Back to School...on the Green Bus

Jodi Helmer points out in her book, "The Green Year" that it's back to school time, but that doesn't mean we have to quit trying to go green. Many kids are more environmentally aware than their parents these days and want to do all they can to help the planet. If they're into the environment, here's some ways to point out that you're on board the "green" bus:

*Look for used school supplies. Go through all of the stuff from last year (having the kids help) to figure out what can be reused. Buy recycled paper with as little packaging as possible and buy in bulk. Shop for used text books.

*Research the most eco-friendly computers. Laptops are more energy efficient. Find the ones with the Energy Star seal.

*Go for the Number 2 pencils. Helmer says in her book that while most refillable things are more eco-friendly, that pencils are one of the exceptions. Why? refillable pencils are made of plastic - using resources to make them - and they eventually end up in the landfill. Wooden pencils don't end up in the landfill and are virtually waste-free!

*Shop online for back to school clothes. If you can find quality recycled clothes your children will wear, it will help save money too!

*Leaving notes for your kids on paper is wasteful. Get a dry erase whiteboard to post in the kitchen or other family-oriented room where you can leave each other notes.

*Find eco-friendly ways to commute to and from school. A friend of mine told me the other day she can't believe the lines and lines of SUV's outside her sons' school - and most of them are from her own neighborhood and they only live a block away! If it's safe and you live close enough, encourage your kids to walk, ride their bike or skateboard. If not, ride the bus - and if you must taxi them to school, carpool and save resources.

Have fun preparing for another year of school!