Great news from the Federal government!!! President Obama is putting the government on a Greenhouse-Gas Diet and he means business.  Agencies will have 90 days to tell the White house how much they plan to measure and reduce greenhouse gases from buildings and vehicles by 2020.  Targets for employees’ communtes and travel will be due June 2010.

Obama made a great statement about the new initiative and I couldn’t agree more!

He said, “As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

I can’t wait to see how they do, stay tuned:)

Obama Puts Government On Greenhouse-Gas Diet.

If you’ve ever looked at the back of some of the facial cleansers and moisturizers you’ve used, you might get tongue-tied.  The reason being, many of the personal products we use are filled with chemicals that can be harmful to your skin and to the environment.  Being aware of what ingredients are in your personal products can make a big difference to your health and to help reduce your environmental impact.

Reading Labels and What to Look Out for

Understanding label lingo is especially important when you are considering what you will be using to clean and moisturize your skin.  Your skin is the first layer of your immune system and you want to make sure you protect it.  Some labels to look out for are:

1. Parabens

These are used as synthetic preservatives and can be found in a number of personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, styling products and soaps.  There is a growing number of reputable studies that are concerned with the health effects of these chemicals because they have been linked with acute and chronic health hazards like cancer, allergies and skin toxicity.

2. Phthalates (fragrance)

These are used in a number of different products and are usually identified as “fragrance” on ingredient lists.  Phthalates can “fix” a fragrance to last longer, enhance skin penetration, lubricate other ingredients and are found in a number of different products.  Studies have linked phthalates with cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, toxicity of the brain, liver, and lungs, and birth defects.

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

These are used as surfactants, making products lather up nicely.  They remove oils effectively but they do so indiscriminately on the skin, which can cause dryness and contact dermatitis.  These are found in soups, body washes/cleansers and even moisturizers.  The biggest problem with these chemicals is that they can lower the skin’s immunological response.

Getting used to reading the labels of personal care products is the best way to protect your skin and your immune system.  By avoiding these chemicals you can get cleansers and moisturizers that can fight dirt and aging while keeping you safe and healthy.  Look for products with natural fragrances made from plants and essential oils and those that disclose the sources of the fragrance.

Green Skin Care Products

If your feeling overwhelmed by chemicals don’t worry, there a lot of great alternative options out there that work better than you’d think!  One company that I’ve fallen in love with is J|A|S|O|N, which produces pure, natural and organic skin care products.   I recently starting using the Ester-C skin care system and I love it!  The ingredients are all listed on the bottle and I can pronounce all of them, which is a huge relief.  The system is totally paraben, phthalate, sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate free and they are also certified organic.  Another great thing about the company is that they only use the required about of packaging for all of their products–they just get better and better!  If J|A|S|O|N products are not for you, you can also try Kiss My Face, Alba, Burt’s Bees, and Aubrey Organics.  These are ALL  great products and most can be found at Whole Foods or any natural markets.

Make it Yourself

If you’d rather do-it-yourself there are great recipes for you too! Plus,  DIY is a great way to make sure you know exactly what is going into your skin care regime and that you are using chemical-free products.

Here is one of many great recipes I found in Renne Loux’s book, Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home

Honey-Avocado Masque

1 Avocado, 1.5 tablespoons raw honey, 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Mash the ingredients together in a food processor or blender until it is smooth.  Before applying the masque, steam your pores open over a pot of hot water for 2 to 5 minutes or by drenching a washcloth with hot water.  Apply the mixture evenly on your face and let it stand for 15 minutes.  Wash off with warm water and follow with a cool water rinse.

Hooray!!!  This is the best time of the year and I couldn’t be more excited about this information.  If your appliances are older than 5 years and you are looking for ways to save money buy new Energy Star appliances.  Luckily for us starting in March 2010 rebates, tax credits, and financing is available for new Energy Star refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, gas storage water heaters, gas tankless water heaters, gas furnaces, and gas boilers.

So, if your in the market for some new appliances think Energy Star and save green and go green!

Energy Savers: Colorado Appliance Rebates.

This is  a great article about ways to save money around the house. The 7 tips are easy and cost very little to implement.  As your Eco-Consultant, I can help with these 7 easy steps as well as introduce you to many others that will help lower your energy and water bills.  Happy savings!

Green Home Money Savers – 7 Ways to Save Money by Going Green – thedailygreen.com.

I just found the best apps to add to your iphone and couldn’t be more excited about them…now if I only had aniphone.  At least my husband has one that I can use in the meantime.

There are some free green apps and some that cost a little bit but I think they are well worth it.

Free apps…

1. The Green Lemur

This is a great app that will help give you even more green tips to help you lead the most eco0friendly lifestyle with efficiency.

2. Carbon Tracker

You can easily calculate your carbon footprints with the GPS-enabled carbon tracker.  The tracker can determine the approximate distance of the trip and you can monitor your progress by setting a monthly maximum emission goal.

3. iRecycle

This app will tell you what is recyclable and where to send it off.  No more confusion, yea!

4. Seventh Generation Label Guide

This app gives you the lowdown on harmful chemicals in common household cleaners.  This is great to use when shopping!

5. Dirty Produce

Love this one!  Buying organic can be pricey but this app gives you a guide on how to select veggies and fruits that should be best organic and ones that are okay to get conventionally grown.

6. Seafood Watch

This app helps you find and make the most sustainable seafood choices.

Apps that cost a little bit…

1. A Real Tree

This app is great!  You can plant a tree without all the work, who doesn’t love that?  By purchasing this app for only $0.99, a tree is planted in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burundi, Senegal, Zambia, India, the Philippines or Haiti.

2. greenMeter

This app computes your vehicle’s power, fuel-usage characteristics and evaluates your driving to increase efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and cost, and lower your negative environmental impact.  Who knew an app could do so much for only $5.99?

3. Locavore

This one I absolutely love and fits into my resolution to eat local.  For only $2.99 you can use this app to help you discover what food are in season for your area and where to find the nearest farmers’ markets.  It also gives you recipes to figure out how to eat the veggies that are in season.

4. Better World Shopper

This app gives you the lowdown on retailers–from food manufacturers, banks, even airlines.  The app gives the retailers a grade of A to F based on the companies’ polices and actions regarding human rights, the environment, animal protection, community involvement and social justice.  It only costs $1.99.

Like most people, I’ve referred to Whole Foods as Whole Paycheck and have avoided taking the extra time to get there.  But, since I started to think about eating organically and locally I’ve opened up my view, a lot!  I just got back from Whole Foods and I have a totally different perspective and I love the place.  A couple weeks ago my husband and I started to shop organically and at first it was a little scary, things seemed to be more expensive.  After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barabara Kingsolver the reason for the price difference became very obvious–it takes a lot of work to grow food organically.  That being said I started to compare prices even more and yes, things tend to be a little bit more expensive but not by much.  For example, a normal lemon costs about eighty-nine cents and an organic lemon costs about ninety-nine cents.  Not that much right?  Well then I moved onto other things like milk and eggs.  There was bigger differences here but knowing your eggs and milk are hormone-free is worth the extra two dollars.

Shopping organically at Safeway, Target or other conventional supermarkets seemed to be pretty reasonable and I thought for sure I would stay a loyal customer.  But, I changed my mind.  After coming back from Whole Foods I couldn’t feel better about the groceries I bought and excited to try new things.  The great part about Whole Foods is that they have foods marked by location of where they were grown and shipped from.  It makes eating locally a lot easier!  I know that I am getting good quality organic foods and I am still able to support my local farmers, what could be better?

So you might be saying, right, so you spent a bunch of money?  Well not really.  I didn’t spend much more than I would at the regular grocery store and to my surprise, the organic eggs and milk were the same price as Safeway.  I was shocked!  I think it’s great I am able to make a conscious decision about where I buy my food and if it is organically or conventionally grown– it really puts more power in my hands as a consumer and I love that!

Check out the Whole Foods (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) website and explore the great stuff they have to offer.  Hope you like it as much as I do!

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti all of us are looking for ways to help.  Earth911 compiled a great list of 5 ways we can all help a lending hand.  These include:

1. Donating your old laptop

A Seattle-based organization called InterConnection is working hard to help Haiti get back up and running.  During the earthquake schools, hospitals, and NGOs lost their hard drives and laptops.  Donated laptops will help Haiti open up communication and help the rebuilding process.  InterConnection is working hard to try and send over at least 100 laptops.

2. Give shelter in a box

A U.K. based organization called ShelterBox is working hard to put together shelter boxes for families.  The boxes have a tent, life saving equipment and can help shelter a family of up to 10 people.

3. Send in your cell phone

Like computers many lost ways of communicating after the earthquake.  Donating your old working cell phone to the American Red Cross will ensure Haitians can reestablish strong communication in order to better serve those in need.

4. Help rebuild it sustainably

Architecture for Humanity, a nonprofit  sustainable design company, has already raised $7,000 to help rebuild Haiti.  Architecture for Humanity will primarily work in the reconstruction phase of post-disaster Haiti, focusing on transitional and permanent housing and community structures.

5. Send a text

Donors can make a $5 donation in less than 30 seconds by simply texting YELE to 501501

Check out the article for more information…

Haiti: How Greenies Can Help – Earth911.com.

Here is a great quiz to take to see how Green your personality is.  It’s pretty fun and good to see where you stand on the “green scale.”  Don’t be discouraged if you are not as green as you thought you’d be.  Remember small changes can have a big impact too!

Personality Quiz Going Green – What Is Your Green Personality Quiz – thedailygreen.com.

You might be hearing more about bamboo and wonder what is the big deal.  Well, products like hardwood flooring, clothing, and other building materials made from bamboo are taking center stage because of the plant’s environmental benefits, which are largely due to its ability to grow quickly.

Bamboo can grow up to three to four feet per day and it doesn’t require fertilizers, pesticides or much water.  Bamboo also spreads easily with little or no care and a bamboo grove can release about 35% more oxygen into the air than a similar sized strand of trees!  Also, materials made from bamboo tend to last longer, are more resistant to wear and tear and tend to be more stable.

Bamboo is providing a great alternative for traditional cotton clothing and isn’t that expensive.  Growing cotton is a very intense process usually requiring a great deal of fertilizers and pesticides. Organic cotton is a great alternative to conventionally grown cotton since farmers have to undergo strict requirements for the organic certification.  While organic cotton is gaining popularity and used in more and more clothing options it can still feel limiting because after all, cotton is cotton.

Luckily bamboo, with its quick and easy harvest, can produce fabrics that feel more like silk or cashmere.  Bamboo fabric is a versatile fabric because it can be used to construct fashionable clothing, workout clothes, bedding, towels, just to name a few.  The best part is that this great fabric is that it is able to draw moisture away from the skin, like those dry-fit clothes we all buy and love.

I have a set of bamboo sheets for my king-size bed and I love them and they were cheaper than the other sheets available at the store.  I’ve loved all the bamboo materials I’ve brought into my home and I know you will be too.  To find out more about bamboo fabrics and clothing you can read BAM’s FAQ’s page.  You can also check out some bamboo clothing distributors like Bamboosa, Jerico, DriBamboo to see what types of clothes are made from bamboo.  Guaranteed you’ll be as excited as me about this great new fashion statement- its environmentally friendly and very affordable!

I am trying to incorporate bamboo into my life in as many ways as I can and so far I love everything I have.  I recently bought bamboo cutting boards and they are soo much better than my old plastic ones!  If you invest in a bamboo cutting board don’t forget to treat it with vegetable oil frequently so it can last you a life time!

Here is a link to a great article I found discussing more of the benefits of bamboo, check it out…

Bamboo Green Environment – Bamboo Clothes, Bamboo Floors – thedailygreen.com.

Here is a list of books and products that I love.  Try them out and let me know what you think.  You can also see these on the Green Books and Product Recommendations link on the right.