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	<title>Home &#38; Green Living</title>
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	<description>Complete Home Guide</description>
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		<title>Green Living Ideas &#8211; Save Earth, Save Life</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-ideas-save-earth-save-life.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-ideas-save-earth-save-life.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:03:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=244</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Green living makes us to live healthily. It saves money and also  environment. It is essential to live Green in order to save the earth  from global warming. It is our responsibility to save our earth and it  is in our hands to save the earth. But we don&#8217;t know what are [...]]]></description>
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<p>Green living makes us to live healthily. It saves money and also  environment. It is essential to live Green in order to save the earth  from global warming. It is our responsibility to save our earth and it  is in our hands to save the earth. But we don&#8217;t know what are the ideas  are to follow for green living. There are some ideas to follow for  living green.</p>
<p>The main ideas for living green is reduce the dust  that we discard from our home. Now, so many companies are also taking  many steps for reducing their packages. This is a good idea to follow  for living green. The other idea we have to follow is Reuse durable  containers and products. It is a good way to use these products. If we  are not having any necessary with those products at least we have to  give to the others who are in need of it. Recycle is also one of the  best ideas for living green.</p>
<p>The other major ideas for living  green are</p>
<p>1. Firstly loving the planet is one of the major ideas  for living green. Using organic products and cosmetics is also a major  idea to lead a life green. Use hormone free dairy products and try to  buy these products in glass bottles. Because these are reusable.</p>
<p>2.Try  to grow a plants or trees which give more oxygen. Avoid the plastic  covers because these are not reusable. And these take 1000 years to  dissolve in earth.</p>
<p>3. There are also some easy ways to live green.  Easy green living is nothing but living green without making much  effort. There are some easy ways or ideas to live green. Make a small  difference to live green.</p>
<p>4. Water conservation is one of the easy  ways to live green. It is an important resource because we can&#8217;t live  with out it. Water conservation also saves money. But we generally waste  so much water in so many ways. Try to reduce using water level makes  the life green. The simple ways to conserve water are using low flowed  shower heads, using less water when washing clothes or dishes, see there  is no leakage in taps and try to use sprinklers for the land. These are  some of the ways to conserve water.</p>
<p>5. Another way of living  green is eating local food. The farmer market is a best one to get a  local food. It not only gives energy but also saves money. The food that  is obtained from a farmer market is cultivated by hand not by using  fuel. And try to grow the vegetables and leafy vegetables in house.  Because farmers may use the pesticides but we never use this in our  home. We use water to cultivate the plants which is one of the green  substances.</p>
<p>6. Coming to another way of living green that is  recycling. Recycling is coming from several number of years. Now there  are so many recycling centers to drop our goods in it. We may not use  the goods so we can give the at least for the people who are in need of  it.</p>
<p>It is our responsibility to live green and make the globe  green.</p></div>
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		<title>Green Living in Your Home &#8211; Practicing it in a Number of Ways</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-in-your-home-practicing-it-in-a-number-of-ways.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-in-your-home-practicing-it-in-a-number-of-ways.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:03:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=242</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gone are the days when environmentalists exclusively deal with green  living. Now, all of us are enjoined to get into the act to save our  environment. We have to exert much effort in order to catch up with what  we have lost. You should be one with us. Don&#8217;t hesitate to do [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gone are the days when environmentalists exclusively deal with green  living. Now, all of us are enjoined to get into the act to save our  environment. We have to exert much effort in order to catch up with what  we have lost. You should be one with us. Don&#8217;t hesitate to do your act  because there are only very simple techniques you should undertake.</p>
<p>To  reiterate, green living requires simple strategies. These may be done  in your own homes. Start it and who knows you will be able to make a  difference in this world. Play your part and be a role model to others.  Here are the easiest ways you may practice in your daily living.</p>
<p><strong>General  thoughts on green living for the home &#8211; pre-cycling</strong></p>
<p>If you  think recycling is already an important part of going green, well there  is something you may do better than that. This is called the concept of  pre-cycling. Pre-cycling means setting your goals on the items you will  purchase so that you will be able to recycle these materials later on.</p>
<p>One  concrete example of pre-cycling is buying things in packages that you  may reuse later on. For instance, you may purchase towels with a paper  carton. The carton may be used to decorate your home or in filing some  of your documents. This may happen most especially if you bought the  towel with a decorative box.</p>
<p><strong>Eco friendly living in your  kitchen &#8211; what you should do</strong></p>
<p>Inside your kitchen, there are  many items you should start getting rid of. One is the use of paper  towels. Such type of paper may not be recycled. Moreover, it will only  add up to wastes in landfills. Replace it with cloth towels instead.  These are washable and reusable. Below are other good things on going  green that starts in your kitchen:</p>
<p>Food preparation. You may also  prepare food for your family in lunch boxes especially for your children  who go to school and your husband who goes to the office daily. This is  a more eco friendly technique over the use of paper bags and plastic.</p>
<p>Bottle  recycling. There are many bottles in your kitchen &#8211; usually those that  come from seasonings and other condiments. You should reuse these jars  or bottles for other things. Decorate and place them in your bedrooms,  bathrooms or living rooms. If they are large enough, you may use them to  store leftovers. These are very simple pointers on green living that  you may follow.</p>
<p><strong>Learn how to cut back on energy &#8211; this is one  of the best green options</strong></p>
<p>Much more than focusing your  thoughts on materials you purchase and items to recycle, one of the  green living concepts you may adapt in the home is cutting back on  energy. This means gearing towards energy-saving techniques. You may do  this through the following steps:</p>
<p>Use lights only when necessary.  Always turn the lights off when you leave your bedrooms or bathrooms.</p>
<p>Use  warm clothing during winter and cotton clothing during summer. That way  you avoid using much of your heaters and air conditioning systems.</p>
<p>Avoid  using your vehicles if you can walk to your destination. A substitute  is utilizing your bike. This will get rid of air pollution which is a  common problem in going green.</p>
<p>These are but some of the many ways  you may do to save the environment. As you take all these things  seriously, a lot of people will thank you for your effort. Start green  living through practices in your home now. There is no reason for you to  delay the act.</p>
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		<title>Money Saving Green Living Tips</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/money-saving-green-living-tips.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.rocmingles.com/money-saving-green-living-tips.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:02:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=240</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Often people do not realize that going green doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean  having to spend a lot of money on environmentally green products. It  doesn&#8217;t even mean having to drastically change your lifestyle. What it  means is doing whatever you can to help out the environment. There are  many ways consumers can [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Often people do not realize that going green doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean  having to spend a lot of money on environmentally green products. It  doesn&#8217;t even mean having to drastically change your lifestyle. What it  means is doing whatever you can to help out the environment. There are  many ways consumers can practice saving money tips and go green at the  same time and it is a lot easier than people think.</p>
<p>For starters,  the way people should view being able to practice environmentally green  living is by making small adjustments to their way of life. This could  be as simple as producing less waste for the environment.</p>
<p>Green  living could also encompass buying produce, such as fresh fruits and  vegetables from certain places. By following these simple ways to help  out the environment, consumers can also practice saving money tips.</p>
<p>How  to Save Money and Adopt a Green Living Lifestyle</p>
<p>Organic  Wholesale Produce at Farmer&#8217;s Markets- Consumers can save quite a bit of  money over the course of their lifetime if they shop for their produce  at the local farmers market or public markets. Often the produce is  fresh and picked daily. Organic wholesale produce is also very  inexpensive. Consumers can save anywhere from 50%-75% by shopping for  their produce at these markets.</p>
<p>Use Recycle Bins- The more people  that practice good recycling habits the better off the environment will  be in the years ahead. Buy 2-3 recycle bins and separate all the  necessary items such as paper, plastics, and cardboard.</p>
<p>Go Green  with Financial Statements-Take environmentally green living to another  level and ask for all bank statements and credit card statements to be  sent via email. This will prevent extra waste from being produced and  help out the environment in many ways.</p>
<p>Use Energy Efficient Bulbs-  If a home has plenty of windows then less electricity will be used  within the home. According to HomeDepot.com, investing in products such  as energy efficiency bulbs can help consumers save money on their  utility bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Try replacing old  light bulbs with newer energy efficient bulbs. Many of these provide a  good amount of light, yet use less electricity. These are also very  inexpensive so consumers can also practice money saving tips.</p>
<p>Make  Homemade Natural Cleaners- Nothing is more annoying then unpleasant  scents in the home. Not only are many home cleaners purchased in the  store hard on the sense of smell, but they also irritate sensitive  allergies and can cause breathing problems. Making all-natural cleaners  from scratch is a great way to protect the family from harmful chemicals  when cleaning and disinfecting the home. These are very easy to make,  include simple ingredients and are very inexpensive. Adopting a green  living lifestyle doesn&#8217;t mean having to make huge sacrifices to help out  the environment. People can make a difference in the environment by  making small adjustments to the way they live. Buying organic wholesale  produce from the local farmer&#8217;s market helps support local agriculture  farmers and is also a great way to save money on fresh fruits and  vegetables. When consumers use recycle bins and recycle paper, plastics  and cardboard it helps to prevent extra waste from being produced.  Replacing regular light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs can help  reduce cost on utility bills and helps prevent greenhouse emissions.  Green household products, such as homemade natural cleaners help reduce  breathing problems and are great for the environment.</p>
<p>By using  some, or all of these tips, consumers can feel good about helping the  environment and practice saving money tips.</p>
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		<title>Green Living Design That You Can Adopt</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-design-that-you-can-adopt.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:02:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Interior Design is the single best experience in my life that has  allowed me to experience fantastic creative energy each and every day. I  must admit, however, that the move towards &#8220;Green Living Design&#8221;  sometimes has me pulling my hair out.
Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I&#8217;ve  written many an article about the [...]]]></description>
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<p>Interior Design is the single best experience in my life that has  allowed me to experience fantastic creative energy each and every day. I  must admit, however, that the move towards &#8220;Green Living Design&#8221;  sometimes has me pulling my hair out.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I&#8217;ve  written many an article about the coming boon in Green Living Design and  how we, as Designers, must be at the forefront of the movement. With  that being said, I find that many of my clients often look at me with  that &#8220;Deer in the headlight&#8221; look when I even casually mention the Green  aspect of a Design element for their new home or addition.</p>
<p>It is  not that most folks don&#8217;t care; They do. It is that most feel that they  are being handed a bill of goods because something is trendy or  fashionable at the moment and can not have any direct implications on  their lives in the present. &#8220;Going Green&#8221; is something that the  Hollywood crowd does, not the average consumer.</p>
<p>That used to be  true and, yes, in some quarters of &#8220;Green Design, &#8221; it still is.  However, I have found that there are common elements that, if mentioned  correctly, everybody can get behind from a Green standpoint.</p>
<p>So,  what are the basic elements of some solid Green Living Design that most  can see using in their lives? I will touch on four that if you are  remodeling or building, can be done in that part of the design;  Heating/Air units, HVAC, Wall design, Insulation elements and, finally,  Door and Window design elements.</p>
<p>There has been an emergence of  systems that use a &#8220;Forced Air&#8221; feature known as radiant space heaters.  Many builders like the aspect of forced heating in that it eliminates a  huge chunk of the duct work that must be used in a home design. Some  builders, and many fire departments, like the aspect of a lower amount  of duct work as it sometimes can aid in the spread of fires in a home.</p>
<p>Wall  design has become something of interest, as of late, with the rising  cost in energy prices. A lot of builders are liking the idea of walls  that are a bit thicker in an exterior build. Many are looking at  12-inch-thick exterior walls with a high R value, which is the rating  given a substance&#8217;s thermal resistance. That gives you better energy  values, and combined with better Green materials that go inside the  walls, this could save a homeowner substantial money in overall energy  cost.</p>
<p>Insulation elements continue to increase in the &#8220;Green&#8221;  factor with some great cellulose insulation options available to  consumers. Some of these ratings are as high as R-60, in some cases, and  can greatly reduce the cost of running your home when it comes to  energy.</p>
<p>Finally, doors and windows. This category is the one that  seems to get the lease resistance from homeowners looking at new design  elements. It seems that the industry has really taken the lead in this  category by just explaining to the consumer, in terms that make total  sense, that these design features can and will save them money. It seems  that most homeowners have had a face-to-face confrontation with the  dastardly windows and doors in their homes and immediately &#8220;Get it&#8221; when  it comes to dealing with them. Still, some of the better energy saving  features come at a price and can make many a home owner grimace when  handed the bill.</p>
<p>So, there you are. Four design elements that are  loaded with &#8220;Green Value,&#8221; as I like to call it. Excellent ways to be a  little more conscious about the environment in any Interior Design  elements that you are considering and will help you move towards that  ever elusive Green Living Design.</p></div>
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		<title>Green Living Homes That You Create</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-homes-that-you-create.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:02:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=236</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
In today&#8217;s marketplace, Green Living Homes have taken on a  different connotation and seem to inspire different emotions as well. In  these economic times, it seems that you can&#8217;t do Green Living Homes  without some sort of a major overhaul of your home, or so it seems. When  a new administration [...]]]></description>
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<p>In today&#8217;s marketplace, Green Living Homes have taken on a  different connotation and seem to inspire different emotions as well. In  these economic times, it seems that you can&#8217;t do Green Living Homes  without some sort of a major overhaul of your home, or so it seems. When  a new administration enters the White House, somebody or some group  seems to think they may have a voice. In America, the Green lovers are  of the mindset that the next President will be so for them.</p>
<p>Granted,  I am not coming at you from an environmentalist mindset. In fact,  nothing could be further from the truth. I am of the mindset that a lot  of the Green thinking borders on the &#8220;Guilt&#8221; aspect that characterizes  you as bad if you aren&#8217;t Green for some reason.</p>
<p>Quite honestly,  the Green movement can be a bit radical in its propagation of their  overall message and, from a design standpoint, the lens that I often  gage things, the materials have not been there to justify a Green Living  Home. That has begun to change with some great new design materials  that has started to spark the interest of the design community, and,  more importantly, become more reasonable from a price standpoint.</p>
<p>Now,  here are some things you can do to be more Green just by making changes  in the things you do everyday and in future design changes that you may  be making in your home.</p>
<p>First, if you are about to do an Interior  Design change, look at your electrical systems. There can be a  tremendous waste in your electrical output systems. Even if you are not  doing Interior Design changes , walk around your home and see it there  are ways you can reduce some of you electrical waste. If you just did  some minor changes in the way you used your electricity by making sure  appliances are turned off when not in use, etc, you could probably  realize a 6% to 20 % difference in you bill each month a recent study  showed.</p>
<p>From a Design standpoint, it goes without saying to spend  the extra money for the energy efficient appliances. An option that is  not as difficult to do these days, but still needs to be thoughtfully  considered.</p>
<p>There are some simple changes from a lighting  standpoint by changing out some of the bulbs that are claiming to be  more efficient. I am not talking about going crazy and just start  changing them out, but when you need to make a change, do so then.</p>
<p>Also  look at you filters in heating and air conditioning units. My Dad was a  heating and air guy for years and was always shocked as to how people  just wouldn&#8217;t take the time to change the filters which would cause  countless dollars in repair bills yearly. There are some pretty decent  filtration systems, but are still a little pricey compared to regular  ole filters.</p>
<p>Finally, from a Kitchen Design standpoint, Bamboo and  cork flooring should be considered in Interior Design, as they are  dynamic looking. Kitchen cabinets can also be redone with similar  alternatives to wood which can like just like exotic woods.</p>
<p>There  are some great looking Metal and Stone alternatives which are also good  for Kitchen counters and cabinets and a great product, IceStone, one  brand of recycled glass used to create countertops for kitchens and  bathrooms that generally ranges between $100 and $150 a square foot.</p>
<p>The  point is that there is finally coming into the market place a great  plethora of products that are Green focused to design and live in your  Green house. With the changes you can make from a Design standpoint and  just the changes you do by walking around the house, you can be Green.  Just don&#8217;t let it be out of guilt.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s kind of like when I used  to eat Twinkies that I loved so much and said that sooner or later there  would be a low-fat version, and I was right.</p>
<p>Its the same with  going Green. They&#8217;ll catch up.</p></div>
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		<title>Green Living &#8211; Solidarity and Inner Peace</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=234</guid>
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Green Living
Going green is included in just about  everything these days. There is green food, green clothing, green homes,  green energy, green gadgets, and just about anything in existence being  classified as green. What this means is that the products are  sustainable and make a small imprint on the earth. For example, you  [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>Green Living</strong></p>
<p>Going green is included in just about  everything these days. There is green food, green clothing, green homes,  green energy, green gadgets, and just about anything in existence being  classified as green. What this means is that the products are  sustainable and make a small imprint on the earth. For example, you  might use less oil based products and more plant products because it is  sustainable and healthier for humans. This is a great trend that has  caught on because of the growth in high educational attainment and in  the recent trend of huge price increases in poor quality commodities.   Additionally, the recent gas spike, alone, helped a ton of people decide  to go green.</p>
<p>The trend is heavily product focused. You need the  right green food because you will live longer and be healthier. You need  some hemp fabric because it is so much better for your skin. The list  goes on and on. It is great that we have green products, but you can get  lost in all the details. We need to remember that being green is more  than just buying the right things. It is a way of life that brings  solidarity and harmony to one&#8217;s life and society.</p>
<p><strong>All Living  Things Connected</strong></p>
<p>Can you see the happiness of a child compared  to that of an adult? How can you feel the joy of a baby or a puppy? The  joy of each living thing comes from being connected in a spiritual  way. It doesn&#8217;t always make sense. For example, babies and children have  little control over their surroundings and yet they are so happy. What  makes sense is that we are learning through our culture that happiness  comes from a certain way of life. We might call it the good life. It  usually has something to do with a house, an education, a nice car, and  family vacations.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are true green enthusiasts  that understand connection to the earth in a different way. In the  movie, <em>Into the Wild</em> the main character says that life was the  most exciting when he was penniless. This is a true story of a man who  gave up all his possessions and burned his money on a quest to connect  with God.</p>
<p>Native Americans have long understood the  relationship between connectedness to earth and joy in life. The earth  gives to each of us and in return we should give back. Many cultures  believe that God rewards Good for Good and Evil for Evil. You do  something good and it comes back to you. Hence, do a lot of good things  to and for people.</p>
<p><strong>How Does Green Living Connect Us?</strong></p>
<p>First  and foremost green living gets you to think about how we all interact  in society. It is more altruistic because you main focus is not  maximizing every dollar. You focus changes from consuming as much as  possible to consuming what you need responsibly and giving of  yourself. Many people in this trend will say that one day it just hit  them that the only thing they will leave on the earth when they pass on  is their legacy. And, how do you leave a legacy? You need to connect  with people and make a difference to those around you. You&#8217;re not going  to do that sipping cokes, and watching 35 hours of television a week.</p>
<p><strong>Living  Simple and Green</strong></p>
<p>It all starts with little changes. One good  thing to do is to sit down and make a list of all the items your  regularly purchase and put a w (want) or n (need) by the item. If you  are truly honest, the needs are not really all that high. Many of us are  struggling because of our wants without realizing it. It&#8217;s still fine  to plan for wants and to have them. The important thing is where your  focus lies. Does your focus help you connect (happiness) or disconnect  (unhappiness)? At some point, many in the green movement will actually  feel a sense of relief from not purchasing items. There is that rush and  good feeling from shopping that a lot of people get. However, the more  connected you feel, the less your desire will be for shopping. And, in  fact, many will eventually feel a sense of true peace without longing  for any one thing. Some people in the green movement actually feel sorry  for these obsessive materialists. They don&#8217;t do it mockingly, but  sincerely want everyone around them to feel the same connectedness.</p>
<p><strong>Some  Green Steps </strong></p>
<p>The first thing for many of us is that we  start to recycle things. We find a certain joy in knowing that we are  being good stewards of what we have. Then, the big jump might come from  purchasing a green car or a green wardrobe. Some of us might just think  it&#8217;s a cool thing to do.</p>
<p>The biggest step, perhaps, is when you  start to simplify your life. It&#8217;s different for everyone. You might want  to drink out of one cup instead of using several every day. You may go  through your home and eliminate items not being used. In fact, you may  start finding joy in getting rid of things because you realize that the  less stuff you have the more easily you can be connected. You begin to  feel a sense of freedom in spirit that goes beyond the norm. Your style  becomes minimalist and purchases are based on holistic ideals that  increase connectiveness. You will no longer crave, but will instead find  intense joy in just being alive.  How do you find that joy?</p>
<p><strong>Know  Thyself </strong></p>
<p>Some spiritual teachers believe that the greatest  knowledge of happiness is to know thyself. As William Shakespeare said,  &#8220;To thine own self be true&#8221;. How can you be true to yourself unless you  know who you are? This is a hard question, but on the face of it, there  are some certain things I am sure of. I can connect with living  things. I can connect with people much better in person than through  television. I can connect to natural products much better than man made  products. The concept of knowing me comes through serving others.</p>
<p>Consumerism  and materialism tend to drive much of our culture. The focus, for many,  is on self. This inward focus blinds the true self. In some cases, self  concept is stripped away and the void is filled with countless hours of  television, food, and shopping. The bigger the void the stronger the  feeling of getting more grows because people unconsciously think that  the void can be filled with things. It is logical because that is what  the culture has taught them from birth. Corporations spend billions of  dollars reinforcing the idea that things will make us happy and defining  our needs for us.  Many of us erroneously believe that we are immune to  all the clever advertising.</p>
<p>Wouldn&#8217;t it make more sense that we  determine our own needs? It is vital that we listen to our own  hearts. Don&#8217;t ignore the little voice inside you! Pay attention to it,  follow it, and the voice will get louder.  In time, you will become more  connected.</p>
<p>We haven&#8217;t focused much on product here, but going  green is about a lot more than buying the most fuel efficient car,  wearing bamboo clothing, or eating organic foods. Green living is  ultimately about solidarity and inner peace.</p></div>
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		<title>Tips for Green Living in the Home</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/tips-for-green-living-in-the-home.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Making Sustainable Choices
Making sustainable choices  are an important component of green living. Making sustainable choices  means purchasing products that don&#8217;t cause a negative impact on the  environment and that will not make it more difficult for future  generations to continue to sustain themselves. Making sustainable  choices during the design process [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Making Sustainable Choices</strong></p>
<p>Making sustainable choices  are an important component of green living. Making sustainable choices  means purchasing products that don&#8217;t cause a negative impact on the  environment and that will not make it more difficult for future  generations to continue to sustain themselves. Making sustainable  choices during the design process is referred to as &#8216;green design&#8217; or  &#8217;sustainable design&#8217;. Some great sustainable choices to consider when  decorating include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Natural stone counter tops</li>
<li>Cabinets and other products made from woods such as bamboo,  eucalyptus, or recycled wood</li>
<li>Carpet made from natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, or made  from recycled materials</li>
<li>Green-friendly paint and home wallpaper, which is being offered by a  growing number of manufacturers</li>
<li>Antiques &#8211; after all, they are being recycled!</li>
</ul>
<p>You don&#8217;t have to create a bland and boring home décor  in order to enjoy green living. In fact, there are numerous options out  there that will allow you to make your home look great while still  protecting the planet.</p>
<p><strong>Appliances for Green Living</strong></p>
<p>When  it comes to green living, a great place to start is in your kitchen.  Remodeling can add a great deal of value to your home, can make it more  functional and attractive, and can help you make your home more  eco-friendly.</p>
<p>When buying for your kitchen, look for modern  appliances to help bring your home up-to-date. By purchasing those  appliances with the Energy Star rating, you can potentially cut the  amount of energy you use to power those appliances in half. Adding  faucet aerators to your kitchen and bathroom faucets will also help  reduce the amount of water you use while still providing you with a high  pressure stream of water.</p>
<p><strong>Obtaining Green Products</strong></p>
<p>Fortunately,  green living is rapidly growing in popularity. In response, many  manufacturers are offering lines of eco friendly products that can be  used for decorating purposes. In addition, a growing number of online  and offline stores that are dedicated solely to green living are  becoming a more common occurrence.</p>
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		<title>Going Green on Home Furniture</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:59:46 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Green Living]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=231</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
The campaign for living an eco-friendly lifestyle has never been so  intense compared to how it was in the previous years. One definite  reason for this is because we can now obviously see the earth&#8217;s  deterioration and feel its impact on our lives. Where else could there  be the best place [...]]]></description>
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<p>The campaign for living an eco-friendly lifestyle has never been so  intense compared to how it was in the previous years. One definite  reason for this is because we can now obviously see the earth&#8217;s  deterioration and feel its impact on our lives. Where else could there  be the best place to start green living but right in our own homes.</p>
<p>For  the exterior of the house there are eco-friendly construction or  building materials that can alternatively used to create an eco-friendly  home. As for the interior, there are of course some green alternative  such as eco-friendly home furniture and decorations. Going green for  furniture could be done in three possible means. First is to buy used  home pieces. Second is to create your own pieces and choose organic and  green materials. Third is to buy brand new sets which are guaranteed to  be made from eco-friendly materials.</p>
<p>Whichever of the three is  chosen, there are some guidelines to keep in mind so as to ensure that  that the furniture will really be a contribution for a greener earth.  Thrift stores are generally selling low cost items for the home, some  are pre-used home furniture and furnishings. Other places where second  hand home furniture may be bought are garage sales and antique shops.</p>
<p>Most  furniture for the home is made of wood. However, look for a kind of  wood that is quick to grow compared to other trees like mango or bamboo  or other kinds of woods which comes with certification from the Forest  Stewardship Council or FSC. This FSC is a nonprofit group that promotes  preservation of all forests worldwide and sets healthy wood standard for  use in the industry. Recycling is always a good alternative when it  comes to greener living at home or in any other areas. When it comes to  home furniture, there are times when a new furniture is not at all  needed. Sometimes all the furniture needs is repainting and refurbishing  and it will again look like new.</p>
<p>Choose a paint or varnish that  is non-toxic, add a few pieces of new and highlighting hardware like  knobs. Upholstering is also another means to make the furniture look  brand new. Use seat covers that are made or organic cloth and fiber  instead of leather. Vintage cloths would be nice to cast a classic  interior home style. Leather seem like a good option when it comes to  durability for it will definitely last long. However, various elements  in the environment are affected with the processing of leather. Leather  comes from animals pastured and allowed to graze in cleared forests. The  raw material needs to be processed in factories thereby consuming  energy and fuel. So leather is not a good option for eco-friendly home  furniture.</p>
<p>Buying local produces is also a helpful way in living a  green lifestyle. There are stores nearby that produces, creates and  makes their own furniture pieces out of locally grown materials like  bamboo. Buying local product also lessens the cost and the need for  shipping fees and fuel costs.</p></div>
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		<title>How to Go Green at Home If You Don&#8217;t Really Want To</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/how-to-go-green-at-home-if-you-dont-really-want-to.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:59:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rocmingles.com/?p=229</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Who died and made Al Gore your landlord anyhow? That&#8217;s one way of  looking at it. If you hold out long enough, you may yet win everyone  back to sanity. Besides, what&#8217;s in it for you? You may see no benefit in  doing anything differently. Are your half dozen 28 cent light [...]]]></description>
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<p>Who died and made Al Gore your landlord anyhow? That&#8217;s one way of  looking at it. If you hold out long enough, you may yet win everyone  back to sanity. Besides, what&#8217;s in it for you? You may see no benefit in  doing anything differently. Are your half dozen 28 cent light bulbs  really hurting anyone? And isn&#8217;t it a lot of bother to conserve,  recycle, and de-chemical your household? You&#8217;ve seen all those people  lined up at the funny colored dumpsters in your supermarket parking lot,  hefting big bags of who knows what out of their little hybrid cars.  What the heck are they doing?</p>
<p>Good question. Maybe they&#8217;re saving  their grandchildren (and yours) a lot of suffering and hardship. Maybe  you could ask yourself for a moment, what&#8217;s in it for them?</p>
<p>Can  one house make a difference for the whole planet? No, going green in  your home would not affect anything much outside your four walls.  However, when millions of people do it (and they do) a true impact is  being made. Use less, pollute less, recycle raw materials, reduce health  risks from chemicals &#8211; it all adds up. By doing so we&#8217;re blessing  ourselves, as well as the future citizens of spaceship Earth.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s  a big deal but you can bring your part down to size. Here are some  &#8220;small steps for a man that can become a giant leap for mankind&#8221;. Take  your own leap. Start with these few easy steps on how to go green in  your home.</p>
<p>Things You&#8217;ll Need:</p>
<p>* A desire to become a part  of the solution.</p>
<p>* A general awareness of what&#8217;s nasty &amp;  wasteful and what isn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>* Four tubs or medium trash bins  somewhere out of the way.</p>
<p>* A shopping routine that helps you to  gradually go green in your home.</p>
<p>Go green at home by REDUCING  WASTE. Check your habits and your home for little ways in which you may  be wasteful. Is the tap leaking? Would my toilet still flush okay if I  put a couple of bricks in the tank? Are my windows really snug and  draft-free? Could I lower the thermostat if I got a space heater for the  room I&#8217;m in the most? Could I try a cold water detergent? Could I air  dry my clothes instead of using the dryer every time? Do I really fill  the dishwasher before running it? You get the idea.</p>
<p>Another way to  go green at home is to REDUCE CHEMICAL USAGE and its pollution of your  body, your house, your city. Use natural hygiene products and cleaning  agents as much as possible. Why? Imagine your body as a big sponge, full  of water. A lot of water. In fact, about thirteen gallons. Your water  (and blood) travels around inside you on a mission, making billions of  pickups and deliveries. &#8220;Bad things&#8221; (impurities &amp; waste) are picked  up for disposal outside the body, and &#8220;good things&#8221; (nutrients &amp;  anti-bodies) are delivered to feed and protect your individual cells.  However, sometimes our water system delivers more impurities than it  picks up for disposal. The result is that nasty, harmful things get  stored in our cells and fat. Impurities that ought to go out stay in.  They burden our cells, organs, and blood, endangering us far more than  we may realize. Often the body is ill-equipped to dispose of the  hazards.</p>
<p>Our body&#8217;s water system &#8211; all 13 gallons of it &#8211; becomes  poisonous instead of empowering, and well able to damage our blood  vessels along its travels. Infection and disease park in our cells from  man-made chemicals ingested from food, air, and water. In this age we  live in, there is no complete escape, but living wisely helps turn it  around.</p>
<p>Pretty much everything is dirty with something or other.  Air, water, food, and everyday products threaten to bring your blood  into imbalance. Impurities may have a hard time getting picked up for  disposal. And whatever does not stay in your insides polluting YOU runs  out the drain and into the world at large. And out there, it re-enters  the food chain to take another run at you.</p>
<p>One of the best and  simplest ways to go green at home is to START RECYCLING. All it takes is  a little set-up and the rest is a habit hardly even noticeable in your  daily routine. Basically, you need four tubs or kitchen-size trash cans.  You can color code them or just write on each one as follows:<br />
PAPER<br />
PLASTICS ( #2 Clear and separate bag for #2 colored. Throw away  other plastics.)<br />
GLASS<br />
METAL /ALUMINUM</p>
<p>What you do is simply chuck your trash into  the corresponding bin, either as-you-go or just before you toss your  general trash in the main dumpster or regular trash can. And if you want  to go all the way, you can further subdivide your recyclables into  various kinds of glass and other types of plastics (see Resources below  for some handy guides for that). Drop off your sorts now and then at any  neighborhood recycling center. (Call your city help desk if you don&#8217;t  know where one is located).</p>
<p>You can also reduce trash at the front  end of your consumption. When they ask you, &#8220;Paper or plastic?&#8221; say  neither. Bring your own reusable canvas bags when you go shopping.  Canvas bags are a whole lot better ecologically than plastic bags, and  39 times less damaging than paper. What a simple, powerful way to change  the world thirty times a week. Even small purchases and take-out food  can be carried in your own washable canvas bag.</p>
<p>These guidelines  are more or less a starter kit of ideas and actions you can perform to  reduce your personal dirty-trail in your body, home, and planet. Read  labels when you buy things. Buy organic when possible. Avoid dyes  wherever possible. That being said, note that all-natural deodorants and  mouthwashes may not cut the mustard! But give them a try anyway.</p>
<p>Now  see? That wasn&#8217;t nearly as hard as you thought it would be. To go green  at home is to join the the solution-revolution. Welcome!</p></div>
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		<title>Green Living &#8211; A Philosophical Way to Live</title>
		<link>http://www.rocmingles.com/green-living-a-philosophical-way-to-live.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[
Healthy living is generally considered as one of the most  philosophical ways to live our life. Most of us who simply tend to adapt  this way of living consider our actions in the well being of our  planet. Every time we adapt ourselves to this decision, we tend to think  of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="body">
<p>Healthy living is generally considered as one of the most  philosophical ways to live our life. Most of us who simply tend to adapt  this way of living consider our actions in the well being of our  planet. Every time we adapt ourselves to this decision, we tend to think  of our consequences towards the planet and mankind and its effect.  Green living simply means a way of caring for our environment along with  is substances like plants, animals and humans. By being conscious  towards our ecosystem, we generally can take wise decisions in  maintaining our planet and making sure that our kind will continue to  live here for ages to come.</p>
<p>The main key to green living is  reducing the deposit of carbon on our planet. We need to remember that  if any of our actions are simply creating any negative impacts then we  have to manage and change our actions. Green living is simply one of the  best ways to do things. If we take care of our planet we can at least  be sure that our earth will preserve most of the life forms for the  future generations.</p>
<p>We need to understand that each and every  person living in this planet simply leaves his footprints on our  ecological system with each of the steps that they take during their  living in this planet. It is the scale and measure of these foot prints  that simply decides the amount of damage we did to our planet at the  time of our existence. So the more damage we create being an individual,  the more footprints we leave behind us. So when most of these  footprints start piling up we simply pass away without facing the  consequences and the future generations on this planet are the ones who  have to face it. So, we simply can say that we are very selfish when we  study this.</p>
<p>We are one of the prime reasons for threatening our  environment and causing a change in its climate. We have forced our bio  diversity to change for us. So, the green living movement is a result of  all these changes. The basic idea is simply to try and conserve with  what we are left and promote sustainability. Once we have understood  these problems we can start to educate ourselves to repair these damages  in a much productive fashion.</p>
<p>So we basically need to choose an  organic way of living by eating organic food, and using organic  products. We need to cut down the harmful chemicals. We need to recycle  more of our house hold rubbish instead of throwing it away. In this way  we can certainly reduce landfills and reduce the amount of carbon we  give to the planet.</p>
<p>Today most of the people realize the  importance of this act, but learning how to live the green living  lifestyle can in fact be very much rewarding. We need to be more  environmental friendly. We have to understand that this is our home. The  earth may continue to live even if we are not there but we may not be  there to see it. This is our home and we cannot live anywhere else.</p></div>
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