Go Green

How to GO GREEN!

Wildlife gardening

If all our gardens were put together they would make a massive nature reserve, perhaps the most important in the country. Neatly manicured gardens are not the best for wildlife though and with a bit of thought they can be turned into sanctuaries for birds, mammals and invertebrates and lots of other native species.

The key to a good wildlife garden is food, water and shelter - for that is what nearly every living creature needs to survive.


Food: This can mean a whole lot more than putting out a bag of peanuts for the birds, but it's a start. Consider insects that feed on pollen and nectar, animals that eat slugs and worms and birds that feed on berries and fruit in the autumn. You may want to plant a buddleia to attract butterflies or a cotoneaster whose berries are very popular with thrushes.

Water: Birds love a good birdbath, and it will be much better for them if it is filled with rainwater from a water butt rather than chlorinated tap water. Even better - if you have the space - is to dig a pond. Ponds are an important habitat that have been lost from the British countryside and nothing beats waking up in March to finding frogspawn

Shelter: Animals need shelter to sleep in, to breed in and to hibernate in. Bird boxes and bat boxes will be welcome even in the smallest town garden and you can even get boxes for insects now including bumble bees and the gardeners friends - lacewings and ladybirds - they love gorging on aphids! A compost heap provides excellent shelter for frogs, toads and even hedgehogs. Wood piles and rock piles are perfect hiding places for a variety of invertebrates.

Avoid using chemicals in your garden and it will be a wildlife haven in no time. You can guarantee that next spring when it comes the Big Garden Birdwatch you'll have plenty to make note of. in your own garden pond. If you're lucky you may even be visited by a heron.

10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? We in India Web Wide, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work.

1. Save energy to save money.

   
   Armistead Booker/flickr
   • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
   • Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
   • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
   • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.

 

2. Save water to save money.

   • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
   • Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
   • Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
   • Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

    

3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).

   
   richardmasoner/flickr
   • Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
   • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
   • Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

    

4. Eat smart.

   • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
   • Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
   • Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
   • Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

    

5. Skip the bottled water.

   • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
   • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
   • Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

    

6. Think before you buy.

   
   Michael Reinhart/flickr
   • Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
   • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
   • When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
   • Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

    

7. Borrow instead of buying.

   • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
   • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

    

8. Buy smart.

   • Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
   • Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
   • Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

    

9. Keep electronics out of the trash.

   
   Gaetan Lee/flickr
   • Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
   • Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
   • Recycle your cell phone.
   • Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

    

10. Make your own cleaning supplies.

    • The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
    • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

 Source: www.worldwatch.org