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Eco-friendly tips to insulate your home

Becky Striepe — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:22:46 +0000

(Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by moosicorn)

It is hot out there! We know that insulation helps us run that air conditioner a bit less, but what you might not know is that there are lots of different insulation options, and certain types are much more environmentally sound than others. Insulators like spray foam contain harsh chemicals and even emit greenhouse gases.

Here are some insulation options that get it right:

Blue jeans

In 2008, Levi's recycled over 200,000 pairs of discarded jeans into insulation for the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, and you can find recycled denim insulation for the home, too. Not only is denim insulation easier on the environment, you're keeping all of that discarded material out of the landfill!

For folks looking to score denim insulation for the home, Bonded Logic makes home insulation using post-consumer cotton and denim.

Sand

Sand is a renewable resource, and EcoBatt has sorted out a way to turn that into home insulation. They combine sand with post-consumer recycled glass to create natural insulation that's Greenguard certified. They even have a handy locator tool to help folks find it by state.

Straw bale construction

Straw bale is a totally natural insulator that's easy to source locally in many areas. It's a great addition to a natural building project, because it's easy to work with. A great insulator, straw is a renewable resource and contains none of the harsh chemicals you'd associate with conventional insulators.

A great way to learn more about natural materials like straw bale is to hunt down sustainable building courses in your area. The more you know how to do yourself, the more money you can save on construction costs.

Eco-friendly tips to insulate your home

Becky Striepe — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:22:46 +0000

(Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by moosicorn)

Here are some insulation options that get it right:

Blue jeans

For folks looking to score denim insulation for the home, Bonded Logic makes home insulation using post-consumer cotton and denim.

Sand

Straw bale construction

What to do with bathroom plastics

Samantha, selected from Planet Green — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:49:15 +0000

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The bad news: Virtually every product in my bathroom (save the hand soap and one moisturizer in glass bottles -- and even they come with plastic tops, but let's not split hairs, okay?) is in a plastic bottle or tube. And I have a LOT of products.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

What's Wrong With It? -- #1 plastics are designed to be disposable, meaning they create more waste. If you try to reuse them, they can break down on you. The good news is, they are usually recyclable.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

What's Wrong With it? -- Not so much in terms of health -- this is one of the "safe" plastics (along with #1, #4 and #5). But it's still made from petroleum products and ends up in landfills, so like all plastic, is not ideal from an environmental standpoint.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

Goal -- Look for more sustainable options as I use up these items (can I find them sold in glass containers? Can I make them myself?), and try to pare down the number of products I'm using to reduce waste. But if I do buy a plastic bathroom item, it should be #1, 2, 4, or 5.

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Like #2, this type of plastic seems to be OK from a health perspective (though, as with all plastic, I'd be leery of microwaving it in case chemicals leach out during the heating process). But this thicker type of plastic is usually not recyclable and will take centuries to break down in a landfill.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

Goal -- Figure out ways to reuse these containers when they're empty, since I can't recycle them. If I can punch a few holes in the bottom, they're all about the right size for re-potting seedlings.

#7 Plastic

What Is It? -- This is a catch-all category for plastics that don't fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate (usually, but not always, labeled #7-PC), bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide, and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylo-nitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and "sippy" cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, sport water bottles, plastic dinnerware, and clear plastic cutlery.

What's Wrong With It? -- For one thing, it's hard to know what type of plastic you're even dealing with, since so many fall under the Number 7 umbrella. For another, the list includes polycarbonate, which is the type of plastic found to leach Bisphenol-A, a known endocrine disruptor.

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

Goal -- I'm really not into BPA in my body lotion, or unknown mystery plastics -- though it's worth noting that a lot of "compostable" and bio-based plastics get this number, too -- so I'm going to avoid these in the future unless the manufacturer makes the type of plastic very clear. Not sure what to do with the containers I've got, though -- tubes don't lend themselves well to reuse or recycling. Which is another good reason to avoid them in the future!

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

While I don't want to waste perfectly good (and nearly full) facewash, acne medicine, masks or scrubs, I am almost out of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and moisturizer, so I'll be hunting up non-plastic replacements for these guys over the weekend. If you have a favorite source to share, do tell!

More from Care2:

What to do with bathroom plastics

Samantha, selected from Planet Green — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:49:15 +0000

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

#7 Plastic

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

More from Care2:

What to do with bathroom plastics

Samantha, selected from Planet Green — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:49:15 +0000

By Virginia Sole-Smith, Planet Green

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.

Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.
Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.
PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

#7 Plastic

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

More from Care2:

Peak Roads?

Steve Balogh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:15:45 +0000

Roads to Ruin: Towns Rip Up the Pavement

Asphalt Is Replaced By Cheaper Gravel; ‘Back to Stone Age’

WSJ

Photo source: Pawe? Ku?niar

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Peak Roads?

Steve Balogh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:15:45 +0000

Roads to Ruin: Towns Rip Up the Pavement

Asphalt Is Replaced By Cheaper Gravel; ‘Back to Stone Age’

WSJ

Photo source: Pawe? Ku?niar

ShareThis

Five air-conditioning myths busted

Lori Bongiorno — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:46:45 +0000

(Photo: Getty Images)

This summer's record-breaking-high temperatures have made air conditioning a necessity for many Americans. But that doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune to stay cool.

Falling prey to common air-conditioning myths can lead to overspending. That's why it's important to understand what's fact and what's fiction when it comes to using your A/C.

Below are some facts that will help you spend your cooling dollars wisely so you can achieve maximum comfort with minimum strain on your wallet.

Myth: Cranking your air conditioner up high (by setting your unit's thermostat significantly below the temperature you want to achieve) will cool your house faster.

Fact: Your air conditioner will deliver cool air at the same rate no matter how low you go on the thermostat setting. If you turn the thermostat to 50 degrees when you want it to get to 72 degrees, your room won't get cooler any faster, says Jamy Bacchus at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). He uses this analogy to illustrate the concept: If you are driving from New York to Philadelphia and you set your GPS to Washington D.C. you aren't going to get to Philadelphia any faster.

The one exception, Bacchus says, is if your room air conditioner has a "low, medium, high" setting instead of a thermostat. In that case, setting your unit up to high will cool the room faster, but you should remember to turn it down to low or medium once your room feels comfortable so you don't waste energy and money.

Myth: It's more efficient to leave your air conditioning running when you're not at home than it is to turn off your room unit (or raise the temperature on your central system's thermostat) and re-cool your house when you get home.

Fact: It is far more inefficient and expensive to leave the A/C on all day than it is to turn it off (or raise the thermostat), says Paul McRandle of NRDC's Simple Steps. His explanation: "While you're away, there's no need to keep replacing cool air with more cool air many times over. This just forces your A/C's compressor--the most energy-consuming element in your system--to operate regularly (even if not constantly) for the 8-10 hours you're out."

The bottom line: Turn your air conditioning down when you leave the house for extended periods and set a timer for about a half hour before you return home. You'll save money without sacrificing comfort.

Myth: Purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioner will automatically reduce your electric bills.

Fact: Buying an energy-efficient air conditioner will definitely help, but size is also an important factor when it comes to efficiency. Your unit needs to be the right size for the space you are trying to cool. "Don't buy a bigger unit than you need thinking that it is going to cool faster," says Bacchus. "Save yourself the money and buy a more efficient correctly sized unit."

If your unit is too big, then it will not remove humidity effectively, and your space will be cool, but damp and clammy. If it's too small, it will struggle to keep your room cool, never really cycle off, and over-dry your air, according to Bacchus. How do you know what just the right size is? Here are details on proper sizing from Energy Star.

Myth: Leaving a ceiling fan on will cool a room even if no one is in it.

Fact: Leaving your ceiling fan on when you're not in the room is a waste of energy and money because fans cool people, not rooms. Ceiling fans circulate the air in the room to create a draft. This makes you feel cooler, but doesn't lower the temperature of the room. Make sure your fan is set to run counter-clockwise in the summer so it directs air downward to create a breeze.

Myth: Your air-conditioning unit will perform the same no matter where you install it.

Fact: Like size, installation is another key factor when it comes to efficiency. It's not a good idea to place lights or televisions near your air-conditioner's thermostat because it can sense the heat given off from appliances and cause your unit to run longer than it needs to.

Try to install your unit in the shade and on your home's north or east side when possible because direct sunlight on your unit's outdoor heat exchanger can negatively impact efficiency. If you plant trees and shrubs around your unit, make sure you don't block the airflow around the unit.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

Five air-conditioning myths busted

Lori Bongiorno — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:46:45 +0000

(Photo: Getty Images)

This summer's record-breaking-high temperatures have made air conditioning a necessity for many Americans. But that doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune to stay cool.

Falling prey to common air-conditioning myths can lead to overspending. That's why it's important to understand what's fact and what's fiction when it comes to using your A/C.

Below are some facts that will help you spend your cooling dollars wisely so you can achieve maximum comfort with minimum strain on your wallet.

Myth: Cranking your air conditioner up high (by setting your unit's thermostat significantly below the temperature you want to achieve) will cool your house faster.

Fact: It is far more inefficient and expensive to leave the A/C on all day than it is to turn it off (or raise the thermostat), says Paul McRandle of NRDC's Simple Steps. His explanation: "While you're away, there's no need to keep replacing cool air with more cool air many times over. This just forces your A/C's condenser--the most energy-consuming element in your system--to operate regularly (even if not constantly) for the 8-10 hours you're out."