Tips for Going Green on Christmas

It's that time of year again when the snow beings to fall, decorations are set out in the yard, Christmas trees go up, little kids are building snowmen and the smell of warm cookies are in the air.  It's Christmas time.  The most happiest time of the year!!  And probably the most unsustainable time too.  Some of our holiday traditions around this time of year wreak the environment.  For instance, tons of extra trash, increased electrical usage due to all the decorations and fresh Christmas trees that are not recycled.  But here are a few tips to keep in mind to make the environment better and keep your holiday happy!

Tip 1:  Low Energy LED Lights
All households should get rid of their old traditional strings of lights and replace them with the new LED (light emitting diode) strings of lights.  These use up to 90% less energy than traditional Christmas lights.  They also produce very little heat which reduces the risk of fire and last about 10 times longer than traditional lights. 

 

Tip 2:  Green Christmas Tree
The main question of the season, a fake or real Christmas tree??  Since most Christmas lot trees are now grown on tree farms, some argue that it doesn't really hurt the forests when they get cut down because they are generally replanted. And they also argue in favor of fresh trees because artificial ones are fabricated from petroleum based products and of course, energy is used to make them. The other side of the argument is that artificial trees are better because you don't waste gas going to the lot every year to buy the tree.

If you get a real Christmas tree this year, recycle it at the end of the season, rather than throwing it in the trash. By recycling your fresh tree, you can reduce the amount of waste going to your local landfill. Recycled trees are often turned into wood chips and/or mulch that local county park landscapers and homeowners can use around their existing yard plants. Many local cities are now offering tree recycling pick-up for free.

Tip 3:  Eco-Friendly Christmas Card
In most families it is a tradition to send out Christmas cards to all your family and friends.  This year, try and be more sustainable by buying cards that have been made from recycled paper or a sustainable forest.  Also try and look for cards from an organization that uses the funds to make a difference.  Once the Christmas season is over, instead of throwing the cards you have received away, recycle them. 

Tip 4:  Green Gift-Giving

When you go Christmas shopping, take your own cloth tote bags with you to carry home the presents. You can look fashionable with some of the cool totes on the market today. This is a great way to cut down on the plastic bag waste that we create during the holiday season. Also if stores offer you 'free' holiday gift boxes, decline unless you absolutely plan to use them. All those free gift boxes create a lot of unnecessary waste.

One great way to reduce holiday waste is by recycling gift wrapping paper. Using re-usable gift bags and gift boxes with printed holiday lids are great ideas because the bags and boxes don't get torn (like wrapping paper) so reusing them is easy from year to year. If you do use gift wrap, buy recycled wrap at the store. Most major retailers now sell wrap that is made from recycled paper. Finally, save and reuse all those holiday ribbons and bows from year to year. You can even consider using natural items like big holly berry and leaves from your yard to decorate presents rather than loads of ribbon.

Another idea is to give gifts that don't require much, if any, wrapping at all.  For instance, sporting event or theater tickets, a weekend at the spa, store gift cards, and hand-written certificates for a free night of baby sitting are not only great holiday gift ideas, but they also require little or no gift wrap. If you are really gung-ho about recycling, you could use an old Christmas card to present the tickets or gift certificates.

Some families go a bit overboard with presents. Consider doing a name exchange so that each person only gets one present (instead of everyone getting a present for everyone else). This will make the gift more special and it will cut down on waste.

Finally, consider making your own gifts to help reduce waste. Baked goods like Christmas cookies, homemade jams and other treats are great for those that are good in the kitchen. Be sure to give them in reusable containers too!

If you happen to receive a gift that you don't want, give it to charity or return it (if possible) rather than throwing it away. There is likely someone out there that would cherish such a gift.

Tip 5:  Green Holiday Meal

During the Christmas season you can expect there will be plenty of family dinners and corporate holiday parties.  Remember to be eco-friendly when planning these dinners or events.

Recycle glass bottles and cans that party guests consumed. Many communities now offer curbside recycling so politely ask guests to place their bottles and cans in the specially marked bin instead of the trash at the party. After large parties, you may need to store some of the recyclables in the garage, putting out what will fit in your curbside bin over several weeks.

When cooking the big family holiday meal, you'll likely use some aluminum foil. Don't forget that it is totally recyclable in most curbside pick-up bins.

Plan your holiday menu and buy your groceries wisely.  Buy only what you need and if you can buy local produce instead of items that need to be shipped in from other countries, you'll reduce energy waste needed to get the food to your area.

If you don't have a composter, consider getting one. Compost is great for the yard and it cuts down significantly on the amount of waste that goes to the landfill.

Save water during party clean-up by scraping the dinner plates before placing them in the dishwasher (rather than rinsing them). Having the tap water on for a minute can waste up to 2 gallons of water so the less time the water is on, the better!

Cordless Phones are not Sustainable

When you visit someone at their home, do you ever realize what kind of telephone they have?  Do you see if they have an old fashion phone with the thing you swirl to dial?  Or the phones that hang on the wall with long cords to reach all around the house?  Or do they have the more modern day telephone, such as a cordless phone? Today more and more people are buying what is new and big in the market.  But what happens if the newest and latest thing is not the most eco-friendly? 

Households all over are getting ride of their phones with cords and are going cordless.  We live in the United States where we are always extremely busy and on the run.  We like to do a hundred things as one time, so having a cordless makes sense.  We can talk on the phone while doing things around the house. 

However, according to The Daily Green, cordless phones are not sustainable at all.  They are constantly in their charger, which sucks up power 24/7.  Cordless phones use between 2 to 3 watts in both active and stand by modes compared to conventional phones that use only a tiny bit of electricity that comes through the phone line.  Also, conventional phones work when the power goes out in a storm, where as cordless phones do not.  So, save money, electricity and be more sustainable by getting rid of your cordless phone and get a conventional one.  If you like cordless phones more than conventional, then have only one cordless in your house and put conventional phones everywhere else.  If you do get a cordless phone remember to get an Energy-Star rated which indicates it is a high energy efficient phone.

I know that in my household we have always tried having a cordless phone, but they would always die or break somehow.  We use conventional phones and I think they work better than cordless.  Cordless phones are so hard to hear on and you always drop them when your trying to do other things while balancing it between your neck and shoulder.  For me, conventional phones are more convenient and now that I know they use less electricity than cordless I think I will never get a cordless phone.  So next time your out buying a telephone for your house stop and think, which is the better way to go, conventional or cordless?  And hopefully you choose the more eco-friendly telephone.

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

Being a college student or a professional in the workforce, how many times do you use your printer a day?  A week?  And even a month?  Probably a lot more than you actually realize.  I know that I am constantly printing out assignments, notes or other things that I need to have on paper.  But all of the things I print out, how much of it do I really need??

We can start being more sustainable by the way we print papers off the computer.  If we do not need something on paper, then save it to your computer.  Do you really need to print out that news article or can you just add it to your favorites and look back on it later??  These are the little things we need to consider when we use the printer.  If it is necessary to print out an article or a document that is not that important, try to print it out on scrap paper. 

When your receive an assignment that is to be turned in on paper, try to remember to print it front and back.  Many professors do not mind if you turn in your paper or final project like this.  In fact, most of the printers on Baldwin-Wallace's campus automatically print front and back.  Also, I would assume businesses would not mind printing front and back either considering many of them are looking for ways to be more eco-friendly. 

In addition, many printers have multiple settings for print quality.  Use the high quality print setting for things that have to look nice, but use the low quality setting for things that don't.  This will save ink.  I though this tip was very interesting because I did not even know that printers had different quality settings.

I know that this printing advice will be useful in my life everyday to help make me be more sustainable and I hope it is just as useful in yours too.

Turkey Trot

This year's 29th Annual Cleveland Turkey Trot took place on Thanksgiving morning, November 25th 2010 at the Galleria of Erieview in Downtown Cleveland.  Registration began at 7:00am.  Following at 8:45am was the 1 mile fun run and then the 5 mile timed run at 9:30am. The Turkey Trot was present by Fleet Feet Sports Northfield. 

This was a great way to get a eco-friendly workout in on the day of Thanksgiving.  Instead of running on the treadmill at home, many people were able to conserve energy by running this 5 mile Turkey Trot.  Everyone enjoyed the scenic run with their family and friends and even got to meet new people.  Of course, it was not eco-friendly driving downtown, but I figure you make up for it because your not using your workout machine at home.  Also, people remembered to bring their reusable water bottles.  There was also a custom contest where many people reused their outfits from last.  Everyone seemed like they had a great time and were being sustainable probably without even knowing it. 

In case you would like to participate in this event next year, here is some more information.      By participating runners received:

• customized long-sleeve t-shirt
• ribbons to all 1-Mile finishers
• random prizes (will be handed out on race day - you must be pre-registered to be eligible)
• age group awards in the 5-Mile run
• costume contest at the start line at 9:15 AM
• d-tag timing in the 5-Mile run
• FREE gift with any Brooks purchase at Fleet Feet during packet pickup on Sunday, November 21 and Monday, November 22

Pictures were taken, awards were given and all participants brought canned goods for St. Malachi Church.  For more information, visit Cleveland Turkey Trot

Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for us to spend with our family, friends and others we are grateful to have in our lives.  It is a time to gives thanks and praise and maybe even start a new "green" Thanksgiving family tradition.  Here are some helpful and easy tips to have a green Thanksgiving dinner.

The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, so do your part and stay at home.  I know Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time you spend with loved ones, but maybe skip the stressful and chaotic traveling and lower carbon emissions as well.  If you do travel to see relatives, make sure you car pool.

When making dinner, eat locally grown, organic food.  Food that does not need to be packaged for a maximum shelf life tastes better and requires less fuel to reach the store. Locally grown food contributes to the economy of your county for farmers and merchants alike. Making an organic meal cuts down on pesticides and fertilizers used on your veggies. The food is healthier and better for the environment – not to mention organic farming prevents erosion, increase soil fertility, and produces higher yields.

Instead of going out to the store and buying decorations that have been sent over from China, make your own.  Use shoe boxes, pipe cleaners, construction paper, and outdoor plants to make your own centerpieces.   Use corn husks and other food to decorate your house and set up that Thanksgiving mood.

And always remember to recycle.  Thanksgiving produces plastic, paper, glass, and all sorts of recyclable waste – so be sure to put them in their proper barrels or bring to the supermarket or local recycling center.  Also, have reusable bags handy to buy all your Thanksgiving food and ingredients instead of using plastic and paper bags.  In addition, try not to buy excess food. I know it may be hard to envision, but by not over indulging and letting extra food go to waste will help the planet in the long run.

I challenge you to try and use these easy eco-friendly tips on Thanksgiving day with your family.  To learn more about easy ways to help the planet this Thanksgiving, watch this video from Fox 31 news, Go Green: Thanksgiving. 

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

People workout for all different reasons.  Whether it is to stay in shape, lose weight, look good for summer, or for your new years eve resolution, working out is always great for your body.  However, sometimes we are not as eco-friendly as we should be when it comes to our workout.  For instance, we should not be driving to the gym or using water bottle that are not recyclable.  Below are some simple and easy tips for a great eco-friendly workout from the website greenertrends.

1.  Save energy and money by walking or running outside.  Why stay inside on a treadmill that uses electricity when instead you can go on an exciting walk/run right outside in your own neighborhood.  You do not have to drive to any gym and you save money on your electricity bill.

2.  Join a gym that is walking or biking distance.  Everyone already has a hard enough time squeezing in a workout once a day, so why waste more time by driving to a gym that is too far away.  Instead, join a gym that is close so you can get a workout on your way there and back.  Also, if your gym is far away you will probably never go to it because you won't have the time to drive there, workout and then drive home.  So be more sustainable with your workout, use of time and the earth's resources.

3.  Always use a reusable water when you workout and even when you do not.  Reusable water bottles cost less than disposable water bottles.  They also are more sustainable and do not end up in landfills like disposable bottles.

4.  When shopping for new workout clothing, be sustainable and buy eco-friendly workout clothing.  Look for clothes that are made out of organic cotton and bamboo or go to the thrift store and buy used workout clothing to wear.

5.  Forgetting about the gym and now walking/running outside, but still need a good lift in??  Go onto Craigslist.com or search around in thrift stores to find used and low priced items. 

6.  Give away or recycle your old workout gear.  Just like you can get reusable workout gear, you can sell yours.  You make money while giving someone a great piece of workout equipment, instead of it ending up in a landfill.

So for now on, when you workout use these tips to give you a sustainable, low cost and beneficial workout. 

Walmart

Sustainability efforts are on the rise and Walmart has jumped on the bandwagon.  At Walmart, they know that being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together. Their broad environmental goals are simple and straightforward:

• To be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy;
• To create zero waste;
• To sell products that sustain people and the environment.

Their efforts have been recognized through numerous awards, which would not be possible without the support of their customers, associates and communities around the world. 

I did not know that Walmart was such a big supporter of sustainability efforts.  It seems that more and more businesses now are focusing their energy towards becoming a more eco-friendly business.  For instance, Chipotle and Pepsi are taking part in their own sustainable programs.  Chipotle has improved their buildings and food by making them both more eco-friendly.  PepsiCo began Performance with a Purpose, which delivers sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet.  Walmart, Chipotle and Pepsi are just the few well known companies that are helping us and the environment by being more eco-friendly.

To read more about Walmart's efforts and recent events, visit http://walmartstores.com/sustainability/.

Sustainable Cleveland 2019

While searching the Internet, I found Cleveland's new and upcoming project called Sustainable Cleveland 2019.  Through this project Cleveland will become a model of sustainability and will become a leader in the emerging green economy over the next nine years.
 
Sustainable Cleveland 2019 mission statement is:
We are committed to improving the quality of life in the City of Cleveland by strengthening our neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing the diversity of our citizens, and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, raise a family, shop, study, play and grow old.

The work began in August 2009 when nearly 700 people from across greater Cleveland and across the nation gathered at Public Auditorium for a three-day summit focused on Building an Economic Engine to Empower a Green City on a Blue Lake. This effort is focused on supporting business growth, protecting the environment and creating opportunities for individuals to prosper.

For more up-to-date news about Sustainable Cleveland 2019, visit their blog at http://www.cleveland2019.org , or their website at http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Community/ThingsToDo/AISummit?_piref34_445897_34_304083_304083.tabstring=Tab5,  

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

Need a new bag to carry your books in around campus?  Well don't go spend $50 on a bag that you will not even use after college.  Instead, reuse old cloth bags to carry your books in. 

Delta Zeta's on this campus and around the country are using their DZ convention bags and dzdesignbags to carry their books in.  If you are not in a sorority, you could do this with any bag you have laying around your house. 

What happens if they are too old and torn??  Get some materials for $5.00-$10.00 from Jo Anne Fabrics and patch up your bag.  You could also add studs and more colorful fabric and turn your old bag into something new and hip. 

These bags can also be used to carry around your groceries.  This will help the environment because it will allow for plastic and paper bags to not be reused.  So, next time you want to buy a book bag or go to the grocery store, remember you could be more eco-friendly by reusing an older bag.

New Green Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center

Delta Zeta’s national philanthropy, supported by both collegiate and alumnae chapters, is speech and hearing and The Painted Turtle camp.  Delta Zeta's partnerships with and The Painted Turtle and The Starkey Hearing Foundation were announced at the 2006 National Convention. 

All of these important programs provide additional volunteer and giving opportunities for collegiate and alumnae members.

Chapters also support local and national speech and hearing organizations, such as Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the only four-year liberal arts school in the world devoted wholly to the needs, instruction, and training of young people who are deaf, and the House Ear Institute, which is one of the world's foremost research, teaching, and treatment centers in the field of hearing.

To go off of that, our local chapter supports the Cleveland Speech and Hearing Center.  As of October 19, 2010 the USGBC's Green Building Certification Institute completed their final review and officially awarded Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center LEED Silver certification for their new eco-friendly building.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) created LEED as a rating system for green building.  The following points describe the new Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center LEED Highlights for their silver certification:

• Our decision to build on Euclid Avenue in University Circle. This put CHSC on a predeveloped site, with close access to neighborhoods, amenities and public transportation.
• Efficient use of green space - the small amount of landscaping requires no irrigation system.
• Cost-effective plumbing fixtures which use 45% less water than typical fixtures.
• The building is designed to be 27.5% more efficient than required.
• During the construction process, high volumes of construction waste were recycled, with a target minimum of 75% being diverted from landfills.
• Wood used in the construction was FSC certified.
• The interior building materials meet or exceed LEED required Indoor Air Quality standards.

For more information on the new eco-friendly Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, visit CHSC.

Giant Eagle- Eco-Light Bottle

Have you been to Giant Eagle recently to go grocery shopping?  Did you happen to walk down the beverage aisle or maybe buy a pack of Giant Eagle water?  Notice anything different? 

This happen to me last night at Giant Eagle when I went to buy a pack of water.  I always buy Giant Eagle water because it is cheaper than the rest of the brands.  I know I could swipe water in the vending machines on campus, but why pay $1.40 for one bottle of water when I can buy a whole case for $3.99 or $4.99. 

Well anyways, back to my story.  I picked up a case of Giant Eagle water and noticed that the bottles have changed.  They are now eco-light bottles with 50% less plastic.  I know that everyone is trying to be more environmentally friendly, but I was surprised to see that the cheap Giant Eagle brand has even changed its ways.  Even though I already support the Giant Eagle brand water, this new eco-friendly change will remind me to support them even more.  Below is a description of the new bottle and changes made from the Giant Eagle website.

One of the most environmentally friendly bottles ever!*

Choose a high quality water bottle with approximately 50% less plastic*! Our Eco-Light Bottle^TM is easy to handle — and its contoured shape offers a perfect combination of function, design and environmental consideration.
Since the bottle is lighter, it also requires less energy to produce, so the end result is a reduced carbon footprint. Enjoy the crisp refreshing taste of Giant Eagle^® Purified Water — and feel good knowing the product you are purchasing is 100% recyclable and one of the most environmentally friendly plastic ½ liter bottles ever produced!*
Please join us in our efforts…always recycle.

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

Walking around campus do you tend to get lazy and decide to go through the automatic door?  Is it really that hard to open a door yourself?  I see students all the time pushing the button and walking through the these doors, instead of opening a normal door with their own two hands.  Are we really that lazy these days?  I understand it might be more convenient, but seriously, come on here people!!  Next time you go to push the button for an automatic door, stop and think, how does this effect the environment?  I know your probably thinking that these doors can't effect our environment.  But truth of the matter is it does.  By not using an automatic door you can conserve energy.  At one school in New Jersey, every time students use these doors is costs ten cents.  This is money that students tuition goes towards, which could be used in a much more productive way.  Just think, some of our BW tuition money could be going towards the costs of energy used to open an automatic door because people are lazy and cannot open a door their self.  If all the money I spend going to school here is going towards this, I know I would be upset.  BW is supposed to be a green campus, but our students and faculty contradict this issue by using automatic doors.  So my tip for the week is to be more self conscious walking around campus because all of our actions and behaviors do impact the environment. 

Recycle Ink Cartages

Don't you hate it when your ink cartage is low and you have to throw it away?  Well next time you go to take your ink cartage out and toss it in the trash, STOP!  Do not throw your ink cartage away because you can recycle them.  I bet you never knew this and I never did either until I joined Delta Zeta. 

All around BW campus, Delta Zeta sorority distributes recycling ink cartage boxes.  This allows staff and students to recycle their ink cartage's instead of throwing them away.  Below are pictures of the boxes placed around campus.  Next time you see a box, remember to recycle our ink cartage instead of tossing it into your trash can.

Eco-Friendly Homecoming T-shirts

Last year for Homecoming we ordered shirts from a company called Andira International.  This company offers consulting, design, distribution and marketing to companies that want to create products while remaining as eco-conscious as possible.  The company has three different collections called Demano, Artesania, and Rain Tees. 

When our sorority bought our t-shirts from the company we went through The Andira Rain Tee Collection.  This collection saves trees with tees.  Rain Tees is a 100% organic line of apparel for women and children that features designs by youth living in endangered rain forests.  They donate school supplies to the children and ask them to illustrate what they see happening in their world every day. Each Rain Tee features their thoughts, illustrations and names, and for every item sold a child involved in the non-profit Kids Saving the Rain Forest receives a tree they can plant to replace one that has been destroyed.

Since Delta Zeta supports sustainabilty efforts, we thought this would be a great way and opportunity to participate.  Our chapter ended up winning the t-shirt contest during the homecoming pep rally.  On the front the shirt it said, "Delta Zeta is saving the Rain Forest..."  and the back said, "While the Yellow Jackets are destroying the Cardinals."  Below are pictures of all of our girls in our 1st place homecoming shirt.  To look at Andira International main website, visit http://www.andiraintl.com/philosophy.html.  To look at The Andira Rain Tee Collection, visit http://www.raintees.com/. 

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

While you are on the search for safer makeup, be careful not to be green washed by the labels.  Here are some labels to watch out for, thanks to Consumer Reports:

Organic:  There are no regulations for using the words "Organic" on a makeup label, unless it is a USDA label
Natural:  Same for "Natural."  It means nothing on the bottle.
Unscented:  "Unscented" does not necessarily mean "Fragrance-free,"  as manufacturers sometimes add fragrance as masking agents.

Here is the a website called Skin Deep, which allows you to search your makeup to see if there are any hazardous ingredients in the product.  I use this website to search the makeup I use to know if I am using eco-friendly makeup or not.  If not, I look at other makeup options on the website that would be better for my health and the environment. 

The Night of the Vampires

On the Delta Zeta Pink Goes Green website I found a blog about bats and how they actually benefit the world we live in.  Bats are the birds and bees of the night.  They help with pollination and the spreading of seeds.  Bats are also essential because they help keep the insect population in check.  Losing bats would have devastating consequences for natural ecosystems and human economies.  The blog continues about the vampire bat and bats with rabies. 

I thought this post was interesting because I never knew bats played such an essential role in the survival of our planet.  When I think of a bat I think scary, gross and dangerous.  It surprised me to see that all this time bats are actually helping us survive.  Below I attached the whole post for everyone to read the interesting facts.

The Night of the Vampires

With Halloween fast approaching, Pink Goes Green thought we would look into the truth about vampires -- as in vampire bats. 

It turns out that the much-maligned, often feared creature of folklore and, of course, the horror movie (e.g., "Dracula," "Horror of Dracula," "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," "Love at First Bite," etc.), is actually an essential part of the ecology and survival of this planet.

Ecologically-speaking, bats are vital because many of the bat species are the primary pollinators of certain plants, especially those that bloom nocturnally. While bees and birds help pollination and the spreading of seeds during the day, the bats take over this role at night. Many species of plants would disappear without the bats' help -- with obvious disastrous results for the environment. They also serve as essential seed dispersers with a major role in regenerating rainforests.

In addition to this important contribution to pollination and plant seed dispersal, many species of bats help to keep the insect population in check. A common brown bat, for example, can eat as many as 600 mosquitoes in an hour.

Centuries of myths and misinformation still generate needless fears and threaten bats and their habitats around the world. Bat populations are declining almost everywhere. Losing bats would have devastating consequences for natural ecosystems and human economies.
The more than 1,100 species of bats - about one-fifth of all mammal species - are incredibly diverse.

Only three species, all in Latin America, are vampires. They really do feed on blood, although they lap it like kittens rather than sucking it up as horror movies suggest. Even the vampires are useful: an enzyme in their saliva is among the most potent blood-clot dissolvers known and is used to treat human stroke victims.

Vampire bats are believed to be the only species of bats in the world to "adopt" another young bat if something happens to the bat's mother. Vampire bats also share a strong family bond with members of the colony, which is believed to be why they are the only bats to take up this adoption characteristic.

Only 0.5% of bats carry rabies. The highest occurrence of rabies in vampire bats occurs in the large populations found in South America. However there is less risk of infection to the human population than to livestock exposed to bat bites. Although most bats do not have rabies, those that do may be clumsy, disoriented, and unable to fly, which makes it more likely that they will come into contact with humans.

You can even build a bat house in your own back yard! You might wonder why you need to build a bat house. Why can't the bats just find a nice tree? That is the challenge for many bat species as forests are cleared. Ideally they would live in a natural home but we build bat houses to help those who can't find space in a forest. Find instructions on how to build your bat house here.

There is even an organization devoted to the conservation of the bat: Bat Conservation International. And the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is urging people to adopt a vampire bat  at Halloween or any time during the year.  The WWF program of species adoption (there are many animals to choose from) is a great way to give a gift that will help protect the future of nature. Your symbolic adoption supports WWF's global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats.
Some Fun Bat Facts- Bats make up one fourth of the mammals on this planet.

- There are over 1,000 species of bats. They come in all sorts of different sizes, shapes, colors, and habits. There are species of bats with six-foot wings spans and species of bats less than an inch in size (about the size of a bumblebee!).

- Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly. Their wings are elongated bones (essentially, their arm and hand bones), covered by a translucent but strong leather-like skin. Chiroptera, the scientific name for the Order of bats, incidentally, means "hand-wing."

- Different species of bats eat different things: insects, fruit, pollen, and small animals are among some of the dietary preferences of some of the species. About 70% of bats feed on insects; 20% on fruit and nectar from blooming plants. Others feed on fish and sometimes small animals. There are only three species of so-named vampire bats that feed on the blood of other animals (usually cattle). They do not suck the blood; they lap it after making a small incision. These bats, probably more than any others, are the ones that have sometimes enthralled and unnecessarily frightened the morbid imaginations of humans for eons, who in turn cast aspersions on the whole of bats.

Going Green on Halloween

It's that time of year again when all the ghosts and goblins come out.  It's kids favorite time of year, because they can eat as much candy as they want.  Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday that is now turning green.  Since world now revolves around being eco-friendly, people are providing tips to be more eco-friendly on holidays, such as Halloween.  While searching the Internet, I found an article called the Top Ten Ways to Go Green This Halloween.  The tips let you not only have a green Halloween but also make it cheap.  The article says to reuse your costume, which I already gave for the weekly tip.  It also says to have party, decorate your house with nature, light up the night using LED lights or BOGO flashlights and to reuse your trick and treat bag.  The article includes links for you to be able to check out and buy LED lights, the BOGO flashlight, reusable Halloween bags and other stuff. 

I think that people need to start having a more green and cheap Halloween because this is what we are now supporting.  Every one's focus is shifting to create a more eco-friendly and sustainable world.  I think people should take these tips seriously and use them.  Be more creative with them.  It's your Halloween, so make the choice and be more green.  To see the full article with all ten tips, visit http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/green-products-services/green-halloween-tips-55101302

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip- Halloween Style

Since this week is Halloween, I thought I would do my weekly tip about the holiday and how you can make an easy green costume.  Tap into the treasures hidden in your closet or attic to pull together a fun, no-cost costume (it won't take any longer than going to the malll, and it will be a lot cheaper).  Trade costumes with friends and family if you do not want to wear last year's get-up.  Shop for accessories at yard sales or resale stores.  Use your imagination but don't obsess.  Ask your friends if they have costumes you can borrow, I'm sure we all have something extra.

Instrumental Evening for the Earth

The Earth Day Coalition is having their 13th Annual Instrumental Evening for the Earth.  The event will take Friday, October 29 from 6:00-9:30pm in the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River.  The evening will include a gourmet reception by 13 local and sustainable restaurants, a green silent auction and a performance by members of the Cleveland Orchestra.  They are encouraging everyone to wear costumes since it is Halloween weekend.  The theme for the optional costume party is your favorite ECO disaster or solution.  For tickets or more information you can visit http://www.earthdaycoalition.org/iefe.10.php

NASCAR is Going Green

While searching for a class article I found one explaining how NASCAR is now going green.  CEO and chairman Brian France announced before Saturday night's Sprint Cup race that NASCAR will move to an ethanol blend of fuel beginning with the 2011 Daytona 500.  The 15% ethanol blend will consist of corn grown by American farmers and blended at fuel supplier Sunoco's plant in Marcus Hook, PA.  The fuel will be cleaner burning and provide more horsepower.  NASCAR has already done alot by creating an eco-friendly environment.  They recycle all tires, oils, fluids and batteries used in competitions.  Switching to ethanol is a huge and important step for NASCAR.  They are hoping to attract new sponsors and a younger demographic in the green economy.  To read more, visit NASCAR Goes Green.

This article really surprised me.  I know everyone is focusing on being more eco-friendly.  Companies have participated in various ways to go green.  I guess I never expected for a company this big to do something so extreme.  This is a great idea and will truly make an improvement in the environment.  I hope this turns out to be a huge success and beneficial experience for the world of NASCAR.

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

In order for a garment to be considered eco-friendly, it should be free of chemicals and pesticides.  So it should be organic and naturally dyed.  Some common materials that are acceptable include cotton, linen and bamboo.  However, it's even better when you purchase clothes made from recycle fibers and materials, because the production of that fabric didn't require virgin resources.  You can find many great options of organiz clothing in most stores.  By supporting these stores and brands, this type of clothing will become more mainstream and even universal.  The great thing about organic, eco-friendly pieces is that they are more wearable, comfortable and durable.  There are feel good and look good sustainable fashions.

National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day

Today is National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey.  An event was being held locally at Tri-C Metro Campus in Lot 7 behind the Unified Technologies Building from 10:00am- 2:00pm.  Earth Day Coalition's Clean Transportation Program and Cuyahoga Community College are sponsoring the AFV Day Odyssey.  The event was free for all.  The main purpose was to showcase the diversity of the green vehicle marketplace as well as the many contributions from Northeast Ohio companies.  Vehicles on display included CNG (natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric.  The event was a success and showed people the future of green vehicles. 

Earth Day Coalition Walk

To help support our Pink Goes Green program, our chapter has participated in the Earth Day Coalition Walk for the past two years.  The walk takes place at the Cleveland Zoo.  It is a 6 mile walk around the Cleveland Metro parks leading into the back entrance of the zoo.  If you participate in the walk then you get free entrance into the zoo to see all the animals.  Once your inside the zoo, the Earth Day Coalition has activities going on, tents set up with sponsors and free food.  All the girls who attend have a really great time bonding, walking and supporting the Earth Day Coalition.  For more information about the event and the organization, visit http://www.earthdaycoalition.org/index.php.  Below are some pictures of us walking from last year's 21 Annual Walk or Bike for the Earth Event. 

Some of the Delta Zeta's at check in

All of us trying to warm up on the walk

Optional jazzercize in the zoo parking lot before the walk begins

Weekly Pink Goes Green Tip

Every Sunday at our Chapter meetings, our Pink Goes Green chair gives us a weekly tip.  These tips are to make us more aware and to help us become more sustainable.  Here is this weeks tip...

You can use some of your common bathroom materials in more ways than one.  Try cotton swabs.

Cotton swabs are convenient for cleaning out your ears and nose, but they are also useful for touching up those makeup mistakes, especially when you have a mascara mess.  Don't forget that Halloween is coming up, and you can use the cotton to apply greasepaint for your scary face.

You can also use the cotton swab as a miniature paint brush to fix a nick and scratch on your walls or cabinets.  They work well with both paint and wood stain.  For silver flatware and tea sets, shine them up properly with the cotton, because it will be easier to get in those cracks.

Even when it comes to your electronics, cotton swabs are helpful.  In addition to sanitizing your cell phone, you can also clean out the battery well- This is enable your phone to charge longer.

So instead of using big paper towels or a ton of tissues just a little cotton swab because they are recyclable too!

Frito-Lay SunChips bag

I know said I would be talking mostly about Delta Zeta and their efforts to help substainabily, but when I saw this article I had to post it.  It's from USA Today and is titled Frito- Lay send noisy, 'green' SunChips bag to the dump.  It is about how SunChips are getting rid of their biodegradable bag because customers have complained and said it is too noisy.  I think this is ridculious!  Frito- Lay is trying to do a good thing by making a recycable bag.  I think its customers are just being extremely picky.  I love SunChips and eat them all the time and have never noticed the new recycable bag being too noisy.  If you think it is too noisy then you must be sitting there crinkling the bag while eating your chips.  The company is now working to come up with a new, quieter eco-friendly bag, which I do not think they need at all.  The recycable bag they had before was fine.

What we do to Help

Our Chapter has been doing many activities to help us go green.  We made all fraternities and sororities on campus recycling bins for their chapter rooms, we collect ink cartridges and do a small chapter activity every month, such as making headbands out of newspapers and magazines.  Here is the official website to learn more about Delta Zeta's Pink Goes Green mission, http://www.dzpinkgoesgreen.org/

Pink Goes Green

Delta Zeta is home to the first national "Going Green" Initiative among all Fraternities and Sororities.  They have adopted this philanthropy because of the worldwide concern for our environment.  Delta Zeta Pink Goes Green mission is to improve the environment, educate the public on what they can do and help them do it, and empower those they impact with the knowledge that just one person can make a difference to protect the environment and enrich our planet.  Delta Zeta Pink Goes Green program is making huge improvements at 158 collegiate campuses and within local communities around the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. 

I have been a proud member of Delta Zeta Gamma Alpha Chapter at BW for the past three years.  I have been a chairman of Sisterhood Support and now on our exec council as Vice President of Programming.  I love planning the events and helping the sorority out in any way possible.  I know so much about the sorority, but unfortunately I know little about the Pink Goes Green program.  That is why I am so eager to learn more about Delta Zeta's efforts in going green.