Building Green Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
January 19, 2009 by boygreen · Leave a Comment
Building a green home can seem like an overwhelming and daunting task. With so many options and choices to consider, how do you decide which green materials to include in your project and where do you start? Here are some simple green ideas to get your construction project off to a green start:
Start with a Timeless Floorplan
It doesn’t matter how many green materials you use in your project if you tear them all out to remodel after a few years because your home’s layout doesn’t suit your needs. Avoiding future remodeling waste by thinking through your floorplan now is a green building choice everyone can make. Choosing a flexible floorplan that will work well as your family changes is a key starting point for any green home. Take your time when designing or selecting your house plan to ensure the floorplan will work with your lifestyle both today and in the future.
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The “Green Eggs (hold the ham) Experiment”
January 6, 2009 by girlgreen · 2 Comments
At first, people think I’m a little crazy when I tell them I have chickens as pets. It seemed to make perfect sense to me, going right along with the other green lifestyle changes I’ve made, but I guess green eggs aren’t on the minds of most. So let’s examine the different choices you have when it comes to eggs, and why you might want to make a switch or get a few chickens of your own.
What’s Wrong with “Normal” Eggs?
A pack of standard eggs at the grocery store probably came from an industrialized factory farm. Chickens here are kept in tiny wire cages barely bigger than their bodies their entire lives, while they sit immobile, unable to do anything but pop out eggs.
Many people feel chickens are one of the most abused and cruelly treated animals in the food industry, and by purchasing battery caged (factory-farmed) eggs, you are supporting the mistreatment of these animals. Several countries including Germany, Switzerland and Sweden have banned farming eggs using battery cages. In 2008, the state of California also banned the use of battery cages along with other anti-cruelty legislation, and similar legislation is in the works at local levels across the nation.
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What Ingredients Are in Your “Organic” Products?
January 3, 2009 by boygreen · Leave a Comment
Organic labels on personal care products can be deceiving. Due to a lack of proper regulation of personal care product labeling, products can have the word organic in their brand or product name, but unless the product is USDA Certified organic, you may not be getting what you paid for.
A recent study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association showed a number of personal care products labeled “organic” contained a carcinogenic chemical, and many so-called organic products contain conventional petrochemical cleaning agents.
Read more on ingredients to watch out for, culprit brands, and the ongoing legal battle on the Organic Consumers Association website.