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Electronics, last updated May 21 2008 by Sarah Jane Hurley
Biodiesel, last updated May 19 2008 by Filipe Aves
November 28, 2008
Christmas is a time of indulgence, which can take its toll not only on our wallets and waistlines, but also on our planet. Ben & Jerry’s Climate Change College Ambassador, Cara Augustenborg, gives you the elements you need to keep your Christmas Green – saving money and the environment with festive cheer!
Read our Top Ten Green Christmas Tips
Congratulations to the 85 eco-enthusiasts who pledged to go Green in their homes this year after their visit to the Green DIY Learning House at Dundrum Town Centre on Saturday, September 28!
Here's what these Eco-Warriors plan to do:
Re-Energize - After calculating their carbon footprint, 38% of the Green DIY pledgers promised to do more to conserve energy in their homes. Over a quarter of them plan to do so by turning off lights when they're not in use, while another quarter of them plan to go a step further by installing energy-saving CFL bulbs or super-efficient and stylish LEDs like the ones provided by Willie Duggan Lighting! 21% of these energetic folks plan to turn down their radiators to conserve energy and help combat climate change, while 3 DIY-ers are going the extra mile by putting reflective foil behind their radiators and 4 radiant pledgers are installing Solar Panels and Wood Pellet Eco Stoves. Three styling smarties plan to put on extra jumpers to reduce their heating needs! 16% plan to “Let the Sunshine In!” by opening curtains and blinds during the day and closing them at night to seal in heat. Ten percent promise to switch electronics like televisions and radios off when they're not using them.
Compost - 22% of the Green DIY pledgers plan to start composting their food scraps and yard waste this year. Over 50% of them plan to use a Green Cone, and three adventurous folks plan to adopt some cute worms and compost their food waste using a Wormery.
Re-insulate the attic - 14% of the Green DIY pledgers plan to add more insulation to their attics in order to conserve heat in their homes and help combat climate change! One third of them plan to use Sheep's Wool as a natural way to re-insulate.
Conserve water - 13% of the Green DIY pledgers plan to conserve water in their homes. Over half of them plan to do so by installing a water butt to collect rain water from their downpipes, while the rest plan to focus their water conservation on the bathroom by taking shorter showers and turning off the taps while their brushing their teeth.
Grow Your Own! - 9% of the Green DIY pledgers plan to put their Green Fingers to use by growing their own food at home to reduce their carbon footprint and keep their families healthy! Half of these new gardeners plan to start small by growing herbs, while the other half will expand their Green DIY efforts toward planting vegetables. I can't wait to be invited over to dinner!
Pre-Cycle and Re-Cycle - 9% of the Green DIY pledgers plan to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill by either re-cycling their used paper, plastic and aluminium or, better yet, by PRE-cycling - meaning buying less of these materials in the first place!
Encourage Wildlife - 6% of the Green DIY pledgers plan to encourage wildlife in their gardens to help save Ireland's rich biodiversity. Some plan to do it the simple way by planting appropriate seeds and trees to provide homes and food for wildlife, while a few will go the extra step in providing constructed homes such as bat boxes and ladybug houses and by installing bird feeders to keep our singing friends well fed this winter.
Go Natural - 5% of our Green DIY pledgers plan to live a more natural, chemical free life by purchasing more natural homewares such as Eco-Textiles and switching to natural cleaning products such as lemon, vinegar, and bicarbonate soda or natural pre-made cleaning products like the ones available at Eco-Shop, which everyone agreed smelled so good you could eat them!
Educate - A special thank you to the 2 pledgers who promised to educate their friends and family on the Green DIY Top Ten Tips! Your pledge will go far in helping us combat climate change so thanks for spreading the word on Green DIY!
These Green DIY-ers all won free ice cream and other fun prizes from Ben & Jerry's as a thanks for their commitment to combat climate change! * Now it's your turn to make the promise to go Green this year! - Pledge to help fix climate change and win free Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream!
The People of Barrow, Alaska- New movie from the Arctic Expedition with Ben & Jerry's Climate Change College, last updated May 24 2008 by Administrator
Congratulations to Madeleine McGauley! - She just pledged on behalf of her whole family to try all the Home projects and the green craft ideas, including the CD ornaments! Madeleine's family has already made a chart and put it hanging in their hallway so the kids can write down each electrical item they use and for how long and also if they pulled the plugs as opposed to leaving things on stand-by. The McGauley's are more aware now of saving energy, and the planet! Find similar more energy saving tips in our energy section.
Congratulations to Rebecca Washenfelder! - She just pledged to start using a push-lawn mower to save energy in her garden! Find similar Green DIY tips in our energy and gardening sections.
Congratulations to Erin O'Brien! - She just pledged to make her upcoming kitchen remodel green by incorporating re-used and long lasting materials, including restoration of the original quarry tile floor and salvaged cabinetry! Find out how you can do the same in our kitchen section.
* Now it's your turn to make the promise to go Green this year! - Pledge to help fix climate change and win free Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream!
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