I saw an article on the news ther other day, alarming all consumers to beware of compact fluorescent lamps or CFL’s since they have mercury inside them.  I couldn’t believe what a dis-service this station was doing to their listeners by promoting such fodder.

 So let’s set the facts straight.  Is there mercury in these CFL’s, yes there is.  It’s one of the components that helps provide the efficiency improvements over incandescent lamps.  How much mercury is there in a CFL?  An average of 4 milligrams is present in each CLF which is roughly the amount it would take to cover the tip of a ball point pen.

 Old thermometers contained nearly 500 milligrams of mercury.  Therefore the amount of mercury in an old thermometer would provide the mercury needed for approximately 125 CFL’s.

Don’t get me wrong, exposure to any mercury is not good and careful handling is recommended.  But here’s the kicker.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the US is responsible for releasing nearly 104 metric tons of mercury annually through the emissions of our fossil fuel (coal) power plants.  The math is straight forward.  A 13 watt CFL produces the same amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent bulb and both are used for 8000 hours consuming a total of 104 kWh for the CFL and 480 kWh for the incandescent.

The average mercury emissions for producing electricity in a fossil fuel plant is 0.012 mg/kWh.  There the mercury used in producing electricity for the CFL is 1.2mg and the mercury used to produce electricity for the incandescent lamp is 5.8mg if mercury or 4.6mg of mercury more than that used for the CFL.

 To be perfectly fair when CFL’s are landfilled the measured mercury from one CFL is 0.4mg and the mercury of the power plant goes directly to the atmosphere.  So adding the 0.4 to the 1.2mg of mercury totals 1.6mg of mercury contributed to the atmosphere over the life of the bulb versus 5.8mg for the incandescent bulb.  A savings of 4.2mg for the CFL.

 So on a slow news-day you have to be careful what doom and gloom is being presented and which half truth you are being told.

You should be careful with CLF’s and recycle them.  Just as you should with your batteries and those 4 foot fluorescent bulbs in your garage shop.  But there is more news, many manufactures have worked to lower the mercury in their CFL’s and in this last year the mercury has come down from 4mg to 1.4 to 2.5mg per light bulb.

Re-run the math, it is even more imperative that we switch to CFL’s not only to save energy but also to reduce mercury emissions to our atmosphere.

Absolutely! Saving natural resources, saving energy, saving our planet.

The main focus of being earth friendly are; re-use, recycle, and conserve.  Purchasing a piece of previously owned furniture is re-use.  So big deal you saved a few bucks and that’s why you came here to look in the first place.

 At the risk of inspiring you beyound just saving you some money let me tell you the numerous things you just did for the Earth.

The furniture you purchased did not go into a landfill some where.   Think of the impact if others think of re-use and re-finish to fit their needs rather than to discard that piece of furniture.

Now comes the exciting part.  Even in the simplest of furniture, let’s say a wood chair with a cushion on it, energy and resources are consumed at nearly every level of production.  Let’s think about what goes into making that chair.

The logger likely commutes to the mountain in a vehicle that consumes gasoline, he uses a chain saw that uses gasoline and chain oil, the device that lifts the wood to the collection point uses deisel fuel and then the wood is transported to a saw mill by a truck using deisel fuel.

So far we have a log ready to be made into something.  Usually steam is used to strip the trees and to power the saws.  Many mills use their own waste products to burn to power their saws which conserves energy cost to them.  So that’s a good thing, right? It can be if the pollutants from the combustion of the waste product is monitored and regulated.  And any waste water is cleaned up before it is dumped into a lake or a waste water system.

Now the wood needs to be transported (deisel fuel) to either a distribution point like a lumber yard or to the end user.  Saws and lathes in many furniture companies use electricity to cut and shape the wood into the chairs components.  Paints and stains are used that typically contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) whose manufacture and use pollutes our waterways and contaminates our landfills.  The painting process usually uses compressed air made with the use of electricity.

The cushion would likely made from man made products like foam and a synthetic fabric.  Foam and synthetic fabrics use some form of heat and electricity to manufacture although their main threat to the planet comes from their inability to breakdown over time in a landfil.  Even if the cushion were made from natural fabrics like cotton and goose down, water and bleaches from the manufacutring end up in our waste water system.

Having already began the detail breakdown of energy and natural resources consumed in the manufacture of this chair let me simply say the chair will be assembled with screws, metal brackets and the like which were mined, processed, transported, formed and transported again to the furniture manufacturer.  Of course the chair will be packaged in some manor and shipped to distribution.

Throughout the entire process of development paperwork follows: the log, cut wood, inventoried product, the cotton, goose down, screws, trucking manifest and sadly I could go on and on.

So did you do a good thing? Did you make an effort to save the planet? Yes you did and if you could see my standing ovation you would have one now.

As a new or expanding business used office cubicles and workstations should be at the top of your buying list.  There are several reasons that are apparent and a few that aren’t so obvious.

The obvious reason you would look for used office cubicles to begin with is they will cost less than new cubicles.  That is of course true, but you may not know that many used cubicles offer either pre-wired or raceways to run electrical, phone, and computer network.  This wiring or raceway can save you a lot of installation cost.  The other main advantage to this approach is that when you move you don’t need to build new walls and partitions since you can take your cubicles with you.

 Many cubicles have their own task lighting which also helps conserve energy by putting the light where you need it, on your work.  Buildings designed for cubicle spaces generally have less general lighting to help fully utilize task lighting.  In offices where task lighting has been retrofitted often general lighting is delamped 50% to save energy and of course your cost.

 Likely you may not be aware that purchasing new and used cubicles and workstations has some tax advantages for you.  Typically when you buy walls and partitions constructed in your space the cost of the walls depreciate with the building (could be as high as 30 years).  However cubicles and workstations that you can remove and take with you will typically depreciate at an accelerated schedule typically with the same schedule as office furniture.

Since there are many types of corporations, partnerships and other business structures each with its own tax laws it is important to consult with your tax professional regarding what tax advantages you may be able to take advantage of.

What exactly is renewable energy?  There is a lot of talk about it lately, but in order to make informed choices, people need to understand what renewable energy is and how it works.  Basically, this process draws power from sources that can easily be renewed over time.  Some examples of these renewable resources are the sun (solar power), wind, rain, and tides.  Renewable energy is preferable to other sources of energy, like oil, because its sources cannot run out.  With the current high price of oil and its dangerous effects on our atmosphere, there has been a growing interest in utilizing sources of renewable energy.

Wind power has been used since ancient times, and is probably a source of renewable energy with which you are familiar.  Many farms use windmills to power water pumps and irrigate their land.  Although windmills have increased in popularity, there are a few setbacks to this method of renewable energy.  For one thing, windmills take up a large amount of space and some people consider them unsightly.  Another issue with windmills is the fact that commercial wind farms can only be effective in high areas that receive a constant, steady wind.  One very positive aspect of wind power is that it does not produce gases that are harmful to the environment.

Solar power is power from the sun can that be captured through panels and converted into electricity.  Some homes now have special panels on top of their roofs so there aren’t big pieces of solar power apparatus littering their yards.

Water power is a very diverse form of renewable energy.  There are many ways that energy can be harnessed from water, involving the power of dams, waves, and even tides.  Other types of water power, such as damless hydro-electric power, are being explored and developed.

Biofuel is another type of renewable energy that relies on plant products to create fuel.  Many individuals have been able to convert their diesel engines to run on fuel that has come from plants.

Understanding renewable energy is a positive start to creating a cleaner, greener world, but how can the average person get involved with renewable energy?  Homeowners who are willing to make an initial financial investment can employ the use of solar panels for electricity, and a solar water heater.  Another of the easiest ways to support renewable energy is to make sure the electricity in your house comes from renewable sources.  Most electric companies have “green” plans.  They may cost a little extra, but this is an easy way to support the growth of renewable energy.

If you don’t own a house or pay for your own electricity, you can still inform others about “green” electric plans and encourage them to participate.  Many colleges have begun to use clean energy for dormitories, and college students may want to confirm that this is the case at their school.  Simply spreading the word can be a great way to support the use of renewable energy!

Study after study tells us that plastic grocery bags are better for the environment.  They take less energy to produce, transport, and recycle than paper grocery sacks.  The problem is that the vast majority of them do not get recycled, as many areas do not accept plastic grocery bags for recycling.  Additionally, the market for recycled plastic is thus far underdeveloped.  This “urban tumbleweed” clogs the gutters, kills wildlife, makes the world less beautiful, and seems to reproduce under the kitchen sink.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. runs through 100 billion plastic shopping bags every year.  Though recycling should be the destination of most plastic bags, reusing the bags before you recycle them, and avoiding using plastic bags at all when possible, are the best ways to truly reduce the number of plastic grocery bags out there.  Here are 30 ways to do just that.

For Pet Lovers:

1.  Instead of buying special bags to clean up behind your dog, use used plastic grocery bags.
2.  Use them to scoop the cat’s litter box.
3.  Donate bags to your local animal shelter.
4.  Donate bags to your local dog park – there is usually a dispenser there for those who forgot to bring their own.

For the Crafty:

5.  Cut the bags into loops and knot them together into plastic “yarn.”  This can be used to make braided rugs, weave baskets, and crochet bigger, stronger bags that will last.  Some people even use plastic yarn to crochet sun hats.  Knitting works too.  It’s washable, but air dry only.
6.  Stuff Halloween dummies with plastic bags instead of straw, using straw just around the cuffs.
7.  Protect your surfaces with plastic bags when doing messy crafts.
8.  Fuse bags into plastic fabric to sew with.  Instructions for this are popping up all over the internet.

Around the House:

9.  Line paint trays with plastic bags before pouring the paint in, and cleanup becomes a breeze.
10.  Make a draft blocker:  Sew a tube of recycled fabric and stuff it with the plastic bags, then sew up the ends.  Placed at the bottoms of drafty doors it will cut down on the heating bills, saving even more energy.
11.  Use plastic bags as packing material instead of Styrofoam packing peanuts.  It reuses bags and prevents the production of more Styrofoam.
12.  Rather than using rope or plastic zip ties, loop together as many bags as needed to make plastic rope.

In the Kitchen:

13.  Wrap homemade bread in a clean plastic grocery bag.  It will stay fresher but still be able to breathe.
14.  Use them to pack lunches.
15.  Use a plastic bag as a cutting board when cutting up particularly messy items, like meat, or to collect vegetable shavings.
16.  Use a clean bag as a non-stick surface for rolling out dough.

Out of the House:

17.  Keep a small stash of bags in the truck of the car – they are great for all kinds of emergencies.
18.  Use plastic grocery bags as camping trip garbage bags.
19.  Pick up bags you see at the park or in the street and use them to collect any garbage and recyclable litter.
20.  Keep a few in the diaper bag – these can be very handy when confronted with a very messy diaper, or when the mess has spread to baby’s clothes, to protect the rest of the bag’s contents.
21.  Donate them to your child’s daycare center.
22.  When traveling, wrap a plastic bag around your toiletry bag to prevent any spills from spreading.
23.  Tie a couple over your feet and keep your shoes clean when you have to walk through a muddy area.
24.  Donate them to the local library – many use them for sending home big stacks of books with patrons who did not bring their own bag.
25. Donate them to your local thrift store.

Reduce the Number of Plastic Bags You Get:

26.  Bring the plastic bags you already have to the store to reuse them.
27.  Bring your own cloth or crocheted plastic bags to the store.
28.  Go through the self-checkout so you can add more items to each bag than checkers normally do.
29.  When buying just one or two items, just throw them in your purse or briefcase, or carry them to the car bag-less.

And Lastly:

30.  Support companies that use recycled plastic, from handmade African crafts to designer chairs to composite decking.

Not many people would think that it was possible to make their bedroom more eco-friendly. From the bedding you use to the furniture you choose, it is possible to perform an eco-make-over on your bedroom. Making your bedroom more eco-friendly does require some more major changes, but made one step at a time they are not to hard to do.

Snug as a bug in a rug…...
An easy place to start when converting your bedroom to be more eco-friendly would be your linens. In light of the fact that standard fabric processing is an extreme environmental burden, choosing organic fabrics is the way to go. Although there are many choices in organic fabric, many love organic cotton. Many stores now sell organic cotton bedding, including Wal-Mart. Using pillows made from natural fibers like buckwheat or hulls is another change you can make in your bedroom as well. You can also buy pillows made from recycled polyester fill which is another environmentally friendly alternative you can choose from. If you use a mattress topper on your bed you want to look for something untreated and made of natural or recycled materials. Another large change you can make would be the purchase of a natural fill untreated mattress. Organic mattresses are filled with either cotton, wool, or natural latex making them better for the environment and your health.

Shabby Chic
If you haven’t yet purchased bedroom furniture, this is an excellent time to be more eco-friendly. Obviously, choosing to purchase vintage or used is best for the environment. If you shop around you can really save some nice pieces of furniture from going to a landfill. Plus you can repaint them and make them your own. If your fixed on buying new furniture, stick with natural woods free from glues. Avoid particleboard and plywood at all cost. Also look for woods that are naturally treated or finished.

The Finishing Touch
When decorating your bedroom there are few small things you can do to make it more eco-friendly. When selecting a paint for your walls look for paints that label low to no VOC chemicals. If you have a flooring choice stay away from wall to wall carpeting. Try using area rugs instead. Area rugs can easily be found in natural fibers and can be kept in place with a natural rubber pad rather than adhesive. natural fiber area rugs are also great because many of them can be laundered in your washer to keep them clean. Finally, use energy efficient bulbs in your lamps and turn off all appliances when your not in the room or when your sleeping.

Going Green is the new buzz phrase, but unlike others, this one should not be a passing fad.  People the whole world over are asking how they can become more eco friendly and help support the planet by making changes to their daily routines.  The following is 5 simple steps that everybody can easily employ to Go Green!

1.  Reconsider What You Eat-  The traditional concept of shopping for all of our food at the large, nationwide supermarkets is not necessarily good for you and the planet.  While it is unquestionable the most convenient, there are alternatives, such as your local Farmers Market.  Food from the large grocery stores is most often grown using pesticides and fertilizers which can be harmful for the water supply.  Also, the large farms that are used to grow the food often utilize farm equipment that emits a large amount of greenhouse gasses.  By shopping at the local farmers market, you will be buying food that is grown without synthetic chemicals and is quite often tastier and more nutritious.  Try visiting your local farmers market on Saturday morning and stock up on healthy home grown food that is good for you and the planet.

2.  Reconsider Your Home Energy Source-  Home appliances, particularly those in the kitchen, can be a tremendous waste of energy and an unnecessary monthly expense.  Almost all appliances available on the market today are Energy Star rated.  By buying EPA backed energy efficient appliances, a person can reduce their energy by up to 33% in some cases.  If you have appliances that are 7 years or older; newer versions will certainly be more energy efficient.   The most inefficient appliance is the refrigerator.  Buying a newer refrigerator can make an immediate impact on your monthly energy bill.  Also, consider energy providers that reinvest their profits into research for efficient energy sources.  A quick internet search for your local area should provide you with several options for these companies.  They also often have lower rates then the larger corporations too.

3.  Reconsider Cleaning Products-  Most home cleaning products have an unnecessarily high amount of toxins.  Today, more companies are thankfully offering cleaning products that more eco friendly.  The cleaning supplies that have high amount of chemicals are not only bad for our water supply but they can be unhealthy for people who use them too.  New products utilize plant based detergents and botanicals that are not only more eco friendly, but smell better and clean better too!  For your outdoors, try switching to organic lawn and gardening supplies and avoid traditional pesticides and fertilizer.  The fact is toxic chemical cleaners and fertilizer is expensive and potentially unhealthy and the marketplace now has several great alternatives.  Shop for the products with the lowest toxicity and you will be surprised by the results.

4.  Reconsider Beauty Supplies-  This is an area that is often overlooked.  Consider that most makeup products are full of synthetic chemicals.  These chemicals go right down the water drain when removed and can be very harmful to our water supply.  It is still unclear what the long term side effects of applying these chemicals directly to the skin.  When shopping for these products, avoid the shampoo and makeup that has several ingredients that you cannot even pronounce.  Shoot for products that have natural plant based ingredients that will be more healthy for you and the planet.

5.  Reconsider Your Recycling-  We can all do a better job of recycling.  Properly disposing of paper, plastic, and electronic garbage can have a huge impact on the environment.  Some simple steps include reducing the amount of plastic water bottles you buy and start using your tap water.  Studies have confirmed that most tap water is just as healthy as the bottled water and the country is struggling with the disposal of the empty plastic water bottles.  Also, when throwing out old electric equipment, research your local disposal areas for companies that properly dispose of these products.  Some will even pay you for your old electronics.  Finally, try to buy products that are not over packaged.  Look for products that our simply wrapped and do not have excess plastic and paper wrappings.  Hopefully, companies will start to realize the damage they cause by over packaging simple products.

There are many additional steps to Going Green, but these 5 simple steps are a step in the right direction.  They are healthy for both you and the planet.  Hopefully, going green will not be a fad but will be a tradition for several generations to come.