The Go Green Report: Recent Episodes

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The Go Green Report, Episode 9, Getting Ready for Earth Day Earth day is coming up on April 22nd and it is the perfect opportunity to challenge all of us to step up our green living game. Thanks to many of the bloggers out there who are committed to reporting on the latest developments in green living, […]

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The Go Green Report, Episode 8

The winter months are upon us, and with them they bring the joys—and stresses—of the holiday season. Analysts are expecting that over $620 billion will be spent on gifts in the coming month throughout the United States. Last year, each American spent an average of $781 on Christmas gifts, and that number is expected to increase. This is a staggering amount, especially considering that $60 billon worth of Christmas gifts were returned last year. So, not only are families spending huge amounts of money on gifts, but almost 10% of those gifts aren’t even wanted. As the holidays quickly approach, it may be time to consider how we can use this season of consumer-overload to help make the world, and our personal space, a better place. Piling our home with unnecessary items never brings the satisfaction that we hope it will. That’s why we at the Go Green Report we put together this list of alternative gift ideas to help make your holiday season more meaningful. With the amount of money that Americans spend during the Holidays, wouldn’t it be better if some of those funds went to people throughout the world that really need it? Our first suggestion is to think of creative ways to try and give to underserved populations. There are many organizations out there that serve the underprivileged, and we should all consider leading by example by asking our loved ones to support these efforts on our behalf. The Hope Effect is an organization that is seeking to change orphan care around the world. Their Homes for the Holidays Initiative offers an opportunity to raise support through a personalized fundraising page that you can share with your friends and family. With 100% of their donations being used directly for orphan care, everyone will feel good about the contribution that they make. You can also make charitable donations in your loved one’s name as a gift to them.  Whether it’s sheltering animals, educating children, providing sustainable living for refugees, serving the homeless or taking care of the environment, find something you know your loved one is passionate about. Your support of an organization on their behalf is a thoughtful and meaningful way of showing you care. There are numerous companies that sell beautiful items handmade by refugees or other underprivileged populations. These artisanal items are not only wonderful gifts, but also help provide an income to struggling families. Some of these include Sseko Designs, Refugee Beads, and Dsenyo. In addition to charitable gifts, you could consider encouraging your loved one’s talents or interests by gifting them an experience. Buying them tickets to a concert or museum, or signing them up for guitar, tennis, or foreign language lessons for example, is a great way to support your friends and family’s talents and interests in a way they will remember for years to come. Using your own time and talents is a great way to give back to loved ones this holiday season as well. Gifting baked goods, chronicling family history, putting together a photo album, organizing the basement or garage, or simply offering to do a set number of household chores are ways to tell them you love them. As we enter this season, let’s choose to be conscious of the money that we spend and the clutter that we generate. We hope you will join us in taking a step back and finding creative ways to make our friends and families feel special without weighing them down with more things they don’t need. Happy Holidays from the Go Green Report. Thanks for joining us on The Go Green Report. This episode was brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product that can save you toilet paper and paper towels with every pull.

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Episode 7, September 8, 2015 This is episode 7 of the Go Green Report. The Go Green Report is here to help you take small steps towards living green. This episode is brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product that helps you save toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. To find out […]

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Episode 5, January 19, 2015

This is Episode 5 of the Go Green Report for January 19, 2015. The Go Green Report is here to help you take small steps towards living green. This episode is brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product that helps you save toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. To find out more, visit controlnroll.com

A statement was recently issued by Catholic bishops from around the world asking the world’s governments to take steps to end dependence on fossil fuels. They stated that the effects of global climate change are dangerous for the earth’s poor and underprivileged and hope to protect those communities whose livelihood and wellbeing are endangered due to worldwide climate change. This statement came on the heels of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference in which delegates discussed avenues toward a new goal of the complete divestment of fossil fuels by 2050.

Fossil fuels are the decomposed remains of prehistoric organisms that have become pressurized and combustible and include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. They are nonrenewable, but are cheaper than alternative fuel sources, and therefore more commonly used. They have been combated, however, due to their dangerous implications for our environment. According to softschools.com, when fossil fuels are burned, they release unhealthy toxins into the air we breathe.

The global impact of our dependence on fossil fuels is grave. The toxins that they emit are credited in part with the worldwide climate change of recent history. The subsequent rise of temperatures and sea levels threaten the livelihood of many of the earth’s citizens. One major culprit of fossil fuel consumption is our transportation habits. Transportation accounts for roughly 28% of our overall oil consumption. Conventional, internal combustion engine cars—which only use gasoline—are responsible for a large portion of this.

However, alternative fueled vehicles such as electric and hybrid cars offer an much needed solution. Cheerfully, their appeal has led to an increase in manufacturing and marketing, as electric car sales rose 228.8% in 2013, according to evobsession.com While purchasing an electric car may not be what’s right for your family right now, there are many ways to have a positive impact on the process of fossil fuel divestment. Public transportation is a great avenue to help cut down on carbon emissions in your area. Google maps has a feature that can help you find the necessary routes to take in your daily commute.

There are also incentive programs throughout the U.S. that provide monetary compensation for consistent use of public transportation. One example is Georgia’s $3 a Day program, with which individuals from certain counties can earn up to $100 by modifying their commute to include public transportation. Check to see if similar benefits exist in your state.

Also, fiscal incentives offered by employers for carpooling and using public transportation are not taxable in the United States, according to the IRS. These benefits may be available at your workplace.

Additionally, gofossilfree.org is a resource to connect individuals that are committed to the divestment of fossil fuels. Visit their site to learn about the efforts that are being made in your area, as well as to sign the regional petitions that have been started.

We all carry the responsibility of protecting the environment and leaving our children a planet that is livable. Let’s join together to make it happen.

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Episode 4, December 10, 2014 This is Episode 4 of The Go Green Report for December 10, 2014. This episode is brought to you by Control-n-Roll. A Household product that helps you save toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. To find out more visit controlnroll.com A new trailer has hit the internet for […]

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Episode 3, November 10, 2014

This is Episode 3 of The Go Green Report for November 10, 2014. This episode is brought to you by Control-n-Roll—a household product that helps you save toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. To find out more visit ControlnRoll.com.

In the most recent election cycle, several states proposed ballot measures that would impose mandatory labeling to inform consumers as to when Genetically Modified Organisms, or “GMOs” are used in the production of food. Advocates of these political measures claim that consumers have a right to know when these ingredients are used in the processing of their food. Those that oppose these measures claim that not only are the particular GMOs that are being used safe, but that labeling the products will cause an unnecessary financial strain on the food production industry.

GMOs have been the object of controversy since their inception in the 1980’s. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine claims that there are many health risks that result from the use of certain GMOs, citing animal studies that indicate some serious health concerns including infertility, accelerated aging, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen, and gastrointestinal system.”

Such studies, however, have not been enough to convince lawmakers to universally mandate the labeling of GMOs here in the United States.

As the political battle rages on, many victories against artificial ingredients in our food supplies have been won thus far. 64 different nations worldwide have already begun to require the labeling of genetically engineered food, including Australia, Brazil, China, Russia, and members of the European Union. Here in the US, the state of Vermont passed our nation’s first statewide labeling law for genetically engineered food on May 8 of this year. The food labeling movement is gaining steam as this election cycle saw Oregon and Colorado joining the fight with ballot initiatives for GMO labeling.

Inhabitat.com recently published a report that new biotechnologies are beating out GMOs in the food production process. These technologies attempt to replace artificial GM-based processing with organic ingredients and processes in a cost-effective manner.

Regardless of your beliefs on the safety of GMOs, preservatives, and other artificial food additives, we all share a right to know what is in the food that we and our families are eating. Luckily, there are numerous tools available to help you, the consumer, know just what your food is made of.

Treehugger.com recently endorsed a smartphone app called Food Scores that allows the user to see the ingredients of most mass-produced food options.

Also, there are many campaigns to try and impose mandatory GMO-labelling measures in the United States. If you want to contribute to these efforts, The Center for Food Safety is currently seeking signatures on a petition to bring about mandatory labeling, which you can find at centerforfoodsafety.org/take-action. You can also find the different bills that are currently under review by state there.

We encourage you to contact your senators and congressmen and apply pressure to vote in favor of these food-labeling measures that are up for review. Regardless of your standing on GMOs, it is the consumer’s right to know what they are eating.

This episode was brought to you by Control-n-Roll.

Thanks for joining us on The Go Green Report, helping you take small steps towards living green. And every small step makes a big difference.

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Episode 2, October 6, 2014

This is episode 2 of the Go Green Report for October 6, 2014. The Go Green Report is here to help you take small steps towards living green. This podcast is brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product that helps you save toilet paper and paper towels with every pull. To find out more about this simple way to conserve resources and save money, visit controlnroll.com

According to the LA Times, a new law has gone in effect in the state of California which mandates that motorists leave a 3-foot buffer for cyclists that they pass while driving. This landmark decision that has gone into effect after nearly 5,000 cyclists were reported killed or injured in traffic accidents in L.A. County alone in 2012, according to the California Highway Patrol.

This new law is an encouraging advancement for California’s bike commuters, a demographic which has been growing dramatically over the last decade. According to the League of American Bicyclists, the number of regular bicycle commuters in the United States increased by 80% from the year 2000 to 2011.

This is considered a positive trend as switching from car commuting to bike commuting has been outlined in a recent study by the University of East Anglia as a source of improvement for the individual’s overall well-being. Aside from the obvious physical benefits of biking, the study shows that bike commuters are better off psychologically and, overall, are happier.

But, biking is not only better for the individual, but for the community and the environment as well. Eric Jaffe of citylab.com recently wrote that travel times in New York City have been reduced as a result of the incorporation of bicycle lanes along many of the city’s streets.

The environmental benefits are also hard to ignore. According to youcanbikethere.org, a small car that gets 35 miles per gallon will emit .7 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere during the course of one year. Commuting on your bicycle can prevent these emissions altogether, as well as save you gas money and other automobile maintenance-related costs.

Despite the obvious advantages of biking, many are still opposed to the recent progress that bike advocates have pursued. MTLblog.com recently published a story about how bus drivers in Montreal have generated a petition to outlaw cycling on city streets during rush hour. Citing bus passenger and cyclist safety alike, the petition has already received hundreds of signatures.

We should all consider the way that our lives might be improved by adding a bicycle to our commuting options. If you’re looking to get your feet wet, National Bike to Work Day will be on May 15, 2015, according to bikeleague.org.

But, you don’t have to wait until May to start biking. Finding a group of fellow cyclists is a great way to get started. Meetup.com offers a service to connect with other bikers in your area. Additionally, in many major US cities, an event called “Critical Mass” takes place on the last Friday of every month. Participation is free and designed to encourage cycling and bike safety. Look to see if this is an option in your city.

All of the links mentioned in this episode can be found on our website. This episode was brought to you by Control and Roll, a household product helping you conserve toilet paper and paper towels with every pull.

Thanks for joining us on the Go Green Report, helping you take small steps towards living green, and every small step makes a big difference.

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Episode 1, September 19, 2014

The Go Green Report is here to help you take small steps towards living green. This podcast is brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product that helps stop wasted paper with every pull. To find out more about this simple way to conserve resources and save money, visit controlnroll.com.

Dr. Doug Inkley of the National Wildlife Federation released a study this week showing that extreme weather variation over this summer has enabled certain species of problematic insects, such as mosquitoes, deer ticks, and fire ants to survive in greater numbers. The greater levels of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere are also allowing poison ivy to grow stronger and more toxic. It’s a troublesome trend that can make your summer experience more painful and, potentially, more dangerous.

Global climate change is still a hot issue among Americans. Michael Graham Richard of Treehugger.com wrote recently that despite the “polar vortex” that was experienced by several areas of North America this summer, 2014 still stands to be the 3rd hottest year on record, globally. Richard states that the impact of these rising temperatures can be seen in the extreme drought that Californians are experiencing this summer, as well as the early emergence of Hurricane Arthur on the East Coast, and the ever-shrinking arctic ice shelf.

Despite all the evidence supporting these effects, some lawmakers are still lagging behind in their policy making. Thinkprogress.org recently reported a meeting between Florida Governor Rick Scott and some of the foremost scientific experts on climate change, in which its impacts and potential threats were explained in detail to the governor, in an attempt to enable him to make educated and well-informed political decisions. Unfortunately, the consensus was that the governor was not particularly interested in becoming climate literate. Many politicians believe that climate change is either based on faulty science, or not a pressing-enough issue for the government to take action on.

While this may be the attitude amongst certain government agencies, there is still a lot that you can do to help slow the effects of global climate change. We'l provide links to all of these resources on our website. The first step is writing your government representatives and imploring them to take the issue seriously. opencongress.org allows you to look up the contact information for your senators and congressmen and women. Along with the link to their website, we have a sample letter you can use on our website.

The next step is to learn about practical ways to help conserve energy in your home. Our friends at WeHateToWaste.com have some great tips on how to do that, like using cold water in your washing machine instead of hot. Check out their website for more. Less energy usage means a lower demand for climate-altering energy generation practices. Also, you can calculate and track your household’s carbon footprint on the EPA’s website, to give yourself a good idea of what areas you can work on.

Thanks for joining us on the Go Green Report, helping you take small steps towards living green, and every small step makes a big difference. This episode was brought to you by Control-n-Roll, a household product that helps stop wasted paper with every pull.

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