DwellSmart

2009-03-14T17:08:00.001-04:00

Feature Review - Samantharoma Wrinkle Repair Complex - by Mary Gatch

After trying many options to no avail, I was thrilled to find a natural deodorant that actually works! From miles of walking to hot yoga, Samantharoma Deodorant keeps me smelling sweet all day. Samantha from Summerville makes this product, and it outscores over 800 rated products and achieves the best score (zero!) on the 0-10 hazard rating on the Cosmetic Database.

After following in love with the Samantharoma Deodorant, I decided to try Samantha's Wrinkle Repair Complex. I figured I could use all the help I could get. I trusted her product and ingredients as the wrinkle repair complex also scores a zero (lowest rating) hazard score on the Cosmetic Database.

It is hard to perform a good control test with environmental variables such as sun exposure, quality and quantity of sleep, stress levels, and more. So, I decided I would apply the wrinkle repair complex to just one side of my face (the right side). I applied it morning and night just dabbing a few drops where I have the most, well umm, 'character'. My signs of wisdom now include smile lines, squint lines, deep-in-thought forehead lines, and the probably there since birth - furrowed brow (it's really genetic - you'll have to check out the picture of my son to believe it).

Well, after this two-week experiment, I was quite pleased with the results. Rather than clog your e-mail with photos or scare the unprepared, you can click here to see the two sides of my mug shot subject to the following warning. In the interest of avoiding a smile and showing some detail, these photos are not flattering and perhaps down right scary! But, they do show a considerable difference in the right and left side of my face.

You'll also get to see the adorable picture of my son highlighting our genetic proclivity to the furrowed brow. Most amazingly, the right half of my furrowed brow just about disappeared after two weeks with the Wrinkle Repair Complex.

As a bonus and as Samantha had indicated, it also reduced my rosacea. It was all enough to convince me, and now I'm a regular and happy user - on both sides of my face.

Visit our website at: http://www.dwellsmart.com/

Top 10 Things to Improve Our Carbon Footprint

2009-03-02T12:45:00.010-05:00

What are the top 10 things we can all do to improve our carbon footprint?

Our carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by our lifestyles. There are many websites that allow you to measure your current carbon footprint. You’ll find a good calculator at www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator.

In determining the Top 10, it’s important to consider the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The pie charts were developed by Robert A. Rohde based on information from the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research. The charts shows the sources of man-made greenhouse gas emissions by contributing sector for the year 2000. The overall chart is further broken down into charts for each of the 3 primary greenhouse gases using the same colors to represent the eight contributing sectors.

Below, in order of importance, are 10 things you can do to lower your greenhouse gas emissions.

Top 10:

Eat less meat
Consume less fuel
Support or switch to renewable energy sources
Lower heating and cooling cost
Buy locally-produced goods when possible
Use less water
Improve lighting and appliance efficiency
Reduce waste (e.g., packaging and disposable bags, bottles, and cups)
Recycle
Compost

Some of you may be surprised by the #1 item on the list. The order of items 2 through 10 is somewhat arbitrary and debatable, but there’s only one action that stands out for top billing - reducing our meat consumption.

In 1987, as our global population surpassed 5 billion people, we also reached another milestone. We crossed over the point at which the earth is able to regenerate the amount of global resources consumed within a year. We entered a new era with the ecological equivalent of deficit spending.

As our population grows every year and as more people around the world strive to live the ‘American Lifestyle’, our ecological deficit is growing rapidly.

According to a 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), meat production generates more greenhouse gas emissions (14-22 percent of global emissions) than either transportation or industry. Most of the emissions stem from beef production with a pound of hamburger resulting in about 32 pounds of CO2 emissions.

To tie this back in with the pie chart, here are the primary ways that meat production contributes greenhouse gases:

‘Land Use and Biomass Burning’ – the primary reason for the destruction of rainforests and other forest land is to clear land for cattle. It requires 20 times as much land to grow food for a meat-eater versus a strict vegetarian. As 10’s of millions of acres are burned or cleared each year, a massive amount of stored carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Further, we lose the ongoing ability of these forests to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

‘Agricultural Byproducts’ – in large part, this is a nice way of saying cow burps, flatulence, and poop. As cows digest grass and grains, they produce methane gas as a byproduct. Pound for pound, methane gas is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at creating a greenhouse affect. The earth’s estimated 1.5 billion cows are believed to be the primary source for the steady and alarming rise in methane in our atmosphere. Another byproduct of cow manure is nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas with 296 times the global warming potential of CO2.

‘Transportation Fuels’ – raising cattle requires a lot of fuel. From the tractors and trucks to grow and transport the grains to feed the cattle to the trucks transporting the steer and packaged meats, there are many moving parts. The fuel used to power the vehicles and produce the styrofoam and plastic packaging is another large contributor to greenhouse gases. According to a Department of Commerce study, one third of all raw materials in the United States are used to produce meat, dairy products, and eggs; the production and transport of these raw materials requires massive amounts of fuel.

‘Power Stations’ – about half of the world’s fresh water consumption is used for livestock production. When water is siphoned upstream of hydroelectric plants, it often results in a shift of power generation to more carbon-intensive methods such as coal-fired power plants. In many places, the inadequate supply of fresh water requires energy-intensive desalination of sea water. And, a significant amount of electricity can be saved by reducing irrigation water and the associated energy required to treat and distribute the water.

If you’d like to learn more and to gather more incentive to cut meat consumption, I highly recommend John Robbins’ landmark book – Diet for a New America. It will change your perspective.

The first item in the Top 10 is perhaps the easiest and most effective in so many ways. By reducing our meat consumption (especially beef), we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. And, in addition to improving the health of the planet, you can improve the health of your family.

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

Living With Garbage

2009-02-02T14:27:00.003-05:00

Vancouver city workers went on strike for 3 months. Services including the issuing of city permits, public libraries, city daycare centers, YMCA facilities, park maintenance, and, most noticeably, trash pick-up were all suspended during this period. Management personnel were able to perform certain duties deemed critical to civic survival (including, parking meter enforcement much to the irritation of Vancouverites), but the public was generally expected to get by without services that most had taken for granted.

Vancouver is renowned as a clean, modern city. Its coastal location, hydro-generated electricity, and clean-air initiatives help to keep its air quality among the best of North American cities. Glacier-fed water reservoirs ensure a clean, natural source of water. And a blend of public and private waste management services generally keeps the city free of trash. However, during the three-month strike, piles of garbage (regular trash, yard waste, and household recycling) were both unsightly and a public health concern.

But the situation was not as bad as it could have been. The city endured a strike of similar duration five years ago and people learned valuable lessons that ameliorated the severity of the more recent strike. During the intervening years, several things occurred:

recycling rates increased, removing a lot of renewable materials from the waste stream (5 to 10 cent bottle return fees encourage recycling of beverage containers)
a city initiative to encourage composting (the city provides a 50% subsidy for the cost of home composters) removed much organic refuse from both kitchen and yard work from the waste stream.
Vancouver citizens learned to shop more responsibly, avoiding products with bulky packaging, reusing shopping bags, and giving reusable things away rather than putting them in garbage bins.

The garbage strike did provide ample opportunity for analysis of garbage bin contents (in the same way that you get to know houseguests all too well when their stay extends into weeks and months). Vancouverite's love of take-out sushi and Chinese food was tempered by consideration of the myriad food containers that would require disposal. People deferred the purchase of items once considered necessities over concern of what to do with the packaging and any items being replaced. Relegating food waste to composters greatly reduced the stench coming from the bulging garbage bins. And although the city was not collecting from recycling bins, diligent separation of recyclable materials freed up valuable space in the overloaded garbage bins.

Another bright side to the strike was that it promoted camaraderie among citizens, in the same way that any adversity draws together those people suffering its consequences. Neighbors collaborated on garbage strategies, swapping space in garbage bins for space in yard waste containers, or encouraging others to contribute to their composters. Shopkeepers congratulated people for reusing shopping bags from home. People rummaging through recycle bins to collect bottles to exchange for cash were no longer intruders but welcome entrepreneurs.

It is encouraging that so many Americans are taking steps to reduce their portion of their community's waste stream without having to endure a garbage strike. Less garbage means reduced landfill space requirements, less water pollution associated with groundwater seepage from landfills, and decreased air pollution from the burning of garbage. Composting of kitchen and yard waste generates organic fertilizer for gardening. Recycling, in addition to less waste, means less mining and associated pollution. Citizens adopting these everyday habits serve their community and the planet well, and should there be any disruption to garbage service, make everyday living that much better!

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

Winter Wise

2009-01-03T14:10:00.003-05:00

Winter weather has brought a big chill to most of the country. This weather is conducive to relaxing indoors and spending time with family. Here are a few suggestions for enjoying this time in an eco-friendly way.

If you have a traditional non-gas, open fireplace, there are a few environmentally-friendly fire logs available now. JAVA-LOGs are made from compressed, used coffee grounds bound with all-natural vegetable wax. With the ever-growing abundance of StarBucks and other coffee shops, JAVA-LOGs make great use of a sustainable resource. Pine Mountain logs are made from sawdust (also recycled and also compressed with vegetable wax). Even the market leader, Duraflame, recently introduced logs made with non-petroleum-based waxes. All three of these fire logs are more efficient and generate less pollution and carbon dioxide than burning wood. If it's your first fire of the season, don't forget to open the flue! Enjoy the fire with your loved ones and a cup of organic hot chocolate, cider, or coffee.

Your home heating costs are likely to rise over the next month. Every degree you lower your thermostat saves approximately 5% of your home energy use. Programmable thermostats are great for automatically reducing the temperature late at night and bringing temperatures back up for the morning so homes are comfortable when people awaken.
If you have a heat pump with a backup or "emergency" heat, be cautious as this backup heat source uses a lot more electricity so you'll want to avoid frequent resets to the thermostat that engage your backup heat supply. It's best to use a programmable thermostat that is specifically designed for heat pumps. Otherwise, you can gradually adjust the temperature to a higher setting.

Other ways to reduce energy usage during winter months include cleaning or changing filters for your air returns, closing drapes to reduce heat loss through windows (except for south-facing windows during the day), sealing leaks around drafty doors or windows, and closing fireplace flues when not in use. Also, ceiling fans directed downward can help to distribute the heat throughout your room, rather than letting it collect at ceiling level.

Finally, if you have a hot water tank that is warm to the touch, it would benefit from additional insulation. Look for pre-cut jackets or blankets with an insulating value of at least R-8. If you have an electric hot water heater and follow prescribed guidelines, this is a fairly easy do-it-yourself project. You may want to hire an expert if you have a gas hot water heater.
This is a great time for us to conserve our personal energy as well. The holidays are drawing to a close and the hustle and bustle of the new year isn't quite upon us. So use this time to relax, refresh, and recharge while you can! We wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-01T14:42:00.003-05:00

The holidays have suddenly arrived again! We look forward to this as a time for relaxing with our families, catching up with friends, enjoying old traditions and making new ones. But all too often, the holidays can be times of stress, with all of the tasks that come with this time of year: decorating our homes, shopping for gifts, preparing special meals and treats, and hosting and attending parties. In addition to our blood pressure, this frenzy of activity takes a toll on the environment. This is a great time of year to take stock of our holiday plans and look for ways to simplify our lives and our impact on the environment.
If you enjoy the smell and beauty of a 'real' Christmas tree, you may be assured that tree growers are generally helpful to our environment. Tree farms are often located in areas not conducive to growing other types of crops. The young trees provide habitat for birds and wildlife while absorbing much CO2 and releasing oxygen. As the larger trees are cut, new trees are planted in their place. Look for a tree that is grown at a local, pesticide-free farm. Since 33 million cut Christmas trees are sold in America each December, it is important to dispose of them properly after the holidays rather than sending them to a landfill.
Potted yule trees are another eco-friendly alternative. You can plant them in the new year and have a living, growing reminder of past holidays.
If purchasing an artificial tree, be aware that many contain large amounts of petroleum-based PVCs (polyvinyl chloride) and lead. The greatest advantage of artificial trees is that they can be used for years, but recent studies indicate they have an average lifespan of only 6 years before they are permanently banished to basements, attics or landfills.
LED holiday lights are becoming popular for lighting trees and homes. While they come in many varieties and look similar to incandescent options, LED lights can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last 100,000 hours or more. They are much cooler to the touch than traditional tungsten bulbs, so you won't have to worry about children burning their fingers on them. Check out our sale section to find great prices on LED Lights.
If you usually host parties, you know about the numerous garbage bags of post-party waste that accumulate all too easily. One way to cut down on this waste is to use dishwashable plates, cups, and cutlery rather than disposable paper or plastic. You may want to consider renting cutlery and dishware from a banquet rental company. Pine cones or branches can be a nice way to dress up a table, or look for decorations that can be used year after year rather than just once. If you have food left over, your area food banks would surely appreciate a food donation to help needy families get through the winter.
The mountains of wrapping paper that pile up after opening gifts are an obvious reminder of the waste that can be generated on holidays. Reusable gift bags become a useful part of the gift that will "keep on giving" (the traditional Christmas stocking is one of the original reusable gift bags!). Alternative gift wrap made from the Sunday funny papers or cutting up colorful shopping bags saves money and makes good reuse of paper goods. When purchasing gift wrap, look for wrap made from recycled paper.
Consider going 'electronic' with your greeting cards by emailing a holiday photo rather than sending paper cards to friends, family, or business associates will save time and money, as well as trees. If you want to send cards by mail, you can save envelopes and postage by sending postcards - many photo shops will turn your digital prints into ready-to-mail holiday postcards.
About 40% of battery sales take place during the holidays. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run and will have less impact on the environment. Office supply stores and DwellSmart offer a battery drop-off where you can be assured the batteries will be disposed of properly (this is important since many batteries contain heavy metals).
According to a recent study, 18% of holiday shoppers plan to buy more 'green' products this season than in the past. It might not be exciting to open a giftbox with compact fluorescent bulbs, but the recipient will appreciate the lower utility bills for many months to follow. Giving rechargeable batteries and a charger can prevent emergency trips to purchase batteries for toys that die at inopportune times. Composters or rain barrels make great gifts for those who enjoy gardening.
Consider the durability and lifespan of gifts you purchase, avoiding items that provide only temporary amusement or go out of style quickly. For those people who "already have everything", consider gifts of homemade baked goods, plants, photos in a nice frame, or donations in their name to a suitable charity.
Finally, 're-gifting' gets a worse rap than deserved. Giving something that you don't want or need to someone else who may appreciate it is a great form of recycling (and very economical). At our large family gatherings over the years, one of our favorite traditions has been the 'white elephant' gift exchange; instead of buying gifts for each other, we each wrap and bring one item from our home that deserves more love and attention. We've proved each time that one person's 'trash' is another's treasure.

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

New Law Bans Harmful Phthalates

2008-08-28T14:44:00.002-04:00

On August 14th, President Bush signed a federal bill that bans six toxic phthalates from children's products. His signature bolsters Congress' overwhelming support for this legislation, and sends a clear message that toxic chemicals have no place in toys.

More than a dozen countries along with the European Union have moved to ban or restrict phthalates. California, Washington and Vermont have all passed legislation to limit phthalate use in children's products and several other states are considering similar restrictions.

The U.S. phthalate ban is part of a consumer product safety reform bill that easily passed the Senate with an 89-3 on the heels of a 424-1 vote in the House. The ban takes effect in six months.

Lawmakers crafted the bill in response to recent product recalls of a long list of consumer products, including toys found to contain unsafe levels of lead paint, and growing worries about the ineffectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC.

Public health advocates hailed approval of the ban and suggested it may signal a shift in U.S. chemicals policy.

Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds often used in manufacturing. They are widely used in the manufacture of plastics (especially PVC products) including plastic bags, garden hoses, plastic bottles, food storage containers, and toys. They are used as solvents or fragrance in perfumes, nail polish, soaps, shampoos, hair spray, adhesives, caulk, and paint pigments. Testing undertaken by the Environmental Working Group revealed that phthalates appear in around 75% of all personal care products. However, since they are components of "fragrance", they are not explicitly listed on product ingredient labels.

Phthalates are controversial because many studies have shown a link between high doses of phthalates and hormonal activity with effects including damage to the liver and testes and birth defects. In 2004, a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a very strong link between allergies in children and certain phthalates. Testing conducted by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that a majority of Americans have metabolites of multiple phthalates in their urine. A study published in 2008 emphasized that baby care products are of particular concern for infant exposure to phthalates. Use of leading brands of infant lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increases in phthalate metabolites in infant urine. The study suggests that skin exposure contributes significantly to phthalates in this population. Because of infants' high exposure to baby care products per body area, their limited metabolic capabilities, and their developing endocrine and reproductive systems, they are especially vulnerable to potential adverse effects of phthalates.

While the new federal ban applies to "children's products", we'll need to continue to be vigilant consumers to avoid toxic phthalates. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid PVC plastic items and containers - you can identify them by the Number 3 plastic recycle symbol. Other things to watch out for include:

Paints: Paints often contain phthalates as solvents, so choose no-VOC or low-VOC paints when possible. If using conventional paints, make sure the space is well-ventilated.
Fragrances: Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) is often used as a fragrance component, but is not required to be listed as an ingredient. In general, avoid products that have the generic word "fragrance" in their ingredients. Products made with essential oils are a safe alternative.
Synthetic Air Fresheners: As with fragrance in personal care products, most conventional air fresheners contain phthalates. Again, products made with essential oils are safe alternatives.
Nail Polish: Dibutyl Phthalate (or "DBT") is often used to make nail polish chip-resistant. Avoid polish that includes this ingredient.
Kitchen Plastics: Phthalates are generally more likely to leach out of plastic when it's heated, so avoid cooking or microwaving items in plastic containers.
Soft Plastic Toys: Don't give them to children - instead, opt for toys made from wood, cotton, or other phthalate-free materials, especially during ages when children tend to put everything in their mouths!
Vinyl Products: Vinyl is used in many different products, including building materials, garden hoses, lawn furniture, and some items of clothing (like raincoats or belts). One easy change you can make: switch to a non-vinyl shower curtains and liners. The strong "new shower curtain" smell results from chemical off-gassing, and indicates that your shower curtain is a source of phthalates in your home.

Jane Houlihan, Environmental Working Group's vice president for research, commented on the new phthalate ban - "This long-overdue action is not only a victory for parents and children, but an encouraging sign that Congress recognizes that our chemical regulatory system needs reform".

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

Think Global, Buy Local

2008-06-17T14:52:00.004-04:00

While I'd like to think that I am now becoming part of the 'solution', I must confess that for most of my life, I've clearly been part of the 'problem'. The forces were set in motion before I was born with marketers in the 50's reshaping American values and shifting our ways towards insatiable consumerism. But, I was part of the generation that propelled the engine forward on a massive, global scale.

I emerged from business school in the early 80's and became a consultant for a global accounting firm. To meet the consumer demand for more and more 'stuff', we helped our clients become increasingly efficient so they could produce more stuff at lower prices. The big talk was about economies of scale.

During the 80's and 90's, many factors were combining to make our world a much smaller place - the ubiquity of telecommunications service, the fax machine, personal computing, the Internet, global airline service, and cheap fuel.

Increasing globalization and our quest for economies of scale quickly led us to moving much of our manufacturing to China. In parallel, the demand for low prices and corporate growth strategies led to lower product quality, built-in obsolescence, and the 'convenience' of disposables.

One might ask 'so, what's wrong with this picture?'. After all, I myself am a big believer in capitalism and the power of free enterprise. Well, as it turns out, creating global economies of scale in manufacturing and agriculture and responding to rampant comsumer demand for more and more stuff at the lowest possible price has not been good for our planet. And, it simply doesn't work without cheap and abundant fuel.

I used to think that my purchase of a toy made in China was helping someone across the world to earn an income and helping in a global sense to spread economic wealth. But, I no longer feel that way. Now, I worry that the toy might contain lead paint. Now, I know that factories in China often produce two versions of their products - one to meet the regulatory standards and health safeguards enforced in Europe and California, and another version for the rest of the United States. Now, I know that 400,000 Chinese die prematurely each year from respiratory illnesses caused by air pollution. Now, I know that most of China's rivers and lakes are polluted and water is scarce and lands are turning to deserts from deforestation, water diversion, and over harvesting.

I used to think that outsourcing manufacturing was a good thing for China's economy, but I now think quite the opposite. We have created a global problem, and we must all work together to find a solution. And, part of that solution is to re-invigorate our local economies and re-establish sustainable communities.

So, what do we do? Capitalism propelled us to this point, and I think it is the key force that can help us make the changes that we must. But, it begins with us as the consumer. We must make smart choices that result in a better environment for all. We should favor local produce and products and favor quality over quantity. Change is not always easy and decisions are usually far from clear-cut, but the past 50 years has taught us that all that 'stuff' doesn't really make us happy, and we now have the chance to rediscover the simple things that do.

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

About Bisphenol-A (BPA)

2008-05-13T14:58:00.004-04:00

You may have heard about BPA in the news recently. BPA is a synthetic chemical compound used in a wide range of consumer products. It is primarily used to make plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that line the aluminum used in canned foods, like soup.

Polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers that contain BPA are generally a hard, clear plastic and can be identified by the #7 recycling symbol. However, not all #7 containers are made with BPA. Symbol #7 is used as a "catch-all" category and is also used to designate biodegradable containers made from corn or other safe materials.

BPA may also be found in PVC plastics which are designated by recycling symbol #3.

Why is BPA receiving so much attention? The problem with BPA arises over time, as the chemical bonds in plastics weaken and the BPA begins to leech out. Exposure to heat accelerates this process. Unfortunately, much of the BPA leakage makes its way into humans. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found BPA in 93% of the people tested (for more info on this study, click here). In mammals, BPA (at levels as low as 2-5 parts per billion) mimics estrogen. Many scientists believe that exposure to BPA can lead to numerous health problems, including cancer, premature puberty, hyperactivity, and, in men, low sperm counts or infertile sperm. Recent studies also indicate links to obesity and schizophrenia. The National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found "some concern" that low levels of BPA cause changes in behavior and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which girls enter puberty.

Perhaps the greatest concern is BPA's effect on infants, whose developing brains are more susceptible to toxins. Dr. Maida Galvez, a pediatrician studying BPA, recommends parents stay away from bottles containing the chemical and says, "We know the animal studies raise concerns, but there aren't human studies showing effects yet ... so, when we don't have the evidence, what we recommend is that parents try to err on the side of caution." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains its decades-old approval of polycarbonate bottles as safe, based on two studies which were both funded by the plastics industry. However, in light of recent studies, Health Canada (the Canadian regulatory body equivalent to the FDA) recently declared Bisphenol-A "dangerous", the first step toward instituting a ban. And ten states in the US currently have legislation pending that would affect the use of BPA.

What can we do about BPA? To safeguard your family from BPA, consider taking the following steps:

use BPA-free baby bottles, sippy cups, and pacifiers
choose powdered rather than liquid infant formula (BPA has been detected in every brand of liquid formula)
don't give plastic toys to children who are teething
choose BPA-free lunch boxes
avoid canned sodas and canned food items with acidic contents (e.g., tomatoes or citrus) - especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
use water bottles made from glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic
avoid heat exposure for plastics used for storing food or beverages; wash plastic containers in cold or warm water and do not dry them in the dishwasher; avoid microwaving plastic containers

For more info on BPA, see Wikipedia.

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

Composting

2008-04-18T15:04:00.004-04:00

Don't throw away those kitchen scraps! Turn them into lush, organic soil for your garden. Yard trimmings and food waste together make up around one quarter of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. By using these materials to make compost, you get chemical-free fertilizer for your garden, you save money used to purchase mulch and fertilizers, you decrease demand for scarce landfill space, and you reduce greenhouse gases associated with transportation and processing of waste.

Composting is a cheap, easy, and hygienic method of converting your kitchen and garden waste into a clean-smelling material that serves as a soil conditioner or surface mulch. Properly controlled, compost is a dark, crumbly fertilizer with a pleasant, earthy smell. Compost serves a dual purpose by returning nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure to increase its water holding capacity. Composting is nothing new - the basic techniques have been used for about 4000 years, while chemical fertilizers have only been widely available for around a century.

What do you need? Composting is simple - you need only a couple of things to get started:

for traditional composting, you need a compost bin to be located in your lawn or garden and a compost pail for collecting scraps in your kitchen
for the high-tech route, purchase a NatureMill all-in-one composting system (available in basic and pro models) that combines the kitchen collection with the compost generation

What do you feed your composter? Most organic materials which decompose readily are suitable for use in a composter. Smaller pieces will breakdown faster. Put the following materials in your composter:

Greens:

garden waste: grass cuttings, non-woody garden prunings, leaves, and flowers
kitchen waste: vegetable peelings, leaves and stalks, fruit peelings and cores, cooked table scraps, tea leaves, coffee grounds, egg shells and bread
herbivore manure (e.g., from horses, cows, sheep, goats, bats, ducks, pigeons, and any other vegetarian animal)

Browns:

small amounts of shredded newspaper, paper tissues, wood fire ash, sawdust, vacuum dust, and dryer lint

Do not put the following in your composter:

meat or fish scraps
weeds or diseased plants
plants sprayed with herbicide
large branches (unless chipped or chopped up)
cat or dog droppings
large amounts of pine needles (which are acidic)
fats, oils, and dairy products
anything else which doesn't decompose (e.g., plastics, glass, or metals)

What happens in the composter? When your kitchen scraps and garden waste are combined with a healthy mix of air and moisture, naturally occurring micro-organisms start to feed. They generate heat, and the composting environment heats up to around 120-140 degrees. At this temperature, seeds break down and insects cannot breed. The resulting products from the process are soil-enriching compost, carbon dioxide, water, and heat.

Organic waste left sitting in a pile will slowly degrade, but the process takes many weeks. Fast or "active" composting can be completed in 2 to 6 weeks. The key to fast composting is regular turning and mixing of the composting materials, ensuring sufficient moisture, and maintaining a carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio in a range of 25-30 to 1 (i.e., you should have around 28 times as much carbon as nitrogen). Browns such as dried leaves, dried grass, and newspaper are good sources of carbon. Greens such as vegetable scraps, tea, coffee, and fresh grass clippings are good sources of nitrogen. You can also boost nitrogen levels by adding blood meal or bone meal to your composting.

Troubleshooting problems with your compost

Too dry? Just add water and turn the compost.
Too wet? Add sawdust or newspaper scraps and turn the compost.
Not heating? Your compost probably needs nitrogen. Add vegetable scraps or bone meal and turn the compost.
Fly or insect breeding? If your compost is "cooking" properly, it will deter pests. Make sure the compost is hot in the center and turn it regularly.
Unpleasant smell? The compost will release odor when turned. To reduce compost odors it helps to keep the compost damp (but not wet).

Using your compost To use the compost, mix it with the soil in vegetable or flower beds. Or use as a surface mulch on beds or top dressing for lawns. Chemical fertilizer alone cannot match nutrient-rich, homemade compost. Compost boosts nutrient levels in the soil, saves trips to the garbage can, and reduces garbage output significantly. And your healthy, chemical-free flowers, fruit and vegetables are a most welcome bonus. Even if you can't use all of the compost on your own garden, it will almost certainly be welcomed by any "green-thumbed" neighbor. For more info on composting, check out the U.S. EPA's website.

Visit our website at www.DwellSmart.com

CFL Light Bulbs

2008-03-01T15:20:00.003-05:00

Changing light bulbs is the simplest, most cost-effective means of reducing our home energy use. The electricity we use for lighting results in carbon emissions equal to 70% of those from all automobiles. Traditional incandescent bulbs are notoriously inefficient: they waste 90% of their energy consumption in generating heat rather than light, making the bulbs extremely hot to touch and unsafe.

CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs have been in the news a lot lately. California, Connecticut, North Carolina and Rhode Island are all in the process of enacting legislation to ban incandescent bulbs. Canada, Australia, and several European countries are phasing out incandescents over the next few years. Beijing City's municipal government is subsidizing 90% of the price of CFL bulbs in an effort to improve the city's dismal air quality.

Many people are reluctant to do a mass change-out of bulbs because CFL bulbs cost significantly more than their incandescent counterparts. However, CFL bulbs are much cheaper in the long run. For example, assume the following:

a typical CFL bulb costs $5, lasts 10,000 hours
a comparable incandescent bulb costs $0.75, but lasts only 1000 hours and uses 3 to 4 times more energy
the average cost of electricity in South Carolina is approximately $.09/kw

Over a period of 10,000 hours (417 days) of bulb use, the cost of bulbs would be $5 for the single CFL bulb and $7.50 for the ten incandescent bulbs, yielding a savings of $2.50 for the bulbs alone. The electricity cost for the incandescent bulbs would be $90, vs about $25 for the CFL bulb, providing additional savings of $65. So by replacing a single light bulb, we save $67.50 over the life of that bulb. When we replace more bulbs, our savings multiply. Finally, don't forget the heat. Since incandescent bulbs waste most of their energy generating heat, home cooling costs in the summer increase in order to offset the heat generated by inefficient light bulbs.

By replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs, we consume less electricity meaning less coal-based power will have to be generated to meet our demand meaning less greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere. All while saving us money at the same time!

CFL technology has improved greatly over the last few years. CFL bulbs once provided an unflattering blueish glimmer. But the newer generation of CFL bulbs provide a warm, flicker-free light that is generally undistinguishable than the light we are accustomed to. Look for CFL bulbs with a color rating of 2700K, which is similar to incandescents. While CFL bulbs were once only available in the spiral form, there are now many models to fit nearly all household uses: traditional "bulb-shaped" globes, dimmable bulbs, 3-way bulbs, and floodlights. Like incandescents, they come in various wattages (though with a different scale - a 25 watt CFL bulb provides the same light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb).

There are even full spectrum CFL bulbs which produce light with the same characteristics as sunlight (with a color rating of 5000K). Colors appear richer and truer under full spectrum light. Because it mimics the sun, full spectrum light can improve visual clarity, mood, productivity, mental awareness, and sleep cycles. You'll notice less eye strain when reading with this light. Because of their similarities to sunlight, these light bulbs are appreciated by houseplants as well.

One downside of CFL bulbs is that they contain trace amounts of mercury, a toxic pollutant. Many lighting manufacturers are working to eliminate, or at least, greatly reduce the amount of mercury in their bulbs, but cost-effective mercury-free CFL lighting is still probably 5 or so years away. Ironically, fluorescent bulbs cause far less mercury contamination than incandescent bulbs, though incandescents contain no mercury. The highest source of mercury in our air and water comes from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, for electricity. Since fluorescent bulbs use 67-75% less energy than an incandescent bulb and last up to ten times longer, they result in far less mercury pollution in the long run. Stated another way, a coal-burning power plant emits 3 to 4 times more mercury to produce electricity for an incandescent bulb than for a CFL bulb.

However, the mercury in the CFL bulbs is cause for concern when we use them in our homes. As long as fluorescent bulbs remain intact and are disposed of properly, the mercury in the bulbs poses no threat to humans or the environment. Keep in mind that the amount of mercury in a CFL bulb is about one-fifth of that found in watch batteries and 100s of times less than other common items (thermometers, thermostats, electrical switches, etc.) The EPA strongly recommends recycling fluorescent bulbs (DwellSmart and IKEA provide an in-store drop-off) rather than putting them in the garbage.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks, the EPA recommends that you do the following:

Open a window and leave the room for at least 15 minutes.
Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner. Wear disposable gloves, if available (don't use bare hands). Carefully scoop up fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or sticky tape (such as duct tape).
Place cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal in another plastic bag. Put into the outside trash. Wash your hands.
The first time you vacuum the area, remove the vacuum bag after cleaning (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash.

For more info, see: www.epa.gov/mercury/spills

Given all the facts, CFL bulbs provide for a brighter future than sticking with incandescents!

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