Resolutions: 2009?

How did all your 2009 eco-resolutions go?

Are there any you need to renew and try again for next year?

Are there any about which you'd like to share your successes and tips for others to try?

Watering Plants in Absentia

Have some plants in your home? Wonderful! But what to do when you go out of town for a bit around the holidays?

First of all, most plants are happiest getting periodic infusions of lots of water, rather than daily spritzings. So, for most plants, if you're only going to be gone a week or less, watering them right before you leave should be all they need! (Of course, Google your own plants to find out about their specific needs.)

To set up a slow release watering method, consider leaving some ice cubes around in the dirt (but not touching the plant itself). As the ice melts, it will slowly water your plant. This is especially useful in the winter when the ice will melt less quickly.

What about plants that do, in fact, need more water? Green is Sexy recommends this time-tested trick: "To keep plants moist without drowning them, fill your tub, sink or large pot with 2 inches of water and add a towel. Place your well-watered plant in the tub/sink/pot and trust that it will suck up the moisture it needs while you’re away."

To-Go Ware Sale

A great holiday gift idea -- or simply a green addition to your own routine: To-Go Ware. They sell tiffins (stainless steel carry-out containers, also great as lunchboxes, etc.) and reusable, bamboo flatware. We've been a huge fan of the tiffins we bought from them about a year ago, and we'd certainly recommend them. We've gotten a huge amount of use out of them!

This week (through Dec. 14) you can get 25% off on all purchases over $10 by using the coupon code HOLIDAY25. Check them out!

http://www.to-goware.com/

UPDATE: The sale is now good through Dec. 25! Same code as above.

Jean Crafts

For many of us, it's time to start thinking about holiday gift-giving. In these harsh economic times, you might be considering choosing gifts that require contributions from your heart, hands, and creativity more than your wallet.

A great option to look into: jean crafts!

Earth 911's 8 Ways to Reuse Your Jeans has lots of neat ideas, from bags and shoes to pet toys and more.

Happy crafting!

Thankgiving Travel Reminders

Going out of town for Thanksgiving? Remember to be on your best packing and driving behavior!

1. Only bring what you need! Transporting excess stuff in your vehicle or on an airplane can greatly reduce the fuel efficiency of your mode of transit. Review my previous post "Luggage" to learn more.

2. Drive wisely. Review "Straight and Level Wins the Race" and especially "8 Easy Steps to Greener Driving."

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming up very soon. Many of you will probably be enjoying large meals with family and friends. This year, try to make your celebration just a little more sustainable.

1. Organics, organics, organics. Try to substitute organic versions of the ingredients needed for your Thanksgiving favorites. Organic turkeys, organic baking potatoes, organic chicken broth for your gravy, organic butter for your corn, organic flour for your biscuits. Even making the effort to seek out just one or two organic ingredients DOES make a difference.

2. Portion control. This is especially important when dealing with meat ingredients. Have a taste of turkey if you like, but save most of your appetite for the fruits and vegetables bountifully harvested this time of year. In general, try not to cook more than people will eat. If you do have excess leftovers, compost them -- don't throw them away!

3. Plates and glasses and silverware, oh my! No matter how large your crowd, it's always a good idea to use real, non-disposable plates, glasses, and silverware. Don't have enough plates to go around? Ask your sister or cousin or uncle to bring extras. I'm sure they'll be glad to pitch in!

Organic vs. Local

The local vs. organic debate is a tricky one. The best answer, of course, would be "both"! (Even better if "local" means "grown in your back yard.") But often "neither" is the only option we have.

Assuming you have to make the choice, however, go with organic over local. Why? The environmental impacts are much larger.

A recent Chicago Tribune article reports, "Christopher Weber and H. Scott Matthews, professors at Carnegie Mellon University, say transportation accounts for only 11 percent of total greenhouse-gas emissions associated with food, while 83 percent is related to production." Yikes. In other words, try to go with food that is organic and in-season wherever it's being grown.

Another striking tidbit from that article: "If you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your diet, cut back on consumption of red meat, which Weber and Matthews say is responsible for producing 150 percent more greenhouse gases than chicken or fish."

"Fall Back" Your Fans!

We're all aware that it's time to "fall back" when it comes to changing our clocks. But while "falling back" is fresh in your mind, consider switching your ceiling fans, too.

Reversing your fans to spin counter-clockwise helps draw the warm air down. TreeHugger reports that "if you reverse the direction of your fan, you can lower the thermostat on your heating/cooling unit by at least 5 degrees without losing comfort." That's quite a bit!

Just like using fans to keep cool in the hot months, using fans to keep warm in the winter is more efficient than using central heat/air. Instead of controlling the temperature in all the rooms in your house (including those you don't spend any time in like guest rooms, closets, and formal dining rooms), you are concentrating your energy usage where it's actually helpful.

So flip the switch on your fans now...or, if you're living in Florida and it's still 90 degrees out, just keep this tip in mind for January. Haha.

Hand-Made Hand Sanitizers

So there are definitely huge problems with using hand sanitizers. However, certain situations more or less call for it. If you are going to use it, you might as well do it more sustainably, right?

I've written before about greener store-bought hand sanitizers. And choosing the right store-bought hand sanitizer is very important. As green is sexy says, "Many mainstream sanitizing gels...contain parabens and synthetic fragrances, which may contain phthalates." Remember, these substances can be allergenic, carcinogenic, and estrogenic/gender-bending. Therefore, if you're going to buy hand sanitizer from the store, make sure it's from a brand that has your health and the Earth's health in mind.

But there's an even better way: making your own. It's better because it doesn't require new packaging (often plastic), the product doesn't have to be shipped (using fossil fuels), and you know exactly what's in it (no funny chemicals with dubious records).

Here's the recipe from green is sexy, which I've modified for simplicity:

-2 tbs of grain alcohol (like Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol or even Everclear)
-1/4 cup of pure aloe vera gel
-Optional: A few drops of pure essential oil (for the fragrance) -- witch hazel, tea tree oil, or peppermint have antiseptic and astringent properties; orange oil; lavender essence; etc.

CFLs and Mercury

Too many people are way too freaked out about the presence of mercury in CFL light bulbs. But if people are truly worried about mercury levels, using CFLs actually reduces the amount of mercury released into the environment through lighting.

How? In the process of energy production.

The TreeHugger article "If We all Do Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, the Mercury Will Drop" explains:

"At coal-fired plants (the biggest source currently of mercury emissions), 13.6 milligrams of mercury is emitted just to light up an incandescent bulb, while a CFL only would lead to (if incinerated, tossed out, or broken instead of recycled) 3.3 milligrams of mercury being emitted into the environment."

It continues, "The bottom line: The mercury in a CFL is approximately one-quarter the amount emitted if an incandescent was used in its place, and that's assuming the CFL isn't recycled."

So, drop the excuses and switch to energy-efficient bulbs. CFLs are better mercury-wise than incandescent. Still not good enough for you? Switch to LEDs. Whatever you do, don't choose inaction.

Eye Glasses

If you find yourself at the optometrist in need of new glasses, think carefully about what you'll do with your old pair. Most optometrists have a little box from the Lion's Club in their office where you can donate your old glasses to a worthy cause.

What happens after you drop off your old glasses? According to the Lion's Club website, "volunteers clean, sort by prescription strength and package the glasses. Most of the recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact."

It's not only prescription eye glasses you can donate to the Lions Club. The organization says, "Lions accept prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames. Children's glasses are especially needed."

Just another easy way to reuse valuable resources -- and help a good cause.

Person-Powered Yard Work

It's funny how so many of us are constantly trying to lose weight/get healthier, yet we use electric, gas, or water-powered tools as often as possible. Sometimes it's necessary, of course. Just try to put a screw through a concrete wall without a power drill. Other times, however, it's just a waste.

Yard work, in particular, often falls into this category. People pull out their gas-powered lawnmowers (don't even get me started on the tractor ones in suburbia!), their weed wackers, etc. and blow through their yard work. Then the next morning, they go to the gym.

Environmentally, the much kinder method, of course, is to put some people-power into your yard work. We've written before about how much we love our push reel lawn mower. We have a harder time avoiding the weed wacker, though I prefer to use clippers any day.

Green is sexy highlights another egregious waste of resources in the article "say it, don't spray it." Using a hose instead of a broom to sweep away grass clippings or leaves is not cool. For that matter, neither is using a leaf-blower when a rake will do.

Yes, I know it is hard work. And in the southern sun, it's preferable to spend as little time working out in the yard as possible. But do as much yard work as you can using your own calories, and your heart, arteries, muscles, and waistline -- and Earth -- will thank you.

Hypercooking

Cooking at home can be rewarding and delicious. But how can you reduce the impact your cooking has on the environment? Try "hypercooking"!

-Keep your pots and pans covered when possible. According to green is sexy, simply using a lid can "reduce the energy used by 20-30 percent." Bonus: your cooking gets finished sooner, too.

-Let residual heat finish your food. According to this Food Section article, "One hypercooking technique involves saving energy by turning off the source of the heat before a dish is fully-cooked and relying upon the residual heat to cook the food until it is done." Do this wisely, of course, and within reason. But for most dishes, this works just fine.

-Piggy-back. Are you cooking two dishes in the oven or on the stovetop? Have the other one prepped and ready to put on the heat as soon as the first one finishes. There are a million ways you could use this method. It works really well with pasta and pasta sauce. But it also works well if you are cooking a casserole and plan to serve cookies for dessert, etc. A little planning goes a long way.

Bidet vs. Toilet Paper

What's the most environmentally friendly way to clean up after using the toilet? The answer may surprise you.

According to Liz Langley's Alternet article "The Green, Clean Art of Keeping Our 'Rear Ends" Hygenic: What are We Afraid Of?" the most environmentally friendly method is the use of a bidet instead of toilet paper.

Doesn't that use a lot more water than toilet paper? Actually, no. As the article says, "Yes...a bidet uses treated water, an increasingly precious commodity. But it uses less than that utilized in the production of even recycled toilet paper -- and a fraction of the amount consumed by virgin pulp." Wow. Who would have known?

Some bidet units can be as cheap as $100, easy to find at your local hardware store, and simple to attach. On top of being better for the environment, bidets are also more hygienic and effective than using toilet paper.

Check out the Alternet article for more information.

Skin Care Products

Many of the substances that are bad for the environment are also bad for us. Unfortunately, many of the products we use on our skin and bodies contain unhealthy, dangerous chemicals, preservatives, and compounds.

TreeHugger's article Beyond Parabens highlights some of the most common harmful substances that make their way into your skin care products and cosmetics.

-Parabens
-Fragrances
-Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
-Nanoparticles
-Phenoxyethanol
-Triclosan
-Petrolatum/Petroleum jelly
-Quaternium-15

So check out the ingredient lists on your sunscreen, make-up, cologne/perfume, shampoo, lotions, soaps, etc. If you see any of these ingredients, please look them up, in the TreeHugger article or elsewhere, so that you may wisely weigh your options and consider ceasing your use of the products. If you are pregnant or hope to conceive in the future (whether you are male or female), or if a child uses the product with one of these ingredients, pay very close attention.

The Media's Fallacy

A recent study shows that America is lagging far behind other countries in our understanding of climate change and the priority we place on working to solve it. Even countries with lots more on their plates -- like Iraq -- recognize the vital importance of this issue.

Scary stuff.

Why is this? One answer has to do with the American news media. They are convinced that every story has two sides. Fine. Multiple viewpoints are important to a free media. However, what happens when the two sides do not hold equal legitimacy but are given equal airtime?

As TreeHugger reports, this practice "gives disproportionate publicity to disreputable studies (if coverage were to accurately reflect the current state of science, there'd be hundreds of stories about studies confirming climate change for every one doubting it) and gives the public the impression there's far more debate over whether climate change is occurring or not. A recent study found that many Americans believed there was still a 'lively debate' amongst the scientific community over both whether climate change is caused by humans, and whether the theory of evolution is valid. In reality, of course, there is no such debate over either."

In other words, we are fighting for the environment in the midst of a population that is truly and deeply confused about the nature of the problem. In addition to our own actions, we must remember to help educate those around us.

Check out TreeHugger's article for more information on these studies and conclusions.

Printing and Photocopying

Do a lot of printing or photocopying? There are a number of ways you can move toward sustainability:

1. Print/copy less. Yes, it is obvious, but printing or copying fewer pages is the most effective way to be more sustainable in your habits. With the use of computers and the Internet, very few things ever need to be printed anymore. For many people, printing out emails, memos, or bank statements may just be an ingrained habit. If you are in this category, try to reduce your printing by a little each week. Same goes for photocopying. Can you scan the document and keep an electronic copy instead? You may find that you really like having the back-ups, searchability, and space-saving qualities of electronic sources better!

2. Recycled paper. Use paper with the highest recycled content as you can. The most important thing to look for is the percentage of post-consumer recycled content.

3. Reuse paper. Try to always print and photocopy on both sides of a piece of paper if applicable, even if this means you have to manually reload the pages into the machine. This cuts down your paper use by half! Also, if you have one-paged documents that are no longer needed, cut them into quarters and use the blank sides for notes to yourself or others. [This quartering method works great for junk mail, too!]

4. Use less paper. If there's something online that you absolutely must print, consider getting the most "printer friendly" version possible. Some websites already have "printer friendly version" options, but many do not. But there's help! Print Friendly is a free webapp that cuts the page down to only the important stuff. You can use Print Friendly here or learn more about it in this LifeHacker article.

5. Use less ink. This is the newest arrival to the sustainability in printing and copying scene. Ink and toner are not only expensive; they can also be unhealthy. Plus, many companies produce cartridges that cannot be refilled. Every time your cartridge gets empty, you are adding more plastic to the landfills. One way to use less ink is to consider the new "ecofont." This font uses 20% less ink without negatively impacting readability. You can download it for free here.

Chiles to keep you chilly?

Looking for ways to keep cool in the Southern summer? Well, here's a slightly unconventional yet environmentally-friendly idea: spicy foods.

Green is Sexy's article "Hot, Hot, Hot" says, "Have you ever noticed that the spiciest foods come from some of the warmest places? ... Chiles contain a sweat-inducing chemical compound called capsaicin. When you sweat, your body is cooling itself down and when that sweat evaporates, you get a natural feeling of relief."

Thai, Indian, and many Latin American foods are known for their use of chiles. So pair some spicy food with an evening breeze or your overhead fan, and you've got a cool night ahead!

To your (mental) health

So we know that biking or walking instead of driving whenever possible is better for the environment. And it's pretty obvious that it's better for your physical health, too.

But have you thought about the benefits of walking or biking to your mental health and happiness? Exercise has been proven to elevate the mood, reduce anxiety, and help cope with depression. When you make biking to work, for example, part of your daily routine, you are measurably helping your body and mind, as well as your planet.

For an interesting article about the mental health and community benefits of biking, check out "Cycling is Good for the Mind as well as the Body" in the UK Guardian.

Straight and Level Wins the Race

Did you know that driving in as straight and level a way as possible can help your vehicle's fuel efficiency? When you swerve around your lane, you are slowly but surely increasing your trip's mileage. And when you drive on uneven surfaces, your vehicle has to work harder to keep itself moving.

So pay attention to how you're driving. Swerving is not only inefficient, but it's also dangerous. And watch out for debris, potholes, standing water, and/or uneven pavement up ahead. Avoiding them is better for the life of your vehicle and your fuel efficiency.

*Inspired by Ronald Weiers' 365 Ways to Save Gas. Check it out!

Waterless Shower

[I apologize for not updating very frequently lately. I've been taking a very challenging course on the "Foundations of American Constitutionalism." That has taken all my brain and time. :) Weekly postings will resume in August.]

There are many reasons people do not bike/run/walk to work. One of the most frequently cited reasons is the lack of showers at the workplace.

10nine8 has devised a solution for just such a situation. "Rocket Shower" lets you clean up in a bathroom stall (or anywhere else with privacy) without needing any additional supplies/water. Their products come in 2, 4, and 8.5 ounce bottles, easy to carry with you or leave at the office.

What's in it and how does it work? Here's some information from the "Rocket Shower" website:

1. Witch hazel...used as an astringent and skin cleaner...It's a strong and effective body cleaner...
2. SD Alcohol 40. Helps evaporate the sweat quickly, kills bacteria that can lead to body odor, and has a slight cooling effect.
3. Water
4. Grapefruit peel oil. Citrus helps clean the skin, and contributes a clean scent...Rocket Shower's scent completely evaporates soon after application.
5. Peppermint oil...helps cool you while you clean up.
6. Vitamin E...to ensure the alcohol and witch hazel don't dry out the skin.

Click here to read more about Rocket Shower's ingredients and how it works.

TreeHugger has an article about this product as well. Check out the article to read about one person's first experience with the "Rocket Shower." And tell me if you try it!

Sustainable Feminine Hygiene

One of the fastest, easiest, and most rewarding changes you can make in your lifestyle today is switching to reusable menstruation products.

Why?
1. They are so much more cost effective than disposables over the course of just a couple of months.
2. They produce far, far less trash.
3. They don't put you at risk of TSS like tampons do.
4. They are healthier for your body than most disposables. (If you are going to continue using disposables, you should at least switch to brands that don't use fragrances, dyes, or bleach and do use organic fibers.)
5. Many people believe that the use of disposable products harms the relationship women have with their bodies because it implies that a natural, healthy process is dirty and shameful. Though an intangible benefit, the use of reusable products, over time, can help women (and society in general) mend this pernicious relationship. [I mean, for real. I'm sure half of my readers are squirming just to see an article about menstruation. There's clearly something wrong with what we've been taught.]

What's available?
1. Internal-use/tampon replacement: The Diva Cup. Read this very thorough FAQ website to learn more.
2. External-use/disposable pad replacements: Reusable, washable pads. LOTS of options out there. Choosing ones made from organic cotton is even better for the earth and your body. I recommend starting by checking out Lunapads. Glad Rags is another trusted brand for many women.

If you have any questions at all about sustainable feminine hygiene or these products in particular, please ask away! I will be more that happy to answer them. I truly believe the almost instantaneous benefits you'll get from switching from disposables to reusables are incredibly important...and so easy to get!

Leaky Toilets

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to live more sustainably is to make sure the things you own are working as efficiently as they can. While this most often involves energy efficiency, it is also important to consider water efficiency.

It's easy to test your toilet for a leaky valve. Just put a couple drops of food coloring in the tank, wait about 15 minutes, and see if any coloring has leaked into the toilet bowl. If so, you probably just need to replace the flapper -- easy as pie!

Why is this important? Because, as the Daily Green reports, "one in every five toilets leak, and since the leaks are usually silent, you probably have no idea if your toilet is leaking." Even worse, "A leaking toilet can waste anywhere between 30 and 500 gallons of water every day"! So much water!

Well, what are you waiting for? Go give it a try!

Is Your Refrigerator Running...Efficiently?

The Daily Green reports that your home refrigerator can account for 10-15% of your energy bill every month. That's a whole lot of energy! So do your best to keep it running as efficiently as possible.

1. Set the temperature between 38 and 42 degrees F. Daily Green says, "This temperature will protect your food from spoiling while saving electricity."
2. Clean the condenser coils regularly. Home Tips says this needs to be done twice a year, since dust and dirt make the coils work less efficiently. (Check out this article for detailed instructions on how to clean your condenser coils.)
3. And whatever you do, keep that door closed! Know what you're looking for before you open the door. When you come back from the grocery store, set aside all your refrigerated items and load them in all at once. Warm air rushes in quite quickly, so multiple short openings are worse than one longer opening to put everything in at once.

Easy Baby Food

Does someone at your house eat baby food? Consider making your own! Making your own baby food has multiple benefits:

1. You know the source of your child's food. Food-born illness epidemics (E. Coli in Spinach, salmonella in peanut butter, etc.) are most often spread through food that has been subjected to multiple handling, processing, and packaging steps.

2. Easier access to wide varieties of vegetarian, vegan, and/or organic foods for your child.

3. Cheaper than buying the individual, tiny containers.

4. Less packaging waste. Even recycling the glass containers uses energy that isn't required when you make your own.

How easy is it to make your own baby food? Really easy! A blender, food processor, or kitchen food mill can easily make baby food at home. But small, portable food mills that you can stick in your kid's diaper bag abound too! For an example, check out the Wean Machine. You can even find light and portable food mills at stores like Whole Foods.

The Nose Knows

Our sense of smell is a wonderful thing. It's no wonder some people like to surround themselves with nice scents all the time. If you are among them, however, make sure you are aware of the health and environmental effects of your methods. That commercial stuff you spray or plug in or hang from your rear view mirror doesn't list any ingredients -- don't trust it! The manufactures haven't had to disclose that information. Is that really what you want to breathe?

Instead, try natural scent producers. Green Is Sexy suggests using "pine needles, lavender, green tea leaves or fresh flowers." Consider dried mint leaves, too. Soy or beeswax candles can be good choices, just be sure to avoid other types of candles!!

Many of us just seek to eliminate bad odors from our homes and cars. Again, think natural and simple. Opening a window and increasing air circulation works the best of anything. Remember to fill your home with those air purifying plants we've talked about in previous posts. And you know that thing about baking soda soaking up odors? It works outside of your refrigerator as well. Just set out a plate of it or sprinkle some at the bottom of your trashcan, and let it do its thing.

8 Easy Steps to Greener Driving

Because most of us don't have super-awesome electric vehicles yet, it is important that we all learn to get the best mileage possible with our current cars, trucks, and vans. There are many aspects of American driving that are just plain bad for your mileage. Fixing them, luckily, is pretty easy. You just have to be aware of some simple rules.

Fuel Efficiency Center lists 8 simple steps to improve your mileage:

1. Accelerate Smoothly -- Don't mash the gas
2. Brake Easy -- Don't start and stop abruptly
3. Observe Traffic Ahead -- Don't rush to stop signs or traffic lights
4. Coast Whenever You Can -- Not always on gas pedal
5. Maintain Constant Speed -- Don't tailgate and jockey for position
6. Cruise Control On Flat Surfaces -- Don't use cruise control on hills though
7. Avoid Idling and Long Lines -- Don't wait with car running for a long time
8. Control Highway Speeds -- Don't drive 10/15/20 MPH over speed limit

Changing some of these is just a matter of habit, like avoiding idling and controlling highway speeds. Others are things you were probably taught incorrectly, like coasting instead of keeping your foot evenly on the gas. [Tip: Think about driving your car as you would your bike.]

A few of these changes, however, require you to be self-assured and forceful. You will initially feel a lot of "peer pressure" to jack rabbit start from every red light. Likewise, you'll drive some really high-strung people insane by not accelerating up to red lights and stop signs. However, be strong in your knowledge that accelerating to a stop makes no logical sense and is bad for your wallet -- as well as the planet. With practice, the peer pressure you feel subsides.

And remember: the brake pedal is your worst enemy. Avoid if at all possible. Braking wastes the fuel you just injected with the gas pedal. Practice timing stops better, and you'll be surprised how little you really need to brake.

PET Plastic Alert

I've published posts in the past that talk about health and safety issues surrounding plastics. Most of the concerns have been about BPA, an estrogen-mimicking chemical.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is some new data that suggests that PET (#1) plastic also contains an unknown "gender bending" chemical of its own. For more info, check out this Treehugger article.

It really is best to view all plastics as suspect, especially if they touch your food or drinks. Try to use glassware to store leftovers, never expose plastic ware to heat (via the microwave, dishwash, or putting hot food into it), and avoid bottled water.

Edible Landscaping

Monoculture is almost always a bad thing. That includes the obligatory suburban lawn centered around grass. To cut down on the harmful effects of the suburban yard, consider reducing the footage you set aside for grass and increasing your utilization of helpful plants.

There are many ways that plants can be helpful. For one, you can use vegetation to encourage beneficial insects and birds. Or to help keep your house cooler by providing shade. Or to help feed your family!

There are many different types of edible plants that are absolutely attractive enough to go in your front yard. Just stick them in your landscaping beds -- or create new beds for them. Your homeowner's association never has to know the double purpose to which you are putting your yard!

For some examples of strikingly beautiful edible plants, check out Treehugger's slideshow "18 Beautiful Edible Landscaping Plants." Here are just some of their suggestions:

• Jerusalem artichoke
• Nasturtium
• Chives
• Passion fruit
• Sunflower

Other successful experiments from my personal experiences include peppers, red lettuce, and beans (bushing varieties work well in landscaping beds). Be sure you plant things you'll actually eat (or would like to try!) and, if possible, things that are native to your area. Planting things that are native to your area reduces the amount of work and resources required.

Sidewalk Weeds

The weeds seem to grow at warp speed this time of year, don't they? If you don't do yard work very often, you may find the weeds hard to keep up with, especially those that pop up between the sidewalk or driveway cracks.

Luckily, there's a natural method for getting rid of those pesky weeds surrounded by concrete. Pour some lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, or boiling water on them!

Just stay away from those petrochemicals and polluters!

For more info, see here, here, and here.

Don't be idle

Very few driving sins are as wasteful as idling in your car. Seriously. You're getting zero mph when idling!

Need a rule of thumb? If you would have to idle for 10 seconds or longer, turn off your engine.

This means that going inside the bank or fast food restaurant instead of using the drive-thru is the far better choice. Yes, it's hot outside, and it's tempting to just sit in your car (with the AC on, no less!), I get it. But think of your children or grandchildren or great-grandchildren, and do the right thing.

What about idling to warm up your car in the winter? A myth! Your car warms up better through driving than idling. So get going!

Overall, it is important to keep your car's motor on as little as possible. Turn it off immediately when you pull into a parking space, before you unbuckle your seat belt or put up your sun visor. Same goes for when you start up your car; wait until you are ready to start rolling to turn that key!

Cool your ride

There are many environmental considerations you need to keep in mind about your vehicles and driving. In this article, however, we are only going to look at cooling your vehicle -- a very timely topic as summer approaches!

Question: Should I be using air conditioning or opening my windows to cool my car?
Answer: Depends on how fast you're going!
~Driving around town: Definitely windows down. Whereas using the AC decreases your vehicle's fuel efficiency by up to 20% at all speeds, "drag" reducing your mileage from having your windows down while driving around town is not a concern.
~Driving on the Interstate: AC. Drag does start to have a role in this decision when you are traveling at high speeds. At 45 mph +, the reduction in efficiency can be up to 10%. At 55 mph, 20%. So be sure not to speed regardless!
[More information about this abounds on the Internet. One source is here though, another here.]

At all speeds, however, it is better to do neither. How do we, especially in the South, pull this off?

Question: How can I keep my parked car cooler?
Answer: Prevent your car from heating up so much in the first place! Always use a sun visor/screen in your windshield. They're also available for side and back windows at lots of places (AutoZone, etc.) Also, make a better effort to park under trees or otherwise in the shade. It makes a big difference too.

Question: What should I look for when buying a new vehicle?
Answer: Color! The lighter the color of your car, the better for reducing solar heat gain. You want as close to white as possible. (Luckily, in America white is the most popular car color, with silver in third place.) Also, look for improvements in the glass used for vehicle windows in the near future. Or consider tinted windows. For more info, read this.

Jewelry

Beautiful! If you ever choose to give someone jewelry (or get some for yourself), make sure you pick pieces that are kind to the environment and human rights.

A great option: reclaimed or recycled metals and stones. I love these collections by Julia Failey, who uses reclaimed metals in her jewelry, making it super sustainable.

Another great option is estate or second-hand jewelry. Especially meaningful if it belonged to someone who loves (or, in the case of late family members, loved) you, like your mom or grandmother.

Image from http://www.juliafailey.com/

Carpets

It's important to pick out carpets and rugs for your home that are environmentally healthy. After all, you spend many, many hours a day breathing around the stuff, don't you?

The problem with carpets: VOCs. Green is Sexy says, "Most carpet is made from petroleum byproducts and synthetics, treated with stain repellents, backed with latex, and padded with PVC." Pretty yucky stuff to let inside your body.

Good options: Rugs made from recycled plastic, like these, are especially good for outdoor spaces. For the indoors, good options include "natural fiber carpets made from chemical-free wool, jute, sea grass, sisal, coir (coconut-husk fiber), and even corn. When the time comes to dump those, you ditch them in the compost" (Ibid). Other natural fiber choices include hemp and reed, like the Japanese Igusa mats.

Certification: Look for the Green Label Plus Certification. "Check the carpet label for a little green house, which means it’s been tested by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Indoor Air Quality testing program" (Ibid). This will ensure your rug is not going to make you sick.

Better options: If possible, you may want to avoid wall-to-wall carpeting all together. Low Impact Living says, "Natural, bare flooring options like reclaimed hardwood flooring or Marmoleum are really the best option from a health perspective–because they don’t trap allergens and chemicals like rugs and carpets do... Cork is a wonderful option because it is a renewable resource, dampens sounds (great for sleeping babies), and is soft on little bodies. Cork is harvested by shaving off the 'bark' of the tree– trees are not killed in the process."

More ideas and details, check out Low Impact Living's great article here.

And no matter what your flooring choices, always leave your shoes at the door to reduce the amounts of pollutants and dangerous chemicals you bring into your home.

Image from http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/18-0077?$large$

More big brands go organic

Sometimes it seems as though the news keeps getting bleaker on climate change.

And as we make progress toward sustainability in our own lives, the way many people (especially, it seems, some in the baby boomer generation, who grew up in post-WWII prosperity and feel entitled to the resource-intensive lifestyle they've known all their lives) blatantly ignore the planetary consequences of their actions begin to seem actively hateful.

Steadily, however, some "familiar faces," so to speak, are making small steps in the right direction. Huge corporate retailers like Target, Nike, the Gap, Banana Republic, and Victoria's Secret are beginning to bring organic clothing to the masses.

It's a tiny step, but perhaps some of the people who are hesitant to make any changes toward sustainability in their lifestyles will choose the better options if they are made convenient enough. Perhaps people will be more likely to make changes in at least their buying habits with the support of the brands and corporations with which they feel most comfortable.

To read about some of the stores introducing some sustainable items, check out Tree Hugger's article.

Turn it off!

In honor of last weekend's "Earth Hour" comes today's post about turning out the lights. A lot of us are constantly confused about when you should turn lights off or leave them on when you're leaving a room for a few seconds or even a few minutes. Here's an answer!

Reader's Digest says, "You save energy with the lights off, even for a few seconds. ...And don't worry, turning on a lightbulb doesn't burn a lot of energy. The Department of Energy's office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy says that the amount of electricity needed to turn on a bulb equals a few seconds of its burning brightly."

So, flip those lights off while you're brushing your teeth, when you run to the other room to grab a book, and any other time you won't be using the light for even a few seconds!

Earth Hour

Tonight is "Earth Hour," an annual international gesture for environmental sustainability. From 8:30 pm-9:30 pm, everyone turns off all their lights, televisions, computers, etc. Just for an hour.

What can you do during "Earth Hour"? Light a soy candle and have a romantic dessert. Play the guitar. Tell ghost stories. Play word games. Sing a song. Meditate. Philosophize. Discuss your greatest hopes and dreams. If others in your area participate, it might be a great night to star gaze. Get together with some friends and enjoy the novelty of it all. Hold a seance? Well, use your discretion.

It's a small gesture, yes, and taking more care with your electricity use on a daily basis certainly does a lot more good. But it's a great international movement to be a part of, and the collective impact has the potential to make a bit of a difference. Besides, it can't hurt!

For more information: http://www.earthhour.org/home/

How to dry your hands

How should you dry your hands after washing them?

At home, you should always use a cloth towel. This is plenty sanitary and oh-so-much-greener than paper towels. This part's a no-brainer.

But what about a public restroom? Your two obvious options will often be paper towels or an air blower. If you get to choose, go with the air blower. Yes, it uses electricity. But it doesn't cut down trees, which then need fossil fuels to transport them to a factory, which then needs energy to turn the trees into paper towels, which then must be transported again with fossil fuels and then go into a plastic bag, which then uses fossil fuels again to transport it to a landfill, where it never biodegrades... You see?

The best idea, though, is to follow No Impact Man's recommendation: carry a small towel with you to dry your hands or wrap things with. Seriously. Consider it.

Shut down those computers!

The seemingly age-old question: when should you shut down your computer?

The answer to this question has changed since it was first posed. It used to be that powering up computers took a lot of energy, and, in some cases, it was better to leave it on overnight. For computers from the last decade or so, however, that is no longer the case. Overnight, shut them down!

Here is Reader's Digest's summary: "If you won't be using it for 20 minutes, turn off the monitor. If it won't be needed for more than two hours, turn off the computer."

If you're not going to be using your computer for even a few minutes, put in to "sleep" or on "power saving" mode. It'll save you the start-up time while being more energy-conscious.

Dirty Dozen

Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzes around 50 "conventionally grown" (ie, pesticide-ridden) fruits and vegetables to see which are the safest and which are the most dangerous.

This year's list just came out. This year's "dirty dozen," the 12 worst in terms of pesticides, are (from the highest pesticide levels to lower ones): peach, apple, sweet bell pepper, celery, nectarine, strawberry, cherry, kale, lettuce, imported grapes, carrot, and pear.

The EWG produces a wallet sized print out of these dirty dozen (as well as the "clean fifteen," the least pesticide-ridden of the 47 analyzed fruits and vegetables this year) that you can bring with you when you go shopping. That might be a good idea, actually, until you have these more or less memorized. The point is, you should try to always buy the "dirty dozen" organically grown!

Of course, a dozen is an arbitrary cut-off point. Not that much difference between twelveth and thirteenth places, after all. Check out the whole list here.

Pasta

Sometimes, little changes made time and time again over many years can make a big difference in the long run. One example of this might be the way you make pasta. Saving a few pints of water here and there can add up over time.

For example, consider how you make pasta. The package says to boil four or six pints of water before adding the pasta...and you dutifully do. Then you pour it down the sink. What's the point? Is it necessary?

A New York Times article "Do you need all that water to boil pasta?" tackles just these questions. The author experiments using less and less water, down to 1.5 quarts, and found that it worked just fine. You had to stir it more often to keep it from sticking to the sides of the pot, but otherwise you were set.

But water isn't the only resource these changes save. Electricity/energy is also a big concern. It takes a lot of energy to get four quarts of water up to a boil. By using less water, you are also using less energy to cook the same delicious meal.

Check out the article for all the details. And think about other ways that you can, little by little, reduce your impact in the kitchen.

Laser printers

In the past, I've felt jealous of people with laser printers. They're just so darn fast!

But increasingly, scientific studies are warning us to stay away from the laser printers. It turns out that they dramatically impair air quality in their locations. As in VOCs. Scary stuff. Some have argued that it is as bad as secondhand smoke.

Different brands and models of printers have different levels of pollution danger. If you own one or work near one, consider doing some research into your particular model. This article has a link to one of the studies, and a direct link to another is here.

If you have the ability to move your work space away from a laser printer, do so. Or ask to move the laser printer away from you. If neither of those options work, try to increase ventilation and get a lot of air-purifying plants for the area. We want you all to be happy and healthy!

All the more reason to go paperless...?

Short trips

We've all heard that we should save up all our errands and do them at one time, instead of one a day or something. Part of the environmental consideration here has to do with miles driven. If you plan your errands in a nice circle around your town, you'll considerably cut down on the number of miles you cover versus going home in between errands or retracing your own tracks.

Another issue here, however, has to do with your car's emissions. As Green Is Sexy tells us, your catalytic converter works best when it reaches temperatures above 600 degrees (about 6 miles of driving in average outdoor temperatures). Therefore, if you take a bunch of short trips, your car is cool, and you're damaging the environment more than just your carbon footprint for the miles.

Walk or bike for nearby errands if you can. If that's not possible, plan your driving carefully and efficiently.

UPDATE: Commenter Ben says, "I'd like to also add that if you floor it from a stop, you not only reduce the amount of emissions converted by the catalytic converter, you actually can damage the converter and reduce its overall lifetime (~100,000 miles is the current standard, I think). So no jackrabbit starts!"

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are certainly the way to go. Although they are more of an initial investment, rechargeable batteries have much longer lifespans than the old kind. This means less energy that goes into the production and shipment of new batteries; it also means fewer batteries in landfills.

Which rechargeable batteries are the best? An article on TreeHugger says, "Duracell batteries lasted far longer - ranging from about 5 to 6.5 hours in life compared to the 3.5 hours of Energizer. Additionally Duracell one-ups Energizer in that its batteries come pre-charged and hold a charge for a year, compared to Energizer's 6 months."

Remember that rechargeable batteries come in almost any size you need. AA and AAA batteries can be found easily at any grocery store, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc. But you can also easily order C, D, and 9V batteries on the Internet, as well as other sizes.

Feeding Baby

We've all heard about the myriad of benefits of eating organic foods. But even if you've not committed to eating organic yourself, you should seriously consider it for your infants and children. We all want our children to get the best start in life possible. And feeding them wholesome foods grown without chemicals and pesticides is one important way to do that.

Luckily, organic baby food is getting easier and easier to find. Gerber even makes a line of organic baby foods, which Wal-Mart carries, for goodness sake. This article is about six other good options for organic baby foods.

One great option, of course, is making your own baby food. You can use your normal kitchen blender or food processor to make it, or your can buy a hand-cranked grinder for less than $20, which makes preparing baby food on the go fast and easy. You can freeze it in ice cube trays for later, or just make as much as you need for one meal. And because you're not left with mounds of plastic or glass jars, it's a cheap, waste-free way to feed baby!

Image from http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21YQYAS0EWL._SL500_AA250_.jpg

Indoor plants: get on it!

A few months ago, I wrote a post about how indoor plants help clean the air inside your house. And the information just keeps pouring in. Lots more confirmation that specific plants help purify indoor air and lots more confirmation that the average American household NEEDS said purification. If you have paint, furniture, or wood in your house, you probably also have some nasty stuff floating around that plants can help you get rid of.

But some new information expands the benefits of indoor plants. For example, this recent TreeHugger article discusses how indoor plants can help hospital patients heal faster and better. Something many people have known intuitively, now with scientific proof.

Do you want in on this clean air extravaganza? This little ditty lists the top five air-cleaning indoor plants. And this article lists ten easy-to-grow choices proven to help purify indoor air. Perfect for those of you who are convinced you have a "black thumb"!

How many plants do you need for maximum benefits? HealthMad tells us, "The NASA study suggests a minimum of 15-20 plants in 6 inch diameter pots for an 1800 square foot area." That is honestly a ton of plants. But an effort of any size can help your health and that of your family tremendously.

Pick a plant or two from one of the links above and give it a try. Many of them are easy to find at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. If you're nervous about keeping things alive, try the easy-to-grow list (most of them are desert plants...very hard to kill).

NOTE: If you have a pet, cross reference these lists with lists of plants that are dangerous for your particular pet. Ivy and aloe, for example, are toxic to kitties but are also two of the best air-purifiers. We have one of each, but we made sure to put them in places our cat can't reach. [Here's a list of toxic plants for cats and dogs.]

Resolutions?

Remember your green new year's resolutions? How are they going? Let me know if I can help!

If you've forgotten yours, or never got around to making one, read over this list from Ecofabulous. Of course, these lists are useful outside of just resolutions though. They help us analyze where we are in our sustainability journey and focus on how to go forward.

Eco Resolutions and Solutions

1. I will stop using plastic bottles and vow to carry my reusable bottle of choice at all times. The NRDC conducted 1,000 separate tests of over 100 bottled water brands and found that the bottled water was not cleaner, purer, or safer than tap water. There have been reports on certain companies simply bottling tap water. So kick the bad bottle habit once and for all. Sigg or Klean Kanteen are great, and lately we’re really loving Earthlust’s custom designs. As an added bonus you can wrap this resolution into the annual “I will save more” declaration and make a jar where each day you put the money you would have spent on bottled water – you’ll be surprised at how it adds up. In 2006, Americans bought 2.6 billion cases of bottled water, totaling $15 billion – a year of plastic bottle money and you may be able to treat yourself to an eco-vacation.

2. I resolve to make at least two small changes in order to use less energy. This year, while you may not be able to install solar panels on your roof, you can make small changes to your energy usage habits that will have a big impact. First, as inefficient incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs – they last much longer (8-10 times longer) and save money by reducing energy use (typically by 65 to 80 percent). And second, get ride of that haunting phantom load – the electricity wasted when electronics are plugged in but either aren’t on, or aren’t in use (this goes for that fully charged computer or cell phone that’s left plugged in as well). The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that American households use about 43 kWh of electricity each year to power electronics and appliances that are turned off. Plug all your electronics into a power strip and turn it off when the items are not in use – if every American eliminated their phantom load, it would save about $6 billion in electricity costs.

3. Waste: The light green resolution – I will recycle. If you want to take your green routine a shade deeper, then make 2009 the year you start to compost. Really, 2009 holds no excuses for not recycling. Cities and towns are making it easier and easier since most have curbside pick-up. If you are ever in question about whether an item can be recycled, or how to recycle it, check out earth911.com. Encourage your workplace to switch to recycled paper products wherever possible. Since 4 million tons of copy paper are used in the U.S. each year, buying paper with 100 percent recycled fibers uses less energy and water in production and will significantly reduce the number of trees cut down. As for the eco-devotees that are ready for the next step, start to compost your kitchen scraps. According to the EPA, 24 percent of the waste Americans send to landfills is organic waste. We love the Can-O-Worms in-house compost bin. It’s a great way to start reducing your landfill contributions by almost a quarter!

4. If I can schedule in time for the gym and happy hour drinks with friends, I can schedule in the extra time needed to walk or bike to work. Give the road rage a rest and try committing to an alternative form of transportation once a week. Ideally, the carbon-free route is best (with a little added endorphin boost for the traditional “exercise more” resolution) but taking the bus or train will still help to minimize your carbon footprint – according to the American Public Transportation Association, using public transportation saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline each year.

5. I will resolve to consider where my food comes from and how it is farmed. Ideally, supporting seasonal, local agriculture from organic, sustainably managed farms is best. This doesn’t have to mean a weekly trip to the farmer’s market – you can sign up for a CSA or simply make a conscious choice at the grocery store when looking at that apple from New Zealand. As you are committing to cut back on your carbon-emitting transportation, try to cut back on your food’s footprint as well. Where it is coming from and the amount of toxic pesticides used are both contributing factors to how much waste and carbon emissions are generated – one study by the Rodale Institute found that organic farming reduces carbon dioxide by using 37 percent fewer fossil fuels than conventional farming.

Cooking Efficiently

Doing some cooking? Awesome. Do it efficiently!

For most dishes, microwaving is the most energy efficient option. Like, a lot more energy efficient. If your dish can be made in the microwave, let that be your default.

Not all foods can be done in the microwave, of course (hello, toast?). So plan ahead when using your oven and range.

Oven:
-Keep the inside clean. You want the heat to reflect within the appliance for the most efficient cooking.
-Don't open the door to check on your food. Turn on the little light. Opening the door lets out a lot of heat/energy (up to 25 degrees!).
-Don't preheat the over if you can get away with it. If you're making fish or something, by all means, follow the recipe! Most dishes, just stick it in from the get-go.
-Turn off your oven before the timer goes off. There's never any need to wait until after the food is out of the oven to turn it off. With the door closed, the temperature stays high for quite a while. Turn it off five minutes before the timer rings.
-Plan ahead and cook more than one thing in a row. I very often take the opportunity to bake a batch of cookies when the oven's already warm...

Stovetop:
-Cover your pots, pans, and skillets (unless you're cooking pasta or something). This keeps the heat in the pot and allows you to use less energy.
-Like the oven, turn off your burner before the timer sounds. Electric tops especially stay warm enough for quite a while.
-Keep the burners clean so your range can heat most efficiently.
-Plan ahead and use the same burner for more than one dish! While your pasta is draining, your sauce can be warming using just the residual heat of the warm burner.

For some additional tips, check out Microwaves vs. Ovens: What's the Greenest Way to Heat Your Food at Treehugger.

Happy cooking!

SwapItShop

All new from eBay, SwapItShop is a way to trade and barter.

TreeHugger says, "The system is simple - just pick something you no longer want, post it with a photo, description, and how many point you want for it, and other people bid on it. When your item is auctioned off, you send it off to SwapItShop, and you will then have points to go towards another item on the site you do want."

You can't stand to play Mario one more time, but you really need some jeans? Enter SwapItShop. It lets you get rid of things you don't need and, in return, find the things you do need.

Now, what a great way to simplify your life and cut down on the amount of "things" that have to be manufactured! Let me know what you think if you try it.

Breastfeeding Cover-Ups

I am 100% in favor of free and open breastfeeding in public and private places. How insulting is it that society has co-opted women's breasts as sexual objects instead of the shame-free mammary glands that they really are.

However, not all communities are comfortable with women's lifecycles as natural and normal. And sometimes, it's just plain cold! So, if you have a new baby you're breastfeeding and don't feel comfortable breast feeding openly in public (or it's winter!), consider a cover-up. Using a cover-up in a public place is a great "in between" step to help move society in the direction of feeling comfortable with breastfeeding as natural.

The one pictured here is from "The Undercover Baby." They offer cute and stylish designs in organic cotton. Check them out if you are or will soon be a breastfeeding mother or know someone who is!

PLUS: Through Jan. 31st, they're all 20% off!

Image from http://www.theundercoverbaby.com/assets/images/homepic2.jpg

RECIPE: Orange and fennel salad; winter root veggie roast

A new feature from my friend Amy. I'll post her wholefood-based recipes on the blog with the subject starter "RECIPE." Use them as resources if you wish. If you're trying to eat more sustainably this year, you may find them useful. Bon appetit!

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(from Amy)

For those of us who don't live in perpetually summer climates like Florida, winter can be a hard time to eat healthily and sustainably. Lots of fruits and veggies are flown in from Chile or Mexico, but they tend to be expensive and kind of pathetic looking.

Fortunately there are some very tasty and very healthy winter produce options. Winter is prime time for citrus and root vegetables, as well as Brussels sprouts.

Here are some (fairly easy) winter recipes that I have tried this year:

Orange and fennel salad
-6 oranges, peeled, divided into sections, with membranes, pith(white stuff) and seeds removed
-1 cup of very thinly sliced fennel bulb
-1/2 cup pomegranate juice
-2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
-1/4 cup grated pecorino romano cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss fennel and orange segments together. Bring pomegranate juice to a boil over medium-high heat. Let boil for 3 minutes or until reduced by half. Let cool. Whisk reduced juice together with olive oil and drizzle over orange-fennel mixture. Sprinkle with cheese, salt and pepper.


Winter root veggie roast
2 large turnips
2 medium russett potatoes
1 large sweet potato
3 carrots
1 red onion
1 fennel bulb
3 sprigs rosemary
Olive oil
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Clean and peel all veggies. Cut vegetables into roughly 1-inch cubes/pieces.

Rub a small amount of olive oil onto the bottom of a baking sheet. Spread vegetables evenly over the baking sheet in one layer. Use a 2nd baking sheet if vegetables are crowded.

Drizzle vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Place into oven and cook for 25 minutes, tossing vegetables occasionally to prevent sticking.

Remove rosemary leaves from stems and sprinkle over vegetables. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

The Protein Myth

Moving toward vegetarianism is an excellent way to live more sustainably. Meat is an extremely inefficient use of grains, vegetation, and water. A diet including meat contributes much more to global warming through its carbon footprint than a vegetarian diet does.

If you're considering moving toward vegetarianism, you probably have some questions and concerns. How, for example, do you eat a well-balanced diet rich in all the different types of nutrients you need to be healthy? The article Getting Past the 'Protein Myth' That Keeps People from Quitting Meat and Dairy examines one common concern about vegetarianism: how vegetarians get their protein.

Yellowbook

You know what's one more source of waste that we don't need anymore? The telephone book! I mean, with Internet search engines available, who needs thousands of pages of useless paper thrown on their doorstep year after year? Luckily, it's easy to remove yourself from this source of waste.

As green is sexy says, "Simply go to the Contact Us page of the yellowbook website and choose 'Remove me from your delivery list' from the drop-down menu to be excluded from the next delivery cycle."

Even if you don't trust your search engine skills, you still don't need a paper copy of the phone book. You can simply visit yellowbook.com for all your typical Yellowbook needs.

Water filters

I recently wrote about the dangers of bottled water in which I implored readers to try to switch to drinking all tap water. Someone brought up a question I did not address in my posting: what about water filters?

For people who don't like the taste of the tap water in their municipality, water filters are an excellent option! MUCH better than bottled water!

But choose carefully. Some companies will take back their filters and recycle them, while others will not. A major environmental campaign called "Take Back the Filter" recently won a hard-fought victory. In the past, Brita took back and recycled their filters in other countries where Brita is sold (like European countries, etc.) but NOT in America. Now you can turn them in at Whole Foods or mail them in. A major victory that definitely changes the way the environmental community looks at water filters.

Also, you don't have to worry about BPA in Brita's pitchers or in Pur's. Make sure you check out the plastics used in other brands' pitchers when making a decision. Of course, you can avoid the plastics of the pitcher if you choose to use a filter attached to your sink faucet (here's a random example) or in your refrigerator.

Home decor sales

Style Saves the World (original article here) says,

"I've raved before about the great organic and hemp linens that Amenity offers...now you can get 30% off the entire site (including sale items!). Enter 2009 at checkout. Expires 2/1/09.

"Need other sustainably made goodies for your home? Get 25% off at Branch by entering DCBRANCH at checkout. Excludes furniture and sale items."

Amenity has beautiful linens for the home and the nursery. Branch offers a wide range of things, including biodegradable/compostable disposable plates, bowls, cups, and silverware. So, if you need sheets, linens, home decor, party supplies, etc., consider these green options.

This year, I will eat MORE!

Eating less meat is a very important step in greening your lifestyle. But, too often, "eating less" of something seems like a deprivation and makes you want to eat more of it in the end! Don't let that happen to your sustainable eating intentions.

Reword your new diet commitment into positive terms. Replace "I will eat less meat" with "I will eat at least five servings of vegetables a day." This is a small linguistic trick with huge psychological benefits. I, for one, get nowhere attempting to cut down on junk food in my diet. When I set a goal of eating n servings of fruit a day though, I automatically eat better. I am replacing the bad with the good. After all, a lifestyle, like nature, abhors a vacuum.

You don't have to make this change all at once. Try a progressive goal. This week, eat at least one fruit or vegetable serving a day. It's a reachable goal and will help you start a habit. Next week, make the goal of eating at least two servings a day. At this rate, in a couple of months, you'll probably be eating pretty healthy without effort! Alternatively, change your goal each month. By next winter, you'll be golden!

Choosing a dishwasher

A recent article from Green Is Sexy outlined a few things sustainability-minded buyers should look for when buying a dishwasher. I've added some links to make these tips more useful. Pay special attention to the last one! Here's why the article has to say:

1) Seek out the star. ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps consumers identify the most energy-efficient products.

2) Compare wash cycle times - the shorter the better.

3) Try to avoid heated dry - air drying is just as good, greener and costs less. Some machines have the option of turning it off which is good but others leave it off the panel completely which is even better.

If you’re not a first time buyer make sure your old machine gets another life. Most dishwashers are made of recycled steel already so add yours to the heap. Check with the installers of the new one to see if they will recycle the old - they usually do.

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Consumer Reports hosts a "Greener Choices" website now. If you normally consult buyer's guides like Consumer Reports before major purchases, consider GreenerChoices.org. In this case, here is their Green Buying Guide for Dishwashers (published 9/08).

Rent-A-Toy

It gets a whole lot harder to be green when you have kids. Even if you surround your children with good examples of sustainable living and commercial-free media, eventually their friends or billboards or something will convince them that the "need" a whole slew of material things. Of course, this is not true. And we adults can do a lot to help fight this mind-set through good parenting and community support.

Yet, there are battles we choose not to fight with children. Perhaps you'd like to satiate their undying desire for, say, a remote control car. Instead of heading out to the mall to buy one, consider the green alternatives:

-Borrow the toy from a friend, neighbor, cousin, etc. Kids lose interest in most toys very quickly. There's almost certainly a forgotten specimen of the toy you're looking for in the bottom of the toy box of someone you know.

-Buy the toy from a thrift store or Goodwill. These type of organizations do good in the community, too. If you support their work, support their retail fundraising.

-Buy the toy used online through eBay, Amazon, etc. This is an excellent way to keep unwanted toys out of the landfill and extend their lives.

-Forgo the carbon footprint of transporting the toy and get it in your community. Craigslist and yard sales are great options. You may even get lucky and find what you're looking for through a Free Cycle program.

-Rent your toys! Programs like Rent-A-Toy work kind of like Netflix, in that you can keep the toys as long as you want and even have the option of buying them if your kid gets really attached. The toys come to you sanitized, in working order, and with pre-paying return packaging.

Hand Sanitizer

If you often use waterless hand sanitizer, consider switching to a green alternative. The following article from Tree Hugger discusses the Clean Well line of hand sanitizers. Here in West Melbourne, FL, you can find these products at Paradise Health and Nutrition. I'm sure if you have the good fortune of having access to larger natural food/products stores, you'll be able to find Clean Well easily where you live, too.

A Greener Hand Sanitizer for Cold Season?

Natural CleanWell hand sanitizers kill 99.99 percent of germs while being 100 biodegradable just in time for cold season. CleanWell’s kid-friendly sanitizers, soaps, and wipes are made with ingredients from renewable plants such as thyme that don’t require pesticides during their growing process.

CleanWell also doesn't include Triclosan, an ingredient that has gotten a pretty bad wrap. Triclosan, widely used as an antibacterial ingredient in household hand sterilization products, breaks down rapidly when exposed to chlorinated water and produces toxic chemicals including chloroform. According to a study published on the Environmental Science & Technology research website As Soon As Publishable (ASAP), many antibacterial products may not only be ineffective, but harmful.

According to Cleanwell's Web site, however, the product doesn't disrupt the eco-system. It's also free of toxins like Triclosan and cruelty-free (not tested on animals).

Lloyd previously discussed how hand sanitizers can do more harm than good. According to Scientific American, it appears that after spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't necessarily get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance. That's scary stuff. The jury is still out as to whether that's true of natural sanitizers.

The bottom line: people love hand sanitizer. So if you're going to use it, you might as well try a greener version.

Bottled Water

It's time for us to have "the talk." The talk about water and its commodification. Selling water is the nadir of modern consumerism. Water should be a right, not a privilege denied to even a single human being.

Yet human rights concerns are not the only reason to avoid bottled water. For starters, there's often no difference between bottled and tap water. Some water bottling companies, like Pepsi's Aquafina and Coke's Dasani, literally take water directly out of the tap. Think Outside the Bottle says, "Up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source as tap water, but is sold back to consumers at hundreds of times the cost."

And companies who do not get their water from public tap water are even scarier. The Think Outside The Bottle Campaign website says,

"Bottled water corporations spend tens of millions of dollars each year to convince us their products are safer and more pure than tap water. But studies have shown bottled water is on average no safer than tap water and can sometimes be less safe. Both tap water and bottled water are evaluated using similar standards, but tap water is tested far more frequently and has more independent oversight by state and federal environmental authorities (EPA and DEP). Lacking adequate capacity to regulate bottled water, the government relies on bottled water corporations to police themselves, which in some cases has resulted in bottled water contaminations that have lasted for weeks before the public was warned."

So forget it if you think there are taste or health issues at stake.

How does this fit into a blog on sustainablitliy? Well, the carbon footprint of bottled water is enormous. From Think Outside the Bottle:

"Producing bottles to meet Americans’ demand for bottled water required more than 17 million barrels of oil last year – enough fuel for more than 1 million U.S. cars for a year - and generated more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide."

Even people who are aware of the hypocrisy, environmental devastation, and general unsafety of bottled water may still be making mistakes that are harming themselves and their families. If you find that you've ended up with a bottle of water, don't re-use it! PET plastics are thought to be leaching dangerous BPA chemicals into your drinking water. BPA has been proven to be an endocrine disrupter, which means it screws up your body's hormones. DANGEROUS.

Instead, look for a water bottle that is meant to be reused:

SIGG is an excellent option. These are stainless steel bottles, so they keep water cold for a long time. They may be slightly heavier than plastic options, but I carry mine in my purse and/or backpack every day. Ben and I each have one (thanks to my little sister's generosity!) and each use them every. single. day. EarthLust is a comparable brand of stainless steel bottles with lots of really chic design choices.

Platypus makes insanely lightweight, BPA-free, fully-collapsible "bladder"-type bottles that are tough enough to be frozen or boiled. Especially perfect for situations where you can't bring drinks with you (airport, amusement parks, etc.) but don't want to be stuck buying water bottles inside. Easy to stick in your pocket and fill up at a sink/water fountain. I have one of these, too, and like it a lot.

Nalgene bottles are now, due to great public pressure, BPA-free. If you have an old one, however, it has BPA in it, and you should consider retiring it in favor of a healthier alternative.

Love Bottle brand water bottles. They are reusable glass bottles that couldn't be cuter. The fact that they are glass means they are probably not the best choice for really young children. But for the rest of us, they make really good water bottles. They even offer little bottle carriers with straps to make it easy as pie to bring your water bottle everywhere. If fashion is important to you, check these out.

For other options, this is a pretty good review of some of your eco-friendly and HEALTHY choices out there. Just be careful that you get a bottle that is BPA-free!

Please check out the Think Outside the Bottle campaign to challenge corporate control of water. Take the pledge, and fight back against the commodification of a basic human right.

More green resolutions

Still haven't found the right new year's resolutions for you this year? Skim through this article from Low Impact Living. They've divided their list into two categories: light green "aspiring Jedi" (beginning steps) and green Jedi (slightly more challenging ones, to aim for after completing the light green ones). Yeah, it's nerdy. Gotta love it. Plus, it is full of links to tons of other resources to help you on your journey to sustainability.

Green New Year's Resolutions for 2009

Posted by Jessica Jensen

For the Light Green, Aspiring Jedi (May the Force be with you!)

1. Put your outdoor lights on motion sensors. Do you need to light the night and burn all of that electricity? No, but you do want safety. Motion sensors are the answer. You’ll save energy and money, too. And if you want to go a step beyond this, you can get LED lights—which are ultra-efficient. Check LED lighting out here.

2. Wash your laundry in cold water. We swear it works! Washing machines are major power hogs in our homes and using cold water is a great, easy way to reduce your energy use. (If you want to go a step beyond this you can even start to air dry your laundry. This will help your clothes last longer and save even more energy. Find great drying racks here.)

3. Take reusable grocery bags to the store. This one is so easy and I still can’t believe how few people do it! Reusable bags will cut down on the use of over 500 plastic bags per person per year (and don’t forget plastic is made from petroleum) or save a slightly lesser number of paper bags. One 15-year-old tree only yields 700 paper bags! You can find reusable bags here.

4. Start using renewable energy at home. There are several ways you can get on board with green power. Many utilities now offer green power alternatives for a nominal monthly fee. Check with your local utility to see if this is an option. Click here to learn more about buying green power from your utility.

5. Make sure you’ve swapped out all of your light bulbs for energy-efficient models. Most people don’t realize that lighting accounts for 15-20 percent of a home’s energy use. So there’s a major opportunity to save money and electricity with better bulbs. Compact fluorescents use 1/4 of the energy and last up to 10 times as long as normal bulbs. And LED lights are 2-3 times as efficient as compact fluorescents. And they come in all shapes, sizes and colors–find them here.

For the Green Jedi

1. Join a CSA or plant an organic vegetable garden. Why not make this the year that you decide to eat the freshest, healthiest, most local produce you can? You can either join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program and get your produce from a local farmer, or you can go a step further and grow your own! Planting a vegetable garden will fill your kitchen with yummy produce and cut down on the carbon emissions from transporting the vegetables you normally buy. Click here to read our useful guide to starting an organic garden of your own.

2. Read your newspapers online. Or just convert to online for your weekday editions and keep your weekend papers to enjoy with your Sunday coffee. You’ll save trees, energy, and money! If only 10 million people in the US cancelled their Monday-Friday newspapers, we’d save almost 50,000 trees each year.

3. Find a way to drive and fly less and cut your carbon emissions this year. Can you bike to the grocery store? Can you walk to the bank? Can you talk your boss into letting you telecommute once a week? Better yet perhaps you can talk your boss into creating a telecommuting plan for your whole department? Or propose that you have meetings via teleconference rather than flying. Remember that the emissions from flying are a major contributor to global warming. Click here to learn about other ways to spread the good green word at work– Learn more about how to green your office.

4. Install a programmable thermostat. These nifty devices allow you to micro-control your home’s heating and cooling. One of these can help you shave 15% off of your energy consumption (and save you money!). It’s really quite simple to install—will take you only 45 minutes. Find programmable thermostats here, and learn how to install them here.

5. Really investigate solar and wind energy options for your home. Many of us have told ourselves that we simply can’t afford solar or wind energy. (And this certainly may be true.) But incentives have gotten much better in some parts of the country and costs have also come down. If a full solar electric system is too expensive, consider a solar hot water system—which can be $4-6K to install and reduce your home energy use by 20-30%. Learn more about solar hot water here. And to get a quote on installation costs, you can find solar installers near you here and wind system installers here.