Just searching for my clothes in the morning can give me a headache.  I can never find where I put anything.  Does this sound like you?  Thinking about remodeling your closet with a closet system that can take that “where did I put those shoes I need for today” frustration out of the way?  Don’t replace your lack of organization with a new problem caused by a closet system that contain urea-formaldehyde.

Most closet systems are made of particleboard, which is an engineered product made of wood waste. Its core is bonded together with a urea-formaldehyde resin, and overlaid with a melamine exterior. So how is a harmless closet system with formaldehyde going to harm me? 

“Formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people can develop sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer. May also cause other effects listed under ‘organic gases.’ EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System Profile.Many houses today are built tighter for energy efficiency.  In addition, our houses contain furniture, shelving, insulation, and cabinets which all contain formaldehyde increasing our exposure to formaldehyde.  “All wood has some naturally occurring formaldehyde. But more formaldehyde is added to composite wood in the form of certain resins, which are used to bind wood particles together,” according to April 2007 news release of  The California Air Resource Board.   So you ask, what is a girl going to do now? 

Are there Green Closets Systems Out there?

Yes Virginia there are indeed three green closet companies that I have encountered in the last couple of years: Stor-X, California Closets, and Terra Cabinets. Over this week, I will be featuring a post on each of these closet companies. Up first is Stor-x, so hang on to your nonplastic hangers…

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Today, Ken Cook, President of the Enviromental Working Group presented the petition signed by thirty thousand people requesting that the new Farm Bill include funding for Organic farmers. Listed below is a You Tube video of Cook’s presentation of the petition to Congressman Kind. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/otXmjHSxeI4[/youtube]

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Photo Courtesy of Kitty Wilkin, under Creative Common Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 license.
(Also visit Kitty’s photos at Etsy)

Sometimes, I will post about a special person or circumstance that I want to share with Green Talk readers. Here is one of those situations: 

 One minute I was sharing a light hearty moment with my kids.  The next moment I heard the most awful sounds of rubber screeching, metal hitting metal, and a thud that I can not get out of my head.  All this noise was from two cars that collided on a road near me.  Instinctively, I raced from my car to see if everyone was alright. I only heard the crash.  I never saw what happened.  There on the side of the road was an elderly woman who seemed in shock and another middle aged woman lying on the pavement of a diner’s driveway.  My first thoughts were that the elderly woman had hit the pedestrian.  Was she going to be okay?

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Photo courtesy of Project Phin 

You have to watch this video (with a cameo of Ben Affleck.)  It is hilarious but has a very important message about pressuring congress to explore the uses of alternative fuels.   In addition there is a petition for you to sign if you agree with the message in the video. 

 There are additional episodes planned with other stars being featured.  As indicated on the “About the Campaign” section of the website, “[w]atch our videos each day for the next week to learn more and laugh at the lengths to which one man - Phin - would go to get the word out. Joining him along the way are Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Biggs, Jennifer Garner, Tobin Bell (scary guy in the SAW movies), Jenny Wade and Joshua Jackson. Help them and us tell Congress - Clean My Ride, Flex My Fuel. Go to www.CleanMyRide.com. Time for Congress to do its job.” Stay Tuned.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/6kua2R3Qf7U" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Since I wrote this post over the weekend, episodes 2 and 3 were completed.  Here they are:

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I have been corresponding with Bart Dabek about his website, Aboutmyplanet.com.  Bart is from Toronto, Canada and when I asked him how he would summarize his website, he replied, “Aboutmyplanet.com is an environmentally focused website that focuses on current events and technologies that affect our planet. We focus on variety of subjects such as the environment, alternative energy and how those things affect our lives. Our approach is to show the general public that the environment is on everyone’s mind these days; and that they too can make a difference.”  His articles span many different topics and international locals. I was drawn to this website because I am always interested in reading about alternative energy.  Some of the articles that I liked on this site: 

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Photo Courtesy of ByebyeStandby.com

For our UK readers, Alternative Consumer contained a post about Bye Bye Standby (“BBSB”), a device that cuts off power to unused appliances that are plugged into wall outlets.   The BBSB maker offers the Intro package which contains 2 smart outlets and a green switch and the Energy Savings Kit which contains three appliance switches and one remote control.   On the “Buy me” page is a list of who supplies these products.

 With any products, the question always comes up, how much am I going to save if I am using this product? 

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Photo courtesy of Enviromental Working Group

The Environmental Working Group reached the needed 30,000 votes for their petition to help to assure that the Farm bill includes funding for organic farmers.  Their work is not done and they still are seeking more signatures.  For all of you that signed the petition from emails from friends, from blog site like Green Talk that sought to spread the word, and Hugg, a job well done.  Let’s keep the momentum moving forward.

See the following story on Green Talk about the Farm Bill at Spread the Word To Help Get Signatures for EWG’s Petition For Federal Funding For Organic Farmers!

Or, jump right to the petition on Grow Organics Campaign!

In the comment section below this post, let everyone know that you signed the petition!

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Photo Courtesy of Enviromental Working Group

I just received this important email from the Environmental Working Group.  Please read, sign the petition, and forward either this post or the EWG ’s email letter to your friends.  They need 30,000 signatures by July 15.  I just signed the petition.  Thanks for reading and supporting this cause. 

EWG Action Fund

Spread the Word
about Organics

Just 6 days left!

  “According to the subsidy data from the Environmental Working Group, one giant cotton farm collected $2.95 million through crop subsidies in 2005, nearly as much money as the federal government spent on its primary research program for organic agriculture last year — $3 million.”
– The New York Times, July 4, 2007
“The Debate Over Subsidizing Snacks”

 Dear Supporter,  

 New York Times reporters aren’t the only ones poring over the information in EWG’s Farm Subsidy Database. The unfair funding distributions have everyone’s attention and EWG Action Fund’s Grow Organics Campaign for organics funding is taking off. Thanks to your generous support, we surpassed our goal and raised a total of $45,000! These vital funds will help our staff meet with lawmakers to gain support for crucial changes in the Farm Bill.

 But organics aren’t safe yet. In just a two short weeks the full House will vote on a new Farm Bill, which could be the first to include significant funding for organics. To make this happen, our Representatives need to hear from us! Add your voice to the Grow Organics petition today. 

More than 17,000 of you have signed on to level the playing field for organic farmers with the petition so we’re more than halfway to our goal! Now is the time to reach out to your social networks and get them involved in the campaign. 

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Photo Courtesy of SmartHomeUSA.com

With all the talk about lessening your carbon footprint, one of the suggestions is to unplug your computers, televisions, and VCRs.  Even when you shut off these electrical appliances, they are still drawing power. 

 “These ‘phantom’ loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance,” according to the Department of Energy.¹

  Although we all know better, how many people remember to turn off the power strip to their computers when they leave the room?  Don’t all raise your hands at once.  Even though we are trying to be more environmentally conscious, we just forget.  It happens. 

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Do you ever feel your attention span is getting shorter and shorter?  Too much to read and see?  Life is just too harried to absorb the information you want to learn? Well, welcome VideoJug.com, life explained on film in a quick digestible manner. It is a website that contains professional prepared films explaining life. 

 With offices in London, Spain, and Los Angeles, California, production will be split fifty- fifty UK/US.  You can click the Edition Tab and choose US, UK, or International. 

According to the website, “VideoJug hosts one of the world’s largest, most all-encompassing libraries of factual content online. Our professionally-produced, high definition video content covers every conceivable topic and delivers the definitive online “encyclopedia of life”.   The content is divided into a variety of formats that include informative “How To” and “Ask The Expert” films that take users, step-by-step through everything from the lighter, more welcome aspects of life (leisure, hobbies, beauty and style) to the more serious tribulations we all face in day-to-day life (health, legal, money, parenting).”  

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