We all heard it growing up. You are just about to head out the door with snow sled or surfboard in hand and you hear your mom say, “Don’t forget to turn the lights off in your room”. You turn around, go back to your room, turn off the light and wonder how much energy you are really saving.

Turns out, you can save a bundle! Lighting accounts for 11 percent of the home energy use and while compact florescent bulbs are more efficient than traditional bulbs by up to 75%, nothing beats the energy efficiency of a light that isn’t using energy at all. By simply turning off or reducing the number of lights on in a room you can dramatically affect your electrical bill and reduce your overall home energy usage.

The Department of Energy has a great article on how much energy and money you can save on a monthly basis. By turning off a single 60 Watt bulb for one hour a day, 22,000 watts of energy per year could be saved. That?s enough energy to power one months worth of evening TV viewing!

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During the Presidential campaign, Barack Obama touted the creation of green collar jobs as one of the primary objectives of his environmental agenda. If Obama stays true to his word, and Congress works with the new President to pass his green initiatives, I would expect a plethora of new green jobs to spring up over the next few years.

Some companies have already created green collar jobs, and there are plenty of people in America doing eco-related work today. To help environmentally comitted companies connect with the next generation of green employees, green-focused job sites have sprung up all over the Internet. If you’re interested in working for a company that is passionate about environmental issues, that develops green, cleantech and renewable energy technologies, or is looing to move into the green sector, you might find your next job on one of the following sites.

Coop America’s Green Business Network is a network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses that are focused on helping businesses with deep social and environmental commitments emerge and succeed in the marketplace. In addition to offering support and information to small and medium green-growing businesses, the Green Business Network has a job board with links to green job hunting sites.

Greenbiz.com is a news site that publishes information geared toward helping companies align their environmental responsibilities with business success.TheGreenbiz.com job board is populated with job openings from companies focused on implementing and promoting green, cleantech, and sustainable business practices.

Green Business is a news and information blog that highlights current events and news as it relates to green business, and technology. A section of the site is focused on green jobs, and you can find links to green job boards in various posts.

The Green Careers Center (formerly known as the Environmental Career Center) is an eco-focused job site that promotes green employment by connecting eco-employers with like-minded job seekers. Green Careers Center has been working for the betterment of the environment for over 25 years, and their job board reflects theircommitment in the quality and diversity of available positions.

Green Careers on MonsterTrak is the first green job site that is geared toward college students and recent graduates that are interested in finding green collar work. By partnering with job-giant Monster.com, green marketing guru ecoAmerica, and the Environmental Defense Fund, Green Careers on MonsterTrak offers a comprehensive list of entry-level, part-time and internship opportunities for green job seekers looking to jump into new roles.

Idealist is a global non-profit organization that promotes dialog and action between people and businesses interested in making this world a better place. While not all of theinformation on Idealist is green-centered, they have increased their green content and seem to be focusing more on environmental issues than they had done in the past. The Job Board on Idealist includes non-profit jobs, volunteer opportunities and internships all over the world.

RenewableEnergyWorld.com is a news and information site that strives to educate and inform people and companies on all issues related to renewable energy. RenewableEnergyWorld.com has a Job Board that helps green professionals track down jobs related to the development and production of renewable energy technologies.

Sustainable Business is a news and networking organization that promotes sustainable business practices and provides resources to help companies integrate sustainability in their business practices. Sustainable Business connectseco-employers that meet their “seal of sustainability” standard, with job seekers via the Green Dream Jobs board.

TreeHugger is a mainstream media outlet that prides itself on “helping the masses get hooked on sustainability,” by providing news, information, “how to guides, and multimedia related to green living. Users can search the Green Job Board for global environmental employment, just be aware that the search functionality is limited and doesn’t let you view all of the open positions at once.

Additional Sites

ClimateChange.org Job Board

Common Good Careers

Environmental Career Opportunities

Environmental Jobs

Green Collar Economy

Grist Jobs

Just Means

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So at last, the end is near. On Tuesday we will collectively change the course of America and elect either Senator Barack Obama or Senator John McCain as the next President of the United States. After 2 years of nearly non-stop campaigning, hundreds of millions of dollars spent on advertising, and near media saturation by both candidates over the past few weeks, the end is finally in sight.

As I sit here tonight listening to the American Roots “Singing and Swinging the Election 2008” radio program, I can really see that a revolution has been taking place in small towns, suburbs and big cities across this country. Sitting here, listening to Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and Ralph Stanley sing protest songs about rising up as a nation and taking back the reigns of power, I feel a sense of change is in the air. Revolutions don’t just happen -they require the commitment, strength, energy, funds, and sweat-equity of ordinary people. And at this time in our history, the ordinary people of this country are standing up for that in which they believe, and while we don’t all believe in the same things, the fact that so many people have taken the time to stand up for their beliefs is powerful.

It took me most of this year to really warm up to him, but in the past few months I have been increasingly moved by Barack Obama’s compassion and understanding of the American people, by his vision for the future of this nation, and by his plea for personal responsibility, engagement and support from each and every one of us. I appreciate the fact that Senator Obama is a populist - that he believes regular people can change the country for the better -? and that he seems to understand his greatest strength is the citizenry of this country. And while I am tired of the radio and TV commercials, annoyed by the glossy flyers that land in my mailbox, and repulsed by the daily attacks by both parties, I know that the end is near.

So here is my message to any and all reading this post - whatever you do on Tuesday, please make sure you VOTE! If you don’t vote, you give up your voice in the debate, and you relinquish a little piece of your personal power. Our government is “…of the people, by the people, for the people,” and in order to be included in the process, every eligible citizen needs to get out and vote! And while this post is not specifically related to the environment or green buying, the outcome of this election will very much impact the future of this nation and this planet’s environmental well-being.

I have already written about both Obama and McCain’s environmental viewpoints and policies, and I have no problem stating that a vote for Obama is a vote for responsible, scientifically sound environmental policies that will benefit all of our futures. With this election, you have the opportunity to do what is best for the the planet and all of its inhabitants, so do your civic duty and vote on Tuesday, November 4!

Here’s to hope and a community activist who really believes in the power of the people!

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One of the reasons we write about Green topics is to make the world a better place for everyone to live. So when natural disasters like Ike render thousands homeless and drain the supplies of local charities, we take notice.

The Capital Area Food Bank is trying to raise $5,000 in 5 days which can equate into $20,000 worth of food for the people inneed. This food will reach the families in Texas and help support the work the Capital Area Food Bank does.

Connie Reece at ChipIn describes the need far better than I could. Please give her article a read or click the ChipIn button below to make a donation.

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Now no one really enjoys the idea of thinking about their toilet(s). It’s one of those necessary evils that has to be in every home, cleaned on a regular basis, and is ready for you when you really need it. But since we don’t tend to think about it is exactly why we should look at it as a place to save water.

As we mentioned in our grey-water article, most toilets installed in the last century will “flush” a whopping 5 gallons of water every time you pull the handle. To properly illustrate that, think about 5 of the gallon bottles of milk filled to the top and poured one after another down the toilet. That happens every time you flush. In recent years we have seen more ultra low flow (ULF) toilets come on the market with the same amount of power as the older models but they work with only 1.5 gallons of water per flush.

Replacing your toilet is no easy task but it is one that any DIY type can do. It will typically take about 1-2 hours and you should be strong enough to remove your old toilet. You can purchase a ULF toilet at any major retailer for $100 to $600 depending on model, style, and brand. Once you have replaced your old toilet, don’t forget to bring it to the recycling center and not the dump. Some communities have an Ultra Low Flush Replacement programs in place that will get you a tax credit for replacing your current toilet with a more efficient one.

If the average household flushes 35 times a week, with a ULF you would save 122.5 gallons of water per week as compared to a 5 gallon per flush toilet. Within 2 months the new toilet will pay for itself from savings to your water bill and that savings will carry on well into the future. If you also add in a grey-water system to the mix, you can eliminate the water expense from your toilet completely.

It’s such a an obvious idea that sometimes we forget about it. If you own a dishwasher, it is always better to make sure it is completely full before running it. It takes the same amount of water to wash a half full dishwasher as it dos a full one. Why waste the water and energy on a half full cycle?

The other simple idea when it comes to this appliance is you should not rinse a dish before putting it in the dishwasher. All modern dishwashers have large disposal systems to break down waste before sending it down the pipe so you need not worry about the food going down the drain. Also, rinsing a dish before putting it in the dishwasher wastes water and is exactly what the dishwasher will do in the first cycle anyways.

Studies have shown that dishwashers use only half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and less soap than hand-washing an identical set of dirty dishes. Even the most proficient hand washers could not beat the saving of a normal dishwasher. Energy Star dishwashers use even less energy than those tested and you could qualify for a rebate if you buy one. As long as you always run the unit full and don’t pre-rinse your dishes, you can save time, money, and relieve yourself of a daily chore. You still have to put the dishes away when they are clean.

If you are shopping for a higher end vehicle you might notice a very expensive line item on the Window Sticker you have never seen before. The Gas Guzzler Tax was enacted in 1978 as part of the larger Energy Tax Act and it penalizes a buyer who chooses to purchase a vehicle knowing that it does not meet certain fuel efficiency standards. This is the opposite of the Electric Vehicles tax credit which gives you back up to 10% of your vehicle’s current value.

The Gas Guzzler calculation of efficiency changes from year to year based on EPA testing but a good rule of thumb is if your vehicle will be getting less than 22.5 MPG you will most likely be paying the tax. The actual amount of the tax also changes depending on how much below that 22.5 MPG value the cars is. If you are close to it, it can be as little as $1,000 but if you are at 12.5 MPG or lower, expect to pay an extra $7,700.

There are simple ways to avoid this tax and help the environment while you can purchase the vehicle you want. Take a look at the Chrysler 300 which comes in 6 different models. Only the SRT8 which comes with a 6.1 Liter engine is subject to the tax because of it’s 18 MPG rating. That is an extra $2,100 you are paying over the next lower model which has a 22 MPG rating and no Gas Guzzler Tax.

At this time, SUVs are not subject to this tax. So even though the Lexus GX-470 gets only 18 MPG you would not have to pay the additional $2,100 in the Gas Guzzler tax. However, legislation will be moving through congress to change the definition of an SUV from a light truck to a car which would then make it subject to the Gas Guzzler tax.

There are a lot of things in the home that produce waste water. Sinks, bathtubs, and laundry would normally have their waste water dumped back into sewer systems or septic tanks. However, if you own your own home, you can divert this type of water to a Greywater or sullage system for other uses.

Greywater is non-industrial wastewater generated from domestic processes and comprises 50-80% of all residential wastewater. Greywater is distinct from blackwater in the amount and composition of its chemical and biological contaminants. For example, flushed toilet water would be considered blackwater while drained water from a load of laundry is considered greywater. Greywater can be filtered locally to reduced number of contaminants and stored for other uses in the home where non-potable water is used.

Irrigation of lawns is one area where greywater can be effectively used. By directly recycling water into your lawn you will greatly reduce the amount of potable water you use per month and will significantly reduce your water bill. Indoor reuse is also a good place to look for greywater applications. Toilets can be filled with greywater because they do not become blackwater systems until after used. When using greywater in this manner it needs to be treated before it is put back into the home in order to reduce smell and wear on the toilet. However, it can greatly reduce the overall water usage of the home, especially if you do not have a more efficient 1.5 gallon per flush toilet installed.

One great example of greywater use is the Aqus Toilet System as shown in the image above. It uses greywater from the sink, treats and stores the water in the cabinet below, then directly feeds the water to the toilet as it’s primary supply. It is estimated that this system can reduce water use in a two-person home by approximately 5,000 gallons a year.

Greywater systems are becoming a new trend in recycling and are especially attractive to people who live in the Southwest US, where water supplies can be limited. Before installing a greywater system in your home, make sure you find out if there are any local or regional requirements for installation. You can find more information on sites such as Greywater Central, Greywater Saver, and Greywater.com on how to plan, install, and use your greywater system to it’s maximum potential

Whether you own or rent your home, changing your shower head to a low-flow aerator can save money and the environment at the same time. The average shower head delivers 5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) while a low flow model will typically deliver 2.5 gpm. Low-flow shower heads work by constricting the flow of water out of the nozzle and mixing more air into the water stream which results in the lower water usage. That means your water usage and bill will both be lower.

You can find low-flow shower heads at any major hardware store like Ace Hardware, Home Depot or Lowes. Custom models can be found online and typically cost from $10 to $100 depending on the manufacturer and style.