#114: Guess What's Cookin'? (Friday, February 27)

So, I'm a huge fan of Top Chef, and seeing as how this week was the finale, I thought it would be appropriate to give some green cooking tips.

The Impact: Cooking in the average U.S. home uses enough energy to generate a half ton of greenhouse gases each year. Every gallon of water you boil produces a pound of greenhouse emissions.

The Idea: Boil only the amount of hot water you'll need; don't fill the kettle for a cup of tea. Cover pots instead of letting them boil opened. Don't pre-heat your oven, and if you're using the oven consider maximizing it's efficiency by using the oven for as much of your meal as possible. So if you're baking a chicken, consider baked potatoes rather than something that has to be prepared on the stovetop.

When shopping for cooking appliances, buy a convection oven (it produces 33% less greenhouse gases than a convectional one).

And finally, try to use a toaster oven or microwave if possible...smaller appliances are more efficient.

The Result: lower bills, lower emissions, and maybe even a healthier diet!

#113: See The Big Picture (Friday, February 20)

I have a little TV in my bedroom that one of my friends like to call The Icecube. It's about 12 inches, and the only reason I'm able to watch it is because of my laser eye surgery. LOL. But I just found out it's actually very energy efficient.

The Impact: Large flat screen TVs consume two to three times the power of smaller, conventional sets, which can significantly increase electricity costs. As a matter of fact, a 42-inch plasma set can consume more electricity than a full-size refrigerator -- even when that TV is used only a few hours a day. Don't believe me? See for yourself. (Source: Con Edison)

The Idea: If you really need a plasma TV (and who really needs a plasma anyway?), use these steps to conserve energy:

1. Plug your TV, DVR, or DVD into a power strip, then turn off the power strip when you are done watching.

2. Choose a slightly dimmer setting from your TV's on-screen menu such as "movie or pro." This can result in a more appropriate level of brightness and significantly lower power draw.

The Result: Lower electricity bills which will save you money, and lower energy emissions which is great for our planet.

#112: Make the World Your Valentine (Friday, February 13)

I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but realizing that many people do, I've decided to make it the topic for this week.

The Impact: Nearly one billion valentine cards are sent each year globally, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. That's enough cards to stretch around the world 5 times, if laid end-to-end. Over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold each year and V-Day is the top holiday for purchasing fresh flowers. Ten percent of all engagements happen on Valentine's Day. With these statistics, it's not hard to see the potential impact of this mass consumption on our en

The Idea:

• Send plantable cards (similar to the ones from my birthday), or cards made from recycled or tree-free paper. Or you can cut the cost down altogether by sending an e-card.

• If you're giving chocolate, choose fair trade products that give back to the farmers, or try organic products that are easier on the environment.

• Give locally-grown flowers from the farmer's market, or at least make sure they're organically grown.

• Nothing says "I love you" like planting a tree, or giving a donation to an environmentally-friendly organization in your Valentine's name.

• If jewelry is your thing, purchase from jewelers who are certified to be sourcing precious metals and gemstones in an ecologically and socially responsible manner.
  

• Have dinner at a local restaurant specializing in organic or locally grown food, or donate excess food to responsible organizations.
  

The Result: Supporting locally-grown products cuts down on food miles (and as a result, carbon emissions, gas and other by products used in transportation). Organic products are healthier for your body, and supporting fair trade helps to build strong communities and create sustainable farming practices.

#111: The Benefits of Borrowing (Friday, February 6)

The Impact: Thirty-three percent of all trash thrown away in the U.S. is packaging materials. Americans toss more than 75 million tons of packaging into landfills each year, and less than half of it is recycled.

The Idea: Much of this packaging waste can be reduced by borrowing items from others. Do you really need to own a book you will likely read only once, or would it be more effective to borrow from the library? Isn't it more effective to use a video--er, no one uses video anymore--DVD rental service? Try borrowing things that you rarely use or anticipate using only once. Send an email to your friends, or use community sites like Craigslist and Freecycle to borrow items like camping gear, tools and other items.

The Result: Less waste of packaging materials, you save money, and (in the case of borrowing books), you save a public institution that is on the verge of going extinct.