Hair-brained ideas? Forget Casual Fridays. The Georgia Department of Agriculture now has Razor-Free Fridays, when department employees will be encouraged to not shave in order to save water.

The United States consumes an average of roughly 30 million trees a year to make books.  Eco-consciousness is on the rise, and major publishing houses are even beginning to print their books on recycled paper, a move that will spare an estimated 550,000 trees per year.

When shopping for back-to-school items this season, play an active part in the ever-growing trend and GO GREEN! Here are just a few products to help you do just that:

The Speaking Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition – This product condenses five key reference books into one sleek handheld, featuring the updated Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary including biographical and geographical entries, Merriam-Webster’s Concise Dictionary of English Usage, Guide to Punctuation and Style, Dictionary of Quotations, and a 5-language translator. Additional content includes Franklin’s patented phonetic spell correction, grammar guide with quizzes, word games, and a built-in organizer.

The Pocket Prep Interactive Handheld Tutor for the SAT and ACT – This gadget saves paper and money, as it contains a complete test preparation system will full length, timed practice tests. Features include instant scoring, personal diagnostic reports, practice drills, and an extensive verbal and essay reference set.

The Children’s Speller & Dictionary – Young students will love using a dictionary that is both educational and fun. This gadget features personalized greetings, animations, spell corrections, a crossword puzzle solver, and 7 different games including “Fun with Spanish” and “Fun with French.” Created specifically for children ages 6 and up, this product will help children learn spelling, writing, and grammar.

Dianne Sawyer's ABC series Made in America featured a house made completely of building materials made in America. An often overlooked part of sustainability is buying locally if at all possible. Here's the list. Items are broken down by state. Parts that went into the house came from every state in the Southeast Green region. Check it out and buy local when possible.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has approved a new waterway classification system that some environmentalists say will allow more water pollution. Florida previously had five waterway classifications that ranged from drinking water supplies (Class I) to utility and industrial use (Class V). Most waterways have been designated as Class III for fishing and swimming. But the state Environmental Regulation Commission in 2010 approved an additional "Class III Limited" category that provides water quality for only limited recreation and limited populations of fish and wildlife. The US EPA approved the new classification system on September 6, 2011. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the new category recognizes that some ditches and altered waterways cannot meet the conditions of a natural water body. The new classification was created so that local governments are not required to spend millions of dollars to improve water quality in ditches and canals.

Cox Enterprises announces a new website for Cox Conserves, the company’s national sustainability program. CoxConserves.com is easy to navigate and has detailed information about the company’s operational projects, including what they’re doing with alternative energy and energy conservation, an eco-friendly fleet, water conservation and waste management.

The new website also highlight Cox’s community partnerships and sponsorships. Launched in 2007, Cox Conserves seeks to reduce Cox Enterprises’ energy consumption by embracing renewable forms of energy, conserving natural resources and inspiring eco-friendly behavior. The program engages each of the company’s major subsidiaries (Cox Communications, Manheim, Cox Media Group and AutoTrader.com) and encourages Cox Enterprises’ 60,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

Tags: Environmental News Georgia