Eco Green Tips

There is a new trend in green living out there, namely biodegradable plastic bags. At a first glance, it seems like an answer to our prayers—trash bags that break down in a certain period of time instead of ones that never go away. Or are they?

Conventional plastic is made from petroleum and is one of the materials that are extremely hard to get rid of, since plastic breaks down into toxic particles that pollute water and soil, thus finding their way into the food chain. Biodegradable plastic is supposed to decompose into water, carbon dioxide and biomass when exposed to heat and sunlight.

Two types of biodegradable trash bags are available on the market so far: bio-based, made from corn, sugarcane or potatoes and synthetic, mixed with additives that help the plastic disintegrate when exposed to heat, light and oxygen. The latter kind, however, is a bit problematic since it only ‘biodegrades’ when exposed to the elements and does not when buried underground. While the former is a much better option, both types of bags end up in the landfills and nothing breaks down 100% in an airtight landfill. Moreover, synthetic biodegradable trash bags contain additives that are harmful to animals if ingested. Despite the fact that biodegradable plastic bags are a better choice than conventional plastics, they are still not the best one.

So what can you do to reduce the burden of plastic bags in the landfills? First of all, compost your garbage if possible. A few American cities participate in composting trash and for that purpose biodegradable bags are a way to go. If, however, your trash is destined for landfills your best option are bags made of recycled plastic, for instance EarthSense Kitchen Trash Bags made from 70% recycled plastic and 10% post-consumer plastic or Seventh Generation Drawstring Tall Kitchen Trash Bags made from 45% recycled and 25% post-consumer plastics.

With the cost of electricity and heating oils on the rise, more and more people are looking into alternative sources of energy. And the solar power seems to be the best solution to the problem. With an increasing number of innovations coming to the market, it is becoming more affordable (if still somewhat on the expensive side) to upgrade to this new technology. However, if you cannot afford to invest into solar panel, there are other ways you can use the sun to your benefit.

Here are a few products worth looking into:

• Skylights—not only do they provide additional light, which will help you save on the electric bill, nowadays they also come in a large variety; one of which are tubular skylights that allow you to adjust the illumination factor with a dim switch.
• Solar Cookers—a great solution for outdoor cooking. These types of ovens heat up using solar power and allow you to boil, bake or steam in about half the time than conventional cookers. One product from Sun Ovens International even comes in a compact size for your camping activities.
• Attic Fans—the conventional variety is a good choice to begin with as it fans out the hot air that builds up in your attic and can save you up to 10% of the AC costs but a solar powered fan is the best option. Not only does it save you money on your electric bill by using solar power, it can also fan out about 1800 square feet of hot air.
• Water Heaters—although not inexpensive addition to you household upgrades, solar powered water heaters will save you a lot of money in a long run both on your electric and water bills. Some of the manufacturers offer a solar water preheating system that hooks up to your tank, which gives you the upgrade without having to implement a lot of other changes.
• Home Heating—whole house heating system are the most expensive green upgrade available (other than the solar panels) but there are other option on the market, for instance one-room heating systems. The panels can be set up on the side of the house and increase the temperature in a 150 square foot room by 15 to 20 degrees F. They come equipped with temperature controls, which allow you to set it up to the levels comfortable to you and overall will save you 20-30% on your electricity bills.

photo credit: Claire L. Evans

Trying to stay green and healthy should not end with recycling but also involve the cosmetics we use, be it make up or lotion and moisturizers. However, the long ingredient lists including names that are hardly pronounceable make choosing a safe cosmetic quite difficult. To make things easier for consumers, “The Green Guide” has developed a “Dirty Dozen” list, which contains ingredients you should avoid when purchasing a new personal care product.

The list is as follows:

1. Antibacterials
2. Coal tar colors: FD&C Blue 1, Green 3
3. Diethanolamine (DEA)
4. 1,4-Dioxane
5. Formaldehyde (diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaterniumcompounds)
6. Fragrance (containing phthalates)
7. Lead and mercury
8. Nanoparticles
9. Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl-, ethyl-, isobutyl-)
10. Petroleum distillates
11. p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)
12. Hydroquinone

Moreover, look for products with a third-party certification, such as Australian Certified Organic (at least 95% of ingredients must be organic), Ecocert (requires the ingredients to be plant-based, natural and without mineral oils, silicone, parabens or animal products), BDIH (require the use of plant-based ingredients, ban animal testing and synthetic dyes and fragrances, petroleum-based ingredients, parabens and other preservatives), USDA Certified Organic (at least 95% of ingredients are organic) and Leaping Bunny (no animal testing).

Another way of ensuring the cosmetics are safe for consumers is Compact for Safe Cosmetics, which requires companies that signed it to consent to six criteria established by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a consumer advocacy group. One of said criteria is removal of any and all ingredients listed in the European Union’s Cosmetics Directive, which is a mandatory regulation for all European cosmetic makers and bans over 1,000 ingredients, some of which include diethylhexyl phthalate (commonly used in fragrances in the US), petroleum and coal based paraffin and wax and lead. Some of the components listed in the directive are considered ‘safe for use’ by the American-based cosmetic trade groups while the EU regards them to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxins.

Additionally, the Compact demands that all ingredients be verified as safe and that manufacturers find healthy replacements for risk-posing components, register all the ingredients with the Environmental Working Group’s ‘Skin Deep’ database and make the complete list of product ingredients accessible to the public.

As a consumer, my only wish remains that more cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers were willing to follow these guidelines and sign Compact for Safe Cosmetics, which would ensure safety of each (or at least most) cosmetics you pick off the shelf in your local store. Perhaps one day…

photo credit: akeg

It is becoming increasingly vital to conserve water, especially in the hot and dry season. Unfortunately, dry spells only make things worse as people use up to 40% of their average water consumption outdoors (watering lawns, plants, washing cars, etc).

For those of us who are more environmentally conscious, there are a few things that can be done to maintain that lawn green and not waste water:

• Collect the rain water in a barrel connected to the gutter system. An inch of rain gathered on a 1000 square foot roof provides up to 600 gallons of fresh water.
• When purchasing a barrel, look for one with a mesh top to prevent debris from falling in, and a lid to stop mosquitoes and other insects from breeding in your water.
• For easier use, go for a barrel with a side valve so you can attach a hose to it.
• And since most barrels can hold up to 60 gallons of water, make sure that it is placed on an even and solid surface.

For more information on ways to conserve water in you house (inside and outside) and why it is so crucial, read my article entitled “Conserving Water is Vitally Important”

photo credit: (nutmeg)

There is a new and quite revolutionary utility device on the market and it is a tankless water heater, or as it is also known “demand” or “instantaneous” water heater. This type of heater is extremely effective (up to 34% more), mainly because it heats water as needed. The conventional heaters, on the other hand, keep water in and heat it repeatedly as it cools down. This contributes to around 9% of a household cost of water heating.

Moreover, the tankless heaters are water efficient as well, which is most likely the bets part about it since this precious natural resource is quickly drying up. They can distribute hot water into your faucet in as little as 5 seconds, as opposed to tank heaters that require at least 30 seconds. This leads to over 6 gallons of water wasted per household just waiting for the water to heat up.

As if that was not enough, these heaters last about ten years longer than the conventional ones and even though they do cost relatively more upfront, they pay for themselves in the long run.

What to look for while shopping for a new tankless water heater:

• Look for the highest Energy Factor (EF) available.
• Choose gas or propane powered heaters—these are more efficient and inexpensive in use than the electrical ones. However, purchase one with a electric ignition since the constant use of gas to keep the pilot lights going can add up to your bill.
• Learn the two crucial things when shopping for a tankless water heater, namely what the ground temperature in your area is and what  kind of water flow is best for your household needs, so the heater you choose can accommodate the necessary needs.