If you are looking to install outside lighting to decorate your garden but you also want to do your bit for the environment, think about buying solar string lights. These lights don’t need to be plugged in anywhere and they don’t send your electricity bill sky high like a ballroom chandelier. They use a solar panel attached via a discrete wire and rechargeable batteries to store power from the sun during the day, which is then used to illuminate your garden after dark.

Although the sun may be in short supply some days, these lights do not use much energy and so daylight is usually enough to power the lights for a few hours in the evening.

Of course, the most green way to behave is not to buy anything unnecessary at all, but if we are to enjoy our lives and homes, then some compromises have to be made and solar lighting seems to be a particularly harmless one for the level of pleasure it will give all who view your garden. Not only do you get the beauty of the lights, while you are out in your garden on a summer night, you will also be able to see more of your garden and get pleasure from it on a cold night in winter. A string of lights will enhance the view from your home, and perhaps even its value should you sell. There is nothing like light for making everything look better from dull walls and fences to dark imposing trees and they will add a festive touch to every evening party and celebration you hold in your garden.

Solar string lights need not be expensive as you can get many sets with a 50 or 100 bulbs for twenty or thirty dollars. There are few other items you could get for your garden (or home for that matter), which would have so much impact and give you so much pleasure for so little. Look for the best deals on the web or you can seek out lights at your local garden or discount store.

Installation is simple too. Place the solar panel facing the sun and then arrange the string of lights. How easy is that to make such a difference to your garden?

With the focus today being ever more on keeping the world in a good condition for our children and grandchildren you might want to think about environmental factors before you purchase a new kennel for your dog.

Start by using a dog kennel guide to help you to decide which type of kennel would best suit your needs and then weigh up the environmental cost of buying that type of kennel.  Kennels are usually made of one of three materials, which will concentrate on here.

Wood

The production of timber, as long as it’s from a sustainable source, has a relatively low environmental impact.  Chopping down trees and producing wooden planks produces relatively low carbon emissions into the atmosphere and the growth of the trees in the first place will have helped to reduce the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.  It is also often possible to recycle the wood once it is no longer being used to make a dog home or else it will biodegrade nicely over time.  You can build yourself a large dog kennel from wood and not worry overly about the impact that you will be having on the earth.

Plastic

Plastic kennels may look pretty in all their different colours but environmentally they are a disaster.  The initial production of the plastic itself involves the use of toxic chemicals which pollute the air and then infiltrate the waterways.  They are known to cause a range of illnesses, including cancer, if exposed to them.  Once the kennel is no longer needed it will just end up in a landfill site for ever as plastic doesn’t biodegrade.  Burning of plastic would just put those toxic chemicals back into the atmosphere again so don’t be swayed by the fact that many local councils say that they re-cycle plastic, it will always end up as waste.  You will need to weigh up carefully the benefits of a lightweight and easy to clean kennel with its impact on the environment.

Metal

The extraction and smelting of metal uses a lot of oil, which is a dwindling resource, and the by products of these processes are the emissions of carbon monoxide and other gases into the atmosphere.  However, once the metal has been produced and used, it is easy to recycle again and again.  In fact it is thought that up to 50% of metal used today has been already used before.  A metal kennel or run is not the end of the world environmentally speaking.

In the consumer driven economy, almost everyone has access to some kind of electronic device. This includes items such as television sets and computers for example. However, when these products no longer work or need to be disposed of, some may often be retired at the local landfills. The problem with this is that these items can remit toxins into the environment over time and facilities are lacking room. As a solution to this ongoing problem, many have turned to the electronics recycling industry in an effort to reduce waste and be more responsible.

Cost Concerns

One of the prime reasons that some consumers may not properly dispose of this equipment is because they believe that it may be costly to do so. Although in previous years electronic recycling could be somewhat expensive, times have significantly changed. As a matter of fact, it may actually cost a lot more to take these unused or broken items to a landfill. To promote recycling and find ways to manage such wastes, these facilities are beginning to charge considerable amounts of money to accept these items. Recycling centers for televisions and computers have not only become affordable, but some retailers will even take these items at no cost.

Why Participate in Recycling Efforts?

In addition to doing something that contributes to the well being of the environment, this old equipment can be utilized in various ways. Some of the components of the equipment may be used to make other common products, reducing the need for other resources. The consumer may also be able to save money. When donating old or useless equipment to some participating retailers, they may receive incentives in the form of a store credit or discount on certain items. However, this may not be offered by all companies and requirements will often vary.

The holidays is fast approaching and I am sure you are just as busy as I am. As the mom to 3 and (just turned!) 5 year old boys, it is going to be a BIG Christmas for us. When it’s over (ok – 15 minutes after the little maniacs guys start opening presents) the whole house is going to be loaded with boxes, excess packaging and wrapping paper. Of course we will recycle, but it is still disturbing to see how much unnecessary packaging manufacturers use today.

Thinking about this got me thinking about ways that I could green up my holidays! Now, I have to be honest. While I would like to be noble enough to forgo the shake and go extreme race track for my boys on the grounds that it just isn’t environmentally friendly, that just isn’t going to happen. Still, there are other ways that I can think about the planet and still enjoy the holidays.

On that note, here is the best of how to green your holidays from around the blogoshpere!

Crossroads’s Blog | Top Five Ways to Green Your Holiday Shopping

Here are my five best tips for making your holiday gift-giving a little greener, both in terms of the environment, and that extra cash you’ll still have in your wallet. 1. Buy Time I love to give the gift of time spent together. …

5 Easy Tips to Green Your Holidays | Inhabitat

LED Lights: Dreamin’ of a Green Christmas. The holidays are just around the bend! For all you holiday planners with decorating on the brain, make sure to light up your holiday nights …

Publish Date: 12/14/2009 16:00

http://www.inhabitat.com/

How to “Green” Your Holiday List with TLC | The Land Conservancy of BC

Bill Turner, Executive Director, Wendy Innes, Manager of Member Care, and Alison Spriggs, Campaign and Projects Development Officer attended the interview to talk about all the different ways you can “green” your holiday shopping list …

Publish Date: 12/17/2009 18:02

http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/

Tips to green your holiday – 14 News, The Tri-State’s News and …

14 News, The Tri-State’s News and Weather Leader-Tips to green your holiday. Member Center: Create Account|; Log In; Manage Account|; Log Out. SITE SEARCH WEB SEARCH BY Google. HOME · Ask the Expert · Legal Minute · Medical Minute …

Publish Date: 12/11/2009 11:01

http://www.14wfie.com/global/category.asp?c=24190

Five Ways To Green Your Holiday Season – ParentDish

Don’t throw that cereal box away — it could become next year’s coolest Christmas card. Credit: WordRidden, Flickr When you look at the facts, our.

Publish Date: 12/11/2009 13:30

http://health.parentdish.com/

Green Your Holiday Season with the 3 R’S…Recycle, Reuse and Reduce …

The holiday season is the perfect time to be eco- friendly and to have a Green Christmas. Try to eliminate the huge piles of Christmas trash that have to be picked up and dumped the week following Christmas, by planning ahead to recycle …

Publish Date: 12/09/2009 16:13

http://www.greenenergyglobe.com/

5 Tips to Green Your Holidays : Lifestyle :: American Express OPEN …

While the holiday season is typically a time of consumerism and excess, one needn’t sacrifice eco-conscious ideals to have a merry holiday. Wi.

Publish Date: 12/01/2009 12:34

http://www.openforum.com/

Avital Binshtock: How To Green Your Holiday Meal

Working up a menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or another upcoming holiday? Here are three tips to help you be more environmentally responsible while planning that feast.

Publish Date: 11/26/2009 6:32

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/green-living

How to Green your Christmas: LED holiday lights

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