Green Living for a New Year - 2009

The year 2008 for many was a trying year. With the stock market down almost 40% for the year. With the bailouts of banks, auto and many other hot spots in our economy, for some the year will be remembered as a year of WOW. One of the things I like about a new year is that what happened last year is in the past and today is a new day. I would love to hear what your plans are for the new year. My plans for 2009 are filled with hopes and dreams. In 2009 we will be launching a few green businesses that we hope will not only help our local community in the Raleigh, NC area but grow beyond our local area and reach other parts of the US and World. Our eco-consultant business will be focusing on helping others go green and adopt healthier living habits. We will be focusing on using natural cleaners, saving energy by replacing incandescent lamps with LED lighting and CFL lamps. We will also be helping others create an opportunity for themselves in the growing Green Business Arena.

Also this year we will be highlighting some companies that we think have done a wonderful job of creating sustainability in their respective markets. In fact, recently we have set up a Top 10 site for eco-friendly sites here featuring sites like Green Irene, Our Green House, Energy Saving Products and more. Please feel free to contribute also. Together we can help change the world, Naturally!

Help for a new year

Have you ever wondered what happens to Fluorescent lamps when they are no longer working? Recently I have been reviewing a number of sites about handling lamps that are at end of life. In lighting terms, they refer to these lamps as "Spent" lamps. Many of these lamps end up in landfills. Of course this is a problem with many items today that we consume and on a commercial level this is a huge problem. This year, I am going to be working on starting a lamp handling service in the Raleigh, NC area. My goal is to help make others aware of the dangers involved with Hg (Mercury) and the importance and benefit of recycling lamps.

Facts: About 22% of all lamp usage is by people who are not and may never be regulated under federal rules (e.g. residential and CESQGs). Therefore, of the 514 million lamps per year that are currently entering the solid waste stream and potentially releasing mercury into the environment, about 142 million are from residential, while 372 million are from businesses, government and institutions.
70.8% of the mercury-lamps used by business and 98% of the lamps used in homes are not being recycled. These lamps can and should be recycled! (Taken from Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers or almr.org study in 2004).

What are the Benefits of Recycling?*

* Keeps mercury containing products out of inappropriate waste disposal streams (especially incineration);
* Preferred disposal method in most states for mercury-containing lamps;
* Consistent with solid waste disposal bans and partial bans in some states;
* May limit user's superfund liability; and
* Simplifies enforcement


Lamp recycling is not self-supporting. Spent lamps have no intrinsic value or embodied energy. The recovered mercury has minimal value however the cost of recycling lamps is relatively small compared to the cost savings from using energy efficient lighting. Generally, fluorescent lamps are four to five times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent lamps reduce energy consumption which saves you money. Reducing energy use also cuts down on power plant emissions of mercury and other emissions that contribute to global climate change, acid rain and smog. (* From Lamp Recycle's site: http://www.lamprecycle.org)

If you are looking to help or are interested in supporting our goal for this upcoming year, I would love to hear from you.

Go Green for the Holidays with All Natural Cleaners

Are you looking for gifts this Christmas but not quite sure what to buy? Maybe you are on a budget or just having a hard time finding something for someone special who has everything.

Green Irene has some great gifts this holiday. One of my favorite is the Taste of Green Gift Bag. This is a great introductory green gift featuring the:
Taste of Green Gift Bag
Give them a taste of what green products they are missing with this gift bag! This small variety of products is one of our lowest-priced bags, perfect for group giving such as teacher and corporate gifts.
Gift Bag Sets start for as little as $30



The set includes the following:

1 75 Watt Spiral CFL Bulb - Our most economical 75 watt equivalent (19 watts actual use) compact fluorescent light bulb

1 20 oz. Green Stainless Steel Bottle - Our Extra-large Stainless steel bottle, perfect for carrying around a day's supply of drinking water

1 Spray Bottle of Natural All-Purpose Cleaner - Effective, Vinegar-based cleaner formulated for a variety of surfaces

1 Lime (light green) Baggu Bag - A strong, re-usable Nylon bag with handles large enough to wear over the shoulder.

There are many other green gifts too from All Natural Cleaning Products to Water Conservation and Energy Efficient Lighting. Visit http://www.greenirene.com/myecohelp and click on shopping

Exciting News about Going Green

We have some exciting news to share. We have become a part of the Green Irene network of Eco-Consultants. You may ask what exactly does this mean? Here is our eco-consultant site www.greenirene.com/myecohelp feel free to stop by or pass it on to someone you may know who is interested in finding out more about greening their home and creating a healthier lifestyle.

Here is also a breif description of some of the ways in which we can help save money and help our surrounding community. Green Home Consulting Services and Green Products

Do you want to green your home, but not ready to make going green a hobby? As your local Eco-Consultant, I will walk through your home and develop a set of recommendations on how you can save money, save energy, save water and live a healthier life.

I offer a Green Home Makeover, which takes 60-90 minutes and encompasses the interior and yard areas. I will point out immediate changes that you can make for free, and I will also demonstrate and offer dozens of the best green home products available. I will help replace wasteful incandescent bulbs, show you the best low flow shower heads, explain how to buy green power and enable you to offset your family’s carbon footprint. I'll be able to sell you terrific water filters, improve your indoor air quality and demonstrate cleaning products free of toxic chemicals.

Green Home Makeover topics include:

Energy Conservation
Water Conservation
Water Purity
Toxic Free Living
Indoor Air Quality
Energy Efficient Lighting
Recycling
Waste Reduction
Safety and Emergency Preparedness

With your Green Home Makeover you will receive a six-month “Ask Green Irene” Membership, which gives you access to our green knowledge base and green researchers.