Five Tips for a Sustainable Super Bowl Party

Celebrate the Super Bowl the Green Way

Want to host a Super Bowl party this Sunday?  Before inviting friends, setting out snacks, and turning on the game- read several tips for how to host a sustainable, green Super Bowl party everyone can enjoy:

Send green(er) invites: Still in the process of inviting friends and family over to watch the Super Bowl?  This year, try sending invitations via email or even through Facebook event/ message.  This will save paper, stamps, and time- all valuable resources.

Create a green environment: A great way to promote green initiatives during the Super Bowl is to create a green environment inside the home.  Instead of using paper or disposable plates, cups, napkins, etc. for food, use permanent silverware and items that can be washed and used again.

Encourage carpooling: Are multiple guests arriving from the same or nearby locations?  Encourage your guests to consolidate travel and carpool together to save on gas.  If possible, also encourage guests to access public transportation to attend the party, such as a nearby Metro stop or bus route.

What Are These Recycling Symbols? A Numbered Guide

Learn How To Read and Interpret Recycling Numbers

Plastic containers often contain a recycling symbol on the back or bottom of the product with a number in the middle.  But what do these symbols mean?  Read this numeric guide to learn more.

If the container has the following number, it means:

#1- This plastic is the most common found in recycling bins.  Typically, this plastic is found in soda and water bottle and food containers.

#2- Known for not being transparent, this plastic is typically found in products such as household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles, and detergent bottles.

#3- This plastic makes up pipes, food wrap and containers, and more.  This plastic is not recyclable.

#4- Found in shopping bags, food wrap and packaging, and fabric materials.  Oftentimes, these plastic materials are not accepted into recycling bins but these products can be recycled if taken to an appropriate recycling plant.

Five Tips To Bicycling in the Winter

Bicycling in Winter Weather

Trying to keep up a green lifestyle this winter?  One way could be to continue bicycling in order to commute to work and run errands instead of driving a car.

While biking may not seem popular in the cold and in winter weather, it is doable.  If biking this season, here are some tips to ensure the ride goes as smoothly as possible:

1) Ride an older bike: Try to save new bikes for warmer weather.  Salt, along with snow and slush, can get into bicycle gears and parts and gradually corrode the bike.  It is best to not risk this damage on a bike that was bought during the holidays.

2) Wash and/ or clean the bike after every ride: Again, winter bike riding can cause bikes to contact salt, sand, and winter weather elements.  After every ride, be sure to wash the bike or at least wipe it with a paper towel  to remove excess dirt and grime, especially around the gears.

3) Utilize bike lights: Because it gets darker earlier in the wintertime, be sure to attach at least one light to the bicycle.  Preferably, attach the light to the handlebar region.

Five Green, Wintertime Activities for the Entire Family

Seasonal Ideas For a Green Lifestyle

Looking for some activities to do this winter season without spending too much time outdoors in the frigid cold?  This season, try out some GreenLiving activity ideas that the entire family can enjoy.  Some seasonal tips for a fun winter include:

1) Create a craft project: Utilize household resources such as paper towel rolls, newspapers, cardboard boxes, and more to create craft projects for the entire family.  In November, Grady's GreenLiving Tips shared a post on how to create a recycled blanket- learn more about that craft here.

2) Get an early start on "spring" cleaning:  Want to dedicate some time to household cleaning and organizing?  Get ahead on spring cleaning by following a green guide.  Remember: vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are powerful, green cleaners!

3) Find creative ways to recycle: Recycling isn't just about sorting waste from soda bottles and soup cans.  Find creative ways to recycle resources such as clothes, eyeglasses, electronics, toys, and more.  Learn how in this post from April.

Three Steps To Make a 2017 Green Calendar

Starting the New Year with a Green Focus

There is no better time than the beginning of the year to start working on New Year's Resolutions in order to create longstanding lifestyle changes.  As detailed in last's week's blog post, there are several resolution possibilities that have direct, greenliving impacts.  That being said, how can greenliving goals and successes be measured and monitored throughout the year?  Try putting together a GreenLiving calendar for 2017 to easily keep track of green lifestyle changes.  Some methods to putting together a green calendar include:

1) Create themes for every month: To accomplish green tasks, try to center each month of 2017 around a common theme/ goal.  For example: Green techniques to keep warm for January, summer gardening ideas for July and August, etc.  It is easier to accomplish goals if they are made more specific.

2) Make a system to accomplish GreenLiving goals: Establish a common system that can be carried over from month to month to aid in beginning and completing green tasks.  For example: list multiple green chores, tips, or ideas on pieces of paper and put them in a mason jar.  Randomly pull out a green suggestion to accomplish during the week.  By the end of the year, the jar should be empty/ nearly empty.