Articles Written by Beth Funari

Many of us are gearing up for the long holiday weekend away. So it seems like a good time to review how we can put our best green effort forward when away from home, where it's often more challenging to do so. Whether you're hitting the beach, camping or visiting old friends, it's easy to let go of your good green habits when you have a change of scenery. Just like our eating & drinking habits change on vacation, so can our eco-friendly intentions. Here's some things to keep in mind to lessen your carbon footprint this weekend or whenever you're away from home:

Most people are unsure how much energy their household actually uses. Schedule an energy audit to learn more about your energy habits.  Chances are you’ll be motivated to make changes to lessen energy consumption & cut costs. Many utility companies perform energy...

Like many women (and some dudes), I make a decent amount of hair, cosmetic and skincare purchases. I try to choose products that are made from recycled goods or from natural ingredients. It can be difficult to make the ‘green choice’ when staring at seemingly endless options at the store. But if you familiarize yourself with some of the greener cosmetic companies, you’ll find there’s a good array of affordable, environmentally conscious selections out there. Here's the rundown on a few of my favorite eco-friendly cosmetic lines:

Here's your opportunity to bike through the city with no traffic! Bicyclists of all skill levels are welcome to participate in the Commerce Bank Bike Philly ride September 14, 2008.

Over dinner last night, a friend told me that she recently started riding a bike around the city and is really enjoying it. Her new-found love affair with biking caught her off guard because she had always been intimidated by cyclists. Aren't they afraid of getting hit by crazy Philly drivers?!? But her fear has been conquered, "It's like you're in a video game! I can get everywhere in over half the time!" Her experience got me thinking that others who have decided biking as a form of transportation isn't for them may want to reconsider. Here's a few reasons why:

Do you cart snacks like peanuts, pretzels and crackers in zip-lock bags for lunches or on-the-go?  Wash and reuse your baggies – You’ll save money and plastic! Posted by Beth

Paper... yep it's inescapable ... we use it constantly to communicate and to maintain records. It's used in packaging materials, cleaning products, even occasionally as a food ingredient. It's certainly a necessary resource. But do we have to use so darn much? Some people save practically everything in paper form. Now, I'm not talking about the sentimental stuff like old concert ticket stubs or birthday cards. I'm referring to those of us who keep piles of memo’s from '05 that they still haven't gotten around to reading , their dry cleaning bills for the past decade, Us Weekly's from the Jen Aniston and Brad era... some people may call these folks hoarders, I call 'em paper junkies.

Red meat production causes more environmental harm than any other food. Why? One reason is animals are often fed unnatural food … then create large quantities of waste which run into bodies of water, leading to contamination of fish & other aquatic life. Mix...

Sunday September 7th marks Philadelphia’s annual Green Fest. Check out more details here: http://www.greenfestphilly.org/ Posted by Beth