Green Living Articles

There are over 850 different authors’ voices in the articles posted here discussing sustainability issues from food to transportation to family to business. Most of the authors are Minnesotans who wanted to share the information they feel is important for you to know to keep Minnesota healthy and sustainable. Many of the articles were written for Do It Green! Magazine, while others are from outside publications or web sites.

Material created for or by Do It Green! Minneosta is not copyrighted and is meant to be widely distributed and used for educational purposes. Articles can be printed and distributed, or inserted into educational newsletters or other educational materials in its original form. If you use our content, please email us at info@doitgreen.org and add the following credit line to your material: Reprinted from Do It Green! Minnesota www.doitgreen.org.

WE Can Solve the Climate Crisis

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Unknown Unknown The WE Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection-a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. The goal of the Alliance is to build a movement that creates the political will to solve the climate crisis-in part through repowering …

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Your Window on Energy Savings

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Bob Alf Construction Better windows can save money, brighten your mood, and freshen your air, but beware OF the advice of a window salesperson or your neighbor. Windows are a hot topic, especially now that the US government is offering a sizable tax credit for home energy improvements.1 Yet the …

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Cultural Creatives “Driving Change”

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

LoAnn Hilde The Green Mercantile, Duluth We are entering an age where concern for health and the environment is driving consumers to affect change with their financial decisions. Green retailers and businesses are specially suited to serve the “Cultural Creative” consumer, a market comprising 50 million individuals, or 26% of …

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Nice Ride Minnesota is Here

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Jake Quarstad Nice Ride Minnesota Nice Ride Minnesota launched the largest public bike sharing system in America on June 10, with 65 stations spread across the city, housing 700 bikes. Sign up for a 24-hour to year-long subscription with your credit card online or at a station. 1-year and 30-day …

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EcoParents: Creating a Neighborhood-Based Eco-Group.

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Keiko Veasy EcoParent, Linden Hills EcoParents We all want to do the best for our children, especially when it comes to protecting their health and the environment in which they live. As a new parent, it is often hard to know what is best and how to do it. In …

Read moreEcoParents: Creating a Neighborhood-Based Eco-Group.

Minnesota GreenStep Cities: Taking Action with Proven Best Practices

April 13, 2016November 1, 2012

Philipp Muessig, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Dan Frank, Greater Pine River Area Healthy Green Communities Partnership Cities all over the state are considering ways to protect the environment and reduce costs, and many of them are looking to a new program called Minnesota GreenStep Cities. GreenStep Cities is an …

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Garden Insect and Disease Control

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Robert Mugaas University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Environmental Horticulture Over the past couple of decades there has been ever-increasing scrutiny of the products utilized for controlling pests in our home yards and gardens. That scrutiny is largely based on our growing safety concerns regarding those products, especially pesticides, to adversely …

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Eco History: The Life Cycle of Recycle

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Emily Plucinak Carver County Historical Society Reduce, reuse, recycle. We have known the old adage since grade-school, seen the triangular-shaped symbol on the bottom of plastic containers, and have even crushed soda cans and brought them to our local supermarket’s parking lot. A century ago, however, waste not, want not …

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The Environmental Benefits of Making Dirt, Not Waste

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Eureka Recycling The energy saving benefits of recycling have been touted for years, but calculations about the environmental benefits of composting are just surfacing. Recent studies confirm that composting is an effective and accessible way to reduce greenhouse gases. Our household waste is a significant contributor to global warming, and …

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Twin Cities Community Radio

April 13, 2016October 10, 2012

Dan Richmond KFAI Community Radio / Program Director The state of commercial radio in the Twin Cities is horrible. In my opinion, it always has been. Fortunately, our community is blessed with a number of non-profit, non-commercial radio stations that offer more to listeners than commercials and contrived corporate programming. …

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Host an Art Night

Looking for a new way to connect with your neighbors, get free life advice, and spark your creative juices? Consider hosting an art night at your house, complete with paints, modeling clay, colored pencils and art smocks. Get messy, be creative, and let the conversation flow. For inspiration and resources, check out this article.

Unplug to Avoid Phantom Load

Did you know that you have electronics in your home leaking electricity—electricity that you pay for—24 hours a day, 7 days a week? The power drain is called “phantom load,” and it is a big problem with a simple solution.

The easiest strategy is to use power strips to cut the power to your electronics. When you turn off a power strip, it stops phantom load leaks. Start with your entertainment center and home office where you can find the biggest leaks: televisions, game consoles and computers. Make sure your power strip is located in an easy-to-reach place so you can easily turn it on or off. Set up a power strip as a charger station where your family can plug in all their cell phones, PDAs and music players. Most importantly…turn it off when you’re not using it!

Check Windows and Doors for Energy Efficiency

Here are some easy tips for Home Energy Savings:

Leaky windows, doors and frames can let out the air you paid to heat or cool. Once a year, check the caulking around your windows, doors and joints to make sure everything is sealed tightly.
Install weather stripping around any leaky windows and doors.
If you use storm windows, check them each winter to be sure they provide a good seal and are not cracked.
If you have only single glaze windows, you can purchase do-it-yourself plastic storms that just tape into place.
If you use window air conditioners, take them out for the winter. If they are attached to the wall or too big to move, make sure they are well-covered with insulating material to avoid leaking a lot of your warm air.
If you have a fireplace, install a glass door that reduces hot air loss.

Start Backyard Composting

Did you know that the average Minnesota household throws 15 pounds of compostable materials into the trash every single week? Composting is an easy and simple way to have an immediate personal impact by diverting trash from the landfill or incinerator. Backyard composting takes leaves, grass clippings, veggie scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and tissue and turns them into valuable compost that reduces the amount of water and fertilizer required for your yard and garden, improves soil quality and supplies essential nutrients for plant growth.

Purchase Sustainable Lumber and Wood Products

Minnesota’s forests are vital to the state economy and environment. The Minnesota wood products industry provides employment to rural communities and serves markets throughout the world. As global trade in forest products grows, forest certification has emerged as a mechanism for consumers to identify wood products produced from sustainably managed forests. Nearly 50 different companies in Minnesota manufacture and market certified products. Retailers and distributors sell a variety of lumber, paneling, and decking products. Numerous local paper and printing companies also offer certified products.

More info here!

Learn from Woodbury

Is it possible for one of the fastest growing cities in Minnesota to be sustainable? The City of Woodbury has committed to try. Since adopting its initial Sustainability Resolution in 2006, the City has progressed toward becoming a sustainable community through several initiatives. You can read more about them in here. Can your city follow suit?

Practice Greener Pest Control

Preventive and non-toxic pest control strategies are not only better for the environment and your wallet, but also human health. Before the advent of toxic aerosol sprays and poisons post World War II, many people used passive and more natural means to control pests by deterring and preventing their entry.

Find a list of green pest control ideas in our article on Pest Control, the Old Fashioned Way!

Learn from Minneapolis

The City of Minneapolis continues to be a national leader in reducing the impact of global warming on our planet. Minneapolis’ sustainability work is guided by 24 indicators that measure our progress at creating a sustainable future for our residents. Check out this article to learn about Minneapolis’ sustainability accomplishments and be inspired.

Contact Your State Legislator

As a constituent, you are your local legislators’ highest priority. Why not share your views with them and ask them to support your position? It may seem like your letters and emails will get lost in a deep, dark political hole, but don’t despair. Whether you call, fax, email or visit in person, this article offers tips on how to effectively communicate with your elected officials and get them to listen.

Support a Local Business

Did you know that roughly 73 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays within the community, compared to 43 cents for non-local chain stores? When you buy from local businesses, you help that business employ community workers, support other local businesses, and contribute to the community’s overall health. Read more here about the benefits of buying locally.

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