Eco-Friendly Products

The Holiday shopping season is upon us again. Start your green effort this Holiday season by giving gifts that encourage environmental consciousness. Here are five ideas:

1. Give the gift of giving

There are hundreds of charities that accept gifts in another person's name. Give your loved on the gift of giving by donating to a charity in their name. You can sponsor a child in another country, donate a tree or even purchase bees for communities in other countries that use the bees to improve farming conditions and also benefit from selling the honey.

2. Shop estate sales and antique shops

Nothing says environmentally conscious more than reusing the things already created so they don't end up in the landfill. What's more is that you're likely to find a one of a kind gift that is very personal in nature making it a more special gift and not your run of the mill mall purchase.

3. Give organic products

The list is endless here when you throw organic products in a basket: produce, coffee, bath products, bedding, beeswax or soy candles and clothing are just a few ideas.

4. Give the gift of nature

Trees or other shrubs are fabulous gifts. Bird baths, bird houses, lady bug houses, squirrel perches and other animal attracting gear will continue to give the whole year through as your loved one enjoys Mother Nature. These are especially great for children because they are educational as well. Butterfly houses and plant growing kits are fabulous!

5. Energy saving gifts

Solar battery chargers are fantastic and could be included in a gift basket that also contains CFL light bulbs. If someone has a new kitchen appliance included on their wish list, opt for energy star rated products.

One last little tip: Save some trees and give your gifts in reusable shopping bags, baskets or other containers that won't go to waste after the gift is given!

A 1994 Life Cycle Assessment of different kinds of disposable and reusable cups by University of Victoria chemistry professor Martin B. Hocking challenged conventional wisdom about the environmental benefits of reusable cups. After documenting the amount of energy involved in producing and reusing the various types of cups, the study concluded that from an energy perspective, paper and particularly polystyrene cups are often a more energy efficient option than some reusables. When accounting for the energy required to produce a ceramic cup, for example, it would take 1,006 uses before its energy use would break even with the energy used to produce the same number off polystyrene cups. When accounting for the energy used to wash the ceramic cup between uses, its energy consumption could never break even with polystyrene, because the water used to wash the cup requires more energy than the production of a polystyrene cup. The difference was less extreme when comparing other types of cups—it would take only 15 uses for the energy consumed by a glass mug to break even with that of 15 paper cups, for example. In any case, the assessment prompts us to consider the complex factors at play in the environmental impact of products, including those we automatically think of as more environmentally sound such as reusable shopping bags, cups and other durable containers.

When it comes to disposable versus reusable cups, production energy is certainly an important variable to consider when judging their environmental impact. However, waste disposal, recycle-ability, toxic releases from factories, and the environmental effects of extracting, harvesting or synthesizing their materials are other key variables in sustainability. Polystyrene, for example, may take much less energy to produce than a ceramic mug, but the fact that it is not recyclable and takes centuries to biodegrade creates a waste-disposal problem. Paper cups may biodegrade more readily, but the factories that produce them release high amounts of toxic effluents, use a great deal of water and energy and may contribute to deforestation. Plastic cups, both disposable and reusable, rely on petroleum for their production, a non-renewable resource that can cause damage to soil, air, water and wildlife when it is extracted, refined and spilled.

Because every product has an environmental impact in some form, it is not always simple to find the most environmentally sound option. While items such as reusable grocery bags, reusable cups and reusable plastic containers seem like better choices than their disposable counterparts, we must take care to inform ourselves about their environmental impacts as well and compare our options on a case-by-case basis. A reusable bag made of cotton, for example, requires more energy to produce than one made of recycled polyethylene, and we are also salvaging a material that may have otherwise gone to a landfill when we use the recycled polyethylene bag. In the case of cups, the energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions of stainless steel mugs compared with ceramic, for example, may make stainless steel a less environmental option, even though its production relies heavily on recycled materials. However, using products made of recycled materials or purchasing second-hand goods instead of new ones generally reduces our environmental impact substantially.

Refrigerators, clothes dryers, washing machines and air conditioners are the most ravenous energy consumers in the home. Reducing home energy use benefits not only consumers, who save money when they save electricity, but also the environment. For every heater that heats an unoccupied room or old refrigerator placed next to an oven, unnecessary greenhouse gases and pollutants are released from electricity generation. According to the Energy Information Administration, 70% of fuels used to generate electricity in 2006 were fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide and are responsible for 82% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Residential electricity use accounts for about 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In addition to reducing waste by using reusable bags and other durable products and using fewer greenhouse gas-emitting forms of transportation, reducing home electricity use is a significant way consumers can address this issue.

While it helps to be conscientious about turning off lights, lighting is not the biggest culprit when it comes to draining electricity. Lighting accounts for 5-10% of energy use, but refrigerators alone use about 17% of the electricity in a typical American home. Older models are particularly inefficient. Replacing an old refrigerator with a new Energy Star qualified model could both save you money and reduce the environmental impacts of electricity generation. The Energy Star logo can be found on a number of appliances that use substantially less energy than required by federal standards. Other ways to save energy used by your refrigerator include purchasing the smallest feasible model, ensuring the door seals are tight, positioning it away from heat sources such as ovens or dishwashers, preventing frost build-up and minimizing the length of time the door is open.

It also pays to be energy-conscious about washing machines. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), 70-90% of the electricity washers require is used to heat water, so washing clothes on cooler settings can help save, as can loading the machine fully. When purchasing a washer, consider Energy Star qualified products for the most efficient models. Front-loading washers are more efficient than top-loading, and washers with options for water level controls and energy-conserving cycles can help you avoid wasting energy when washing a small load.

According to the ACEEE, 5% of the electricity produced in the US is consumed by air conditioners alone. The ACEEE recommends reducing sources of warm air in the home before upgrading cooling equipment by improving insulation and air sealing, getting rid of inefficient appliances that give off excess heat, shading windows, considering light-colored exterior finishes and using fans. You can also avoid wasting electricity with your air conditioner by turning it off when leaving the house, not cooling unoccupied rooms, keeping doors and windows closed when it is in use and running hot water appliances at night.

The truth is that you can reduce your consumption of energy by using your appliances smartly and purchasing energy efficient appliances next time you need new ones. If you're not in the market for new appliances right now but are looking for some ways to reduce the consumption of energy, follow the above advice to improve the efficiency of your current appliances, check out energy efficient lighting options, start shopping with reusable grocery bags, and reduce your greenhouse gas-emitting forms of transportation.

The production and disposal of paper products places several burdens on the environment. Deforestation, air and water pollution from pulp mills, high energy and water use in production and recycling, and consumption of landfill space are notable environmental issues that arise from paper use. We can mitigate these problems both by reducing the amount of paper we consume and by making informed choices about what kinds of paper we buy. Using reusable bags instead of paper (or plastic) bags, using cloth napkins and towels, and purchasing products made from recycled paper are a few examples of simple changes we can make.

Reducing and reusing paper products are essential in curbing our negative impact on the environment. It sounds obvious, but how many of us automatically reach for paper towels to clean up a spill when we could use a dish towel, or take a fresh sheet of paper to write a grocery list when we could use the back of a receipt lying on the table? Taken together, these seemingly trivial choices create habits and trends that have large-scale impacts.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, paper made up the largest share of municipal solid waste in 2006 at 34%. While about half of paper waste is recovered for recycling or compost, the other half ends up in landfills, where it does not readily decompose. Recycling alone is also not a cure-all; the recycling process as well as production from virgin pulp uses water, energy and chemicals. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), paper mills use 40% less energy to produce paper from recycled material than from fresh lumber, but may use more fossil fuels for recycled paper than for that made from virgin fiber. According to the EIA, recycling also uses fewer chemicals than ordinary paper production, and naturally does not pose the same threat to forests. While recycling paper that we can no longer reuse and purchasing recycled paper products can lighten our ecological footprint, reducing and reusing should not be forgotten. Investing in durable reusable grocery bags can help us remember to avoid paper bags when shopping.

The bleached paper towels and office paper we buy usually depend on chlorine for the bleaching process, which produce organochlorines such as dioxin. These are highly toxic pollutants that can cause hormone disruption, birth defects and cancer in humans. Pulp mills release organochlorines as effluent into waterways, polluting water and damaging the organisms that depend on it. Pulp and paper mills release several other air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulates. In addition to being one of the largest industrial polluters in North America, the paper industry also uses a great deal of energy and water. Purchasing bleach-free and recycled paper products, as well as reducing our paper consumption, using reusable shopping bags instead of paper and reusing paper when we can, are several ways we can ease this environmental burden.

Deforestation is another environmental harm following from paper production. While some pulp mills produce virgin pulp using wood chips from tree farms rather than from forests, others use wood chips obtained through logging in old-growth forests such as the boreal forests of Canada and the rainforests of Sumatra. Deforestation is a problem because it contributes to species loss and global warming, as forests both provide habitats and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, one third of all wood harvested in the US is used for paper production. Organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) monitor forests and the logging activities of paper companies to ensure sustainable practices. The FSC certifies paper and other wood-based products that meet its certification standards.

Is a clean home an unsafe home?

Yes and no. A clean home that has been cleaned with chemical cleaners is an unsafe home. As a matter of fact, the germs and dirt that the cleaners took care of is probably less harmful than the actual cleaner.

We use chemical cleaners for nearly everything in our houses: laundry, dishes, floors, windows, ourselves, our pets etc. The cleaners contain loads of chemicals that are harmful to us, our pets and our environment. I thought these were some interesting facts.

"Over 150 chemicals commonly found in homes have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities." — Consumer Product Safety Commission

"Women who work at home have a 54% higher rate from cancer than women who work away from home." — Toronto Indoor Air Commission

"The average household in the USA using common household products is the #1 violator of chemical waste per capita." — EPA

We've started taking measures to improve our environment such as using reusable grocery bags, but we've only scratched the surface when it comes to ridding our lives and the environment of harmful chemicals.

It's a relatively easy fix, though. Many people don't realize that there are many natural products that are less expensive and just as effective in their cleaning power. White vinegar or lemon juice is fantastic for any sort of alkaline mess such as flour or grease in the kitchen. If you have granite, travertine or any natural stone surface that one shouldn't use acidic cleaners on, you can simply use hot water to wipe away the mess.

In the bathroom, you can use tea tree oil or lavender essential oil mixed with water as a natural germ killer. They both have anti-fungal properties as well so they can kill mold and mildew. You can use the spray for the kitchen, door knobs and any other surface that needs to be de-germed.

Olive oil mixed with vinegar or lemon juice makes a handy wood furniture polish. Mix 3 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar or 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice.

Baking soda and coarse salt make powerful scours for those sticky, stuck-on messes in the kitchen.

It takes a bit of effort and planning, but you, your family and the environment will have massive health benefits if you do!

The landfills are a a major source of greenhouse gasses that are warming the planet and melting the Arctic.  It's highly important that we stop throwing so much away.  Not only that, but in these tough economic times, it behooves us to make use of the things we have rather than throw them out.

1.  Transform your garbage into a safe, natural fertilizer by composting it.  Compost kits are not that expensive and the savings will be huge.

2.  Recycle your old tennis shoes.  True, not many people want used shoes that are falling apart, but those beat up sneakers can still go to good use.  Nike has a program that uses old tennis shoes to surface playgrounds.

3.  Sell and buy used clothes or donate them to a good cause.  There are enough used clothes out there to keep the planet clothed for quite some time.  Many people are turning to places like Good Will to shop for their outfits these days.  If you look carefully enough, you can find quite a bit.  You can also shop resale shops that only purchase brand name clothing that's in excellent shape.  One of my favorite purchases was a gorgeous holiday dress for my daughter; $11.00 for a Jessica McClintock dress in perfect condition!

And the old rags?  The animal shelter would love to have them for cleaning up and supplying nice warm bedding for dogs and cats waiting for a new home.

4.  Trade.  Maybe you don't need that baby swimming pool anymore, but you might want a playset or something else for your growing child.  There might be someone out there on Craigslist that's looking for a pool and has a playset to trade.

5.  Get creative in the house.  A favorite mug that lost its handle can be a pencil or make-up brush holder.  Mismatched plates?  Perfect for placing under plants to catch the water.  Before you throw it out, try to think of an alternative.

6.  Use reusable shopping bags rather than plastic or paper.  We add tons of paper and plastic bags to the landfills every year which then end up scattered all over the planet.

Whether you work from home or at an office away from home, there are ways you can make a contribution to the environment and help slow down global warming.

1.  Paperless

A lot of people are afraid of online billing, but the fact is that it's safer than snail mail.  Identity theft occurs large in part due to organized scavengers that are paid to rifle through the trash collecting statements and other account information.  Electronic billing is the better way to go to avoid all of that unnecessary paper and ink.  Try to convince your customers with an incentive (perhaps a small discount) for using paperless billing.  Make sure that you are too with your vendors, banks and credit lines.  If your computer is adequately protected with up to date firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware software, you'll be fine and you'll be saving some trees as well.

2.  Update Electronics & Lighting

Make sure that your computers, printers, heating, cooling, appliances etc. are all energy star rated.  It may take some time to switch out your electronics, but when you do you'll also see huge savings in the electric bill.  More importantly, you'll be saving the planet loads of greenhouse gasses.  Lightbulbs are easier to switch out.  Stock up on sales with CFL's (compact flourescent lights) and simply use them to replace burned out light bulbs as they come.  Don't forget your reusable shopping bags when you stock up!

3.  Work from Home

Implement a work from home program at your office.  Home office equipment uses less energy and of course, the commute to work can be avoided.  As long as employees are reliable and able to work on their own, your office could be cutting down greenhouse gas emmissions and energy usage in a heavy way by allowing employees to work from home one or two days a week.

4.  Employer vans

If your company employs a lot of people who work the same shifts, it may behoove them to purchase vans that will transport groups of people to and from work.  The savings for the employee are huge in terms of gasoline costs and wear and tear on personal vehicles, so it works as an incentive to potential employees.  The benefit to the planet is huge considering that the United States contributes the vast majority of harmful greenhouse gasses via traffic.

Like disposable bags, reusable bags require resources to produce and can end up as waste. In order for reusable bags to really be a sustainable alternative to disposable bags, we have to regularly use them. According to the US EPA, a reusable bag need only be used eleven times to have a milder environmental impact than using eleven plastic bags. However, different materials used to produce reusable bags also have different environmental impacts, so the number of uses it takes to cancel out the environmental impact of disposable bags varies accordingly. According to a Wall Street Journal article, many of the cheap, reusable bags offered to customers by retailers are made of non-woven polypropylene, a plastic that requires 28 times more energy to produce than a disposable polyethylene sack. Considering the factor of energy use alone, these bags must be used at least 28 times to cancel out the impact of one disposable polyethylene bag. If such a reusable bag is used twice per week instead of a disposable plastic bag, it will have an overall milder environmental impact after 3 ½ months.

Reusable bags can be made from a wide variety of materials, such as cotton, canvas, hemp, nylon, linen, bamboo, various plastics and recycled materials. One environmental advantage of organic textiles such as hemp, cotton and bamboo is that they will biodegrade more rapidly, creating less of a waste problem than synthetic materials. However, some materials such as cotton are labor- and water-intensive, and the heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for cotton production concerns many consumers. However, consumers can avoid participating in these practices by purchasing reusable shopping bags made from organic or recycled cotton.

Most textile processing involves the use of chemicals at some stages (such as scouring, bleaching and dyeing), which can leach harmful emissions into air and water and present health risks. According to organic textiles expert Dr. Charu Jain, wet processing of textiles can be carried out in ecologically responsible ways, such as through peroxide bleaching, low impact and natural dyes and phthalate-free printing. Textiles that meet the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) must consist at least 95% of fibers that relied on no chemical fertilizers or pesticides during their production, and must also have been processed free of specific prohibited chemicals (including formaldehyde, GMOs, heavy metals and several others). Using reusable bags that meet the Global Organic Textiles Standard is one way to move toward a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.

Synthetic bags carry the disadvantage that they take as long to biodegrade as disposable plastic bags. Reusable bags made from plastics are also made from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource. However, many synthetic bags are made from recycled plastics that might otherwise end up in the waste stream, so their production ultimately eases the burdens of plastic on the environment. Reusable bags can be made from other recycled materials as well, such as recycled cotton, paper, foil and rice bags. Another good way to reduce our ecological footprint is to use synthetic reusable bags made from recycled materials.