Contents of RauwLetter November 2009
- Rauw Energy is Going Commercial
- Oh the Money You Will Save
- The Authors are "Moving on Up" to the West Side - What to do...
- Thoughtful Stuff
- Referral Program
- Customer Coupon
Thoughtful Stuff
The holiday season is approaching and, with it, the opportunity to acquire more stuff. Present stuff, decorating stuff, serving stuff, dining stuff, etc. With a little thought, all this stuff can all be purchased with the environment and sustainability in mind.
Holiday lights are a perfect example. The LED (light-emitting diode) version of holiday lights are readily available and use a lot less energy than traditional lights. They cost a little more, in the $16 to $26 range, but with an energy savings of from $1 to $11 for 300 hours of use, they pay for themselves in one to two seasons. These lights can be found on www.chooserenewables.com or www.holidayleds.com.
Looking for the perfect gift? Reusable bottles and bags, natural fiber accessories, eco-friendly toys and crafts, organic baby products and much more can be found on www.nubiusorganics.com. For the student who brings their own lunch or the business commuter who does the same, reusable sandwich wraps are a great way to transport lunch while saving the environment. If a handbag is what you're looking for, check out the English Re-treads Model T Tote Luxe –fashioned out of recycled rubber.
Of course, when we think of the environment, buying locally is important. Not only does shopping locally keep your neighborhood businesses in business, the fuel you save by not having goods travel long distances via UPS or USPS is helpful as well.
A very local business we have bought many gifts from is Two Green Witches (www.twogreenwitches.com) Not only is one of the witches my friend and neighbor, the products they produce are high quality, made of beautiful organic fabrics and sewn locally, right here in New York.
Two Green Witches sells the Tedkin, a take along napkin with a handy utensil pocket. I sent these as gifts to my nursery-school age cousins. Not only is the Tedkin fabric organic and reusable, the opportunity exists for at-home washing using biodegradable, non-toxic detergent and dish soap.
Also offered by Two Green Witches are gorgeous placemats and napkins, fun children's napkins, festive gift totes and art-folios with a scratch pad and three beeswax crayons included. Check them out on their website or on Facebook.
Not only are tangible gifts a joy to give and receive, a gift of a donation in someone's name is a wonderful way to show how important that person is to you. Whether the donation is to an environmentally or socially oriented organization such as www.nrdc.org or www.nyrp.org or purchasing a cow for a family at www.heifer.org, there are a myriad of ways to make your gift count in many ways.
Of course, the Fuel Economizer is the gift that keeps on giving. Both environmentally mindful and mindful of the wallet, a gift of the Fuel Economizer will bring savings for years to come.
This holiday season, being festive does not preclude being sustainable. With a little thought, we can all benefit.
