From our family to yours, Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear EarthTalk: What is the environmental impact of so many people now using sites like Facebook and spending so much time online?
– Bob Yearling, Paris, TX

The environmental impact of so much online time really boils down to energy usage, which in turn affects the amount of greenhouse gases we pump into our atmosphere. For one, each of us can help by limiting computer time (whether surfing the ‘net or not) and shutting them down or putting them into sleep mode when we aren’t using them (this can be automated via the computer’s power management control panel).

Also, when shopping for a new computer, consumers and businesses alike can opt for models certified by the federal government as energy efficient with the Energy Star label. If all computers sold in the U.S. met Energy Star requirements, Americans could pocket $1.8 billion annually in saved energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking some two million cars off the road.

Individual responsibility aside, the creation and management of more efficient data centers by the major online hubs—especially as we enter the age of “cloud” computing whereby most of the software, content and services we look to our computers for resides online and is served to us as-needed—is what can have the biggest impact. Google, Facebook, and Amazon.com are already deeply committed to the cloud computing model, with Microsoft, Yahoo and others following suit accordingly.

For its part, Google has been a real leader in the building of green data centers, even powering them with renewable energy. The company recently released environmental footprint scores for several of its data centers. While the energy usage required to run its cloud services (Google Search, Google+, Gmail and YouTube) seems huge in the aggregate—it used 260 megawatt hours to power its data centers in 2010—it boils down to only 7.4 kilowatt hours worth of energy annually per user. Google reports that to provide an individual user with its services for a month uses less energy than leaving a light bulb on for three hours. And because the company has been carbon neutral since 2007, “even that small amount of energy is offset completely, so the carbon footprint of your life on Google is zero.”

In an April 2011 report entitled “How Dirty is your Data?” the non-profit Greenpeace examined energy sources for the 10 largest IT companies involved in cloud computing, finding Apple, Facebook and IBM especially guilty of getting significant amounts of power from coal-fired power plants. (Facebook had come under fire earlier this year when reporters uncovered that the company planned to buy electricity for its brand new eco-friendly data center in Prineville, Oregon—one of the greenest such facilities ever designed and constructed—from a utility that derives most of its power from coal.) Yahoo, Amazon.com and Microsoft scored best in use of renewable alternative energy sources for cloud services.

In the long run, analysts think that the widespread shift to cloud computing will be a great boon to the environment. A report released in September 2011 by Pike Research, “Cloud Computing Energy Efficiency,” predicts that because of the shift to cloud computing and increasing efficiencies, data center power consumption will decrease by 31 percent between 2010 and 2020.

CONTACTS: Energy Star, www.energystar.gov; Greenpeace, www.greenpeace.org; Pike Research, www.pikeresearch.com.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E – The Environmental Magazine. Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe or get a Free Trial Issue

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EarthTalk: Impact of Spending Time Online

Eco-ski destinations and resorts provide a greener alternative for skiing and other recreational and sports enthusiasts. Private hotels and lodges are now incorporating green and environmentally friendly initiatives in their building and design practices and day-to-day operations as a way of contributing to the preservation of their local environment. Listed below are just some of the best eco-friendly global destinations for skiing and other recreational activities. You can get great late ski deals online so grab a bargain and see you on the slopes.

Nipika Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canadacaaa

Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies is the Nipika Mountain Resort, a self-sufficient and sustainable accommodation property. Its proximity to the Canadian Rockies makes it an ideal lodging option for skiing enthusiasts. Nipika Mountain Resort is completely off-grid, all cabins and rooms are powered by natural solar and wind sources. Cabin building materials and furniture in Nipika are made from dead wood procured from the surrounding forests.

Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole, U.S.A.

Located near the Jackson Hole Mountain Ski Resort and the Grand Teton National Park, Hotel Terra Jackson is a LEED certified hotel that integrates eco-friendly components in its architecture, design, operations, and energy utilization practices. Energy for the hotel is produced from green sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. Even the toiletries, beds and bedding ensembles are made from organic and natural materials. Recycling is highly encouraged and practiced in the hotel main rooms and guest rooms.

Aravis Lodge, La Clusaz, France

Aravis Lodge is one of the best eco-ski accommodation properties in St. Jean De Sixt near the La Clusaz ski commune in the French Alps. The Aravis Lodge is situated in a century-old chalet with 17 bedrooms and comfortable guest amenities like sauna and massage facilities.
The hotel incorporates an impressive array of eco-friendly practices including utilization of solar energy to produce heat and hot water. Even the in-house restaurant incorporates sustainable practices and uses free range local produce and free trade products in their menu.

Going green isn’t restricted to the house and office, by far. Choosing eco-minded destinations such as these Ski Resort options or Eco-Spa Resorts can make your green efforts even more enjoyable! Have fun!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

3 Fantastic Eco Ski Destinations

With increasing oil prices and mounting environmental concerns, the aircraft industry is investing more and more time and money into researching alternative aviation fuels. Here are just a few examples of more eco-friendly alternatives to hydrocarbon based propulsion.

Animal Fat

In spring 2011, a research team at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California tested a renewable biofuel which was made from rendered animal fat. The results were positive with the fuel, made from chicken and beef tallow, producing 90% less black carbon emissions when idling and up to 60% percent less on takeoff. The animal fat biofuel also produced significantly lower sulphate, organic aerosol and other hazardous emissions which are associated with standard jet fuel.

Pond Scum

Many people are backing pond scum, or Algae as it is more commonly referred to, as the next big thing. These tiny biological organisms transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy using photosynthesis. So efficient are these micro marvels they can actually double their weight several times a day and, as part of the photosynthesis process, produce oil which can be used to make fuel. In theory, Algae growth could actually be improved when fed extra carbon dioxide or even sewage, thus helping to clean up other problems whilst growing. Trials have been carried out using algae aviation biofuel by Air New Zealand, Virgin Airlines and the U.S. military.

Jatropha

Jatropha is a poisonous and rather smelly subtropical plant which is also known as ‘black vomit nut’ or ‘bellyache bush.’ Banned in Australia due to it’s invasiveness and toxicity this strange ‘weed’ could be set to offer a serious alternative to aviation fuel with both Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines completing successful trials using the fuel in recent years. Resistant to both drought and pests, and producing up to 40% oil from each seed, Jatropha has the potential to produce as much as 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel
each year from just a single acre.

Synthetic Fuel

NASA is just one of many research groups who have being testing synthetic fuels as an alternative to aviation fuel. The synthetic petroleum is produced using the Fischer- Tropsch process which is a chemical reaction where a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is converted into liquid hydrocarbons. Whilst still in testing, early trials have been promising with synthetic fuels producing fewer harmful emissions than regular aviation fuel. It is hoped that these non-petroleum alternatives could help to satisfy the growing demand for less expensive, more eco-friendly fuel. The other major benefit is that, unlike biofuels, synthetic fuel can easily be use to power today’s aircrafts, with little or no modification required.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is another possible alternative to traditional hydrocarbon based propulsion. One of the biggest advantages of using hydrogen is that jet engines would require relatively little modification. The difficult part is storing the fuel as liquid hydrogen needs to be stored at -424 degrees and, although lighter, it takes up much more space than regular fuel, meaning airplanes would need to be redesigned in order to store it. Ecologically speaking hydrogen is a great fuel, as the only bi-product of burning it, is water. However this could also be its down fall as many worry that planes powered by hydrogen could end up becoming unpredictable cloud-making machines.

Guest post was written by Ally Biring on behalf of Hotel Club.

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The Greener Way to Travel

Recycling begins in the home. If every person starts recycling home waste, we’ll be that much closer to a cleaner planet. However, recycling has to become part of your daily routine, a part of your home care. Here are 31 great methods to recycle home waste.

Make Recycling A Part Of Your Life

1. Keep a recycling container next to your bin; this makes it easier to collect recyclable items
2. Make a list of the items you can recycle and paste it on your fridge and on the kitchen and garage walls, as a reminder to your family
3. Take advantage of any kerbside recycling scheme that your local authorities offer.
4. When you visit supermarkets, visit the recycling banks as part of your shopping routine. Most supermarkets allow for recycling of bottles, can, papers and electronic goods.
5. Obtain plastic grading and sorting instructions and sort out your plastic waste accordingly. Not all types of plastic can be readily recycled.
6. Always rinse plastic, glass and metal food containers before recycling them, to avoid attracting rodents, ants and cockroaches.
7. Don’t recycle carbon paper, cardboard, laminated paper and cardboard and stickers. Use cardboard to create useful objects, awnings, water and air proofing and so on. Laminated cardboard can be used as a back frame on which to stick art work and as a base for writing paper.
8. Save newspapers separately in the newspaper bin; most counties have newsprint recycling facilities, where old newspapers are recycled to produce new ones.
9. Recycle your remaining paper products such as glossy magazines, printed flyers, glossy newspaper Ads, envelopes, and computer printing paper, phone books, paper packaging and old letters into a different bin. These can be handed over to a regular recycling unit to be made into paper bags, craft items, paper mache dolls and so on. It’s ok if your paper waste contains metal staples, but be sure to remove plastic wraps and rubber bands if any.
10. If you have corrugated cardboard, note that you can tie it up with string and hand over to the curbside collectors. Make sure the corrugated cardboard waste is dry.
11. As you know, plastic items are not biodegradable. Therefore, you need to use your imagination to recycle plastic products. Check what kinds of plastic goods are accepted at your local recycling center.
12. Drop used plastic grocery bags into bins outside grocery stores for recycling.
13. Plastic cups, egg cartons and food trays are not biodegrade. Stop buying these items and find creative ways to use ones you have. Plastic egg cartons can be painted and used as a costume jewelry keeper.
14. Food trays can be used to grow seedlings in the garden.
15. Plastic cups can be used to grow small plants, seedlings, or as snail traps in your garden.Separate your glass based on color: clear, green and brown. Recycling centers prefer glass sorted this way.
16. Sheet glass, light bulbs, pyrex and mirrors cannot be recycled along with container bottles, as they have different melting points and compositions. They may not be accepted by many recycle centers either. Use sheet glass, mirrors and light bulbs for decorative purposes.
17. Recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs at your local IKEA store.
18. Rinse food cans and remove lids before handing them over to the recycling center. You can also grow plants in food cans, or paint them and use them to store toothbrushes, paint brushes and pens.
19. Aluminum foil and foil packaging can be reprocessed into engine parts and other mechanical components. Always recycle these separately.
20. Keep the lids and labels on paint and aerosol cans before you recyclable them so that recyclers know the former contents.
21. Copper and all copper alloys are 100 percent recyclable. Copper, brass and bronze are also bright metals. If you have copper vessels, pots and vases, get them re-polished and give them away as gifts. Or, you can use them as decorative objects within the house.
22. Pass on computers and printers if they’re in good condition. There’s always a school or old age home that might need some computers.
23. When you buy a new cell phone, don’t throw the old one away. Hand it in at your retail outlet and they’ll recycle it.
24. Instead of throwing out excess cooked food, donate it to homeless centers, or make creative TV dinners
25. Make your own compost either in a compost bin or an open pile. Throw fruit cores, peelings and raw veggies into this compost.
26. Blend dried leftover salad greens with water and feed this mixture to your growing plants
27. Add leaves and grass to your compost pile or donate to your local community’s compost. Don’t put these in landfills, as they can generate too much greenhouse gas.
28. You can add grass clippings, shrub clippings and old bark to your garden or community compost pile
29. Sort leftover nuts and bolts that don’t fit anywhere by size and donate them to people who might find use for them.
30. Used car tires make the best possible tree swings for your kids
31. Patch up old plastic tarpaulins and create a cozy garden tent for your kids

Marina is freelance writer and runs a decorative wall clock store at 1001Wallclocks.com

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31 Ways To Recycle Your Home Waste

While at Eco-Office Gals we tend to give tips for green biz, everyone needs a break once in a while. Take some time to yourself, away from the worries of everyday life, at a fantastic spa away from home. Don’t just visit any spa, though; visit an eco spa to show your support for the environment. These four fantastic eco spas can be found all over the world, in beautiful, secluded locations.

Sarinbuana Eco Lodge, Mount Batukaru, Bali
Sarinbuana Eco Lodge is located at 750m on Mount Batukaru, located in Central Bali. These eco-friendly spa breaks have a spectacular view of Southern Bali, and are only an hour and a half away from Kuta and Ubud. It is truly a haven for nature and outdoors lovers. You will be able to stay in a cozy, hand-crafted bungalow, surrounded by a lush, tropical forest with cacao, coconuts, vanilla, and jungle fruits. Receive room service with foods from Sarinbuana’s organic gardens, or dine in an open-air restaurant. You will find plenty to do there, including forest walks, swimming, massage, yoga, and more.

Uhma Spa, Miami, Florida
Uhma is the first organic spa in Miami, and it is constantly researching and developing new treatments. Uhma Spa uses only natural and organic products that have a contemporary edge. Their skilled team of therapists will evaluate your needs and customize the perfect treatment for you. Their variety of treatments range from back and shoulder massages to eye rejuvenation, and from deep cleansing facials to water therapy and body treatments. Uhma Spa guarantees you will always find the perfect beach spa treatment there.

Bay of Fires Lodge, Launceston, Tasmania
Bay of Fires is located on the island-state of Tasmania, as far away as you can get from the harsh reality of life. To get there, you will need to take a two-day beach hike, with a gorgeous view of aquamarine and sapphire waters. Along the way, you might see whales, beached shark eggs, and even some wallabies. Food will be provided along the way. Once you arrive at the eco lodge, you will be fed like a king. Relax during your stay with meditation and sunsets, kayaking, swimming, and fun nighttime games. Bay of Fires Lodge is truly an otherworldly retreat.

Eco Chic, Irvine, California
Beauty should be enjoyable, and you will find yourself enjoying every minute of the pampering you receive at Eco Chic Hair Salon in Irvine, California. You get to relax in an eco-friendly environment while Eco Chic takes care of the details. Why sacrifice style for Mother Nature when you can have both beauty while protecting the environment? This California spa believes you were born to shine, and that is what they will help you do. Eco Chic covers all aspects of hair care, as well as many other stress-relieving services.

An eco spa is a better choice than any neighbourhood spa. First, they are friendlier to the environment. These four spas are also in secluded areas that are likely far away from home, for a true otherworldly experience. Take some time away and pamper yourself for a while.

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

When You Need A Break: 4 Fantastic Eco Spas

Lately, all around us more and more cities, universities, companies, and the like are banning bottled water. Time even named ‘the war on bottled water’ #4 on its Top 10 Food Trends. “Once hip, bottled water is now unforgivably ‘90s,” John Cloud writes in the article.

But why you might ask? Well, cost. Bottled water is at least 300 times more expensive than tap water.  Not to mention, about 90% of the bottle is for things like bottling, packaging, shipping, and transportation. There’s also the health risks. Bisphenol-A, or BPA as it’s more commonly known, is a chemical found in most plastic water bottles.  Since it was discovered in 1998, the list of its harmful side effects seems to be continuously growing. Recently it has been strongly linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, miscarriage, and childhood asthma, to name a few. Of course, the environment is also a factor.  Just less than 1.3 million tons of plastic PET water bottles were produced in 2006. 76.5% of those water bottles ended up in landfills. This does not even include the energy that is wasted in the production and transportation of bottled water.

These are just some of the reasons why you should turn away from bottled water.  But you might be asking, how can I do this? Saying no to bottled water is more practical than you might think.

• First, understand that bottled water is not any “cleaner” or “more pure” than bottled water. In fact, the Aspen Tap challenge 90% chose the municipal brand over the bottled water brand.  This chart even details the testing required for tap water in contrast to bottled water.
• Get a reusable water bottle.  Stainless steel water bottles are reliable and safe. But, if you are afraid of a ‘tin-y’ taste, look for a BPA-free, plastic bottle.  Many options are available from your favorite color, shape, college or even sports team.  There are even portable water filters available.
• Where can you use your new bottle? Look for hydration stations. If you have a Smartphone may apps are available to now help you hydrate at your convenience, like The Drinking Water and WeTap apps on the Android phone. Even Virgin Atlantic airlines are getting on board as they offering water bottle refill stations at airports.
• Look for restaurants that support the cause.  Many restaurants now will only offer bottled water by request.  Others, like, Mario Batali restaurants in New York and Las Vegas, have banned bottled water in its entirety.
• In your office, replace bottled water coolers with a bottleless water cooler. Bottleless water coolers use point of use, or POU, to eliminate the need for heavy, expensive 5-gallon bottles. Using sophisticated filtration systems, bottleless water coolers purify the tap water already available in your office.

Take a minute to think about if you think you can make these simple changes for your wallet, your health, your coworkers, and your environment.

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How to rid the world of bottled water

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring compound that is present in water and soil. Some communities add fluoride to their municipal water supplies to prevent tooth decay in children. It is ironic that a public health measure designed to promote health has led to a myriad of deleterious health issues in children and animals. Fluoride has been implicated in dental fluorosis, ADHD and organ damage in children and kidney, reproductive and bone issues in animals.

Dental fluorosis

Dental fluorosis is a condition that occurs when an individual ingests excessive amounts of fluoride during tooth formation. According to the EPA, children 8 years and younger who are exposed to excessive fluoride levels are at risk for developing pitted teeth and a range of other cosmetic effects. In mild cases, fluorosis leaves thin white lines or specks on the enamel. Severe fluorosis mottles the enamel with brown and black stains. It will also crack and pit the teeth.

Lead exposure is a well-recognized risk factor for ADHD and other neurological disorders. Children in municipalities that fluoridate the public water have higher levels of lead in their blood than their peers who live in areas with non-fluoridated water. Children who use fluoridated toothpaste and live in communities that don’t fluoridate the public water supply are also at risk. The swallowing reflex in children is not well-developed. As they brush their teeth, they can ingest more fluoride than the Adequate Intake levels set by the Institute of Medicine.

A Chinese study concluded that fluoride levels that exceed 2.0 mg per liter can cause liver and kidney damage in children. Numerous case reports suggest that switching to fluoride-free water can relieve the clinical signs and symptoms of kidney disease.

Animal impact

Animals that drink fluoridated water can develop debilitating health issues. Kidney damage has been detected with fluoride levels as low as one mg per liter. The most alarming case of chronic fluoride poisoning occurred at a Quarter Horse operation in Colorado. After five years of ingesting fluoridated drinking water, the horses had problems with reproduction and developed crooked leg bones. Blood test revealed abnormally low levels of thyroid gland hormone. The operation lost five horses to chronic fluoride poisoning. A post-mortem examination confirmed that the animals had chronic dental fluorosis and that the condition destroyed their tooth-supporting bone.

The Merck Veterinary Manual describes numerous adverse health issues for chronic fluoride poisoning. According to the manual, low levels can produce tooth enamel changes before skeletal signs are evident. Skeletal fluorosis accelerates bone turnover in the mandible and long bones. The animals become lame and they reduce their intake of food and water.

Fluoride is a toxic substance with serious and potentially life-threatening consequences for children and animals.

Written by Dan Jones a Health writer from London helping spread good information about keeping in tip top condition.

Source reference

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The Effects of Water Fluoridation on Children and Animals

Looking for a more eco-friendly way to brush? Ever consider the amount of waste that accumulates from old toothbrushes? It may not seem like much when you only consider yourself, but think about your entire family, neighborhood, town, or state.

Everyone knows how important it is to recycle and choose biodegradable products when possible. We all know about recycling paper, plastic, and glass. It gets harder when thinking about recycling things that aren’t 100% recyclable. What people may not know is that there are alternatives to traditional plastic toothbrushes that will reduce the waste that frequent toothbrush changes cause.

These five toothbrushes provide a unique way to brush that will lessen the negative impact they leave on this earth and still help against gum disease, which will give environmental enthusiast another reason to smile.

Preserve recyclable toothbrushes

This company sends their toothbrushes in a recycled wrapper that doubles as a return mailer for sending the toothbrush back for recycling. The toothbrush itself is also made of post consumer recycled materials.

Environmental Toothbrush

The handle on this toothbrush is made of bamboo, which is a natural cellulose fiber. The brush also features biodegradable bristles and comes packaged in a cardboard box making almost the entire toothbrush and packaging biodegradable.

Radius Source

This toothbrush is made of a bio-plastic handle made with recycled dollar bills, wood, or flax blended with 100% recycled polypropylene. The toothbrush offers replaceable heads which cut back on 93% of waste.

Dr. Du-Mores

The plastic used in this toothbrush breaks down to no more than CO2, water, and humus. The brush is also made with antibacterial bristles and 100% FDA compliant materials.

Acca Kappa

These toothbrushes, made of cellulose acetate, are entirely biodegradable and come in a simple pearl design.
The next time you need to change your toothbrush, consider checking out one of these earth-friendly brands. Each brush offers something that will support the environment, and some at a cost that is less than what you may be paying for your toothbrush now. They will provide the same function as an ordinary toothbrush, but the impact after their use will be dramatically lessened.

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Five Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes

Eco-tourism continues to grow in popularity as awareness about finite resources continues to increase. Usually, when people think about eco-tourism, they think about small, no-frills hotels. However, more and more eco-hotels are offering attractive, all inclusive holidays. These eco-hotels provide luxury accommodations and amenities while maintaining harmony with the environment around them.

Xpu Ha Palace Ecologically Friendly Resort

The Xpu Ha Palace, located in Mexico’s Mayan Riviera, all white-sand beaches and gentle waves, offers visitors access to rivers, jungles, and beautiful beaches. The hotel features 144 rooms in cabana-style villas with thatched roofs. The rooms have private balconies or terraces with a hammock, as well as a double-Jacuzzi in the bathroom and are stocked with those necessities that make a stay more comfortable, such as air conditioners, ceiling fans, mini-bars, and satellite televisions. The Xpu Ha Palace boasts a Mexican-Italian restaurant, a grill snack bar, and three bars. Amenities include tennis, golf, fishing, diving, as well as ecological tours, botanical workshops, and a jungle tour, encompassing a walking tour of the Botanical Gardens, the nature trail and snorkeling. There are Mayan ruins nearby that can be explored. The resort also offers children’s activities, appealing to the whole family.

Caribbean Islands

If the Caribbean islands are more appealing, the Strawberry Hill resort might be the ideal choice. Located in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, the Strawberry Hill resort’s charm lies in the highland beauty of the mountains, rather than the traditional beach. Offering only 12 rooms for guests, this resort is quite intimate. Previously a strawberry farm, the hotel still draws on the local agriculture to prepare its meals. The rooms are set in remodeled British-colonial style cottages decorated with locally crafted furniture and accents. Though there are no air conditioners in the rooms, the mountain breezes keep the air cool and fresh, and the rooms do boast modern conveniences, such as televisions and CD players. The resort has its own botanical gardens, but Holywell National Park and Alex Twyman’s Old Tavern Coffee Estate are also close by. Guests can also always hike up to the Blue Mountain summit or go on a mountain hike.

Central America

In Central America, travelers can visit La Cocotera Resort and Eco-Lodge. This resort is located in La Barra de Santiago, in El Salvador and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on one side and a quiet estuary on the other.

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3 Eco-Tourism All Inclusive Holidays for 2012