Archive for March, 2010

“Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean What You Think

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards natural products in everything from personal skin care to power generation.  Also, you will observe many companies attaching labels like "green", "natural" and "eco-friendly", to name a few, to their products. Natural Is Not Always the Best However, you should beware as natural products are not necessarily the best for human consumption.  In fact, many of the nature's products in their raw state are very toxic or even fatal to human and animal health even in small quantities.  For example, arsenic, cyanide and mercury all exist in nature as raw materials and can be considered natural in every sense of the word.  You must beware because these natural substances are the culprits behind thousands of deaths, both deliberate and accidental. Many personal home care products can be considered natural but may not exactly good next to any part of your body, much less your internal organs.  Think of hydrogen peroxide, it is a natural cleansing agent but you should not drink it to clean your insides.  Or take the example of crude oil, which is the main material in plastics.  We all know by now the negative effects of plastic on the environment.  ...

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Looking at the iPad: Is It Really All That Green?

There are many people are have been taking a close look at the iPad recently.  The big question is whether it is truly green, when it is put up against the product that it is trying to replace.  When Kindle hit the scene, everyone thought it was the greatest thing but now, it seems that iPad might be giving it a run for the money. First, just what is the iPad?  The iPad is an electronic device that will allow you to listen to your favorite music, read all of your favorite books, use the Internet, and store your favorite videos - along with many other things. While there is the obvious benefit of not using trees to create the books, there have been concerns over the iPad itself being bad for the environment in other ways.  The thing is, though, the display glass of the iPad is free of Arsenic.  There are no Brominated flame retardants used on or in the iPad.  The LCD display is also free of mercury and the whole thing is PVC free.  The glass enclosure and the aluminum are recyclable.  All in all, the iPad does ...

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Going Green - Spring Cleaning Report

After a long winter, it's that time once again.  Every year, we all have to cut through the dirt and get organized.  Thorough spring cleaning is a great idea if you've been shut in all winter.  You'll feel better, your home will look better, and guests will feel more welcome.  Cleaning is a great way to celebrate spring and feel better about yourself and your home.  There's a reason we have a tradition of doing it in the spring, after the long, dim winter months.  It can really help you feel more alive. However, many mainstream cleaning products and techniques aren't so environmentally or health friendly as we might like them to be.  Dangerous and harsh cleaning solutions are bad for the world around us, and they're not so great to get on your skin, breathe, or otherwise be exposed to.  This is even more of a concern if you've got small children or free roaming pets in the house who might come into contact with cleaning chemicals. The good news is that a healthier, more ecologically friendly spring clean isn't hard to do.  You won't have to worry as much about kids getting into the cleaning cabinet.  Here are some tips ...

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Kids Crafts Can and Should Be Eco Friendly

Now is the time to install the train of thought in your kids that working to save the environment is important.  If you wait too long, this is an idea that they might not catch onto and that would be a very sad thing indeed.  Our landfills already have enough garbage in them.  It is a sad thing to because only about ten percent of what is there is actual garbage.  Everything else could have been recycled. The best way to make sure that your kids are getting some hands-in experience with creating an eco friendly world is to make crafts with them that recycle things.  You can also make use of natural items, recycled items or reused items.  Crafting with the kids is now not only fun, but also it is an educational experience as well. An example of a fun craft would be beanbags.  Take some old shirts, jeans, blankets, or maybe old cloth napkins and cut them into four-inch squares.  Just as you would for a pillow, sew three sides together, fill with beans, and sew it shut.  If you want to get more creative with the beanbags, you can use stencils and fabric paint to paint on shapes, ...

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Green Roof Insulation

For most homes in the temperate parts of the world, roof insulation is very important in many ways.  Your house will be warmer in cold weather and colder in warm weather.  You can save on the costs of electricity necessary to run the heater or the air-conditioner.  In the process, you are also doing your share in lessening greenhouse emissions. Unfortunately, the most common material used in roof insulation in most homes is neither eco-friendly nor health-friendly.  We are talking about fiberglass batts, which contain formaldehyde - a known carcinogenic that induces respiratory problems in humans even on short-term exposure.  Plus, the production process for fiberglass batts is very energy-intensive.  Fortunately, you have many eco-friendly options available.  Just choose the one that best fit your house, your preferences and your budget. Recycled Cellulose Fiber Although recycled cellulose fiber is comparatively more expensive than the other types of eco-friendly insulation, its benefits are well worth the price.  Since it has better insulation properties than fiberglass batts, you can save more on energy bills.  It is also fire-resistant, thanks to the environment-friendly boric acid.  As such, your roof can better resist fires without the noxious fumes involved.  Along with this property, you also need not ...

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