Foods You Should, and Shouldn’t, Buy Organic

Now, I’ll come right out say it: we should always try to buy organic foods whenever we can. Supporting organic farmers not only helps strengthen the industry, but it also helps reduce pollution, and keep our families healthier by keeping those pesticides and antibiotics out of their food.

However, the reality is that a lot of people simply can’t afford to buy organic 100% of the time.

The good news is that if times are tight, there are some foods you can safely get away with not buying organic. And there are also foods where it really pays off to spend extra to buy organic.

So which is which?

Foods You Don’t Need to Buy Organic

You can skip buying the following foods organic because for the most part, they have thick skins, or skins you peel away. This protects the fruit or veggie itself from pesticides. Some other foods (like asparagus) are on the list because they have very few “threats”, like bugs, so they don’t need a lot of pesticides.

1. Onions

2. Avacados

3. Corn

4. Pineapple

5. Asparagus

6. Sweet Peas

7. Kiwi

8. Cabbage

9. Eggplant

10. Papaya

11. Watermelon

12. Broccoli

13. Tomato

14. Sweet Potato

Note: The Daily Green states that the Environmental Working Group (EWG), who compiled this list, says that although Tomatos made the “Dirty Dozen” list in 2008, they’ve now found them to be cleaner then most other vegetables. The reason? Well, the EWG isn’t sure (a bit of a scary thought!), so you might want to take tomatoes with a grain of salt.

Foods You SHOULD Buy Organic

So, if you’re going to spend money on organic foods, these are the foods you should buy organic. The reason is because they contain the highest amounts of pesticide residue.

1. Apples

2. Celery

3. Strawberries

4. Peaches

5. Spinach

6. Nectarines

7. Imported Grapes

8. Sweet Bell Peppers

9. Potatoes

10. Blueberries

11. Lettuce

12. Kale

I’m particularly surprised and sad about #12 Kale…I don’t remember it being on lists in years past, and this is a vegetable I eat daily. It’s a real superfood, and it’s also incredibly delicious cooked quickly on the stove with salt and olive oil, and then dumped on top of eggs and toast! Organic kale is impossible to find in my area…so I might have to lay off this veggie somewhat!

The Green Car of the Year? Honda’s Natural Gas Civic

So, Honda’s Natural Gas Civic was recently named the Green Car of the Year, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which kicks off today and runs until November 27.

I have a 2005 Honda Civic myself. Although it lacks excitement and any kind of personality, I love the car because it’s low-emission, and I usually get around 35 mpg on average; on long trips, I often get 37-38. It’s also been completely reliable. So, it’s a big win in my book.

The new 2012 Natural Gas Civic is already making waves with its efficiency and its near-zero emissions.

According to Honda’s own site, the Natural Gas Civic gets 27 mpg city, and 38 mpg on the highway. I’d be willing to bet that those numbers will be a bit higher once you actually get it on the road yourself. If you throw in some fuel-efficient driving habits (like driving 65 mph, and not accelerating or braking fast), then you might get even more.

One of the writer’s over at Treehugger got to drive the 2012 model, and he said it drove exactly like his own Civic Hybrid, just a bit quieter.

One neat feature in the car is the on-board navigation system, which enables you to look up the nearest filling station set up for natural gas. Another cool feature? This super green car’s MSRP is $26,155. At this price, it’s affordable for a larger group of people.

The Natural Gas Civic is also the only natural gas car built here in the US; it’s constructed at Honda’s Zero-Waste Indiana plant. So, it has less of an environmental impact because not only is it built green, it also travels much less than many other green cars.

Final Word…

I love the idea of running cars on natural gas; to me, it’s more efficient, and safer, than hydrogen fuel cells. It’s not a perfect solution, of course, but I have a feeling that we’re still a long ways away from that.

I’ve been peeking around at new cars lately; my own Civic is still holding up fine, but it’s just not big enough for our needs. I’ve had my eye on VW’s Passat TDI wagon, which also got a favorable mention at the auto show. The gas mileage is impressive (43 mpg on highway but again, I bet it’s higher). I also love the stylish look and, yes, the interior space, trunk, and roof rack is also high on my list of wants!

What do you think? Is Honda moving in the right direction with it’s Natural Gas option?

Airlines Are Starting to Use BioFuels!

So, a lot has happened in the aviation industry in the past few days. United Airlines lead the industry into a new, greener era on Monday by making the very first flight using biofuels.

The Chicago-Tribune reports the flight was from Houston to Chicago. And the special bio-jet fuel was made from genetically-modified algae that feeds off plant waste and produces oil. They’re using 60% regular fuel, and 40% biofuel. According to the Chicago-Tribune article, the blend United is using offers as much as an 85% reduction in fossil fuel emissions. So, that’s an enormous step forward!

The best news is that United is going to keep it up. The airline announced they’ve signed a deal with Solozyme, Inc. to purchase 20 million gallons more biofuel for future flights, starting in 2014. Although 20 million gallons sounds like a lot, it’s actually only .6% of the company’s fuel needs. They literally use billions and billions of jet fuel each year. But, at least this is a step in the right direction.

There doesn’t seem to be a good reason for not using biofuels in airplanes. According to United’s president, the cost for flying with biofuels is about the same as using regular jet fuel.

Alaskan Airlines is also jumping on board, making their first “green flight” this week as well. This first flight will be from Seattle to Washington, D.C. Alaskan Airlines says their new greener flights will emit 10% less carbon emissions. Their blend is a bit lower than the United blend. Alaskan Airlines is using 20% biofuel, and 80% regular fuel.

Although we could all jump on the airlines for not doing this sooner, there’s been a good reason why they haven’t. They’ve been negotiating with international aviation regulators a very long time to do this. The regulators just approved the use of biofuels in commercial airline flights four months ago. The very first flight to use biofuels took place in Europe, by Dutch Airlines.

Could You Have a No-Buy Holiday?

I ran into Target the other day and there it was: the Christmas section where the grills and patio furniture used to be. And, the expanded toy section. As soon as Halloween is over, apparently, the Christmas buying season begins.

Even though I love the winter holiday season, I also get frustrated by the rampant consumerism that goes along with it. Ultimately, it’s up to all of us to make responsible choices, but retailers sure don’t help matters when they market to us two full months before Christmas.

Many people overextend themselves financially during the holidays, buying way more than they can afford. And, still more ignore the environmental ramifications of so much shopping (and the waste that goes along with it, including getting rid of our old items, the wrapping paper, and the packaging of the new items).

Personally, I’ve never gone out shopping on Black Friday. Honestly, the thought of going out that weekend scares the heck out of me every year. I spend the weekend after Thanksgiving cozy at home, not buying a single thing. And I have a blast.

A Better Solution: A No-Buy Holiday

Many bloggers are joining together to campaign for a no-buy Christmas. That is, they’re not buying a single Christmas or Hanukkah present for their loved ones. Any gifts they do give will be handmade, or they’ll find for free on Freecycle or Craigslist.

I’ve been planning for a no-buy Christmas for several months now. I’m going to try not to buy any of my friends and family a store-bought gift. Most, if not all, of my gifts will be handmade by me. I also thought that if I do want to spend money on a gift, it could be a service.

Buying a service for someone is a wonderful way to give a thoughtful gift because services don’t involve any kind of “product”, so it’s a great environmental choice. Buying a service also benefits the service provider directly. Instead of your money going to a large corporation, it goes to a massage therapist, a hair stylest, a lawn care professional, or an artist. That is, your gift helps support that provider directly.

Some great service gift ideas are:

• A gift certificate for a one hour massage.
• A facial or manicure.
• Theater tickets.
• Passes to go skiing for a day.
• Gift certificates to go roller skating, indoor rock climbing, ice skating, go karting, etc.
• A gift certificate to a dog walking service.
• A winter’s worth of snow shoveling services (this would be great for senior citizens).

Handmade Gift Ideas

Many of the gifts I’ll be giving this year are canned goods. I love canning, and I’ve been storing up making gourmet jams and ice cream sauces for several months now. I’m planning on putting these, along with some homemade cookies and breads, into gift baskets for friends and family.

If you don’t can, or don’t have time, there are plenty of other handmade gift ideas you could try.

• A handknit scarf.
• Homemade holiday ornaments.
• Cookies (or brownies) in a jar.
• Soup in a jar.

There are tons of ideas online for handmade gifts. You can get your creative juices flowing with this wonderful list.

Get Started Now

Many people want to buy less during the holiday season, but the problem is that they wait too long. Before they know it, their holiday is a week or less away, and they have nothing! This is why it’s so important to plan your gifts out now. Handmade gifts require thought, and they take time to make. Starting the process months in advance will ensure your holiday involves less shopping, and more love!

Is Your Washing Machine Polluting the Ocean?

It’s a compelling question, right? Could our washing machines be polluting the ocean?

At first glance, we might say “No”. After all, if you’re reading this blog then you’re likely already using eco-friendly laundry detergent, maxing out your wash loads so you wash less frequently each week, and you’ve turned your machine’s wash temperature to “cold” to save energy.

But a recent study published by researchers at the University of Dublin, our washing machines are polluting the oceans, one micro-fiber at a time.

What happens is that every time we wash our clothes, thousands of tiny microfibers tear off our clothing, and then go down the drain during the rinse cycle. During an average wash, one piece of clothing can shed 1,900 fibers or more. Now, this wouldn’t be a problem if we were all wearing 100% cotton; they would just decompose over time. The problem is that many of us are wearing plastic, in the form of polyester, acrylic, and other blends.  These plastic fibers are called “microplastics”, and the researchers created a map to illustrate where they’ve found significantly contaminated areas.

As you can see, the east coast of the U.S. has a pretty high level of contamination.

University of Dublin researchers examined sewage disposal sites and tested waste water to determine the level of microplastics entering local watersheds. They also washed plenty of their own laundry, and tested the graywater from these loads. They determined that our washing machines are likely the biggest cause for microplastic contamination in local watersheds and beaches.

What We Can Do

So, what can you do about this pollution?

Well, it’s hard to prevent your clothing from shedding these microfibers. After all, our clothes just break down every time we wash them. Front-loading washers are gentler on your clothing, in addition to being more energy and water efficient. So, upgrading to an Energy Star rated washing machine could help reduce the amount of microfibers that are shedding from your clothing.

You can also make a difference simply by avoiding synthetic fibers in your clothing. Wearing clothes made from cotton, tencil, bamboo, and hemp will eventually decompose. And, these fibers are not harmful to the local environment. So, the more natural fibers you wear, the better our earth will be!

The Nest Thermostat: An Eco-Thermostat with Style

During the cold winter season, I’m constantly fighting a battle with myself.

On one hand, I want to keep the heat low (usually at 64 during the day, and 57 at night) in order to save energy. On the other hand, I work at home all day, and I get cold at 64 degrees. So, I’m always arguing with myself to bump up my programmable thermostat, just a degree or two, to be a bit more comfortable.

If I do bump it up, I have to remember to push it back down once I get warm, or I throw my program out of whack. For instance, if I bump up the heat past 10:00 p.m. (when it automatically goes down to 57), it’ll stay at 65 degrees all night, wasting energy when we’re snug in bed.  And, I know I’m not the only one who fights this battle.

However, all this is about to change. I just learned about an innovative new thermostat that is not only eco-friendly and smart, but it’s also incredibly well-designed and sleek. Let me introduce you to The Nest.

The cool looking thermostat was designed by some of the geniuses at Apple and Google. And, it’s the first thermostat that actually learns what you want. Basically, it programs itself (saving you the headache), learning your preferences, and adapts quickly to what you want.

For instance, one cool feature is its timer. For instance, imagine you want the heat bumped up because your chilly. Nest will tell you that it will take 15 minutes for the house to reach the higher temperature of 72 degrees, so you don’t overcompensate to get warm.

Nest can also tell when you’re at home and when you’re away by two proximity sensors. If it detects you’ve left the house, it will automatically lower or raise the temperature to save energy. It takes about a week for Nest to program itself to your schedule. You start by giving it a few simple instructions, and then it will adjust based on your preferences and movements. Neat.

Another cool feature is that it has built in Wi-Fi. So, if you’re at work and a storm is blowing in, and the temperature outside has dropped 20 degrees colder than you expected it to, you can log in to Nest from work and tell it to bump up the heat so the house is warm when the kids get home from school.

Yep, somebody was thinking here.

Is Nest going to save your home more energy than a traditional, programmable thermostat? There have been no independent tests yet, simply because Nest is only available for pre-order right now. But based on what I saw from their website, I think it might.

Fall Color is Coming Later

Looking out my window reminds me of a painting. I see trees painted in shades of red, orange, and gold. The grass is littered with bright leaves, and when the wind blows the sky is full of swirling color that makes your heart ache it’s so pretty. Fall has finally arrived, and the warm days and chilly nights are giving Michigan’s landscape an explosion of color that we won’t see again until late Spring.

Although Michigan’s Fall color seems to be on schedule this year, many parts of the country are lagging behind. Specifically, their Fall color is arriving later than normal.

Scientists don’t know for sure if global warming is the cause, but they know something is going on. They’ve already documented that Spring is coming earlier for many parts of the country, so it only makes sense that Fall would come later.

According to MSNBC, studies in Europe and Japan have documented that Fall is coming later in those areas. So it stands to reason that it’s happening here as well.

We get Fall colors when trees slow down their production of chlorophyll due to the shorter days and lack of sunlight. As the green chlorophyll decreases, the red, yellow, and orange pigments (which are normally hidden from view) are exposed. However, when the days stay warmer for longer, or a season is wetter or dryer than normal, Fall colors are impacted.

Although MSNBC reports there’s no definitive study between global warming and later Fall colors, there is some reliable data that points to later leaf drops around the country.

For instance, according to John O’Keefe, Harvard professor and researcher, leaves there are changing roughly three days later than they were 20 years ago. In Vermont, scientists studying sugar maples found that the growing season is ending later seven out of the last ten years. And in New Hampshire, other scientists studying sugar maples have found that the trees are going dormant up to five days later than they were just ten years ago.

Plus, evidence from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center used satellites to show that the growing season has been delayed 6.5 days compared to 20 years ago.

So, all of this isn’t conclusive evidence by any means. But, it at least points to a trend that Fall could be showing up later than usual.

How is Fall coming along in your neck of the woods? Have your leaves showed up on time this year? Did they drop early, or are you still waiting on their peak? I’d love to know if your season is on time this year!

GM Made $1 Billion…From Recycling

Here’s something awesome about GM I didn’t know: the automaker is trying to make all of their plants zero-waste. And, the company is well on their way. Last year, they were able to recycle a whopping 92% of all the waste they generated. That’s a huge accomplishment! What’s even better is that 92% is the company average; over half of their plants have now achieved zero-waste status.

Since I live in Detroit, I’m shocked that I haven’t heard about this before. You would think GM would want to tout this incredible achievement in every ad and commercial they come out with. Instead, I get to listen to Eminem talk about how cool and original GM is because they’re hardcore and “Imported From Detroit”.

That’s all well and good. However, very few companies make a commitment to zero-waste, especially a company as large as GM is. And, even fewer achieve this status in such a short time frame; once I started looking into it, I discovered that when GM received their bailout from the government in 2010, they decided to remake themselves into a leaner, greener organization. So, this huge company has achieved this in…what, 1.5 years? Less than that? Incredible.

As it turns out, all their recycling efforts are paying off in a very big way. Last year, GM raked in $1 billion from reselling scrap metal and other materials. GM also announced that they would double their solar installations at their manufacturing plants worldwide by 2015. So, they’re putting this additional revenue to great use.

So, what do I have to say about all this? Way to go, GM! I love getting to write about good news, and there’s no doubt that GM’s story is one we can all cheer for. Hopefully other companies like Ford will make the same commitments, and start revolutionizing the auto-industry to lesson the impact on the environment.

Turning Plastic Waste Into Oil

We have roughly two trillion pounds of plastic sitting in our landfills right now. And in spite of the growing awareness of recycling, that number continues to grow by 7%-9% per year. Some good news? An amazing startup has figured out how to turn our plastic waste into synthetic crude oil.

As reported on the Yale 360 blog and The New York Times, Oregon-based company Agylix has successfully converted plastic waste into crude oil that can then be used as diesel or jet fuel. No, you’re not dreaming, and I’m not playing a nasty trick on you. This company really is turning our used plastic into fuel.

Here’s how the process works: Agylix heats up plastic until it’s a mixture of gasses. These gasses are cooled, and then condensed into long-chain hydrocarbons that can be converted into fuel for diesel or jet engines. Amazing, right?

Each system costs $5 million to build, and Agylix says they can turn 140,000 lbs. of plastic into 130 barrels of oil every day. This means we can get a gallon of gas out of 7-8 pounds. of plastic. The company states that it would likely be trash companies who would own and operate the systems, since they’re in the best position to use it. These systems would likely be located in big cities, near landfills.

For environmentalists, and anyone worried about the amount of reusable trash that winds up in our landfills, Agylix’s new system is a dream come true. After all, this solves an enormous problem!

Neither of the articles addressed how much energy it takes to turn all this plastic into fuel; however, I’m sure that it’s far more efficient than drilling for oil and then converting that oil into gas, especially once you take into account the footprint of all that transportation. And, of course, letting all that plastic go to waste in the landfill. There’s no doubt this is a far better solution than what we’ve been doing, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on how this develops in the months to come!

Washington’s Elwah River Dam Removal

I was listening to NPR a few days ago, and heard a story about the world’s largest dam removal project. The idea was a novel one…after all, we always hear about dams going up. But I’ve never heard of a dam being taken down.

But, that’s exactly what’s happening in Washington state, where two dams are being removed on the Elwah river, which is located in Olympic National Park.

The Elwah Dam and Glines Canyon Dam were built before the 1930s, a symbol of progress in our country. However, the dams devastated the regions legendary salmon runs. Washington’s famous steelhead salmon have been unable to swim upstream to spawn since the dams’ construction.

As you can imagine, this has affected the area’s entire ecosystem. Not only can the salmon not swim upstream to spawn, the dams have also negatively impacted the Lower Elwah Klallam Tribe, who depended on the salmon for their food and livelihood. Populations from predators such as the bald eagle, black bear, bobcat, coyote, river otter, raccoon, weasel, and mink have also dramatically gone down since the dams’ construction because of lack of salmon, and salmon carcasses, to feed on.

What’s so fascinating about this project is that it’s never been done before. We’ve never actually dismantled a dam before, so there are entire teams of scientists on location, studying the problem to figure out the best way to do it. Demolition teams can’t just blow the dam up because there is 100 years’ worth of mud built up at the dam’s lip; blowing open the dam would send all that mud and muck careening down the river valley, very likely killing the river everyone is trying to save.

So, the dams must be dismantled slowly, using a series of diversion channels and controlled blasts. This will allow the water, and the mud, to be let out in slower increments, filtering down to the ocean over the next 3-5 years.

I’ll actually be at Olympic National Park all this week, so I’m really excited about the possibility of seeing this controlled deconstruction in process. I’ll let you know what I see if I make it over to the Elwah River!

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