Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
July 7th, 2008
Safe Sunscreens and Bug Repellants
Stumble it!
It’s sunburn and bug bite season, and that means we’re all slathering and spray our skin with all kinds of potions. But what is in these potions? Are they safe for our bodies? Are they even effective? As always, it takes some digging to get to the answer.
Sunscreens
As for so many things related to personal care products, I turned to the Environmental Working Group to find their recommendations. If you are not yet familiar with the EWG and their invalable, exhaustive research into the chemicals found in cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and so much more, please check them out!
Here is the EWG’s recent pronouncement on sunscreens: “In a new investigation of 952 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. Leading brands were the worst offenders: None of market leader Coppertone’s 41 sunscreen products met EWG’s criteria for safety and effectiveness, and only 1 of 103 products from Banana Boat and Neutrogena, the second- and third-largest manufacturers, are recommended by EWG.”
Alright, so who did the EWG recommend for efficacy and safety? Brands you probably have not heard of! California Baby products fared very well with its sunblock sticks. Lavera sunscreen with SPF 40+ also scored high. Badger Balm sunscreens, Vanicream, Soleo Organics, and Sun Science Sport Formula were also at the top of the list. To see the rest of the recommended list, click here.
On the other side of the scale, the worst of the worst were Iman Time Control, Rachel Perry Oil Free Moisturizer, Skin Simple, Australian Gold, St. Ives, Dermalogica, Alba Hawaiian, Elizabeth Arden, and many many more. To find out where your sunscreen ranks, just click on the link above and search by brand.
Bug Repellants
Most big-name commercial bug repellants contain DEET, or N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. While DEET is quite effective against critters, DEET has been found to have negative cognitive impacts in animal studies. It also causes skin rashes and irritation in many humans. DEET is especially dangerous for small children and should not be used on infants.
Fortunately there are a number of safe alternatives! Essential oils from plant like citronella, lemongrass, peppermint and cedar are all good bug repellants. Again, California Baby makes some very safe bug sprays, as does Badger Balm (both noted above in the sunscreen category as well). Aubrey Organics has a product titled GONE! You can also check out Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent. According to Repel, the product has proved effective against mosquitoes, deer ticks and other insects for up to six hours.
What have you tried that has worked for you? And have a safe, fun summer!
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June 19th, 2008
Planning a Green Wedding or Family Reunion
It’s wedding season — and also family reunion season– so we thought we’d share some insights on how to make your Big Event a Big Green Success!
Location
To limit the carbon footprint of your event, you’ll want to have it as close to the majority of attendees as possible. It may well be very romantic to have your wedding in Southern Mexico, but just think of all of your guests flying there and the resultant carbon emissions! Keeping it close to home will really lower the footprint (and the cost!).
And have the event out-of-doors if at all possible. Fresh air and sunshine always make an event more fun. Maybe you can find a wonderful park or a community garden and contribute to the non-profit that runs it?
Green Event Planners
If the whole process seems a bit over-whelming, there are now many green event planners available to take the eco-worries off your mind. In the San Francisco Bay Area, ZahZoom Weddings & Parties will help you make your dream green event a reality. Angelique Events in Los Angeles will plan a spectacular, sustainable event for you. Lyndsey Hamilton Events plans eco-friendly weddings and events in New York and New England.
Invitations
Do you really need to use paper invitations? They are expensive for you, likely to get lost or tossed by your guests, and cause more trees to die in vain for the production of paper! A pretty email works just great, or you can use Evite and make up a snazzy invitation, and track RSVPs online. Here’s an eco-snap to that!
Food and Beverage Choices
As with location, local is best. Try to either buy local, organic foods from farmers near you, or work with a caterer who can handle this process for you. Here’s an article with wonderful green catering resources all across the United States. Or you can refer to Local Harvest’s list of organic restaurants, or our very own organic restaurant directory here at Low Impact Living. Check ‘em out!
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle the Mess
Try to eliminate disposable plates and cutlery from your plans. Either rent the real stuff (ceramics, metal) that can be washed and used again, or get recycled and/or compostable plates and dishes.
And make sure to have plenty of recycling bins for beer bottles, soda cans, etc. One bin never seems to be enough!
Rings
If it’s a wedding you’re planning, consider using a family ring, or purchasing a vintage piece. Remember in the world of green, reusing something old is always more eco-friendly than buying something new. Maybe your family has some old gold jewelry that are not being used anymore? You can have them melted down and turned into a new treasure. And the variety and quality of vintage jewelry is mind-boggling.
If new is your thing, check out the ring selection from Brilliant Earth, which makes jewelry from sustainably sourced gold and gems. There are several other eco-minded jewelers that have caught our fancy. Give them a look!
Dresses
If you need a wedding dress, may we suggest you use a pre-loved, vintage dress? It’s the most sustainable way to go and you will save a LOT of money. Learn more about sources of vintage fashion here.
But if a new dress is what you fancy, definitely go with an eco-friendly designer. We love the work of Morgan Boszilkov and the Natural Bridal Collection, which is a new line of eco-friendly designer wedding gowns. All of her designs are hand-crafted in the U.S. and 5% of profits are donated to environmental causes. Her designs are elegant, beautiful, luxurious and Green!
Gifts or Favors
We personally think favors are unnecessary and will get tossed like most paper invitations, but if you want to do favors, how about seed packets? It’s a great way to spread a love of nature. Or how about making a donation on everyone’s behalf to a wonderful environmental non-profit like The Nature Conservancy or the Natural Resources Defense Council? Now that’s a great way to spend some money and have an impact!
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June 17th, 2008
Honda Launches Zero-Emissions Hydrogen Car
Honda has just announced that it will be releasing the FCX Clarity in the US market in 2009. This is a major piece of automotive progress! The Clarity will get 68 MPG and be a zero-emissions vehicle.
How it works: The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the FCX Clarity leaves behind. No carbon emissions, no reliance on foreign oil.
To learn more about hydrogen as a fuel for cars, and about the scarcity of hydrogen fueling stations, click here.
According the reviewers at Business Week, the new Clarity is ”a futuristic jellybean, first impressions suggesting a cross between the new Honda Accord and the Prius… If we had any complaint, surprisingly, it was rear visibility, despite the sedan’s expanse of glass.” You can read the rest of the detailed review here.
How much does it cost? Customers will pay $600 a month, over the course of three-year leases, including both maintenance and insurance. The first models will be leased in the L.A. area, but Honda hopes to roll it out to other major markets as well. The problem in those other markets will likely be that there are very few hydrogen filling stations, as compared to California where there are at least a few.
Well, we still can’t wait to see it on the road!
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June 12th, 2008
Planning an Eco-Friendly Move
It’s summer and that means a lot of folks are getting ready to move. Typically moving is a major environmental hazard zone: wasted packing paper, discarded boxes and thousands of miles of smog-belching truck driving. The average American move uses 100-120 pounds of cardboard and emits 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide for a cross-country move or 500 pounds for an intra-state move. Yee-ouch!
We’ll help you make your move more eco-friendly. Here are some tips on Lower Impact Moving:
1. First of all, don’t move what you don’t need! Go through your closets and boxes and get rid of the books, clothing and knick-knacks you won’t be using at your new home. You can give things to your local Goodwill or sell them on Craigslist. You’ll cut the carbon footprint of your move by limiting your junk!
2. A couple of months before your move, start saving your newspapers. You can use these for packing paper and then recycle it after your move.
3. We really encourage you to not use styrofoam “peanuts.” But if you do, please do check to see if you can recycle them. Many cities now recycle styrofoam– click here to check for your city.
4. You can go to your local grocery store or electronics store and ask them for their discarded boxes– this will save you hundreds of dollars and will conserve precious paper resources. Then you can recycle the boxes when you’re done.
5. Or if want clean, great quality boxes, you can go to our friends at UsedCardboardBoxes.com. You simply go to their site, order the quantity of boxes you want, and they send them to you. All of the boxes are recycled and can be recycled again. We have used this service and can give it a personal testimonial!
6. You’ll probably do some house-cleaning either when you move out of your old place or into your new place. Be sure to use non-toxic cleaning products, or if you want someone to do the cleaning for you, click here to find a green home-cleaning service in your area.
If you’re lucky enough to live in Southern California, you have another couple of great options for green moving services. Go Green Moving, based in Irvine, will move you using their biodiesel powered trucks. Another great company, MoveGreen, based in Santa Barbara, also uses biodiesel trucks, recycled moving supplies and plants 10 trees for every move!
We really hope some of the big national moving companies will investigate using biodiesel or other lower-impact moving options. (hint, hint, nudge, nudge.)
Do you have any other good ideas for green moves? Please share them in the comments section.
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June 9th, 2008
Eight Ways to Green Your Road Trip
Written by Leslie Valentine of Environmental Defense Fund, republished courtesy of Sustainablog
Peak driving season, when many Americans hit the road to visit relatives or see the sights, is now in full swing. With U.S. gas prices topping $4 a gallon in some places — and likely to edge up more during summer’s high demand — you may want to consider taking more efficient mass transportation.
But if you travel by car, you can still cut your fuel usage, save money and reduce your carbon footprint by driving smart.
1. Look into going by train or bus instead of by car or plane.
Taking a train or a bus, instead of driving or flying, results in less global warming pollution per person for the miles traveled (and may cost less, too).
On average, taking a trip by bus produces the least amount of greenhouse gas per passenger mile, followed by train travel, then air. Cars, light trucks and motorcycles contribute the most to global warming pollution.
Put another way:
+ Air travel results in nearly two times as much global warming pollution as intercity bus travel.
+ Rail produces slightly more greenhouse gas emissions than buses.
+ Cars, trucks and motorcycles produce three times the pollution of buses.
These comparisons assume the vehicles are not filled to capacity on average. Trains come out even better in comparison to planes when both are full. (Note that Amtrak offers discounts on some routes for people over age 62.)
2. If you decide on a road trip, get your car in good shape.
Getting better gas mileage is no longer just about cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also about saving some serious money. By following these rules of thumb, you will save gas and money — and your car will last longer.
+ Keep your engine tuned properly. Checking spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts are a few examples of maintenance that can save a vehicle owner up to 165 gallons of gas per year — for a potential savings of $625 a year (based on 12,000 miles of driving per year and $3.79 a gallon, nationwide average as of 5/19/2008).
+ Check the tires. Have your wheels aligned and keep your tires properly inflated. Low tire pressure wastes over two million gallons of gasoline in the U.S. every day. Keeping your tires properly inflated raises your car’s gas mileage by about 3.3 percent.
3. If you’re renting, choose a fuel efficient car.
The rental car business is slowly turning over a green leaf. Many of the major national rental companies (such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz) are offering a small number of fuel-sipping hybrids like the Toyota Prius in selected cities.
If a hybrid is not available, a subcompact, compact or economy car usually goes easier on the gas and is less costly to rent than a larger vehicle.
Get more details at Yahoo’s Green Center and find the top cars by green rating to help you select a rental car that meets your family’s needs.
4. Plan your trip well.
Part of the fun of a road trip is the adventure of exploring unknown territory. But getting lost and going miles out of your way is no fun — and wastes precious gas. So map out your route and keep maps handy to recheck.
A car navigation system is one high-tech way to keep on track in unfamiliar areas and get to your destination without wasting time and fuel.
5. Pile your friends and family in the same car.
Is one big, packed car better than two small, half-empty cars? The answer depends on the average gas mileage of the vehicles being compared.
But in general, if the larger car has a fuel economy at least half that of the two small cars, then it is more efficient to take the one large car. Here’s the math.
Take this hypothetical example: an SUV that gets 15 mpg on average versus two cars that get 30 mpg. For two people on a 30-mile trip, you’d burn roughly two gallons of gas in the SUV , and you’d also burn two gallons in the two cars (one gallon per car times two cars).
So in this case, the two options consume the same amount of gas. If the SUV had higher gas mileage, it would be the better option, and if it had lower gas mileage, it would be the worse option.
The average car in the U.S. carries 1.6 passengers, so if you carry more than that, you’re helping to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. Plus, you can pool expenses and save on gasoline.
6. When you’re finally on the road, drive gently.
You can increase your gas mileage by as much as 50 percent for highway driving (and by five percent for stop-and-go city driving) simply by accelerating and decelerating smoothly and slowly. Aggressive driving, such as mashing down the accelerator or the brake, uses an extra 125 gallons a year on average — so by driving gently you can save $473 a year in today’s prices.
7. Follow the speed limit.
You’d be surprised at how much fuel is squandered by driving over 60 miles per hour. Generally, each 5 mph over 60 mph you go is like paying an extra 20 cents per gallon of gas.
To keep your speed down while taking in more local color, consider taking less-traveled back roads, rather than the Interstates. It’s easier to keep the speedometer below 60 mph when other cars aren’t whizzing by you at 85 miles an hour!
8. Avoid unnecessary idling.
When you are unloading or packing your car, turn off the engine. An idling car gets zero miles to the gallon and contributes to global warming pollution. Contrary to popular belief, restarting your car does not burn more fuel than leaving it idling.
Learn more about cars and global warming at Environmental Defense Fund.
Sources
- CBS News: “Rental Cars Slowly Going Green“
- fueleconomy.gov, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- “The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from The Union of Concerned Scientists” by Michael Brower and Warren Leon.
- Transportation Energy Data Book, U.S. Department of Energy
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