Cleaning House with the Obamas: Join the Online Movement

If you read this blog back in October, you may remember my open letter to President and Mrs. Obama where I offered to help our First Family truly green the White House. You may also recall my follow-up post where, due to the amazing response, I invited everyone to share their own ideas for cleaning up the big house. With these efforts I've been excited to see a lot of the response coming from young people--especially teenagers who can, and will, impact change in their homes today and for decades to come. So now I am absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of GreentheWhiteHouse.com, which partners this month with DoSomething.org, the nation's leading organization helping teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action.

GreentheWhiteHouse.com is a national collaborative movement for the people, by the people, and moderated by the nation's leading green experts. It invites citizens of any age to upload all of their ideas about what they are doing at home to go green and what they think the White House should do as well. The site also allows you to take a virtual tour of the White House, check out my green tips for the Obamas, blog, and debate the latest hot topics. All of the ideas uploaded onto the site will be taken into consideration, and the best of them will be presented to the White House.

Fortunately, the First Family has already committed to some eco- and health-friendly home improvements since taking office. We know they're planting a victory garden and have changed their cleaning products, for example. That's a fantastic start. But we also know that Obama's got more than enough on his presidential plate, and that now more than ever we have the opportunity to participate in making the White House--now truly our collective house and the example to which we can all aspire--our own. After all, if ever there was a president who believes in including us, it's Barack.

GreeningtheWhiteHouse.com intends to prove that progress is possible, one home at a time. It is my hope that it will empower you, and all of us, to do just that. So please drop by the site and post how you're going green and invite your friends and neighbors to do the same. Added bonus: many green home practices outlined on the site cost less than their toxic alternatives, and who doesn't need a little extra spending money these days?

Comments

[CitizenFarmer]

I have geothermal heating/cooling in my house. It uses much less energy, is environmentaly friendly - few Democrats I know of have geothermal; Al Gore don't got one, Slick Willie and Hill don't got one, Obmana and Rahm - nope. Huff don't got one. Me and GW got one. The Dem politicians should get with the green.

[lookingforgreen]

Actually your information is outdated. Former VP Al Gore added geothermal to his Nashville home when he added solar panels. Check out www.ted.com, its on his video clip.

[realgreengirl]

I Hope the White House will consider a clothes line for drying their clothes!

[iblogleft]

I went and lowered my usage so much, the utility company just raised rates for the 3rd time in a year, saying they don't have enough usage to make a profit, so they had to raise rates. They plan another rate increase in November, and another in March of next year.

Can I afford to go more green? No more son playing xbox, my wifes curling iron, or me using the washing machine?

[Emilie Cole]

I just love the administration's open and (as cliche as it sounds), Web 2.0 approach to citizen interaction!

Another huge way for folks to get involved with their opinions and experience for Earth Day is by sharing your reviews of enviro groups for the 2009 Green Choice Awards, powered by the Yelp-like site, GreatNonprofits.

Did you volunteer with Greenpeace and love it? Or maybe your volunteer experience turned out to be a waste, and you were only thinking of a million things that could have made it better!

Your dollars and time are more scarce than ever, so make sure your voice is heard. Submit your reviews and ratings at www.greatnonprofits.org/green

Not that it matters, but as a bonus, you'll apparently be eligible to win prizes from Whole Foods, Fetzer Wines, and even a getaway at boutique hotels Joie de Vivre.