Category Archive

Yes it is!!!

In honor of Earth Day, here are some surprising facts for you

• If you throw away 2 aluminum cans, you waste more energy than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) of the world’s poorest people use a day.
• Making a new can from scratch uses the uses the energy equal to half a can of gasoline.
• About one third of what an average American throws out is packaging.
• More than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) trees are used to make disposable diapers every year.
• Each minute 50 acres of rain forest are destroyed.
• On average, a person in the US uses energy two times more than a person in Japan or West Germany does, and 50 times more than a person in India.
• About 90% of the energy used in lighting a standard (incandescent) light bulb is lost as heat.
• Air conditioning uses 10 times more energy than a fan, therefore, it creates 10 times the pollutants.
• It takes half the output of the Alaskan pipeline to heat the air that escapes from all the homes in the US during a year.
• Cars and pick-up trucks are responsible for about 20% of the carbon dioxide released into the air.
• There are about 500 million automobiles on the planet, burning an average of 2 gallons of fuel a day. Each gallon releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.
• About 80% of our trash goes to landfills, 10% is incinerated, and 10% is recycled.
• Since there is little oxygen underground, where we bury our garbage, to help bacteria eat the garbage, almost nothing happens to it. Scientists have dug into landfills and found ears of corn still intact after 20 years, and newspapers still readable after 30.
• The average American makes about 3.5 pounds of trash a day.
• In a year, the average American uses as much wood in the form of paper as the average resident of the developing world burns as fuel.

And some things YOU can do to make a difference

• Turn off lights.
• Turn off other electric things, like TVs, stereos, and radios when not in use.
• Use rechargable batteries.
• Do things manually instead of electrically, like open cans by hand.
• Use fans instead of air conditioners.
• In winter, wear a sweater instead of turning up your thermostat.
• Insulate your home so you won’t be cold in winter.
• Use less hot water.
• Whenever possible, use a bus or subway, or ride your bike or walk.
• Try to buy organic fruits and vegetables
• Don’t waste products made from forest materials.
• Use recycled paper and/or recycle it. Reuse old papers.
• Don’t buy products that may have been made at the expense of the rainforest.
• Support products that are harvested from the rainforest but have not cut down trees to get it.
• Plant trees, espessially if you have cut one down.
• Get other people to help you in your cause. Make and/or join an organization.
• Avoid products that are used once, then thrown away.
• Buy products with little or no packaging.
• Encourage your grocery store sell environmentally friendly cloth bags for people to use when they shop, or bring your own.
• REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE.
• Compost.
• Buy recycled products.
• Don’t buy pets taken from the wild.
• Don’t buy products if animals were killed to make it or used to test it.
• Cut up your six-pack rings before throwing them out.
• Don’t use chemicals in your household, instead make your own cleaners or look for one’s that are biodegradable

And you can have a little fun here

I had every intention of cloth diapering Xavier from the start. I didn’t know anyone who didn’t use disposables so I’d begun the daunting task of researching the “how to’s” and “what’s best’s” online. David wasn’t exactly excited about it but after I pointed out that I’d be the one changing most of the diapers and doing all the laundry he let the grumbles subside a bit. Then, as you know, our little bundle of joy made his grand entrance a few months ahead of schedule and well, diapers were the last thing on my mind. They use Pampers in the NICU so he lived in their preemies for a while and when it was time to go home I compromised and decided if I was going to use paper diapers I’d at least use Seventh Generation’s chlorine and fragrance free nappies.

It always still bothered me though- all that waste. I read somewhere that it can take a ‘disposable’ diaper up to 500 years to decompose. And while I know you’re supposed to flush the poo anyone who’s nursed a baby know that until they are well established on solids their daily deposits aren’t going anywhere but the diaper- add that to the landfill… But I’d gotten used to the simply changing and throwing away… and the initial investment of going cloth… and the daunting options… and the laundry… and that study I read saying cloth really weren’t any better environmentally when you took into account all the water and energy used washing… and well, I just kept making excuses.

Xavier’s in the midst of potty training so I figured now would be a good time (ha!) to look into other options and I’m happy to report I’ve finally made a change! We’re alternating between Under the Nile’s fitted diaper (because I only have two!) and the amazingly flushable gDiapers. The Under the Nile’s are glorious, so soft I want a pair and if I could afford to buy a truckload I probably would. And the gDiaper, those gDiapers…

Before buying the ’starter kit’ I read reviews on several different sites ranging from “These are the best thing ever” to “These are the worst things ever” to “Ugh, I have to change my baby EVERY time he pee’s or poops” … Um, aren’t you supposed to do that anyway? Call me crazy but I do change Xavier after EVERY time he goes, save the long car trip or overnight where he might pee a couple times, but multiple poops in one diaper? GROSS! ok, back on task…

So there definitely is a learning curve with the g’s at least for someone who’s never done the whole cover, liner, insert bit before. But after a couple of days and one leak (more to do with his boy-ness pointing in an odd direction that the diaper I do believe) we’ve gotten the hang of it. They are fit great (bikini style- great for huge bellies!) and velcro on the back side which is is really nice when babe is trying to crawl away from you. No leaks other than that mentioned and for the stage we’re in at least I like that they don’t hold a lot. In the event he does go in his diaper rather than on the potty he knows right away and asks to be changed or go to the bathroom. After two weeks he has yet to poo in one, so I can’t report on that but I promise to keep you posted! They are the perfect middle ground I do believe. My only complaints would be that the insert could be a bit softer and that they come in such happy colors. I know they’re cute! but I’d love a more natural option. But best of all, when a diaper needs a changing you remove the insert and flush it all away where it belongs. No waste!

It seems we’re all trying to live a little greener this year, but it’s hard to know where to start. Do you switch to organic food, homeopathic remedies or detoxify your home? Here are some wonderful websites that will help you evaluate your family’s environment-

AIRNow: Rates air quality/ozone levels. Has an option to send a free email when air quaility is questionable.

Beyond Pesticides: Great news source. Also has info on each state’s pesticide policies.

Children’s Health Environmental Coalition: Info on children’s vulnerability to chemicals. “Virtual House” allow you to click items in the home for information about potential unhealthy exposures

National Lead Information Center Brochure: Info on professional lead testing and resources in your state

National Library of Medicine’s Tox Town: An introduction to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life, in everyday places.

National Vaccine Information Center: Non-profit dedicated to preventing vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and defending the right to informed consent to vaccination.

National Safety Council’s Radon Page: Info on Radon hazards, contacts for questions and coupon for a home test kit.

Safe Water: Drinking water quality reports.

Skin Deep: News and safety ratings of popular health and beauty products.

Toxic Release Inventory: Lists companies in your area that have reported the release of toxic emissions to the EPA and bodies of water affected. Links to state specific websites.