Author: Davina
Website: http://flgreenliving.com/blog/2009/08/15/beware-the-phantom-…

Many of us waste energy every day and never even think about it.  How?  Through the phantom currents that continue to run even while our appliances are shut off.  Take a good look around your home - do you have appliances that have those nice little LED readouts?  If they are still on when the appliance is off, they are consuming valuable electricity - and causing carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.

Coffee makers, dishwashers, computers, cell phone chargers, gaming systems and printers are some examples of where these “phantoms” lurk.   These “energy vampires” can add up to 10% to your total energy usage, and electricity bill.   Yet many of us collect coupons for a few cents off at the grocery store instead of taking the few seconds it requires to unplug these offenders.

How do you combat this problem?  By purchasing an inexpensive power strip, plugging all your appliances into it, and then turning off the power strip when the appliances are no longer…

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Author: Green Talk
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/jRYI/~3/o1M_kaf8KI…

Featured above is “the Greener Bar Mitzvah” clip that will be featured on PBS’s Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly show this weekend featuring  me along with Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Director, Fellowship Program at Greenfaith Interfaith Partners for the Environment.  It is only three minutes.

What’s the big deal about a green bar mitzvah? Let’s face it. Bar mitzvahs tend to be as lavish and  as costly as weddings. Even nonjewish children want to have a bat or bar mitzvah since the party is so much fun.  Being 13 and having 200 of your closest friends party with you. Who wouldn’t want this?  Talk about huge carbon footprint.

But seriously, being bar or bat mitzvahed is hard work and a very important day in the life of a young man or woman.  Jacob attended Hebrew school since he was in kindergarten.  He studied intensively for a year with the Rabbi and Cantor to read a portion of the Torah and to learn to lead the service.  To give you a point of reference how hard this is,…

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