Going Green for the Summer

Summer is here and most of us will be spending plenty of time outdoors, so it only makes sense that people 'should' be thinking greener than ever. Here are some great ways that you can enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer while still doing your part to keep Mother Nature happy:

Clever Cooling – As soon as the temperature begins to heat up its tempting to blast the AC day and night. It does not have to be that way though. No one is suggesting that you have to give up your air conditioner completely but by following some of Tip the Planet's clever cooling tips, you can save money and stay chill all season long. For instance, did you know that by installing light-colored awning s some studies report that you can reduce heat gain in your home by up to 77 percent?!

Buy Local – Planning a couple of cookouts this summer? Help the environment and your local economy by seeking out local foods to throw on the grill whenever possible. Tip the Planet has some wonderful tips for getting the best bang for your buck when buying local produce.

Be Nice at the Beach – We all enjoy a great day at the beach. And that is the way it should be, but pollution caused by careless humans makes a trip to some beaches a not so pleasant experience. It is every individual’s responsibility to keep the beaches clean and safe for everyone to enjoy for years to come. This means doing a little more than just remembering to take your empty cans, bottles and dirty diapers home with you (although all of those things are a great place to start).

Before you head out for your next day of sand, sea and fun make sure you read Tip the Planet’s beach environment tips to learn more about what you can do to help preserve the summer fun for us all.

Relax Responsibly – Need new patio chairs? Deck furniture looking a little the worse for wear? Before you head out for the local home store or the nearest Wal-Mart check out Tip the Planet’s guide to choosing environmentally friendly furniture that can help you relax responsibly without having to sacrifice style or comfort.

Tip the Planet is the fastest growing green wiki on the Net. Have a great green summer tip to share? Add it to Tip the Planet and help educate us all.

Going Green on the Go – Tips for Eco Friendly Cell Phone Use

A cell phone – it seems like everyone has one these days, including your nine year old niece and your ninety year old Granny. To suggest to most people that they give up their mobile is akin to suggesting that they cut off their right arm. So no one is going to do that but there are a number of ways you can make your mobile chatting habits a little greener.

For instance most people probably have no ides just how much power that tiny little Sidekick in their pocket is eating up every minute that it is switched on. One way you can go green on the go is to change the way you charge your phone. By using a solar charger you will actually save yourself quite a bit of money as well as getting the satisfaction of knowing you are reducing your personal carbon footprint.

Even greener are the new generation of eco-friendly cell phones that are beginning to pop up, many of them produced by the big name companies you may already have a cell phone contract with. From the aesthetically astonishing Samsung Blue Earth to the highly unusual Natural Year Phone check out all the great green options available in the eco-friendly cell phones page at Tip the Planet.

There is another growing problem that comes along with all this mobile mania. The majority of cell phone owners upgrade the model of their phone at least every couple of years and many people do so far more often than that. That means that landfills everywhere are cluttered with orphan and outdated cell phones that their owners tossed in trash the second their new phone was charged and ready to go.

Recycling your old cell phone is not hard. There are plenty of private companies and charitable organizations that will be happy to take that old phone off your hands and out of a landfill. Read all about them in the recycling your mobile section at Tip the Planet.

Tip the Planet is fast becoming the most comprehensive green wiki on the web. If you have a great green tip you’d like to share, please do. The better we are all educated in all things environmental the better off we will be.