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	<title>gettingoffgrid.com &#187; green planning</title>
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	<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com</link>
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		<title>Vinyl Window Replacements</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/29/vinyl-window-replacements.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/29/vinyl-window-replacements.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:09:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[greenovating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy star]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/29/vinyl-window-replacements.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Vinyl is becoming the material most manufacturers use to make their windows. Most consumers are buying vinyl windows because of its many benefits, including energy efficiency. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />
<p>Most home improvement professionals offer their clients several money saving products that are also considered &#8220;green&#8221; products. This gives consumers the opportunity to not only make home purchases that are easy on their bank accounts, but also on the environment.</p>
<p>Making your next home improvement a &#8220;green improvement&#8221; will alter how you look at energy efficient products. You will be able to experience the value of environmentally friendly products that also develop your home&#8217;s livability and decrease the financial crunch. Many people think that going green is just some environmentalist trend with no real substance or benefit. But, by going green you are actually lessening the amount of unnecessary waste, while saving yourself money.</p>
<p>A &#8220;green improvement&#8221; is the kind of home improvement that lessens your carbon footprint. One way of doing this is by lessening your energy emissions, and using products made from recyclable materials. By purchasing products that will not need to be readily replaced is also helpful to the environment because it prevents excessive waste.</p>
<p>One great &#8220;green improvement&#8221; is the purchase of vinyl replacement windows. If you are considering ways to improve your home, you should start with your windows. Replacing your home&#8217;s windows can have a huge influence on your home&#8217;s insulation, curb appeal, and monthly energy bills.</p>
<p>What Kind of Window Should You Buy?</p>
<p>Be sure to consider vinyl as you are searching for your green replacement windows. With vinyl you will surely have windows that are energy efficient as well as beautifully-crafted and easy to maintain.</p>
<p>Receiving an ENERGY STAR approval is a great qualification to describe any vinyl window or window replacement contractor. Be sure to only purchase ENERGY STAR approved vinyl windows.</p>
<p>The United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency both take charge over ENERGY STAR with the intent to provide ways for businesses and individuals to keep their environment safe and buildings more energy efficient.</p>
<p>What Are the Benefits of Vinyl Windows?</p>
<p>A vinyl window is made to insulate your home. We learned that proper insulation is able to keep unwanted air out, and maintain a comfortable room temperature. That is exactly what vinyl windows are capable of doing in your home. A key to proper insulation is the R-value results. Since vinyl is made from PVC plastic, its R-value is quite high. This means that it is a notably good insulator.</p>
<p>The easy maintenance of vinyl windows is another great benefit. With vinyl&#8217;s durability, finish, and style, there is no immediate need for maintenance common for most wooden or aluminum windows. This also helps reduce your carbon footprint because windows are not being thrown out every several years, but over a much longer period of time.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re wondering whether replacing your windows truly has a huge influence on lowering your energy bill, you should consider the information released by Remodeling Online. In 2009 they released a Cost vs. Value report that showed a 77.2 percent return on investment. You are looking at a pretty significant return! If that isn&#8217;t enough, Consumer Reports Magazine reports that a homeowner can save between 10 and 25 percent on heating and cooling bills simply by replacing outdated single-paned windows.</p>
<p>Some vinyl windows are so well made that they can protect your home from burglaries. Their strength can intimidate the burglar, and prevent him from entering the home after trying for so long to enter the home to no avail.</p>
<p>Once you&#8217;ve decided that you want to go green and use vinyl windows to replace your home&#8217;s windows, it is time to find a professional who can help. Your contractor should provide you with beautiful vinyl windows to help insulate your home and lower your energy bills. A contractor who offers a warranty is a contractor who believes in a product, and is exemplary of a trustworthy company.</p>
<p>Samantha Walton currently works as a web content writer for home improvement sites. She&#8217;s a college graduate with a B.A. in communication and a concentration in public relations. She&#8217;s aspiring to one day further her education with a seminary degree. Her experience ranges from internships in marketing and public relations, content writing for local television broadcasts, to writing and editing newsletters, fliers, and other content for her local church.</p>
<p>With Southwest Sunroom and Window Co. you can expect to install your <a target="_new" href="http://www.homeremodelingroanoke.com/replacement-windows.html">replacement windows in Virginia</a>. They offer Gorell windows that are ENERGY STAR approved, and include a 50-year transferable warranty. A one-year service warranty is available for those who receive replacement window installations.</p>
<p>Contact Southwest today to purchase the best vinyl replacement windows in Roanoke. Call today at: 1-866-713-8058.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Walton">Samantha Walton</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Vinyl-Window-Replacements&amp;id=4747091">EzineArticles.com</a><br /><a href="http://adsenseaccountdisabled.org/">Advice on AdSense</a></p>
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		<title>LEED Homes Are Becoming More Popular Across the Country</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/23/leed-homes-are-becoming-more-popular-across-the-country.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/23/leed-homes-are-becoming-more-popular-across-the-country.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:26:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[greenovating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carbon footprint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[getting off grid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LEEDS Homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/23/leed-homes-are-becoming-more-popular-across-the-country.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With more people wanting to take an active role in "going green", there is growing interest in the concept of LEED homes. This nationwide green building program can apply to any structure, from corporate buildings to private residences. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />With more people wanting to take an active role in &#8220;going green&#8221;, there is growing interest in the concept of LEED homes. This nationwide green building program can apply to any structure, from corporate buildings to private residences. There is a very precise certification system that allows a home to qualify as a green structure, and it can be an expensive endeavor. For many, the upfront cost can be a deterrent, but for anyone that cares about the environment; it&#8217;s a small price to pay to make the world a better place.</p>
<p>Understanding the long-term benefits of a LEED home encourages many Floridians to take the plunge and go green. In fact, Miami has ranked in the top 50 cities in the country for LEED structures for several years. It is expected that in the next few years green homes, like hybrid cars, will become more common. As popularity rises, upfront costs to go green will go down, allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of living this way. To achieve certification, a home must meet many criteria and be rated by a professional in the LEED industry. They will ensure that the home will operate under certain guidelines before they can deem it a green home.</p>
<p>Some of the qualities necessary to becoming a LEED home are water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, and innovation in design. It&#8217;s also important that the home meet certain sustainability standards, meaning it is built on land that was already developed and doesn&#8217;t impact the environment in a negative way. Going green is something people all over the country are considering, and the Sunshine state is in the forefront of the movement to go green. With so much opportunity for solar energy, it&#8217;s no wonder Miami and Fort Lauderdale continue to see more people opting to build LEED homes.</p>
<p>The benefits of a green home are numerous. For many people, the fact that they are making a positive impact on the environment is incentive enough, but it&#8217;s nice to consider the other things that one can enjoy with a LEED home. Lower energy bills, less risk of certain toxins, and improved resale value are some of the benefits. It&#8217;s no wonder so many people are trying to go green in all areas of their lives. From recycling to living green, you can save money and have a clear conscience at the same time.</p>
<p>Sunny Realty of South Florida features technologically advanced and Internet savvy realtors. They specialize in Sunny Isles real estate, <a href="http://www.sunnyislesmiamirealestate.com" target="_new">Miami real estate</a> and luxury condominiums. SunnyIslesMiamiRealEstate.com provides instant access to the best in <a href="http://www.sunnyislesmiamirealestate.com" target="_new">Miami Beach condos</a>.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L._Belenky">L. Belenky</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?LEED-Homes-Are-Becoming-More-Popular-Across-the-Country&amp;id=4829393">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://ywywy.com/q/">Digital economy, mobile technology</a></p>
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		<title>Eco-Commerce is Our Future</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/19/eco-commerce-is-our-future.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/19/eco-commerce-is-our-future.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Sep 2010 05:11:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[green news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biodegradability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carbon footprint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/19/eco-commerce-is-our-future.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The way of the future is green. The future of business is eco-commerce. The planet requires that we make the conversion to eco-products and green living now. The health of the planet also relies on the health of self. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />The planet is changing. We see evidence of this everyday with the changing weather and ecosystems. We can do our part by making alterations in our personal and business lives to facilitate positive outcomes.</p>
<p>Everyone has a personal responsibility for keeping the planet green and healthy. So, what can we do to assist in greening the planet? Massive change is necessary but if we&#8217;re not capable of that small adjustments add up to profound shifts. Leave the big changes to those with the resources to implement them.</p>
<p>We can make small advancements simply by starting in our homes and businesses. If you have never thought about working for yourself then re-think this possibility. If you consider the benefits of working for yourself doing what you love to do, the benefits spill over in so many ways.</p>
<p>Have you considered starting a home based business? Do you realize the positive planetary and personal gains to be realized by doing this? Consider the following&#8230;</p>
<p>1. By working from home you reduce the amount of time in your vehicle which relieves the already congested traffic in most major cities.<br />
2. It reduces green house gases which contribute to the warming of the planet.<br />
3. It reduces our dependency on oil to allow the introduction of other technologies such as electric cars.<br />
4. Big business knows what makes them money. The planet must go green they know this.<br />
5. Staying at home to work allows more personal time with family which also greens the planet by bringing families back together.<br />
6. Take the time to research the many ways to start your own business from home doing what you know and love. Building a business based on your personal knowledge and genuine interest sparks passion that fuels the process to levels of success far surpassed by working at what you don&#8217;t like.<br />
7. If you&#8217;re thinking this is easy, well it isn&#8217;t. But I assure you working hard for yourself beats working hard for someone else any day. What you will find is that the time you put in building your business really doesn&#8217;t seem difficult until you look back after your success and say &#8220;How did I do that?&#8221;<br />
8. Working from home is not for everyone. But it may be for you.<br />
9. Working from home allows for personal time to sneak away to enjoy life doing whatever else you love to do. Keeping your own hours is very freeing.<br />
10. Working at home essentially puts you back in control of your life.<br />
11. Knowledge is power. Use your personal experiences and passions to enlighten anyone who wants to listen. Believe me, there are a lot of people who are seeking information. Share.</p>
<p>Greening your home also includes greening your body. Endorse and promote companies and lifestyle that sell organic and sustainable resources. Eat organically grown produce and restrict our use of packaged fast and frozen foods. Buy products that are eco-friendly by being biodegradable. By displaying our desire to use and promote these resources we send a message to everyone.</p>
<p>The way of the future is green. The future of business is eco-commerce. Live well, Live Green.</p>
<p>The health of ourselves and the planet should be our top priority. Spread the eco-word through business and personal endeavors.</p>
<p>[http://www.ecoroomdecorating.com]</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Zobatar">Margaret Zobatar</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Eco-Commerce-is-Our-Future&amp;id=2472266">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://beadingnecklace.com/">Beading Necklace</a></p>
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		<title>Are &#8220;Green&#8221; Homes Worth the Price?</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/10/are-green-homes-worth-the-price.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/10/are-green-homes-worth-the-price.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:35:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[greenovating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy auditing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy star]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/10/are-green-homes-worth-the-price.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Not all home buyers are ready to pay extra for "Green Home". Would you pay extra? [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />Do you have a green home? I don&#8217;t mean a green-painted home, although if you&#8217;ve used zero VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, you&#8217;ve made a great start. Of course, I&#8217;m referring to &#8216;green&#8217; as in the &#8216;environmentally-friendly&#8217; choice. Are green homes worth the price?</p>
<p>Recent developments would lead us to wonder if enough people are committed to going green. Within the past year, graduate students of the University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design &amp; Planning could find no buyers for two green homes. Even more remarkable is that the homes were selling for half their worth.</p>
<p>Every year, Dan Rockhill, a well-respected professor at the university, organizes the non-profit Studio 804 &#8211; a design/build program for architects-to-be. The homes sell cheaper than normal due to the donations from businesses as well as the student labor. These bright, new architects have produced award-winning, energy-efficient homes. Their latest project was an ultra-efficient house in Kansas City, Kansas.</p>
<p>Actually, Rockhill expects this green home &#8211; the Prescott Passive House &#8211; to be the first in Kansas to receive a certification from the Passive Institute (a green building standard demanding 90% less energy than the average home). The Prescott Passive House has been chosen already as &#8216;This Week&#8217;s Green House&#8217; and is expected to earn top marks from the U.S. Green Building Council. Of course, the 2009 Studio 804 home received a first-class rating from the USGBC and that house is still on the market.</p>
<p>Naturally, economic conditions are not the best for home sales. Yet the reluctance of people to invest in &#8216;green homes&#8217; is rooted in more than the economy. Home buyers say that they are committed to a green home. Builders have even noticed that trend and are incorporating green features into their buildings.</p>
<p>Yet many home buyers are not prepared to pay extra for a green lifestyle. You may think that is understandable with the state of the economy. In most cases, however, the cold shoulder been given to green is not based on available finances. Industry leaders have observed that some home buyers turn a blind eye to &#8216;green&#8217; and put their money into eye candy like state-of-the-art countertops or Jacuzzis.</p>
<p>So, what about the green? Choosing a granite countertop over high-performance windows is like choosing the frosting without the cake. The stuff is sweet is but the fluff has no foundation.</p>
<p>Would I choose the &#8216;green&#8217; over the &#8216;granite?&#8217; Yes! The reality is, however, that some home buyers turn away from green of their own choosing. Other home buyers just want a roof over their children&#8217;s heads and they are not able to afford the granite or the green.</p>
<p>If you can afford to choose green, it makes sense to go for it. If you cannot afford &#8220;green,&#8221; that is society&#8217;s shame. Our world needs more affordable housing and it should be affordable &#8216;green&#8217; housing. Demand and incentives will encourage builders to go &#8216;green&#8217; and still maintain a reasonable rate for buyers.</p>
<p>Developers have to know that there is something good in it for them. I could appeal to the real estate tycoons and say &#8211; come on, build green, even if you make less profit. So, you make $1,000,000 less, but look how you will be helping everyone to live in a healthy and green environment. I could launch that appeal but the real estate market is basically about the bottom line.</p>
<p>Our society has to come to a point where &#8220;not being green&#8221; is viewed as a &#8220;totally unacceptable choice.&#8221; Over the years, we have seen awareness and education cause a total shift in certain attitudes in our society. We need to go in that direction with energy-efficient homes because &#8216;living green&#8217; is worth any price.</p>
<p>Would You Pay Extra For A &#8216;Green&#8217; Home?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CashbackBids.com" target="_new">CashbackBids.com</a> &#8211; Realtors compete you get cash back and reduced commission.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruslan_Khor">Ruslan Khor</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Green-Homes-Worth-the-Price?&amp;id=4857169">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Canada duty rate</a></p>
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		<title>America&#8217;s Green Communities</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/08/americas-green-communities.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/08/americas-green-communities.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:24:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Anne Clarke</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[energy conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[greenovating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carbon footprint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy auditing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rainwater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water harvesting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wind power]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/09/08/americas-green-communities.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you sick of watching politics get in the way of stopping the damage we are doing to our planet? If you said yes, you're not alone. All around the country, people are banding together for community initiatives that get done what the government can't seem to do: to bring about a change in our culture of power use. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />Where is America headed on her journey to become a greener, healthier nation? It&#8217;s hard for many to see progress being made with congress invested in special interest groups and our nation&#8217;s dependency on foreign oil. But slowly communities all across the country are wising up to the benefits and advantages of building green, sustainable communities.</p>
<p>President Obama&#8217;s energy plan was a great start to getting the country on the right track with the environment and our energy consumption but unfortunately the plan is being held up in congress. The plan outlined ways to reduce our nation&#8217;s reliance on fossil fuels and create new jobs in green industries.</p>
<p>One of the main goals of the plan was to get twenty-five percent of our power from renewable, alternative energy by the year 2025 and to reduce carbon emissions by eighty percent by 2050. Another reachable goal is to bring the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. These goals are achieved by installing a cap and trade program for carbon emissions.</p>
<p>The premise of the program would be mandated government caps on emissions; the cap would be based on allowances that would be bought in auctions. The companies who need higher allowances will have to pay for their emissions instead of just being given the right to pollute. Companies that have reduced their emissions can sell their allowance to other companies stimulating the market between businesses. Part of the revenue the government earns in these auctions will be put directly into research and technology for alternative energy strategies.</p>
<p>Along with the emissions cap the plan also outlined several incentive programs to get communities involved in improving the environment. The &#8220;cash for clunkers&#8221; program gives money to those replacing their old fuel burning vehicles for cars that are more fuel efficient. Tax credits would be given to those who install energy efficient appliances and alternative energy systems in their homes. Overall the plan was looking to invest $100 billion (that&#8217;s only one seventh of the financial sector&#8217;s bailout) and create 2 million new jobs.</p>
<p>Whether the plan passes through congress or not it&#8217;s clear that communities in America are choosing to show initiative and take matters in their own hands. A growing number of developments are appearing that adhere to strict green guidelines. These communities are proving that not only is living green possible but it can happen without a struggle when properly planned.</p>
<p>Green communities establish guidelines and use smart planning to grow. They carefully design and plan the layout of the community, paying close attention to environmental impacts and smart growth. They locate themselves within existing developments to revitalize brown fields and run down areas. This keeps the growth from spreading to undeveloped areas and preserves the existing environment (preventing urban sprawl).</p>
<p>The communities are designed to encourage alternative transportation and are walk-able and bike-friendly. Clean, well-lit paths are abundant throughout the area and encourage citizens to get out and enjoy their surroundings. One green community in Florida is even providing electric cars at various charging stations in place of allowing traditional vehicles on their roads.</p>
<p>Water conservation is also a top priority using smart irrigation and native landscaping. It goes without saying that these communities use only energy efficient appliances. Several developments are even going completely off-grid relying solely on solar and wind power.</p>
<p>In these neighborhoods the structures are built using renewable, recyclable materials with emphasis on compact and efficient designs. The area leaders ensure that criteria are met before building can begin and before the structures pass inspection. All of these ideas integrate into a community that illustrates green living is entirely possible.</p>
<p>Cities across the nation are adopting these guidelines and smart development is taking place of giant conglomerates greedily consuming land in areas that don&#8217;t need excessive expansion. Citizens are fighting back. In Lake Billy Chinook, OR the town operates completely of the grid and they like it that way.</p>
<p>Online forums and groups attract more and more members every day. The number of homeowners switching to renewable power grows by a third every year. Currently there are about 180,000 people living totally off the power grid. People are communicating with each other and learning we can make an impact with or without the help of congress.</p>
<p>Citizens are working with each other to spread awareness about the dangers of our inexcusable wastefulness of energy. Whether the government gets behind the people or not changes are being made and while they may seem small at first, overtime the citizens of this country can be heard. It&#8217;s time our officials start listening to the people who pay their salaries and realize we cannot continue down the path we are on.</p>
<p>For more information on green communities and to connect with others passionate about change join our solar forum. Here you can discuss ideas and views with other people interested in solar power and green living. Even those just looking to save money on energy during these trying times will find useful information on becoming more energy efficient homeowners.</p>
<p>Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more information about the solar revolution, please visit <a href="http://www.solarpowerforum.net" target="_new">Solar Forum</a>, a gathering place for the environmentally conscious.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke">Anne Clarke</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Americas-Green-Communities&amp;id=2592149">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://foodtocure.com/">Healing food: natural way to cure cancer</a></p>
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		<title>Green is the New Black &#8211; Stress Free Eco-Friendly Wedding Ideas</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/25/green-is-the-new-black-stress-free-eco-friendly-wedding-ideas.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/25/green-is-the-new-black-stress-free-eco-friendly-wedding-ideas.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:49:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[going  green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biodegradability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carbon footprint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Stress-Free Eco Wedding Ideas from a wedding planner. For the couple who wants to have a Eco-friendly wedding as well as save some green for there big day. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />You&#8217;re getting married! Yay! Now, what?</p>
<p>Planning your wedding can be a lot of fun. It can also be a great big giant headache. There are so many things to consider, feelings to protect, and your own happiness to pursue. What do you do first? How do you prioritize?</p>
<p>First of all, relax. Take a deep breath&#8230;and release. There. Much better.</p>
<p>So you want to have an environmentally friendly wedding &#8211; an Eco Wedding, if you will. But how do you go about planning one? Is it possible to have the wedding of your dreams without doing so much damage to the environment that there won&#8217;t be anything left for your children&#8217;s wedding?</p>
<p>The answer is a resounding YES!</p>
<p>And the best part of having a Green wedding? You save money! What could be better than having a dream wedding while saving the Earth and fattening your wallet? Maybe eating a whole lot of chocolate without breaking out or gaining weight &#8211; but that&#8217;s a whole different issue.</p>
<p>Back to the topic: Stress-free eco wedding planning. Right.</p>
<p>If you are planning a more intimate wedding &#8211; family and close friends only &#8211; why not have a short ceremony and the reception at the same place?</p>
<p>Some friends of mine actually went to a justice of the peace accompanied by immediate family only, then invited 20 of their closest friends to their favorite restaurant for a wonderful and beautiful organic feast. Transportation was provided to limit CO2 emissions.</p>
<p>If you want a larger wedding, consider having the wedding and reception at the same venue. Ask what furniture is accessible on-site and how much of it is available for your specific date. If the venue provides tables, chairs, linens, utensils and such, you save money and stress from coordinating furniture rental.</p>
<p>Ask about the site&#8217;s recycling policy. Do they recycle?</p>
<p>Does the venue provide a caterer, or can you hire your own? Some places may not let you hire an outside caterer. If this is so, ask the caterer if they use seasonal fare and support local farmers (the shorter distance food needs to travel, the less CO2 emissions produced from transporting it).</p>
<p>Find out about the chef&#8217;s vegetarian menu. Is it more than just steamed vegetables over rice or pasta? Request that the wedding cake be made of organic and natural ingredients &#8211; no artificial sweeteners.</p>
<p>Opt for a vintage gown or a second-hand dress. After all, it&#8217;s traditionally a very bulky dress that you&#8217;re going to wear only once. After the wedding, sell it to a consignment store so another bride can use it. Another option is to donate the dress to a charity that will either use the dress or use the material to make another dress.</p>
<p>Wedding flowers can cost a lot of money. A less eco-minded girlfriend spent over $10,000 just on cut flowers alone! Yikes! Instead of replicating this extravagance and waste, why not ask your bridesmaids to feature their organic bouquets from local suppliers as centerpieces for the tables? Or display a potted plant that someone can take home and plant in their garden. You can also use the flowers from the wedding ceremony to decorate the reception area. Most florists will accommodate this eco-minded request.</p>
<p>Now for the wedding favors. Some examples of eco-friendly favors are seed packets &#8211; tastefully decorated, of course. You can make your own and slip them into recycled organic envelopes, or you can purchase them online. Organic and fair trade chocolate is another option. Try to give something consumable and biodegradable &#8211; stay away from plastic trinkets that end up in the landfill.</p>
<p>And finally, give yourself a break. Hire an experienced and reputable wedding planner. It may seem like an indulgence, but it&#8217;s really more of a necessity. Hiring a wedding planner can actually result in saving you a lot of money (and your sanity!).</p>
<p>How?</p>
<p>Wedding planners know all the intricacies involved in planning a wedding. Your wedding won&#8217;t be the first one they have planned. They are very well-connected and know who the reputable providers are in the business.</p>
<p>Wedding planners are also very experienced in the negotiating process. Because they work with vendors on a regular basis, they can get you a discount on a lot of things that you may not be able to negotiate yourself. They have your best interest in mind and can help guide you into making informed decisions.</p>
<p>Call us today and find out how we can help make one of the most important days of your life a stress-free and eco-friendly day as well.</p>
<p>Posh Productions Event Planning &amp; Design -<br />
Amira Harris: Lead Wedding Planner<br />
-Calgary, Alberta Canada<br />
<a href="http://www.poshproductions.ca" target="_new">http://www.poshproductions.ca</a></p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amira_Harris">Amira Harris</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Green-is-the-New-Black---Stress-Free-Eco-Friendly-Wedding-Ideas&amp;id=2368968">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://instantpot.com/">Pressure cooker</a></p>
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		<title>B&amp;B Consulting Job Reviews &#8211; Going Green in the Laundry Room</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/23/bb-consulting-job-reviews-going-green-in-the-laundry-room-17.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/23/bb-consulting-job-reviews-going-green-in-the-laundry-room-17.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:59:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[going  green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/23/bb-consulting-job-reviews-going-green-in-the-laundry-room-17.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each consulting job I've had has taught me how differently everyone approaches their lodging business. You can be sure their approach to greening their properties is unique too. Let me share highlights of various consulting jobs I've had. This article covers greening the laundry room. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />Each consulting job I&#8217;ve had has taught me how differently everyone approaches their lodging business. You can be sure their approach to greening their properties is unique too. Let me share highlights of various consulting jobs I&#8217;ve had. This article covers greening the laundry room.</p>
<p>A B&amp;B-like hotel, taking its first step in greening its operations, started with its laundry system. That step also included implementing a sheet and towel reuse program.</p>
<p>After discussing the various approaches different hotels take &#8212; let guests ask to have sheets and towels changed; let guests ask to not have sheets and towels changed; tell guests your frequency of when you change sheets and towels, like every three days &#8212; they opted to change guest linens every three days. Of course they allowed for the need or request for a more frequent change.</p>
<p>A sheet and towel reuse program saves in various ways: conservation of water, energy, laundry supplies, and manpower, and saving money by not having to replace sheets and towels as often, and by not wasting resources.</p>
<p>Their large commercial front loading washer and dryer were already saving them time and money. Front loading washers are both water and energy efficient. But that was the end of the good news about their laundry room.</p>
<p>Out of habit and cost savings they were buying bulk laundry supplies from various discount, big-box stores, but supplies that are hard on the environment and the people using them. They had big buckets of laundry soap, mega-dispensers of fabric softener, and gallons of bleach lining their shelves.</p>
<p>There are several good environmentally friendly laundry products available, but they can&#8217;t compete in price to the deep discount detergents found at the big-box stores. But using baking soda and white vinegar in the wash and rinse cycles is a cheap alternative to fabric softeners, and I urged that change. I also introduced them to an oxygen bleach that was gentle on the environment and people, and at a competitive price to chlorine bleach.</p>
<p>Aha! It turns out one owner and the housekeepers preferred the products on the shelves to others. It&#8217;s one thing to retrain the staff, but if the ownership isn&#8217;t behind the changes the changes won&#8217;t happen. And that was the bottom line in this case: one owner and housekeeping against the other owner.</p>
<p>So while the hotel never changed from the environmentally harmful laundry supplies the owner in favor of the change converted her home laundry to a greener one. She&#8217;s still experimenting with the laundry soaps, but she&#8217;s not using fabric softener or bleach anymore and instead using baking soda, white vinegar and the oxygen bleach &#8211; StainSolver.</p>
<p>Going <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thebandblady.com/bb-consulting-job-reviews-going-green-in-the-laundry-room.html" target="_new">green</a> is a constant set of decision making steps. You may not be able to do everything you want right away, and you may never be able to take some of the green actions you want to. And you decide between two products that have short-comings, short-comings you have to balance in your quest for being green.</p>
<p>But taking the first step with future steps planned right behind them is the way to start. Use the savings from your each action to help fund subsequent actions, and watch your B&amp;B get greener and more sustainable all the time.</p>
<p>* Sage Blossom Consulting *<br />
Sustainable Hospitality Is Our Business<br />
Kit Cassingham, Member ISHC<br />
<a href="http://www.SageBlossom.com" target="_new">http://www.SageBlossom.com</a><br />
* 1.970.626.6057 *</p>
<p>Kit Cassingham, Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Sage Blossom Consulting, is a hospitality consultant to the B&amp;B and hotel industries. Her focus includes market niche, and sustainable and green operations.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kit_Cassingham">Kit Cassingham</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?BandB-Consulting-Job-Reviews---Going-Green-in-the-Laundry-Room&amp;id=2811258">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Duty tariff</a></p>
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		<title>Simple Tips to Go Green and Save Cash at the Same Time &#8211; Part 1</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/14/simple-tips-to-go-green-and-save-cash-at-the-same-time-part-1.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/14/simple-tips-to-go-green-and-save-cash-at-the-same-time-part-1.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:49:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[greenovating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carbon footprint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[composting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water harvesting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/08/14/simple-tips-to-go-green-and-save-cash-at-the-same-time-part-1.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are eight Simple tips to help you to Go Green and save money at the same time. Tip number one - Buy locally produced food as often as possible. You will be helping the neighborhood economy, and you will be helping to shrink the hidden costs involved in food production, transport and distribution. The average American meal travels some 1,500 miles before a knife or fork touches it. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />Here are eight simple tips to help you to Go Green and save money at the same time.</p>
<p>Buy locally produced food as often as possible. You will be helping the neighborhood economy, and you will be helping to shrink the hidden costs involved in food production, transport and distribution. The average American meal travels some 1,500 miles before a knife or fork touches it. That means larger freight charges and fuel expenses. You can help to save on these, and save your own cash too, by buying locally grown produce. Farmer&#8217;s Markets are perfect for this. The quality is great and the price is great too. And because it&#8217;s local, it doesn&#8217;t travel halfway across the nation to reach you! In fact, you can reduce the amount of traveling your food has to do by an impressive 80% at least! The other benefit is that not only does it enhance your local economy, but you are encouraging more people to begin farming. With so many people out of work now, many people are looking for alternatives to factory work. Maybe more of us need to go back to work on small family farms.</p>
<p>Print less or not at all, if possible. Paper doesn&#8217;t grow on trees &#8211; it is trees! And we are killing them with our printing. If you really have to print, then consider using duplex, or double-sided printing to save half your paper needs. You&#8217;ll also save a tree besides all of the resources needed to convert the wood pulp into paper.</p>
<p>Install a rain barrel to catch rain water from the roof. This is an old concept dating back centuries, but a great one. The rain is free of charge after all and it is excellent for watering plants and flowers since it doesn&#8217;t contain excessive chemicals such as chlorine. You can save on water bills by utilizing this idea and your plants will be much happier!</p>
<p>You can create a composting bin for all the vegetable and plant material you might ordinarily throw away. Leaves from trees in autumn, as well as anything pruned or cut off can all be composted. Good compost will give first-rate soil material for nourishing young plants next season. It&#8217;s a smart way of recycling. Look to the kitchen as well for decomposable materials. Food waste will compost without difficulty and it&#8217;s an ideal way to dispose of it. Composting food and vegetable material turns it into nutrient-rich soil. You can buy composting bins and other items, but it&#8217;s much more fulfilling and cheaper to build it yourself.</p>
<p>Plant drought-tolerant trees and shrubs in your garden. These include crepe myrtle, ash, or ginkgo, and shrubs from rosemary to barberry and juniper. Why? With global warming we might have drier conditions. If you have plants competing for increasingly drier soil, you will have problems. Drought-tolerant tree and shrub species will survive better and not demand as much water. You will save on the water bill and decrease your water usage.</p>
<p>Cook once and eat twice. This is a great way to save all round by cooking two meals at the same time. If your oven can hold two chickens, then why not roast two instead of one every time? In a conventional oven, two chickens will cook in the same amount of time that one will. Now, do the math&#8230; You will cut your cooking time in half, saving electricity or cooking gas &#8211; and guess what happens to all the money saved! Yep, it stays right in your pocket. You also save a lot of time when you come to prepare your next meal. Keep in mind, it doesn&#8217;t have to be just chickens. This will work with turkeys, roast beef, etc. And in summer will avoid heating the kitchen on the off days.</p>
<p>In summary, these eight items barely scratch the surface. Brainstorm and think of ways that you can save energy and money. Working together we can make a difference in our world today. More ideas are available at <a href="http://www.go-green-blog.com/" target="_new">How To Go Green</a>.</p>
<p>Mitchell Earwood invites you to visit his website <a href="http://www.getwealthyslowly.com" target="_new">Forex Trading Easy</a>.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitchell_Earwood">Mitchell Earwood</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Simple-Tips-to-Go-Green-and-Save-Cash-at-the-Same-Time---Part-1&amp;id=2329295">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://foodtocure.com/">Healing food: natural way to cure cancer</a></p>
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		<title>Global Warming Hoax &#8211; What&#8217;s the Truth?</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/07/26/global-warming-hoax-whats-the-truth.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/07/26/global-warming-hoax-whats-the-truth.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:07:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>laurarose</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Global Warming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carbon footprint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy auditing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global warming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reuse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/07/26/global-warming-hoax-whats-the-truth.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What's the real deal about the global warming hoax? Find out here. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />A lot of people will be telling you a lot of things about the global warming hoax-about how this situation doesn&#8217;t exist at all and how it is a figment of a fertile scientist&#8217;s imagination-but the fact is that the situation is totally real and is standing at our door, waiting to get in. Global warming isn&#8217;t myth. It is happening, and has been happening ever since the earth was formed. We are talking about it now because we weren&#8217;t much climatologically advanced to understand this peril in previous times. Then there&#8217;s also the fact that the danger has been rising with alarming alacrity only recently, since about the last sixty years. That&#8217;s the reason why the talk about this situation has increased only lately.</p>
<p>The fact is that if we don&#8217;t come out of this denial, we won&#8217;t be having this earth for long. Our winters have already started becoming warmer and our summers have become unbearably hotter. Rains play truant. The snow cover has decreased. Tropical vacation destinations are no longer the sultry paradises people considered them to be because of the unbearably high temperatures they now have. If these aren&#8217;t real indications of what&#8217;s happening and what&#8217;s going to happen, then what are they?</p>
<p>We need to stop bantering about the global warming hoax without further delay and start implementing steps so that we can save the world. We are going to be our own superheroes in the coming years, and our work should have begun yesterday! We are overdue.</p>
<p>So, what&#8217;s there that you and I can do to stop something as humongous as global warming? The fact is that there are several small things we can do on an individual note that can count immensely toward bringing the rate of global warming down. Here is a list of a few things that we can do.</p>
<p>1. Stop overusing cooling appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The coolants in them contain chlorofluorocarbons. When these are released into the environment, they harm the all-important ozone layer which forms a protective greenhouse layer over the earth. When the ozone layer is depleted, sun&#8217;s rays-even the very harmful ultraviolet rays-will gain free access onto the earth&#8217;s surface and ravage it.</p>
<p>2. We need to grow as many trees as we can. Trees utilize carbon dioxide for their natural process of photosynthesis, by which they prepare their food. If trees are cut, this carbon dioxide will escape into the environment, and that will increase the greenhouse effect drastically. The sun&#8217;s heat which will be trapped on the earth by this thicker layer will bring global warming to dangerous levels.</p>
<p>3. The same is applicable to the emissions from our vehicles and machines in the factories. All emitted gases escape into the atmosphere and add to the greenhouse layer, which then traps more of solar heat on the earth.</p>
<p>4. We need to be as green as possible. The human race is often depicted as fools that cut the tree they lived on. We are actually doing that by going as much away from nature as possible. Implementing green methods in our lifestyle will help maintain the natural balance as nature gave it to us.</p>
<p>We cannot stop all causes of global warming. For instance, we cannot stop the dangerous fluctuations in solar heat that have been happening lately. We cannot help the bubbling of the magma inside the earth&#8217;s core. But we can do out bit and avert the threat to our planet in our own small ways. We need to start by seeing through this global warming hoax and implementing the right measures while we still can.</p>
<p>Kelly Hunter owns and operates <a href="http://www.wireless-indoor-outdoor-thermometer.com" target="_new">http://www.wireless-indoor-outdoor-thermometer.com</a> and also writes about <a href="http://www.wireless-indoor-outdoor-thermometer.com" target="_new">Wireless Indoor Outdoor Thermometer</a></p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Hunter">Kelly Hunter</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Global-Warming-Hoax---Whats-the-Truth?&amp;id=3758410">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://instantpot.com/">Pressure cooker</a></p>
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		<title>Eco-Friendly Window Covering Ideas</title>
		<link>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/07/13/eco-friendly-window-covering-ideas.html</link>
		<comments>http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/07/13/eco-friendly-window-covering-ideas.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:54:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Christopher W Smith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[energy conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[greenovating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bamboo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reuse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://gettingoffgrid.com/2010/07/13/eco-friendly-window-covering-ideas.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When it comes time to look for new window treatments for your home, one of the biggest problems you have might be figuring out what to do with the old ones that you're taking down. They're large, they're bulky, and they're too faded to sell or even give away. With "no burn" laws in your area, you can't even get rid of them that way. You wish you had purchased more eco-friendly window treatments when you got them, but it's too late for that. All you can do is to make sure that the new window treatments you purchase are greener than the old ones were. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="top" />When it comes time to look for new window treatments for your home, one of the biggest problems you have might be figuring out what to do with the old ones that you&#8217;re taking down. They&#8217;re large, they&#8217;re bulky, and they&#8217;re too faded to sell or even give away. With &#8220;no burn&#8221; laws in your area, you can&#8217;t even get rid of them that way. The only option you have will probably be to stuff them into garbage bags and send them to the landfill, but you hate to do that. You wish you had purchased more eco-friendly window treatments when you got them, but it&#8217;s too late for that. All you can do is to make sure that the new window treatments you purchase are greener than the old ones were.</p>
<p>Many window treatment companies are working hard at &#8220;going green&#8221; by producing products made from recycled materials that can also be recycled again when their years of usefulness are past. These companies are using materials that are eco-friendly and eliminating such substances as PVC and other chemicals from the items they are producing. You can&#8217;t tell it by looking at them, either. These eco-friendly window treatments are as stylish and elegant as you could hope for. In fact, many of them are downright beautiful, and you&#8217;ll be proud having them in your house.</p>
<p>You will find these new, eco-friendly window coverings made in a variety of different styles. Window blinds are made of wood, faux wood, woven wood, and a variety of recyclable fabrics. You might consider adding solar panels to your rooms. Not only are these shades made of eco-friendly materials, but they also block harmful UV rays, help maintain the temperature in your home, and control glare. Blackout shades are also energy savers that will help keep down your cooling bills in the summer.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like a look that will fit in with either formal or casual decor and still be eco-friendly, you should check out bamboo shades. Bamboo is an ideal material, because bamboo trees regenerate within just a few years and do not require replanting. In addition, bamboo is an extremely durable material and can be used to create window treatments that are texture-rich and a delight to look at.</p>
<p>You have windows, you need window treatments! Visit coveringyourwindows.com for more tips on <a href="http://www.coveringyourwindows.com/hunter_douglas_window_treatments/" target="_new">Hunter Douglas window treatments</a> and <a href="http://www.coveringyourwindows.com/bay_window_treatments/" target="_new">bay window treatments</a> and learn more how to pick the right window covering for your home.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith">Christopher W Smith</a><br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Eco-Friendly-Window-Covering-Ideas&amp;id=2464058">EzineArticles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://solarsofa.com/">News of Solar Power and Alternative Engery</a></p>
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