Green, Eco-Friendly Non-Stick, Non-Scratch Extreme Temperature Ceramic Cookware
Finally, there is a safe, green alternative in non-stick, non-scratch cookware. Cermacor's Xtrema cookware is amazing! From saucepans to tea kettles, "Xtrema is healthier than any other cookware and we have documented scientific and laboratory testing to prove it." There are many, many benefits to Xtrema, beside avoiding teflon or aluminum:
Xtreme High Temperature: Cookware can withstand 2,700 F, Steel can melt at 2,200 F
Xtremely Easy to Clean: Non-Scratch, Non-Toxic Ceramic Glaze Surface
The Chinese artisans have been handcrafting ceramics for over 5,000 years and we believe in providing the consumer with the very best in product quality and that is why we decided to have our product made where the finest ceramics in the world are made and that is in mainland China.
My family tested out a Three Piece 20 Oz Retro Tea Set and pie plate. We love Xtrema. It is the best green cookware on the market, and I highly recommend it! It's super easy to clean, and I am assured my family is not being poisoned by the very cookware our food is prepared in.
Disclosure: I was given the tea set and pie plate in order to test the products to write this review. There were no advance assurances given as to whether the review would be positive or negative.
Are you looking for a unique, eco-friendly rug for your home? A bamboo rug may be just what you are looking for to add to your home decor. Simple, durable, and beautiful, these moso bamboo rugs have a non-slip pad on the bottom that works on any floor surface (concrete, wood, tile, carpet, etc.). Bamboo rugs are also easy to clean and an be used outdoors, as well as high traffic areas.
Bamboo is a wonderful plant as it requires little or no chemicals and grows very fast. In fact, it is the fastest growing plant (grass) in the world. The more you cut it the faster it grows as it has a rhizome root system that spreads rapidly. And it regenerates 25 times faster than a conventional hardwood forest. Another upside is that it fights CO2 emissions as it grows by releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Each and every acre of bamboo "eats up" 9,600 pounds of carbon dioxide.
We love our bamboo rug, and because of its neutral color, it matches any room in our home.
Organic insecticides may sound like an oxymoron, but EcoSMART has done it. By using organic plant oils, EcoSMART products kill insects naturally which makes them safe to use around children and pets. I personally don't like to kill insects, but my bee allergy and joy of camping necessitates the need for the occasional use of a repellent or insecticide.
EcoSMART Wasp & Hornet Killer: EcoSMART Wasp & Hornet Killer formula kills and controls wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and spiders. This easy-to-use formula includes such organic plant oils as peppermint oil, wintergreen oil, canola oil and more. For use outdoors as well as in non-living areas such as in attics, crawl spaces and other areas where stinging insects nest.
EcoSMART Flying Insect Killer: EcoSMART Flying Insect Killer formula kills and controls flies, gnats, mosquitoes, moths, wasps and other flying insects. Direct spray at flying insects, contacting as many as possible. Spray in short 2-3 second bursts.
EcoSMART Ant & Roach Killer: EcoSMART Ant & Roach Killer formula kills and controls ants, carpenter ants, cockroaches, crickets, pill bugs, silverfish, spiders, and other crawling insects on contact. Spray on insects to kill on contact. Also, treat areas where insects are commonly found, including around sinks and plumbing, near appliances, behind cabinets and around waste containers. When treating ants, spray around the entry points and trails.
EcoSMART Insect Repellent DEET Free!: This powerful, all natural, and nontoxic formula is made from organic plant oils, and repels mosquitoes, gnats and other annoying pest for hours. EcoSMART Insect Repellent dries quickly and has a fresh and natural scent. It is safe to use on the entire family, including small children and infants.
All EcoSMART products are made in the USA.
Even though these products are "organic plant based", caution must be used, especially around children. For example, it is better to put insect repellent on infant and young children's clothing rather than their skin. Many plant oils can have a negative effect on both our environment and health if overused. Just because something is naturally derived does not mean that safety precautions should not be followed.
Upcycled Food Barrel Becomes an Environmentally Friendly Rain Barrel
Every house should be equipped with rain barrels off of its gutters. It's free water that most likely would just run off into the sewer, so why not save it for irrigation? The Deluxe Rain Barrel with Screen Lid - 55-Gallon is made from a UV protected food-grade barrel that was previously used and has been upcycled into a rain collection barrel. You could probably do this yourself from any food-grade barrel. This one comes with two spigots for easy hook up and a screen to keep out debris.
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!
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.
Recycline Preserve 100% Recycled Plastic Kitchen and Green BBQ Products
We've long been a fan of Recycline Preserve toothbrushes and razors, now we have recently tried out a multitude of Preserve products. All of these products are made from 100% recycled plastic in the USA. This is number 5 plastic, so you don't have to worry about BPA, and everything is dishwasher safe. I try to avoid plastics altogether, but if you need the convenience of plastics, Preserve is the most eco-friendly option I have found. These products will green your Memorial Day BBQ!
Preserve Plateware: Perfect for your BBQs or picnics, these plates are reusable and sturdy, taking the disposable out of outdoor gatherings.
Preserve Cutlery: Made from recycled Stoneyfield yogurt containers, this cutlery is also perfect for outdoor eating and reusing. You'll just have to inform your guests not to toss the cutlery in the trash.
Preserve Colander: Although I prefer my stainless steel colander, the Preserve Colander is nice, especially with the handles and pouring spout. I can see this turning into a fun beach or sandbox toy for my children.
Preserve mixing bowls: These recycled mixing bowls are brand new from Preserve. They are stackable, colorful, and great for involving children in the kitchen.
Preserve Cutting Board: This cutting board has a unique handle on one side and is knife friendly.
Preserve Paperstone Cutting Board: This is my favorite Preserve product! Made from with Forest Stewardship Council certified Paperstone™, it is knife-friendly, non-porous. The petroleum-free coating that makes for easy cleaning, and it is made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and natural resins.
Ever wanted to have plants growing on your walls? Lifehacker suggests DIYers can create a plant wall from the above diagram, as the retail indoor wall plant hanger sells for $250. House plants are known for improving indoor air quality. I'd much rather grow plants to clean air than rely on an energy using air purifier. Besides, the plant wall is very cool for your green home decor.
Radiant City is a new documentary about the cookie cutter life that has emerged from suburban sprawl in North America. Farm land is being converted into massive enclaves of identical homes, where people live closely to their neighbors but in complete isolation as a community. The layout of suburbia requires dependence upon cars, as families shuttle children around and drive to big box stores. Suburbs create monocultures that will not be supported as the energy crisis manifests.
I grew up in a suburb, as my parents purchased a new home when I was a toddler. The difference between my suburb and the one featured in Radiant City is that we could walk to our school, church, grocery store, bank, post office, etc. We did know our neighbors and block parties occurred every summer. Now, this sense of community has been lost in my suburb, as the children have grown up and left the neighborhood and schools have closed. This is the fate typical of "communities" in the Late Suburban Age. It is not a sustainable model for communal life.
The Fire and Light Recycled Glass Bowl is made from 91% recycled glass in the USA, specifically Humboldt County, California. This hand-poured, colored glass bowl is beautiful and available in nine colors: celery, cobalt, grape, olive, citrus, lavender, plum, aqua, and copper. Fire and Light began making recycled glass dinnerware in 1995 through a partnership with the Arcata Community Recycling Center. According to the company:
The enlightened practices that gave rise to the company continue to inform everything we do. Fire & Light still strives to find new ways to incorporate recycling into our production process, like using recycled beer kegs from local microbreweries as vats to cool our ladles.Fire & Light colored glassware is a product whose history is a kind of future, where age-old craftsmanship meets innovative manufacturing, utilizing post consumer glass as a resource.
Clorox Greenworks: Greenwashing or Green Cleaning?
After deciding not to add the Clorox name to Burt's Bees, for fear it would cause distrust amongst eco-shoppers, the company has just released a new line of "green" cleaning products. Clorox Greenworks, is the first line of greener cleaning products to be launched by a major manufacturer. According to Beth Springer, vice president for strategy and growth at Clorox, Greenworks bears the Clorox name because:
We spent a lot of time talking with consumers who wanted to keep their homes clean and healthy but wanted more natural alternatives,” Ms. Springer says. “And they confessed in most cases they were disappointed with having to pay more for products that didn’t work. So we concluded that we would initially bring it out with the Clorox brand name endorsing it because it gave people a belief in its efficacy.
The goal is to move green cleaning into the mainstream. Clorox Greenworks products are biodegradable, non-toxic, plant-based, non animal-tested, non-allergenic, have full ingredient transparency, and made with recyclable packaging.
Read more at: Treehugger- specific information about the Greenworks "natural" ingredients Eco Child's Play-how Clorox has benefited from the FDA's decision not to clearly define "natural" Lohas and the Sierra Club-the partnership between the Sierra Club and Clorox
Where do you rest your head for 8-10 hours every day of your life? Your pillow, of course! Considering how much time we spend in close proximity snuggling with our pillow, it only makes sense that it be made of high quality, natural materials. Natura offers many natural sleep solutions, including the Aloe Dream Mate Pillow
The Aloe Dream Mate pillow consists of an aloe and cotton cover, Natura smart wool lining, and a granulated Talalay latex core. The aloe enriched cotton cover provides for better energy balance and nourishes your skin while you sleep. The smart wool lining regulates body temperature and controls humidity by absorbing moisture vapor and diffusing it back into the air. The natural, granulated Talalay latex replicates a "down-like" feel that is cuddly and conforms to your neck and body. All of these natural elements combine to provide you with longer periods of deep, undisturbed sleep.
The hypoallergenic Aloe Dream Mate Pillow is a great alternative to synthetic pillows that may contain PBDEs. PBDEs are flame retardant chemicals that are suspected to mimic estrogen. This chemical has been found in human breast milk, and the US has the highest documented levels of PBDEs in breast milk, blood, and body fat. Avoid PBDEs in your bed, and sleep safely on Natura's Aloe Dream Mate pillow.
Kitchen Composters: Consider the NatureMill Automatic
Considering buying a kitchen composter, but worried about the amount of work it will require? Concerned you don't have the yard space for an outdoor composter? Concerned about the smell? Consider the Porsche of composters -- NatureMill's automatic kitchen composter.
To use it, add your organic waste -- food scraps (including meat and dairy), coffee grinds, and even pet waste (yuck!), close the lid, and voila. NauralMill's composter uses the hot composting method -- mixing, air flow, heat and moisture -- to create compost without icky odors. The compost gets transferred via a trap door to a lower chamber so you can keep adding new waste and making more compost in the top chamber. Remove fresh compost every two weeks.
Worried about the energy such a composter might consume? From the NatureMill website:
A NatureMill automatic composter recycles its weight in waste every 10 days, diverting over two tons of waste from landfills over its life. This reduces emissions of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas produced when organic matter decomposes in oxygen-starved landfills. Compost returns nutrients to the environment, reducing our need for chemical fertilizers. NatureMill uses 5 kwh / month of energy - or about $0.50/month - less than a garbage truck would burn in diesel fuel to haul the same waste. It is made from recycled and recyclable materials.
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