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Posts Tagged ‘Green Living’
Make Your Beauty Routine Green
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Virginia Ginsburg
The products you use on your face and body can have a big impact on your health ‘ and the health of the Earth. By simply considering the ingredient label of your beauty products, you can make a significant impact on the Earth. Conveniently, such scrutiny also protects you from the nasty chemicals included in many beauty products commonly found on bathroom counters across the country.
Your personal style may drive consumption of just a few cosmetics. But even if you consider yourself to be “low maintenance,” you likely use many everyday products to take care of yourself. Here are just a few:
* Toothpaste
* Shampoo
* Conditioner
* Hair styling product(s)
* Body soap
* Hand soap
* Sunscreen
* Body lotion
* Hand lotion
* Face lotion
* Deodorant
In short, most people use more than 10 beauty products per day. If you use makeup, you might add 5-10 more products, and, of course, the list expands when you include hair removal, nail care, and any age reduction products that you use.
These beauty products can impact the health of our environment by: utilizing toxic ingredients; using non-recycled and difficult-to-recycle packaging; using toxic pesticides and herbicides on ingredients; and testing products on animals, to name just a few of the drawbacks.
If you changed just a few of your beauty products to greener options, you could reduce the strain on the Earth while simultaneously decreasing your exposure to toxic ingredients.
Determining which products are truly “green” as opposed to those that just say they are is no easy task. Some of the labels that we naturally look for when searching for green options include:
* Eco-safe
* Environmentally preferable
* Green
* Organic
* Pure
* Natural
Unfortunately, according to the Consumers Union, these general claims are completely meaningless. First of all, the manufacturer or marketer creates the label based on what will sell best, but there isn’t any independent organization verifying that the label claim is accurate. Secondly, there is a broad range of factors involved in using terms like “organic” or “green,” making them, in fact, very loose terms of attribution. Finally, often a very tiny amount of “natural” ingredients is mixed with chemicals to produce many of the products that we believe are safer for our bodies and the environment.
Every day, toxic chemicals that are bad for the Earth as well as our personal health, are sold. This is because no independent or government entity is assigned to testing all the products that you can buy, whether at the drugstore or a high-end department store counter. In other words, the manufacturers can put whatever they want in their products and nobody tests them for safety. That’s right: while your medications are tested by the FDA, your cosmetics are not.
One of the words we look for most on “green” products is “organic,” but in fact the term is not regulated on personal care products as it is on food products. In other words, for food, suppliers must be certified by the USDA National Organic Program to label a product “organic,” but in personal care, that is not the case.
Here is the problem with what we have discovered so far:
1. You can’t trust the label on the product to tell you what it really contains
2. You can’t trust the government to protect you by restricting the claims made on labels
3. Most beauty products on the market contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to our bodies and the Earth.
What can you do about this? Be more careful about which products you buy. It can be difficult to determine exactly what impact a product will have on the Earth and your body, but you can take a few simple steps to be safer.
1. Read all of the ingredients on the label. If you have trouble pronouncing an ingredient, if ingredients are grouped together, or there is anything else suspicious, look the product up on the Internet to see if you can find out more. If the label says that not all ingredients are disclosed, it is a good idea to call the Company to determine what is not listed. The biggest dangers found in many cosmetics: antibacterials, coal-tar dyes, 1,4-dioxane (a contaminant of “PEG,” sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate and other -eth ingredients), formaldehyde, fragrance, mercury, nanoparticles, parabens and petroleum distillates.
2. Consider the packaging. The best option is glass, though it can be cost-prohibitive based on shipping costs. A good alternative are products packaged in Recyclable #1 or #2 plastics.
3. Look for logos: There are a few logos that you can be fairly certain mean that the product you are buying meets some green standards, including “USDA Certified Organic,” and “Leaping Bunny,” a logo designed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics that indicates a commitment to not testing on animals.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/make-your-beauty-routine-green-463466.html
About the Author:
Virginia Ginsburg specializes in research related to ecologically-sound life and business practices. She writes about green living and socially-conscious investing. Her company, Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , specializes in gifts that are both beautiful and ecologically-sound.
7 Easy Tips On How To Live Green
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Geoff White
Living green doesn’t mean you have to wave goodbye to all the niceties and luxuries of modern life. In fact, once you start to investigate the advantages of living a greener life, you may well discover all sorts of extra pleasures. Your taste buds will certainly notice and it’s highly likely your wallet will as well.
There are plenty of things you can do which will help you to live green without total sacrifice. Here are seven tips that are quick and easy for you to implement. Most of them will barely change the way you operate but will help save the environment, especially if you can gradually persuade your friends to do the same things.
1. Re-use the bags you get every time you shop are good for more than one trip. Re-use them or, better yet, buy a “bag for life” and use that. Collectively, we use millions of plastic bags on a daily basis. Saving a couple bags here and there may not seem to make a difference, but as more and more people do this, the savings will mount up.
2. Re-cycle as much as you can. You probably already have a recycling collection service. If not, look out for recycling places local to you and drop off your newspapers, bottles, cans, etc next time you are passing. Don’t make a special trip though. For larger items, if they’re still usable then look up Freecycle for your local area. They offer a great way to give unwanted items a new, welcoming home.
3. Eat local produce. Especially if it’s bought fresh from a Farmer’s Market. You’ll notice the difference in taste. And if you buy just what you need (rather than the supersize pack your grocery store normally sells) it probably won’t cost much more. Plus you’ll save all those miles that the often tasteless food your grocery store stocks has been forced to travel.
4. Turn off unused appliances at the socket. Standby mode still uses lots of energy. Cut your fuel bills by turning off televisions and other items when they’re not in use. That includes your computer’s monitor as well. Screensavers only stop the screen from getting burned in images. Energy saving mode cuts power usage but nowhere near as much as the on/off switch does.
5. Wash your clothes at a lower temperature. Modern detergents work fine at lower temperatures. Or throw away the detergent in favor of Eco washing balls, saving on the fossil fuels that are used for most modern detergents as well as cutting your washing costs without compromising wash quality.
6. Turn down your thermostat in the winter (and turn it up in the summer if you use air-conditioning). One or two degrees difference is barely noticeable, except when the fuel bill arrives. When you get used to the new, lower temperature, turn it down another degree or two!
7. Compost waste if you have a garden, saving on fertilizer cost and giving your plants a treatment they’ll love.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/7-easy-tips-on-how-to-live-green-316085.html
About the Author:
For more easy to follow tips on how to live green check out my guide. There’s plenty of easy to use information that can often save you money as well as help save the planet when you start to live green without wearing a sack cloth and ashes.
Living Green and the Future
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Michael Bridges
In this article I want to take a look at two possible worlds. One, a world where everyone has embraced the living green way of life and the other where living green never quite caught on. I just want to say up front that these two worlds aren’t based on any research by experts. These are merely forecasts as I see them based on my observations.
First lets look at a future world that is a result of everybody embracing the living green way of life. In this world everybody is happier and healthier. Because of usage of alternative fuels and energies there’s cleaner air due to the lack of carbon and other harmful emissions. With cleaner air and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables people started feeling better and exercising more, which made them healthier.
With the reduction of toxic emissions along with the reduction of trees being killed and more being planted the ozone was able to repair itself, which averted the green house effect and also helped us rid ourselves of deceases caused by exposure to harmful sun rays.
Because of using cleaner energy sources we were able to stop water pollution, which gave us more fish as a food resource, which also makes you healthier. As you know when you’re healthy and happy you’re friendlier, which reduced violence.
Is this future world possible? Maybe not in the near future, but if we all adopted living green as a why of life our future generation could live in this world.
Now let’s see what a future world might be where living green didn’t catch on. The population has been greatly reduced because of illness, violent crime and war. The ozone is greatly damaged. That and the polluted air cause people to spend most of their time inside. Wars are fought to control the depleting energy resources and only the ultra rich can afford to buy gas.
Pollution of our water and land for toxic chemicals being dumped from industrial factories has greatly reduced our food supplies causing rationing and an increase in violent crime in order to have something to eat. Brown outs and even black outs are commonplace in order to stretch our energy reserves. Global warming has melted the polar caps causing a sever change in our climate. The prognosis for this world is very bleak.
Both of these future worlds may or may not be an exaggeration of what could be, but how close are they? What do you think a future world would be like if living green is embraced or if it is rejected?
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/living-green-and-the-future-457770.html
About the Author:
Want more tips and ideas for living a greener life? Go to Living Green For Life . You’ll find videos, articles and other resources of information on living green. For all your Living Green searches and other searches use the Green Box.
How To Live The Green Life
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Paul Hata
As global warming continues to be a major concern for the future of our planet, people are starting to turn to green living practices to help save it for future generations. Green living involves every aspect of our daily lives - from driving to work to mowing our lawns.
Making the switch to green living all at once might scare most people away from implementing those earth-friendly changes. However, there are many ways to ease into this practice and help save the environment.
Air pollution is a major problem in many cities. Massive amounts of pollutant have been generated by factories, but that is not the only avenue contributing to global warming. Automobiles give off a fair amount of pollutants into the air as well.
When you have a lot of cars driving around on the city streets, you are multiplying the amount of pollutants being emitted by each car that is destroying our ozone. If you want to save the environment, you can start by either carpooling, walking more instead of driving or even purchasing hybrid models that do not contribute much damage.
This small change can bring much relief for the environment for future generations. There are many ways to adapt green living into your life by taking a look at your home. What kind of light bulbs are you using?
The standard bulbs we use contribute to higher electricity bills and higher levels of carbon dioxide. If you switch at least some of your standard bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save the environment and at the same time save on your electric bill.
Make sure to seal any gaps around windows and doors to keep any cold drafts from blowing into the house, which can cost you more money. Make sure the house is well insulated to help cut down on those costs in the wintertime. The less the furnace or heater has to run, the better off everyone will be.
Take a look at your appliances. Are they devouring too much energy? If they are older models, the answer is probably yes. While some of the changes are in the appliances that you use, other ways to go green involve your own habits and actions.
Do you open the oven door several times to check and see if something is done? The harder an appliance has to work, the harder it is on the environment. If you keep opening the oven door, the temperature will drop almost 25 degrees. It will then have to work harder to get back to the original temperature.
Recycling is an excellent way to save our environment. Try buying products that can be recycled and avoid the non-recyclable items such as Styrofoam cups. The less trash that has to be burned - or buried into our soil - the better off our planet will be.
These small changes may seem like they are not able to help much for the environment, but in reality they can help tremendously. Every little bit we do is a much-needed step toward reserving natural resources for our future generations. Get involved with the environment and start to make a difference in the practice of green living for our earth.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nature-articles/how-to-live-the-green-life-473403.html
About the Author:
Paul Hata is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing equal access to education,health and jobs to all.Paul has over 10 years experience in managing a multi-million dollar advertising company.Paul can be reached at - EarlyPlanet.com
What Does Living Green Mean to You
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Michael Bridges
I think everybody has the same basic concept of what living green is. Basically it’s making the earth healthier so that we, the inhabitants, can live healthier. But beyond that what does it mean to you on a personal level? Are your reasons for living green humanitarian or personal?
What are some of the personal reasons people might choose for living green? Well, finances for one. Gas prices are very high right now and getting higher. Switching to biofuel or another fuel alternative might help cut down on carbon emissions, but it can also keep more money in your pocket. Using those energy efficient compact florescent bulbs may be a part of living green, but they also save you money on your energy bill.
Another personal reason for living green can be health. Followers of living a green life stress giving up or reducing meat consumption. This is also a health issue for someone with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems. Green household products are good for the environment, but there also good for health conditions like allergies.
Ego can be a personal reason for living green. Living green is really big and getting bigger so showing people that you have conformed to the green way of life can you some pats on the back. It can be a big boost to the ego when you are being congratulated for something you’re doing.
Living green is very important in the longevity of this planet. So whatever reason you have chosen to embrace living green, personal or humanitarian, just doing so helps us all.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/what-does-living-green-mean-to-you-457771.html
About the Author:
Michael Bridges is owner of the Real Easy Chocolate Recipes website. You can find more Hot Chocolate Recipes as well as other chocolate recipes there.
Green Living
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Eve Harmer
There are many ways we can help curb global warming. It’s really as simple as the choices we make and the products we buy. When we burn coal, oil, and natural gas we put carbon dioxide into the air. This in turn causes global warming. So, by using modern technology and reducing the use of fossil fuels we can help curb global warming and start saving our planet!
One very easy way is to replace our regular incandescent light bulbs with very neat compact fluorescent bulbs. These compact fluorescent light bulbs use about a quarter of the electricity as normal bulbs and last ten times as long. While producing the same amount of light as well. So every new fluorescent bulb we can use helps clean the air and also helps us save money!
Another great way is by just planting a tree. Since trees take in carbon dioxide, any little tree you can plant in your backyard helps. Not only will it give you some great needed shade, but it ofcourse absorbs CO2(carbon dioxide). So it saves on bills and helps save the planet!
Finally, one of the easiest and most productive things we can do is recycle and use recycled products. Making new products from recycled materials is fantastic and can help save up to 70 - 90 percent of the energy and pollution that would result from a product made with new materials. Arenaturals.com is a great place to shop for recycled products and many other eco-friendly gifts. So, in concluding, if we all just start recycling and using recycled products we will be on a great path to helping curb global warming and saving Mother Earth!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/green-living-162161.html
Green Living: Simple Things You Can Do Today
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Matthew Hick
You don’t have to be an environmental guru to save the earth. Here are some very easy things you can do right now to help save the earth:
Save Water. Water is a precious resource that we all waste every day. Conserve water easily by:
-Put a brick in a plastic bag and place it in the back of you toilet. You’ll save up to one gallon of water with every flush.
-Fix leaky faucets and pipes right away. In the meantime, save the drips in a pan and use it to water your plants, wash the dog or even cook supper. After all, it’s clean water.
-Only wash full loads of laundry.
-Install low-flow faucet aerators on all your faucets. They’ll save you 50% (or 3-5 gallons of water a minute), and the flow will seem stronger.
-Collect rainwater in barrels or tubs and use it to water your household plants or dry lawn areas. It’ll use a lot less water than the sprinkler.
Conserve Electricity. Cut down on wasteful electrical use by:
-Turn off lights and appliances when leaving a room.
-Turn off your computer monitor before bed. A monitor left on all night uses enough electricity to print 5,300 copies.
-Look for the Energy Star rating when buying new appliances.
-Wrap your water heater set your water heater at 130 degrees.
-Wash clothes in cold water as whenever possible.
-If possible hang clothes outside to dry once in awhile.
-Turn down your heat by 1 degree for every hour you’ll be away from home.
-Replace traditional light bulbs with newer longer lasting/low energy ones.
-Don’t stand with the refrigerator or freezer open while you decide what you want.
-Unplug unused appliances.
Go Green. Going green doesn’t have to change you’re life. There are things you can do right now to live in a more earth-friendly fashion:
-Plant a tree. It’s a great way to save the earth’s oxygen.
-Use homemade or all-natural cleaning products.
-Buy recycled products.
-Use both sides of a sheet of paper before discarding.
-Reuse envelopes and junk mail for writing notes and keeping lists.
Ditch the Disposables. It takes more than 100 years for a plastic sandwich bag to biodegrade in a landfill. Pack sandwiches and snacks in reusable containers, or rinse and reuse the disposable ones. Using permanent containers will not only save the environment, it’ll save you time and money.
Here are a few other things to try:
-Replace plastic utensils, paper plates and Styrofoam cups with permanent ones.
Recycle mayonnaise jars, margarine tubs and other food containers to store leftovers and other supplies.
-Use washable cloth kitchen towels instead paper towels.
Use Rechargeable Batteries.
They may cost a little more, but replacing your disposable batteries with rechargeable ones will save you 10 to 20 times their original cost in the long run. Want to prolong the life of your batteries? Use a plug or adapter for radios and other small appliances.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/green-living-simple-things-you-can-do-today-139810.html
About the Author:
More Green Environment Articles at http://TheEnvironment-Today.com. Get Your Own Successful Niche Website Network at http://eWebCreator.com. Get the Best Adsense Tool with eWebCreator.com
What’s Green Living All About?
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Davinos Greeno
But you can by shopping in an Ethical way. Put simply, this is buying things that are made ethically by companies that act ethically. Buying ethically means buying a brand or from a company which doesn’t exploit labour, animals or the environment. The way in which you can act as an ethical consumer can also take on a different form and that is avoiding products (also known as boycotting) you disapprove of such as battery eggs.
Everyone needs to go shopping in one way or another. As an ethical consumer, every time you buy something you can make a difference by choosing an ethical product or by buying from an ethical business.
For example, when you buy from a company that doesnt exploit its workers and provides them with decent working conditions, you are giving the company the funds to continue its ethical behavior. At the same time, you are no longer buying from a company that exploits its labour with poor pay and often a dangerous working environment. That company then loses business, which may encourage it to change its ways and to look after its workers.
Very simply, sustainable and green living is taking what we need, but leaving enough so there will always be more & better for everyone else for generations to come- a sustainable green lifestyle.
For many green living can contain one or more of the following:
• Eating and buying as much organic, fair trade, locally produced and home grown food and non-food as possible.
• Eating a healthy and balanced diet often with less or no meat
• Join a discussion group on the net or in person so that you know you’re not alone in this green quest.
• Using less energy in the home and at work. By turning off appliances instead of leaving them on standby we can make a huge difference together.
• Replacing worn out clothing with organic, fair trade or second hand clothes
• By walking or cycling as much as possible instead of driving
• Cooking more meals at home in place of fast food.
• In the home buying energy efficient appliances and from ethical companies were possible. The ethical consumer and the Good Shopping Guide are leading the way with this information in the UK. Coop America in the USA.
• On that level, sustainable living is practical, and workable.
• Work for an employer that is family friendly and respects your views. Not like the larger companies where you are often a statistic.
We can work endless hours to fix everything that’s wrong in our daily lives including obsessing about living the perfect green lifestyle, and there will always be things we’re not doing, or not doing right. The feeling of guilt will be there if we don’t recycle enough or buy a pair of jeans made in a Asian sweatshop because we are particularly poor that month. We just have to work and try to move in the right direction no matter how slow we move. Its the direction thats important.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/whats-green-living-all-about-84464.html
About the Author:
Davinos Greeno works for the organic directory This green directory lists 100s of Organic Food and Drink Companies and Eco Jobs and Ethical Companies
Easing Into the Green Living Lifestyle
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: IC
As global warming continues to be a major concern for the future of our planet, people are starting to turn to green living practices to help save it for future generations. Green living involves every aspect of our daily lives - from driving to work to mowing our lawns.
Making the switch to green living all at once might scare most people away from implementing those earth-friendly changes. There are many ways to ease into this practice and still help save the earth’s environment.
Air pollution is a major problem for some cities. A lot of it comes from the factories, but that’s not the only avenue contributing to global warming. Automobiles give off a fair amount of pollutants into the air.
When you have a lot of cars driving around on the city streets, you’re multiplying the amounts of pollutants being emitted by each car that’s destroying our ozone. If you want to save the environment, you can start by either car pooling, walking more instead of driving or even purchasing hybrid models that don’t do as much damage.
This small change can bring much relief for the environment for future generations. There are many ways to adapt green living into your life by taking a look at your home. What kind of bulbs are you using?
The standard bulbs we use only contribute to higher electricity bills and more carbon dioxide. If you switch at least some of your standard bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can save the environment while saving on your electric bill.
Make sure to seal any gaps around windows and doors to keep any cold drafts from blowing into the house, which can cost you more money. Make sure the house is well insulated to help cut down on those costs in the wintertime. The less the furnace or heater has to run, the better off everyone will be.
Take a look at your appliances. Are they devouring too much energy? If they’re older models, the answer is probably yes. While some of the changes are in the appliances that you use, other ways to go green involve your own habits and actions.
Do you open the oven door several times to check and see if something is done? The harder an appliance has to work, the harder it is on the environment. If you keep opening the oven door, the temperature will drop almost 25 degrees. It will then have to work harder to get back to the original temperature.
Recycling is an excellent way to save our environment. Try to buy as many products as you can that can be recycled. Avoid the non-recyclable items such as Styrofoam cups. The less trash that has to be burned - or buried into our soil - the better off our planet will be.
These small changes may seem like they couldn’t help much for the environment, but they can help tremendously. Every little bit we do is a much-needed step toward reserving natural resources for our future generations. Get involved with the environment and start to make a difference in the practice of green living for our earth.!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/easing-into-the-green-living-lifestyle-369548.html
About the Author:
For more information about Green Living please visit Modern Eco Homes dot com, which sells a wide range of eco friendly furniture and solar powered products .
The Rising Trend of Green Living
Monday, July 28th, 2008Author: Paul Hata
Green living is an attempt to carry out our life in an environmentally friendly and responsible manner
and practices the conservation of resources,recycling, sustainability, green building, alternative energy and other environmental topics.It is also an attempt to minimize the size of our ecological footprints.
All across the globe, green living is now on the rise. In many cities across the world, recycling has taken off and in some cases it has become part of people’s lifestyle. It is also a necessity to many cultures that have limited resources and do not have the funds to buy new items constantly.
In recent years, many eco-friendly cleaning and pesticide products have been developed for use in the home. Instead of chemical-based aerosols, more natural ingredients are used in the cleaning agents and bug-killing aerosols. These are better for you and the environment.
Organic gardening is also gaining popularity. By eliminating the harsh chemicals that are released into the air and soil, they make all living things and the environment healthier.
Many green living enthusiasts have taken to walking and riding bicycles to help save the air from the toxic emission of vehicles. Carpool is also one other way to reduce the traffic. In this way, they help the air become more breathable again.
By using more biodegradable products that can be easily recycled we can help to keep the landfills from growing out of hand with all the trash that we throw out which would not break down or will just contaminate the environment.
Many have turned to cutting down on energy costs by using less energy in their homes. This is much better for the environment. Most energy saving tips is inexpensive and easy for anyone to follow.
Water usage is coming down over the last decade. As more people are aware of global warming, more people will try to save the water supply by using less water in their daily activities.
Some people are even choosing to repair the broken appliances instead of sending them off to the landfill. This not only helps the environment, but also saves people a lot of money in some cases. If it can be easily repaired, why not avoid throwing a perfectly good item away?
The bottom line is - more people are starting to care about the planet. By doing everything they can, the earth will continue to be a wonderful place to live for future generations that will inhabit it.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nature-articles/the-rising-trend-of-green-living-469606.html
About the Author:
Paul Hata is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing equal access to education,health and jobs to all.Paul has over 10 years experience in managing a multi-million dollar advertising company.Paul can be reached at - EarlyPlanet.com
