9:58 a.m. - 2008-04-29
Beco is ECO
If you're shopping around for the perfect baby carrier that is both comfortable and eco friendly you may want to consider the BECO. Designed by a babywearing parent, active sailor and rock climber, Gabby Caperon, Beco combines perfect ergonomics, excellent weight distribution and stylish design from top quality fabrics. Each carrier is handmade by a skilled seamstress in facilities which apply high social and economical standards. Sustainability and minimal impact of their production on the environment is important to Beco. They provide the best quality, safe products and friendly customer service.
|
10:44 p.m. - 2008-04-25
introducing an eco friendly search engine
I am so excited about my most recent discovery, ECHOCHO. Echocho is a search engine based in the UK that will sponsor the planting of two trees for every 1,000 searches. On their home page, there is a counter that currently sits at 3,669 trees planted, resulting in 3,679,603 lbs. of CO2 emissions saved.
Currently they are using Yahoo search results - Google recently blocked the use of their search engine for reasons unknown. (I would be willing to gander a guess it has something to do with infringement?)
What makes this site so eco fabulous, aside from the fact that they're making a positive impact on the environment by planting trees, is the black version of their screen to ensure maximum evironmentalism. A quick test of search results were similar to using regular Yahoo search, although not exactly the same. A search for "website magazine" yielded about 45 million results on Ecocho and 558 million on Yahoo. But, I figure it's worth the effort for the environment!
|
10:26 a.m. - 2008-04-24
be green for me
Check out this gorgeous eco baby blanket from 3R LIVING! It comes with beautiful natural designs knitted right into the fabric. These blankets are made from eco2cotton, comprised of pre-consumer fibers and clippings that are collected after the cut and sew process, sorted by color and blended. The resulting cotton-like fluff can be used as a fill for stuffing and pads or for spinning new solid and organic looking yarns.
|
10:49 a.m. - 2008-04-22
the history of earth day
Happy Earth Day! Did you know that the EPA offers this "Happy Earth Day Coloring and Activity Book" for children? To download a free printable copy click HERE. You can also order a hard copy of the book at the EPA's ORDER PUBLICATIONS page. They have a huge selection of education material for children and adults.
To celebrate the day with your children teach them about Earth Day’s history.
In the Beginning...
In 1963, former Senator Gaylord Nelson began to worry about our planet. (A senator is a person that the people of the United States have chosen to help make the laws.) Senator Nelson knew that our world was getting dirty and that many of our plants and animals were dying.
He wondered why more people weren't trying to solve these problems. He talked to other lawmakers and to the President. They decided that the President would go around the country and tell people about these concerns. He did, but still not enough people were working on the problem.
The Idea
Then, in 1969, Senator Nelson had another idea. He decided to have a special day to teach everyone about the things that needed changing in our environment. He wrote letters to all of the colleges and put a special article in Scholastic Magazine to tell them about the special day he had planned. (Most of the schools got this magazine and he knew that kids would help him.)
The Holiday
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held. People all over the country made promises to help the environment. Everyone got involved and since then, Earth Day has spread all over the planet. People all over the world know that there are problems we need to work on and this is our special day to look at the planet and see what needs changing. Isn't it great?
One person had an idea and kept working until everyone began working together to solve it. See what happens when people care about our world?
*******
So I had a chance try the gDiapers (see previous post) and I have to say I'm really pleased with them. I love the bright colors of the gPants (I got the green and blue in my starter kit), and how soft they are. That said, I am still going to use a regular diaper for nightime stretches as the gDiapers are not as absorbant. As long as you change your baby every couple of hours you won't have to worry about any leakage.
If you try them, let me know what you think.
I love knowing that one less diaper will be taking up space in our planet's landfills.
Again, Happy Earth Day!
|
8:21 a.m. - 2008-04-21
gDiapers...are they worth their weight in green?
Did you know that 50 million diapers enter our landfills every day! That's why I am very excited about my most recent find, gDIAPERS. When I made the decision not to use cloth diapers it was largely due to the fact that I just didn't think I would have the patience for them. I have been using Seventh Generation, Chlorine Free diapers. I chose them because I felt they were a healthier option for my son being that they were hypo-allergenic, as well as chlorine, fragrance and latex-free. However, the guilt of using diapers and what kind of impact this has on our environment has weighed heavily on me.
I just purchased the gDiaper starter kit for $23.99 at the local healthfood store. (It usually sells online for $26.99) It comes with two gPants and 10 liners. The liners are plastic-free and flushable, containing no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage, and no guilt! If you're unable to flush them without stopping up your toilet not to worry, it takes 50 - 150 days for them to break down, or you can garden compost the wet ones!
But here's the stink, like most things that are actually good for you and the environment, it costs just a bit more than using diapers. When I figured out the cost of their liners, versus what I'm spending on Seventh Generation Chlorine diapers, the gDiaper liners are about seven dollars more for a case. Seventh Generation sells for about $44 for 134 diapers, while the gDiaper liners come in at about $51.99 for a case of 128.
I have read mixed reviews about the absorbancy of their liners, so I'll have to let you know how effective they are once I've had the chance to try them out.
_______________________________
ECO MAMA FOLLOW UP: I am not 100% sold on gDiapers. They are too tight around the legs and too loose in the waist band (and yes I purchased the correct size according to my son's weight). Also the inserts are not particularly absorbant and need to be changed often.
|
9:03 a.m. - 2008-04-18
not made in china
After China let US households down by manufacturing toys with dangerous toxins I lost confidence in anything with the "Made in China" label. As a mother of a six month old, I made a conscious decision that anything I purchased for him, that could fit inside his little mouth, would NOT be made in China.
I am a huge fan of OOMPA TOYS because most of their products come from countries like Germany, France, and Peru, and most of the toys are made from wood or cloth, with a whole line of organic toys being offered as well.
My most recent purchase from OOMPA toys was this Natural Friends Organic Ball from Sigikid. This organic ball makes a great first gift for baby. When shaken or rolled, this ball gently rattles. I love the soft, natural colors. It is made of cotton, out of biological cultivation, and stuffed with lamb's wool. Lovingly designed in Germany and made in Romania, it sells for $16.25 and is just the right size for my six month year old. He loves to hug it to his body and bite into it, and I have peace of mind because I know that what he's putting into his mouth is organic! Unfortunately it is presently out of stock, but you can leave your email address so that Oompa can notify you once it becomes available again!
Oompa offers free shipping on purchases over $65, does not charge any sales taxes and rewards you with loyalty points for every purchase you make. These points are accrued and can be used to discount future purchases.
|
1:23 p.m. - 2008-04-17
does size matter when it comes to the environment?
In January of this year, what is being touted as "the cheapest car", the Tato Nano, hit the market.
Manufactured in India, with 50 mpg and a starting price of just $2,500 US Dollars, it is hard to believe that it took 5 years of research and 500 people to design and manufacture it.
Tata says the car, which does 50 miles to the gallon, will conform to all present and future emission standards in India and Europe. It has also passed a full-frontal crash test and is designed to pass further impact testing under European standards, he added.
But here's the question, does the small size of this vehicle mean less impact on the environment?
Not necessarily so.
The prospect of millions of ultra-cheap cars on the roads of developing countries has sent some environmentalists into a panic. When the Nano was launched in January, Greenpeace activists outside the show held banners demanding “Cut CO2 emissions”.
Mr Tata dismissed environmental concerns. He said that his car, which does 50 miles to the gallon, would conform to all emission standards in India and Europe. “We need to think of our masses. Should they be denied the right to an individual form of transport?” he asked.
In February it was reported that the company was looking into marketing and selling these cars via the internet. By doing this they would cut out sales commissions to dealers and sales staff. The company is also considering selling completely knocked down (CKD) units to regional centers, which would in turn assemble vehicles before delivering them to dealers.
A study done in the U.S. found that small cars were responsible for 25% of the carbon emissions, with SUV's a close second at 21%, Pickup trucks 19%, midsize cars 17%, vans 9%, and large cars came in at 8%.
You may wonder why small cars get such a bad rap. That's because there are more older small vehicles with higher emissions still in service.
That will change in a few years based on car scrapping rates, he predicted, with SUVs bought over the last 10 to 15 years taking the lead, even if consumers begin buying small cars again because of sharply higher fuel prices.
|
8:28 p.m. - 2008-04-15
move over lysol there is a new man in town...BAKING SODA!
Check out these fab foldable recycle bins from GAIAM. But here's the thing, they're plastic coated. I still don't understand how recycle bins continue to be made of non-recyclable materials. Doesn't this seem just a tad bit hypocritical? Anyway, until a recyclable recycle bin goes on the market, these are at the top of my wish list!!!!
So I’ve been trying to find the best way to get the bathroom tub clean. I did some research and found this to be one of the main concerns of newbie Go Greeners who are reluctant to part with their Lysol. My husband would be one of those. He loves his Lysol. He believes it is truly the only way to get the tub and sink completely disinfected and scum free. On top of that he was using paint remover and Windex to clean our kitchen floor!
When I was pregnant with my son I used to give him the cold shoulder, run to the bedroom, and practically slam the bedroom door shut every time he sprayed Lysol or used the damn paint thinner because god only knows how many times I'd told him about the DANGERS OF HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS to an unborn fetus and there he was completely ignoring my warnings.
My husband you see is of that school of thought that if it's still on the market it must be okay to use.
So I had to really do my homework as far as finding GREEN PRODUCTS that would get the job done just as well and save us all from breathing in all of those toxic fumes.
Of course you can make your own cleaners from products you may find in your grocery store like vinegar and baking soda. I impressed my husband by cleaning the bathroom tub with BAKING SODA one Sunday afternoon. He swore I’d used the Lysol. Needless to say, from now on it’s baking soda on the way baby!
Baking soda can also be used as a nontoxic cleanser and deodorizer. For fresher carpet, you can sprinkle it on carpets, allow it to sit for 15 minutes and vacuum. To clean those burnt-on marks on your stove, mix it with water and form a paste, scrub gently with a kitchen sponge. (A paste like this can also clean your silver.)
Freshen up your cat’s litter box by sprinkling some on the bottom before you pour in the fresh litter.
Another excellent natural cleaner is white vinegar. With a store-bought spray bottle, mix 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar and you can clean many areas of your home. (Never use vinegar on marble surfaces.) Use the solution to clean your porcelain surfaces, the bathtub, sink, countertops, etc.
You may scrub the toilet with undiluted vinegar, such as around the rim and in the bowl.
You may also use your diluted solution to clean your kitchen appliances, refrigerator, toaster, etc. Plus, a quarter cup of vinegar placed in the rinse cycle of your washer helps soften clothes and get rid of detergent residue.
You can also use a mix of baking soda and vinegar to unclog drains. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. After it bubbles for a few minutes, rinse with hot water.
My husband, being from Greece where Olive Oil is a staple in their daily diet, was surprised to find out that Olive Oil can be used as furniture polish for wood furniture. We tried it out and I have to tell you it works REALLY WELL.
To try it out yourself, mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice in a store-bought spray bottle. Wipe it off with a dry rag. The lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while the olive oil shines and protects the wood. (Try a test spot first. Don’t mix up too much at once as olive oil has a shelf life.)
You can also use olive oil alone to help prevent tarnishing to brass and stainless steel surfaces. Apply the olive oil directly to a rag, and then wipe.
That’s just a few of the many natural household products that can be used to get your house squeaky clean without exposing your family to harsh cleansers.
|
4:32 p.m. - 2008-04-15
enter for your chance to win!
Hello, and welcome to ECO MAMA! We are very excited about our new beginning here in Diaryland.
Each month ECO MAMA will be offering a GO GREEN GIVEAWAY. This month we are proud to offer the California Baby Tote. With the recent baby shampoo study raising chemical concerns I was confident knowing that I use CALIFORNIA BABY PRODUCTS because they contain no phthalates which are commonly found in many ordinary products including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible.
In the study, they were found in elevated levels in the urine of babies who’d been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products.
California Baby Products is an all natural line of baby shampoos, lotions and body washes developed from founder Jessica Iclisoy. A pioneer in the natural products scene, Iclisoy remains unfazed as she watches giant companies launch their own natural baby product lines.
In a recent interview with Entrepreneur Magazine she spoke about thinking green. "How we stay competitive is that we stay true to ourselves," she says. "We don't try to run around competing with other people. We are who we are, and we just try to do the best we can." Now that's my idea of an ECO MAMA!
To enter for a chance to win, you can do one of three things; sign up to receive email updates, leave a comment, or create a link back to us from your blog. The more of these things you do the more chances you have of winning. The drawing will be on May 31st. Good luck!
|
9:25 a.m. - 2008-04-15
are biodegradable bags really the solution?
It is not been easy going green when you have a husband who is convinced that it's better to use the plastic grocery bags we were bringing our weekly groceries home in as garbage receptacles rather than buy trash bags. While this may seem economical, and god knows trash bags are just as bad as shopping bags, it is still not the solution to the problem of how these little devils are destroying the environment.
So you can just imagine the resistance I was initially met with from my thrifty husband when I orderd these fabulous REUSABLE GROCERY TOTE BAGS from Amazon.
The first thing he said to me when he saw them was, "Now what will we use to put the garbage in?"
Good question!
I looked everywhere for biodegradable plastic bags and found the cost of them to be...well...in a word, "pricey".
First I came across THIS SITE dedicated to the manufacturing of eco-friendly bags. The cost for 250 TRASH BAGS? A rather hefty $99.95! But this site claims their bags are not only "friendly" but "unique" because they use a patented biodegradable additive, invented by a professor at a Chinese university. After he patented the product and the process, he then commissioned a factory to manufacture the biodegradable additive, which is made from all natural plant fibers.
There are two words in that statement that concern me..."Chinese" and "Factory". With China being one of the largest contributors to our environmental problems, not to mention the toy recalls that recently rocked our nation, I don't think I'll be ordering from Friendly Bags.
TRELLIS EARTH claims that their biodegradable bioplastic bags are made from the highest quality corn polymers, starches and complimentary ingredients, and that "they can be disposed of with the knowledge that in the landfill they will naturally biodegrade with no toxic residues." The cost for 250 Commercial sized trash bags? $84.51 - a little less than the above mentioned Friendly Bags.
But here's the thing, experts are beginning to refute the theory that these pricey little suckers are good for the environment.
While it’s not difficult to argue that these bags are much better than traditional plastic bags (which can take up to 1,000 years to fully decompose), many environmental organizations argue that biodegradable plastic bags still don’t go far enough in saving the planet, and I tend to agree.
Even if a plastic bag does biodegrade within 5 - 6 months, that’s still plenty of time for it to cause serious issues. A biodegradable plastic bag can still end up in the ocean where it can kill its wildlife. When a plastic bag begins to suffocate a baby dolphin, that dolphin will die within minutes. The fact that the bag will decompose within 6 months means nothing - it’s already too late.
Also, given the fact that up to 1 trillion plastic bags are being used on our planet every year, this is still a problem. Even if only say, 1% of plastic bags end up in our oceans, that still a lot of plastic bags. Every one of these can kill regardless of their biodegradable properties.
So where does that leave us?
Damned if I know.
But here's the good news...my husband, who is often the one to do the grocery shopping, now carries our groceries home in the totes I purchased and while he was reluctant to admit it wasn't such a bad idea, at least he's trying!
|
1:08 p.m. - 2008-04-14
recycle, reuse, reduce
Did you know that every two seconds a forest the size of a football field is destroyed - all for things like paper towels?
Reading statistics like this is what actually got me to begin my journey to going green. That is why the three R's of environmental conservation, recycle, reduce, and reuse are so critical.
Here is a list of links to sites you can refer to for products that you may or may not know you can recycle:
1. APPLIANCES
2. BUSINESS CLOTHING
3. CARPETS
4. CELL PHONES & RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
5. COMPUTERS
6. ELECTRONICS
7. EYEGLASSES
8. FLOPPY DISKS & VIDEOTAPES
9. FORMAL GOWNS & DRESSES
10. PACKING PEANUTS
11. PAINT
12. TIRES
|
2:13 p.m. - 2008-04-13
twenty simple steps we can take to GO GREEN
Here are some simple steps that we all could try to start taking today.
1. Check your filters on your heating systems monthly. Remove, clean or change when needed.
2. Make sure your walls on fully insulated. This cuts down on the amount of energy your home needs to keep it warm and cool.
3. Check your storm windows for holes and tightness. Storm windows can reduce heating costs about 15%.
4. Looks for cracks in your walls, around your windows and doors. Seal them with weather-stripping or caulking. Even the smallest hole will loose a great amount of energy over time.
5. Open your curtains and allow the sun to filter inside your home. The sun can actually warm your house. At night, especially, when it is cold close your curtains to keep in your heat. Use insulated curtains.
6. Only cool and heat rooms that actually need it.
7. Lower your temperature levels a degree or two in the winter and make it a degree or two higher in the summer. You may not notice that small amount of difference, but your electric bill will.
8. In the middle of the summer, try to do most of your laudry in the early morning or evening. The humidity is lower and it is easier on your air conditioners.
9. Clean the back of your refrigerator where the coils are once in a while. Use a brush to remove the dust. Be sure to unplug your refrigerator while doing this.
10. Keep your refrigerator away from heated appliances such as dishwashers and heating ducts. If the refrigerator is near heat forces it will cause the refrigerator to work harder and thus run longer.
11. The more you have in your freezer, the less energy it needs to run. Just be sure not to block the freezer fan.
12. Save energy by washing your clothes in warm water instead of hot. You can also save energy by rinsing your clothes in the cold cycle. You can even wash many clothes in cold water today, by buying special detergents made for cold water.
13. Try to use the washer only when you have full loads.
14. Clean the filter on your dryer each and every time you use your dryer.
15. Repair any leaky faucets.
16. Don't always use your dishwasher. Wash your dishes by hand sometimes, especially if you don't have very many dishes to wash.
17. Turn lights off when not in use.
18. Don't leave lights on outside all night long. Put up motioned sensor lights instead.
19. Use your microwave more than you do your electric stove. A microwave will cook the food faster, thus saving energy in the long run.
20. Don't continually peek into the oven while you are using it. Each time you open the door you are losing about 25 degrees of temperatures.
If we all follow these tips on a regular basis, over time they will add up and save a huge amount of energy!
|
last - next
