The Green Apartment

What is Green Beauty?

2010-08-06T17:23:00.000-04:00

Birchbox.com (a netflix-style beauty company with a number of green partners like Tarte Cosmetics) has teamed up with Exhale MindBodySpa to offer a few words of wisdom:

We gave up plastic water bottles long ago, but we are still trying to get used to non-foaming natural shampoos and powdery toothpastes. Going green isn’t easy, and it’s hard to even know where to start. We called on expert Caitlin Conn, the skincare director at the eco-chic Exhale MindBodySpa, for advice. Conn is constantly auditioning new lines and she’s incredibly picky – “I can usually just tell from the ingredients whether I’ll use a product or not.”

Visit Birchbox.com for their "no-stress primer to natural beauty," for tips on how to:

Define Green
Spot Red Flag Ingredients
Say Bye-bye to SLS and Other Villains
Be Green and Efficacious

Farmers Markets are Blooming Nationwide

2010-08-05T14:52:00.000-04:00

Food for thought (sorry!) while I get The Green Apt growing again:

Grist Graph

According to a Grist article, the number of farmers markets nationwide has jumped 16% in the last year. Depending on where you are, this may mean more opportunities for you to stock your kitchen in a more earth-friendly manner:

"You can find a market near you via the Eat Well Guide, LocalHarvest, or USDA. And if there isn't one? The USDA has guides for how to start a farmers market, for the truly ambitious."

Research

2010-08-05T14:37:00.000-04:00

I've been neglecting The Green Apartment yet again, and for that I heartily apologize. Now that I'm finally revisiting this withered blog, I think it's time that I sit down and do a little homework.

So here goes... I'm out on my patio, taking advantage of the beautiful summer sunshine and breeze (instead of lighting and air conditioning), listening to a little Johnny Cash and about to delve into The Home Energy Diet by Paul Scheckel, searching for ways that we - as home/apartment renters - can have a positive (or less negative) impact on the climate, and save money while we're at it.

I'll let you know what I learn, and what I think of the book as I go.

Thanks for your patience, and stop by again soon!!

Heavy Duty Scouring Scrub

2009-04-30T14:33:00.003-04:00

I recently spent a week cleaning out my father's house with a couple of friends. Each of us identifies as a "Green" person, but felt, due to the state of the home, that we may have to sacrifice our normal green standards for performance.

In the end, I admit, we did break down and use mainstream products for some of our most difficult tasks. It made me feel extremely guilty. I wish I had had time to do research on a better alternative!

Today, I stumbled upon a blog posting for Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste.

According to Karen Hanrahan of Best of Mother Earth:

Got something really tough to scour off ?? Try a cleaning paste that smells a little like something between bubble gum and cherry Kool-Aid. Gentle in that it won't scratch, but mighty in that it works really well!

Every single person I know who I have shared this product with is equally astounded by it. You need a very small amount to get the job done. Pick your very toughest stain and let this green alternative scouring paste take it on!!

It does appear as if Karen gets a piece of the action over at Shaklee [the header includes the text: Karen Hanrahan Mentoring YOU to Health Success! ~ 708.482.0678], so I'll order some of the cleansing paste for my upcoming move, and let you know what I think!

Update: In my research today, I've come upon a few more posts containing products being recommended and sold by Ms. Hanrahan. If you're interested in more of the products she's selling, see her blog about tub cleaning, No More Ring Around the Bathtub.

Gutter Gardens!!

2009-04-30T12:44:00.005-04:00

We all deserve fresh, healthy food, and those of us in apartments shouldn't have to do without! That's why I love the gutter garden!

It is a fabulous (non-structural) small-garden option for an apartment's roof deck or small yard, using recycled/scrap gutters, of course.

Once I've moved into in my next Green Apartment (with a roof deck!), I will post some photos of my own. In the meantime, here is a photo from Apartment Therapy:

Thank you t0 Greenmoms for Tweeting this link to the enviromom blog!

GARAGE: Fuel Cell Vehicles

2007-11-21T00:45:00.002-05:00

Each of these automobiles is run by an electric motor powered by the internal chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, rather than the combustion of gasoline in traditional engines. This means that instead of emitting harmful fumes into the atmosphere, Fuel Cell Vehicles combine hydrogen with oxygen to emit water!

Opponents of Fuel Cell technology claim that because hydrogen is harvested from hydrocarbon fuels or through electrolysis powered by the use of other fuels, it is as destructive as traditional carbon engines it replaces. According to Mother Jones, however, electrolysis can be performed using electricity from any type of source, including clean alternatives, such as wind, solar, and biomass power. Joseph J. Romm, in The Hype About Hydrogen, describes the positive and negative aspects of Hydrogen - from its abundance and its clean potential to the difficulties and hazards of storing and transporting the lightest gas.

Another potential hazard is the assorment of metals used in the Lithium-ion batteries used to store power generated by Fuel Cells, in addition to many cell phones and other rechargeable gadgets.Reports are mixed (positive/negative) as to the potential toxicity of these metals when disposed of improperly. Either way, without extensive consumer education and improved availability of recycling drop-offs, the amount of rechargeable batteries entering landfills will grow sharply as rechargeable technology enters more product lines.

Honda FCX Clarity. Honda has just announced that they are commencing with a limited initial release of their all-new Fuel Cell Vehicle beginning Summer 2008. Due to the limited availability of Hydrogen fueling stations, the three-year $600 monthly leases - including both collision service and insurance - will only available to customers in Torrance, Santa Monica, and Irvine.

According to Honda, the FCX Clarity is a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), can drive a range of 270 miles without refueling, and has a top speed of 100 miles per hour.

LIVING ROOM: Books Borrowed and Bought

2007-11-14T04:00:00.000-05:00

A discussion with my good friend Gioia in Washington Heights (NYC) sparked this entry to The Green Apartment. Gioia is very proud about her consumption of used books, and for good cause! As with most shopping habits, trying to be a responsible consumer of the printed word is tied to using as little resources as possible. Below are resources you can use to feed your need -happy hunting!

Libraries. The U.S. public library system is an easy, free, and generally familiar way to take advantage of used books. Before going back to school, I must admit that it had been quite a while since I had stepped into a library branch. Gioia, too, claimed that she was not within a reasonable distance from a branch. She was wrong - sorry G! There is one just six "short-blocks" away from her apartment!

The nicest thing about libraries these days? Most library systems, including the New York Public Library and my Boston Public Library, allow you to reserve and renew books online, and you can even request for them to be delivered from other branches. That way you know before you head out that you're not wasting a trip to pick up your literature of choice! Not sure where your nearest public library branch is? Check out this handy library search!

Book Exchanges. My problem (or one of them, anyways) is that I am overly attached to my books. Even as a child, I always treated them with great care, and I loathed to give them up, even temporarily, for fear that they will come back with pages folded back and stained or spines cracked from improper storage. While I've gotten more trusting in my book-lending habits, I still love my growing collection. If you, like me, are looking for free books to keep for your very own, or if you are looking to unload some that are taking too much space in your Green Apartment, here are some websites that might put you on the right track:

Freecycle.org - A network of gift-givers. People post items they want to find or to get rid of, and their fellow freecyclers respond in kind. Everything is exchanged for free. Very cool.
Craigslist - While most of you Apartmenters have probably checked out CL to find roommates, buy a guitar, or search for jobs, perhaps you haven't checked out two of their handy sections: Free, and Books. Often you can find books for almost nothing!

Bricks and Clicks. There are many fine purveyors of used books scattered across every city I've lived in. These range from those selling rare antique volumes to those in a dollar-bin jumble. My current favorites in the Boston area include Brookline Booksmith and Boston Book Annex, and in Minnesota, Half Price Books, mostly because I'd much rather support an independent book-seller than the alternative. Plus, you have to love the Boston Book Annex's feline shop-keepers. You can find your nearest used book seller (and lots of other independent businesses) on Yelp.com.

There are many online used book sellers, including Abe Books, and Half.com (a branch of eBay). Though somewhat obvious, Amazon.com hosts an impressively robust selection of used books from sellers worldwide. I've always had good luck through them for both text and personal books, though I generally check out the seller's rating before making my purchases.

Where do you get your used books? Leave a comment telling where it is and why you're a fan!

TIPS: Ace Hardware's Energy Conservation Tips

2007-11-09T23:37:00.000-05:00

Ace Hardware Energy Conservation Tips

When I was searching for info about 3M's Window Insulator Kits (see Living Room for more info), I found a page of energy conservation tips on Ace's site. A lot of Ace's tips on energy conservation would only be useful to homeowners, but I've provided those that I thought would help renters. I'll be adding posts on implementing these and other tips as the winter chill starts to really set in.

Cold Weather:

Keep drapes and shades open in sunny windows; close them at night.
Use a humidifier. Cooler indoor temperatures are more comfortable with the proper amount of humidity-about 40-50%.
Be sure to keep the damper closed on your fireplace when it's not in use.
Use portable electric heaters for seldom-used rooms or to warm up part of a large, cold room.

Hot Weather:

Clean air conditioning filters regularly. Replace immediately when worn out. Keep coils or fins of air-conditioning units free of dust, lint, etc.
Deflect daytime sun with awnings on windows or draw draperies and pull shades on sunny windows.
Run air conditioners only on really hot days.
Are you using more light in certain situations than is needed? Each watt of lighting requires the expenditure of 1/2 watt of air-conditioning power.
Combine circulating fans with room air conditioners for best air distribution throughout the house.

Year Round:

Replace leaky faucets; repair all water-wasting fixtures. A dripping hot water faucet makes a hot water heater keep working.
Close off unused rooms.
Install a flow-restrictor pipe to the shower head. This easy-to-install device can save a considerable amount of hot water. It's inexpensive, threads into the pipe and restricts the flow of water by several gallons of water per minute.
Don't overload appliances that use hot water, such as clothes and dishwashers. The same
rule applies to clothes dryers; use drying racks or clotheslines when possible.
Use warm or cold water (rather than hot) whenever possible.
Try energy-efficient cooking-flat-bottom pans, clean burner reflectors, pressure cooker, preparing several foods in the oven at the same time; use small appliances for small cooking jobs.

LIVING ROOM: Organic Flower Delivery

2007-11-07T15:38:00.001-05:00

Organic Flower Delivery. I have always found some way to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. This year, however, with the cost of oil dramatically affecting travel prices, and my job search affecting my own travel budget, it doesn't look like I'll be able to make it back home. So while I will be making my own delicious meal (try making this yummy pumpkin bread recipe using organic ingredients), I'm going to make sure that my family has a little treat of their own.

My big plan? I'm going to send them an edible organic Six Herb Wreath from Organic Bouquet. I've sent flowers and plants from Organic Bouquet in the past, and they always arrive as ordered, on time, and their products cost about the same as those of other flower delivery services. Many of their Charitable Bouquets even benefit nonprofit organizations such as The Nature Conservancy.

Of course, delivery uses its own share of fuel, but shopping from sustainable companies supports the entire green market, and as the supply grows, it should bring down prices.

LIVING ROOM: CFL Light Bulbs

2007-11-05T17:53:00.000-05:00

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs. This is one product that's been big in the media lately. CFL's are well known as an energy-saving lighting alternative. In February of 2007, Australia went so far as to announce a national phase-out of traditional incandescent light bulbs by 2009. According to Energy Star, each CFL uses 75% less energy than its traditional counterpart, and can save thirty dollars or more over its lifetime. This far outweighs its higher purchase price.

The reason I had not included this product before now is that I felt uneasy recommending a light bulb that I know contains mercury, and as of yet does not have a widely-accessible recycling system. I consulted with some friends who graduated from an environmental program at Duke. They gave me some insight:

Retailers are already beginning to establish CFL Recycling Drop-offs, such as Ikea's impressive national recycling program, and the CFL Recycling event hosted by Walmart on June 23rd. Because residential CFL's are guaranteed for last at least two years, and on average last ten times longer than incandescents, by the time most of my CFL's die, such programs will have had years to be fully-established.

LIVING ROOM: Window Insulation

2007-11-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

3M Indoor Window Insulator Kit. The first winter I lived in Boston, many evenings were spent huddled on the couch in layers upon layers of sweaters, blankets, scarves and winter hats. And while I'm all for adding layers instead of cranking up the thermostat, the brisk wind rushing past my head was not a welcome guest. Enough was enough. I threw on my boots (I was already wearing my jacket) and headed up to the local hardware store.

Less than twenty dollars and just over an hour later, the windows in my living room - including one extremely old and leaky five by six foot window - were sealed shut. And it was easy! I cut the rolls of clear film (like saran wrap but without the cling) into rectangles to fit my windows, ran double-stick tape around the edges of my windows, and attached the film to the tape. To fully-seal the edges and remove all of the wrinkles and waves in the film, I used my hair blow-dryer - from one upper-corner to the opposite lower-corner. The result was a crystal-clear layer of plastic across each of my windows.

Of course, this means I'm using additional petroleum-based plastic, but i think that the energy-savings and added comfort attained without adding additional heat sources makes up for that, especially since I'm renting, and cannot replace the windows with newer, more energy-efficient ones.

I got my kit at Model Hardware, an Allston branch of the Ace Hardware chain that supports local nonprofits through the Boston Community Change network. This type of product is probably made by other brands, but I'm originally a Minnesota girl, and 3M just joined the Clinton Climate initiative! Check out the Clinton Foundation's work to green the C40 - the world's largest forty cities!This product has made a world of difference in my apartment!

BEDROOM: Recycled/Recyclable Fleece

2007-11-02T03:13:00.000-04:00

Patagonia Synchilla Marsupial. I had the chance to meet Patagonia's founder, Yvon Chouinard after a lecture for my graduate program a couple of years ago, and while he is not the most polished public speaker I have ever heard, his message was truly inspiring. This pullover is a good example of his good works. The 100% Polyester shirt is made of 85% recycled fleece, and is itself 100% recyclable through Patagonia's Common Threads program.

Another example of the impact of the dollars spent on this shirt - and every product at Patagonia - is that 1% of sales (not just profits) go to Chouinard's spin-off nonprofit: 1% For The Planet. Many other companies have pledged a portion of their revenues as well. Check it out.

BEDROOM: Green Jeans

2007-10-25T14:33:00.000-04:00

Loomstate Organic Jeans. Who said being an environmentalist automatically bans you from high fashion? As reported in The Lohasian, Loomstate's denim products are made from 100% organic cotton.

Fellow Bostonians can find the collection at Envi, a high-end shop on Newbury Street specializing in "fashion conscious clothing for an eco-conscious lifestyle." Others can find local Loomstate retailers online.

BATHROOM: Toilet Paper

2007-10-16T16:33:00.000-04:00

Marcal Toilet Paper. Does toilet paper count as an accessory? Sure, and lots of companies make it! The truth about recycling paper is that each time it is processed, it breaks down the wood fibers more, making the paper softer and weaker. This makes it not as good for printing on, but it's just fine for toilet paper! And while most of the toilet paper companies use recycled content, in my bathroom you'll find Marcal, though next time I'm opting for Seventh Generation's version. Neither uses Chlorine Bleach, but 7G's post-consumer content is higher.

BATHROOM: Toothbrushes

2007-10-16T16:32:00.001-04:00

Preserve Toothbrushes by Recycline. This is my toothbrush! I actually had the pleasure to work with this company on a graduate project. Their mission is to bring a daily touch of recycling to people's lives. They do this through their terrific personal care and tableware products, all of which are recycled and recyclable! Much of the recycled content they use comes from plastic Stonyfield yogurt cups.
Neat, huh? You can get your Preserve toothbrush at all Whole Foods and Trader Joe's stores, and more and more Target stores!

BATHROOM: Shower Cleanser

2007-10-16T16:30:00.002-04:00

Natural Citrus Shower Cleaner by Seventh Generation. 7G has a whole range of bathroom cleansers. They replace traditional chlorine-laden cleansers with more natural alternatives. It's safer for you, and safer for the environment. The benefits:
Non-toxic, Biodegradable, No chlorine, No petroleum based solvents, No glycol ethers, No phosphates, No acids, No caustics, No dyes, Natural Citrus fragrance

BATHROOM: AQUS Toilet System

2007-10-16T16:26:00.000-04:00

AQUS Toilet System. This system gathers greywater from bathroom, drains, filters and disinfects it, and uses it to fill the resevoir in your toilet. Though I have not installed this product, it seems fairly straightforward, and I would imagine it would be pretty easy to uninstall, as well. According to Vivavi, it can reduce water usage in a two-person home by 5,000 gallons per year, and they sell the product for $295

KITCHEN: Local Foods

2007-10-16T16:25:00.000-04:00

Local Foods. Much of the food in the United States comes from other countries. A glance at the shelves in your local market will reveal avocados from Mexico, apple juice from China and... The transportation of these goods takes precious petroleum resources, releases pollutants into the air, and as the price for oil increases, increases food costs. And, as recent scares with Chinese products illustrate, some
nations take more seriously the due diligence that results in safe, toxin-free foods.

KITCHEN: Organic Yogurt

2007-10-16T16:20:00.000-04:00

Organic Yogurt by Stonyfield Farm. Organic products are grown, harvested, and processed using methods that use land responsibly and do not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers, growth hormones, or antibiotics. This results in many, many benefits to health and the environment. My favorite breakfast is Fat
Free Vanilla Stonyfield Yogurt with organic GrandyOats Granola fresh from Maine, but available nationwide. (I love the tart vanilla taste of the yogurt and the fact that both products are local. There's probably a similar product that's more local to you. Check it out!)

KITCHEN: Shopping Totes

2007-10-16T16:18:00.000-04:00

Shopping Totes. According to Reusablebags.com, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed yearly worldwide. Using reusable bags can reduce the stress that this unnecessary waste of petroleum resources and landfill space. Depending on my grocery needs, I use any number of random canvas bags I've amassed over the years, including a beautiful organic one I got for free at this year's Farm Aid!

KITCHEN: Dishwashing Liquid

2007-10-16T16:15:00.000-04:00

Free & Clear Dishwashing Liquid by Seventh Generation. This vegetable-based dish cleanser is in my kitchen now, and I was surprised that it works to clean even burnt-on food (not that I burn food!) as well or better the petroleum-based brands
I have used for years! The difference: Non-toxic, Biodegradable, Hypo-allergenic, No dyes, No fragrances, No petroleum based cleaners, No phosphates, Safe for septic and greywater systems, Not tested on animals.

KITCHEN: Composters

2007-10-16T16:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter by SCD. Electricity-Free Odor-Free Indoor Composter. Once full, product is sealed airtight for four weeks to create plant food. Made of 75% Recycled Plastic soda bottles and EM ceramics. Capacity: 5 liquid gallons. Requires Bokashi Compost Starter. Price: $41.70 + $9.45 for Compost Starter [Oct 16, 2007]

NatureMill Plus Automatic Composter. Energy Efficient Odor-Free
Indoor Composter. Food and paper waste may be added at any time,
on any day, with fresh compost created every two weeks. This product
is on my wish-list, and there are reviews available. Made of recycled stainless steel and food-grade recycled polyethylene. Capacity: 120lb/month. Price: $299 [Nov 13, 2007]