This article is from a newsletter called Wings which can be found at www.owlsdaughter.com. I thought it was important information to remind ourselves.

Green Living

Energy Vampires!

Kill your energy vampires! (No, although sometimes it istempting, I'm not talking about that certain someone we all know, who feeds off of stirring up trouble around the office or neighborhood).

I mean the energy vampires that can be spotted by walking through your home at night with the lights off.

If you see the “standby” lights and digital displays on various appliances and electronic devices, these devices are using power and acting like vampires. They are silently sucking away energy even when they are turned “off.”

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, across all U.S. households, energy vampires account for an estimated 65 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

They tell us, "This extra electricity costs consumers more than $5.8 billion annually and sends more than 87 billion pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year."

They explain, "Some of the biggest energy wasters in most homes are the adapters that come with rechargeable battery-powered cordless phones, cell phones, digital cameras and music players, power tools, and other electronic devices.

"Most draw power whenever they’re plugged into an outlet, regardless of whether the device battery is fully charged—or even connected."

Other vampires include appliances or electronic equipment with standby capability (such as televisions and computer monitors), stuff that comes with a remote control, and/or a digital clock display (such as microwaves, DVD players, and stereo systems).

You will probably see the most twinkling lights around your desk where your computer equipment lives. I know some stuff needs to be left on, especially if you don't want to jumble up internal clocks and so forth.

But it is super easy to take a couple of minutes to sort out which cables for computer peripherals, like printers and scanners, can be unplugged without having to re-set the time or causing problems with other equipment.

Put them all on one power strip that you can click off at night!

Do you really have to keep your charger plugged in when nothing is charging? Unplug it except when you are actually using it!

And be sure to shop for Energy Star-labeled models that use the least standby power. If the label doesn't tell you how much energy is used for regular and stand-by power, you can check the onlineEnergy Star database.

Remember -

Every little bit makes a world of difference.

Dog Waste Bags For Gracie...

This blog entry is dedicated to our new friend, Gracie! Our neighbor, Josh, realized that being a responsible recycler extended into the area of the bags used for picking up after Gracie. Since we are not pet owners, I never thought about it so I did a little research. I found several good websites (listed below) that offer biodegradable poop bags and cat box liners.

Picking up after your pet is part of being a responsible pet owner. In many communities, it’s also the law. Since plastic bags can take over 100 years to decompose, it just makes sense to use an earth-friendly product. The best solution for disposal of pet waste has always been to separate it from the bag or paper and flush it down the toilet. Using biodegradable bags extends your options. The waste and the bag can be thrown in your backyard compost, where both items can decompose naturally; the waste and bag can be buried, where micro-organisms will quickly eat both; the waste and bag can be set at curbside with other yard waste where communities collect biodegradable waste for composting. Check with your community for disposal options.

These are two of the websites I found that sell the biodegradable poop bags (found them on Amazon, too):

http://www.biobagusa.com/biobag_dog.htm

http://www.poopbags.com/index.html

Here is some information from PoopBags.com:

Various plastic bag manufacturers probably use the term "biodegradability" - shall we say - loosely and lightly. The ASTM D6400 specification puts a kabosh on all of that. Basically, the specification requires that the material is fully tested to ensure that it will degrade at a similar rate as an apple, and that no large plastic fragments should remain.More than likely, the loose and light manufacturers' bags do not meet biodegradable standards of any sort, and are just regular plastic bags. All in all, bag manufacturers - who claim their bags are biodegradable but do not meet the ASTM D6400 specification - are misleading consumers and are acting negligently towards the environment.California’s law, SB 1749, maintains that bags should meet the ASTM D6400 specification for biodegradable product claims. Several other states are also instituting policies like California. PoopBags.com’s dog waste bags proudly meet this standard.

• Made from the material Mater-Bi, which is a combination of corn and other renewable products.
• No polyethylene is used in the production.
• DEN certified for restricted use of metals in our soy-based inks and dyes.
• Shelf stable just like paper plates or paper towels. There are no chemical additives to enhance decomposition. The bags biodegrade naturally when exposed to the earth’s elements and micro-organisms in the soil.• “Breathe” – allowing heat and moisture to escape or evaporate. This feature reduces bacterial build-up of collected waste, thus reducing odor.
• Will decompose in the proper environment between 10 and 45 days after use.
• Will decompose in a natural setting at an extended rate comparable to other naturally biodegradable materials, such as paper, leaves and food waste.
• If the poop bags are placed in an “open” or “turned” landfill they will decompose at a rate similar to other biodegradable materials in the same setting. If the landfill is anaerobic/locked, no biodegradable products will degrade - even banana peels.
• PoopBags.com strongly urges consumers not to place feces-filled bags into home composting systems.

Facts about Dog/Cat Waste and Plastic:

• 4 million tons – It is estimated that dog owners do not collect over 4 million tons of dog waste annually.
• 20-30% of all pollutants in waterways attributed to dog waste – Pollutants originating from rainwater run-off via sewer systems, and dogs pooping near watersheds or beaches. Overall, it is believed dog waste is third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters.
• 27 million tons – Plastic not recycled in the U.S.
• 1 million tons – Plastic recycled in the U.S.
• 5.7% – Plastic is the least recycled material at 5.70%. Wood is the second lowest at 9.4%. Metal and paper-based materials are well above a 35% recycle rate.
• 4th highest generated waste – Plastic is the fourth highest generated waste in the U.S., and originates from a non-renewable resource, oil. Paper, yard trimmings, and food scraps are the top three, which all come from renewable resources.

Cat waste should not be composted, as its composition can be quite toxic. Cat waste should always be scooped from the litter box and then put in your trash. There are a number of new biodegradable cat litters on the market. We also do not recommend flushing it down the toilet because cat poop may endanger sea otters. Using these biodegradable cat pan liners to dispose of the remaining biodegradable litter makes good environmental sense.

Biodegradable cat pan liners are non-allergenic. Cats can be allergic to plastic and other known allergens. Allergies usually build up over time from constant contact with the allergen. Calicos, Tortiseshells, Black cats and Siamese cats are more prone to allergies than other breeds.
If you suspect your cat has an allergy (red, itchy rashes), consult your veterinarian to determine the source. It is best to use hard-fired ceramic bowls, instead of molded plastic, for serving your cat food. Using a biodegradable cat litter made naturally from renewable grain crops may protect your cat from certain chemicals. Using BioBag non-allergenic liners is an environmentally safe way to further protect your pet.

The bags and liners are:

100% biodegradable

100% compostable

No polyethylene is used in the production process.

Naturally, bags made from corn instead of polyethylene is a major advance in environmental technology.

Only GMO free certified corn is used.

Soy-based inks and dyes are CEN certified for restricted use of heavy metals.

DEBIO certified for use in organic agriculture.

Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute to meet the ASTM D6400 specification. Meets California SB 1749 requirements.

Shelf stable, just like paper plates or paper towels. There are no chemical additives to enhance decomposition. The bags biodegrade naturally when exposed to the earth's elements and micro-organisms in the soil.

They “breathe”, which allows heat and moisture to escape or evaporate. This feature reduces bacterial build-up of collected waste, thus reducing odor.

Will decompose in a controlled composting environment in 10-45 days, leaving no harmful residues behind.

Each liner is approximately 31.1" x 15.3". It is 1.12" thick.

That's the "scoop" on the poop...thanks for the great idea, Josh!

Shedding some light on the subject...

A few years ago we were all introduced to the energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs and almost everyone I knew began making the switch. We got rid of our energy-wasting incandescent light bulbs replacing them with the new eco-friendly fluorescent light bulbs thinking we were doing something good for the environment and reducing our electric bills. Well it turns out this switch has negative effects on our environment that, to me, sound worse than the incandescent bulb.

For those of you who don’t know, a compact fluorescent light bulb is a type of energy-saving bulb that fits into a standard light bulb socket or plugs into a small lighting fixture. These fluorescent lights are filled with a gas containing low-pressure mercury vapor and argon which can be toxic to your home and our environment. They also contain items such as fluorine, neon, and lead powder as well as mercury.

Here is an excerpt from an article by Mike Adams at http://www.newstarget.com/ “According to www.lightbulbrecycling.com, each year an estimated 600 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in U.S. landfills, amounting to 30,000 pounds of mercury waste. Astonishingly, that's almost half the amount of mercury emitted into the atmosphere by coal-fired power plants each year. It only takes 4mg of mercury to contaminate up to 7,000 gallons of freshwater, meaning that the 30,000 pounds of mercury thrown away in compact fluorescent light bulbs each year is enough to pollute nearly every lake, pond, river and stream in North America (not to mention the oceans).

Many state governing agencies have adopted their own regulations regarding the disposal of fluorescent lights. In California, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, it is unlawful for anyone to dispose of fluorescent bulbs as universal waste. These laws are based on the well-documented toxicity of the heavy metal mercury.Mercury (also called 'quicksilver') is a heavy, silvery transition metal most commonly found in thermometers, barometers, and other scientific apparatus. It is used in the electrical industry and in laboratory and medical instruments. Mercury is a known neurotoxin, and elevated blood mercury levels may lead to retardation and deformities in children. Chest pains, dyspnea, coughing, hemoptysis, and sometimes interstitial pneumonitis leading to death may follow acute inhalation exposure to mercury vapor. In America, 1 in 6 children born every year have been exposed to mercury levels so high that they are potentially at risk for learning disabilities, motor skill impairment and short-term memory loss.

If Americans adopt the use of even more compact fluorescent light bulbs, this ratio is like to substantially grow. Breaking one mercury light bulb in your home can contaminate your home to such a degree that hazardous materials experts are needed to remove the mercury. (At great cost, too. A typical mercury removal effort involving the breaking of a single fluorescent light can cost several thousand dollars.) The idea of allowing mercury to be placed in an easily breakable consumer product is fraught with public safety risks. In fact, it required a special exemption from the EPA to allow mercury-fluorescent lamps to be sold to consumers in the first place.When a fluorescent light breaks, its vapors quickly escape and can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Most compounds of mercury are toxic, especially its organic compounds (such as methyl mercury).

A researcher at the University of Illinois at Springfield sums up the basic point behind these fluorescent bulbs: "People need to understand that these bulbs are considered "hazardous" and can cause long term damage to not only the environment, but if broken can cause health problems with people as well. Mercury has the ability to cause humans, as well as animals, serious health problems such as permanent nerve and kidney damage if exposed."

If you break a bulb, the EPA recommends that (1) you immediately open windows to reduce mercury concentrations inside your home, (2) you do not touch the spilled mercury, (3) you clean up the broken CFL glass carefully and immediately (but not with your hands or a vacuum cleaner), and (4) you wipe the affected area with a paper towel to remove all glass fragments and mercury. EPA further recommends that you place the paper towel and glass fragments in a sealed plastic bag and bring the sealed bag to your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Site.

The alternative is an LED bulb that is considerably more expensive so until we can make the switch (some bulbs are as much as $99.00 each)…I think we’re going back to the incandescent bulbs.

Will you make a difference today?

It's not really difficult to make the switch to a product that is more environmentally friendly. I think it's as easy as being armed with the right information. Let's say you're in the grocery store with your weekly list of must-have items. Toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues are usually good ones to start with. If you knew that our forests are being destroyed to make toilet paper, facial tissues, and paper towels would you then reach for a package that contained a 100% recycled product? Maybe? How about if you knew that if every household in the U.S. replaced just one triple pack of 70 sheet virgin paper towels with 100% recycled ones we could save 1,660,000 trees, 4.2 million cubic feet of landfill space – equal to 6,600 full garbage trucks, 590 million gallons of water – a year’s supply for 4,700 families of four! That’s just the paper towels.

If every household in the United States replaced just one box of virgin fiber facial tissues (175 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 582,000 trees, 1,500,000 cubic feet of landfill – equal to 2,200 garbage trucks, 210 million gallons of water – a year’s supply for 1,600 families of four, and avoid 35,000 pounds of chlorinated pollution. Let’s think about this for a second, this is a product that is generally used for “boogie patrol”. How fancy do you really need to be?

And if every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper (500 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees, 1.0 million cubic feet of landfill space – equal to 1,600 full garbage trucks, 153 million gallons of water – a year’s supply for 1,200 families of four. I don’t think you need me to go into detail about the general use of this product.

And as you paid for these 100% recycled products you could walk out of that store knowing that YOU made a difference today. Of course, you’re carrying them out of the store in your reusable grocery bag…right?

Are your lips full of lead???

"Have you ever thought about what’s in that pretty red stuff you’re putting on your lips? Could it be collagen, beeswax, strawberries, or lead perhaps?Reports about lipstick containing lead are flooding the media, since the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted a study of 33 lipsticks from store shelves among four U.S. cities and found that over 61% contained lead. Tests revealed levels ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million."

OK, I admit it...I LOVE lipstick so I was very excited to find this product from Cargo Cosmetics.
http://www.cargocosmetics.com/product_44.html
This is a botanical lipstick that has a tube made entirely out of corn - a renewable and abundant resource. This environmentally-friendly innovation also emits less greenhouse gases, which many scientists believe to be the major cause of global warming. The outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Simply moisten, plant, and wait for a bouquet of wild flowers to grow!

I sent my carton to Vandervort Academy (Yes, this is also another way to get people to see how cute our grandkids are!) for a fun project. http://vandervortacademy.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html scroll down to the October 15th entry to see recycling in action and get the fun details.

I love the colors and they don't make my lips dry which has been a problem for me with some brands I've tried. It is formulated to be smooth and silky; the innovative botanical formula is infused with Orchid Complex™ and meadowfoam seed oil as well as jojoba and shea butter. Not only that, but it's environmentally friendly, containing no mineral oils or petroleums. Cargo also donates two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The PlantLove™ seeds we sow today affect future generations so we are investing in the earth and our children for the future of the planet! It just doesn't get any better than that...pretty, safe, environmentally friendly, AND saving the children!

Ok, back to business..."The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits lead levels in candy to be less than 0.1 ppm, but does not regulate the level of lead in lipstick.So why should you care? Well, one study estimates that the average woman consumes about 4 to 6 pounds of lipstick a year, from licking her lips and eating it with food. Ever wonder why you need to re-apply after a meal? And men, don’t be complacent if you don’t wear lipstick. How many women have you kissed?Alarming? Perhaps, considering that there is no safe amount of lead for human consumption. Lead is a neurotoxin. Our bodies do not dispose of lead, rather, lead stays in our systems and builds up over time. So daily consumption, compounded over decades, can lead to toxic levels of lead. This can lead to brain damage, retardation, emotional and behavioral problems, lower IQ levels and learning disorders like ADD. Children and fetuses are at an even higher risk, because lead can cross the placenta and enter the developing brain of the fetus. It is also linked to infertility and miscarriage.So how does lead get into lipstick anyway? Well, it’s not put there intentionally. There is not a conspiracy among the cosmetics companies to poison lipstick wearers. Lead is found in some colorants. Lead can also become a byproduct from raw materials such as zinc oxide, paraffin and petroleum-based ingredients.Since the FDA does not currently regulate the amount of lead in lipstick, it is up to the cosmetics companies to establish higher levels of self-regulation. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has urged the FDA to begin regulating lipstick, and is asking the cosmetic companies to reformulate any products that contain lead. The FDA has agreed to conduct an investigation, and according to a spokesperson for the cosmetics industry, cosmetic companies are committed to reducing the levels of lead even further. While a lipstick recall is unlikely, there are plenty of lipsticks on the market that are made without lead.How can you find out what is in your brand? Despite urban legend, a gold ring will not help. And since lead is not listed on the list of ingredients, and most consumers do not have a scientific laboratory in their homes to do their own testing, this is a tough call. However, you might start by avoiding the guilty culprits. The study found the highest levels of lead in some Cover Girl, L‘Oreal and Christian Dior lipsticks, especially the red shades. To find out if your brand of lipstick was on the lead list, visit SafeCosmetics.org."

The article in quotes was written by Cherie Pinto and can be found on http://www.newstarget.com/.

Keep smiling with those lead-free lips!

Household Cleaning Supplies

It's not always possible to open your windows and let in the fresh air. We all know that fresh air is good not only for your state of mind but also for your health. The EPA has found that concentrations of pollutants inside homes can be two to five times higher than outside. A major source of indoor air pollutants is conventional cleaning products, because they're loaded with fragrances and petroleum-distilled chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that vaporize into the air.
"There's definitely a cause-and-effect from using petroleum-based cleaning products, especially in poorly ventilated areas. As the chemicals build up in the air space you're working in, the toxicity also builds up," says Mike Vogel, head of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes program.
A Spanish study of over 4,000 women published in November 2003 found that 25 percent of asthma cases in the group were attributable to domestic cleaning work. In the U.S., a 2002 Inform report detailed the negative impacts of cleaning products on janitors' health. Reducing the use of volatile and odorous products, Inform concluded, could improve indoor air and protect health.
Happily, safer alternatives can be bought or mixed from such common household staples as white vinegar and baking soda.

Laundry detergents and fabric softeners are some of the most heavily scented cleaners. Chemicals known as phthalates, which have harmed hormonal systems and reproductive organs in animal tests, are common in fragrance formulas because they make the scent last longer. But fragrance residues on clothes can cause skin irritation and provoke allergies, according to Harvey Karp, M.D., a Los Angeles pediatrician.
A great alternative fabric softener is a half-cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. Since vinegar breaks down uric acid, it keeps cloth diapers smelling fresh; it also eliminates static cling. I've found that adding vinegar to my wash also cuts down on lint buildup in the dryer.
Avoid chlorine bleach (also called sodium hypochlorite), it has caustic fumes and is toxic if swallowed. In warmer weather, the sun does a great job bleaching your whites. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant too. To boost your detergent's cleaning power and remove odors, add a half-cup of baking soda or washing soda, two related minerals, along with the detergent. For stubborn stains, try a pre-wash soak in water mixed with either borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. Or mix washing soda and water into a paste—wear gloves, as washing soda can irritate skin. Or buy non-chlorine bleaches that contain sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate.
For store-bought laundy products: Look on labels for plant-based cleaning agents or castile soaps instead of petroleum-based surfactants, which deplete natural resources and may contain harmful impurities. The catch-all term "fragrance" may hide ingredients such as phthalates. Look for plant essential oil scents or products that are truly fragrance-free, and don't believe the antibacterial hype! (That's a whole other blog itself!) In March 2004, researchers at Columbia University reported that a study of 238 Manhattan households found virtually no difference in the rate of infectious disease symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, etc.) in homes using antibacterial products—including laundry detergent—and those that did not.

Best bets: Seventh Generation(http://www.seventhgeneration.com/); Ecover (http://www.ecover.com/); Sun & Earth(http://www.sunandearth.com/); Bi-O-Kleen(http://www.bi-o-kleen.com/).

I have used both Ecover and Seventh Generation laundry products. Both are excellent. I put some of the detergent directly on a few stains and they came out beautifully. Here are some interesting environmental facts from the Seventh Generation laundry detergent bottle: "If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 50 oz. 2X ultra petroleum based liquid laundry detergent with our 50 oz. 2X ultra vegetable based product, we could save 233,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 13,400 U.S. homes for a year!"

A great natural floor cleaner is one cup white distilled vinegar per gallon of hot water. It removes sticky residue and killes odors, with no rinsing needed. Or use 1/2 cup borax (like vinegar, a natural disinfectant) and 2 gallons of water. You can add 1/4 cup of any liquid soap for extra cleaning power, but soap should be rinsed.
For store-bought products:
AFM Super Clean concentrated all-purpose cleaner/degreaser (http://www.afmsafecoat.com/);
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds hard-surface, all-purpose cleaner (http://www.drbronner.com/);
Ecover Natural All-Purpose cleaner (http://www.ecover.com/);
Murphy Oil Soap (http://www.murphyoilsoap.com/).

Happy Cleaning!

ps...just found this interesting site. I may have to give this a try. I'll let you know how I like it.
http://www.betterlifegoods.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BLG%2DCAT21480

Here's more info on vinegar:
Vinegar is the most amazing all-natural cleaner that we can use. Great for those who are worried about the environment, it may smell bad, but is very powerful. Otherwise known as acetic acid, most vinegar is really fruit wine that has turned bitter. When used diluted or straight, it creates a very acidic condition that kills bacteria. It also can take the finish off of metal, so use with supervision. A test patch (a small hidden area that you can use vinegar upon to see if it discolors or eats away the decorative finish) is recommended. A straight 100% solution can be used to clean plastic dishes. Pour a bit of vinegar on a rag and wipe out the dishes. Rinse well.
Use a 50%-75% vinegar/hotwater solution to remove hard water stains (lime) from ceramic and glass bowls also. Fill bowl with solution and let soak for an hour or two. Chip off lime with a toothpick or scrub with a sponge. Rinse before using.
You can also soak your used sponges in 100% vinegar for several hours to keep them from smelling sour.

Paper or Plastic?

"Paper or plastic?" It's the question that's asked at every grocery store today. But is it the right question? How would things change if the cashier asked, "Did you bring your bags today?" Here are some statistics taken from an article in Delicious Living in the November 07 issue. There are more than 88 billion plastic bags used each year in the United States. It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce the bags that the U.S. uses annually. Less than 1% of the plastic bags get recycled in the U.S. It takes an estimated 1,000 years for a plastic bag to decompose. Paper bags aren't necessarily better. They take more energy to produce and to transport because they're bulkier.

Here are more sad facts from http://www.chicobag.com/ The average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the Earth not once, but 760 times! According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999 the U.S. alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring 14 million trees to be cut down. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo-degrade—breaking down into small toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food-chain when mistaken for zooplankton or jellyfish.

The good news is that some grocery stores are selling their own version of reusable shopping bags for an average cost of .99 cents. One of the grocery stores in our area offers a 3 cent refund when you bring your own bag. We were lucky, we received our reusable Chicobags as birthday gifts from our daughter, Kristen http://vandervortacademy.blogspot.com/. They fold up into a little pouch and fit nicely in my purse so they're easy to carry around. They come in a variety of colors, are machine washable, and are very reasonably priced. Check out the websites below and go GREEN!

http://www.chicobag.com/

http://www.reusablebags.com/