Category — Eco-friedly Products

You know, the evidence against buying bottled water certainly seems to be adding up lately.  I read this article over the weekend about a recent California study of bottled water that showed bottled water to be just as contaminated as tap water in many cases.  In fact, upon examining the “purity” levels of  10 different brands of bottled water, the study turned up crazy stuff like acetaminophen, fertilizer, and plastic chemicals.  Yuck!  One major retailer’s store brand water had more than 3 times the California limit for chlorine byproducts.

When you consider this information, on top of all the environmental problems caused by bottled water, has there ever been a better time to purchase  a water filtration pitcher and some stainless steel water bottles? Can you really trust anyone but yourself to filter the drinking water your family consumes?

The Brita water pitcher above filters out 95-98 percent of lead, reduces chlorine, and has a bacteriostatic system for preventing the regrowth of bacteria.  I like the sleek, modern design of this thing (proof that going green doesn’t make you a nerd), and the fact that it will fit in the door of your refrigerator.  The Brita 42632 drinking water pitcher is available at d! Mart.

Here’s another reason to go green when it comes to drinking water– bottled water is 1,900 times more expensive that tap water.  At a dollar for a 20 ounce bottle, that equates to over $6 a gallon.  Suddenly the price of gasoline seems like a bargain! Can you believe we pay so much for something with so many disadvantages?

I think it’s important to remember that don’t have to do an entire green remodel to bring a little green into your life- especially in the bathroom. Organic bath towels are a cozy and earth-friendly addition to any green lifestyle.

The towels above are made from 100% combed organic cotton, which is Skal-certified.  According to Brookstone, organic bath towels maintain their fluffiness and absorbency longer than non-organic towels, because the fibers are subjected to the harshness of pesticides and chemicals. More info on these organic bath towels.

Don’t forget a new towel rack for air-drying your bath towels.  This bamboo towel ladder is a great way to save energy and conserve water because it will help you get more than one use from each bath towel in between washings.  And, it’s made from my favorite sustainable resource!

As you search for green Halloween ideas, don’t forget about solar powered Halloween decorations to help create some ghastly fun and a spooky atmosphere for your Halloween party.  With these solar powered decorations, you won’t have to worry about wasting energy, running up your power bill, or adding disposable batteries to landfills.

The solar powered corpse above is 16 inches tall, and holds a solar lantern.  Place the corpse at  ground level to create the look the it is emerging from the ground.  A built-in solar panel charges the included rechargeable batteries during the day, and the lantern automatically turns on at night.  There is an on/off switch if you don’t want to use the automatic feature. The solar corpse is available at Oriental Trading Company.

Here’s more green Halloween décor.  This string of of solar powered LED lights will operate for up to 8 hours from one day of charging in the sun.  The strand of Halloween lights is 26 feet long, and is comprised of 60 individual LED light bulbs that are rated to last 100,000 hours.  I found the solar powered Halloween lights at Improvements for $24.97.

If you read our recent post on garbage disposals, then you’re probably aware of the impact that food waste has on our landfills and water supplies.  Organic waste produces methane gas, a greenhouse which is harmful to the environment, and 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. (Source:  NatureMill)

The best way to avoid contributing to the environmental problems associated with improperly disposed food waste is by using a composter as part of your green living efforts.  The compost bin above, recently featured by Ideal Bite, can be used indoors or out, and allows you to add new items at any time during the cycle.

According to the NatureMill, the Plus Edition automatic composter will compost up to 120 lbs. or organic waste per month, and prevent more than 2 tons of landfill waste over the course of its life.  There’s also a ‘Pro Edition’ for large families.  I like the foot pedal for conveniently opening the unit.  The finished compost is automatically sifted down from the heated top “churn” area into a removable  tray.

If you’re worried about your home being overtaken by the icky aroma of composting food, it doesn’t seem to be an issue.  According NatureMill, the composter is odor-free.

Here’s a non-automatic, outdoor composter that requires a manual spin every day or so.

Here’s a water purifier that will help you ensure that your drinking water is free of VOCs and eliminate the need for purchasing bottled water.  The Waterwise 8800 is a water distiller that uses steam distillation to remove toxins from drinking water including arsenic, nitrates, sodium, fluoride, and chlorine. 

The water purifier does not require a connection to a water line.  Just plug it into a wall outlet, and pour in water from your tap.  This system will produce up to 6 gallons of distilled water in 24 hours.  The Waterwise 8800 is available at Fresh Water Systems.Com. 

Having your own water purification system, and avoiding bottled water is an excellent way to bolster your green living efforts.  Here are the facts on the effects of bottled water on the environment. 

If you’ve read much about adopting a green lifestyle, you’ve probably heard about the dangers of chlorine when it comes to public water supplies. Although chlorine is an effective means of killing disease and illness-causing waterborne organisms, many worry about possible long-term effects of chlorine within our bodies, including cancer and respiratory system damage.

One way to limit unnecessary exposure to chlorine is through your showerhead. The showerhead above contains a built-in filter which removes 99 percent of the chlorine from your shower water. The filter inside the showerhead uses KDF-55 Media, a patented technology for removing chlorine and heavy metals from water.

The chlorine filtering showerhead also has 5 massage spray settings, and the filter must be replaced every 6-9 months. It’s available at H20 distributors for $39.00.

A new organic mattress can be a costly investment, and it’s one that many budgets might not be able to handle right now. Even if you’re not ready to shell out hundreds or even thousands on a new mattress set, you can make bedtime environmentally friendly with these, less expensive, green bedding products.

Buy New Bed Sheets: A new set of organic bed sheets will breathe some green into your existing mattress. Organic sheets are available in everything organic flannel, wool, and even bamboo. The bamboo sheets above are made from 100% organic bamboo fiber.

Buy a Mattress Pad: Consider covering your existing mattress with an organic mattress pad made from unbleached cotton or wool. A new mattress pad will freshen up an old mattress, and give you a nice organic surface to sleep on. Here’s a mattress pad that is made of organic cotton flannel to keep you toasty this winter.

If you’re getting started on a green bathroom remodel, don’t forget to select sustainable materials when it comes to items like your medicine cabinet and bathroom vanity. Bamboo is always a good choice, because it’s plentiful, grows quickly, and it can withstand the moist conditions common to bathrooms. The medicine cabinet above measures 27″X8″X36″, and it’s available at Decor 66. It includes 3 polished glass shelves.

Even if you’re not taking the plunge for a full green bathroom remodel, you can always green your smaller bathroom accessories such as your clothes hamper, and other storage items. The bamboo bathroom collection above includes a toilet brush, plunger, clothes hamper, candle holder, toilet paper holder, and tissue canister. It’s available at Plow and Hearth.

Soy candles are an excellent idea for green Halloween decorations, because soy wax burns much cleaner than the paraffin wax used in traditional candles. This Halloween pumpkin candle, from Beyond Making Scents, is made from 100% soy wax, and has a lead-free wick. It is available in many scents, including candy corn and pumpkin pie, to really spice up your Halloween party.

Here are a few green living tips on burning candles:

Soy Wax vs. Paraffin Wax: Did you know that paraffin is actually a fossil fuel by-product and it releases chemicals when it burns? According to GreenSpace Candles, paraffin wax releases petrol-carbon soot, which introduces toxins to your home. Soy wax is a natural product, and burns cooler and cleaner than paraffin.

Soy Wax is Renewable: Soy wax is a produced from soybeans, which are a renewable resource.

Soy Wax is Water Soluble: If you end up with a spill of soy wax on a coffee table or countertop, it will clean up easily with just warm water.

Are you always looking at new washing machines trying to find the one that is the most energy efficient? Well, how about one that uses absolutely no power? This hand powered washing machine sits on a counter top, and operates on elbow grease alone. Just add your clothes, a little water and laundry soap, and give it a few cranks for 10 seconds to 2 minutes to get your laundry clean.

You can either rinse your clothes in the washing machine after draining out the wash water, or your kitchen sink. This green washing machine is made of plastic, and it does not require any maintenance.

While it might be a good green living idea for someone who doesn’t do much laundry, I think anyone with a family would get tired of cranking this portable washing machine in a hurry. I’d like to have one for going camping though. The hand crank washing machine is available at Clean Air Gardening for $49.99.