Going Green Challenge Blog

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Jul 29, 2010, Dog Days

Here in the Midwest, the hottest days of summer tease us with warm winds, sticky rainstorms and the occasional "cold front" that reduces temperatures to the upper 80's. We often retreat to shade trees or the indoors and enjoy an iced cold beverage of some sort.

This Week's Challenge: Beat the heat with a Reusable Water Bottle that fits your style.

If you haven't replaced the disposable plastic bottles with a reusable version, now is a great time. They are affordable, come in a variety of colors and sizes, and can be bought almost anywhere. Reusable bottles typically hold more fluid and stay cooler longer than the disposable versions. Choose from several styles including aluminum, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic.

Win a Free Dinner for Two at your favorite locally owned restaurant!

Join Gertie & the Challenge on our new Facebook page!

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Jul 21, 2010, On the Line

Summer brings us a chance to use the most energy efficient dryer - the sun. If time or your local ordinance doesn't permit drying garments on a clothes line, don't fret. There are still things you can do to save energy while drying your clothes.

This Week's Challenge: Green Your Drying Routine

Line Dry Indoors
Other than the sun, the most energy efficient dryer is an indoor drying rack. This will help save energy and give your clothes a longer life.

Back to Back Loads
Dry several loads of laundry in a row. The machine will have to warm up only once before it reaches drying temperature.

Clean the Filter
To keep your dryer from working overtime, clean the filter after each use.

Don't Overload
Putting too many items in the dryer lengthens drying times and wastes energy. A standard size load should be dry in 45 minutes or less.

Keep the Vent Clean
Keep the vent on the outside of the house clean. Make sure excess lint and cobwebs aren't blocking air flow.

Use the Permanent Press Cycle
Your clothes continue to be dried the last few minutes, but with cool air only.

We are giving away a Free Dinner for Two at your favorite locally owned restaurant!

Join Gertie & the Challenge on our new Facebook page!

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Jul 15, 2010, Fully Loaded

It's so easy to let the laundry pile up. That's not always a bad thing; a full load of laundry is easier on the machine and uses less resources.

This Week's Challenge: Green Your Washing Routine

Take the Smell Test
Check to see if clothes really need washing. I'm not suggesting you sniff your underoos; wash those. Socks too, always. But that sweater you threw on to grab takeout, it could probably be worn again before it hits the hamper.

Use Cold Water
When possible, wash and rinse in cold water. An estimated 80 percent of energy used in washing machines is to heat the water.

Turn Down the Heat
When you do wash in hot water, it doesn't have to be scorching to get the laundry clean. If you haven't already, check the temperature on the hot water heater. For the most energy efficient hot water heater, turn it down to 120 degrees.

Pre-Soak
For heavily stained clothing, soak in soapy water before adding to the machine.

Switch Detergents
Some detergents produce too many suds and make the machine work overtime. Switch to an eco-friendly laundry detergent or see one of our homemade laundry soap recipes to make your own.

Don't forget to enter to Win a Free Dinner for Two at your favorite locally owned restaurant! Join Gertie & the Challenge on our new Facebook page!

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Jul 6, 2010, Hidden Gems

As we wrap up a long holiday weekend, many of us realize we didn't plan well for the week ahead.

If you haven't hit the grocery and are staring at the back end of an empty pantry, consider extending the holiday splurge and dine out this week.

This Week's Challenge: Eat out at Locally Owned Restaurants

Whether your version of eating out is take-out in front of the TV, or dining upscale at one of the finer restaurants in town, we can all support local businesses and our need for convenience food.

Visit locally owned fast food joints, burger stands or fine dining establishments. Who knows--you may meet some great new people or discover a favorite new dish.

Has it been a while since you dined out in style?

Watch For: Win a Free Dinner for Two at your favorite locally owned restaurant!

For the latest updates, join Gertie & the Challenge on our new Facebook page!

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Jun 30, 2010, Blowin' in the Wind

Wherever you will be this weekend, chances are you will be celebrating the 4th of July in some fashion.

This Week's Challenge: Make the 4th of July a little Greener

Here are 5 ways:

Step Up Your Style
Skip the disposable dishware. Pull out the red checkered tablecloth and pair it with white cloth napkins. Use an all natural homemade recipe to polish up the silverware.

Skip the Decorations
Instead of buying disposable holiday decorations, let your menu serve double duty. Serve strawberries and blueberries with cream, or make a flag cake. Let the kids indulge in red or blue soda pop and serve pomegranate cocktails to the adults. Top your tables with red or white summer flowers.

Go to the Show
Instead of buying your own fireworks, attend your town's firework display.

Travel in Packs
Meet family and friends nearby and travel to the firework show together.

Recycle
If you are hosting a party, set up a recycle station for beer bottles, aluminum cans and plastic water bottles.

Coming Soon: Support the Gulf and win a Free Dinner for Two at your favorite local restaurant!

Join Gertie & the Challenge on our new Facebook page for the latest updates!

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Jun 23, 2010, Local Affairs

Saturday mornings are one of my favorite parts of summer. I sneak out of the house in the wee hours and head to a vacant lot in the heart of downtown. There I meet the other men in my life.

Tom arrives early each week with fresh eggs, promising yolks the color of sunflowers. There's Dale, who brings blueberries plucked straight from the bush and the sweetest corn found in the Midwest. Others visit only once, setting up stands of plump melons and juicy tomatoes that carry with them the smell of summer.

Along with steamy hot days, June graces us with make-shift markets and roadside stands of summer fruits. It's the time each year that we can get back to the basics of simple, yet amazingly delicious homegrown food.

This Week's Challenge: Shop at a local Farmer's Market

According to Local Harvest, only 18 cents of every dollar spent at large supermarkets goes to the grower. The rest is used to pay various middlemen, such as processors and distributors. Local produce is usually sold the day of, or within a few days of picking. This bypasses the use of preservatives to prolong shelf life, eliminates the fuel for cross county transportation, reduces packaging waste, and often avoids the need for refrigeration.

For luscious, locally grown food that's better priced than any super store can offer, head to the market this weekend. See localharvest.org for growers in your area.

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Jun 15, 2010, Down the Drain

The average American uses 175 gallons of water per day. An estimated 95 percent of that water goes straight down the drain.

Most water usage is for flushing toilets and taking morning showers. Some of it is used during daily tasks of dish washing, teeth brushing and shaving.

This Week's Challenge: Turn off the Running Tap

Letting water run while you brush your teeth can easily waste 3-4 gallons of water. That amount doubles if you let the tap run while you rinse dishes.

In case you were wondering which is better for the environment, here's some good news: energy efficient dishwashers save more money, water and energy than the manual route.

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Jun 8, 2010, Who Cares About Ocean Day?

Just last year, the United Nations officially declared June 8th as World Oceans Day. That's today.

REALLY?

With the devastation occurring in the gulf, we thought the morning headlines would be buzzing about World Oceans Day. An official declaration from the U.N. and a catastrophic oil spill must not be enough.

So Who Cares about the Ocean? I do. You do. We all do.

This Week's Challenge: Help Give the Ocean a Voice

Meet Gertie.
Gertie is a green sea turtle living off the shores of Florida. On World Oceans Day, she decided to come to shore in search of new friends to help better her waters.

3 Ways to Help Raise Ocean Awareness:

Make a Friend
Be Gertie's first friends on land by joining her campaign on Facebook.


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Spread the Word
Tell your family and friends about World Oceans Day and celebrate our waters.

Email Gertie
In the subject line, write a few words that describe your love for our waters. Please leave the body of the email empty. Gertie is wise, but not email savvy.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

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Jun 2, 2010, Ocean Contests and Freebies

While we are excited about the long hot days of bubble blowing, water wading and cooling down with an ice cold glass of sun tea, our most picturesque moments of Indiana summers are clouded by images of the darkening Gulf waters.

As we watch the endless stream of oil spewing into the ocean, we are cringing with disbelief, awe and utter devastation. We are worried about our friends, both those on land and in the waters.

We decided to switch things up a bit as we kick off the first month of summer. Because of the catastrophic oil spill and the ongoing pile of plastic pollution in our waters, we are dedicating the month of June to the 70 percent of the planet that needs our attention.

This Weeks Challenge: Put World Oceans Day on the Calendar

World Oceans Day is Tuesday, June 8th. Help make the day matter. Watch your e-mail and the site for ways to honor and celebrate our waters. We'll be hosting Ocean contests and freebies all summer!

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May 25, 2010, School's Out!

As the final 2010 school bell rings, we are all gearing up for commencements, graduation parties and the dog days of summer.

This may be the year your child learned the alphabet, or discovered a gift for math. Maybe it was a year of music recitals, sports, or finally watching your pre-teen pick up a book (and creating a vampire obsession).

Whatever the hallmark of the school year was, think about the resources that helped those moments happen.

This Week's Challenge: Pass it On.

When the kids come home on the final day, sort through the bags of broken crayons, dried-up glue, and torn books. Reuse, recycle and donate what you can.

Pens, pencils, rulers and scissors can be donated to other schools. Crayons and glue containers can be recycled by various organizations. Check our out full list for information.

Recycle paper products like post-it's, file folders, envelopes, notebooks and used textbooks.

Recycle computer monitors, hard drives and printers by donating them to need based organizations.

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