The Skinny on Hybrids: The Best Website for Hybrid Information and Comparisons
The Hybrid Center is the ultimate resource for anyone in the market for a hybrid or interested in the history and future development of this technology. You can select any hybrid model and read reviews, comparisons, and a buying guide. One of my favorite features of the website is the Hybrid Vehicle Timeline, as it includes information on "Hybrids on the Horizon". The Hybrid Center is a project of the Union of Concerned Scientists, so you know you can trust the information's accuracy.
Did you know that just one reusable bag eliminates the use of 1,000 plastic bags per year?ECOBAGS makes several natural and certified organic, recycled cotton and cotton/hemp blend reuseable bags. All ECOBAGS are made with fair wage/fair labor practices. My favorite bags are the Classic String Market Bags and the Lunch Bags, which I like to use as a produce bag. I am an avid farmers' market shopper, and it defeats the purpose of local shopping to accept a plastic bag made thousands of miles away from the farmer, besides the environmental impact. ECOBAGS has been in business for 19 years and is a member of Co-Op America, the Organic Trade Association, and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.
In our family, we have four large dogs (akitas) and one cat. As we consider our pets members of the family, we feed them natural pet foods. They deserve quality food, just like humans. Wellness has created several natural healthy treats for dogs and cats. These treats contain no meat-by-products, wheat, corn, soy, artificial preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavors. My pets really enjoy the WellBars, Pure Delights Cat Treats, Pure Rewards, and WellBites. My dogs even enjoy the vegetarian treats! Who wouldn't love all natural ingredients such as apples, bananas, and Atlantic Whitefish?
A Really Natural subscription is now available on Kindle! If you subscribe, the Kindle edition of our blog will automatically be delivered to you wirelessly throughout the day. Full text and images are included! You can try it out for free for 14 days, then it is only $0.99 a month. What a deal!
Don't know what a Kindle is? A Kindle is a wireless device that you can download books, magazines, blogs, and newspapers. Kindle uses the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, so you never have to look for a wifi hotspot. Think of the paper you will save reading on your Kindle!
biodegradable ingredients like plants and minerals that remove grease and baked-on food, leaving your dishes clean and shiny. Now you can have it all: extraordinary cleaning power without harsh chemical residue (when used as directed).
Perhaps the directions should say rinse your dishes 20 times to remove residue, which would defeat the whole eco-friendly aspect by wasting water. Perhaps the Greenworks Free and Clear version is better than the natural dishwashing liquid, but I will stick to my Ecover from now on!
Apple's 4th Generation iPod Nanos are the most eco-friendly version yet. The new Nano is made with arsenic-free glass and does not contain Brominated Flame Retardant (BFR) or polyvinylchloride (PVR). It is also made from a recyclable aluminum enclosure. If your old iPod no longer works, you can recycle it at an Apple store.
Custom, Hand Embroidered Organic Tote by the Sweet Line
The Sweet Line is a unique company offering organic, custom hand embroidered goods. From organic t-shirts to organic totes, the Sweet Line will embroider your message. I find their work inspiring and hope one of these days I can take up embroidering again. Until then, there is always the Sweet Line!
Eco Food Friday: Gluten-Free and Organic Waffles by Nature's Path
I love frozen waffles! It is such a quick and easy breakfast, and maybe some part of my brain was affected by all those "L'Eggo my Eggo" commercials of my youth. There's a much healthier option for frozen waffles by Nature's Path, including two new flavors:
Real Testimony of a Tesla Roadster Electric Car Owner
Sure they cost over a $100,000 and take 12 months to get, but the Tesla Roadster is an amazing electric car. This EV can go zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and will travel 220 miles on one charge. I love at the end of this video when Mark accelerates his Tesla Roadster, his wife pleads, "Oh Jesus, Mark please!"
Improve your Indoor Air Quality with Therapure Hepa, Ion, UV Purifier
It's been a summer full of smoke here in northern California, and we could not have remained in our home without Therapure air purifiers. We have purchased six of these air filters this summer for our home and the classrooms at the school where I teach. The Therapure air purifier is versatile, in that it is a HEPA filter, ionizer, and has a photocatalyst filter that removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new paint and carpets, as well as kills germs. The filter never needs replacing, as it can be cleaned, and there are four speeds you can use on the Therapure. This filter purifies the air in rooms up to 16 x 17 feet, and its Triple Action Purification system maintains a CADR level of 180. I am so thankful these filters allowed my family to remain home during this summer of unhealthy smoke-filled air.
H2GO Hydrogen-Powered Remote Control Cars: Be One of the First to Own One!
If you have ever had a remote control car, you know that you go through batteries like crazy. Master Replicas is featuring a hydrogen-powered remote control car called the H2GO. If you are one of the first 100 people to purchase this toy, Master Replica will donate two additional H2GO models to the school of your choice! Here's how the hydrogen-powered toy works:
The compact kit comprises a refueling station, a solar panel, a hydrogen-powered RC car and a remote control. The refueling station splits water by electrolysis into its elements, oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen is released and the hydrogen is pumped into the car, contained in a balloon in the car unit.
When the car is turned on, the hydrogen flows through another catalyst in the car causing a series of reactions that power the car. The reactions cause a flow of electrons that produce an electric current, which in turn powers the motors and back wheels.
The H2GO delivers the same performance as other R/C cars, according to their website. I have not tested this toy out, and I have not had much luck with hydrogen-powered toys. My family tried a hydrogen-powered rocket that broke after two days; however, the H2GO appears to be better constructed.
Hessnatur is a German natural clothing company that has just launched in the US!
What we believe
Since its founding, hessnatur has been governed by a simple principle: human beings should live in harmony with each other and with nature. Respect for the planet and for its people is fundamental to the way we do business, interact with our partners and each other. We will not compromise our environmental integrity or our design aesthetics.
We can literally trace every step of the process in creating our clothes. Growing, spinning, weaving or knitting, dyeing and printing, finishing, cutting, sewing and packaging, we know everything that happens. What this means to you is that when we say our clothing is pure and natural from start to finish, you can believe our words.
I really love Hessnatur's cashmere sweater for women. This sweater is stylish with a scooped collar and rolled edges, and it is luxuriously soft. The cashmere from Mongolia makes the sweater warm without bulk, and I share Hessnatur's passion for natural fibers.
Eco Food Friday: Two New Flavors of EnviroKidz Gluten-Free, Organic Crispy Rice Bar
My dad is a Celiac, which means he is allergic to gluten, and he always carries snacks with him in case he can't find food to eat when out and about. One snack he always has on hand, that my children adore, are
EnviroKidz Organic Crispy Rice Bars. These gluten-free goodies are tasty, handy, and now come in two new flavors:
EnviroKidz is made by Nature's Path, which recently bought 2,240 acres of organic farmland adjacent to two experienced organic farmers' land, in order to help them expand their organic farms. There was no financial outlay for the farmers, as Nature's Path retained ownership of the land in exchange for a portion of the crop. The farmers purchase the seeds, grow the food, and own the majority value of their crops. Nature's Path will utilize the crops grown in their organic products. This seems like a good approach to ensuring organic farming's viability.
Manure-Powered Carnival Ride at the California State Fair
Moo poo power has been used to provide energy for farms, but this summer the world's first manure-powered carnival ride debuted at the California State Fair. "The Barnyard Animal Train" used California dairy cow manure to create renewable biogas to power the ride. Children learned about renewable energy on the ride.. I wonder how the ride smelled...
Via: CleanTechnica
Vegan, Organic, Natural Beauty Products by SpaRitual
Organic consumers have lots of choices when it comes to beauty products, but not all of them are created equal. Unlike many beauty companies, SpaRitual discloses the exact percentage of each product that is organic, and they never use synthetic dyes, parabens, and petrochemicals. The all vegan ingredients are "sourced with awareness" and are biodegradable. I recently tried out two SpaRitual products.
Organic Frankincense balances the sacral chakra to focus the mind and soothe the body. Organic Aloe Vera and organic Olive, Sesame and Soybean Oils soothe, nourish and treat the skin while Avocado and organic Shea Butters help retain moisture and protect skin.
Organic Ginger balances the root chakra to energize the mind and body. This multipurpose salt is infused with a blend of locally harvested California Sea Salts, mineral-rich Dead Sea Salts, Epsom Salts and Corylus Clay to detoxify, soothe, firm and tone the skin.
All packaging is made FSC mixed sources, and SpaRitual products are made in the USA.
Samsung E200 and Bioplastics: Is Your Cell Phone Made from Corn?
During the Olympics, Samsung revealed its E200 cell phone. This phone's case is made entirely of corn-based bioplastic. Some environmentalists question the value of bioplastics made from corn, especially considering the controversy around ethanol and rising food costs. Bioplastics can be made from non-food plants, such as switch grass, but they do require special handling for recycling. Still, the more we can get away from non-renewables in manufacturing, the better for long-term sustainability.
Via: New York Times and GoodCleanTech
Natural, Organic Beauty: Beauty With a Cause (b-cause)
Beauty With a Cause (b-cause) is a natural, organic beauty company with a mission to educate. Modern day cosmetics are hidden with dangers, and even the labels "organic" and "natural" are meaningless in the US when it comes to personal care products. Anyone can claim their product is natural and/or organic, as there are no federal certifications or safety testing for beauty products. There are no official guidelines as to what constitutes a natural product. Even though a beauty product may contain certified organic ingredients, it may not be 100% natural. Some beauty products labeled organic, contain only a single digit percentage of organic ingredients. You don't have to be concerned with Beauty b-cause products for men and women:
Beauty with a Cause (b-cause) is committed to offering you safe products at an affordable price. We want you to make the "better" choice by making it easy and affordable to purchase products that have been carefully selected for the safety of their ingredients. Many products are totally organic and none of them contain items listed on the ingredients to avoid list. Further, no product has been tested on animals.
10% of all Beauty With a Cause (b-cause) proceeds are donated to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and scleroderma research. Furthermore, many of the mineral makeup products are named for women who have battled breast cancer, ovarian cancer and scleroderma. Natural beauty, education, and health research make Beauty b-cause a company worthy of your support.
At first, I was concerned that I would not like cocoa in my oatmeal, but the chocolate flavor is very subtle, still the Veri-berry flavor is the favorite in my home. Both flavors are vegetarian, organic, made from whole grains, low in fat and sodium, and contain no trans fat. Although I am not a fan of the extra packaging involved in buying flavored oatmeal packets, they sure make feeding my children a quick healthy breakfast before school easy.
The Secret Life of Paper: Americans Use More Paper than the Rest of the World
America's use of paper is excessive, and I am always amazed at the amount of paper my family recycles. Paper production causes deforestation and contributes to global warming. We need to be more thoughtful about our paper usage.
Forget About Tequila: Mexico Looks to Agave for Ethanol Source
Agave has a long history in Mexico, and as researchers look for indigenous plants not used for food production to make ethanol, Agave has caught their attention. The Agave-to-ethanol project shows promise, as Professor of Agricultural Biotechnology Remigio Madrigal Lugo, Ph.D. explains, "Agave can bring in the new era of bio-economics giving the world enough clean energy for a peaceful and secure world." It is estimated that varieties of Agave tequilana weber can yield up to 2,000 gallons of distilled ethanol per acre per year due to its high sugar content, which is much greater than corn-based ethanol. The Agave-to-ethanol project may not affect food production prices like corn, but what about tequila and Agave nectar? Via: Renewable Energy World
The Skinny on Hybrids: The Best Website for Hybrid Information and Comparisons
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