Winter weather has brought a big chill to most of the country. This weather is conducive to relaxing indoors and spending time with family. Here are a few suggestions for enjoying this time in an eco-friendly way.
If you have a traditional non-gas, open fireplace, there are a few environmentally-friendly fire logs available now. JAVA-LOGs are made from compressed, used coffee grounds bound with all-natural vegetable wax. With the ever-growing abundance of StarBucks and other coffee shops, JAVA-LOGs make great use of a sustainable resource. Pine Mountain logs are made from sawdust (also recycled and also compressed with vegetable wax). Even the market leader, Duraflame, recently introduced logs made with non-petroleum-based waxes. All three of these fire logs are more efficient and generate less pollution and carbon dioxide than burning wood. If it's your first fire of the season, don't forget to open the flue! Enjoy the fire with your loved ones and a cup of organic hot chocolate, cider, or coffee.
Your home heating costs are likely to rise over the next month. Every degree you lower your thermostat saves approximately 5% of your home energy use. Programmable thermostats are great for automatically reducing the temperature late at night and bringing temperatures back up for the morning so homes are comfortable when people awaken.
If you have a heat pump with a backup or "emergency" heat, be cautious as this backup heat source uses a lot more electricity so you'll want to avoid frequent resets to the thermostat that engage your backup heat supply. It's best to use a programmable thermostat that is specifically designed for heat pumps. Otherwise, you can gradually adjust the temperature to a higher setting.
Other ways to reduce energy usage during winter months include cleaning or changing filters for your air returns, closing drapes to reduce heat loss through windows (except for south-facing windows during the day), sealing leaks around drafty doors or windows, and closing fireplace flues when not in use. Also, ceiling fans directed downward can help to distribute the heat throughout your room, rather than letting it collect at ceiling level.
Finally, if you have a hot water tank that is warm to the touch, it would benefit from additional insulation. Look for pre-cut jackets or blankets with an insulating value of at least R-8. If you have an electric hot water heater and follow prescribed guidelines, this is a fairly easy do-it-yourself project. You may want to hire an expert if you have a gas hot water heater.
This is a great time for us to conserve our personal energy as well. The holidays are drawing to a close and the hustle and bustle of the new year isn't quite upon us. So use this time to relax, refresh, and recharge while you can! We wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.
Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Monday, December 1, 2008
Seasons Greetings
The holidays have suddenly arrived again! We look forward to this as a time for relaxing with our families, catching up with friends, enjoying old traditions and making new ones. But all too often, the holidays can be times of stress, with all of the tasks that come with this time of year: decorating our homes, shopping for gifts, preparing special meals and treats, and hosting and attending parties. In addition to our blood pressure, this frenzy of activity takes a toll on the environment. This is a great time of year to take stock of our holiday plans and look for ways to simplify our lives and our impact on the environment.
If you enjoy the smell and beauty of a 'real' Christmas tree, you may be assured that tree growers are generally helpful to our environment. Tree farms are often located in areas not conducive to growing other types of crops. The young trees provide habitat for birds and wildlife while absorbing much CO2 and releasing oxygen. As the larger trees are cut, new trees are planted in their place. Look for a tree that is grown at a local, pesticide-free farm. Since 33 million cut Christmas trees are sold in America each December, it is important to dispose of them properly after the holidays rather than sending them to a landfill.
Potted yule trees are another eco-friendly alternative. You can plant them in the new year and have a living, growing reminder of past holidays.
If purchasing an artificial tree, be aware that many contain large amounts of petroleum-based PVCs (polyvinyl chloride) and lead. The greatest advantage of artificial trees is that they can be used for years, but recent studies indicate they have an average lifespan of only 6 years before they are permanently banished to basements, attics or landfills.
LED holiday lights are becoming popular for lighting trees and homes. While they come in many varieties and look similar to incandescent options, LED lights can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last 100,000 hours or more. They are much cooler to the touch than traditional tungsten bulbs, so you won't have to worry about children burning their fingers on them. Check out our sale section to find great prices on LED Lights.
If you usually host parties, you know about the numerous garbage bags of post-party waste that accumulate all too easily. One way to cut down on this waste is to use dishwashable plates, cups, and cutlery rather than disposable paper or plastic. You may want to consider renting cutlery and dishware from a banquet rental company. Pine cones or branches can be a nice way to dress up a table, or look for decorations that can be used year after year rather than just once. If you have food left over, your area food banks would surely appreciate a food donation to help needy families get through the winter.
The mountains of wrapping paper that pile up after opening gifts are an obvious reminder of the waste that can be generated on holidays. Reusable gift bags become a useful part of the gift that will "keep on giving" (the traditional Christmas stocking is one of the original reusable gift bags!). Alternative gift wrap made from the Sunday funny papers or cutting up colorful shopping bags saves money and makes good reuse of paper goods. When purchasing gift wrap, look for wrap made from recycled paper.
Consider going 'electronic' with your greeting cards by emailing a holiday photo rather than sending paper cards to friends, family, or business associates will save time and money, as well as trees. If you want to send cards by mail, you can save envelopes and postage by sending postcards - many photo shops will turn your digital prints into ready-to-mail holiday postcards.
About 40% of battery sales take place during the holidays. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run and will have less impact on the environment. Office supply stores and DwellSmart offer a battery drop-off where you can be assured the batteries will be disposed of properly (this is important since many batteries contain heavy metals).
According to a recent study, 18% of holiday shoppers plan to buy more 'green' products this season than in the past. It might not be exciting to open a giftbox with compact fluorescent bulbs, but the recipient will appreciate the lower utility bills for many months to follow. Giving rechargeable batteries and a charger can prevent emergency trips to purchase batteries for toys that die at inopportune times. Composters or rain barrels make great gifts for those who enjoy gardening.
Consider the durability and lifespan of gifts you purchase, avoiding items that provide only temporary amusement or go out of style quickly. For those people who "already have everything", consider gifts of homemade baked goods, plants, photos in a nice frame, or donations in their name to a suitable charity.
Finally, 're-gifting' gets a worse rap than deserved. Giving something that you don't want or need to someone else who may appreciate it is a great form of recycling (and very economical). At our large family gatherings over the years, one of our favorite traditions has been the 'white elephant' gift exchange; instead of buying gifts for each other, we each wrap and bring one item from our home that deserves more love and attention. We've proved each time that one person's 'trash' is another's treasure.
Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com
If you enjoy the smell and beauty of a 'real' Christmas tree, you may be assured that tree growers are generally helpful to our environment. Tree farms are often located in areas not conducive to growing other types of crops. The young trees provide habitat for birds and wildlife while absorbing much CO2 and releasing oxygen. As the larger trees are cut, new trees are planted in their place. Look for a tree that is grown at a local, pesticide-free farm. Since 33 million cut Christmas trees are sold in America each December, it is important to dispose of them properly after the holidays rather than sending them to a landfill.
Potted yule trees are another eco-friendly alternative. You can plant them in the new year and have a living, growing reminder of past holidays.
If purchasing an artificial tree, be aware that many contain large amounts of petroleum-based PVCs (polyvinyl chloride) and lead. The greatest advantage of artificial trees is that they can be used for years, but recent studies indicate they have an average lifespan of only 6 years before they are permanently banished to basements, attics or landfills.
LED holiday lights are becoming popular for lighting trees and homes. While they come in many varieties and look similar to incandescent options, LED lights can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last 100,000 hours or more. They are much cooler to the touch than traditional tungsten bulbs, so you won't have to worry about children burning their fingers on them. Check out our sale section to find great prices on LED Lights.
If you usually host parties, you know about the numerous garbage bags of post-party waste that accumulate all too easily. One way to cut down on this waste is to use dishwashable plates, cups, and cutlery rather than disposable paper or plastic. You may want to consider renting cutlery and dishware from a banquet rental company. Pine cones or branches can be a nice way to dress up a table, or look for decorations that can be used year after year rather than just once. If you have food left over, your area food banks would surely appreciate a food donation to help needy families get through the winter.
The mountains of wrapping paper that pile up after opening gifts are an obvious reminder of the waste that can be generated on holidays. Reusable gift bags become a useful part of the gift that will "keep on giving" (the traditional Christmas stocking is one of the original reusable gift bags!). Alternative gift wrap made from the Sunday funny papers or cutting up colorful shopping bags saves money and makes good reuse of paper goods. When purchasing gift wrap, look for wrap made from recycled paper.
Consider going 'electronic' with your greeting cards by emailing a holiday photo rather than sending paper cards to friends, family, or business associates will save time and money, as well as trees. If you want to send cards by mail, you can save envelopes and postage by sending postcards - many photo shops will turn your digital prints into ready-to-mail holiday postcards.
About 40% of battery sales take place during the holidays. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run and will have less impact on the environment. Office supply stores and DwellSmart offer a battery drop-off where you can be assured the batteries will be disposed of properly (this is important since many batteries contain heavy metals).
According to a recent study, 18% of holiday shoppers plan to buy more 'green' products this season than in the past. It might not be exciting to open a giftbox with compact fluorescent bulbs, but the recipient will appreciate the lower utility bills for many months to follow. Giving rechargeable batteries and a charger can prevent emergency trips to purchase batteries for toys that die at inopportune times. Composters or rain barrels make great gifts for those who enjoy gardening.
Consider the durability and lifespan of gifts you purchase, avoiding items that provide only temporary amusement or go out of style quickly. For those people who "already have everything", consider gifts of homemade baked goods, plants, photos in a nice frame, or donations in their name to a suitable charity.
Finally, 're-gifting' gets a worse rap than deserved. Giving something that you don't want or need to someone else who may appreciate it is a great form of recycling (and very economical). At our large family gatherings over the years, one of our favorite traditions has been the 'white elephant' gift exchange; instead of buying gifts for each other, we each wrap and bring one item from our home that deserves more love and attention. We've proved each time that one person's 'trash' is another's treasure.
Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com
Thursday, August 28, 2008
New Law Bans Harmful Phthalates
On August 14th, President Bush signed a federal bill that bans six toxic phthalates from children's products. His signature bolsters Congress' overwhelming support for this legislation, and sends a clear message that toxic chemicals have no place in toys.
More than a dozen countries along with the European Union have moved to ban or restrict phthalates. California, Washington and Vermont have all passed legislation to limit phthalate use in children's products and several other states are considering similar restrictions.
The U.S. phthalate ban is part of a consumer product safety reform bill that easily passed the Senate with an 89-3 on the heels of a 424-1 vote in the House. The ban takes effect in six months.
Lawmakers crafted the bill in response to recent product recalls of a long list of consumer products, including toys found to contain unsafe levels of lead paint, and growing worries about the ineffectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC.
Public health advocates hailed approval of the ban and suggested it may signal a shift in U.S. chemicals policy.
Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds often used in manufacturing. They are widely used in the manufacture of plastics (especially PVC products) including plastic bags, garden hoses, plastic bottles, food storage containers, and toys. They are used as solvents or fragrance in perfumes, nail polish, soaps, shampoos, hair spray, adhesives, caulk, and paint pigments. Testing undertaken by the Environmental Working Group revealed that phthalates appear in around 75% of all personal care products. However, since they are components of "fragrance", they are not explicitly listed on product ingredient labels.
Phthalates are controversial because many studies have shown a link between high doses of phthalates and hormonal activity with effects including damage to the liver and testes and birth defects. In 2004, a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a very strong link between allergies in children and certain phthalates. Testing conducted by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that a majority of Americans have metabolites of multiple phthalates in their urine. A study published in 2008 emphasized that baby care products are of particular concern for infant exposure to phthalates. Use of leading brands of infant lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increases in phthalate metabolites in infant urine. The study suggests that skin exposure contributes significantly to phthalates in this population. Because of infants' high exposure to baby care products per body area, their limited metabolic capabilities, and their developing endocrine and reproductive systems, they are especially vulnerable to potential adverse effects of phthalates.
While the new federal ban applies to "children's products", we'll need to continue to be vigilant consumers to avoid toxic phthalates. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid PVC plastic items and containers - you can identify them by the Number 3 plastic recycle symbol. Other things to watch out for include:
More than a dozen countries along with the European Union have moved to ban or restrict phthalates. California, Washington and Vermont have all passed legislation to limit phthalate use in children's products and several other states are considering similar restrictions.
The U.S. phthalate ban is part of a consumer product safety reform bill that easily passed the Senate with an 89-3 on the heels of a 424-1 vote in the House. The ban takes effect in six months.
Lawmakers crafted the bill in response to recent product recalls of a long list of consumer products, including toys found to contain unsafe levels of lead paint, and growing worries about the ineffectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC.
Public health advocates hailed approval of the ban and suggested it may signal a shift in U.S. chemicals policy.
Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds often used in manufacturing. They are widely used in the manufacture of plastics (especially PVC products) including plastic bags, garden hoses, plastic bottles, food storage containers, and toys. They are used as solvents or fragrance in perfumes, nail polish, soaps, shampoos, hair spray, adhesives, caulk, and paint pigments. Testing undertaken by the Environmental Working Group revealed that phthalates appear in around 75% of all personal care products. However, since they are components of "fragrance", they are not explicitly listed on product ingredient labels.
Phthalates are controversial because many studies have shown a link between high doses of phthalates and hormonal activity with effects including damage to the liver and testes and birth defects. In 2004, a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a very strong link between allergies in children and certain phthalates. Testing conducted by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that a majority of Americans have metabolites of multiple phthalates in their urine. A study published in 2008 emphasized that baby care products are of particular concern for infant exposure to phthalates. Use of leading brands of infant lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increases in phthalate metabolites in infant urine. The study suggests that skin exposure contributes significantly to phthalates in this population. Because of infants' high exposure to baby care products per body area, their limited metabolic capabilities, and their developing endocrine and reproductive systems, they are especially vulnerable to potential adverse effects of phthalates.
While the new federal ban applies to "children's products", we'll need to continue to be vigilant consumers to avoid toxic phthalates. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid PVC plastic items and containers - you can identify them by the Number 3 plastic recycle symbol. Other things to watch out for include:
- Paints: Paints often contain phthalates as solvents, so choose no-VOC or low-VOC paints when possible. If using conventional paints, make sure the space is well-ventilated.
Fragrances: Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) is often used as a fragrance component, but is not required to be listed as an ingredient. In general, avoid products that have the generic word "fragrance" in their ingredients. Products made with essential oils are a safe alternative. - Synthetic Air Fresheners: As with fragrance in personal care products, most conventional air fresheners contain phthalates. Again, products made with essential oils are safe alternatives.
- Nail Polish: Dibutyl Phthalate (or "DBT") is often used to make nail polish chip-resistant. Avoid polish that includes this ingredient.
- Kitchen Plastics: Phthalates are generally more likely to leach out of plastic when it's heated, so avoid cooking or microwaving items in plastic containers.
- Soft Plastic Toys: Don't give them to children - instead, opt for toys made from wood, cotton, or other phthalate-free materials, especially during ages when children tend to put everything in their mouths!
- Vinyl Products: Vinyl is used in many different products, including building materials, garden hoses, lawn furniture, and some items of clothing (like raincoats or belts). One easy change you can make: switch to a non-vinyl shower curtains and liners. The strong "new shower curtain" smell results from chemical off-gassing, and indicates that your shower curtain is a source of phthalates in your home.
Jane Houlihan, Environmental Working Group's vice president for research, commented on the new phthalate ban - "This long-overdue action is not only a victory for parents and children, but an encouraging sign that Congress recognizes that our chemical regulatory system needs reform".
Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com
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