eco friendly
Top 7 Green Gadgets and Innovations of 2011
2011 has been a great year for green innovations and products and we here at The Chic Ecologist would like to share some of our favorites. This years list includes green electronics, biodegradable stickers and eco-friendly designs all which present innovative solutions to simple environmental problems. You can also find last year’s most popular posts of 2010 for comparison.
Fruit Wash Labels
A familiar sticker found on fruits and vegetables abound, with a twist. This one will dissolve into a biodegradable fruit wash to clean away pesticides, fertilizer and other gross stuff you may find on fruit. Read More…
Intelligent Learning Thermostat
A thing of beauty as much for it’s energy savings as for its design, the NEST thermostat is an rethought and redesign of the prevalent household energy brain. Read More…
Do It Yourself Home Cold and Flu Remedies
With the cold and flu season not yet passed, I thought it fitting showcase the wonderful benefits of nature in easing symptoms with common cold and the flu. Simple and easy to find ingredients available at any grocery store to ease your pains. Read More…
Sustainable Sushi
You may be shocked to find that most sushi is made from unsustainable and threatened fish, but there are some sushi chefs reshaping the way we look at this delicious food. By harvesting local and sustainable fish, Hajime Sato, the head chef and co-owner of Mashiko Sushi restaurant in Seattle, Washington has pioneered a new diverse menu rotating based on seasonality and availability of sustainable fish. Read More…
Green Holiday Preparation – More than Just the Tree!
Green Holiday Preparation – More than Just the Tree!
Besides the fact that green is basically one of only two colors we have to think about for an entire month and your home is probably about to get be-decked in greenery from pine trees and boughs and wreaths galore, not a lot of us (surely not enough of us) really think about how we can make our actual holiday preparations green. Yet, this month and season is one of the greatest for taking advantage of every opportunity to be greener, from our holiday baking to our gift wrapping. If you’re ready to be green this season, here are some easy ways to get started.
Holiday Cards
Rather than purchase holiday cards which bring down your green “score” so to speak, with the paper used, ink used, emissions transporting the cards to your store and then the emissions used to deliver cards to destinations across the US, consider making this your year to go with e-cards. If you’re a family and like to do pictures, this actually makes it even easier. Or, you can opt for my favorite idea and film a short clip of the family wishing everyone happy holidays, a silly skit or a Christmas carol or whatever else your creative mind can think up! Attach the clip to an e-card and you’ve got a Christmas card destined to › Continue reading
Green Driveway Path Options
A while back, I wrote about Green Driveways and Paths, which ended up being a pretty popular article. I figured that it would be helpful to see your options when it comes to porous surfaces, permeable paths and eco-friendly driveways.
Green driveways not only are more pleasant to look at, they also can reduce urban heat retention, reduce CO2, reduce runoff, improve drainage and aquifer recharging, provide some water filtration and more! They can also be cheaper in the long run over asphault (resurfacing costs and crack repairs) and concrete (repairing cracks, staining) not to mention preventing washouts and pot holes.
Systems already embraced in Europe typically last over 20-30 years, with little to no repairs or maintenance. The main options for green driveways are using some sort of permeable surface along with turf, gravel or ground cover to enhance the beauty and green factor.
› Continue reading
All About: Seattle, Washington
Washington State has a reputation (along with the rest of the Pacific Northwest) as being a green, eco-friendly region. Given the natural beauty, active outdoorsy residents and connection with nature, its really no wonder.
Here at The Chic Ecologist, we have done several articles and features of Seattle based sustainable businesses, green events and manufacturers, so we decided to compile a little list of our favorites so far:
Sustainable Seattle Restaurants
Local 360 – Almost all raw ingredients (even liquors, wine and beer!) are sourced within a 360 mile radius of this Seattle restaurant. They also attempt to use organic and sustainable items whenever possible including humane raised meats and local wild-caught seafoods.
Mashiko Sushi – Seattle’s first sustainable sushi restaurant, Mashiko has developed an exciting local, seasonal and delicious menu from sustainably sourced and sustainably caught ingredients. Not your traditional sushi (you won’t find the typical yellowtail hamachi and toro here), instead you will find amazing Hawaiian abalone, sockeye salmon and geoduck.
Seattle Eco-friendly Businesses
Appliance Away & Mattress Away – Mattress and appliance recycling. This local company will actually come to your home, pick up your old mattress and appliances and haul them away, stripping them down for recycling. Call for individual rates and quotes, but it is a great way to keep these big, bulky items out of landfills while re-purposing valuable resources.
› Continue reading
Northern California Walking Tours
A hit with the European crowd like the English ramblers and German trekkers, walking tours are moving over the pond to our shores now.
Inn To End, a Northern California walking tour company has walking tours exploring the beautiful coast and redwood forests of the San Francisco Bay area.
All based on the ‘walking holiday’ premise, these walking vacations range from 2 days to a week with overnights in quaint bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels along your journey.
- All Accommodations Reservations and Booking
- All Breakfasts
- All Luggage transfers
- Custom Trip Package with Maps, Trail Descriptions and Local Info
- A Local contact number
- Assistance with pre and post trip reservations
Your luggage is transported between hotels, so all you have to do is pack a few treats and a camera for the trek.
The trails guide you along coastal bluffs, through giant redwood forests and rolling hills of vineyards and pastures. Explore Northern California on foot and see the natural world in a truly natural way, Inn To End. › Continue reading
Craving the Green Life – CRAVEGreen Seattle
Last night I had a major craving for all the eco-friendly indulgences of Seattle, and I knew just the way to satisfy my craving.
In the heart of SODO tucked under the first avenue bridge in the awesome location of URBAN enoteca, CRAVESeattle hosted their 2011 green event. Which much to my delight was this eco-friendly girls dream come true.
Seattle’s Elaia Spa at Olive8
Many spa’s are trying to green up their image, but Elaia Spa is just naturally that way. Housed in Hyatt’s Olive 8 building in Downtown Seattle, it is part of Seattle’s first LEED certified hotel. As a part of a green building, certain requirements for water conservation, construction materials and energy savings are already part of the package. You can see these details throughout the Spa, although none of it distracts from the experience, in fact, it does more to enhance it.
› Continue reading
300 Green Living Posts!
We are celebrating Earth Day weekend with our 300th Post!
Here are some of our most popular and favorite posts over the last few years since The Chic Ecologist began, everything from green fashion, green services to green perspectives. Enjoy!
Container Gardening
Cut down on Global Warming and eat fresh. No matter your space, containers make it possible to grow a garden just about anywhere, and you will be amazed at how it can impact the environment and your health.
How Long to Biodegrade?
Common trash items and how long they stick around. From composting to landfills, you may be surprised at how long trash sticks around before turning into dirt.
Green Burials and Funeral Services
Staring to gain a foothold, green burials and funerals are increasingly becoming more popular leaving the chemicals out and impacts low. Leave a legacy on the earth with your death, not an impact.
Green Attitude
Re-thinking green ideals. What kind of ideals do we want to instill in our children and how do we (the green community) want to be perceived?
Green Feminine Products
Tampons plot to destroy the world! What kind of impact does feminine hygiene have on the environment? Hint: A lot!
Wood Rings
Jewelry that is naturally beautiful and eco-friendly. Transforming existing wooden treasures into beautiful sentimental jewelry pieces.
Recycled Glass Countertops
Beautiful and better than glass recycling. Exceptional performing and beautiful counters which incorporate an energy efficient re-use of glasswares.
› Continue reading
