Change Your Margins

Want to live an eco-friendly life?

Here's another terrific and terrifically simple way to make a contribution to the sustainable living movement

Best part - it doesn't cost anything!

Here's an excerpt, Changethemargins.com -

"As I was doing my usual margin-changin' thang while printing out a document for my boss, a light bulb went off in my brain. What if you could get people to adopt changing paper margins on a large scale? What if you could get companies to adopt narrower margins as their printing standard? It would result in a lot less paper consumption. Which of course means saving a lot of trees and cutting down on a lot of waste...but only if a massive amount of people changed their margins.

It's not a new idea. It's not complicated. But if we all did it, it just might work."

--Tamara Krinsky

There's more information at the EPA site entitled, Federal Electronics Challenge.  "The Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) is a partnership program that encourages federal facilities and agencies to:

• Purchase greener electronics
• Reduce impacts of electronics during use
• Manage used electronics in an environmentally safe way"

Another great site I've discovered is the Environmental Paper Network. It offers loads of great information about paper, and features a Paper Calculator to translate sustainable choices into tangible benefits.
 

 

Kudos to Tamara for living by the idea that doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter. 

Won't you join her? Post your comment and share that you've changed your margins and taken one small, but mighty step toward being environmentally sustainable

 

Air Filters and Flame Retardants

Have you wondered how the chemicals around you are affecting you? There are so many synthetic chemicals in use that it can be dizzying to try sorting through the information.

How can you live a more eco friendly life in the presence of these toxins?

It helps to understand what you're dealing with. One example of these chemicals can be found in our furniture, clothing, bedding, carpet padding and more...

like flame retardants.

There's important information on the effects of common flame retardant chemicals and fertility and according to Scientific American, the use of these chemicals is on the rise.

Here's an excerpt from an article at NaturalNews.com: "for every ten-fold increase in blood levels of four PBDE chemicals tested, there was a 30 percent decrease in the odds a woman would conceive a child during a month." This is a serious concern and illustrates the importance of choosing green products for your family and home.

You can visit the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for the abstract of the study. "Conclusions: We found significant decreases in fecundability associated with PBDE exposure in women. Future studies are needed to replicate and confirm this finding

In the meantime there are more reasons than ever to detoxify your home, your bedroom and your childrens' rooms. We can't eliminate everything, but we can create a healing environment where we sleep.

1. Install a quality air filter. It should be capable of removing volatile organic compounds, as well as mold spores. 
2. Use organic bedding.
3. Use toxin-free flooring.
4. Use low voc paint.
5. Keep computers & tv's out of bedrooms.

The Environmental Working Group offers more excellent information in this article: Reducing Your Exposure to PBDEs in Your Home.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than 
thinking that a little won't matter.

Live Simply, And Greenly, That Others May Live

How to go green is pretty challenging if you try to do everything at once. You may find it easier to start with small steps, literally.

Natural Life Magazine offers ease - y, baby steps anyone of us can try that combine the concepts of sustainability and economy. Take for example, the suggestion to make one of those "2 mile or less" trips on foot or bike. Most people have access to at least one of those modes of transportation. The added benefit being that the exercise, itself, can increase one's sense of wellbeing and contribute to a healthy body.

Another powerful environmentally friendly, yet simple, choice each one of us can make is to embrace a beef-free diet - as writer, professor, Gene Sager notes, "I am afraid the bottom line is this: Beef production is a complex, messy and inefficient business. Compared to producing vegetables and grains, beef production involves much more energy..."

Beginning a path to sustainability by eliminating beef can be painless, and impactful, as it is the commercial, feedlot beef industry that creates such a tremendous amount of greenhouse gases, as well as water and ground pollution. Recently, there's also been a lot of attention on the heavy use of antibiotics for the steer and the impact this is having on our health.

The Protein Question
While creating a vegetarian diet is a worthy goal, for so many of us it's like contemplating moving to a third-world country - disorienting and a little scary.  I have found a few protein sources that are non-animal products that offer a healthy dose of those amino acids - proteins - that we all need to be healthy. They also, interestingly, offer a variety of the essential fatty acids.

One item I recommend is Hemp Seeds - they are tasty, light and very satisfying. They provide all the amino acids needed by humans as well as those Omega fatty acids. 

Another item is Barley Grass extract. It contains 19 of the 22 known amino acids, including the 8 essential amino acids the body does not produce itself. The facts on this wonder food are amazing - email friendsforagreenworld@gmail.com for a booklet; it costs $3.95 plus shipping.

The Alpha & The Omega
And what about those Omega fatty acids - fish sources are tricky, both from an environmental and purity perspective - what about a combination of non-animal sources like flax, red algae and cranberry seed oils?


How Simple Is Sustainability?
It can be as simple as walking one time this week. It can be as simple and money-saving as not buying any beef this week. It can be as simple as finding safe, organic sources of protein and omegas.

• Make a choice to incorporate one of these actions today. You will educate and inspire the rest of us as you help us move toward a sustainable world. 

Every change is valuable; every story powerful. It is our stories and the sharing of them that create connnection.

• You may be the story that changes someone's perspective, perhaps, even a life.

Send us your story - tell us what choice, big or small, you made today to move us toward sustainability. Let us post your choice, a pic, a video - to inspire all of us and affirm our choices.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than 

thinking that a little won't matter.

Isn't It Disappointing?

Isn't it disappointing when someone you trust turns out to be dishonest?

A few months ago, I saw a list of companies that spent large amounts of money to defeat Prop. 37, here in California. 

Too many of these companies are ones that I have trusted.

I'm disappointed.

Now, I'm informed and have changed my shopping list to eliminate the pretenders. Be empowered and choose what's best for you. In case you don't know who owns some of your favorite "organic" food brands, here's the list from Cornucopia:

Natural News has provided a handy boycott list:

Both of these are printable and you can take them with you when you shop. I know I am going to.

 Another handy chart comes from Cornucopia:

Who Owns Organic?

 

What You Don't Know About Your Water Bottle

FriendsForAGreenWorld wants to spotlight your choices which move us toward a 100% sustainable energy future.  Let us know what YOU choose, today and everyday, that brings us closer to this goal.  Large or small - your choice makes a difference.

One important choice we each make everyday: drinking water. Buying disposable water bottles is harmful to you and to the environment. The solution is to use green products and make eco friendly choices.

According to the American Water Works Association bottled water costs up to 1,000 times more than municipal drinking water.  Even if it were only 100 times more it would still be an extremely expensive water delivery system.  In fact, it's shown to be as high as $10 per gallon - making even our current gas prices look downright affordable.

The global consumption of bottled water reached 154 billion liters (41 billion gallons) in 2004 and making the bottles to meet Americans' demand requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil annually.  The Earth Policy Institute reports that this is equivalent to the fuel used by 100,000 cars for a year.    A YEAR.

It's been estimated that we currently use up to 2.7 million tons of plastic globally each year to make the disposable water bottles.  The types of plastic varies and with each one our environment's toxic burden increases.  As an example, PET generates more than 100 times the toxic emissions compared to the same amount of glass.  It weighs less, so transporting it generates less emissions, but it's  damage to the environment overall is greater due to it's higher emissions and disposable nature.

What are the options?  All have an energy price tag.  Stainless steel, glass, LDPE - all require energy, oil, etc., but they have one big plus.

Kleen  Kanteen

The major benefits of the three listed above is that they last so very much longer than any disposable water bottle available.  By the very nature of their shelf-lives they limit the cost to our environment.  The Nalgene LDPE bottles I recently purchased from ReusableBags.com have lasted 4 years, our Kleen Kanteens - even longer.

Take a moment to make this small choice - we'll all be so glad you did. 

Then let us know, so we can share it with everyone.  When others read about your action, they will be inspired and your personal choice will be made more powerful.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than
thinking that a little won't matter.

To Bag Or Not To Bag - Your Trash

Have you ever been confused about using plastic trash bags just to send your trash to the landfill?  

Isn't there an alternative?   

How 'bout  a compostable trash bag.

Great!

Or so I thought.  

Then I learned that compostable trash bags, when used as a bag for landfill waste, add to the problem of methane generation. They are designed to be composted and work really well for that.

Methane v CO2
This is an important issue for us because methane has a more potent effect on the warming of the earth's atmosphere than CO2.

"Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming. It is a very effective greenhouse gas, 20 to 60 times more potent than carbon dioxide over the next 100 years. Emissions of methane have grown dramatically; methane emissions from human-related activities now represent about 70% of total emissions, as opposed to less than 10% some 200 years ago.

The effect of reduced methane emissions on mitigating global warming is powerful. Because methane has a fairly short atmospheric lifetime, and because it is so effective in trapping heat, efforts to reduce methane emissions will have a rapid impact on mitigating global warming." Gina Rodriguez

So, what are our choices?  We can't use plastic bags because they photodegrade and leach toxic chemicals into the ground, which very well may one day leach into our water or our food.  We can't use brown paper bags - they don't degrade in landfills due to the lack of oxygen. Bio-compostable bags don't work as an environmentally sustainable choice either.

What is the solution to our personal waste management plans -  we recycle and we compost; what about the stuff going to the landfill?

The best advice I've seen so far is - NO BAG AT ALL for the landfill-destined trash. Use a small trash can that can be easily rinsed out in the sink and because it fills up quickly, you'll be motivated to take it out and empty it often.

It seems like a strange concept. Are you willing to give it a try?

Send us YOUR story - tell us the sustainable choice you made today.  We need to hear about everyone making sustainable choices - you will educate and empower us to follow your example.  Thank you for all that you do.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than
thinking that a little won't matter.

3 Keys To Clean Indoor Air

WHY DON'T I WANT COMMERCIAL CLEANING PRODUCTS?

In a word: VOC's; in 3 words: Volatile Organic Compounds

From Medscape.com
"These chemical compounds vaporize at room temperature into gases from multiple liquid or solid sources. The individual chemical compounds may differ in level present in any one location; however, the combination of multiple VOC's is of serious concern. These gases emanate from a vast number of items in the home and school and are suspected of causing "sick building syndrome." A few of the common sources are pesticides, solvents, cleaning materials, air fresheners, bleach, household cleaners, spray product propellants such as furniture wax or hair spray, and nail polish and remover. These products contain an array of chemicals such as benzene, chloroform, vinylidene chloride, and formaldehyde, many of which are known carcinogens. VOC's will likely be higher in new construction and indoor air. "
(bold italics are mine)

For most of us removing the actual building materials that release harmful gases is unrealistic, but there are three actions we can take today to effectively reduce the amount of poison we and our children are exposed to.

One: DO NOT USE toxic cleaning products.

Two: Install an excellent multi-stage air filter that ionizes without producing any ozone.

Three: Make your own safe cleaning products: How to make a non-toxic cleaning kit - Follow the link to find 8 easy and economical recipes for creating a green housecleaning kit. At the end of the article you'll find an easy to read pdf and shopping list. These recipes will cost significantly less in dollars and in health.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than
thinking that a little won't matter.

What Procter & Gamble Don't Want YOU To Know

Choosing an eco friendly life creates a win/win. A win for your family, and a win for our green earth. The products we buy make a big difference in our health and the health of the planet. Have you thought about the difference using green products will make?
 
There are many toxins in everyday products. Become informed, make good choices and learn how to live a more environmentally friendly life.
 
Check what you need to know to protect your family by visiting the Environmental Working Group.

Here's a funny video that gives some helpful information:

   

  Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than  thinking that a little won't matter.      

MusicWood - Love Your Wood, Use It Responsibly

There's a wonderful campaign created by GreenPeace called MusicWood.  When all the trees that guitars, violins, violas, basses and cellos are made from are cut down - what will the world sound like?

It reminds me of the Lorax and the Onceler.  There are more business people in the world today who realize that the resource they make their money from must be sheperded, stewarded and husbanded - if those are actually words.

Fortunately, for us and for them.

Where Are The Green Jeans?

Remember Mr. GreenJeans?  If he were alive today he'd probably be sporting real green jeans, although after reading a number of recent articles I'm not sure there is such a thing.

Non-Organic Cotton - bad, very bad.  More insecticides than any other single crop!  The spraying contributes to greenhouse gases, poor air quality, and since you and your children may be breathing that air in, sickness and even death.  The runoff poisons our groundwater.  Frogs, fish and flora all suffer for the "comfort of cotton".

Organic Cotton - not so great.  Yup, you read it, organic cotton jeans aren't compatible with sustainable living.  Precisely because they don't use pesticides, the yields are up to (or down to) 50% lower and that creates the need for even more land to be used to grow the cotton.  Another unsustainable feature:  all cotton requires about 1,500 gallons of water to the grow 1 1/2 pounds - the amount used for a single pair of jeans.  That's enough drinking water for a family of 4 for nearly 2 years.  Don't even get me started about the dyeing - the conventional dying alone makes jeans a poor eco-choice.

I don't have any personal experience with hemp or bamboo fabric jeans - I'm going to have to go to our local Hemp Shak and take a look.  As with organic cotton, the processing and dyeing can still be uneco-friendly, so the label must say "certified organic" in order to ensure the fabric as earth safe and human safe.  This involves a substantial cost to the manufacturer, so we probably won't be seeing these at a big box anytime soon.

Bamboo Fabric Store

Bamboo fabric is superior in that, like Hemp, it won't deplete the soil even after decades of planting with proper management.  Bamboo also doesn't require replanting - the stalks are left in the ground and the shoots ..... they shoot right back up.  No tractors and whatnot to put exhaust into the air and therefore a more sustainable choice.

It's a complicated issue with lots to learn about - my suggestions are to begin with OnEarth's article and also visit Natural Life Magazine's article.  There's plenty of information out there - maybe start with something as simple as organic bedding.  The great benefit to you and your family is that the 1/3 of your day spent sleeping will have fewer toxins near your skin. 

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than 

thinking that a little won't matter.  

Share your story with us - what choice, big or small, were you able to make this week that brought all of us one step closer to a sustainable lifestyle. 

5 Tips For Choosing A Water Filter

We are fortunate to live in a country where water is piped directly to our homes. The days of hauling water from an outside source are over for Americans. However, there is a price we pay for this convenient and somewhat safe system. Somewhat safe because we make a trade - our water is disinfected and much disease is prevented, but what we disinfect with has its own dangers.

Chlorine is universally used to chemically disinfect water. It kills germs, bacteria and other living organisms. Chlorine readily passes through the cell wall and attaches to the fatty acids of the cell, disrupting the life sustaining functions. Chlorine doesn't distinguish between a bacteria cell in the water or pipe and a human cell in your body. We know chlorine kills, that's why we use it; that it doesn't stop killing cells just because it enters our body is an important piece of information.

Chlorine also transforms into some very dangerous carcinogenic substances, like, trihalomethanes. These form when the chlorine interacts with organic material in the water that is being disinfected. Nearly all municipal water sources have been tested and shown to have trihalomethanes. The removal of these is recommended before drinking, washing or bathing in water.

One half of our daily chlorine (and trihalomethane) exposure is from showering. Chlorine is not only absorbed through the skin, but also re-vaporized in the shower, inhaled into the lungs, and transferred directly into the blood system. In fact, the chlorine exposure from one shower is equal to an entire day's amount of drinking the same water, according to some estimates. Add to this the fact that vaporized chlorine forms toxic compounds, such as chloroform that remains in the air in your home long after the shower is over.

"Almost two decades have passed since known or suspected human carcinogens were first found in municipal water supplies. One of them, chloroform, produced by the chlorination process, exposes millions of Americans. The potential for a major public health problem is unquestionably there, and yet, progress has been slow." 
-Dr. Peter Isacson, M.D., Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine.

Families with young children, people with compromised immune function and the elderly are particularly at risk when exposed to toxic chemicals. 

There are many point-of-use filtration devices which reliably remove harmful substances from household tap water. The EPA has a pamphlet available online and further information can be found at the National Resource Defense Council's website.

The ability to control your family's water quality is priceless, but the cost of the tools to do the job doesn't have to be astronomical.

Use these 5 Tips For Choosing A Water Filter

• Research a variety of providers and technologies. 
• Make sure the system doesn't waste water while cleaning it. 
• Make sure the filtration system doesn't strip the water of all minerals and energy. 
• Choose a system that provides water of the proper pH for the body. 
• Confirm the manufacturer's claims with the Water Quality Association and the National Sanitation Foundation.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than  thinking that a little won't matter.    

Best Way To Reduce Arsenic in Your Rice

Courtesy FDA

Recently the FDA and Consumer Reports have shown dangerous levels of arsenic in our rice. It doesn't appear to matter very much if the rice is grown organically or by synthetic-farming methods. 

The source of the arsenic is in the water used to irrigate the rice, and that was contaminated when arsenic-based pesticides were used in the past, and that overall, many drinking water sources contain arsenic. 

There is a proven method for reducing your family's risk:

"High volume water : rice cooking did effectively remove both total and inorganic arsenic for the long-grain and basmati rice (parboiled was not investigated in high volume cooking water experiment), by 35% and 45% for total and inorganic arsenic content, respectively, compared to uncooked (raw) rice."

Based on this research, enjoy this recipe from Saveur.com:  

Perfect Brown Rice 

Cooking brown rice, or at least cooking it well, is tricky. The goal is to soften the texture of each grain's fibrous bran coating—a process that takes longer than that called for in the cooking of white rice—without causing the rice to become mushy. 

Unfortunately, the labels on most packaged brown rice recommend an ineffective method that suggests boiling water and rice in a two-to-one ratio, then allowing the mixture to simmer for 40 minutes or more, until all the liquid is absorbed. 

We followed those directions and ended up throwing away more than a few pots of unsatisfying rice. What we ultimately found is that brown rice looks and tastes the best when it has been boiled and drained like pasta and then steamed in the small amount of moisture that remains in the pot. 

The boiling cooks the rice, while the subsequent steaming allows the grains to retain their integrity and come out light and fluffy. 

MAKES 2 CUPS INGREDIENTS 1 cup short, medium, or long-grain brown rice Kosher salt, to taste 

 INSTRUCTIONS 
1. Rinse rice in a strainer under cold running water for 30 seconds. Bring 12 cups water to a boil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid over high heat. Add the rice, stir it once, and boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Pour the rice into a strainer over the sink. 

2. Let the rice drain for 10 seconds, then return it to the pot, off the heat. Cover the pot and set it aside to allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes. Uncover the rice, fluff with a fork, and season with salt.

Naked Polar Bear

Even when the realities of climate change are scary- I find I must keep my sense of humor. In Taoism, to rise up in anger or fear against an enemy is to give that enemy power. To fight something is to give it existence. The antidote is to laugh, make friends, stand beside and point to the moon together -  and then - GET TO WORK!!

Slow Down Sammy Hagar!

"I can't drive 65!" is my new motto. I've been slowing down ever since I read that 55 saves more than lives; it saves on carbon dioxide emissions!

It isn't easy to slow down - and yet, it feels strangely pleasant, like visiting an old hometown in the Midwest, where the people are peaceful and friendly, and the air is clean, and the sky is........

Yes, it's downright pastoral to be the lone, unrushed driver on the freeway.

It's helpful to use my cruise control on the long stretches, because otherwise there is a certain anxiety about tootling along at a speed 20 miles per hour slower than everyone else. It's made me really think about the importance of where I'm going and how long it takes me to get there. It lets me remember that my personal schedule isn't reason enough to contribute extra emissions to our environment.

Dropping down to 55 mph isn't a big thing - it's a small thing, really, but it's one of many small things anyone can do to be a friend for a green world. It won't even cost you anything - except a little time.

Join me, experience the nostalgia of the '80's and make this small, but thoughtful contribution to sustainable living.

Here's some more info that will hopefully inspire you too.

Green Energy News, July 4, 2008 – Vol.13 No.15
SLOW TO SAVE: RETURN TO A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT?

Finally, someone in Congress is considering a bold step to cut the cost of gas. Senator John Warner (R) of Virginia is suggesting that Congress might consider bringing back a national speed limit.

Warner has sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel Bodman asking the department to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current automotive technology. Warner also wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.

In 1974Congress set a national speed limit of 55 mph because of shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil was $17 a barrel and gasoline was $1.10 a gallon.

The Senator noted in his letter that studies had shown that the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption. Up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year were avoided as well, with the lower maximum speed.

From the Green Daily:

In an effort to cut Spain's dependency on foreign oil, the government has decided to enact a speed limit of 80km nationwide -- that's just below 50mph. According to a statement from Spain's industry minister Miguel Sebastián: ""Every time we lift our feet off the accelerator, we are improving GDP and employment."

Remember, doing a little and doing it slower is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.

The Joy of Skoy!

From our friends at recycledproducts.org

A paper towel replacement for the holidays and beyond.

 This new product is an economical and environmental alternative to disposable paper towels. The use you get out of one SKOY cloth is equivalent to 15 rolls of paper towels! The SKOY cloth is made from cotton and wood pulp, is non-toxic, produced chlorine free and is made using only water based colors and inks.

You can use it as you would a paper towel or sponge and when it gets dirty it is durable enough to throw in the dishwasher or the washing machine. In between washings to keep it germ free you can immerse your SKOY cloth in water and microwave it for 1-2 minutes - no more germs! When your SKOY cloth has met its end it can be safely composted either in your back yard compost bin or in a commercial compost facility.

The RPC proudly gives SKOY cloths two thumbs up as a new, innovative, resource saving, waste stream reducing product!


Thank you Recycled Products Cooperative for all the work you do. Readers, don't forget to order all your sustainable office and home products from this worthy group. Just browsing the catalogue is an education.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.

Even Gamers Can Be More Green

If you or someone you love is a gamer - Wii, Playstation, XBox - the NRDC has published a study on the impact gaming is having on our nation's energy consumption and the accompanying greenhouse emissions that results from it.

Why is this important?  Well, it turns out that current energy usage for gaming is "roughly equal to the annual electricity use of the city of San Diego." (page 4)

Having recently become one of the '4 out of 10' households with a gaming console, I was relieved to see that by mere chance we had chosen the most energy efficient console, the Wii.  It hadn't occurred to me prior to our purchase that I should even check to see what the efficiency was.  We'd do it if it was a frig, a tv, a car, but the energy conscious part of my brain was, until now, disconnected from my playing brain.  No excuse, but enlightening.  It is making me wonder what my other 'green blindspots' might be.

For owners of the less efficient consoles the NRDC has recommendations for reducing energy consumption (page 24) - and this will save you money - while you lessen your carbon footprint.

This very helpful section of the NRDC website is a wonderful place to begin or continue your education - who knows what I'll learn next.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter - make one small change, learn one new thing about sustainable lifestyle and you will educate and inspire those around you.

Eco My Brain

I've learned about an interesting website, Ecobrain.com. I've found far too many interesting titles in just the first few minutes of looking. Here's their story from their site:

"EcoBrain: Our Story
EcoBrain was started by two families living across the continent from each other - one in Canada and one in the US - who were both passionate about learning to live green and setting an earth-friendly example for their children.

Both families also have publishing backgrounds. They love books, but they are also familiar with the environmental costs as well as the actual production costs absorbed by the publisher. So how can people learn more about the environment from the experts while helping reduce waste and costs? By selling books and other media in a digital format!

EcoBrain knows it isn't always easy to get published. And the costs can be staggering. But by publishing in an eBook format, new publishers can produce and publish their material much more quickly, cheaply and profitably. Publishers who are going green can and should be rewarded for their efforts by earning more, while reducing both their own costs and environmental costs as well. EcoBrain makes it possible for publishers to get the green word out in a cost effective and environmentally friendly manner!

The two families are proud of how EcoBrain has come together and how its conception has helped their children learn about new ways to help the environment. EcoBrain is becoming the green community destination and resource and continues to be a great success not only for publishers and authors, but for the environment. And that is how it should be.

Best wishes from EcoBrain."

I've wishlisted quite a few titles already, but this is the one I want to start with, since healthy homes are my passion as well as my business: Homes That Heal (and those that don't): How Your Home May Be Harming Your Family's Health.

You can find more information about the why's and how's of creating a healthy home - a company called Nikken offers a Wellness Home - I encourage you to view the videos and learn how simple the tools can be. Every illness you prevent for you and your family translates directly into a healthier environment.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't make a difference.

Burning Questions, Hot Answers

The December issue of Mother Jones is titled "how to RESCUE THE ECONOMY and SAVE THE PLANET" and offers alot of interesting news on the climate change/sustainable living front. One particularly useful segment offers answers to "20 econundrums". Here are a few for your consideration and implementation. Painless, simple, effective - small actions that are bricks to begin building an entire sustainable living home. Go to the link above for the entire article.

Laptop or Desktop? Laptops remain more energy efficient than desktop systems, but they're harder to upgrade, and it's usually better to replace individual parts than to buy a brand-new computer. Smaller desktops get better energy performance: Apple's Mac Mini has been estimated to draw about a fifth as much power as a Mac Pro when both are in idle mode.
Netflix or Video Store? The mail carrier takes the same route every day, so a few dvd envelopes add little to his carbon footprint. Online rentals' computer use and packaging create a small amount of carbon, but the video store—and the schlep there—generates about 65 percent more emissions.
Wash Your Car or Keep It Dirty? It's true that a wash 'n' wax can reduce your wind resistance and boost your fuel economy. On the other hand, a layer of filth might even mimic a golf ball's dimples, encouraging air to follow a car's contours and minimizing the energy-sapping zone in the wake.
Disposal or Trash Can? Disposals use less water all day than a single toilet flush and increase electricity usage by only 0.1 percent—and that's more than offset by the savings from flushing waste instead of trucking and dumping it. New York's Department of Environmental Protection found that ground-up kitchen scraps didn't clog sewers or treatment plants; another study suggests that trash collection produces four times as much greenhouse gas as disposals. Composting is best, but if your backyard pile isn't aerated—by a fistful of worms, for example—noxious bacteria will churn out more greenhouse gases per pound of waste than filthy city dumps.
Death: Buried or Burned? When a conservationist croaks, what's the greenest way to say goodbye? The average cremation releases more than 35 pounds of carbon (burials generate fewer than 9), and high temperatures can vaporize dental fillings—in the UK, cremations create up to a sixth of the country's annual mercury emissions. Mowed and fertilized graveyards are hardly carbon neutral, so some cemeteries now recycle old plots; others are considering vertical burials. Swedish researchers have figured out how to freeze-dry bodies in liquid nitrogen; the resultant corpsicle can be ground into ecofriendly dust. But for now, best to splurge on a biodegradable coffin and plan on pushing up daisies.

Always remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.

Rock, Paper, ...... Dioxin?

According to an article from Emagazine.com, loss of forests isn't just about the trees.  What I mean by that is, the absence of the resource isn't the only bad news when it comes to America's paper habit.  Those trees we just ran through our printers now can't filter out carbon dioxide, CO2, the most prevalent global warming gas.

As I read over a variety of websites:  Union of Concerned Scientists, Arbokem, Environmental Health Perspectives and others I was struck by the idea that paper, one of the tools civilization has been made wildly prolific by, has become one of the greatest sources of environmental threat.  You see, once the trees are cut, the greenhouse gases increase and the pulp for the paper is processed in a highly toxic manner.  According to Jim Motavalli, "the pulp and paper industry is the third largest industrial polluter in both Canada and the US, releasing more than 220 million pounds of toxic pollution into the air, ground and water each year."

The chlorine used to bleach conventional paper creates a deadly waste called dioxin.  This highly cancerous chemical is now found in humans the world over.  It is found in breastmilk - this means every new born is given the gift of this poison all in the name of bleaching paper products.  There are alternatives - whenever you buy any kind of paper product make sure it says its been produced with a chlorine-free bleaching process.  This isn't just good for those babies out there - the dioxin created is ending up in your groundwater and fish.

What can you do?

Join the Recycled Products Cooperative.  Order your paper, school and office products from them.  This can include tissues, copy paper and more.  Tell your school, church and local government offices that you want them to buy recycled paper goods.  Tell them you want them to change the margins on their documents.  Then change the margins on your documents.  Make a commitment to using only recycled paper goods - this will make an impact.  You will make a difference.  Tell others your story - let them see that change doesn't always have to be difficult and making changes now may mean less difficult changes later.

Remember, doing a little is more fulfilling than thinking that a little won't matter.