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!)

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!

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!

We all know that recycling allows materials to live a second life (paper, glass, aluminum) but did you know that it also saves the energy that would have been used to mine and manufacture the original materials? Check out the breakdown, part of a recent article published through Co-Op America’s Quarterly news magazine:

Recycled Material                     Energy Saved

Aluminum                                            95%

Steel                                                     80%

Plastic                                                  80%

Paper                                                   64%

Glass                                                    50%

So, if you don’t already have a recycle bin in your home you may want to create one and not only save natural resources but energy to!

Winter is just around the corner and taking a peak at your heating bills last year the chills you get will be from more than just the drop in temperature. Save yourself some money and reduce your energy consumption too!

This year, why not try to be green about heating with these energy saving tips

• The easiest way to save energy is to lower your thermostat - you can save as much as 10% a year on heating/cooling bills by turning it down between 10 and 15% for just 8 hours a day (perhaps while you’re away at work). To make it even easier (especially for those of us who would forget) install a programmable thermostat.

• Be sure your heating units, fans, and vents are all clean and functioning normally - replace your furnace or heat pump air filter regularly.

• Close the damper to your fireplace.

• Check the insulation in your home - many manufactures advise at least 15.5″ of insulation in the attic.

• Be sure all windows and doors are a snug fit - if not then look for eco-friendly weather stripping for windows and additional caulking for doors.

• If you have unoccupied rooms in your home, close the vents in them and close the doors.

• Install an insulation blanket around your water heater.

• Double check your wall outlets - outside air can seep into these often unnoticed.

• Throw on an extra sweater, comfy socks, and snuggle with a loved one under a blanket!

Stay warm this winter by taking simple steps to reduce your energy consumption and save money at the same time!

It is amazing what we put into our bodies, and no I am not just referring to the mega-super-jumbo-burger. The seemingly good things we eat aren’t always what they seem either. I know most of us think we’re doing what is best by having lots of fruits and veggies but if they are laden with the toxic chemicals found in pesticides then we may as well be eating fast food after all.

Buying organic produce can be tough on the wallet, so the Environmental Working Group was nice enough to break down what they have researched to be “The Dirty Dozen.” These are twelve items which you should spring for the next time you’re in the super market and choose organic instead (these have the highest levels of potentially dangerous pesticides when processed traditionally) –

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

Additionally, here are twelve fruits/vegetables which usually don’t have as many pesticides found on them when processed traditionally, so you’re a little safer when not buying them organic –

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (frozen)
• Kiwi
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

Unfortunately, washing produce doesn’t really do the trick of getting rid of the pesticides either. The EWG found that people can reduce their risk of exposure to pesticides up to 90% by eliminating the “Dirty Dozen” (better yet purchasing their organically grown alternatives), and consuming the safer twelve instead.

This summer - go one step beyond organic and check out a u-pick farm… nothing quite beats eating fresh berries and other delicious produce that you picked yourself!

In today’s world our time is more precious than ever and one thing most of us have done is farm out traditional “home” chores that would otherwise take forever. One such chore is the mind-numbing task of cleaning our clothes; isn’t it so much quicker to just drop them off at the dry cleaners and have someone else do all of the work?

We may want to think twice about our dry cleaning though. Have you ever noticed that clothes which are repeatedly dry cleaned have a dingy film to them, lose their color, or smell kind of weird? This is because the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process are extremely harmful, not only to your clothing but to you. The main toxic substance is called perchloroethylene (perc for short) and is not only a nervous system depressant but has also shown to damage the liver and the kidneys. Who needs that on their clothes! (not to mention on their skin when they wear the clothes!) And of the 35,000 dry cleaners in the United States only 15% of them use alternatives to perc?

There are alternatives, however, so don’t think you have to go back to washing with rocks in a stream anytime soon. One alternative is called GreenEarth, while this was once touted as the saving grace of the dry cleaning industry as greener standards emerged it is now under fire for causing cancer in animal tests and harming the liver (the main ingredient is a silicone-based solvent). 

The other alternatives are liquid carbon dioxide, which has shown the most promise through comparative testing with other methods, and wet cleaning. Wet cleaning basically uses biodegradable/nontoxic formulas and water pressure to get clothes clean. We like these last two methods… not only because they are gentle on the earth and us but also because they work!

Even better… try to wear clothes several more times before you clean them. Many things like wool, heavy cottons, and even some synthetics can hold up well with multiple wears without loosing their spiff or taking on unpleasant smells. For suits, sweaters, and heavy pants you can also try some squirts of water and essential oil (we recommend lavender) from a spray bottle - this keeps them smelling good!