Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 21 - Do you FreeCycle?

www.FreeCycle.org

This falls into RECYCLE under the 3 R's.

FreeCycle is one of my favorite ways to recycle! To get stated, find a local group, join, then "OFFER" perfectly useable items that you no longer want or need. You'll then get a response via email, for that item and arrange with the person to pick the item up at your home.*

This is a great way to de-clutter your home and find a new home for that perfectly good whatever!

*For safetys sake, I highly recommend you leave items outside your door when possible.

Earth day, Every Day - Tip # 20 - Make a Low Flow Toilet to Conserve Water

Many Americans have old-fashioned toilets that are BIG water users, and if you're not ready to replace yours with a new one, you can easily make your own "low flow" toilet. Doing so could save up to 250 gallons of water per month, not to mention the savings on your water bill.

Simply take a plastic juice (64 oz) or soda bottle (1 or 2 liter if it fits with the lid on) and fill it with sand or small stones. Once filled, screw the lid back on and place it in your toilet tank, AWAY from the flapper and the flushing mechanism, then with the toilet tank lid off, test to make sure the toilet flushes and fills properly. The tank should fill to the same level as usual, but the bottle displaces some of the water in the tank, and thus reduces the amount of water per flush.

Redoing your bathroom and looking to replace your toilet? Shop around before making your selection, as there are choices in style, color and even seat height.

We recently installed the American Standard Champion 4 and are very pleased.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 19 - Scented OR Unscented?

More and more products are available scented, and not just that perfume your co-worker is wearing, or that candle on the counter... think trash bags... makeup... hair care... pens... cleaning products... fabric softeners... Somewhere along the line we've been lead to believe that scented is better, but is it?

To begin with, fragrances can be made from natural or synthetic compounds and the US government doesn't require safety testing either way, nor does it require that the ingredients used in fragrances be identified on product labels... it's privileged info.

Secondly, a "fragrance" can contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and/or phthalates (no, they're not just in plastics).

As for avoiding fragrance, for some things it's easy. If it reeks or states that it's scented, choose one that's not. But unfortunately, it's not that simple for all products. Your favorite facial cleanser or toner may not mention fragrance, yet contain it, so choose your companies carefully and check out the EWG or National Institutes of Health Consumer Products Database websites for help finding products.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 18 - Environmentally Friendly Paint

Indoor air quality (IAQ), according to the EPA, is a major health and environmental issue as your IAQ may be many times worse than outdoors.

One case in point, paints, or should I say traditional paints.

Today however, there's no need to use a paint that reeks for days. Choose no or low VOC paints, which are safe for you and your family. They're available at your local paint store, as well as the large home improvement chains. Plus you'll find a large variety to choose from, many with top ratings, so there's really no reason not to choose a no or low VOC paint.

Some of your choices...

No VOC
The Freshaire Choice (Home Depot)
Milk Paint
Sherwin Williams Harmony

Low VOC
Benjamin Moore AURA or Eco-Spec
Sherwin Williams Duration Home

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 17 - What's your Body Burden?

Check out the National Institutes of Health Household Products Database

Sadly, we're all exposed to way more chemicals than we realize, as the Body Burden project confirmed. The National Institutes of Health Household Product Database makes it easy for you to look up products by name or ingredient to see if there are any ingredients of concern.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 16 - Shop Local

...the closer the better

Support your local farmers by shopping at your local farmers market or CSA's (community supported agriculture). The saving for the Earth are great, as your food wasn't picked unripe and flown half way around the globe to get to your table.

The benefits of buying local are multiplied in that your local farmer picked fully ripe produce, and usually sold it at a better price, often with little or no pesticides (ask the sellers), plus they'll usually share how to best prepare what you purchased.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 15 - Choose Organic

I know, way easier said than done.

I started slowly, adding a few organic products over a period of time.

I started first with organic carrots and apples.
They didn't cost much more than the conventional produce I was purchasing and they tasted so much better!

Gradually over time, I added more organic foods, milk, potatoes, lettuce.
As my budget adjusted, I added more until the majority of my purchases are now organic or local.

Still, it's not always easy. Often I forgo something because I just can't afford to pay the organic price, and I won't feed my family the conventional version.

I know organic is healthier for us and the planet, but it's sometimes a delicate balance of the wallet, and like many, I'm doing the best I can...

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 14 - Buy a Power Strip (or several).

Manufacturers of electronics have eliminated the warm up time for many products by having them be in "stand-by" mode when they're off - which means they're still drawing electricity.

These "energy vampires" can eat up electricity at a rate that's both alarming and expensive - about $100 a year according to the EPA.

The biggest vampires in our homes? Televisions, especially flat-screen plasmas; desktop computers and the stuff we use with them like printers and scanners; and last but not least stereo and sound system equipment.

The simple solution is to pull the plug on electronics not in use. For me, the easier solution was to invest in a few power strips and plug in my electronics then flip the power strip to "off" when I'm not using those items.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 13 - Ditch the Paper

Keep the TP (toilet paper), and eliminate the rest of the paper.

Ever thought about just how many paper towels you use in a week... a month? What about paper napkins?

Instead of paper napkins, the environmental solution is to invest in several sets of cloth napkins - they take no space at all to launder with your regular wash, and they're especially great when you're eating something messy.

In place of paper towels, purchase a few microfiber cloths in different colors. One for washing windows, another for wiping down the kitchen, another for cleaning up spills, etc.

As for the TP... last fall Kimberly-Clark "rolled out" tube-free Scott Naturals TP. This technology is a huge step forward in eliminating the paper core, and I applaud their effort. The drawback for me, Scott Naturals are only available at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, neither of which is near me.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 12 - "Green Remodeling" for your Kitchen

GreenDemolitions.org is a "kitchen recycler." Homeowners donate their gently used kitchens (donors get a tax deductible receipt), then Green Demolitions resells them, with the profits going to charity.

Donations come and go daily, so visit often. Plus if you're looking for a carved wood mantel, a pedestal sink, a stained glass window, a high end Wolf Range or a double oven, they just might have it, and at a fraction of the retail cost. You can find Green Demolitions stores in NY, CT, PA and NJ.
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Speaking of Kitchens... “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” returns for its second season TONIGHT, Tuesday, April 12 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) on ABC.

This time Jamie heads to Los Angeles, working to educate families on choosing healthier food choices... and encouraging the school district there to offer better school lunches.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 11 - Go Solar

Have you Considered Solar Energy?

Not every home is well sited for a solar panel installation, but for those that have a south facing roof, now may be the time.

Solar technology has made huge advances in the last few years and there may be state, local and federal incentives.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 10 - Plant A Tree

We've all learned how trees conserve water, harbor wildlife and moderate climate. Trees also absorb air pollutants such as OZONE, CARBON MONOXIDE, and SULPHUR DIOXIDE -- and give off OXYGEN, which improves air quality.

Yet realistically, many people do not have the outdoor space to plant a mighty oak or a majestic maple, so plant what you can, where you can... forsythias by the road, a pine in the back yard, even a small plant in a pretty pot on a sunny windowsill.

You can also have a tree planted through the Arbor Day Foundation or through American Forests for a nominal charge of $1 per tree. Consider planting a tree in honor of a loved ones birthday or anniversary. It's a special gift that just may change the world.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 9 - Retire Your Aging Appliances

Replacing an older model refrigerator, dishwasher, or washing machine can made a huge difference on your energy bill. Purchasing new Energy Star appliances can save you up to 30% a year.

My new Energy Star refrigerator saves me about $30 a month over my old fridge - and it looks nice too!

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 8

Skip the Bottle

Bottled water may be convenient... it's also very expensive and a waste of resources.

Instead, purchase a filter style water carafe or install a water filtration system and get in the habit of carrying reusable BPA free water bottles.

After the initial outlay, your saving will add up as water filtered at home generally costs pennies per gallon, as opposed to prefilled water bottles which can cost a dollar or more per gallon.

Another huge plus, filtering your water saves the energy and OIL required to produce and deliver water bottles -- most of which are NOT recycled.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 7

Fix the Drip to Conserve Water and Save Money

A dripping faucet or toilet is a waste of water AND money.

Repairing or replacing a leaky toilet can save up to 200 GALLONS of water a day - that's 6000 Gallons a month or roughly enough to fill a good sized swimming pool!

Fixing a dripping faucet can save gallons of water daily as well!

Every Day, Earth Day - Tip # 6

Pay Your Bills Online

Paying online saves fuel (needed to ship your mail), trees (to print the stamps, envelope, check, etc.) and postage (.44 per envelope as of this posting)!

I find it easiest, and most secure to pay my bills via my banks secure website. Once I entered all the data required to set up a payment, I choose what name to call the payee. The data is now stored and only the name I gave it appears on screen. (Word to the wise, if you have two Verizon accounts, or similar, make sure you label them so you know which is which, so you don't pay the wrong one.)

Then, once a month I go in, select who to pay, how much and on what date. So simple, and no more concerns if my envelope arrived at the destination intact and on time.

Every Day, Earth Day - Tip # 5

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

Visit AmericanForests.org and use the Carbon Footprint Calculator to complete a short survey on your CO2 emissions, then learn how to offset your carbon footprint with trees.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 4

See The Light

Switch from traditional incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) or LED bulbs. Each CFL can save you up to $30. a year, with LEDs savings even more per year, plus a longer bulb life, and no mercury.

To give a comparison:
A regular 60 watt bulb lasts about 6 months and will use about $10 in electricity which means it will cost about $20 a year to light (plus the cost of two bulbs).

An equivalent CFL lasts about 3 years and will use about $16 in electricity which means it will cost about $5.50 a year to light (plus the cost of the bulb).

An equivalent LED lasts about 17 years and will use about $34 in electricity which means it will cost about $2 a year to light (plus the cost of the bulb). LEDs are absolutely the best long term savings, despite the larger upfront cost.

Please note that CFLs as well as all fluorescent bulbs do have a small amount of mercury so be sure to recycle them at Home Depot or another qualified recycler.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 3

Clean Up Your Act

Choose non-toxic concentrated cleaners.
Not only are they safer for you, your home and our planet, but because they're concentrates they save companies from having to ship water (think of all the gasoline that saves). After all, you have water at home, so use a concentrate and mix it yourself.

I especially like the top rated Get Clean line of household cleaners from Shaklee. They're highly concentrated, work well and are so inexpensive.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 2

Remember the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle)

In short, consider your garbage can to be a last-resort option, and use it sparingly.

Donate clothes that you no longer want or need. Same with books, furniture, glassware, etc. Many agencies such as Goodwill, Salvation Army or a local thrift store (most benefit a charity) will gladly accept your donations and give you a receipt you can use as a tax write off.

An environmental choice that benefits others.

Earth Day, Every Day - Tip # 1

To celebrate Earth Day and "Earth month", I'll be sharing daily tips to help you Live Green(er)!

BYOB (Tip # 1 - Bring Your Own Bag)

The answer to "paper or plastic?" is "neither." Whenever you go shopping, remember to bring your own bag! Reusable cloth bags are inexpensive, washable and hold a lot more than plastic or paper bags.

Buy a few bags and leave them in the car so you can bring them to the grocery store, Home Depot, everywhere. You may even find one of those tiny nylon bags that squishes up into a little package and easily fits in your purse or backpack.

Reusable bags, a little effort that has a big impact!

An enlightening video from the Story of Stuff team

I love the dedication of Annie Leonard and her team at The Story of Stuff. Here's another enlightening video!



So you're probably wondering how does this video relate to a Green blog? Easy, when corporations can funnel unlimited dollars to the candidates they want to get elected, Americans have less choice as "Joe Limited Funds" can't effectively compete with corporate backed "Joe UNlimited Funds".

The recent Supreme Court decision to grant corporations the same free speech abilities as individual Americans has in my opinion tipped the scales, giving corporations a louder voice than individual Americans. And since I don't usually feel corporations share the same values and interests I have, this scares me... and it should scare you too.

After you watch the video please let me know what you think.

Best of Health,
Susan

New type of Fundraiser... and its Green

Pretty much every parent has done it... asked family and friends to buy $1 chocolates or peruse catalogs filled with wrapping paper or candles (which they usually don't even want), all to support our kids school, sports team or whatever.

Enter California based solar installer Sungevity, offering a twist on the traditional fundraising program. The company recently announced that it's launching Sungevity.org, to offer nonprofits and schools the opportunity to earn money when they refer customers to Sungevity. Currently only available to schools and non-profits in California, Colorado and Arizona, the program is expected to expand to other states.

For each referral the school gets $500 - $1000! Sure beats a roll of wrapping paper that nets the school a few dollars, don't you think?

Best of Health,
Susan

Is there more in your bottled wated than just water?

For many bottled waters the answer may be yes.

The Environmental Working Group has an eye opening article on this very topic.

Best bet, filter your water at your tap. Saves disposing of all those empty water bottles, plus it saves you plenty of hard earned dollars... and that's always a good thing!

I recently ordered a sleek new pitcher with a years worth of filters and I love it, and the kids love the taste of the water!

Discarded, Expired Pharmaceuticals end up in Americas Waterways

The average American may be shocked to know just how much expired, unneeded, spoiled and/or unwanted pharmaceuticals end up in our waterways. Most would think why is this a worry... a few pills tossed down the toilet is a quick and easy way to dispose of leftover or unwanted prescription medications, and what can the harm be?

Sadly the huge amount of pharmaceuticals being flushed down the drain by individuals and care facilities are quite possibly causing minuscule concentrations of Rx medications in our drinking water. Over the years, researchers have alerted us that even extremely, extremely diluted concentrations of pharmaceuticals harm fish, frogs and other aquatic species. And it's not a stretch that these diluted concentrations may affect humans as well...

And in my eyes, all of this is so unnecessary. I encourage you to contact your local town hall and find out when your medication disposal days are, so you can safely discard your unwanted, expired and unneeded medications.

Fast Food, Take 2: Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Okay, so I'm not a big take-out, fast food fan or eater.

I follow the saying "I can eat anything I want, as long as I've taken the time to make it myself from scratch." French fries, apple pie, decadent desserts, you get the picture. I feel that I can indulge every once in a while, as long as I make it myself and don't make it a regular habit. But what if hubby and the kids are starving as you're heading home from vacation...

Recently my family and I stopped at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a Zagat rated fast food chain. They've won numerous Zagat awards and hubby couldn't wait to visit. According to their literature they have no freezers on the premises, just coolers to keep the meat fresh, and each burger is made and served to order that day.

And wow, what a pleasant surprise. The fries were hot and crispy and the burgers were moist and juicy and made with our choice of toppings! Each burger a special order made your way! Everyone left feeling full and satisfied and I felt better that it was all freshly prepared.

We still won't be headed to a fast food place, even one that's Zagat rated on a regular basis, but it's nice to have found a chain where the food is made fresh. And next time I'll remember to order a little Five Guys burger as the regular burger was actually a double burger -- not that my dog complained.

And I hope the success of Five Guys spurs other fast food places to prepare fresher (and healthier) foods.

Does Living Green mean giving up Fast Food?

Living green means many different things to me... living simply, making wise choices, eating local, recycling, reusing, reducing, choosing toxin free everything, etc., etc.

In terms of food, I've always felt it's best for my health and my wallet to eat in, using fresh ingredients I've purchased and prepared - better yet if those ingredients are from my local farmer's market.

Not to say I don't eat out, I do. I LOVE restaurants and take-outs offering natural (I should be careful with that word, mercury after all is natural...), wholesome, healthful food, and I'm very fortunate to have quite a few local places, that make fabulous food from scratch.

So as I share this article about McDonald's Chicken McNuggets, I'm wondering why on earth you'd add dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent made of silicone, to fried chicken? And what would even make someone think of adding it to food?

Let alone tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a chemical preservative and form of butane, that according to according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, is so deadly that just five grams can kill you!

I think most Americans are well aware that deep fried McNuggets aren't the healthiest choice, but that they contain an anti-foaming agent made of silicone. I'll guess that's a surprise.

Organic Authority recently posted the full ingredients list provided by McDonald's website, for their Chicken McNuggets:

"White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent."

As a dear friend, who also happens to be an M.D says, "if you really must have fried chicken (or something equally high cal and unhealthy ie: french fries), eat it as often as you're willing to make it at home, from scratch."

In my opinion, the McNuggets ingredient list gives you another reason to make it yourself... as for me, I'm headed over to Bartlett's Farm for some fresh ingredients for a delicious (and healthy) soup.

Best of Health,
Susan

Living Green and the Cancer Question...

If you knew for sure that doing "x, y and z" would make you (and your loved ones) bulletproof to cancer, would you make a change to do "x, y and z"? Even if it cost you more? More effort, more time, more money?

What started me thinking about this question is a radio telethon being done by WHUD for a local hospital, the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. They're sharing successes and the stories are both heart wrenching and heartwarming. To listen to the parents and children speak of their ordeals brings tears to my eyes. And it got me to thinking about "x, y and z."

Over the years it's been well documented that exercise decreases the risk of cancer and many other health concerns, yet many Americans are couch potatoes. It's also well documented that eating more fruits and vegetables AND avoiding pesticides and herbicides on our food is healthier for us, and the planet, yet many feel they can't afford the extra cost. HealthyChild.org, The Environmental Working Group and The National Institute of Health have shined a light on ingredients of concern, some linked to serious health issues, in many household cleaners, yet Americans still choose them over non-toxic green cleaners which are safer.

The reality is that no one knows exactly what causes cancer, especially in a child. And doing "x, y and z" won't Guarantee that you or someone in your family won't get the big C... but what if those simple changes were truly the answer to a big part of the puzzle?

I realize I'm making this all too simplistic and sadly families doing all the right things may still wind up with a member who gets cancer since there are things we simply have no control over, such as the air we breathe, the pesticides used on our neighbors lawn, or in the office we work... but what if getting a little more exercise, choosing toxin free foods, and clearing the toxic cleaners from your home are a big part of the answer?

It really can cost so little monetarliy. Exercise doesn't have to mean joining a gym, instead strap on a pedometer and go walk the track at your local high school. Try to get in 10,000 steps every day.

Choosing organic food does cost a bit more, but going green for cleaning can save you more than enough to make up for the added cost of healthier food, and the added health benefits, Priceless (even if your not bulletproof for cancer).

Best of Health,
Susan

Election Day 2010

Today is Election Day in the USA. If you voted early or absentee, great you're done. Thank you! If you've not yet voted, please exercise your right as an American citizen and vote.

The Chemical Soup We Live In

Unless you've been avoiding the news for years, you know that plastics used for water bottles, beverages and canned goods often contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that may effect our health, and not in a good way.

In a recent study, more than 90% of Americans were found to have BPA in their urine, and those with the highest levels of BPA in their urine were two times more likely to suffer from heart disease and diabetes as those with the lowest level of BPA in their urine. As a result of this study and others, many experts are now recommending that we use only glass or stainless steel bottles for drinking water.

But it's not just BPA that we should be concerned with. Triclosan in deodorants, toothpastes and antibacterial products; Teflon to create non-stick cooking surfaces; phthalates in personal care products, the list goes on and on.

I recently heard this audio and thought I'd share it with you. The speakers, authors of the book Slow Death by Rubber Duck, have used themselves as guinea pigs to show just how quickly some chemicals get into our bloodstreams.

Should we be concerned? Probably, since everyday we're exposed to chemicals... in the air we breathe, the food and beverages we eat, and even in the fabrics that we wear or touch. Obviously we can't avoid all chemicals, but some may be of greater concern than others, and may be within our control if we just make a few changes.

Best of Health,
Susan