Slowly but surely you will be able to enjoy the latest Focus film at your local movie theatre with the benefit of knowing that it is consciously going green. Some theatres in New York are selling organic popcorn and others sell their popcorn in eco-friendly bags  while offering drinking cups made from post-consumer product . Newer theatres are taking advantage of their large roofs to install solar panels which eventually pays itself off through tax incentives that range up to 60% of the system cost. Carmike Cinemas opened a theatre in Tennessee that was LEED-certified  (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).  Biodegradable 3D glasses are in the works but in the meantime be sure to recycle them at the container near the theatre door. Finally, some theatres know how to really stay green while burning off all that popcorn at the same time.

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How annoying is it when you open a box that has been shipped to you only to get bombarded with packing peanuts? There are other alternative packing materials that can be found through companies such as SylvaCurl. If you don’t want to buy materials, you can use anything from old wrapping paper to magazines to newspapers to leftover bubble wrap, etc. If you receive  a shipment that contains packing materials, make sure you reuse them or send them to the Plastic Loose Fill Council to be recycled-INCLUDING those annoying packing peanuts!

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Have you ever spent 10 or 15 minutes driving around in circles trying to find an open parking spot? One solution to this problem would simply be using a bicycle instead of a car- it’s much more eco-friendly. However, for those times that require a car and the inevitable parking spot search, there’s an app for that! The Gadgeteer has found an iPhone app (soon to be available for Blackberry and Andriod) which locates parking. This will of course help you decrease the amount of time you spend driving and lessen fuel consumption.  It’s simple to use whether searching for parking or letting others know you are leaving a spot. You can even use the app to alert you when your meter is going to expire and if you forget, it will tell you where you parked.

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Most city-dwellers are very lucky to have an effective public transportation system that keeps us from driving everywhere. If your community does not have good and practical public transportation here are a few steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint:

Don’t keep your car idling- if your engine stays idle for more than 30 seconds, it will burn more gasoline than if you were to turn it off and restart the engine. If you have the option of going to a drive-through, versus parking and going inside, choose the latter. Reducing your speed on highways also reduces your emissions, and remember to avoid quick starts and stops. And believe it or not, improperly inflated tires will cause your vehicle to use more fuel.

If you commute to work, avoid becoming an “extreme commuter” For instance, when looking for a job, try to find a company that is best for you and remember to consider location or proximity to public transportation. This will save you money at the gas station as well as reduce your carbon footprint!

Of course, the greenest way to drive is to not drive. Once and a while, take a break from driving and consider walking, biking, car pooling, or using public transportation. According to Planet Green, there are many reasons to take public transportation other than the environment. For additional tips to save the planet, click here.

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Have you ever had leftover or expired medications and poured them into the sink or flushed them down the toilet? Doing so will eventually pollute our water as it makes its way to streams, lakes, and ultimately our faucets. This is not only harmful to people, but also to fish and wildlife. Make sure you follow the instructions on the label as to how to properly discard leftover medicine or follow the FDA guidelines. If there aren’t any instructions, ask your local pharmacy if you can bring your medicine in to be properly discarded. In California, you can also find a drop off location at NoDrugsDownTheDrain.

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Changes in technology sometimes means getting a new cell phone more frequently. There are many ways that you can recycle your old cell phone such as Cell For Cash, or just recycle it at Recycle My Cell Phone. Before recycling your cell phone, make sure you erase all of your information from it by doing either a “hard reset” or by using a Free Data Eraser, and remember to remove your SIM card if the phone contains one. For more information about cell phone recycling, click here.

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There are simple ways to go about making a positive impact on the environment while at work. If your office still uses plastic or Styrofoam cups, bring your own glass/mug to cut down on waste and rally your coworkers to do the same. When possible, print double sided or you can even use paper that has already been used on one side. The latter is often found around the office, i.e. left for dead print jobs and/or unclaimed faxes. Always use recycled paper-a green tip that seemingly is a no-brainer although many companies have yet to change their culture in that regard. Make friends with the Office Manager! According to Planet Green, buying recycled paper can produce 74 percent less air pollution and 35 percent less water pollution. Also, instead of disposable pens, buy biodegradable.

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According to TreeHugger, 33% of personal-care products contain at least one chemical that is linked to cancer. With that in mind, think about all of the products you use in a single day: shampoo, deodorant, lotion… Many of these products have chemicals in them, phthalates in particular, that could affect boys IQs, female development, and hormone levels.  Luckily, there are ways to check the ingredients on in your cosmetics using the Cosmetic Safety Database or you can look through Natural Skincare Authority’s list of chemicals to watch out for. To avoid those chemicals, it is best to buy organic skincare products. With Whole Foods launching a new body care standard, it is easier than ever to find skincare products without harsh chemicals.  

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