Diane MacEachern's blog

Top Ten: A Green and Cheap Halloween

2009-10-12T14:20:37-05:00

This Halloween don't buy a lot of disposable plastic decorations and heavily packaged (and unhealthy) candy. Celebrating Halloween can be more fun, cheaper, and healthier for you and the environment if you follow these simple tips...

Here are the top ten tips for a “green” Halloween. They’ll save you money, too!

1. Reuse costumes. Tap into the treasures hidden in your closet or attic to pull together a fun, no-cost costume (it won’t take any longer than going to the mall, and will be a lot cheaper). Trade costumes with friends and family if you don’t want to wear last year’s get-up. Shop for accessories at yard sales or resale stores. Use your imagination but don’t obsess. The point is to have fun, not be fashionable!

2. Trick and treat. In lieu of junk food, hand out pencils made from recycled paper, erasers, nickels or dimes – be creative!. My husband used to live in the same neighborhood as baseball legend Casey Stengel – he gave out silver dollars. My neighbor started doling out small cups of apple cider when she realized how much kids love a drink of something when they’re running around like banshees. NatureMoms offers lots of great links to organic lollipops and other fun and healthy treats.

3. Reverse trick and treating. Global Exchange is encouraging kids to help educate adults about Fair Trade cocoa by handing Fair Trade chocolates back as they trick or treat. The chocolates are attached to a card explaining why Fair Trade offers an alternative to child labor, low wages for farmers and a healthier environment. Order by October 13.

4. Have a party. If you opt to celebrate at home in lieu of trick or treating, put out bowls of snacks rather than serve up individual throwaway treat bags. Offer pop corn, hummus and pita chips, carrots and dips, fresh apple cider, bat-shaped cookies and muffins. Kids will enjoy painting pumpkins, decorating cupcakes, reading scary stories, bobbing for apples, and going on “flashlight hunts” in the yard (if the party’s after dark) for hidden Halloween surprises. Send electronic invitations to avoid wasting paper and postage.

5. Decorate with Nature. A trip to your yard or the farmers market will provide everything you need to dress up your house for Halloween: leaves and branches, hay bales, gourds, pumpkins, mums, dried flowers.

6. Light up the night. If you string lights (especially to keep walkways safe for kids), use strands of LEDs like these fun spider lights. They use much less energy than conventional holiday twinklers. Illuminate carved pumpkins with candles from beeswax or soy . Decorate windows and glass door panes with these beautiful non-toxic window paints from Hearthsong. If kids need flashlights to get around in the dark, try the BOGO light recharged with solar energy.

7. Turn it over to the kids. Forget the store-bought hanging witches and skeletons. Have your kids make hand print spiders for the walls and windows. Recycle egg cartons into bats. Carve and paint pumpkins.

8. Try a new bag. The best option for candy collectors is last year’s bag; a pillowcase; or a reusable shopping bag with handles. But if you need something new, try the reusable Chico Halloween Bag. Kids will love its spooky design. You’ll love that it only costs $5.

9. Save for next year. When Halloween is over, pack up costumes, treat bags, lights, and decorations in one big box or bag. Store everything in an easy-to-find place so next year, you don’t have to start completely from scratch.

10. Get even more ideas. Between Green Halloween and the Green Moms Carnival , you’ll find everything you need to know to make your spooky night as eco as possible.

New Book Highlights Environmental, Health Threats from Toxic Chemicals

2009-10-12T14:16:12-05:00

New Book Highlights Environmental, Health Threats from Toxic Chemicals

Investigative journalist Nena Baker is the author of The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being (North Point Press/Farrar, Straus and Giroux). I first met Nena when we both spoke at the Women, Health & Environment Conference sponsored by the Heinz Endowment in 2008. Since then, I've been a fan of her investigations into the impact that toxic chemicals have on our bodies as well as the planet. In the first of a two-part article, Nena explains why she tries to avoid one of the most common chemicals you're likely to find in your furniture, television, and kitchen blender.

"Ever since the publication of my book, The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being, people ask me what I’ve done in my own life to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals.

One answer is: I vacuum a lot more. And one family of toxic chemicals is the reason for it. Called polybrominated diphyl ethers, or PBDEs, these toxic flame retardants were – beginning in the 1970s --added to everything from furniture foam, mattresses, carpet padding and drapery backings, to car interiors, computers, TVs, fax machines and small kitchen appliances.

Because of the way PBDEs were blended into foam and plastic – think of a baker stirring chocolate chips into cookie dough – they can easily escape from the materials into which they are mixed. As a result, PBDEs settle in the dust on the floors of our homes, where children and pets spend most of their time. Indeed, researchers believe dust is the primary route of human exposure to PBDEs.

Based on the findings in animal studies, the EPA classifies PBDEs as a possible human carcinogen. Like other endocrine-disrupting chemicals I write about in The Body Toxic, PBDEs also are suspected of causing an array of negative health effects, including thyroid hormone disruption and permanent learning and memory impairment.

Because of their widespread use, PBDEs have built up at astonishing rates in the environment and in people. No one can say for certain how PBDEs are affecting humans, young or old. But research led by Dr. Linda Birnbaum, who was recently appointed director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, makes the case that house cats may be sentinels for humans, especially the littlest ones.

“Think about a cat’s behavior,” said Birnbaum. “They’re on the floor; they’re on the furniture. They get dust on themselves. They ingest it through grooming. Well, little kids are all over the floor and furniture, and they’re frequently mouthing things, including their hands.”

Read Part 2 of this article.

Where Can You Recycle Cellphones? Everywhere...

2009-06-29T10:49:38-05:00

Recycling cell phones is one of the easiest ways you can protect the planet.

• Leave it behind when you buy a new phone. Sprint, Verizon,T-Mobile, AT&T, Nokia, and Motorola all participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Plug in to e-cycling” program and will accept any cell phone or PDA at any of their retail outlets.

• Take it to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, or Radio Shack. Most outlets will have a box you can drop your phone in with absolutely no hassle.

* Send it to Collective Good, a company that refurbishes the phones, re-sells them, and shares the profits with the charity of your choice. Address:

Collective Good International
Include Charity Code
5763 ARAPAHOE AVE STE G
Boulder, CO 80303-1350

Why bother? Every week, 3 million cell phones are thrown away. More than 1 billion used mobile phones clutter our shelves, take up space in our drawers or worse – are decaying in landfills.

Cell phones are constructed with a host of heavy metals - like antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc – that can pollute ground water and potentially cause cancer. Recovering those metals for re-use keeps them out of the environment and makes them available for reuse in other electronics manufacturing.

Have an APPLE I-Phone or IPOD you need to unload? Apple’s Recycling Programprovides prepaid mailing label you can download from the company website.

Recycle used phone batteries, too. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Coalition links to 50,000 locations, including Target, Lowe's Home Depot and Office Max.

Want more ways to recycle your phone? Here are 50, courtesy of VOIP.
.

Research by Rachel Goglia

For more GREEN info try: www.biggreenpurse.comOR: http://greenwoman.typepad.com/biggreenpurse/2009/06/where-can-you-recycle-cellphones-everywhere.html

What impact does mining have on the environment?

2009-06-29T10:25:02-05:00

Waste from gold and other kinds of mining pollutes the planet. Miners often use arsenic, a toxic metal, to leach gold from rock, creating a nasty slurry that contaminates drinking water and kills wildlife when it's released into the environment.

Anyone who thinks dousing our waterways or landscapes with such toxic pollution deserves to have his or her head examined -- even if that head is perched on the neck of a Supreme Court Justice.

In a ruling decried by environmentalists, public health officials, and fishermen in Alaska, the Court voted 6-3 to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- the same folks who built the failed levee system in New Orleans, ahem -- to permit Coeur Alaska, Inc., a gold mining company, to dump its tainted slurry into Lower Slate Lake. The lake lies just north of Juneau, Alaska.

The Supreme Court didn't just say this was okay. In an Orwellian analysis, they actually ruled that the Clean Water Act -- legislation designed to keep our waterways clean and the wildlife that lives in them safe -- instead permits just the opposite. It boggles the mind - well my mind, anyway. Evidently not the minds of the six Justices who supported this opinion.

Notably, the Supreme Court's decision reverses a May 2007 ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the mining company's permit in clear violation of the Clean Water Act.

"If a mining company can turn Lower Slate Lake in Alaska into a lifeless waste dump, other polluters with solids in their wastewater can potentially do the same to any water body in America," said Trip Van Noppen, president of the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, which brought the suit.

"The good news is that the problem is reversible. It was caused by a Bush administration rule reversing thirty years of successful regulation under the Clean Water Act. We call on President Obama to act immediately to repeal this rule."

"The purpose of the Clean Water Act is to keep America's waters safe for drinking, fishing, and swimming," added Tom Waldo of Earthjustice, who argued the case on behalf of three conservation groups. "The Clean Water Act was intended to halt the practice of using lakes, rivers, and streams as waste dumps. Today's decision does not achieve these purposes."

What's the magnitude of this decision? Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation's Kensington gold mine near Juneau is now permitted to pump over 200,000 gallons per day of a toxic wastewater slurry directly into Lower Slate Lake in the Tongass National Forest. The dumping, which will take place over ten years, will eventually deposit 4.5 million tons of solids in the lake, killing nearly all its aquatic life.

Earth Justice said this rule change can be reversed with a new rule issued by the Corps and EPA, by legislation, or by revising the informal EPA memo. A bill already introduced in this Congress by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Dave Reichert (R-WA) would, if passed, accomplish this task. The Clean Water Protection Act, H.R. 1310, has 151 cosponsors.

Contact Earth Justice to find out how you can help.

For more GREEN info click here!

http://greenwoman.typepad.com/biggreenpurse/2009/06/what-impact-does-mining-have-on-the-environment-duhhh.html

Marmoleum, the Eco-Friendly Flooring: Awarded 3 GREEN PURSES

2009-06-24T13:24:54-05:00

When it comes to choosing flooring for your home, you might not even know eco-friendly options exist. But for over 100 years, Forbo has been manufacturing Marmoleum, an all natural linoleum. Katie Kelleher reports:

What is it? Marmoleum is made into flooring sheets or tiles from a compound of linseed oil, rosins, cork flour, limestone and wood flour that’s adhered to a nontoxic jute backing. These ingredients create a tough environmentally-friendly product that becomes harder and more durable over time. Naturally occurring anti-bacteria and anti-static properties are added to the mix to help the flooring resist dust and inhibit the growth of germs that cause disease. You can buy it online or find a local distributor by entering your location information into the website.

What I like: Forbo sought to minimize its environmental impact long before it was trendy, and has the third-party certifications to prove it. Marmoelum has received aPlatinum certification from the SMART Sustainable Products Standard. It has also been certified under the ISO 14001, a global environmental management standard for sustainable practices. Additionally, Marmoleum’s health and wellness claims have been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. No greenwashing here.

Plus, Marmoleum is a cinch to clean. Stains do not penetrate Marmoleum due to itsTopshield protective layer; it is best cleaned by vacuuming, sweeping, or using a mop and the company cleaning solution.

Marmoleum Click offers consumers design flexibility, additional health benefits, and money-saving benefits, too: the flooring “clicks” together in a fit that requires no adhesives that can emit nasty fumes With its 24 color choices and many design possibilities, Marmoleum is equally appropriate for residential or corporate settings.(It was installed in our company kitchen when the offices were renovated.) The website'sMarmoleum Click Floorplanner lets you create a virtual room, including furniture, to test out your favorite floor design.

Also, the flooring is comfortable to walk on, thanks to the softening effect of the natural jute fiber backing. Marmoleum Click can last upwards of 30 years without being replaced.

What could be improved? Because Marmoleum is made from natural ingredients, the color of the floor may vary from the sample or could change over time. Also, the flooring cannot currently be recycled once it's been used. On the plus side, it will decompose in a landfill without releasing harmful chemicals into the ground, water or air. Also, the company strives to maximize materials recycling during manufacturing to minimize waste.

Corporate responsibility: Forbo has partnered with WWF, the global conservation organization, to donate proceeds from Marmoleum sales to the environmental group’s crusade to protect the environment. For every square meter sold from eight designated green linoleum floor covering colors bought anywhere in the world, Forbo donates the equivalent of $0.68 to the WWF. This translates to about a $50.00 donation when a room the size of an average elementary school classroom is floored using Marmoleum.

Product comparison: Flor Carpet Tiles offer a possible eco-alternative to Marmoleum Click, with the added advantage that they can be recycled. However, it is not apparent on Flor's website whether the company meets the same level of sustainable standards that Marmoleum does.

Marmoleum looks especially appealing when compared to two of the most popular flooring options in the market: carpeting, and vinyl.

Carpet can harbor millions of allergens, like mold, mildew, dust mites, animal dander, and pollen. Dust mites live in carpets and grow rapidly in the presence of dander. Even with careful cleaning and vacuuming, these particles are simply shifted around or blown into the air where they can be inhaled by humans. Actually using the carpet (i.e., walking on it) can make matters worse, as the fibers tend to collect pesticides, pollen, and mold spores when people and animals regularly travel across it. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology states that you may need to remove carpets from your home if you have dust mite or similar allergies. Carpeting is also a challenge to keepclean, since cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting may require strong chemicals that can lead to headaches, achiness, and flu-like symptoms. In addition, carpet may wear out quickly; if a stain on carpet becomes permanent, you may incur the cost of replacing the entire carpet.If you want the feel of a carpet but prefer to avoid carpeting, install Marmoleum and use washable area rugs for main living spaces.

Vinyl flooring can “off gas” air pollutants into your home, including phthalate plasticizers, lead, cadmium, dioxins and PVC. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is known as one of the worst plastics for the environment and human health , says The Healthy Building Network. Companies like Honda, IKEA, Johnson and Johnson, Microsoft, Nike, and Toyota have promised o stop using PVC in their products, due to the serious health concerns it raises.

Like Forbo, most other manufacturers of linoleum floors use plant-based ingredients. The most notable advantage of Marmoleum Click is that is does not involve the use of adhesive, which standard linoleum floors require. When evaluating competing linoleum floor providers, check third party certifications to ensure their sustainable practices are legitimate.

Cost: Prices vary for Marmoleum Click, ranging from $5.50 to $ 7.50 per square foot (not installed). The big price advantage for Click is that individual tiles can be replaced, reducing the need to replace an entire floor if just a few tiles are soild or damaged.

How many purses? Three. Marmoleum Click is a superior flooring choice, thanks to its health benefits, eco-friendly manufacturing processes, easy "click" installation and replacement, and simple cleaning regimen. Plus, it offers a wide variey of design possibilities.

For more GREEN TIPS click here

Planet Matters Water Filtration Bottle: Gets 2.5 Green Purse Awards

2009-06-17T15:16:23-05:00

What's stopping you from using a reusable water bottle? Worries that tap water isn't safe to drink? The inconvenience of carrying around a clumsy bottle that doesn't fit in your purse, briefcase, or cup holder? Concerns about BPA in plastic water bottles?

Planet Matters claims it tackles all three issues head on with its water filtration bottle. Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas took at look at the product claims, compared it to similar bottles, and wrote this review.

What Is It? Planet Matters uses a unique water filtration system to provide clean water that is affordable, convenient, and safe to drink. In addition to reuseable water bottles, the company produces canteens, water pitchers, water pumps, water bags, emergency packs, in-line filters, and replacement filters.The reuseable products are designed to replace throwaway plastic water bottles. Throwaway plastic bottles have become the bane of the environment as well as our pocket books, given that they are made from scarce petroleum, do not biodegrade, and cost many times more than tap water.

The Product: Planet Matters uses an Ionic Absorption Micron Filter to remove up to 99.99% of the contaminants and pollutantsfound in fresh water—including giardia, cryptosporidium, DDT, and heavy metals like cadmium and lead. One 18-oz water filtrtion bottle can clean up to 50 gallons of water before the filter needs to be replaced. The bottle itself is BPA-free and made of #4 low density polyethylene, so it will not leach Bisphenol-A into your drink.

What I like: The bottle easily fits in your hand or in the cup holders in your car. If you are on the go, the hand strap is convenient to wear on your wrist or tie on your big green purse. The water flows through the cap easily and tastes great. Because it is so portable, I can drink filtered water anywhere at anytime. I also love the design—the green insulator sleeve on the bottle is attractive and makes it easy to grip.

What could improve: A cap on the bottle protects the items in my purse or bag from getting wet and keeps the bottle free of dirt and other contaminants. However, the bottle spout closes too easily—I had trouble consistently keeping it open when I was drinking water. A minor design improvement could fix this with no impact on performance, I'm sure. Also, it's not clear that Planet Matters has set up a system to recycle its filters. Thanks to consumer demand led by Beth Terry at FakePlasticFish.com, consumers can recycle the filters they use in Brita water pitchers with Preserve, a company that turns them into toothbrushes, table ware, and kitchen appliances. Contact Planet Matters to encourage them to set up a similar filter recycling program.

Corporate Responsibility: Each month, Planet Matters donates 3% of its proceeds to Surfrider Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Doctors Without Borders, and the American Red Cross.

Product Comparison:

*Planet Matters’ filters adhere to the “strictest EPA, ANSI & NSF standard methods and protocol” says the company on its website.

*The Exstream Water Filter Bottle by Katadyn meets EPA standards for removal of Giardia and bacteria, according to the company website but does not have a cap to protect the tip from getting dirty. Some users struggle to squeeze water out of the bottle at times.

*The 22 oz. Bota of Boulder Outback Bottle Filter is comparable to the Planet Matters bottle - take a look for yourself.

*The Liv Pure Fit & Fresh Bottle with Filter appears to filter 50% of the chlorine in water; the company website is vague on the other filtration benefits the bottle offers.

* Water Geeks BPA-Free bottles will filter up to 80 gallons of water, remove 90% of chlorine, bad taste and odor, and "significant proportion" of lead and other heavy metals.

Price Comparison: The 22 oz. Bota of Boulder Outback Bottle Filter $19.99; it's not clear how many gallons the bottle filters before you need to replace the filter. The 18 oz. Planet Matters Water Filtration Bottle costs $21.95 and filters up to 50 gallons, which is about $350 worth of bottled water. Water Geeks sells a 27 oz. bottle for $19.99 that may filter up to 80 gallons before needing replacement. Prices for the Liv Pure bottle were not listed on the site.

How Many Purses? Diane gives the Planet Matters Water Filtration Bottle two and a half purses. "I like this bottle a lot," she says. "The filter is highly effective, the cap will keep my purse dry, and the strap makes it easy to carry around. Plus, I'm inspired by the founder's own story of how she came to build her business. If the company makes it easy to recycle the water filters, I'll happily change its two-and-a-half purse ranking to three."

NOTE: If you don't feel comfortable drinking out of plastic water bottles even if they're reusable and made from BPA-free plastic, you can still use a Planet Matters Water Filter pitcher and reusable aluminum or stainless steel bottles.

For more green info click here!

Biodegradable Golf Balls and Tees Offer Best Options - But Don't Forget to Take Care of the Greens, Too

2009-06-17T15:09:48-05:00

Golf seems like such an innocuous sport, but it can have a pretty significant environmental impact. Leaving aside the considerable quantity of pesticides, fertilizers and water used to keep greens green, consider lowly golf balls. These small spheres are practically indestructible so they can withstand the force of a powerfully swung club. They don’t crack up when they’re hit; you can imagine how long they take to decompose if they’re lost in the woods. It’s estimated that more than 100 million golf balls end up in rivers, lakes, streams, forests, and meadows each year. That’s a lot of balls for Mother Nature to contend with.

Enter the biodegradable golf ball. Dixon ($39.95 per 12-pack; pictured left) has developed a biodegradable ball that decomposes in water and leaves no residue behind. Another benefit: each Dixon pack includes a return mail pouch so you can easily recycle old balls for new ones. EcoGolfBalls are cheaper at $10 for a pack of 12, and also degrade quickly in water. Wilson Eco-core golf balls are molded around recycled rubber tires, though they don’t biodegrade. All three brands come in recyclable packaging made from recycled materials.

What about other golf gear?

Golf Tees: Biodegradable golf tees are becoming the rage for golfers concerned about their eco-impact. Dixon, Ecogolf, and Golf Tee XT all make biodegradable tees. Ask the pro shop to order them if they’re already not in stock. You can also check local sporting goods stores and Wal-Mart, as well as online.

Golf Bags

Currently the only eco bag on the market is the Wilson Staff Eco-Carry, made from recycled plastic soda bottles. It's lightweight and durable, given the fibers are essentially respun plastic fabric.

Clothing: Pickings are slim in the eco-friendly golf wear department.All Apparel & Accessories sells a variety of reasonably priced polos for men and women made from 100% organic cotton. Spreadshirt offers men’s and women’s tees in a polyester/organic cotton blend. Dixon sells caps made from organic cotton. At least as far as we can tell, nobody’s making plaid golf pants out of recycled fibers.

What about golf courses themselves? Golf Digest does a good job here of enumerating the specific environmental challenges conventional golf courses post. Featured quote: "THE PESTICIDES THAT GOLF COURSES USE, AND THE ONES THAT PEOPLE THROW ON THEIR LAWNS, PERHAPS ARE NOT AS SAFE AS WE BLITHELY ASSUME THEM TO BE."

Meanwhile,Audubon International has created a Cooperative Sanctuary program to help golf courses conserve water, minimize chemical use, and protect wildlife.

Want to see who’s doing it right? Check out Greenopia’s list of the seven most eco-friendly golf courses.

(Research assistance by Katie Kelleher)

For more green info click HERE!

Comparing Hybrid Cars, the Honda Civic Came Out on Top for My Dad

2009-06-17T15:02:42-05:00

Buying a car any time is a big financial outlay. In this era of penny pinching and fuel scarcity, it's particularly important to consider not just a functional car but one that gets great gas mileage. What choices do you have that won’t break the bank? Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas filed this report:

"What's the most fuel-efficient car I can buy to meet my commuting needs?" That’s the question my father asked recently after he passed his used car on to me and began looking for a small or mid-sized vehicle for himself. We decided to go on the hunt together, with our primary criteria being that the vehicle should be affordable, a hybrid if possible, andhighly fuel efficient—achieving an average of at least 40 miles per gallon.

Only three vehicles fit the bill:

HONDA

Insight:
o MPG: Estimated mileage of 40/43 city/highway, average of 42 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY: With gas prices around $2.60, the annual fuel cost amounts to around $929. You can make calculations for your own region by finding local fuel prices at GasBuddy.com and using thechart at fueleconomy.gov.
o COST: The Insight EX with navigation (a GPS system) has a ticket price of $23,100. NOTE: Because it’s a brand-new model, dealerships are less willing to negotiate on price.
o SPACE: Overall smaller interior space than the Civic Hybrid, but as a hatchback, the Insight can fit almost three times as much cargo with the seats folded down, 31.5 cubic feet.

Civic Hybrid:
o MPG: estimated mileage of 40/45 city/highway, estimated average of 42 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY: same annual fuel cost as the Insight
o COST: The Civic Hybrid with navigation has a ticket price of $25,650, plus the option of leather seats (unlike the Insight) for an additional $1,200. We were able to negotiate the price of the Civic Hybrid with navigation and leather to about $22,700.
o SPACE: The interior space is slightly larger than the Insight, but the cargo space is significantly smaller, only 10.4 cubic feet.

TOYOTA

3rd Generation Prius:
o MPG: Delivers the best mileage and power of any hybrid on the road today with an estimated mileage of 51/48 city/highway, estimated average of 50 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY: The annual fuel cost is about $780
o COST: The 2010 Prius with leather and navigation has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $28,350. Like with the Honda Insight, dealerships are less willing to significantly lower the price of this brand-new model.
o SPACE: The Prius has more interior space than the Civic Hybrid, especially in the backseat, with an inch and half more leg room. The Prius also beats the Civic Hybrid in cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet.
o ADDED BONUS: You can buy the 3rd generation Prius with a solar roof. Why is that so cool? The solar roof literally cools the car by using the sun’s energy to power an air circulation fan, eliminating the need for owners to blast their air conditioning in the hot summers. Unfortunately, the solar roof adds about $1,800 to the ticket price.

After test driving all three vehicles and comparing both fuel efficiency and price, my dad happily settled on the Honda Civic Hybrid (left). He opted for a slightly roomier interior over more cargo space, since he doesn't need to transport much in his car. Both price and mpg met his critera. Plus, he likes the way it drives. "This car has a lot of pep!" he says.

NOTE: You don’t have to be in the market for a new car to improve fuel efficiency when you drive. Getting a tune up on the vehicle you currently drive will improve fuel efficiency by 4%. Pumping up your tires to the proper PSI (pounds per square inch) will get you another 3.3% improvement in your MPG. Or skip owning a car altogether for “wheels when you want them” via ZipCar. Here are more ways to beat the high price of gas.

Looking for a different car? Check fuel efficiency ratings for all vehicles atfueleconomy.gov.

Interested in a mid-size, highly fuel-efficient family car? Stay tuned for our review of theFord Fusion Hybrid.

For MORE green info click here!

GOTTA GIVE GREEN GIFTS for dear ol' dad!

2009-06-12T14:37:28-05:00

In honor of Father's Day, we're running a series on personal care just for men. We kick it off with this post on clean and "green" shaving, by Katie Kelleher and Diane MacEachern.

We love a guy who takes care of his face. Though beards are more "natural," you can still "go green" if you shave. Here's how:

Green and Clean Mom is Sexy, Sassy and Fun!

2009-06-05T11:01:38-05:00

This month's Big Green Purse Ad Buddy is Sommer Poquette, founder ofGreenandCleanMom.org, a wonderful site whose motto is "How being 'green' can be sexy, sassy and fun!"

I met Sommer when we both became co-founders of the Green Moms Carnival.She's become a great source of information on many green issues that relate to kids - and if you're looking for a bargain, chances are, she's got one via the many great contests she promotes on her site.

Recently, I interviewed Sommer to find out what motivates her to be so green. Here's what she had to say:

Why are you writing this blog or spear-heading your site instead of, oh I don't know, learning how to play the piano?

I started Green and Clean Mom as a way to reach other moms like myself. Two years ago, in my small town, when I started talking BPA, non-toxic cleaners and organic food I had a third eye. I wanted to feel encouraged, motivated and inspired and give back to others. Green and Clean Mom really is like learning how to play the piano or sing – it takes time, practice, self reflection, an audience and self motivation.

What makes your site different from the thousands of other blogs/sites out there?

When I started Green and Clean Mom I really wasn’t trying to be different or set myself apart from other bloggers. As my site grew and then turned into a business I’ve had to learn some marketing technique, social media strategy and be competitive but I don’t really like to say my voice is “better” than any other blogger out there. The site as a whole offers a lot of variety, product reviews, giveaways, perspectives and unique content as well as a very large community of moms. Again, I really hope to encourage and support rather than judge at Green and Clean Mom. The idea of being some shade of green really applies at Green and Clean Mom.

Who are you trying to reach, and why?

Green and Clean Mom seems to focus on moms but the audience is vast and varied. Anyone going green can read the site and gain something. Parents, grandparents, teachers and companies are my main focus.

What has been your favorite blogpost?

A favorite post – out of over 500 hundred that would be pretty hard to pick – like a paragraph out of a novel! This question has made me really think and scroll through my posts and out of all the posts I’ve enjoyed mostly writing about those that will help my audience and those that are a reflection of who I am, as a person. Here are two I particularly like:

http://greenandcleanmom.org/feeding-your-family-organic-without-going-broke/

http://greenandcleanmom.org/to-my-son-confessions-apologies-many-eco-friendly-wishes

What do you hate writing about but you do it anyway?

I wouldn’t say I hate writing about anything but I’d rather not be pressured or under a deadline because the fun can be sucked right out of blogging when something has to get written. I like doing product reviews but they’re getting more difficult and it’s amazing to me how PR companies are really pushing bloggers. I hate getting emails from a PR company asking me to do a million things for a review, needing stats, comment numbers, asking if I posted, sending me reminders and just asking for lots but giving me nothing. This bothers me the most.

What is the one green action you've taken that has turned out to be much easier than you thought it would be?

Ditching paper towels has been a breeze but something I hesitated doing. I thought it would be hard because we were so dependent on them. Once we started using the Skoy Cloth and old rags and wash clothes, it has been easy. A big money saver as well!

What do you never want to do again?

Truthfully I can’t think of anything I’d never do again. Everything I’ve tried has been worthwhile and educational.

Where do you want to make the biggest difference?

I’d really like to help ordinary moms realize that if they start to switch out one cleaning product to a safer alternative it is healthier for their family and children. Starting in your home environment impacts the bigger environment but it can feel more possible than thinking about global warming, for example.

As my son gets ready to enter Kindergarten, I hope to have an impact on Michigan’s public school system and the traditional childcare and preschool classrooms that are using bleach, toys that are made of PVC and sippy cups and dishware that are made of BPA. This really concerns me that schools are where are children spend so much time but they’re sprayed with pesticides, have toxic cleaners and many lunch programs are far from organic or healthy.

What advice do you have for anyone who wants to go green?

Start somewhere. It is not a race or competition and if you’re open minded to doing something it usually become contagious and you want to learn more and do more. I always advise people to not go off the deep end and do so much so soon that they drive themselves and their families nuts (I did this). I find people quit and give up on their effort when this happens.

Thanks, Sommer!

INTERESTED IN BECOMING OUR NEXT FREE AD BUDDY? contact melissa@biggreenpurse.com

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ZipCar to the Rescue (and Saves Me a Lot of Money)!

2009-06-04T12:45:47-05:00

ZipCar Comes to the Rescue (and Saves Me a Lot of Money)!

My 2002 Prius can't be beat for everyday driving. I regularly get 40-45 mpg, saving me hundreds of dollars every year on gas. It's got a lot of pep, so highway driving is a snap. And its terrific turning radius and compact size make it a dream to park, whether at the mall or on a city street.

But given its compact size (it seats four comfortably, five only if the person in the middle back seat has short legs), it's not the vehicle you'd willingly use to pick up your daughter -- and all her stuff -- from college, the challenge I faced recently.

Fortunately, I'm a member ofZipCar, the car company that lets you rent vehicles by the hour or the day. ZipCar, whose motto is"Wheels When You Want Them," is gaining in popularity because it makes using a car so cheap compared to owning one. According to the company's calculations, owning a car like a Ford Fusion can cost you almost $800 a month, once you figure in parking, insurance, vehicle registration, gas, maintenance, new tires, and other related expenses. Even if you drive a lot (though not every single day), you could be paying as little as $322 a month using a Zip Car. You can join for $50 a year

Using my zippy membership, I was able to rent a Honda Element for the 7 hours I needed to retrieve my daughter from school. I simply reserved my car a day in advance, walked two blocks in my neighborhood, and found the car clean and ready to go. I swiped my membership card over a scanner embedded into the windshield. The car doors unlocked, and I found the key in the ignition. Off I went, easy as pie, for a little more than $11/hr.

I chose the Honda Element over a wide range of other options because it offered the most room for the greatest amount of gas mileage. I drove 242 miles on about a tank of gas, for an average fuel economy of around 22 mpg - not quite as good as the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV (which wasn't an option, either at ZipCar or at any of the conventional car rental companies I checked), but better than most conventional SUVs. I filled the gas tank up using the gas card in the glove compartment, so it didn't cost me anything.

Interested? If you live here or go to school here, you can rent a ZipCar. If your city's not on the list, send the company an e-mail and let them know you'd like to Zip. They're opening new locations all the time - maybe you can get them to consider your neighborhood. You can also search "car share" on the Internet to see similar options other companies may be offering in your community.

Thumbs up, ZipCar!

By the way, don't miss these Big Green Purse tips on saving gas and choosing fuel-efficient vehicles.

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Seeds of Change earns Two Green Purses

2009-05-29T07:10:13-05:00

Seeds of Change Chocolate - Seeds of Change built its reputation by preserving heirloom and traditional seed varieties. The company also produces certified organic foods "inspired by cultures and flavors from around the globe." Now they've turned their talents to chocolate. That's a very smart move in my humble opinion, given the environmental impact producing chocolate has -- as well as the fact that, in my household, chocolate is considered its own food group.

The Product: Seeds of Change certified organic chocolate comes in six flavors: organic milk chocolate; organic milk chocolate with puffed grains (like a crisp); organic dark chocolate; organic dark chocolate with cherries and vanilla; organic dark chocolate with coconut; and organic dark chocolate with mango & cashew.

What I like: The plain dark chocolate, with 61% cacao, is scrumptious - a great melt-in-your-mouth texture and full bodied flavor that lasts a long time. The milk chocolate is rich, smooth and creamy.

What could improve? I wasn't as wild about the bars that had cherries or mangos in them - the fruit pieces are so tiny, they felt gritty between my teeth. Plus, the bits are too small to impart much flavor; I never could taste the mango or cherry, though the coconut flavor comes through just fine. Overall I would have preferred larger pieces of fruit that seemed intentional, rather than an afterthought - think Cadbury's Fruit and Nut bars, where you can taste everything individually, but the flavors then meld into total deliciousness (however, Cadbury's bars aren't organic, a definite negative).

What about the packaging? The bars seem overpackaged, given the product. Three individually wrapped 28-gram bars are encased in a cardboard envelope. The company says that the individual bars are "perfect for portion control, freshness and portability." Maybe - but honestly, if I'm in the mood to devour an entire chocolate bar, three individually wrapped packets won't stop me. The extra cardboard container is recyclable - but is it necessary at all?

Corporate responsibility: Seeds of Change donates 1% of net sales to promote sustainable organic farming initiatives worldwide.

Price comparison: A 12-pack order online will cost a little more than $3.00 bar, plus shipping and handling. In store, this product is competitively priced with other organic bars.

Product comparison: You can compare Seeds of Change to Alter Eco,as well as Dagoba, Divine, Theo's, and Equal Exchange.

How you can win a free 365-day supply of chocolate: Submit photos, stories or a video no longer than 3 minutes to SeedsofChangeChocolate.com describing what you've done to help the Earth. Sadly, eating chocolate doesn't count!

How many purses? Two. This chocolate tastes great, is certified organic, and fuels donations to charities that support sustainable agriculture. I'd like to be able to taste the fruit and nuts in the variety bars. I also encourage Seeds of Change to reduce its packaging.

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Don't Buy Plants. Swap! (I did, and saved $50.)

2009-05-22T09:34:38-05:00

One of the most economical gardening moves I ever made was to join my local horticulture club.

For just $12 a year, I get access to great gardening advice, some lovely garden tours, and a list-serv of other gardeners who are not only willing but eager to swap plants with me so we can all save some money.

I put that list-serv to good use this past weekend. After a harsh, dry winter, my yard needed a face lift. The sunny spot in front was completely overgrown with weeds. The mostly shady back yard had been overtaken by senecio daisies and creeping astilbe, let alone all manner of weeks. I wanted to restore the front with native plants that would thrive in hot afternoon sun, and add variety to the shade plants out back.

A quick trip to the nursery made me realize that my ideas would cost me some serious cash - at least $50 just for the plants in front, even without adding an accent bush or two.

I bought a few tall zinnias to add some immediate color, but headed home to see if I could "shop" for free on the club list serv. I put out a call for plants like rudbeckia, also known as black eyed susans, and native grasses. I described my growing conditions so folks could look at what they were cultivating under similar conditions and give me some transplants. I offered to share my plants with whomever dropped by.

Bingo! Within half an hour of offering to exchange some of my astilbe, daisies, and a few other wildly growing specimens (like hellebores and native phlox), the responses came pouring in. My fellow gardeners would be delighted to swap with me!

I spent an hour digging up the plants I could trade, potting them in old planting containers I save for just this purpose. Then I puttered around in the garden and waited for the "booty" to arrive. Throughout the morning, people stopped by with a motherlode of perennials. I hauled in celandine poppies, three varieties of rudbeckia, a native columbine, goldenrod, mondo grass, echinacea (purple cone flower), and more.

At this point, I've saved even more than $50 by exchanging plants rather than buying them.

But as much as I love the bargain, I think I got more pleasure from the gardeners who dropped by with their own plants in tow. It was great fun to walk around, shovel and spade in hand, digging up plants I'd cultivated so my friends could enjoy them in their yard, and planting what they'd carefully dug up for me.

I'll be savoring that camaraderie all summer long.

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The Dishwasher "Test Drive"

2009-05-18T09:48:13-05:00

How do you "test drive" a dishwasher?

I''m about to find out. Sometime later this month, Frigidaire is going to deliver one of its new energy-saving models to my home so I - and my dishes - can give it a whirl.

Over the next few months, I'll be blogging about the Frigidaire Gallery Built-In Dishwasher(model number FGHD2433KF) as I compare it to my ten-year-old Maytag. I'll be looking at factors like energy efficiency, water conservation, noise, capacity, time savings, ease of maintenance, and any other issues that come up.

The Frigidaire dishwasher is supposed to use a lot less water and energy to wash a lot more dishes. I'll let you know how it performs. I'd also like to hear about the dishwasher you have - especially if you're buying a new one and are doing price and performance comparisons.

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Are YOUR hands CLEAN?

2009-05-12T14:09:36-05:00

What's the best way to keep your hands clean?

Note: I said "clean," not "disinfected."

What's the diff? The mechanical action of handwashing - rubbing your hands together with soap and water - is what's important because that's what breaks down the tiny bits of grease, fat and dirt on your hands that germs cling to. Soap doesn't actually kill the bad germs. It's the combination of soap, rubbing, rinsing and drying that helps these bugs slide off your hands.

"Disinfected" implies you're going to try to kill germs outright to try to stay safe - a losing proposition since there are so many germs in so many places, you'll never be able to win out.

Besides, "Germs are essential for human life. Bacteria in our mouths and intestines help us to digest the food we eat and bacteria on our skin protect us from invading viruses and bad bacteria," explains Dr. Edith Blondel-Hill, and an infectious diseases specialist at British Columbia Children's Hospital.

What about bacteria and viruses, like the one that is causing swine flu? It turns out that bacteria and viruses are examples of two different types of germs. Bacteria exist virtually everywhere in our environment and make up 60 per cent of the living matter on earth. Of the billions of types of bacteria, only about 50 are known to cause infection.

Viruses cause far more illnesses than bad bacteria because they spread more easily. If more than one person in your family has the same sickness, says the Health Agency, odds are it is a viral infection.

Especially in response to concerns like the swine flu epidemic, consumers have a tendency to rush to buy antibacterial soaps and cleaning products. Yet there is no medical research to prove that antibacterial soaps offer any benefit over regular soaps in preventing common illnesses. In fact, many doctors worry that the widespread use of antibacterials is causing antibiotic resistance. In other words, the more antibacterial products you use, the more susceptible to disease you may become.

Plus, antibacterials like triclosan are believed to be causing deformities in frogs and other wildlife, since they get washed down the drain and out into rivers, lakes and streams where they impact the animals living there.

In a March 2004 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers studied 238 households in New York City. Half were given regular hand soap and cleaners and half were given antibacterial soaps and cleaning products. At the end of 48 weeks, there was essentially no difference between the two groups in reported infectious disease symptoms, including runny nose, cough, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea.

Make no mistake: if you want to stay healthy, you must wash your hands. Just skip the "disinfecting" products. Here are the Health Agency of Canada's recommendations for effective washing.

1) Remove all rings and wet your hands with warm running water.

2) Put a small amount of liquid soap in the palm of one hand. Bar soaps are not as hygienic as liquid soaps because they stay moist and attract germs. If a bar soap is the only option it should be stored on a rack so that the bar doesn't sit in water.

3) Rub your hands together for 20 seconds so you produce lather. Make sure you scrub between your fingers, under your fingernails and the backs of your hands.

4) Rinse your hands well with clean running water for at least 10 seconds. Try not to handle the faucets once your hands are clean. Use a clean towel to turn off the water.

5) Dry your hands with a clean towel. During cold and flu season you may want to give each family member his or her own hand towel.

6) Use hand lotion to put moisture back into your skin if your hands are dry.

7) Model good handwashing technique to your children. Have them sing a song like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" while rubbing their hands together to teach them the amount of time it takes to clean their hands properly.

8) Wash your hands regularly.

9) Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth if you haven't washed them recently.

10) At work, when shopping or in transit, use alcohol-based wipes rather than antibacterial wipes if you don't have access to water. But use sparingly, since alcohol kills good and nad germs.

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