In the last few years particularly, I have found myself easily spending €50 to €70 per week on my daily lunch. If you eat your lunch out every day, you might not realise just how much it is costing you. A soup, sandwich and a drink doesn’t give much change from €10! I very much doubt I would spend that same amount if I pepared these lunches at home!

If you take this saving and calculate what you could put away over a 5 year period, it equates to quite a tidy sum!! Perhaps the Take your Lunch to Work campaign can take over from the heady days of SSIA schemes!!

I admit, taking your homemade lunch takes a little bit more organisation, but once you get in to the habit of it, it′s both financially rewarding and generally much tastier and satisfying!! My first tip is to invest in some good reusable containers and perhaps a flask if you fancy a hot drink – this also makes sure you′re cutting down on waste – so it′s a double whammy!!!

I already hear some of you groan at the memory of the soggy tomato sanger at the school lunch break!! But fear not, there is so much more choice there now!! Fill you lunch box with some fresh cut bread and a slice of parma and brie, and you have an epicurean feast to compare with the best deli in town!! I personally love to make a bowl of pasta twirls every few days, keep them in the fridge and use them to make a different pasta salad each day (you can′t beat tuna, sweetcorn & a good dollop of low fat mayo!).

Also don′t forget leftovers, this is definitely the easiest way to organise your take to work lunch. This is the easiest way to make your lunch: just make extra dinner the night before. Nearly every office has a microwave oven and you will be happy to have a bowl of last night’s beef stew, which will probably taste even better than it did right from the oven. Other leftovers don’t even need to be re-heated, such as poached salmon or a piece of cold chicken. By planning ahead you can steam some extra broccoli, saute an extra chicken breast, add another sweet potato to the oven, or boil some eggs while dinner is on the stove.

Two other suggestions that I think important, if you want this to work for you – firstly, just because you bring your own lunch doesn’t mean you shouldn’t really enjoy what you’re eating. Prepare and eat meals that you will look forward to eating and you won’t feel hard-done by nor be tempted to toss your homemade food in exchange for a slice of pizza.

Finally, even if you don’t have to leave the office to buy your lunch, give yourself a break. Take your lunch, and a friend, with you to a park bench, or do a quick visit to a nearby museum, browse in a bookstore, or just walk around the town. We need our lunch breaks not only to refuel our bodies but also our minds! So come on, join me Save money, Eat Better and Get Greener!!!

No, GreenMe are not advocating a slovenly lifestyle, just encouraging you to take it outside!! Cancelling your gym membership will not only save you money, it will also lower your carbon footprint!!

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Caulk it

This winter I have found that my house seems to be leaking. By that I mean that I have noticed little drafts in certain rooms that I never noticed before.  Small spaces and gaps around windows and pipes and wires entering the home create create energy wasting drafts that can cut the efficiency of your heating system. Most caulking products are cheap costing under €10. It’s a no brainer for a cosier home and your saving on your home heating bill too!

Hypermiling is the newest craze to take American drivers by storm. And now we’re getting in on the act too.  Hypermiling is a method of increasing your car’s mileage by making skillful changes to the way you drive.  In turn you save fuel and the environment at the same time.  Let’s face it the money saving aspect alone makes it worth giving a try!

So what do you need to do?  Well the following is an excerpt from a great article on Hypermiling.

• Keep your foot off the accelerator except when absolutely necessary. When you come to a stop, coast a little before you stop.

• Drive at the speed limit or slightly below. I go 10 miles an hour below the posted speed limit many times, but I must warn you: this causes hypertension in many other non-hypermilers  who are likely to hyperventilate and run your hypermiling off the road.

• Use the cruise control whenever possible. This will not only save fuel, but it may also save you some pesky penalty points and the court fine!

• Coast and drive without brakes as much as possible (“dwb” in hypermiling lingo) I don’t mean rear-end someone who has their brake lights on.  But accelerating from zero to 20, then back to zero, is inefficient. Instead, maintain a steady speed. If the car in front of you is speeding up, let it get ahead of you, and when traffic starts to slow back down you’ll catch up. Besides,  it’s always fun — when you both get to the next set of lights at exactly the same time  (apparently a ’smirkjerk’ is in order at this stage – that is when you look over and smirk at the non-hypermiler hyperjerk – optional).

• Check the tyre pressure. Even slightly flat tires require much more energy and threfore fuel to move.

• Change the oil regularly. The thicker the oil, the harder it is to push through the engine.

So what are you waiting for – get hypermiling this weekend and let us know how you get on.

via: kpcnews.com

It never fails to amaze me that no matter how good my intentions, I still spend the last 4 weekends in the lead up to Christmas on the batter.  Whether it′s work related, partner related or family and friend related there always seem to be a plethora of dinners, parties or shindigs to attend. (more…)

When old man winter comes knocking at our door,  as he most certainly has today, I start to think about keepping warm.  Inevitably, I want that to be as cost effective as possible but also as environmentally friendly as possible.  Thankfully staying warm and green on those long, winter nights without seeing your monthly bills skyrocket as the temperature falls in not out of the question.

A good place to start is checking for drafts coming from the doors and windows. Look to see if the caulking or weather stripping is damaged. If it is damaged or even destroyed, replace it immediately.

When replacing old weather stripping or caulking, it is important to remove it thoroughly before placing the new materials onto your windows and doors.

Another good tip for preventing drafts from your windows is to hang thick curtains, preferably lined ones.  Draw the curtains closed during the evening and night hours. Open them to the warmth of the sun during the daytime hours.

Additionally, you can also invest in a draft excluder for the bottom of your door to prevent drafts from entering your home. Ideally, you should follow this strategy at night when the air is typically at its coldest and the draft excluder will be less of an inconvenience.

If ther draft is really bad you may consider replacing old, outdated windows and doors. Replacing energy-inefficient windows and doors with energy-efficient windows and doors will save on heating costs. Plus, they should not require annual bouts of caulking and weather stripping.

Although this type of home improvement can be expensive, most home improvement stores offer sales throughout the year – with the downturn in construction there are some really good deals to be made at the moment. In addition, discontinued styles are often sold at cost or close to cost just so the manufacturer can make room for new merchandise. This type of home improvement can raise the market value of your home, while also lowering your utility bills at the same time.

Another money-saving strategy for the winter is to purchase and install programmable thermostats in each room where it is possible to do so. Programmable thermostats can help to reduce the cost of heating your home. They can be set to lower the temperature during the times throughout the day and evening when you do not need the heat. This strategy saves on energy use and cost.

Another money-saving strategy is to replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. If you simply cannot do away with all of your incandescent bulbs, replace the ones that you can afford to replace. Fluorescent bulbs use less energy, and this fact can be particularly important in the winter months when lights are needed more frequently.

Finally, if at any time you intend to replace any of your appliances, purchase replacements that feature the Energy Star® logo. They really do use less energy and save you money in the process. During peak periods of winter energy use, you will be glad that you replaced your old, outdated hot water heater, furnace, or oven with an energy-efficient model.

It is important to follow as many of the above strategies as you can in order to exercise winter energy conservation. After all, what is the point of staying indoors if you can’t snuggle up?

source: www.eco-wisdom.com

There are several areas that you can make eco-friendly, earth-friendly and healthier choices to Green Your Halloween.

Food

Focus on making healthier foods more fund to eat.  For treats consider organic candies, dark chocolate and low fat foods like licorice.

Costumes

Reuse your costume from before. Create a costume from reused or recyclable items or clothes.

Decorations

Decorate with reusable items or recyclable ones like newspaper, leaves, sticks, branches, cornstalks, cardboard boxes.

Activities

Attend Local fireworks or Halloween festivals.  Focus on treating others rather than ‘treats’ or volunteering your time to fundraise for a good cause.

The summer is here and along with the freckles, out comes the camera for that perfect family photo or on that night out with the girls. So how do you make your photography more eco friendly?  Well GreenMe have put together some handy tips to help you on your way

 When it comes to the environment digital photography is very economical and relatively earth friendly, aside from the battery issue. Digital cameras are well known for chewing through batteries, particularly when the flash is used extensively. For this reason, rechargeable batteries are the best option, Not only will it save on toxic waste, but a wad of cash.

Pay a little more. It pays to get a decent name brand camera. If you go too cheap, you might find the equipment not only produces poor quality images, but quickly packs in – more cost and more waste. You certainly don’t have to spend thousands – a decent camera for general purpose work can cost as little as €100 these days; and far less if you pick up a second hand one.

Sharing is caring. Sharing pictures is so easy these days with services such as Facebook or Flickr. Not only will you save on the printing, but it also cuts out on the postage if sending them to friends and families and that means less transport related emissions too.

Storage.  Storing photos on digital media such as your computer or on DVD is far cheaper and more environmentally friendly than paying for hundreds of photos to be printed which you will end up sticking up in the attic for the mice to see.

Fewer chemicals. photo processing includes the use of chemical and silver fixatives that are full of carcinogenics.  Digital pictures are printed with much safer ink printers (especially if you go with recycled cartridges.

Long life.By storing images in digital format, they’ll last far longer than film or digital prints that will steadily deteriorate from the moment they are processed.

Photo coutesy Flickr

Buttons popping off your waistband not enough to get your rear in gear? Well with National Bike Week  only a few days away the GreenMe team have put together 5 compelling reasons why you should  grab something with pedals and imagine a fitter world with less pollution.

1. Money saver. Over half of our car journeys are less than 5 miles – swapping them for an easy 30 minute bike ride can save you a small fortune in fuel costs.

2. Live Longer. Cyclists live on average at least two years longer than non-cyclists and their fitness levels are equivalent to being ten years younger – so forget nip and tuck, think pedal and push!

3. A New View. Cycling gets you out and about and you’re more likely to find that cute little delicatessen or beautiful park you never knew existed than when you’re cooped up in a car

4. In a hurry? During rush-hour, a bicycle is twice as fast as a car – good if you hate traffic jams! Even better, you won’t spend a penny on parking

5. Shaping up. Casual biking burns about 173 calories per hour.

Check out the Department of Transports information website on sustainable transport, Smarttravel.ie.

You’ve probably already noticed the first hints of autumn: a blush of color in the leaves; earlier sunsets; and cooler evenings.  In just a few days, our calendars will catch up with nature, and we’ll begin the headlong rush toward winter.

Spring and autumn are the “fix-up” seasons, as we make ready for big changes in the weather. What you do over the next few weeks can make a tremendous difference to the size of your environmental footprint through the winter. So we’ve put together a few autumn to-do items to get you started. Sharpen your pencil — and start checking a few off your list!

In the home

* Check your weather stripping. You should do this twice a year. Look for cracks and deterioration, and make sure your door seals are tight.

* Review your attic insulation, particularly if your home is over 20 years old. This is the area in which you can make the most dramatic savings in annual heating bills. Take a ruler into the attic. If you have less than a foot of insulation, you probably need more.

* Seal your windows. Once you’re past warm weather, unplug and seal your window units. If it’s practical, store them. This will also allow you to seal your windows with energy-efficient plastic film.

* Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL or LED lighting. Shorter days and cooler temperatures means more time spent indoors. If you’ve not already re-lamped with energy efficient bulbs, now is the time.

* Install a programmable thermostat. Smart temperature control can easily save 10% of your annual heating and cooling bills – a significant reduction in your household’s carbon footprint. Basic programmable thermostats can be purchased for less than €25, so you’ll recover you investment very quickly.

In Your Yard

* Start a compost pile. Compost heaps need both green and brown matter to get cooking — but there’s no shortage of carbon-rich leaves in the fall. Grab then while you can. Check out our Green your garden section for more info.

* Consider planting trees. Some varieties do well in the gap between summer’s heat and the real onset of winter. Consult your local nursery or garden centre for advice on what sort of trees might be appropriate for autumn planting.

* Bring your summer herbs indoors. There’s no reason not to enjoy fresh basil, mint, and rosemary through the winter months — and having some green indoors will remind you of spring. It takes a few weeks to transition herbs to indoor living, so start before the weather turns.

In your car

* Most automobile owner’s manuals recommend a switch of engine oil weights between seasons. If you did this last summer, switch to your car’s recommended winter weight as soon as the weather cools.

* There’s really no such thing as a “safe” antifreeze, but if you’re getting your radiator flushed before winter, ask for a propylene glycol (PG) formula. It’s less toxic to children, pets, and wildlife than ethylene glycol (EG) coolants.

* Do you have a roof rack for carrying summer gear? Remove it until next year. Roof racks decrease your vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency and hurts fuel mileage — particularly at motorway speeds.  While you’re at it, check you car for any unnecessary summer items, such as coolers or picnic gear. No need to burn fuel by carrying unnecessary weight.

* Evaluate your tires. Worn tread and improper tire pressure aren’t just bad for fuel economy — they’re not safe, particularly if you live in an area where icing roads are likely.  Inspect, rotate, and balance.  Whip out your tire pressure gauge at least once a month and check all four corners.

We’ll make this list a baker’s dozen: If you’re shopping for jumpers, jackets, and winter wear, start at your local secondhand store.  It’s not just price – though shopping at thrift shop and engaging in the new sale circuit can save your hundreds of euros – it’s putting perfectly good clothing back to use, rather than consuming fresh resources. You may also be supporting a worthy local charity your purchase.

(via Lighter Footstep )