Entries from July 2007
Potter fans rejoice! The seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling’s series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will release in just two days — on Saturday, July 21.
The 784-page book had an initial print of 12 million copies! That is a LOT of paper. In an attempt to appease environmentalists, Scholastic has agreed to go green with Deathly Hallows. A special release of the book will be made with 100% post consumer waste fiber, the rest will be no less than 30% PCW fiber.
Impressive. But publishers in Canada and Europe have been printing on 100% PCW fiber. If you’re going to read Deathly Hallows, purchase a copy printed on 100% recycled paper, check it out from the library, or borrow it from a friend.
Categories: in the news
Ever wonder where old sneakers go to die? Wonder no more! Nike has a program called Reuse-a-Shoe that takes non-metal athletic shoes (of any brand, not just Nike) and recycles them into soft-surface playground and sports field material. Old and manufacture-defective shoes are separated and ground up into three distinct types of material — each of which is used in a different way to make new sports surfaces, like soccer and football fields, basketball and tennis courts, tracks and playground surfacing. Nike has donated over 150 sports surfaces since the program began in 1993.
Go to Nikebiz.com to locate a drop-off site near you. If there aren’t any in your area, mail them to:
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
I’m off to dig out some old sneakers from my closet…
Categories: recycle · reuse
…that we use more water in the bathroom than any other room in the home?
To help conserve water, install a low-flow shower head. And don’t forget to turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth!
Categories: green tips
I picked up this cute “Spring Cleaning Kit” from Mrs. Meyer’s at World Market yesterday. The kit contains a countertop spray, all-purpose cleaner, window spray and dish soap in a delightful honeysuckle scent. The fresh summery scent made cleaning a bit more enjoyable today.
Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free. And, they don’t test on animals.
Honeysuckle Spring Cleaning Kit, $14.99 at worldmarket.com
Categories: cleaning · green products
This white tea and ginger soy candle from Green With Glamour looks (and probably smells) delightful.
Why choose a soy candle? Soy candles last 50 percent longer, and burn cooler than traditional paraffin candles. Unlike paraffin wax — which is petroleum-based — soy wax is natural, non-toxic, and does not release CO2 when burned. Bonus: Soy candle spills are easy to clean — just use soap and water!
Soy candle, $23 at greenwithglamour.com
Categories: green products
Your refrigerator/freezer is one of the biggest energy users in your kitchen, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And the emptier your fridge or freezer is, the harder it has to work to keep everything inside cold. A full freezer operates much more efficiently than an empty one (and will stay colder longer in the event of a power outage). If you can’t keep your freezer full, you can fill containers (finally! a use for plastic milk jugs) with water — don’t forget to leave room at the top for expansion.
Categories: green tips
…that our skin absorbs up to 64 percent of what we put on it?
So, why not use products that are organic, natural and toxin-free? Juice Beauty products contain 95 percent certified organic ingredients, and use no pesticides, petroleum derivatives, artificial colors and dyes, or synthetic fragrances. Eco-friendly — and the packaging is gorgeous! The site also has a “product solution wizard” to help choose what products are best for your skin. What’s not to love
Categories: beauty · green products
My brother became a vegetarian a few years ago. I thought he was crazy at first, and didn’t think he would last long. Two years, later, I stand corrected. As someone who eats meat practically every day (trying to cut back!), I didn’t realize how many meal options there were for vegetarians.
Veggiemealplans.com offers great cooking ideas for vegetarian cuisine. The site offers daily meal plans (with some great recipes – and pictures!) and a weekly grocery list to prepare those meals. I forwarded the link to my brother, but there are a few recipes that I want to try too!
Categories: food
When it’s time to replace your old kitchen cutting board, look for boards made from renewable resources (plastic is petroleum-derived) such as bamboo. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass, not a tree so it is sustainable and a great alternative to hardwoods, which take decades to mature.
Chef’s Resource, Sur La Table, and Crate and Barrel have some nice options.
Bamboo cutting board, $26.95 at Sur La Table
Categories: cooking · green products
Gas prices are up and so are greenhouse gas emissions. Are you driving as efficiently as you can?
- Replace clogged air filters, inflate tires to the correct pressure, and change your oil regularly. Keeping up with regular maintenance will improve your car’s fuel efficiency by 15%.
- Avoid short trips. A cold engine doubles fuel consumption.
- Fill your tank during the cooler morning or evening hours. Gasoline evaporates as it moves from the fuel pump to your car, and evaporation rates are worst during the hottest part of the day. You’ll also get more bang for your buck — gas expands when it is warm, so you’ll get more fuel by filling up when it is cooler outside.
- Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your car. Every 100 pounds of added weight reduces your MPG by 2 percent.
- Avoid harsh acceleration and heavy braking. Driving like this uses 60 percent more fuel.
- Restarting your engine uses less energy than 10 seconds of idling, so switch off your car!
Categories: green tips
