Green Tips Archive

Looking for a Green Tip you saw last week on Northstar^® Resort's Green Tip of the month?  Let the Green Tips Archive help.

• Fuel Economy
• Shopping
• At Home
• At Play
• At Work

How to reduce gas use in the car you have now

MPG: The Best & Worst (September 8, 2008)
If you are considering downsizing your SUV, truck or pickup to a more fuel efficient vehicle, check out Consumer Report's Best & Worst list before heading to the dealership.

Consumer Report's Best & Worst Fuel Economy

Tage It Green (August 4, 2008)
You can offset the carbon emissions from your vehicle in just 1easy step. Just purchase a SkiGreen Tag or 2 for a few dollars. Each SkiGreen Tag ($2 each) represents enough wind energy to offset the global warming pollution generated from driving an average car around 150 miles.

Did you know that round trip from San Francisco to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, an average vehicle gives off nearly 320 pounds of air emissions! For only $6, you can offset all the emissions of your entire Northstar road trip!

• San Francisco to Northstar = 390 miles rounds trip  ~  3 tags = $6
• Sacramento to Northstar = 225 miles round trip ~  2 tags = $4
• Reno to Northstar = 75 miles round trip ~ 1 tags - $2

For more info, visit www.SkiGreen.org.

Less Friction (July 1, 2008)
It's simple, maintain proper air pressure and inflate to the maximum allowed by the specific model of tire you own. This will decrease friction and help your car get up to speed faster than tires that are at an improper pressure. In our experience, this is one of the most overlooked maintanence issues for car owners.
Source: www.hypermilingforum.com

Remove the Junk in your Trunk (July 1, 2008)
Okay, it's not what you think. I'm not talking about getting rid of excess pounds off your rear end. I'm talking about removing items from your car that are not needed. These can range from books to trash to clothing to shoes, etc. The total weight loss after just cleaning up excess stuff out of the car can be up to 200 pounds!
Source: www.hypermilingforum.com

Lighten the Load (July 1, 2008)
This is similar as above. However, we're talking about lightening the car from it's original weight. Some things that could be removed and might not be necessary are trunk carpet, floor mats, rear seats (if you don't ever use them), etc. This varies based on car and use. You can also replace items with lighter models such as lightert racing seats that run around $150. Also, if you have a full size spare tire, you might want to consider downgrading to a smaller spare (these are pretty cheap at junkyards).
Source: www.hypermilingforum.com

Shopping

"BYOB" - Cloth vs. Paper or Plastic (July 28, 2008)
Go comb the Internet, go hunting in your local library and search the world over to find evidence that paper and plastic shopping bags are eco-friendly, especially in relation to their more green reusable cloth counterparts. You may be searching for a long time, but you will surely find evidence of a growing trend around the world, and it is not unwarranted. "BYOB" it is called, or "bring your own bag." Retailers, grocery stores, shopping centers, even China are adopting the eco-friendly shopping bags in their business model and encouraging their customers to do the same.

At Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, we are pleased to announce Village at Northstar^TM retail shops will be making a 100% switch to reusable cloth shopping bags beginning in October 2008.

For interesting facts and stats on usable vs. reusable shopping bags, visit:

• www.TreeHugger.com
• www.PoconoRecord.com

At Home

Satisfy Your Soul (October 13, 2008)
It is getting to be that time in the year where we look forward to snuggling up in a toasty, warm blanket with a  hot, steaming cup of hot chocolate by the fire soothing our muscles after a great day on the slopes.

With the first taste of snow last week we can start satisfying our taste buds and getting comfy with a warm, classic fall favorite, made with organic and natural ingredients, of course.

Here is a classic comfort soup recipe that is easy on the wallet and easy to make "green."

Butternut Squash Soup

• 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided use)
• 4 cups chopped onions
• 4-6 cups peeled, diced butternut squash
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon mixed cinnamon and allspice
• Chopped parsley to garnish

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a soup pot; add onions, squash, bay leaf, and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook over medium heat until vegetables give up much of their water, become very soft and tender, and begin to caramelize (brown) slightly on the bottom of the pot, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. It's okay if the vegetables stick a little bit, as long as they brown on the bottom of the pot without becoming black.

Stir in the cinnamon and allspice. Add 8 cups stock, broth, or water; simmer 40 minutes. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with a sprinkling of chopped parsley and a drizzle of remaining olive oil. For a smooth soup, you can puree all or part of it in a blender before garnishing.

Serves 8

Source: Yahoo! Green's Forecast Earth

Eating Green (September 29, 2008)
The New Four Basic Food Groups

1. Organic food
   Those concerned about the chemicals used to grow and produce food can purchase certified organic varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains, and meats that are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified ingredients.
2. Local food
   Our global economy now makes it easy to get citrus fruits from South America or chocolates and cheeses from Europe. But shipping these foods around the world takes it's toll on the environment. Locavores aim to purchase their foods from local sources to minimize these impacts.
3. 100-mile food
   Similar to the locavore diet, the "100-mile-diet" places a more precise parameter on the definition of local.
4. Slow food
   The main tenet of the slow food movement is to strengthen the connection between people, the planet, and the foods that we eat. Members strive for food choices that promote biodiversity, heritage food sources and cooking traditions, and sustainable farming.

Source: Yahoo! Green's Guide to Green Diets

Start Small. (September 15, 2008)
Amy Winehouse, the Tempations, TLC - none of them were "too proud to beg," and neither are we. Adding recycling to your every-day routine and making it a habit can seem a little daunting, especially if you don't know how or where to start. All we ask is that you start, even if it is small step.
 
Start with a Diet Coke bottle (plastic), your empty pickle jars (glass), the chicken noodle soup cans (aluminum), or that pile of junk mail (paper) that can stack up on the lightest of weeks. Just pick one. Then, find your local recycling center and swing by on your way to work or home from your kid's soccer game and drop it off. Before you know it, you'll be helping and healing the environment and feeling great about it. And, you just may rub off on your family, friends and coworkers, too. The exponential effect will have exponential results.
 
Good luck!

Set the Mood (August 18, 2008)
If the thought of living green is ovewhelming due to additional costs and changes in your way of life, think again. Here is a tip for living green in your own home that won't break your bank: Set the Mood. Setting the mood by turning down the lights can make for an inviting atmosphere, and it saves electricity.

Did you know that one low-wattage, compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) has a lifespan of 10,000 hours*? For under $20 per bulb, you can save on your electric bill and replacing bulbs for up to 2 years! Do you have your CFL's in place?

* Source: Healthy Beginnings Magazine, July 2008.

In Your Kitchen (July 21, 2008)
If you love food and cooking, then you know you spend alot of time in your kitchen. Here are a few simple simple practices for making it more green:

• Let the dishwasher do the dirty work. Don't rinse dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, and only run full loads.
• Use natural fiber sponges and machine-washable dishcloths instead of using paper towels.
• Buy food items in bulk and divide them into single-serving containers made of glass or stainless steel.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens, March 2008

Behavior Matters (July 7, 2008)
In a community outside Sacramento, homes were built in the last few years as part of the Department of Energy's Building America program, a public/private partnership aimed at constructing cost-effective zero-energy homes by 2020. The normal-looking, single-family homes have been improved in a number of ways: the insulation and windows are higher-than-average quality, the air ducts are sealed to prevent leaks, they have tankless water heaters, etc. They're also equipped with two-kilowatt photovoltaic systems.

On average, these features have cut families' energy consumption by 40 percent compared to the program's benchamark (60 percent if the solar panels' generation is factored in). Despite these improvements, the homeowners' behavior has emerged as a big driver of energy use. Some families are consuming double or half the amount of energy as their neighbors, even though all their homes were constructed with the same or similar features.

The take home message: Behavior matters. And it may mater even more as we improve the efficiency of our homes.

Source: Yahoo! Green, "Home energy feedback meters: Knowledge is power," Noah Buhayar, June 8, 2008.

At Play

No Car Needed (August 25, 2008)
Did you know if you stay at Northstar Resort you only need to park your car once? That's right. Northstar Resort offers everything you need to have a "no car needed" vacation including:

• Complimentary on-site shuttle transportation  in our biodeisel shuttles,
• Complimentary access to the Northstar Recreation Center  with outdoor spas, swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness center and teen center,
• Free roller skating (skate rentals are $5),
• A variety of dining and shopping available in the Village at Northstar ,
• DVD movie rentals,
• Convenience store with all the necessities of home,
• Free transportation  to everywhere else you need to go in North Lake Tahoe,
  and more!

Book one of our Summer Lodging Packages  today for as little $69.50 per person and golf, bike or paddle FREE !

Bottle your own water (July 1, 2008)
When hiking, biking or traveling around in the hot sun, you can easily go through several bottles of water. Bring your own refillable container instead of buying plastic bottles that go straight to the landfill when you're finished.
Source: GreenDaily.com, Patrick Metzger

At Work

A Green Meeting (September 22, 2008)
Tips for holding a "green" meeting at Northstar® Resort:

• Ask your Northstar-at-Tahoe^TM Resort Meeting Coordinator to serve tap water at your events. Truckee and Lake Tahoe has some of the purest water in the world!
• Think “green” when ordering promotional giveaway items and direct your vendors to use products made from post-consumer waste.
• Chances are you had to drive to get here, so offset your emissions and support the use of clean, renewable energy by purchasing a green tag or two. They are only a few dollars and they go a long way. And, don't forget to carpool!
• Team building can include habitat restorations or highway clean-ups. For more information contact your Meeting Coordinator.
• Encourage participants to stay on Resort property and walk to and from your meeting sessions. Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort’s  Aspen Grove condominiums and lofts and  Big Springs’  mountain homes are just minutes and footsteps away from Village at Northstar ^TM meeting rooms, shops, restaurants, skating, gondola and  events. Plus, sharing a condo or home with other participants can add to the team-building experience. If walking is not for you, call the  Resort Shuttle Service and we will pick you up and drop you off in time for your meeting.

Inspired by Green SF, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com .

Get on 'Board' (September 1, 2008)
Is your office up to the Law Office Climate Challenge? The easiest and most practical way for your office to rise to the challenge and get on board is by implementing best practices of office paper management. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Printing/copying double-sided for internal use documents and when practical;
• Purchasing at least 30% post consumer recycled paper;
• Recycling ALL paper to be discarded;
• Proofreading before printing;
• Utilizing print preview to ensure there are no blank pages;
• Using electronic versions of documents;
• Emailing correspondence; and
• Saving misprints to be used as scratch paper.

About the Law Office Climate Challenge: The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, has teamed up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and initiated the ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge. Law firms can accept the challenge by participating in one or any of the following:

• Adopting recommended best practices for officepaper management;
• Participating in EPA’s WasteWise Program, which helps calculate the reduction of paper use;
• Purchasing green power products (electric power products generated by renewable energy); and/or
• Purchasing Energy Star designated office equipment and by reducing energy consumption.

Source:  "Precious Little Sheets of Paper: Ways to Green Up the Law Firm" by Anna Hoffee