According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the breakage of a mercury-containing light bulb like a CFL shouldn’t be taken lightly, although the amount of mercury in the average CFL is quite low. In fact, the average CFL contains about 5 milligrams (the same size as the tip of a ballpoint pen) of mercury. Compare that to the 500 milligrams in old-style thermometers, and that’s not much. Or consider that a typical dental filling contains up to 200 times more mercury than one of these bulbs. And of course, there’s the mercury that’s spewed into the atmosphere every day by coal-fired power plants.

But enough about that. The point here was to find out how to clean up the bulb, and the US EPA site recommended the following:

• Have everyone leave the room, including pets.
• Air out the room for 15 minutes while being sure to shut off air circulation devices (central air, for instance).
• Using a stiff piece of paper or cardboard (not your broom or your vacuum!), brush up all of the glass shards, powder, and mercury you can and place it all in a plastic bag and seal.
• Then, using tape, pick up any remaining debris.

It is also recommend that you throw away any clothing or bedding that comes in contact with the mercury directly.

- Lucy goes green

To my computer I went to find the answer to my query. And I guess the conclusion I came to is that “it depends.”

That’s because in large part, the answer lies in whether my showerhead is efficient or not. Which of course begged the question as to how much water my showerhead actually uses. Here’s how I determined that: holding a bucket under my showerhead, I ran the water for 1 minute, after which I measured the amount of water released into the bucket. It was approximately 2.2 gallons, which is, thankfully, not bad at all. By and large, most new showerheads must now be rated at 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) or less to be sold to consumers. Of course, less might be better (1 gpm is ideal), but at least I’m not guzzling 4 gpm like some really old fixtures are in the habit of doing.

Back to the debate at hand… If I take a 10 minute shower, I use about 22 gallons of water. Since apparently the average bath requires between 30 and 50 gallons of water, I guess I’m doing better than average on that score.

That said, I think I’d like to improve. I’ve read a few places that shortening your shower time can really help to reduce the amount of water you use, so I think I’ll try one of those cheap shower timers to see if I can shorten the time I spend under the waterfall. And I’ll think about purchasing a more efficient fixture, too.

- Lucy

That said, we’re still left with some items that need recycling now that the holiday is over. For instance, my husband received a new cell phone as a gift, and so we’re left with his old one. We weren’t exactly sure what to do with it until I did a little digging. Here’s what I found:

Donate your old phone to a charity or phone reuse campaign: Our old phone happens to still function fairly well (why did we need a new one you ask? Beats me), so a donation program is likely the way we will go. These programs allow you to give your old device away so that it can be used by someone else. In many cases, these old phones go to communities where it would otherwise be impossible to afford a new device. And when they connect communities, family members, or business women, it’s even better since a phone can truly be a lifeline. Here are some options:

• AT&T Reuse and Recycling program for used phones and PDAs
• CollectiveGood Mobile Phone Recycling programs in Staples stores
• Recycling for Charities
• Sprint Buyback and Project Connect programs
• Verizon Wireless HopeLine recycling and phone donation programs

Recycle your old phone: Of course, if you’ve dropped your phone in the toilet or run over it with the car, then you likely won’t be able to donate it to anyone. But there are still great programs to ensure these devices land in good hands. After all, like most electronics, cell phones can contain heavy metals and other nasty chemicals that would poison our planet if thrown into the landfill. So check out Earth911.com to find an e-waste recycler in your area to be sure they’re handled properly. Many big box stores now offer recycling bins for PDAs, chargers, cell phones, and more right in their stores.

- Lucy

Add to that the fact that many energy-hogging toys contain toxic components, like mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead, and more. In fact, electronic toys can contain more than 1,000 toxic substances and chemicals. Many toys also contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC), carcinogen as well as phthalates, which can damage kidneys, the liver, lungs, and reproductive systems in people, big and small.

And of course, if they rely on batteries, they create battery waste and cost more money to run! And dead batteries, when they’re thrown into landfills instead of recycled, can leach into the earth or vaporize into the air.

Consequently, I’ve decided to look for battery-free, energy-free toys from now on. Here are some characteristics I’m going to look for when shopping for new toys in the future:

• Natural wooden toys: A child can have a lot of fun with wooden toys, whether it’s a puzzle, a train set, a miniature kitchen, doll furniture, or blocks. I’ll also be sure to choose those finished with nontoxic paints and stains, as they can contribute to indoor air pollution.
• PVC-free plastic toys: Apparently you can recognize something made of PVC by looking for the letter “V” in the three-arrow recycling symbol stamped into plastic products. I’ll be avoiding that as much as possible.
• Organic fabric toys: Dolls, bears, and other cuddly toys are wonderful for girls and boys of all ages, and can be found more and more made of organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, wool, and other eco-friendly fabrics. Ones made with plant-based dyes are even better.

And if I must by a battery-powered toy, I’m going to be stocking up on rechargeable batteries since these create much less toxic waste… and save a ton of money, too!

- Lucy

Someone once told me that one of the reasons these lights are left on all day is because they waste a lot of energy during the start-up phase of their operation. But not according to the experts. Speaking to those who believe that it takes more energy to re-start a fluorescent light than to leave it on all day, scientists have spoken out about some research that dispels the misconception.

Apparently a fluorescent light will use a fraction more energy when they are first turned on because they draw a higher level of current, but the quantity of energy is so small and lasts for such a short period of time that it’s really not worth mentioning. The scientists therefore caution that leaving these lights on wastes significantly more energy than if they were shut off. Turning them off if they’re sitting idle for more than 3-5 minutes could actually save about $4 in energy costs over the life of the lamp.

That said, the swirly CFLs that we use in our homes are more prone to damage with frequent on-off cycles. That’s because the most damage done to a CFL occurs when it is first turned on. Experts at Popular Mechanics therefore recommend that you place CFLs throughout your home where they will be left on for longer periods of time, such as in living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens rather than in a closet or the bathroom. Good advice.

- Lucy

Is there a way to lessen the amount of poop produced? More than likely your dog will poop less when he’s eating a well-balanced diet filled with top-notch ingredients. Many lower-grade canine foods contain all kinds of animal byproducts. In fact, although the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is tasked with monitoring feed standards for both livestock and pets, each state in the US is allowed to enforce those guidelines as they see fit, and that can mean some pretty unsavory menus for Fido.

A good portion of many doggie diets on the market are filled with waste foods that are not fit for human consumption. Up to 50 percent of every food animal (lungs, intestines, hooves, hair, etc) is not used to produce human food, and these byproducts often find their way into dietary products for animals. By choosing healthy food for your dog, you can ensure their food is short on byproducts and high on nutrition, which essentially will cut the poop problem at the source.

Higher-quality food that contains good sources of protein are easier for your dog to digest, which means a greater percentage of the calories in the food are digestible and nutrient-rich. In the end, your dog will poop smaller, firmer stools, which means less mess for you!

Here are some characteristics to look for in a healthy dog food:

• Look for protein (meat) to be the first thing on the ingredient list: lamb, chicken, and beef for instance. Avoid foods that contain things like “chicken meal” “beef byproduct” and other non-specific ingredients.
• High-quality ingredients like eggs should also be listed in the top three to five ingredients. What you don’t want one type of meat followed by a list of grains.

- Lucy

A recent report put out by the WorldWatch Institute suggests that we can make a more positive impact on climate change by giving up our meat fetish than by driving a Prius or carpooling even.

The report, called Livestock and Climate Change: What if the key actors in climate change are cows, pigs, and chickens? provides some pretty compelling evidence for going vegetarian (vegan, even since there are a lot of greenhouse gas emissions associated with dairy, too). They point out that there are many ways the livestock industry contributes to climate change, including:

• Livestock digestion (including flatulence and belching)
• Land use inefficiencies
• The release of fluorocarbons needed to cool meat products (this take a lot of energy and releases potent greenhouse gases)
• Energy for cooking meals at high temperatures
• Liquid animal waste which emits greenhouse gases
• Production, distribution, and disposal of animal byproducts such as leather, fur, skin, and feathers
• Energy expended to deal with zoonotic illnesses and chronic degenerative health problems related to the consumption of meat

In all, they estimate that as much as 51% of all carbon dioxide equivalent emissions worldwide are a result of the livestock industry. This doesn’t even begin to cover all of the other reasons for eating less meat (water efficiency, animal cruelty, human health concerns, etc), but when you consider the impact our meat-eating diets have on the climate, that’s reason enough in my mind to choose to eat less of the stuff.

So I’ve made a commitment to eat less meat. I think I’ll start by eliminating one meaty day each week (let’s say Tuesdays!) and then add another day each month. It’s a lofty goal, but I think I’ll be able to do it with some good vegetarian recipes and a little help from library books.

- Lucy

The creepy singing bubble image may not be far off, really. Conventional household cleaners contain some pretty nasty, oft-untested chemicals that make the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention. Things like:

Pervy Cleaning Chemicals

If you want a good laugh, then head over to YouTube to take a look at this hilarious, yet somewhat disturbing new commercial produced by Method, an eco-friendly cleaning company. Squeaky clean, singing bubbles and suds make the poor woman think she’s really making her bathroom clean, but what she’s really doing is leaving behind residues and chemicals that are harmful to her and her family. It’s a good reminder of what we unwittingly bring into our homes in the name of clean.

The creepy singing bubble image may not be far off, really. Conventional household cleaners contain some pretty nasty, oft-untested chemicals that make the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention. Things like:

• Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)—have been identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as endocrine disruptors
• Chlorine bleach—reacts with organic material in our water systems to create dioxins, which are powerful carcinogens
• Diethanolamine—a foaming agent used in lots of products that’s a suspected endocrine disruptor
• Ammonia—used in glass cleaners, metal polishes, and other spray cleaners, this can cause kidney and liver damage
• Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents—these are used for dry cleaning, but also in carpet cleaners, rust removers, and spray polishes and are known carcinogens.
• Ethoxylated nonyl phenol and thymol—ubiquitous in disinfectants, laundry detergents, air fresheners, weed formulas, and even mouthwash, these are hormone disruptors and may contain ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen.

I like to make some of my cleaning products so that I can really control what goes into them, but when convenience is important (which it often is these crazy busy days), I buy premade eco-friendly cleaning options. I’m actually relatively impressed with Method’s products, though they aren’t the only good, green cleaning company on the market. Others I like include: Seventh Generation, Norwex’s microfiber (no chemicals required for many jobs!), Ecover, and Biokleen.

- Lucy

Whether you’re familiar with backyard composting or not, you may want to consider processing your dog’s poop at home by setting up a composting system for it. While you should never compost your pet waste with your regular kitchen garbage because of pathogens which may contaminate your food, you can dedicate a composter just for your dog waste. This simple solution reduces the amount of garbage you produce each week while keeping potential toxins away from our water systems, too.

Commercially-produced dog waste composters can be purchased, making your setup low-maintenance. Doggiel Dooley and the Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter are two such options.

But if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, a home-spun version can also be built out of supplies you may have sitting in your garage. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A shovel.
• A large plastic garbage can or compost bin with a good-fitting lid.
• Septo-Bac, which is an enzyme-active biological compound that increases the digestion rate of sewage purchased a home improvement stores in the plumbing section.
• An unused corner of your backyard that’s situated away from your vegetable garden or any food-bearing plants.

Putting it altogether is mostly a matter of a little shovel-work. For a pictorial tutorial on making your own doggie waste composter, check out this City Farmer slideshow.

It’s no mystery that idling can actually have a negative effect on our children’s health. Idling can contribute to health problems such as asthma, heart and lunch disease, and allergies, so keeping the car running while waiting for Suzy or Paul may just be harmful to their health!

And it’s not necessary, either. Contrary to what your husband or father may have led you to believe, your engine does not need to be warmed up before you drive during cold weather to avoid damage. According to California Energy Commissions’ Consumer Energy Center:

“Idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. The best way to do this is to drive the vehicle. With today’s modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away.”
In fact, they tell us that idling can actually damage your car’s engine parts since fuel is only partially combusted when idling, which means your engine is operating at less-than-peak performance. As a result, fuel residues may build up on your cylinder walls that can then damage the components and reduce fuel efficiency.

For these health and engine reasons, idling is therefore a bad idea. But it’s also bad for the pocketbook, since idling for just 10 seconds burns the same amount of fuel as restarting your vehicle. Likewise, two minutes spent idling uses the same amount of fuel as driving for about one mile. What a waste!

This is totally preventable pollution and expense. I may even consider shutting down the engine the next time I’m stopped waiting for a train or at a long red light!

- Lucy

The skyrocketing prices at the pump over the last few years sure have been maddening, but now, there’s apparently another cause of our driving anger. According to a new study by Cairo University’s Amal Kinawy, road rage may be cause by more than other irritating drivers—it could be caused in party by the “emotionally incendiary” fumes of our gasoline!

The ScienceDaily reported the results: when exposed to either leaded-gas fumes, unleaded-gas fumes, and fresh air, male rates exhibited differing behaviors. Those exposed to either kinds of fuel exhibited more aggressive behavior than those in the clean air group. Leaded gasoline produced with greatest negative results, with altered neurotransmitter levels in the brain’s cortex region and damage due to higher levels of free radicals.

Where are we exposed to these emotionally-poisonous fumes? When we fill up our gas tanks, as we drive around (especially with the windows rolled down), and just by hanging out in cities.

I guess I should be surprised by this finding—the stuff does smell noxious. And now, it’s yet another reason to avoid driving if at all possible. Obviously, I’ll still be exposed to fumes when on city roads, whether I’m a pedestrian, a public transit rider, or a carpooler. But at least I’ll be minimizing my contribution to the problem. Maybe I should move back to the country?

- Lucy

And little did I know, but I can actually save energy by changing the direction on my fan now that it’s winter! Direction? I’ve never really thought about what direction my fan turns—I just set it going and enjoy the benefits. And I’ve certainly never considered using it during the winter. You learn something new every day, don’t you?

According to the Look Up campaign, using your ceiling fan strategically can save the average homeowner a reasonable amount of money in heating and cooling bills. And with the average heating bill this season at about $1,182, there’s plenty of room for savings.

Here’s how it works. By turning your ceiling fan(s) on in a clockwise direction during heating/winter seasons, you help to mix the warm air trapped at the ceiling with cooler air at the floor level of the room. Doing this warms up the entire space, and in turn will let you turn down your heating system slightly so that you use less energy. Of course, when summer comes around again, you should change your fan rotation to counter clockwise to get similar benefits only in reverse. I think I’ll set a calendar reminder for myself so that I don’t forget.

And if you’ve got an old fan and want to maximize its performance even more, you may want to consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR model. These spinners use much less energy (about 50% less) and move air 20% more efficiently, so they’re a good bet when it comes to efficiency.

Now… on to spinning my way to energy savings…

- Lucy

But, fruit flies are sometimes inevitable with an indoor compost bin like mine. The populations of these annoying critters ebbs and flows from month to month, depending on temperatures and how well I’ve been caring for my worms. And while I’m a pretty tolerant person when it comes to doing something in the name of the environment, I can hardly stand another fruit fly in my water. Enough is enough!

So, I’ve started to strategically place fruit fly traps around my kitchen, and, much to my surprise, they seem to be working! Here’s how I constructed them:

1. Cut a 500 mL soda bottle (plastic) in half, keeping the bottom end.
2. Roll up a piece of paper (any paper will do, really) into a cone shape and tape it so that it can rest inside the open mouth of the bottle bottom. Snip a very small hole in the end of the cone.
3. Pour some apple cider vinegar into the bottom of the bottle with a drop of dishwashing soap.
4. Place the cone inside the bottle so that the snipped hole sits just above the liquid (without touching). Tape the paper cone to the bottle, being sure to leave no escape routes.

That’s it! The idea is that while fruit flies can find their way into the contraption, they can’t find their way out again through the tiny hole. The way I figure it, they’ll die happy with their bellies full of delicious vinegar…

- Lucy

But I have to say, I’ve finally found the perfect cat litter. Not only do the cats like it, it’s also better for the planet.

Why, you ask, do we need to green-up the way our kitties poop? Here’s the scoop. First, clay litters are all bad. Made of a mineral, usually bentonite or attapulgite/montmorillonite, clay-based litters are eco-unfriendly from the get-go. They rely on unsustainable mining practices and are heavy to transport to boot, so their carbon footprint is sizeably larger than your feline’s paw prints.

Not only that, but clay litters tend to be unhealthy for kitties, adding silica dust to their lungs which can contribute to respiratory problems. Add to these problems that fact that there’s nothing to be done with used clay litter (especially the clumping variety) but to send it to the landfill where it can contaminate ground water and where it’ll sit without biodegrading for centuries, and you’ve got one solid, stinky mess. Apparently, we Americans throw away 2 million tons of kitty litter every year!

My new solution is this: Feline Fresh Natural Pine Cat Litter. It’s made from leftover wood material which means its biodegradable, so that’s an improvement. Additionally, when you’re done with it, you can put it in your compost pile (preferably one that’s not going to be used on your veggie garden) or employ it as mulch on flower beds and around trees. It’s low on odor, dust, and won’t track like clay litters, and it has no chemical additives, so it’s healthier for my kitties, too. I absolutely love this stuff!

- Lucy

What’s GoodGuide, you ask? Currently, it’s an elaborate database, containing over 70,000 items (at the time of this writing—they’re adding more every single day) such as toys, personal care products, food, household items, and more. Using expert advice and recommendations from other consumers, the guide pulls together information about each of these products, creating a rating for them so that you can make an informed decision before plunking down your hard-earning cash.

Their philosophy: the more information that’s in the hands of consumers, the more we can signal companies about our consumer preferences, which in turn will push them to make better products that are safer, more eco-friendly, and traded fairly. Their aim is to fill a huge information gap in the marketplace.

They provide ratings on a variety of indexes, including:

• Health performance (cancer risk, endocrine disruption, skin and eye irritation, etc)
• Environmental performance (emissions in water, air, land, and climate as well as use of natural resources and environmental management programs)
• Social performance (how well employees are compensated, whether labor and human rights are observed, diversity policies, etc)

These ratings are then weighed carefully and plugged into their system, which then spits out a number that gives a reference for comparing that product to others in similar categories.

What’s really cool is that their new iPhone app allows you to scan a product at the store (using the UPC barcode) to instantly get a rating for a particular product (provided it’s in their database already). And if a product hasn’t yet been rated, the more it is scanned by iPhone users, the higher it will rise along the priority chain for future ratings.

Good work, GoodGuide!

- Lucy