Learning to "Speak Green" with Rite Mind!!

If you are like me, learning about the "Green" industry, living sustainably, developing an "ECO FRIENDLY" lifestyle and basically getting in tune with Mother Earth, has really opened up a whole gamut of new windows and doors, while CLOSING many others!

I have come to a personal realization that whether I believe it or not, our planet, our world, our humanity, our race is right in the middle of virtually and totally re-inventing itself! Look anywhere. Look everywhere! Just LOOK! Almost everything is NOW all about getting into harmony with our homes, our businesses, our neighborhoods, our environment, each other - and mostly our planet! All this talk of "Green and Sustainability" is really about getting in TUNE with what "works" for enhancing our well being as individuals, as a community, as a collective, as the HUMAN RACE!

If we could SIMPLIFY the whole process of this re-inventing process I would like to submit that it boils down to a fundamental notion about "getting into the mind set" of BEING HUMAN IN HARMONY WITH EARTH!

If we treat her right - she will in turn treat us right with the abundance that she has en masse, and without any doubt!!

So many of us are going through all kinds of varying challenges be it financial, health, relationships... and in most of the cases I would venture to say that it all starts with something that has gone "out of sync", "out of harmony"!! Be it something in our bodies leading to dis-ease, to something related to our "egos" leading to dis-agreement(s), or our Global Economy now suffering from the dis-connect of the ever spinning wheel of "consumption"... leading to economic dis-cord.

If we can find a way to bring these back into harmony, into "rite mind" so to speak... I submit we could make a huge difference, and quite quickly!

In the meantime - as we "re-member" much of which were in truth already the "ways" of many ancient civilizations... here is a link that may help us grasp some of the goings on and pick up on some "GREEN SPEAK" at the same time!!!

http://www.metalconstruction.org/design/index.cfm?pg=greendefinitions.cfm

Let's take some time to reflect and find ways to harmonize, with our selves, with each other, with Earth Mind... and watch the way our world changes!

Feel free to voice your comments!

Cheers,

Martial

"If we change the way we look at things, what we look at changes!"

WHAT IS UP WITH ALL OUR STUFF

What is the Story of Stuff?

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

You can click on this link to watch the YOU TUBE video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8&feature=player_embedded

Or you can go direct to their website at http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html.

IT IS WELL WORTH THE WATCH!

Ever since 1981, TEAM PERKA has produced steel frames that were always intended to LAST! We give it a 40 year warranty - but it will probably last even longer! It’s made of STEEL!!! Furthermore they are designed to be “stand alone”. Which means they don’t rely on the purlins, girts and sheeting (the envelope) to give it the full CAPACITY that is needed. The frames alone are designed to take it - then adding the envelope can actually ADD MORE strength and more durability! And when you’re done with them - probably in a 3rd or 4th generation from now… you can RECYCLE it! It’s STEEL!

We believe in the closed loop designing of our frames… and doing whatever we can to help all our buildings be made as sustainable as they possibly can.

While there are some debatable comments in her presentation - this video still explains this concept of a closed loop system quite well! Whether you believe in the extreme situation of where we are as a society or not - there is still ALLOT of merit to being more responsible about consumption and being better stewards of what we DO have. These are trying times for most of us - and this ideal can go a long way to help us all both in the short term and the long run!!

We believe it’s about getting our facts straight about where we are as a race, where we’re going, where we REALLY want to go, and then collectively choosing to get there TOGETHER!

Like ANNIE says –  it wasn’t always this way –  WE CAN CHANGE!

A fantastic new website has just been launched and is LOADED with great information to help our world become more sustainable and, if all goes well, become the paradise like planet it is aspired to be for EVERYONE… we all just need to take care of our patch of real estate… It really ought not be that hard to do!! What do you think?

CHECK IT OUT: http://www.save-money-with-alternative-energy.com/ways-to-go-green.html

HERE IS AN EXCERPT:
Go Green, Be Organic ~ do your part in saving our Earth for all generations to come


We each and everyone of us have a part to play in changing the world.
It is just an easy one step at a time process to be fully conscientious about your piece of the greening of the planet.

Most everyone can do at least a good part of this 12 month list
If you are up to 65% at any time get your certification here: green certificate

Do you want to feel good about your ‘footprint’ & do what you can to help save our environment, as well as save money with alternative energy?

WE all can do it~Let’s get started~
Just practicing ONE of these steps a month, with the emphasize and focus on making one change at a time.

It is so easy to do…..Just by following the list

By focusing on one subheading a week, we will help the whole world to be a better, sustainable place to live for Us now and the future generations of our children and our children’s children.

YOU can make a difference!
The change starts right now, right here with you and your family

There are many ways to go green, help the planet and save on money.
As simple as changing all your light bulbs, installing a low flow showerhead or owning a hybrid car.

12 steps to Greening the Planet

STEP ONE ~ THINK ‘EFFICIENT’ ON ENERGY USAGE

Month 1. Save energy to save money.
week 1 *Start to become energy use aware and think Efficient.
How do we switch from being ‘wasters’ to ’savers’?
This is the way we begin….it is all about being aware.
Notice at home, at work in the car ways you can do more to save energy. Think about doing just a bit more every single day to make another observation, then change. One small step at a time.
Next……how about Considering weatherizing your home?

Start with turning off lights and power strips when leaving a room.
Then set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
It becomes a game to see how aware you can be of all the little things we do to waste energy daily. Then make a small change in the way you do this each day. Just start paying more attention to energy usage. Vow to make a difference in little ways to begin with. Eventually it begins to add up.
week 2* Install compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout your house this week, make a plan to have all your light bulbs CFLS. Or when your older incandescent bulbs burn out, change them one at a time.
week 3* Get a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances and electronics are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use, or just unplug electronics when not in use.
week 4 *Start Washing your clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.

STEP TWO ~ BE AWARE OF WATER

Month 2. Save water to save money and the planet.
week 1 * Be aware of your water usage. Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too. Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment. Buy a whole house water filter or at least a shower filter. We have too much chlorine in our city water, which is harmful to our health.

week 2 * Buy a whole house water filter or at least a shower filter. We have too much chlorine in our city water, which is harmful to our health.
Check out out the movie ‘Flow’ and understand the worlds situation in regards to bottled water, our entire water situation on this planet, and begin to have an idea about the problem.
week 3* Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
week 4 * check out your yard water usage. Think about switching to drought-tolerant native plants in your garden if this is an option. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
STEP THREE ~ CONSERVE ON GASOLINE…THINK ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION


Month 3. Use less gasoline, walk, ride a bike or bus

week 1 * Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
week 2 * Consider moving within walking distance of your job if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
week 3* Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
week 4* Sell your gas guzzling car if you have one and buy a hybrid car
STEP FOUR ~ HEALTHY, ORGANIC, GREEN FOOD CONSUMPTION….THINK EAT FOR ‘TOTAL WELL BEING’ - HEALTHY YOU-HEALTHY PLANET

month 4. Eat Green Cuisine -go vege or vegan when you can



week 1* If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it’s even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs. Switch to only locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy. * Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great. Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood
week 2*Eat more greens, vegetables and begin to adapt to a whole food diet
week 3* consider starting a vegetable garden and a composting bin.
week 4* Be aware of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in foods. Read up on the side effects of certain poisons we are eating. Eat organic vegetables. Switch to as much organic as you can. Be aware of where food comes from, how it is made and how they are produced. Buy bulk items that are organic Rice, beans, lentils etc. Also, buy local, and buy aware of what is in your food, read labels.
STEP FIVE ~ FOCUS ON THE 3 R’S -REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Month 5. Cut down our use of plastics

week 1* Don’t buy bottled water in plastic. Purchase a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste. Bring a reusable water bottle with you where ever you go so you aren’t tempted to buy soft drinks. preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

week 2* Buy reusable products and purchase items packaged environmentally friendly. Notice everything in your home that is bottled or packaged in plastic. Make a plan to switch to no longer purchasing what is packaged in plastic, except only the truly necessary times when there is not an option.
week 3* Use only your own bags when going shopping and do not except plastic bags from stores
week 4* Remove unnecessary plastic from your environment and recycle everything you can

STEP SIX ~ CONSIDER THIS: BREAK THE SPENDING HABIT!

month 6. Learn to change your spending habits~buy sparingly - only what you need
week 1* Yes, sorry to say it~Plan a budget! Become aware of where your money is going, and spend more wisely, and greener.
week 2 * Become a thrift shopper~Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items. When making purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t. Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you’ve just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free. Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse. Focus on buying in bulk and going shopping less often when you do need to. Get jars and store your dry goods in gallon jars and shop only when those staples are empty.


week 3 * Save-Save-Save the Earth and Focus on Saving money in a difficult economy
* Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.
week 4* Spend your money repairing fixable items instead of getting new stuff. Make a list of ways to recycle the old items you are no longer using, be aware when you spend of the environment and saving it!

STEP SEVEN ~ BORROW, LEND, GIVE AND GET.

Month 7. Be a borrowing and a sharer, share everything you can!
week 1 * Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
week 2 * Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
week 3 *Be a reuse person! Make it your mission this month to reuse instead of recycling. Reuse something means it doesn’t have to be reprocessed again. If you cannot reuse it donate it-or sell it on e-bay!
week 4*Clean out your closets, garage, attic and basement.Give it away, donate it sell it! Get down to only the essential items you and your family need. Share it, give it and enjoy lightening up.

STEP EIGHT ~ GO TOTALLY ORGANIC!

Month 8. Shop smart. Buy organic ‘green’ products
week 1 * Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
week 2 * Wear clothes that are made with organic, natural fabrics when it is possible. Also clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
week 3 * Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you’ll be happy when you don’t have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
week 4* Wrap your mind around ORGANIC in all areas of living. Green, sustainable living is the new way of living, this month make it your lifelong mission.

STEP NINE ~ REDUCE YOUR WASTE - BECOME AWARE OF WHERE IT IS GOING

month 9. Reduce THE waste of unnecessary GARBAGE and reuse what you already have
week 1 * Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem. Recycle your cell phone.
week 2 * Visit your local dump and make a conscious choice to do something to help out - We have way too much waste on this planet. Think of one creative way you can cut down
week 3 * Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event. Talk to your co-workers about it.
week 4 *give up unneeded gadgets, clean your home of junk electronics

STEP TEN ~ BE COMPLETELY CHEMICAL FREE IN YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENT

Month 10. Remove as many chemicals from your life as possible

Week 1 * Use up all the old chemical cleaning supplies or give them away to someone that still uses them
week 2 * Make your own cleaning supplies. You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.
week 3* Check out toxins and chemicals in drugs you take or food you ingest? Clean it up, out of our bodies and out of the system
week 4* need I say this, quit coffee, alcohol and cigarettes if any one this has become a habit
STEP ELEVEN ~ BE IN NATURAL SKIN CARE HEAVEN!


Month 11. Use only natural products on your skin
week 1* switch over to all natural skin and body care products made without all those HARMFUL chemical preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers and wasteful packaging. Make sure your products are at the very least 50% organic and natural.
week 2* commit to read labels on every body care product
week 3 *buy locally or from environmentally friendly companies that are making their products consciously. Big business in skin care products is big pollution!
Week 4 *Make some of your own products from natural oils. Buy chemical free sunscreens to protect from harmful sun rays.


STEP TWELVE ~ STAY FOCUSED ON GREEN! YOU DID IT!!! YOU ARE NOW A CERTIFIED ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE LIVING, GREEN BEING!

Month 12. Stay informed about going green, and be a advocate to continue
Week 1 * Have a good spiritual practice ~start meditation and yoga
week 2 * Focus on others, in service to the Whole of Humanity
week 3* Do your part to advocate greening to others
week 4* Start your own local ‘Greening the Planet’ group

If you have done most of the things and comply with at least 65% percent of this list then
Congratulations! You are now certified ‘Green’.
Get your certificate here: Green certificate

This is how we did our share to help with saving our Earth and save money at the same time- we are doing it together, you and I. We are the ONES we have been waiting for!

It seems like everyone’s “going green.” Now you are too!

Congratulations!
It is time all of us get involved and do what we can to take action. It wasn’t as hard as we thought, was it?
Luckily, many of the steps we took to stop climate change and save energy have made our lives better, healthier and more fulfilling .
Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let’s start now. Start with one change a week at a time, and have fun noticing how fast you are “green”.

Just stay abreast and get the step by step updates - Sign up for our weekly newsletter. One Step at a time
It is simple and fun to get on the ‘greening the planet’ program.
http://www.save-money-with-alternative-energy.com/index.html