Live. Work. Play.
One Shade Greener is a philosophy. The idea that changes – small or large – compounded over time will make a positive difference for both people and the planet . The book and blog focus on sharing tips, brands, and inspiration to make changes at home, at work, and in in our communities. The goal is to support you on your journey to make your environment healthier and greener.
Systemic change will take big ideas and innovation within large companies and governments to make a significant impact. Everyday people like us are the thought leaders in those large organizations and our voice can inspire change. Let’s strive to educate and our companies and communities on opportunities to become One Shade Greener. Together, we can make a difference.
One Shade Greener at Home.
Are you looking for resources and ideas to lighten your environmental impact, bring fewer toxins into your home, and live simpler?
If so, this book is full of tips and resources for your One Shade Greener journey. With over 200 brand recommendations, you’ll be sure to find products and ideas for every room in your home.
Available in both paperback and Kindle formats.
Services
Moving to a sustainable future is a process. The One Shade Greener team is here to help support you along the journey.
Lifestyle
Lives today are overwhelming. Creating a sustainable life ensures you have the time and space for innovation and making a difference at home, at work, and in your community.
Home
Learning to live more sustainably at home is a process. Classes, coaching, and content are available to help you at every step of your household journey.
Business
Focused on sustainability strategy. Business plans, ESG strategy, go-to-market plans, and communications strategy we are available to meet your strategic business needs.
A Buying Hierarchy
Sometimes you stumble on a gem. A book. A podcast. A person. Someone creating content that connects deeply with you. I had one of those moments yesterday. As one who has followed content in the sustainability space for over 15 years, I’m amazed that I hadn’t...
Product Considerations
When buying products or developing products for your business, there are two considerations: Parts and Packaging. Parts Parts are the ingredients and materials used to create the product. These can range from mechanical parts to liquid ingredients and much, much more....
Thinking Ahead to Fall
As we move into the second half of August in Michigan, we think about fall. Summer vacations are behind us. School starting back up. Routines being re-established. This is a great time to think about the things that will make your home One Shade Greener. I’ve found...
More or Less
American culture leans toward more. We move through life searching and striving for more. More education. More money. More (bigger) homes. More things. More travel. More. More. More. My Perspective The irony of the “culture of more” is that it leaves us empty and...
Greening Back to School
With summer winding down, we are getting in the “back to work/school” mode. Children in the home or not, this is a time we nest a bit and consider replenishing office supplies. This post will provide ideas to make your shopping just a little easier and greener....
Plastic Free July
Welcome to Plastic Free July! This month-long challenge is a global movement that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to reduce their single-use plastic consumption. This is not about temporary changes, but rather about learning and adopting...
Greening Our Summer Produce
According to NewScientist.com, food production contributes 21-37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, where and how food is grown impacts the environment. A rule of thumb regarding food choices is that the lower the food is on the food chain,...
Green Grilling
With summer in full swing and the 4th of July right around the corner, grilling is on our minds. Cooking on the grill has us enjoying the outdoors and enjoying the smokey flavors. We may not automatically think of the grill when it comes to being eco-friendly, but...
Greening Parties & Picnics
Summers are full of fun parties and picnics. We bring dishes to pash, foods are enjoyed, and leftovers are shared. These events are also full of trash from single use bowls/serving trays, aluminum pans & foil, waxed paper, saran wrap, and paper towels. The post...
Prepping Tools for Summer
Two weeks ago, we covered ideas for cleaning out the garage. We can now see all the tools that remain and think about how to ensure we are ready for summer. The sections below cover ideas for when an additional tool is needed and how to care for the ones we already...
Keeping Bugs Away
With summer upon us, sunscreen and bug sprays are on the shopping list. For the sunscreen, you can check out this post. Today, we’ll focus on bug sprays. Like many other products, we want to look for ingredients we understand. Avoiding complex chemicals, especially...
Greening the Garage
Over the winter, our garages can move to a bit of a disarray. It’s cold outside so we don’t spend time tidying up and cleaning up the dirt. However, as the weather gets warmer, I see many homes with their garage emptied onto their driveway during a “deep clean”. This...
Butterfly Garden
As we move from spring to summer, a butterfly garden could be a great idea to consider. The garden will bring beauty to your landscape. The flowers and plants will benefit the environment and create a place for butterflies to thrive. Below are the steps and...
Summer Parties
With Memorial Day just around the corner, summer events are on the horizon. Holidays. Graduations. Weddings. Showers. Sometimes you will be a guest while other times you will be the host. For those hosting, the ideas below will step a little lighter on the planet and...
Greener Lawn Maintenance
As temperatures rise in the Midwest, lawn care season emerges. Over 50 million households mow (or have a lawn service mow) each week. Research indicates this activity uses 800 million gallons of gas and produces around 5% of the nation’s air pollution. In fact,...
Space or Stuff
Life is full of tradeoffs. We need to figure out which option will serve us best. This can become challenging when facing space vs. stuff. When we feel overwhelmed, we seek space. Yet, to get the space, we need to remove stuff. The “stuff” can take many forms –...
More or Less
American culture leans toward more. We move through life searching and striving for more. More education. More money. More (bigger) homes. More things. More travel. More. More. More. My Perspective The irony of the “culture of more” is that it leaves us empty and...
Driving Considerations
Transportation is one of the top four categories contributing to our carbon footprint. According to Hedges & Company, there are 1.47 billion cars on the road today worldwide. Of those, 19% or 284 million are in the United States. And the transportation sector in...
Sustainability & Minimalism
The paths of personal development are interesting. You may start wanting more time in your day. You might be seeing focus. Or your purpose in life. Adding more joy and happiness. Leaning into a hobby. In all cases, we are looking for space in our life for something we...
Moving Beyond the Home
As we start making changes at home and realize the positive impacts, we can expand our thinking to our workplace, schools, and neighborhoods. Today, we will focus on ideas for the “neighborhood”. This could be our street, our subdivision, our town, or the nearest...
The Economics of Sustainability
I’m currently taking a course on the circular economy. This is the focus on an economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products. Basically, the goal is to turn waste into raw materials for products and keep waste out of the system. Last...