How to Go Green This Summer

The basic idea of summer is to spend as much time relaxing as possible with friends, family, and anyone else who would like to join. Whether it's a barbecue or a vacation, summertime is a great time to go green by making eco friendly decisions.

One of the great advantages to having an eco friendly summer is that you will save money, which will definitely help the vacation situation considering the state of our economy. One way to go green in the summer is by using rechargeable batteries in your electronic devices. Since summertime is usually the time for road trips and other types of long vacations, rechargeable batteries would help you save energy and save money along the way. For example, you can buy a four-pack of AA rechargeable batteries for around $12.00, and reuse them over 1,000 times! They really pay for themselves in the end.

Another green summer idea is to use eco friendly umbrellas at the beach in order to shield yourself from the sun. These umbrellas are made out of recycled plastic, bamboo, and other sustainable materials. They come in every color and design you can think of, and they are extremely affordable.

You can also have an environmentally safe summer by installing an energy efficient air conditioning system. Energy Star is an excellent source for such products because they design their appliances with the goal of saving as much energy as possible. Energy Star also provides a great variety in their product line so even if you don't want to buy an entire AC unit, you can still purchase a dehumidifier, programmable thermostat, ceiling fan, etc.

Barbecues are a huge symbol of the fun and freedom of summer. Barbecues are all about family, friends, and having a good time. They are also a great opportunity to go green and save money.

I think anybody would agree that the most important part of any barbecue is the grill. Grills come in many shapes, sizes, and forms, but not all of them are eco friendly. For example, charcoal, gas, and propane grills would not be considered energy efficient because when they burn, they release carbon monoxide and other volatile organic compounds into the air. This results in pollution and other effects that are harmful to the environment. Woodflame grills are an eco friendly alternative because they burn woodchips instead of charcoal or gasoline.

Another way to go green during a barbecue is by avoiding styrofoam and instead using paper plates and plastic cups. Styrofoam takes a staggering 500 years to decompose in a landfill, so you should use it as rarely as possble. Plastic cups are great because after they are used they can be rinsed out, recycled, and ultimately reused. You can take things a step further by buying plates and napkins that are made out of recycled paper because supporting the recycling industry is just as important as actually recycling.

You can also go green at a barbecue by using food products that are locally grown. Such foods can be found at a farmers' market or any other type of local marketplace. A big advantage of eating locally grown food is that it is usually organic and pesticide-free. Not only is this better for your health, it is also better for the environment because pesticides lead to greenhouse gases and global warming.

Beach vacations are a summer staple, so why not go green when you go to the beach? There are countless ways to make any vacation more eco friendly, which is a great thing if you want to save energy and save money.

One way to go green at the beach is by using eco friendly umbrellas to block you from the sun. These umbrellas are made out of recycled plastic and other sustainable materials which cause no harm to the planet. This means that not only are they stylish and affordable, but they are also great for the environment.

Another idea is to wear an eco friendly bathing suit. Much like the umbrellas, the materials used to create the bathing suit makes all of the difference if you want to go green. One of the more interesting sustainable bathing suit materials is polyester-type fabric, which is created out of recycled bottles. Organic cotton is an excellent fabric because the term "organic" means that it was produced without the use of pesticides. Pesticides are a problem because they lead to pollution, greenhouse gases, and global warming.

You can also help out the environment while at the beach by making sure that you recycle whatever you can, and clean up any other trash that you may find around you. Cleaning up beaches is becoming more and more important because trash that is left behind at the shore is usually sucked into the water when the tide rises. A dirty ocean leads to dangerous ecological consequences because when one part of the food chain suffers as a result of dirt and debris in the ocean, everyone down the line ends up paying for it, as well.

Baseball is known as America's pastime, and with good reason because every year, baseball attracts almost 80 million spectators. If the fans unified and made the decision to go green, the impact would be a big one.

Baseball games primarily occur during the spring and summer, so fans become concerned with the different ways they can beat the heat. One way is by using a portable mini fan which is more than likely battery powered. The good news is that you can make that fan more eco friendly and energy efficient by using rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries are also a great way to save money because they only cost around $12.00 and they can be reused more than 1,000 times!

Another eco friendly baseball idea would be to bring a reusable water bottle instead of buying a plastic one from the concession stand. In the past year alone, Americans spent more than $15 billion dollars on water bottles. This is an insane amount of money to spend on something that is completely unnecessary. You can go green by putting a water filter on your kitchen sink, and then filling up a reusable water bottle before the game. Reusable water bottles also come in insulated varieties, so you are able to keep the water ice cold all day long.

You can also go green during the games by recycling as much and as often as possible. Most stadiums have become environmentally friendly by offering multiple locations where you can recycle your products. Instead of throwing away empty plastic cups and beer cans, the green thing to do would be to recycle them, and encourage others around you to do the same.