Green Living
Instilling Green Values in Our Children
Instilling green values in our children is more important now than ever before. We take the time to teach our children study habits, math, and reading, to prepare them for college. We also teach them to manage their money, and spend their allowances wisely. We do these things because we care about their future. But are we also caring for their environmental future? It is important that we not only go about our own environmental efforts, but that we teach our kids to care for the environment as well. We adults often do a good job of living up to the green ideals and values that we believe in, but all too often we fail to instill green values in our children.
Start by introducing fun activities at home that demonstrate green values or principles. There are a ton of good books out there for ideas if you need it. Below are links to four of my favorites.
- 365 Ways to Live Green For Kids: Saving the environment at Home, School, or at Play — Everyday!
- The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth
- Green Mama: The Guilt Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet
- Everything Kids’ Environment Book: Learn how you can help the environment-by getting involved at school, at home, or at play (Everything Kids Series)
There are also many websites for kids to learn more about the environment. My favorite resource for kid-friendly sites is from the National Resources Defense Council (Find it here!). They have the largest list I’ve found of fun sites for kids of all ages. I have to admit as an adult, that even I like to play around on a few of them in my spare time. There’s also a few sites listed where kids can get involved in enacting policy change by writing letters to local legislature or identify areas for change in their schools or at home.
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In Response to WA State “Eco-Terrorist” Bill
image: flickr user steews4
Check out what TreeHugger.com has to say on the subject here.
Firstly, I would like to preface this blog by saying I would recommend people intent on their promotion of environmental awareness to stick to lawful means of expressing that activism. That said, I also believe there should be more of a discussion on the understanding, legally and culturally, of “eco-terrorism”. What is it? Why is it used? What purpose does it have? What results does it achieve?
A large part of activism is the spreading of awareness of issues. People are often desensitized to issues of environmental crisis in the face of sensationalized media overkill. I think that activists utilize their right to freedom of speech to express intense concern for issues and to spread awareness. The more common strategies do this without putting human lives at risk or result in the destruction of property. The umbrella labeling of all environmental activists as “terrorists” is absurd and rather slanderous, to be frank.
Want To Turn A Green Leaf? Start With These 5 Things
Here are 5 steps every eco-friendly person should have under their belt, are significant starting points for those getting into it, and can have the biggest impact on reducing your individual impact on the environment.
1. Reusable Water bottle
All of the plastic, paper and disposable cups you will save with 1 reusable bottle you take everywhere. Not just for health nuts, I have seen buddies fill up their Nagane bottles at the 7-11 soda fountain before. I would recommend stainless steel for the best all purpose, all containing, non-leaching, durable and portable container. You can check out my reusable water bottle comparison article to find one that best suits your needs. This will help keep all of those pesky plastic water bottles out of our waterways and adding to the Pacific Plastic Gyre.
2. Bicycle (or just walking)
Even better than public transportation, a bicycle is the most energy efficient method or transportation we have come up with to date. Not only does it no produce any emissions, it is very easy to park, 
gives you some exercise to stay healthy, keeps you out of traffic and can be a darn good time to boot! Check out this bamboo bicycle or treadmill bicycle to really inspire you to go green!
3. Green up your cleaners.
You would be shocked at the amount of toxic chemicals you may have under your sink and in your laundry room. All of these nasty harsh chemicals make their way into the ocean and water ways through your drain, and they aren’t even necessary! Chlorine bleach, phosphates, ammonia and more poison our water killing fish and aquatic life and alter the chemistry of our water. This includes Dishwashing Detergent (both Automatic dishwasher and hand soap), Laundry Detergent, and Bathroom and household cleaners too!
4. Change your lightbulbs and buy a power strip.
CFL lightbulbs (Compact Florescent Lights) and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are not only immensely more energy efficient (saving you money on your electric bill), but they also last way longer (saving you money on replacement costs and hassles).
Energy cutting power strips can cut down your vampire devices from sucking energy while in their off position. Since most modern electronics aren’t really turned off, many can be using almost as much power in their off position as when the are turned on! To keep this from happening, plug like devices into a single power strip and turn the entire strip off. The savings will add up on your electric bill, and the impact we all collectively have on the environment.
Neogreen Insulated Lunch Totes and Kozees
I usually tote my lunch to work in a re-used paper bag, but by the end of the week that bag ends up looking pretty haggard. Thankfully the guys over at Neogreene heeded my call and sent me one of their new eco-friendly insulated lunch tote along with a waterbottle cozy.
Many of you may remember my article a little while back about green neoprene technology, where I first mentioned Neogreene and their laptop sleeves. They have since expanded their line to include lunch totes, water bottle cozies and wine bottle carriers in a spread of color combination’s.
Aside from how green they are, they are also very cool looking and well constructed. I have to be honest in saying the shapes are a bit feminine for me (rounded corners and such make them look a bit like womens handbags) but my girlfriend loves them. I’m not giving up the cozy though- it is perma-plastered to my stainless steel kleen kanteen.
As you may have noticed, all the products have animal names. These are endangered species, a reminder that GreenSmart now donates 10% of net profits to the World Wildlife Fund and other environmental organizations.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Finds
Here are some of my recent favorite finds, reader suggestions and sustainable or eco-friendly finds. Enjoy!
Grain, a local (Seattle) design consultancy and studio has developed a really cool Eco-friendly DIY shower curtain. Based on their popular Ty recyclable shower curtain, the Ty D.I.Y. Edition includes a choice of blue, green or black permanent marker for your own personalized design.
Made from 100% High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), one of the most commonly recycled plastics, and nickel plated metal grommets, it is PVC (and smell) free.
A typical vinyl shower curtain contains 108 volatile organic compounds, is hard to keep clean, tears easily, and is not recyclable at the end of its life. Ty and Ty D.I.Y. Edition, on the other hand, are made from a spun-boned #2 plastic material, which unlike typical vinyl shower curtains, is PVC-free and doesn’t off-gas. Additionally, Ty and Ty D.I.Y. Edition are more durable and mildew resistant, while being machine washable and recyclable at the end of their useful life.
With endless potential, I found some inspiration from their local artist competition:
$33.00 from grain
Full Circle is a great place to find eco-friendly cleaning hardware. From fully biodegradable pot scrubbers, to brushes, natural cellulose sponges, loofas and more. Natural, biodegradable, sustainable, are all words I would associate with these products. No oil or plastic is used for these products
Using innovative materials such as Bonterra™, a plastic like substance made from from cellulose and starch from plants, paired with traditional materials like bamboo, you can be sure these products won’t be outlast your dishes.
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5 Seemingly Gross Ways to Go Green
1. Don’t use toilet seat covers
Strange as it may sound, but these wafer-thin little pieces of paper do nothing for your touche. While they give you a feel-good barrier between you and a public toilet, it is basically only that. According to Dr. Sherry Marts, scientific director of the Society for Women’s Health Research, “It’s OK to sit down. Most organisms that cause STDs will not survive for long on a toilet seat.” When you really think about it, when else has a piece of paper that thin ever saved you from anything?
How much good would it do? I haven’t been able to find any definitive answer, but I would feel comfortable throwing out a number in the area of 50,000 trees a year.
2. Wash your hair less
Ask your hairstylist about this one, and you may be surprised what they tell you! Washing your hair everyday can actually be damaging and cause it to start out dry and quickly become greasy. Slowly begin to extend periods between washing so your scalp and hair can adjust until you reach 2-3 washings a month. Soap seems harmless enough, but with the amount we use and dump in our waterways today, it can be downright harmful to those little fishes. Given all that is in shampoo these days, I wouldn’t want to drink it.
3. Pee in the shower or outside in your garden
I’m sure we are going to ruffle some feathers with this one, but we are going to emphasize that urine is sterile! By reliving yourself in the shower, you are saving a toilet flush and the urine is going to the same place anyway (unless you have a specific greywater system, even better.) If you choose to pee outside, you are replenishing nature! Be sure to dilute it with water and hit different spots in your garden or it could be a bit too much fertilizer for your plants (try peeing directly on your compost if you have one to enhance it.)
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Eco-Friendly Underwear
Eco-chic clothing is popping up everywhere from small designers to large established companies, but what about that often overlooked bit of clothing that you first put on in the morning- the one piece that you wear everyday (well, hopefully everyday otherwise I don’t want to hear about it!) It sits close to the skin usually, so wouldn’t you want it to be of the most natural, non-toxic material possible? We explore some of the eco-friendly underwear and intimates so you know what’s what.
Designer: C-IN2
Material: Bamboo
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Bamboo is sustainable, biodegradable and produced without pesticides.
Why they are Cool: Very cool colors and cuts for men, and bamboo is naturally antimicrobial and a good option for those prone to skin allergies from chemical processing.
Cost: $20-$25
Designer: Enamore
Material: Organic silk and Soya jersey
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Enamore uses a minimum of 55 percent organic and recycled content and are colored using special Azo-free dyes.
Why they are Cool: These retro feel and romantic designs for women are both unique and eco-friendly.
Cost: $58-$110
Designer: Pact
Material: Organic Turkish Cotton
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Made from organic Turkish cotton, the production occurs 100 miles from the cotton farms reducing unneeded shipping. Packaging consists of a reusable cloth bag and compostable shipping bags.
Why they are Cool: Great colors and styles for men and women, plus 10% of Pact’s sales support one of 3 non-profits (826 National, ForestEthics and Oceana).
Cost: $22-$28 (mens and womens styles available)
Designer: Green Knickers
Material: Hemp, Bamboo, Fair Trade and Organic Cotton
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Made from eco-friendly and sustainable materials like hemp/silk blends, bamboo and organic fair trade cotton.
Why they are Cool: Activity specific cuts for men and women, and some designs feature heat sensitive non-toxic dyes (remember Hyper-color shirts?)
Cost: £10-£25
Designer: Chantelle
Material: Bamboo blend
Why they are Eco-Friendly:Womens bras, boyshorts and thongs, all crafted from a sustainable bamboo blend jersey without pesticides, and are biodegradable.
Why they are Cool:French intimate apparel brand is well know for it’s quality and fit.
Cost: $42-$80
Everyday Action Green Websites and Blogs
There are a lot of green blogs out there in cyberspace, and its tough to navigate through the good ones. I have two favorites for just everyday living tips, ideas and creativity to inspire living green in me. Each one is unique and provides me with great eco-inspiration to take action, live green and utilized eco friendly design. They are usually updated a few times a week, so its easy to keep up and you won’t be overwhelmed with content.
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Green Reads – Eco Living Books for Ideas and Information
I figured this would be a good time to share with my readers what books I read and refer too. With so much information out there, these are the sources I find to be the most helpful, well designed and put together, all with the eco-minded features I enjoy. These are all easy read, enjoyable books that offer great practical everyday options to green up your life. Centered around the home, shopping, and silly everyday things that many of us overlook, you will be on your way to a greener, eco chic planet saver in no time.
Along those lines is a more design conscious book that features pretty pictures and a green Martha Stewart type approach. Easy Green Living is structured around your household with specifics on food and diet, cleaning and decorating. A wonderfully creative and practical book packaged into a more traditional Sunset Magazine style informational read.
If you have kids in the house, 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth is a great book for them to understand how their actions affect things like energy use and waste, and translate it into terms they can understand. It’s a good thing to instill earth friendly values of conservation in children so that they carry it through their whole lives, and they can share what they learn with their peers.
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