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Buying a home is probably one of the biggest decisions and purchases you’ll ever make. A lot of work is involved, from picking your target location to figuring out what size and style home you want – and of course, determining what you can afford! But, buying a home also has an impact on the planet. Wonder how to “green up” the home buying process and make it better for the environment? The following tips can help in your search for the perfect home. (continue reading…)

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Psychologists have shown time and again that people are easily swayed by all manner of pressures to conform. Famous experiments like the Stanford prison experiment and the Milgram experiment graphically demonstrated that, when confronted with an authority figure or put in a position of authority themselves, people will do things that they otherwise would consider unthinkable.

In the 1950s, social psychologist Solomon Asch devised and published the results of a series of studies on social conformity. His studies found that people tended to go along with the crowd, even when the crowd was obviously wrong. About 1/3 of the participants in his experiment frequently gave the wrong response when others in the group had given the same wrong response, and 75% of participants gave at least one wrong answer under the same circumstances.

So, what does this have to do with health? (continue reading…)

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In Part 1: Why Are Green Jobs Growing?, we discovered that many “green jobs” are built on traditional blue-collar jobs, but are designed to improve the environment. Other types of green jobs involve different technical expertise or management skills. Green jobs are projected to grow, thanks to new environmental mandates and regulations as well as government funding and stimulus packages.

Now, take a closer look at some specific green jobs, job descriptions, required education or training, plus average salaries or pay. In addition, learn some helpful hints if you’re searching for a green job. (continue reading…)

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It sure doesn’t seem like jobs are booming and plentiful right now – many companies are downsizing, people are losing jobs and the economy is in rough shape. But surprisingly, the demand for “green jobs” – jobs that focus on positively impacting the environment – is growing. In many cases, green jobs are based on older, traditionally blue-collar jobs “in familiar fields like manufacturing, construction and maintenance and repair,” according to Ada McMahon for Yahoo! Hot Jobs (1).

Why the demand for green jobs? People are more mindful of the planet. They’re looking to conserve energy and waste in the workplace, plus searching for better building and manufacturing materials. In addition, with new government mandates on energy usage and pollution, the federal government is offering economic incentives to develop new green jobs. (continue reading…)

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In May 2009, Consumer Reports did a report on the best grocery stores by asking consumers to rate service, perishables, price, and cleanliness of 59 stores. Consumer Reports said that service was a combination of checkout speed and how helpful the staff was, and Perishables rates the quality of produce and meat. A score of 100 meant that all consumers were completely satisfied, 80 meant very satisfied, and 60 pretty satisfied.

The final scoring in Consumer Reports Magazine was rated on a scale of Better to Worse. The stores that won over the consumers in order from one to ten were: Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Raley’s, Harris Teeter, Fareway, Costco, Whole Foods Market, Market Basket, and WinCo Foods. Wegmans, a chain located in the Northeast, got an overall score of 87, a perfect score in Service, Perishables, and Cleanliness, but an average score in price.

Below is a closer look at a few of these grocery stores listed in the Consumer Reports survey of 59 stores such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Meijer, Giant Eagle and Aldi. (continue reading…)

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Any bride-to-be knows that a wedding is all about the tiniest details, from food to flowers and accessories. Many details are involved in wedding-planning: it’s one of the most important days of your life! But, amidst the big decisions, there are little ways you can help make your wedding more eco-friendly, cutting down on wasted energy, resources and costs.

Here are some tips to be mindful of the environment while still creating the wedding of your dreams. (continue reading…)

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When taking children camping, a little planning goes a long way.  Last Friday, we looked at how to plan and what to pack for day hikes to get you and your kids back into nature. Now, we look at the essential equipment for the overnight campsite, including the most vital piece: the campsite. Take the time to learn the area and locate campgrounds or sites ahead of time and pack the gear needed to make your trip comfortable.

Your camping experience can be as comfortable as you make it. Campgrounds range from very primitive, dig-your-own-latrine to full-hookup sites providing recreational vehicles with all the wanted amenities.  Knowing what gear you need ahead of time for the camping experience you want prevents miserable memories. (continue reading…)