• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

A lot of light bulb packaging comes with a color measurement (this is reported in Kelvins - K) and a description of the color (warm white, soft white, cool white, etc).  According to Wikipedia, most incandescent bulbs fall within the  range of 2800 and 3300K.  So when you're looking for a CFL that has a similar light, pick a bulb in that range.    Here is a guide from 1000bulbs.com to help you choose a color temperature.   Kelvin Temperature K - What is the perfect color temperature for you? 2700k - Homes, restaurants, hotel lobbies, boutiques 3000k -... read more

• Last updated 10/27/12 by organicgal007

Organicgal007's List of Fakies and Not Fakies: I am working on updating this list. It was first created back in 2007 and first posted to this website around 2008. Currently the EWG's ingredient database is not available and it is one of my tools for classifying ingredient's tested safety. I promise to work on this list and bring it up to 2012 as soon as the database is back to being available to consumers.   I'm only judging products/companies for their personal body care lines (ie. shampoos, lotions, cosmetics, etc)... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), four out of five sunscreens do not provide adequate protection from the sun. Many of these sunscreens contain toxic chemicals which are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. Here are the top 10 natural sunscreens according to the EWG: 1. Soléo Organics All Natural Sunscreen 2. Badger Sunscreen for Face and Body 3. Sanre Organic Skinfood Supple Sunshine, SPF 30 4. Keys Soap Solar Rx Cosmetic Moisturizing Sunblock, SPF 30 5. Marie-Véronique Organics Crème Du Jour 6. California Baby Sunscreen... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Having a baby is tough (aside from the obvious difficulty of the process itself), but we're constantly berated with a need for more baby stuff. Here are some tips to maintain your shade of green while keeping your baby happy and healthy. Anyone have other ideas? Add 'em below:   A Green Nursery Before baby is even born, you can get baby in the green vibe. When designing the nursery keep in mind earth friendly and baby friendly.  The wall paint or wall finishes: If you use conventional paints with VOC's (volitile organic compounds) will leach toxic fumes... read more

• 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

If you're a coffee junkie you'll be happy to know that you can still drink your fill and keep it mostly eco-friendly by looking for green coffee. First you need to sort out all those terms that coffee companies use... CONSIDER COFFEE TERMS: Roasted - You can ignore this term. Pretty much ALL coffee is roasted the only difference is roasting time and the level of heat used to roast. However, it's not a sustainable term. Fair Trade – This can be a more ethical term, but it's not necessarily green. Fair Trade coffee means coffee sold sans a trader so more... read more

• Last updated 6/13/12 by stins

Type of Diaper Photo Description Price Prefold This is your basic cloth diaper. It is rectangular and thicker in the middle than on the sides. You can fold these diapers to make them appropriate for use on newborns and, unfolded, they can be used as baby grows, often up until potty training. These tend to be more affordable, and are generally sold in packets of 12. Remember, though, these must be used with diaper covers. $2 to $5 Contour Now we’re dealing... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

If you are one of the 59% of Americans who has moved away from the concept of a phone just being able to place calls, you have entered the app world, a time wasting world where that transforms your phone into an all purpose life saver.*  But with so many apps to choose from now, it is sometimes hard to weed out the truly useful apps from the junk.  So, if any of you ever wanted an app to help you save energy and go green here are a list of great apps for the iPhone and the Android.  Oh, and they are all free!   App: Easy Green Tips   Description: Easy Green... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

The holidays are a great time.  Families come together.  Old friends come into town.  If you're into gift giving, here are some tips on how to give eco-friendly, local, and fair trade gifts.  For a great resource on the local v. fair trade dilemma, check out An Ethical Shopper's Dilemma from Global Exchange.   If you're looking to green the rest of your holiday season, check out this Huddler wiki on cutting down on waste during the holidays.   Green Gift Recommendations   Homemade coupons for low-impact activities (like hikes, bike rides, or back rubs)... 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