A Green Eyed View - green ideas and advice

FREE Essence Water Filter

I wanted to let you know that we are having a contest to give away an Essence Countertop Water Filter with a filter life indicator. It’s a new product for us and we’re very excited about it. More about the sweepstakes in a moment.

 

If you aren’t filtering your drinking water I just wanted to talk to you about why I think it’s important and offer some solutions instead grabbing a plastic bottle of water at your grocery store.

 

US tap is not as bad as tap elsewhere in the world but these days it apparently comes with trace amounts of prescription medications, caffeine and other unwelcome "additives" that may have dangerous effects on all of us especially children.

 

Bottled water, though often perceived as a better alternative, is just as bad as (if not worse than) tap. Bottled water doesn't have to meet the same standards as tap water especially if it is sold within the state where it is bottled and as a result it may contain harmful bacteria, other pathogens and chemicals.

 

So, my tip for getting safe drinking water is to Do It Yourself. Buy a water filter and clean the water you need at the point of use. In-home water filtration is the easiest, most effective, most economical and most environmentally sound way of providing safe, healthy water for   you and your family. Drinking clean water is the best thing we can do for our health and in-home filtration is the best, if not the only, way to get it these days.

 

And then once you have your filter installed, you’re going to want to have a great water bottle in which to store and carry it. Good Life Water Bottles - 100% BPA-free, high-quality food grade 18/304 stainless steel are one of the best and safest alternatives I can find.

 

Here are some quick facts about the plastic water bottle epidemic plaguing our planet:

 

-Out of the 50 billion bottles of water being bought each year, 80% end up in a landfill - that’s 40 billion un-recycled water bottles, wonder how many end up in our oceans?

 

-Because plastic does not fully biodegrade, waste patches have been contaminating our oceans, the largest of which is now called The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and is now the size of Texas and growing!

 

-17 million barrels of oil are used in producing bottled water each year

 

-Plastic leaches toxins into the water, which have been linked to health problems such as reproductive issues and even cancer

 

-Recyclable stainless steel water bottles give us an excellent solution to the non-sustainable habit we have created during recent years.

 

To introduce the Essence Water Filters we decided to give away one of their very cool countertop units. To enter go to the HealthyHome Facebook Page page and click the Sweepstakes tab at the top. Then click “Enter Sweepstakes” under the picture. Of course while you’re there, we’d like you to “like” us and be a fan.

 

I know this was a long post, and I’m grateful to you for reading it. I’m certain this information is essential to your health and the planet’s health.

 

Thanks for your continued support – I really do appreciate it.

 

Super Biofuel Derived From By-products of Scotch Whisky - Hail Scotland

All of my close personal friends and some of my not so close personal friends know that I have an intimate relationship with Scotland. Well, I should say the product that propels Scotland’s economy – Scotch Whisky.

 

Imagine my delight when I read that scientists at Edinburgh Napier University have   developed what they have dubbed a “super” biofuel from the by-products of whisky   production.

 

The creation of biobutanol, which has 30% more power output than ethanol, should be celebrated for a couple of reasons. The biofuel is derived from ‘pot ale’, the liquid from the copper stills, and ‘draff’, the spent grains. These two main ingredients are by-products of whisky production and as such don’t require the growing, maintaining and harvesting of specific crops for development. It’s also a truly sustainable source and I can attest to that.

 

Since the malt whisky industry in Scotland produces 1,600 million liters of pot ale and 187,000 tons of draff, there is reason to believe that biobutanol will be showing up at gas stations in Scotland and the UK very soon. Unlike ethanol no special adaptations will be required. You can substitute this super biofuel directly for gasoline in ordinary cars. I love it!

 

Puts a whole new meaning to “one for the road”.

 

Cheers!!

 

 

EcoTimber Announces Another Award for Environmental Performance

EcoTimber Woven Recycled Poplar Selected As a

Sustainable Industries 2010 Top 10 Green Building Product Award Winner

Denver, CO– Award‐winning independent news source Sustainable Industries announced EcoTimber Woven Recycled Poplar as one of its 2010 Top 10 Green Building Products award winners. Sustainable Industries’ Top 10 Green Building Products guide is an annual publication profiling industry‐leading green building products selected by a panel of expert judges and Sustainable Industries’ editorial team.

 

EcoTimber Woven Recycled Poplar was selected from more than 100 entries based  on environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovation, design aesthetic, value and compatibility with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

 

The winners were announced in a Sustainable Industries Webinar featuring Associate Editor Charles Redell and members of the judges’ panel who addressed attendees' questions about the pros and cons of the latest green building innovations. The 2010 Top 10 Green Building Products winners are highlighted in the July issue of Sustainable Industries, as well as in a digital supplement with 3D images designed by Portland’s Fat Pencil Studio. The guide is available for free at www.sustainableindustries.com/resources.

 

“In the five years Sustainable Industries has produced this trusted and popular independent guide, the industry has seen unprecedented growth,” says Brian Back, Founding Editor & Publisher of Sustainable Industries. “We’re confident the Top 10 Green Building Products guide provides a unique overview of some of the most innovative building materials representing the biggest trends on the market today.”

 

“The Woven Recycled Poplar flooring represents a revolution in the flooring industry”, says Doug Foucault, Vice President of Product Development for EcoTimber, “it’s comprised of 100% post industrial scraps of poplar from the furniture industry that is combined with a proprietary process of resin infusion and high compression. This makes it not only the most environmentally friendly floor on the market but also extremely durable and extraordinarily beautiful. We believe that this new category of flooring represents a huge future potential for EcoTimber and our dealer partners and keeps us on the forefront of offering environmentally sound and yet uniquely stylish flooring choices.”

 

About EcoTimber

 

Since 1992, EcoTimber has promoted forest conservation worldwide by selling sustainably harvested wood and Bamboo products. We back our products with a commitment to excellent quality, friendly service and competitive pricing. We founded EcoTimber on the premise that the best way to preserve the world's forests is to build markets for wood and bamboo products sourced from superior models of forest management. Our suppliers' forestry practices guarantee a perpetual yield of high quality timber while maintaining or restoring healthy, self-regenerating forest ecosystems.

 

EcoTimber specializes in wood products from forests that are certified well‐managed according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). We also offer wood that is reclaimed from old buildings, and wood alternatives such as bamboo. EcoTimber thoroughly researches its sources, maintaining the highest standards in choosing genuinely eco‐friendly products. For more information please visit www.ecotimber.com.

 

About Sustainable Industries and Sustainable Media Inc.

 

Sustainable Media Inc. is an independent media company providing news and analysis for West Coast business leaders paving the way for the New Economy. It publishes Sustainable Industries, an independent, award‐winning business magazine, as well as industry‐specific newsletters, a daily blog, an in‐depth Webinar series, a podcast series featuring nationally renowned sustainable business leaders, Economic Forums with local business leaders and policy makers, and annual business guides aimed at helping companies conserve resources. With offices in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, Sustainable Industries connects the dots between the environmental and social components of the region’s economy, just as it connects the dots between leading sectors, to raise the stakes in a working definition of sustainable industries. For more information, visit www.sustainableindustries.com.

Stop Paying Cable Bills

How to Get Thousands of TV Channels on Your PC… And Never Pay Another Monthly Bill Again

In today’s rocky economic climate, most households are cutting back wherever they can. And with cable and satellite television costing anywhere from $65- $150 a month (more if you count premium movie channels) many people are making their television sets the first part of their homes to get the axe. But what if there was a way to enjoy thousands of television channels, including hard to find international shows and sports programming, and never pay another monthly cable bill again? This green idea is all about saving the green.

Welcome to Satellite Direct- the future of television.

With no subscription services or monthly bills, no hardware to install, and 24/7 unlimited access, is it any wonder that Internet Media Magazine hailed Satellite Direct as “unequivocally the best TV to PC software on the net”? Don’t be fooled by other so called “Great Deals” on satellite television service for your PC that give you only limited access to channels, or have dozens of hidden fees that end up costing you more than your current cable service.

For less than the price of one month’s subscription cable or satellite service, you can enjoy a lifetime of television- over 3,500 channels!- from the convenience of your laptop or desktop. And forget the hassles of waiting for installation, or hours on hold with the cable company. Installing Satellite Direct is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Register - Answer a few simple questions, and our easy registration system will process your ONE TIME payment. That’s right, no monthly bills- ever.

2. Download - Follow the easy, on screen instructions to download our software. No hardware to install, no equipment to buy.

3. Watch and Enjoy - Sit back and enjoy thousands of television channels, from soaps and sports to movies and dramas, any time, day or night.

With crystal clear picture and sound quality, exceptional customer service, and a lifetime of television for less than you’d pay for just one month of cable service, Satellite Direct is the best way to get the most for your TV dollar.

How to Create a Healthy Bedroom – Part 2

Install non-toxic flooring

 

Last month I started a series about making your bedroom healthy. As you probably know, a third of your entire life is spent in the bedroom. Do the math and you’ll realize how important it is to have a safe place to rest and re-charge. For this post let’s look at what type of flooring is best for a healthy bedroom.

 

I don’t normally recommend carpeting because no matter how careful you are to keep it clean, it still can be home to lots of things that are potential allergens. If you must have carpet, choose a natural wool carpet from Earthweave or Nature’s Carpet Dark Green series. They make chemical free wool carpeting that is strong, beautiful and will outlast most synthetic carpets. Synthetic carpets are a sea of chemicals that can and do cause health problems for people. Especially be careful if you have children because they spend so much time playing or crawling on the floor and they are more vulnerable to the toxins.

 

One of the reasons people choose carpeting for the bedroom is so they can roll out of bed and not put their bare toes on a cold floor. Well you don’t have to have carpeting to accomplish that. Cork floors work that way too.

 

A cork floor is perfect for the healthy bedroom. Cork has insulating properties that keep it at room temperature so you can go barefoot without getting cold feet. It also has acoustical insulating properties so your bedroom will be quieter which is more conducive to sound sleep. It is easier to keep clean than carpet thus eliminating allergens that might be hiding in your carpet. It is naturally anti-static and anti-bacterial. Most cork companies have a good range of colors and styles to choose from so cork can work with any décor. Cork is comfortable underfoot because it is comprised of thousands of air cells which act as a cushion. I highly recommend cork for the bedroom but I think cork has all the right properties for any room in the house.

 

Other healthy alternatives for bedroom flooring are ceramic tile, terrazzo, bamboo or any FSC certified hardwood like EcoTimber. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification is, in my opinion, the only flooring certification process that truly safeguards the forests and forest workers. There are other forest certification systems in use but none of them meets the strict standards of the FSC. Some of them actually clear cut their forests and how that qualifies a company to be certified as a green company is inconceivable to me.

 

So you now have a healthy bed and healthy flooring. In future posts we will look at paint, furniture and windows.

 

Thanks for reading - To get updates when there is new information posted please add your email to my list. I promise not to sell or share your email with anyone. And feel free to comment and share my posts. I need your feedback to make this of value to you.

 

Thanks,

Tom

Colleges: Less Green in the Bank, More Green on Campus

New portal allows universal access to sustainability data from 332 schools

Despite budget-breaking investment losses and widely fluctuating energy costs, many schools became greener during the last year, earning higher grades on the College Sustainability Report Card 2010. Released today on the new GreenReportCard.org website by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the annual publication provides school profiles and grades along with exclusive insights about sustainability in higher education.

The profiled schools have combined holdings of more than $325 billion—approximately 95 percent of all higher education endowment assets. Widespread investment declines have impacted almost all schools, with the Report Card finding average endowment value dropping by 23 percent in the past year. With red ink dominating school budgets, did green expenditures get axed?

“Surprising the skeptics, most schools we surveyed did not let financial reversals undermine their green commitments,” said Mark Orlowski, executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute. “New financial realities encouraged saving money by adopting environmentally friendly innovations.”

To promote shared learning in the down economy, the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s in-depth research on 332 colleges is now available at a new online portal. For the first time, the Institute is offering universal access to 1,100 sustainability survey responses about campus, dining and student initiatives, as well as endowment investment. Access to endowment information is intended to foster constructive dialogue about investment in clean energy and in community development, as well as about sustainability considerations in shareholder voting.

More than 95 percent of participating institutions agreed to share the inner workings of their green practices, resulting in over 10,000 pages of detailed data and descriptions. Overall, the College Sustainability Report Card has the highest response rate of any college sustainability ranking or rating.

“Colleges are now taking pride in greener campuses and sustainability-savvy investments—increasingly important concerns for parents and students in choosing a school,” Orlowski said. “They can find the first comprehensive college sustainability selection tool at GreenReportCard.org.”

Sixty-eight percent of 12,715 high school students applying to college, who were recently polled by the Princeton Review, said that they would value having information about a college’s commitment to the environment. To help students search, the Report Card website offers comparison of up to 10 schools at a time.

Students can also explore schools by geographic region on the interactive map. This feature enables users to click on a college in a particular area to see all grades listed by category and to link directly to that school’s full profile. Other popular searches include listings of schools by athletic league, environmental studies majors, sustainability jobs on campus, renewable energy use and dozens of other options.

Grading the schools entailed researching publicly available information, conducting surveys of appropriate school officials, and assessing performance with 120 questions across 48 indicators in the following 9 categories: Administration, Climate Change & Energy, Food & Recycling, Green Building, Transportation, Student Involvement, Endowment Transparency, Shareholder Engagement and Investment Priorities.

The total of nine equally weighted category grades determined the overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale leading to the overall sustainability letter grade. The highest cumulative grade level earned in the College Sustainability Report Card 2010 was A-, qualifying the following 26 schools as Overall College Sustainability Leaders:

OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS*	SURVEY LINKS
Amherst College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Arizona State University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Brown University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of California - San Diego	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Carleton College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
College of the Atlantic	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of Colorado	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Dickinson College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Harvard University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Luther College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Macalester College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Middlebury College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of Minnesota	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of New Hampshire	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Oberlin College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Pacific Lutheran University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of Pennsylvania	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Pomona College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Smith College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Stanford University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of Vermont	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
University of Washington	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Wesleyan University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Williams College	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
Yale University	campus	-	dining	-	endowment	-	student
*In alphabetical order—not rankings

About the Sustainable Endowments Institute:

The Sustainable Endowments Institute is a Cambridge-based nonprofit organization engaged in research and education to advance sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices. Founded in 2005, the Institute is a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and receives funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, United Nations Foundation, V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, Kendall Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation, among others.