Thinking about adding a potting shed, storage shed, studio or playhouse to your yard?  Well, the good news is that these utilitarian outbuildings can actually be attractive, functional and even eco-friendly. The following sheds are made from recycled materials:

• Greensheds offers kits for do-it-yourself homeowners across the country, as well as standard and custom sheds built on your site (in the San Francisco area).
• Beech-Built offers portable sheds with heat, light and pre-wired electrical outlets.
• YardPods offers high-end prefab “rooms” available in do-it-yourself, finish-it-yourself or complete designs.
• A great alternative to a concrete base is a reuseable, recycled plastic base system called ecobase.
• Don’t forget to brighten up your environment with solar-powered lighting which can be used inside and out.

GO GREEN EXPO, the nation’s premier green business and sustainable lifestyle show known for its innovative and interactive programming, returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 22-24, 2010 for the second year in a row as the first stop on a nationwide tour that also includes New York City, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Following last year’s show that reached more than 10,000 attendees, Go Green Expo 2010 will focus on the next steps in environmental responsibility and the growing green revolution.

Go Green Expo invites all business leaders, eco-minded consumers and
their families to explore the latest innovations in energy-efficient and
environmentally-friendly products and services and participate in
interactive seminars featuring leaders in the green industry, local
politicians and community organizations.

Joining the lineup this year are keynote speeches by actress and holistic living author Mariel Hemingway, award-winning actor and director Ed Begley Jr., industry adored eco futurist John Picard, son of famed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi, Jr., eco-fashion icon Linda Loudermilk and Sarah Backhouse, host of The Planet 100 on Discovery’s Planet Green.

Highlights to include:

• 300+ local and national businesses showcasing products and services in all areas including Business & Electronics; Energy, Conservation & Recycling; Food & Beverage; Health, Beauty & Fashion, Home & Building, Media, Education & Careers, and Travel & Transportation.
• Career Fair featuring 16 companies such as Coca-Cola Enterprises, ITT Systems, California Solar Innovations, ICF International and Sun Edison.
• The latest in cutting edge and high performance greener transportation including the sleek and chic Tesla Roadster, Honda’s 2010 Insight, Honda Element, more Electric Vehicles, Electric Bikes and Converter Kits.
• Organic Food & Spirit Pavilion.
• Screening of top enviro-film “Tapped,” an inspiring movie that features an alarming look at the bottled water industry, its rampant growth and damaging effects on the environment, and what’s been called the greatest marketing swindle of all time.
• Pet Expo USA, the nation’s green pet show where attendees can peruse eco-friendly pet products from toys to food and bedding to accessories, learn about new pet services, enjoy pet training demonstrations and even adopt a furry friend.
• Kids Zone, featuring eco-friendly games, non-toxic art, fun
  folk music and other earth-loving activities.
• Complimentary Yoga Classes for people of all ages and
  experience levels.
• Indoor Rock Climbing Wall.

Visit GoGreenExpo.com for more information.

Winter may be a great time to “hibernate”, but if the air inside your home isn’t up to par, then it’s time to follow some tips to improve and maintain the quality of the air you breath.  These tips will be especially helpful for sufferers of asthma, children and the elderly, but of course all members of the household will benefit from cleaner air!  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is typically more polluted than the air outside.  “Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.”

Reduce indoor contaminants by:

• Changing filters in forced-air heating systems every 3 months, or when they become dirty, whichever comes first.
• Cleaning and freshening the air with non-toxic products.  See my earlier posts on inexpensive, home-made cleaners here and here.
• Avoiding harmful VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, if you’re sprucing up the house with paint.  Low-VOC paint and paint that contains zero VOCs are readily available and can be color matched just like any other paint.
• Making sure combustion appliances, like gas stoves, fireplaces, boilers, and furnaces are working properly.
• Regularly cleaning, dusting and vacuuming to reduce allergens such as dust mites and pet hair & dander.
• Fixing plumbing leaks and getting rid of excess moisture, in the bathroom, kitchen and basement.  Throw away items that have been contaminated with mold and mildew, and thoroughly clean surfaces, such as bathroom tiles, that have become moldy and mildewy.  Make sure exhaust fans vent to the outdoors.
• Eliminating secondhand smoke in your home (and car).
• Being aware of sources of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and toxic gas that causes health effects which are often mistaken for the flu. Install carbon monoxide detectors in living spaces.
• Testing your home for cancer-causing radon, a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can enter a home through cracks and openings in floors and walls that are in contact with the ground.  Testing your home is simple and inexpensive.

photo courtesy of Muffet

You’re sure to find one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, toys, and home decor.  Perfect gifts for the upcoming holidays!

The 30 workshops and presentations will focus on green building and energy efficiency, renewable energy & fuels, and green living & gardening.  Participants can attend multiple workshops for only $10!

Be sure to visit the EarthWays Center, a division of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, when it’s open for public tours on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of each month.  It is a sustainably renovated Victorian-era home filled with information about solar electricity, geothermal heating and cooling, native plant landscaping, super insulation, non-toxic and sustainable home maintenance products and other features.

Visit the Green Homes Festival website for more information.

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The event is being held at the San Ramon City Center in San Ramon, California on August 29-30, 2009.  Eco-Festivals, Inc. is a non-profit organization which aims to educate people on how to incorporate environmentally-friendly practices into every day life and live a green lifestyle.

1. Paint:  A new color on the walls can dramatically change the look of a room.  Opt for non-toxic paints or clay plaster which don’t contain any VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
2. Bed Linens:  The fabrics and materials on which you rest your weary head should be as safe as possible, especially for newborns and children as they are still developing and are more vulnerable to toxins.  Look for pillows, sheets and comforters made from natural materials such as hemp and organic cotton.
3. Window treatments:  Non-permanent press draperies and shades made from natural materials will minimize off-gassing of chemicals into your room.
4. Mattresses:  A super comfortable and eco-friendly option is a natural rubber latex mattress.  These mattresses are treated with non-toxic fire retardants and are comprised of materials that don’t emit formaldehyde and VOCs unlike conventional mattresses.
5. Furniture:  When shopping for new furniture, opt for solid wood and reclaimed wood furnishings finished with non-toxic wood stain.  Avoid pressed wood furnishings as they contain formaldehyde.   For kids rooms, check out my previous post here.
6. Flooring:  Floating floors made from sustainable wood, cork or linoleum will increase the comfort factor in the bedroom and are easy to install.  Be sure to ask if non-toxic finishes were used.  If you prefer carpeting, keep in mind that a hard surface flooring material will last a lot longer than carpet.  Modular carpet tiles allow for versatility in design, and if one square gets damaged, replacement is inexpensive and easy.   Another great, green option is cozy and non-toxic wool carpeting.
7. Ambiance:  Looking to add some romance?  Lighting a few soy-based candles will certainly do the trick!  If you’re lucky enough to have a wood-burning fireplace, try using these cleaner burning logs.

• Pick up litter when you see it.  It is especially important to pick up plastic litter (bags, bottles, caps, etc.) as they tend to get blown around and end up in our waterways where they harm aquatic life and release toxins that make their way into our foodchain.  Recycle plastic bottle caps through Aveda’s cap recycling program.
• Reduce the amount of stuff you buy.  Check the closet and the refrigerator before you go shopping so as to buy only what you need.  Reduce the amount of trash you throw away by starting a compost pile for food scraps and yard waste.  Use less paper at work, home or school.
• Re-use what still has some life left in it, as an alternative to disposal.  Perhaps a minor repair or refinishing is all it needs to be useful once again.  Also, re-use your grocery bags, or better yet, bring along a re-usable tote for your goodies.  Break out those re-usable, washable fabric napkins and dish towels instead of using disposable napkins and paper towels.
• Recycle plastic, paper, metal, and anything else that can be recycled instead of throwing away these things.  Check with your local municipality to properly recycle household hazardous waste and electronics.
• Donate unwanted household items to your local thrift shop, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, or architectural salvage facility.
• Ride your bike or walk to your destination if possible, or carpool or take mass-transit.  If you do drive, be sure your tires are properly inflated for better gas mileage.
• Plant a tree.  You can receive 10 free trees to plant yourself, or have 10 trees planted for you in our nation’s forests, when you donate $10 to the National Arbor Day Foundation.
• Stop the junk mail!
• Turn off the lights, computer, and television when not needed.
• Clean with home-made natural products.  See my earlier posts here and here.
• Open the windows for some fresh air if the weather is pleasant.  You’ll save money and reduce pollution when you turn off the mechanical heating/cooling system.  If you do have to use the mechanical system, keep your heat at or below 68 degrees, and your a/c at or above 78 degrees, and don’t forget to lower it when you go to bed or are away from home.  Programmable thermostats make this task easy and energy efficient.
• Don’t use pesticides and weed killers on your lawn.   These chemicals have detrimental effects on our children, water supplies, wildlife, and the soil in which our food is grown.
• Take a hike!  Enjoy the great green outdoors, by taking a walk or going on a picnic with your family and/or friends.

Not only will these classes teach you how to live a healthier life for your family and for the planet, but many elements will show how you can save money on utility bills and household expenses as well!

The Sustainable Living series offers the following workshops:  Harnessing the Wind (May 13), Green Buildings–Old & New (May 27), Solar Solutions (June 10), Growing a Green Child and Raising a Green Pet (June 24), Healthy Indoors–Home & Office (September 16), Green Investing (Sept. 30), Healthy Eating (October 21), and Green Driving (November 11).

The Backyard Eco-Gardening series consists of these educational topics:  Vegetable Gardening (May 2), Fruits & Berries (May 16), Flowers, Herbs & Container Gardening (May 30), Pest Management in the Garden (June 13), Garden Maintenance (June 27), Beekeeping (July 18), Preserving the Harvest (August 1), Raising Livestock (Aug. 15), Raising Poultry (Aug. 29), Wild Edibles (Sept. 12), and concludes with a free potluck lunch to Enjoy the Harvest (Oct. 3).

A small fee is required to attend any of the workshops, with a special discount when you sign up for all Spring or Fall courses.  Please visit the Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow for more details.

You can find volunteer opportunities available in many cities and towns across the country.  Interested in volunteering for the USDA Forest Service as a bird monitor or a historic park interpreter?  How about helping to maintain our natural, cultural and historic resources on public lands with the Take Pride in America program?   The Natural Resources Conservation Service is looking for people to help reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters.

For example, if you live in the D.C. Metro area, EarthShare, D.C. Surfrider, and The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) invite you to come out and help clean up the Anacostia River (or 25 other sites) at the 15th Annual Earth Day River Cleanup and Celebration on Saturday, April 18, 2009.  Free food and entertainment will be provided for volunteers after clean up efforts.

You can check out Volunteer.gov or conduct a google search to find volunteer opportunities in your community.

photo by aussiegall

Bottled water may seem more pure or cleaner than tap water, but it is not.  The FDA actually has stricter rules for tap water than it does for bottled water.   Tap water is tested more frequently.  And since 40% of bottled water, including ones labeled “Spring Water”, comes from municipal tap water water, it’s simply a waste of money and resources to purchase bottled water.

Water is often bottled in #1 PET or PETE bottles (polyethylene terephthalate), which may leach DEHA, a known carcinogen, into the water.  Plastics numbered 3, 6 and 7 (polycarbonate plastic, not corn-based plastic as some #7s are labeled) contain Bisphenol A (BPA), which is suspected of causing neurological and behavioral problems in fetuses and children.  BPA mimics the female hormone estrogen, which may have detrimental affects, including cancer, on the brain, breast and prostate, the female reproductive system and the immune system in adults. Five-gallon water jugs, clear plastic “sippy” cups, baby bottles, and sport-water bottles are oftentimes made from #7 polycarbonate plastic.

Another factor to consider is the inability of plastic to biodegrade.  Plastic waste often ends up in landfills and waterways, where it has formed a floating patch of garbage in the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of Texas!  It has devastating effects on sea life.

So what is one to do?  Several companies now offer re-useable and recyclable stainless steel bottles that can easily replace the plastic water bottle habit.  I recently tried an Eco-Canteen and have been very happy with it.  I just fill it up with filtered tap water and carry it along with me wherever I go.  The water tastes great and the Eco-Canteen is even dishwasher safe.  Other eco-friendly bottles include those by KleanKanteen & Sigg.  Many styles, sizes, colors and designs are available.

Sources:  RGNS Environmental Stewardship Project and the National Institute of Health