So, what exactly is wind power, how does it work, and what makes it a “green” option for producing energy? Below, we’ve compiled a brief introduction to wind power as a source of clean energy.

What is Wind Power?

Wind power is the process of harnessing energy from the movement of the wind and converting it to useful forms of mechanical power and electricity.  Today, most wind energy comes from turbines – essentially giant windmills. The wind turns two or three of the turbine’s propeller-like blades around the turbine’s rotor. The rotor is connected to a main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity.

How Does it Work?

Although the name does not suggest as much, wind power is actually a form of solar power.  Sunlight causes temperature differences across the Earth’s surface, and the differences in surface temperatures force warm air to rise and create winds. Harnessing the energy from these winds is therefore a function of solar power.  Want a full rundown on wind and how it occurs in nature? Read on in this helpful explanation.

How is Wind Power a “Greener” Option?

The beauty of wind power is that it is derived from a virtually unlimited and inexhaustible resource: the wind. Unlike energy that relies on fossil fuels, wind energy produces far fewer carbon emissions and pollution. In addition, most wind turbines/wind farms, once established, don’t have exhausting operational costs.

So Why Isn’t Everyone Using Wind Power?

It seems like a no-brainer. An inexhaustible resource, clean energy.  So what’s the hold up? Why isn’t everything fueled by wind power?

Unfortunately, wind turbines and wind power take up a large portion of land and the process can be pricey to set up. When built close to residential areas, turbines can be noisy and/or unsightly. Additionally, the amount of energy harnessed from wind power can vary daily, depending on wind conditions. Regardless, as technology advances, more and more countries are adopting wind power solutions.

Did You Know?

A few fun facts:

• The largest wind turbines produce enough electricity to fuel nearly 600 homes.
• Globally, Germany has the most wind energy capacity, followed by Spain, the US, India, and Denmark.
• Renewable energy experts believe that by 2050, wind energy could be the solution to one third of the world’s electricity requirements.
• The highest wind speed recorded on Earth is 231mph.

Stay tuned here at Eco-Centric for the latest news on renewable projects, wind energy and more! In future posts, we’ll give brief rundowns on other types of renewable/clean energy, how they work, various current green energy projects and initiatives, and fun facts about renewables.

Resources:

http://environment.about.com/od/renewableenergy/a/wind_power.htm

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-profile/

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/what_is_wind.asp

A few weeks ago, we covered some of the main sources of the human cause of climate change. It’s important to recognize these issues and do our best to lessen their occurrence, so for a quick recap, here are the primary sources of human induced climate change: the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and carbon dioxide; industrial processes and pollution from factories; conversion of land for agriculture; and decomposition of wastes in landfills.

So, what can be done to lesson the human cause of climate change? Below, find our top suggestions.

1. Limit Use of Electricity: This step can be as simple as turning off the lights when you leave a room, or unplugging appliances when they’re not in use. The next step is to exchange traditional appliances for the energy-efficient models, switch out regular light bulbs for their energy-efficient counterparts, and clean/replace dirty air filters in your home. Find some of our top tips for reducing your energy use (and your electric bill) in our previous article here.
2. Cut Down on Driving: Do you find yourself hopping in the car for trips that are easily walkable? Is your bike collecting dust in the attic or garage? Carbon emissions from cars, trucks, and other motorized vehicles account for over 900 million metric tons of CO2 every year. Make the commitment to walk or bike whenever possible. If you must drive, consider purchasing a hybrid or fuel-efficient model, and always keep your vehicle up to date with emissions tests/legal requirements.
3. Raise Awareness Within the Community: If you’ve already made the commitment to reduce your carbon footprint, get the word out to others in your family, peer group, neighborhood or community. Not sure how you can get involved? Find some of our top tips here.
4. Eat Green, Eat Clean: Another major human cause of climate change comes from agricultural processes. Eating local, eating organic, and cutting down on meat consumption are all ways to reduce your impact. We’ve put together a helpful guide for beginners looking to adopt a green diet here.
5. Recycle: Reducing, reusing, and recycling are some of the most important practices for keeping waste out of landfills. Not sure how to decode recycling symbols? Find a helpful guide here. Make the pledge to recycle as much as possible! Conduct some research about your local recycling center and program. You might be surprised at the information you uncover! For example, we’ll bet you didn’t know that these materials were actually recyclable.
6. Purchase Carbon Offsets: Carbon offsetting involves investing in green projects and initiatives in order to reduce the carbon footprint of a family, individual, or business. Learn more about the JustGreen carbon offsetting products on our site at www.justgreencommunity.com.

Be sure to stay tuned here at Eco-Centric, where each week, we cover more ways to cut down on the human cause of climate change.  Check our page regularly for “green” tips and guides – for everything from cutting down on paper usage (linked) to carbon offsetting.

Do you have suggestions, comments, or tips for reducing the human cause of climate change? Feel free to let us know in on Facebook or Twitter.

Resources:

http://www.wri.org/publication/content/8468

http://epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=65CD73F4-1

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

After all, recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and offset carbon emissions – enabling you to help reduce the effects of climate change and global warming.

A few weeks ago, we discussed some unusual items that you probably didn’t realize are recyclable. Below, find a few more surprising things you may not know can be recycled or reused!

Wine Corks: More than just the bottle is recyclable! Not only are wine corks great for crafting, but there is also an experimental program that processes old bottle stoppers and turns them into eco-friendly cork flooring and wall tiles.

Packing Peanuts: Chances are, you’ve got more than your fair share of leftover packing peanuts taking up space in a storage closet or basement. We bet you didn’t know that they’re recyclable! At citywide locations or through the mail, this company accepts packing peanuts for recycling.

Appliances: Switching to energy efficient models? Great! Donate your old appliances so that they can be re-used by another family. Not only is this a great way to reduce carbon emissions, it’s usually tax deductible, too.

Eyeglasses: If you’ve upgraded to the season’s latest fashionable style for eyewear, don’t just toss your old frames. This helpful article via Earth911.com examines a number of options for donating or recycling your old glasses.

Styrofoam: Pay close attention and you’ll be surprised at how often you encounter Styrofoam in your daily life. Your morning coffee cup, the Chinese takeout container from last night, or the eggs you picked up at the grocery store all utilize Styrofoam packaging. You’ve probably heard that Styrofoam isn’t recyclable, but don’t fall prey to the myth! The truth is that there are a number of programs that enable consumers to reuse or recycle most types of Styrofoam.

Gift Cards: Is your wallet or purse littered with used gift cards or restaurant loyalty cards? Fill out this simple form in order to recycle them!

Can you think of other unusual items you’ve recycled? Do you know about a program we haven’t mentioned? Feel free to share with us in the comments, below!

Our new JustGreen Lifestyle program has simple options to help you go carbon neutral. We offer three carbon offset solutions to fit different lifestyles.  Offset your monthly carbon footprint – with just a few clicks!  Get started here: http://justgreencommunity.com/lifestyle-products/.

Cutting down on paper use is one of the easiest ways to lower your carbon footprint. In fact, in today’s electronic world, there’s almost no excuse for purchasing ream after ream of paper or mega cartridges of printer ink.

Yet still, North America accounts for over a third of the world’s overall paper use. Not only is this practice wasteful, but it’s also costly for both our wallets and our planet, as paper waste/pollution contributes to global warming and climate change.

Below, find a few of our top tips for reducing paper consumption:

Go Electronic: Most things that were paper-centric are now available in e-format – everything from reports and receipts, to bank records and bill paying. Try to cut as much paper out of your life as possible by signing up for e-billing, backing up important files on an external hard drive or via cloud technology, and participating in online banking. Not only are these measures great for reducing your carbon footprint, they also make life just a little less of a hassle (who has time to address an envelope, anyway?!).

Unsubscribe From Junk Postal Mail: Eliminate some of the trash in your life and reduce carbon emissions at the same time by unsubscribing from junk mail. On a similar note, be selective about the magazine subscriptions/newspapers you receive in hard copy – many of these publications (if not all of them) offer online, e-versions as well.

In the Home: At home, make the switch to cloth napkins that can be re-used. Keep old dishtowels and bath towels and cut worn out apparel into strips for cleaning. Cut down on post-it notes by utilizing a white board for grocery lists, memos, etc. Avoid paper plates, paper cups and plastic utensils by using traditional silverware that can be washed and re-used.

Purchase a Tablet: There are a number of different tablets on the market that make everything from reading a book to browsing through a magazine a more eco-friendly activity. Don’t replace one evil with another, however! Be sure to charge your tablet only as necessary, and turn it off to conserve power when it’s not in use.

Recycle: When you must use paper, try to print on both sides and keep mis-prints to use for scrap paper, notes, or arts and crafts projects. Be sure that you’re doing your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle – recycle old newspapers, magazines, and junk mail, and make sure that you’re tossing all acceptable paper products in the blue bin instead of the trash. Whenever possible, try to purchase paper products that are made from recycled materials instead of their traditional counterparts.

Do you have a question or comment to add on this topic? We’d love to hear your thoughts, as well as suggestions for solutions to the problem of human causes of climate change. Let us know in the comments, below or via Facebook and/or Twitter!

Resources:

http://www.visionofearth.org/live-green/31-ways-to-reduce-paper-usage/

http://www.id2.ca/downloads/eco-design-paper-facts.pdf

http://156.98.19.245/paper/

JustGreen is here to help make your life a little simpler. The JustGreen Business Advantage program is specially designed to help businesses achieve a greater level of sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint, allowing you – the business owner – the freedom to get back to what you do best: making your business run like a well-oiled machine (or, rather, an eco-friendly, solar powered one!).

Why Go Green?

Sustainability is the way of the future. If you’re not making moves towards eco-friendly business practices now, you’re already behind the curve. Not only will running a sustainable business help bring potential, like-minded customers in the door and enhance your corporate image, but it’s also a way to positively impact the environmental issues of climate change and global warming.

What’s the First Step?

Our corporate carbon offsetting program, JustGreen Business Advantage, launched this past April. JustGreen Business Advantage functions as an investment in carbon offsets.  Learn more about carbon offsets on our website here, and in previous blog entries here. The Business Advantage product assists companies in neutralizing their carbon output, while also contributing to green job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the JustGreen Business Advantage, companies can allocate their investments to the projects that are most important/meaningful to them:  from large-scale, national, green energy efforts, to smaller initiatives that assist the local community.

How Do I Get Started?

Our Business Advantage program offers three participation levels: Select, Plus & Elite. Each level consists of a monthly membership (designed for companies of varying sizes) and helps businesses offset their carbon footprints.

Our Select and Plus products (ideal for small or medium businesses) offset 55,115lbs and 110,231lbs of CO2, respectively, and are available for a monthly investment of $29.99/month and $59.99/month, or $299.99 and $599.99 annually. Both come with a free promo/marketing kit and green certificate. Our Business Elite option (designed for larger businesses) offsets a whopping 220,462 pounds of CO2 and is available for $119.99/monthly or $1,199.99 per year. The Elite product comes with a free promo/marketing kit and green certificate, as well as PR & Social Media Support.

To date, JustGreen has invested over $70 million in green energy projects, including solar, hydro, wind power, and methane capture initiatives. Our products have offset over 1.23 metric tons of carbon emissions – the equivalent to removing 240,000 cars from the road for an entire year. In addition, we recently received certification from Green-e Energy, North America’s leading certification and verification program for renewable energy, ensuring that the JustGreen products meet the highest possible industry standards.

Interested in the JustGreen Business Advantage products? Visit us online today for your free consultation and to learn a little more about which participation level suits your business.

We all leave a mark on our planet. Think of your carbon footprint as your personal impact.

In technical terms, your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas you produce in units of carbon dioxide. This footprint is determined by your daily lifestyle and activities, such as travel (car, plane, train, etc), electrical use, consumption of products and services, foods you eat, etc.

As discussed in our blog on the human causes of climate change, greenhouse gases are the primary contributors to many of today’s environmental issues, including pollution, climate change, and global warming.

There are a number of free resources online that show how to calculate your carbon footprint, including our handy calculator, this calculator from The Nature Conservancy, or this one from the EPA.

Alexandra Shimo-Barry, author of “The Environment Equation,” has come up with a formula that explains how to calculate your carbon footprint at home, too! Simply follow the below steps, and voila.

1. Multiply your monthly electric bill by 105
2. Multiply your monthly gas bill by 105
3. Multiply your monthly oil bill by 113
4. Multiply your total yearly mileage on your car by .79
5. Multiply the number of flights you’ve taken in the past year (4 hours or less) by 1,100
6. Multiply the number of flights you’ve taken in the past year (4 hours or more) by 4,400
7. Add 184 if you do NOT recycle newspaper
8. Add 166 if you do NOT recycle aluminum and tin
9. Add 1-8 together for your total carbon footprint

Keep in mind that an “ideal” carbon footprint (or a “low” footprint) is anywhere from 6,000 to 15,999 pounds per year. 16,000-22,000 is considered average. Under 6,000 is considered very low. Over 22,000? You may want to take some of these “living green” practices into consideration.

If your number is higher than you’d expect, don’t despair! There are a number of small sacrifices/measures you can make in order to lower your carbon footprint, such as recycling, utilizing these daily tips, or purchasing carbon offsets.

Do you have a question or comment to add on this topic? We’d love to hear your thoughts, as well as suggestions for solutions to the problem of human causes of climate change. Let us know in the comments, below or via Facebook and/or Twitter!

Resources:

http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/15/green-carbon-living-forbeslife-cx_ls_0415carbon.html

http://www.whatsmycarbonfootprint.com/faq.htm

Are you planning a backyard bash to kickoff the dog days of summer (hot dog, that is)? Calling all moms & grillin’ guys: We’re looking at you when we talk about green grilling! Below, find our top tips for an eco-friendly event, complete with grilled goodies, biodegradable options, and plenty of fun for all (but without as many harmful carbon emissions)!

Unfortunately for the old-fashioned summer pastime, grilling can be toxic, polluting, and even dangerous, especially when done improperly or with old, outdated equipment. Thankfully, along with new technology comes a lower carbon footprint and a reduction of carbon emissions. Find our top tips, below:

Hybrid Grills: No, you didn’t read that wrong. Cars aren’t the only technology that comes in a hybrid format these days! Consider these babies the Rolls Royce of green grilling.

Electric Grills: A more economical option, electric grills release 99% less carbon monoxide and 91% less carbon dioxide than grilling with traditional charcoal.

Natural Gas Grills: Many modern grills have a “natural gas” option. Natural gas burns as the cleanest fossil fuel, with a lower carbon footprint than propane. Be sure this option is engaged, if it is a feature on your grill.

Fluids/Charcoal: Avoid lighter fluids and self-lighting charcoals, as these fuels release petrochemicals into the atmosphere – substances that can contribute to the human cause of climate change.

Don’t “over-preheat”: Most grills only take five or ten minutes to warm up. Don’t lose track of time and let your grill preheat for longer than necessary.  Staying vigilant will conserve fuel and energy.

Clean Your Grill Regularly: A clean grill means less smoke (and less pollution) during your next event.
Avoid Plastic/Paper Dishware: Look for biodegradable options, or go green by utilizing re-usable utensils, cups, plates, etc.

Host a Neighborhood Shindig and Encourage Guests to Walk/Bike: If you’re hosting an event for your neighbors, ask them to walk, bike or carpool, if necessary.

Do you have any tips we’ve missed or any recommendations for hybrid/electric grills? Share with us and our fellow readers in the comments, below!

A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge — but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-grilling-bbq-460519

http://bbq.about.com/od/grillinghelp/a/aa091308a.htm

http://www.electricfireplacesdirect.com/Green-Grilling

Whether it’s your graduation, or you’re hosting a party/celebration for the green grad in your life, we’ve got some helpful tips on how to host an eco-friendly affair.

Invitations: Opt for the e-vite instead of traditional paper invitations, or get even more creative and design a graphic invite that can be sent out via smartphone (an idea Martha Stewart herself utilized for her son’s college graduation)!

Photo Ops: If you’ll be hiring an event photographer, or playing paparazzi around the recent graduates, consider setting up an online, digital photo album after the event. Email the link to party guests, instead of printing out photos for an album. Think before you print – try to limit the number of printed photos for frames/gifts and opt for digitized options, instead.

Party Favors & Hors d’oeuvres: Catering locally ensures that your party hors d’oeuvres are as eco-friendly as they are delicious. As we’ve covered in previous posts (linked), eating/drinking local is one way to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in your community, as well as a way to support the local economy. Keep in mind that almost anything comes in organic form these days, from baked goods and cakes to locally brewed beer.

For party favors, consider organic treats, sweets, or a bottle of local, organic wine.

Avoid Paper/Disposable Dining Ware: One of the biggest sources of waste from events such as graduation parties comes from those pesky paper/plastic plates, silverware, and utensils. Opt for biodegradable alternatives, or traditional re-usable dishware (which can often be rented, or may be part of a local catering service’s party package).

Encourage Carpooling: Encourage your guests to go green and cut back on carbon emissions by carpooling, biking, or walking, if the party venue is close by.

Do you have any helpful tips for how to offset the carbon footprint of your graduation party or event? Share with us in the comments, below!

As a graduation goal this year, resolve to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle! We’re here to help. Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.marthastewart.com/275168/an-eco-friendly-graduation-party/@center/307033/spring-holidays

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/environmentally-friendly-graduation-party-planning

http://www.motherearthliving.com/wiser-living/green-your-life-a-green-graduation-party.aspx

What are the human causes of climate change? How does our collective carbon footprint affect the atmosphere and the weather? What can be done to lessen the human impact on our planet.

Below, we’ve investigated some of the main human causes of climate change. In further posts, we will cover steps we can take to lessen these negative impacts.

The Science Behind Climate Change

It is true that the Earth’s changing climate is a natural occurrence, and that periods of both heating and cooling have occurred numerous times throughout the planet’s history. Today, however, most scientists agree that humans have a significant impact on climate change and the overall warming of our planet.

In a nutshell, most of this impact comes from heat and gasses that radiate from Earth back towards space. These gasses become trapped in the atmosphere, intensify in heat and then re-radiate back to Earth.  This phenomenon is more commonly referred to as “the greenhouse effect.” Some of the top “greenhouse gasses” produced from both human and natural activities include: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, F-gasses, and tropospheric ozone.

If the greenhouse effect becomes too severe, it could have vast and devastating consequences to our planet, the environment and life on Earth as we know it.

Carbon Emissions

You may have heard the term “carbon footprint” before. This term refers to the measure of carbon emissions each of us produces in our everyday lives, through activities such as driving, working, cooking and other daily activities.

Your carbon footprint, when combined with your neighbors’, friends’ and the global community’s, add up to produce greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.

Top Human Contributors to Climate Change

The top activities that lead to the human causes of climate change include:

• The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and carbon dioxide  (driving your car, heating your home, etc.)
• Industrial processes (pollution from factories, product production, etc.)
• Agriculture (conversion of land, etc.)
• Conversion of land for forestry
• Decomposition of wastes in landfills

So, what can we do to make a change? Stay tuned for upcoming posts on our website, where we’ll be investigating how we can lessen the human causes of climate change and the resulting negative impacts on our planet.

Do you have a question or comment to add on this topic? We’d love to hear your thoughts, as well as suggestions for solutions to the problem of human causes of climate change. Let us know in the comments, below or via Facebook and/or Twitter!

Resources:

http://epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/today/greenhouse-effect.html

http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=65CD73F4-1

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

Below, find our top suggestions for “green” fun in the sun this coming season:

Get outside!

With the warm weather and sunshine comes the opportunity for a number of outdoors activities: hiking, nature walks, biking, roller blading, swimming, camping… the list goes on.

Get up! Get off the couch! Get the kids outside and out in nature! The more your children enjoy the great outdoors, the more inclined they will be to take measures to protect the planet in their adult lives.

Take a moment to explain global warming issues to your children: explain what is causing climate change and global warming, how to stop global warming, etc. Early education is one of the best ways to ensure an eco-friendly mentality for future generations!

Visit Local Ecological Hot Spots

A trip to the park, local botanical garden, nursery, or organic farm is a wonderful way to take the kids on a “green” field trip, not to mention another way to instill an appreciation for nature/the environment.

Gardening

Summer is the perfect time to get in the green thumb groove. Check out our tips for growing your own garden (in the most eco-friendly way possible), in our post from last week.

Pool Time

Is there anything better than a cool dip in the pool on a hot summer’s day? We can’t think of much. To conserve energy, be sure to set your pool filter to the lowest setting possible for efficiency/safety, and check out these tips for eco-friendly pool maintenance. If you’re planning on building a pool in your backyard this summer, these natural pools are simply lovely, not to mention a greener way to cool down!

Sprinklers

Running around in the sprinklers is almost a right of passage for kids during childhood summers. This summer, create an eco-friendly sprinkler system with these tips:

1. Use a recycled bottle to create an awesome, do-it-yourself sprinkler. NOTE: This is a project for the adults to complete, as it requires the use of tools.
2. On a day when you plan to be watering your garden or lawn, let the kids run around in the sprinkler where, regardless of their play, you would normally be watering. From time to time, move the sprinkler’s location. This way, you’re conserving water instead of giving the garden a double dose.  Two birds, one stone!
3. Enjoy! Keep the time limited to 15 or 20 minutes, so that you’re not wasting water.

Do you have any tips, ideas, or suggestions for eco-friendly summer fun? We’d love to hear them in the comments, below, or on Facebook or Twitter!

A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge — but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.