A Commitment to the Environment and a Commitment to Our Customers

Owning or operating your own business can be a hassle. So one of the things you have to have is reliability in your suppliers.

Greenofficeestore.com has tons of features that make it one of the most reliable stores on the web. From 24 hour online live chat support to great shipping logistics GOS makes sure all of their customers are happy.

While environmentally responsibility is the thing that attracts most GOS customers, it is customer satisfaction that keeps them coming back. Your orders arrive within 1-2 days all at a flat rate of $8.95.

When you open an account with greenofficestore.com you can’t imagine how much of a positive effect it will have on the environment. But there is one thing you will know for sure … you will get top notch service.

Go Green! Go to Greenofficestore.com today.

Options for Life's next big thing

I have always found the Options for Life products to be more then satisfying but now Greenofficestore.com has put the product line over the top. With any purchase of Options for Life products, GOS is giving a free 8 oz. bottle of hand soap to their order.

Options for Life are quality cleaners comprised of quality products. They are comprised of real fruit and their scent is so tasteful you may be tempted to taste a sip … but don’t! Options for Life include glass/window cleaners, floor and furniture cleaners, and kitchen and tile cleaners.

Options for Life also has top notch laundry and dish detergents. Greenofficestore.com has been excited about Options for Life for a long time, and now are excited about their 8 oz hand soap being added to their already impressive line-up.

Go Green! Go to greenofficestore.com today!

Options for Life's next big thing

Green Product Classification Seals - What Do They Mean?

Often at GreenOfficeStore.com we are asked by customers what it means to be a "Green Seal Certified" cleaner or what is "FSC Certified" paper? With the growing concern for the environment, there has also been a growing concern with the authenticity of labeling something as "green". With that thought in mind, we have come up with a list of common green classifications and what they mean to you. We hope you find this helpful!

Green Seal Certification

Green Seal's evaluations are based on state-of-the-art science and information using internationally recognized methods and procedures. To earn the coveted Green Seal a product must meet the Green Seal environmental standard for the category as demonstrated by rigorous evaluation, testing and a plant visit.

Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments at all levels to "green" the production and purchasing chain. We utilize a life-cycle approach, which means we evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal.


Eco-Logo

EcoLogo is North America’s most widely recognized and respected certification of environmental leadership, setting standards and certifying products in more than 120 categories.

The EcoLogoM Program is a Type I eco-label, as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in its standard - "Environmental Labeling" (ISO 14024). This means, the Program compares products / services with others in the same category, develops rigorous and scientifically relevant criteria, and awards the EcoLogoM to those that are environmentally preferable throughout their entire whole life a thorough evaluation and auditing process.


EPA DfE (Design for the Environment)

When you see the DfE logo on a product it means that the DfE scientific review team has screened each ingredient for potential human health and environmental effects and that—based on currently available information, EPA predictive models, and expert judgment—the product contains only those ingredients that pose the least concern among chemicals in their class.

The Design for the Environment (DfE) Program works in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders to reduce risk to people and the environment by preventing pollution. DfE focuses on industries that combine the potential for chemical risk reduction and improvements in energy efficiency with a strong motivation to make lasting, positive changes. Partnership projects evaluate the human health and environmental considerations, performance, and cost of traditional and alternative technologies, materials, and processes.


CRI Green Label (Carpet and Rug Institute)

The Green Label and Green Label Plus testing programs, overseen by independent labs, are designed for architects, builders, specifiers and facility managers who want assurances that carpet and adhesive products meet the most stringent criteria for low chemical emissions and help improve indoor air quality. Currently, carpet, cushion and adhesives as well as vacuum cleaners are tested in these programs. Working in cooperation with California’s Sustainable Building Task Force and the Department of Health Services, Indoor Air Quality section, the carpet industry voluntarily enhanced its Green Label program for carpet and adhesives to meeting the testing protocol used by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). CRI has exceeded the CHPS criteria in several respects, including testing annually for specific chemicals, testing for six additional chemicals, maintaining a chain of custody process and performing an annual audit of the testing facility.


Bio-Based (biodegradable) Ingredients

Products that are biodegradable reduce waste and pollution and capture the full value of our increasingly scarce natural resources. A growing number of biodegradable materials are being sought by manufacturers. Biodegradable products are those that pose no toxic threat when disposed of through conventional waste streams.


Recycled Material

Products made with recycled material help to reduce waste and preserve natural resources. In general, there are two types of recycled material: (1) post-industrial, and (2) post-consumer. Post-industrial material comes from manufacturing processes where virgin resources go to waste. This material is collected and used in a product other than that for which it was originally harvested. Post-consumer material comes from products that are no longer used for their intended purpose. Recyclable products are separated from the waste stream, often broken down into raw materials, and then sold to manufacturers for reuse.


Better for the Environment

Products that are better for the environment include products that promote the reduction in consumption or lessen the waste associated with other products in respective industries. This seal also encompasses products made from either organic material or products that promote a healthier lifestyle.


Lowers Water Consumption (Saves Water)

Products that lower water consumption help conserve our planets water supply. This seal indicates products that save our planets presious water supply by cutting its overuse.


Energy Star Approved

One of the main goals of the ENERGY STAR program is to develop performance-based specifications that determine the most efficient products in a particular category. Products that meet these specifications earn the ENERGY STAR label.
To develop ENERGY STAR product specifications, EPA and DOE use a systematic process that relies on rigorous market, engineering, and pollution savings analyses as well as input from industry stakeholders.


EPA Approved

Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)—a key component of the government's "buy-recycled" program. Today, more and more products are made from recycled materials—from the carpeting and insulation used in office buildings, to the reams of office paper purchased each day. Buying recycled helps "close the recycling loop" by putting the materials we collect through recycling programs back to good use as products in the marketplace.
Recycling also helps address global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Manufacturing goods from recycled materials typically requires less energy than producing goods from virgin materials. When people reuse goods or when products are made with less material, less energy is needed to extract, transport, and process raw materials and to manufacture products. When energy demand decreases, fewer fossil fuels are burned and less carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere.

FSC Certified

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organisation founded in 1993 to support the world's forests.

FSC members comprise a diverse group of representatives from environmental and social groups, the timber trade, paper industry, forestry profession, indigenous people's organisations, community forestry groups and forest product certification organisations from around the world.

It is their job to ensure that the forests are managed to protect wildlife habitat and respect the rights of local communities.
FSC Chain of Custody is the process by which the source of a timber product is verified.

Certification involves inspection and auditing of the land from which the timber and pulpwood originate and tracking it through all the steps of the production process until it reaches the end user.

Only when this tracking has been independently verified is the product is eligible to carry the FSC Logo.

Black Ink in a Green World

If you’re trying to project a message of an eco-friendly office, than you should be writing on eco-friendly ink.

Greenofficestore.com, like always, has you covered. With their line of environmentally friendly toners and cartridges you could save money and save the environment at the same time.

LaserJet Toner Cartridge is perfect a place to start. The toner is made of remanufactured materials, and helps by cutting down on overall consumption of plastics.

The Inkjet Cartridge for OfficeJet Pro is made with Economical remanufactured ink cartridge and features premium grade ink. And the High Yield Laser Toner Cartridge is designed for use on Apples and delivers the highest quality prints.

Spell out a solution to our environment crisis, and do it with eco-friendly ink.
Go Green! Go to Greenofficestore.com!

The Right Way to Ship

You don’t have to be a Ph.D. level economist to realize that the cost of shipping has increased do to a rise in gas prices. So that makes now the best time to save on shipping supplies.

Greenofficestore.com is the best place for your one-stop-ship-shop. From a Padded Mailer, for those valuables, to Floppy Disk and Disk/CD Mailer for those high tech yet eco-friendly shipments. Plus check out the Fiberboard Mailer, ideal for those shipments that are valuable. It’s no bend frame allows you to ship artwork, and photo without have to worry about them being bent.

Start shipping out a solution to our environmental woes.

Go Green! Go to Greenofficestore.com.

How To Setup A Recycling Program For Apartments And Condominiums

As the manager of a residential rental property or condominium, it is important to provide a recycling program for your residents with information on your local area's curbside and home recycling initiatives.


Materials that should be separated and recycled include:

• Aluminum Cans


• Glass Containers


• Newspaper and Magazines


• Plastic Bottles and Jugs


• Cardboard Boxes (Flattened)

How to make your program a success:

• Provide recycling containers that can efficiently collect materials being recovered. Ensure there are separate containers for cans/bottles/glass and newspaper/cardboard.


• Decide if residents should leave recyclables on floors next to service entrances or if they should drop them off at centralized area.


• Schedule the collection of recyclables with the regular waste collection services.


• Designate a central area for the collection of recyclable materials. Examples would include the storage room, basement or other common areas.


• Inform residents of the recycling program through a memo and tour of your building's recycling areas. You could also offer a time when residents can pick-up their containers and more information on recycling.


• Make residents aware of specific recycling procedures in your building. Be sure to differentiate between resident, building staff and owner responsibilities.


• Provide recycling information in the training of new building staff and in packages for new residents. Encourage residents that recycling will actually help new residents to meet neighbors.

See the complete line of recycling products, bins, composters and compost containers!

Where have these things "Bin" all my life?

One of the most important aspects to an eco-friendly lifestyle is recycling. And Green Office Store has you cover, for the best recycling containers on the market.

The containers are made from 35% post-consumer waste. They include:

The 22 Gallon Smart Sort Base and Lid containers will hold more then you every need. Plus check out the Clearview Dome Lid Upright Recycling Container. Its style is unmatched because of its brand new features.

GOS also has all the extras you need to maintain a high level of recycling. From labels that will help your guest know what trash goes where to battery and newspaper products. And all of our products come with the Greenofficestore.com competitive prices.

So start you eco-friendly lifestyle today. Go to Greenofficestore.com today.

Leading a "Greener" field

One of the most important parts of business is staying ahead of the overall economic landscape. The economic landscape is now sliding toward an eco-friendly world.

More and more companies are becoming environmentally friendly. Governments are passing environmental laws. And most of all, office supply store are introducing green lines of office products.

Here is one excerpt from Jasmin Malik Chua of Jersey City, New Jersey:

Searching for eco-friendly office supplies has never been easier. Stores dedicated to fighting the environmental fight have been popping up on the Internet like zits on a teenager before senior prom. Their mission: To help you avoid all the bad stuff, while presenting you with desk supplies, paper products, and even break-room provisions that are healthier for the planet-which always bodes well for everyone

GreenOfficeStore.com is leading the revolution with tons of new and exciting products, all of which protect the environment and keep our world sustainable for generations to come.

Go Green! Go to greenofficestore.com today to find great deals and more.

How To Setup A Recycling Program For Your Office And Office Buildings

How To Setup A Recycling Program For:

Office And Office Buildings

July, 2008

If you manage office buildings with multiple tenants, you are responsible
for providing tenants with an opportunity to recycle. To establish a
successful recycling program in your office / office building, determine
what type of program will work in your facility.


Materials that should be separated and recycled include:

• Aluminum Cans


• Glass Containers


• Newspaper and Magazines


• Plastic Bottles and Jugs


• Cardboard Boxes (Flattened)

How to make your program a success:

• Assess the waste being collected across your office building.


• Develop recycling programs based on your findings for each area. Be sure to concentrate on areas producing the highest amounts of waste.


• Ensure all containers are located in easy-access areas and are properly marked. Containers with specialized openings (i.e. hole for cans, slot for paper) are critical to maintain clean sorts.


• Educate tenants on proper recycling procedures. This can be easily accomplished through a special event, posters or memo while distributing containers. Explain the goals of the program and procedures. Be sure to provide recycling information to new tenants. Use multiple forms of communication to get the word on recycling out there (i.e. newsletter, flyers, etc.). Remind tenants to keep food waste out of recycling containers and trash. Food waste should be handled separately from trash and recyclables.


• Record the volume of recyclables departing the office building through a log system. With this you will be able to receive accurate compensation for the materials your office building has recovered.


• Once policies have been established, communicate the program to all staff in your office building. Demonstrate how to use each container and where to take all collected materials. Have this staff assist in monitoring the program.

Click 'Shop Now' below for the full line of recycling products

Spiral Notebooks; Plus Freegreencleaners.com

A great way to prevent our ecological conditions from spiraling out of control is Greenofficestore.com’s spiral notebooks.

OK, so maybe the word-play is a little bit of a stretch, but spiral notebooks have now become a necessity to anyone’s office. And like most Greenofficestore.com products they are made of 100 percent post-consumer waste.

Spiral notebooks are on a long list of top products with great deals. This list includes of: Hanging Earthwise Folder, Recycled Paper, Post-it Notes, and Compostable Trash Bags.

Check out these and more at Greenofficestore.com: http://www.greenofficestore.com/web_specials.asp.

Also don’t forget to check out Greenofficestore.com’s new site FreeGreenClearners.com. There you will be able to find such great things as the flagship site, but with great cleaning supplies. So go to FreeGreenCleaners.com.

Enviro Care Cleaning Product Usage Guide

Enviro Care Cleaning Product Usage Guide

Compiled from Rochester Midland Website in PDF Form
June, 2008

For consistent, trouble-free use of all of our Enviro Care products, use Rochester Midland's time-tested procedures. They've put their years of experience at your fingertips for all types of applications, from the best way to clean a restroom to how to refinish a resilient floor. Step by step procedures outline exactly what you need to do to get the cleanest restrooms, dazzling floors or sweet smelling drains.


Click here to download the Enviro Care Cleaning Proceedures Manual

• Floor Deep Scrub For Recoat (Automatic Scrubber)


• Floor Deep Scrub For Recoat (Rotary Floor Machine)


• Floor Cleaning (Automatic Scrubber)


• Floor Damp Mopping


• Floor Gloss Restoratin (Mop Application)


• Floor Gloss Restoratin (Mop Application with Propane Burnishing Machine)


• Synthetic Gym Floor Maintenance


• Terrazzo Floor Maintenance


• Chalkboard Maintenance

• Shower Room Maintenance


• Window / Mirror Cleaning

• Carpet Cleaning (via Water Extraction Method)


• Wall Cleaning

• Shower Room Maintenance


• Whirlpool Bath Maintenance

• Shower Room Maintenance


• Whirlpool Bath Maintenance

See GreenOfficeStore.com's line of Enviro Care Products

Bottles to bags

One of the coolest things I have found while exploring on our site, is the bottle to bag project. Greenofficestore.com has created through Shoreline, a laptop case made entirely out of recycled plastic from water bottles.

Here is what the website had to say about it:

Shoreline's new act2-GreenSmart Laptop Jackets and sleeves are a stylish choice for environmentally sensitive consumers or everyday consumers looking for laptop protection. The fabrics of act2 are made from 100% recycled post consumer water and soda bottles. As described on the hang tag, in the U.S. alone, there are enough of these bottles sent to landfill everyday to fill the Rose Bowl every two weeks. It stands to reason then, that any products that can be made utilizing these wasted bottles will divert more of these petroleum based items from landfill by creating a demand for the recycled resource.

The bags come in toasted almond, black, and storm blue. The outer and inner fabric is made from 100 percent post consumer waste. The bag also weighs less then one pound and has an easy carrying handle. If you want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, let Greenofficestore.com help you get there with our bottles to bags.

The other papers

When everyone thinks of an overuse of paper they usually think of paper that is barely written on, newspapers not being recycled, or not using both sides of a notebook page.

But paper is more than that. Paper includes tissues. It includes toilet paper. Paper consist of paper towels and napkins. And at Greenofficestore.com you can buy high quality paper that is 100% recycled.

We have high quality facial tissue. Every time you blow your noise you will know that you have helped the environment and reduced the level of paper consumption. Check out eco-friendly facial tissue at http://www.greenofficestore.com/catalog_category_l2.asp?gid=Facial%20Tissues.

Greenofficestore.com has top of the line bathroom tissue, from quality companies like Marcal. Just like that facial tissue it is 100 percent recycled which makes it 100 percent eco-friendly. Check it out: http://www.greenofficestore.com/catalog_category_l2.asp?gid=Bathroom%20Tissue.

Paper towels … one of the most used paper products, is at the top of Greenofficestore.com’s list of great products. Because Greenofficestore.com carries top name vendors like Marcal and Kleenex, you get the quality you expect with the ecologically responsible stance that Greenofficestore.com takes on all of our products. Check out some paper towels: http://www.greenofficestore.com/catalog_category_l2.asp?gid=Paper%20Towels.

So, save money and save the environment. Buy some paper products at Greenofficestore.com today!

Print & Laser Cartridge Facts

www.GreenOfficeStore.com has just begun working with a new supplier for remanufactured printer and laser cartridges.

Keep an eye on our site as we'll be posting an entirely new line of 'green' printer and laser remanufactured toners and cartridges.

In the meantime, they sent us this list of facts regarding ink cartridges and remanufactured cartridges in general. We thought it was interesting reading, so here it is.

We also have a few articles about this topic post on our site on the Article page.

• 160 countries, including all of the other industrialized nations, have signed the UN Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste – except the US

• It is estimated that between 50% and 80% of computer parts, including cartridges, that are collected in the US for recycling are actually dumped in Third World countries in Africa and Asia.

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is the desired model for the lifecycle of manufactured products according to the US EPA and the US Department of Energy

• Most laser toner cartridges are rated a seven because they contain mixed resin plastics where only 5% to 10% of the plastic volume can be recycled

• A common myth is that remanufactured products are always inferior in quality to new OEM products

• According to Canon, Co-Inventor of both InkJet and Laser Printers: "Remanufacturing means refurbishing used products to make them equal in quality to new products” – Canon, Inc www.canon.com/environmental/index.html

• In 1997, the US EPA stated that remanufactured products are "as good as new” in its publication,WasteWise

• Both businesses and consumers bought over $2.5 billion of remanufactured print cartridges in 2005

• Another myth is that using a remanufactured or any cartridge other than that of the Original Equipment Manufacturer will void the printer equipment warranty

• The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 specifically states that the warranty may NOT be voided because of the use of aftermarket products – known as the "anti-tying” provision

• "For HP Printer products, the use of a non-HP ink cartridge or a refilled ink cartridge does not affect either the warranty to the customer or any HP Support Contract with the customer” – Hewlett Packard Company, Printer Warranty Statement, March, 2006

Benefits of Buying Sustainable Cartridges

• 20% to 30% savings versus OEM products
• Highly competitive versus other remanufactured products
• Full Exchange Product Warranty
• Coverage for Any Equipment Damage
• Responsible Recycling

GreenOfficeStore.com now on FACEBOOK

Every Facebook Page is a unique experience where people can become more deeply connected with the GreenOfficeStore.com business and brand. Our customers and friends can express their support by adding themselves as a fan, writing on our Wall, uploading photos, and joining other fans in discussion groups. GreenOfficeSotre.com will be able to send updates to our fans regularly — or just with special news or offers. Check it out today!

A "Green" desk

Before you clean up the world, you may want to clean up your desk. With Greenofficestore.com’s long list of desktop organizers and other accessories, there is an easy and cheap solution to that problem.

99 percent of their Pencil Cup, is made from Pre and post-consumer waste. As an added bonus it is only $10.48. The pencil cup has a beautiful mahogany exterior. But the beautiful mahogany products don’t stop there as they also include: Note Holder, Phone Center, Business Card Holder, and Wireless Hutch.

Their book racks are made from 30-70 percent consumer waste. Hot items in this area include: Book Rack, Adjustable Book Rack with 6 Compartments, and Two Tier Book Rack.

What ever you are looking for in the way of desktop supplies, don’t settle for anything less then an environmentally friendly solution. Go green and go to Greenofficestore.com.

The Importance of Eco-friendly office products

With global warming on the rise and population increasing rapidly, the need to live an eco-responsible lifestyle has come to our attention, startlingly.

While many office supply stores can offer you a good product or perhaps a great price, Greenofficestore.com can do both while selling you a product that will be good for the environment and the future of our planet?

Greenofficestore also has a “Giveback policy.” One percent of all purchases, over $50.00, are donated to organization devoted to environmental awareness, sustainability, energy efficient, and other socially responsible issues.

It is important to realize that the environment is all around us. It is the lawn under your feet, the food on our plates, and the air we all breathe. The depletion of our natural resources, destruction of ecosystems and decades of wasteful practices has become issues for us all.

It is important to realize that in buying from Greenofficestore.com, not only our you saving money and getting a quality product, but you are also doing help for the environment.

Cleaning up the Earth, one product at a time

Looking for a great way to keep healthy while keeping the environment healthy?

Greenofficestore.com now has the best of the best in environmentally friendly healthcare supplies. A huge advantage in Greenofficestore.com’s health supplies is they are made from entirely toxic free materials.

There are also first aid supplies, in mail-away containers. Mail-away containers allow the recycling to be done by the company and thus create an ample amount of usage. Nothing helps the environment more then a properly recycled object.

We also have Disinfectant cleaners that are proven effective against Hepatitis B, TB, HIV and a broad range of viruses. They are created with a cavicide refill cycle.

We have lens cleaners that come in a dispenser box with towelettes offering an antistatic, antifog formula. They are both silicone and alcohol-free.

Go Green! For the latest products on healthcare supplies go to Greenofficestore.com’s selection at: http://www.greenofficestore.com/catalog_category.asp?gid=Healthcare%20Supplies.

Yea, Ink Cartridges can help the environment

Why are we supposed to send back toners and ink cartridges to the place were they came from?

Toners and ink cartridges are made entirely out of plastic. To rebuild a plastic toner or cartridge every time we run out of ink would be completely ridiculous. I read this fact on the Greenofficestore.com website:

“A recent Green Report found that 1.6 million pens that can only be used once are used each year in just the United States. The report found that 15-million pounds of polyester transparency films are thrown away in the U.S. annually and that if businesses would remanufacture their ink cartridges, they would be saving about $1.5 billion each year.”

Greenofficestore.com’s goal of helping renew and rejuvenate this world by giving the consumer a number of high quality and eco-friendly office products to choose from, extends to cartridges.

Greenofficestore.com has products for every type of printer. To check out Greenofficestore.com’s list of products go to: http://www.greenofficestore.com/catalog_category.asp?gid=Inkjet%20Supplies.

Go Green! Greenofficestore.com can help you save money and the environment at the same time.

Please join us on June 19 to jumpstart your sustainability efforts.

GreenOfficeStore.com will be exhibiting at Greener Pastures: Jumpstart in Livingston, NJ. Register today at Sustain@A2Xconsulting.com for more information on how to jumpstart your sustainability efforts.

Have you thought about how the trends in sustainability are impacting your business? There is sufficient hype on all things 'green' - but what matters to you?

Please join us on June 19 to jumpstart your sustainability efforts. Greener Pastures: Jumpstart is a unique networking experience, where attendees will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of experts for short time periods.

Jumpstart Roundtable Topics

Energy Procurement
Lighting & Incentives
LEED
Entrepreneurship & Sustainability
Energy Awareness Campaigns
Tactics & Tool
Solar
Sustainability & Real Estate


Location & Time

290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue
Livingston NJ
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Directions to event: http://www.eisenhowercorporatecampus.com/location_directions.html

(Please refer to the website directions as the entrance is on Beaufort Avenue)

Admission Cost: $40.00

Event Format

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Light snacks and networking

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm - Jumpstart Discussions

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Networking, Q&A, and Food

This is how the event will work:


1. Select a topic of interest.

2. Join a table conversation that will consist of a brief introduction, followed by Q&A.

3. After 20 minutes, rotate to a different table.

4. Repeat 3 more times!

5. We will conclude with a few closing thoughts from the experts.

6. Networking, Q&A, and Food


The goal of ‘Greener Pastures: Jumpstart’ is to make sure you end the evening with practical advice and answers to some of your most pressing issues. By the end of the event, we hope you will have a better understanding of how to make your business more sustainable.


The event is geared towards small and medium-sized companies (15-200 employees), but is relevant to all.
Please check the website frequently for event updates:

http://www.a2xconsulting.com/events.html


To register, please email sustain@A2Xconsulting.com or call Jennifer Krauss at 973-994-7950, ext. 303.

Thank you and we hope to see you on the 19th!

GreenOfficeStore announces launch of FreeGreenCleaners.com

GreenOfficeStore.com offers Free Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products to Internet Users Via FreeGreenCleaners.com Website

Ridgewood, NJ – June 2008 – In an effort to promote our eco-friendly products and brand awareness, GreenOfficeStore.com has announced the launch of a new website, www.FreeGreenCleaners.com.

FreeGreenCleaners.com offers Internet users who have an interest in environmentally friendly cleaning products the opportunity to receive a green cleaning product, free of charge, from www.GreenOfficeStore.com. In exchange for receiving their free green cleaner, users are asked to submit a review of the product to a blog, myspace.com or similar website within 30 days of receiving their free eco-friendly item. The only stipulations are that the review be posted to an ‘appropriate’ website and that it contain two links. One link must point back to www.GreenOfficeStore.com and the other points to the particular eco-friendly cleaner on GreenOfficeStore.com’s website.

“We feel this is a great way to promote sustainable and eco-friendly cleaners while also helping to build brand awareness for www.GreenOfficeStore.com”, says a GreenOfficeStore.com spokesman. “People are becoming increasingly interested in the use of eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable products and safe home cleaners in general. We’re giving them the opportunity to try a variety of green cleaners for free. All we ask is that they post their impressions of the product and link it back to www.GreenOfficeStore.com . It’s a win – win for everyone.”

FreeGreenCleaners.com features the current free green product and also shows users the next two free eco-friendly cleaning items that will be available. Once a registered user posts their review, they become eligible to receive the next free item from www.FreeGreenCleaners.com ’s large selection of sustainable, non-toxic and safe home cleaners.

Pest-free Garbage Bags

Garbage bags don’t have many functions to accomplish, other then storing your garbage cleanly and securely away. A great way to do that is to keep away pest and rodents.

Greenofficestore.com has a product that can keep pest and rodents far from the trash helping to ensure that it doesn't end up dumped all over the street or your yard.

Insect Repellent Trash Bags,30 Gallons, 2ml, 33 inches x 40 inches, Black are Greenofficestore’s newest and most unique trash liners yet.

They are perfect for getting rid of unwanted pests with their fragrant, anti-bacterial Insect Repellent Trash Bags! The bags are a blend of 33 percent recycled LLDPE, 66 percent LDPE and 1 percent all-natural Pest Guard insect repellent additive.

Several years of research have gone into the development of the formula that marries industrial grade plastic bags with an all natural bug repellant.Pest-Guard Bags are a revolutionary new product that has an anti-bacterial anti-bug repellent melted into the plastic liner. The Pest Guard formula is environmentally friendly and non-toxic and is proven to repel bugs, insects, even small pests such as squirrels and birds.

The bags are built with 33% cleaned and recycled waste, and are at our unbeatable low price.

Order now at http://www.greenofficestore.com/results.asp?Keyword=trashbags

Where does that paper go?

Ever wonder where those papers you put on the side of the curb go? We at Greenofficestore.com have an answer for you.

Greenofficestore.com sells products manufactured by companies that have gathered and recycled that paper you threw out. Coincidentally your printer paper is now running out, you're out of Post-its and you have nothing to write on.

You can now replenish that paper you put out at the curb.

Visit www.greenofficestore.com now!

Recycled Paper, 20 lb., 92 Brightness, 8-1/2 inches x11 inch , White is only $8.39 for a pack of 500. Don’t you think it is time to cut down on an expense that you use every month and you go through ream after ream? It is time to switch to renewable paper.

Post-it Notes, Recycled, 3 inches x5 inches , 12/PK, Yellow is only $23.50 for 12 packs. The same Post-its you have been using for years are now this cheap because of the use of renewable energy.

MultiUse Paper, 3HP, 20LB, 92 Bright, 8-1/2 inches x11 inch , White is $8.46 a ream. Save money and save the environment with our eco-friendly multi-use paper.

By buying recycled paper you will be saving the environment and breaking our wasteful consumer cycle.

So grab that paper you put out on the curb from www.greenofficestore.com !

Clean the World by Cleaning the House with OptionsForLife

While all of our products at Greenofficestore.com help the global environment, there are now a series of products that will improve the environment directly around you.

OptionsForLife (http://www.greenofficestore.com/optionsforlife.asp) offers a number of products for home cleaning, because while being a steward of the earth, you may want to keep you home our office clean. Greenofficestore.com always maintains an eco-friendly vision for our earth through all of our properties.

As part of this vision, we have partnered with OptionsForLife products to offer you some of the most innovative and effective green cleaners on the market today. OptionsForLife natural, organic cleaners are a safe, non-toxic cleaning alterative to the conventional cleaners on store shelves today.

OptionsForLife has become a successful product line because of their safe, sensible, and strong approach to the home cleaning business.

OptionsForLife products are safe because they are made from all natural ingredients, such as coconuts, corn and oranges. Their Green Seal certification is a testament to their reduction in human and aquatic toxicity as well as a reduction in smog production potential.

OptionsForLife products are sensible because of their below market cost, since they are made from all natural ingredients. A case of four different types of home cleaners are only $20.00, that’s 5 dollars a bottle! (http://www.greenofficestore.com/results.asp?Keyword=OFL-STARTER) Their 24 once window spray is only $4.45! (http://www.greenofficestore.com/results.asp?Keyword=OFL-1-) And those are only a few of OptionsForLife’s tremendous product line.

OptionsForLife is strong. We could tell you about the strength of OptionsForLife’s tile cleaner to take out grudge or the power of OptionsForLife’s floor and furniture cleaner to yield a shine beautiful enough to see yourself, but we would rather have you find out for yourself. So pick up some OptionsForLife products at Greenofficestore.com today.

Compostable, Biodegradable Bags Now At GreenOfficeStore.com!

100% Biodegradable.

100% Compostable.

There are several different types of biodegradable and compostable plastics that are made specifically for different purposes. Depending on planned use and intended disposal (landfill or compost) they are all better environmental options to ordinary plastics that can persist in the environment for decades. GreenOfficeStore.com compostable, biodegradable trash bags are specifically engineered to quickly degrade in 10 to 45 days and fully biodegrade in less than 6 months!

Outstanding performance for kitchen, curb-side & outdoor use!

» Ideal for Municipal curbside yard waste collection programs
» Supports pre & post consumer food waste diversion programs
» Assortment of sizes and gauges (30, 32, 48, and 60 gallons!)
» North American Technology Manufactured in Canada & the USA
» 100% Biodegradable and compostable
» Superior puncture and tear resistance
» Excellent performance in use with leakproof seals and greater load capacity » Hot coffee grinds are not a problem
» Controls odor & dissipates moisture
» 12 month shelf life when stored in a dry location out of direct sunlight
» Totally degrades in 10 to 45 days in commercial compost
» Light weight liners for indoor and curbside bins to heavy duty outdoor yard and garden bags

Wide Variety of Applications!

• Small Kitchen for under the sink
• Tall Kitchen for curb side green carts
• X-Large for outdoor yard and leaf collection

Purchase Yours and Start Composting Today!

• 30 Gallon Compostable Trash Bags, 1.10 mils
• 32 Gallon Compostable Trash Bags, 0.85 mils
• 48 Gallon Compostable Trash Bags, 0.85 mils
• 60 Gallon Compostable Trash Bags, 0.85 mils

We also offer 100% Pre and Post-Consumer Waste regular trash bags.

How To Create Your Own Compost Pile

You can create a compost pile in your backyard or indoors, depending on your available space. Backyard and indoor composting are most suitable for households to convert small quantities of organic materials, such as yard trimmings and food scraps, into compost that can be spread in garden beds, under shrubs, or use it as potting soil for outdoor plants.

Before you begin composting, you should understand the composting process. View what materials to compost and what materials not to compost and read up on the science behind composting about which variables must be controlled during composting.

All composting requires three basic ingredients:

• Browns—Includes materials such as dead leaves, branches , twigs
• Greens—Includes materials such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds
• Water

You will also need some helpful composting tools:

• Pitchfork
• Square-point shovel or machete
• Water hose with a spray head

Having the right amount of greens, browns, and water is important for compost development. Ideally, your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens and alternate layers of organic materials of different-size particles. The brown materials provide carbon for your compost and the green materials provide nitrogen, while the water provides moisture to help breakdown the organic matter.

There is no one "right" way to compost, but you may want to follow one of the approaches below:

Backyard Composting Approach One

1. Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin.
2. Add your brown and green materials as you collect them, making sure larger pieces are chopped or shredded.
3. Moisten dry materials as they are added.
4. Once your compost pile is established, mix grass clippings and green waste into the pile and bury fruit and vegetable waste under 10 inches of compost material.
5. Optional: Cover top of compost with a tarp to keep it moist.
6. When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color, your compost is ready to use (this is usually occurs in two months to two years).

Backyard Composting Approach Two

1. Select a dry, shady spot near a water source for your compost pile or bin.
2. Before you add your brown and green materials, make sure larger pieces are chopped or shredded.
3. Cover your composting area with a 6-inch layer of brown materials.
4. Add a 3-inch layer of green materials and a little soil or finished compost.
5. Lightly mix the two layers above.
6. Top with a 3-inch layer of brown materials, adding water until moist.
7. Turn your compost pile every week or two with a pitchfork to distribute air and moisture.
8. Move the dry materials from the edges into the middle of the pile. Continue this practice until the pile does not re-heat much after turning.
9. Your compost will be ready in one to four months, but let the pile sit for two weeks before using.

Indoor Composting

If you do not have space for an outdoor compost pile, you can compost materials indoors using a special type of bin, which you can buy or make yourself. Remember to tend your pile and keep track of what you throw in. A properly managed compost bin will not attract pests or rodents and will not smell bad. Your compost should be ready in 2 to 5 weeks.

What to Compost - The IN List

» Animal manure
» Cardboard rolls
» Clean paper
» Coffee grounds and filters
» Cotton rags
» Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
» Eggshells
» Fireplace ashes
» Fruits and vegetables
» Grass clippings
» Hair and fur
» Hay and straw
» Houseplants
» Leaves
» Nut shells
» Sawdust
» Shredded newspaper
» Tea bags
» Wood chips
» Wool rags
» Yard trimmings

What Not to Compost - The OUT List (Leave Out/Reason Why )

» Black walnut tree leaves or twigs (Releases substances that might be harmful to plants)
» Coal or charcoal ash (Might contain substances harmful to plants)
» Dairy products (e.g., butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt) (Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies)
» Diseased or insect-ridden plants (Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants)
» Fats, grease, lard, or oils (Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies)
» Meat or fish bones and scraps (Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies)
» Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter) (Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans)
» Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides (Might kill beneficial composting organisms)Black walnut tree leaves or twigs (Releases substances that might be harmful to plants)
Coal or charcoal ash (Might contain substances harmful to plants)

To learn more about compostable and biodegradable bags, visit the GreenOfficeStore.com, to start building your compost pile today!

If you would like to purchase 30, 32, 48, or 64 gallon compostable bags, click here!

Act2 Green Smart 100% Recycled Laptop Jackets & Bags

Now available at GreenOfficeStore.com: Shoreline's new act2 GreenSmart Recycled Laptop jackets and sleeves are a stylish choice for environmentally sensitive consumers or everyday consumers looking for laptop protection. The fabrics of act2 are made from 100% recycled post consumer water and soda bottles. As described on the hang tag, in the U.S. alone, there are enough of these bottles sent to landfill everyday to fill the Rose Bowl every two weeks. It stands to reason then, that any products that can be made utilizing these wasted bottles will divert more of these petroleum based items from landfill by creating a demand for the recycled resource.

Introducing act2, the innovator in the development of bags that are GreenSmart. What is GreenSmart? The practice of making choices that contribute to improving the planet. Like making products using supple, strong, durable fabrics derived from 100% post consumer recycled plastic water and soda bottles, for starters. These are products consumers will be proud to own, which have a very clear uniqueness; bags made from bottles. Bags that have the same quality and performance the consumer needs without taking a big bite out of their pocketbook. In fact, there is no price premium to act2 at all. This is exactly the story that consumers seek in their Green purchases - match the existing expectations and don't increase the price!

Being a GreenSmart leader means that we are dedicated to creating products that have science backing the claims. Your can be confident that your purchase is truly making a difference in the world, as well as being an attractive, top notch product, built to last. When you buy an act2 All Around Laptop Bag or act2 All Around Laptop Sleeve, you'll know exactly how much energy and resources they've saved by making the GreenSmart choice. This is a powerful thing. For example, our 15.4" All Around Laptop Jacket diverts 17 sixteen ounce bottles from landfill, and saves the equivalent energy to power a laptop for 131 hours! Many companies these days, are making claims to be green. For most, it's only skin deep. Consumers see through this. They seek products and brands that are fashionable, functional, and tangibly beneficial to the planet, at the same time. A tall order for most Brands to be sure, but at act2 we're doing it. YourYou will love the new GreenSmart choices from act2 and GreenOfficeStore.com.

All Around Laptop Jacket: Always On Protection

CONTENTS

Outer and inner fabric 100% post consumer recycled PET water bottles and recycled soda bottles.
Uses 11 to 17, 16 oz. bottles and saves 7,500 to 11,500 Btus
Padding Made from 100% post industrial material

INSIDE FEATURES

Always On Design provides open & closed protection
Easy view GreenSmart indicator
Narrow elastic corners hold laptop in place and allow maximum viewing area
Laptop protected from zipper teeth by interior zipper cover
Sidewalls avoid side ports, CD access or wrist position.

OUTSIDE FEATURES

Lightweight - weighs less than 1lb
Full access zipper back door allows port access
Easy grab zipper pulls for easy access
Easy Access Zipper Pocket for cables or power supply.
Business card pocket insider outer zipper pocket
Shoulder strap included.

Recycled Laptop Sleeve: Transportation Protection

CONTENTS

Outer and inner fabric 100% post consumer recyled PET water and recycled soda bottles.
Uses 11 to 17, 16 oz. bottles and saves 7,500 to 11,500 Btus
Padding Made from 100% post industrial material

INSIDE FEATURES

Easy view GreenSmart indicator

OUTSIDE FEATURES

Lightweight - weighs less than 1lb
Easy grab zipper pulls for easy access

We offer a wide variety of sizes as follows:

Act2 Laptop Jacket Choices:

14.1" Jet Black Recycled Laptop Bag - 17141
15.1" Jet Black Recycled Laptop Bag - 17151
13.3" Jet Black Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) -17181
14" Jet Black Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17131
15.4" Jet Black Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17161
17" Jet Black Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17171

12.1" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag - 17122 - Coming Soon!
14.1" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag - 17142 - Coming Soon!
15.1" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag - 17152 - Coming Soon!
13.3" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) -17182 - Coming Soon!
14" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17132 - Coming Soon!
15.4" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17162 - Coming Soon!
17" Storm Blue Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17172 - Coming Soon!

12.1" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag - 17123
14.1" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag - 17143
15.1" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag - 17153
13.3" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) -17183
14" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17133
15.4" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17163
17" Toasted Almond Recycled Laptop Bag (Widescreen) - 17173

Act2 Laptop Sleeve Choices:

Jet Black Medium Environmentally Friendly Laptop Sleeve - 12131
Jet Black Medium Environmentally Friendly Laptop Sleeve - 12141
Storm Blue Medium Environmentally Friendly Laptop Sleeve 12132 - Coming Soon!
Storm BlueLarge Environmentally Friendly Laptop Sleeve 12141 - Coming Soon!
Toasted Almond Environmentally Friendly Laptop Sleeve Medium - 12133
Toasted Almond Environmentally Friendly Laptop Sleeve Large - 12143

Buy Your 100% Post Consumer Waste Recycled Laptop Bag From GreenOfficeStore Today!

OptionsForLife Eco Friendly Cleaners Now Available At GreenOfficeStore.com

GreenOfficeStore.com was founded in 2007 with the goal of providing recycled, environmentally responsible and energy-efficient office, school, and green cleaning supplies to businesses and individuals. We operate with the knowledge that offices, schools, and homes can be run both successfully and responsibly. It is our vision to present individuals with many wiser choices and products for conducting your life on a daily basis. As part of this vision, we have partnered with OptionsForLife Products to offer you some of the most innovative, effective green cleaners on the market today.

What Makes OptionsForLife Cleaners Unique?

price, performance, health, safety and the environment

Most cleaning products are made from the same two basic active ingredients - surfactants and solvents. Those products with the best environment, health and safety profiles are bio-based -- that is, they are made from renewable, naturally derived ingredients, like coconuts, corn and oranges. Conventional cleaners with much inferior human health, safety and environmental profiles are petroleum-based.

optionsforlife cleaning products are bio-based and Green Seal Certified based on their reduced human and aquatic toxicity and reduced smog production potential. Plus they work, as numerous users can attest to.

The power of concentration

We are encouraging consumers to buy liquid cleaning products in concentrated form. Most store bought liquid cleaners contain more than 95% water and less than 5% active ingredients. Why pay for water and excess packaging? optionsforlife concentrates can be mixed with cold water in reusable spray bottles at home to the strength best suited to customer needs, saving users up to 70% on their cleaning product purchases and eliminating lots of plastic bottles from the environment.

optionsforlife commercial and household cleaning products represent the very latest in 21st Century bio-based green cleaning chemistry. They're effective, safer to use around children, pets and plants and better for the environment than conventional cleaners. PLUS, compared to conventional cleaners, they receive better marks for surface gloss retention and surface safety.

Green Seal Certified

optionsforlife commercial products are Green Seal Certified. They meet Green Seal's standard for industrial and institutional cleaners based on their reduced human and aquatic toxicity and reduced smog production potential.

optionsforlife household cleaning products are based on the same health, safety and environment responsible bio-based formulas as our commercial products.

Green Seal is a non-profit organization that works with government, industry and environmental stakeholders to set environmental standards for products and services. A growing number of U.S. government agencies and corporations are requiring cleaning products that are Green Seal certified or that meet Green Seal standards.

The OptionsForLife Product Line

Finally! A complete line of "green" eco friendly cleaners for use in the home, office, and industry. Very few green cleaning brands come close to the broad spectrum of applications offered by OptionsForLife cleaners. Read below to view the options for life product line:

» Peroxide-Based Kitchen and Bathroom Green Cleaner
» Peroxide-Based Degreaser/Deodorizer
» Multi-Surface Green Cleaners
» Furniture, Floor and Wall Green Cleaners
» Glass and Window Green Cleaner
» Tub and Tile Green Cleaner
» Eco Friendly Floor Seal & Finish
» Eco Friendly Neutral Floor Cleaner
» Eco Friendly Floor Stripper
» Eco Friendly Laundry Detergent
» Eco Friendly Fabric Softener
» Eco Friendly Dish Soap
» Eco Friendly Hand Soap
» Eco Friendly Automatic Dishwasher Detergent

For more on OptionsForLife visit GreenOfficeStore.com today!

A Bright Idea

It is well known that Wal-Mart has not been the most environmentally sound company since its beginning in 1962. However, in affiliation with Yahoo, Wal-Mart has launched the "18 Seconds Campaign." 18 seconds is the amount of time it takes to change a light bulb, and this new program tracks how many compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are purchased in the Wal-Mart stores across the country.

Did you know, generally, when you turn on a light, you send heat pollution into the atmosphere? Did you know that the average U.S household produces two times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions than the average car? Did you know a standard light bulb only uses 10% of the electricity it actually consumes? (The other 90% is lost as heat.)

CFLs are designed to use less energy, and produce less pollution, than the standard bulb. The bulbs are also designed to produce the same amount of light as a standard bulb, while being environmentally efficient. If a CFL has the government issued Energy Star label, you can be sure the bulb uses one-third of the amount of energy that a standard bulb uses. In addition to this, the bulbs can last up to ten times longer and can save you $30 or more on your electric bill over the lifetime of the bulb.

Since the first of this year 152,122,751 CFLs have been purchased in the stores across the country. These purchases have saved a total of $4,491,485,072! Also, since more than half of our country's electricity is produced by the burning of coal, CFLs are also helping to use less coal. 15,836,404,892 pounds of coal have been saved since the first of the year as a result of these bulbs and those who have purchased them.

Anatomy of the Papermate Earthwrite Pencil

To Download A Print-Quality PDF of the Anatomy of the Papermate Earthwrite Pencil, Click Here.

Reusable Shopping Bags

You go to the store and do your shopping. You go up to the register and check out. While the cashier (whether it be a grocery store or any other store,) rings up the items you are purchasing, the items are placed in to plastic or paper bags. Many times we notice the cashier used an excessive amount of bags, or an unusually large bag for a T-shirt. However, most likely we do not realize what is actually happening as a result of this process.

Every day over a billion bags are given to consumers. So far this year well over 50 billion bags have been given out. What happens with these bags?

Every year billions of these bags end up as litter on the ground or in the water. Over time these bags break down into tiny pieces of toxic material that get into our soil and our water. As a result of these discarded plastic bags hundreds of thousands of sea and land animals die from mistakingly ingesting the bags.

Many people assume their is an easy solution to this problem. This is not necessarily false, however, the solution may not be what you think. Recycling is not a reasonable solution when it comes to these bags. Because of the insanely high amount of bags produced and given out, it would take entirely too much energy to recycle them.

The solution is to get reusable bags and bring them to the store. Also, reusable sandwich bags are available. If every consumer did this there would be a drastic change on this issue, if it were to still be an issue. Until this happens there are a few things you can do to cut down on the consumption of plastic bags. If you are at a store and you are purchasing one or a few items refuse a bag. If you can easily carry the item(s) without a bag, there is no need to waste one.
To make use of the plastic bags taking over the cabinet in your house, you can reuse them as garbage bags. Other simple things you can do to reduce the consumption of plastic bags is to open your eyes (notice how many bags you are consuming,) and finally, spread the word. Some are completely unaware of the impact the waste of these bags has on the environment. Now that you know, spread the word so that we can solve this problem.

Rock the Green.

We are all becoming aware, or are already aware, of the importance of reducing our wear on the environment and our declining resources. Now we can sing about it too.

There are a few musicians who have taken the opportunity to utilize the microphone for the green cause. Singer and songwriter, Jack Johnson, known for the soundtrack to the "Curious George" movie, did just that. On the "Curious George" album titled "Sing - A - Longs and Lullabies For The Film Curious George," Johnson plays a song appropriately titled "The 3 R's." In this song Johnson suggests we reuse what we have instead of producing or purchasing more, including hand me down clothes and bringing your own bags to the grocery store! He advises that if it's not possible to do so, that we at least recycle what ever possible.

The great thing about this song is that Johnson appeals to a wide audience. The film was and is still viewed by people of all ages. His music is enjoyed by the same range of people, so he is getting his message through to all generations!

Another band that has spoken up about the environment is "Tegan and Sara." On their album "Under Feet Like Ours," there is a song titled "Our Trees." In this song the girls question the reason for which trees seem to be disappearing as we keep growing and building. As the lyrics state, it really does make you think, "where did they go?"

Like Johnson, "Tegan and Sara" appeal to a wide variety of listeners. Some of their music has been featured on the ABC show "Grey's Anatomy." This gives the girls the power to reach a grand audience.

It is respectable (to say the least) that these artists have chosen to use the opportunity they have been given to sing out about such a cause.

More green for less green.

Winter is fully upon us, and it is cold! It is expensive and sometimes inefficient to keep warm. However, there are a few things that can be done that will save money and energy in the long run.

If budget allows you can invest in a programmable thermostat for your home. A programmable thermostat allows you to control the heating of your home when you are not there. The thermostat would automatically lower it's temperature during the hours in which no one was home. Then, before your return to the home, it would automatically go back up. This ensure a warm home upon your arrival, but keeps the cost down during the day (not to mention the waste of energy.)

Proper insulation is also a good investment if your wallet will allow it. This will ensure a warmer home and again, less energy.

There are also a few tips that do not require you to fork over a whole lot of money. Keeping furnace filters clean reduce the amount of time your furnace is on, thus saving money and energy. Making sure there are no air leaks in your home will do the same. If there are any places where cold air can get in, and warm air can escape, you want to make sure to close them up if possible.

Saving money and energy can be as simple as running heat producing appliances at night (dishwasher, oven etc.) The heat produced by these appliances will make it easier on your heat source, whether it be oil or electric. If these appliances are going to run anyway, it is best to use them at the coldest time of the day. Another simple solution is to open up your curtains or blinds on sunny days. Let the sun do it's job!

Eco-friendly Waste Disposal.

In the days of electronic overload new products are coming out practically every day. So, if you feel it is time for an upgrade, what do you do with the old product?

Tossing it in the trash may seem like a simple solution. However, electronics such as computers, cell phones, and some televisions contain various toxins. For instance, cathode ray tubes (CRTs) found in computers and certain T.V.s contain heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium. These metals can be extremely harmful if they get into our water. There is also the danger of special plastics, used in most electronics, releasing particles that can enter the bloodstream.

There is currently no law in the United States addressing this issue. However, at the rate we replace electronics, the harmful materials could be accumulating as I write.

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions. Many cell phone and television companies can recycle your old phone or T.V. There are also a lot of cell phone drives in which you can donate your old phone. Similar to cell phones, many companies will take your old computer or hardware (small fess may apply.) The company will recycle or refurbish the item. There are also organizations that will gladly accept your old computer as a donation.

Everything you ever wanted to know about CFLs

Maybe not everything, but we're here to point you to many experts around the Web who have the facts about compact fluorescent light bulbs. Maybe you've heard some troubling things about them (mercury!). Maybe you think you already know it all. Or maybe you're totally new to the swirly bulbs. No matter where you stand, you and I can always learn a few more things. So here goes.

Why CFLs?
Simply put, these bulbs use less energy than regular old incandescent lights. Energy Star-qualified CFLs use 75% less energy. In addition, Consumer Reports found that CFLs last 3,000 hours before wearing out, compared to only 1,000 hours for a standard bulb. Since the bulbs draw less power, each one you install will save you $30 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime according to Energy Star. Bottom line: CFLs cost a bit more than incandescents in the first place, but you save in the long run because you won't spend as much on your utility bill each month or buy as many replacement bulbs. One last bonus: CFLs create 75% less heat, so they're safer and don't heat up your house.

Where can I use CFLs?
Most lighting fixtures that accept standard incandescent bulbs will also take CFLs. Just look for the right size and similar wattage, which will be noted on the CFL package. Lights with dimmer switches or three-way switches need CFLs specifically designed for dimmers. Read the label for this info too. CFLs are not well-suited for recessed lights, and you may want to get a specially rated CFL for a ceiling fan fixture because of the extra vibrations. Otherwise, most places work.
GE Lighting has a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about using CFLs, and while it recommends GE products, the info. is still useful.

Don't CFLs give off a nasty, harsh light?

People have their own tastes and perceptions of light, so ultimately, you'll have to test out different CFLs to see what works best for you. Broadly speaking, the early CFLs were harsher and the cheapest ones still are. Avoid the bargain bin for better quality light. Popular Mechanics has a detailed comparison of eight commonly available brands. The reviewers gave high marks to several bulbs, but the N:Vision Soft White CFL got the highest grade for "reading and illuminating faces." Grist also reviewed several CFLs and found the Philips Soft-White was the best of the bunch, providing a " nice warm glow." In general, Grist says to pick bulbs described as "soft white" instead of ones labeled "daylight or bright white."

A friend said his CFLs burned out fast...
Every new technology has horror stories and "I got a bum deal" tales. Sometimes, this is frankly due to user-error, but it can also be that the product simply wasn't suited to the application.
CFLs work better in lamps and fixtures with a bit of space around them, as opposed to recessed lighting, which can trap heat and cause premature burn-out according to National Geographic's Green Guide. Also, don't flick the switch! Turning a CFL fixture on and off quickly also can shorten the bulb's life. Energy Star recommends using CFLs in fixtures that are generally left on for at least 15 minutes each use. Using regular CFLs in light fixtures with a dimmer switch will shorten their life dramatically. Use only CFLs clearly labeled as "dimmable" for this purpose.
Energy Star-qualified CFLs automatically come with a two-year warranty, so you should be able to get a replacement or refund from the manufacturer if this kind of bulb burns out unexpectedly.

How can I dispose of CFLs? What about the mercury?
Yes, there is a trace amount of mercury in CFLs. But it averages only 500 milligrams — for comparison, a home thermometer has 0.5 grams. So you'd have to break 100 CFLs to expose yourself to the same mercury as in one thermometer. Still, light bulbs do break. The EPA has detailed instructions on how to clean it up, and the method isn't hard. Open a window, and much of the potential harm will dissipate in about an hour. You shouldn't toss old, unbroken CFLs in the trash because of that tiny bit of mercury. Instead, look for a recycling center in your area:
EPA's CFL recycling programs by state
Earth911's CFL recycling database -- click "More" next to the search box, enter your ZIP code, and then click "Go" to get a personalized list.
IKEA — every store has a free "Take Back" CFL recycle bin.
Hardware stores — chains like Ace and True Value are starting to collect CFLs.

Is there a connection between CFLs and migraines?

This question began popping up in early 2008 after an item in U.K Daily Mail presented questions asked by the Migraine Action Association as a statement of fact. No science has been offered to substantiate the suggestion that CFLs cause migraines. The flip side of the same coin is that there are relatively few online resources refuting the claim. EcoGeek came down hard on the subject, calling it a "crazy wildfire" of a rumor. TheDailyGreen.com also weighed in, quoting a representative from the migraine association as describing the connection between CFLs and migraines as "anecdotal." To date, no substantial research has been done on the subject that anyone's aware — or at least, that anyone has published online.

So there you have it. Compact fluorescent light bulbs save energy and money. Not great for dimmer switches and recessed lights, but the mercury won't kill you either. And you can try taking CFLs to the hardware store to recycle when they finally burn out after a long, bright life in your living room.

Environmental Education

We are regularly reminded of the steady decline of our environment. Children especially are told to be conscientious, or their generation and future generations will be in danger.

The question is; are children being educated, or nagged? It is important for children to see what physically makes up the environment.

Many schools in New Jersey are taking a step in the right direction. Schools are organizing Environmental Education trips so the students can step away from video games and get their hands dirty.

In Sussex County, Fairview Lake YMCA is not only a summer camp and weekend recreation spot, but also an EE facility. In one school week up to three hundred students may come through the gates at Fairview.

The students range in age from kindergarten to college. The classes are designed to get the students outside and give them a hands on way to enjoy what is around them.

It’s important for the kids to not only learn, but also to see how the environment works. With that in mind Fairview facilitates various classes including, stream ecology, a swamp walk, and a 3 mile hike get the students up close to different animals and eco systems. They also offer a paper making class, in which the students learn how to make paper from recycled newspaper.

Students coming from cities have sometimes never been in the woods before. The hands on atmosphere of EE is undoubtedly a positive experience for these children. However, what happens when the students go home?

Are these children seeing positive examples in the home and community? Children need to see what their impact is on the environment. The easiest things for a family and a community to demonstrate to it’s youth are the 3 R’s. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

According to the NJ Solid and Hazardous Waste Program, Sussex County set a fair example. In 2005 the county recycled a total of 48.5% of all recyclable material.

Education programs and good examples are just steps in the process of educating children on the environment that surrounds them. It is important for families and communities to be consistent so children can get a good picture of the impact they can have.

Home Energy Use Monitors

The cost of electricity is going up (both in dollars and in environmental and health impacts) and it doesn’t show any signs of doing otherwise. About half of the energy in the American grid is coal generated. We won’t bore you with what you already know: coal is a dangerous, nasty, unsustainable, and undesirable way to make power. By using less energy, and greening the electricity that we do use, we can lighten our footprint immensely. The subject of electricity and its environmental impacts is a massive one. We hope that this brief guide can offer some solid suggestions for greening your electricity and use thereof.

A home energy audit is a way to inventory your home’s energy use, where energy is lost, and where it can be saved. You can do an energy audit yourself or get a pro. Many utilities also offer home and business energy audits for free.

The two tools available today that will allow the average consumer to perform their own energy audit are the Kill-a-Watt and the Power Cost Monitor.

P3 International Kill-a-Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

Here's a gadget that might be useful to help settle these questions: Kill-a-Watt. You just plug it in the power outlet; plug into it whatever it is that you want to test and voila! The first step toward conservation is having feedback on how much you consume.

Kill-a-Watt is not quite perfect: Having an easy to read power-meter that tells you how much everything (individually and together) inside the house consumes in real-time, as with the so-called intelligent houses, would be better (as with the Power Cost Monitor), but Kill-a-Watt has the advantage of being inexpensive and better than the nothing that most people have. "LCD display, cumulative kilowatt-hour monitor, displays volts, amps, watts, Hz, VA, forecast your costs, 0.2% accuracy," says the manufacturer.

The unit's large LCD display counts consumption by the kilowatt-hour, the same as your local utility. You can calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month, or year while also checking the quality of your power by monitoring voltage, line frequency, and power factor. Now you'll know if it's time for a new refrigerator or if that old air conditioner is saving you money. Don't be another casualty. With the amazing Kill-a-Watt, you'll have wasteful devices pushing up daisies. You should be able to find it online between $15 and $25.

Blue Line Innovations Inc. Power Cost Monitor

Similar to the Kill-a-Watt, the Power Cost Monitor is a very handy little device that monitors your home's energy use in real time, and tells you how much it's costing you. It makes it easy to see which appliances are sucking up the most electricity, and how you can save money by conserving. With just two pieces (the display and the sensor) and easy installation (no electrician required), the Power Cost is an easy, low-maintenance fix that can help reduce your home's electricity use by 5 to 20 percent; get one, and watch with glee as your energy use plummets after installing compact fluorescent lightbulbs and turning the thermostat down a degree or two.

The Power Cost Monitor consists of two components - a small display (which you can place anywhere inside your home) and a sensor unit (which you attach to your electricity meter).

The display unit, located inside the home, receives a wireless signal from the sensor unit which is attached to the outside of your electricity meter. The sensor unit can be easily installed by the homeowner. The sensor unit transmits your meter information to the in-home display unit where your electricity information is displayed in kilowatt hours and dollars and cents.

The Power Cost Monitor does not require an electrician for installation. The Power Cost Monitor has been designed so that it is easy for you to install onto your electric meter.

See the TreeHugger.com Reviews of the Power Cost Monitor: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/powercost_home.php

See the TreeHugger.com Reviews of the Kill-a-Watt:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/05/killawatt.php