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Yesterday, environmentalists (along with most of America) listened with keen interest as our 44th President addressed the nation. President Obama made several comments to stress his resolve to combat climate change. Some highlights from his speech: Obama said, “We will build...

Lunch-breaks are always a nice interruption to your chaotic work-days. Trying to green your midday dining?

Philly is clearly psyched for the NFC championship game this Sunday. Personally, I’ll be watching, wearing my lucky jersey, drinking out of my lucky glass and cheering HARD! Another thing fans should be pleased about is the team’s green efforts. The eagles were the first professional sports organization to launch an environmental initiative. In 2003, the Eagles started the Go Green campaign. Some of the programs highlights to-date include:

Many Americans are gearing up for a trip to DC with the intention or hope to catch president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. From an environmental perspective, January 20th couldn't come sooner. I was appalled after reading a Rolling Stone article regarding Bush's midnight regulations - the majority of these last minute regs (including the hit on the Endangered Species Act) are atrocities to the environment, leaving many to question how big of a mess Obama will need to clean up.

Slow or clogged drain? Drano may seem like a good quick fix but it's full of nasty chemicals like sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is a man-made chemical that can easily burn the skin and throat if contact is made. But is there a safe alternative to drano? Here's a simple home remedy that's a safe alternative to drano and made from ingredients you likely have lying around the house:

The National Audubon Society (with support from Toyota) recently awarded TogetherGreen Fellowships to 40 of the nation's most promising conservationists - one of whom is representing Philadelphia! Keith Russell has been protecting birds and wildlife for over two decades with fellow Philadelphians. Keith started the Philadelphia Mid-Winter Bird Census which includes a reservoir in Fairmount Park - and will soon be the site of a new Audubon Center where locals can learn, enjoy and work our city's nature.

A positive change is in effect for Philadelphia’s recycling program - Philadelphia residents can now recycle every week on the same day as their neighborhood trash collection day. This change is much more convenient for Philly dwellers. Gone are the days of trying to remember what two weeks of the month recycling pick-up falls on. Mayor Nutter’s administration's new policy is an indication that they've held true to their vow to improve Philadelphia’s recycling. Since the introduction of city-wide single-stream recycling last summer, Philly’s recycling rate has gone from about 6 to 10 %. Though we have a long way before being on par with other big city’s recycling programs, progress is being made. Not sure what day is your trash/recycling pick-up is?

After you're finished making 'green' resolutions for yourself, here's another one to consider: Greening your home! Greenable is located in the heart of Olde City and can assist you in your abode's needs - whether you're building a new house or re-vamping an older design. They offer supplies ranging from eco-friendly paint, flooring, insulation, and more. Interested in a more eco-friendly building, but not sure where to start? Greenable provides many services including energy audits, consulting and interior design. Whether your fixing up a home or storefront, Greenable is very knowledgeable with both - their custom orders are a mix of residential and retail.

American’s #1 New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight. Sure, there’s some variations ... Such as "get fit, be healthier, make better food choices and then there are those who get specific - consume less than X number of calories everyday, cut out candy and chocolate, stop eating standing up etc." But the theme is we're resolving to lose weight in '09 (and '08 and '07...) This is the week I notice a shift in those around me in their approach to food and exercise. Co-workers that ran for the holiday treats in December now hold up their bag of carrot sticks and mutter “no thanks” to the leftover seasonal baked goods. My gym parking lot becomes impossible to get a spot in (though why not park two blocks away – it is exercise to walk over) and the battle to get a treadmill is fierce. But no complaining, I commend any efforts to take better care of ourselves. And it’s no mystery why people recommit themselves to these goals year after year. According to an article by Business Week this past August adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980, from 15% to 30%, and two-thirds of U.S. adults are now considered overweight or obese. That’s a pretty scary stat. But there’s a very real connection between getting healthier (read: slimmer!) and living green. As Julie pointed out in 10 Green New Years Resolutions in '09, there's plenty of simple fixes that go a long way. Here are some specific steps you can take to conquer your green and health resolution simultaneously: