Everyone knows that Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs are the way to go -

• They use 1/10th of the energy as a regular light-bulb
• They last 5 times as long as a regular light-bulb
• They reduce your total electricity cost
• They help cut down on your carbon emissions

However, did you know that CFLs contain small amounts of mercury? This metal can be very dangerous if inhaled or ingested. So, when your CFLs finally bite the dust be sure to contact your local recycling facility and ask them where you can take it. Our local fire-stations are where we take ours to be recycled.

Additionally, if you have one that happens to break (like if it drops onto a hard surface or floor) be sure to sweep up the mess and store in a zip lock plastic bag. Do not vacuum it up as the mercury will get up in the air and into your vacuum cleaner. The same folks that recycle the old non-broken ones should be able to help you with your broken ones as well.

Now… go out and get you some CFLs (if you haven’t done so already!)

Even the simple things we do each day can have a huge impact on our planet and on our fellow citizens. Most of us wander aimlessly through the shopping malls and blindly throw things into our carts, not giving much thought to the actual process each item has undergone to get all the way from where it started to comfortably in our shopping bags.

How about this idea… the next time you go shopping why don’t you stop and ask yourself some hard questions about where the item came from and what its life-cycle will be now that it has come into your possession. You may be surprised (and saddened) when you think about the impact even one little thing can have. Try, however, to be empowered and know that you can make a difference through how you spend your almighty dollar.

Some things to consider -

Do I really need this? (the most important question you can ask)

Is there any way I can get this second hand?

Is there any way I can make this myself?

Is it worth the cost - is it a quality item or made from materials that will not last long?  

Who made this item -

In what country?

Under what conditions?

How much did they get paid?

Were they under a certain age?

What is the environmental impact of this product -

What raw materials were excavated or used to make this item?

Did these materials come from a renewable source or were they sustainably harvested?

Is their country of origin being exploited for its natural resources?

How much energy and water went into making this product?

Were there any harmful chemicals used in making this product?

How far did this item have to travel to get to me?

Is there a locally made alternative to this item? 

Does it have too much packaging - what is the packaging made of? Is it recyclable?

What is the impact of this product on me and my family -

Are my ethics in line with the way this item was made, marketed, or distributed?

Are there chemicals in this product that will harm me or my family?

Is this product built to last or is it made poorly so I will have to replace it soon?

Will the chemicals in this product harm the soil or groundwater when it is disposed of?

What happens when I am done with this product -

Am I able to reuse this item in some other way?

Can I send the packaging back to be refilled?

Am I able to recycle this product?

Can I donate this product?

Is it biodegradable or will it linger in the landfill for a long time?

I think that as you spend more time thinking about how much your simple shopping decisions can have an impact you will become more aware of the world of “stuff” around you… and realize that it is not about how much you “have” that really even matters.

Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day! Share your love by going green!

As the winter marches on, it is often hard to think about those first few weeks of spring. Delicious leafy greens and warm sun we have waited so long for will be welcome guests!

Now is a great time to plan on joining a CSA for the spring/summer/fall. What is a CSA you ask?

Community Supported Agriculture - basically you are purchasing a “share” of a local farmers produce for the year. You are creating a relationship with your local food grower where everyone wins!

Benefits to participating in a CSA

1. Helps the farmer by securing payment for food they will produce throughout the year
2. Supports locally grown produce which hasn’t traveled long distances to reach you
3. The produce is probably organic (or at least very close to it) and uses local labor for harvesting
4. You receive a delicious box of seasonal produce each week, often with helpful recipes

Check out the Local Harvest website to see what CSA opportunities are available in your area.

In case you don’t live near a CSA, be sure to see what farmers markets and tailgate markets are available. These weekly (and in some cases daily) shopping experiences are priceless - supporting local farmers and small businesses, getting fabulous fresh produce as well as artisan breads/cheeses/herbs, and celebrating where our food really comes from!

Here’s to Spring - let it get here soon!

While the term “green washing” may sound eco-friendly (the first thing I always think of is washing my clothing or dishes using green products), it is actually a expression used as “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.”

According to Seventh Generation (c/o writer Gary Hirshberg) here are the six sins of Greenwashing:

1) The Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off. This occurs when a product claims it is green because it has a single environmental characteristic that ignores other impacts it may have. For example, a paper product may label itself “green” because it is made from recycled content. But if that paper is bleached with toxic chlorine, it doesn’t represent a true green option.

2) The Sin of No Proof. This is an environmental claim that can’t be proven by easily accessible information on the label or the company’s website, or by third-party certification. Because green labeling is largely unregulated, a company can say it’s products are green in almost any way without having to provide any evidence that such claims are true.

3) The Sin of Vagueness. This happens when a product makes an environmental claim that’s so poorly defined or overly broad as to be easily misunderstood by or essentially meaningless to consumers. For example, terms like “natural” and “environmentally-friendly” have no regulated definition and so can (and often do!) mean anything in the hands of marketers.

4) The Sin of Irrelevance. This occurs when a product makes an environmental claim that’s true but not very important and is therefore unhelpful if not distracting to consumers legitimately seeking the greenest option. According to TerraChoice, the most frequent example of irrelevance is the “CFC-free” label which refers to the lack of ozone layer-depleting chemicals in a product. The claim is true but also a bit disingenuous because CFCs have been banned in all products for decades.

5) Sin of Lesser of Two Evils. This is a claim that’s true but ignores other more serious environmental impacts. For example, organic cigarettes may be made from tobacco grown without pesticides, but they’re still cigarettes! TerraChoice says it considers a product to commit this sin when environmental claims like “organic” or “green” are applied to products whose basic product category is one of questionable overall environmental performance or value.

6) The Sin of Fibbing. Here’s the last and worst of all: Making a claim that’s just not true. While few products dare to go this far, they’re out there as evidenced by shampoo labels claiming certified organic status without a shred of proof and the household caulk claiming to be an official Energy Star product despite contrary information found on the official Energy Star website.

So - be on the lookout for these “sins” of greenwashing - now that you’re educated go forth and shop smart!

We have all become so accustomed to adjusting the thermostat whenever we get the slightest chill in winter. How about next time you kind of chilly, just put on an extra layer like an organic cotton sweater, or some comfy natural wool socks?

Did you know you can save over 300 pounds of C02 each year by keeping your temperature set at 68 during the winter?

What a great excuse to put on some warm pjs and snuggle up under the covers with a good book and a hot cup of organic tea!

Dress appropriately for the weather and save some money on your power bill and reduce your overall emissions. Fabulous!

Ok, so perhaps there really is no debate and perhaps it is not so great… but it is still about paper.

I am planning my son’s birthday party and along with all of the hoopla of thinking up games and making delicious (organic) food fit for children I started to think about disposable plates and utensils. Hmmm… Children often make a huge mess and many don’t want to be carrying around heavy cups and bowls. Well, thank goodness their parents will be around to help them!

It is only making sense for me to shelve the paper and plastic and use the regular plates, utensils, and cups that I do every day. Sure, they won’t have cute designs on them and heaven forbid they take away from the overall party theme (pirates by the way) but that is ok - setting examples is one of the greatest ways we can teach our children and what better way to show them how easy it can be to be green!

So, the next time you want to party down and need your plates/cups/napkins to match… skip it and let your guests know that you were thinking of them and the planet when you decided against them. And if “watch me toil in the kitchen washing your dishes after the party” doesn’t say “thanks for coming, I really appreciate you!” then what does!?

And yes, the water you use in washing the dishes pales in comparison to the landfill space they take up and the trees that were destroyed to make them… not to mention the chemicals used to create the plastic and the gas used in the transportation to get them to the store and to your house and I’ll stop now…  :)

Ok, so I have gone 2 days per week without blow drying my hair to save on energey. It looks kind of scary but that is what ponytail holders are for, right?

But yesterday we were put to the test when we needed to replace a light-bulb . It was for an overhanging light so it needed to be at least 60 watt. My husband went to the grocery store and purchased a CFL. One single light-bulb was $3.50.

So, going green isn’t going to be cheap. The good thing, however, is that this one light-bulb will use SO much less energy and will last about 10 times longer than a typical one. The bad thing is that it has mercury in it and when it does make its way to the landfill it is going to be breaking down with mercury leaking from it.

Hmmm… more thoughts on this to come.

One part of my 2008 Year of Green adventures include weeding out any “un-natural, non-organic, etc.” personal care products. If you take just a few minutes go through how many products we use each day then the insane number of ingredients in each one you would be totally overwhelmed. Here is a typical day for me…

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body Wash
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Face Cream
• Face Lotion
• Eye Cream
• Body Lotion
• Hairspray
• Mascara
• Lip Gloss
• Concealer

My list isn’t even nearly as long as some folks but there are still 13 different products I am using on a daily basis. OK, so with about 20 ingredients (at least) per product that is 260 chemicals I am putting on each day. Yikes! Knowing that only about 10% of them have ever been tested for safety that is a little scary to me. Am I crazy?

So, as I make my way into this new Green year I am going to replace each personal care item with a natural/organic version when the product has all been used up (not throwing away full bottles of things is also very green of me!) I’ll keep you posted with how that is going. I am afraid that it may be a little expensive, but perhaps that is what it will take for me to loosen my dependence on artificial beauty products (also very green). Though, I really don’t want to be smelly (not green… or maybe that is super green!)

And for all you guys out there who think it is just the women using this stuff, think again. My husband has 10 different items he uses each day and one of them, his beloved shaving cream, has the ingredient “propane.” Now THAT is scary.

I hope that everyone is enjoying a safe, happy, and green New Year! I am already getting started on my Green Year resolutions - I have gotten rid of all of the toxic chemical cleaners in my house. Fortunately I only had one box full but I have plenty of things already in my house that will help me clean - vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and more. All natural things that with a little bit of elbow grease (something we have gotten very afraid of) will clean just as well as the harmful stuff.

For some easy recipes check out this site - pantry cleaners

If you’re short on time and would rather just purchase something check out some of The Green Robin’s Ecover products. They are going to be on super sale in January as we are closing out our “Home” cleaning section to make room for other great items in 2008.

Happy New Year! Cheers to Going Green!

So, if I (Robin, owner of The Green Robin) want to be just as much action as I am talk I guess it is time I really go green. In the coming weeks I will be preparing things for my Year of Green - 2008 and blogging my journey along the way.

I am teaching a class at our local community college - Green Living 101 - so I guess I should be practicing what I preach.
While certain things are going to be fun and interesting (purchasing only produce that is locally grown and in season) there are others that I am really not looking foward to (eliminating harmful personal care items like my beloved hair spray and super efficient deodorant).

In any event, it is time that I truly become The Green Robin. I hope you will join me, comiserate with me, and cheer me on as I make drastic changes in the way that I (and my family by extension) live to be more green. I do this for myself, my family, and of course my planet.

Onward and Upward… Let’s Go Green Baby!