Green Daily

If you haven't seen one of these amazing creations you are missing out! Not only do Earthships heat and cool themselves via solar/thermal dynamics and collect their own power via wind and solar power but they manage their own sewage, create their own water through rain and snow collection and are constructed with the unwanted leftovers of society: cans, bottles and tires! These artful beauties could be your next vacation home away from home -- green living and peace of mind all in one. Find out how to start on your own dream-green home today!

via Travel channel

Although convenient for on-the-go feeding, baby bottles can be hazardous to the environment and potentially to your child. Green mothers should be warned that components of the rigid, clear plastic bottles has been tested for their potential negative affects on reproductive organs. Rubber nipples may contain low levels of contaminants that may cause cancer. And environmentally speaking, the plastic baby bottles are made from non-renewable petroleum resources which could be contributing to global warming! The proposed solutions are glass baby bottles and silicone nipples to minimize risk to your little one and help the environment at the same time. Sounds worth it to me! Except if that glass baby bottle is dropped -- that would be quite the mess.

Experiencing a local culture while you are on vacation is something many want to do but can have difficulty finding. The Travel Channel has listed five endangered journeys with cultural experiences you must see now. Here's the run-down:

• Traditional China: The Yangtze River Dam project may have drastically changed China already but the Yunnan province has remained... for now. True rural China, it has managed to protect its landscape and culture.

• San Rafael Glacier, Chile: These Northern Patagonia ice fields are retreating and won't be around for long. See them before their gone!

• Quirky Caribbean: The islands of Grenada and Martinique have a much less touristy feel with emphasis on traditional culture and flavor.

• The Red Sand Dunes of Namibia: Enjoy guided nature walks and gain knowledge about the delicate environmental balance here. An eco-friendly lodge even blends into the scenery to keep the area's simple beauty.

• Village Culture in Romania: In the mountain villages of Romania you'll be whisked back to the age of knights and jousts. Horse lovers will especially enjoy this quaint place. Go before the EU changes it forever.

There are so many places to see in the world. To me, I would rather see the ones that may not be here for the future first. Bon voyage!


[via Travel Channel]

Most of us know we shouldn't use paper unnecessarily but did you know that the type of paper you use also matters? Patricia's article from last week mentioned Pablo's Site as a great resource. But if employers, family and friends need more convincing here is another site you can turn to for paper advice.

Using the Paper Calculator you can determine if your choices are responsible or wasting valuable resources such as water, energy and trees. By punching in your grade of paper you can see how the percentage of recycled content truly impacts the environment. You can even print a report to take to your company or school to explain the benefits and share the wisdom.

Paper is a precious resource -- let's make sure it doesn't go to waste knowingly.

We've been told before that Method products are green and great household products but now a $20 purchase, with your receipt mailed in, can earn you a stylish, reusable bag. Encouraging the use of reusable bags for shopping in place of the tons of plastic bags we use and throw out each year is a fantastic contribution that Method is making. So now you can look forward to your shopping and cleaning with the help of Method and sport a bag that wears a message too!

via Real Simple

Free shipping both ways, over 150,000 titles to choose from, softback and hardback... what doesn't Bookswim have to offer? The first of its kind, Bookswim is an online book rental library club that allows you to keep books as long as you need them without late fees and has reasonable charges to use the service. Additionally, there is a green effect as books aren't bought, forgotten, and tossed but used, loved, and returned for another. Plus, no waiting for books to come in like a local library might do. Enjoy!

via Real Simple

If the Mister Miser is just a bit too far of a leap for your household, or you require something more than a urinal to take care of business, you don't have to count yourself out of the green-toilet race yet. One solution is the dual-flusher -- two levels of water for two different occasions. Even if you already have a low-flow toilet this could still conserve up to 28 gallons per day! Some city or water companies will even provide a rebate for a dual-flusher.

There's no time like the present to upgrade your john and save more water!

Via Ideal Bite

Every few months the blue section of my toothbrush head fades to the base and I march myself to the store to get a new one. But considering I am in my mid-20's and have probably been doing this since I was at least 5 years old, that means with 4 replacements a year I have added 60 toothbrushes to the landfill in just 15 years! Yikes! Thank goodness for the tip from Ideal Bite about eco-hygiene. Recyclable toothbrush heads are available for a very reasonable price and their eco-friendly content doesn't make them any less able to eliminate plaque. Check out the few brushes they recommended: Preserve Toothbrush; Radius Source Toothbrush; and Fuchs Ekotek Toothbrush. And remember, a clean mouth can still preserve a clean earth!

One is simple, one is complex, but each offers insight into your personal carbon footprint and ways to diminish your impact on the environment.

Take your personal pollution inventory by answering this easy survey on the Environmental Defense site and get advice on how to cut your pollution at home, on the road and everywhere in between. Safe Climate's carbon calculator helps you not only determine your carbon footprint but track your progress as you make changes! Each tool can help you become more aware of your decisions and help to educate others on why you are making greener choices today! If you are like me you'll be amazed at the sources of your carbon emissions and the small steps that can make a really big difference.

This voltaic backpack from 3R Living has solar panels to charge your phone, PDA, ipod, GPS, or camera while on the go in the great outdoors or strolling through campus. This innovative design has a bunch of pockets and wire tracks to charge multiple items at once. The three solar panels can hold up to 4-watts of power and when you won't be able to get some sun, either an AC adapter or DC car charger can also store power in your panels for future use.
Plus it comes in charcoal, green, orange or silver to fit your personality and wardrobe!

Tough enough for hiking, spacious enough for packing -- you won't want to go anywhere without it!

A recent study by National Geographic's Green Guide delves into the question of which travel method has the least impact on the earth's environment. If you have the option to fly, drive or ride a train somewhere, which should you choose?

The research claims that airplanes are responsible for three tons of carbon emissions per passenger which sounds like a lot but that really only represents 3% of the world's total emissions. That makes you think you should go by car instead but researchers say autos are even more detrimental! The best choice? Trains by far. Too bad more cities don't have that transportation choice. Not only do you get a greener ride but you can knit, read, email, or play a game while getting to your destination! I don't know about you but I much prefer a relaxing, slow train ride to traffic jams and airport delays.

Vail, Inc., the parent corporation over four premier ski resorts in Colorado (Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, & Breckenridge) and another near Lake Tahoe (Heavenly), is switching its on-mountain restaurants to hormone-free meat and poultry and organic dairy products this coming ski season! Additionally, Vail Resorts has created the Good Food Partnership to help them achieve their impressive goal of serving more natural meats and organic dairy products than any other restaurant company in North America.

Now winter adventurers can eat healthy, enjoy the crisp mountain air and know that their families are making smart choices even on vacation!

UPS announced yesterday that it is rolling out a new fleet of eco-friendly trucks in the U.S. using compressed natural gas (CNG) and ... propane? That's right! The same stuff we use to grill a steak on a hot summer night is fueling deliveries across the country.

Already in use in both Canada and Mexico, 139 propane package pushers will be released in many U.S. cities early next year! The 167 additional CNG trucks are the icing on the cake compared to the 800 already in use across our nation. This makes their global green fleet of 1,629 vehicles the largest private alternative-fuel fleet in the industry's history!

Now when people ask, "What can brown do for you?", you can tell them that brown is the new green!

When we usually think of the Nobel Peace Prize people like the Dalai Lama come to mind but why not consider the peace that environmentalists bring to our present and future?

Al Gore and Sheila Watt-Cloutier have been jointly nominated for consideration by the Nobel Peace Prize committee which will meet on Friday, Oct. 12th to make their final decision. The winner will be chosen in Oslo out of 181 candidates and will go home with $1.5 million! Gore's Oscar-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, may just have been the stepping stone to his nomination for the peace prize. Watt-Cloutier, an activist for arctic climate change, certainly makes for a perfect partner.

Just think if Al Gore was going to join the race to the White House again what an honor such as the Peace Prize would do for his image and votes?! Regardless of politics, the fact that environmentalism could be in the spotlight with this prestigious award is pretty fantastic.

Isn't it great when you get a gift that is interesting, unique, something you wanted, AND green! Here's a hint you will want to pass along to all your friends and family before the big day. 3r Living has a website where you can fulfill your dreams by registering for green household items, decorations, furniture, etc. Considering a beautiful bowl for an accent piece? Why not go with recycled glass from California! Do you want kitchen items that are natural and elegant? There is always bamboo and acacia. Even organic towels and linens are at the touch of a button.

Starting your new life together with a house full of eco-friendly items may even spur more fresh, green ideas for years to come!