Lighten Up!

Did you know that the average American household has 45 light bulbs? If each of these were replaced by CFL Energy Star bulbs each household would save $180 a year!

Did you know if every home in America replaced one light bulb with a an Energy Star bulb, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars?

 Energy Star is a label that he US Environmental Protection Agency awards products that meet their strict energy efficient guidelines. Each bulb saves approximately $6 a year and $40 over its lifetime in electricity costs. This is done by using 75% less energy and by lasting 6 times longer than an old fashion incandescent light bulb. They also produce 75% less heat which can help cut down on your home cooling bill. Incandescent bulbs contain mercury which make them too toxic to throw in the trash, CFL Energy Star bulbs are required to be toxin free.

So why wait, replace some today! Take your house holds five most frequently used light fixtures and replace them or the bulbs and you can save more than $65 each year! You can use your old bulbs in places that aren’t used a lot like a closet (CLF bulbs will provide you with the most savings I places where the lights are on at least two hours a day). If you aren’t ready to make the switch try changing your bulbs to a lower wattage, you wont reap the financial benefits but you will save energy.

 When you decide to make the switch, check out Energystar.com to find stores that carry energy efficient light bulbs. If you are planning on getting rid of your old light bulbs visit EARTH911.org and type in “CFL” to find a local recycling center that will take your bulbs or head over to your local Ikea, the retailer will take your old bulbs (you can also find 3 packs of energy efficient bulbs for just $3.99).  Replacing your light bulbs is a great start in making your household green. It helps the planet and will help save you money!!
-Amanda

A Happy Green Savings

The hazards of non-natural laundry detergent

Have you ever wondered what ingredients are used in your laundry detergents? If you haven’t you should, just think at least 95% of your day your body and the bodies of your family members are in contact with clothing and linens that have been soaked in detergent. So what is in laundry detergents? If you are using non-natural laundry detergents the ingredients contain carcinogenic, hormone disruptors, and other hazardous air pollutants.  

In a recent study by the University of Washington, researchers found that 25 organic compounds including seven hazardous air pollutants were released from laundry that was washed in non-natural detergent. Two of the chemicals are listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of cancer causing chemicals. If you are like me who runs at least 7 loads of laundry a week you are freaking out! How does this happen? Well, laundry companies are not required by law to list their ingredients. They also aren’t regulated like other products because they are not applied directly to human skin-even though we all know they are directly touching human skin constantly.

“Optical Brighteners” are used in non-natural laundry detergents. These are synthetic chemicals that are used to make your clothes “glow” under ultraviolet light. Your clothes look bright, but they are really deteriorating. These brighteners are built to stay on your clothes; they build up and prevent your cloth diapers from absorbing and your military uniforms glow like the sun when looked at with night vision.  They also rub off onto your skin causing a rash that looks like a sun burn, and seep into waterways and build up inside fish.

Phosphates are often found in non-natural detergents.  These phosphates work as a super-charged fertilizer for algae in your washing machine-ever have stinky towels? Chances are it is due to algae growing in your washer. If you use these products they can build up in your washer in your tubes, in the pump, in the door seal! Just about everywhere! If it isn’t cleaned up your stinking clothing will have to be tossed and so will your washer.

All of these chemicals find their way into the environment and end up in the water that we drink, the soil where our veggies are growing and into the animals that we eat. They are also constantly being released into the air from your dryer vents and finding their way into our atmosphere.

So now that we know how bad laundry products can be what do we do? First, check your detergents ingredients. If it contains benzene and acetaldehyde dispose of it with your other hazardous materials, these two chemicals are cancer causing.  If it contains optical brighteners or phosphates give it the old heave-ho! If you can’t find a list of ingredients for your laundry detergent that should be a red flag, they have a reason for not showing you what it is made of. The easiest solution is to find yourself a natural laundry detergent, specifically one that isn’t afraid to tell you what it is made of. The University of Washington recommends that you don’t use more detergent than you need. Most of the time you are just washing sweat and fragrance out of your clothes, this shouldn’t require a ton of detergent. They also say to, “Wash only full loads of laundry and with cold water. Making the switch to the cold cycle will save about $60 a year on your power bill because you'll be giving the hot water heater a break."

If you are interested in making the change to natural laundry detergent (and I think you should) check out http://www.ahappygreenlife.com/ and our new laundry wash line that is safe for your clothes and skin!
-Amanda

WAIT!! Before you throw it away...read this!

Before you throw it away...make sure that you are properly disposing of these potentially hazardous items -

1. Batteries – batteries contain many heavy metals including mercury, lead and nickel which will leach into our environment if not properly disposed of. Most people throw batteries out with the rest of their garbage – but this needs to stop today! It is easier than you think to recycle batteries – simply take them to a battery recycling center (many hardware and electronic stores can collect them for you). California is the first state to make it illegal to dispose of batteries – they are considered hazardous waste. More states should follow suit and all of us should take it upon ourselves to recycle batteries!

2. Light Bulbs – especially CFL and other mercury containing light bulbs must be recycled or disposed of properly. Many of the materials can be reused in a light bulb, so some manufacturers offer a mail back program where you can simply mail used bulbs back to them. Because light bulbs are so fragile, they break in the garbage and the mercury and other harmful chemical will end up in our environment.

3. Electronics – what do you do with your old tv, computer, stereo, cell phone and all of the other ‘must haves’ of the past? E-cycling is a way to make sure that these items are disposed of properly. Many of these electronic devices contain copper, gold, silver and even lead which can be removed and reused. You can look up locations to drop off electronic waste, and some states even offer a mail in program.

4. Household Hazardous Waste – this includes cleaners, paint, chemical, medicine, syringes, lancets and more – all which need to be properly disposed of. Hazardous waste should never be disposed of down the drain as it will contaminate ground water. Again, you can sometime coordinate a pickup of these materials at your home, and often you can do a mail in disposal of these products.

Great resources for recycling and proper disposal information

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/index.htmhttp://www.wm.com/products-and-services/residential-recycling/fluorescent-bulb-and-batteries-recycling.jsp

Link to order a residential florescent bulb and battery recycling pack

https://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/ThinkGreenFromHome.cfm

Find out what can and cannot be recycled

http://www.thinkgreen.com/recycling?ref=bc

Find a facility near you to recycle these items properly

http://www.wm.com/facility-locator.jsp

Happy Green disposal and recycling

- Kristin