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Environment Green Living Miscellaneous Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Clothing Press Releases

Project Earth Day: Fashion Trashion Runway Show

As manufacturers of natural latex mattresses and organic bedding, CozyPure has a year-round dedication to earth-friendly practices.  Not only do we manufacture GREEN bedding using only renewable and sustainable materials, we are eco-conscious in all of our operating procedures right down to the light bulbs we use in our showroom and workshop.  Although we like to think of everyday as a day to celebrate Earth and her renewable resources, we join the rest of Earth’s inhabitants to celebrate “Earth Day” on April 22 each year.  CozyPure typically has a sale each year to celebrate Earth Day and of course that is well received!  This year we will be doing something new and exciting (in addition to a sale):  A fashion show in which contestants will be challenged to use their creativity to design a wearable fashion using only local business scraps and waste, otherwise headed to the landfill.

On April 22, 2016, The Venue on 35th in the Park Place District of Norfolk will host Project Earth Day: Fashion Trashion Runway Show. Sponsored by CozyPure, Virginia Fashion Week and The Venue, this fashion competition is open to all ages and levels of experience.  project-earthday-poster

This community event seeks to showcase Hampton Roads’ creative talent while participating in environmental stewardship through the demonstration of upcycling – also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless and/or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.

Attendees of the event will enjoy a runway show featuring the designs, as well as Earth Day-themed live performances by area talent presented in interims throughout the show.

All interested contestants are encouraged to register at http://www.cozypure.com/projectearthday. Spots are limited, first come first serve.

The general public is welcome to attend the event on Earth Day, April 22nd at the Venue on 35th located at 631 W 35th Street in Norfolk. Doors open at 6pm. Runway show starts at 7pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase through a local non-profit organization. Contact CozyPure Organic Mattresses and Bedding for more information, 757-480-8500.

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Miscellaneous

Every Day is Earth Day

We like to be mindful of our environment every day around here. But some things just can’t be avoided. As green as we are in our company practices we’re still occasionally confronted with some challenges that are very “un-green” while running the business. The difference, however, is how we choose to deal with those things. First a little background.

If you’re not familiar with our company, we started out back in 1990 as one of America’s first green-living stores originally under the name Tomorrow’s World. We offered everything from compact fluorescent light bulbs to shower heads and even low-flow toilets!

catalogs
Archived catalogs

Our mail order catalogs featured clothing and bedding made from organic, sustainable fibers such as hemp and organic cotton… in fact we were one of the first retailers in the country to ship mattresses and bedding direct to the consumer.

Early 1990’s. We sold mattresses with organic materials in our catalog way before the internet

In 2011, we invested in a solar system that generates 89,400 kWh of electricity yearly.

solar
Just a portion of our solar array system

 

CozyPure® is proud to be an EPA Green-Power-Partner

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The lighting in our recently renovated space features 4w LED bulbs throughout the offices and showroom. The entire area of 5,000 SF uses a total equivalent of having eight lamps with 75watt light bulbs. WOOP!

showroom
We have SIXTY dimmable LED bulbs in our showroom – the equivalent of four 60 watt light bulbs

 

We upgraded all the workshop bulbs from T12 to T2. Not only are they energy efficient, they also provide a beautiful bright light that looks very similar to the natural daylight we get from the skylights in our historic early 1900 building.

t2-lights
We converted sixty fixtures from T12 bulbs (75 watts each)   to T2 bulbs (11 watts each). YOWSA!

 

In our parking lot the recycling dumpster is 3x bigger than the trash dumpster. We encourage a no-waste policy and reuse or recycle mostly everything. Paper copies are converted for note-taking (no post-its here). We collect our raw material scraps and offer to crafters at an affordable price.

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Why waste scraps of beautiful organic batting when someone else can use them?

 

We’ve always had plants to not only provide aesthetics in our surroundings, but to also naturally filter the air around us. Our first plant, Aggie, has been with us now for over 20 years. OK so maybe she’s really a tree (over 7 feet with yearly clippings)

office-plants
No it’s not a greenhouse or nursery, we just love plants. Oh and BTW those cool glass-wood partition walls were demoed and upcycled from their original use circa 1930 – just part of the history in our beloved 1909 building that we wanted to preserve – so yup we did that too 🙂

 

Of course, ALL of our products are made from sustainable, renewable materials such as organic rubber, organic cotton, wool, buckwheat and kapok and made in the USA. We DO NOT make CozyPure bedding from non-renewable petroleum foams or synthetics – the most common materials in conventional bedding (yup – you probably have that yucky stuff in your pillows, blankets and mattress – sorry).

organic-bedding
Wool comforters – the kind great-grandma had, you know, the kind that lasted

 

Our warehouse shelving and workshop tables are custom-made and handcrafted from FSC-certified wood.

work-tables
Oh it’s our lovely ladies who tuft, they’re pretty awesome

 

Our kitchenette was upgraded with an on-demand hot water heater. Our fridge is Euro-designed highly energy efficient. We have two antique buffets getting restored with quartz-recycled glass counter-top from Absolute Kitchen & Bath (a local kitchen contractor).  We had our floors restored to their natural finish by Hapax Concrete (another local yocal). You’ll also find temperature-control curtains we installed throughout our warehouse which retain heat and/or coolness, in addition to ceiling and exhaust fans. Heck, even our bathrooms have organic castile soap for washing our hands.

organic-soap
Soap made with certified organic oils makes hand-washing fun!

 

We don’t just say we’re green, we are green. After all actions speak much louder than words.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was waste from plastic. Many of our raw materials arrive wrapped in large plastic bags, for protection during shipping. We couldn’t recycle this type of plastic in our container, and we couldn’t find any practical way to reuse such a massive quantity of bags. Thankfully, Mr. John came to our rescue two years ago.

john-plastic
Studly Mr John gets a work out hauling all that plastic and we gals look forward to the eye candy when he comes to collect :)~

 

John volunteers his time to collect plastic bags for a local school. The bags are then recycled into plastic lumber for an assortment of furniture and decking. The school that collects the most tonnage wins and ever since we’ve been doing this “our” school (the smallest one in Norfolk) wins the contest and we suspect our contribution of plastic helps greatly, as well as Mr. John’s efforts 🙂

This Earth Day think about ways you can change your daily habits. Try small changes like taking your own bags to the market or using a refillable water bottle. You’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes a part of your daily lifestyle, not just something you do on Earth Day, after all…

GOOD PLANETS ARE HARD TO FIND

Happy Earth Day!

Are you ready to dispose of your chemical-laden, plastic-based bedding?

CozyPure offers a nice selection of everything from mattresses and toppers to comforters and linens all made from renewable, sustainable, natural and organic materials. And the annual Earth Day sale is going on through April 30th.
BE GREEN. SLEEP GREEN. SAVE GREEN.

cozypure_1

Categories
Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Renewable Energy

Remodeling the Green Way

Remodeling in a green light is on the rise in the United States. Many houses are even built in a green manor nowadays. If you are look good some good remodeling/decorating tips, look no further. Here are five tips to help you get started on your green home improvement project.

-Lots of open windows will bring in lots of natural light, which will help one cut down on electricity expenses and things of the sort. Not only is natural light green, but it is also beautiful, giving your bedroom/living room/whatever room and open feel, giving the impression of less clutter. Motes of dust swimming in the sunlight can even be considered elegant if looked at in the right angle. Polished surfaces such as hardwood floors or mirrors can also help introduce ample lighting into a room. Reflective glass tiling in one’s kitchen or bathroom is a great idea to incorporate light into your rooms, and the kitchen, above all, should receive ample light. After all, it is the heart of the home.

-Assure that your heating and air conditioning (among other essential living utilities) are of good quality. No need in spending extra money over time because your heating and air isn’t working the way it should be, no need to waste surplus energy that could be saved by checking your ventilation/insulation. Solar and wind energy is also very effective, if you can afford to install it. This is not to say that it does not come at a bargain, it’s just that you have to know where to look and whether or not you will have the means to do it.

-Keep a realistic budget in your sight at all times. There is no use in trying to do a whole bunch of big things that will run your wallet into the ground. Start small, begin with manageable things, DIY kind of things. Demolish those walls yourself, save money on contractors, this way you will have the savings to implement those solar panels or new windows with better insulation. It is all about how you spend your money, how far you can stretch your bargain, and how necessary some of your remodeling might be. Some things might need to be taken from your list in order to make room for others. This is OK! Going into a project expecting everything to get done on a budget that is only so big is never a good idea. Stretch your buck and save yourself.

-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! I can not stress this enough. Remodeling, redecorating, whatever you are doing, it is always a great idea to reuse old things. Thrifts stores and antique shops are great places to find bargains that will make a great addition to your home. Be on the lookout for things all around your neighborhood – old driftwood, furniture, antiques, etc. – there are SO many things that you can do with things that have been lost or thrown away. Always keep in mind that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

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-Landscape with native plants. grow your vegetable garden with seasonal crops. Rotate your soil. Compost. Keeping your garden alive and well is important not only for the environment but also for the aesthetic of your home. Would you rather sit out on your porch overlooking a yard full of dried up grass and soil or a garden full of life, thriving. Not only will this help with your home’s aesthetic, but it might also give you something to be proud of, something to keep you entertained, and off of those drug infested street corners.

Don’t forget that a greener mattress is not only a good redecorating decision that will help aid the environment in the long run, it is also an investment in natural, organic comfort.

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eric-SAT-picEric is currently a student and part-time team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

 

 

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Clothing Organic Comfort Renewable Energy

Spring Into Green

Spring is FINALLY here! And so are all of the things that it entails: new life, new beginnings, and cleaning. That’s right, it’s finally time to de-clutter that mess that you call a house and make room for all of the new things that life might throw at you this year. Not all things will be good, and not all things will be bad, but of course you probably figured that as you rummaged through all of your 2013 paraphernalia, looking at the things that collected dust on your shelves as the year stormed by with all of it’s frigidness. However, now its finally time to scrap all of that old stuff and bring in some fresh air, its time to start a new.

The first thing that you must remember when spring cleaning is the age old motto: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Remember to reduce the amount of cleaning products being used because you might be surprised at how much one wipe can take when cleaning off counters and tables. Also, instead of using harmful deodorizers, instead open all of your windows, let the sun and fresh air sweep through your household, put the fan on, and let nature do the deodorizing. Recycle all of the old plastic and newspapers that you never got around to reading, no need to promote landfills when the materials can be used again. Also, don’t forget to purge your closet and give all of your old garments to a local thrift store. Reuse the things in your house that aren’t past their prime yet, this can promote environmental safety while also saving you a buck in the process. Restrain from using harmful chemicals when cleaning your house and remember to blast your jams as loud as they will go, you know, to bring in the good vibes, maaaannnnnn.

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Like a previous post, I’m going to put in the idea that biking or walking to work can be great for your overall fitness, wallet, and ecosystem. Carpooling or public transportation are both great, green options that can help one get to work (remember that with carpooling you can use the HOV lane!) If you’ve tried all of this and none of it works out in your favor, it might be time to trade in your old car for one that is better on gas, which is ultimately the greener choice anyways.

It’s spring time! What better time of year is there to start your fresh herb garden, or garden in general. Sure, there are some seeds that you should have planted back in October that would be blooming now, but don’t dwell on the past. it’s time to plant some of your other favorite plants, be it flowers, trees, grass (bamboo!), vegetables, or fruit. There is no better time to begin than now, when the breeze is cool but the sun is hot. Seize the beautiful day, we’ve gotten so few of them thus far this year. Don’t forget to begin composting if you haven’t already.

Now that you’ve been briefed on some fun ways to begin your spring cleaning go and try them out. Also, remember that there is no better way to clean out your dusty bedroom (with old mattress’ ridden with dust, etc.) than by going organic. CozyPure’s natural latex is dust mite resistant and last for years and years on end, no need to worry about having to replace it because it is musty and certainly no need to replace it because its old anytime soon.

 

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Miscellaneous

Global Warning

I can’t say that I don’t appreciate it – because I do – but the snow that has hit us in Norfolk, Virginia this year has been insane compared to years past. Typically, a winter in Norfolk calls for maybe one to three inches of snow during the long, cold months, but in January of 2014 we got a whopping ten inches! While I’ve enjoyed taking the past week off of school because of it, I also can’t ignore the fact that this is in part due to global climate change. To make matters even more shocking, the temperature can range from seventy degrees (as it was Monday) to thirty degrees (as it was Monday night!) The drastic change in temperature can not be considered a good thing, and many fingers point to pollution as the biggest contributor to this phenomenon.

Animals-and-The-Melting-Arctic-Ice-Cap-2456

Our town of Ocean View was hit with a massive snowstorm (remember, this is massive in terms of people used to getting an inch of snow a year) on Tuesday afternoon, leaving ten inches of snow in its midst. Because of this, three days of school were canceled and half of the city of Norfolk had to be shut down. So far this year, this freezing temperature has been caused by what is known as the polar vortex. This vortex is a jet stream of the cold arctic air that has been shifted from the northern hemisphere and projected southward, which is why most of the U.S. has been experiencing odd climate changes, and perhaps the second coldest winter on record.

Not only is climate change making the warmer states cold but it is also heating some of the cooler regions up! Temperatures are expected to raise by 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050 if greenhouse gases are not slowed down. Glaciers are being melted and snowy alps are becoming less and less snowy. Scientists and others experts measure and predict the sea level to rise by one inch every decade; however, at the rate that we are going now, that prediction will probably soon change to a higher number, considering the rate of global warming. A study found that with every degree in Fahrenheit that rises, sea level is expected to rise 4.2 feet. Cities will soon be underwater because of this, cities such as Miami, New York, New Orleans, Boston, Virginia Beach! Half, if not all, of the East Coast is predicted to become part of the Atlantic Ocean by the end of the century if we do not start looking at the facts. Not to mention the population increase in some of the other states across out nation, and across the world, if these cities do go under and its citizens are forced to move. Not only does this effect the United States, but also cities such as ShangHai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London could cease to exist in eighty years time. Miami, being the most vulnerable of all cities, not only in the U.S., but worldwide, is destined to become a 21st century Atlantis within the next one hundred years.

2013-Flooding-in-Passau-Germany

Yes, the winter is freezing cold at the moment, colder than a lot of previous winters, so shouldn’t that mean that this should be called ‘Global Cooling’? No, because the warming is of the ice caps. As the ice caps in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres melt down it begins to spread out toward the rest of the world, flooding entire cities and regions. Carbon Dioxide, which is emitted into the air via fossil fuels and other various pollutants, is a major cause of climate change, seeing as these gases become trapped in the atmosphere and melts the ice caps, changing the temperature everywhere and causing climates to become unnaturally unstable. Take Ocean View for instance, right now we are all driving around in about five inches of snow and slush, and on Sunday the temperature is expected to rise from the low twenties to the sixties, and in turn melt all of the snow. Who knows, perhaps we’ll be underwater by the end of the week.

Places such as the Alps have been warming at three times the global average. Island nations such as Kiribati have rendered its lands uninhabitable due to climate change. The Great Barrier reef has lost 10 percent of itself within the last twenty years due to the oceans ability to absorb much of the pollutants expelled by human interaction with the environment. Many sea creatures have been affected by this, and many of them are dying. Not only is it global warming killing the waterways, but also other forms of pollution such as plastic bags and jagged glass can seriously injure or even kill an animal not only in the ocean, but anywhere.

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Take the BP oil spill, which killed much wildlife in 2010, and even took the lives of 11 people. Pollution comes in all shapes and sizes, and if we do not act upon it soon, there may not be a world left to live in by the time our grandchildren our born – if our grandchildren are born.

There are safer options out there if you are worried about energy efficiency. Solar and wind power work just as well as, if not better than, nuclear power and other means of electricity. Fossil fuels can be replaced with vegetable oils and electric vehicles. Water can even be used as a source of power. You can even make a difference in your own bedroom by converting to organic bedding products that have not been soaked in petroleum and other harmful chemicals and preservatives. We all have the opportunity to change the world one step at a time, so why not take those steps in order to better the world, and to better ourselves.

 

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Miscellaneous News Coverage Woman-Owned

Green Festival 2013

Though it took place nearly two months ago, I want to take a moment to express our gratitude toward all of the patients who showed up to the Green Festival in Washington, D.C. It is always such a pleasure to meet new and exciting people who truly care for the environment around them because for now it is all that we have left. We must take time to fix the problems that we create in our day-to-day lives and work for the greater good of the Eco-system. We also saw some familiar faces from previous shows and were overwhelmed that these faithful customers continue to choose us for their comfort needs, it is such an honor to know that people all over the country will lie down at the end of the day and rest soundly on their green mattresses. Ralph Nader even showed his face at our booth and laid down for a couple of minutes while we explained the benefits of CozyPure to him.

A major question that we were asked at the trade show, and a question that continues to be prevalent in our daily business is what makes our company different from other mattress companies? For one we are a woman-owned, self sustaining factory. We make our products by hand in our factory – which is also connected to our showroom – and our means of energy are environmentally friendly. We believe that people should be happy with where they are buying their products from and there is no better place to purchase organic bedding than the Organic Comfort Zone.

For one, we will build your mattress for you, unlike many other companies that send the latex pieces for you to put together at your own home. We are happy to make your bed for you, it makes us feel alive. All of our pillows are custom made to your specific needs because not everyone likes a giant pillow or a lite pillow. Noodles upon noodles with cakes of latex iced with wool comforters and truffles of kapok and cotton is what you will find in our factory, not some dingy hole in the alley behind your local drugstore or in the boondocks in the center of Nevada. Don’t believe us? Come feast on the image of us making your mattress for you for yourselves, you won’t be let down.

We also take the time to get to know our customers so that we can recommend what might be best for them to purchase based on their preferences. For firmer support you may want to choose a mattress that has less layers in it because these extra layers may provide a softness that may just bee too soft for some. While others may enjoy the softness that comes with some of our mattress’. In either case, you are welcome at the Organic Comfort Zone, we are happy to meet your specific sleep needs!

Another point I would like to touch on that pertains to the green festival is the support from not only the customers but from the other business’ there. It really seems to come together as a community and we are always ecstatic to come back to our family of humble Eco-friendly companies. Perhaps for those who did not attend the last one you may want to come to our next show. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn more about your planet and ways that you can make it better, because there are always ways that we can correct our living habits for the sake of the environment.

custom-cozy

Green shows seem to be becoming very prevalent in today’s society as environmental awareness is spread and it can be a good learning experience for everyone, even those who are educated in green living. I know firsthand that shows like the one in D.C. can have a huge influence on a persons perspective. After attending the September show I know now how many industries rely on outsourcing and factory work for their production and I also know how harmful it can be to the world around us. These citizens in outsourced countries are working for wages that are too low when they could be making use of themselves by getting educated and learning about the world around it, without it we may have found the next Einstein or Bach.

Environmentally these factories are doing more harm than good. They release toxins into the air and their employees don’t seem to be happy or healthy. If we took a moment to realize the destruction our country is leaving behind versus the ‘good’ that it is actually doing we might actually see ways that we can change for the better. Without outsourcing Americans would have more jobs and opportunities and so would the people in outsourced countries who have no time or education or money.

Being green is more than simply being green. It is a way of life, a way of providing for yourself and for others with nothing other than hard work and elbow grease. Being green is a state of mind and it is the reflection that state of mind shows upon your life. Choose to be green. Choose to be happy.

 

 


eric-SAT-picEric is currently a student and part-time team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Categories
Environment Green Living Miscellaneous

Happy Birthday Agatha!

Happy Birthday Agatha!!!

For those of you who are not familiar with the above mentioned, let me take a second to guide you to the wonder that is: Agatha Hahn.

She was not always big and strong, like many others of her kind she started small and unrecognizable compared to the woman that she has grown to be. She has survived twenty odd years – battling the fierce cold of the winter months and enjoying the stifling humidity of the hot summer months (because here in Hampton Roads there is no in-between) – and has grown to embody what we all wish to be: well-balanced, strong, unchanging, and vibrant. With every gust of wind she sways slightly, and with every drop of sun she reaches toward the sky for a warm embrace. She is content in her solid roots, and she is smiling as the rain washes away her grime and nurtures her elegance.

What is she? You might ask at this point. Well she could be nothing other than…a PLANT! That’s right, Agatha is our familial plant that has overseen our company since the beginning. She has not only taken deep roots in our business family, but she has also been happy to grow with us – in our show room, in our backyard, in the sunshine, in the cold – and through thick and thin she has never left us (how could she?).

Not only has Agatha been there for us since the beginning she embodies everything that we aim for here at the Organic Comfort Zone. She is strong but compliant with the wishes of the wind (as we are with our consumers, if you want Extra fill in your pillow, we’ll hook you right up!), she is also Eco-friendly and a firm advocate of green living (no really, just look at her!). She is a mighty woman who is firmly rooted in the idea of getting down and dirty when the time comes (get it?), and most of all she provides a sense of comfort in an almost enigmatic way – like the grandmother who keeps on fighting.

Once we had left her out in the cold and when we thought she was on the edge of death we took her in and covered her in organic CozyPure blankets and showered her with love and encouragement. With nothing but her browning buds and her wits left, she pulled through and proved to us all that even in our darkest moments if there is a will to fight on there is a way. She also showed us not to mess with her again and claimed her place in the household as a true heroine of fate and standing over six foot four feet tall she has risen to the occasion of providing warmth and comfort more than once.

So happy birthday Agatha and congratulations on making it thus far with us, you are a real trooper and even on our dark days you cheer us up with your vivid leaves of green and branches of gold. You keep our chins up, reminding us that the sun will come out tomorrow – and you should know, because without it you would shrivel up.

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Sincerely,

The OCZ family!

 


eric-SAT-picEric is currently a student and part-time team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

 

Categories
Eco-Tips Environment Green Living

Earth Day Eco-Tips

Happy Earth Day! This is the time to think about what ways we can help keep our planet clean. Here are 100 ways you can be Eco friendly on Earth Day.

  • Set your dishwasher to the energy saving mode and no dry heat modes to save even more.
  • Buy certified carpeting, furniture, and other household goods. FSC, SFI, GreenGuard, GreenSeal and more, all certify products produced with less harmful chemicals and sustainable manufacturing processes.
  • Buy certified organic food or locally grown. Less chemicals, less impact from transportation and delivery, respectively.

certified-organic

  • Buy consumer goods that are produced in a more environmentally sustainable manner and with less packaging.
  • Change the air filters on your heating and cooling system regularly.
  • Check with your local electric utility about purchasing green power. Many consumers have this option now.
  • Check with your state about subsidizing  energy savings and alternative power.
  • Check with your utility about any energy saving incentives it may offer.
  • Choose your fish carefully. Some are better for you than others.
  • Combine car trips. Instead of several smaller trips, make one larger trips and run all your errands at once. Or join forces with a neighbor or two!

errands2

 

  • Create a compost heap and enrich your garden. You can compost most food waste and yard waste.
  • Don’t choose between paper and plastic — shop with reusable bags.
  • Don’t flush your medications down the drain. Follow safe disposal practices.
  • Don’t use antibacterial soaps or other cleaners. They don’t work any  better than regular soap and water and may cause health problems.
  • Don’t use artificial air cleaners or plug-ins. They’ve recently been found to emit harmful chemicals.
  • Donate used items rather than trashing them. Most places will even take worn clothes for rags. Or Freecycle them.

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  • Eat less meat, which causes the most environmental harm than any other type of food production.
  • Eat lower on the food chain. The higher up you go, the greater the environmental impact. That means more grains and produce. Besides, it’s better for you anyway.
  • Filter your shower water. You can purchase a filter that attaches to the head for about $50.
  • Filter your water rather than using bottled. Not only is it cheaper, but you reduce the bottles in circulation.

stop-buying-bottled-water-and-save-2000-for-a-family-of-four

 

  • Fix leaky faucets and toilets.
  • Flat-screen monitors or laptops are far more energy-efficient than CRTs.
  • For business travel, try to combine trips and take direct flights to reduce your impact.
  • Get an energy audit for your home or a green office audit for your work.
  • Get your coffee cup refilled rather than getting a disposable cup each time.
  • Green your cosmetics.
  • Heat your home to 68 degrees F, cool to 72 degrees F. Reduce both at night. For each two degrees, save 6%.
  • House plants can help clear the air. Peace plants and philodendron are particularly well suited to eliminating many common air pollutants.
  • If green power is not available in your area, purchase green tags or RECs to offset.
  • In public bathrooms, install motion sensor faucets and hand towel dispensers.
  • In the office and at home, regularly maintain HVAC systems.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to save up to $100 in energy costs per year.
  • Install a solar-powered attic fan to draw out hot air in the winter.
  • Install aerators on your faucets to use less water.
  • Insulate your attic and basement to save as much as 20% on your heating and cooling costs.
  • Invest in green. There are many good mutual funds and stocks available.
  • Keep insulating shades and curtains on southern facing windows drawn in summer and open in winter.
  • Keep your freezer full for optimal power use.
  • Making smart paper choices has become easier. Use certified or unbleached paper, or both.
  • Never let your car idle. If you’re not driving or stopped at a light, shut the engine.
  • Offices are often over-lit. Reduce overhead lighting by removing overhead bulbs. Replace with task lighting.

task_lighting

 

  • Opt-out of junk mail.
  • Patronize companies that are making efforts to become more environmentally sustainable. From consumer products to services, your dollar can make a difference.
  • Pick a green dry cleaner that doesn’t use perchloroethylene, a known carcinogen. Or better yet, don’t buy clothes that need to be dry cleaned.
  • Plant native plant species, which are better suited to your climate and will require fewer chemicals and water.
  • Plant trees to buffer homes from wind and to help shade air conditioning units and windows that get a lot of sun.

tree shade

 

  • Print double-sided both at home and at work.
  • Recycle everything possible. Glass, metal, plastic, paper, cardboard (don’t forget junk mail!) and more. And participate in special item recycling days, such as for paints or electronics.
  • Recycle those printer cartridges.
  • Recycle your electronics and computer equipment.
  • Reduce consumption. Do you really need that new shirt? Clothing is the top contributor to environmental impacts of consumer product purchases.
  • Reduce your grass exposure. Plant shrubberies and other ground cover to replace this high-demand monoculture.
  • Regular maintenance on your current vehicle can save on gas. Replacing filters and keeping tires properly inflated are particularly important.
  • Replace at least 5 of your most-used bulbs with compact fluorescent.
  • Replace older toilets with newer, low-flow models.
  • Replace traditional exit signs with LED signs.
  • Run a full dishwasher rather than cleaning dishes by hand. Yes, it actually uses less water.
  • Safely dispose of hazardous materials, like batteries, CFLs, and chemicals. Check locally or online for resources.
  • Same goes for other personal care products. Safe use and disposal will help keep them out of our water.
  • Seal cracks using expanding foam and caulk. Look anywhere that pipes or wires come into the house, doors, windows. Experts estimate that if you added up all the cracks in the average home, you would have a 2-foot square hole.
  • Seal leaky heating and cooling ductwork. Use mastic rather that duct tape, which doesn’t offer enough sealing.
  • Select low VOC paint for your next remodeling job. And look for low-emissions products for any sealing work.
  • Shut all lights when leaving a room, saving about 5% on energy bills annually.
  • Shut down your computers and monitors every night.
  • Take 5-minutes showers and skip the bath. Any longer than 5-minutes and you’re wasting water.
  • Try carpooling to work one day a week. If it works for you, add more.
  • Try using a web conference to replace in-person meetings that require air travel whenever possible.
  • Turn off the tap. While brushing, while shaving, while washing dishes.
  • Upgrade appliances and electronics with Energy Star certified equipment. Both at home and at work, including copiers, printers, computers and accessories.
  • Upgrade your heating and cooling equipment. This along with hot water, accounts for 30% of homeowner energy use.
  • Upgrade your water heater. A solar system can meet 2/3 of a household needs. Or go with a tankless model. If neither works for you, go for an EnergyStar version.
  • Use an environmentally responsible bank. Many banks are working to address global warming.
  • Use ceiling fans to cool down rooms in summer and push down hot air in winter.
  • Use cold water for your laundry. Today’s soaps are designed for cold water washing.
  • Use doormats at all doors to keep particulates, dirt, and pollutants out of your home.
  • Use front-loading washers and dryers. Look to replace your old set with these newer models when it’s time.
  • Use green cleaning methods. Vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, Borax, and regular dish soap are all you really need for the majority of your household cleaning. Don’t want to mix it yourself? There are plenty of green alternatives.
  • Use Integrated Pest Management for bugs or vermin. There are companies that specialize in this.
  • Use motion sensor lights in offices and other areas if infrequent occupancy, like office restrooms.
  • Use natural lawn care. And when using any chemicals or fertilizers, carefully follow recommended application rates.
  • Use post-consumer, recycled content products, such as paper, napkins, toilet paper, tissues, and more.
    recycle
  • Use power-saving settings on your computer. Set them to power down after 2-3 minutes of inactivity.
  • Use public transportation whenever possible. Or just try to commit to one day per week in your commute.
  • Use rechargeable and reusable office products, like batteries, pens, storage devices.
  • Use reusable plates, cups and utensils. And no styrofoam. Encourage others to do the same.
  • Use safer alternatives whenever possible. Read labels and learn more about what you’re using. Just because they’re selling it doesn’t guarantee that it’s safe.
  • Use smart plugs to shut off power to appliances and unplug chargers and other stand-alone appliances. The U.S. spends about $4 billion annually on stand-by energy alone.
  • Use the microwave whenever practical. It is far more efficient than the stove or oven.
  • Use timers for indoor and outdoor lights.
  • Vacuum your refrigerator coils, which helps it operate more efficiently.
  • Water your lawn less frequently and more deeply and at night in most areas, to avoid evaporation.
  • Weatherstrip doors and windows.
  • When available purchase organic cotton products. Cotton is one of the most pollution-producing crops in the U.S.
  • When on the go, use a reusable water bottle. Metal, #2HDPE, #4LDPE, or #5PP are safest. Avoid those with phthalates or BPA.
  • When purchasing a new car, look for the most energy efficient model you can. Hybrids are great, but may not work for everyone.
  • Whenever practical, walk or ride your bike. For trips less than 2 miles, it actually takes less time to bike it.
  • Work from home! See if your employer might be willing to allow work at home days for employees.
  • Wrap your hot water pipes with pre-formed, pre-fit insulating tubes.
  • Wrap your water heater with an insulation blanket. About $20 at Lowe’s.
  • Wash your laundry in cold water.  About 90% of the washing machine’s energy goes into heating.
  • And of course sleep green with sustainable renewable organic bedding materials that are better for the plabet and better for you!
    mattress-comforter-sleepwear-ohmy

 

Categories
Eco-Tips Green Living

Eco-friendly New Year’s Resolutions

Happy 2013!  A brand New Year gives you the chance to start over and try new things. As you think of various New Year’s resolutions, take some time and consider a commitment or new project that could help reduce waste. You will benefit and so will the planet!

1. Be creative with your trash:  A good goal for the New Year would be to think of creative ways to reuse the trash that you create. Making this a great alternative than a landfill.

2. Do-It-Yourself: DIY often goes hand-in-hand with reuse, and attempting more DIY projects in 2013 can not only help you cut back on waste because you’re buying less, it can also help you save money. When you find something in a store that’s expensive, it is often possible to make it yourself for less money.

3. Not Sure Something is Recyclable? Pledge to Look it Up: If you find yourself standing next to your recycling bin wondering if whatever you’re holding is recyclable, don’t guess. Make a pledge to always find out the answer. If you always look up the answers, by the end of the year you’ll practically be a recycling expert for your community and you’ll be able to help others figure out what is and isn’t recyclable.

4. Buy products that are not made for planned obsolescence: Purchasing products that are not only made to last you a limited amount of time prevents you from wasting money by buying the same thing repeatedly. Green products of the CozyPure brand are made to last for YEARS.

Choosing any of these Eco-friendly goals for 2013 will help you have money, trash and the planet.

What’s your Eco-friendly New Year’s resolution? Leave comments below.

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Jamar Diggs is a PR Communications and Social Media team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.