Recycle Your Crocs

So you own Crocs. There might be a million different explanations for how you gained possession of a pair. Whether you love them or hate them, whether you have Croc pride or Croc shame and whether you plan to buy a new pair or stay away from them completely, you should know how to dispose of your Crocs when the time comes.

SolesUnited is a first-of-its-kind footwear recycling program for Crocs. They accept old worn out Crocs that are recycled into new shoes and donated to some of the poorest people in the world. 

There are two ways to get your Crocs to SolesUnited. First, you can go to one of the authorized retail locations which are listed HERE. Second, you can ship your Crocs to SolesUnited by clicking HERE. 

SolesUnited has set a goal of distributing 2 million shoes made from recycled donated Crocs to poor people in developing nations. So far they have given out 1 million. They accept all styles of Crocs footwear.

If you want to do more, or if you plan on buying another pair of Crocs soon, consider purchasing a pair of SolesUnited Crocs. They are made of 20% recycled product and for each pair you buy, Crocs will donate a pair of shoes to the SolesUnited program. These special edition Crocs are available to children and adults. Click HERE for the adult Crocs and HERE for the kids. 

The Green Craig's List

Craig's List is already a pretty environmentally friendly concept. The site, with its huge array of classified ads, allows people to purchase and sell used products they might otherwise throw away. It has added years of life to computers, furniture, clothes, cars, etc. Now, a new website is taking eco-friendly classfieds to a whole other level. 

EcoFlip.org likes to portray itself as the Green Craig's List. They have classfied ad sites for several countries, states and cities. Each site features ad categories like Green Living, Household Products, Fuel Efficient Vehicles, EcoPersonals and Eco-Friendly Services. 

Posting to EcoFlip.org is free, just like Craig's List. Keep in mind that they do accept donations though, so that the service can continue to exist. We searched through the site a little bit and failed to come up with many classifieds postings, but the word may not yet be out in our community.

Take a minute and stop by EcoFlip. If you're thinking of selling something on Craig's List, why not put it up on EcoFlip too? www.ecoflip.org

Raising a Green Dog

Raising a dog is a pretty straight forward experience. They eat, sleep, potty and play. Where in that routine is there room to make them more environmentally friendly? You'd be surprised.

First, lets get the dirty stuff out of the way and talk about your dog's waste. You should already be picking up any droppings when you're on walks. Dog's waste contains bacteria and nutrients that can get washed into rivers and lakes every time it rains. This has two consequences: 1) Our drinking water could become contaminated and 2) An overload of nutrients in water bodies could kill plants and animals. Always make sure you use biodegradable bags when picking up your dog's droppings (find some HERE).

Second, what kind of food is your dog eating? It might sound silly to feed your dog organic food, but the principle is the same whether its food for you or for your dog. Organic food is grown and raised without pesticides, harmful fertilizers or toxic chemicals. These things also wash away into rivers and streams which eventually lead to the ocean forming "dead zones" where no sea life can exist. Newman's Own has an organic line of dog foods that you can read about HERE.

Third, avoid pet supplies and toys made of plastic. Some dogs have an allergic reaction to plastic. If your dog's mouth area has a rash or breaks out often it might be because of a plastic water dish. Plastic is made using petroleum and, therefore, contributes to our little oil crisis. Instead, look for dog products made of recycled materials. The American Kennel Club has a green collection of products HERE. Planet Dog sells products made of recycled products HERE. Finally, Earthdog sells toys made of durable hemp you can find HERE.

Just by making a few changes, you can significantly decrease the impact you and your dog have on the planet.

How Much to Solar Power Your Home?

If you've been thinking about making changes to your home to make it more energy efficient and eco-friendly, you may have considered installing solar panels on your roof. It is a convenient place to put the panels and it is currently wasted space.

The most difficult aspect of planning a project like this is estimating the possible costs. A new website might make this part a little easier.

RoofRay is a great website that combines Google Maps with solar panel estimating formulas. Once you are on the site, find your property on the Google Maps window. Highlight the area of the roof you plan to cover with solar panels. Input the slope and angle of your roof. RoofRay will give you a rough estimate of the installation costs and potential energy generation based on your plans.

To check it out, click HERE.

Big Box Stores Use Big Roofs for Energy

Its an emotional struggle each time you visit a big box store. You know they pose a threat to local businesses, they sell products made in sweat shops, they treat their employees badly and destroy acres of land with huge impervious structures. The problem is, they do it all while being convenient and cheap.

Apparently the retailers know your inner conflict and they are trying to reconcile their evil deeds by installing solar panels on their giant roofs. The New York Times published an article this week that documents this growing trend of national retailers using renewable energy to save money while attracting "green minded" individuals.

Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Whole Foods and Safeway have initiated programs aimed at taking advantage of a renewable energy tax credit that may expire December 31st. So far, less than 10% of the stores' locations have installed the solar panels but they may continue the program if Congress renews the renewable energy tax credit this year.

Big box stores are generally the biggest users of energy in many small communities. Their roofs provide ample space to offset that energy use. According to the Times' article, if Wal-Mart installed solar panels on all of their stores, including their Sam's stores, the result would roughly equal 23 square miles of solar panels, or an area the size of Manhattan.

The solar panels can provide 10-40% of each store's electricity needs. This is dependent on weather conditions and the store's demands. Unfortunately, solar power is still more expensive than coal or natural gas. According to an energy expert quoted in the Times' piece, a kilowatt hour of coal costs 6 cents, a kilowatt hour of natural gas costs 9 cents and a kilowatt hour of solar energy costs 25 cents.

There are many ways to bring down the cost of solar energy so that it is competitive with non-renewable sources. The most important way is by encouraging these large-scale commercial installations that increase competition among solar panel manufacturers which drives down prices and increases innovation. The federal government can encourage large-scale commercial installations by providing appropriate tax incentives that reduce barriers to initiating solar panel programs. The federal government's best existing incentive, the Renewable Energy Tax Credit, has not yet been renewed this year.

To read the full New York Times article, click HERE.

Green Back to School Shopping

August generally means back to school. I have already given some tips on how to have eco-friendlier lunches (see HERE), here are some tips on how to make sure your back to school supplies are as green as your lunches will be.

• Backpack: The best advice is to recycle an old backpack or use a bag around the house. If you need a new bag, look for packs made of recycled or organic products. Avoid plastic or vinyl products. Simple Shoes sells packs made of recycled products and hemp, find them HERE.

• Paper Products: If you have notebooks in decent shape from last year that still have paper in them, rip out the stuff you've used and use the rest. For all new paper purchases, look for products made of recycled paper. You can buy recycled paper products at Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax. Did you know you can buy elephant dung printer paper? Check it out HERE.

• Binders and Folders: There are three great companies that sell binders and folders made of recycled products. Check out Green Line Paper Company HERE, Green Earth Office Supply HERE and Treecycle HERE.
  

• Pens and Pencils: There are several eco-friendly options when purchasing pens and pencils. You will find pencils made of recycled products at most retailers. Automatic pencils are a good choice too because they are refillable. Wheely pens (HERE) are both refillable and made of recycled rubber. Also, look out for Pilot's new BeGreen pens made of recycled products that can be found in many stores (HERE).
  
  
• Post-Its: This might seem like a strange item, but you can actually purchase Post-It notes made of recycled paper! HERE
  
  

Recycle Dry Cleaner Hangers

This is just a quick tip. This morning I was walking to the Washington Metro when I passed a dry cleaner with a sign asking for recycled hangers. Anyone who has had their clothes dry cleaned on a few occasions knows the metal hangers they give you with your clean clothes can add up pretty quickly. If you're not using those hangers at home, bring them back with you to the dry cleaner the next time you get some clothes cleaned so they can reuse them rather than wasting more.

Also, ask your dry cleaner if they use environmentally safe methods for cleaning clothes. There are plenty of places that now offer the option to use less toxic chemicals rather than the extremely dangerous chemicals that have been used for years. Make sure you always choose the safer alternative.

Simple Green Tips in One Post

I started this blog over a year and a half ago. Since then, I have posted every "green tip" I can find. Buried in the 350 posts are lots of great pieces of advice. For the amateur environmentalist just looking for some good places to start changing their habits, its too time consuming to search through all that information.

So today, when I stumbled on a list of green tips on MSNBC.com, I decided to include the list on my blog so there are a few basic ways to live greener all in one post.

• Clean Green: Rather than using toxic, smelly chemicals to clean your home, use natural products that are equally effective. I have natural home cleanser recipes HERE, HERE and HERE.

• Buy New Candles: Many synthetically scented candles use phthalates, which can negatively affect your health by disrupting your hormones. Instead, purchase naturally scented soy candles.
  

• Improve Your Flushing: According to the EPA, a family's toilet flushing accounts for 1/3 of their water usage. Most toilets use way more water than is required for flushing. Place a full gallon milk jug or a brick in your toilets tank to reduce the amount of water it uses to flush.

• Switch Bulbs: Those old incandescent bulbs you're using produce excess heat and are terribly energy inefficient. Use 75% less electricity by installing florescent CFL light bulbs that are available everywhere. They last 10 times longer than your old bulbs too.
  

• Buy Sustainable Furniture: When its time to retire the old furniture, look for replacements that are certified sustainable. This means sofas and beds made of reclaimed materials, bamboo, organic cotton, etc. The label you're looking for is the FSC label, which indicates sustainable construction.

• Eat Locally & Organically: Buying groceries is a time consuming task that usually seems like a chore. Shake things up and visit your local farmers market. You will be supporting local farmers and buying food that hasn't been shipped thousands of miles. Also, try to buy organic so your food isn't connected to pesticides and toxic chemicals.
  

• Change Transportation Habits: Everything related to transportation is changing due to energy costs and this should include you. Consider public transportation options and carpooling. Ride your bike and get some exercise for quick errands around town. Streamline car trips by making a list of chores ahead of time so you drive less.
  

• Eat Reusable Lunches: Rather than bringing lunch to work or school in paper bags, use cloth bags that can be washed and reused. The same goes for baggies, try reusable containers for your food instead of constantly buying new packaging.
  

• Print Carefully: Reduce your printing at work. When you make a mistake, reuse the paper for notes. When you have to print, use recycled paper and print on both sides.
  

• Turn it Off: A large portion of our energy usage comes from electronics we aren't using. This is called phantom power. Your computer, television, stereo, DVD player, etc. burn through a lot of energy when not in use. Make sure all of this equipment is off and not in "standby" mode. This might require plugging the equipment in to power strips and shutting off the power when you're not using them.
  

To see the full article from MSNBC, go HERE.

Drip Irrigation vs. Sprinklers

Its no secret that several states out west are struggling with a terrible dry spell. As California firefighters struggle to put out forest fires, its important for all of us to rethink the way we use water around our homes.

One important change you could make is the method you use to keep your yard and plants watered. Most people use sprinklers for watering. There is a better alternative to sprinklers that offers several great benefits, including water conservation.

Drip irrigation is a network of pipes that carry low pressure water to plants. Holes are placed along the pipes to allow for a slow drip onto the soil. Where traditional sprinklers are only 50-70% effective in watering a yard or garden, drip irrigation is 90% effective. There are other great benefits associated with switching to drip.

• Drip irrigation may be exempt from water restriction laws during droughts.
  
• Water is distributed directly to the soil and plants, reducing evaporation, runoff and loss due to wind.
• The ugly mold marks on the sides of homes and fences from sprinkler splash are not a problem with drip irrigation.
  
• Timers and automatic systems can be attached to drip irrigation pipes just like sprinklers.
• The layout of a drip irrigation system can be easily changed or added on to.
  

If you are interested in installing a drip irrigation system at your home, there is a lot of great information available HERE.

Eco-Friendly Lunches for Kids

In about a month, the malls and Targets of America will be buzzing with lots of students gathering up school supplies and new clothes for the upcoming school year. Of course, part of going to school everyday is eating at school everyday.

Anybody who has seen a school lunch room by 3:00pm knows that garbage and waste is a major problem. Garbage cans are generally overflowing and bags once filled with snacks that end in "-itos" are strewn all over the floor. Eventually, all this stuff ends up in the dump where it will sit for your child's lifetime, or longer.

If you want to send your kid back to school this year a little greener, there are a few things you can do to avoid filling the dump and polluting the earth.

• Use Reuseable Lunch Bags: Cloth lunch bags are easy to store in a backpack and can be thrown in with the laundry at the end of the week. Most aren't plastic (which is made using petroleum) and the whole family can share one set rather than buying individual lunch boxes. Plus, you won't have to worry about buying new paper bags each month.

• Buy the Family Size: There is a push to package everything we eat in individual size containers. This is a bad direction to go in. Rather than creating waste each time your child eats some chips, buy the big bag and give them a handful for lunch. This will save you money too.

• Get Reuseable Food Containers: Since you are buying the family size bags of food now, use small, plastic resueable food containers to hold snacks rather than buying plastic baggies that will be thrown away everyday. Many can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
  

• Feed them Organic Fruit: We have a little obesity issue in America's schools right now, feeding our kids fruit instead of fruit snacks might help resolve this problem. Make sure your kids snacks are organic so they don't consume pesticides or hormones.
  

• Use Reuseable Drink Bottles: Rather than sending your kid to school with a juice box or a soda can, buy a non-toxic, eco-friendly, reuseable drink bottle. Sigg bottles are among the best and there are tons of different color and design combinations to help your child express themself. You can see them HERE

So when you're shopping for all those school supplies this year, avoid the aggravation of constantly buying disposable packaging and the expense of the individually packaged products by giving your child a greener lunch. They might even learn the importance of protecting our world.

Non-Toxic Sunscreens for Your 4th Celebrations

Its no secret that skin cancer is a constant threat if you spend a lot of time outdoors. But short of wearing a big hat, pants and long sleeves, you're probably going to get some sun exposure. This is especially true on holiday weekends like the one coming up! So you're going to have to wear sunscreen to protect yourself.

The trouble is, most sunscreens contain harmful ingredients that can have long term affects on your health and the health of your family. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control have reported that the chemical oxybenzone is present in 97% of Americans. This is probably because oxybenzone is a common suncreen ingredient that can be found in 600 of the sun protection products sold in the U.S. What is so bad about oxybenzone? It has been connected to allergies, hormone disruption, cellular damage and low birth weight.

What you're looking for in a sunscreen is a lack of dangerous chemicals, UVA and UVB protection as well as strength against the elements. The Daily Green has put together a list of just such sunscreens, I've posted five from their list below.

• UV Natural: The Environmental Working Group has chosen this as one of the safest, most effective sunscreens available. Their website is HERE.

• Aubrey Organics: Another product rated highly by the EWG. This sunscreen also contains hite camellia, organic shea butter and jojoba oil to improve the health of your skin. Their website is HERE.
  

• Badger Balm: The number one choice by the EWG. It comes in 30 SPF and combines zinc oxide with natural products to protect your skin. Their website is HERE.

• California Baby: The line of California Baby sunscreens is scattered throughout the EWG's list of top products. They are water resistant and made of sustainably produced organic ingredients. Their website is HERE.
  

• Dermalogica: This sunscreen is designed for those with sensitive skin. Their faceblock product is a favorite of the EWG. The sunscreen base is made of titanium dioxide, vitamins and anti-inflammatory botanical extracts. Their website is HERE.
  

Organic Beer for Your 4th of July Party

Rather than working, I'm guessing you're putting together your grocery list for Friday's 4th of July BBQ. Of course you can't celebrate American independence without drinking American beer. This year, celebrate American ingenuity as well by picking up some organic brews. Below is a guide to some of the best from The Daily Green.

• Eel River Brewing Company: Based out of Scotia, California, this brewer was the first to be certified organic in the US. The brewery is in a building formerly used as a lumber mill and uses leftover wood chips, bark and other organic matter for energy. They sell a wide range of beers including blondes and I.P.A.'s. You can visit their website HERE.

• Wolaver's Certified Organic Beer: One of the country's original organic brewers, this Vermont beer maker focuses on sustainability from the beginning of the brewing process to the end. The by-product of their brewing is even donated to local dairy farms to be used as cattle feed. They sell ales, porters, lagers and seasonal brews. Check them out HERE.
  

• Butte Creek Brewing: If you want to buy a beer that gives more than a buzz, check out Butte Creek Brewing. In addition to using organic methods, the brewery donates a portion of its proceeds to restoring the Chinook salmon population that has badly dwindled. They sell a porter, pale ale and a pilsner. Their website is HERE.
  

• Peak Organic: Peak is a brand I've seen around Washington, DC. It is a Portland, Maine brewing company that not only uses organic hops, barley and malt in their beer but also infuses local maple syrup in some brews. The brewery began in 1998 with a home beer making kit and has expanded into a great variety of beers including an amber, nut brown ale, maple oat ale and a summer blend. Click HERE for their site.
  

• Lakefront Brewery: Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a long beer tradition that now includes an organic brewer in Lakefront Brewery. The beer is largely distributed throughout the Midwest but is also available at the Whole Foods in Georgetown in DC. They have some unique brews, including a British-style bitter and a gluten free option. Find out where the beer is available by clicking HERE.
  

Don't forget to keep a recycling bin out for your guests so you can easily recycle all those glass beer bottles.

The Milk Jug Gets a New Eco-Design

You know eco-living has reached saturation point in our society when Wal-Mart and Costco are selling milk in new, environmentally friendly jugs.

This is exactly what is happening at the massive chain stores. The New York Times reports today that the experimental milk jug will cut labor, fuel and carbon costs while keeping milk fresher longer at a lower price.

Many customers are complaining about the new jugs because they require a "rock and pour" technique instead of the traditional "lift and tip." The jugs don't have spouts and newbies tend to spill milk all over during their first attempts.

Packaging and business experts say that consumers need to get used to changes in traditional food packaging as grocery stores attempt to cut energy and shipping costs everywhere. These new milk jugs can be shipped in a more efficient manner that cuts labor costs in half and reduces water usage by 60-70%. In addition, the improved shape and more efficient shipping means milk can go from cow to store in a few hours as opposed to a full day.

Consumers should be happy about the changes because they mean lower grocery costs (the new milk container costs 10 to 20 cents less), fresher food and better environmental standards.

To read the full New York Times article, go HERE.

Wired: Guide to the Right CFL Bulb

Wired Magazine has a great new post on their website about which compact florescent bulb to use in each room of your home. They took into consideration the purpose of the room, who might be using it and which type of light would be most comfortable to your eyes when they were making their guide. Some highlights below. Enjoy!

Living Room/Dining Room:

• Use warmer CFLs in rooms where people will congregate.
• Yellow and Red tints in the 2,700K - 3,000K range soften skin and clothing for a more comforting environment.
• Steer clear of bluish bulbs in these rooms because they negative affect skin tone.

Study/Workshop:

• Choose blueish green tints that will help your iris focus on detail.
• Go with low energy 3,500K for reading or higher energy 4,100K for detail oriented work.

Bedroom:

• To create a romantic, inviting environment, go with bulbs of the 2,700K variety in warmer yellow and red tints.
  
• Choose a dimmable bulb to control the amount of light in the room.

Bathroom:

• CFL's don't last as long when they are turned off and on frequently. For bathrooms, a traditional incandescent bulb might be preferred.
  

Backyard:

• Choose "warmer" lights in the 3,000K range that have yellow or red tints to help create a cozier environment in the yard and to make yourself and your food look more delicious.
  

To read the full Wired piece, go HERE.

Fight Energy Prices, Become a Fan of Fans

I don't know about your community, but where I live home energy prices are on the rise. Its becoming increasingly expensive to keep the A/C running all the time. Plus, you are contributing to air pollution and global climate change if you aren't cooling your home as efficiently as possible. So are there any alternatives to the energy intensive air conditioner?

Become a fan of fans. There are several ways you can use inexpensive fans around your home to keep it cooler.

First, install ceiling fans. These can be awfully unattractive, but they can keep you cool for about 1/30th the energy cost of an air conditioner unit. Stay away from cheap fans that probably burn more electricity. Make sure the fan blades are turned 12-15 degrees to maximize wind and set the blades to turn counter-clockwise.

Second, place a small fan, facing in, at an open window at one end of your home and another, facing out, at an open window at the other end of your home. You will create a tunnel of air that moves cool air in and warm air out.

Third, setting up an oscillating fan that rotates back and forth across the room will help cool the air as much as four degrees.

Keep in mind a few things. A fan is most effective when someone is in the room to feel the cool air blowing on them. Fans are not good at physically cooling the air, but are better at cooling the surface of your skin, which will make you feel more comfortable. Leaving the fan on all day will probably have little or no effect. Also, do other things to keep your home cool like closing the blinds to keep the sun out, sealing cracks in the windows or doors, isolating rooms that do not need to be cooled by closing the door and adding window tape to insulate the glass on your windows.

Best Buy Expanding E-Recycling Program

Usually you go to Best Buy to pick-up some new piece of electronic equipment to replace either an outdated piece or a broken one. Inevitably, this means something is going in the garbage. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Remember, electronics waste is just about the most toxic type of waste around. Embedded in those chips and bits are high quantities of dangerous metals and chemicals. Dumping televisions, computers, cell phones, batteries, etc. into the garbage results in drinking water pollution and the possible release of very dangerous compounds into the air. 

When its time to retire an old or broken piece of electronics equipment, make sure you are responsible. You can already recycle small items like cellphones, batteries, ink cartridges, etc. at Best Buy stores. Now, if you live near a Best Buy in Baltimore, San Francisco and several other cities (117 stores in all) you can also recycle large electronic equipment for free too.

The stores will accept 2 items per day, per household. They cannot take microwaves, air conditioners, or appliances. To recycle those items, contact your local garbage company. 

To get more information about the expanded Best Buy recycling program, click HERE.

Video: Removing and Disposing of Old Carpet

Carpet may contribute to lower air quality for your home. There are a lot of great alternatives to carpeting that are healthier for your family and the environment. When you're ready to replace that tired carpet, remember to recycle the old and be innovative with the new.

Below is a video about recycling carpet and how to utilize the materials under your carpeting.

Greener One: How Green are Your Goods?

Getting information about the eco-friendliness of different products is pretty tough. Often, you cannot rely on the information from the manufacturer because it is skewed, exaggerated or misrepresented to increase sales. Google searching is tough because there is so much information out there, spread out over so many websites.

So what is a curious consumer to do? A new website called Greener One has just opened up shop on the internet to help us all out. It is similar to Wikipedia in that it invites educated citizens to contribute information on the ingredients, toxicity and lifespan of different products ranging from electronics to cleaning agents.
The long-term goal of the site is to become a go-to resource similar to "Consumer Reports" where consumers will look for reviews and information on a product prior to making a purchase. They can find out if the product is recyclable and whether it contains harmful ingredients.

If you want to check the site out, click HERE. It is in the beginning phases of development, but already there are several categories of product reviews available.

Green DC: Local Green Buying Guide

This post is part of a weekly feature where we will focus on events and issues, related to the environment, happening in our own back yard of Washington, DC. Come back next Wednesday for another post.

I've tried to list many of the eco-friendly places to shop in DC in the past. The website Gridskipper.com has also taken a shot at listing DC's green shopping sites. However, being a green consumer incoporates so many different factors that its nearly impossible to list every local farmers market, thrift store, organic market, fair trade shop, vegan restaurant, etc., in town.

So rather than waste perfectly good blog space trying to list all these green locations in DC, I'm going to rely on the New American Dream's Green Guide to DC.

This guide is essential for living and contributing to the DC community. It is a great resource on all of the local farmers markets, book stores, gardens, repair shops, flea markets and more. The guide also includes websites and contact information for several local community organizations or r