A recent study shows conclusive evidence that certain pesticides are related to Parkinson’s. Pesticides can be found in conventionally grown produce and are often times over-applied or improperly applied in the garden, or used indoors without ventilation.
The lesson: eat organic produce and don’t use pesticides in or outside your home. If you can’t buy all organic product, here is a list of the top twelve products with the most pesticides. Also, Beyond Pesticides offers some natural alternatives to regular pesticides, as do other organizations. Parkinson’s is not the only disease that pesticides have been linked to, so don’t wait to get rid of them!
Parkinsons and pesticides April 25, 2007
Cell phones and bees? April 17, 2007
How are these two connected, you ask? Well, apparently one is killing the other—I’m sure you can figure out which is the culprit. Though studies in other countries, such as Finland and Sweden, as well as other European countries, have shown that cell phone use has a negative effect on our health (namely, the development of brain tumors and the killing of brain cells), somehow the US studies are still inconclusive. Here is an article that discusses the effect cell phones are having on bees and also on humans.
I also heard it was not cell phones but cordless phones that caused the issue. Either way, I will take the opportunity to talk about cell phones. Since we all will continue to use cell phones, we should use some protection from the radiation…until, of course, there is enough evidence and uproar to convince the manufacturers to make safer phones! Some products on the market include the Waveshield and BioPro . I should point out, from personal experience, that the two Waveshield ear pieces I have used were not stellar in terms of sound quality, and the verdict on BioPro is still out. Of course, that doesn’t help the bees any—wish there was some protection for them!
Put a cork in it! Green flooring alternatives April 13, 2007
If you’re remodeling and considering replacing your floor, or are tired of your carpet and want a new one, there are many environmentally friendly alternatives to choose from. Here are a few to consider:
- Bamboo: I’m sure you’ve heard of this one already. It’s a grass that requires minimal fertilization and pesticides, grows to floor quality in 5-7 years, with the next batch of bamboo growing from the same roots.
- Cork: Same material as wine corks only for your floor! Cork is taken from the bark of the cork oak tree, can be harvested, or peeled away after the tree is 25 years old and then every 9-12 years, without killing the tree.
- Linoleum: No, not the vinyl flooring that many mistakenly call linoleum. The real thing, also known as marmoleum, is made by compressing linseed oil with pine resin, sawdust, dust and often other recycled materials.
- Sustainable Wood: Wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has been grown sustainably. This category also includes wood that is salvaged and reused, since reuse of materials is also a sustainable approach to flooring (decrease the harvesting of non-renewable resources).
- Low VOC & sustainable carpet: Some carpet companies recycle their carpeting or manufacture their carpeting from recycled materials. In addition, they limit amount of chemicals involved in the process, for example by using natural dyes, natural adhesives, no flame-retardant surface coating and jute or hemp backing (rather than synthetic fibres).
And…a quick summary of pros, cons and resources (with my two cents added in, of course!):
| Type |
Pros |
Cons |
Comment |
Resources |
| Bamboo |
— Grows quickly — Durable — Lower cost ($3-$6/sq ft) |
— Imported from Asia (CO2 emissions) — Poor quality bamboo is flooding the market (softer bamboo is often cheaper; more prone to scratching and warping) |
— Look for bamboo with no toxic adhesives (urea formaldehyde) |
— Bamboo Info — More Info |
| Cork |
— Holds heat — Dampens sound — Fire retardant — Anti-microbial — Comparable in price to mid or high-end hardwood flooring ($3 – $7/sq ft uninstalled) |
— Cork floor with the standard polyurethane coat is said to stand up to “normal wear and tear” for only 5 -10 years, after which it will need a new coat — Imported from Europe |
— Choose finishes made of of low-VOC polyurethane or beeswax base — 2 types: floating click flooring (comes with acrylic finish & doesn’t respond as well to wet situations) and the stick down type (should have 4 coats of polyurethane applied to it, either insitu or bought with it already applied) |
— Sustainable Flooring— Floor Facts |
| Linoleum |
— Durable — Anti-microbial — Lower-cost (about $4/sq ft) — Biodegradable |
— Linseed oil outgases some VOCs — Needs a backing substance, which is often synthetic — Porous & may need to be waxed or polished |
— Choose adhesive that is water-based, formaldehyde free, and has low VOC content — Prices generally range from $5-$8 per sq ft |
— Build It Green — Forbo |
| Sustainable Wood |
— Salvaged wood can be locally bought — Sturdy — Good forestry practices |
— Salvaged wood can be irregularly sized — May need more work — May be shipped from long distances (FSC cert.) — More expensive, depending on the source (about $6/sq ft for FSC certified, & $5-$13/sq ft for reclaimed timber) |
— Look for sealers with low-VOC emissions |
— Habitat for Humanity — Forest Stewardship Council — Aged Woods |
| Sustainable Carpeting |
— No off-gassing from VOCs |
— Between $5-$10/sq ft for 100% wool, non-dyed and non-chemically sprayed carpeting —Synthetic carpets are made from petroleum |
— Look for CRI (The Carpet and Rug Institute) certification — Area rugs and carpet tiles are preferable wall-to-wall) carpet. |
— Green Floors — Flor Carpeting — Green California |
Aside from the options and resources above, there are others, such as recycled glass tiles and rubber, as well as stone, made from nonrenewable resources but that is relatively long-lasting. You will need to weigh the pros and cons (did you think this was going to be easy??) and decide the best choice for your needs. Happy flooring!
Top 10 Renewable Energy Utility Programs April 4, 2007
Yesterday, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) came out with the ranking for the top utility green power programs, i.e. utilities that offer renewable energy alternatives (ex: solar and wind) for customers to purchase as part of their electricity package. The great news is that total utility green power sales grew about 30% from 2005 to 2006, and the customer base increased by 10% during that same period. Check out the DOE’s site for the utility company rankings, participation rates, and other info.
If your utility company isn’t on this list and you’d like to purchase green power, don’t worry! There are over 600 companies providing these services, so there is bound to be one near you. You can go to the Smartpower web site to see what options you have (select your state and it will give you a list) and to the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for incentives that might be offered in your state related to green power. And, if you’re unsure if green power is for you, get some more info at the DOE’s Green Power Network site.
