• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

How To Identify Eco- and Kid- Friendly Toys What materials are the toys made of?  Start by identifying what materials were used to create the toy.  Good natural material options include wood, organic cotton and other fabrics (some folks like leather), and recycled metal.  Choose toys which are made with natural, easily recyclable, or recycled materials. Avoid toys made with plastic (typically these toys end up in the landfill and also may contain BPA which is harmful to your children). Where are the toys made?  The location where the toy is manufactured has a... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Places To Shop For Eco-Friendly Clothes In NYC Shopping for clothes shouldn't put a strain on the environment. After all we usually park and walk, or ride and walk, which puts us on the right track for starters and if the environment is doomed where are we gonna wear our "nice clothes". Soooo I decided to give everyone a little heads up about great eco-friendly shopping in the city, while at its best, we are saving the environment.   Vivavi 644 Manhattan Ave 2nd Fl Brooklyn, NY 11222 gominyc 443 E 6th St New York, NY 10009-6340 Phone: (212)... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Having your period isn’t exactly environmentally friendly.  Most feminine products are bleached with chlorine, and many involve plastic applicators or linings, which means they will not easily decompose.  Not to mention all that packaging, and the energy used in manufacturing!  Consider the following stats:   Each year, over 12 BILLION tampons and pads are USED ONCE and then tossed. Between 1998-1999, over 170,000 tampon applicators were collected along U.S. coastal areas. In North America, there are 85 million women of menstruating age. An average... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

It’s about that time of year.  School is getting out.  It’s almost summer.  So don’t let father’s day slip by you!  For 2008 (in the US, UK, and a few other countries), it’s on June 15th.  Maybe this year instead of getting your dad, grandfather, husband, uncle, son, or other male in your life a pair of glow in the dark boxers or golf tees, try something with an eco-spin.    If he's a gadget-y guy, solar accessories are pretty sweet.  There's the Solio, the Soldius, foldable solar chargers from PowerFilm...the list goes on. If your dad needs some new duds,... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

 Love to read books?  Try to get your fix through the library or a second hand shop.  If you finish a bought book, don’t let it sit collecting dust- donate it to a worthy cause, or pass it on to a friend with similar literary taste.  And when you buy, try to look for recycled paper content and natural inks.   Here’s the deal with the publishing industry-   One of every four books produced is returned unsold from the bookstore to the publisher, who then pays to have it burned or recycled.  In 2006, 3.09 billion books were sold in the US, out of 4.15 billion... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by Aqua Marina

Jewelry may be a pretty and precious gift, but it can also carry a very big environmental cost.  Mining for diamonds and gold leads to deforestation, contaminated rivers, large open pit scars on the Earth's surface, and pollution from mercury and cyanide.  In addition to the environmental problems, human rights violations are a serious concern- many miners work in poor conditions, sometimes even in slavery, and diamonds are often exchanged for weapons in developing countries.   So if you want to buy green jewelry, what are your options?   You may have heard of... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

With Mother’s Day coming up, how are you going to show your mom/grandmother/favorite aunt/etc. that you love her?  Why not do something that shows you care about her and the environment?    DIY Mother's Day Gifts If cleaning house isn't your mom's favorite activity, try doing it for her with some eco-friendly cleaning products! You could also make her a great set of homemade cleaners.  Check out these recipes! Make her homemade soap from natural ingredients or fill her home spa kit up with homemade face masks, lotion, and face scrubs. Making... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Toilet Paper If every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper (500 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees.     Good? Or Avoid? Percent Recycled Percent Post-Consumer Bleaching Process 365 (Whole Foods) Good 100 >80 PCF Ambiance... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Instead of spending your paycheck on an expensive new outfit or gadget, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store.   Thrift store shopping is just another form of recycling and regulating CO2 emissions. Not only do you get to reuse a unique or vintage item, but you also stop factories from making more items and creating pollution, and that greatly reduces your carbon footprint.   Make the Most of Your Experience   If you’ve never been to a thrift store, then you may not know what you’re getting yourself into.... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Heating and Cooling Efficiency of Geothermal Heat Pumps The heating efficiency of ground-source and water-source heat pumps is indicated by their coefficient of performance (COP), which is the ratio of heat provided in Btu per Btu of energy input. Their cooling efficiency is indicated by the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the ratio of the heat removed (in Btu per hour) to the electricity required (in watts) to run the unit. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label, which indicates a heating COP of 2.8 or greater and an EER of 13 or greater.   Manufacturers of... read more