California Bill Seeks To Ban Plastic Shopping Bags!!

California’s Senate will vote today to determine if the Golden State will become the first in the nation to ban plastic bags at grocery, drug and certain convenience stores. The ban, which passed the Assembly in June, already has the support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has said he would sign the bill into law. “We are taught to reduce, reuse, recycle in that order because we can’t recycle our way to a better world,” said Assemblywoman Julie Brownley, who authored the legislation. “This bill gets to the root of our litter problem by reducing our use of disposable bags.”

Several N.C. coastal counties have already banned plastic bags. How can make N.C. the second state to ban plastic bags?

You Don't Need To Spend A Lot Of Green To Live A Green Lifestyle!

Sure, buying a hybrid car or installing solar panels on the roof of your house are big ways to be more eco-friendly. But you also can make a difference with easy, lower-cost changes, whose savings can add up over time.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency the average home is responsible for twice the greenhouse-gas emissions as the average car. The average household spends $2,200 a year on energy bills. You can save about 30% of your energy cost and qualify federal tax credits. (Visit energystar.gov/taxcredits for more information) You can also visit Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for a list of utility rebate programs

Consider doing the following;

Use a programmable thermostat. You can save roughly $180 a year on energy bills with a programmable thermostat.

Get an annual check-up. You should have your heating and cooling systems checked annually to ensure that they are running properly.

Replace filters for your systems at least every 90 days.

Seal and insulate. The average home has holes that expose it to drafts equivalent to leaving a window open all year round. Make sure you caulk around your windows and seal up...around doors, walls and in the attic. Doing so can save you as much as 20% annually on heating and cooling costs, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.