We Go Eco

Valentine's Day 2010: Green Gift Guide

Why not go green with your Valentine's Day gifts this year? To help you out, I've created the Valentine's Day Green Gift Guide list of recommendations below. Trust me, I went through A LOT of potential items before settling on what I believe to be the very best, unique and creative gift ideas for Valentine's Day. In case you were wondering, I personally research and select every product that I recommend. Rest assured that I only recommend companies, products and services that I personally use, have used, or know to be truly eco-friendly. So, check out these great Valentine's Day gift ideas for her, him, and others:

For Her...

• Frangipani Body Products Gift Set (she will LOVE these products! Use promotional code wegoeco10 at checkout to receive a 10% discount on your purchases through February 28, 2010)
• Recycled Cork Cuff Bracelet (unique and very hip!)
• Recycled Sterling Silver Hand-Stamped Necklace(your choice of Live, Love, Peace, Dare, Amore, or Vivre)
• Cashmere Patch Scarf made from reclaimed cashmere (hand-sewn)
• Eco Flowers from Organic Bouquet (great selection of flowers and other goodies!) 

 

For Him...

• One-of-a-kind Dopp Kit Bag made from Recycled Billboards
• Handmade "Retread" wallet made from reclaimed inner tubes (for the funky fellow)
• Green Guru Vulcar Messenger Bag made from reclaimed truck and tractor inner tubes
• Recycled License Plates Belt Buckle (handmade and one-of-a-kind!)
• Eco-friendly SoyLux Robe for lounging around the house

For Others...

• For the writer: Journal made from a Vintage Record Sleeve
• For the business professional with an edge: Recycled Circuit Board Business Card Case
• For the person interested in alternative wellness: Solay Wellness Polish Salt Crystal Lamp (glows beautifully and generates healthy ions to cleanse the air in your home!)
• For the exercise enthusiast: Eco Exercise Ball (Latex Free)
• For the yoga lover: Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat
• For the person who likes to entertain: Hand-Shaped Bamboo Serving Tray (made from organic bamboo - very durable)

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Material Connection Disclosure: You should assume that We Go Eco, LLC has an affiliate relationship with the providers of goods and services mentioned in this post and may receive compensation from these companies when you make a purchase from them. You should also know that I go to great lengths to personally research and select every product that I recommend. Rest assured that I only recommend companies, products and services that I personally use, have used, or know to be truly eco-friendly.

Drinking Water Quality Report - VERY Disturbing

I just read the latest "Drinking Water Quality Report" provided by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and am really disturbed by the findings for the city where I live (Indianapolis). Here is a high-level summary of the findings:

• 25 chemical pollutants (US National Avg. = 8)
• 11 contaminants above health guidelines (US National Avg. = 4)
• 2 contaminants above the legal limit (i.e., above health standards) (US National Avg. = 0.5)

Want to See the Drinking Water Quality Report for YOUR CITY?

Just look on the left-hand side of this blog for the box that is titled "What's in Your Water?" Simply enter your zip code (you can leave the "Your Water Company"' field blank) and click Search. A new window will open where you will be asked to select the name of your water company from a list of water suppliers in your area. Then, your report will be displayed. There is no charge for this report; it is funded by a non-profit organization (Environmental Working Group).

What Can I Do to Improve the Quality of My Drinking Water?

Well, if you are concerned about the results of the Drinking Water Quality Report for your area, there are several things you can do:

• The most immediate thing you can do is purchase a water filtration system for your drinking water. I am currently researching this now and will post more information about the types of systems that are available and the pros and cons of each. MORE INFO COMING SOON!
• You can write to the agency who submitted the report (the agency should be identified in the paragraph at the top of the report) and ask them what plans are in place to make improvements to the quality of your water.
• You can write to your water supplier and express your dissatisfaction with the quality of water they are providing. Also, ask them what they are doing to make improvements.

 

Interview: Founder of Frangipani Body Products, Tracy Land

 

I recently sat down with Tracy Land, the founder of Frangipani Body Products, to learn more about her company, her body care products, and natural, chemical-free skincare. She had some really great information to share that I think everyone will find helpful. Also, a particularly interesting part of the interview is when I try some of her products live during the interview...you'll get to hear my personal reactions, thoughts and opinions as I try each of them. 

To listen to the interview, simply place your cursor over the gray boxes below to see the play and pause buttons. Click on the play button and enjoy! Please note that the entire interview is posted in two parts below.

Part 1 of 2: (13 minutes) Introduction, the History of Frangipani, and Skincare Ingredients to Avoid

Frangipani Interview Part 1

Part 2 of 2: (17 minutes) The Frangipani Line of Skincare Products, How to Find Frangipani, and a SPECIAL Frangipani Offer for subscribers of the We Go Eco e-newsletter

Frangipani Interview Part 2

You can find Frangipani Body Products on-line at http://www.FrangipaniBodyProducts.com. While you're there, be sure to subscribe to Tracy's free newsletter!

Let me know what you think of the interview by posting your comments below. If you have any specific questions, please post those, as well. I would be happy to forward them to Tracy and then post her responses.

BPA-free Baby Bottles - EVERY Parent Should Know About This!

Recently, I posted a blog entry about the dangers of BPA in plastics. Among other things, I suggested that parents should use glass baby bottles instead of plastic ones...but, glass bottles are difficult to find. Well, after some digging, I not only found glass baby bottles, but also BPA-free plastic baby bottles. You can check them out at the following links:

• Green Nest for Glass Baby Bottles and BPA-free Plastic Baby Bottles.
• Nubius for BPA-free Plastic Baby Bottles.

This is a really important topic...every parent should know about the dangers of BPA and, more importantly, the alternatives that are available!

UPDATE: Wow! I never thought I would see this happen. The FDA has admitted, for the first time, that they have concerns about the safety of products containing BPA! You can read the entire article, originally posted on the Whole Foods blog by clicking here.

If you would like to forward this blog entry to someone, here's how you do it: click the "Permalink" link below this post. This will open a new window that is specific to THIS post only. Copy the URL from the new window and paste it in an email to send out.

 

Material Connection Disclosure: You should assume that We Go Eco, LLC has an affiliate relationship with the providers of goods and services mentioned in this post and may receive compensation from these companies when you make a purchase from them. You should also know that I go to great lengths to personally research and select every product that I recommend. Rest assured that I only recommend companies, products and services that I personally use, have used, or know to be truly eco-friendly.

Water Bottles - BPA-free Options!

Yesterday, I posted an entry about the dangers of BPA in many of the plastics we use for food and beverage storage (click HERE to read this entry). I went through most of my plastic food and beverage containers a long time ago and weeded out the ones that were potentially toxic. But, this morning, as I was drinking a big glass of water, it occurred to me that I had overlooked the one piece of plastic that I use on a daily basis...the water pitcher!

As I mentioned in the previous entry about BPA, glass is always a safe option instead of plastic. However, glass isn't very practical for activities such as biking, hiking, working out at the gym, picnics, etc. As it turns out, stainless steel is another great option for food and beverage storage since it's an inert material (plus, it doesn't shatter the way glass does). So, I started looking online to find out which companies produce stainless steel water containers. After checking the usual online retailers and being disappointed with their limited choices, I stumbled upon Nubius Organics, a site that has the widest selection of stainless steel and BPA-free water bottles I have seen (they also have a lot of other really great eco-friendly items for baby, the kitchen, bath and body, etc.).

Check them out...I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

UPDATE: If you are looking for more information on BPA-free baby bottles, you'll definitely want to read my recent blog entry about it by clicking HERE.

 

Material Connection Disclosure: You should assume that We Go Eco, LLC has an affiliate relationship with the providers of goods and services mentioned in this post and may receive compensation from these companies when you make a purchase from them. You should also know that I go to great lengths to personally research and select every product that I recommend. Rest assured that I only recommend companies, products and services that I personally use, have used, or know to be truly eco-friendly.

BPA - What It Is and How You Can STOP Your Exposure to It!

If you are not aware of BPA and the dangers that it poses to human health, you need to read this post! Because, guess what...you ARE exposed to BPA (probably on a daily basis). Keep reading to find out what it is and what you can do now to reduce your exposure to this toxic chemical.

What is BPA?  BPA is an abbreviation for Bisphenol-A, an industrial chemical that is a component of several types of plastics and plastic additives.

Why are people talking about BPA? Is it dangerous?  BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical known to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. A recent study at The University of North Carolina found a link between BPA and aggressive behavior in toddlers. The truly scary part: the CDC estimates that BPA has made it's way through 92% of the US population.

How are people exposed to BPA?  People are exposed to BPA primarily through plastic food and drink containers, plastic utensils, and even baby bottles and sippy cups. In December 2009, Consumer Reports examined 19 name-brand canned foods, including organic, non-organic, and BPA-free products. This study found that nearly all of the products contained BPA, even the BPA-free products. The issue is not necessarily with the food, but with the lining of the can itself.

What can I do to reduce my exposure to BPA?  Several things...

1. Use glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers instead of plastic whenever possible. Click HERE to read about stainless steel water bottle options.
2. Use glass baby bottles (if you can find them). Click HERE to read about some baby bottle options.
3. Avoid eating canned foods as much as possible.
4. Know your plastics! Check the bottoms of your plastics and look for the triangular recycling symbol with a number in the middle; older plastics may contain only a number without the triangular recycling symbol. This number is the key to knowing if your plastics contain BPA. Plastics with the number 2, 4 or 5 should be BPA-free as they are made with polyethylene or polypropylene.
5. When you do purchase plastics, look for "BPA-free" on the label.
6. Discard plastics with the number 1, 3, 6 or 7 as well as plastics that do not have a number on them at all.
7. Discard old plastics that are scratched, worn, cracked or hazy.

Please leave your comments or questions about this post below.

UPDATE: Wow! I never thought I would see this happen. The FDA has admitted, for the first time, that they have concerns about the safety of products containing BPA! You can read the entire article, originally posted on the Whole Foods blog by clicking here.

 

Material Connection Disclosure: You should assume that We Go Eco, LLC has an affiliate relationship with the providers of goods and services mentioned in this post and may receive compensation from these companies when you make a purchase from them. You should also know that I go to great lengths to personally research and select every product that I recommend. Rest assured that I only recommend companies, products and services that I personally use, have used, or know to be truly eco-friendly.

6 Quick Ways to Reduce Your Home Energy Consumption

Here are 6 quick and easy ways to reduce the amount of energy that you consume at home. Not only will these tips reduce your home energy consumption (and, thus, reduce your energy bill), but they are all no cost or low cost, and do not require any special skills to complete!

1. Use Ceiling Fans Year-Round - During cold months, set ceiling fan rotation to clockwise to circulate warmer air near ceiling back into the living space. This will cut heating costs by as much as 10%!

2. Adjust Your Furnace Temperature- Turn down the furnace temperature when you are not at home. It is estimated that most households spend 50 to 70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling, so why waste the energy when no one is home? If you tend to forget about adjusting the temperature when you leave, purchase a programmable thermostat from your local hardware store.

3. Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature - Many conventional water heaters are set to 140 degrees F by installers, but most households don't need water that hot. A friend of mine has a rule of thumb: if the water is too hot for your hands, it needs to be turned down (otherwise, you have to cool it down by turning on the cold water). Setting the water heater temperature to 120 degrees F (or lower) would reduce your water heating costs by an estimated 6% to 10%.

4. Wear Warmer Clothes - Dress warmer for winter, even inside. Roughly speaking, a light long-sleeved sweater is worth about 2 degrees in added warmth, while a heavy sweater adds about 4 degrees.

5. Seal the Leaks - According to the U.S. Department of Energy, simple leaks can reduce home energy efficiency by an estimated 5% to 30% a year. That means it pays to seal up gaps with caulking and weatherstripping. Pay special attention to places where two different building materials meet, such as corners, around chimneys, where pipes or wires exit and along the foundation.

6. Insulate Your Pipes - Did you know that insulating your pipes can reduce the amount of energy that your water heater uses? Insulation also helps to decrease the chance of pipes freezing, which can be disastrous. If your pipes are warm to the touchthey are good candidates for insulation. Preformed tubes of insulation can be purchased from a local hardware store and easily installed. And, if your water heater is warm to the touch, installing an insulation blanket around it will also help to save energy (and reduce your energy costs.

How Toxic are Your Skincare Products? You Might be SHOCKED!

Soaps, shampoos, lotions, deodorant, perfumes, makeup...we all use skincare products on a daily basis. But, have you ever read the ingredient label on your shampoo...or the lotion you lather onto your body after you get out of the shower? If you have read the ingredient label, do you know what all of the ingredients are? Do you know that they are all safe? You might be shocked to find out that many conventional skincare products contain ingredients that are very unhealthy and, in some cases, toxic (as demonstrated in laboratory studies).

You may be thinking, "how dangerous can my moisturizer really be? After all, I'm just putting it on the outside of my body." The skin is the largest of the human organs...and everything that we put onto our skin gets absorbed into the body. If you are like most people, you are probably thinking that the companies that manufacture skincare products only use products that have been proven to be safe. Think again!

Fortunately, there is a free, online database (Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database) where you can research the skincare products that you use to find out exacly how hazardous to your health they really are. Do yourself a favor and check out this website: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. There are thousands of products listed. You can search by product name or you can choose to look through the list of products by category (such as hair care, makeup, oral care, fragrance, etc.). To make things easy, this website has an easy-to-use scoring system that shows you how hazardous (or not) each product really is. And, they also provide specific information about what types of dangers (i.e., cancer, developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, etc.) are associated with the ingredients in each product.

The good news is that there are some really great products on the market that are not hazardous to your health...you just have to do a little searching to find them.

After you've checked out your own products on the Skin Deep website, post your findings and comments here. Have you found some really good, healthy products? If so, be sure to post a comment so that other readers can learn about them.

Why I Started Living Green

When I was a teenager, my parents took me to the dermatologist to be treated for the typical bad complexion that most teenagers experience. My skin wasn't horrible...it was typical for a teenager. Over the years, my dermatologist regularly changed my treatment regimen. New creams, ointments and various pills were the regular routine.

By the time I went to college, my skin was fairly clear and under control and my regular visits to the dermatologist were halted. However, shortly after college, I started having "reactions" to common items like sunscreen, shaving cream, aftershave, etc. These reactions ranged from mild redness and flakiness, to severe swelling and blisters. In time, I could tell within about 60 seconds of putting something on my face if I was going to have a reaction to it. More times than not, I did have some type of allergic reaction.

So, after endlessly searching for products that I could use, I finally decided that a visit to a NEW dermatologist was in order. By this time, I was living in Indianapolis, so I found a new dermatologist and scheduled an appointment. I explained my history and she suggested that I do a "patch test" to find out exactly what caused these allergic reactions. Her reaction to the patch test is forever etched in my memory..."Oh my! I have NEVER seen anyone with as many allergic reactions as you!" I have a 2-page list of all the items I'm allergic to...preservatives, fragrances, alcohols, etc. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to suggest any products I could use that did not have these ingredients (there were very few options at that time).

And, so it began...my search for skin care products that I could use without having any allergic reactions. Now, you might be thinking, "well, just don't use anything...avoid lotions, shaving creams, sunscreens, etc." That would be a great idea, except for the fact that the years of using the prescription ointments and salves left my skin extremely dry and flaky. Even to this day, if I don't use some type of moisturizer on my face, it becomes itchy, blotchy and flaky very quickly. So, I started researching products and ingredients in products.

Through all of my research, I started to piece my skin problems together. The years of exposing my skin to the harsh skin care regimens recommended by my first dermatologist left me with an extreme skin sensitivity. This realization was the very beginning for me of really thinking about the chemicals that we are all exposed to every day...most of which, we don't even give a second thought. So, for me, living green really stems from a personal experience...my personal experiences have taught me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the thousands of chemicals we are exposed to every day are not good for us, nor for the environment. And, when you really start to think about all of the ways we are exposed to toxic chemicals (soaps, shampoos, household cleaners, laundry detergents, pollution, plastics, additives in food, pesticides, herbacides, etc.), it becomes clear why living green is so important for our health, the well-being of our families, and the sustainability of our planet.

My journey to figuring out how to deal with my skin problems opened my eyes to the fact that this "problem" is really much bigger than skin. It's really much more pervasive than that. In reality, this problem touches on every aspect of life...what we eat, how we travel, how we care for our home...how we live our life! It all comes down to choices...but, you have to know what the options are before you can make a choice that is right for you. I believe that most people want to make healthier choices that are good for them and for the environment. There is a great need to help people understand the options that are available to them...and this is why I created We Go Eco.

Do you have a personal experience that has helped you understand the importance of living a greener life? Or, would you like to leave a coment that might inspire and encourage others? If so, please leave a comment on this post. I'd really love to hear about your experiences!

Green Travel Tip - Hotel Soaps and Shampoos

Here are a couple of ways to make staying in a hotel a little more eco-friendly. Take your own eco-friendly soap with you instead of using the soap provided by the hotel. You'll have your own favorite soap to use which is likely a higher quality product than what the hotel provides. If you forget to bring your own and must use the hotel soap, take the partially used bar of soap with you when you check-out. If you leave it in the room, it just gets thrown away. The small bars of partially-used soap can be donated to childcare centers (perfect size for little hands), art centers or homeless shelters.

Avoid using the small bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion that you find in almost every hotel. The amount of waste that goes into packaging such a small amount of shampoo is a huge strain on natural resources. I pack my own small bottle of shampoo and refill it when I'm home. Not only does this help to save valuable resources, but I get to use my own favorite products, as well!

Do you have any green travel tips that you would like to share?If so, I'd love to hear about them. Please leave a post on this blog with your own eco-friendly travel solutions!