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We are... Going Green! Last week, my alma mater Penn State announced an Energy Conservation Policy to go green and save money this fall by limiting energy use. Penn State's energy consumption is 83% of greenhouse gas emissions at the university - which isn't cheap. PSU's cumulative electric bill has doubled to apprx. $2 million per month since rate caps were lifted earlier this year. To combat a $25 increase per semester for students, Penn State is campaigning to cut energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Guidelines for this plan include staff and students actions including:

Listen up chocolate lovers - Endangered Species Chocolate is where it's at. I tasted this delicious cocoa treat in Southern California recently and was hooked. As a chocolate lover, I felt like I was living under a rock having not heard of it previously. What's even better? Endangered Species is registered with and meets all requirements of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. ) They practice the 3 R's

I'm quite excited to hear some of my favorite bands this weekend during 88.5 WXPN's XPoNential Music Festival. Also, I can rest easy knowing XPN's taking many eco-friendly steps for a low impact festival (especially after all the controversy regarding U2's outlandish Carbon Footprint...) Village Green is coming back to the Festival for its second year, where Delaware Valley environmental leaders can teach concertgoers about sustainable and eco-friendly products and services. Topics such as renewable energy, solar power, green building materials, organic soil, bamboo clothing and socially responsible investing will be discussed. Bringing tykes to the Kids Corner? Interactive demonstrations for kids to learn 'how to keep the earth happy' are an extra incentive to bring your eco-activists to the three-day festival. Village Green Participants '09 include:

Looking for a green wedding cake in Philadelphia? The Night Kitchen Bakery has been a Philadelphia landmark for over 25 years with infamous cakes, "Best of Philly" brownies, sticky buns. To top it off, they recently became a Certified Green Restaurant (like Pita Pit) from the Green Restaurant Association. The GRA is a non-profit organization that helps restaurants become environmentally sustainable. Night Kitchen Bakery has implemented these green steps in the process:

A glimpse into U2’s collective carbon footprint from Helen Roberts of carbonfootprint.com has sparked controversy among environmentalists. This year alone, the world-renowned band’s tour (from 44 shows) is reportedly emitting the equivalent carbon footprint of a return flight to Mars....

Huge confession ... I'm getting trashy.

Nowadays, when you purchase a new cell phone, most companies provide a means to recycle or refurbish your old phone. In case you need further incentive –  The Dave Mathews Band (whose latest CD, Big Whisky and the Groo Grux...

While I'm a huge fan of long distance running, I was more than willing to take a mini-vacay from the sport since my Philadelphia Marathon debut in November. Anyone who's run a marathon can vouch the time commitment and excruciating pain hours after completion. That's why I was fascinated by this video of two Canadians who ran 11,000 miles (aka 1 marathon per DAY) for a year to inspire eco-action: (Video courtesy from their Run for One Planet site) Matt Hill & Stephanie Tait ran across North America (Forrest Gump style) and completed their journey in May, crossing through 25 states and 10 provinces. Congrats Matt & Stephanie!

Hope you enjoy our post today from a guest blogger! If you're vyiing to be eco-conscious in every aspect of your life, try carrying over this habit to tying the knot! There are a myriad of resources to help you make your big day green with small ways to make sure your wedding doesn’t leave a big carbon footprint behind (and save some dough from that escalating bill... ) Here are some ideas: