This Green Thought Thursday, our intern Margot Horgan was feeling inspired by an article she saw in O, The Oprah Magazine.
We love Oprah because she's always got an idea up her sleeve (or two or three...)!
Whether you have excess time or money (or both) to spend, it’s easy to find new ways to add eco-friendly habits and products to your daily routine. The most recent edition of O, The Oprah Magazine features an easy-to-read diagram about how you can be more green—and save more green! Here’s the breakdown:
Do you want to invest in a one-time project? Here’s a shortened list of the simple projects you can do at home depending on if you want to spend time or money:
- Five Minutes: Try resetting the schedule of your sprinkler system so you water your lawn in the early morning or late evening. As much as 30 percent of the water is lost to evaporation when you water in the daytime hours. By simply switching the time of day that you water, you can save around 126 gallons of water each week!
- A Half Hour: Older toilets use as much as seven gallons of water with every flush, while less than a gallon would get the job done. Make your toilet more water conservative with this little trick. Fill a plastic bottle with water and a little bit of sand and submerge it in the tank for a DIY low flow toilet.
- An Afternoon-Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s website (energysavers.gov) and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to conduct a home energy assessment. Tasks such as lowing the hot water heater to 120 degrees can you save water, energy and dollars.
Have some money to invest? How much?
- $: Every year, the average American household receives 1.5 trees worth of junk mail! For just $1 you can register to block junk mail at dmachoice.org.
- $$: Even when electronics are switched off, if they are plugged into the wall, they are likely still using energy. What is known as phantom power can account for up to 10 percent of your electricity bill. By using special surge protectors (like Belkin’s Conserve Valet), you can cut back on your energy consumption. These nifty devices will automatically cut power to devices when they are not in use.
- $$$: As much as 30 percent of your home’s heating and cooling energy is wasted because of windows. By investing in new blinds, you decrease the amount of energy lost and money lost.
These are just a few tips on you can a more eco-friendly 2012. Thinking about trying any of these?
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Whaddaya Think: Is 2012 the Year of the Twitter Election?
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by Josephine Butler.
We’d like to welcome our new intern Margot Horgan, a social media queen, to the scene. She’s kicking things off by starting a debate, if you will, on whether or not 2012 will be the Year of the Twitter Election. We encourage you to share your thoughts.
An example of a Twitter infographic from the S.C. Republican Debate.
As the dominance of networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook continues to grow, we are beginning to see the deliberate infusion of social media into the current political campaigns and primaries.
Both former press secretary Robert Gibbs and Twitter have already dubbed 2012 the Year of the Twitter Election. And, with the extensive use of Twitter and hashtags during the South Carolina Republican Debate, it seems that social networking will indeed play a large role in this election season.
During last week’s debate, viewers were encouraged to participate in the conversation by submitting questions via Twitter and by using the hashtags #answer and #dodge to rate how well the candidates answered each question.
Nearly 8,000 people used these hashtags to weigh in, providing real-time audience sentiment to each of the candidates’ answers within 15 to 30 seconds. From this data, we get awesome infographic timelines depicting the audience’s reaction to candidate responses.
Not only that, but debate commentators could the use the minute-by-minute Twitter data to bolster the need for more thorough responses from candidates.
So whaddya think, everybody? At the South Carolina debate, candidates were forced to answer to the live commentators and audience members and viewers tweeting from home. How else will social media impact the 2012 elections? Is it really the Year of the Twitter Election?
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Free Advice Friday: The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media Etiquette
Posted on 20. Jan, 2012 by Josephine Butler.
Our intern Ashely Hurteau shares her thoughts (and sense of humor) on social media etiquette.
If you are a member of the social media world (and my guess is that if you’re reading this, you are), then you’ve seen it, too. You’ve also cringed with second-hand embarrassment. This atrocity that I speak of is the lack of etiquette that is all too present in social media.
From overly dramatic status updates to inappropriate photos, it seems as though manners and grace are not taken into consideration when posting on the Internet. Real Simple magazine and their readers agree.
After polling 945 readers, Real Simple homed in on the top ‘social DISgraces’ as voted on by their readers. Allow me to share some of these, along with some helpful tips to avoid making the same mistakes.
Save the vague, disconcerting status updates (i.e. “Jennifer wonders whether it has all been worth it.”) and personal problems for your real friends, not your 856 social media friends. You will not receive the advice you seek, and according to Real Simple readers, it is the most annoying type of post there is – even more annoying than chronic complaining!- When you’re friend requesting, make sure you keep it to just that – your friends. Randomly asking someone to be your friend is one of the top-ranking annoyances on Facebook. A good tip: if you are trying to reconnect with an old friend or acquaintance, send a message along with the request to serve as a refresher and avoid being labeled a creep.
- When tagging photos of others or yourself, have some respect. No one wants to see anyone three sheets to the wind or too much PDA. Think before you tag, and if there is any question, ask those individuals in the picture whether they would like it tagged or not.
- The number one sin that is committed on Facebook and Twitter? In my opinion, it’s foul language. My friends on Facebook include teachers, family and co-workers. The idea that one of my friends could drop the F-bomb on a comment or my wall for my boss to see is mortifying.
Social media is designed to put you, your company or product out there for the masses to see. Do it with dignity, and remember, if you would not want your grandmother to see it, you probably should not post it!
What do you think? Please feel free to share some of your ideas – the more advice, the better!
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Once again, our intern Ashely Hurteau is jumping in to share a few more green thoughts…
We love these ideas from Real Simple Magazine!
Last week, I shared four new uses for old vices. These clever ideas from Real Simple come at the perfect time – we’re all still sticking to our New Year’s resolutions, right? This Green Thought Thursday, I’d like to share a few more ideas. They are:
- Giving up gambling for good? Turn your poker caddy into a pen and pencil caddy. Close off the bottom with poker chips and the sides with playing cards – very appropriate!
- Any hipster’s dream – transform old beer cans into paperweights by filling them with coins or sand and sealing the top.
- If soda is a thing of the past, take the old bottles and turn them into an uncooked spaghetti holder. Coincidentally, they hold the perfect amount for a single serving!
- Clean your contacts and the landfills! Use plastic bottle caps as contact lens holders. Be sure to clean them before you re-use.
Last week I vowed to re-use my wine corks for a cork board. This week I am going to suggest something that I have been doing for years. Save the funnies from the Sunday news and use them as wrapping paper. Give a gift, a laugh and one less wasted item!
As always, we would love to hear other ways you will re-use things in 2012!
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This post originally appeared on Tips and Trends, the blog for Drexel Heritage (Clairemont client). In fashion, color blocking has taken the nation by storm, and we just can’t get enough of it! Whaddaya think?
Posted on 17. Jan, 2012 in Fashion and Design, Trendy Tips.
For those of you who read our previous post, Penchant for Pattern, you know that color blocking has been on our radar. Now we’re here to tell you that these big, bold blocks aren’t going anywhere! From the runway to your living room, these exciting color combos exude glamour.
We love this Eliza J dress from Nordstrom. The idea is simple, but the outcome is anything but. With the dramatic color and a few accessories, it’s all you need to have a runway-worthy look!
This trend is not just for garments. We, too, have caught the color blocking fever! Our Essie Bench looks fabulous with color-blocked upholstery. The eye-catching combination of colors spruces up any room and can be customized with your favorite Drexel Heritage fabrics.
How are you incorporating this timeless trend into your personal style and home décor? We’d love to hear about your winning combinations!