Green Talk

Photo by permission of Daniel R. Blume

As technology advances, I have seen more monitors, computers, televisions, and other electronic equipment left at the end of driveways or in trash cans waiting to hitch a ride to the nearest landfill. According to the EPA, only twelve percent of electronic equipment is recycled.

The sad part is the nearest landfill could be a third world country. A couple of days ago, I wrote an article about GreenDisk, the producers of the technotrash can, which you can use to dispose of electronic media, and certain electronic equipment. My decision to team up with GreenDisk was due to my reading of a Mother Earth article, which showed a picture of a cherub Chinese child on top of a mountain of our electronic waste. It was deeply disturbing.

Please watch this shortened version of a video produced by Basel Action Network about what happens to our electronic equipment after it is shipped to third world countries.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0xpRk7MYNg[/youtube]

Here are some other ideas on how to prevent your electronic equipment from entering the waste stream:

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Photo by permission of Lee Industries

Lee Industries, a family owned company, has been manufacturing furniture since 1969 adhering to the same principles of yesterday as they do today. Its commitment to manufacturing high quality furnishings in the United States and the focus on its customers, community, and the environment have not changed since the Company’s founding.

Norman Coley, president of the company, credits his father, Bill Coley, founder and CEO of the Company for Lee’s environmental vision as evidenced by the company’s standards to produce long lasting quality furniture, which would not be discarded in landfills. Even as early as the 1980s, the Company introduced their Ecology Plus Program to eliminate their use of ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) from its furniture components. In 2006, Lee introduced the NaturalLEE standards, which made accessible, affordable eco-friendly furniture mainstream. As Norman Coley adeptly states, “Lee is constantly pushing the environmental envelope.”

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There are many days I spend hours on the internet looking for needed items for my house. I know I am not the only one who does this. Today, the big search was for a wall display for plates that I bought through a thrift shop. I figured since most wall displays are made of aluminum, how hard was it to find a used one or one containing some recycled content? Near impossible. Either it does not exist or my googling skills need work.

I realized a couple of hours into my search, that most of my time was being spent clicking on a bunch of other great sites that contained eco-friendly items. So, I figured I would share some of my diverse finds for the home. All of my finds are very different and sure to capture your interest. Whoever heard of Styrofoam moldings or recycled sock slippers?

Moldings made of Recycled Styrofoam: These interior moldings are mold and mildew resistant, waterproof, and made out of ninety percent recycled plastic (75% post consumer and 15% pre-consumer) with zero VOC emissions. Great for basement and bathroom applications. The product has the same density as soft wood, so it is easy to paint, caulk, and cut, and comes in seven different profiles. Best of all, the waste can be recycled. See EPSpackaging.org for more information where to recycle Styrofoam. The price range for the product is $.30 to 1.20 per linear foot depending on the molding, and is sold by Close the Loop LLC.

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Photo by permission of Zonbu

After I posted my article on the Zonbu Desktop Mini and Notebook, I received an email from Grégoire Gentil, CEO of Zonbu, about some questions that I still had.

Just to give a short recap, the Zonbu Mini and Notebook are energy efficient, green, and affordable. The Desktop Mini is priced at $99 and with a two year maintenance plan of $14.95 per month.

The 60 GB Notebook is priced at $279 with a two year maintenance plan of $14.95 per month. (Note, both Notebook and Desktop Mini’s prices increase if you buy them without the maintenance plan.) The Desktop Mini was the first EPEAT Gold certified consumer desktop based upon meeting stringent environmental criteria and compliant with ENERGY STAR 4 and RoHS standards (Reduction of Hazardous Substances). The Notebook obtained the EPEAT Silver status.

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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love ¹

As our world struggles with climate change, unrest in the Middle East, Darfur, poverty and sickness, we all can learn from the lessons taught by Martin Luther King, Jr. Each one of us has the power to create change to make a difference whether being conscious of our environmental choices, writing your representatives to demand change, or simply teaching our children what it means to take care of others.

Please watch this beautiful short video on Martin Luther King, Jr. He had a dream and the courage to seek change.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ZtGj8s7H4[/youtube]

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Photo by Anna Wolf, courtesy of Pangaya, Steward +Brown banded Kimono Tee

Sean Bartlett, co-founder of Pangaya, a eco-friendly clothing retailer since 2003, which has maintained an online presence since 2004, announced that the Company will be closing the business. The Company is known for its fashionable and high quality organic products ranging from clothing to accessories. Operations will continue to function as normal as they sell their remaining merchandise. Sean stated in the Company’s blog the following reason for closing the business:

“However, as with all businesses, the time and capital invested must provide a meaningful return for the effort to be justified. At this time, it simply no longer meets that most basic criteria.”

During this time period, the prices of their merchandise will be significantly reduced with savings up to 80%. I went to the site and they have great clothes. I especially like the bamboo pencil skirt, yoga clothing and pants. If you need to add to your wardrobe, then you can’t miss the close-out prices.

I wish the Bartletts success in their next venture.

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Photo by permission of Viesso of a Gente sofa

For years, Furnature was the only company making eco-friendly furniture. Over night it seemed more and more furniture companies started making their furniture with an eye towards sustainability. Remember my friend who needed the eco-couch that I spoke about in my article, “Shouldn’t Your In-Laws Sleep Well?” One night as I was surfing the web looking for her I found Viesso by mistake. I was shocked that I happened upon an eco-furniture company. (Green companies are just popping out of the wood work these days!) To be honest, I thought here we go again. Another company claiming that it is green just because they use FSC certified woods. What about the glues, the stains, and the cushions? Shouldn’t they be green too?

As I continue to look through their website, I found out Viesso is the real green deal. The Company sells chair, sofas, sectionals, benches, tables, rugs and accessories. Since I was focusing on a sleeper couch for my friend, I found that a customer can purchase an upholstered furniture piece which contains sustainable harvested wood , eco-friendly fabrics, natural latex cushions, low voc stains and sealers, and recycled stainless steel legs. That’s pretty green in my book.

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The Geothermal features at Yellowstone Park. Photo by Kevin Saff by permission

I received an email from one of my readers, Ronald, who asked the following question in regards to my geothermal post. I did not want to bury his question in that post, and am giving him a separate forum on the site. Ronald lives in the northeast and his 35 year old house is presently heated by hot water baseboard via an oil furnace. His questions are as follows:

“It is my understanding that geothermal heat can only be used with a forced air system. Am I correct (we have hot water heat and no a/c)?”

“I would also like to understand if our oil furnace can be our backup and does this make sense?”

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 Some of the contents of my GreenDisk Technotrash Can

Do you remember when you use to get those AOL free disks?  They would come in your mail, in magazines, and even with your toilet paper.  (Just kidding)  Just think of how many CDs and DVDs that are produced every year and how many damaged, obsolete, or unwanted disks end up in landfills.  What about their plastic packaging?  According to the EPA, some plastic can take up to 450 years to decompose.  So, where do you think all of those unwanted disks go, after you throw them in the trash?  Landfills. 

 I will never forget the story, “High Tech Trash,” written in the October/November 2003 issue of Mother Earth News’ magazine as to the amount of our electronic trash being exported to third world countries.  The picture of a Chinese child sitting on top of an electronic heap will forever be burned into my memory. It made me sick to see this innocent child who had to live with our waste.  It changed my life and the way I think.  I resolved never to throw out any electronic waste, but what was I going to do with all those unwanted or damage disks?

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Photo by permission of Furnature

For over a decade, Furnature has been setting the standards for quality custom-made, enviromentally friendly furniture by meeting the needs of those suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.

“In the spring of 1994, our firm received a request for a custom sofa from a woman that would change the face of our business. Her immune system was compromised after her home was exterminated for pests. She became so ill that she couldn’t tolerate ordinary furniture and bedding. After three years of extensive research, the first sofa using all chemical-free ingredients was produced and Furnature™ was born.”

Their furniture has become popular with people who want to live a sustainable life free of harmful environmental toxins. Today, the Company manufactures an extensive line of chairs, loveseats, sofas, ottomans, mattresses and bedding for both the environmental conscious and those suffering from multiple sensitivities.

What does all this mean for the eco-conscious?

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