Toilet paper is a staple of almost any household. Sure, it wastes paper, but the alternative is far worse. We thank toilet paper from the bottoms of our bottoms for the service that it provides. There are ways, however, to green your TP use. Here are some of those ways.
Tear from the top. Someone actually did some thinking, applied some science and found that toilet paper pulled from the top instead of under saves a few squares on every TP application.
Use recycled toilet paper. There's no point in using freshly killed trees for the dirty job this paper is about to undertake. Seventh Generation is a good choice, but any paper made from mostly recycled content is favorable. Here is the NRDC's list.
Use toilet paper that hasn't been bleached with chlorine. Chlorine can react with paper to produce dioxins.
Switch to one-ply.
Vie for toilet paper that doesn't come with each roll individually wrapped. Save on packaging waste.
There are scented toilet papers out there. Cottonelle is scented. Why do they make scented toilet paper? It's probably a marketing strategy. Marketers can use sense memory to make us prefer their brand of toilet paper over a non-scented brand. Toilet papers of equal absorbency will often seem "more absorbent" when they are scented. Don't be fooled by the scent. The scent is there to confuse the reptile part of your brain. These scents can cause headaches, allergies or asthma in the chemically sensitive. They can diminish the air quality in your home. They are also unnecessary.
Buy toilet paper in bulk. Another way to save packaging waste.
The more squares per roll the better. This also saves packaging waste.
Recycle your old toilet paper tubes.
source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/
3/03/2009
9 Green Toilet Paper Tips: Nine ways to save the planet while on the throne.
2/08/2009
Seeking Happiness
The Jakarta Post -- WEEKENDER | Thu, 01/29/2009 7:13 PM | Greenlifestyle
Today’s materialistic culture often tempts us to spend more on things we desire, instead of on things we need. The more we earn, the more stuff we buy to make ourselves happy. But is this really the path to happiness?
Let me try to find the answer to that question. Some of my friends and I used to earn more than enough money to support ourselves each month. With my income, I could afford almost everything I wanted, from the latest gadgets and coolest outfits to the best meals in fancy restaurants. But somehow, the excitement of having all this lingered for only a very brief period. And so I began to have doubts about that materialistic life.
And I am not alone here. I have several friends – and I am sure there are some other people out there – who have shared the same experience and feel a void in their hearts. Something is missing, something that cannot be satisfied just by earning a sizable income and spending more on awesome gadgets or the trendiest clothes. It seems like we need more than possessions and purchases to find happiness.
Happiness can be perceived differently from one person to the other, so we need to find our own personal source of contentment. Here are some ideas to get you climbing on that ladder toward happiness.
1. Escape materialism – consume less
If we finally understand that binge-buying can only satisfy our ego for a short while, maybe now is the time to kick the habit. Start by systematically blocking out advertising, be it printed or electronic. Another good reason to go easy with the credit card is your environmental footprint. We buy not-so-important stuff and often end up discarding it fairly quickly. Some of the waste is burned, releasing carbon emissions and pollutants into the soil or waterways. So make sure that when you buy things, you do so because they serve a clear purpose. It might be helpful to bear this question in mind every time you intend to buy something: “Do I really need this?”
2. Stay healthy – choose your food better
Keeping our body fit and healthy – that’s probably a primordial rule in our quest for happiness. So arrivederci Big Mac, adieu beloved crispy chicken wing and so long fiendish banana split; downshift to slow food, a culinary philosophy that emphasizes organic farming and local and traditional food products. Rein in your food budget, and support your local traditional market.
3. Go green – back to nature
Philosophically, green represents peace, balance and growth. It is also the color of nature and symbolizes self-respect and well-being. Moreover, green is the most restful color for human eyes and is believed to have great healing power. Going green, in the sense of going back to nature, can be a source of happiness. For example, spending a weekend in a place with views of a green landscape might bring us peace and joy, more than drooling in front of shop windows in frenzied malls will. Sometimes what our heart and mind need is just a relaxing moment free from the hustle and bustle of our superficial activities. So, give yourself some time to decompress and make a good connection with Mother Nature.
4. Practice random acts of kindness – be useful
When we practice good deeds, we feel good about ourselves. That explains why there are people who volunteer their time and energy to help others. The feeling of being useful, not only to our fellow humans but also to other living creatures, gives meaning to our life. Joining communities that are concerned with environmental issues might be a good start. Think of an issue you care about: poverty, empowerment of women, wildlife loss – take your pick. Then find an organization or project that is working on this issue close to where you live, and tell them you want to help. Here’s an NGO directory to get you started: http://www.smeru.or.id/ngolist.php.
5. Make connections – develop friendships
It’s only natural that we have the urge to share our feelings with other people. Having good, supportive friends and close relationships with our family can make us much happier. Developing new friendships with people from various walks of life will also trigger joy and excitement. If you succeed in your volunteering efforts (see previous point), you will find yourself exposed to new people, opening your eyes to a world that extends well beyond your daily worries and concerns.
So, despite the controversy surrounding the various interpretations of the lyrics sung by the fabulous four of Liverpool, I do believe that happiness is a warm gun indeed. I have my own interpretation of what John Lennon meant by “… a warm gun means you’ve just shot something”. After taking a shot at finding good quality of life, happiness creates a warm feeling within our heart.
+ Shinta Nurwulan
Greenlifestyle is a mailing list to share information and tips on greening your lifestyle in Indonesia’s cities. How to save on utility bills? Where to recycle paper in Java and Bali? Reducing the amount of water you use at home? All legit questions can be sent (in Indonesian or English) to greenLifestyle@googlegroups.com.or greenlifestyle@gmail.com
2/03/2009
What's The Carbon Footprint of Sending A Text Message?
As I have known, Google did indeed issue a statement describing in detail how it had arrived at the figure of 0.2 grams of CO², after first calculating it requires 0.0003 kWh of energy to perform a typical search. Or to put it another way, it claimed that a typical individual's Google use for an entire year would produce about the same amount of CO² as putting a single load through a washing machine. The bulk of this energy expenditure is due to the vast network of servers and data centres that a company such as Google has to maintain. Mobile phone network providers are not dissimilar in that they are also in the business of processing and "transporting" huge quantities of digitised data.
As one of telecommunications provider, Vodafone agreed to put its brightest brains to the task of calculating the footprint of a text message. "Last year, the Vodafone network used 2,600 gigawatt hours of energy to carry 60,000 terabytes of data," said a spokeswoman. "Since a single SMS has a maximum length of 140 bytes, we estimate that last year it took an average 5 microwatts-hour (a microwatt being one millionth of a watt) to deliver an SMS message." To put this in terms of emissions, that's 0.000003 grams of CO².
Vodafone added a few caveats, though: it is only including the energy used to power its "radio access network" (which includes its masts) and not the "core network" it leases from providers such as BT. It also isn't including the energy used by handsets. This at least goes some way to explaining why the figures seems so low compared to Google's. After all, if you accept both Vodafone's and Google's figures, a text message produces 60,000 times less CO² than an internet search.
However you crunch these figures, though, the most significant energy burden is still going to be the power needed to produce, distribute and then charge your mobile phone. And, frankly, there are other far more energy-intensive areas of our lifestyles to tackle first.
source: Guardian - Environment
7/09/2008
6/30/2008
Bisphenol-A Facts
Dr Frederick vom Saal, a biology professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia and one of the leading BPA researchers in the country, "believes BPA should be banned from all products that might end up passing it along to people. "If it's hard and clear and doesn't say 'No BPA,' don't use it."
In studies of laboratory animals, Vom Saal says, BPA changes play behavior, weakens gender differences, decreases sperm count, stimulates prostate cancer and causes ADHD symptoms.
"All of this is occurring at exposures in animals that lead to blood levels that I guarantee are below what are in your body," he says. "No level has ever been found in animal experiments that doesn't cause harm."
The article advises people to avoid putting polycarbonate plastic food containers in the microwave or dishwasher or putting hot food or liquid into polycarbonate plastic containers.
"Heat makes BPA leach out much faster than it does otherwise," it notes.
For Your Info
BPA-Free Shortlist :
Bottles: Adiri | Born Free | MAM | Medela | Mother's Milkmate
Sippys: Born Free | Klean Kanteen | Sassy | SIGG | Thermos
Pacifiers: Playtex | Gerber/NUK | First Years
Pumps and Supplies: Medela | Mother's Milkmate
6/17/2008
PREVENT WASTE FROM THE START
Use electronic program brochures, registration and confirmation procedures.
Reduce wasteful duplicate mailings by asking brochure recipients to contact you if they no longer want to receive your mailings or if their address or contact information has changed. Having an up-to-date mailing list saves printing and mailing costs and reduces recycling needs. When needed, print handout materials on both the front and back sides of the paper.
Print materials on recycled-content paper and include a note identifying the % recycled content in the paper used. Avoid goldenrod or bright, fluorescent colored paper because it is hard to recycle. Use soy ink if possible. Try to print only the amount needed to distribute. Make presentation handouts available on-line or send then electronically on request after the meeting or copy them onto re-used floppy disks to distribute.
REUSE
Use nametags in re-usable holders, be sure to have a collection box so that after the meeting, attendees can leave their nametags for your future use.
Use reusable or recyclable signs to direct people to appropriate meeting rooms.
RECYCLE
Remove unused papers from the meeting room for reuse within your own office OR deposit unneeded paper in designated recycling bins.
To recycle empty beverage containers at your event, be sure to request this service in your meeting site specifications and include it in your contract.
ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCTS:
If you are going to give away promotional items to your meeting's attendees, consider purchasing useful re-usable items that are made from recycled materials. Also consider promotional items that are energy-efficient and only use items that do not contain toxic material.
PREVENT MESSES AND PEST PROBLEMS:
Order foods that are least likely to leave a mess or stain if spilled. In addition to reducing cleaning needs, prevention can also reduce pest problems.
CONSERVE ENERGY:
Turn lights and electrical equipment off when not needed and when your meeting is over. Most rooms have switches.
ASK MEETING PARTICIPANTS TO HELP:
Be sure to tell meeting attendees about your efforts in pre-meeting brochures, meeting updates and with verbal reminders during the event. Ask participants for their cooperation and participation. Recognize attendees, vendors and sponsors who have made an extra effort (i.e. "I was "CAUGHT GREEN HANDED" recognition). If a meeting evaluation is conducted, ask attendees for feedback and suggestions on the "Green" efforts included.
If your meeting has multiple sponsors, ask all of them to commit to a Green Meeting.
If your meeting includes vendors or exhibit booths, give them a checklist to help them "Green their Exhibit". For example, ask vendors to be mindful of amounts of brochures they distribute, to encourage distribution of useful, recycled-content promotion items if they are giving such items away, and other ways to "Green" their exhibit booth. Ask vendors to break down any corrugated boxes so they can easily be collected for recycling. On vendor post-event surveys, ask for their feedback and suggestions to improve Greening efforts.