Plain Dealer Identifies Windpower in Ohio as an Alternative Energy Solution

A recent article in the Plain Dealer explains the Energy Task Force that was created by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners  in 2006 to study offshore windpower to produce green renewable enegy & create jobs.   

The Commissioner’s economic development priority list was discussed with then President Elect Barack Obama when he visited the Bedford Heights wind industry supplier. 

The goal of the task force is to use European knowledge to create jobs in Cleveland.  Gov. Ted Strickland has layed the groundwork for the emerging industry by getting standards passed for alternative renewable energy sources as part of a state energy bill.  The task force was developed to create jobs in Ohio because they have the resources and skilled labor to grow the wind energy business.

Who would of thought that Cleveland would be the leader in wind power, an alternative energy source and have skilled labor in that area.  I would have thought that states by an ocean would have had better resources.

Transportation Tips for Living Green

Can’t afford a fuel efficient or hybrid car? Not to worry, you can still save on transportation and fuel costs. Check out these tips for living green and keeping more green in your pocket.

• Work from home 1 -2 days a week. Not only will you use less fuel and emit less harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but you will also be more efficient and have a couple more hours to devote to your family. Those who telecommute now outnumber those who use mass transit.
• Skip a business trip or vacation. According to a Reader’s Digest article, skipping an airplane trip greatly helps reduce the amount of CO2 being emitted from an airplane as well as water vapors and nitrogen oxides, which can be more damaging than CO2 alone. 
• Don’t be afraid to use your car’s air conditioning system during the warmer months, it’s actually less costly to run the AC than drive with the windows down. Just keep the setting at low and drive the speed limit.
• Use cruise control whenever you can while driving. Not only will you improve your gas mileage, but you will also save about 250 pounds of CO2 every year. If you’re counting your carbon credit usage, this will help.

Need more tips for living green? Check out Fair Green Trade’s green directory.

Effortless Ways to Create an Energy Smart Home

Want to help the environment, but don’t want to expend a lot of your own energy? According to an article in Reader’s Digest (April 08), anyone can create an energy smart home by making just a few changes.

Create an Energy Smart Home by:

• Sealing and weatherproofing your home. If you’re not sure how to do this, then hire someone who is. There are many DIY handyman in every burg and town who are looking for small jobs such as sealing pipes, windows and insulating air ducts.
• Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees; wash clothes in warm or cold water; and replace water heaters that are more than 15 years old with more energy efficient ones. Just by doing these simple things everyone can save more than a hundred pounds of CO2 every year.
• Drink tap water instead of buying bottled water or reuse gallon or 5 gallon containers to replenish your drinking water.
• Replace outdated appliances with energy efficient ones; look for the Energy Star symbol. Some states even provide tax breaks for buying and using such appliances. You’ll save more electricity and use less CO2 every year.

An energy smart home is easy to create; look for retailers and manufacturers who sell energy smart appliances on Fair Green Trade.

Be Beautiful and Green with All Natural Beauty Products

What is the real price for beauty in the 21^st century? It seems while many women are open to recycling , many admit they do not do other things to reduce waste. In fact, 77 percent of women, according to an O.B. survey in April 2008, say they do not help reduce waste, thus contribute more to our ever-increasing problem – trash & toxins.

Being beautiful can also be green by using all natural beauty products, reducing the amount you use every day and selecting recyclable packaging.

Use All Natural Beauty Products to Green your Daily Beauty Regime

• EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream sells for about $5.50 at most drugstores or on drugstore.com. It comes in an aerosol-free container and recyclable plastic. This green packaging helps reduce waste in the landfills, if recycled properly, and in our air.

• Alterna Hemp with Organics Repair Shampoo sell for $23 on 4alterna.com. An all natural beauty product that is free from sulfates; contains certified organic botanicals and organic hemp seed oil.

• Origins Organics Body Pampering Massage Oil is available for $30 on origins.com. Origins all natural beauty products pride themselves on using certified organic ingredients and recycled/recyclable packaging. This massage oil is packaged in recyclable glass.

• Cargo Cosmetics’ Plant Love Lipsticks sells for $20 on cargoplantlove.com. An all natural beauty product and its package can be planted in soil where it will sprout wildflowers. Look for other packaging that contains seeds to plant as well. The lipstick tube is made of corn, which is better than those non-recyclable plastic tubes.

When looking for all natural beauty products, choose ones that have less ingredients and words such as “organic, certified, and all natural.” You will feel better when you use all natural beauty products both for the earth and for yourself.