Green Tips & Products

Over the years we have found many ways to live more economically, and ecologically. Here we will share with you what we have learned, and share some of the products we use that make it easier to live more sustainably.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Eco Friendly Showers


We recently obtained a new shower head. Now I know it's hard to get excited about a shower head, but when you find a good one, a good shower is the only way to start the day. This particular unit saves on water (save more by showering with a friend), yet still provides a wonderful water soaking experience. Good flow, good pressure, and very invigorating. It has 5 water settings, and is direction adjustable.



  • 5 Different Spray Patterns

  • 4" Spray Head with Extra Wide Coverage

  • Anti-Clog Nozzles

  • Solid Brass Fittings

Read more about the Monarch Maximum Flow Eco-Friendly Showerhead at http://www.greenandmore.com/eco-friendly-standard-spray-showerheads.html?itemId=844


Monday, January 28, 2008

What is Puffy Stuff?


PUFFY STUFF is an all-natural packaging material. Unlike other plant based loosefill, PUFFY STUFF is completely biodegradable by ISO definition (100% consumed by bacteria.)

BENEFITS COMPARED TO CORN STARCH AND CONVENTIONAL LOOSEFILL:
100% Biodegradable
Zero petrochemicals
Unaffected by oil prices
Competitive cost
Easy disposal
Reusable

HOW DOES IT BREAK DOWN?
Upon direct contact with water, the loosefill degrades to inert proteins which are quickly consumed by soil bacteria.

IS IT ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE?
Absolutely...as safe as any grain.

IS IT HARMFUL TO WILDLIFE OR PETS?
No. Although not particularly tasty, PUFFY STUFF is even edible and digests easily. Try it!

DOES IT ATTRACT PESTS?

No. Processing removes all food value from the grain and, in turn, the attraction of mice and other pests.

DOES IT HAVE AN ODOR?

PUFFY STUFF has a faint smell similar to popcorn. This, however will not transfer to your shipment. PUFFY STUFF actually absorbs odors!

IS IT STATIC FREE?
Yes. By retaining a small amount of moisture, it conducts the static charge away resulting in no cling or damage to electrical and other sensitive devices.

CAN IT BE REUSED?
Absolutely.

WHERE IS IT DISPOSED?
If not reused, PUFFY STUFF can be put in a landfill or even hosed down in your garden as fertilizer.

WILL IT SHRINK AWAY LIKE CORN STARCH FOAM LOOSEFILL?
No. PUFFY STUFF is hydrophobic and is not subject to shrinking in humid conditions.

HOW DURABLE IS PUFFY STUFF?
The product has a high density for rugged durability. It will not shrink to allow product migration and damage during shipping.

http://www.puffystufftn.com/about.html




Thursday, December 6, 2007

ClickGreener Makes All Your Holiday Shopping Greener

ClickGreener Makes All Your Holiday Shopping Greener - For Free

TORONTO, ON., December 3, 2007 – ClickGreener Inc., a groundbreaking new company, has launched ClickGreener.com just in time for the holiday season.

ClickGreener.com is the world’s first online shopping mall that empowers people to make their ordinary purchases greener – and help raise tens of thousands of dollars for the environment – all at no extra cost to the consumer.

“Each year, online shopping malls earn millions of dollars in referral fees,” said Owen Ward, President of ClickGreener. “We’ve decided to harness this power and use it to help the environment, by donating just over half of our referral fees to environmental non-profits.”

Visitors to ClickGreener.com will find many of North America’s leading online retailers of electronics, books, DVDs, clothing and more. By clicking on their retailer of choice, visitors will be connected to that retailer’s online store, where they can complete their purchase as usual. For every purchase made this way, ClickGreener donates 51% of the referral fee from that purchase to leading non-profit environmental organizations, including Carbonfund.org, WWF-Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Tree Canada. All of this is done at no additional cost to the shopper.

“People are looking for ways to contribute in a positive way to the environment,” continued Mr. Ward. “For every purchase made through ClickGreener, you will make a contribution to organizations working hard to protect and preserve our environment.”
“If only 1% of online purchases in North America were made through ClickGreener, approximately $10,000,000 will be raised every year. With the value of online shopping expected to double by 2011, the possibilities are truly inspiring.”

In addition, ClickGreener gives visitors access to promotional offers from many of its retailers, including deals that are not available to the general public. ClickGreener also identifies green products from its participating retailers to help people maximize their positive impact on the environment.

“Instead of dreaming of a white Christmas this year, we are giving people an easy way to make it a greener holiday season,” Mr. Ward adds. “Moreover, with access to many great deals, visitors to ClickGreener will also save a bit of that green for themselves!”

About ClickGreener Inc.

ClickGreener Inc. was created to harness the power of business to help make the world a healthier and greener place. Partnered with some of the most prestigious non-profit environmental organizations, including Carbonfund.org, WWF-Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Tree Canada, ClickGreener provides people with a simple way to make their ordinary shopping greener at no additional cost.

CONTACT
For additional information or to arrange interviews:
Owen Ward, President
Tel: 416.855.6373 Email: owen@clickgreener.com

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

WHERE WE STAND: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet

WHERE WE STAND: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet (AMACOM Books; October 9, 2007) by Seymour Garte, Ph.D.

In WHERE WE STAND, Garte makes the case that the environment is in better shape than we have been led believe. He presents evidence that human and environmental welfare have been improving steadily for the past two decades. When crises arise, our urgent efforts to save the planet work. Scientific research, social activism and strong regulatory action have produced changes in the way businesses and people operate and these changes have been largely successful in solving most of the environmental and public health problems that we have faced. Garte combats environmental apathy with illustrations of the environmental movement’s achievements and their goals for the future. Hopeful, balanced, and convincing, WHERE WE STAND will change the way readers view the planet and the future.

Publisher’s Weekly Review of WHERE WE STAND:

Garte, a professor of public health, presents a well-researched, clearly written summary of the health of our planet, with histories of lead paint, ozone and various chemicals as well as analyses of human health and planetary health; the prognosis is surprisingly optimistic, and prescriptions are encouraging. While the environmental problems hyped daily on the news are real and ongoing, things have improved—air and water are cleaner, more food is available, life spans are up and infant mortality is down, diseases are better understood and treated—and will continue to improve if efforts continue. Garte points out the fallacies in standard right- and left-wing approaches—the planet is not in imminent danger of imploding, he says, but neither will it be saved by the free market—and shows how most improvements over the past 40 years have been the result of government intervention. Garte’s reasoned discussion and compelling, honest tone make this a valuable tool for increasing science literacy with regards to the important environmental issues of the day; Garte’s recommendations, to “continue on the paths we have been traveling and finally acknowledge the great progress that we have already made” should put new wind in discouraged environmentalists’ sails, while plentiful references, data and illustrations will give skeptics material to think over. (Sept.)

“OIL IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY”

It doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican, it's hard to disagree with this book. We read it and recommend it! - Steve Spence, Director, Green-Trust.org

NEW BOOK ON AMERICA’S OIL DEPENDENCE DECLARES

“OIL IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY”

October 17, 2007 - As oil prices reach record highs, it’s not just in the consumer pocketbook where war is being waged.

In, Freedom from Oil: How the Next President Can End the United States’ Oil Addiction (McGraw-Hill, October, 2007), author and Brookings Institution scholar David Sandalow writes that our current reliance on oil poses economic, environmental, and national security threats to the country:

1. Oil dependence strengthens Al Queda and other Islamic terrorists;

2. Oil dependence strengthens oil-exporting nations that oppose US interests;

3. Oil dependence threatens our men and women in uniform;

4. Oil dependence undermines democracy and good governance around the world;

5. Oil dependence is central to environmental degradation and contributes significantly to global warming;

6. Oil supplies are vulnerable to natural disasters, war, and terrorist attacks.

Writes Sandalow, America must take steps to counter the deeply entrenched use of oil in our society using a powerful combination of already-present technologies and far-reaching agendas, among them:



· Build millions of plug-in hybrid cars that have traditional engines and connect to the electric grid;

· Make competitively-priced biofuels available to every driver;

· Transform fuel efficiency standards to make sure the US fleet helps lead the world; and

· Transform federal transportation policy to level the playing field for mass transit and promote telecommuting.

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) calls Freedom from Oil “Required reading for all concerned citizens and elected officials.”

Nobel Prize winner Al Gore says of the author, “When David Sandalow writes about energy and the environment, we should all pay close attention.”

Sandalow, a scholar at The Brookings Institution, worked for the Clinton/Gore White House, and spent much of 2005 traveling with Gore and working with him on the lecture that is now part of An Inconvenient Truth.

The book has a foreword from Senator Richard Lugar, as well as endorsements from General Wesley Clark, James Woolsey, Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton and former head of the CIA, and Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Sandalow is based in Washington, DC and is available for interviews.

Freedom from Oil

Author: David Sandalow

October, 2007

HC, $26.95

For review copies, interviews, and more information, contact:

Ann Pryor, Senior Publicity Manager

McGraw-Hill Companies

2 Penn Plaza, 12th Floor

New York, New York 10121

212.904.4078 tel

212.904.4091 fax

Ann_pryor@mcgraw-hill.com

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Worm Poop Fertilizer in Recycled Bottles

GREEN TRUST RECOMMENDED & APPROVED!

At TerraCycle we manufacture affordable, potent, organic products that are not only made from waste, but are also packaged entirely in waste! TerraCycle Plant Food™ is made by feeding premium organic waste to millions of worms. The worm poop is then liquified into a powerful organic plant food and bottled directly in used soda bottles.

There are millions of soda bottles every day which end up in garbage cans and landfills across America. As an eco-friendly, innovator, TerraCycle packages its organic liquefied worm poop in bottles collected from schools and recycling centers from every corner of the country. It's no wonder that Red Herring Magazine named TerraCycle as one of the Top 100 Most Innovative Companies in 2004 and Inc. Magazine featured TerraCycle on its July, 2006 cover as "The Coolest Little Start-up in America"!

TerraCycle's Bottle Brigade program allows almost any organization to save 20 oz. plastic soda bottles from getting thrown away. Better yet, TerraCycle will donate $.05 to the charity of your choice. If you don't have a charity currently in mind, you also have the option to select from a list of other charities or save 10 square feet of the rain forest with every bottle! There are no signup fees whatsoever.

http://www.terracycle.net/bb/

Monday, April 2, 2007

Organic Goji Berries


Today's mail included a new snack we have never tried. Organic Goji Berries, from Sunfood Nutrition, is very nutritionally rich, with a interesting flavor that reminds us of dried cranberries and raisins.