Compostable Library Cards

It makes sense. Books contain biodegradable materials, so why are we lending them out via plastic cards?

The San Francisco Public Library has decided to issue library cards made of corn! The ecocards are available to new library card holders or as a replacement for lost cards.

When they’ve lived their useful lives, the cards may be composted. Read more about it at ecosalon.

Hopefully, this idea will catch on for gift cards and credit cards too.

(Image from stock.xchng)

Green Chatterings

Do you believe GM deserved to go bankrupt? Of course, there’s a very human element to the company (Moms and Dads who need jobs), but this is the company of the HUMMER, after all. Plus, they killed the electric car… Alex at Planetsave is exploring the idea of whether they got what they had coming.

I wrote about some Simple shoes that are earth-friendly and surfy too!

Jennifer at Tree Hugging Family wrote about where to find traditional green wedding dresses.

Emily at Stop Global Warming is discussing the upcoming global warming talks between US and China.

Back in January, The John Tesh Blog linked to one of my posts about green dry cleaning that I wrote for Tree Hugging Family back in the day. : ) Check it out: Dry or Wet Cleaning: Which is safer?

(Image from stock.xchng)

Upcoming National Children’s Museum to Be LEED-certified

Refreshing, beautiful, inspiring, educational and green! And coming soon. What more could you want?

The National Children’s Museum (NCM) recently unveiled their plans for the DC-based interactive museum  scheduled to open in 2013 at National Harbor. It will serve the 48 million children under age 13 living in the US.

The Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed building will be LEED-certified.

At 150,000 square feet, NCM will focus on the natural environment, including (from NCM news release):

Wind Turbine: The building’s wind turbine, a symbol of NCM’s commitment to sustainable and renewable energy, will be a source of power.

Sun Reflector: A series of reflective panels on the roof of the arrival space will reflect sunlight, minimize artificial lighting, and reduce energy loads during the day.

Living Wall: The Museum’s south facing façade features a cable and tray system to support a framework for a living, green wall. The Living Wall will shade the building from the bright, hot southern sun, helping to cool the building and reduce energy demands.

Green Roof: A green roof system will provide for sedums and small scale planting, absorb rainwater (reducing storm run off), improve thermal insulation, and reduce the “heat island” effect.

Recycled Materials: The new Museum will use recycled structural steel and some recycled brick from demolished buildings.

Until the NCM opens, visit the Launch Zone at National Harbor — 112 Waterfront Street to explore table-top interactive exhibits and computer kiosks giving kids a chance to browse exhibit components early.

What do you think of the NCM design and focus on green?

Green Fast Food Ratings from Greenopia

This is a guest post by Ayana Meade from Greenopia.

We’ve all been in this situation — you’re traveling long-distance (or maybe you just need eats NOW in your own nabe), and there’s nothing but fast food chains as far as the eye can see.  So, what’s a conscious consumer to do?

Consult Greenopia’s Fast Food Ratings Guide!

Greenopia, the green directory and rating website, has rated which fast food restaurants are making strides to be more sustainable, considering back-end practices, packaging, and transportation. And we’ve
noted the number of veggie and vegan choices and typical meal calorie ranges for each chain too.

According to the guide, when faced with a growling belly, your best bet is to go with a smaller chain whenever possible, like: Pizza Fusion, Burgerville, Le Pain Quotidien or Evos; each earned between a 3 and 4 Leaf rating.

Larger chains like McDonald’s and Subway are making strides, but still have a ways to go, earning 1 Leaf each.

This was an independent study conducted by Greenopia’s research team using an extended list of test criteria including green building design, supply chain, stock, recycling/take-back programs (i.e. end of life management) and sustainability reporting (i.e. transparency). The criteria data were gathered, calculated and analyzed using Greenopia’s proprietary lifecycle eco-cost methodology.

Check out the full list here — and find out where your favorite fast food chain ranked!

Ayana Meade is a Contributing Writer and Editorial/Production Associate for Greenopia.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Review: Eco Canteen Water Bottle

Eco Canteen is a stainless steel water bottle from a non-profit company by the same name. They describe their efforts as a “labor of love,” doing all they can to get people off of bottled water.

I received a bottle at no charge for review purposes. I tried the adult size, which is 26 ounces and made of food-grade stainless steel. An insulated tote is also available, but I didn’t try it.

One nice thing about the Eco Canteen is the large opening at the mouth. It makes cleaning easier than with the SIGG bottle and it’s lighter to carry. The lid is easy to remove and re-secure. I didn’t notice any leaks. Of course, it’s also completely BPA free.

Overall, I think this is a good basic water bottle for a fair price ($9.99). Though not as decorative as the SIGG, it still gets the job done. If you’re looking for good office gifts in the $10 range, I’d suggest these.

The only thing I don’t like is that a video starts playing when you visit the Eco Canteen site. Sure, you can turn it off, but it’s just a pet peeve of mine.

Still not convinced you should ditch bottled water? Keep in mind that a 20 oz bottle of water takes 5 oz of oil to produce and ship, plus you’re left with a plastic bottle that’s not so reusable.

(Image from Eco Canteen)

Review Spending Habits for Earth Day

With Earth Day just around the corner, now’s a good time to take a look at how your spending habits may be affecting the environment. I was able to hear Jane Goodall speak at my local zoo recently, and she reminded us that we each make a difference each day. She wants us to think before we buy.

Here are some tips to help you revise your spending habits to be more green:

• Choose organic or Fair Trade whenever possible, and be aware that words like “natural” may mean nothing. Always read ingredients.

• If you don’t make your own green cleaning products, choose companies that produce only green cleaners. These are people like Ecover and Seventh Generation.

• Look at packaging. Many companies are finding ways to reduce packaging. If you think one of your favorite products needs a packaging overall, tell the manufacturer. They are listening more than you think.

• Look for the Leaping Bunny symbol when choosing cleaners and cosmetics. Animal testing isn’t required or necessary.

• Buy from local farmers and artisans. If you don’t, these people can’t make a living. The small farming way of life may be making a comeback, but they still very much need your help.

For more guidance on buying green, I highly recommend Big Green Purse. I reviewed it last year. Also, read more on the history of Earth Day.

Have a green Earth Day! And every day.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Sinupret for Kids Giveaway Winners

Congrats to the winners of the Sinupret for Kids giveaways.

Rosanne
Lori W
Donna K
Suzie G
Marcy S

They’ve already been contacted and should receive their prizes soon. Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter!

PS  - In case you missed it, Sinupret for Kids is a natural, plant-based remedy for sinus problems. It’s available at retailers like Walmart. If you’ve tried it, please leave a comment and tell us what you thought.

Join the Global Effort This Saturday 8:30pm Your Time

Visit earthhour.org to learn more. Or just simply switch off your lights for one hour at 8:30pm, your local time.

This is your vote! To quote Earth Hour:

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

Will you participate this Saturday, March 28?

Image created by Shepard Fairey for Earth Hour 2009

Wednesday for Fun Video: Reel Big Fish - Take on Me

This video was recommended to me by Jennifer, my blogging pal from Tree Hugging Family and Green Beauty and Style Slices.

Sinupret for Kids Giveaway Package

If you have the choice to use natural remedies, it’s always easier on the environment. Since it’s sinus and allergy season, I thought you’d like to know about a different and safe option for kids: Sinupret for Kids. It’s not a drug, but a natural remedy. Keep reading because you’ll have the chance to enter to win a fun giveaway pack for kids with samples of the remedy.

Sinupret for Kids is a natural plant-based remedy, developed through a proprietary blend of European Elder, Sorrel, Cowslip, European Vervain and Gentian. According to its makers, Bionorica, the remedy promotes healthy drainage in the upper respiratory tract, improves airflow in the nose and supports healthy mucous clearance from the nose and sinuses. It also supports the immune system.

Other Facts about Sinupret for Kids:

• The #1 most widely recommended, scientifically tested nasal and sinus support formula in Germany for children and adults for more than 30 years

• Sinupret does not contain stimulants, gluten, caffeine, ephedra, pseudoephedrine, codeine, steroids or narcotics

• Sinupret for Kids syrup is available in over 20,000 retail stores stores nationally, including Walmart

• It’s been the subject of several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials for effectiveness and safety

Please note: This post is for educational purposes only. I don’t have medical training, so if you have specific questions about whether Sinupret for Kids is right for your child, please ask your child’s doctor for the best answer. I didn’t receive any compensation for running this contest. I just thought you’d like to have the chance to try out Sinupret for free! :  )

Five winners will receive a giveaway package which includes:

• A copy of Dr. Bob Sears best-selling book The Healthiest Kids in the Neighborhood

• A sample of Sinupret for Kids

• Yellow children’s binoculars

• Sinupret for Kids activity books & stickers

• Mini plush bear

To enter to win: Leave a comment on this post before end of day on Thursday, April 2. I’ll close the comments just before midnight CST. Randomly selected winners will have three days to respond to my email requesting a mailing address for the prize. Contest is open to international readers as well as residents of the US.

Good luck!