Articles Written by Julie Hancher

It's holiday and party season! Entertaining guests can get hectic when everyone has cups, cans and glasses. Here's a couple of ideas to reduce water & waste when entertaining & imbibing:

Baby, it’s getting cold outside… Another way to green your home & keep your energy bills low is to purchase a programmable thermostat. You can buy one for as low as $25-$75 to easily lower & raise your house’s temperature...

As those who know me can vouch, I'm pretty budget-savvy. I balance the saves with spending money when it counts (which for me normally equals vacation, friends & an occasional shopping spree.) I compete in coupon-clipping contests with my retired Dad and love the Groupon Deals or PhillyHalfOff promotions that arrive in my inbox. Yet, this Thanksgiving, I offered to buy the turkey. A free-range, local, organic turkey from Koch Farms that will set me back approximately … $50. I (briefly) debated canceling my offer to buy the bird (Read more, after the jump!)

Do you plan ahead by defrosting food on the counter or use a microwave 5 minutes before dinnertime? (OR if you have to defrost some turkey, tofurkey, or meat/etc this Thanksgiving...) Try planning ahead & defrosting frozen foods in the refrigerator instead... You'll lower the fridge's temperature, saving you energy (and money!)

Apparently, the Eagles are leaving no stone un-turned. After a kick-ass performance by Vick & 59-28 victory on Monday night and as we reported yesterday, PETA naming the Linc as #1 most vegetarian-friendly NFL stadium, the Eagles announced their plans to becoming the greenest stadium in the World. Talk about a few week's accomplishments. By next opening day next September, the Linc will have 2500 solar panels on the roof & facade, 100 spiral sharped wind turbines and a cogenerational power plant to run biodiesel or natural gas to fully power any game, lights, sound & crowd roars. Over the next 2 decades, the Eagles can save $60 million in energy costs. The Linc can compete for the (read more, after the jump)

Exciting update: 2 of our favorite green stores have opened 2nd locations! Big Green Earth Store opened downtown on November 1st at the Shops at Liberty Place between Godiva Chocolatier and ALDO, accessible through 17th OR Market St entrances. Starting Dec 1st, they'll have holiday hours - 9 AM - 9 PM at South Street & 9:30 AM - 8 PM @ Our Shops at Liberty Place through December 24th. Arcadia Boutique expanded to a 2nd Rittenhouse Boutique at 265 S. 20th St, right by 20th & Spruce. Their Grand Opening Reception is this Fri, November 19th from 5-9 PM, complete with cocktails, snacks & sales!

Citizens Bank Park has topped PETA's Most Vegetarian Friendly MLB Stadium in 2009 & 2010, even calling CBP an "undisputed dynasty" in the rankings. Now, Philadelphia Eagle's own Lincoln Financial Field has been named PETA's #1 Vegetarian-Friendly NFL Stadium. According to the PETA article, "Flying high at number one is the Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field, where protein-packed mock-steak sandwiches, faux-chicken sandwiches, veggie dogs, and veggie burgers are coming off the grill faster than DeSean Jackson in the open field". Opening in August 2003 & seating 68,532, the Linc has quadrupled their number of concession areas compared to the Eagles' former home of Veteran's Stadium. PETA released the news last week, but there is one very ironical part of this: Michael Vick's current position as dominating QB for the Eagles. 47 Pit Bulls were seized from Bad Newz Kennels in 2007, leading to Vick's prison sentence. The LA Times

We all have those old towels and blankets and towels that are too old for Goodwill or Salvation Army. Instead of throwing these out, donate them to a local animal shelter or humane society. PAWS is located right at 2nd & Arch (and loves fleece blankets since they dry quicker!) or 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue & PSPCA are great local candidates to contact! What a better idea for those rapidly approaching holidays for pups & cats?

"Solar Energy is way too expensive, can't work in cloudy places, unreliable, and ugly. Only people like Al Gore & millionaires can put it in their houses." Sorry guys, these statements are all wrong! Going solar is great for your home, pocket AND the environment. But where do you even start? Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc. is a leading national installer of solar electric and solar hot water systems. Located in Philadelphia, OR, CT & MA, Sunlight has stepped up to the plate to dispel rumors of solar energy through an ongoing educational campaign. The overall success of Sunlight Solar points to their reputation as a reliable source and easy approach of all things solar. Paul Israel, President of Sunlight Solar, attributes the company mission to "educate consumers and empower them to make informed purchasing decisions." Homeowners & businesses have plenty of factors to consider when going solar, (just learn what, after the jump!)