Posted on September 9th, 2008
The next time you pick up produce at the store, consider passing on pre-packed bundles of peppers, pears, lemons or what have you. Opt instead for choosing your items individually and toting them home package-free. Who needs their bell peppers resting on a styrofoam tray, covered with plastic wrap? You don't need a plastic net full of lemons do you? Grab the same amount of citrus from the loose stack. Not only will you be choosing the exact fruits you want, you'll be passing on packaging, which is always a sexy choice.
Posted on September 8th, 2008
Green is sexy is about tiny changes adding up to make a big difference, but sometimes the hardest part is getting people to make that first tiny change. We've found that one of the most succesful ways to get people to get on board with all things green is to literally eliminate the non-green option. We're not suggesting you raid the homes of your family and friends and get all guerilla green on them, but maybe the next time you're doing laundry with a friend you could convince her to use your eco-detergent. If you're feeling extra sexy, you could offer a cup of your non-tox detergent to all the people at your laundromat. By ...
Posted on September 5th, 2008
You didn't hear it from us, but one way to help green the planet is to conserve energy guerilla-style. What are we talking about? Well, at home you've probably become accustomed to shutting off the lights when you leave a room, but in public it's not your problem, right? Right. But... Should you find yourself using an empty restroom (or one of those single-stall facilities), why not flip off the lights on your way out the door? It goes without saying that you shouldn't leave anyone in the dark, but if you're the last one out, what's stopping you from behaving the way you would at home? Flip it people -- flip it ...
Posted on September 4th, 2008
Here's an idea: try riding the bus to school this year and leave your car at home. If you're a student, you might meet new friends, catch up with old ones or just get in some uninterrupted cram, er reading, time. If you're a parent, you probably rode the bus yourself when you were in school, so why not send your kids to school the same way? By keeping your car parked at home part of the time, you’ll save on gas, maintenance and possibly even insurance. The school bus is free and convenient -- what have you got to lose? Even better, reducing the number of cars on the road helps ...
Posted on September 1st, 2008
The time has come to revive the lunch box! Pack a lunch to bring to work and/or send one with the kids school, and save money and disposable packaging everyday. Be the envy of all your friends (or colleagues!) when you bust out organic chocolate covered almonds, heirloom tomato salads, tasty sustianably-caught tuna, and other green goodness from home.
Get creative as to how we define lunch box- skip the brown paper bags and vinyl plastic lunch boxes, and instead flaunt your eco-chic ethic by using a cotton canvas bag or a retro metal lunch box, reusing glass jars instead of ziploc bags, and wrapping your sandwich in biodegradable parchment paper instead of aluminum foil or plastic wrap. ...
Posted on August 31st, 2008
Sailboats, rowboats, kayaks, canoes, surfboards, paddleboats, windsurfers and Katmandu’s. All of these rad modes of water transportation have one important thing in common; a relatively low negative impact on our waterways. Powerboats often pollute the water through gasoline leaks and spills (not to mention the toxic chemicals used to clean and maintain them). The nature of the average two-stroke boat engine results in fuel exiting the cylinder before the exhaust port closes. As a result, the engine exhausts, unburned, as much as 40% of its fuel. In fact, marine engines have never been subject to emissions regulations and therefore can sometimes pollute more than the average car. A 70 horsepower two-stroke engine emits the ...
Posted on August 28th, 2008
If you’re ready to enjoy some hot fun in the summertime, don’t forget to protect yourself from harmful Ultraviolet Rays. While covering up with light-colored clothing and sporting a hat or head scarf is the most effective way to block the sun, you may find that fewer clothes are more appropriate for swimming and other activities. Before you reach for the SPF, consider its contents. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a new study showing that nearly all Americans are contaminated with oxybenzone, a widely-used sunscreen ingredient. This chemical so far has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage, as well as low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are ...
Posted on August 22nd, 2008
Using public restrooms is a fact of life. Sometimes it's gross, but we all have to do it. The next time you're using a public toilet, whether at work, the movies or the mall, report any leaks to the Manager. If there's water on the floor in the stall you almost walked into, it's probably a leak. If the sink next to yours is dripping or running continuously, there's definitely a leak. A fast drip from a faucet wastes about 265 gallons a day (that’s about 37 toilet flushes or 5 loads of laundry). By taking five minutes to alert the store or office Manager to the problem, you'll be helping reduce water ...
Posted on August 18th, 2008
Fish stocks have really taken a beating over the years for the sake of our trendy taste buds, but there’s now a guide that can help you buy and order sustainable seafood. Some of the best choices include Pacific Cod, Dungeness Crab, Pacific Salmon (not farmed), Atlantic Lobster, and Rainbow Trout. You can usually find a sustainable version of almost every kind of fish- just be sure to check out where your fish is coming from, and how it’s being caught. Fish to avoid include Chilean Seabass, Atlantic Cod, King Crab, Atlantic Halibut, Monkfish, Orange Roughy, Sea Scallops, farmed Salmon, Swordfish and Bluefin Tuna. Check out
www.seachoice.org for a downloadable wallet-sized copy of the ...
Posted on August 16th, 2008
It's car wash season! While you might think a carwash outside in your driveway can be a fun activity (especially since you can pretend you're in a music video), we're here to tell you (sadly enough) that washing your car in your driveway is actually one of the most environmentally unfriendly chores you can do. You will use 80 - 140 gallons of water and after it hits your grease-oil-infused driveway, it will probably run straight into the storm drains without being treated in a sewage center. Where does it go then? To rivers, creeks, wetlands, and other natural habitats where it will kick nature to the curb. The alternative? Go to a ...
