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East Metro Clothing Swap

March 20, 2017

Come celebrate Earth Day Weekend at East Metro Clothing Swap! Bring things that just don’t work for you anymore but that are clean and in good shape: clothing, shoes/boots, purses, coats, accessories, health and beauty items.

City of Minneapolis Earth Day Clean Up

March 20, 2017

This annual event is held at more than 37 sites throughout the City of Minneapolis and is the largest volunteer effort in the City. It is a collaborative effort between the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling. Find a site near you!

2nd Annual Stillwater Earth Day Celebration

March 20, 2017

Over 25 booths and family-friendly activities. Kayak on the St. Criox, electric cars, story time trolley, live music and more! Hosted by S.E.E.D and Sustainable Stillwater.

2nd Annual Stillwater Earth Day Celebration

March 20, 2017

Over 25 booths and family-friendly activities. Kayak on the St. Criox, electric cars, story time trolley, live music and more! Hosted by S.E.E.D and Sustainable Stillwater.

Sustainable Workplaces: Good for People, Planet & Profit

March 17, 2017

Sustainable Workplaces: Good for People, Planet & Profit Tuesday, April 11, 2017 – Wells Fargo Center, Minneapolis 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. We know why sustainability is good for your bottom line, but it can also have major implications for employee health, wellness, and productivity— especially when talking about the buildings we work in day…

Green Tips

Take Easy Steps to Save Energy at Home

The average Minnesota family spends over $4,000 on energy (includes natural gas, electricity and gasoline) and produces over 50,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Here are some easy ways to save energy:

Turn off lights and electronics (TVs, radios, computers) when leaving a room. This can help your family avoid producing 298 pounds of carbon dioxide over the course of the year.
Be mindful of your heat and central air. Turning your furnace thermostat down just two degrees in the winter saves $53/year and prevents 569 pounds of CO₂, and you won’t even notice the change.
Unplug electronics and appliances while not in use, like cell phone chargers, video game consoles, and microwaves. Anything with a clock, remote or LED light is using energy all the time, even if it’s turned off. Power strips are a quick fix—and you can save $14/year.

Check out our Personal Energy Checklist for more great ideas!

Recycle Your Paper Products

Most people don’t realize it, but one way to reduce global warming is to recycle paper products. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees. Each tree helps reduce global warming by capturing and holding carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Remember your bottles and cans, too—any recycling you do means fewer of the Earth’s raw materials are used. Learn more here.

Start a Recycling Program at Work

If your office doesn’t have a recycling program, consider being a catalyst for big change by starting one yourself. See our full list of tips on how to get started (including identifying a Recycling Coordinator and selecting a Recycling Company) in our article, Green Your Office.

Reduce Waste When You Travel

Travelers can generate a lot of waste and pollution, even with the best intentions. But it isn’t hard to make a few changes that can help us avoid a lot of trash and otherwise green up our time away from home. It is our responsibility to take care of the places we inhabit, and to show that we respect the place we are traveling to, that others inhabit.

Check out more tips on reducing waste while traveling!

Plant a Seed, Grow a Community

Community Gardens are community spaces that are communally cultivated and cared for; these spaces may consist of individually-worked plots, multiple person caretaker areas, sitting areas, and small-scale children play areas. Some say community gardens are the last existing opportunity Americans have to reclaim common spaces. This article offers great information about the many benefits community gardens provide.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programable thermostat can save $100 per year. Set it 2 degrees higher in summer and 2 degrees lower in winter for an additional money and energy savings.

Check out the Home Energy Checklist for more great ideas!

Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners

Many of the chemicals found in the average store bought household cleaner are associated with health and environmental concerns. You can reduce your exposure to toxins at home by using fewer chemicals and making your own Non-Toxic Cleaners.

Non-Toxic Cleaner Recipes

Lead Your Community to Sustainability

People in small towns, suburban communities, and urban neighborhoods all over Minnesota and western Wisconsin are banding together to make their communities more livable and sustainable. Are you ready to make sustainable changes in your community? This article offers many tips for getting started, including learning more about sustainability plus how to create an action plan for your city.

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.

Choose Safe Art Supplies

Arts and crafts materials can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Even though the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act of 1988 requires stringent labeling of hazardous materials in art supplies, many materials are out of compliance. This article offers tips to help you choose safe art supplies, plus substitutes to harmful substances.

How Our Food Choices Effect the Planet

East Metro Clothing Swap

City of Minneapolis Earth Day Clean Up

2nd Annual Stillwater Earth Day Celebration

2nd Annual Stillwater Earth Day Celebration

Sustainable Workplaces: Good for People, Planet & Profit

How Our Food Choices Effect the Planet

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