Biodegradable - A Win-Win Solution

Finally, companies are beginning to make biodegradable products for items that will only be used for a finite time. What a win-win situation!! These items can do their job and then be composted; so, they do not linger for eternity in a landfill or add dangerous toxins to our environment.

I will be adding the websites of some of the companies that are on the cutting edge of this newly-discovered niche; so, anyone who is interested can drop in on the sites and learn more.

Cereplast Compostables (www.cereplast.com/product.php) has a full range of biodegradable cutlery and other foodservice items. Their resins are renewable, ecologically-sound substitutes instead of the traditional polluting petroleum-based plastics we use now. These resins replace nearly 100% of the petroleum-based additives used in plastics today.

These resins are starch-based, made from corn, wheat, tapioca and potato starches that come primarily from the US Midwest (versus oil from the Middle East). They have a cutlery line made almost entirely from corn. These products break down in less than 180 days when placed in an industrial compost facility. Perhaps one of the major benefits is that because composting is a natural process, carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) is released into the soil instead of the atmosphere. Two other benefits are noteworthy: 1) the variety of starch options available, the price can remain relatively stable; and, 2) the manufacturing process for these resins takes place at a lower heat than used with petroleum-based plastic thereby lowering the manufacturing costs.

Genpak (www.harvestcollection.genpak.com) handles a wide variety of biodegradable and compostable items aimed at the foodservice industry. They carry compostable food containers, compostable cups and compostable dinnerware. In places such as Universities, food fairs and other places where food is regularly served to the customer in a styrofoam container (that is used once and then hits the landfill); these compostable items are not only less expensive; but, they compost easily thereby reducing the strain on the landfills. Genpak uses resins containing polylactic acid or PLA proteins obtained from potatoes, wheat or rice as well as other bio-based materials.

Earth Straws Inc. (www.earthstraws.com/) Biodegradable drinking straws and stirrers are produced with renewable, starch-based resins that make the product a less expensive and ecologically-sound alternative to conventional polypropylene straws. These products are 100% biodegradable and compostable requiring only 180 days to fully decompose.

Eco Products (www.ecoproducts.com) has developed bio bags. There are compostable and biodegradable lawn & leaf bags; trash bags and can liners; and dog waste bags. They have a huge variety of foodservice trays (3 compartments, sushi trays, hinged herb containers, deli takeaway tubs) and some are made from sugar cane.

EnviroArc (www.enviroarc.com) For gardening enthusiasts (that’s me!!) a line of biodegradable pots have been developed. Now instead of disturbing sensitive roots by having to remove the plant from the pot before sending that pot to the landfill; you just plant the pot AND the plant in the soil. The pot composts giving your plants a more comfortable growing environment without the shock that comes from removing them from the pot before planting.

EcoFuture BHD (http://www.ecofuture.com/) is an environmental-conservation and technology-based company situated in Malaysia. They have managed to find a use for the oil palm biomass (empty fruit bunches – EFBs). This is the previously unused refuse which is left over from the Group’s milling operations. This resource is reclaimed and recycled into biodegradable products such as foodstuff containers. Metro-Knight, a subsidiary of EcoFuture converts palm oil biomass (an ecologically sustainable agricultural residue) into pulp. This pulp is used to manufacture various types of paper and paper-based products. The pulp is chlorine-free and low in lignins.

I thought it only fitting the final entry is from Everlife Memorials (http://www.everlifememorials.com/). They sell a wide variety of biodegrable urns and biodegradable cremation urns. Each urn is made from recyclable materials and painted with water-soluble colours. These urns are environmentally friendly, biodegrade within hours, days or a year (depending on urn), and are ideal whether it is a land or sea burial. They also have biodegradable urns for pet ashes.

Odds & Sodds

Since I have long been a fan of the strange, the bizarre, the unexplainable (I Want To Believe), I thought I’d have a little fun with this column. So, here is a collection of recent strange happenings.

This week tongues started wagging when Tom Biscardi, a known Bigfoot hunter, claimed to have in his possession a dead Bigfoot. He is keeping the remains in a freezer at an undisclosed location. He states that the creature is 7’7’ tall, his feet are 15”+ long while his palm measures 11"+ in length and 6”+ across. He has no fangs which Mr. Biscardi feels prohibits Bigfoot from being a meat eater. He claims he was alerted to the body by two hunters in Georgia who found the already dead body. Mr. Biscardi claims he will let the media examine the body; but, hasn’t set a definite place for the encounter.

It is now official. The drunker you are the better everyone around you begins to look. A study was done at the University of Bristol in England by researcher Marcus Munafo, an experimental psychologist. At the end of the study Mr. Munafo declared that both men and women who drank found faces more attractive. “A roughly 10% increase in ratings of attractiveness, “ he claims.

There is a monk named Brother Cesare Bonizzi who resides in a Capuchin Friars monastery near Milan, Italy. The 62-year-old brother has a very bizarre sideline. He is the lead singer for a successful heavy-metal band that recently performed at the “Gods of Metal” festival headlined by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

The world’s smallest snake has been discovered. The snake could easily be mistaken for a worm as it is only about 10 centimeters long (>4” long) and can fit on a quarter with room to spare. This reptile was discovered on Barbados – a Caribbean island.

A sweetshop owner in Aviles, Spain has discovered a 5-cent euro coin that had been altered somewhat. The head of King Juan-Carlos which usually decorates this piece had been morphed into the profile of Homer Simpson. Jose Martinez, the owner of the shop says, “the coin must have been done by a professional.”

Joseph Marine III, a fourth-generation candy maker, is making a fortune at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk seaside amusement park. And he isn’t the only one – Famous Dave’s at the Minnesota State Fair is making his own brand of this confection. The only difference being that Famous Dave's sprinkles theirs with sea salt. “It was a good combination of sweet and salty”, says the fair’s spokeswoman Brienna Schuette after trying one herself. What is that has everyone wanting more? Crispy bacon coated in dark chocolate.

Cash, a female German Shepard, has been in the news lately. She has demonstrated beyond doubt that a dog is man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Her owner Jake Baysinger, 25, took her into a deserted area where he committed suicide. Cash stayed by her dead master’s side for six weeks living on rats, rabbits and other small prey as she kept her beloved owners body safe from the coyotes. When found, she was thinner and dehydrated; but, alive. She received veterinary care and has gone home to with her master’s widow and their son.

What will they think of next? Kitchen Craft in the United Kingdom has come up with a rotating ice cream cone which rotates the scoop of ice cream in a gentle counter-clockwise motion. This is so no one need be forced to actually have to lick the ice cream – they just have to stick out their tongue and let the cone do the rest.

I can’t believe someone has enough time on their hands to come up with something like this!! Bellevue, Wash. Designer Britta Bacon (no relation to the snack mentioned previously) has come up with stilettos for toddlers. They have started selling recently in Toronto for $39.95 a pair. It should be noted (for the safety conscious) that the stilettos are plastic. I can’t help but wonder where it will all end.

The US Transportation Security Adminstration announced June 10, 2008, that security scanners with amazing capabilities were being installed in 10 US airports. These scanners emit “millimeter waves” that can literally see through clothes in an attempt to identify metal, plastics, ceramics, chemical materials and explosives. Security screeners, who sit in a separate room, can clearly see the passengers’ sexual organs and other details of the body. The Transportation Security Administration reassures (?) us by stating that the passengers’ faces are blurred out to maintain the passengers' anonymity. Wow!! I sure feel better.

Wind Energy

T. Boone Pickens is a man who not only has a vision; he has a plan. He is a Texas billionaire who, ironically, made his billions in the oil business. Now he is pushing what he calls, the Pickens Plan. The Pickens Plan (www.pickensplan.com) describes his plan to use wind energy to replace 20% of the American use of electricity in the coming 10 years.

T. Boone shows how our dependence on foreign oil has grown out of all proportion. In 1970, 24% of all foreign oil used was imported; in 1990, that figure rose to 42%; and, now in 2008, the United States imports 70% of its oil. That amounts to $700 billion dollars a year spent on foreign oil – that’s 4 times the annual cost of the Iraqi war.

It has been shown that the while the United States of America has only 4% of world population; it uses 25% of the oil. A plan is definitely needed.

T. Boone Pickens has predicted that if the U.S. could replace the 22% of electricity currently supplied by natural gas and replace it with wind energy, the U.S. could save approximately $3 billion a year. He suggests moving the 22% of energy created by natural gas into the transportation portion of energy allotment. Natural gas is the cleanest form of natural energy, so far, for long-distance transportation of goods.

He further predicts that if things are left the way they are the cost of purchasing foreign oil in 10 years will be $10 trillion – the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.

T. Boone Pickens stands behind his claim that the United States is the Saudi Arabia of wind power.

He points to the fact that world-wide studies have shown the Great Plains States (extending into Canada) has the greatest wind energy potential in the world. The Department of Energy has agreed that this wind corridor can provide 20% of America’s electricity. In fact, North Dakota alone has the potential to supply wind-derived electricity to over ¼ of America. Pretty amazing stuff!! Don’t forget – Canada has this same potential as the wind corridor extends into Canada from the Great Plains States.

A study done by Stanford University in 2005 shows that there is enough wind power worldwide to generate 7 times the energy needed. This amazing fact becomes even more amazing when you realize that the study was based on only 20% of this wind power being captured and harnessed. A 3-megawatt wind turbine produces enough energy in one year to replace 12, 000 barrels of imported oil.

The cost to build a wind farm in this corridor that stretches from the Texas panhandle to North Dakota does not come cheap; however, it is a one-time cost. It would cost $1 trillion to build the farm and another $200 billion to build the infrastructure necessary to transmit that energy from the wind farm to the ultimate destination our residential homes. It won’t take many years at $700 billion a year to recoup this money and more.

ADVANTAGES:

• Creation of new construction and maintenance jobs
• Thousands of locals will be employed in the building of these wind farms. These are high-paying, highly-skilled jobs on a par with aerospace jobs
• No threat to farming and/or grazing so there is no threat to human health, animal health, local food production and/or existing local economies
• Natural gas now used to produce electricity can be used in the transport business. Natural gas emissions are 23% lower than diesel and 30% lower than gasoline, according the California Energy Commission, making it the cleanest transportation fuel available today
• Once the turbine is built, the energy it produces does not create any green-house gases or any other pollutant
• Many people love the look of a wind farm
• Could be a tourist attraction
• Areas to which electricity has NOT found its way can use wind turbines to produce their own
  Wind turbines come in many shapes and sizes making them available to everyone from a single household to and entire village or town
• Doesn’t contribute to acid rain
• It is one of the cheapest sources of renewable energy technologies
• Wind energy requires very little maintenance (approx. 40 hours/year – 20 hours twice yearly)
  

DISADVANTAGES:

• Wind speed is not constant and there are days when it does not blow at all
• Many people find the sight of a wind farm to be a blot on the landscape
• The turning of the blades is noisy. They produce a swooshing sound equivalent to the sound of a family car traveling 70 mph. This noise is produced as long as the blades are turning – this means nighttime as well
• There is pollution involved in the manufacturing of wind turbines
• Suitable areas for wind farms are often near a coast or shoreline where the property is very expensive
• Capable of killing birds - good knowledge of migratory routes is essential
• Can affect TV reception if you live nearby
• Wind turbines may cause loss of habitat to wildlife due to the disturbance from its noise, movement of blades, subtle food chain changes and electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic fields can affect the sonar systems of some animal species

Just in case you think the use of wind power is a new technology, think tulips and wooden shoes. The Babylonians and Chinese used wind technologies to pump the water for irrigating their crops inland 4,000 years ago; what about, sailing ships, paragliding…….

A Reader Says....

Shannon has left me a comment under the topic of Air Fresheners, Incense, and Scented/Aromatherapy Candles. She makes a very valid point that some of the plants listed to help clean the air are toxic to cats and possibly other pets. She is absolutely correct and I thank her for bringing this aspect to my attention. Shannon recommends visiting this site for more information: http://www.sniksnak.com/plants-toxic.html. Thanks, Shannon and I look forward to more comments.

Green House, Green Driveway

There is a house in Oshawa, Ontario developed by Marshall Homes that is causing people to talk. It is an environmentally-friendly, green home that hosts one of the first green driveways. It was the driveway that first attracted all the attention – not your usual black asphalt; but, a soft grass-green substitute that filters out impurities and keeps salt, sealants and other chemicals out of the sewer systems. Passers-by weren’t sure what to make of this new material. The colour was certainly beautiful and it did soften the look of the house; but, what about the watering, weeding, and mowing. What is this wonder material? Think grass.

The trick to keeping the grass driveway from developing ruts and sinking is the plastic support grid that sits just below the surface and absorbs the weight of the vehicles. Not even heavy trucks or SUVs can destroy this driveway.

This technology has been around for many years; but, so far most installations in Canada (at least) have been in business settings. Most homeowners did not even realize that it existed or that it could be installed in personal residences. Marshall Homes feels that with the growing concern for the environment – NOW is the time to market this technology to home owners.

Grass driveways can prevent petroleum products such as driveway sealants, oil, salt and car care products from entering the sewer system. It does this by absorbing and/or reducing the runoff that would occur with an asphalt driveway. Keeping it out of the sewer also keeps it out our lakes, rivers and other water sources. This reduces the damage to the fish habitats and the ecosystems involved.

There are only two problems that Marshall Homes can see with installing a green driveway and they are working to remove the kinks. In winter, the grass could die back and in summer, if you leave a vehicle parked on it for days, it could yellow out.

However, Rick Cavallero of Invisible Surfaces, a company in Colorado that sells similar green driveways, says, "snow is not a problem for the surface; but, constant traffic is". He recommends that people not go in and out in exactly the same spot over and over – vary the places you park. He reminds us that this is real, growing grass and needs to be treated a little differently than asphalt. While this may take a different standard of care; at least, you won’t have to spray it with tar every year.

This driveway prices in at about $10 a square foot – less than an interlock driveway; but, five times the cost of a standard driveway. Possibly the only environmentally-unfriendly aspect of this technology is that extra water is required to keep your driveway green. However, many other environmentally-friendly components of the house make up for this.

Low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets are installed throughout the house with a special tank in the basement that takes all the grey water from showers, baths, dishes, etc. and reroutes it to be used in the toilets. Reusing this water in-house not only stops 30% of your water and sewage usages; it also prevents this water from having to go through a treatment plant before being pumped back to you, consuming extra electricity in its journey. The only drawback to this plan is that the toilet water may be a little soapy; although, this could reduce your need for toilet cleaning supplies.

The final green touches to this home are energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs and recycled paint with low levels of volatile organic compounds.

When do I move in?

Solar Energy

Is it any wonder that the world is looking at alternate energy with world conditions the way they are today? We are already beginning a recession due to the continually rising prices of gasoline and other petroleum products.

A world food crisis is beginning due to the cost of shipping food worldwide. Added to that are the problems with the world rice harvest. Already people living in the third world are dying of starvation. Rice is a staple food for more than three billion people world wide. The increased rice prices are causing wide-spread starvation in some countries. But the problem doesn't there.

While the financial pinch we are feeling due to the rising cost of gasoline used to transport foodstuffs, petroleum produces more than gasoline. The Rankin Energy Corportation (www.ranken-energy.com/UsefulInfo.html) provides a partial list of products made from petroleum. This list represents only 144 of 6000 items made from oil.

Solvents, Diesel, Motor Oil, Bearing Grease, Ink, Floor Wax, Ballpoint Pens, Football Cleats, Upholstery, Sweaters, Boats, Insecticides, Bicycle Tires, Sports, Car Bodies, Nail Polish, Fishing Lures, Dresses, Tires, Golf Bags, Perfumes, Cassettes, Dishwasher, Tool Boxes, Shoe Polish, Motorcycle Helmet, Caulking, Petroleum Jelly, Transparent Tape, CD Player, Faucet Washers, Antiseptics, Clothesline, Curtains, Food Preservatives, Basketballs, Soap, Vitamin Capsules,
Antihistamines, Purses, Shoes, Dashboards, Cortisone, Deodorant, Footballs, Putty, Dyes, Panty Hose, Refrigerant, Percolators, Life Jackets, Rubbing Alcohol, Linings, Skis, TV Cabinets, Shag Rugs, Electrician's Tape, Tool Racks, Car Battery Cases, Epoxy, Paint, Mops, Slacks, Insect Repellent, Oil Filters, Umbrellas, Yarn, Fertilizers, Hair Coloring, Roofing, Toilet Seats, Fishing Rods, Lipstick, Denture Adhesive, Linoleum, Ice Cube Trays, Synthetic Rubber, Speakers, Plastic Wood, Electric Blankets, Glycerin, Tennis Rackets, Rubber Cement, Fishing Boots, Dice, Nylon Rope, Candles, Trash Bags, House Paint, Water Pipes, Hand Lotion, Roller Skates, Surf Boards, Shampoo, Wheels, Paint Rollers, Shower Curtains, Guitar Strings, Luggage, Aspirin, Safety Glasses, Antifreeze, Football Helmets, Awnings, Eyeglasses, Clothes, Toothbrushes, Ice Chests, Footballs, Combs, CD's, Paint Brushes, Detergents, Vaporizers, Balloons, Sun Glasses, Tents, Heart Valves, Crayons, Parachutes, Telephones, Enamel,
Pillows, Dishes, Cameras, Anesthetics, Artificial Turf, Artificial limbs, Bandages, Dentures, Model Cars, Folding Doors, Hair Curlers, Cold Cream, Movie Film, Soft Contact Lenses, Drinking Cups, Fan Belts, Car Enamel, Shaving Cream, Ammonia, Refrigerators, Golf Balls, Toothpaste, Gasoline

Americans consume petroleum products at a rate of three-and-a-half gallons of oil and more than 250 cubic feet of natural gas per day each! But, as shown here petroleum is not just used for fuel.

If the price of petroleum continues to rise, we could be in for a world-wide recession.

So…what can we do? Is there a way to make changes now and avert disaster? Several new technologies are being investigated as replacement sources of energy. Probably the one most talked about is solar energy.

Shi Zhengrong, the world’s first solar billionaire, predicts solar power will rival oil and coal before the end of the next decade.

Even though solar energy remains more expensive than nearly any other form of energy, it is being investigated now due to concerns about climate change. However, carbon is becoming more expensive and improved technology combined with increased capacity has driven down the manufacturing cost of photovoltaic cells (directly convert light into electricity at the atomic level) to reduce the price gap between solar and other energies.

Two examples of how the use of and interest in solar power is taking off.
· Last year in China, the National Development and Reform Commission, announced that solar projects would be initiated in ten provinces
· Florida started a solar rebate program that proved to be overwhelmingly successful. If residents of Florida purchased and installed a new solar energy system into their homes between July 1, 2006 & June 30, 2010, the state would rebate a portion of the purchase price

An excellent website which discusses ALL aspects of solar energy is: www.facts-about-solar-energy.com
They compiled the following list describing the pros and cons of solar energy.

Solar Energy Advantages

Saves you money

• After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is practically FREE.
• The recovery/ payback period for this investment can be very short depending on how much electricity your household uses.
  Financial incentives are available form the government that will reduce your cost. (visit www.dsireusa.org to find out about incentives available in the state you live in!).
• If your system produces more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you, building up a credit on your account! This nifty little scheme is called "net-metering".
• It will save you money on your electricity bill if you have one at all.
  Solar energy does not require any fuel.
• It's not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not subjected to the ever-increasing price of gasoline.
• The savings are immediate and for many years to come.
  The use of solar energy indirectly reduces health costs.

Environmentally friendly

• Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment.
• It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generation does.
• Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog.
• It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions.
• It's generated where it is needed.
• By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of radioactive waste.

Independent/ semi-independent

• Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption.
• It does not only reduce your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with electricity in the event of a power outage.
• A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independently, not requiring a connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations (like holiday log cabins), making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility electricity to a new site.
• The use of Solar Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources of energy, influenced by natural disasters or international events and so contributes to a sustainable future.
• Solar Energy supports local job and wealth creation, fuelling local economies.

Low/ no maintenance

• Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for decades.
• Once installed, there are no recurring costs.
• They operate silently, have no moving parts, do not release offensive smells and do not require you to add any fuel.
• More solar panels can easily be added in the future when your family's needs grow.

Solar Energy Disadvantages

• The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy system, largely because of the high cost of the semi-conducting materials used in building one.
• The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable utility-supplied electricity. As energy shortages are becoming more common, solar energy is becoming more price-competitive.
• Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency.
• The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain components.
• The production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air.
• Similarly, no solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem. See www.dsireusa.org for details on how net metering allows you to save electricity and money.
• As far as solar powered cars go - their slower speed might not appeal to everyone caught up in today's rat race.

Toxins in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

“They’ve lived a hard life; you can see it in their face.” How many times have we heard someone make this comment about a person who looks older than their age?

Aging, along with wrinkles, sagging, dull skin and various other signs, is a very personal experience based on two factors – intrinsic and extrinsic features. Intrinsic aging depends on internal factors such as your health, your genetic makeup, even your ancestry. Extrinsic aging is affected by factors external to your body such as pollution, cosmetics, climate, and many others.

The old adage “You are what you eat” by Brillat-Savarin has been modified for use today. “If you wouldn’t eat it; don’t put it on your skin” has become the new war cry of those opposed to the cosmetic industry’s seeming lack of concern for the health of their customers. This sage advice has become prevalent in the last decade or so. People are becoming more aware of not only what they are putting into their bodies; but, also what they are putting on their bodies.

Slathering killer cosmetics on our faces and bodies has been with us for eons. The Egyptians used a combination of malachite (green ore of copper), galena (lead sulfide) and kohl (soot, fatty matter, and metal [lead, antimony, manganese or copper]).

The ancient Greeks plastered lead all over their faces. This “cream” was supposed to clear up blemishes and improve the colour and texture of the skin. It was so popular that lead-based face masks became a must-have beauty treatment.

It would appear that not much has changed since those times. The amount of chemicals and toxins in our modern-day cosmetics and skin care products is so high that been stated by biochemist Richard Bence that 4 lbs. 6 oz. of chemicals a year is absorbed through the skin by cosmetic-wearing women.

Cosmetics worn on the face are not only absorbed through the skin. They can also be absorbed by inhaling particles through your nose, tiny particles entering the eyes to be absorbed by the mucosa lining, and/or eaten by such things as chewing on your lipstick and swallowing.

A study conducted by the University of California among 58,000 hairdressers, cosmetologists and manicurists showed these beauty-care workers had four times the average rate of multiple myeloma (a malignant bone tumour).

Some of these chemicals to be aware of are mercury (eye make-up), lead (lipstick), aluminum (lipstick), propylene glycol (personal care products), sodium laurel sulfate (shampoo), placenta (skin care), phthalates (nail polish remover) and petroleum products (skin cream, shampoo).

Instead look for products that are composed mostly of plant essential, oils or derivatives. A good rule of thumb is “if you can’t pronounce it – you don’t need it.” Of course, the best defense against unsafe cosmetics is to read the label and investigate the ingredients you find listed there. There are two excellent web sites that can help you sort through the insanity so you can decide whether this cosmetic is a product you want on your skin.

www.naturallyhome.com/articles/skindeep.shtml - helps you to determine which cosmetics and personal care products are safe. The results of an intense cosmetic ingredient study are available here.

http://www.safecosmetics.org/ – will give you all the ingredients in various personal care products and which ingredients are safe and which are not. Not all labels give you all the details and “Campaign for Safe Cosmetics” helps you determine which product contains what.

Perhaps the safest way to wear cosmetics is: Don’t – unless you really have to. After all, who wishes to share the same epitaph the famous Irish beauty, Marie Gunning (the Countess of Coventry) whose death in 1760 had many calling her a “victim of cosmetics.”

Do Air Fresheners,Scented and/or Aromatherapy Candles, and Incense Freshen The Air?

Who doesn’t love a room that smells fresh and clean with the hint of a comforting fragrance tickling our noses? Advertising has done a wonderful job of convincing us that a room is not really clean unless the air has been “freshened”. After all, those cute, cuddly forest creatures wouldn’t be trying to sell us something that could harm our health, would they?

Think again!!

What these air fresheners do instead is coat our nasal passages with a film that deadens our nerve endings. This confuses us into thinking the room is fresh smelling because it reduces our ability to detect odours.

It is no wonder that problems such as asthma, cancer, SIDS, and Alzheimer’s are becoming more prevalent when you realize exactly what goes into these air fresheners.

The ingredients may include chemicals such as formaldehyde (used in embalming), naphthalene (derived from coal tar or petroleum), artificial fragrances (derived from petroleum), 1, 4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB may harm lung function), camphor (affects the central nervous system), ethanol (synthetic ethanol is from petroleum) and benzyl alcohol (depresses the central nervous system). Wow!!

Are scented and aromatherapy candles any better at clearing the air safely? Not when you take a closer look. Most candles of made of paraffin wax (a petrochemical), artificial scent (a petrochemical) and/or pure essential oils. Essential oils convert into unhealthy byproducts when burned. Metal or lead core wicks are used in most scented paraffin candles. When the wick burns, lead is released into the air to be inhaled or cling to furniture and walls. All of the lead you breathe in ends up in your bloodstream. Lead has been proven to contribute to irreversible neurologiecal damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects and reproductive effects, and reproductive toxicity. The black soot created from burning these candles is toxic.

The American Lung Association gives this warning: "scented, paraffin candles cause lead poisoning and using slow-burning paraffin candles cause poor indoor air quality, and a serious health concern."

Incense has been proven to release dangerous amounts of cancer-causing toxins into the air. These toxins are inhaled and circulated throughout the body doing the same damage to your body as air fresheners and candles. So…how do you freshen a room?

Here a few simple, inexpensive, healthy ways to freshen the air in your home.

• Open the windows
• Burn 100% pure beeswax candles with 100% cotton or paper wicks
• Simmer fragrant herbs such as rosemary or thyme in a saucepan or warming diffuser
• Use baking soda in your closets and bathroom as well as your fridge
• Use vinegar and water to clean
• Mix a few drops of a pure essential oil with water in a mister and spritz
• Crush dried lavender and place in a small lidless container out of sight
• Grow air-cleaning household plants. The top ten air cleaners (in descending order) are: areca palm, Reed palm, Dwarf date palm, Boston fern, Pothos, English ivy, Australian sword fern, Peace lily, Rubber plant and the Weeping fig. An additional benefit these plants provide is to reduce the carbon dioxide in a room
• Use volcanic rock to absorb odours
• Simmer homey spices like cinnamon and cloves on the stovetop
  

Saving Money AND the Environment

Well, it doesn't get much better than this, does it? Saving money and the environment. Since this blog is still in its infancy, I thought I would start with tips we may or may not be familiar with.

1. Take an empty 1 litre plastic bottle, fill it with water, cap it securely and place in the toilet tank. By doing this, you are displacing 1 litre of water that will not be used per flush. Most people don't realize (until it's pointed out to them) that the same quality of water you use in your toilet is the same quality water that you drink from your kitchen tap. Yup!! If it were not for the container it comes in, you could drink your toilet water.

So what does this mean for us consumers? It means that unless we change the way we handle some of our water delivery, we will literally be flushing good, drinkable water down the toilet.

Our water-processing plants have a finite limit on the amount of water they are able to process without building new plants. Unless we conserve water where we can, we could soon be experiencing the kind of water conservation problems that places like California are having.

Not only does this tip save the environment 1 litre a flush; but, it also helps to reduce the risk of the toilet overflowing as less water is being circulated. If you are living in a place that charges you for water, you'll save a little there too.

2. Start checking out water-saving shower heads immediately. Again, another incidence of water literally going down the drain. Water-saving shower heads work by mixing air in with the water. This allows for less water without having to extend shower time.

Some of these heads have managed to reduce the amount of water they use to 1.5 gallons per minute. This a water saving of at least 1 gpm. They can use up to 1/3 less water and 6% less energy. For a family of four these water and energy savings can be approx. $600.00 a year. WOW!!

3. Let's talk electricity for a moment. Our electric power is in somewhat the same position our water power is in. While we have all the water we need to make the electricity in most places, what is missing are the power plants to process it.

While we all know about turning off lights (and TV) when we leave a room, using lower wattage, energy-saving bulbs, etc.; how many of us have thought about the "ghost" electricity used by instant-on appliances. For every instant-on appliance we have uses electricity whether it is turned on or off. This is the "ghost" electricity used to keep it in an "instant-on" mode. Electricity we don't see being used.

The solution is as simple as a power bar. Plug these energy pigs into a power bar that you can turn off at night. You will have to wait a moment or two for these appliances to power up; but, the environment will thank you.

4. Save electricity when baking and/or cooking with these tips.

• when using your oven, try to bake as many things as possible at one time. When roasting chicken and vegetables on the top rack, try baking the cherry pie for tomorrow's dessert on the bottom rack.
• turn the oven off 15 mins. before the items are thoroughly cooked. Leave the oven closed for the next 1/2 hour. Do NOT open the door. This traps and allows the residue heat in the oven to finish the cooking without using any energy.
• always cover pots - they boil much faster that way

5. Try to buy organic whenever possible. Much of our agricultural land is becoming unuseable due to overuse of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. The nutritional value in soil is becoming more and more depleted meaning fewer crops, less nutrient-rich food, and more land becoming worthless as farm land.

Organic farming treats our soil with more respect. No chemicals or pesticides are allowed anywhere on the property. Absolutely nothing that is not 100% natural and/or organic is used in crop production.

The result? Produce that is tasty; healthy; loaded with valuable vitamins, minerals and fibre; and, good for our bodies. The even better news is that organic produce costs approx. the same as that produce grown on artifical fertilizer and chemical-laden pesticides.

Global Warming

Where to start? There are so many areas on this planet that require attention. So...having to make a choice - I decided on global warming.

Global warming has been raising his ugly head for many years now. Unfortunately, many have refused to see it because it didn't mix with their bottom line -- the earning and hoarding of money. We are now reaping the rewards of such thinking.

Recently, three disasters have begun to occur in our many ice shelves world-wide. There is a crack in the ice shelf of the Antarctic, an Argentenian glacier is beginning a rare winter rupture and; in China, there is a glacier melting in the Tian Mountain Range.

Here's more on each:

Crack in the ice shelf of the Antarctic:

160 square miles of the Wilkins ice shelf has broken away from the Antarctic peninsula. This threatens a collapse of the much larger ice shelf behind it. This has shocked scientists who in 1993 predicted the collapse of the ice shelf within 30 years. However, this would appear to be too early.

Elsewhere on the peninsula, peripheral ice shelves have broken away allowing the inland ice to move towards the sea. This could cause rising sea levels.

In a catastrophe in the making, six other ice shelves have already been totally lost. They are the Prince Gustav Channel, Larsen Inlet, Larsen B, Wordie, Muller and Jones shelves. Since the Wilkins ice shelf is farther south and should be more protected by colder temperatures.

Argentenian glacier:

This Argentenian glacier named "Perito Moreno" acts a dam between the two halves of Lake Argentenia. The 60 metre tall glacier breaks apart every year; however, it does so in annual summer cycles. This winter it began a rare winter rupture - not seen since 1917.

Melting glacier in China

The "Urumqi No. 1" glacier is melting at the rate of 10 metres a year. This glacier supplies the drinking water for the 2 million people in the city of Arunci below the glacier. Not only is the glacier shrinking (since 1962, it has lost more than 20% of its volume); but, the glaciers are becoming black with some of the greenhouse emissions from the city downstream.

If the Urumqi No. 1 glacier melts, it will have consequences that go far beyond the 2 million people downstream.