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!
28 June 2009
17 June 2009
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!
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!
12 June 2009
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.
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.
07 June 2009
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.
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.
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