Mainstream Green

The words luxury and green are "used so often no one knows what they mean," according to a yesterday's NY Post. The article offers ideas for teaching your kids responsibility without boring them to tears and seems to use similar content to our Easygoing Green policy. (Is that flattery?)

Unless you haven’t turned on an iPod, computer, TV, or radio in the past year, you’ve seen enough green terminology—“natural, fuel efficient, organic, conservation, human rights, sustainable, fairly traded, socially responsible”—to toss a Prius-sized salad. And who wouldn’t want to be green when that simply means breathing clean air, eating healthy food and sleeping in a toxin free environment? Certainly one only has to spend a few hours outdoors breathing the polluted air in Phoenix, LA, or Beijing to see why it matters.

Yet less than four percent of Americans know that coal fired power plants cause even more air pollution than automobiles. A 2008 EcoPulse survey found fully half the respondents couldn’t name one feature of a green home. While 83 percent of US consumers worry about climate change, 26 percent could not name one company that makes a green product. Most people from the Northern Hemisphere know Boston is famous for its clam chowder and Irish stew can be ordered in any good Irish pub around the world, but only one in 40 know the most common soup in the Pacific is plastic soup. Floating in the North Pacific is a sea of plastic soup almost one and a half times the size of the continental US. Often called the Pacific Garbage Patch, this five million square mile area is a graveyard for marine life.

What sources or criteria do you use to cut through the buzzwords like luxury or green?

This blog is for bottom-up dispensers of cool who enjoy eco-travel deals and healthy living. We feel that "the small, the slow, the local, and the personal" will build the new economy. Your comments will help enrich this information for all of us.

Photo by Richard Burk

I'm a Scuppie, You're a Scuppie, He's a Scuppie Too

Have you heard of Scuppies? If not, than you may not have heard of a financial planner named Chuck Failla. Failla came up with the term Scuppie (Socially Conscious Upwardly-mobile Person) to describe mainstream eco-friendly and environmentally conscious people.

Failla describes a Scuppie as a sort of anti-yuppie. Essentially, they are in the same life-space, but the Scuppie is more responsible and compassionate. Failla already has a book planned, a website designed, and master plans to adjust the nation’s vernacular.

More Green In Your Pocket

What you can do to go green and save money, click here to read the article.

Bloomin' Wonderful Resolutions-- Dana's Five W's

What's your green resolution? The holidays brought a sea of appliances, electronics, packaging, and gift cards into my relatives homes and left me awash with mild shock about how my world is filled with plastic--even if I do carry my own shopping bags and gave up trash bags in 1988. Noodling on how to take it easy on me and momma nature in 2009 produced five simple things I can do that have big impact. I sometimes need mnemonics to remember things, so these are my "Five W's."

1. Wallet. No lectures about spending on lattes, I'm talking about the 10 billion gift cards, library cards, ID cards, membership cards, and other PVC cards that add 75 million pounds of plastic to our waste stream every year. Inspired by the cashier at Home Depot who is collecting thousands of gift cards to be recycled at her register, along with a Starbucks employee who drops cards off by the bag full--in 2009, I’m going to ask businesses if they use Earthworks recycled cards. And I will recylce my used and expired cards by mailing them to Earthworks.

Send your PVC cards to:

Earthworks System, LLC33200 Bainbridge Road, Suite Esolon, OH 44139

2. Water. Yeah, you know about plastic water bottles filling the dumps and possibly leaching toxins into our bodies, so I'm not going to go over that again. I'm concerned about my water filtration system using plastic parts. By mid-year my water filtration supplier promises plastic-free water filtration products will be available and if his molds don't work, I intend to research ones that do.

3. Wash. Research cleaning with a steam cleaner. Judy Garbutt, co-owner of a green cleaning company in St. Augustine, cleans floors, tiles and tubs with a steamer. Eliminates mold, germs, and doesn't use toxic cleaners. She recommends the EuroFlex SC, available on Overstock.com for less than $100. Does it use more water than mopping? Add to electricity use? More research on the wonder cleaner forthcoming.

4. Wear. I'm going to save money and energy drying my clothes and linens using the clothes line more and the dryer less. It saves money on the second-biggest electricity using appliance in my home (frig is first) and cuts down on fabric softener (full of toxins and expensive!).

5. Worry Less. In 2008, I eliminated rental cars on my travels by ride sharing, walking, and using public transportation. It wasn't easy. I have lots of luggage. I'm usually on a tight schedule. I have the tendency to be overly responsible, which can create anxiety.

On a trip to attend a wedding, I borrowed my mother's hybrid and was terrified something would happen to it while I was driving. Not the mood I wanted to be in for celebrating nuptuals. On a trip to Sedona, the shuttle ride from Phoenix to Sedona added three hours to an already long drive. That wasn't easy on my back and I was car sick. But it was cool how many people were amazed that I didn't have a car. It seemed incomprehensible to people that a successful person would walk when they could drive. Americans love their cars.

This resolution is to make greening my travel less stressful this year than it was in 2008--worry-free. See if I'm able to come up with anything when I share my green travel resolutions in January.

The Best Things In Life Are Free

Going green can help you save--on health care costs, fuel bills, tuition, and admission fees. There's something free for everyone--indoors for culture vultures and outdoors for the more adventurous.

Top 10 Free US Attractions

1. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
2. Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
3. Waimea Canyon, Waimea, Hawaii
4. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
5. Angel's Landing, Zion Park, Utah
6. USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1, California
8. US Holocaust Museum, Washington, DC
9. Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
10. Central Park, NY City

If you bank with Bank of America your sheck or debit card gets you into 70 museums free of charge. Details at the Bank of America Museums on Us website.

Even the Ivory Towers have opened up and gone green. Try any one of the 2,000 free courses online from MIT. Daredevil, Walter Lewin is an Internet legend for using stunts to demonstrate the laws of physics. Yale, Notre Dame and Berkley offer freebies from Psychology to Nutrition.

What freebies do you like for going green?

Going For the Green: Thoughts on Guilt and Greenwashing

"These days, it seems just about every business is finding a way to go green, making it that much harder for well-intentioned consumers to distinguish companies with green products and services." --Entrpreneur Magazine

Green guilt, extreme green, green washing—the over-exposure to green messages leaves me feeling eco-fatigued. Businesses greenwashing in hopes of getting attention has created a backlash of cynicism against the green trend. What's an easy going green gal to do?

I confess, I'm not a purist, I find it to be rigid and confusing. Twenty percent of going green requires expensive, complicated, difficult choices about which most people disagree. I focus on the 80% that has clear impacts instead of giving up because of the debatable and often painful 20%.

The way I see it, lots of people doing 80% makes a bigger difference than a few zealots doing 100%. I set a rational, reasonable example that people can follow, rather than condemn those who are unable or unwilling to adopt a perfectionist’s all-or-nothing approach.

Is that a cop-out? Is that nurturing? Economists say it is the law of diminishing return. The last 20% isn't worth the trouble it takes to go after.

Having said all that, I lose respect for businesses that claim to be green for common sense things like recycling. I find lodgings that claim to be green because they ask guests to use less water or because they switched to flourescent light bulbs laughable.

I give my business to those who assert their green-ness in writing. Certification from third parties that verify eco-friendly practices also offer credibility and I have a few for my business just for that reason. But the field of listings is so crowded, most consumers can't tell one from the other. What it seems we can tell is that it takes a variety of efforts to support local residents and protect the environment and no light coat of green can cover up for lack of substance.

Connecting With People Who Share Your Passions

You want to live the good life – but you also want to make the world a better place. Finally, you can do both. Learn how to green your business, or if your business is already green, how to grow it, at the Co-op America Green Business Conference, November 12-13, 2008, in San Francisco. www.coopamerica.biz. And consider setting up shop at the Green Festival immediately after – www.greenfestivals.org

Do "Green" Cleaners Really Work?

After my August 13 post about the dangers of house cleaning, a few of you, including one of our house cleaners, asked me if green cleaning products really clean, can green cleaning sanitize surfaces like toilets and countertops? I say yes, because our homes can't be sterilized anyway, no surface stays santized for long.

If that's not enough for you, consider the alternatives. "Disinfectants can be poisonous--they're regulated as pesticides..." says Lori Bongiono, author of Green, Greener, Greenest.

~Water evaporating--air drying, is actually a good way to get rid of germs. I clean with hot water to increase the odds. Studies show air dried dishes have 74% less bacteria and germs than towel dried dishes.

~A super-hooked microfiber cloth and hot water is an affordable choice that works on 90% of household messes. Rubbing alcohol and baking soda work on tougher stains.

~I confess, I keep a caustic cleaner on hand, outside in the shed, for the remaining 1% I can't remove with my green cleaning methods. But almost all of the time, my house is fragrance and chemical free.

~The toilets get baking soda for scrubbing and vinegar for sanitizing.

How to Protect Your Health--Beware Deadly House Cleaning

Staying in a clean vacation rental, classroom, office, or home should not increase our risks of sinus problems, asthma symptoms, reproductive harm, damage to our lungs, and exposure to carcinogens (causes cancer). But it does.

Toxic Teddy Bears? Everyday, we use products that expose us to toxins that impact our health, indoor air pollution, and water quality. For me, going green means making better choices about how I take care of myself and in turn, my loved ones, which includes the planet.

The Law of Diminishing Returns. I focus 80% of my green choices on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). I avoid smoke of all kinds, VOCs, toxic cleaning products, chemical pesticides, and toxic building materials.

Toxic Building Materials. Many conventional building materials contain formaldehyde, carcinogens (cause cancer), and radon. I stay away from the biggest offenders, granite counter tops, paint and all other finishes with VOCs, carpet and flooring glues, treated wood, drywall. I use "no VOC" paints and finishes, glues, and flooring adhesives. If I have to use drywall or thinset mortar for tile installation, I make sure the house is unoccupied for the period of time the material is outgassing icky formaldehyde and other poisons. Check with the manufacturer for specifications--usually tile related materials take 48 hours. Carpet and other glues can take up to one year.

Fuming Furniture. The majority of affordable cabinetry and furniture available at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Ikea, and similar stores is made of MDF, Medium Density Fiberboard which is loaded with toxic VOCs. While it is exciting to find the low prices on these prefab bathroom vanities, dressers, bookcases, and entertainment centers, we end up paying a higher price with our health.

VOC-free MDF is available, but none of the stores I've checked can determine if their manufacturers use it. Tony Spinelli, of Cabinets by Sun Ray informs me that his supplier carriers a VOC free MDF for about the same cost as the toxic MDF. I can't wait to get my new kitchen cabinets now that I found a source that won't break the bank.

Clean Green Breathing Machines. The U.S. EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Program states that aerosol sprays, cleaners and disinfectants, moth repellents and air fresheners contain dangerous VOCs.

All purpose cleaners, glass cleaners such as Windex, tub, tile, grout cleaners and sealers , degreasers, carpet cleaners, stain removers, floor strippers and cleaners, metal polishes, and oven cleaners contain endocrine disrupting chemicals such as butoxyethanol and other glycol ethers.

Laundry detergents like Tide, multi-purpose cleaners, floor care products and carpet cleaners, non-chlorine sanitizers, toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers contain harmful APEs. Look for products that use alcohol ethoxylates (sometimes listed as ethoxylated alcohols) instead.

Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs) are surfactants found in laundry detergents, stain
removers, and all-purpose cleaners, which have been found to reduce embryo survival in fish and alter tadpole development. APEs contaminate rivers and streams, and have also been found in household dust.

Over Exposed. School children and janitorial and domestic workers show a much higher prevelence of asthma than those who are not exposed to cleaning chemicals on a daily basis according to numerous studies. Monoethanolamine (MEA), a surfactant found in some laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners and floor cleaners is a known inducer of occupational asthma.

Ammonium quaternary compounds, disinfectants found in some disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners that have been identified as inducers of occupational asthma.
Phthalates, carriers for fragrance in glass cleaners, deodorizers, laundry detergents and fabric softners, and are linked to increased allergic symptoms and asthma in children.

A 2004 report from the National Center for Health Statistics states that the incidence of asthma among preschool-aged children rose by 160% between 1980 and 1994, accounting for 14 million missed school days each year and $3.2 million in treatment expenses.

Air fresheners usually contain VOCs such as xylene, ketones and aldehydes as well as benzene and formaldehyde, both of which are known carcinogens. Air fresheners may also contain fragrances--irritants associated with watery eyes, headaches, skin and respiratory irritation, asthma and allergic reactions. Exposure to phthalates, which carry the fragrances in these products, usually aggravates asthma and is linked to reproductive harm, specifically reduced sperm count in men.

UW engineering professor Anne Steinemann analyzed of some of these popular items and found 100 different volatile organic compounds measuring 300 parts per billion or more -- some of which can be cancerous or cause harm to respiratory, reproductive, neurological and other organ systems.

Some of the chemicals are categorized as hazardous or toxic by federal regulatory agencies. But the labels tell a different story, naming only innocuous-sounding "perfume" or "biodegradable" contents.

"Consumers are breathing these chemicals," she said. "No one is doing anything about it."

Industry representatives say that isn't so.

"Dr. Steinemann's statement is misleading and disingenuous," said Chris Cathcart, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Specialty Products Association, in a statement.

"Air fresheners, laundry products and other consumer specialty products are regulated under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and subsequently have strict labeling requirements," he said. "Companies producing products that are regulated under FHSA must name on the product label each component that contributes to the hazard."

Okay, so the label may tell us it's toxic and researchers have numerous reports of people -- particularly those with asthma, chemical sensitivities and allergies -- having strong adverse reactions. I'm one of those people. That's enough research for me!

When restaurant owners and airplane cleaners use air fresheners, or when vacation rentals wash towels and sheets in scented laundry supplies its a problem for me. And even when the concentrations are low in individual products, I'm exposed to multiple sources on a daily basis. That's why at home and on the road, I do my best to hang out in healthy homes owned by people who:

~Change HVAC air filters at least once every three months
~Use Permanent or high allergen filters
~Open the windows for a minimum of 45 minutes a day for fresh air
~Eliminate or minimize use of products with synthetic fragrances. This includes "essential oils." Being an "essential oil" does NOT mean it is healthy. Most oils have synthetic fragrance additives.
~Don't bother with HEPA filters on vacuums and other equipment unless you change them regularly. Most filters don't work, especially when they're filled with dirt.
~Never allow smoking of any kind.
~Eliminate or reduce materials made of MDF, particle board, glued woods, carpet, or vinyl
~Eliminate pans with Teflon
~Ventilate and leave the house for at least 48 hours after applications of StainMaster, StainGuard products and installation of drywall and other building
materials.
~Use no or low VOC paints, sprays, adhesives whenever possible
~Cross ventilate or exhaust fans in use to minimize mold growth
~Do not allow pets on soft materials, upholstery where dander cannot be removed
~Burn only unscented, beeswax or chemical free candles. Many wicks contain lead and candle waxes have carcinogenic scents and additives.

Photo by Steve Beinhorn

Going For The Green: Thoughts on Greenwashing and Guilt

"These days, it seems just about every business is finding a way to go green, making it that much harder for well-intentioned consumers to distinguish companies with green products and services." --Entrpreneur Magazine

Green guilt, extreme green, green washing—the over-exposure to green messages leaves me feeling eco-fatigued. Businesses greenwashing in hopes of getting attention has created a backlash of cynicism against the green trend. What's an easy going green gal to do?

I confess, I'm not a purist, I find it to be rigid and confusing. Twenty percent of going green requires expensive, complicated, difficult choices about which most people disagree. I focus on the 80% that is clear and has impact instead of giving up because of the debatable 20%.

The way I see it, lots of people doing 80% makes a bigger difference than a few zealots doing 100%. I set a rational, reasonable example that people can follow, rather than condemn those who are unable or unwilling to adopt a perfectionist’s all-or-nothing approach.

Is that a cop-out? Is that nurturing? Economists say it is the law of diminishing return. The last 20% isn't worth the trouble it takes to go after.

Having said all that, I lose respect for businesses that claim to be green for common sense things like recycling. Lodgings that claim to be green because they ask guests to use less water or because they switched to flourescent light bulbs make me laugh. I give my business to those who assert their green-ness in writing with green policies. Certification from third parties that verify their claims offer credibility, and I have a few for my business just for that reason. But the field of listings is so crowded, most consumers can't tell one from the other so many green businesses don't bother.

Savvy consumers expect socially responsible practices from all businesses and won't just hand over their money because of marketing.

The Latest Trip

The latest guilt-trip seems to be going green. And now it's time for summer vacation--bringing more opportunities to feel guilty about the jet trails from flying, gas prices, and our "footprints," --click to measure yours in a fun quiz, no ads.

If you know me, you know what I say about guilt, "No way!" Here's how I'm making my summer vacation green and guilt-free:

Do what I can to save on gas when renting or buying a car and then don't sweat it. Hybrids do get better gas mileage, but the verdict is still out on how green they really are with their toxic batteries and carbon producing manufacturing. Enterprise Rentals let's you add carbon offsets to the price of your rental at booking. Offsets for my two week rental in Phoenix was just $2.90. Couldn't have been easier. This site has a gas mileage comparison tool and rates the 100 Top Green Cars. I pick a car with great gas mileage and GO.

Fly nonstop and fly during the day. Take off and landing takes most of the fuel used on a flight. Jet emissions do more damage at night.

Try these easygoing green vacation tips (ad-free pdf). Print out a few copies on recycled paper for fellow travelers or vendors who may need encouragement to go green or who may feel overwhelmed by all the environmental bafflegab.

Take FREE tours. I get locals to show me around for free through Couch Surf. This social networking site verifies users at three clever levels and connects you with people offering a place to crash or a cultural education of their area.

Summer Travel Deals on Rental Cars

Many rental car companies have been running specials as steep as 50% off regular rates. The bad news is these rate specials end in June and most companies plan to increase rates over the summer.

There are a few exceptions. Hertz has a fleet of gas saving, green vehicles. To promote the new fleet, it will offer $25 off a weekly rental on these eco-cars this summer. If you're calling, use the promo code 113503 for the Green Collection.

And you can save 10% if you reserve with Alamo on its Web site and pre-pay with a credit card.

Click here for ad and guilt free green car rental tips and easygoing green hiking tips.

Get Away and Still Save Money: Staycation Trend

The hottest summer vacation? "Staycations" where you stay close to home, visiting sites within a day's drive or in your home town. Vacationing close to home or even staying home, saves money on air fare and cuts carbon.

Vacation rentals outside of major cities make a good choice for spending smart if you can't stay with friends. You can reach destinations like Sedona in a day from Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, and nearby states. A day's drive takes folks from Atlanta to posh locations in northern Florida.

If you're staying home for your vacation, a good way to return to work more rested is forget the chores. Those who choose to stay at home for their staycation tend to end up doing projects and tasks from their to-do lists. If you're going to skip the packing, airport check in lines, and traffic, you may want to skip the chores too.

Get tips on how to negotiate prices with vacation rental owners from the Wall Street Journal. Check rate specials the big vacation rental websites like VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) and HomeAway, which owns most of the smaller vacation rental websites, including VRBO. Free vacation planning available when you book at ecoLuxury Lodging.com, you'll have a personal conceirge.

Dictionary for Eco Newbies

Eco. Prefix referring to ecological terms.

Eco-tourism. Defined in Wikipedia as a form of tourism appealing to ecologically and socially conscious individuals; focuses on personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet; typically involving travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is in the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities.

Ask what makes the destination "eco" or green. Green washing is common, not only because people want to jump on a hot trend, but most often because they're uninformed. My properties are certified by the Green Vacation Hub which has fair, but deeply green certification standards. You can use their list to ask businesses about their green policies or initiatives. Just being in the jungle or have a recyling been doesn't make it "eco" in my book.

Eco-luxury. A high comfort, low impact way of life promoted by yours truly. In my home it means a natural home that is easy on me & the environment WITHOUT compromising my gracious standard of living. We use only fragrance free cleaning products, furnishings & building materials. Low-toxin environment, no harmful out-gassing, no chemicals. I'm not talking yurt with a composting toilet. I don't wear earth shoes, I eat meat (occassionally) and I'm into my "soft surroundings."

GHG. Green House Gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), the leading green house gas contributing to climate change. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere. During the combustion process, the fossil fuels are turned into carbon dioxide.

Green or Sustainable Design, Green Building, Green Remodel. The goal of green building is to minimize the impacts on people's health and the environment and the efficient use of energy, water and materials during construction. For homes, this includes architecture, landscape and renewable resources. For example, a green home might use a cistern to capture grey water from indoors and rain water outdoors. This prevents polluted dishwater, laundry wash water, and runoff from pavement from entering the streams, lakes, or ocean . The cistern water is then used for drip systems in landscaping to water plants.

IAQ. Indoor Air Quality. Mold, bacteria, allergens and carbon monoxide are among the many elements that can negatively affect a home's IAQ. Cleaning products, fabric softeners, air fresheners, scented candles, and other household products with synthetic fragrances usually contain harsh chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic-most of which irritate respiratory systems.

The EPA reports that about 70% of indoor air is more polluted than the air outside. To help you evaluate your exposure to household pollutants and find tips for improving indoor air quality see the information at the American Lung Association. Switch to unscented cleaners or better yet, replace them with white vinegar or baking soda and water.

LEED. Stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED awards points based on fulfilling requirements in six major areas: Sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design. New buildings can earn certified, silver, gold or platinum awards based on how many points it achieves. LEED is mostly used in new construction and to rate a project on its level of greenness and does not apply to remodeling. A few states have green certified remodeling certifications based on LEED criteria. Even if contractors in your state cannot be LEED certified for remodels, they can use the project checklists. Items included would be:

• Recycling or reusing packaging and materials removed from the home during the remodel instead of adding to the landfill.
• Use of wood furnishings and finishes that are either recycled, reclaimed, or from harvested in ways that did not threaten old growth or rain forests.
• Water Efficiency. Low volume toilet and shower head. Showerheads that remove chlorine. Most chlorine exposure comes not from drinking water, but from our skin while bathing. Use filtered water in the shower and you may notice your hair color lasts longer (if you get it from a bottle).
• Energy Efficiency. Use Energy Star rated appliances and heating, air conditioning units.
  

For more easy tips download 16 Easy Ways to Green Your Home.

Slow Movement/Slow Food/Slow Travel. The cultural initiative, SLOW FOOD has burgeoned into a whole way of life known as the Slow Movement, which emphasizes connection — connection to food, connection to families and, in the case of travel, connection to local peoples and cultures.

Slow travel is not so much about the transportation on your vacation as it is your mindset. It can mean renting a cottage for a few weeks or hiking and biking while at your destination to get a feel for the land. A slow itinerary gives you a break from the blurring pace of American or business life. Slow travel is also kinder to the environment and your wallet, as vacation rentals are less expensive than hotels and resorts with comparable amenities. Staying in one place often reduces transportation costs and by cooking instead of eating out for every meal, you save even more.

VOC. Volatile Organic Compounds found in many building materials such as dry wall, paint, wood, glue, or carpet, paints and finishes. To avoid them, look for construction or remodeling from reclaimed or untreated wood, upholstered furniture that has long since out-gassed sizing and other chemicals, no carpeting as most carpet padding and glue contains toxins, including formaldehyde. Xenoestrogens and nanoparticles are the latest offenders. More on those later or send me links to articles about it! 5/10/08 by Dana Ghermine Mayer