Houston, we have a pretty cool problem. NASA found a planet outside of our solar system called Kepler-22b that is really similar to Earth and could possibly support life (yikes!!). It’s got the perfect temperature of 72 degrees, which is a really nice day here on Earth. I don’t know about you guys, but space stuff tends to freak me out. I think it’s really great that we’re able to explore the unknown universe, but what if there really is life on this planet. I can picture those aliens being all, “Guys! We just found a planet called Earth that’s our twin! How crazy is that?!”

NASA has been finding all sorts of near-habitable planets with Kepler, 48 to be exact. However, Kepler-22b is the first one they’ve confirmed. This space discovery mission started in 2009 and has since discovered over 1,000 new planet candidates. Even if it is kind of freaky, this is a really cool discovery so here are some fun facts about our twin planet:

1. It orbits a star: this star is really similar to our Sun (also a star, if you didn’t know that by now) which could possibly be the Sun’s twin. Kepler-22b’s orbit is about 290 days, much like our 365-day orbit.

2. It’s bigger: Kepler-22b is about 2.4 times the size of Earth, which scientists say it might be too big for life to exist.

3. But it’s in the habitable zone: NASA has determined that Kepler-22b is in the habitable zone to sustain life. They don’t know what the conditions are under its atmosphere, but its 72 degree temperature most likely means it has water and rock.

4. It’s really far away: this planet is about 600 lightyears away, which means it would take virtually forever to get there. So maybe we won’t be meeting any life forms in the near future.

How do you feel about this new planet? Do you think it has life on it?

"I take 10 minute showers! I'm killing the planet!"

For the past few months I’ve been talking your ear off about why the earth is in trouble and how you can go green to save our environment.  And while it’s great to do whatever you can to protect the planet, there is such a thing as caring a little too much. According to the New York Times, there has been an increasing amount of people that report anxiety and stress because they feel like they are never as green as they would like to be.  And, believe it or not, such anxious thoughts about the environment can have negative impacts on your emotional state, your health, and your relationships.

How do you know if you’re just a concerned citizen or full-blown green stress case?  Read on for the answer and for ways to manage if you’re glowing green just a little too brightly.

Are you green stressed? There’s a huge difference between being concerned and being down right obsessed.  Before you go any further, ask yourself a few questions:  Are you happy with your efforts to help the environment?  Do you feel like you’re doing enough to go green?  Are you willing to give up your green efforts to preserve some of your favorite activities?  If you answered yes to all of these questions, then congrats!  You are helping in a way that is both healthy for the environment and healthy for your well-being.

Didn’t pass the test? Then you may have some anxiety issues related to going green. With all of the information out there, it’s hard to feel like you’re ever doing enough to counteract the rest of the world’s indifference.  Before you start ripping your hair out, realize that this is more of a psychological issue than an environmental issue.  An obsession with going green is just the same as an obsession with losing weight or making money – you never feel like you’re doing enough.

So how do you fix it? Unless your stress is very severe, a quick reality check is just the ticket to snap you out of it.  First of all, think about all of the things you already do to help the environment.  Do you recycle?  Turn off the lights and water when you’re not using it?  Bike or walk to work or school?  Believe it or not, most people don’t do any of these; you’re way ahead of the game!  On a similar note, don’t compare your efforts to those of others!  Not all environmentally friendly methods are compatible with everyone’s lifestyle.  Pick your favorites and make a pledge to stick to those.  As time goes on, slowly try to incorporate other changes into your routine if it works.  Which brings me to my last point…

What is important to you? We already know that the environment is high on your priority list, but think about the other things you enjoy doing.  Personally, I love to go out, drink a few beers, and hang out with my friends.  I’m not going to let the fact that I’m wasting a few aluminum beer cans ruin my night.  Going green is all about protecting your passion, so be sure that you protect all your other ones as well!

Give to those who need it most. And who are really cute.

With the holidays comin’ round the bend, I’m sure most of us are starting to think of gifts both for ourselves and for others.  And although receiving is arguably the most enjoyable part of the gift giving tradition, we must not forget others that need our help during this time.  Giving money or volunteering with any charity is awesome regardless of its cause, but I am an advocate of environmentally-geared charities.  Here are some of the top causes and their most reliable charities to get you in the giving mood this holiday season.

Forest Preservation: Because what would the holidays be like without trees covered in snow (or twinkle lights, if you hail from California as well)?  Forests form important ecosystems for many species of wildlife and plants.  Plus, trees are a great source of oxygen and an effective method of carbon sequestration which can lower greenhouse gas levels in the air.  Some of the top rated charities in this arena are: American Forests, The Pachamama Alliance, and Trees, Water, and People (TWP).

Ocean Protection:  The ocean is the world’s last frontier.  There are thousands of species that we do not fully understand or even know about yet.  The ocean exemplifies diversity in an ecosystem and is very essential to our life on earth.  Plus, dolphins are just adorable.  Help protect them and their habitat by donating to one of these charities: Oceana, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Surfrider Foundation, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS).

Endangered Species:  Biodiversity is key to the survival of our planet.  Each animal serves a crucial role in its respective ecosystem by being both predator and prey for another animal.  For some reason that I just don’t get, the most endangered species are probably the cutest ones as well.  Pandas, polar bears, jaguars, sea otters, pygmy rabbits, and foxes are all either threatened or endangered species.  Protect our furry friends by donating to The World Wildlife Fund, Fauna and Flora International, or the Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF).

Renewable Energy:  If you don’t know by now that sustainable energy is important, then you really haven’t been reading my articles.  For those of you who haven’t done your homework (tsk tsk), let me drive the point home.  Renewable energy diminishes the amount of oil that we use, reducing air pollution, habitat destruction, and economic dependency on other nations.  Most of us don’t have the power to throw a bunch of solar panels on our roof, but we can compensate by funding charities that do such as the Environmental and Energy Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists and Global Green USA.

Charity donations can be a great gift idea for one of those people that has everything.  Instead of buying something they’ll probably just end up throwing away, make a donation in their name.  Also keep in mind that these charities are just suggestions; it doesn’t mean that every other one is bad.  If you  have a particular charity in mind, go to www.charitynavigator.org first to make sure that your money’s going to where they say it’s going.  Happy gift giving!

Veev:  An excellent substitute for vodka, Veev is actually manufactured from acai berries which are packed with antioxidants and anthocyanins.  What makes this drink even better, however, is the company’s commitment to the environment.  Veev donates $1 towards the Brazilian rainforest for every bottle sold, preserving their sustainable acai supply.  Veev is also the first carbon-neutral liquor company, powering all of their distillers through renewable energy.  Pass up the Smirnoff  and throw one of these back with friends (but don’t forget to toast to the Brazilian rainforest first!).

OneHope Sauvignon Blanc: I bought this baby on a whim at BevMo (5 cent sale, anyone?) and felt an instant karma boost.  With every bottle sold, OneHope donates 50% of the profits to the American Forest, a charity aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing our native trees and forests.  If you’re not a sauvignon blanc fan, there are several other wines to choose from, each with their own cause.  Drink chardonnay for breast cancer, merlot for AIDS, or zinfandel for our troops overseas.  Whichever you choose, you can bet you’ll feel a little buzz of goodness with every glass.

New Belgium beer:  This brewery from Fort Collins, Colorado has a long list of environmental actions and achievements.  I am not going to go through the whole list here because, well, I’m lazy.  Here are the most notable ones of the bunch:
* Decreased energy usage in their brewing and in the facility itself due to efficient lighting, sustainable building materials, and efficient brew kettles.
* Wind power and waste water are used to produce renewable energy for the factory.
* Encouragement of bike transportation by hosting an annual bike festival and giving every employee a free bike after 1 year of employment.
* Member of 1% For the Planet, meaning that they give 1% of their revenue to environmental non-profits.

ModMix organic mixers:  The name says it all – ModMix creates a line of fully organic mixers for your favorite cocktails.  This means no chemicals, no synthetic pesticides, and no harmful substances.  You can use ModMix for pretty much any drink you could imagine.  Their products include mixes for citrus margaritas, French martinis, lavender lemon drops, mojitos, pomegranate cosmos, and wasabi bloody marys.  Just be sure to mix these babies with a sustainable alcohol such as Papagayo organic rums, 4Copas tequila, or TruVodka.

By just being a tad more conscious of your recycling options, you can make a huge difference with relatively minimal effort.  Here are some common products that you can recycle right in your home town!

Batteries – These babies are full of heavy metals and toxins that are of special concern to soil and water contamination, so be sure to recycle them!  Keep a box in your room so once those batteries from your remote control (or any other battery powered “appliances”…) burn out you can send them in to be recycled.  Batteryrecycling.com has a good program where you can send in pretty much any commercial battery for recycling, or you can check out any local recycling centers in your area to see if they offer this service.

Laptops – I don’t know about you, but I have definitely made my way through computers.  My most recent, Doris, has a cracked screen and a dead battery.  Who in their right mind would want to take her off my hands?  Gazelle.com, that’s who.  They offer laptop recycling services and even offer payment for some laptop models!  If poor little Doris can have a $30 value, just imagine what your old laptop can fetch!

Clothes – As college girls, I’m sure we’ve all become familiar with the beauty that is Goodwill.  There is no better excuse for buying new clothes than donating the old ones to a good cause.  But what about those that are just too threadbare to donate?  Surprisingly, you can donate them anyways!   Goodwill and the Salvation Army send out these clothes to “rag sorters” which recycle the fabrics themselves.  Another good option for running shoes in particular is Recycled Runners, a company specializing in recycling and donation of running shoes.  Hit up their website for donation info and sights in your area.

Glasses – Although we hate to admit it, most of us sport a pair of spectacles now and again.  Now I’m sure you look fabbb in your Polo readers, but what about those fug pink wire ones in hidden your closet from 6^th grade?  Believe it or not, thousands of people are without glasses when they really need them.  Donate them via New Eyes for the Needy or drop them off at your local LensCrafters to ensure that they are handed off to somebody who really needs them.

Medications – Even if your new birth control meds make you bitchy, never ever flush them down the toilet!  Pharmaceuticals can seep into our water supply, polluting local bodies of water and even our own drinking water!  Instead, find a local pharmacy with a “take back” program for any over-the-counter drugs, personal care products, and prescription drugs and spare the fishies your terrible PMS symptoms (joking!).

Anything else – If you can’t find a good place for it, just donate it or, better yet, put it on Craigslist!  Craigslist perfectly embodies the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”; no matter what you have you are bound to find someone else that has been dying to find it.  What’s more, they’ll even come pick up your junk and might even pay you for it!  I really can’t think of a lazier way to make money while exercising your eco-friendly side.

Even if your junk isn’t on this list, it can probably be recycled!  Check Earth911.com before you throw anything away – it’s a great resource for recycling info! It even has a search tool so that you can find a local drop-off site for all of your unwanted junk.  Happy recycling!!

Now, I’m not asking to start lighting candles in lieu of your desklamp, but there are lots of options that are sleek, convenient, and help make the change towards a greener lifestyle.  Here are some of my top picks:

IKEA solar desk lamp:  I was pretty sure before, but now I am absolutely certain, IKEA sells pretty much everything you could ever want.  Looking for a solar-powered desk lamp?  They got it.  Want some LED lights that consume 70% less energy than normal light bulbs?  Yep, they’re included.  But these babies aren’t just eco-friendly, they’re also super cute and come in every color of the rainbow.  Stick one on your desk and instantly feel the academic juices flow.

Belkin’s Conserve Surge Protector:  Recently I discovered something known as “phantom” power (who gave it that name, I don’t know.)  Phantom power is the standby power used when you keep your appliances plugged in after you’re done using them.  This “phantom” is estimated to take up as much as 15% of your overall energy use.  Eliminate your phantom by turning to this Belkin surge protector.  It comes with a remote so that you can turn off the surge protector (without having to crawl behind your TV stand) when you’re no longer using your appliances.  For those of us that need the essentials (i.e. blackberry and laptop) to be charged at all times, there are 2 “always on” outlets for your convenience.

The SodaStream:  The soda stream is a personal carbonator that makes your own personal-sized fizzy water in your own home (!).  Not only do you save plastic bottles from ending up in the landfill, but you also spare the energy used to synthesize and transport the bottles to your local supermarket.  Plus, “hand-made” fizzy water doesn’t contain any sodium, which can intensify bloating (ew) and water retention.  It’s a little pricey, but if you’re a soda water fiend like I am, it will definitely make up for it in the end.

The Snuggie!:  Okay, so maybe the Snuggie isn’t the best choice as far as eco-friendly fabrics go, but at least now I know I’ve gotten your attention.  As Autumn nears and the temperature gets cooler, we all run straight for our thermostats.  But why turn up the heat and your electric bill when you can snuggle up with your very own blanket (sleeves optional).  Of course, I recommend any blanket made from organic fibers, such as this throw made with regenerated fibers, but any old fleece blanket will to the job.

Where do you think your old phones go? There’s no magical cell phone farm where they go to live out their last days in a texting spree. It’s more like a industrial landfill where they sit until the end of time.

And well that’s just not great for the Earth. The amount of tech junk that’s hanging out would make Captain Planet cry.

So what can you do to help with that? Well, you could buy less stuff, but that’s not too realistic. Especially with all the cool shiz that comes out monthly (thank you, Apple!) and the short life many of our gadgets have.

So what can you do? Why recycle, of course!

While you can’t just toss your old Razr or MacBook in the recycling bin with your cardboard boxes and empty bottles, there are many recycling centers to send your used electronics to when they break down or become obsolete. Check here for a list of places local to you! Or see if your city offers the USPS recycling program.

And when it comes to many other electronics, you have many options to save Mother Earth that are simple and will probably save you money in the end.

* Instead of buying new printer cartridges just refill the ones you have.

* Print on both sides of your computer paper. Maybe not for your actual turn-in products but for your notes. Also check with your profs to see if you can turn in things electronically. Every little bit counts.

* Turn your stuff off. Game consoles burn up an obscene amount of energy. I understand wanting to leave them running but it’s better for everyone if you just turn them off and replay that level later.

* Unplug! Don’t leave everything you own plugged in at all times. Not only does it cost you extra money, but it sucks a ton of energy! When you aren’t drying your hair, unplug the dryer. When you aren’t making coffee, unplug the coffee maker. You get the idea…

You don’t have to do grand things to help make the Earth a better place. Just do a little somethin’ somethin’ with those electronics and we’ll make this planet a better (and toxin free) place.

Here are some quick and simple steps from two…er…lovely ladies on saving water and using it wisely. Once you get past the unsightly upper-lip hair and interesting makeup choices, these girls provide some useful information.

Just another easy way to give somethin’ back to Mama Earth.

I have been spreading the word for months (like here) in hopes that I can get other people on board with me. Not because it is trendy or “in” right now, but because we don’t want our children to have to deal with such a mess of a planet later….or burst into flames because the earth has gotten so hot.

And I have met a lot of apprehension along the way:

“But I really love my Hummer.”

“It’s so hard to be earth friendly!”

“GO HUG A TREE!”

“Ew. Reuse someone else’s PAPER?!”

Ah; ignorance. How I loathe thee.

If people just sat down and listened for a few minutes they would realize just how simple it is to be earth friendly. I am not asking people to reuse their Ziploc bags (which I get made fun of for all the time) or stop using toilet paper. I am asking people to make teensy tiny changes to their daily routines that make virtually no difference to the user and a huge difference to the planet.

Since I last wrote about green items such as compact fluorescent bulbs and reusable grocery bags, a whole slew of new earth friendly products have surfaced. These hot new items are innovative, made from recycled products (to cut down on excess waste!) and yet another few easy ways for you to get a bit more green-ified. The best part, obviously, is that they don’t look like crunchy “Save the Planet” items; these are things you actually need and want.

1. Ashley Watson Bags: I know I mentioned these before, but they are so sexy I just had to show em off again. Recycled leather, my friends. Need I say more?

2. Preserve Razor Triple: Step away from the Quattro and all the wasted plastic used to make and package it. Opt for a recycled razor instead. The Preserve Razor Triple is made from recycled Stoneyfield Farm yogurt cups (which also happens to be an eco-friendly organic brand!)

3. Preserve Tumblers: The yogurt cups are coming back for round two with these recycled cups. Wouldn’t beer pong be so much more fun if you knew that the cups you were playing with were made from recycled materials (and could be recycled again?!) Imagine how much less trash there would be without the millions of wasted red solo cups being thrown out daily.

4. Recycled Socks: Ok, so people may be able to tell you’ve gone a little earthy in these little guys, but how awesome are they? Socks made out of ground up t-shirts? They are supposed to be extra cushy and durable, which make these the perfect workout accessory.

With new products like these popping up, going green is getting easier every day. And the excuses not to go green are slowly slipping away.

Lately, it seems everywhere you turn people are turning green. Not nausea induced green (though that may be true if you are enjoying a nice long Welcome Week and hangovers abound), but earth-friendly green.

Whether it be celebrities like Leo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt or the aisles upon aisles of green products at stores around the country, saving the planet isn’t just for tree-huggers anymore.

And as you hear about all the celebs buying Hybrid cars and cities banning bottled water due to the excessive amounts of waste they create, you have to stop and wonder what your impact on the planet is.

Most likely: it isn’t good.

And it isn’t just the gas guzzling SUVs lack of recycling that is causing the earth to warm, the animals to lose their habitats and the weather to go buck wild. No; it is the little things that we don’t realize we are doing that have the biggest negative impact on this planet. Like leaving our computers on. Or pumping the A/C with the windows open.

As I mentioned before, changing even the smallest things we do can have a ginormous (it’s officially a word!) positive impact on our lovely little planet. So here are a few more easy things you can do to ensure that our children (and their children) don’t burst into flames when they step outside in the future.

1. Use Online Billing: I never thought about it before, but the amount of paper wasted on bills is absurd. By switching your billing option to “online only” you eliminate both the actual bill being sent to you and the envelope/check you send back in to pay it. It is so easy and, if everyone does it, such a great way to save millions of trees.

2. Unplug Your Sh#t: I used to leave my hair dryer, straightner, computer, cell phone charger, iPod charger, toaster, coffee maker, etc…. all plugged in all the time. I never thought that they would be sucking power the entire time, regardless if they were on or even charging anything at the moment. Turns out, they do. In fact, a ton of energy is wasted powering things that don’t need to be powered! Unplugging your shit not only saves energy, but also saves you money on your electricity bill. Cha Ching!

3. Turn Off Your Computer: We all love a little away message action when we are out of the house, but is it really necessary? Just read #2. Powering off your computer (or at least sending it to sleep) will save tons of energy. (P.S. Saving energy means less pollution from all those coal power plants that produce the energy you use.)

4. Take an Eco Run: This will get you and the planet in shape. And the extra bending to pick up the garbage has to make this workout better than a typical run.

These steps are so simple that even the most anti-granola kid can do ‘em. And if you don’t care about the future of our planet (asshole), these steps will also help you save some money. Join the rest of the world and start going green. It is totally becoming the new black.