If you see this post it means that BlogEngine.NET 1.6.0 is running and the hard part of creating your own blog is done. There is only a few things left to do.

Write Permissions

To be able to log in to the blog and writing posts, you need to enable write permissions on the App_Data folder. If you’re blog is hosted at a hosting provider, you can either log into your account’s admin page or call the support. You need write permissions on the App_Data folder because all posts, comments, and blog attachments are saved as XML files and placed in the App_Data folder. 

If you wish to use a database to to store your blog data, we still encourage you to enable this write access for an images you may wish to store for your blog posts.  If you are interested in using Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, VistaDB, or other databases, please see the BlogEngine wiki to get started.

Security

When you've got write permissions to the App_Data folder, you need to change the username and password. Find the sign-in link located either at the bottom or top of the page depending on your current theme and click it. Now enter "admin" in both the username and password fields and click the button. You will now see an admin menu appear. It has a link to the "Users" admin page. From there you can change the username and password.  Passwords are hashed by default so if you lose your password, please see the BlogEngine wiki for information on recovery.

Configuration and Profile

Now that you have your blog secured, take a look through the settings and give your new blog a title.  BlogEngine.NET 1.4 is set up to take full advantage of of many semantic formats and technologies such as FOAF, SIOC and APML. It means that the content stored in your BlogEngine.NET installation will be fully portable and auto-discoverable.  Be sure to fill in your author profile to take better advantage of this.

Themes and Widgets

One last thing to consider is customizing the look of your blog.  We have a few themes available right out of the box including two fully setup to use our new widget framework.  The widget framework allows drop and drag placement on your side bar as well as editing and configuration right in the widget while you are logged in.  Be sure to check out our home page for more theme choices and downloadable widgets to add to your blog.

On the web

You can find BlogEngine.NET on the official website. Here you'll find tutorials, documentation, tips and tricks and much more. The ongoing development of BlogEngine.NET can be followed at CodePlex where the daily builds will be published for anyone to download.

Good luck and happy writing.

The BlogEngine.NET team

Trees can add value to your home, help cool your home and neighborhood, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs, and provide food for wildlife.

The Value of Trees to a Community

The following are some statistics on just how important trees are in a community setting.

"The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day."—U.S. Department of Agriculture

"Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home." — American Public Power Association

"If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%." —Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research

"A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000." —Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers

"In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a "strong or moderate impact" on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%." —Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests

"Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent."—Management Information Services/ICMA

"One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people."—U.S. Department of Agriculture

"There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs."—National Wildlife Federation

"Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 - 50 percent in energy used for heating."—USDA Forest Service

"Trees can be a stimulus to economic development, attracting new business and tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to shoppers, apartments rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent."—The Arbor Day Foundation

"Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property's value."—USDA Forest Service

"The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams."—USDA Forest Service

"In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension."—Dr. Roger S. Ulrich Texas A&M University

"Nationally, the 60 million street trees have an average value of $525 per tree."—Management Information Services

To help locate New York City's heritage trees, the City Department of Parks and Recreation conducted a program called the "Great Tree Search." New Yorkers looked for trees of unusual size and age, those linked with historic landmarks, and trees of unusual species or location. On Arbor Day, they held a big party to celebrate New York City's Great Trees.

After a tornado destroyed more than 800 trees in Cardington, Ohio, citizens organized a tree restoration committee which solicited donations and memorials. Volunteers who learned of the tree planting through local newspaper articles appeared on Arbor Day to wrap trunks, water, mulch, and stake 40 large trees which were planted along major streets.

Please visit Arbor Day Foundation to Donate today.  Also visit Motivators Promotional Products, to buy custom logo items to promote your business. Anytime you place an order for eco-friendly promotional items, Motivators will plant a tree through the American Forests Global ReLeaf Fund. It's just one simple way we can do our part in helping make a difference.

    We talk about eco-friendly options all the time here with our wide array of environmentally friendly promotional products, but last night I watched an episode of the Daily Show (a day late) in which Jon Stewart interviewed Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and heard a new an interesting idea to help the entire earth 'go green' in a way I had not heard of before. The conversation obviously went down a path of global warming and harmful emissions. Most of us have heard about the dangers that our future may hold if we don’t somewhat alter our lifestyles or come up with new energy saving or carbon-free solutions. But aside from turning off lights, carpooling, using ‘green’ products and a host of other suggestions, has anyone heard an innovative idea to help the entire earth get on the same page? Sure, wind turbines and solar panels are now being built much more regularly and certainly have had their impact. However, some of these solutions can be costly and therefore become more difficult to act on. Another problem comes from the space needed to create such energy grids. Steven Chu is aware of these obstacles and therefore has suggested some alternate ideas that can really have a substantial impact on our eco-system. For example, Chu suggests that when building a home or putting on a new roof to use a white roof instead of the traditional dark black or brown roofs that many of us are used to. Chu says that it costs no more to install a white roof than it does a traditional colored roof and it will not only help the earth by reflecting the sun light back into the atmosphere rather than them absorbing the heat and radiation, but it will also cut air conditioning costs, which is great for the homeowner and the environment because as Chu points out, the less you are using your air conditioner, the less you are using electricity, which in turn is of course helping the environment. With this idea in mind, Chu also proposes that roads are re-paved with an off-white or very light colored pavement. (Probably very similar to the color of a sidewalk so that it doesn’t blind drivers on sunny days) I had never heard this idea before, but it makes perfect sense. We already know that we are welcoming the suns rays and added heat when we wear black as opposed to white, and on a large scale this can have a significant impact on the earth’s climate and environment. It would be relatively inexpensive in comparison to some other solutions we know of and would even create jobs for those trying to make ends meet in a difficult economy. I am not entirely sure of all the parameters of the research that has been done thus far, so it is a little unclear as to just how many roads and roofs would need to be white, but Chu ended his interview on the Daily Show by stating that if this campaign were to be carried out, it would have a similar impact on the earth that taking 1 billion cars off the road for 11 years would have. That’s a very substantial impact for something that would not require a lot of money or a drastic change in procedure.

Personalized Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Looking for the hottest Green promotional giveaway? Promotional stainless steel water bottles are everything you are looking for. Promotional stainless steel water bottles are popular because they are BPA Free and won't leach toxins or funky flavors into your water, juice, or drink of choice. Plus each bottle weighs less than 7 ounces and are incredibly durable, so they will last for years. So give out these personalized stainless steel water bottles and help reduce plastic water bottle usage and promote your company at the same time. Custom stainless steel water bottles are the perfect showcase for your logo and branding on-the-go. Re-usable and environmentally friendly, they are sure to be a hit at your next event. Promotional stainless steel water bottles are perfect for eco-awareness, wellness programs, trade shows and employee/customer recognition.

If you thought throwing your sandwich wrapper in a stream while camping was most common form of water pollution, think again: from agricultural runoff to waste treatment, pollution affects more and more of the Earth’s water supply every minute. Check out five of the most invasive and damaging types of pollution (but please: still throw that sandwich wrapper in the trashcan).

As a community we need to join together and live eco-friendly lives, so that generations to come can enjoy our earth's bounty. We teach our children the basic rules of life but need to be reminded to live by them as well. Therefore, just as a mother nurtures her children in the values of life, I would like to propose that we all re-learn and actively live by one of these core teachings. Share.

When your daughter pulls a Barbie Doll out of the hands of her friend you reprimand her. "Stop it girls! You can both play together." Likewise, no one person owns this earth and we should all be able to use its resources. As gas prices rise and crude oil supplies are being depleted we need to ask ourselves. Are we sharing?

The United States accounts for 4 percent of the Earth's population. Yet we produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning. This is attributed to: Our roughly 250 million registered cars on the roads, our constant need of new, cheap products, and our high usage/waste of electricity. But luckily there are ways to reduce our carbon foot print if we are willing to work together and make small sacrifices.

The best way to share our earth resources is to reduce our dependency on them. Dare yourself to live a day without electricity. Our lifestyles are all different but try spending one day without the television, computer and phone. The sun is our best source of light, so turn the switches down and go outside. And while you're out there, hang your clothing up on a line to dry. Even a small day to day change yields a huge difference in the long run.

It can be as simple as a switch from plastic bags to organic re usable bags, or a decision to shop locally. Independent businesses generate strength and stability in communities by giving back 80 percent of the profit they make. Is that 10% discounted product from China really better than the more expensive American made product? Though both products look similar, an organic American made tee shirt will last longer than a cheap factory produced shirt. By knowing your store owners personally you can trust in their products and support their growth with a purchase. The longer a product lasts, the less you will have to buy more-and the less you'll contribute to big business's large carbon foot print. This community bonding is the perfect way to share in our earths resources.

One reasonable way to reduce the amount of gas used and the amount of fumes released is to car pool. Use a recycled calendar to make a driving schedule with a co-worker, classmate, or friend. When you car pool you save money and reduce your carbon output. The sun is always willing to share its rays with us. So we should start sharing all of earth's resources with one another.

Businesses today are taking steps towards eco-friendliness by reducing their negative impact on the world. Some efforts include changing from coal burning fuel to solar energy by implementing solar panels in factories. But not all efforts must be so drastic. Personal electricity use in the office, such as computers, lights and air conditioning can be monitored and adjusted for optimal use. Recycled materials can be used to produce products that will last longer. And the theme of eco-friendliness can be spread with the use of smart advertising and personalized promotional products. Several promotional products often purchased by businesses now have eco-friendly alternatives. Companies can purchase eco-friendly promotional products such as personalized organic cotton tote bags for an upcoming convention or trade shows. Businesses can distribute promotional travel tumblers to reduce waste from paper coffee cups. Recycled flyers and water bottles can be given out as take home gifts at the annual company picnic. These are just a few simple examples of environmentally friendly promotional products that are available. Businesses must take the initiative and make others aware of eco-friendliness. By turning over to eco-friendly policies, businesses encourage us to change, so that everyone on this earth can share in its resources.

via: The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Promotional Products