emissions

An estimate of the savings and environmental benefits of working from home or using a home office part-time was profiled in the April edition of Inc. Magazine. The study estimated the effects on energy consumption and carbon emissions if everyone who could work from home-about 40% of the work force-did so half of the time.

  • 100 hours per person not spent commuting
  • 50 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions cut
  • 276 million barrels of oil not needed (about 32% of Middle eastern oil imports)
  • 1,500 lives saved from auto accidents
  • $700 billion in total estimated savings to business, including $200 billion in productivity gains and $190 billion in reduced real estate expenses, utility bills, absenteeism, and employee turnover

Add to those benefits three more: less stress, better health, and more time for family.

For more tips and information on living a greener lifestyle, check out my website.

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Diaper Bags: Go Natural

All moms know that a properly packed diaper bag can make or break your day, when you are dealing with small children and babies. A diaper bag is not just a portable changing station, but it can also be a first aid kit, a small kitchen, and a toy store. However, there are things in your diaper bag that you may not be considering. Chemicals like phthalates (the “ph” is silent) are used to make plastic flexible and stabilize fragrance, while bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make plastics hard. There are also parabens, preservatives in lotions and shampoos. All these chemicals are going straight into your baby, and while there has been a push for regulation on BPA in baby bottles and water bottles, we still need to be conscious of what we are putting in and on our babies.

Here are a few things that you can do to make your diaper bag safer and greener:

Diaper Creams:  If your little one has a diaper rash, air time is really the best medicine. Free them of their diaper for 5 or 10 minutes per day and you will notice a huge difference. Continue reading “Diaper Bags: Go Natural”

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Our Bloggers

  • Paula Gallagher
    Paula Gallagher
    Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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  • Margo Gladding
    Margo Gladding
    Margo's impressive knowledge base is the result of a unique blend of educational and professional experience.
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  • Dr. Neal Barnard
    Dr. Neal Barnard
    Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
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  • Joseph Pizzorno
    Dr. Joseph Pizzorno
    Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, ND is a pioneer of integrative medicine and a leading authority on science-based natural medicine.
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  • Debi Silber
    Debi Silber
    Debi is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, a personal trainer, and whole health coach.
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  • Teri Cochrane
    Teri Cochrane
    Teri is a is a Certified Coach Practitioner with extensive certifications and experience in holistic medicinal practices.
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  • Dr. Rav Ivker
    Dr. Rav Ivker
    Dr. Rav Ivker is a holistic family physician, health educator, and best-selling author.
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  • Susan Levin
    Susan Levin
    Susan writes about the connection between plant-based diets and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
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  • Rob Brown
    Dr. Rob Brown
    Dr. Brown's blended perspective of healthcare includes a deeply rooted passion for wellness and spiritual exploration.
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December 2024
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