eco friendly
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.
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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.
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Earth Day 2011 Events and Ideas
Looking for something to do this Earth Day? Why not get out in the community and volunteer! Here are some great Earth Day ideas for those looking to make a difference:
Beach Cleanups
Beach cleanups are an excellent way to not only beautify our beaches, but help save wildlife too. Every year, millions of tons of trash make their way to the ocean and end up in our seas. Every step of the way, this trash leaves death, from streams, rivers and lakes to the ocean inhabitants. Even if you don’t live near a beach, picking up trash at your local park, river or lake will go a long way to keep trash out of our oceans too. There are scheduled events put on by the Ocean Conservancy and Surfrider, but take it upon yourself to grab a few family members and friends to do your own Beach Cleanup.
Picnic for the Planet
Organized by The Nature Conservancy, Picnic for the Planet is a food changing experience for this years Earth Day. Plan or join a picnic in your area and learn about where food comes from, how to eat for yourself and the planet, and why it matters. Local, sustainable and natural is the name of the game, so round up some friends and family and go eat outside!
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The Green GTL (Gym Tan Laundry) Bag by ‘The Situation’
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, made famous on MTV’s Jersey Shore reality television show, is now jumping into greener endeavors. Pairing up with Green Garmento to offer his own official limited edition version of the eco-friendly all-in-one reusable drycleaning and laundry bag.
Tote your dry cleaning to an eco-friendly CO2 dry cleaner in a sleek black or green GTL logo reusable garmemt bag. Cut down on your plastic bag usage and pick up some GTL style.
“There’s nothing sexy about plastic bags,” says Mike.
Sorrentino is fist pumping the estimated 300,000,000 pounds of drycleaning plastic that ends up in US landfills and waterways each year out of existence. Available for only $11.99, it could be one of the coolest and greenest things to come out of the Jersey Shore. › Continue reading
7 Most Popular Eco Friendly Articles for 2010
With another year behind us, I like to look back and see what people are reading, and in particular, the most popular articles on this site. Here they are as voted by your traffic, the Top 7 Chic Ecologist articles for the year 2010:
- #1 – Pacific Plastic Island
A plastic island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean more than 30 feet deep and twice the size of Texas, this is definitely a troubling story. It seems that there are more of these plastic islands in just about every major ocean driven by wind and current gyres. - #2 – Eco Friendly Driveways
Green driveways are becoming increasingly popular to reduce storm runoff, water pollution and recharge underground water sources. They are easy to build, add a softer more charming feel to any parking spot and are much more visually pleasing. A great way for anyone to reduce their footprint. - #3 – Eco Friendly Diamonds
Is there such a thing as a Green Diamond? What is the difference between a mined diamond and a synthetic diamond? How about social implications, like blood diamonds? This article explains your green options when it comes to selecting a jewel for your gem. - #4 – Platinum for Fuel Cells
Platinum plays a big role in fuel cell vehicles, and a new process found by Researchers with the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Houston may make it more efficient and cheaper. This is a big step in the development of fuel cell technology, one that may affect our future transportation costs.
Top 5 Must Have Android Eco Friendly Apps
With all the new eco-friendly phone applications out there today, it’s like having a green guide in your pocket. Both the iphone and android phones are capable of keeping you updated with eco events, tips and green living ideas in practical ways. If you have an iphone, visit our Top 5 Must Have iphone Eco Apps. The android app selection is still behind iphone selections, but it is catching up with many vendors now duplicating their eco iphone apps for the android enabled phones.
- Seasonal Harvest from Discoversites
$0.99 or free ad supported ‘lite’ version
Keeps you up to date with the growing seasons in your area so you can select the locally grown produce grown in your area. Select your state or use the GPS to view local produce in season for your state. Also locates nearby farmers markets and can even search recipes. For those transitioning from the iPhone, it is very similar to the Locavore app. - Greenpeace Tissue Guide from Greenpeace
Free
Allows you to look up eco-friendly home paper products in 4 categories: paper towels, toilet paper, paper napkins, and facial tissues. Shows you recycled content (both pre and post consumer content and bleach processing) and gives you recommendations on your most eco-friendly choices. Both a scrollable category list by manufacturer or search by brand.I find it very useful in quick decision situations, its just another way to stay informed and not get fooled by marketing greenwashing. Just do an android market search for Greenpeace.
- Visibility from the Robotics Lab at USC
Free
This handy little app is being used to accumulate data about visibility and air quality for research. Hopefully this will help researchers track air quality and better asses pollution levels for different areas at different times, all concurrently through a base of mobile users.
It’s pretty simple, you just take a picture of the sky, select pixels from the sky and submit it to the USC lab.
Top 5 Must Have iPhone Eco Friendly Apps
Smart phones today have enabled you to have a green resource right in your pocket. Several non-profits and green companies have taken advantage of this by creating apps for the iphone to keep you informed, eco minded and living green. If you have an Android enabled phone, check out our Top 5 Must Have Android Eco Friendly Apps.
Seafood Watch App from the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Free
A staple for me since I enjoy fish and sushi, I have been printing out the card for years. Now you can have up to date information about your best health and eco-friendly fish options right on your phone. Great for restaurants or for picking up some fish at the market, get detailed information about the fish, fishery status and great alternatives.
New feature allows you to pinpoint sustainable seafood restaurants and markets and share them with others.
Find Green App from 3rdWhale
Free
An awesome multi-purpose app providing you information on green businesses near you. From organic restaurants, farmers markets, yoga studios and bicycle shops, this app will tell you how far they are and how to get there. Included are eco friendly green living tips, reviews and more. Not a stranger to this app, I reviewed it earlier last year when it was called the Green Business Finder app.
3rdWhale is worth a visit as they have developed great mobile apps for Greenpeace and 350.org and other non-profits.
The Good Guide
Free
An awesome app for shopping giving you an instant rating based on Health, Environment and Social Responsibility. Just scan the items barcode using your iphones camera. Currently covering information on over 65,000 personal care and household chemical products, and soon expanding to include food, toys, electronics, and more.
Good Guide was founded by Dara O’Rourke, a professor of environmental and labor policy at the University of California at Berkeley. Ratings are based on research of the world’s leading academic experts on global supply chains – tracking product life cycles from resource extraction into manufacturing, through consumer use to disposal.
Top 5 Winter Skin Picks
When I first started changing my lifestyle to reflect my environmentally conscious goals, I had a very difficult time finding products that fit my spring and summer routines AND my fall and winter routines while still avoiding harmful skincare ingredients . The harsh winds, the freezing temperatures, and still having to deal with all the normal things that go wrong with my skin! Winter wreaks havoc on most people’s skin, and your regular routine usually does not pack enough moisture. I stock up on a myriad of products to get me through the winter, but I’ll share with you my favorites for this season.
This stuff smells sweet like Calendula and goes on thick. It has enough moisture to solve any trouble area. I like to keep some in purse for emergencies. It works miracles on knees, arms, heels, legs, elbows, and the occasional severe chapped lips. This stuff works on anything! It’s seriously amazing. My girlfriend uses it on her face as well and swears by it, but it is a little too intense for my own and causes breakouts.
If you’re more into oil, like me, I’d go with Dr. Hauschka. My favorite of their scents is the Arnica scent. My husband says that’s what ‘organic’ smells like and if so, that’s fine by me. I love body oils because they seem to lock in the moisture throughout the day. I crave hot showers in the cold winter months, but that strips the moisture even more from your skin. Throughout the winter I use this oil after every shower and before bed. I always wake up in the morning feeling silky smooth and supple! I love them!
3. Lavera Wild Rose Liposome Cream
This is hands down my favorite night cream. While it’s not technically a night cream, and I do use it for daytime use too, I love how well it works overnight. I didn’t really understand having a day cream and a night cream before, but now I get it. The hydraulic acid in this cream is the key. I swear it clears up my skin too, but it doesn’t claim to do that anywhere. Either way, you’ll wake up with noticeably smoother skin.
