Blue Ridge Eco Shop Blog : Archives for 2008

Dec 17 2008

Holiday Gift Ideas

On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave To Me…

Great Gift Ideas for Her:

Scarves are all the rage right now. Women are wearing them inside and outside. Buy her one of these unique hemp scarves. They are a beautiful fabric and wear nicely.
Organic cotton is the most luxurious feelings against the skin and these organic cotton t-shirts are no exception. Made in the USA, these t-shirts are tailored for a woman with a perfect fit. Choose one of many clever sayings. Re-Think Peace, Mother Earth or Live Simply each in a nice color.
Does she practice yoga? Give her the eco-friendly yoga mat made of natural rubber rather than PVC.

Great Gift Ideas for Him:

Hemp Neck Ties are a great addition to a suit or worn with dress shirt.
While riding the subway to work or lugging your laptop around, the Hemp Messenger Bag is perfect for the worker bee on the go. Made of hemp with bike tire straps, the bag is very stylish and waterproof.
We know guys like their gadgets, get the guys on your list this shaker flash light. It uses no batteries, it only needs a few shakes to create the current and light up this flashlight!

Great Gift Ideas for the Kids:

With so many scares in the media these days, have a little piece of mind and get your child one of these adorable Organic Cotton Dolls. Each tells a story about the environment and 1% of the proceeds goes to the planet!
Perfect for any child at heart, these 3D puzzles are made of 100% recycled cardboard. Fun animal shapes that will get everyone talking. They come flat so you can decorate them before you put them together. Not into art? They look great straight out of the box!
Traveling this holiday? Give one of these Find It Games! to your kids. Time each one as they try and find as many shapes and objects in the container. Then someone else gets a try. It’s perfect for the car rides–quiet, contained and interactive.

Great Gift Ideas for the Person Who Has EVERYTHING!

Dryer Balls. Stop using dryer sheets and use these! Good for 2 years worth of drying, these dryer balls reduce your drying time by 40% and softens your clothing.
Beeswax Candles. You can never have enough candles. Beeswax burns clean and lasts up to 3 times longer than paraffin. Try one of the unique shapes!
Rejuvenating Gift Set. A nice set of organic goodies including: Lavender Body Wash, Honey Lip Balm, Protecting & Rejuvenating Hand Cream, Organic Foot Cream and Lavender Shea Butter.
Green Guides. These are inexpensive ($7.95) little books for anyone. Read up on ways to green every area of you life. From the office to composting! Or buy one or buy them all!

Give the gift of Green this year!

Dec 12 2008

I love working in the Eco-Shop in December. Everyone is in a great mood. People are busying themselves getting ready for their kids to get out of school, preparing to see family and bubbling about holiday festivities. It’s been fun hearing what folks are doing and how they are making less of an impact on the Earth this year (or continuing from years past!)

I wanted to open up the discussion to hear what you and your family do to be a little Greener for the holidays!

Some of my favorites are:

Making Recycled Christmas Tree Ornaments - I’ve seen (and heard) of using everything from toilet paper rolls to pine cones as decorations on the tree.
Burning Beeswax Candles around the house or at the holiday table. Paraffin candles leave soot on the walls and in the air we breath, so beeswax candles are not only Eco-friendly, they are healthier too.
Buying a locally grown Christmas tree from a no-spray farm.
Using newspaper or brown bags from around the house to gift wrap. Some of the prettiest wrapped packages I’ve seen use decorated Kraft paper.
Opting for simple giving - one family each picked a charity that was important to them and each made a donation rather than swapping gifts.
Decorating with LED holiday lights. Not only is this a huge energy saver, up to 70% more efficient, these are less of a fire hazard in your home.

What is your GREEN tradition?

Feb 28 2008

Tackling the Green World One Blog at a Time!

In response to you, the Blue Ridge Eco Shop has started a Blog. I know, I’m a little scared myself! This Blog is only as good as you make it. Submit topics, questions or product ideas and I’ll do the research–kind of like in the shop.

The idea of this blog is to be educational, green, interactive and short. We’re all busy, but are looking for ways to live a healthier lifestyle and ways to save the world. My commitment to you is to start with 3 new Blogs per week. Your commitment to me is to respond, discuss and submit ideas!

We can all make a difference, especially when we collaborate.

Mar 5 2008

Demystifying the CFL.

I was recently asked to speak at a church group regarding energy efficient lighting and thought that it would be a great topic to start the Blog. Over the next several Blogs we will discuss energy efficient lighting and the options that are available.

Myth #1 CLF lighting is a very unnatural, unflattering lighting.

I hear this all the time! CFLs are available in multiple colors and wattage’s and each is unique and can be used in different situations. Lighting is very subjective and personal. CFLs come in Soft (warm) and Full Spectrum (white). Many people categorically don’t like CFLs because of the "Blue" glow of the bulb. This is only the case with Full Spectrum CFLs. The second color option is Soft which is a warmer, yellower light. The Soft color is meant to mimic more of the incandescent lighting we are accustomed to. CFLs come in a range of wattage’s as well. From 11 watts, which is equivalent to a 45 watt incandescent, up to 25 watts, which is equivalent to a 100 watt incandescent light bulb. People are surprised all the time that an 11 watt Soft CFL gives off a completely different light than a 20 watt Soft CFL and certainly a different light than an 11 watt Full Spectrum bulb.

It is definitely not a one bulb fits all with CFLs. Your need and your lighting preferences will determine which CFL type and wattage is right for you. For example, in the bathroom, I prefer bright lighting, so I use a 20 or 25 watt Full Spectrum bulb. But in the kitchen I like a warmer look and use Soft bulbs. If you haven’t experimented with different colors and wattage’s in CFL bulbs, you really should try different ones to find the bulb you prefer best.

Mar 10 2008

Disposing of Compact Florescent Light Bulbs

It is surprising to me that many people are not aware that CFLs contain Mercury. CFLs contain a small amount of Mercury gas. The levels of Mercury differ across the Brands, so be sure you know what you are buying. When the CFL is lit, it is actually the gas that illuminates them. The Mercury does not seep out of the bulb, so there are no concerns with Mercury being in the air when the bulbs are lit.

Mercury is hazardous and thus the CFL bulbs need to be disposed of properly. Burned out bulbs should be recycled, and they shouldn’t be thrown in your recycling bin or trash! There is only one place in Charlottesville, that I am aware of, that recycles and disposes the used bulbs, the McIntire Road Recycling Center (http://avenue.org/rswa/mcintire.htm). The Ivy Creak Landfill no longer excepts them and encourages the community to take the bulbs to McIntire which is open throughout the week.

What if my CFL bulb shatters or has a crack in it and won’t light?

This is a great question. As I mentioned above, these bulbs contain Mercury. If the glass is compromised either by a crack or is shattered, you can become exposed to the Mercury. The EPA (www.EPA.gov) says that if a CFL breaks, open windows and/or doors and leave the room for 15 minutes. This allows the gas to disseminate and leave the area. It is important not to inhale the vapors and to get away from the spill. After 15-20 minutes, pick up the glass and wipe down the exposed areas. Be sure to wash your hands afterwards! The bulb can then be disposed of like a non-CFL light bulb since the gas is no longer inside the bulb. The EPA site recommends avoiding vacuuming the glass if possible.

CFLs are highly energy efficient and are a great money and electricity saver, but we all need to be aware of what is contained inside of them. It is important to dispose of them properly so that the gases inside the bulbs do not get into our ground water and waste systems. With McIntire Road Recycling Center now accepting the bulbs, there really isn’t any easier way to dispose of them properly!

Mar 11 2008

LED - No Longer a Bulb of the Future

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are now available for residential usage. You may say: What is an LED and Why should I care? Two very good questions. LEDs provide highly energy efficient lighting. And what’s better, they contain no Mercury!

An LED uses 10xs less energy than an incandescent light bulb and 3xs less energy than a CFL light bulb. Most of the LED residential bulbs range from 1-2 watts/bulb. And they last longer than a CFL. LEDs last up to 50,000 hours where CFLs last up to 10,000 hours.

LEDs use less energy, give off less heat, last longer (about 20 years!) and are 100% dimable. They do not have the limitations that CFL bulbs do. So what’s the catch? The cost. Like all new products yet to be mainstream, an LED bulb is significantly more expensive than an incandescent and still more expensive than a CFL.

The Blue Ridge Eco Shop carries several LED light bulbs and they range in price from $14-$55 per bulb. If looking over the lifespan of the bulb, you will save money, but it is difficult for consumers to swallow the up front costs. These bulbs are new to the market, they were released the past Fall, so as the demand increases, the prices should begin to fall as well, just like CFL pricing has. In the Blue Ridge Eco Shop’s 7 months in business, we’ve seen CFLs drop in price as much as $2/bulb, which of course we have passed on to you.

Over the life of a bulb, including initial cost, an LED light bulb can save you $350. Where a CFL can save you around $40. (Compared to an incandescent bulb - http://www.ccrane.com/)

LED lighting is, in my opinion, the best option on the market for energy efficient lighting.

Mar 20 2008

Heal Your Home!

The next few Blogs I really want to focus on ways to go Green around the home. Some of the statistics are staggering on the chemicals and toxins that are in our everyday lives and the effects they have on us, our children and pets. With simple changes, we can rid our lives of unnecessary chemicals, and you’ll be surprised where some of them are!

"Bring In the Plants"

Did you know that house plants can actually help to eliminate the toxins we bring into the house? Plants such as spider plants and fig trees not only give off clean oxygen, but reduce formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can be found in your furniture cushions and the glues in your hardwood floors! Have English Ivy? English Ivy helps to clean the air from toxins petroleum-based products put in the air. Other good-for-you plants include bamboo palm, lilies (not a good option if pets are in the house), aloe vera, chrysanthemum and Chinese evergreen.

Be cognisant of allergy suffers, placing plants in the bedroom may not be the best option. Air purifiers such as the Healthmate Jr. are also effective ways to clean the air you breath indoors.

Mar 25 2008

Air Fresheners - Not so Fresh!

Did you know that some air fresheners are actually polluting the air around you? Spraying anti-bacterial and synthetic air fresheners into the air is not the way to go! Traditional air fresheners can contain dangerous ingredients such as dichlorbenzene, naphthalene, and even formaldehyde.

Some candles even pollute your indoor air! Many candles contain paraffin wax which releases carcinogenic soot when burned. On top of that, many candles have heavy metals in their wicks, like lead, to make them sturdier!

These "air-fresheners" actually may lead to respiratory problems and cancer.

The solution? After avoiding paraffin candles and synthetic air-fresheners, try beeswax candles with natural cotton wicks. Beeswax actually burns longer, so your candles will have a longer life as well. And if you are in the market for an air freshener, try the air fresheners developed by Earth Friendly Products. They are made with all natural ingredients and essential oils.

Mar 28 2008

Picking the Right Cleaners

Many conventional cleaners are actually dirtying your house with VOCs!

The Problem: Many household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, harsh acids, and hormone disruptor’s. Cleaners containing bleach and other strong disinfectants may be doing more harm than good.

Traditional cleaners may be linked to: cancer, endocrine disruption, eye, throat, and lung irritation.

The Solution: Use nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners free of synthetic fragrances. It really is an easy solutions. I’ve tried just about every "green" or non-toxic cleaning brand out there. And although not all of them would receive a gold star in my book, I’ve found cleaners that clean just as well as traditional products.

For me, I’ve been extremely happy with the BioKleen line of cleaners. (Which is of course why the Blue Ridge Eco Shop carries their cleaners rather than other major-line green cleaners.) BioKleen has been around for 30+ years. This fact tends to shock many of my customers. The owner of BioKleen has been diligent over the years and receptive to feedback so that he really has perfected the formulas in his cleaners; making laundry and dish soap that sud and a wonderful enzyme product (Bac-Out) that will get any organic stain (food, pet, dirt, etc.) out of furniture, carpet even laundry or around the toilet!

Switching to non-toxic cleaners and getting away from conventional chemicals, especially bleach, makes a difference in the air quality in your home and saves our drinking water and fish from the downstream effects they contribute to!

Apr 8 2008

Cleaning Your Air? Don't Forget Your Shower!

Many of us spend time removing toxins and pollution from our households through air filters, using better cleaners, dusting, etc. but then forget the shower curtain!

Many shower curtains are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)! PVC is dangerous to people and the environment at every stage of its life cycle. DEHP, an additive used to soften many vinyl products, is a phthalate. The toxins in PVC have been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity and cancer.

Do yourself and your bathroom a favor and use a cloth shower liner! There are several options in the cloth department and the cloth honestly works just as well as a vinyl liner. We use a Hemp shower curtain liner in our house. Which of course can be purchased at the Blue Ridge Eco Shop. Hemp is a perfect fabric for the shower. It is anti-microbial and is naturally resistant to mildew and mold. It also is fast drying. So take the stink out of your bathroom and replace the vinyl liner.

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