If you know me you are well aware that I have a bit of a hectic travel schedule and go to a variety of conferences oriented around green business, social enterprises, health and wellness and everything in between. Yes I am an admitted conference junkie. But there is a reason for my addiction and I will try to explain them rationally as any junkie in denial will do. For me, my reasons are to keep on the edge of what is happening in the various spaces that comprise LOHAS. I enjoy attending conferences not so much to hear about what someone is saying on stage but rather what is being said in the hallways. I feel that getting into the candid conversations at dinners or over drinks really gives me an up close and personal view point into various market sectors with various market leaders. The presentations on stage are an added bonus and if I am lucky they are indeed worth listening to. But I am a critique on a variety of levels. My preference is someone who not only provides a picture of the problem but also presents a vision and solutions to it. If I want gloom and doom I can just watch the news. No need to tell me more about it. I think we are all aware that we are all in deep s#!@ and in it for a long while. I want inspiration and something that speaks to me at a deeper level. I also don’t want a sales pitch. I know that corporate presentations tend to have specific parameters on what they can and cannot say. But getting those people off the stage and into a conversation in the hall is great. That is when you can get to the heart of burning questions and have them give you more in depth answers that they can’t when in front of an audience. I also need imagery. I’m a visual person and a visual learner. If someone presents something with multiple bullet points and is reading them off – that immediately sends me to checking my email on my smartphone. Yawn! But is someone has a well thought out presentation and integrates examples and lead ins using images it is magic. Presenters don’t always need to have images behind them on a large screen. They can take the audience on a wild ride just with a compelling story that has colorful detail and elements that the audience can relate to. After all we are a society of storytellers. They also must have that connection with the audience that a few have and others do not. Hard one to teach but when it is there you can feel it. I also run into some of the most interesting people I would not expect and allow myself to do so by being open to whomever or whatever manifests in front of me. By attending various conferences and hearing different thoughts and ideas both on stage and off I begin to weave together trends and similarities I hear repeated in various LOHAS sectors. I also try to integrate new ideas and concepts that may be fresh to LOHAS. This process constantly reminds me of the fable of Stone Soup. The fable goes like this:
Some travellers come to a village, carrying nothing more than an empty cooking pot. Upon their arrival, the villagers are unwilling to share any of their food stores with the hungry travellers. The travellers fill the pot with water, drop a large stone in it, and place it over a fire in the village square. One of the villagers becomes curious and asks what they are doing. The travellers answer that they are making "stone soup", which tastes wonderful, although it still needs a little bit of garnish to improve the flavor, which they are missing. The villager does not mind parting with just a little bit of carrot to help them out, so it gets added to the soup. Another villager walks by, inquiring about the pot, and the travellers again mention their stone soup which has not reached its full potential yet. The villager hands them a little bit of seasoning to help them out. More and more villagers walk by, each adding another ingredient. Finally, a delicious and nourishing pot of soup is enjoyed by all.
This is in essence how the core content of the LOHAS Forum is developed. We then add additional speaker applications into it from those who submit presentations and we adjust a bit here and there but that is how it is contrived. It may not be perfect but the mix is a work in progress and I hope that you are able to enjoy some of the nourishment that the LOHAS soup provides by attending the LOHAS Forum, attending LOHAS regional events, subscribing to our e-newsletter or our various social media groups such as Facebook, Twiiter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

As an avid tea drinker, I’ve been called a ‘tea addict,’ ‘tea-aholic’ and ‘tea obsessed.’ My friends know that when they come to my house, they will be offered a cup of tea, then a choice of tea from my cupboard full of various types and brands of teas. From locally made loose leaf, to the tried and true Celestial Seasonings, I’ve accumulated a good size collection, which I am constantly adding to. That being said, I enjoy tea, and even more, I love to try new teas and learn about different companies and their unique ‘tea practices.’ When I had the opportunity to try Denver based Teatulía, how could I say no? I’m glad that I didn’t.

Teatulía is named for the region where the tea is grown in Northern Bangladesh. Grown from a single garden in an organic cooperative, Teatulía plants are cultivated by hand, and nurtured by Mother Nature. The garden is located in a pristine environment, nestled against the Himalayas to the North and the Brahmaputra and Ganges Rivers to the South, which offers the perfect climate and location for the plants to thrive. Teatulía is grown 100% organically without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilizers, and the taste of the tea reflects the love and care given to the gardens.

Teatulía offers a line of 9 organic teas, each unique and delicately tasting in its own way. From the smooth, subtle flavor of Black Tea, refreshing White Tea, Spicy Ginger, floral Earl of Bengal, herbal infused Tulsi, energizing Peppermint, earthy Green Tea and more, Teatulía teas are exceptionally high quality, and outshine any of the other teas in my personal collection. Although I enjoyed trying all of Teatulía’s flavors, I have to say that my two favorite were the White Tea and Green Tea, both offering a subtle, smooth flavor that lasts and lasts.

As a self-proclaimed green tea addict, I was naturally drawn to Teatulía’s Green Tea, which has a pure, delicate taste. The green tea world is vast, and within it are many different types of green tea, but from my experience trying various green teas, I’d say that Teatulía’s falls at the perfect medium of ‘not too grassy’ and ‘not strong enough.’ It’s subtle, yet very flavorful, and the tea bag lasts for at least 2 full cups of tea. I will definitely be buying this one!

Teatulía’s White Tea is equally delicious in its own right, and offers a very distinct white tea flavor. Some white teas have the tendency to be weak, or have a more floral taste, but Teatulía’s White Tea is very smooth, yet crisp tasting. At first glance, it doesn’t look so much like a white tea, and is almost brown. However, once you get a taste of its magic, you won’t want any other!

In addition to the company’s delicious, organically grown teas, there’s more. As a company, Teatulía is dedicated to sustainable business practices, and social responsibility is engrained in their DNA. When it comes to environmental integrity, all of Teatulía’s packages are handcrafted and made from biodegradable materials, and each Teatulía tea bag is made from corn silk, which is also biodegradable. In addition, the Teatulía Cooperative creates sustainable prosperity for Bangladeshi women, men and children through education, entrepreneurship, health and cattle-lending programs. Who knew that one tea company could make such a difference in the world?

Whether you are a tea connoisseur, or tea novice, I highly recommend trying Teatulía. In my opinion, there are only a few others out there that can even compare to the high quality offered by this company, in addition to the environmental integrity and social responsibility they stand for. On that note, I’m going to pour myself another cup! Cheers, and as Teatulía says, “To Health. To Life. To Tea.”

How do consumers know if a business is really green? This age-old question has been nswered by the Green Business Bureau – one of the nation’s fastest growing green certification organizations for SMBs—through the simple use of technology.

In an industry first, GBB has implemented a new, cutting-edge program utilizing Quick Response Code (QRC) technology for its green certified business members. As many mobile phone users have already discovered, the use of QRCs can be fun and educational. Soon, all businesses that carry a green certification through GBB will offer QRCs at the point-of-sale to show consumers just what steps have been taken towards sustainability.

These second generation barcodes, when scanned by a mobile phone, instantly take consumers to a dedicated mobile page. In this case, when the QRC of a GBB member is scanned by a customer, the customer will be introduced to the entire list of sustainability initiatives undertaken by the business, providing increased transparency as to why that business can claim some level of eco-friendliness.

 “Studies show that 40 percent of shoppers want to see more green information at the store level, and 28 percent want to see it displayed prominently on shelves or directly on the menu,” says Marcos Cordero, CEO and co-founder of the GBB.  “The new FTC Green Guides go right along with that by requiring businesses to back up their green claims at the point-of-sale.”

The FTC Green Guide updates, which will go into effect this year, state that it is no longer enough to have a website which outlines green initiatives, but that businesses must now offer information on their green practices in the store and at the register.

 “QRC technology is a perfect fit for the GBB’s existing online platform,” says Cordero.  “It conveys the transparency of our interactive membership website seal and takes it mobile, allowing customers immediate, on-the-spot insight into our members’ green practices.”

The immediacy and accessibility of the QRC technology complements the GBB platform’s real-time updating of green initiatives undertaken by a business. Applications for QRC at the point of sale are endless. QRC can be applied to nearly every conceivable media, including cars and vans, invoices, business cards, entry doors, signage, stickers, menus, hangtags, brochures, hardhats and more.

“The GBB’s platform is built on transparency,” says Cordero. “QRC technology is the next, logical evolution of that goal.”

For more information about the Green Business Bureau QRC program, please visit www.gbb.org/qrc

Moving into a dorm room can be a tumultuous experience for many college students, especially those unused to such close-quartered communal living. While many things about life will change when they finally move into a dorm, one thing can stay the same — a commitment to living green. There are tons of ways students can make their cramped life greener and get even more out of their college experience. Here are just a few ideas to get you started on your green dorm living.

Shopping

These tips will help you to outfit your dorm room with everything you need while still staying green.

1.     Buy furnishings locally. If you’re going to college far from home, buy your furnishings locally instead of hauling them with you. It’ll save on gas and still give you access to everything you need. Some stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond, may give you the option of purchasing remotely and picking up at your destination so you don’t have to move a thing.

2.     Shop at resale stores. Not everything for your room has to be brand new. You can be green and save money by shopping used.

3.     Browse Freecycle. Why pay for what you can get for free? Use sites like Freecycle to pick up great stuff for your dorms at little to no cost.

4.     Buy organic cotton sheets. Organic cotton and other natural fibers like bamboo are incredibly soft, durable and don’t require any pesticides to produce.

5.     Look for natural fibers. When shopping for blankets, rugs and towels look for natural fibers. They’re more environmentally-friendly, even though they may cost more to purchase up front.

6.     Get a plant. A plant will not only help your room feel more homey, it will help to clean the air as well.

7.     Look for recycled paper products. When buying paper towels, toilet paper or printer paper, opt for recycled materials.

8.     Avoid disposable furniture. While it might seem like a bargain, cheap, particle-board furniture won’t last and will only end up in a landfill. Higher quality furniture will be a better investment for you and environment in the long run.

9.     Buy things that will last you beyond the dorms. When purchasing things for your room, look for those that will work if you decide to move into an apartment later. That way you won’t have to spend money and resources when you get out.

10. Look for environmentally friendly storage solutions. This can mean getting canvas or metal baskets or looking for plastic bins that are made of recyclable materials.

11. Find or make reusable shopping bags. Don’t bring home loads of plastic bags. Instead, invest in some nice reusable ones. Or make your own.

12. Skip heavily packaged items. Unless it’s something you really, really need, avoid purchasing items that come with way too much packaging. It’s wasteful and will be a pain to deal with once the item is unpacked.

Appliances

From fridges to air conditioning, use these tips to save on energy when it comes to appliances.

13. Look for Energy Star appliances. When buying a mini-fridge or microwave for your room, always do your research to find the most energy efficient models.

14. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace those incandescent and halogen lights with compact fluorescents instead.

15. Turn off your computer when you’re not using it. It saves energy and will help your computer to get a much-needed break. If you don’t want to turn it all the way off, at least make sure it’s sleeping or in power-down mode.

16. Watch out for energy vampires. Chargers for phones, computers and the like suck up energy even when not in use. Use a power strip you can easily turn off to help reduce their impact.

17. Pay attention to the chill factor in your fridge. Keeping your fridge out of the sun and regularly checking its thermostat can help it use less energy over time.

18. Get rid of the AC. Most older dorms don’t have built in AC, but some do allow window units which can be big energy hogs. Forgo the AC if you can handle it, or only switch on to help you sleep or study rather than leaving it on all the time.

Cooking and Eating

Waste less and conserve more when it comes to cooking and eating with these ideas.

19. Avoid plastic water bottles. Instead of stocking up on plastic bottles of water, get a reusable, filtered pitcher. You’ll save tons of plastic from being wasted.

20. Kick the packaged snack habit. Instead, purchase snacks that aren’t individually packaged. Fresher snacks are greener and healthier to boot.

21. Find low-energy methods of cooking. Cooking in a rice cooker, toaster oven or crock pot can mean making delicious meals with much less energy.

22. Buy reusable silverware and plates. Instead of going with the disposable kind, invest in some nice cups and plates you can store and reuse in your room. If you’re worried about breaking glass, go for a recyclable plastic instead.

23. Reuse plastic grocery bags. Don’t throw out perfectly good plastic bags. Use them as liners for your garbage cans or find a number of other great uses for them.

24. Eat smart in the cafeteria. Only take what you know you can eat and avoid using a tray if you don’t have to in order to keep your diet and dorm greener.

Community

Dorm rooms are the perfect place to get close to others and spread your green ideas.

25. Start a club. Want to get the word out about greening the dorms? Start a club on campus to promote activism.

26. Go communal. Instead of having your own fridge or microwave, share with others in your dorm when possible.

27. Green your move out. Don’t simply throw out items when you move out of the dorm. Donate them to a resale store or give them to new students.

28. Share with your roomie. There are numerous items that can be shared between you and your roomie, saving space and materials.

29. Get others interested in your cause. Talk to others on your floor about being green. Post flyers and posters to help them understand just what you’d like to accomplish.

30. Talk to administrators about green ideas for the dorms. There are loads of ways to make dorms greener, and many ways that your college can start being environmentally friendly. Talk to them about your own ideas, you might just see change.

31. Embrace the small space. Living in the small space isn’t the worst thing in the world. It will help you use and waste less, appreciate what you have more.

Green Clean

Give some of these ideas a try to keep your dorm room and yourself clean while still remaining green.

32. Forego plug in air fresheners. They might make your room smell better, but they’re not good for the environment. Clean up your room instead or use natural air fresheners.

33. Do laundry in cold water. It will save on the energy used to heat water and will get your clothes just as clean.

34. Purchase earth-friendly toiletries. Toiletries can be full of harmful chemicals, so reduce your exposure by purchasing those that are better for your body and the earth.

35. Clean your room naturally. Ditch the harsh bleaches and chemicals for cleaning. Instead, choose products that are green or natural to tidy up with.

36. Take shorter showers. It might be nice to luxuriate in long showers, but you’ll be wasting loads of water. Instead, keep it short and sweet.

37. Get all natural flip flops for showering. Kick the plastic flip flop habit and go for natural materials instead.

38. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing your face. Be kind to the earth by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face.

39. Buy chemical-free detergent and fabric softeners. There are several brands out there that make great chemical-free detergents. These options are better for the environment and will leave your clothes wonderfully clean.

Saving and Recycling

Try out some of these tips to ensure your time in the dorms leaves as little impact on the health of the earth as possible.

40. Recycle class materials. Don’t just toss out old notes and papers from class. Put them in the recycle bin instead or use them as scrap instead.

41. Make your own. Rather than going out to buy decorations for your room, make your own using items you already have. There are numerous ideas out there you can use.

42. Never leave the lights on. Keeping the lights on when you’re not in the room is just plain wasteful. Always turn them off when you and your roomie are out.

43. Upcycle old items. Something might not be useful on its own anymore but can be nice when upcycled. Use these ideas to make your dorm room nicer.

44. Take old soda cans and bottles to a recycling center. If you’re like many students and have an addiction to caffeine, you probably have a few soda cans and bottles hanging around. Instead of tossing them out, recycle them.

45. Recycle boxes or invest in reusable containers for moving. Dorms can be pretty wasteful places when students are moving in and out. Do your part to reduce this by recycling and reusing anything you can.

46. Store instead of shipping. Instead of shipping your items back and forth between home and school when you go home for summer, store them locally.

47. Insulate windows. This can help use less energy when both heating and cooling your room.

48. Read online instead of printing. When possible, read your assignments online instead of printing them all out.

49. Buy rechargeable batteries. Devices like remotes and game controllers run through batteries pretty quickly. Instead of simply throwing them out, get some rechargeable ones instead.

50. Print on both sides of paper. When allowed (some professors don’t like it) print on both sides of the paper to use half as much.

If a watchdog group, a government, publication or a citizen uprising forces you to be transparent, you have already lost.  Any trust, marketshare and reputational bonus points your advertising and/or actions earned you is depleted.

QSRweb.com a publication for the Quick Serve Restaurant industry (sounds better than "Fast Food, eh?) wrote this headline about Taco Bell's recent "beef authenticity" issue:  "Taco Bell fights back with Transparency".  They miss the point - it's not fighting back, it's rolling over.  It's getting caught.  If you are forced to be transparent, it's too late.  If you get caught polluting, you pay a fine.  But that doesn't make the violation go away, it's just the price you pay.  For brands (green, lohas, blue or otherwise), the price is marketshare and reputation.  And the costs to regain those losses are tangible and impact your bottom line.

From the article on QSRweb:

"According to YouGov BrandIndex, which interviews 5,000 people daily from across the country, Taco Bell’s Index scores fell from 25.2 to 11.7 since the suit was filed Jan. 19. It is now below the sector’s average score of 12.2."

Here's the other way to "do transparency" - from a manufacturer of outdoor gear describing their backpack:

“…the Chacabucco Pack embodies no environmental innovation. The nylon is virgin, its polyurethane coating is solvent-rather than water-based, and like all of our products and rainwear, it has DWR (durable water repellent) surface water-repellent that involves the use of PFOA [author’s note: perfluorooctanoic acid]. The pack is not recyclable”

"No environmental innovation", "...not recyclable"; it's hard to believe this language coming from one of the most environmentally progressive companies on the planet.  But that's what  Patagonia's Footprint Chronicles is designed to do - to be radically transparent.

These moments of radical transparency are coming.  But still, most of what we see is really  translucency and selective data-points in sustainability reports.  But moments of hyper-transparency will change the game again.  I don't like to think Taco Bell was being necessarily deceptive about their beef - they just didn't know people cared.  And we all have operational blind spots.  But now is the time to start looking for them and fixing and disclosing them.  Transparency is not a very successful reaction strategy, but it is an amazing proactive strategy.  Those who master it early will endure and profit.

This is the revolution we have been waiting for.  All that dialog about "going green" or "blue" was just an important evolutionary step on the road to the uprising.  The real prize is authenticity and transparency.  This is going to be good....

Spending over $300+ billion dollars annually, the demographic called LOHAS, continues to change the way marketers conceptualize the 4 P's of marketing. LOHAS is Lifestyles of health and sustainability. The consumer group identifying themselves with LOHAS are a megatrend not to be overlooked or taken for granted. Consumers have traditionally expected governments to take the lead in protecting the environment, but now they are looking more to the corporate world to take action, rather than individuals. Increasingly, Asians want economic growth but believe it should be achieved through greener industry Market research conducted in 2010 revealed an untapped multi-billion dollar demand from households with significant purchasing power that relates to exactly this. THE LOHAS Asia and NMI research on China, for example, questioned 1,000 consumers across the five cities of Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Results showed that 88% agreed that it is important for companies to be mindful of their impact on society. With China having overtaken Japan as the world’s second-biggest economy, the LOHAS consumer demand is on the rise month by month and there is an urgency for the market to respond. Asia isn’t regarded as a pioneer on the CSR front, but in recent years, action on CSR is growing amongst Asian firms. In Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, and more recently Singapore and Thailand, stock exchanges are playing an increasing role in raising the visibility of businesses and encouraging reporting on sustainability. However, despite years of education on the issue, businesses across Asia still carry the common misperceptions of CSR being equivalent to philanthropy, which is what you do with your profits while CSR is what how you go about making those profits. Given the real concern from knowledgeable consumers, this also means companies have to deliver more than just lip-service and stand true to what they claim. Governments are also helping to develop CSR practices, such as in Singapore with the Green Mark Scheme for buildings as a key initiative to promote sustainability in the building sector. The Singapore Government is also pursuing sustainable fashion as another sector, and launching new subsidies for industry training.
 
Results of LOHAS Market Research 2010
In January 2010 LOHAS Asia partnered with The Natural Marketing Institute in pioneering LOHAS Consumer Research in Asia-Pacific, conducting an online survey across 10 countries. More than 18,000 consumers were surveyed, to provide in-depth research on the LOHAS consumer and marketplace across the following countries: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. Some of the highlights show very real desire for sustainably-made products in Asia, with Indonesia, China and India leading the way. As always, we have to look closely at China and India as the biggest market opportunities, and here we have high numbers seeking sustainably-manufactured products. This is a clear message and opportunity to manufacturers but even more encouraging, they will buy them if they are more available and most are willing to pay a 20% price premium for them. By contrast, there are significantly fewer consumers willing to pay a 20% premium in Korea, Singapore and Australia. But, these are rich economies, so the market opportunity per share point is higher and worth chasing. In one of the clearest messages from this research, consumers in Asia-Pacific are prepared to boycott brands they feel are over-packaged. This behaviour contrasts with experience in other markets in the West, where the likelihood of over-packaging actually damaging purchases is low. This is an area where the biggest markets show the most extreme reaction to the question, with China, Indonesia and India leading the way with a strong likelihood to boycott over-packaged brands.

In April 2010, LOHAS Asia Pte. Ltd launched The HUB, a business network for companies and service providers in tune with LOHASian values to network, market and collaborate in new opportunities and joint-ventures.

Contributed by Liz Smailes, Communications Director, Asia Pacific LOHAS

For companies seeking green business solutions, investing in health care that connects the dots between personal and environmental health embodies ecofriendly consciousness.  To overlook one of the major investments companies make in employees by relying on "default" health care options, a major opportunity to promote healthy living is missed. Like processed foods, health care options are usually pre-packaged and offered "as-is" with conventional medicine industries taking the lead in credentialing and other mainstream practices.
     

     Credentialing is an administrative process that involves reviewing qualifications, training, and practice requirements, with the significant goals of promoting patient safety and establishing consistent standards within a group of providers.  In conventional medicine, the complexity of the credentialing practice is generally offset by the consistent scope of practice and licensure standards in the dominant health care system. Credentialing relies on those industry practice standards to ensure that users of a specific network are seeking care from appropriately qualified providers.    

To some, credentialing in the CAM sector may seem cumbersome or unrealistic, since many CAM providers maintain medical practices outside of standard medical institutions.  CAM PPO of America, Inc., however, offers a unique solution with a proprietary credentialing process that exclusively focuses on integrative and alternative medicine.  Because state licensure varies so widely for CAM fields, the process sets CAM PPO apart from simple lists and online groups that may use the right catch phrases but lack medical expertise and qualifications. 

     Seeking a CAM provider can be confusing for conscious consumers, and few patients may have the time or resources to investigate practitioner qualifications and backgrounds.  Yet, it's an essential ingredient to seeking appropriate care interventions.  CAM PPO credentialing impacts the caliber of every network practitioner, and communicates our commitment to quality to members, prospective providers, and employers.  Integrative alternative medicine providers often offer comprehensive approaches that encourage healthy lifestyle management and naturally based therapies.

     Few would argue with the claim that choosing healthy and organic living is an important step toward empowered personal health that promotes an ecofriendly awareness.  Similarly, for companies seeking a socially responsible investment in health, choosing a credentialed network of integrative medicine providers offers an effective option for improving employee health. 

Clean

Green cleaning begins with all-natural cleansers and household products that are kind to the earth and safe for your health.

1. Salt: Salt is one of the most handy seasonings to have on hand for green cleaning. Regular ol' table salt can be used to polish brass and copper items, clean greasy pans, scrub away stains and much more.
2. White Distilled Vinegar: White distilled vinegar is one of the best natural household cleansers. The acidic liquid is perfect for killing mold, bacteria and germs, as well as deodorizing stinky areas and removing stains in an environmentally friendly way.
3. Baking Soda: Baking soda is a natural do-it-all powder with tons of household uses. Baking soda is an excellent tool for cleaning and deodorizing appliances and surfaces, boosting your detergent and can even extinguish fires.
4. Lemons: Lemons can be used for various household chores. The acid in lemon juice can remove dirt, grease and rust stains, as well as disinfect cutting boards and countertops while leaving a fresh, citrusy scent.
5. Olive Oil: Next time you need to shine stainless steel and brass or polish wood furniture, reach for a bottle of olive oil instead of your harsh cleansers or polishers. The oily liquid penetrates deep into surfaces and conditions wood, leather and other porous materials to give it luster and life again.
6. Borax: Borax may sound like a harsh substance, but this powder is actually a naturally-occurring solution that is perfect for green cleaning. Borax can be used as a general deodorizer, disinfectant and laundry detergent for removing stains and boosting cleansing power.
7. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil can be used for several household chores by adding it to laundry to disinfect and freshen clothes, as well as adding it to other all-purpose cleansers to boost antibacterial benefits. Tea tree oil can be used to freshen up a smelly garbage can and prevent mildew and mold from forming on surfaces.
8. Baking Powder: Baking powder isn't just for baking. This powder can scour kitchen countertops, freshen the air, disinfect vinyl floors and shine stainless steel when mixed with water.
9. Make Your Own Green Cleansers: Natural cleaning products are the best thing for the environment and your health. With these simple recipes, you'll have the tools to clean and freshen up your whole house for way less than the store bought cleansers.
10. Household Product Safety: If you are unsure about the safety of your household products, check out this list and properly dispose of those products that are toxic to your health and Mother Nature.

Donate & Recycle

Unwanted items should be donated or recycled so that nothing goes to waste when green cleaning.

11. Donate Old Clothes: Donating your old clothes is not only a charitable thing to do, but it can also help you organize your belongings without throwing anything away and polluting landfills.
12. Donate Canned Goods: Donating canned goods to a food bank or shelter helps feed those who are hungry and frees up space in your pantry. It's a double bonus!
13. Donate Books: Clean up your bookshelves and donate your old books to thrift stores, schools, libraries or literacy programs, such as the Global Literacy Project. This program collects new and gently used books that are used to teach people how to read.
14. Recycle Plastic Bags: Plastic bags can pile up quickly and become quite the nuisance if you don't use them or recycle them periodically. The best way to prevent this is to bring your own reusable grocery bag, but, if that's not possible, the next best thing is to recycle them at recycling drop off centers or retailers so they can be reprocessed and made into different products.
15. Recycle Magazines: Instead of throwing out your old magazines and polluting landfills, recycle them at your local recycling center or paper bin. You can also donate gently used or never-read magazines to doctors' offices, beauty salons or restaurants.
16. Donate Unused Medicines: If you have unused and unexpired medicines, such as antibiotics, anti-malarials, pain relievers and anti-retrovirals, they can be mailed to the Health Equity Project. Not only will you be helping this organization by providing medicine and health supplies to developing countries, but you'll also get your medicine cabinet cleaned out and put your meds to good use.
17. Donate Blankets, Towels and Linens: Before you toss out your old blankets, towels and linens, see if your local animal shelter or homeless shelter could use them. Animal shelters are almost always in need of soft blankets and towels for animal cages, and homeless shelters could use gently used bedding, as well.
18. Recycle Electronics: Unwanted electronics, such as computers, cell phones, televisions and empty ink cartridges can be recycled at local recycling centers near you. Recycling electronics frees up space in your house, while benefiting someone else's needs.
19. Freecycle Stuff: For everything else you want to get rid of but don't want to end up in the trash, you can freecycle it. Freecycle is a worldwide grassroots network that lets you find a new home for your stuff and find the stuff you need for your own home. Best of all, the exchanges are made locally and free of charge!
20. Start a Compost Pile: If you have a backyard, consider starting a compost pile to get rid of kitchen and yard waste and to add nutrients to your soil. Compost piles significantly reduce your landfill waste, while giving back to the environment in a natural way.

Reduce & Organize

A major part of green cleaning is reducing your clutter and organizing it in the most eco-friendly way.

21. Reduce Your Stuff: Once you've donated or recycled the things you no longer need, it's time to reduce your stuff. Reducing your stuff can be done by shopping less, buying less and embracing simplicity. You have a better chance at keeping your house clean and organized if you declutter and reduce your purchases.
22. Go Paperless: Free yourself from piles of unopened mail and unread newspapers by going paperless this new year. Instead of getting snail mail, you can set up electronic billing and start reading your news online.
23. Repurpose Your Belongings: Things you can't or don't want to part with should be re-purposed. In order to give your belongings a second life, you'll have to put on your thinking cap and get creative. For example, transform egg cartons into sewing organizers, make a reusable sack out of plastic grocery bags or use empty jelly jars as food containers.
24. Use Eco-Friendly Storage Containers: Storage containers make organizing a lot easier, but you want to make sure that these products are eco-friendly. Storage containers made from recycled or natural materials are the best option for green organizing.
25. Go Green Checklists: In order to green clean and stay organized this new year, you're going to need a checklist to remind you of your day-to-day duties. And since it's green, there's no printing needed to check off your tasks.

Green Building Construction for 2011

The U.S. green building market has defied the economic downturn and has a strong outlook for 2011. According to McGraw-Hill Construction’s Green Outlook 2011: Green Trends Driving Growth report the value of green building construction starts was up from $42B to $71B from 2008 to 2010 which is approximately 50% increase and represents 25% of all new construction activity in 2010. According to projections, the green building market size is expected to reach $135 billion by 2015.

Nonresidential Growth

Nonresidential buildings construction has proven to be the strongest sector for green building and represents a $54B market opportunity. Today a third of all new nonresidential construction is green. In five years nonresidential green building activity is expected to triple, representing $120 billion to $145 billion in new construction (40%-48% of the nonresidential market) and $14 billion to $18 billion in major retrofit and renovation projects.

Health Care Construction

Health care construction this year is expected to grow its green share to as much as 40% (valued at $8 billion-$9 billion in 2010) — phenomenal growth in just two years. Education (valued at $13 billion–$16 billion in 2010) and office green construction (valued at $7 billion–$8 billion in 2010) also remain strong sectors, showing high increases in market share, due in part to the fact that bigger projects are the most likely to “go green.” This year, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED specification is mentioned in 71% of all projects valued at over $50 million.

Primary Reasons for Green Building Growth

* Reduction in operating costs of 13.6% on average for new buildings and 8.5% for retrofits;
* Increase in building values of 10.9% for new buildings and 6.8% for retrofits; and
* Increase in return on investment (ROI) of 9.9% for new buildings and 19.2% for retrofits.

California will add to this growth because on January. 1st California's CalGreen building code takes effect, mandating eco-friendly practices that were previously voluntary.

Green Housing Trends for 2011

The current housing crisis means fewer new homes being built. But are those that are being built designed based on what the crisis has shown us? According to Green House there is a new emphasis on smaller homes with fewer luxuries. The median size of new single-family homes fell from a peak of 2,268 square feet in 2006 to to 2,100 square feet in 2009, says the study by Paul Emrath, vice president for survey and housing policy research at the National Association of Home Builders He says part of the current decline may also be recession-related but he sees other factors at play, such as the desire to lower energy costs and less emphasis on homes as investments. "Not all of these trends are likely to reverse themselves immediately at the end of a recession," he writes. Jenny Sullivan, a senior editor of BUILDER, calls this "portion control." She cites nine other trends for 2011.

Glitz is gone (for now)

Simple and honest architecture is what is in demand as homeowners look to simplify and manage their lives easily – and their houses. Simple beauty will be the focus of interior design with a modest ‘Zen’ approach. Natural finishes, clean lines and less frivolous embellishments will be in style.

Healthy Homes

As people become more aware of wellness aspects more will want to surround themselves with healthier home options such as low VOC paints, stains, and sealants. There will be an increased demand for natural furnishing products made of hay, wheat, bamboo, aspen and other natural fibers that bring more of the outdoor elements inside.

Multigenerational Homes

As more families rely on each other for financial support including mortgage payments multigenerational households are proliferating. These types of homes are increasing for various reasons: boomerang kids moving home to save money; elderly parents who need family support; young parents relying on grandparent care for their kids; and rapid growth among immigrant families for whom shared living is a cultural tradition.

Urbanizing the Burbs

Along with the trend toward smaller homes is the growing interest in urbanism. City planners and developers are creating ways to create artisan shops and walkability into existing hotspots.

DYI Alive and Strong

Homeowners will continue to take care of their own leaky roofs, remodeling projects and other home improvement projects themselves. The value of homeowner improvements is on track to top $117.6 billion in 2010 and $133.7 billion in 2011, according to IBISWorld. Retrofitting existing homes to meet energy-efficient standards is expected to be a boon to business. According to Entrepreneur.com, the aging population's desire to "age in place" is fueling an uptick in universal design. More boomers are bypassing assisted living facilities--for their parents and themselves--and renovating their homes to be tastefully functional and accessible.

Provided by Green America

Even though we may toss all sorts of materials in our recycling bins, not all of it is recycled into the same kind of product. Much of it is, instead, downcycled into a lesser kind of product, which often cannot be recycled again.

For more information on recycling and other green living and business resources visit www.greenamericatoday.org