Think Green

Our refill service conserves both oil and landfill space by reducing the number of new cartridges produced as well as taking a bite out of the 300 million cartridges thrown away each year. Approximately eight cartridges are thrown away every second in the United States. A gallon of oil is used to make a new toner cartridge for a laser printer. InkSpot lets you save money and the environment, it's a rare combination these days!

Have a "Green" Valentine's Day

Show your significant other and best buds you really care by thinking pink and green this February 14. Volunteering and contributing to nonprofits is the new green.

You'll feel great knowing that you're spreading love and giving back this Valentine's Day! (Psst: Email this guide around so you can be on the receiving end of some of these goodies!)

Buy local groceries for your Feb. 14 dinner. What's better than a V-date with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or a bunch of your best friends? A V-date that features delicious fare you'll find at a farmer's market or in the local section of your supermarket. Buying local foods saves on the transportation, energy, and packaging it takes to bring produce from faraway (and hence, cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions) while also supporting local farmers.

Go on an environmentally friendly retreat. Spend some time at a local wildlife reserve, park, or natural area - even if it means bundling up. Being at one with nature will remind you how precious our planet is. Or see if your parents might consider a V-Day getaway. This year Feb. 14 falls on a long weekend (it's also President's Weekend) so the timing is perfect. We love Gaiam's earth-friendly travel options and there are some other great travel deals out there too!

Give green flowers. No, not weeds or clovers (though if you find a four-leaf one, you might want to save it for next month). Here's the scoop: Nearly 90% of V-Day roses are imported from Colombia and Ecuador. In addition to the air freight costs, most flower growers there need not adhere to the safety standards that produce suppliers do. This means their flowers may be doused in chemicals to maintain their unblemished appearance. So check out VeriFlora-certified flowers or 1-800-Flowers (both are available on Do Something's shopping mall). The blooms are sustainably grown, guaranteeing not only adherence to the highest of environmental standards, but also fair labor practices.

Lead the charge on making V-Day green at your school. Encourage your principal, class prez and/or team or club to start new, eco-fabulous traditions - like, for those sweetheart sales, swap out those plastic bags filled with candy for paper ones (tie 'em with raffia - it's organic!), use fair-trade chocolates, and look into potted flowers that can be replanted instead of single-stemmed ones that will die within a few days.

Take Valentine's Day to your school, in green style. Team up with Nick Cannon to increase your green!

Send an e-card . . . American Greetings Corporation reports that around a billion physical valentines are mailed each year. If one billion cards were laid out end to end, they would stretch around the world five times. Whoa, that's a lot of trees - and trees help our planet by soaking up that bad, global warming-causing carbon dioxide. Not to mention, emailed V-cards also make cents in this economy.

. . . .or a recycled one. Determined to deliver physical proof of your love? Buy recycled paper and make your own heart-shaped greetings (Aww!) or Google eco-friendly card brands for purchase.

Donate to an environmental organization. It doesn't have to be a lot of money - it's the thought that counts. This gift's a particularly good idea for the serious eco geek in your life or the parent who has everything.

Information above was obtained from dosomething.org and below is a little information about the company.

Who We Are

We love teens. They are creative, active, wired...and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about.. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn't require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. for teens and social change.

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A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL QUIZ.*
We would like to thank Real Green Goods for allowing us to use this educational quiz. All contents are copyrighted by Real Green Goods with all rights reserved.

SEE HOW YOU DO ….

Recycling …
a - I am way too busy to recycle and besides, I don’t think they do it in my town.
b - I recycle most of my plastic, paper, glass, and metal and take it out to the curb.
c - I separate all of my trash into organic and inorganic, and I compost.
d - I have very little to recycle because I buy in bulk, read the news on my computer, and always properly dispose of batteries, ink cartridges, and any other toxins.

Water Bottles…
a - I only drink natural spring fresh water in individual bottles.
b - I won’t pay for water so I refill my plastic water bottle.
c - I use a stainless steel water bottle so the plastic won’t leech into the water.
d - I use water that has gone through a filter to fill my stainless steel bottle.

Clothing…
a - I love shopping at outlets where I can get the best buys.
b - I try to buy good quality U.S. made or Fair Trade if possible.
c - I buy organic clothing when possible to reduce pesticide and chemical use.
d - I reduce over-consumption by shopping at thrift stores, buy hemp clothing when possible, and organics and non-animal products the other times.

Electricity…
a - I turn the lights off when I leave for work but leave some on at night for security.
b - I turn the lights off when I leave a room.
c - I turn off the computer when I am not using it, and all of my appliances are energy efficient models.
d - I generate so much electricity from my solar panels that the local electrical company buys back half of my electricity.

Car Use…
a - For safety purposes I drive an SUV.
b - I carefully plan how many trips I make for my errands, and sometimes I carpool.
c - I drive a hybrid, keep my tires inflated, and I use my bike when possible.
d - I don’t own a car. I use the bus or ride my bike, and I rent a car or take public transportation for long trips.

Flashlights…
a - I love those throw away flashlights - the ones that are so handy at the check-out.
b - I use the small high intensity flashlights for their efficiency.
c - I use rechargeable batteries in my flashlights.
d - I don’t need batteries. I have flashlights that you either shake or crank for power.

Composting…
a - Isn’t that something farmers do?
b - I compost in the good weather but I hate going out in the winter.
c - I use a bucket under the sink and when it's full, I take it out to my rolling composter.
d - I use the worm method of composting - very efficient and it makes fantastic soil.

Cleaning…
a - There's nothing like chlorine for getting the dirt out. Whatever it takes.
b - I love those new rolls of cleaning wipes.
c - I am careful about not mixing dangerous chemicals together.
d - I use natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, and elbow grease.

Heating…
a - I only have one life - I refuse to be cold and besides, I can afford it.
b - I keep the house at 70 degrees and lower the thermostat at night.
c - I dress in layers in cold weather and use flannel sheets, so 66 degrees during the day and 56 degrees at night is no problem.
d - My programmable thermostat automatically lowers the temperature while we are away at work, and at night so we never forget.

Light Bulbs…
a - I’m afraid of the dark so I turn on lots of light.
b - I use those good long lasting bulbs to save money.
c - I have fluorescent bulbs in my closets, but I don’t like the flickering the small ones make.
d - The new compact fluorescent bulbs are all over my house and you would never know it. They last 13 times longer than regular bulbs and use 75% less electricity.

Water use…
a - I have a well so I don’t have a water problem.
b - I turn the water off when I brush my teeth.
c - I use the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full.
d - I have water savers on all my faucets and wouldn’t dream of watering my lawn.

SHADE OF GREEN SCORING

a = 1 point, b = 2 points, c = 3 points, d = 4 points

11 – 15     Light Dry Hay - The good news is you have LOTS of
                 room for improvement!
16 – 21     Dusty Sage - You might be in hiding under that sage.
                 Time to come out and green up.
22 - 27     Meadow Green - Just a little more effort and a few
                 more green facts will do wonders.
28 - 33     Four Leaf Clover - You’ve got the idea so jump on the
                 green wagon.
34 - 39     Kiwi - Keep up the good work and spread the word.
40 - 44     Emerald Green - You are Precious. A model Green citizen.
                 (You might also need to make sure you get a life once in awhile!)

Inkspot

Think Green