Your mother was right. Although you might never admit it, in this case it’s true. Remember all those sheets of aluminum foil she saved and reused when you were little? Turns out she was part of the green movement before it was cool to be green. Take some advice from your mother with these clever ideas for recycling aluminum foil:

• Sharpen dull scissors by cutting through folded up foil that is six to eight layers thick. Cut through the stack a few times to achieve maximum sharpness.
• Crumple it up and throw it into the dryer with your clothes to reduce static electricity.
• Hang strips of foil on strings around your garden to keep away deer, rabbits, birds and other unwanted wildlife. Also, wrap it loosely around the base of new plants to keep bugs and insects from eating the stems.
• Roll up your sleeves and use a little elbow grease (and foil) to remove rust from steel and chrome pieces, including your grill, the oven or pots and pans.
• Save it for your 10th wedding anniversary! Believe it or not, aluminum gifts are traditionally exchanged on this landmark. Better start practicing your creativity now!

With temperatures rising and flip flops starting to parade the ground, the coming summertime is certainly in the air. Now we just have to focus on keeping that air clean.

Here are a few tips to start making this season a greener one.

• Hang your laundry out to dry. Now that it’s warm enough, this is a perfect alternative to an electric dryer.
• Eat outdoors whenever possible. It’ll save on electricity and give you some dinner scenery.
• Use fans and open windows. Fans use less energy than air conditioners and circulate air instead of keeping it trapped in a single room.
• Close shades and blinds. Keeping them closed during the daytime will minimize solar heat gain and will keep your house cooler.
• If you’re planning on barbequing, try a gas or electric grill. Charcoal is harder on the environment. Or, try a solar oven that avoids emissions altogether.

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This week’s tips made possible by Howalt+McDowell Insurance.

Even though raindrops keep falling on our heads, that sun is bound to shine. That means we can ditch the car or SUV and get around town on bicycles.

Here are a few tips for beginners taking it to the streets.

• Follow the Road Rules. Bicyclists on city streets should follow the same practices and rules as drivers of other vehicles. That means staying in the right-most lane, obeying traffic lights, etc.
• Go with the flow. Never ride against traffic on the roadway, and stay off the sidewalk.
• Always wear a helmet. Always. Make sure that the helmet fits on top of your head, not tipped back or forward.
• Be seen. Ride where drivers can see you and wear brightly colored clothing at all times.

If you’re new to the bicycling scene (or will be after you put these tips to good use), here are two local events coming up that are perfect for you:

• SD Bicycle Coalition’s Traffic Skills 101 Course on May 14 at The Outdoor Campus
• Sioux Falls Bike to Work Day on May 21 at the Museum of Visual Materials

For more tips on safe bicycling, click here.

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This week’s tips made possible by City of Sioux Falls.

We’re taking a little break from simple green living tips to let you know about a few big events coming up this month.

Plain Green Conference and Marketplace hits the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls in just a couple weeks. On April 28-29 you will see the most amazing line-up of green experts and world changers to ever hit South Dakota.

Here’s just a tiny taste of what’s in store for you at Plain Green:

• Mitchell Joachim is re-designing cities all over the world from scratch. He’ll show you what future “carborexic” cities will look like, and why “sustainability” is a sissy.
• Cameron Sinclair is making sustainable design a matter of life over death. He’ll show you why green architecture changes lives all over the planet.
• Steve Clark is rebuilding Minnesota’s transportation system for walkers and bikers. He’ll pedal his bicycle from St. Paul to show you tools that will change the planet and set us free.
• Brian Dunbar is creating buildings that teach sustainability. He’ll show you how cool buildings can save a hotter world and sharpen your skills in LEED core concepts and strategies.
• Joyce Coppinger will lead you in building Sioux Falls’ first ever strawbale building.
• Anita Kealy will teach you how to make clothes from cassette tapes.
• Industry leaders and officials will tell you the Future of Renewable Energy
• Jihong Cole-Dai will show you what old ice from Antarctica can tell us about our changing climate.

See the entire schedule and register (http://plaingreen.org) for Plain Green. We hope you’ll come support this important event.

Sioux Falls Green Drinks is hosting the official Plain Green After Party on April 29 at Monk’s from 5:30-8:00pm. It’s free! Learn all about Green Drinks.

Are you a Trash Talker? A new season is about to begin for the Trash Talkers Team, and we need your help. See videos and photos from the 2009 season, and learn how to join the team this summer here.

The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day is April 22. What will you do this year to show the environment some love? Here are some ideas: Find a local event this month and take action. Make a plan to live lighter with your family and coworkers. Or make a donation that will keep the local green movement moving.

The Sioux Falls Mayoral Run-off Election is April 27. Our new mayor will set the green tone, and decide how serious our city will be toward sustainability. Learn what Mike Huether and Kermit Staggers think about our community’s green future by checking out the Green Drinks with the Mayor Candidates video here.

Believe it or not, the average gasoline mower tested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emits, in one hour of operation, the same amount of hydrocarbons that an average vehicle emits over 23,600 miles!

When you’re getting ready to mow your lawn this spring, consider these tips for low-impact mowing:

• Leave it Long. Mow only as often as you need to keep your lawn in good shape. For most lawns, that means cutting your grass no lower than 2.5 inches; keeping many grasses as long as 3.5 inches is ideal for crowding out crab grass and other weeds. You’ll find your grass will grow more slowly and evenly when you cut it a bit longer.
• Let Them Lie. Leave grass clippings on the lawn after you mow to provide your lawn with a natural (and free) source of nutrients and mulch, or compost the clippings for use in your garden.
• Ditch the Engine. Give an old fashioned reel mower a try. Today’s reel mowers are easy to use and do a great job, without any gasoline or electricity.
• Go Natural. Skip all those chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Natural compost accomplishes both and is available free from the landfill. If you’re in the market for a lawn care company, seek one out that practices natural lawn management instead of heavy chemical treatments.

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This week’s tips made possible by our friends at Howe Heating and Plumbing.

Besides being able to work in your bath robe, there is one other big benefit of working from home: you have control over how green you’d like your workplace to be.

Here are nine simple tips to start greening your home office:

• Pull up the blinds and let in some natural light. Or turn on a small lamp if you need it (with energy-efficient light bulbs).
• The simple fact you’re working from home means you’ve lessened your environmental impact by not driving to and from work every day. Continue to leave the car in your garage and conduct meetings via video conference.
• Buy recycled paper, print on both sides, reuse file folders, and recycle your printer ink. Shop around for the greenest office supplies, and only buy them if you really need them.
• Power your wireless keyboard and mouse with rechargeable batteries, and when you do need to toss batteries, make sure you recycle them.
• At the end of the day, shut down your computer, turn off your monitor, and unplug everything you can. Make it even easier to shut down by plugging several devices into a surge protector so you can switch them all off at once.
• Find other people in your community who work from home and see where it makes sense to coordinate. During the summer months, you’ll save on air conditioning if you gather as a group in one person’s space. You might also enjoy the company!

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This week’s tips made possible by our friends at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.

Getting good at recycling might be the easiest way to make your workplace a little greener. However, most workplaces in our community just aren’t cutting it. The solution? Make it lazy.

The key to good recycling is making it as easy as possible for everyone in the workplace. Eliminate the need for a decision or extra effort to put recyclables in the right place. Here are some simple, fool-proof ways to make your office recycling lazy (and effective).

• Always put them together. Never allow a garbage container to exist in your workplace without a recycling container right next to it. If your coworkers must decide which can to walk to, recycling will often lose the battle.
• Label for all. Be sure it’s very clear to everyone what items should go in which container. Use icons, lists or photos to make it easy to understand, and put the labels in an obvious spot on the containers.
• Get a bigger can. Making the recycling container physically bigger than the garbage can make a powerful impression when they sit side-by-side.
• Make it single stream. The days of needing to separate glass, paper, plastic and aluminum are over. Ask your waste hauler for details about what types of recyclables can be mixed at your workplace, and support single stream recycling.
• Talk about it. We train for just about everything these days. Don’t leave Recycling 101 out of the picture. Find an effective way to inform the whole workplace about the changes you make to recycling, and remind them often.

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This week’s tips made possible by our friends at Canfield Business Interiors.

It’s been a long, cold winter, but spring will eventually be here. You might be starting to think about doing a little freshening up, disinfecting and cleaning house….

But did you know that indoor air pollution in our homes can be as much as 100 times worse than outdoor air pollution? Most of that pollution comes from the “offgas” from cleaning supplies and air fresheners…so sometimes when we think we’re cleaning and disinfecting our homes, we’re actually loading the air with toxic chemicals!

Here are a few tips for a greener spring cleaning:

• Use natural fiber sponges or old t-shirt rags to do your cleaning instead of paper towels and other one-time use tools.
• Skip the chemical air fresheners, which can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Instead, try fresh or dry flowers, cedar blocks or an open box of baking soda to add natural fragrance to the room.
• Use vinegar. Nature’s cleaning miracle, vinegar can be used to clean just about anything. Use it straight to clean kitchen floors or wash windows, mix it with baking soda and essential oils to clean sinks, and even use it to remove stains in your carpet. Learn More.
• When you make the switch to natural cleaning products, be sure to safely dispose of any dangerous chemical products. Don’t pour them down the drain, into the ground, or into the trash. Drop them off at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Learn More.
• Open the windows. The best way to get dirty air moving out and fresh air moving in is to open the doors and windows and feel the breeze!

*source: Sierra Blogging Post.

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This week’s tips made possible by our friends at Keloland Television.

Right in the heart of winter, many find it the perfect time to let loose and hit the slopes. Preparing those mountain slopes for thousands of skiers, and traveling to get there, makes a big impact on the environment. This year, try to lessen your snowshoe footprint by skiing a little greener.

• Lower your travel footprint. Getting you to the ski resort makes the biggest environmental impact. Be sure you round up all your friends and carpool in a fuel-efficient vehicle. Or, find others traveling to the same resort on Facebook or Twitter. The best way to lessen your travel footprint on the slopes: ski close to home.
• Do your homework. With a little research, you can find ski areas that are working the hardest to love the planet. Groups like the Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition or the National Ski Area Association can help.
• Find green gear. There many options out there for boards and skis made of sustainable materials. Better yet, buy used gear or rent your gear instead. It can be just as good as new… and is a whole lot cheaper!
• Donate your used equipment. Keep your old snow gear out of the landfill by turning it over to the Salvation Army or any other organization that will put your stuff to good re-use. Some companies will even take your broken old skis and remake them into one-of-a-kind furniture.
• Bring your own water bottle/thermos. Instead of ordering fountain pop, hot chocolate and bottled water at the lodge, bring your own thermos to fill up.

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This week’s tips made possible by Millennium Recycling.

This Valentines Day, fall in love with the environment.

Around a billion valentines are sent each year globally, making it the second largest card-sending holiday. This year, show your love without chopping down all those trees. Here are a few tips for spreading greener gifts:

• Instead of buying a paper card, send an e-card. It’s not only easy and better on the environment, but it’s free! (If you must stick with a paper card, look for ones that are 100% post-consumer waste recycled or tree-free.)
• If you really want to buy something unique (and green) for your loved one, make a donation to an environmental organization on behalf of them. (We happen to know a good one.)
• Lastly, stay at home to celebrate together. Cuddle up with a good movie, cook up a romantic dinner or bring out the board games!

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This week’s tips made possible by Keloland Television.

Source: GreenLivingTips.com

Greening up your home and saving a little extra money doesn’t have to be difficult. Sometimes it just takes a few small changes to conserve energy, money and the environment.

Here are a three tips to get you started:

• Setting your water heater to 120 degrees could save you $25 annually.
• Cleaning your air conditioning, furnace and clothes dryer filters will help your appliances last longer.
• Reversing your ceiling fan in the winter can help circulate the warm air that collects on the ceiling.

For more tips on how to save money and energy, visit ResponsibleByNature.com.

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This week’s tips made possible by Xcel Energy.

This year, make a resolution to pick up a few more green habits! Here are some simple ideas to get you started.

• Use rechargeable batteries. According to the dailygreen.com, more than 15 billion batteries are thrown away each year. Cut down on time, money and waste with rechargeable ones that can be reused up to 1,000 times!
• Pay your bills online. Not only will this cut down on paper, but it will save you money on stamps… and maybe even late fees.
• Get out of the water bottle craze. Most of that plastic ends up in the landfill, and tap water is great in Sioux Falls. Instead, make a reusable water bottle or mug your take-everywhere tool. It will save you time, money and trips to the store.

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This week’s tips made possible by the City of Sioux Falls Sustainability Program.

Lighting a warm fire on a chilly winter night looks and feels wonderful, but it can be an expensive and inefficient endeavor. A wood-burning fireplace sends most of the heat in your house straight up the chimney… emitting as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside, according to earthshare.org. However, there are ways you can limit your heat loss and still enjoy a relaxing evening by the fire.

Here are several tips to green up your wood-burning fireplace.

• Reduce heat loss by slightly opening the nearest window and closing the doors leading into the room.
• Burn hardwood such as oak or hickory, which give off more heat than softer woods.
• Check the seal on the flue damper and make it as snug as possible. Be sure to keep the damper closed when you aren’t using it.
• Have your chimney cleaned once a year.
• Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
• Consider a gas or electric fireplace if you’re planning to install a new one. These provide the enjoyment of looking at flames but can be 70% more efficient than regular fireplaces.

Sources: Bliss Tree and Earth Share.

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This week’s tips made possible by Koch Hazard Architects.

The end of the year is a time for celebration with family and friends. But with all the driving to Grandma’s house, chopping down the Christmas three and wrapping holiday gifts, it can be a tough time for the environment.

This year, make a pledge as a family to green your holidays for next year! Because if you start planning now, you and your family will have a whole year to start making changes.

Here are a few tips to get you started crafting your 2010 family plan:

• Decorate a tree in your yard or in a pot instead of cutting one down or buying an artificial one.
• Gather together to make arts and crafts for decorating. You can even turn it into a scavenger hunt!
• Have a meaningful conversation instead of sending those holiday cards. Call each other instead.
• Give gifts that skip the plastic and wasteful packaging and are as local as possible. Or, skip the real gifts all together and help families and charities in need.
• Instead of wrapping presents in single-use paper, use newsprint, reusable gift bags or boxes decorated by the kids.
• Buy local produce for the holiday feast.
• Making doing the dishes together part of your holiday celebration. Use those fancy dishes that are gathering dust in the hutch and skip the throw away plates, cups, napkins and silverware.

Whatever you do, the key is to put the plan in writing and to all pledge to follow it for next year’s celebrations. That way, we can enjoy both the season… and the planet!

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This week’s tips made possible by Canfield Business Interiors.

With all of the decorations, holiday gifts and wrapping paper this season, it’s sometimes easy to contribute to the one billion trees worth of paper thrown away each year …without even really knowing it.

This season, nothing says it better than an old proverb: “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do, or do without!”

Here are a few tips to help:

• Make your own wrapping paper. Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores isn’t recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, get creative and wrap presents with old maps, bandanas, newspapers or children’s artwork.
• Be sure to provide a well-marked recycling container at your family gathering.
• Reuse wrapping paper and packing. Save the paper, foam and other packing from Christmas gifts to use for shipping, mailing or next year’s presents!
• Help others. Give gifts that will encourage others to reduce their own waste, like a backyard composter, a reusable bag or a donation in their name to your favorite environmental organization.

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This week’s tips made possible by Millennium Recycling. Register to win Vikings playoff tickets by recycling your electronics!

If you’re like most people, a huge chunk of your time is probably spent in the kitchen… cooking, cleaning, talking and celebrating. So we’ve put together a few simple tips to help you live a little bit greener, from fridge to food preparation.

• Replace the filter papers in your coffee maker with reusable filters that simply need rinsing out.
• Adjust the temperature in your refrigerator and freezer. Of all household appliances, refrigerators use the most electricity. You can maximize the appliances’ efficiency by setting your refrigerator at 37 degrees and your freezer at 0.
• If you’re planning on painting in the near future, use ‘no’ or ‘low’ VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, which are much better for both our bodies and our environment!
• Make your cookware last. Choose cookware and utensils that stand the test of time and won’t have to be thrown away with your leftover casserole. Go for stainless steel or cast iron instead. Though a bit of an investment, a good cast iron skillet will last for generations.

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This week’s tips made possible by The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.

ONE TO KNOW

The Green Project was formed by a group of people who saw a responsibility and opportunity for our community. Together with you, we’re hosting a movement to educate and inspire Sioux Falls as we build a greener future.

Without your loyal support and these generous companies and organizations, there simply would not be a Sioux Falls Green Project. Today we say thanks to all of you.

Founding Partners:

Canfield Business Interiors
City of Sioux Falls
The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
Howalt McDowell Insurance
Howe Plumbing and Heating
Keloland Television
Koch Hazard Architects
Lawrence & Schiller
Millennium Recycling
Novak Sanitary Service
Sioux Falls Public Schools
Xcel Energy

Supporting Partners:

Augustana College
Avera McKennan Fitness Center
Cherapa Place
Downtown Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society
Woods Fuller Shultz and Smith

If you or someone you know would like to become a partner with the Sioux Falls Green Project, contact us.