Going Green

Windshield Fluid

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:15:52 -0400

This winter I have been using Bio-Green Windshield fluid. It seems to do as good a job as any other fluid I have used and its Green!
A premium, natural formulation derived from a renewable resource that’s gentle — no harsh additives or fragrances — and provides streak-free cleaning and de-icing.  Bio-Green wash is an ethanol-based and environmentally preferred product that is rapidly biodegradable with surface water, ground water and soil.
As Spring arrives I am on the hunt for Eco Friendly summer fluid. I shall keep you posted.

Snow Thrower

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:22:54 -0500

About a month ago a bought an electric snow blower. Trying to stay away from the gas powered blowers I did some research online and found a lot of good comments on the Toro 1800 power curve. I have to say i am impressed. This machine is light and powerful. I can hang it on my garage wall for storage, I just plug it in and off I go.
For a third of the cost of a gas powered noise making snow blower I am extremely happy with my purchase. It only uses electricity when engaged which is very different from the constant running of a gas powered machine. It has power that surprises me. I can even clear the snow from the end of my drive way after the plow has been by.. all in all a big thumbs up!

Obama

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:11:05 -0500

If Obama can put his money where is mouth is then here is an article that highlights his parties promises and how they plan to obtain them.

Green web hosting

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 19:07:24 -0400

I have found this web hosting service that uses only certified Green Renewable Energy. I have now added this site to the web hosting service and shall be adding my other sites in the near future.
So far I am very happy with Host Papa

Gift Bags

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 15:42:04 -0400

This is not my idea but I thought it was so good i wanted to pass it on.....
Instead of buying a gift bag for a present that you would like to give... why not buy a reusable shopping bag that the receiver of the gift can then use again. I also know that you can buy these shopping bags cheaper than gift bags!!
A win win!!

Coffee filters

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 15:20:48 -0400

So I have switched to using a reusable coffee filter for my morning brew. I guessed it was better than throwing filters away each day and it would save me some money in the long run.
I bought mine from Canadian Tire for $10. So far I have been pleased with it. I can tell no difference in taste to my coffee and I still compost the grounds yet I am not adding a filter to the compost anymore. I now have to clean it everyday but I can bang out most of the coffee into my compost and I use a small amount of water to wash it out. The model I have is made from titanium which cleans out pretty well.
Since buying the filter I have found some arguments for the filters and against the filters.... here is one that I found insightful.
Quote
“I really like the idea of the reusable filter, and I've tried mine for a month or so a couple of times. I found that it took a lot of water to clean it each time, and a lot of the grounds clung tightly to the basket. More grounds went down the drain than into the compost bin.

Like so many things, I find it difficult to really assess the relative environmental impact of manufactured goods:

For paper filters, there is water used for paper manufacture; fossil fuels used for wood harvest, manufacturing and transportation; byproducts of paper manufacturing; impact to the woodlot and paper mill areas; likely domestic transportation; disposal of the used filters.

For the metal filter, there is the mining and refining of oil and its byproducts (to make the plastic with), mining and manufacture of the metal screen, plating and its byproducts, the environmental impact of the areas mined and the manufacturing facility, intercontinental transportation, disposal of water and soap to clean for each use.

(Clearly this isn't an exhaustive analysis, but it's the thought process I go through when weighing options like this.)

For me, it's tough to say which is the better choice. For the last couple years, I've gone with unbleached paper filters that I compost with the grounds. My rationale: Paper comes from a renewable source, I estimate that it takes less water to make a filter than to clean the metal one, and the paper filter ultimately gets cycled into the garden. Right, wrong? I don't know. Obviously it's the choice I'm more comfortable with.

My best guess: Either way, we're trading one environmental impact for another.”

Turn that computer off!!

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:26:13 -0400

Over the last few months I have been trying hard to turn off my computer when I know I am not returning to it within the next 30 minutes. Yes it can be a pain to wait for it to start up but now having seen this webpage I shall be reminded of the difference that I am making to help me feel a little better.

Crocs recycle program

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:58:17 -0400

Having owned a pair of Crocs and feeling slightly guilty for loving them (the guilt comes from the fact that i am 100% sure that the material they are made from surely isn’t good for the environment in production, usage and disposal) I decided to ask Crocs Inc. about their product.

My email read
I am wondering how green are corcs?? can they be recycled? whats chemicals are put in them to make them?? what damage is being done to the environment through the production of Crocs. I looked online at your website and there is no mention of being green.

Their email response
Dear Jeremy,

Thank you for your concern for our environment and community.

Crocs, Inc. launched a new recycling program, SolesUnited, in early 2008. SolesUnited is a first of its kind program created in response to the desperate need for quality footwear in impoverished countries and areas affected by tragedy. Blending environmental and humanitarian efforts, we are collecting, regrinding, and remolding your old Crocs shoes into new and donating these to people in need of shoes around the world.

Directions are below on other recycling options:

Please visit www.solesunited.com. Next, click on the “find a participating retailer near you” tab. On this page you will find a link to Crocs retailers that may have recycling bins. You can also send them directly to one of our two recycling centers:

Crocs recycling - west 3375 Enterprise Ave. Bloomington, CA 92316

Crocs recycling - east 1500 Commodity Blvd. Lockbourne, OH 43137

Also, you can “Take the Pledge” to make a commitment to turn in my pair of crocstm shoes when they’ve reached their end-of-life so they can be recycled, which will be donated to people in need around the world. To take the pledge, please visit www.solesunited.com and click on the “I pledge” link.

If you have any further questions please contact Ivy Berg directly at (303) 848-7128 or by email info@solesunited.com. Thank you for your participation.

Best Regards,
Ivy Berg
Internet Service Team Lead 6328 Monarch Park Place Niwot, Colorado 80503 T 303.848.7128
1-866-306-3179 www.crocs.com

Nothing mentioned about the chemicals put into them but hey we have an option to recycle your Crocs. Lets do it!

Al Gore lays it down

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:08:49 -0400

Al Gore lays it down for the American’s. I am a supporter of Al Gore’s mission yet knowing how much money and power the oil industry has over the U.S government and in fact any government I really struggle to believe that this will ever happen.
Now I feel guilty for my pessimistic view.

Drinking Green

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:33:59 -0400

Changing my life to being green involves changing as many aspects of it as possible. So in an effort to stay green I now buy local beer and also I am fortunate enough to be able to buy organic local beer. Buying local wine is a little harder as the local winery sells some pretty rough wine... therefore I stick to buying some wine from the states instead of overseas. Ontario wine is good but you have to pay a lot for good Ontario wine. Buy local to support local businesses and cut down on the shipping and handling of your most frequently bought alcohol.

Green Web-Surfing

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:24:06 -0400

I stumbled into this flock, a web browser that claims to give 10% of its search proceeds to an environmental charity of choice.
As of right now I am still getting used to it. But hey if it gives money back to the environment then I am all for it and its worth sharing with others. Pass on the good news.
On a side note. If you didn’t know about Blackle.... then check it out to. It is google but it uses a black background instead of a white one therefore using less energy.

Companies Crap

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 20:15:58 -0400

Having seen some of the commercials on TV over the last few months I have noticed that everyone seems to be bragging about how environmentally friendly they are.
Come on.... we have Wal Mart telling us how they are using renewable energy and they are using better lighting systems....what crap. They may be using some renewable energy and trying to clean up some of their policies, but hang on. Wal Mart is the company that brings us the most massed produced cheap plastic crap that I know of. They pride themselves on selling cheap stuff that lasts a few days/years and then ends up in our landfills to decay away over the next few hundred years leaving all the chemicals and toxins that were put into it back to the earth. When was the last time you saw a Wal Mart with a recycling drop off outside its doors??
Then we have Johnson and Johnson. They are telling us that they use a land fill site to gain their energy from the LFG (Land Fill Gases). Well that is a start for sure and I am never going to say they are wrong for doing that but they are still providing us with the same chemical saturated products.
I get frustrated to see companies only partly buying into the green life and then encourage us to purchase from them because they are doing good to the environment.

Don’t throw that water bottle out!

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 22:41:25 -0400

If you haven’t heard yet you need to know now...... Your plastic water bottle that you carry around with you is probably doing you damage. You need to look at the plastic that it is made from. If it has a #2, #4, or #5 then it is probably ok. Any other number on the bottom of the bottle may cause problems. The other plastics that are used are #1, #3, #6, and #7. These plastis will leak chemicals into our drinking liquids which in turn have a negative effect on our bodies and lives. For more on this read this article.

BUT WAIT!! Don’t just chuck your bottle away. May I encourage you to think about filling half of the bottle with small stones or gravel and half with water. Then place your old bottle into the back of your toilet. Thus reusing your bottle and saving on water every time you flush. All other bottles can be placed into recycling!

What's in our products?

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 22:48:53 -0400

Whilst reading the blog page from the “Story of Stuff” website I came across this site (the cosmetic Database) Its a great site to look up what body products you can buy and what you are using that have the most or least harmful toxins in.
I am now on the search for a site that does the same with other household products

The Story of Stuff

Thu, 29 May 2008 16:05:42 -0400

If you haven’t seen this, you need to. For the rest of my life this movie will have an impact on my purchasing decisions.

It starts in the home

Mon, 26 May 2008 22:53:27 -0400

For about a year now we have been using “Method” cleaning products. Naturally-derived, biodegradable products such as household cleaners, supplies, laundry care, and soaps. We have been very impressed with them all and would highly recommend them. We have found there products in three stores in our local community. Robinson's Independent, Canadian Tire, and Shoppers Drugmart