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Cloth Diapers: Safe for Baby

By Guest Author on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 | No Comments

Even if you’re not worried about the impact of disposable diapers on the environment (18 billion go into landfills every year…and they’re not biodegradable), or you don’t mind paying upwards of a thousand dollars a year for the pleasure of throwing them away, perhaps you would be interested to know that the diapers you are so happily tossing in the trash could be harmful to your child.  Have you noticed that you baby seems to suffer from perpetual diaper rash, despite the application of buckets of Desitin?  And what about fragrances and other chemicals that are used to make synthetic diapers?  What effect do you think those are having on baby’s tender bottom?  As a parent, you no doubt think very carefully about the items that come in contact with your baby, and yet, if you haven’t asked these questions about the diapers they wear day in and day out, you may not be exercising due diligence where their health is concerned.

Disposable and cloth diapers are different in many ways, but of course the most notable is their makeup.  While disposable diapers are generally made of synthetic polymers, plastics, and sodium polyacrylate (or some other hydrogel) for absorption, not to mention bleaches, dyes, fragrances, and other chemicals, cloth diapers are made of…cloth.  Layers of cotton seem to be the preferred fabric for cloth diapers.  But beyond the divergence of how they look and feel, the way they function and the way they affect your child are also vastly different.

For starters, the main thing that most parents look for in a diaper is the ability to keep their child dry in order to avoid diaper rash and irritation.  While disposable diapers pull moisture into an absorbent gel, cotton is also incredibly absorbent.  However, cotton doesn’t use a chemical process to turn your child’s urine into gel.  It’s also extremely breathable, allowing some measure of ventilation even if you don’t notice a wet diaper right away.  And as for solid waste, both diapers probably perform about equally on that score.  So if you’re keeping up with changing your little tyke, the moisture debate is kind of a moot point.

What is more relevant is the possibility of other symptoms.  For example, most disposable diapers use elastic around the legs to keep the diaper snug.  This can cause discomfort and skin irritation.  Further, your child may suffer an allergic reaction to one of the many chemicals or synthetic fibers found in disposable diapers, leading to rashes or more serious symptoms.  The Consumer Protection Agency has received reports of disposable diapers causing headaches, dizziness, chemical burns, noxious odors, stains on skin, and even choking as babies tear off bits of the diaper and put them in their mouth.

Cotton diapers, on the other hand, are simply made from natural cotton, which is free of toxins and can be wrapped either loosely or snugly on your child depending on their comfort level.  Plus, you can launder them yourself, using chemical-free and non-allergenic detergent to protect even the most sensitive skin.  It seems pretty clear that cloth diapers have a definite advantage when it comes to the health of your child, so even if you see no outward symptoms that your baby is suffering from disposables, keep in mind that they are full of harmful chemicals that could be having unseen and unknown effects.  Why take that risk?

Carolyn Martin is a writer for Cloth Diapers. The website is devoted to educating parents on the benefits, both eco and health related of cloth diapers for your baby.

How to Green Your Garage

By Guest Author on Friday, August 13th, 2010 | No Comments

An interest in eco-friendly pursuits has no doubt led you down a number of paths where your home is concerned.  Perhaps you have installed a recycling center complete with color coded cans for every conceivable product that can be re-used in some way.  Or maybe you have chosen to forego traditional means of energy in exchange for non-polluting sources like solar or wind.  You might also have gone the extra step to ensure a reduction of your carbon footprint by insisting on green building materials in your home (from concrete framing and flooring to reclaimed cabinets and tile).  And yet, there is probably one area of your home that persists in defying your will to greenify.  And that room is your garage.  From a gas-guzzling family car to chemicals, paints, and any number of harmful products, you just can’t seem to take the same tack with your carport that you do with the rest of your home.  However, there are a few things you can do to make this offensive space a little more eco-friendly.

  1. Go electric.  The best and quickest way to green up your garage is to swap your hydrocarbon-spewing SUV for an all-electric, no emission vehicle.  You may be understandably reticent to toss the keys to your minivan since there have not been a lot of good alternative options.  But misconceptions about electric cars have no doubt clouded your judgment.  People seem to think that they are small and slow, but with new advances providing more options all the time, you’re sure to find an everyday car that fits the needs of your family without polluting the planet.  Not convinced?  At least opt for a hybrid.
  2. Don’t dump.  If you find that, like most garages, yours is filled with oil and gas cans, unused paint (full of harmful VOCs), and various other chemicals that will pollute the environment if dumped down the drain, then look into ways to recycle them.  Many garages will take used oil off your hands for free (although some will charge a small fee) and extra gasoline can be donated to the neighborhood kid who mows the lawn (better than dumping it).  Paints and other chemicals can often be collected by your local trash company for safe disposal (they usually offer one free pickup per household each year).
  3. Recycle tires.  There are all sorts of ways to recycle rubber products, but one of the most inventive is to use them as planters.  Just hang them on the exterior wall of your garage or shed, fill the bottom with soil, and plant some snapdragons, morning glories, or any local varietal you please.  Another good use that is coming into fashion is using stacked tires filled with packed dirt or concrete to form outbuildings or other structures.  They are surprisingly sturdy and weather-resistant.
  4. Open a green door.  You may not even realize that eco-friendly garage doors exist, but when you hear about the many benefits they provide, you may wonder why everyone isn’t on the bandwagon.  These composite polymer doors are made from recycled materials (a minimum of 88%, but often as high as 100%), they hold in more heat than wood or aluminum, they’re UV and moisture resistant (no rotting, splitting, or warping), and they often cost less than traditional products, to boot!
  5. Keep it clean and green.  To de-clutter your storage space, consider buying eco-fabric canvas bins made from organic cotton or pick up some bamboo boxes, and then use recycled glass jars for smaller items.  Finalize your efforts by filling your space with green cleaning products to ensure that you’re not pouring harmful chemicals down the drain every time you scrub your kitchen.

Jamie Myers is a writer for Cheap Car Insurance, an auto insurance comparison site that helps you find the best deal on auto insurance.

The Benefits of a Green (Eco-Friendly) Roof for Your Home

By Guest Author on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 | No Comments

As we slowly, yet continually, deplete our world’s natural resources, we should begin to attempt to adjust our lifestyles to find newer, environmentally friendlier ways to live.  Who knows what the world of tomorrow will look like for our children if we don’t start taking care of the world of today.  The Green Revolution reevaluates every single thing we do, from grocery shopping to the cars we choose to drive to building new homes, in order to do just that.  And contrary to popular belief, greening your life and your home is easier and more affordable than continuing to live the energy wasting lifestyles that we persistently live out today.  The green roofing trend as already taken hold in Europe, yet the extreme benefits of the switch seem lost in translation, as most Americans haven’t fully grasped the serious financial, social, and environmental pros of going green.

Environmental benefits aside, there are many economic incentives for homeowners to transition into utilizing eco-friendly infrastructures for their homes.  And one of the most efficient and effective ways a homeowner can save loads of money is by switching to a green, eco-friendly rooftop.  Green roofs can have more than twice the life-space of conventional roofs, eventually saving the homeowner future additional costs on the maintenance and replacement of dilapidated rooftops.

Moreover, because of the types of material used in fashioning them, green roofs cut down on the energy needed to heat and cool your home.  And if there is a high concentration of green roof tops in an urban area, they can even reduce the entire city’s overall average temperatures during the hottest periods of the year.  Green roofs also filter the air around your home, reducing your chances or your children’s chances of acquiring asthma or similar respiratory problems.  Likewise, green roofs also filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rain water, affording you the opportunity to harvest your own filtered water if so desired.  And with green roofs, the potential for roof drains is exponentially reduced and almost practically eliminated.  Less money burned and less energy used makes the world a much happier place to live.

When converting to a green roof top, you can use soil, plants, and a layer of air to better insulate your home in regard to internal and external sound.  A green roof better deflects and reflects noises from passing by planes, cars, and noisy neighbors.  Additionally, sounds coming from within your home are also deflected and reflected, allowing you to feel less concerned about being too loud and bothering your fellow neighbors.  Switching to green roofing undeniably reduces the amount of resources and money needed for the standard insulation of your home, yet again, saving the homeowner buckets of money and energy.  And for homeowners looking to put their home on the market in the future, converting your home’s rooftop to be more eco-friendly not only makes your home more viable to potential buyers, but it actually increases the real estate value of your home, eventually earning you more money than you probably would have expected.

Leah Marsh is a writer for Online University where you can browse schools and programs to find your perfect fit.

Major Health Benefits Associated with Having and Maintaining a GREEN Home

By Guest Author on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | No Comments

“Going green” has typically meant bringing mindfulness to our habits with an eye to their effects on our water, land and air. “Treading lightly on the earth” meant doing what we could to lessen the environmental violence of human beings on the planet. Still, unless they had an asthmatic child, many people have never stopped to think what green household changes should be made to protect themselves and their loved ones. Today, with health care costs skyrocketing and the population living longer, it’s important to take steps to green our homes for the sake of our own and our families’ health.

It’s no wonder more and more people complain of headaches, respiratory ills, allergies and fatigue. Our homes are full of products that compromise our immune systems, leach dangerous chemicals into our water, and emit toxins that interfere with hormones and fertility. What steps can you take to “unpollute” your home? The suggestions that follow stress the health risks of frequently-used products and materials and offer alternatives to the most common offenders.

  1. Wood building materials – just about every wood surface in your home, from subflooring to cabinets contain building materials that release varying levels of formaldehyde. Gas stoves and kerosene space heaters add to the problem. If your home was built before 1985, levels of formaldehyde may be greater than houses built since then, due to controls put in place by HUD. Fortunately, formaldehyde emissions from pressed wood products tend to decrease over time. Nevertheless, formaldehyde exposure can vary in its impact from lung, throat, and eye irritation to nausea, asthmatic reactions and cancer. If you’re building a house, ask your builder about low formaldehyde wood products. Keeping your house air-conditioned and humidity down can also reduce the severity of reaction. The EPA, OSHA, and the American Lung Association all have more information on formaldehyde’s effects.
  2. Carpets – people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are usually careful to remove carpeting in favor of other types of flooring, but most people don’t think about the invisible dangers of carpet fibers and installation glues. New carpeting emits “volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, when installed, often up to 40 of these different chemicals, and it can take up to a year for the VOCs to be fully released. VOCs are also emitted from the carpet pad and glue. In experiments, mice exposed to carpet VOCs developed tremors, convulsions, brain hemorrhages and paralysis. And not only mice exhibit symptoms! Carpet installers have complained of headaches, body aches and nausea on the job as well. While anyone can suffer the ill effects of exposure to VOCs, children who spend a lot of time on the floor are especially vulnerable. You can buy low VOC carpets, but consider laminates, reclaimed wood or cork flooring as an alternative. Even low VOC or organic fiber carpets trap allergens.
  3. Paint – a newly painted room can look pretty inviting, but the paint you use can lead to lung problems and dementia.  The EPA lists paint as one of its top five environmental hazards, and the World Health Organization reports that painters have a 40% greater chance of getting lung cancer and a 20% greater risk of getting any kind of cancer. Long term exposure can also lead to dementia in painters, but even in healthy people, effects may include headaches, breathing difficulties, heart stress, and reproductive problems. Again, the risk is in the VOCs emitted, especially as the paint is drying. Fortunately, there are a number of eco-friendly paints available that are no more expensive than the hardware store paint you probably buy now. Just google “eco-friendly paint” to find alternatives in a variety of colors.
  4. Bottled water – many families prefer bottled water to the unknown elements or just odd taste of chemically-treated tap water. The plastic bottles that water comes in, however, leach petro-chemicals into the water, and ultimately, into your body. Install a water filter on your tap or fill glass bottles with spring water at your local whole foods grocery store.
  5. Household cleaning products – any surface in your house you want to clean can be cleaned and disinfected using natural products. Products that contain harsh chemicals typically have poison warnings on them, but can be irritating to your skin and lungs even when used according to directions. Vinegar, orange oil and other natural de-grimers are just as effective as their more toxic equivalents, but save you and your family from handling and breathing poisons, often in confined spaces.
  6. Body products – just as household cleaning products can be bad for you, so can body products that contain a laundry-list of unfamiliar-sounding ingredients and strong fragrances. Remember, anything you rub on your body will be absorbed by your body, and some toxins can build up over time. Choose body products, like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and lotions from health-conscious retailers, order online, or make your own. The internet has lots of sites to help you make a wise, body-conscious choice.
  7. And speaking of laundry-lists, how about your laundry detergent? If you’re using mainstream products, you’re probably washing lung and skin irritants into your clothes. Check out www.greenlivingtips.com for alternatives to stain removers like baking soda, vinegar and borax, and lower-polluting liquid laundry detergents.
  8. The air we breathe – air pollution can actually increase the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks in at-risk adults due to particulates breathed in. Renewable energy sources remove particulates and other pollutants that can affect your long-term health. If possible, use wind, water and solar energy for your home or consider building/living in communities designed to use renewable energy sources.

Some other ideas to make your family healthier include:

  • Growing an organic garden together to promote consumption of fruits and vegetables with no artificial pesticides and fertilizers
  • Eating less meat and fewer pre-packaged foods
  • Walking and biking together to promote family togetherness, exercise and the benefits of fresh air and sunshine
  • Express your love for one another – it’s nonpolluting, doesn’t irritate lungs or skin, but does build up over time!

Kyle Simpson writes for Medical Coding where you can find information on a career in medical billing and coding industry.

An Eco-Friendly Room for Your Child

By Guest Author on Sunday, August 1st, 2010 | No Comments

Your little Prince or Princess deserves the best in life, and if they want a room that’s fit for royalty, you’re going to do everything in your power to give it to them.  But would you still choose the bubble-gum pink paint if you knew it would release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air they breathe for years to come?  Or would you pick a synthetic baseball-themed rug if you were aware that it could trap and hold harmful allergens and bacteria despite a stringent weekly vacuuming?  And what about the curtains, bedding, and mattress in your child’s room?  How can you teach them about sustainability and instill them with an environmental consciousness when the fabrics that fill their rooms are part of an ongoing process that pollutes the planet with harmful pesticides and fertilizers?  Don’t even get started on their toys!  It’s a lot to worry about, but luckily there are a lot of products available for the green parent on the prowl for an eco-friendly kid’s room.

Start with the basics: flooring and walls.  For the floors, there are a lot of alternatives to synthetic-fiber carpeting.  You can contemplate laminates, which often look just as nice as hardwood (some even have texture in addition to faux grain) and come with a warranty.  You may also want to consider sealed cork flooring.  You can add some throw rugs in humane wool or organic cotton, both of which can be cleaned frequently to remove allergens.  If you’re worried about the possibility of injury resulting from common tumbling, at least consider carpeting made with post industrial (recycled) fibers.  They will still hold allergens, but you’ll be stopping non-biodegradable fibers from going into the landfill.  And as for paint, there are several brands that offer low- or no-VOCs through the use of natural compounds.

Next you’ll need a bed.  For the frame, you can find lots of manufacturers that make kid-centric lines of green furniture, such as Oeuf, which makes organic mattresses and furniture built from locally sourced wood with non-toxic finishes.  However, children’s bedroom furniture can get expensive if you buy it new (and Earth-conscious).  So consider going green with a reusable approach by purchasing reclaimed furniture.  You can probably find a place locally that refurbishes furniture, or check out one of the many websites that offers helpful DIY tips to refurbish your yard-sale steals.  And for the mattress, opt for organic cotton.  Just make sure it comes with a wool sheath in order to meet safety standards (for non-flammable materials).  Bedding and other textiles can also be found in a wide array of eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp, and they often utilize low-impact dyes to prevent allergic reactions (and pollution).

Finally, you can even ensure that your child plays in clean, green bliss by purchasing planet-friendly toys.  Sprig has an assortment of toys from trucks to figurines that are made with recycled wood and reclaimed plastic (all kid-safe), run on push-power (kinetic energy means no batteries), and are easy to mix and match.  Planet Happy Kids also makes a variety of toys and activity kits that are natural, organic, and phthalate-free (from big-wheels to bubbles to bead kits).  And if you want something plush, look for some of the many stuffed animals made from organic cotton or soy fibers.  Literally everything in your child’s room can be eco-friendly if you do some research, so teach your little ones to treat the Earth right, starting at home.

Alexis Montgomery writes about womens pregnancy and health for Nurture Center where you can find a Dutailier glider and other accessories for your baby.

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