Make Green Come True

One of the criticisms of the electric car movement, is the need to charge vehicles.   While we have existing infrastructure for gasoline and diesel purchase, it might raise eyebrows if one pulls into the nearest hotel or restaurant and asks to plug in their car.    There are a variety of interesting solutions to this problem.   A few businesses are starting to think about charging strategies in their business model.   For example, Cracker Barrel now offers electric car charging in additional to biscuits and gravy in locations in Tennessee.    McDonalds and other businesses are jumping onboard as well.    There is also an interesting trend in Japan – electric car chargers attached to vending machines.   Have you seen any interesting charging strategies coming to your hometown?

For years,  the Yellow Pages have provided a valuable service, listing telephone numbers and information about local businesses.   In today’s society, modern technology, in many cases, has replaced the heavy texts.  If you frequently search for phone numbers on your PC or SmartPhone rather than turning through listings, you now have an option to become greener.   In the past, enviornmentalists have enocuraged eco-conscious phone book recipients to recycle the yellow pages and other telephone directories.  This reduces waste, but there is still an enviornmental overhead in manufacturing and delivering these books.   Now, you can opt out of the yellow pages and other directories to save these valuable resources.  To opt out of the directories in your area, simply visit http://www.yellowpagesoptout.com/.   At the site you can create an account and then choose to receive only one or a combination of local telephone directories or to opt out of all directories.   Take control of the way you use the phone book today!

For quite some time, there has been a debate about an item many use daily and take for granted – nonstick cookware.   Chefs all seem to have their preference, whether it be non-stick, stainless, or oh-so-retro cast iron.   While non-stick cookware can provided easy clean-up and even heat, the non-stick coating can contain or release chemicals into the air or even into your food.   These are definitely not Earth-friendly.  These chemicals, (PFOA/PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) , and Cadmium) have been tied to cancer and can even affect the health of your pets.   Now there is an alternative – ceramic pots and pans that allow eco-friendly all the qualities of nonstick, along with longer lifetime.   Here are some of the new healthier environmentally-friendly ceramic options available, free of PFOA, PTFE, and Cadmium:

Ozeri 10″ Pan

Bialetti Aeternum 2-Quart Covered Sauce Pan

Healthy Legend 7.1 QuartsSoup Pot

Related Stories Around the Web:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/nonstick-nirvana-without-toxic-risks/?ref=earth
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-teflon-dangerous.htm

Common household cleaners often contain chemical compounds and toxins.   Fortunately there are several safer and greener alternatives, both commercial and that you can make from common kitchen ingredients.  Here are a few eco-friendly cleaning ideas to help you make your own cleaners and reduce the use of chemicals in your home:

1.  DIY Window Cleaner – Mix 1/8 cup of vinegar with 8 ounces of water and a drop of dish detergent to replace your current streak-free glass cleaner.

2.  Suprising Do It All Cleaner – Leftover pop/soda/cola can be used for a variety of cleaning purposes.   It will act as another alternative glass cleaner, or can be used as a tile or toilet cleaner in the bathroom, no scrubbing required to remove stains.

3.  Tile Cleaner – Sprinkle baking soda over tile stains or make a paste by adding a small amount of water.  Wait a few minutes and rinse the residue away.  The paste can also be used as an oven cleaner, just apply and let it set, then scour tough spots away.

4.  Drain Cleaner – Unclog drains by pouring boiling water down them, or by adding baking soda and vinegar in equal part first, then pouring boiling water down the drain.

5.  Garbage Disposal Cleaning – Make ice cubes by mixing a few tablespoons of lemon juice into a cup of water and run them through the garbage disposal to remove odors.

Alternately, if you are looking for commercial organic or natural cleaning products, here are a few products that receive high reviews:

Seventh Generation Laundry Concentrate, White Flower & Bergamot Citrus, 50-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6)
Green Earth Technologies 01205 Organic Glass Cleaner 22 oz
Seventh Generation Liquid Dish Detergent, Free & Clear, 48-Ounce Bottles (Case of 6)
Seventh Generation All-Purpose Cleaner, Free & Clear, 32 Ounce Bottles (Pack of

Tags: green recycling environment relocatingmoving Save the Earth Save the Planet

Isis loves her whiskerstick

If you’re looking for a fun new toy for Fluffy or Fido, check out these great finds.  Each uses natural/organic materials and are a great way to protect our planet and provide hours of fun for your pet:

1.  WhiskerSticks (shown)

www.whiskersticks.com

These fun organic catnip sticks are a hit with kittens and cats alike.   They come in a variety of fun prints and colors.

2. Simply Fido Organic Plush 6-Inch Petite Pet Toy, Oliver Dog

This cute toy is perfectly sized for a puppy or minature dog.

3. Catch Of The Day: Yeowww! 100% Organic Catnip Fish Cat Toys in Netting
The catch of the day, organic-style.

4. Tux Dog Treat Chew Toy: Tangerine

These dog toys, besides being load of fun, arerecyclable and free of a variety of concerning compounds (lead, cadmium, mercury, latex, natural rubber, phthalates, hormones, asbestos).

5. Eco-Friendly Rope Ring Dog Toy

Natural cotton rope toys can provide loads of entertainment for your energetic pup!

As technology evolves, some new ideas are helpful to the planet, others are contributors to pollution. Here are three innovations that take the greener turn on technology’s divergent path:

1.  A new diving vehicle, created by NASA, is fueled by changing ocean temperatures.  It is allowing us to explore ocean depths and record new information about deep water conditions, all the while requiring no fuel or battery power.

Read More…

2. Solar Aero has recently received a patent for a new bladeless wind turbine.  This device can harvest the natural power of wind in a manner that is quieter and safer for wildlife than typical wind turbines.

Read more…

3.   Tensile Solar Fabric provides an interesting alternative to typical rigid solar panels.    It has the potential to provide a moble, tent-like power source that can be used during natural disasters and in undeveloped areas.

Read more…

Check out our new green video for beginner’s green shopping tips.

Learn about shopping for organic fruits and vegetables on a budget.

Happy Earth Day 2010.

Save money and avoid energy vampires with this eco-tip!

Related Posts:
The 10 Minute Rule – A Painless Tip for Saving Energy and Money

A New Way to Fight Phantom Power

When is Earth Day?   This Thursday, April 22, 2010 is the 40th Earth Day Celebration.

Here are Make Green Come True, we are posting a series of YouTube videos with green tips and tricks.   What are you doing to celebrate?

Here are a few interesting links from Earth Day around the Web to help you brainstorm ways to make a difference:

The Easiest Ways to Go Green for Earth Day

Earth Day at TreeHugger

Amazon Celebrates Earth Day

EPA: Earth Day

Earth Day.org