Once summer kicks in, it becomes everyone’s M.O. to cave to the siren call of endless weekend barbecues and blast the A/C like a stereo at the fingertips of a metalhead. And does anyone ever think twice about these things? Psshhh… no. So it may surprise you to learn that your summertime lifestyle is, more than likely, harming the Earth. Happily, there are a lot of simple habit tweaks to help you go green during the summertime, and you’ll be shocked at just how easy a lot of them are to incorporate into your everyday!

Up the Efficiency of Cooling Down

Did you know air conditioning use in the US alone costs Americans $11 billion and releases 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year? Those numbers are so big, they’re hard to wrap your head around. Happily, the things you can do to help are much more manageable.

•Adapt your appliance use. If it’s a real scorcher out there, you can reduce your need to amp up the A/C by avoiding the use of heat-heavy appliances like ovens, hotplates, and irons.

•Opt for energy efficient light bulbs. CFLs, those newfangled squiggly bulbs, are not only energy efficient and wallet-friendly, they put off less heat and will play a part in keeping your home inherently cooler.

•Invest in a smart thermostat. To max your A/C efficiency, get a programmable thermostat stat! Synced with your daily schedule, this gadget will help you avoid leaving the A/C on all the time, which is a huge waste. Bonus? You’ll save around $180 a year and keep cool.

•Set up for shade. Pro tip: install your A/C unit somewhere shady, and it will use 10% less energy! To go the extra mile, add awnings or solar screens to your windows. According to WebMD, “The Department of Energy estimates that awnings can reduce solar heat gain – the amount the temperature rises – in your house by as much as 77%.

•Become a fan on fans. When night lumbers down and it cools off a bit, use fans to blow cold air into your home. Consider using ceiling fans during the day too; they’re 90% more efficient than central air.

BBQ Best Practices

On the 4th of July alone, BBQs result in the release of 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and the equivalent destruction of 2,300 acres of forest. What can you do to help? So glad you asked!

•Be Pro Propane. Charcoal briquettes may sound sexy, but they’re pretty darn polluting. Propane burns cleaner, and keeps you from killing trees when firing up your noms.

•Choose Reusable. We’re sure you’ve an inkling as to just how wasteful it is to use disposable dishes and napkins. Though toting around reusable picnic settings might be marginally less convenient, true, it makes a big difference (and looks a heck of a lot prettier!). Don’t have something appropriate? You can find something fitting in an eco-friendly way: by swapping, of course!

Easy Green Tips

•Pump It Up! Instead of using aerosol-bottle sunscreens that are a big ‘Oh no!’ for the ozone, use sunscreen that comes in a squeeze tube or a bottle with a pump-style top.

•Shine with Solar. Invest in a solar charger for your electronics. This will not only cut down on your energy usage, it’ll make it easier to charge your gadgets on the go!

By incorporating even a few of these tips, you’ll be well on your way to a summer that’s green as the grass outside your door, so start changing those habits, and spread the word!

The post Tips on How to Go Green This Summer appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Sure, it’d be great if we could all convert our cars to biodiesel and go off-the-grid, but let’s be real—those kinds of eco-friendly overtures are too much work for the average person. Happily, making a positive impact on the Earth begins with small steps! In honor of Earth Day, we gathered a list of five easy eco-friendly ideas for greening your life that, even if your pockets aren’t flush with Franklins or your time is tied up, you’ll find easy to embrace.

Cup O’ No

Image via Amazon

If you use just one disposable coffee cup a day, you’ll generate 23 pounds of waste each year. And, that doesn’t even include the 500 plastic cups used and tossed by the average American office worker each year. These stats become all the more staggering when you think about how simply this waste can be avoided. Start bringing your own mug to the office and your local coffee shop in lieu of using the paper and styrofoam cups. Some coffee shops offer you a discount for bringing your own drinkware, and that minute you spend washing out your cup each day makes for a great, super socially acceptable excuse to take a break from that nagging spreadsheet.

Bright Idea

Image via Graphics Keeper

You’ve probably heard compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs have a lighter impact on the Earth than their incandescent counterparts, but did you know that they can be good for your budget, too? Unlike incandescents, CFLs efficiently convert the bulk of the energy they use into light (instead of heat). This means they use 75% less electricity, last up to 10 times longer, and save you a surprisingly high average of $83 over the course of each bulb’s life!

To really up your ante, switch to LED light bulbs. True, they’re a more expensive option, but if LEDs were to duke it out with CFLs over efficiency, they’d win best in class.

Say ‘Nah’ to Napkins

Image via Georgia Pacific

When was the last time you ate out and grabbed a handful of napkins to neaten yourself with? Could you have made do with fewer? Maybe these facts will help you definitively say yes: Over the course of a year, the average American uses a staggering 2,200 napkins. That’s about six per day. If each of us used one less napkin per day, we’d prevent a BILLION pounds of napkins from going to the trash.

Pull the Plug

Image via Freeport Press

Did you know that gadgets use energy when they’re plugged in even if they’re not being used or are turned off? This ‘phantom energy’ amounts to about 10% of the average person’s electricity use (and bill!). Unplug items—toasters, computers, lamps, etc.—you don’t expect to use every day, or invest in a few good powerstrips whose switch you can flick off whenever its resident electronic aren’t in use.

Green Kid Care Tips

Image via German American International School

Talk to neighborhood parents and organize a school carpool. Not only will you get a break several times a week from dropping the kids off, but you’ll save on gas costs and cut down on emissions. Carpools also work great for your ride to work. You’ll get to chat with coworkers and zip into the office using the super-speedy HOV lanes that exist on your route.

If you have an infant, cut out those plastic-y, chemically produced nappies and switch to cloth diapers. Why? Well, throughout a kid’s diaper wearing days, parents send about 8,000 diapers to the dump if using conventional diapers. That equates to 3.5 million tons of waste each year in the U.S. alone! Sure, it may seem a bit icky at first, but you’ll adjust quickly — and save tons of cash in the process.

There are tons more ideas for small eco-friendly habit changes that can make a big difference online, so poke around once you’ve mastered these 5 habits! And, if you have any Earth-saving habits of your own that you think folks would fall for, share them below!

Sources: Carry Your Cup, Better Homes and Gardens, How Stuff Works, and Environmental Protection Agency

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Hollywood is going green!

On April 22, more than one billion people around the globe will participate in Earth Day. From Gisele Bündchen to Jessica Alba, let’s take a look at three green celebrity moms who inspire others to protect Mother Nature.

Jessica Alba:

Actress Jessica Alba and husband Cash Warren are parents to two daughters: Honor, 5½ and Haven, 2½. 

Shortly after her second daughter arrived, the Fantastic Four star partnered with Christopher Gavigan, dad-of-two and founder of Healthy Child Healthy World, to create The Honest Company, an online source to purchase eco-friendly baby/kid products.

The Sin City actress opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about how she encourages her girls to minimize their carbon footprint.

“First and foremost, we try to model and practice eco-friendly habits for the girls,” she shared. “Otherwise, we talk to them about being mindful and explain that things can be turned into something else one day. This can be as simple as teaching them about recyclables and showing how to sort bottles and cans from trash.”

She added: “We also do a lot of DIY crafts like using cardboard boxes to make airplanes and dollhouses—our creative playtime together similarly shows the girls about repurposing old items.”

The mom-of-two is all about living eco-friendly on a daily basis.

“Involving children in gardening and cooking is another great way to inspire eco-friendly living,” she said. “Caring for the plants in our herb wall garden helps Honor understand the steps to growing food (including patience!), how it ultimately lands on her plate, and about being a good steward of the planet.”

“Honor is also a great sous chef when we’re in the kitchen, so being a part of the dinner process encourages her to eat the foods she grows and develops her taste for fresh ingredients,” she continued. “Hopefully, this lays the foundation for children to prioritize their health and that of the planet.”

Alicia Silverstone:

Alicia Silverstone is one outspoken green mama!

The actress caused quite a stir with a video that went viral. The Clueless star was seen feeding her then- 11-month-old son Bear Blu mouth-to-mouth on her eco-friendly blog The Kind Life.

She wrote: “I just had a delicious breakfast of miso soup, collards and radish steamed and drizzled with flax oil, cast iron mochi with nori wrapped outside, and some grated daikon. Yum! I fed Bear the mochi and a tiny bit of veggies from the soup…from my mouth to his. It’s his favorite…and mine.”

Alicia and her husband Christopher Jarecki live in a Los Angeles home with solar panels and an organic vegetable garden. The actress is an advocate for animal rights and environmental issues and became a vegan in 1998. She shares her eco-friendly tips on her official website.

“The Kind Life is an interactive extension of my book, “The Kind Diet”, which is about living your healthiest and happiest life to the fullest, while taking care of mama Earth at the same time!,” Alicia writes on her blog. “The site is whatever you make of it; whether it’s joining the many others who are on this same journey or simply visiting to gather information and other tips. Whatever you need, you will find it here. I will be sharing all kinds of tasty morsels with you; from fashion and beauty tips, to simple ways that we can help the planet! By the time you’re done with your visit, your mouth will be watering and you will surely want to crash here forever. So come on in, kick off your shoes and check out all sorts of recipes, my favorite foods, nutritional information from doctors that are in the book, the very best restaurants, amazing travel discoveries, party planning tips, ways to make sure your house is as healthy and green as possible, great pet care tips, and so much more.”

Alicia is also vocal about elimination communication, the eco-friendly potty training technique coined by Ingrid Bauer, author of Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene.

“When Bear Blu was 5-months-old,” the proud mama tweeted, “[S]aturday bear blu went poo and pee on toilet 4x throughout the day…we were so proud! “Check out book Diaper Free..soo fun!” The actress added, “yesterday bear did 2 poops in toilet….so sweet! i’m saving so many diapers…even cloth ones….yahoooo! and it’s so fun!”

Gisele Bündchen:

Supermodel mom Gisele Bündchen has long been an advocate of going green. The Brazilian beauty says that her children – Benjamin, 4, Vivian, 1, and 6-year-old stepson Jack – have made the importance of the message really hit home.

“I had my first munchkin, Jack (husband Tom Brady’s son with Bridget Moynahan), before I gave birth to Benjamin,” Gisele said. “After spending so much time with Jack I saw how he wanted to play with the stuff I was using instead of the toys we bought him. In terms of clothes, I bought Jack so many clothes and am now using them for Benjamin. Look, when I was growing up my sisters and I wore hand-me-downs and am now doing the same thing. This all goes back to my motto: Reduce, recycle and reuse. The more we buy the more we encourage the manufacturers to produce more stuff.”

Also a fan of elimination communication, Gisele said Benjamin was potty trained at 6-months-old! How did she do it?

The model mom said that her son was on a schedule including breastfeeding in the morning and afternoon, promptly followed by a bowel movement, making it easy for her to put him on the toilet and eliminate the use of a diaper. Of the process she said,

“Give it about five minutes, and bang,” admitting with a laugh that she realizes the process is actually, “more complicated.”

More Hollywood mom & baby news: 

Raphael Sbarge: I Started Green Wish In Response To Becoming A Father

Beverley Mitchell Shares Details of Posh Nursery

Jen Kessy: “I Am Beyond Excited To Be Pregnant”

Bill Rancic Debuts ‘Kitchen Casino’

5 Celebrity Moms Who Embraced Their Post-Baby Bodies

CelebrityBabyScoop.com is one of the most popular blogs on the topic and the foremost provider of everything celebrity-baby, featuring baby fashion, baby names, baby trends and up-to-the-minute celebrity baby gossip and pics. Get all the latest news, updates, and photos about Hollywood’s most beloved celebrity moms, dads and their babies. Who’s the latest Tinseltown baby? Who’s due next and who just announced a pregnancy? It’s all on CelebrityBabyScoop.com. 

The post Earth Day: 3 Eco-Friendly Celebrity Moms appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Children Inspire Design (www.childreninspiredesign.com) is a line of modern, eco-friendly and culturally diverse artwork designed to teach compassion for our earth and all who inhabit it. Each piece incorporates repurposed paper materials, soy inks, and biodegradable packaging.

Global Compassion (28×18) – $40

Protect Our Water (8×10) – $22

Peacock (11×14) – $30

Bear (8×10) – $22

Lakeshore (www.lakeshorelearning.com) is known for its exceptional educational products found in schools and homes across the country! Lakeshore has been around for over 60 years and has 59 stores nationwide and they understand the importance of early education for little ones.

Bamboo Building Blocks ($39.99) Environmentally friendly building blocks—crafted from real bamboo! Designed to help preserve Earth’s resources, each block is made of rapidly renewable bamboo that’s both durable & lightweight—making them perfect for block play. And the pieces come in a variety of imagination-inspiring shapes, including natural-looking columns, roofs, bridges and more. Longest piece is 8″. Set of 42 pieces. (preschool – 2nd grade / 3 yrs. – 7 yrs.)

Learn To Recycle! Activity Kit ($24.95) As children place cute picture tiles into our miniature recycling bins, they learn to reduce, reuse and recycle—and practice sorting! 6 different recycling bins each come with 8 sturdy chipboard tiles showing items that can be recycled. Children just drop each tile into the slot on the corresponding bin…then check their answers on back! Sturdy chipboard bins measure 3″; with a total of 48 tiles. (pre-k – 3rd grade / 4 yrs. – 8 yrs.)

Color Match Learning Garden ($29.99) Color-matching skills bloom in our soft-sewn garden! Our 12″ garden has five bright colors right on front. Tots just find the flower and insect pieces that match each color—and stick them on! Includes 10 machine-washable pieces that easily attach with hook & loop fastener. (infant – preschool / 9 mos. – 3 yrs.)

Earth & Environment Theme Box ($49.99) Children learn all about the Earth and its environment…with comprehensive, hands-on lessons that span the curriculum! From wood samples and rock specimens to recycling bins and sorting cards, our theme box is packed with materials that help children explore the natural world—and learn how to protect it. Plus, you get a guide with tons of involving activities that cover 10 curriculum areas—from math to dramatic play. Materials come in a plastic tub. (preschool – kindergarten / 3 yrs. – 5 yrs.)

Earth Science Exploration Center ($49.99) Bring earth science to life—right in your classroom! Our center includes all the hands-on materials children need to explore Earth’s most fascinating phenomena—as they make snow, create thunder, cause a volcanic eruption and make a tornado. Plus, we’ve included 4 photographic cards that explain the science behind each event—and include a variety of hands-on activities to extend the learning! The thunder tube measures 8 1⁄2″ long. Develops skills in conducting simple investigations, making predictions and exploring attributes. (pre-k – 3rd grade / 4 yrs. – 8 yrs.)

Seasons & Weather Folder Game Library ($19.99) Boost skills across the curriculum—with independent folder games children love to play! Our library features 6 fun, seasons & weather-themed games that boost skills in language, math, social studies and science. Children simply grab a color-coded folder and corresponding pouch of tiles…follow the simple, 3-step instructions to complete the activity…then check their answers for instant reinforcement! 6 self-checking games cover the alphabet, patterning, counting to 20, what goes together, hot & cold and dressing for the weather. Folders measure 9 1/4″ x 11 5/8″. (preschool – kindergarten / 3 yrs. – 5 yrs.)

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From an early age, children can roll up their sleeves and get involved in helping reduce the amount of trash they produce by participating in recycling programs. Across the country, children will celebrate Earth Day April 22 with science fairs and environmental educational seminars about the importance of recycling. When children start recycling early in life, they’re more likely to continue that behavior as they get older – and pass the practice on to their own kids.

Recycling is a growing program in households, cities and schools across the country. In fact, Americans recycled 82 million tons of materials in 2009 – the most recent year for reported data, and that number keeps increasing, according to Keep America Beautiful.

School programs are a great way to not only promote recycling in younger generations, but also to create a fundraiser for the schools. This year, as Earth Day approaches April 22, schools can organize aluminum can drives and participate in cash-for-schools programs based on recycling lunch packaging. One such program is The Recycle…Reuse…Replenish Earth Day Campaign which encourages school children to recycle their Entenmann’s Little Bites Pouches with TerraCycle, resulting in cash back to the school.

In addition, here are some more recycling, reusing and replenishing tips, perfect for school children to promote every lunch day at the school.

Recycle:

• Know your numbers – Teach your children to look for numbers and recycling symbols on plastic containers to know which containers can be reused through a recycling program.

• Sign up for cash back programs – Sign up your school for the TerraCycle program – if it’s not already registered – and have your children recycle their Little Bites pouches each lunch hour. Visit www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades.html to find a listing of other lunch items TerraCycle collects.

Reuse:

• Keep the container – Send your children to school with their daily sandwich packaged in a reusable container they can bring home and use again the next day. Let them decorate the container to make it a personal item to show off at lunch.

• Craft material supplies – Before throwing anything away, teach your children to think about how the material might be reused in a crafting project. TerraCycle provides several do-it-yourself project ideas at www.terracycle.com/en-US/do-it-yourself-projects.html.

Replenish:

• Have leftovers? – Set up a compost pile at home, and give your children a lesson in biodegradable foods. Ask them to bring leftovers that are biodegradable home in their sandwich container to add to the compost pile.

• Grow new lunch materials – Give your children a small garden to plant and tend that contains their favorite vegetables. Show them how beneficial their lunch compost is for growing those plants they can eat at future lunches.

Entenmann’s will be giving away weekly prizes, including Little Bites coupons home improvement gift cards for starting an Earth Day garden, and a $5,000 cash grand prize through a sweepstakes link at www.facebook.com/Entenmanns. Register your school now for a chance to win the prize and build a beautiful Earth Day garden.

Help teach your children the importance of the three R’s: recycle, reuse and replenish. The earlier they start, the more likely they’ll be to participate the rest of their lives.

*BPT

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Warmer weather means days spent in the backyard with barbecues, pool parties and neighborhood gatherings. This year, create a more satisfying and sustainable outdoor living space that you’ll feel extra good about by going “green.” With some expert advice, it’s easier than you think.

Here are four easy tips from the experts at Trex to help homeowners transform the backyard into an eco-friendly escape.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Gone are the days when it was difficult to find eco-friendly products constructed with sustainable manufacturing processes. Today, it’s easy being green, especially when it comes to outdoor living. Among the “greenest” products available for the home is composite decking. Case in point, in the past nine years, Trex – the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking – has salvaged more than 2.9 billion pounds of plastic and wood scrap, keeping these materials from landfills and transforming them into beautiful, high-performance and sustainable outdoor living products made of more than 95 percent recycled materials.

Minimize maintenance

Maintaining a wood deck can be a chore with all that scrubbing, bleaching and staining – not to mention the work and harsh chemicals required to repair or replace weathered, splintered or deteriorated boards. Wood-alternative decking and railing is low maintenance and designed to withstand wear and tear from weather, outdoor furniture and foot traffic. High-performance composite decking offers superior durability and long-lasting good looks. Its exclusive composite formula brings together the best qualities of wood and plastic to create a superior alternative to wood, resulting in decks that require only a periodic cleaning with soap and water to stay looking and performing “like new” for years without sanding, staining or painting.

“High-performance composite decking allows homeowners to create the dream outdoor living space they’ve always wanted while being mindful of the environment,” says Adam Zambanini, vice president of marketing for Trex. “We are extremely proud to offer a product that is as easy on the earth as it is to maintain.”

Illuminate efficiency

Deck and landscape lighting are ideal for adding ambiance and safety to any outdoor space. For maximum energy efficiency, forego conventional lighting systems that use incandescent bulbs – which waste energy by producing heat as well as light – for more energy-efficient LED fixtures. For instance, fixtures featuring Cree LED components use 70 percent less energy than traditional incandescent lighting and deliver up to 40,000 hours of light, so homeowners can enjoy their outdoor spaces long after the sun goes down.

Finish with eco-friendly furnishings

Refresh your deck with sustainable and stylish all-weather outdoor furniture. Look for pieces made from durable composites or recycled steels. These materials are weather-resistant, ultra-durable and long-lasting. Composite furniture also is extremely eco-friendly made primarily from recycled polyethylene sourced from discarded plastics such as milk jugs. Like composite decking, composite furniture doesn’t require painting, staining or waterproofing to keep it looking like new for years to come.

For more information on the latest in “green” outdoor living products, visit www.trex.com.

*BPT

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Whether stopping in for a daily to-go cup of coffee or running your weekly grocery store trip, you likely have many purchases throughout the day.

With Earth Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to reflect on your own personal impact on the environment and the world around you. Because so many consumer habits can have a negative effect on the planet, it’s important to take steps to reduce this trend.

“There are many ways to support the green movement,” said Hillary Femal, vice president of marketing for IFCO, the world’s leading producer of eco-friendly Reusable Produce Containers. “But the easiest way is to become an educated consumer.”

BE A GREEN CONSUMER

As a sustainable shopper, you can do your part to cut down on the amount of waste filling landfills and other environmental dangers. Here are a few steps you can implement in your own daily routine or whenever you’re out shopping:

• Know Your Grocer: Many companies and grocers are taking steps to provide greener solutions for the display of their products, such as produce. Recycling cardboard boxes used to display produce is good, but according to the EPA, reuse is better. That’s why many grocers use Reusable Produce Containers (RPCs). Grocers can use and reuse these containers to ship, store and display fresh produce – all in an environmentally friendly way that reduces waste.

• Understand Your Brands: Educate yourself on whether your favorite brands and fresh produce growers support green initiatives. Village Farms is a greenhouse grower of fresh tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers that focuses on green agricultural practices from the farmer to your plate. Village Farms and many other growers choose to use RPCs to pack fresh fruits and vegetables safely from their fields. From there they ship the RPCs to major retailers across the country and the containers keep the produce safe and fresh throughout the journey.

• Choose to Reuse: Keep in mind that recycling is a start, but reuse is smart. You can choose to reuse by choosing products with eco-friendly or reusable packaging and shopping at retailers displaying their fresh produce in RPCs. This packaging is not only good for the fruits and veggies you love, but it’s also great for you and the planet.

• Support Grocers that Reduce Waste: Some specialty food stores may be well known for their green standards, but many major food retailers are also making green choices. Many choose to provide produce brands, such as Village Farms, who recognize the importance of reducing waste when shipping their products and choose RPCs to reduce waste, energy and greenhouse gas emissions. These stores are also able to display the produce directly in their containers, getting even more use out of them and showing their commitment to environmental conservation.

• Bag it Up: According to the EPA, thousands of plastic and paper shopping bags are thrown away every year. Help cut down on this extra waste by using reusable cloth bags for your purchases. Keep them with you in your car, so they’re always handy for shopping trips to the grocery store, drug store or anywhere else you frequently shop.

So, the next time you’re spending the green in your wallet, think about how to make green choices with the products you buy. Visit www.choosereuse.org to learn about Reusable Produce Containers and support and share the cause with your friends by following Choose to Reuse on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

*Family Features 

*Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The post Make Every Day Earth Day appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

You already know grilling is a healthful, flavorful and fun way to cook while enjoying the great outdoors. But did you know it can also be a “green” activity?

By choosing earth-friendly fuel options, better ingredients and sustainably sourced seasonings, you can satisfy your family’s taste buds and Mother Nature with these greener grilling tips:

• Grilling with charcoal briquettes imparts a wonderful flavor to foods, but many cooks resort to a squirt (or several) of lighter fluid to get the coals burning faster. Forego the lighter fluid and invest in a charcoal chimney – a metal cylinder that makes it easy to get charcoal started. Briquettes go on the grate atop the chimney and newspaper goes at the bottom. When you light the paper, the chimney effect of the tube lights the charcoal from the bottom quickly and easily.

• Many people use disposable dinnerware for outdoor dining. While it may be convenient to not have to wash those dishes, reusable dinnerware and table linens are better for the environment and cheaper in the long term. Plus, cloth napkins and real plates impart a special charm to dining al fresco.

• This summer, why not try meat and poultry from free-range or grass-fed animals, rather than factory farmed? Better yet, select meat from a local farmer, buy organic or go vegan or vegetarian. Firm tofu, Portobello mushrooms and even polenta are healthy and trendy alternatives to meat. Such options reduce the environmental impact of your meal, and they often taste much better!

• Seasonings are a great way to add flavor without fat to your grilled meats and vegetables. When you choose sustainably sourced spices and herbs from purveyors like Frontier Natural Co-op, you’re not only getting outstanding flavor, but you can be assured the seasonings have been produced using practices that are better for the environment, too.

• When purchasing produce, look for local options. Locally grown veggies and fruits travel a shorter distance to make it to your grill, meaning less fossil fuel is consumed overall. 

• You can conserve resources without skimping on flavor if you make marinades using whole spices that you’ve pan roasted and freshly cracked before blending. Flavored and artisan black pepper corns, salts and sugars are trendy right now. You can also incorporate artisan vinegars, fine drinking wines and unusual beers into your marinades to create unique and pleasing flavors.

Do you love adding smoke to your grilling? Rather than buying pre-soaked planks or pre-processed briquettes, try smoking by soaking whole herbs, spices and tea leaves in water then throwing them on the hot coals to create unusually flavored smoke blends that go far beyond basic mesquite and hickory.

To get you started, try this blackening spice recipe from Frontier Natural Co-op:

Paprika, Garlic and Thyme Barbecue Rub

Rubs are key to a flavorful barbecue. Season your meat one hour before cooking for grilled items, and a day ahead for smoked meats. This recipe works especially well for ribs, but it’s good on almost anything you’d want to barbecue or grill, such as chicken, turkey, steaks, burgers, firm fish or shrimp. For fish dishes, consider adding a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Yield: 1/2 cup

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Frontier paprika
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Frontier sea salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Frontier ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Frontier garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Frontier thyme
• 1 teaspoon Frontier cayenne (or to taste, may be omitted)

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients. Rub into chosen cut of meat. For best results, allow to marinate one hour to overnight before grilling.

*BPT

The post Greener grilling: Good for you and for Mother Nature, too appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

When my wife Katy and I got married, building a life that was safe and healthy to raise a family was of the utmost important to us.  Living green has been a lifelong practice that really flourished as our family grew.  Our number one priority has been to raise a happy family and create a healthy environment for us, as well as, our surrounding community of Manhattan Beach, CA.

We are often asked, “What can I do to live a green lifestyle?”  The answer is simple, if everyone would make small changes in their everyday lives, it could make a significant impact on the strain for resources in their local communities.  Katy and I have compiled a list of some simple ways we all can contribute to making a smaller footprint.

1.  Reduce Water Consumption– There are several ways families can reduce their water consumption.

• Take showers instead of baths. Newer higher efficiency showerheads provide good water pressure and use less water than filling a bath tub.
• Shorten Shower time. Less time in the shower saves up to 5 gallons of water per minute you cut from shower time.
• Use high efficiency toilets. Over the past several years manufacturers have worked to make toilets more water efficient and bacteria-resistant which makes them easier to clean.
• Xeriscape – Be thoughtful in your landscaping choices. Utilize plants and grasses that are drought tolerant. Reduce water consumption and garden maintenance simultaneously.
• Plant trees for shade. Not only will the shade help reduce cooling costs, it will also increase property values when the trees mature.

2.  Use Natural Cleaning Products– Natural cleaning products are readily available at most super markets. They clean, disinfect and deodorize the same way conventional cleaning products do without harmful chemicals. Read labels before you purchase, natural ingredients include baking soda, borax, cornstarch, lemon juice, mineral oil, vinegar and washing soda. If you choose to make your own, add essential oils for fragrance.

3.  Maximize Solar Power– Consider installing solar panels to heat and cool your home. Solar panels will reduce energy levels and benefit your entire community by reducing energy consumption at the local power plant.

4.  Preserve Air Quality– Use eco-friendly paints the next time you update a room in your house. Eco-friendly paints have very low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and come in a wide array of colors.

5.  Reduce Utility Consumption– Upgrade to a high quality air filtering system. By providing better air ventilation and exhaust in your home you will have cleaner air to breathe while reducing strain your community’s electric and gas consumption.

6.  Buy Natural and Organic Products– When making purchases for furniture and bedding choose organic products made from sustainable materials like unbleached wool, bamboo, or natural plant fibers. Using eco-friendly furniture is an excellent way to detox your home. Organic mattresses made from wool or natural latex and have been shown to reduce allergens in the air.

7.  Use Re-usable Containers– Rather than using foil or plastic wrap; try using re-usable storage containers for leftovers or lunches. Consider taking a coffee mug to work instead of using Styrofoam cups. Not only will you save money, you will also reduce items that sit in a landfill for years decomposing.

8.  Eat Clean– More processing equals less nutrient density in foods. Focus on buying fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Reduce the amount of processed foods in your diet. Eating clean will improve your health and cut down on landfill items by cutting out cans, glass and plastics in your trash.

9.  Conduct an Energy Audit– Discover where you have leaks and plug them up. Inefficient windows and doors can cost a lot in utility bills in the winter. If you still feel drafts, hire a professional auditor through the Department of Energy’s Energy Saver site. They can make excellent recommendations to make your home weather tight.

10.  Recycle– Most major cities offer free recycling as part of weekly trash removal programs. Take advantage of the service and sort through glass, plastic, aluminum and paper. Quarterly go through closets and drawers and find clothes the kids have outgrown or that you simply don’t wear anymore and donate to a thrift store or homeless shelter. Items that are gently used can benefit others in your community.

Living a green lifestyle is a conscious choice we made for our family, and we can attest to the fact that the benefits far outweigh the planning it takes.  We would like to encourage you to join us in adopting a green lifestyle for your family.  You will be amazed at the difference it will make in your lives and in your local community.

Good luck and happy parenting!

Daddy Nickell

The Nickells’ practice what they preach as they are in the process of building an eco- friendly home that is on track to receive Platinum LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the Daddy & Co. blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

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