How to Green your Morning Cup of Coffee

Americans are going green in many ways, but when it comes to coffee, they’re still in the dark. According to a new independent survey, 67 percent of consumers who frequent coffee shops admit to discarding their used paper cups into a trash can. That’s 28 billion cups (100 million pounds of paper) every year that end up in landfills. That’s why home-brewed coffee is such a powerful alternative. Cutting out just one of those typical lattes each day and replacing it with a premium coffee you brew yourself will have a positive impact on the environment and your wallet.

The surprising results of the new study have become the foundation for Good Earth Coffee’s ‘Brew at Home’ Pledge campaign. Good Earth is encouraging coffee drinkers to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle and brew their coffee at home.

To help inspire coffee lovers to make this change, Good Earth will donate $1.00 for each online pledge they receive to The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit environmental organization. To sign the pledge online, visit www.goodearthcoffee.com.

Additionally, I've created some simple eco-coffee tips that will help all of us put more green in our morning cup.

Instructions

1. Buy organic coffee for health benefits and to protect the environment. Look for coffee bags that contain the USDA certified organic stamp.
2. Consider the packaging the coffee comes in: is it eco-friendly? Packaging that is recyclable or made from renewable resources can reduce the amount of fossil fuels used in the process.
3. For coffee on-the-go, always take a reusable mug filled with home brewed coffee – it will save time, money and the environment.
   

Tips & Warnings

• Save resources and energy by only using the amount of filtered water needed. For a great tasting cup of coffee, Good Earth Coffee recommends 1.5 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water.
• Try a French press: It makes great tasting coffee, uses very little energy, and doesn’t require a filter.
• If you do use coffee filters, buy the built-in reusable kind or ones that are made of non-bleached/recycled paper.
• Fill a coffee maker with filtered water as it has health benefits and improves the taste of the brew!
• Use coffee grounds as compost for yards and gardens. They are excellent plant growth accelerators.
• Use organic milk or cream when making home brewed coffee – it is better for the coffee drinker and the planet.
• Brewing at home can reduce gas, paper and plastic consumption all with one simple action!
  

How to Use Cornmeal as an Eco-Friendly, Chemical-Free Dry Shampoo for Dogs

Using an all-natural dry shampoo for cleaning your dog in between baths saves water, money and time, as well as limiting the chemicals that your dog comes in contact with and the amount of packaging waste you contribute to landfills.

You can save money, gas and time by limiting your dog's trips to the groomer, or save water and money while limiting your impact on the environment by extending the time between at-home baths and using fewer bottles of store-bought shampoos.

Things You'll Need

* Cornmeal (fine ground is best)
* Dog brush

1. Perform a skin test to ensure that your dog will not have a negative reaction to the cornmeal. This is unlikely, but it's always best to try any new product on a small area of skin first.

2. Sprinkle the fine ground cornmeal onto your dog's coat.

3. Massage the fine ground cornmeal through your dog's hair all the way down to his or her skin.

4. Leave the cornmeal as is for a few minutes to allow it to absorb odor and excess oils.

5. Brush your dog thoroughly to remove the cornmeal, dirt and hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful to avoid the eyes, nose and ears, as well as other sensitive areas.
• Although cornmeal is not typically an irritant, it's always best to test new products on a small patch of skin to make sure your dog will not have a negative reaction. -Mavyn

Dry Autumns And Winters May Lead To Fewer Tornadoes In The Spring

Global warming will likely mean more unpredictable weather, scientists say, and a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia pins down, possibly for the first time, how drought conditions in an area's fall and winter may effect tornado activity the following spring.

The study, published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters, is specific to Georgia and the Southeast, but further study could reveal patterns that might make this more general—including the already tornado-prone Great Plains.

"Our results suggest that there is a statistically significant reduction in tornado activity during a tornado season following drought the preceding fall and winter," said Marshall Shepherd, a meteorologist and lead author of the study. On the other hand, wet autumns and winters examined in the study had nearly twice as many spring tornado days as drought years did.

The research gives hope that one day meteorologists and climatologists may be able to predict the severity of a spring tornado season the way they now do for hurricanes. Other authors of the paper were Thomas Mote, also of the University of Georgia, and Dev Niyogi of Purdue University. Shepherd and Mote are in department of geography in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The genesis for the research was the severe Atlanta tornado in March 2008, and Shepherd's interest in how tornadoes form during severe drought years.

While such tools as Doppler radar have increased our ability to "see" tornadoes as they form, predicting a tornado season's potential severity has remained elusive. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected in 2007 that the frequency and severity of droughts may increase over time, but very little is known about drought conditions affect the frequency or intensity of severe weather hazards such as tornadoes.

To help understand how fall and winter weather might affect spring tornado seasons, the research team acquired the historical database of severe thunderstorms and tornado occurrences from 1951-2006 from the Storm Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They also analyzed storm data reports from the National Climactic Data Center and meteorological drought conditions using historical rain gauge and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Using a number of tools of scientific analysis, the team primarily focused on tornado activity from March-June in Georgia and the Southeast. What they found was shocking, Shepherd said, yet plausible.

On average, wet autumns and winters presaged nearly twice as many spring tornado days in the study area as prior drought seasons. Springs following wet winters and falls were also five to six times more likely to have multiple tornado days than antecedent drought years.

"We do not suggest that soil moisture or precipitation the previous fall and winter exert a direct control on which individual storms will spawn tornadoes," said Shepherd. "But these long-term seasonal relationships in the study area are striking."

Correlating historical records and tornado activity has been difficult at best for scientists over the years. For one thing, the National Weather Service did not implement its watch and warning system until the mid-1950s, and only with advent of advanced radar techniques and ground examination of storm sites have researchers been able to say categorically that a certain storm even was a tornado. Also, studies linking tornadic activity with the El Niño cycle have been contradictory.

While it clearly seems that wet falls and winters lead to more severe spring tornado seasons, antecedent seasonal drought scenarios in north Georgia were almost never associated with above-normal tornadic activity the following spring over the 50-years period of the study.

The results for north Georgia were essentially replicated for the larger region encompassing Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. For this entire region, a stunning 75 percent of years characterized by meteorological drought in falls and winters had below-normal tornado seasons in the spring.

While the new study, which was supported by grants from NASA, offers strong clues about how spring tornado seasons form, the authors urge caution in interpreting the findings until the analysis is repeated for other locations.

Just how the connection works between fall-winter rainfall and spring tornado seasons remains unclear. One possibility is that the atmosphere uses soil moisture "memory" from the fall and winter to modify conditions suitable for severe weather. A related hypothesis is related to "soil moisture" pockets and storm initiation.

The study, published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters, is specific to Georgia and the Southeast, but further study could reveal patterns that might make this more general—including the already tornado-prone Great Plains.

"Our results suggest that there is a statistically significant reduction in tornado activity during a tornado season following drought the preceding fall and winter," said Marshall Shepherd, a meteorologist and lead author of the study. On the other hand, wet autumns and winters examined in the study had nearly twice as many spring tornado days as drought years did.

The research gives hope that one day meteorologists and climatologists may be able to predict the severity of a spring tornado season the way they now do for hurricanes. Other authors of the paper were Thomas Mote, also of the University of Georgia, and Dev Niyogi of Purdue University. Shepherd and Mote are in department of geography in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The genesis for the research was the severe Atlanta tornado in March 2008, and Shepherd's interest in how tornadoes form during severe drought years.

While such tools as Doppler radar have increased our ability to "see" tornadoes as they form, predicting a tornado season's potential severity has remained elusive. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected in 2007 that the frequency and severity of droughts may increase over time, but very little is known about drought conditions affect the frequency or intensity of severe weather hazards such as tornadoes.

To help understand how fall and winter weather might affect spring tornado seasons, the research team acquired the historical database of severe thunderstorms and tornado occurrences from 1951-2006 from the Storm Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They also analyzed storm data reports from the National Climactic Data Center and meteorological drought conditions using historical rain gauge and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Using a number of tools of scientific analysis, the team primarily focused on tornado activity from March-June in Georgia and the Southeast. What they found was shocking, Shepherd said, yet plausible.

On average, wet autumns and winters presaged nearly twice as many spring tornado days in the study area as prior drought seasons. Springs following wet winters and falls were also five to six times more likely to have multiple tornado days than antecedent drought years.

"We do not suggest that soil moisture or precipitation the previous fall and winter exert a direct control on which individual storms will spawn tornadoes," said Shepherd. "But these long-term seasonal relationships in the study area are striking."

Correlating historical records and tornado activity has been difficult at best for scientists over the years. For one thing, the National Weather Service did not implement its watch and warning system until the mid-1950s, and only with advent of advanced radar techniques and ground examination of storm sites have researchers been able to say categorically that a certain storm even was a tornado. Also, studies linking tornadic activity with the El Niño cycle have been contradictory.

While it clearly seems that wet falls and winters lead to more severe spring tornado seasons, antecedent seasonal drought scenarios in north Georgia were almost never associated with above-normal tornadic activity the following spring over the 50-years period of the study.

The results for north Georgia were essentially replicated for the larger region encompassing Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. For this entire region, a stunning 75 percent of years characterized by meteorological drought in falls and winters had below-normal tornado seasons in the spring.

While the new study, which was supported by grants from NASA, offers strong clues about how spring tornado seasons form, the authors urge caution in interpreting the findings until the analysis is repeated for other locations.

Just how the connection works between fall-winter rainfall and spring tornado seasons remains unclear. One possibility is that the atmosphere uses soil moisture "memory" from the fall and winter to modify conditions suitable for severe weather. A related hypothesis is related to "soil moisture" pockets and storm initiation. -ScienceDaily

First Climate-based Model To Predict Dengue Fever Outbreaks

Dengue Fever (DF) and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) are the most important vector-borne viral diseases in the World. Around 50-100 million cases appear each year putting 2.5 billion people at risk of suffering this debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Dengue Fever is prevalent in the Tropics. For that reason, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Miami (UM) and the University of Costa Rica have used global climatological data and vegetation indices from Costa Rica, to predict Dengue outbreaks in the region.

The new model can predict Dengue Fever epidemics with 83% accuracy, up to 40 weeks in advance of an outbreak and provide information on the magnitude of future epidemics. The model can be expanded to include the broader region of Latin America and the Caribbean, where incidence and spread of the disease has increased dramatically over the past 25 years.

An early warning system to prevent and mitigate the spread of the disease can potentially be developed using this model, explained Douglas O. Fuller, associate professor and chair of the department of Geography and Regional Studies in the UM College of Arts and Sciences and principal investigator of this project.

"Such a tool will provide sufficient time for public health authorities to mobilize resources to step up vector control measures, alert at-risk populations to impending conditions and help health professionals plan for increased case loads," Fuller said.

Vector-born diseases, such DF and DHF, are ones in which the disease is transmitted from an infected individual to another by a biological agent. In the case of Dengue, one of four closely related Dengue viruses is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti or more rarely the Aedes albopictus mosquito, sometimes with other animals serving as intermediary hosts. Most of the world's population infected by Dengue (also known as "breakbone fever") is located in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe, where the weather is dominated by rainfall.

This project looks at climate and vegetation variables that have an impact on the mosquito populations in the American Tropics, such as El Niño Southern Oscillations, sea-surface temperatures and seasonal vegetation dynamics that affect evaporation and humidity near the ground.

"We were surprised that sea-surface temperature variations in the Pacific related to El Niño can be linked to a debilitating disease," Fuller said. "Now we see more clearly that global climate oscillations such as El Niño are important drivers of disease as well"

The study contributes to the rapidly emerging field of climate and infectious disease, which addresses increasing concerns that global warming, will exacerbate certain diseases like Dengue Fever and allow the vectors to spread to more temperate areas. The findings of this study were published earlier this year in the Institute of Physics journal Environmental Research Letters.

The model predicted a major Dengue epidemic of 2005 and has also been tested on data from Trinidad and Singapore with extremely accurate results, Fuller said. Other factors that may contribute to the increased occurrence of Dengue

Fever in the Tropics are: global trade, population growth and uncontrolled or unplanned urbanization. -ScienceDaily

How to make Organic Lipstick

Making your own cosmetics is not only cost effective, you get to control the ingredients! Here's how to make an Organic, Eco Friendly Lipstick or Lipgloss or both!

Things You'll Need:

* 3/8 Cup Organic Extra Virgin Olive
* 1 Tablespoon Jojoba OIl
* 1 Cup Organic Alkanet Root, dried
* 4 Tablespoons Organic Beeswax Granules or Grated Organic Beeswax
* 9 Drops Rose Essential Oil
* Double Boiler
* Cheesecloth or Muslin
* Small Lip pots or Balm jars

Intruction :

1. Heat gently the Olive & Jojoba in the top of a double boiler for about 10 minutes.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Add the Alkanet Root.
4. Steep for about 30 minutes, this will allow the Alkanet Root time to "give up" its lucious color.
5. Remove the double boiler from heat and wipe bottom, this helps ensure that you don't get any water into your mix.
6. Pour content into a jar that you've placed a piece of cheesecloth or muslin over the top of
   
7. Squeeze to get every last delectable drop of goodness!.
8. Now take the strained mixture and return it to the double boiler.
9. Add beeswax.
10. When beeswax has melted remove from heat.
11. Let mixture cool slightly.
12. Add Rose Essential Oil and gently stir after each drop.
13. Pour into sterilized lip pots or balm jars and ENJOY!.
    

Tips & Warnings

• Did you know that Jojoba isn't really an oil at all, but rather it is a wax? Yep it's true!If you'd like this to be a Lip Gloss, add just a bit more oil!.
• Remember that you aren't using any preservatives, so when you're not using your lipstick, place it in the fridge.
• Use a cotton tip or micro mini spatula, this will help keep fingers, which have germs on them, out of the pot. -wholearth

How to Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Pesticides

It's easy to make your own eco-friendly pesticides and fungicides. It's much cheaper and a safer alternative to chemical products. The ingredients are things you have around your house.

Things You'll Need:

* 2 tbsp. baking soda
* 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
* Water
* Castile soap
* Spray bottle
* Milk
* Beer (any kind)
* Apple cider vinegar

Intruction :

1. Mix 2 tbsp. baking soda, 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, and 1 pint of water in a spray bottle. Shake up and add 1 tbsp. castile soap. Spray on plant leaves and soil every 5 to 7 days to prevent fungus growth.
2. Fill a spray bottle with half milk and half water. Shake and spray on plants every 3 or 4 days. This prevents fungus growth.
3. Place beer in a shallow plate in your garden. The beer attracts slugs and drowns them.
4. Spray raw apple cider vinegar on leaves or on soil around plants. This prohibits mold growth or mildew. -Jecaplin, eHow
   

What to Look Out for in Eco Friendly Air Conditioners

Did you know that an air conditioning unit can omit 1.34lbs of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt hour used? By replacing older air conditioning units you could save several hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere each summer season. This will not only save the environment but also save you some green as well. You can save as much as $65 using a newer air conditioning unit verses an older air conditioning unit.

When you are looking for a new air conditioning unit you will need to first look for the proper size unit for your living space. The amount of space an air conditioning unit cools is measured in BTU's. BTU's stands for British Thermal Units. When you are looking for an air conditioning unit you will first need to decide the number of BTU's that the air conditioner will need to cool your living space. You can calculate the required BTU's by multiplying the square footage of the space by 10. You will then need to add 4,000 to that number. By choosing the proper size air conditioner for the space it will allow you to conserve energy. If you choose an air conditioner too large for the area or too small for the area then you will be causing unneeded drain on your electricity.

When looking for a new air conditioner unit you will also want to shop for one with an energy star approval on it. Energy Star approval is a label given to a product by the Environmental Protection Agency. This insures that the product is 10 percent more efficient than what is required by the minimum federal standards.

You will also want to look for a unit that can dehumidify the air as well if you live in a humid climate. By using an air conditioner that dehumidifies the air you will be able to make the environment more comfortable by reducing the humidity. This will allow you to keep the air conditioner at a lower setting and still feel comfortable.

You can also be eco friendly when using your new air conditioner as well. Use your air conditioner wisely to reduce electric bills as well as reducing the CO2 emissions caused by the use of electricity. By setting your air conditioner to a lower setting making it comparable to the temperatures outdoors rather than what you want it to feel like. This will make going outdoors during the summer months more enjoyable as well. Use the fan only option on the air conditioner at night to reduce the amount of electricity you use.

Many air conditioners also come with a recirculation option. This allows the air that has already been cooled to be recirculated around your home. You should have your air conditioning unit properly installed and sealed around the area to ensure you do not have cool air leaking outside. Finally be sure to clean and check the filters on your air conditioning unit regularly. Many air conditioners only need to be cleaned every 3 months but depending on the area you live in you may need to clean it as often as every month. This will help keep your air conditioning running more efficiently as well as keep you and your family more healthy.

Keeping you home cool during the summer can be a life safer but can also be dangerous on the environment. By keeping energy cost low and using the most efficient units possible you can not only save money on energy cost but also save the environment while keeping cool. Be sure to recycle your old air conditioning units. There are even some governments that will give rebates for old air conditioning units that are turned in.This program can save you as much as $75 per unit you replace. -Stephen Haworth

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in an Eco-Friendly Way

You don't have to be a messy housekeeper to encounter bed bugs. Bed Bug infestations are on the rise all over the country! These critters are easily "picked up" from a variety of locations such as; foreign and domestic airline travel (seats, carpeting and luggage cargo holds), mass transportation such as buses and trains, at hotels/motels and other similar places. If you find you are fighting this irritating biting insect in your home, here are 3 easy steps to safely and completely eradicate these critters from between your sheets!

1.Place all bedding in a sink, basin or washing machine to soak in warm water and 3 ounces of enzyme cleaner (such as SporiCLEAN) for 2 hours. Gently agitate and mix the bedding around every 30 minutes or so.

2.Thoroughly spray the mattress, box-springs, bed frames, pillows, and surrounding furniture - underneath and behind. Be extra sure that you spray all carpeting and carpets (especially where the carpeting meets the wall) and spray all cracks and crevices in baseboards, with a solution of 4 ounces of enzyme cleaner (such as SporiCLEAN) into 1-gallon of warm water. Pour this mixture into a hand-pump garden type sprayer and spray the above locations as described. Simply allow it to air dry.

3.Wash all clothing and bedding completely in your washing machine and add 1-ounce of enzyme cleaner (such as SporiCLEAN) to the wash water. NOTE: Please do not add any chemical laundry detergents to the wash load - it is not necessary as the enzymes contain all the cleaning and deodorizing power you will need.

Things You'll Need: * Spray bottle * Washing Machine * Warm Water * 1 quart Enzyme Cleaner (such as SporiCLEAN to make 8 gallons of solution - enough to spray up to 1,000 sq. ft.)

by Kjams eHow

Eco-friendly Way to Clean a Refrigerator

We have all done it; put some leftover fish or meat in the refrigerator and forgot it was there. Oh, the smell those leftovers can provoke! Removing those types of smells can seem to be a difficult, if not impossible task.

Following these simple suggestions will eliminate those odors. Even if you have left the refrigerator door open and all the food is rotten inside, these tricks will return your refrigerator to that new smell. No longer will the stench of rotten meat greet you when you open the door.

The first order of business is to remove everything that is in the refrigerator. This is a good time to check the labels on everything for an expiration date. Throw away all the expired and spoiled foods.

This would be a good time to learn about composting and what food products can be added to a compost pile. Spoiled vegetables could be added to a compost system, but it is not advisable to add spoiled meat.

Spoiled food contains all sorts of microorganisms, so be sure and wash your hands thoroughly after handling anything spoiled.

Place anything that is still edible into a cooler to keep it cold while you clean the refrigerator. If you think the items will be out for a while, add ice to the cooler.

Start by removing and cleaning all the shelves and drawers. In most refrigerators, they come out easily and can be cleaned in the sink. Just remember to mark them so you know how they go back into the refrigerator. Always use eco-friendly cleaning products. Harsh chemicals have no place in a refrigerator.

Check for panels that are removable, often times food drips lurk behind these panels. Wipe down all the walls and floors of the refrigerator, even the hard to reach areas.

If you have an especially strong odor in the refrigerator, purchasing freshly ground coffee or activated charcoal may help. The use of activated charcoal is a long standing method of removing odors, but use it with caution; it may stain your refrigerator.

Newspaper is also often used as an odor absorbent, so place a layer of newspaper on the refrigerator shelf and then spread the freshly ground coffee or charcoal on a tray on top of the newspaper. Close your refrigerator door, and leave it closed for at least 24 to 48 hours.

After that time, discard the charcoal or coffee. Coffee grinds and activated charcoal (not the type of charcoal used for barbeque grills) are great for the garden, so be sure and compost them.

Replace the food into the refrigerator, as the smell should have been removed. Go to the grocery store and purchase a box of baking soda. Open the top of the box and place it in your refrigerator. This will also help remove odors. Replace the box monthly or as recommended on the manufacturer's label.

Some other natural products that will help with the smell are lemons, or fresh lavender or eucalyptus leaves. These products will leave your refrigerator with a natural earthy scent.

When leaving your refrigerator for an extended length of time, clean the refrigerator after removing all the food. The last thing you need to do is leave food to spoil in a refrigerator without power.

Always leave the refrigerator door open a bit when leaving it unplugged for a long time. Placing a towel over the open door will keep it from being shut accidently, and trapping moisture inside. Even a clean refrigerator will begin to smell if it gets warm inside and the door is closed.

To keep you refrigerator smelling good, always use sealed containers to store food. You will also want to make it a habit to regularly check the expiration dates on food goods so they don't hang around after they are expired. Always date food that you put in the refrigerator so you don't forget how long they have been in there. Don't rely on your memory.

Here is another trick to consider if you are leaving your refrigerator running for an extended time while you are away. Place a bowl of loose ice cubes in the freezer. When you return home, check that the ice is still in cube shapes. If they have melted, you may have had an extended power failure and the food you left in the refrigerator is most likely spoiled. -Beverly Saltonstall

Eco-friendly Furniture - Recycling the Old and in With the Bamboo

We’re currently living in a day and age where the ecology of our planet is becoming a very important issue in everyday life. The way we use and re-use our resources as well as how we manage our homes and lives in green culture provides us an opportunity to make choices in helping to promote a cleaner healthier planet. Part of those choices stem from using more energy efficient light bulbs. Recycling our plastics and paper. Even making choices about the furniture we purchase. In this article we’ll take a look at some things we can do to recycle and re-use our older furniture as well as some tips on eco-friendly furniture products.

When purchasing new furniture or beds we often need to think about the furniture being replaced as part of the circle in promoting good ecological habits. There are several options that we can use to recycle or re-use your old furniture.

1.) Consider donating your furniture. Businesses like the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries puts your older furniture back into circulation for others to use. The proceeds they generate from your furniture in turn helps to provide jobs and allows your furniture to find new life with a new family.

2.) Recycle your furniture. Wood furniture “can” be recycled at your local recycling center. There are also many local authorities who can assist in helping you to safely dispose of your furniture for recycling.

3.) Offer it to your family or friends. Your older furniture may be in tip top shape and if that’s the case you may still have sentimental feelings towards it and want to keep it in the family. If that is the case you can offer it to those you know who may have a need for the furniture.

4.) Try selling it. Many times your furniture may hold good resale value if it is a name brand or high-end piece of furniture. If that is the case why not sell it in a local newspaper ad or try selling it through online auctions like ebay or other online marketplaces.

Many of the options above give the added benefit of the furniture being safely and responsibly recycled or re-used which is an important step before shopping for new furniture and creating good eco-friendly habits. We need to avoid having older furniture added to landfills and we should make every effort to find a safe means of recycling our older furniture. After you’ve made arrangements to have your older furniture recycled or re-used you’ll want to start looking at some alternatives available in eco-friendly materials for furniture. There are many options available in furniture but one such material is becoming quite popular in green furniture. It’s called bamboo.

Bamboo is an interesting ecological friendly choice for a wide variety of products. What makes this product considered a green choice in furniture though is the process through which it is harvested and replanted. Many believe bamboo is a type of wood but it actually is classified as a grass. From the time it is seeded to the time it reaches maturity for harvesting is approximately 5-7 years. The stalk of the bamboo hardens and becomes tighter (harder than maple wood) which is then harvested and processed into a variety of products including boards which can be used for building and construction. It can be reseeded once harvested in as little as three months and because bamboo grows so quickly often reaching heights of 70 feet tall, this replenishment is quick with little to no impact on the environment.

Many domestic hardwoods like oak or ash do make great choices for furniture. In this modern age of resource conscious ecological living though many of us recognize that once an oak or ash tree is harvested it takes almost 40-45 years for a new one to be planted and grown to maturity. Many lumber companies do act responsibly with their cutting and harvesting of those trees but the maturity. However, if alternatives exist (like bamboo) and can be used in certain types of furniture in place of other woods then we should consider those resources ahead of others. Bamboo beds, nightstands, dressers and bookcases are just some of the many pieces of furniture made from this plant. The bamboo plant is even used in making fabric which is used in many types of mattress coverings.

In this article we looked at the two aspects of purchasing new furniture. We examined the responsibilities of what we should do with the older furniture. In the way of donating it, recycling it, giving it away or selling it. Doing these things allows our older furniture to be recycled and re-used creating a positive environmental impact. When getting ready to find new furniture we explored alternatives to domestic woods in the way of bamboo. Bamboo is fast growing, can be reseeded in less than three months after harvesting and provides material even harder than maple. Bamboo is a positive resource for eco-friendly furniture and if it is an available option should be considered ahead of other products. These suggested practices are not only good for you and others but for our environment as well. -Phil Pendleton

5 Eco-Friendly Dates

Have you considered an eco-friendly date?

I just read that the northern Gulf of Mexico, my favorite body of water, has a dead zone around the Texas and Louisiana border. Its an area so devoid of oxygen it can no longer sustain life. Fish have left the area. This news was a shock but it got me to thinking about ways I could "go green" in support of the planet. I'm planning a date for the weekend, so I decided the best place to start is with my dating life.

If you're looking for something different to do on a date try one or all of these five eco-friendly date ideas.

1. Plant A Tree

Plant a tree sapling at your home or your dates home. Or you can plant one for local seniors in your area or at the youth center. You can pick up a tree sapling at your local nursery or home improvement store. Don't add any pressure. It doesn?t have to symbolize the start of a great relationship. But it could.

2. Pick Your Own Fruit

Picking your own apples, strawberries or pumpkins is a great way to spend a morning. Then go home and make a delicious dish with your healthy treasure. Make the recipe together for further bonding. Ideas include apple pie, strawberry shortcake, pumpkin bread ?its all good. Visit a local farm within an hour drive from your city.

3. Visit the Farmer's Market

If going to the farm is not convenient, go to a farmer's market instead and shop for organic food. Try a new wine, bread and cheese. Then go to the park for a picnic or home to cook a healthy dinner for two.

4. Paddle The Water

Another eco-friendly date idea is to spend time on the water. Head out to the lake, rent a kayak for two, and paddle downstream. Enjoy the beauty of nature, the chirping of the birds, and each other. Take lunch in a waterproof container for an impromptu picnic.

5. Bike The Trail

Bikes not only don't pollute the air, they also help build a healthy heart and strong legs. There are many bike trails you can choose from in local parks, rails to trails, or just in your neighborhood. A good information source is, Rails to Trails. Visit www.traillink.com.

My date and I decided to bike to the Farmer's market. We bought seafood and veggies for stir fry. Then we took it all to his place to christen his brand new Wok. It was a wonderful day. -Donna Beasley

Eco Friendly Thermocellit Block Build System

Eco friendly property construction using Thermocellit blocks. Save money, save time and save energy!!

ThermoCellit honeycombed clay blocks are made from fired clay and have a honeycomb cross-section. The external walls of your property can be built rapidly with this single skin eco friendly build system which replaces conventional cavity walls. These thermocellit honeycombed clay blocks combine rapid build time with moisture protection, noise and thermal insulation all in one.

The large block size, coupled with the fact that cavity wall construction is no longer required to satisfy the Building Regulations, means that buildings can be much more rapidly built.

The blocks are laid with a horizontal mortar joint 8-12mm thick using a special light weight mortar.

Vertical joints are tongue and grooved and need no mortar. The ThermoCellit range includes special blocks for windows and corners, and lintels.

Internal walls can also be built with Cellit blocks.

The main and obvious advantages gained by using Thermocellit build blocks are rapid build times and more importantly the eco friendliness of the system along with the following:

• Easy to plan wall layout
• Easy to use
• Blocks can be cut
• No mortar is needed in the vertical joints due to a tongue and grooved edge, reducing mortar use by up to 40%.
• Very little thermal movement results in less cracking and better building resale values
• Surface fixings compare favourably with conventional masonry construction
• The blocks are very strong and have a high impact resistance

The large block size, which allows rapid construction coupled with excellent thermal properties, makes this a very eco friendly build system and is becoming very popular. We are already in the process of building 5 properties with this system. See our web site: www.1st2spain.com. There are several great external and internal finishes available. We use Mona Capa which is the best suited for Spanish climate in our opinion.

#ThermoCellit block

• Height 240 mm Length 260 mm Thickness 300 / 365 mm Weight 162 / 197 kg/m² respectively
• Vapour diffusion resistance, ? 4 U-value with external render and internal plaster 0.36/0.30 W/m²K respectively
  
• Crushing strength of Thermocellit wall 4 N/mm²
• Sound reduction (with render + plaster finishes) 48 / 51 dB respectively

#Cellit block

• Height 240 mm Length 400 mm Thickness 100 / 125 / 150 mm Weight 74 / 90 / 108 kg/m²
• Crushing strength of Cellit wall 4 N/mm²
• Sound reduction (plaster both sides) 47 dB (125 block)
• Mortar 30 kg bag (mixed with 10 litres water makes 30 litres wet mortar). Sufficient for 1.00 m² of 300 mm wall and 0.80 m² of 365 mm wall at 8-12 mm mortar joint thickness.
  

#Maintenance

• No maintenance required.
• Humidity and condensation
• High protection against dampness penetration and the formation of condensation.
• Acoustic Insulation
• Good results are easily achieved.
• Quality of living environment
• Healthier living environment is assured by the lack of dampness, the good insulation values and the resistance against biological growth.
  

#Air quality

• The clay blocks do not contain pollutants such as fibres, organic airborne materials (benzene, toluene, solvents, ethers), formaldehyde and so on (there are about 100 possible pollutants in organic airborne materials such as PFA). No fungicides or insecticides are present and no radioactive components.

#Recyclability

• Thermocellit clay building blocks are totally recyclable.

-K.Towers

Eco Friendly Shopping Bags – Alternatives are Available

The polyethylene shopping bag had its fifteen minutes of fame a decade or so back, when they were he perfect replacement for paper bags. Paper bags ripped easily, came apart when they got wet and also were increasing in price at an alarming rate. Then slowly people all over the globe began to notice something strange. Polyethylene shopping bags were becoming a litter nuisance that just wouldn't go away. Bags would lodge in fences storm drains and crevices and could stay there for years, unless someone took the time to remove them.

A New Public Awareness

The public began to become aware of other things as well that shone a bad light on their technological wonder shopping bags. One of those shocking facts that has come to light, is that they take up to a thousand years to break down in landfills and release extremely toxic chemicals into the environment as they do.

Shoppers Prefer Eco Friendly Shopping Bags

With landfills across the world now being tapped as as source for natural methane gas to provide energy, this is a real problem that is only going to get worse as time progresses. So, now eco friendly shopping bags are looking like the next act to score a hit. The good news is that the public is aware of them prefer to shop at stores that use them.

Great Promotion

This means that stores that use eco friendly shopping bags with advertising printed on them get twice the advertising bang for their buck. Once for their advertising message and then again, because the bag is eco friendly which of course would be discreetly printed on the bottom of the bag.

Read Up On Plastics

So while there is a wide choice of eco friendly shopping bags now available that are made from “organic based” plastics, the race is on to develop even newer technologies in eco friendly shopping bags. So, before you make your final selection on any biodegradable plastic bags it is highly recommended that you read up on “plastics” a bit online. -Tanya Faddelstein

How to Increase Your Cat's Health

Cat's toxic loads are higher than humans. Take care of your cat by keeping them away from toxins as much as you can. There is an estimated 10 Million tons of waste from cats and dogs annually. Bagged waste will not pollute the land fills as much as unbagged. By making their toys without toxins, naturally getting rid of fleas and some other tips we can make them eco-friendly.

1. Make their toys.

Be careful with pet toys, alot are made with lead and cadmium which is harmful to animals who chew on their toys. Use organic cotton or wool material. By taking a old pair of jeans or something durable that will hold up to their teeth and sewing it up with cotton stuffing inside will be a natural toy. Or you can take socks and stuff the sock and make designs on the outside, tie the top into a knot. Sprinkle catnip on their scratching post.

2. Feed organic food.

Besides all the pet food scares, be careful of cat food mixed with hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic fertilizers. Buy USDA pet nosh which meet the standards as certified organic human food. Cats process raw food better than cooked food. By feeding them healthy foods it keeps their tolerance up against worms.

3. Properly pitch poop.

There are special enzymes you can mix with the poop to convert into a safe fertilizer. Biodegradable bags made from cornstarch plastic or liners prevent the bag from breaking down too fast at a landfill. Or for the pooper spot line it with chemical-free, wheat based Swheat scoop litter. To avoid odors dust with baking soda.

4. Keep from fleas.

The flea collars are worse than the bugs they try to keep away.
The collars on the market contain unsafe chemicals not good for children, people who sleep with their cats, kiss, rub and more.

Sprinkle brewers yeast, garlic, and flaxseed into your cat's food. Fleas don't like lavender, mint, rosemary, and cedar. You can tie a bandana with these herbs around their neck, or rub the dry herbs into their coats. If you do have fleas in your carpet sprinkle with boric acid salts.
This will definitely make your cat eco-friendly.

Things You'll Need: * Organic pet nosh * Organic catnip * sock * Wool stuffed mouse * boric acid salts * garlic * flaxseed * biodegrable bags or BioBags -Zahzel eHow

3 Eco-friendly Tips for Pet Owners

Trying to live an eco-friendly lifestyle can be an annoying task at times, but there are many simple steps you can take to start. Truth is it is easier to go “green” with your pets in mind than it is yourself, so take advantage of the ease of doing so. Here are three easy changes that you can make today:

Change your cat's litter. I know you do this anyway, but I mean for good. Most cat litters are made from clay-based materials. Choose an organic cat litter and decrease the amount of non-biodegradable waste from your feline friend.

Fur-Zoff. Fur-what? A Fur-Zoff. It is an eco-friendly tool used to clean pet hair from fabrics. It is made from recycled materials and it lasts forever. A Fur-Zoff is a much better option for pet hair removal than wasting money and resources on lint rollers or other similar products. At $9.99, a Fur-Zoff will save you hundreds of dollars over the years (and thousands of lint roller papers!). FurZoff.net

Recycled pet toys. This is something you can get creative with if you want. Some people make their own pet toys with “junk” in their garages, or if that’s not for you, check out greatgreenpet.com. They have reviews on many eco-friendly pet toys.

These are just three of the many steps that you can take to lead a green lifestyle with your pets in mind. Take the time to make the changes now and you’ll find it will make your life easier in the long-run, as you will see the benefits of eco-friendly pet products. -Robert Chambers

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Wrap Gifts

When everyone on the earth is screaming green, how can an artistic mind remain untouched by the movement. So, if you are that creative person who loves to wrap gifts in unique ways, just be a little more aware and think of some eco-friendly ways to wrap your gifts. Save the earth and be proud of it! Here are some ways to go eco-friendly with gift wrapping, rest you can think yourself, the creative man as you are!

1. Find Corporate Gift Companies with Eco-friendly Wrapping Process
If you are thinking of wrapping up the most awaited corporate gifts, find a brand or company that will use recycled paper gift bags or even jute gift pouches to wrap up these gifts. Take help of Internet, search and search more - demands will sure make these companies adhere to your requirements.

2. Make Daily-Use Items Your Gift Wraps
Utilize your money as also your efforts buying daily use items such as pillow covers, beach towels, decorative bed sheets or organic cloth bags that can be creatively used to wrap up the gifts. This way, gifts as well as the wrappers can be use- double bonanza- did you say!

3. Reuse the Brown Bags, Holiday Gift Bags and Gift Wrappers
Next time, you get a gift, ensure you don't throw away the gift wrapping bags or papers. Store them. Reuse them to wrap the gifts you'll give away to your loved ones. If you don't like the idea of using brown paper bags, just try your hands on finger painting or stamp painting (make stamps with as common a thing as erasers and potatoes). Dip your fingers or stamps in paints and make beautiful designs on the brown paper bags. Now use them for gift wrapping.

4. Unique Gift Tags made from Old Business Cards
Need gift tags to scribe on? Just get hold of some old business cards. Take two of them at a time and glue them on the printed sides with craft glue. Tie a string using the unused wool yarn or ribbon lying around, by punching a hole on the tag. Paint or paste some interesting graphics on the tag and now write whatever your heart wishes to communicate to the gift receiver.

5. Don't just Wrap up the Attractive Containers
The manufacturers so interestedly choose and make the designs of their containers. Why waste all the efforts. Let them be attractive as they are. If giving something like cookies or chocolates, fill them in attractive bowls with lid – great gift container. Buy a watering can and fill it with gardening supply for your nature loving friend- he'll sure like the gift as well as the gift holder. If they don't give the looks of a gift like this, just tie a ribbon or a scarf in an innovative style around the container, hang a gift tag made of old business card and just give it away.

Don't forget to attach a note with each gift to explain what you have done. Personalize them with tiny paintings, messages and crochet touches, etc. Also request the recipient to recycle or reuse your wrap. It's their turn to save earth now! -Jeff A Hardy

"Green" Memory Foam, Eco Friendly or Not?

Eco Sense memory foam is the new kid in town when it comes to "green" foam technology. Casting one of the lowest carbon footprint of any other foam made in North America this 100% castor plant based foam is much different than other so called "green memory foam" because those are soy based foams.

I've been screaming about the health issues that have been reported over and over again with typical tempur-type memory foams for years now. For that reason my company decided to specialize in latex foam mattresses which are all natural in design. Latex foam has always been dwarfed by the huge demand for memory foam thanks to the late night marketing efforts of those Swedish foam manufacturers. All one has to do is www.google.com memory foam complaints and there will be thousands to choose from.

Finally someone has answered the bell and came out swinging. As we all know, memory foam is hot to sleep on. The air gets trapped and reflects your body heat back at you. Great if you live in Alaska. Not so great if you live in Phoenix like myself. The other big complaint is the smell. Overwhelmed by the petrochemicals that have been trapped inside the plastic and carton will you be when your new bed is delivered. Most memory foam manufacturers will warn you to let it air out for a couple of days before sleeping on it. WHAT? The new Eco Sense memory foam has none of those drawbacks but yet retains all the benefits memory foam lovers have come to expect.

This new eco-friendly memory foam is made of 100% castor plant which grows in semi-arid regions like Africa. The by-products are used to feed hungry cattle in those areas. It is manufactured in facilities using activated carbon scrubbers which leaves one of the smallest carbon footprints in North America. When soy based foams were introduced everyone was quick to claim this as the answer to "green foam" technology. Soy is one of Brazil's largest exports and to make room for more crops they are destroying the rain forests! Where's the eco-friendliness in that?

So now this new kid on the block, Eco Sense, is not only truly eco-friendly but also odorless and non-toxic. 3 kinds of cooling is what realy makes this product so cool, pardon the pun. Dynamic Cooling, natural open-cell structure for flowing air movement my convection, allowing the bed to breathe and thus staying cooler. Latent Cooling, foam absorbs heat to foster more comfortable sleep. Greater heat conductivity, reduces heat capacity in mattress.

Lastly, add in a 100% natural bamboo fiber cover and you have THE most eco-friendly memory foam mattress on the planet. The cover is anti-microbial, resists bacteria, dust mites and fungi, and is 100% biodegradable. It is 4 times more absorbant than cotton which means it will wick away moisture for a more comfortable sleep. Bamboo fibers are also softer than cotton and yet stronger than synthetics. This is NOT your mothers hot, toxic, tempur-type memory foam mattress. A new dawn has arrived in the mattress world. -Ken Hightower

Eco-friendly Stationery

The greening of education!

Heard the entire hullabaloo about pollution and its adversity? It's a hot topic since a few years. Naturally, if the common man is experiencing the tribulations, he's bound to get restless. But how much is it affecting? People just talk and then forget about the current issue on pollution. It isn't their fault. There are not many ways to curb the problems since we are all at the mercy of the sci-fi encroachments. But, just by being conscious about the immediate repercussions around us will make no difference. We have to find ways to waste management before situation gets unmanageable.

'Go Green'- save Mother Earth! If you have options to replace synthetics with biodegradable materials, implement. Implement, so that you set an example for your spawn that's constantly imitating your actions. Introduce Eco-friendly stationery items to your children; contribute towards restoring balance in nature. Manufacturers from India and around the world come up with new, innovative, Eco-friendly stationery items. They are believed to be very artistic and beautiful. Many of them look simply trendy. Eco-centric stationery products certainly grab the attention of toddlers, grown up kids as well as adults.

The first time you introduce your pre-school child to the world of education - educate him to love and care for Mother Nature. Lay Eco-friendly pencils in his hands. These pencils are pretty much in demand today. They look marvelous and convey concern for the environment. Such writing instruments are usually made of surplus timber pieces or scrap wood, renewable plantation wood, reprocessed cardboard, recycled paper or recycled synthetics and non-toxic polymer with natural fillers. Moreover, lead is replaced with graphite, thus, making the pencils absolutely safe for the children to use. However, 'green pencils' made out of recycled paper are most appropriate to use. The process of manufacturing 'greenciles' can curb the concern of deforestation.

Writing can be fun! The makers of stationery very well know the dynamics of attracting the toddler and the young clan. So that children opt for environment-friendly pencils and leave behind the ordinary ones, the producers offer pencils that emit fragrance. They are popularly known as 'smencils'. Sniffing fragrance of your choice teamed up with writing can be really interesting, amusing. Smencils are infused with Eco-centric fragrant liquids that further contribute in saving the planet. These scented pencils are usually made out of recycled newspapers and they sharpen just like the usual wood pencil.

The pen gourmet does not need to feel a run down. Scents are not limited to pencils only. Scented pens too, are in fashion. Scented pens are instilled with natural or artificial scents. However, the naturally scented pens are non-toxic, Eco-friendly. Scented pens are available in a variety of fragrances to charm the pen-users. Flowery scents, flavored aromas, fruity whiffs and so on. Innovations truly, have no end. 'Aroma-writes scented pens' depict flowery scents whenever you write. Now these varied scents produce soothing aromas that are good for your senses-they offer aromatherapy in a pen! Eco-friendly scented pens are indeed, one of the newest features available amongst writing instruments.

Happy Painting! The Eco-friendly stationery furore goes a long way. It's not just about pens and pencils. 'Back to school' supply producers from around the world have Eco-centric options for art materials too. Eco-colors are very safe for toddlers and small kids. Plus, these colors do justice to our planet. Eco-friendly color pencils finger and face paints, organic paints, color crayons made of soybean and beeswax and walnut oil paints are few of the many assortment art supplies that can replace the conventional art tools. When you want to clean your paint brushes, think Eco-centric again. Because you still have an environ-friendly option - the extra mild citrus thinner that substitutes other corrosive options. Keep the planet green while you paint it with rainbow!

Paper- Safeguards Nature! Feel close to nature with handcrafted paper. The variety is innumerable, fascinating and so ethnic. In fact, manufacturing handmade paper is native to India, by and large. And now a day such crafted papers are gaining significance especially amongst people who have the knowledge about Eco-friendly stationery and also the lovers of art. Moreover, the entrepreneurs too are creating awareness about consumption of Eco-centric goods instead of products that destroy the balance in nature.

It is interesting to learn that paper can be made out of many other plant resources leaving behind the virgin trees. One of the methods of making handmade paper is cooking of jute and cotton waste, then beaten, refined, bleached and then hand-painted. Handmade papers are made out of numerous other raw materials such as kenaf -a fibrous plant related to cotton and okra, silk, flowers' petals, husk, grass, bagasse (dried straw), wool, banana, banana fiber, hemp and rice. Think of the appearance when handmade paper can be made from such colorful raw materials! Handmade papers are gaining momentum because of its beautiful outcome after the production and this factor alone is drawing attention of a lot of Eco-fanatics around the world.

Nearly half the trees presently produced are used to make paper! How about exploiting elephant dung instead of cutting down virgin trees? There is no necessity of worrying about the dung supplies. Elephants defecate 16 times a day! Their diet is fibrous and their digestive system is not so great and they pooh about 500 pounds a day. The paper made out of elephant dung or muck is made of about 75% elephant feces and 25% recycled rice paddy, colored with non-toxic soil dyes instead of bleaches or chemical additives. The best part is, this paper does not stink at all plus it can be recycled and composted.

Innovative handcrafted papers can be used for craftwork at school, wrapping purposes. The notebooks and scrapbooks too can be handmade. The decorative Eco-friendly papers are often ornamented with peepul leaves; motifs of pressed flowers, etc. that simply bring out the magnetism that the handcrafted papers spill. Children can use this vintage papery for making crafts, origami, greeting cards, wraps and covers of books. Thus, their world of arts and crafts will be colorful and Eco-friendly.

Eco-centric papers, especially recycled ones are now a day commonly used for making notebooks, textbooks & binders. Manufacturers in India and around the world are also creating consciousness and distributing earth-friendly books.

Eco-friendly stationery, especially handmade paper faces one drawback. Since the production includes much more skill and artistry than the usual papermaking technique, the cost of the end result is a little higher than the regular ones. This pinches the pockets of the users and, handmade paper seems to be more of an expensive stationery item. But depletion of forests is a matter of concern and in midst of this critical phase, handmade paper and stationery prove to be blissful.

Ingenious ideas! Ever given a thought about Eco-friendly pen-cases? Pen cases are made of recycled car tyres to avoid using wood of virgin trees or PVC. These pen cases are ideal for school, home or office requirements. Attractive colored prints on the black surface make it look more pleasing. The car tyres that otherwise end up on landfills, are used here for handy pretty pouches large enough and smart enough to carry to school or to the office. Mouse mats too can be made out of recycled car tyres. A remark such as "I used to be a car tyre" on the pouch or the mouse-mat, further signifies environment-friendly implications.

Going back to the ancient times, glues were prepared at home- the famous flour and water solution. But as science evolved, natural substances were replaced with synthetic adhesives. However, it's our earnest responsibility to get back the lost equilibrium in the nature by contributing as much as we can. If we can now restore synthetic adhesives with 100% vegan glues that do not contain animal or synthetic sources. Bio-adhesives bond as much as any other non-Eco-friendly adhesives do. Eco-erasers made of 100 % rubber have also replaced synthetic erasers.

Stapling the Eco-friendly way! An Eco-stapler is the newest of earth-friendly stationery supplies. A pocketsize wonder, this stapler clips up to 5 pages by cutting and folding action while you clip. It is helpful for fastening cheques to payment slips besides using at home, school and office. With Eco-stapler you never run out of staples because its staple-less and you save a lot of metal going waste.

Eco-electronics! The era has begun where natural substitutes took the place of artificial options. Water powered clocks and calculators can be used at home, school and office-they are non-messy for children's study room or their desktop. These aqua-electronics do not require electricity or batteries, just tap water to function.

You can't expect your child to study all through the day. Give them toys that are earth-friendly so that you imbibe the habit of using recyclable products in them forever. Toys that are made out of recyclable materials, and work on solar power are the best way to keep away from contaminating environment. For instance, sports balls are made of sustainable sourced latex that does not harm the ecosystem.

Eco-savvy trading! With forests dwindling and that we live under threat, every contribution helps. Renewable products are gaining momentum recently. However, the sector of recycling scrap and making handicrafts is scattered, unorganized in India and not many people know about the uses of Eco-friendly and recycled products. Moreover, the small-scale industries are the players, which lead to lack of complete publicity amongst the end-users.

Nevertheless, handcrafted articles are much in fashion today. Probably there's a limit to facing an artificial atmosphere for a prolonged time. Lately, handmade articles are creating a huge impact on people, especially for their articulate designs, beauty and freshness. Plus, after so much chaos about cutting down of trees, people try contributing to restoring natural environment. Such a modest act has become more of a trend. So the producers can see a ray of light in regards to growing in this sector. -Minesh Modi

Eco Home Give it an Artistic Touch

Eco home, is slowly gaining its importance of late, due to its cost effectiveness. An eco friendly home is other wise shortly known as eco home as its built keeping in mind the environmental factors, with its prime intention of environmental conservation. It is in the welfare of the nature and environment causing no harm to the environmental balance. In complete tandem with the environment to put it in simple words.

Making use of building materials which uphold the concept of nature and environment, and causes no harm to the environment at any given time. It is not only environment friendly, but is cost effective and gives a very homely and cosy feeling to your house. With an additional aesthetic appeal to the building. Also considered is the fuel, which is less harmful and leaves no fumes in the environment and plastic that won't decompose in the environment if thrown away, if used it will be disposed in a safe manner so that it doesn’t affect the environment in any way. Enough care will be taken in case plastic is used. In addition to this, eco home products are used in some houses, which not only looks good, but also does good. Such as cork stool instead of plastic ones, alpaca cushions, buckram light, organic sheep skin.

Eco homes basically highlight the concept of sustainable building design and emphasizes on sustainable lifestyles. Such homes are carbon neutral; and make use of power (from a number of different green sources) efficiently and imaginatively; with beautiful furnishings.

Create a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary within your home. With eco friendly items from around the world, makes your eco living a real pleasure. The key aim behind such eco homes is conservation of environment and revolves around the concept sustainable building design and sustainable lifestyles. With limited resources around the world, one should consider conserving the environment which is endangered and is heading towards depletion. Take enough care when you build your homes and reach out to eco home experts, and be a fully aware citizen who is takes responsibility towards his own environment and creates that aesthetic appeal that his or her house deserves. You feel good about your house and make the environment also smile with no harm caused to it.

The rising population of the world has a very important role to play in this. This is where living in homes that are friendly to the environment becomes important. That is because these homes are saving what the world has so that the future generations won't feel the pinch. Take a step towards building an eco friendly home! -Kirthy Shetty

Eco-Friendly Design: 7 Ways to go Green in Your Next Renovation

For many people doing a home improvement project may not seem to be eco-friendly. There can be a lot of waste and many home owners are concerned about the impact their renovation is going to have on the environment. However, the good news is there are many ways you can improve your home and be green at the same time. Here are 7 ways you can go green.

1. Use Green paint. No I don't mean paint everything green. I mean use zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint. You can find these paints in a wide variety of colours and they are available in both interior and exterior grade. Check your favorite brand to see if they are offering a zero VOC line.
2. Recycle materials you already own. Have fun and get creative with the things in your garage. Break up old tile and create an interesting table top or backsplash. Take old scraps of fabric and create colourful throw pillows or a piece of wall art.
3. Buy Green furniture. Again I'm not referring to the colour, not that I have anything against a green sofa. More and more furniture designers are getting into the green movement and creating pieces made from recycled materials and eco friendly fabrics.
4. Purchase Energy Star rated appliances. Most of the top brand appliances are offering energy efficient options. They allow you to save time and money and you can get rebates back from the government. This applies to your furnace as well.
5. Change your lights. You can now find a great selection of fixtures that use LED lighting or Fuorescent bulbs. They both use 75% less energy than incandescent fixtures. If you aren't planning on changing the fixtures themselves you can still be green. Switch the bulbs to CFL's or compact fluorescent bulbs. They last 10 times longer than the incandescent bulbs.
6. Use HardiPlank siding instead of vinyl. Vinyl siding is flammable and toxic to produce. HardiPlank is made from wood pulp and it comes either pre finished or ready to paint. It won't rot, crack or split.
7. Use Eco-friendly flooring. Consider using Bamboo or cork. Bamboo has a modern feel to it and Cork is comfortable to walk on. There are also eco-friendly hardwood flooring options that are easy to install and look great. For carpet, look for wool or linen and consider sisal or grass for area rugs.
   

Ask your favorite retailers to show you their eco-friendy lines. I think you will be surprised how much is out there now in green products. Hopefully you can incorporate some of these tips in your next renovation project.

Happy Renovating! -Kathryn Haley

Eco Friendly House Build Your Dream!

Eco friendly houses are the best choice. These houses are constructed using natural materials. The abrupt climatic changes have given a thought for concern for many. The increasing global temperature is disturbing the whole equilibrium. According to studies, usage of eco friendly products is known to decrease the harmful effect of poisonous gases.

Eco friendly house also bring about sustainable energy solutions. People opting to construct such houses can use natural materials like wood, solar products, and so on for the construction of home. You can also get the latest eco news about construction of houses by looking online. This will help reduce the harmful impact of global warming, climate change, and so on. Organic, all-natural, or eco-friendly products can also help cut down the excessive expenses involved. The products used will be less wasteful and less toxic than mainstream products.

Green homes for sale can help people interested in buying a green house at a lower rate. It is very easy to get information on such houses online too. In addition to being one of the first, largest, and most respected online resources for green products, we offer advice and information on greening your home. One can be rest assured that all eco-friendly products are non-toxic and guaranteed to be safe for your children, home, and environment.

Using such products will also help save energy on your appliances, go vegan and organic or just live a low-impact lifestyle. One can also find comprehensive and interesting articles on eco friendly houses. Green homes are unique and artistically designed. They make a perfect living space for people who wish to stay in close proximity of nature. Such houses also help cut down unwanted expenses considerably.

These kinds of houses will also help cut down spiralling energy costs and the ever growing concern about global warming. An increasing numbers of householders are turning to greener energy options these days. This will help make a significant contribution to the environment. Installation of natural products will also help lower your household bills and can add significant value to your property. Some of the alternative energy options that can be included are heat pumps, high efficiency boilers, low energy heating systems, solar energy, rainwater harvesters and wind energy. Going in for eco friendly house has numerous advantages. -Sadhana Dhanyal

Eco Begins at Home

Green, it seems, is the new black. We are slowly beginning to eat, sleep and even build green, with the One Brighton initiative well under-way launching an eco-friendly lifestyle along with sustainable accommodation. We can travel to work on “Big Lemon” buses that run on vegetable oil and can even choose to be buried in biodegradable coffins; but some times it’s the small things that make the difference…

Unfortunately not all of us can afford the cost of swapping our Fiat Bravo for the new Eco-Bravo; and many of us are challenged to find the time to clean, let alone the time to make our own green cleaning supplies as one “be-green” article suggests. But you can still do your bit.

Eco-friendly living is becoming paramount as “ecoanxiety” creeps into our culture. This could be a likened to jogging an extra mile after eating one-to-many prawn crackers the night before and has people acknowledging feelings of guilt after doing something wasteful. Eco stores both on and offline in the UK seem to have provided us with a quick-buy-fix to such feelings and are helping to make the green-way, the easiest way. Americans offer a different more expensive solution. Columbian psychologists have developed “eco-therapy”, available for anyone “worrying themselves sick over green issues.”

The product range in such Eco Stores reflects the “can-do, must-do, will-do” attitude of our new, caring public and is compatible with the most uneco-friendly lifestyle. A firm favourite being the easy to use Eco-kettles, which have a special feature allowing the user to fill the kettle to full capacity. Another product designed to help in a small but vital way is the water powered calculators which come with H2O batteries. -simon-elliot

Enjoy Green Parties With Your Kids

Looking at the hour’s need, it has become important for us to teach our kids a lesson to save our depleting environment. Hence, its better to start teaching our children about several ways to conserve environment so that we can see a safe tomorrow for our own self and future generation.
One such step in this direction will be by using the services of Green parties, Eco friendly toys and Favor bags.

Kids are fond of current and latest movie character’s theme party. In order to keep the child’s interest alive, we can combine it with eco-friendly party themes and use Green party supplies, Eco friendly goodie bags, favor bags and Eco friendly presents.

Such eco friendly parties or Green parties will surely give your child what he or she has been dreaming off in his or her party.

Some of the Green party supplies or Eco-friendly Party supplies include:

Use Eco-friendly Party utensils like plates, spoons, forks, cups and saucers which are made out of sustainable sources. There are many varieties of Green party supplies which include plastic plates, bowls, cups as well as cutlery, which are available in colors, and are made out of 100%, recyclable plastic. Also, you can use bamboo utensils which are easily disposable and these Green party supplies do not add any impurity to the environment.

Next idea for eco friendly parties is to use cotton-made tablecloth. Though they need to be washed but they add elegance to the table. You will get a nice range of Eco-friendly Party table cloths at Little Star Creative Parties which are made out of 100% cotton and are hand made. Also you can try for Eco-friendly Party Supplies or Green party supplies which include tablecloth as well as fabric crayons kit which must be kept by a family man or a party man.

The main workload on the party host is to decorate the venue and it can also be done with Green party supplies like reusable banners and latex balloons which are biodegradable.

These decoration items look great and stunning in a party hall and hence fulfill the theme of Green parties or eco friendly parties.

Also, you can use beeswax candles which are 100% natural and are made out of renewable source. These are not paraffin candles which are a petroleum product, which adds to the pollutants in the environment and make it unhealthy while burning.

When throwing a party, there is a constant requirement of plastic bags which you either require for garbage dump or for packing any item or gifts. Little Star Creative Parties offer something which is easy to use and environment friendly too. It offers Eco friendly goodie bags in which you can pack eco friendly toys, thereby conserving the environment. With this, be sure that these eco friendly toys packed in Eco friendly goodie bags will make your small guests happy and delighted.

These are some of the ideas that can give your party a great theme and also will let your kids and other guests get inspired for saving the environment.

Whatever you are throwing a small gathering or even a large party, don’t forget to use Green party supplies like favor bags, Eco friendly toys, Eco friendly presents and Eco friendly goodie bags to make your Green parties or eco friendly parties a great hit for your friends and their kids. -lucygray

Enjoying Your Eco-friendly Party

Everyone, especially kids, love to have a party but most of these parties are just toxic attacks on our planet. There are various eco-friendly supplies using which we can enjoy our children green parties which are entertaining as well as eco-friendly. First of all, try to purchase all of your green party supplies from the nearest local store, thus this will save fuel thus reducing pollution and emissions. If you are involving candles for decoration, try to use soy based ones which do not emit toxic materials when burned. Kids green parties thrown at the time of their birthday are great for having fun and celebration. Try to use eco-friendly supplies as far as possible to throw children green parties that are not harmful for the environment. Planning for kids green parties start right from the beginning:· Ditch the usual paper invitations, instead you can use other services like e-mails to invite your guests or if you really need to send invites to them, you should consider making use of eco-friendly supplies like home made or recycled paper for making cards for your kids green parties. This way, you will not only save money needed for postage but will also save trees and other natural resources. There are many stores that offer eco-friendly supplies of recycled cards, so make sure to shop accordingly. Some of these cards are made up of materials not provided by trees.

· As far as eco-friendly goodie bags and eco-friendly presents are concerned, you must wrap them up in recycle paper and even newspaper. After all, the actual gift is more important than the wrapping paper. You can use old-fashioned colors to brighten up your wrapping papers. In addition to that, you can mention in your invites made up of eco-friendly supplies also that your guests must bring only eco-friendly presents and wrap them up in eco-friendly supplies only keeping in mind the theme of kids green parties. While going to children green parties, try to give cash to the birthday child because this way the child will save something in his or her without harming the environment.

· While enjoying your children green parties, try to make use of eco-friendly toys to play, enjoy and have fun. These are one of the best green party supplies that a person can imagine. Explore your imagination and play with eco-friendly toys like hand-knit dolls and balls that are made up of safe and natural materials.

· Instead of accessories like paper plates and dishes, use should use green party supplies like table clothes made of linen rather than plastic and use dishes and plates that can be washed and re-used rather than use and throw ones.

· Eco-friendly goodie bags should be made up of green party supplies and you can even try to hand out healthy snacks and fruits and eco-friendly toys made up of eco-friendly products in an eco-friendly way.

At www.littlestarcreativeparties.com, you can find innovative ideas about eco-friendly goodie bags, eco friendly toys and eco friendly presents and get some of the best green party supplies in the market. The site will also teach you how to make eco friendly goodie bags and eco friendly presents. -lucygray

Green Shopping Basics - What you should know before you shop green

Going green always starts with good intentions, but the massive amount of green terms can sometimes be overwhelming. Here’s some of the common green terms you’ll hear and what they mean.

Organic
The term organic can often be used very broadly, but typically refers to products that have only organic components, produced without pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or fertilizers or other harmful chemicals.
Look for: USDA Certified Organic

Sustainable
Products or materials that are described as being sustainable contain materials that do not deplete the Earth of its resources and is easily replenished. There are many common types of materials that are considered sustainable:

Bamboo – Bamboo is a fast-growing and renewable resource that can be used to make fabrics, flooring, furniture and other products.

Jute – Jute is a long and shiny vegetable plant fiber that can be woven into a b thread or twine. It is commonly used to create cloth or used within carpets, and rugs.

Hemp – Hemp is a fast-growing plant that is most commonly used for its strong fibers to create cloth used in bags and clothing. It can grow organically and also be used to create oils for cosmetic products as well as be used in food.

Sustainable Wool – There are many types of sustainable animal wools such as alpaca fibers or merino wool that can be used to create strong fibers commonly used in clothing.

Energy-Efficient
Products that are energy-efficient are design to consume less energy when operating without sacrificing performance, reducing long-term environmental and cost impacts. Energy-efficient products can range from appliances to light bulbs as well as contain different levels of efficiency.
Look for: Energy Star Qualified, EPEAT Rated

Post-Consumer Recycled
Once a product has completely served its purpose, what remains are post-consumer materials that would otherwise be disposed as waste but are instead recycled. This would include products such as old packaging, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastics. When you recycle from your home these products become post-consumer recycled.

How is this different vs recycled? Regular recycled materials can contain a combination of materials, often coming a scraps or other by-products as a result of manufacturing. This could include both pre-consumer and post-consumer waste.

Recyclable
A recyclable product means that it can be recycled and be used to create future products. Polypropylene #5 is a common plastic to look for in products which is one of the most easily recyclable plastics.
Look for: Polypropylene #5

Reusable
Reusable products mean that a product can be used multiple times before the product is discarded or recycled. Some common reusable products are shopping bags, water bottles and tableware.

Fair Trade
Fair Trade is a social movement that promotes certain standards of sustainability practices and empowering producers in developing nations. Fair trade supports fair prices, fair labor conditions, community development and environmental sustainability.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are organic chemical compounds that have high vapor pressure and easily evaporate at room temperature. VOCs can be released from many household items such as paints, flooring, upholstery, and cleaners. These VOCs are not only air pollutants but have also been known to cause health effects as well.
Look for: Low-VOC, Zero-VOC

Bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA is an organic compound that is used in the creation of many plastics and resins. Most commonly you will find BPA used polycarbonate bottles. While there is some controversy about the effects of BPA, some research has raised serious health concerns about the usage of BPA.
Look for: BPA-free

Biodegradable
Biodegradable means that a substance can be naturally decomposed by biological processes. If a product is biodegradable, this means that it can be disposed of with no negative environmental impacts.

Solar-Powered
Solar powered products are powered using energy from the sun. Solar power can be used in a range of products from small household gadgets to entire home heating systems.

Now you're ready to start shopping for green products! -Alex