Before you ask “Santa” to bring you a new washing machine, a set of cool wireless speakers, or maybe an updated flat screen tv, pass him (or her) a copy of the ENERGY STAR Holiday Gift Guide.

He – along with you and everyone else shopping for appliances, electronics, and even new holiday lights – can find great gifts that give back by saving you so much energy and money and helping prevent climate change (which is why we’re partnering with ENERGY STAR to let you know about this fabulous guide).

What’s in the ENERGY STAR Holiday Gift Guide?

EPA’s ENERGY STAR team put together the guide to help all shoppers (whether they wear a red suit or not) make the most energy efficient choice in 15 gift categories, including →→→

In each category, the guide describes the benefits of buying the ENERGY STAR certified option in terms of both energy and money saved, as well as the environmental impact.

For example, an ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer will use about 45% less water and 25% less energy compared to models that meet the federal minimum standards.

Top-freezer refrigerators that have earned the ENERGY STAR use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb!

If every clothes washer, dishwasher and refrigerator purchased in the United States this year were ENERGY STAR certified, we would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from nearly 270,000 cars!

The financial savings are so significant, they amount to a gift all on their own.

The typical household spends about $2,000 a year on energy bills. With ENERGY STAR, you can save about 30%, or about $575.

I’m proof that these choices make a difference. A few years ago I switched to the ENERGY STAR qualified LED light strings similar to those featured in the guide. These qualified light strings use 75% less electricity than conventional incandescent light strings.

As much as I love the energy and money savings, I particularly like that the bulbs are very durable and don’t break the way the little incandescents used to. Plus, ENERGY STAR LED light strings are cool to the touch, which reduces the risk of fire.

The lights are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and lengths. I’m partial to the multi-colored strings, but I noticed that my city’s downtown area has wrapped all the trees in our shopping district with the cool white ones.

Another feature of the ENERGY STAR holiday gift guide is that it makes it easy for shoppers to find rebates when they’re available. All you need to do is click on “FIND REBATES” and plug in your zip code. Whatever rebates are available in your area for the product you’re buying will pop up. (Here’s how I got $200 in rebates when I bought a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator.)

Santa, if you’re shopping for a new set of speakers for me (hint, hint), PLEASE make sure you check out ENERGY STAR’s partner deals. They’ll save you a bundle buying, and me a bundle when I start bingeing on my favorite holiday carols.

You can even download a cute little holiday gift tag to use when you wrap my gift.

Whatever you buy, make sure the product label includes the ENERGY STAR imprimatur. Many manufacturers claim their goods are energy efficient, but only those that have met ENERGY STAR’s standards for quality as well as energy efficiency display the logo.

12 Days of an ENERGY STAR Christmas

Over on Facebook and Twitter, we’ll be featuring one energy-efficient gift category every day for 12 days. Please stop by and wish us a merry Ho Ho Ho!

And if you buy something from the ENERGY STAR holiday gift guide, do let us know.

NOTE: Partners enable us to bring you the expert content you need to live the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own. But of course, we only partner with those whose mission we support 100%! Happy holidays!!

The post Ask Santa to Shop From the ENERGY STAR Holiday Gift Guide This Year appeared first on Big Green Purse.

For the first time ever, you can buy an ENERGY STAR-certified clothes dryer, one that meets high energy-efficiency performance standards. As a result, you could save as much as $245 on energy costs over the life of the efficient dryer.

The nation benefits, too. If all clothes dryers sold in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR-certified, Americans could save $1.5 billion each year in utility costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 2 million vehicles.

Clothes Dryers: The “Gas Guzzlers” of Household Appliances

Clothes dryers are the “gas guzzlers” of household appliances: They consume more energy than clothes washers, dishwashers and even refrigerators. For the past 20 years, people have been able to choose ENERGY STAR-certified models of major energy-using products in the home. But, until now, they did not have that choice on clothes dryers.

The new certified dryers are, on average, 20 percent more efficient than new models that are not certified. Where do the enhanced efficiencies come from?

√ Improved sensors more effectively stop the drying cycle when the load is dry, preventing over-drying and reducing energy waste.

√ Less energy is also used during the drying process itself.

√ New advanced heat pump technology makes some models 40 percent more efficient than conventional models.

What Do ENERGY STAR-Certified Clothes Dryers Cost?

When it comes to purchase price, the new certified clothes dryers cost about the same as standard models. But using them will translate into a $25 per year savings on home energy bills if you replace a dryer that’s at least 10 years old with a new ENERGY STAR model. Plus, several cities and states offer rebates ranging from $25 to $200 on the purchase of ENERGY STAR-certified products, reducing the machine’s costs further.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if all dryers 10 years and older were replaced with ENERGY STAR-certified machines, the U.S. would save more than $570 million on energy costs, and prevent 7 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

That’s equal to the emissions from 670,000 vehicles or the annual electricity use of 440,000 homes, not to mention the reduced need to mine coal or drill oil, or frack for natural gas.

Who Is Making ENERGY STAR-Certified Clothes Dryers?

Five clothes dryer manufacturers have secured certification to date: Kenmore, Maytag, LG, Whirlpool and Safemate, and more than 40 models are available.

Thumbs Up, ENERGY STAR!

RELATED POST

Dry Your Clothes For Free

Note: I originally published this article on Triple Pundit.

The post ENERGY STAR-Certified Clothes Dryers On Sale for First Time Ever appeared first on Big Green Purse.

What does it take
to get kids to save energy? Even if it’s just a simple reminder to turn off the
lights, that message can get old after awhile – which is why the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is inviting kids and families to join Team
ENERGY STAR. Team ENERGY STAR makes saving energy fun for kids while giving
parents free resources they can use to explain why energy efficiency needs to
be a priority at home. The program is particularly unique because it empowers
kids to help protect the climate and our air through easy-to-implement,
money-saving actions.

 It also provides them an outlet for sharing their passion for preserving our environment. This year ENERGY STAR has partnered with the parents group PTO Today and LG Electronics to share Team ENERGY STAR with kids across the country. PTO Today has even brought in the heroic characters from a new summer animated eco feature film, EPIC, which is sure to excite kids of all ages. The movie, voiced by Amanda Seyfried, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Ferrel, and other celebrities you’ll recognize, features a young girl who finds herself transported to a beautiful natural world, a worldnshe needs to protect. 

 Kids who sign up for Team ENERGY STAR and share their story through www.energystar.gov/team will be showcased in social media by
EPA. They can also enter PTO Today’s contest  for best story. Winners will receive ENERGY STAR certified LG electronics, including cell phones, TVs and MP3 docking stations. Plus, they’ll get their name and photo up in lights on LG’s Times Square billboard in New York City.

 Team ENERGY STAR’s summer outreach has inspired dozens of moms and families to get their kids involved, as demonstrated by this blogging carnival, written mostly by moms who are concerned about the health and climate impacts using energy has on our
families and communities — and who believe we all can do something to make a difference.

YOU + YOUR KIDS = HEROES!

 Harriet of Climate Mama writes, “As summer approaches and we look forward to enjoying family activities like camping, hiking, walks on the beach, fishing, swimming and biking – all of which nature helps make more magnificent – our families are also confronted by
new and daunting challenges that nature is angrily throwing our way: extreme weather, floods, droughts, forest fires, allergies on “steroids,” and super storms. What’s making these weather events worse and how can we “fight back” against these new challenges? Where and who are the heroes that will help us?” Harriet asks. The answer is not Iron Man or the Avengers, but “you and your kids,”
along with Mary Katherine, the young girl who saves the day in EPIC, the eco animated film she’ll definitely be taking her kids to see this summer.

Shane of Environmental Booty sees the potential for her kids to be heroes, too. “Team ENERGY STAR puts the power in kids’ hands to help
protect the climate through easy-to-implement, money-saving actions and provides them an outlet for sharing their passion for preserving our environment,” she writes.

 Last year, Shane’s daughter won the ENERGY STAR challenge, and she is encouraging kids this year to enter the contest, too. “The first 200 families to submit an energy-saving story will receive 2 tickets each to see EPIC, courtesy of Fox. Kids will also get the chance to earn some great prizes from LG Electronics USA and maybe even see their name in lights in Times Square.” Sounds like fun!

It IS fun, says Dominique at My Work at Home World, which is why this initiative is so successful. “Ever wondered how to get your kids involved in saving energy AND the environment? ENERGY STAR has a simple and FUN answer! Team ENERGY STAR! Team ENERGY STAR makes learning about how to save energy fun and can help SAVE THE WORLD! What kid (or parent?) doesn’t want to be a hero?”

SUMMERTIME IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GET STARTED

 Allyson at EcoNews Network agrees that summer is the perfect time to take energy efficiency seriously. It’s “the season where energy consumption skyrockets,” she notes.  “That’s why it’s important to get our kids to hop on the energy efficiency bandwagon. They can finally do something eco-friendly, especially while at home on their summer breaks.”

With the average home giving off more than 20,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year and homes spending more than $2,000 per year on energy bills, she says, “our children should know how and why it’s important to save energy. Kids might think saving energy is boring, but there’s a way to make it fun, and that’s where Team ENERGY STAR comes in handy.”

Linda of Asian Mommy agrees. “Team ENERGY STAR is a great way to inspire kids and families to save energy. I hope all Asian Mommy
readers will visit the website and join.”

 Dorinda at Raising Green Richmond Kids is another mom who appreciates that “Summertime is a great time of year to talk to your children about energy conservation as energy use goes through the roof.   At our home our children know about the little
things they can do to help save energy around our house.  We have talked about turning off the lights and TV when leaving a room, dressing warmly so we can keep the thermostat down a degree or two.” ENERGY STAR makes it easier to help kids understand how they make a difference.

Paige at Spit That Out the Book recalls that “Every summer when the air conditioners in my neighborhood go into full blast
mode, we experience frequent power outages. It’s amazing how much energy it takes to power just one street! That’s why it’s important to consider the small steps of energy saving and upgrading broken appliances with ENERGY STAR certified products.” She also appreciates that “Team ENERGY STAR empowers kids to help protect the climate through easy-to-implement, money-saving actions and
provides them an outlet for sharing their passion for preserving our environment.”

I raise a red flag over at Moms Clean Air Force. “Summer brings many great experiences and memories for families—barbecues, swimming, hot nights and summer movies. It also brings a familiar and unpleasant sight for many communities—a smoggy skyline and poor air quality that can make it tough for kids to breathe,” I report. “Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert on smog to be able to explain that one way to clear the air is by shifting to cleaner sources of energy like solar and wind. It’s even easier to explain that using energy more efficiently – using less energy to do the same job – is something that everyone can do at home. Plus, using energy more efficiently helps reduce the gases that cause climate change.”

Calley at The Eco Chick is worried about extreme weather events. “With summer approaching quickly, it’s time to start thinking about hurricane season again in Florida; except Florida isn’t the only place where hurricanes can strike.  Our biggest fear when moving to Tampa was of hurricanes and having to run from them each year.  What we realized is that these storms can strike anywhere and are likely to cause more damage to those areas that are not prepared. Scientists have been indicating that climate change may be to
blame for increased hurricane strength, making them even more dangerous. With Hurricane Sandy devastating areas of New York it makes me wonder what this year’s hurricane season will look like.” Calley offers “7 Things You Can Do to Save Energy,” including joining Team ENERGY STAR.

 Katy at Non-Toxic Kids also worries that “the Earth’s climate is changing in ways that can have serious consequences for public health. Climate change will likely increase the number of people suffering from illness and injury due to more pollution, extreme heat, floods, storms, droughts and fires as well as allergies and infectious disease. The elderly, the very young, the disabled, and the poor alone are
especially vulnerable, as are people with heart disease or asthma. Climate change is also expected to cause more severe allergy symptoms because a warmer climate promotes the growth of molds, weeds, grasses and trees that cause
allergic reactions.”

THE BENEFITS OF SAVING ENERGY THE ENERGY STAR WAY

Lisa from Condo Blues knows first hand that saving energy saves money. “In 2008, I did a DIY home energy audit using the energy audit tool on the Energy Star web site. The tool suggested a low and a high energy savings goal. My husband and I decided to try reducing our energy use by the high goal, 20%, as a year long project.” That sounds ambitious right? Even so, says Lisa, we reduced our home energy use by 32%. We beat our goal and have been happily averaging 15 Kilowatts of electricity a day ever since.” Why was Lisa so successful? She says it’s because she didn’t try to tackle energy efficiency alone. “It was a family effort,” she reports, like the kind ENERGY STAR
promotes, and it made all the difference.

 Claire at EcoFriendly Link backs up Lisa’s personal findings with some amazing national statistics. “In 2012, ordinary Americans reduced their utility bills by a staggering $24 billion” by being energy efficient, she says. When you save energy, “you use less power. So you
generate less pollution and improve air quality. Climate change threatens human health, society and ecosystems…and is likely to make allergies even worse.” What she likes about ENERGY STAR is that “you don’t need to sacrifice features, style or comfort,” which is why she is referring her readers to ENERGY STAR for ideas on how to save energy and find energy-efficient appliances.”

Jennifer at The Smart Mama is on a whole-household quest to save energy. She’s in the middle of a major remodel, and figures buying ENERGY STAR appliances is the smart thing to do (well, after all, she is “the smart mama!”). “Most of our energy – about 70% of the electricity we use – comes from power plants burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes greenhouse gas emission – the gases that contribute to climate change.” That alone would be reason enough to get on the ENERGY STAR bandwagon. But Jennifer goes on to note that “burning fossil fuels spews out a host of chemicals that cause severe health concerns for those living near and far from the power plants…Much of the mercury contaminating our seafood is a result of mercury released from fossil fuel burning power plants. We are all part of this amazing interconnected web, and our personal choices do matter.”

Clay and I teamed up at Ways 2 Go Green to sound a hopeful note. We write, “It’s never too early to talk to your kids about saving energy.” And the sooner the better! “The lights we use, the electronics we charge, and heating and cooling systems we turn on and off all have an impact and contribute climate change. That’s why it’s so important to instill energy efficient habits in kids from an early age, and teach an awareness of the impact our energy use has on the environment.”

Meanwhile, Micaela at Mindful Momma reports that her 8-yr-old son Liam is taking the mission to save energy to heart. He’s also trying to save polar bears, animals whose habitat is literally out from under their feet due to the impact climate change is having in the Arctic. “I’ve talked with him about all the little things he can do to reduce his personal contribution to climate change (and try to stop the polar ice from melting). Things like turning off the lights when he leaves the room, shutting the refrigerator door quickly and biking to soccer practice instead of driving. Even though individual actions like that may seem tiny, I think it’s important to make sure kids realize that they do play a part in protecting the climate.”

SAVING ENERGY PROTECTS OUR HEALTH

Anne at Flour Sack Mama sounds the alarm on health concerns related to the energy we use. “Anyone out there not know what an inhaler is?  Does someone in your family use one or do you know of a young child who must tote one around for after-school activities?  It’s become commonplace, hasn’t it?”

 Anne then asks, “Would you like to be part of an effort to clean up whatever’s in the air that could be making children sick?  You can start today by simply conserving energy. Little habits like teaching children to turn off the light switch when they leave the room, or home maintenance efforts like installing programmable thermostats and picking ENERGY STAR certified appliances — can all save your family money while helping clean up America’s energy conundrum.  We all want a comfortable lifestyle, don’t we?  None of us intended for our
comfortable lifestyle to make children or the planet sick, did we?” 

 Sommer of Green and Clean Mom acknowledges that “It is hard for (my) children to completely understand that the majority of electricity comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels. They cannot see the power plants to understand this but I explain to them that when we burn the fossil fuels this causes greenhouse gas emissions – which affect the environment. I try to explain that when we don’t have to use
as much energy we are helping to not burn as much fossil fuel and this not only saves mom and dad money but means that there are less greenhouse gas emissions and that is good for the environment.” 

 Why Team ENERGY STAR? Why EPIC?

Amity at Green Child Magazine recommends Team ENERGY STAR as a “fun way to get your kids involved in an environment-saving activity.”  “Join Team ENERGY STAR to teach children about the importance of saving energy and stopping climate change using easy, money-saving actions!”

 Like many of the other moms, Leigh at Green 4 U is looking forward to taking her daughter to see EPIC. “Kids need good role models but kids also love movies and entertainment. There are so many movies out there about princesses and other excessive things;
it is great to see a movie that teaches children about environmental stewardship.”

 Leigh is also excited about the contests ENERGY STAR offers – because that’s how she herself got involved. “Winning a recycling poster contest was one of the first steps in my green journey. I love the idea of having kids think about energy conservation and why it is important. If you have kids no matter what age, sit down with them and talk about energy conservation, talk about what you can do as a family, let them research things you can do as a family to reduce your energy consumption and let them help implement it in the house. Encourage your kids to submit an entry to the ENERGY STAR contest. Even if they do not win, the excitement of entering and the conversation you will have together around the entry is worth it.”

Sian at That’s Amasian appreciates the helpful resources Team ENERGY STAR provides to parents (like her!). “Why? It’s the question that plagues all parents of toddlers and preschoolers,” she notes. “Kids are endlessly curious about  literally everything under the sun and beyond. When we don’t have the answers, especially on important issues that affect us all, and that we all can act on (ahem, climate change), I’m grateful for resources for parents, like Team ENERGY STAR. It’s an education program that motivates kids and their parents to make energy conservation a fun, family activity. And, it’s created by the U.S. EPA
so you know that it’s backed by accurate information and honest intentions.”

Lori at GroovyGreenLivin makes it clear why programs like Team ENERGY STAR matter. “Burning fossil fuels causes greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change – a real and urgent challenge affecting people and the environment worldwide. Using energy-efficient products and practices reduces the amount of carbon pollution added to the atmosphere and can lessen the effects of climate change.” In 2012 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 50 million cars — all while saving $24 billion on their utility bills.” Those are some pretty impressive stats.

 Mary Clare of In Women We Trust asks a key question: “Who is setting the direction of our energy program?” Mary’s hope is
that, through efforts like Team ENERGY STAR, America’s youth will become educated enough about the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy to put our country and the world on a clean energy course. “The EPIC ENERGY STAR program provides posters and online/offline games to give kids tangible things to do and learn how to use less energy, thereby lowering family monthly bills. Once energy consumption is lower, then it’s far easier to replace our national energy needs with safe, clean, and renewable energy.”

 Jenn at MNN.com applauds
the message behind the EPIC movie that “everyone can make a difference for
the planet.” “I like that motto,” she says.  “Even at the tender
young ages of 10 and 7, my girls have already seen how great our local
playground looks after a clean-up,
or how the little efforts we make at home to cut energy use can
add up to big savings at the end of the month.” Jenn hopes her readers will
sign the EPIC pledge and
share their stories for how they plan to protect the planet.

 Tiffany at Nature Moms declares that, “For me
it is all about the story. Movies transport me to another world and I get to
live someone else’s exciting, dangerous, and inspiring life for a couple hours.
I love my own life too, don’t get me wrong, but ever since I was a kid I have
just loved living in the fantasy worlds created in books and movies. I have
already started my mental list of movies that I absolutely must see this summer
and at the tippy top is the animated eco film called EPIC…It looks to be
the ultimate in story, fantasy, and fun while also having a hugely important
message about the environment and stewardship. We have to get messages like
this across to kids in a way that really reaches them and resonates with them.
It is getting harder to do with all the distractions that abound today but I
think this movie will accomplish it. If I can pair my love of movies with my
passion for environmentalism AND take my kids along for the ride…well, sign me
up for opening day!”

Nikki at Modern Eco Life is looking forward to the movie, too. EPIC…helps teach kids an important environmental lesson: “protecting the planet is cool,” she writes. “The 3D movie tells the story of an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and the forces of evil. When a teenage girl gets magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a heroic team to save their world…and ours.” Like Nikki says: Cool!

 Kim at The Soulicious Life remembers that, “When it comes to living a more
eco-friendly existence, simple energy-saving practices were some of the
first habits I adopted. To be honest, it goes way back to childhood when
my mother – no doubt trying to control the cost of utility bills
– was constantly on us to turn down the thermostat and turn off the
lights. Now, I instill those same simple practices in (my child). After all
molding the next generation’s little brains around energy-saving
techniques is never easier than it will be now!”

 JOIN TEAM ENERGY STAR TODAY

Erin at Healthy Home Magazine reminds us all that “Team ENERGY STAR makes it easy and enjoyable for the whole family to save energy and money while they do their part to protect the climate. With help from ENERGY STAR and the heroic team from the upcoming filml, EPIC, everyone can make a difference for the planet.”  

Lindsay at Crunchy Saving concurs, but has an additional reason to join up. “As a homeschooling parent, I am always looking for fun ways to teach my children. I love to use a combination of things such as hands-on learning, interactive learning, as well as traditional school settings. I check out new websites for the kids all the time. I loved the Team ENERGY STAR web page…we received some great educational materials about saving energy.” Why bother with the suggested activities? “They’re fun!” says Lindsay.

Urges Bri at Eco Baby Mama Drama, “Parents, please take this opportunity to not only educate your children about our duty to take care of the planet and be responsible but to also show them that saving energy is the right choice to make for everyone everyday and can be fun too! Encourage your children to share what they have learned with their friends and set a good example through their actions and be a proud member of Team Energy Star! Together we can all make this effort EPIC!”

I hope you’ll join Team ENERGY STAR today. To sign up, head
over to the Team Energy Star page
to download the pledge and pick up other useful resources like the ‘Go Green Night Games‘
or the Team Energy Star
Action Kit.  I hope you’ll inspire your child to share
a story about why saving energy is important, too.

On Twitter? Join Team ENERGYSTAR June 7, 2013 for a lively Twitter party to share information and ideas on how to get kids, in particular, involved in saving energy. EPA will also announce the winners of the story competition during the party. Use Hashtag #TeamENERGYSTAR to join the fun!

FULL DISCLOSURE:
I am writing about Team ENERGY STAR because I support the program and because I believe it is important to educate the public about energy efficiency and climate change. I am thrilled to also be working on contract to help educate the public about energy efficiency and Team ENERGY STAR.

Related articles

Join Team ENERGY STAR in the EPIC Fight to Protect the Climate

Essay Contest Gives Kids a Chance to Show What They Really Know About Saving Energy – and Win Some Prizes, Too.

The post Saving Energy is Easy & Fun With the Help of Team ENERGY STAR appeared first on Big Green Purse.

The program has received a strong welcome from many moms who have made the connection between their kids’ future and the energy we use. Here are some of the reasons why they care and what they’re doing about it.

PROTECT KIDS’ HEALTH

Karen at EcoKaren has a very personal reason for joining Team ENERGY STAR: she’s worried about her family’s health. “This year’s allergy season was exceptionally hard on my family,” Karen reports. “They have been suffering since February – that’s early! – with sneezing, watery eyes, exacerbated eczema, post nasal drip … you name it, they’ve had it. I was wondering if the mild winter we had had anything to do with it and sure enough, Rutgers University published a report saying that allergy season started early this year and it was because of climate change. Rutgers University has been working with the Environmental Protection Agency on “Climate Change and Allergies” and they found a direct correlation between the two. We know climate change affects our weather but I didn’t think to connect it to allergies!”

Kathy at Safe Mama offers one clear reason to use energy more efficiently: “…the increasing rate of pollution… there is so much gunk in our air already. ” Kathy notes that trying to get kids to save energy in the summer can be particularly challenging because summer “…means running the air conditioning more, and fans, and the kids are all home from school charging their electronics, maybe watching tv, video games (hopefully playing outside too) and the whole family is under the same roof more often. That means we consume more energy! Team ENERGY STAR is a great way for parents to encourage their families to live a more energy efficient lifestyle – which is better for the environment, and your WALLET.”

Over at Big Green Purse, I get fired up about the health impacts of burning fossil fuels, too. I know the most obvious impact is on our lungs. But because burning coal and oil releases the carbon dioxide that is changing our climate and turning the planet into a hothouse, plants like poison ivy are actually getting worse. I joined Team ENERGY STAR to be part of a community of people who understand that, working together, we can make a difference.”

STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

Kimberly of the EcoMom Alliance reflects on her son’s ability to keep moving from dawn until dusk, then writes, “I just wish we could harness the energy of children to replace fossil fuel burning energy production. Until then, I’m grateful for every opportunity to contribute to saving energy.” That’s important, she notes, because “About 70 percent of the electricity we use comes from power plants burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change – a real and urgent challenge affecting people and the environment, worldwide. Using energy-efficient products and practices reduces the amount of carbon pollution added to the atmosphere and can lessen the effects of climate change.”

Climate change activist Harriet of Climate Mama urges families to make a “family climate change plan” along with their plans for summer vacations and camp. Why start at home?  “According to the Environmental Protection Agency,” Harriet reports, “an average home contributes twice the amount of greenhouse gases to the environment as an average car!” When we use electricity in our homes, chances are a power plant somewhere is burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil, or natural gas) to produce that power. This creates greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, a real and urgent challenge affecting people, and the environment, worldwide.” Harriet reminds us that “the “world” is meeting later this month at Rio+20 to try to figure out how we can work together on climate change and sustainability issues so we can get the future we want and need for our children and for ourselves.”

Katy at Non-Toxic Kids knows that “using energy-efficient products and practices reduces the amount of carbon pollution added to the atmosphere and can lessen the effects of climate change.” But she also admits that “sometimes we forget to practice real and meaningful conservation of our precious energy resources.” She says,”If every American household took part in the Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR Pledge, we would: save more than 126 billion KWh/yr of electricity, save $18 billion in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 20 million cars. That is astounding!”

Lori at Groovy Green Livin joined Team Energy Star because energy efficiency makes such a big difference. “In 2011 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 41 million cars — all while saving $23 billion on their utility bills and reducing the pollution that contributes to heart disease, asthma and allergies,” she writes. But, Lori says “there’s still plenty to do. Climate change continues to be a very real concern and childhood illnesses, including asthma and cancer, are on the rise. Team ENERGY STAR is asking that we get our children involved and encourage them to save energy at home-because we all know the future is in their hands.” How right she is!

Laura at Moms Clean Air Force makes this key point in her enlightening post: “In our homes, the vast majority of our electricity comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels like oil and coal. Even with the beneficial addition of scrubbers on some of the power plants in recent years, we don’t need to add to the carbon pollution that we see impacting our environment and our health. If we can lessen carbon pollution, we will reduce the impacts of climate change…By using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs we help give our environment a fighting chance. While small measures alone won’t solve our climate crisis, they do make a measurable difference.”

Brenna of Almost All the Truth captures the passion we all feel when she writes, “It is one of the most important subjects around the world right now …Our reliance on fossil fuels comes at a greater environmental cost as time passes. Climate change is one of those very real costs. Air pollution, water pollution, along with adverse health effects for humans, wildlife, and environment are others. We may never see the effects of our actions, but our children will and their children certainly will pay the price, along with many of the creatures and habitats which have no one to speak for them.”

“We must speak up! We must act now!”

SAVE MONEY

Anne at Flour Sack Mama signed her kids right up for Team ENERGY STAR and they all got busy making Lorax mustaches and coloring in the activities pages they printed out (they tried to get the family dog involved, too, but he preferred to eat a biscuit.). “The new Team ENERGY STAR initiative does a great job of tying one family’s household savings into the bigger picture. Less energy used now means a brighter future for our kids and grandkids and for the place they need to call home long after the rest of us are gone.”

Haley at Green and Clean Mom outlines four reasons why it makes sense to join Team ENERGY STAR: “Kids will have fun, become educated in energy efficiency, help protect the environment and parents will save money. The typical household spends more than $2,100 per year on energy. With ENERGY STAR you can save over one-third or more on your household energy bill…You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by joining.”

Mary at In Women We Trust wrote a blog headline that says it all: “Save Your Household Cash by Joining the Energy Star Team!” “Saving money and keeping the kids busy at the same time is a win/win for anyone’s home…get started downloading FREE educational and interactive materials including Action Kits, Home Check-Up, and Lorax activity books and kits. What a great addition to a home school program or keeping kids doing something besides watching TV on a rainy day. Bring your best stories back to ENERGY STAR on how you changed the world.”

MAKE IT FUN! INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE KIDS

 Jen at Jen and Joey Go Green realized she needed back-up when she saw her sweet little two-year old standing in front of the open refrigerator door.  “As parents we have done our part by choosing Energy Star appliances that help us to reduce the amount of energy our family consumes. But in order to get the most out of these appliances we need to ensure that we all use them properly. Our fridge and freezer beep when they have been opened for more than about 15 seconds… We have joined Team Energy Star to find age relevant tips on how to talk to B about energy conservation and learn new ways to reduce our own impact at home.”

Tiffany at Nature Moms likes making a game of saving energy, especially in the summer. “This is when costs for the household can skyrocket, at least in our household,” she says. “Our water bill goes up mightily and we have hefty A/C bills unless we keep it in check. The kids run out of the house and leave door open (letting hot air inside), they leave the TV on while they play outside, etc. (sound familiar?!!) Yet if we make a plan together and set some goals for conserving energy you may be surprised that it is easier than it looks to save money and conserve energy. Perhaps you might even take your bills from last year and try to beat them, using any surplus for special treats.” I also like Tiffany’s suggestion to have designated snack times so kids will not be in and out of the refrigerator all day!

Jen at The Green Parent also understands the importance of involving kids, and the whole family, in saving energy at home. “Team ENERGY STAR empowers kids to help protect the climate through easy-to-implement, money-saving actions and provides them an outlet for sharing their passion for preserving our environment. And,” she says, “with Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax as the engaging theme for Team ENERGY STAR, kids can learn and have fun at the same time.”

Shane at Environmental Booty  appreciates the “fun” aspect of Team ENERGY STAR, too. “My 6 year old is flipping out at the prospect of working with the Lorax and Dr. Seuss to help save our environment. I am excited to have an eco-inititave to share with my growing, green kids….Join us,” urges Shane. “This is going to be fun to change the world together.”

Erin of Healthy Home Magazine is also glad to have the Lorax involved in this project. “As a parent who gets tired of sounding like a broken record, it’s nice to be able to use his name in vain sometimes when I want the kids to turn the water off while brushing their teeth or turn the lights of when they leave the room. My 4-year-old son has recently even been schooling me on things I can do to “save the earth” that he has learned from the Lorax…like remembering my reusable shopping bags when we head to the grocery store.”

April of Frugally Green observes that “It’s important to get our children excited about saving energy when they are young, so it’s normal for them. Little Miss already knows it’s important to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and she’s starting to grasp the importance of saving energy. I know we’ll be signing up for Team Energy Star to make this easier.”

Stephanie at Good Girl Gone Green is motivated to save energy by the thought of her child’s future. “I now see the challenges we are going to face as parents with my daughter as we teach her to how respect the environment and live more sustainably, but still let her be a kid. I believe that it is so important to educate our children, all the while keeping it fun.”

USE ENERGY EFFICIENTLY

Calley at The EcoChic offers five smart energy-saving tips to consider this summer, including eating more raw foods and salads to cut down on the amount of energy you need to cook. I also appreciate her suggestion to use more natural light, especially now that the summer days are so long!

Paige at Spit That Out The Book says, “Teaching the whole family to take small steps at home to save energy—like turning off the lights when you leave the room, unplugging chargers from the wall when devices are finished charging, programming your thermostat to save energy when you’re away, and changing out incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient ones—add up to big energy savings.” One result? “Even at 2 years old, my toddler already talks about saving water, turning off lights, and making sure not to waste his leftover banana.”

Jennifer at EcoChild’s Play says, even though her family “lives off the grid,” they still try to do more to use energy efficiently.  Appliances that meet Energy Star efficiency criteria help. “Now celebrating its 20^th anniversary, ENERGY STAR has nearly 20,000 partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses, and the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 65 product categories,” she reports. “In 2011 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 41 million cars.”

Amanda at the Eco-Friendly Family offers a whole host of energy-saving activities she has done, from enabling her ENERGY STAR computer and monitor to sleep when she’s not using them, to changing her air system’s filter regularly, to having her heating and cooling equipment professionally maintained. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better. It’s not,” she quotes the Lorax as saying. Most of us would agree!

IT’S ALL A BALANCING ACT

Rachel at Mommy Greenest sums it up perfectly when she writes about her challenges composting, gardening, and taking other eco-friendly actions. “I’m pretty good at recycling, and have developed a bit of a plastic bag phobia—Los Angeles just banned them, huzzah!—but my carpool-worthy car is a certified gas guzzler, which basically cancels out all of the good I’m doing on that front. And despite the fact that I live by example—as well as nag and plead and annoy them to no end—my kids cannot remember to turn out the lights when they leave a room…As any mother knows, it’s a balancing act to manage the needs of your family and the planet. Which is why the EPA’s new Team Energy Star initiative gives me new hope for the light switches in my home.”

After reading Rachel’s and everyone else’s thoughtful posts, I hope YOU have new hope, too. And if you have any new ideas, or experience trying to inspire your own kids to save energy, please share in our comments section below.

 Congratulations! Katy Farber of Non-Toxic Kids has just won anenergy-efficient ENERGY STARcertified LG washer and dryer. The appliances have also achieved Energy Star’s Most Efficient 2012 designation. Many thanks to LG for providing this wonderful gift.

Full disclosure: I am a long-time independent advocate of energy-efficiency and the ENERGY STAR program. I am currently working as a paid consultant to introduce Team ENERGY STAR to parents and families.

The post Kids Drive Moms’ Passion to Save Energy, Join Team ENERGY STAR appeared first on Big Green Purse.

FOOD

Organic food can cost as much as 30% more than food that’s been conventionally grown using pesticides or under inhumane conditions for animals and people. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that staples like organic milk, meat, poultry and fresh vegetables will be on sale just because it’s Black Friday. But specialty foods – like chocolate, tea and coffee, nuts, and dried fruits – are likely to have their prices slashed, particularly at more conventional grocery stores where they’re seen as a premium item. I expect online retailers to offer bargains on gift packs of these items – but there’s no reason why you can’t buy them for yourself.

ELECTRONICS and APPLIANCES

I hate to encourage anyone to buy more electronics, given how much e-waste is piling up. However, if you’re truly in need of a new phone, tablet, computer, or printer, Black Friday is the day to buy it. Do your research now so you can aim for the most energy-efficient, eco-friendly equipment; check this Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics to pick the most environmentally responsible company for the item you want. Plan now to recycle your old equipment when you replace it; stores like Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot accept almost any electronic device, regardless of the manufacturer. If you still don’t have an energy-saving power strip, get one of those while you’re at it. Appliances will include the federal government Energy Guide sticker to help you choose the refrigerator, freezer, washer or dryer that uses the least amount of energy.

CLOTHING

While you’ll find fashion bargains galore on November 25, not many of them are likely to be green, especially at the mall. Sadly, stores like Macy’s, Target, Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Express, Coldwater Creek, and the Limited are embarrassingly limited when it comes to dresses, shirts, pants, and other couture made from organic or eco-friendly fibers. You might have some luck at H&M; the last time I was in there, I found skirts and blouses made from organic cotton, and some sweaters made from recycled polyester. If you’re not looking for dressy work clothes, head over to Lands End, Northface, Patagonia, and REI. Patagonia has done a particularly good job of using recycled fibers to make its vests and jackets; plus, you can recycle old t-shirts and other clothes at Patagonia when you shop.

JEWELRY

More and more fine jewelry stores are offering bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings made from recycled gold, reclaimed stones, and diamonds sourced from humane and fair trade mines. Before you buy, ask to see certification that shows where the jewels originally came from.

TOWELS AND SHEETS

Organic towels and sheets are a real luxury, and their usual high price shows it. But even their cost might come down on Black Friday; if it does, go for it! JC Penneys, Target, and Wal-Mart stock organic linens regularly; hopefully, they’ll put them on sale November 25 along with the conventionally produced items. Check online or in the newspaper for “money off on anything” coupons.

WINE, BEER, SPIRITS

Most liquor stores sell organically produced wine, beer, vodka, gin, and possibly other spirits. Whether you’re stocking up for the holidays or want to refill your fridge or wine cellar, take advantage of storewide discounts or sales on individual brands.

SOAP, SHAMPOO, PERFUME, PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Stores like Bath & Body Works, the Body Shop, and Origins increasingly sell soaps, shampoos, lotions, and cremes free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Read labels carefully, and look for products packaged in paper, cardboard and glass rather than plastic.

YOGURT AND BREAD MAKERS

If you buy a lot of yogurt and bread, chances are you’re throwing away a lot of plastic yogurt containers and paper bread wrappers. Pretty much every department store will have these two items on sale on Black Friday.

WRAPPING PAPER AND HOLIDAY CARDS

The “greenest” option is to use paper you saved from last year and to send e-cards. You can also wrap presents in fabrics, towels, or table cloths and napkins or bundle them into reusable shopping bags. But if it’s paper you must have, look for 100% recycled paper or tree-free paper options in both wrapping and cards from Hallmark and Papyrus, among other shops.

Don’t forget your own shopping bag… your reusable one, of course!

Related Posts:

Recycling Your Computer Just Got Easier

What if You Buy Nothing?

How to Shop for Eco-friendly Clothing (Parts 1, 2, 3)

Top Ten “Green” Thanksgiving Tips

Give to Your Favorite Charity Whenever You Shop – At No Extra Cost to You

For more ideas on how to be a green consumer this holiday season, check out the Green Moms Carnival this month, hosted by Betsy over at Eco-Novice.

The post Use Black Friday Sales to Try New Green Products appeared first on Big Green Purse.

But a story in today’s New York Times reports on this growing trend, which some consumers are adopting as much for the symbolic value of un-plugging as for the electricity savings. (NOTE: Many folks have been inspired to unplug by my Green Moms Carnival colleague Deanna Duke, who blogs at thecrunchychicken.com.)

What about you?

Have you replaced your big fridge with a smaller model, with a cooler, or with nothing at all?

Are you using just as much energy going back and forth to the grocery store to replenish fresh food since you can’t store it in the refrigerator any more?

Do you miss cold beer?

While we’re on the topic, here’s what I do to improve my refrigerator’s efficiency:

* I keep the coils clean on the back.

* I bought the most efficient model available, with the freezer unit on top rather than on the bottom or side-by-side.

* I don’t have TWO refrigerators, like many consumers, who keep their old model in the basement or garage for extra groceries, soft drinks, or party supplies.

* I try not to open the door and just stand there admiring my fruits and vegetables as all the cold air escape (admittedly, my kids haven’t quite got this habit down).

* I positioned my refrigerator far from my stove and dishwasher and not in direct sunlight, so it doesn’t have to work extra hard to keep cool.

I’d love to know if you’ve gone “refrigerator free.”  Drop a line and share your story.

The post Have you unplugged your refrigerator? appeared first on Big Green Purse.