Wikia Green asks users to sign up and be a part of creating a green wiki guide. Created by Jimmy Wales, cofounder of Wikipedia, the goal is to offer more lifestyle tips, product options, and how-to’s. The content differs from that on Wikipedia in three main ways: Content is written from a green point of view, is focused on things you can do and is more accessible and relevant to an average reader.
I read about Wikia Green in the last American Library Association newsletter and think more than just librarians will enjoy looking at this resource. I am hoping it gets more input from bloggers like FrugalBabe because her frugal + green posts are what keep me reading her blog. My coworker said she needs to change homemade laundry detergent into an earth-friendly one by using castile soap (I think Dr. Bronners is one) so hopefully she will contribute her recipe since I saw nothing for green cleaning supply recipes.
One thing I did not find on here was information to aid me in my research of energy consumption by soda vending machines and what can make them more of energy efficient. For example, I recently found an article stating that Western Kentucky University implemented a pilot program using VendingMisers. WKU could save about $84,000 in five years if it put VendingMisers on all 130 vending machines. If college campuses can successfully roll this out, office buildings and libraries can, too! I guess ever since childhood when I got that sticker that said, “turn out a light, save a watt” I have been interested in turning out unnecessary lights!
Liz
September 28, 2008 at 3:02 pmI like your idea of more efficient soda vending machines. I hadn’t really thought about how much heat (ie, energy) they throw off, but it’s pretty substantial.
In terms of green cleaning, give Green Goes with Everything a look. This book really shows how easy it is to go green, because there are so many more options on the market today. You don’t have to do everything all at once, either. Even simple steps make my family (and me) green AND healthy.
Andi
September 28, 2008 at 9:12 pmThanks for the book tip, Liz! Another book we have watched circulate often at the library is Green Up Your Cleanup. I was just commenting that I hope Wikia Green will have how tos and cleaning recipes that everyone can access without having to buy more books (sorry authors and publishers).
Frugal Babe
September 30, 2008 at 1:36 pmI will check it out – thanks for the heads up!