Green Initiatives And Green Living
Green Living is to change the way that we utilize resources.
The results are reduced impacts on human health and the environment.
“Initiatives” are the ability to assess and initiate things independently.
The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do.
“Green Initiatives” so…now you know what we’re all about!
Green living is a way of life. It’s about making choices that conserve and preserve our Earth’s natural resources and habitats.
We ALL need to be “Taking Steps Forward” or it’s not going to happen.
The choices we have to make may not be convenient for us. We need to start Green Living. We each need to do our part.
We have to incorporate the best environmentally ethical, eco-friendly choices into our lives to do our part to protect our world.
By implementing these changes, we’ll have a smaller carbon footprint and reduce the number of toxins released into the atmosphere.
We need to leave a brighter future for the generations to come.
Why are green initiatives vital to the future of our planet?
If you’re not already on board with some eco-conscious plans, try to incorporate some green living into your life. Use more renewable, green energy sources like solar power, solar kits, wind power, and hydropower.
Drive an electric car- see our EV News page ( or EV car as it’s sometimes called), use green products, and don’t buy single-use plastic. Just say no to plastic bags, and conserve water and energy. There are many things you can do.
Future generations to come will ultimately benefit from improved air and water quality, and fewer landfills.
Why is green living so important to all of us?
Green living is so important because it helps us to take care of the planet. In the U.S. alone we waste 9,400 gallons of water annually and make 3X the global average of garbage/waste. By reducing waste and utilizing natural resources we will soften the environmental impact for future generations to come.
Going green isn’t just about making an environmental impact. In your home, using energy-efficient appliances, LED light bulbs, well-insulated attics, basements, and exterior walls can also help you save on energy costs while reducing your resource consumption. See our Green Energy News page to stay currently informed on this subject. We all must be eco-conscious in our daily lives.
Going green means taking on certain lifestyle changes designed to help you live in a more green-friendly way. It means becoming more environmentally aware and changing your lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint and the waste you generate. Conserving resources, including water, energy, and our natural resources.
Green Initiatives For Citizens
Be eco-conscious – Use LED Light Bulbs- Use ENERGY STAR Appliances- Use Canvas Bags- Turn Off Electronics- Use Less Water- Use Appliances Thoughtfully- Actively Recycle Everything- Use Renewable Electricity- Use More Efficient Thermostat Settings- Use Public Transportation- Drive More Responsibly- Plant Trees- Use Water Bottles- Make Your Own Cleaning Products- Eat Less Meat and Dairy- Buy In-Season Organic Produce- Choose Cloth Over Paper- Reduce Your Consumption of Single-Use Items-No More Plastic Bags!- Plant a Garden- Start a Compost Pile- Eat More Plant-Based Foods- Reuse Items Before Recycling- Renew Items Before Recycling- Give Away Before Throwing Away! See our Green Living Tips page for things you can do to help.
What are green initiatives for businesses?
For businesses- Eco-Conscious Waste management, Carbon emissions reduction, Supply chain management, and responsible purchasing. Businesses doing their part helping to prevent pollution of all kinds which will improve our health and protect wildlife means that we will continue to enjoy our natural world while simultaneously reducing consumption which preserves resources for the future.
Green Initiatives are plans or projects intended to help protect the environment. Businesses are implementing diverse green initiatives around the world in a bid to reduce their carbon footprints and protect all of our natural resources. See our Greenhouse Gases News
Green Certifications for Businesses– Get Certified Today!
Green certifications are valuable programs that can help companies demonstrate their sustainable products, services, and practices to employees, customers, partners, and investors. If you want your business to be a great business with passionate employees and customers who respect and admire your business and brand, you’ll need to credibly and transparently show them you care about the environment and social responsibility. A green business certification can help accomplish this.
Green business certifications are a great way to avoid greenwashing and a perfect way to demonstrate a company’s commitment to sustainability in a credible way. Trusted third-party organizations like LEED, B Corp, and Green Business Bureau provide certification programs that can prove your company’s green cred. If you’re a small business owner, sustainability manager, or green team leader, you need to understand your certification options and know how they work. Not all certifications are created equal and certifications can focus on a variety of areas including products, buildings, policies, processes, and emissions. There are many programs to choose from in each area.
Business Practices For Environmental Sustainability
1- Pollution Prevention (P2)– Pollution can occur in the air, water, or soil. Pollution prevention, sometimes referred to as P2, refers to reducing or eliminating waste at the source. Goals such as waste reduction and reducing carbon footprint ultimately support a much broader objective of pollution prevention.
2- Resource Conservation– Resource conservation refers to the practice of using resources such as water, energy, and raw materials efficiently and ethically.
3- Zero Waste to Landfill– Having a zero-waste-to-landfill goal means you plan to eliminate all discharges to landfill. It means you are not shipping any waste for treatment at a landfill. While zero waste and zero waste in the landfill are often used interchangeably, zero waste to landfill is a zero waste component. When a facility acquires the zero waste to landfill (ZWTL) status, it means that absolutely no manufacturing waste from the facility goes to landfill sites. Some issues with a zero-to-landfill goal are that a company could incinerate its waste and still claim zero landfill. Unfortunately, Waste to Energy (WTE) can produce large amounts of ash that must still be landfilled.
4- Waste Minimization / Waste Reduction– Waste reduction is the method used to achieve zero waste. According to the EPA, waste minimization refers to the use of source reduction and/or environmentally sound recycling methods before energy recovery, treatment, or disposal of waste. If zero waste is too ambitious of a goal, you can start with a goal of waste reduction or waste minimization.
5- Zero Discharge– Zero discharge means eliminating the discharge of pollutants from a point source (such as a building or processing plant) to local waterways. Zero discharge can refer to a plant eliminating all pollutants (for example, Gold Inc. has zero discharge from their processing plant) or a specific pollutant (for example, Bronze Inc. has zero copper discharge into receiving water from their operations). Part of zero discharge includes being a good water steward. According to the Water Council, good water stewards understand their water use, watershed context, and shared risk in terms of water governance, water balance, water quality, and important water-related areas.
6- Zero Emissions– Reducing your carbon footprint is to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming.
7- Lean Manufacturing– A reduction in excess processing and defects, in particular, can have a substantial impact on environmental sustainability.
8- Alternative / Renewable Energy– Alternative energy refers to all non-fossil-fuel-based energy sources and processes. Examples include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, wave power, nuclear, and hydropower.
9- Responsible Consumption– Responsible consumption means using our resources and energy efficiently. The responsibility lies in the hands of everyone – manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers.
10- Responsible Waste Management– Responsible waste management falls into the hands of every person, and company, that generates waste. It means that waste is properly segregated and handled accordingly. According to the EPA’s waste management hierarchy, source reduction and reuse are the preferred methods, followed by recycling, energy recovery, and finally, treatment and disposal.
11- Reuse & Recycling– Recycling means turning an item into raw materials which can be used again, usually for a completely new product. Reuse, in contrast, refers to using an object as it is without breaking it down. Recycling means turning an item into raw materials which can be used again, usually for a completely new product. Reuse, in contrast, refers to using an object as it is without breaking it down. Reuse is preferred over recycling because recycling consumes more energy.
12- Advocacy– Advocacy is the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. Advocacy can be a powerful way for companies to effect real change in environmental sustainability.
13- Innovation– Innovation can accelerate and even revolutionize environmental sustainability initiatives. It can come in the form of product or process innovation and is a key part of achieving sustainability goals.
14- PEER– Whereas LEED refers to the building sector, PEER refers to the power sector. PEER stands for Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal. It’s a rating system that evaluates a power system’s performance for reliability, safety, efficiency, grid service, innovation, and regional priority.
15- TRUE- TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) helps organizations understand how materials flow through their facilities and identify redesign opportunities so that all products are reused. TRUE-certified projects must meet a minimum of 90 percent waste diversion for 12 months from landfills, incinerators (waste-to-energy), or the environment. TRUE is a compliment to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
16- Six Sigma– Six Sigma is a set of tools and techniques to help improve processes within an organization. The primary goal of the Six Sigma certification is to validate individuals who possess the skills to identify errors or defects in a business process and eliminate them. The Six Sigma certification comes in various skill levels: Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt. These certifications can be obtained through an accreditation body like the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
17- LEED and Green Buildings– If energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation are your goals, you may want to consider LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a widely used green building rating system. LEED applies strictly to a building or neighborhood, not a company. LEED buildings save energy, water, and resources, generate less waste, and support human health.
18- ISO 5001:2018– ISO 50001 supports organizations to use energy more efficiently, through the development of an energy management system.
19- ISO 14001– ISO 14001:2015 specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to improve environmental performance. ISO 14001:2015 helps companies manage environmental responsibilities in a well-defined, systematic approach.
March 3, 2023- Information: Richard Mylott (mylott.richard@epa.gov) 720-237-8119
Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, Montana – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $70,675 to the Chippewa Cree Tribe to build capacity and educate the public on solid waste management practices on the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in northern Montana. The Chippewa Cree Tribal Water Resources Department (TWRD) will use the EPA funds to overhaul its solid waste management plan, improve the collection and processing of materials, and educate the public on best practices for handling waste and recyclables.
“These EPA funds will help the Chippewa Cree Tribe improve solid waste management and recycling across the Rocky Boys Reservation,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We are proud to support the Tribe in developing a waste system that is affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable for all community members.“
With the funding, the TWRD will begin with a waste characterization study of materials disposed of, both legally and illegally, at transfer stations throughout the year. Using this data, TWRD will then update its Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and educate local contractors and the public about proper solid waste disposal practices to improve the safe management of waste and recovery of recyclable materials in Reservation communities.
“This grant will take the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s Solid Waste program to the next level and provide improved services to the community,” said TWRD Director Ted Whitford.
The Chippewa Cree Tribe is one of seven awardees nationwide this year to receive a total of approximately $700,000 for improving Tribal Solid Waste Management. EPA’s Tribal Solid Waste Grant program is designed to assist tribes in conducting solid waste management activities that establish and strengthen sustainable waste management programs.
Going green covers many different aspects: reducing, reusing, and recycling; upcycling; not littering; living sustainably; conserving energy; conserving materials; going zero-waste; fair-trade and ethical production; being carbon neutral; organic crop growing; being chemical-free; going off the grid, using green products. See our Green Products page for some fantastic deals on the newest highly recommended green products like solar kits, green cleaners of all kinds, green pesticides, green pet products for fleas, and ticks, and more, etc. from vendors we have partnered with.
Green living is about respecting our environment by keeping it clean and not leaving trash and using our resources in the right way, without wasting them. Sustainability is about using what we have in a way that can last for years to come.
GREEN BUILD COMES TO WASHINGTON, DC.
Join us as we head to Washington, DC, September 26-29, 2023 | Expo: 27-28.
Registration is officially open! Connect with thousands of green building professionals this September as we lay the groundwork for developing healthier buildings, workspaces, communities, and resilient infrastructures. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. The ideals and passion of the green building community come alive at Greenbuild. The buzz is contagious. Greenbuild brings together industry leaders, experts, and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building in their everyday work, and a unique energy is sparked. Participants are invigorated. Inspired. They find themselves equipped to return to their jobs with a renewed passion and purpose.
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