green living

2010-04-24T12:41:00.002-06:00

It seems I've been remiss about posting here. I suppose like a lot of people life gets in the way of things sometimes. I haven't been doing much of late except dreaming of being more green. I often wonder if I'm not destined to be like a majority of people in my experience who give it a good try but mostly seem to fall short of being as green as possible in our lives. It's hard breaking habits and making different choices. After all, being green is a choice even in this day and age when it's popular to "be green". In practice however a lot of it is just talk. Sure there are companies that have produced lines of products with the "green" label. There are also some great products that have come out of the environmentally friendly push of late. It's so hard though to distinguish the impostors whose basic goal in saying they are green is to make more money from people who are sincerely trying to help the environment from those companies doing it because it's the right thing to do. In the long run it's about educating oneself about what is and isn't good for the environment. I sure wish I had been taught about this when I was going to school way back when. I know we took biology classes but that was the extent of environmental "education". As I don't have kids I can't say what is being taught now but I can only hope it is a darn sight better than what I was taught.

2009-08-23T21:00:00.001-06:00

Getting ready for fall

It is August and my thoughts turn to the upcoming fall season. Seems like we just started summer and already fall is in the air. With fall comes some great opportunities to be more green.
Cooler fall evenings can provide a good energy saving opportunity. Simply open the windows instead of keeping that air conditioner running all night. In addition to energy savings, opening windows can provide fresh air

This is a great time to have your heating unit (furnace, boiler, heat pump, wood or pellet stove) checked. Schedule a service visit while the heating contractors are not busy and you could save some money and get ahead of the rush when cold weather starts. You can also change your filters allowing your system to run more efficiently. There are even filters made of recycled materials as well as some that can be washed and reused.

Another good thing to check is your hot water heater. Make sure it is working correctly. I for one don’t want to have to wake up to a cold shower on a cold winter day. If it isn’t insulated it isn’t hard to purchase insulation for water heaters at the local hardware store, wrap the water heater yourself, and save money in the bargain. Be careful not to block air into gas fired water heaters, and never wrap them with combustible materials like old blankets or quilts that could catch fire. If you aren’t sure of what you are doing ask at the hardware store or call a professional. Better safe than sorry, as they say.

You can also perform a do it yourself home energy audit. There are instructions here:
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11170

All of these steps can prepare you for colder weather as well as save you money while greening your life. It’s a win win in my book.
Just think if you do all the prep work now you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy all those great veggies you are harvesting or buying at the store from local farmers and can relax knowing you are ready for whatever fall brings.

Rockhounding Green

2009-06-20T20:32:00.002-06:00

Some would say that mining is one of the worst environmental hazards. To me, the old mine sites are treasure sites that rock hounds are cleaning up by hauling out specimens. I agree some of the practices used in mining especially pre-regulation times were bad for the environment and even caused numerous problems. I have seen the landscape changed permanently by mining activity. Piles of rocks were stacked up after the creeks and rivers were dredged for the gold in them and then left there. A big example of horrible mining impact is the Berkley Pit in Butte, Mt. It was formerly the most productive mine in the world and now is a toxic water filled pit that is filling up more and more each day. Although this is a horrible hazard scientists are now looking at some algae that are able to live and even neutralize the toxic water. Perhaps the site could be cleaned up and or used to the advantage of other sites and people. The landscape was scarred and the natural creeks were forever changed or eliminated. Today there are regulations against disturbing waterways, using toxic chemicals to leach out the metals, and requirements for the mining company to reclaim the land after they are finished mining. Unfortunately the larger companies are making a bigger impact on the environment because their activities are on a larger scale. It’s a catch 22 because we use and need the metals they mine in everything from cell phones to jewelry and I’m not optimistic that people will stop using all these materials and force mining operations to stop.
I am all for being eco-friendly and environmentally conscious and I am also a rock/mineral collector. The two are not necessarily exclusive of each other. It may take a different way of looking at things but isn’t that what we are all trying to do to become more environmentally friendly? Most rockhounds I know re purpose items such as empty pill bottles, plastic containers of all sorts, boxes, and anything that will hold rocks. I myself use old pill bottles (like the plastic ones used by pharmacies), plastic tubs like from cottage cheese, and coffee containers among other things, to hold my specimens or put rocks in when I'm out collecting. If you think about it when we collect specimens we are cleaning up mine dumps although it is a bit slower than if the EPA cleaned it up. When we use rocks/minerals for jewelry or art it could be considered repurposing. Ok, so maybe it's a stretch to say that rockhounding can be environmentally friendly but I'd like to think it is since I am a rockhound.
When I'm out collecting I use reusable water containers, clean up after myself, and pick up trash that sometimes is left at the site by former collectors. Even if the old mine sites I visit were harmful to the environment at least I can do my part to be green while collecting.

Back to green - just an update on my journey

2009-05-18T11:01:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted here in a while but thought about it today so here I am. I'm still trying to live more earth friendly. I forget my reusable bags sometimes when I go to the store but for the most part I use them and remember that I am doing my part to help save the environment. I've heard of the bags that fold down to a small package so you can fit them in a purse but I seem to have too much in my purse already so probably wouldn't be an option for me. I do take a reusable bag with me in my vehicle so I have one with me all the time and that does help me to remember to take it into the store. I sure like those stores that have a sign on the door going in saying "Did you remember your reusable bag?" I also have noticed that a lot of stores are giving customers a nickel for using a reusable bag instead of the plastic or paper ones provided. It's not much but every penny (or nickel) counts today. I have been known to go back to the truck to get my bag when I see the sign on the door. Kudos to the stores that are helping to remind those of us whose memory isn't so good to bring their bags with them. I'm hoping this trend will keep going and not go the way of the pet rock or bell bottoms.

Don't Trash the Desert

2009-02-24T15:23:00.004-07:00

I was recently visiting Arizona and doing some rockhounding. Being out in the desert was great although it wasn’t all cactus, scrub brush, and rocks. My thought, DON”T TRASH THE DESERT! I saw piles of trash dumped not only on the side of the roads but also out in the desert where I was hunting for rocks. I know some would say old mine sites are bad for the environment because of all the chemicals, etc, but I think the bigger threat to the environment is all the trash that doesn’t degrade or breaks down into toxic chemicals or ends up in the water (what little there is in the desert) and bodies of native creatures. I saw old mattresses, pieces of metal, broken dressers, old cabinets, used diapers, kitchen bags full of household trash, broken bottles, rusted cans, plastic bags, candy wrappers, plastic containers, gun shell casings, and even some things I couldn’t identify but didn’t think I wanted to know what they were. I’m not talking about items the old miners left when they abandoned the mines. Many of these things were “modern age” and hadn’t been there very long.
Here's some proof in pictures:

Why on earth someone would use the gas to take stuff like mattresses out into the desert when the dump is more easily accessible is beyond me. I often talk about keeping things out of the dumps but don’t mean for them to be dumped out in the desert instead. It made me mad and sad all at the same time. I remembered the commercial when I was a kid that had a Native American crying because of all the trash left by people. I wanted to cry too. To take a beautiful, wild, open place and turn it into a trash heap is just plain wrong.
We seem to be such a trashy society. I admit I’ve eaten a few candy bars but I never threw the wrappers out of the truck window. When I’m out looking for rocks I follow the old adage of “pack it in, pack it out”. Just think before you toss, it’s that simple. It takes just as much effort to dump something out in the desert as it does to take it to the dump or, even better, recycle it. I’m probably preaching to the choir as most people who read this blog are more environmentally sensitive than to dump their garbage in a remote location in the desert but still I had to talk about it. Maybe someone reading this will think twice the next time they want to throw that old diaper or whatever out in the desert. If you're not going to recycle something at least have the decency to dispose of it properly please.
"Give a Hoot, don't pollute", as Woodsy Owl would say.

Christmas aftermath - wrapping paper

2008-12-26T10:56:00.002-07:00

Christmas day is now behind us. The gifts have been unwrapped, the food put in the fridge for leftovers, and the preparations are being made for the New Year's celebrations.
I got to thinking about all the gift wrap that is left after the festivities.
According to Earth 911.com: "As much as half of the 85 million tons of paper products Americans consume every year goes toward packaging, wrapping and decorating goods. Also, wrapping paper and shopping bags alone account for about four million tons of trash annually in the U.S.". Thats a lot of trash in my book.
So what to do about going green at Christmas as far as wrapping paper is concerned. Well, there isn't much we can do according to Earth 911.com. The wrapping "paper" is often made from non-recyclable materials. It can be dyed and laminated and contain nonpaper additives like glitter and so can't be used as recycling material. There is also the sticky tape that is often impossible to remove from the paper and in itself cannot be recycled.

So what to do.

Well, for one thing I could have gone green and wrapped gifts in recycled paper, plain newspaper, fabric or some reusable medium however I didn't think of that until after Christmas. Oops. I do know my mother always tried to save the wrapping on presents to reuse but sometimes getting into the packages involved ripping and tearing. We do always save bows. At least I can save the boxes for use next year or to put the presents in to take home. Wrapping paper can make good stuffing for when I send someone something (although I don't do that very often). Use the paper for origami (heck who am I kidding, I have trouble just folding towels). Using the white side of the paper for note paper could work, though what would I do when I throw away the note (hmm, same delimna different day), plus if I have some of that metallic paper that wouldn't work anyway. I could use it to line drawers or cabinets. Those are just some of the ways talked about on the internet to "recycle" wrapping paper. Alas, the problem or trying to recycle the paper after reusing it. Eventually that paper will end up in the landfill no matter what I do.

In the end I conclude there is one option that remains clear to me: I can do better next year and be less environmentally friendly this year. I suppose being eco-friendly is a matter of trial and error sometimes but I always try to learn from mistakes.

Green quilting

2008-12-01T19:26:00.002-07:00

I have being trying to learn how to quilt. That's not really on the subject of green living however there are some eco-friendly products that are related to quilting I wanted to talk about.
A while ago the local quilt shop began carrying bamboo batting. It was very soft and had the same loft as cotton batting. I decided to check it out and found that it was environmentally friendly too.
The product I saw at the store was by a company named "Fairfield" http://www.poly-fil.com/batting.asp
The batting is 50% organic cotton and 50% bamboo fibers both of which are sustainable fibers. This company also carries a bamboo pillow form that is 100% bamboo fiber with a cotton cover.

Here are some facts about Bamboo:
Bamboo is the fastest growing timber plant on earth and requires no fertilizers to grow. If one stalk is cut, two will grow in its place. Bamboo can grow 47 inches in 24 hours and 78½ feet high in 40 to 50 days. It absorbs 2/3 more carbon dioxide and releases 2/3 more oxygen than any other plant on earth. Bamboo thrives naturally without using pesticides. Bamboo is considered renewable. The crop can be harvested year after year without replanting.

Natural Bamboo fiber is manufactured, using a green process without pollution, by crushing, grinding, wringing, and then combing the actual pulp from the Bamboo plants. Strong, high luster fibers range in length from 36” up to 6’ with a thinness that compares to very fine silk. These fibers are naturally antibacterial antifungal and biodegradable with excellent mildew resistance and soil release properties. An excellent insulator with natural anti-static properties it is also easily blended with other natural fibers.

Bamboo does not negatively impact our environment. Bamboo plants produce highly oxygenated air and balanced humidity. Bamboo provides erosion control and restores the health of soil by sequestering excess nitrogen. The Bamboo plant is used for watershed protection, and soil remediation. It retains water in the watershed, reduces runoff, sustains riverbanks and helps mitigate water pollution due to its high nitrogen consumption. Bamboo can be grown on all continents except Africa.
The species used for Bamboo fiber is Phyllostachys Heterocycla, commonly known as Moso Bamboo. It is NOT the Bamboo species eaten by Pandas.

Unfortunately there is a potential down side. If deforestation occurs to make way for bamboo farms, this fiber is no longer green. Here's to hoping it will be grown sustainably and with the environment in mind instead of just dollar signs.

Another "green" batting on the market is made from recycle plastic bottles. Yes, I said batting made from recycled plastic. It is called "Quilters Dream Green".
According to their website each pound of Dream Green Batting keeps 10 plastic bottles out of our landfills. To make the batting plastic bottles are cut into chips, washed, melted and extruded into fine polyester fibers. To avoid additional processing they have kept the soft “natural” green bottle color which is colorfast. I saw a sample of this batting at the local quilt store and it is rather interesting although I have not heard anything about how it quilts or wears.

I am so glad to see these types of products showing up at quilting shops. Now I can be green while I learn to quilt. Maybe I can even stretch that green-ness out by adding that I'm making products like quilts rather than them being made by less eco-friendly manufacturers. I don't know if my small effort has that much impact but heck anything helps when the environment is at stake.

New recycling information

2008-11-15T23:01:00.005-07:00

I live in Montana and have recently noticed some advertisements on TV for a new web site called "Recycle Montana". http://recyclemontana.org
According to the web site, "Recycle Montana is a new nonprofit organization working to increase recycling in Montana through education and building coalitions between communities and the recycling industry". The organization is run on membership donations. The sponsors listed are Coca-Cola Company and Pacific Steel and Recycling. I'm glad to see a site like this one. It is well put together with links and lots of information. I found it easy to browse. The section "Where can I recycle?" redirected me to Earth911.com which is a comprehensive site about recycling.
When I looked up different items to recycle such as motor oil I was given some places in my local area for recycling along with a few places in other states (one was in MA). It was good to be able to look up where to recycle items and get local locations.
I give both sites thumbs up (green thumbs of course).

In checking around I also found several other state recycling web sites:
Washington state http://1800recycle.wa.gov
Massachusetts http://www.mass.gov/dep
Idaho http://www.deq.state.id.us/waste/recycling/recycling.cfm

It looks like a lot of information about recycling can be found at each state's Department of Environmental Quality.

You can also check out state recycling associations such as the one for Montana (listed above). There is a directory for recycling associations listed by state:
http://dexrecycle.stealthnetworking.com/recyclingAssociationsAction.do

In all I'm glad to see more information on recycling becoming available to the public. Perhaps there is hope still that the "green" movement is here to stay and not another fad.

Where's the green talk in the election?

2008-10-16T12:41:00.002-06:00

I was thinking lately (I know, don't hurt myself...lol). I haven't heard anything from the candidates for President about green issues. Guess that subject is already passe given the state of the economy. I would like to know how they stand on the environment but given the lack of information I am disappointed to say the least. Maybe if I do a little digging I could find some information but who has time to do that anymore. It's a sad thing to see when an issue as pressing as the state of our environment is pushed to the back burner. I do recall wondering in a previous post about the fact that being green could be a passing craze to the mainstream population. Hmmm, maybe I'm psychic.
I just wonder how many people have considered that being green, environmentally sensitive, or whatever term you want to use, is actually good for saving money and the economy. Using less plastic bags means less money spent by companies and maybe (if we're lucky) some savings for consumers. I know the Real Foods store here has changed to no plastic bags at all and they charge for paper bags if you want to use them. It's gotten me more into the habit of taking my reuseable bag to the store. I also like the sign on their door asking you if you brought your bag with you.
Consumers can also save money by using less gas, electricity, and oil. Although I don't know how good that would be for the economy as a whole it would sure put more money in the pocketbook of the average consumer which could be spent on other things.
It all comes down to how much we, as Americans, and as the world community, want to save the planet. Do we really want to give up on the save the environment movement in favor of worrying about the economy? In my opinion the economy is going to do what it's doing without me worrying about it but I can do something for the environment albeit in a small way everyday.

Fall and fallen off the wagon

2008-09-28T11:53:00.004-06:00

It's fall here in the NW US and my thoughts have turned to the fast approaching winter. I'll admit I'm not ready for the cold temperatures. I do look forward to another chance to get back on the wagon, so to speak, as far as greener living. I will be looking at more ways to winterize my apartment to save energy as well as money.

I'll confess, I haven't been practicing as much green living lately. I got rather tired of working at living. Let me explain: It takes work to try to be green, especially since I've been living "less green" for most of my life aside from some small actions. Even with the more environmentally sensitive movement going on it is still a struggle to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. Sure the majority of the population here gives the green living terms a lot of publicity however when it comes down to the doing most fall very short. I feel like I should be included in that majority. I see the commercials for all the new hybrid fuel vehicles yet I still drive my pickup truck, celebrities talk about taking reusable mugs to coffee places, reusable shopping bags are prominent in stores now, and even though it seems like the surge environmental consciousness is waning, there are still more recycling programs popping up. I often forget to take my shopping bag to the store, even when I do put one in my truck. My insulated mug remains on a shelf in my kitchen, and as far as recycling, well, I'm not proud to admit I haven't been doing any.

The vehicle situation is unfortunately not practical to remedy as I am not financially stable nor able to purchase a new vehicle. I also need my pick-up truck for hauling tools etc for work.
As for the other items, I just have to restart my efforts and force myself to work on getting back on the environmental track. Bad habits are hard to break but it can be done.

Hopefully the environmental movement won't go the way of the dinosaur in the public consciousness or go back to being the trend of the minority of the population, specifically those who opt to live a more "back to earth" life. Sure seems like all those public service announcements about ways to be more earth friendly have stopped and the only commercials I've seen have been those of car manufacturers who have been trying to sell their hybrid SUV's. It is indeed sad to see the trend losing steam.

2008-06-11T20:56:00.002-06:00

Did you ever notice that not all news is reported?
I was looking in the local paper and they now have a weekly report on the planet. There were several earthquakes, a volcanic eruption in the Galapagos Islands, and several other "events". I had not even heard about any of them.
This got me to thinking about what other things aren't being reported about environmental concerns or living green. With the internet there are so many places to find information that sometimes I find myself overwhelmed. Living green isn't as simple as it seems. There are so many things that are interrelated. If you use electricity to power cars saving gas then you are contributing to pollution through electric generating plants burning fossil fuels. Using cloth bags for shopping saves plastic bags but if they aren't made with sustainable fabrics then resources are being used up.
Before I got more into living greener I didn't realize how interrelated things were but now I see that many things are tied together. It's been quite an eye opener.

On another note, I was astounded at hearing that people shouldn't eat cows because they produce gas that is harmful to the environment. Ok, so cows fart isn't that part of nature? Seems to me that's going a little too far into the ridiculous.

Earth Day

2008-04-22T14:23:00.002-06:00

Happy Earth Day!
Too bad it isn't as celebrated or publicized as Christmas.

I did see a lot about it on Regis and Kelly, Martha Stewart, and the Today show. Maybe I've got too much time on my hands watching tv, I wonder. It was good though to see the mainstream media getting in on the green "bandwagon" at least for one day.
I wonder what it would be like if Earth Day was like Christmas only the presents were for the Earth. I'm not being sac religious or anything but rather trying to make a point.
It seems like we hear about Christmas starting in October with a barrage of advertisements to buy this or that and decorate. Would it be so bad to hear earth day tips in October or even all year long. I know here the channel "the CW" has started having being green tips which is good.
How about a "green" show? Characters would recycle, go to "save the planet" rallies, eat organic, use products that are eco-friendly. Could be a good show.
What about decorations for Earth Day. Recycled paper banners, grass signs, party hats made from plants. Hmm, has potential.
Instead of buying gifts and wrapping them in expensive paper/ribbons there could be tree plantings, recycling shows, and celebrations involving green themes.
Ok, so maybe this won't happen but at least it's something to think about.

Happy Earth Day.
Go Green!

It's not easy being green!

2008-04-01T10:50:00.002-06:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my quest to be more environmentally friendly. To me task seems daunting to say the least. I try to learn about what to do and what not to do. I research and read about it. Just when I decide to do something to "be green" I find out the option isn't as eco-friendly as I first thought.

Take for example, the dryer balls I talked about in a previous post. Yes, they can save energy by reducing drying time. They also save landfill space taken up by all those dryer sheets. They release less chemicals in the environment. Looks like a win-win for me and the environment.

Then I learned about the downside. The balls are made of non-biodegradable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) one of the worst plastics for the environment. Thus the manufacture, use, and disposal of these "environmentally friendly" dryer balls causes both environmental and health hazards. They are made in China where there are little to no environmental standards of manufacturing so who knows what else they may contain or what toxins are released into the environment when they are being manufactured and then shipped (diesel fumes, oil leakage by ships, carbon monoxide pollution from trucks, etc...). This brings to mind the toy recalls of late because of lead in toys made in China. If that isn't bad enough the PVC is not easily recycled so the balls end up in the landfill where they can leach toxic chemicals into the soil. So here I have dryers balls saving me money but not so environmentally safe or friendly. The dilemma, if I use them am I contributing to environmental problems rather than being "green"?

Using fabric softeners and dryer sheets that contain cancer causing, toxic chemicals is not environmentally friendly either. The chemicals stay on your clothes (hence the scents in them) and you can inhale them or absorb them through your skin. Chemicals from them are released into the air through the dryer vents or dumped into the water through the washer drain.

An alternative is to use baking soda for odors and vinegar to soften clothes. Unfortunately some manufacturers of baking soda (one example given on tangergreen.com is Arm & Hammer) test it out on animals which isn't environmentally friendly at all. Even if they are done testing baking soda the companies still test other product they make out on animals or even people so by buying the baking soda I could be contributing to animal abuse or worse. There are no laws in the United States regarding the use of "cruelty free" labels on products so who's to say the companies aren't just saying it to cover their tracks. Even if the company says it's cruelty free it could still be buying the ingredients for the product from a company that does conduct animal testing. According to the tangergreen web site there is cruelty free baking soda available so that's a plus. Another thing is that baking soda production releases CO2 into the environment which isn't great either.

Fortunately I haven't found anything about environmental concerns with using vinegar. At least for now. Although it is sold in plastic bottles which aren't good for the environment either.

This just keeps going and going, doesn't it?

So what am I to do aside from throwing up my hands in utter desperation because everything I do has an impact on the environment? Well, the only alternative I see is to use baking soda and vinegar because they seem to have the least environmental impact. Drying outdoors isn't an option for me especially in the winter here and lets face it, I'm lazy and don't want to spend the time hanging clothes out in the weather to dry and pick up chemicals, pollution, and dust from our polluted air. (Also I don't care for cardboard stiff underwear.)

Well, now my head hurts from all this thinking. I'm worn out trying to be environmentally friendly. I think I'll drive my not so economical vehicle down to the store and get some aspirin (hopefully the aspirin won't be environmentally hazardous too - again images of plastic bottles and manufacturing impact fill my head). So much for being green today.
(Please no lectures on the benefits of walking to the store, I'm too tired to save the world right now, maybe tomorrow.)

Wearing of the green, Saint Patrick's Day

2008-03-16T20:46:00.002-06:00

Not exactly an environmental subject but at least it involves "green".

With Saint Patrick's Day looming on the horizon (tomorrow) I thought I'd look into the history of celebrating this holiday.
It's more than just drinking green beer, wearing green clothes, and partying.

Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland is often associated with stories about his driving the snakes from Ireland. This is not a true story. He was sent to Ireland as a prisoner and after escaping back to England he later returned to Ireland as a priest. He was sent to Ireland to minister to the Christians already living there as well as to convert the Irish to Christianity. He is supposed to have created the Celtic Cross by superimposing a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish since most practiced a nature-based pagan religion.

March 17th is believed to be the date of Saint Patrick's death (around 460 AD). The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years. Traditionally Irish families would attend church in the morning then celebrate in the afternoon. Since the holiday falls during the Christian season of Lent prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived for this holiday. The people would celebrate by dancing, drinking , and feasting on a traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage (as for corned beef, the Irish never ate it, corned beef was more an English dish and made for export to England and Europe rather than for consumption by native Irish people).

The first Saint Patrick's Day parade did not occur in Ireland. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. Today New York City hosts the world 's oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants.

Today the city of Chicago has a unique tradition of coloring the river water green. The tradition began in 1962, when a pipe fitters union, with the permission of the mayor, poured a hundred pounds of green vegetable dye into the Chicago river. Today only 40 pounds of a green food coloring is put in the river which keeps the river green for only a few hours. I doubt this is exactly environmentally friendly but at least they aren't dumping green beer into the river.

The origins of dyeing things green (ie..Beer, Bagels, rivers) is cloaked in mystery. Since Ireland is known as "the Emerald Isle" and is very green perhaps that is where we got the color green as part of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations. One of the reasons for wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is because the Catholic side of Ireland is identified with green, and St. Patrick is a Catholic Saint credited with converting the island to Christianity. Another reason is to avoid the unpleasant pain associated with being pinched by people who think it's fun to do so if you aren't wearing green on Saint Patrick's Day.

My thought is that if we promoted Earth Day as a drinking holiday maybe more people would be celebrating that.

"Erin Go Bragh"

Not so green this week

2008-02-27T20:52:00.002-07:00

I'll be the first to admit I was not as environmentally friendly this week as I have been. I forgot to bring my cloth bag to the store so had to rely on the plastic bags that I have been trying to avoid. I also had to throw out some plastic bottles. Of course I thought about recycling them but instead choose to throw them out. I regret that but I'm not going to go dumpster diving to retrieve two plastic water bottles.
So I'm human and I slip up but at least I have been trying to be green which is more than I can say for some people I know. I'll just have to work harder to be more green and maybe I'll set a good example for those people to follow.

CFL not as environmentally friendly as you might think

2008-02-20T23:17:00.004-07:00

I have posted before about using CFL (compact fluorescent light bulbs) both for saving energy and for being better for the environment. Recently I was talking about environmentally friendly building at a local hardware store when one of the gentlemen made a comment about CFL bulbs not being environmentally friendly at all. I was curious so thought I'd investigate further. What I uncovered alarmed me.

Compact fluorescent bulbs are made with mercury a very toxic heavy metal that can cause brain damage in children. Mercury can also damage the liver, kidneys, and in sufficient quantities cause death. I thought being more "green" involved removing toxins from our environment not adding to them. Even though the amount of mercury in them is low about 4 milligrams of mercury compared to other sources of mercury such as thermometers that contain 500 milligrams or more the fact is that even a little mercury means more mercury is being put into the environment. I've always been told that every little bit counts and that includes hazardous substances.

So why are companies like Wal-Mart pushing CFL bulbs as an environmentally sound choice? I believe the motivation behind the push involves the bottom line rather than being more eco-friendly. Retailers get more profit from selling CFL bulbs plus they can jump on the environment bandwagon, look like the good guys, and get consumers to purchase more bulbs to replace all the incandescent bulbs they have in their houses now. Retailers talk about how long these compact fluorescent bulbs last. In their logic longer life means less waste caused by disposal of regular light bulbs. There is also talk about how energy efficient they are so saving energy comes into the picture. That all sounds good unfortunately they fail to mention that in some places it is against the law to dispose of CFL bulbs in the trash. California, New York, and Minnesota are just a few states where it's illegal. Also, breaking one of these bulbs requires special disposal procedures which will probably not be followed by the average consumer who is just used to throwing broken items in the trash. Most consumers aren't even aware of the potential environmental hazard posed by the disposal of CFL bulbs in the trash (heck, I wasn't aware of it until I started looking into this). Environmental nightmare waiting to happen here? I can definitely see it happening.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends recycling these bulbs, since breaking or incinerating them releases mercury into the air. Simply disposing of them in the trash poses a problem because they are likely to break and expose the waste disposal people to mercury vapors. Even if they are double bagged they can still release mercury because of it leaching through the bags or escaping when the sharp glass pokes through the bags. After being released into the air the poisonous metal can then find its way into soil, water, fish and people.

The EPA offers information about broken CFL bulbs here. They suggest if you break a compact fluorescent light bulb you should leave the room for 15 minutes, opening windows to air it out, then clean up the fragments and powder with rubber gloves on your hands, wipe the area with a damp cloth, put the cloth and fragments in a bag and seal it. Then place all of that into another bag, seal both bags and place in the outdoor trash if recycling is not an option.

My question to environmental groups and retailers who are pushing CFLs is if they are so good for the environment then why does the EPA have to have a special web site with procedures for disposing of them?

There was a case where a woman in Maine who broke one on her carpet. See the story here.. It seems she had heard about the hazardous mercury material in it and after several calls to various places she was directed to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. A specialist came out and warned her the material was too hazardous for her to vacuum up herself. The specialist recommended a local environmental clean up company. The bill for the clean up would be over $2,000 which she can not afford so they have enclosed the room with plastic sheeting to half air movement and her daughter is forced to sleep downstairs in crowded conditions. Her home owners insurance will not pay for the clean up. Does that sound like an environmentally safe, money saving product to you?

A story by Joseph Farah of the WorldNetDaily on April 16, 2007 mentioned the Maine woman's plight and the experiences of two other people involving compact fluorescent bulbs. He also gives a list from the American Lighting Association of five considerations that should be looked at by legislators considering banning the incandescent bulb. Read the rest of his article here.

Another strike against the environment is in the production of these light bulbs. CFLs are produced in countries such as China and India where environmental standards are almost non-existent I suspect this is because it would be too expensive to produce them in a country where there are strict environmental standards for production so big companies cut costs but compromise the planet. Since there are no standards enforced in those countries I wonder how much mercury is leaked into the environment just from producing these bulbs.

Sure we can save energy costs by using CFL bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs but at what cost to the environment? Even if they last for a long time there will still be the problem of disposal when they do wear out (and they will wear out eventually).

There are efforts on the part of manufacturers to produce a mercury free version of the CFL however such products are 5 to 10 years away from being available to the public and this according to IKEA a retailer that has promoted CFL bulbs heavily.

On the other side of using CFL bulbs, they do last longer, saving energy and reducing the emissions of coal-fired power plants which also put out mercury. Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants are the single biggest reason that there are fish consumption advisories specifically for mercury contamination in many states. The CDC says that roughly eight percent of American women of childbearing age have levels of mercury in their bodies that exceed what is considered safe for the fetus. A study from the University of North Carolina puts the number closer to 20. These statistics were from 2003 even before CFL bulbs became popular.

So what is the average consumer like me to do about trying to be green? Well, I think in light of what I've uncovered I'm going to stick with incandescent bulbs until the government decides that I have to switch or decides that forcing a switch may be a worse idea for the environment than the alternative. Perhaps, as some have said, the LED bulb will be the wave of the future and we won't have to deal with the issues surrounding compact fluorescents.

I may not swap out all the CFL bulbs I already use because of the cost. The other problem this would pose to me is finding a place to dispose of the CFL bulbs safely in my area where recycling isn't exactly a common practice. I'll have to weigh my options.

It really isn't easy being green sometimes.

News of the weird

2008-02-15T20:27:00.007-07:00

Here's something I thought was really weird and maybe a little gross so consider yourself warned if you want to continue reading this post. Enjoy.

There is a new product on the market that falls under the category of who thought this up and why. The product is “Subtle Butt” made by a company called "Garment Guard". You can check it out here .

This product contains an antimicrobial treatment and activated carbon with a “vast surface area to which stench adheres and gas gets neutralized”. The whole premise behind this product, it’s sole purpose, is to filter out the stench caused by people “passing gas” yep, I mean farting, cutting the cheese, the dog did it excuse, elephant ran under my chair (that was my Grandfather’s favorite excuse, by the way), poofing, or whatever moniker you choose to use.

Is it environmentally friendly to filter the natural gas that often escapes human bodies? Ok, so that’s a stretch to try to keep with the theme of this blog but the existence of such a product does make me wonder if the smell of passing gas is an environmental hazard. Could it be that farting is a big enough problem to warrant expending the energy and natural resources needed to make a filter for the stench? I'm of the opinion that it doesn't.

I’ve caused a room to clear out a time or two, although I wouldn’t boast about it even in the raunchiest company but I don’t think I’d go so far as to wear a non-biodegradable pad to filter the stink. I think the waste generated by the pad would offset any environmental benefits gained by filtering the noxious odor.

I have been known to suggest putting an air freshener where the sun don't shine or attaching one to a butt or two but I don't think I'd recommend this product. I'm not even sure this would work on some room clearing episodes I've been a witness to in the past. Gas masks and fart pads be damned I think I'll just wait for the stench to clear the area or send the offending butt outside to air out.

In my humble opinion, if someone has such a problem with smelly gas emanating from their body that they need to consider wearing a filter then perhaps they should alter their diet, take an anti-gas product (such as Beano), or seek immediate medical attention. I don't think the environment will be impacted but the people around them will be thankful.

I wonder if they will come out with an offshoot of this product where there is a scent added to the pad. Perhaps when you let one go it could smell like roses, chocolate, or even cookies baking. Maybe I’ll suggest it to them.

I know this isn’t a going green subject. Heck, this isn’t even a politically correct subject but I’ve never been known to be politically correct, I leave that to the politicians. Hmm, I wonder if the politicians could use this pad to filter out all the bull they put out in campaign speeches about saving the environment that they so easily feed to the general public so they can get elected.

That’s the news of the weird for now. Stay tuned, you never know when I’ll get weird.

Go Green

*My thanks go out to Steve at Strange New Products . Hope he doesn’t have need of this product.

Recycling old cell phones - the responsible way to be green in todays tech world

2008-02-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

Cell phones, seems we all have at least one. Whether it's used for work, play, personal communication, or emergencies, the cellular phone is now an indelible part of our culture. There are at least 1.2 billion cell phones worldwide with more than 200 million Americans now using cell phones.

If you are like me there is at least one used, out of date, old cell phone in your possession taking up space in a drawer, closet or box somewhere. It's estimated that the average user gets a new phone every 18 months. Even people like me who don't want to latest and greatest phones have had to upgrade because of new technology used by cell phone carriers.

Well, fret not, there is a way to dispose of that cell phone and be green doing it. So lets get out those worn out, used up, obsolete, out of date, old cell phones and go green!

Why recycle that old cell phone? Well besides the obvious reasons such as making space for new ones and being eco-friendly there are several reasons.

1. Electronic waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste that is currently found in landfills. E-waste includes cell phones, computers, printers, telephones, televisions, c d players, and numerous other items found in today's tech hungry world.

2. Cell phones contain metals like aluminum, nickel, copper, and gold that can be reused. They also contain approximately 40% plastics and 20% ceramics/trace minerals.

3. Many cell phones are re manufactured or reconditioned so they can be used again. Using products over again prevents the need to create them from scratch, which saves resources and energy while also preventing pollution.

4. Electronics often contain hazardous materials such as lead and mercury. Did you know that cell phone coatings are often made of lead? Even though manufacturers are trying to make new handsets more environmentally friendly, older phones still contain hazardous materials. These materials are both harmful to the environment as well as harmful to people.

5. It’s estimated there are over 500 million used cell phones are ready for disposal. That's a lot of waste.

6. The batteries used to run most cell phones are also environmentally hazardous. Cell phone batteries were originally composed of nickel and cadmium (Ni-Cd batteries). Cadmium is linked to lung and liver damage as well as being a known human carcinogen. Other types of batteries contain the potentially explosive lithium, or the previously stated toxic material lead.

Now that I've covered the why here's the how of cellular recycling.

I've seen lots of places that have set up boxes for recycling cell phones. Most here have signs that say they donate them to a local womens shelter. I'm sure if you look around where you shop you might see one of those boxes or bins. I hear Staples and Best Buy have them in their stores. There are even rumors that Best Buy gives coupons for merchandise if you recycle tech gadgets including old computers, printers, etc.. through them. We don't have a Best Buy here so I can't confirm that the rumors are true.

Unfortunately, I forget to take the old cell phones with me when I go to places where there are boxes for them. Moreover, I am a constantly skeptical and suspicious person so don't want to use a box in an area where other people (some possibly unscrupulous) could have access to them so I've checked into other alternatives.

Wireless carriers sometimes give incentives to recycle old models by giving discounts on new phones. There are even some online sites offering cash for used cell phones,
Cell for Cash for example. In addition, there are a number of web sites that have information about recycling cell phones or donating them to a worthy cause. One of the best sites I found was Earth911. There is a listing about recycling electronic waste:

http://earth911.org/electronics/proper-disposal-and-recycling-of-e-waste

Among the programs on earth911 is a program run by the Motorola company. Motorola now has a program for schools and individuals to recycle used cell phones.

http://www.racetorecycle.com/index.asp

Individuals can recycle the phone with postage paid by Motorola by downloading a shipping label postage paid and sending the phone to the company.

Ok, so label printing is not so green but electronic waste is more unfriendly to the environment than printing out one label. If you feel bad about printing just learn to recycle old ink cartridges and you'll be back to your green self in no time. By the way I know Staples has a program for doing that. Hmmm, do I hear another post coming on??

Back to the subject at hand:

Schools can participate in the Motorola program and earn money for the school in addition to being reimbursed for postage. Double plus there, saving the environment and helping schools that are already in need of funds. Maybe there will be no more kids selling candy bars, gift wrap, or popcorn to fund projects and trips (ok so that's a stretch but one can dream). Schools K-12 grades are eligible for the program.

No matter which method of getting rid of the cell phone, please remember to always be sure to discontinue your service. When staying with the same company or porting your phone number to a new provider, service to the old phone has almost certainly been disconnected but call the service provider to make sure service is turned off.

If you're like me you are probably concerned about the information contained in your phone. Have no fear, Motorola's recycling site contains a link to erasing the data on a cell phone.

http://www.recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser/

Select the manufacturer and model of the cell phone and download instructions for erasing all the personal information and data. I tested this out on a Nokia 1100b and it worked great. Moreover, there is a procedure called a "hard reset" which will permanently clear the memory on the phone. Check with the phone's user manual for the procedure. It's not as complicated as it sounds. I'd highly recommend doing both even though most of the recycling programs I came across say they erase all data from the cell phones collected before re manufacturing or recycling them. Some companies have third-party software that can delete a phone's information remotely which is handy if the phone is lost or stolen in addition to helping when you want to recycle it.

Well there you have it, the green way to get rid of old cell phones. The environment can rest assured that you are doing your part to save it and you can add another eco-friendly task to the list.

Go Green!

Green Laundry Soap - getting clean and helping the environment

2008-02-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

Since I have sensitive skin I was looking into more organic or eco-friendly types of laundry soap. It seems like when I use organic I don't have near as many skin reactions to those types of products plus I am helping the environment by not adding to the chemicals in it. I came across an interesting product at the local organic grocery store and decided to try it.
The product is "Maggie's Soap Nuts". I was intrigued by the box. On the box is a statement "Soap that grows on trees". Ok, so that got my attention. I also saw "safe for sensitive skin" so that was another plus. According to the package, soap nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree that contain saponin which is a natural cleaner used to clean clothes. They are supposed to be 100% biodegradable, hypoallergenic, and low sudsing. A laundry soap made from a sustainable source eco-friendly, and not too bad price-wise, now that sounds like something I had to try.

I used the soap nuts (in the cotton bag provided in the box) and must say I am impressed. Who would've thought that clothes could get clean by just putting a couple of dried fruit-things in with the clothes. It seemed a little strange but heck I've done stranger things before (refer to the post about dryer balls). I'll have to see if they work as well after I've been working outside once the weather gets better but for now the soap nuts worked just fine.

Here's a link to the web site for Maggie's soap nuts: http://www.maggiespureland.com/index.html

If you try these yourself let me know how they work for you.

Pondering Soap

2008-01-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when the big issues of the environment, such as global warming, are in the forefront in the news some of the little issues get put on the back burner. One of those issues was brought home to me when I took a shower. Ok so that's not exactly the one place most people think of as a place to ponder environmental issues but sometimes it just happens.

I have sensitive skin and have used various types of body wash and soap. Most have either left my skin dry or left me wondering what I was washing down the drain besides the dirt off my body. I was in the local health food store so decided to check out their selection of more organic/natural soaps. I found one that did not cost an arm and a leg (definitely a plus for my budget), was fairly simple in the ingredients, and seemed to be good for sensitive skin. The brand was Sappo Hill, based in Ashland, OR (http://www.sappohill.com/index.html). I chose the oatmeal fragrance-free. It is made with 100% vegetable oil - Ingredients: saponified oils of palm and coconut:
fat obtained from the fruit or seed of the palm tree or kernels of coconut;
which lathers readily and cleanses skin. glycerin: humectant, mild emulsifier, and emollient used to hold moisture. Organic oats.
The packaging was minimal (just the box made from recycled materials that displayed the soap bars on the shelf) so less environmental impact there. I could understand all the ingredients listed so that was another plus.

When I got home with my "find" I tried to search online about environmental reasons for not using commercially produced soaps. I had a hard time finding any information. I found a lot of sites selling "natural" soaps with a variety of ingredients and also sites about how to make your own soap. I did read several comments about how commercially available soap does not contain glycerin, a natural byproduct of the soap making process. Glycerin is a natural moisturizer and cleanser. The commercial soap makers skim off the glycerin produced when they make their soaps and sell it to cosmetic companies to increase their profits. Most commercially available soaps contain fragrances. The National Academy of Sciences reports that 95 percent of the chemicals used in fragrances today are petroleum-based synthetic compounds, including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Yikes. Also, Commercial brands of soap generally contain petroleum distillates instead of fats or oils and are actually bars of detergent made with synthetic ingredients which can be a lot harsher and irritating to the skin. Commercial soaps are cheaper to make because of the synthetic chemicals used however a majority of them leave skin dry or irritated. This causes consumers to reach for moisturizing creams or lotions that are sold in some cases by the same companies that made the soap that caused the problem in the first place. Could it be that the pursuit of the dollar outweighs the benefits to consumers?

I couldn't find much more about the effects of using commercial soap on the environment. (Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I could shed some light on this subject - if you are such a person, feel free to leave a comment). I do know that all those chemicals going down the drain can't be good for the environment.

My basic conclusions were that I liked how the organic soap made my skin feel. I liked reducing the amount of chemicals I am putting into the environment. I really liked the fact that I don't have to have a degree in chemistry to read the label. I think I'll stick to the organic/natural soap from now on.

WalMart going green???

2008-01-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

Well I'll have to say I'm surprised to actually see some real evidence of Wal-Mart doing something good for the environment, or maybe doing something good. I had to go there for something specific or else I would not have been there. When I went to the register to check out I noticed some shopping bags displayed on some of the check stands. They seemed to be the reusable type that some of the supermarkets are now selling in place of the standard plastic bags. I'm not sure what they are made out of or if they are any good as they were placed so high up I couldn't even get a good look at them. My hope is that maybe they have decided to jump on the eco-friendly band wagon and offer consumers greener choices. Guess it remains to be seen how eco-friendly they are willing to be, especially after they did away with the meat department in favor of prepackaged meats and seafood. I am definitely skeptical especially when a big retailer gets into the "green craze" because a lot of times it is not a real effort but rather just another sales gimmick. I know there are some products that are now being labeled "organic" or "healthy" that aren't necessarily what they seem.
I still try to bring my reusable cloth bag with me when I go to Wal-Mart but maybe I won't be alone anymore.

I noticed on the Wal-Mart web site that they just announced a partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative to "to help bring environmentally-friendly technologies to cities across the United States and around the world".

Here is the message of the announcement from their web site:

Wal-Mart & Clinton Climate Initiative Announce Partnership
Clinton Climate Initiative announced a partnership to help bring environmentally-friendly technologies to cities across the United States and around the world. The two groups will explore ways to use their purchasing resources to lower prices on sustainable technologies such as energy efficient building materials and systems, energy efficient lighting and clean energy products.

Former President Bill Clinton made the announcement at the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Summit held in Seattle. In addition to the partnership with Wal-Mart, President Clinton announced that the Clinton Climate Initiative will extend its programs and purchasing consortium to all 1,100 cities represented by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The consortium includes the C40 Climate Leadership Group, representing 40 of the world’s largest cities.

“This shows what can be achieved when business, government and the non-profit sector work together on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today,” said Lee Scott, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “By combining our resources, we can help drive innovation, create new technology markets and ultimately reduce this country’s dependence on foreign oil.”

As part of the partnership the two organizations will:

* Collaborate regarding the design and discovery of new products and best practices related to environmentally-friendly technologies. This includes working together to develop specifications for new products and test new products.
* Work together to source new products, again sharing specifications as well as suppliers. This also includes going to market at coordinated times in order to maximize purchasing power and drive down costs.
* Designate a representative from each organization to coordinate with Wal-Mart’s building team, the Clinton Climate Initiative and its member cities.
* Continue to seek opportunities for the two organizations to collaborate.

"Climate change is a global issue that we must address immediately if we are to reverse its catastrophic effects," said President Clinton. "I am pleased that the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Wal-Mart and many businesses are working with my foundation. Together, I hope that we can have a measurable impact on greenhouse gas emissions around the world."

One of the technologies the partnership will explore is energy-efficient, high-performance LED lights for parking lots and street lamps. By switching to LEDs, Wal-Mart estimates that cities could save 50 percent on street lamp energy consumption and reduce maintenance costs by 80 percent. Additional technologies to be explored may include interior LED lighting, variable-speed heating ventilation and air conditioning technology (HVAC) and solar power purchases.

That all sounds good but I'll wait to see if it really gets put into practice before I start tooting my happy horns.

Winter water saving

2008-01-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

I thought of another way to save water. When the temperature dips below zero here in the northwest, it is good to drip faucets at night to keep the pipes from freezing. It was in the -10 degree (Fahrenheit) range last night so I thought I'd better let at least one faucet drip. Deciding on the kitchen sink, I put a plastic container under the faucet to catch the water so it didn't sound like a gong in the metal sink. I realized I could use the water in the container to water my plants, or wash my hands, or for making a cup of tea. In that way the water was not wasted, the pipes didn't freeze, and I was doing another thing to help the environment.
Now if only someone could figure out how to save snow for a dry day in summer that would be good for the environment too. We have plenty on the ground right now.

Dryer Balls - yep, you read that right

2008-01-19T21:38:00.000-07:00

I found a product recently that I used today so thought I'd post about it. It's called "Dryer Balls". I purchased mine at the newly opened "Linens and Things" store here in town. Dryer Balls are soft, light blue balls that are about the size of a baseball, are made of rubber, and have soft little spiky nodules all over them. The rubbery plastic material is heat resistant and there are no sharp edges on the balls, so they are safe to use with delicate clothing items. The package says they soften naturally, cut drying time, are reusable, reduce static, and are hypoallergenic. At about $10 I figured why not try them.
They do reduce static and soften clothes without using dryer sheets. I'm not sure about the drying time as I use a laundromat and put in the same amount of quarters I usually do. May try putting in less next time. They are definitely reusable, unless you decide to use them as toys instead. They bounce really well, not that I, a grown up adult type person, would ever think to try bouncing them. cough, cough
At any rate, I was pleased with the results as well as the fact that I didn't have to use the dryer sheets or fabric softeners that I usually do thereby cutting out some of the chemicals in my clothes and the environment. I have allergies to a lot of the fragrances used in the fabric softeners/dryer sheets and the fragrance free sheets are hard to come by at least here so not using fabric softeners/dryer sheets will save me some money as well as be better for my skin.
Another step for a greener me. Happy laundry day!

Solar what??

2008-01-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Of all the renewable energy sources available now, solar cells have the smallest environmental impact. Because of that I've been trying to come up with ways to use solar power without the expense of buying those big solar panels. I haven't come up with much. There are sites that talk about making your own solar panel out of soda cans painted black. Also I recently came across products such as solar powered battery chargers. I haven't gotten up the nerve to actually buy a charger or paint a bunch of soda cans black but maybe I will. Guess I'll have to keep you updated if I do.
Going solar seems to be a rather complicated topic with so many options and so much information that my head is still spinning. Maybe if I had a degree in engineering or some other technical field I'd be able to make more sense out of all the information. Unfortunately I don't. From what I can make sense of a lot of the options involve spending lots of money although they would save money in the long run. Solar panels can be tied into the grid (used in conjunction with a person's electricity provider) or can stand alone.
When my head stops spinning I'll post some more about this topic.

Green into the New Year

2007-12-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about what to do in the New Year about being more green. I suppose lots of people think about New Year's resolutions and such at this time of year. I actually resolve not to make any resolutions as it seems like when I make resolutions I always end up breaking them any way.
I will be thinking and researching new ways to be green this year and will share them here.
I did get some ideas from my mother over Christmas. It may be too late for this year but maybe next year. She reuses those gift bags we all get with gifts. Also if the wrapping paper can be saved that gets reused as well as the bows and ribbons. If you get things you don't want as presents and don't want to regift them or take them back to the store there is always the local thrift store where they accept all kinds of donated items.
I often go through old paperwork, bills and such, to cull out the ads, unneeded envelopes, and such, as the new year rolls over. It is adviseable to keep records for at least 3 years so I take out the oldest bills and records (except for tax records) and shred them (this helps prevent identity theft). I can then use the shreds as packing material for my rock collecting. Shredded paper can also be used for bedding for some pets, mulch in the garden, or even confetti for the New Year's Eve celebration.

Well that's about it for now. May the New Year be even greener than the last.

Holiday green

2007-12-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

With the Christmas holiday upon us I thought I'd look into green ideas for the holidays. One thing is the traditional Christmas tree. I'm going to look into recycling the tree once Christmas is over. Some places have programs where they pick up the trees on the curb and then turn them into mulch or compost. I thought about just getting an artificial tree but I just couldn't go that way. Another way to use a real tree would be to not cut it down and just decorate it for the birds outside. You can use suet cakes, pine cones with peanut butter on them, seed bells, or seed trays. This way the birds win and you can see your tree decorated with birds.

I know this might be a little controversial but I am a believer in re-gifting. That is the practice of giving people gifts that you got but either can't use or didn't like. Some may say this is tacky however I look at it as recycling instead of just filling up closets with stuff you won't use when someone else might appreciate that item and use it. It seems to me that keeping a gift you won't use is wasteful. You do have to be careful when re-gifting so you don't give it back to the person who gave it to you originally. Also be wary of regifting personalized items. Children can participate in re-gifting in a different way because they almost always have toys they no longer play with or want. Have your children pick out some of these toys and give them to the local homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter where they have children staying.

Giving battery free gifts is also a good way to save the environment. Another gift idea that is eco-friendly is a cloth grocery bag. There are lots of recycled materials that are made into gifts so look for the recycled materials symbol on the packaging.

Cutting back on the holiday lighting display outside of your house is another good way to be more green (this also saves green because of lower energy bills). Another option is to use LED (Light Emitting Diode) holiday lights which use up to 95% less energy than larger, traditional holiday bulbs. LED holiday lights use .04 watts per bulb, 10 times less than mini bulbs and 100 times less than traditional holiday bulbs. Using a timer to turn the lights on and off also can help save electricity and saves on having to remember to turn them off when you retire for the night.

Check out different sites online for other ideas on how to have a green holiday.

Wishing you all a Happy and "green" holiday.

Replacing regular light bulbs to save electricity

2007-12-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've taken another step to save electricity as well as be more environmentally friendly. I replaced the standard 60 watt bulbs in my fixtures with the new compact fluorescent bulbs. The ones I got have the Energy Star label on them and use just 13 watts of electricity while still putting out the equilivant of a 60 watt standard bulb. That's 75% less energy used per bulb. These bulbs are said to last longer so I'm saving more money and using less landfill space when I have to throw them out less. I look at is as a win-win situation.
I've learned that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with these CFL bulbs, our country could save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.
That's quite a savings for just one little bulb.
They do cost a little more than standard bulbs but for what I'm saving in replacement costs and electricity the cost is negligible.
If you want more information about compact florescent bulbs here's a web site that has a lot of information: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
Well there's another step for me to greener living.

living green by reducing energy consumption

2007-12-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about how I can reduce my energy costs as well as help the environment so here are a few of the things I've come up with so far. Feel free to add comments with more ideas if you want.

Did you know:

-The average family needs to heat a home for six months out of the year.

-About 30 percent of a home's heat escapes through small cracks and holes that are not always easily detected. Gaps around the window sill, single paned windows, and improperly installed storm windows are big sources for heat escaping.

-Sealing your home can translate into an annual household savings of 5-30% on the cost of electric/gas bills.

-Older homes are especially vulnerable to drafts, but even new homes can develop drafts as they settle.

I live in an older building so my windows are not double paned or well insulated so I decided to find ways to stop the cold from coming in through the drafty windows. First I got some shrink to fit window film. It was fairly easy to put up the film after I got the double stick tape to stick to the old paint on the window. Basically I just cut the plastic to the right size, taped it up, then used the hair dryer to shrink it so it created an air pocket between the outside window and the inside. Shrinking the film was the longest part of the process but by the second window I realized it was easier if I made sure the film was a tight as I could get it before heating it with the hair dryer. By the way, when they say not to get the dryer too close to the plastic or hold it in one spot for a long time they mean it!

The next step for me was to buy some inexpensive silver colored insulation to put in the windows I don't care if I can look out or not. I got this at the local hardware store and it's sold by the yard. Be sure and measure the window you are going to put it in before going to the store. I made the mistake of not doing that and ended up with a piece too small for the window. I taped it up there anyway because I didn't want to waste it and it still would help to insulate the window.

Now all I have to do is look forward to lower electric/gas bills and a warmer place to live.

maybe not so environmentally friendly

2007-12-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well, today I was mixed as far as being more "green". I'll explain. I went to the local health food store and used my cloth bag so in that way I went "green" however when I went to the local grocery store to get a few things that are less expensive or not available at the health food store I forgot to empty my cloth bag to use in that store. I ended up with yet another plastic bag to deal with. Maybe I need to get more than one cloth bag or I need to stop going to two stores in the same day.
At least I know the health food store has a place to recycle plastic bags so I can always take mine there.

I did have something funny happen to me at the health food store. I had my bag "reviewed" by a lady who was bagging groceries. She said my bag was really nice. Ok, never been told that before. I'd been told it was very big (it is) but never had it complemented. I got it at the local farmer's market and it is quite large. It has it's disadvantages and advantages. It can hold a lot of groceries. I can even put in things that are bulky. The disadvantage is that it gets heavy when I put in all those groceries. Maybe one day I'll buy one of the smaller bags but for now I like my big bag.

green and white

2007-11-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't been doing much as far as green living goes. It is hard to think green when the white snow is piling up outside. I did go to the local health food store the other day and eat lunch. They have a great salad bar/hot bar with all organic ingredients. I know that by eating organic I'm being more environmentally conscious so you might say I'm eating my way to greener living.

If you are reading this please feel free to comment on my posts, I'd love to hear from others about green living.

Today's green efforts

2007-11-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

Well today I added using a reusable water container for water storage to my list of what I'm doing to go green. I bought a 3 gallon polycarbonate bottle at the local health food store and filled it up with their reverse osmosis filtered water. My thinking is that this will save on all the plastic water bottles and jugs I used to buy. I know, buying water sounds silly but when the water that comes out of the tap tastes like chlorine and dirty socks it is worth the 39 cents per gallon to buy water for drinking. Now I just have to find a way to either recycle or reuse the empty plastic jugs I still have.
On a side note, I got the polycarbonate bottle because it is proven not to leach chemicals into the water stored in it as well as it is able to be reused over and over again. Benefit to the environment and to me as well.

It's not easy going green

2007-11-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm income challenged so it's often hard when I'm trying to live more environmentally friendly. I read about all the advances in solar energy and wind power and think, wow, I wish I had the money to buy that so I could save money in the long run as well as the environment. My ultimate goal in life is to live as self-sufficiently as possible while living more naturally and "green". Until I reach that goal I am adding simple things to my lifestyle that help me be more environmentally conscious. Here are some of my latest attempts.
I am keeping my heat in my apartment set low. My thermostat doesn't work correctly so that helps. My landlord, or should I say slumlord, won't fix it because is still turns the heat on and off (once in a while). I try to judge the heat setting as best I can by the temperature in the air. I have also purchased a small space heater to use to warm just where I'm sitting. I'd like to upgrade that in the future but for now my little "Holmes" model HFH 421 works fairly well at warming my feet which get the coldest when I'm sitting at home. I've had it for a year and it seems to be getting less powerful but it still works.
I try to buy recycled when I find it and lately I've taken to bringing a cloth shopping bag along on shopping trips. I still get strange looks when I ask them to put the items in my cloth bag but heck at least I don't have all those plastic bags littering my already too small kitchen while sparing the environment yet again. When I go to the local organic store they actually give you a 10 cent discount for having a cloth bag to put your purchases in. I bought my bag at the local farmer's market for $12. It is rather big though so I'm considering buying or making a smaller version since I don't generally buy a lot (single person here). I also like my bag because it won't rip like the plastic ones (anyone who has carried a plastic sack of canned goods out to the car/truck only to find half of them scattered across the parking lot because the bag ripped knows how valuable that is).
I've also begun to buy items that are organic. This is hard on a tight budget as a lot of them are way more expensive than the non-organic. Sure wish that wasn't the case but oh well that's another blog...lol. The organics are easier on the environment as well as on me. I bought some oatmeal soap at the local organic market and it works just as well as the Dove I bought because I have sensitive skin and the plus is that it doesn't contain all the sulfactants that are hard on the environment. It seems to be easier on my skin too. My next goal for buying more organics is to phase out my cleaning products although for right now I'm going to use up what I have so I'm not wasting money.
I'd like to start recycling however my area doesn't really have any recycling places (smaller town). There is a group that takes plastics once or twice a year however it would be impossible to store all those plastics so I could take them in when the "recycling event" takes place. Maybe in the near future there will be a better recycling program but for now I just try to reuse items or buy less plastic.
Well that's about all I've got for now. Hopefully I'll be able to post with more of my efforts soon.
In all I'd say Kermit the frog had it right, "it's not easy being green".