One Green Voice

A Spectacular High Efficiency Washer Cleaner

Had to laugh the other day.  Saw a new (to me anyway) commercial for a Tide product supposedly specially engineered to clean high efficiency washing machines. Cool diagrams abounded as did the usual rhetoric about how anyone possessed of a HE washer simply cannot live without this product.  Hardly the case. We've been cleaning ours with vinegar since advised to do so years ago by a Sears repairman.  Costs a whopping several cents each month and doesn't pollute anything.   

My Just Junked Juicer

After reading not one but two recipes tempting me to make delectable fresh banana ice cream by simply juicing some frozen bananas, I decided to try it.  Realized I was probably in trouble when smoke began emanating from my faithful Breville juicer.  A quick call to Breville confirmed my suspicion.  The motor was fried.  The juicer was toast.  So to speak. 

Have just unpacked my new Jack Lalanne juicer.  I hear they are good.  Fingers crossed.

All future banana ice cream will be made in the Vita Mix.

 

Go Litterless for Lunch!

I heard a startling statistic on the radio yesterday. The typical child generates 67 pounds of lunchtime trash each year.  And that’s just the children.  Imagine the toll when you factor in all the adults who take their lunch!  

What better time, than this week, as we send them back to school, to make it a priority to delitterfy (c’mon, if Mike Meyers came up with this word it would be part of the lexicon by next week!) lunch.

Delitterfication is simply a matter of planning.  Any upfront investment in containers etc will more than pay for themselves over time via savings on plastic bags, wrap, napkins etc.  

Here are a list of props that should get your child through the day:  

Containers – Stainless steel are the best.  We like the ones with the clips that fasten the lid to the bottom.  If you can’t find these or prefer plastic, try to stick with plastic that has a ‘5’ in the triangle as it is considered food grade.   

Glass is also fantastic but I would not send it with a child.  If I was taking my lunch (I work at home) I would use Lock’n’lock glass or pyrex.  

Thermos – These are best for soups, stews and other hot meals. Again stainless, both inside and out, is best and quite readily available these days.  If filled with hot water and allowed to sit for a few minutes they are more successful at keeping food warm.  

Utensils – Stainless is best and can be found relatively inexpensively at the dollar stores. I believe we got four spoons for a dollar.  Our son has lost maybe 2 over the last couple of years but has also brought home a couple from camp so we're at about par.

Biodegradable knives, forks and spoons are also an option.  They are widely available and Costco and some of the dollar stores have them.  Same goes for cups.

Cloth napkins – I send old baby wash cloths, not identifiable as such, with our son – I didn’t know what to do with them but am now I’m patting myself on the back for hoarding them.  Any fabric cloth will also do although you probably want to avoid cloth that is sprayed with an anti-stain coating but that's another entry altogether.

Water bottles – Stainless is popular for good reason.  Best for water I understand.  If you want to use plastic, just make sure it is BPA free ie does not have the number ‘7’ in the triangle. 

Enjoy!  And feel free to let me know, if you are trying litterless for the first time, how it is working for you.

Consider a Home Energy Audit

If you are thinking about renovating your home, as many of us are thanks to the federal renovation tax credit, you may be interested in taking advantage of the Federal Government’s EcoEnergy Retrofit Program. 

This program provides up to $5,000 in grants to reimburse homeowners for installing a variety of energy efficient parts and systems in their homes. Most provincial governments and some regions and municipalities also offer grants which can, as in Ontario, double the size of the potential rebate.  Find out what is happening in your area.

Step one is to have an independent energy adviser complete an energy audit of your home. I’m told that the audit takes a couple of hours to complete but will know for sure after ours is done next month.  The adviser prepares a report listing your home’s energy leaks and providing  a prioritized list of suggestions for improving your home’s energy efficiency.      

Leaks include older models of gas furnaces, air conditioning units, windows, doors or hot water heaters. Water guzzling toilets and a lack of insulation are other possible sources of energy loss. The list of improvements and retrofits eligible for rebates is fairly extensive

The initial audit costs in the neighbourhood of $315-$325 including GST.  The Ontario Government reimburses 50% of the cost of the initial audit to a maximum of $150.  Please check to determine available reimbursements in your area.

Following completion of the first audit, you have up to 18 months to make some or all of the suggested improvements.  When the work is done, book your post retrofit audit to determine your home’s new level of energy efficiency and to document your entitlement to the various rebate amounts. 

I was quoted a range of $150-$160 for the post retrofit audit.  So even with the reimbursement for the first audit, we need to make improvements that will yield rebates of more than $335.  Not a tough job considering that, in Ontario, replacing two windows and one toilet and insulating headers result in rebates of $540.  Add a bigger ticket item such as a furnace, water heater, air conditioning unit or further insulation and, well, you get the idea.

Be forewarned - in most cases the rebate amounts will not pay for the upgrade. They do however provide a decent helping hand and you will continue to reap benefits in the form of lower bills, whether hydro, gas or water, in years to come. 

 

Loot Bags

I have long, albeit silently, taken issue with the loot bags given out at children's birthday parties.  I know that they are given with the best of intentions.  Unfortunately this doesn't change the fact that they are usually filled with plastic toys and candy that both our children and the environment can do nicely without.

Our solution has been to give each child a gift certificate for an ice cream cone.  The kids seem to enjoy this and neither the expense nor the carbon footprint seems out of line.  If you are Will and Jada you might want to spring for a somewhat more grand experience but, as always, do whatever works for you.   

This weekend, at our son's friend's birthday party, no loot bags will be given out.  The party invitation states that a bouncy castle will be provided in lieu of loot bags.  The kids will have a blast playing in the bouncy castle and my guess is that none will even ask about a loot bag.  If they do, it will be a great opportunity for a discussion about the environment.  Great idea, Tania and Alan!

Keep Your Reusable Grocery Bags and Boxes Clean

Confronted by a constant barrage of media and businesses helping people to avoid their products in favour of reusable products, the plastics industry is fighting back.  They commissioned studies which found that reusable grocery carriers - both bags and boxes - can harbour unfriendly bacteria. 
No need to panic.  Just make sure to clean your bags and boxes on a regular basis. For suggestions about how to care for your reusable bags/boxes please see the article below which was published by the CBC on Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

If you are looking for an organic alternative to cloth or recycled plastic, an option that is in fact 100% biodegradable, check out Organic Bagz.  These bags are attractive and strong and do indeed become food for your garden when you are finished with them.

Avoid contamination of reusable grocery bags, Health Canada advises

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 | 1:48 PM ET

CBC News

Canadians should wash their cloth grocery bags frequently, especially after carrying fresh produce or meat, Health Canada said Wednesday.

Reusable bags and bins help reduce the use of plastic, but it is important to prevent cross-contamination with bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses, the department said.

"Because these bags and plastic bins are reused frequently, they can pick up bacteria from the foods they carry, or from their environment (the ground, the back of your car or the items stored in them between grocery trips)," Health Canada said in a release.

Health Canada's tips to prevent cross-contamination include:

• When using cloth bags, make sure to wash them frequently, especially after carrying fresh produce, meat, poultry or fish.
• Reusable grocery bags may not all be machine washable. If they aren't, wash them frequently by hand, with hot soapy water. Plastic bins should also be washed regularly using hot soapy water.
• Put fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry and fish in separate bins or bags, away from fresh produce and other ready-to-eat foods.
• Putting fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry or fish in plastic bags will help prevent the juices from leaking out and contaminating your reusable containers and other foods. (The clear bags found in the produce and some meat sections work well for this.)
• Fresh produce should also always be put in plastic bags to protect it from contamination.
• If you are using your grocery bags or bins to store or transport non-food items, wash them thoroughly before using them for groceries.

Last month, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association commissioned a study of reusable bags that suggested nearly 30 per cent (seven of 25 bags tested) had bacterial counts higher than the amount considered safe for drinking water, and 64 per cent of used reusable bags (16 of 25) had some level of bacterial contamination.

About 11 million cases of food-related illnesses occur in Canada every year, according to Health Canada.

Try a Clothes Line!

We had a clothes line when I was a small child oh those many moons ago.  Now we have one again.  Just got it.  It's great.   

The benefits? 

Outside time while I hang the clothes;

Less use of the dryer which saves energy and lowers our hydro bill;

Avoids adding dryer heat to the house in the summer which means less stress on the air conditioning which saves energy and lowers our hydro bill; 

Getting to use the cool bamboo clothes pegs I found!

The downsides? 

Towels can come off the line a tad crunchy.  If this bothers you try taking the towels down just before they dry and fluff them in the dryer for a few minutes.  You will lose the crunchies and still save on dryer use.

  
You've gotta RUN if it starts to rain :)

Junk Mail Be Gone!

I don't know the actual statistics but junk mail accounts for a great deal of wasted paper.  Frustrated at routinely drumping half the contents of our mail box directly into the recycling bin, I finally asked our mail carrier if it was possible to not receive junk mail.  Offering a subtle correction of my terminology, the carrier informed me that all I had to do was put a signed note in our mail box stating that we do not wish to receive any 'unaddressed' mail.  Works like a charm.  Canada Post delivers all of our mail here in Canada so hopefully this strategy will work across the country.  Our friends in the US might want to check with their local postal station or carrier.  Good luck!

Is Bamboo Really The Wonder Fibre?

In a word, Yes. Although there is a catch.  But I digress. Again.

I worked on this entry yesterday and left it in draft form.  This morning I was inspired to rush home and finish it after seeing an impressive array of bamboo housewares during a quick visit to Superstore.

If you haven't experienced bamboo, it shant be long.  One of, if not the, fastest growing plants on earth (Wikopedia), bamboo is environmentally exciting because it grows quickly, safely and inexpensively without pesticides or fertilizers.  Bamboo is used in an astounding number of consumer goods from food, fishing rods and flooring to construction materials and even bicycles. Its pulp transforms into a lovely fabric that has been a bit of an organic cult favourite but is now going mainstream.  While it has always been popular for yoga garments, today bamboo is found in 'street' clothes, bed linens and towels.  Earlier this winter, at The Bay, I bought long underwear made of bamboo (with a little Lycra thrown in for stretch) by underwear giant, Jockey.  The long johns are luxuriously soft and very warm.

With so much to offer, its a small wonder that bamboo goods are appearing on store shelves almost as quickly as the plant grows. The flooring in particular is trendy.  It looks chic and can be even harder and thus more durable than even oak and maple hardwood.  The cutting boards, cutlery, bowls and containers I saw this morning were gorgeous - and very affordable. 

If Bamboo sounds a little too good to be true,  it isn't.  But there is a catch. 

Bamboo comes in paper thin sheets that are glued together to fashion the various products.  Hence  bamboo products are full of glue.  This is fine if the glue is non-toxic.  But in many cases the manufacturers have not taken that extra step and have used bamboo filled with conventional glue which is full of VOC's (volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde, all of which offgas nasty fumes into our air.

The same holds true for stains and finishes applied to bamboo flooring and other items.

If you are looking for bamboo flooring, panelling etc., look for seals that say the product is certified by the US Green Building Council aka LEED certified.  For Canadian LEED initiatives visit LEED Canada.  Other key phrases are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified and 'no added formaldehyde' or 'urea-formaldehyde free'.

These same properties and manufacturing methods are equally important to consider when choosing smaller bamboo products.  Case in point - the bamboo serving pieces gifted to me last Christmas by my sister-in-law, Diana. Please note that Diana suggested I tell this tale so I am not telling tales out of school  I was delighted to receive these handsome pieces from the new environmentally line, Earth Chef, sold by the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters.  Upon reading the information tags attached to them however, while bamboo was described as renewable, there was an absence of discussion about glue, formaldehyde etc.  With Diana's blessing I emailed Earth Chef from the link on their web site and asked, very clearly, if they had used non-toxic or conventional glue in the serving pieces I received.  That was Christmas Day and I have yet to receive a response.  We returned the serving pieces.

By all means, lets welcome bamboo as a positive and viable option but support manufacturers and retailers who are making the effort to ensure that all elements of their bamboo product are environmentally friendly.

   

 

Simple Ways to Use Less Water

Try turning off the water while washing your hands and brushing your teeth.  Turn the water back on to rinse.  I also do this when showering.  I admit, unfortunately, that it feels somehow unnatural to disrupt the flow of water during these activities.  The good news is that it gets easier the more you do it.  And, it will feel natural for children who learn to conserve water in these ways when they are young. :)

When washing dishes, instead of running water the entire time, try adding water to your plugged sink and using this water to wash the dishes. Use a second round of water to rinse. 

Food for thought: 

A homeowner in our area who carries his water into his home from an outside hand pump told my husband that his household uses 1/10 the amount of water of someone living down the street but getting his water from the tap.