Repost of Going Green -- a poem for Earth Day

Photo courtesy of Heather Desuta

Green to you

And green to me

Perhaps we see

Quite differently

Perhaps to you

Green’s kind of blue

A teal-ish kind of

Crayon stew

While green to me

Comes from my heart

Cloth grocery bags

Are just a start

Or light bulbs

In peculiar shapes

Or hanging up

Some thermal drapes

But when my green

Gets really sticky

Is when I wash

Cloth diapers – icky

I hang them up

On lines to dry

Save the earth?

I really try

Convenience

Is so passé

Recycle now

Don’t throw away

The landfills

Soon will overflow

With diapers, trash

And things that glow

With plastic bottles

Glass and cans

Old TVs

And broken fans

The time is now

To do our part

Let’s go for green

At least, let’s start

Hana Haatainen Caye

©2009

May not be reprinted without prior written consent.

It's going in the landfill...why should I care?

Why should you care? Indeed. Landfills are made for junk to get thrown in, so what's the big deal? As long as it's not in your backyard, right?

Well, I hate to break it to you, but every broken video console, out-of-date computer, and non-digital television that you carelessly set out on the curb on trashnight, eventually may be the cause of cancer for you or one of your loved ones. With all of the toxins these used electronics house, don't you think it's likely they're going to leach into the soil and pollute the water and air? That's what happens to this stuff, folks, so it is about you and about your health. There's no getting around that. Every toxin thrown into the landfill has the potential to serve as a carcinogen somewhere down the road.

Remember that 10-year-old in your community that died from a brain tumor? Maybe it stemmed from the old microwave you tossed out 12 years ago. Makes you think, doesn't it?

Now, I'm not trying to lay guilt on anyone. We've all done it...carelessly tossed stuff out without thinking about the consequences down the road. Why? Because we didn't know any better! But now, I'm making you think about it. And now, you know better.

I know this is a recurrent theme here on Green Grandma, but I just think it warrants the repetition.

Recycle, reuse, reinvent, remember.

http://www.freecycle.org/
http://www.craigslist.org/
http://www.goodwill.com/
http://www.ecyclingcentral.com/


Keeping it green,

Hana

Keeping it Green at Christmas Part 4: Eat, drink and be merry

I love to entertain! From the decorating to preparing the food, I just love to do it. Unfortunately, my schedule does not allow as much of this as I'd like, but I plan to have at least one party over the Christmas holiday.
But the issue of trash surrounds every holiday gathering and contributes to the massive amount of waste going into the post holiday landfills! The solution revolves around eliminating disposable dinnerware as much as possible.

"What? No paper plates? No paper napkins? Are you kidding me?"

No, I'm not. Now I'm not saying you should never use disposable products. I, myself, use them sometimes. But if you can limit the amount you use, you're doing a small part in reducing the overall amount of waste that accompanies the holidays.

Here are some practical suggestions:

Napkins

Have you been in a fabric store lately? There are literally hundreds of different designs in Christmas fabrics that can be transformed into beautiful cocktail napkins with a few simple stitches. Set aside a couple of hours to make a few dozen napkins and you won't have to buy paper Christmas napkins again. Cost efficient and green. Don't you love it?

Dishes

Who says all the plates have to match? Pick up a variety of Christmas dishes at places like Goodwill or your local dollar store. I was able to purchase 2 complete sets of beautiful Christmas dishes, brand new in box, at Goodwill a couple of years ago for less than $10 each. If one gets dropped and broken at a party, it's no huge loss. Fortunately, that's never happened yet.

Another option is to buy solid colored or clear inexpensive plates that can used during the Christmas holidays as well as throughout the year. Red dishes will work well now and will be perfect for Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations. Green ones will lend themselves nicely to a St. Paddy's Day party. Metal splatterware plates are perfect for outdoor parties, by the way.

Flatware

Choices here include high quality plastic flatware that can maintain wash after wash and be reused again and again or the purchase of mismatched flatware at thrift stores or discount stores. The initial investment may be a bit more than buying disposable flatware, but you'll appreciate it down the road when the purchases no longer have to be made. Of course, if you have the money, matching flatware sets can be bought as well. Either way, the need for throwaway plastic is eliminated.

Drinkware

Ditto the above suggestions. Buy cheap glasses, wine glasses and mugs. Store them until your next gathering. Or, if you're serving coffee, tea and hot chocolate, host a BYOM party (bring your own mug) and start a tradition!


If you do choose to go with disposable goods for your next party, please skip the Styrofoam at least, as the dangers to our health and environment are countless. If you'd like to learn more about this toxic substance, please visit the following website: http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

So this holiday season, eat, drink and be merry with your family and friends. And if you can, keep it green!

Hana

Keeping it green at Christmas Part 2: Let's talk trash

From the end of November through the beginning of the New Year, the holidays gain the distinctive mark of being king of the hill -- at least, king of the trash heap. According to the EPA, the holidays garner a staggering 25% increase in the amount of household waste generated. That's an additional one million tons of trash padding our already voluptuous landfills. Minimizing your contribution to this hefty load is the first step toward a sustainable holiday season and, in many cases, can help you save a few bucks in the process.

Tomorrow, I'll give you some tips on how to cut down on the trash that travels from mailbox to mailbox this holiday season.

Keeping it green,

Hana

A tree hugger I'm not...redux

Since I've had so many new visitors lately, I've decided to repost the first blog entry I wrote, back in August. I just like to remind people of what the Green Grandma blog is all about.

Of course, the site has evolved somewhat since its inception, and the focus is not always on environmental issues, but also includes health-related posts, particularly in the realm of children's health. Sometimes I even deal with mental health issues.

But it can all be wrapped up in my mission statement of "combining old-fashioned ways with 21st century common sense..." Whether I write about the environment or health, it all comes down to common sense solutions to the problems.

With that said, here is a repost of my very first blog entry from August 20, 2009, with an update:

A while back, my cousin suggested I start blogging on environmental issues and call my site, Green Grandma. It took a few months of contemplating my purpose in this.

First of all, don't let the name fool you...I'm by no means a liberal tree-hugger. Politically, I lean more toward a moderate to conservative point of view. However, I get quite frustrated with the whole concept of one party over the other caring about the environment. I, for one, do care. As a matter of fact, I seem to care much more than many of the people I know who lean a different way.

That said, let me expound on why I'm starting this blog and why my cousin, Kelly, suggested the name "Green Grandma" for me.

In October of 2008, my precious first grandbaby was born to my youngest daughter. The lovely little Lady Laura has motivated me to be even more environmentally conscious than I'd been in the past. After all, this is the world we're leaving behind for her. I have to care.
Fortunately, my concern for the environment has spilled over to my daughters as well. As a result, Laura wears only cloth diapers. We will never add a disposable diaper to a landfill because it goes against everything in us.

Ewww. Many of you are cringing right now. Why? Because a parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle/babysitter might get their hands a little dirty? Oh please. Rinsing out a cloth diaper in the toilet is not all that difficult. Messy? Sometimes. But doable. And well worth it. Every time I hang diapers on the line to dry, I remind myself that I am investing in Laura's future. Maybe I don't have much money to put aside for her. But I can invest in this planet she'll inherit.

There are a lot of naysayers when it comes to using cloth diapers. People will protest and even try to use environmental excuses.

"Washing diapers uses too much water."

Well, I hate to burst that bubble, but in actuality, it takes far more water to manufacture disposables than it does to wash cloth diapers throughout the two years or so a child wears them. Plus, according to the law, it is illegal to put human waste in the landfills. Guess what that means, folks? That means disposables should technically be washed out before being thrown away! You may as well just use cloth...especially if you consider yourself a law-abiding citizen.

Let me say that I'm proud of my daughter, Jessica. She could take the easy way out. Despite her desire to be a fulltime SAHM (Stay at Home Mom), her need for benefits makes that impossible for her right now. So every morning she's up early nursing and caring for her baby and getting herself ready for work. Some mornings she drives Laura to my home so I can watch her and other mornings she hands over her parenting duties to her husband. Work is stressful and the days are long. Jess spends lunch hours standing in the Ladies' Room pumping bottles. Evenings are spent doing normal mommy things, plus washing, drying and folding diapers. It would be much more convenient to pop open some formula and slap on some disposable diapers. But who ever said life as a parent was supposed to be convenient? Like I said, I'm proud of my daughter, Jessica. In today's world of celebrities, bigger-than-life politicians and super heroes, she is my hero.  UPDATE:  Jess was able to leave her job earlier this month and, for now, fulfill her heart's desire, and be a SAHM.

Yeah, you can call me Green Grandma....it's a title I'm honored to wear.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Plug in to eCycling

I’ve been lax lately on my daily posts. For that, I ask for your understanding. I’ve been battling a bad cough for weeks now, which eventually landed me in the ER. Hopefully I’ll start gaining my energy back and be able to attend to the tasks at hand.

Last week I was a bit tough on the government when I was writing about hemp. So tonight I thought I’d dole out some credit. The EPA has a wonderful program going called Plug in to eCycling, supporting the benefits of recycling and providing the public with information on how to go about recycling old electronics products. With an understanding that recycling our analog TVs or our outdated computers isn’t as easy as tossing a can into the recycling bin, the EPA has teamed up with various electronic manufacturers and retailers to offer some solutions.

As stated on their website, eCycling benefits in 3 ways:

• Protects your health and surroundings by promoting the proper management of lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals.
• Conserves natural resources by lessening the need to use as many raw materials from the earth and saving the energy involved in the manufacturing process of new electronic equipment.
• Helps others by providing them with refurbished equipment that otherwise would have just been thrown away. In 2008 alone, over 20 million televisions were tossed into the U.S. landfills.

You can visit www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/plugin/index.htm for detailed information about what and where you can recycle your electronic equipment.

Here’s a brief overview of what you’ll find on the website:

Computers:

Watch the Pass it on Video which educates you about both the environmental and economical perks of donating electronics for reuse. Stephen Johnson, former EPA Administrator and 5 of the EPA’s Plug-In partners offer their insights.

Read the pdf file: Do the PC Thing for Consumers or Do the PC Thing for Businesses.

Televisions:

Since many charitable organizations are no longer accepting donations of analog TVs, it would be wise to check with them before taking your televisions to drop off. If your favorite charity isn’t willing to take your analog TVs off your hands, there are many retailers that will.

• Best Buy
  They do charge a $10 fee/television (up to 32” and up to 2/day), but will award with a $10 Best Buy gift card in return.
• Samsung
  With over 218 locations nationwide, they will accept any Samsung televisions for free and other brands for a nominal fee.
• LG Electronics
  They have teamed with Waste Management and offer a network of electronics drop-off and recycling locations and do not charge fees for LG, Zenith and Goldstar brands.
• Panasonic, Sharp & Toshiba
  280 locations will accept their brands.
• Sony
  Offers free recycling for all Sony-branded TVs at 274 locations across the country. They also accept other brands for a fee.

Cell phones, PDAs, chargers and batteries:

For every one million cell phones recycled, the equivalent amount of energy is saved to provide more than 185 American homes with electricity. That’s significant. In 2007, nearly 14 million cell phones were recycled in the U.S.

There are many drop-off locations for used cell phones, including:

AT&T, Best Buy, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Staples, Office Depot, LG Electronics, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile. Check with your local stores to find out if they have a recycling program in place. If they say ‘no,’ press them for an explanation and a change in policy.

Make sure you erase all data before donating your cell phones. To make it easier, you can use a handy tool called ReCellular’s Cell Phone Data Eraser.

Visit www.recyclewirelessphones.com for more information.

Now that you’re armed with resources, I hope you’ll think twice before setting any of your electronic devices out at the curb on trash night. If you’ve read this, I challenge you to share it with others…after all ignorance isn’t really bliss when it comes to our health. Every piece of electronic equipment that ends up in the landfill is going to affect us one way or another.

Keeping it green,

Hana

A greener way of life…it’s all about the little things

Little changes. Big results.

Here are just a few things to think about…and hopefully act upon.

Did you know that

• for every aluminum can you recycle, enough energy was saved to watch TV for 3 hours
• half liter plastic water bottles generate emissions two times the amount of gallon bottles
• Americans throw away approximately 570 disposable diapers every second, and 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour
• discarded electronics (including 130,000 computers daily and 100,000,000 cell phones yearly in America) contribute to the fastest growing global waste stream
• recycling, instead of throwing away, just one ton of paper will save 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil 4,100 kilowatts of energy, 3.2 cubic yards of space in a landfill and 60 pounds of air pollution
• a plugged in cell phone charger is still using energy even when not attached to your phone
• clothes dryers are number 3 on the list of energy users in our homes
• 100,000,000 trees are cut down annually to produce something none of us want anyway…junk mail
• it only takes 3 months of energy savings to make up the difference in price of traditional light bulbs and their greener compact fluorescent bulb alternatives
• Energy Star appliances are really worth it
• it takes far less energy and water to recycle paper rather than making it from scratch (not to mention the trees it saves!)
• the sleep mode on your computer uses approximately 65% less energy than leaving it on and idle
• a single rechargeable battery can replace nearly 1,000 alkaline batteries
• bars of soap are less expensive and save on packaging waste compared to liquid soap

Keeping it green,

Hana

Cloth vs Disposable: An environmental debate

“You use cloth diapers?? Why?”

This incredulous inquiry is directed at my daughter, Jessica, and me on a regular basis. People just don’t get it.

There are countless reasons why we choose to use cloth over disposable diapers. So I’ll be addressing the various explanations over the course of the next few blogs. Tonight, I want to focus on the environmental repercussions of using one-time-use diapers.

I’ve heard the argument over and over again that washing cloth diapers causes more harm to the environment than using disposable diapers. I find it to be more of a rationalization than an actual intelligent argument. Here are the objections to cloth diapers and my rebuttals.

O. The soaps you use to wash the diapers are harmful to the environment.

R. First of all, it depends on the type of laundry detergent one uses. There are many environmentally friendly soaps to choose from. In the meantime, the waste water produced during the manufacturing process of disposable diapers is full of chemicals, such as biocides, solvents, furans, unreacted polymers, and dioxins, as well as heavy metals. Keep in mind that the production of disposables involves wood pulp, paper and plastics.

O. Washing diapers uses too much water.

R. Actually, it takes approximately 37% more water to manufacture disposable diapers than it does to wash cloth over the course of a child’s diapered years. 37% MORE! It is estimated that between 500 – 900 lbs. of fluff pulp and close to 300 lbs. of plastic is used to keep one baby diapered in disposables for one year.

O. It’s more convenient to just throw out a disposable diaper.

R. There’s that word again – convenient. Perhaps it should be the buzz word for the last couple of decades or so. Yes, I will admit, it is much easier to simply wrap up a disposable diaper and toss it in the trash, poop and all. However, it is also illegal to do so! Legally, you are not permitted to put human feces in the trash. Therefore, it is essential you wash out the disposable diaper before disposing of it. Hmm. The convenience factor has just dropped a notch. In defense of cloth diapers, isn’t it more convenient to simply reach in a drawer and pull a clean one out than to, gasp, run to the store at 2 a.m. when you suddenly realize the box of disposables you just bought a couple of days ago is empty? Once again, we’re looking at waste here – waste of gasoline when those inevitable trips become necessary. After all, there’s no predicting how many diapers your child will grow through in any given day. There are always those times when an upset stomach dwindles the supply rather quickly!

Those are some of the environmental objections I confront on a semi-regular basis. If you’re already using cloth diapers, you’re most likely confronting them as well. There is one more environmental issue worth mentioning:

Renewable resources – disposables use 90 times the amount versus cloth diapers
Non-regenerable resources – disposables use 8 times the amount versus cloth diapers

For instance, it takes approximately one full cup of crude oil to make a single one-time-use diaper.

Are you one of the people out there who consider yourself an environmentalist, yet you still are putting disposable diapers on your little ones? Or worse yet, the disposable pull-up pants? Do you support political candidates based on their stand on green issues? Consider the landfills. Nearly 1/3 of the landfills are packed with disposable diapers…none of which have decomposed as of now, which means the first disposable ever used is still resting somewhere in the bottom of a pile of waste, human and otherwise. That’s absurd when you really think about it.

Not only are the diapers not decomposing, but they’re also releasing harmful chemicals into the air, ground and water.
A matter of convenience? How about a matter of national (and international) concern? Not only is the environment paying the price of our laziness, but we’re paying with our health and the health of generations to come. Tomorrow, I’ll discuss the health benefits and risks of cloth versus disposable diapers. I hope you’ll care enough to come back.

Keeping it green,

Hana

It keeps going and going and going…or does it?

Have you noticed that modern life is full of batteries? Our remotes have batteries, our handheld video games have batteries, our cell phones have batteries, our laptops have batteries, our toddlers’ toys have batteries, etc., etc. But, unlike certain type of batteries that boast they “keep going and going and going,” the fact is, they don’t. Eventually they die and we toss them in the trash, right? Well, that’s what I’ve always done. Little did I know, it’s not a wise thing to do, and is even illegal in some states.

Batteries contain cadmium, copper and, in the case of older batteries, mercury, which means they are considered hazardous waste! While over two billion batteries end up in landfills, they’re not supposed to be there. It is estimated that 88% of the total mercury and up to 50% of the cadmium in the municipal solid waste stream comes from batteries. This is a disturbing statistic.

The problems/hazards that may result from improper battery disposal include exposing the environment/water to lead and acid, polluting the waterways (because, when burned, the metals vaporize into the air), and heavy metal leaching from solid waste landfills. Remember, batteries contain corrosive acids that can cause burns and injuries to your eyes and skins.

So, what’s the solution? Here are some ideas to cut down on waste from household and alkaline batteries. Keep reading for dry cell battery advice.

1. First of all, become a better steward of your household batteries. Store batteries in a cool, but not cold, place with low humidity; heat can make batteries lose their charge faster. Make sure you clean the ends of your batteries before storing them. A clean pencil eraser works well for this. Keep the batteries in a non-metal container without other items because if they rub against other metal objects, they can short circuit and/or leak. If you won’t be using a battery-operated item for awhile, remove the batteries and store them.

2. Before you buy new batteries, check to see if you already have the type you’re looking for.

3. Consider buying items that don’t require batteries; i.e. hand operated can openers, flashlights that work by winding them, etc.

4. Purchase rechargeable batteries and a charger.

When it’s time to dispose of dead batteries, you have a couple of options:

1. Toss used batteries in a plastic container, away from moisture. When full, take the container to your local hazardous waste facility for recycling. Contact your local municipality for details.

2. Order a prepaid mailing package to send your batteries to companies for recycling. For example, you can use the iRecycle Kit which includes everything you need to recycle all of your batteries and hand-held electronics. Find out more at http://www.batteryrecycling.com/.

When it comes to dry cell batteries, as are used in cell phones, laptops, etc., many local stores will recycle them for you. Visit http://www.rbrc.org/ to find a store near you.

Other options include donating your old cell phones to charity. This benefits both the charity and you, as in most cases this is tax deductible. It’s also a good idea to contact the manufacturer of your major electronic equipment to find out if they offer a “take back” program.

A company called 2Recycle® collects and recycles rechargeable batteries from cordless electronic products, as well as cell phones, with over 30,000 collection sites in the U.S. and Canada. They offer free programs to retailers, businesses, communities and public agencies. Visit their website for more information. http://www.call2recycle.org/

Small dry cell rechargeable batteries include:

Nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd)
Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH)
Lithium ion (Li-ion)
Nickel zinc (Ni-Zn)
Small sealed lead (Pb)


Remember, it all comes down to using a little common sense, even if it’s a bit inconvenient. If we all start making small changes, we can make a huge difference in this world we’re leaving behind to our kids and grandkids. Isn’t a safer environment worth it?

Keeping it green,

Hana

Going Green -- A poem

Green to you
And green to me
Perhaps we see
Quite differently

Perhaps to you
Green’s kind of blue
A teal-ish kind of
Crayon stew

While green to me
Comes from my heart
Cloth grocery bags
Are just a start

Or light bulbs
In peculiar shapes
Or hanging up
Some thermal drapes

But when my green
Gets really sticky
Is when I wash
Cloth diapers – icky

I hang them up
On lines to dry
Save the earth?
I really try

Convenience
Is so passé
Recycle now
Don’t throw away

The landfills
Soon will overflow
With diapers, trash
And things that glow

With plastic bottles
Glass and cans
Old TVs
And broken fans

The time is now
To do our part
Let’s go for green
At least, let’s start

Hana Haatainen Caye
©2009

The Slippery Slope

I'm posting earlier than usual tonight because I want to give some extra time and attention to my guest blogger, Heather Desuta. Heather is a SAHM with a 4 1/2 year old and a baby. She runs a graphic design business from her home while caring for her little ones.

Thanks Heather...not only for giving us some excellent fodder tonight, but for gracing my page with this picture of your children and again, for designing my logo. I love it!


The Slippery Slope

Hi there! The Green Grandma asked me to guest blog for her tonight and was kind enough to let me choose my own topic. Here it is: slippery slopes.

I’ve been thinking about slippery slopes. How one decision leads you to the next, and the next, and suddenly, off you go. The thing about slippery slopes is that while we mostly refer to them in a negative way (e.g. one spoonful of Ben & Jerry’s leading to an empty pint), the fact is that good choices can also have a domino effect.

Earlier this year, I bought a hybrid. Up until that point, I guess I considered myself an environmentalist. I cared about the environment, but all I really did was recycle. I usually chose recycled and green products. When appliances needed to be replaced, I bought energy star. And my house was partly lit by those long-life light bulbs whose name escapes me at the moment.

But back to the purchase that sent me down the slope… my hybrid.

For a long time, I had been wanting the increased size of an SUV but was dreading the decreased gas mileage. While doing online research, I stumbled across something I didn’t even know existed… the hybrid sport utility vehicle.

I am not a car person at all, so I can’t comment on the hybrid SUV market, but I can tell you that I love my 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (and its remarkable 27-28 MPG!!) I was also loving the statement that it made… look at me, I care about the earth! Then I started to really think about it. I had made a big, conspicuous purchase signaling my concern for the environment, but other than my moderate recycling efforts, what else was I really doing? My second daughter was four months old, and I was throwing tons of diapers away every week. Hardly a great example of environmentalism!

Right around this time, I was helping my sister register for baby gifts. Registry gun in hand, I mock swiped a package of “gDiapers”—a product that has an outer diaper cover with a flushable/compostable liner. We laughed about it and scanned packages of traditional disposable diapers instead. Then, making a second trip around the store to make sure her registry was complete, I went back to the gDiapers and read the box. And something inside me said “YES!” Maybe I could try these!

I saw that a size small gDiaper starter kit (2 reusable covers and 13 inserts) cost $27 and a 40 count of refill liners cost $15. Being mathematically challenged, it took a minute before the voice inside me said “nevermind!” Not with my daughter using 8 diapers a day.

During my drive home that day, something crazy happened. I began to think “well, what about cloth?” For years, I’d been hearing my friend Hana (a.k.a. “Green Grandma”) talk about the benefits of cloth diapering. I listened, all the while thinking no way, not me, not ever. I’d used disposable diapers with my first child and never once entertained thoughts of switching to cloth. But after searching the blogverse about cloth diapers, I decided to give cloth a chance. I chose a brand called BumGenius. Turns out, you don’t have to fold big sheets of cloth, origami-style, and pin them strategically onto your baby. If you’re willing to spend some money to get the extra convenience, there are cloth diapers called “all-in-ones” (AIOs) that basically perform the same as a traditional disposable diaper. They have a waterproof outer layer, cloth filler to absorb, a soft layer for up against the baby’s body, and Velcro tabs.

I bought 10 used AIOs on craigslist. (They were in great shape, but I also stripped the diapers and washed them twice before letting them near Elena!) And you know, it wasn’t that bad! I was laundering the diapers every other day, and it was surprisingly not awful! I bought a dozen new cloth diapers and went from cloth diapering on a part time basis to using cloth only. My back was sore from all the patting I was doing, especially when I’d look at my empty, unused diaper genie. Then, Elena switched from being solely breastfed to breast plus rice cereal, fruits, etc. Cloth diapering became a little awful but not horribly so. I was using cloth exclusively for a while, but now I’m back to part time. It’s not the mess of the diapers that I find challenging, it’s staying on top of the laundry. It’s a work in progress, and in writing this blog entry, I’m feeling a renewed enthusiasm for the subject. Maybe I’ll set a goal of using only cloth next week. Even if I don’t meet that goal, at least there will be fewer diapers in landfills because of me.

So, I went from being your average recycler, to a hybrid owner, then a cloth diaperer! Green opportunities are all around us! When our water softener needed to be replaced last month, we bought a non-electric system that also uses less salt than traditional softeners. [Kinetico Mach 2100s / kinetico.com] When you start purposely seeking out environmentally friendly products, you may be surprised where you can go green. But beware--the slope is slippery! You don’t have to be perfectly green. Just be greener! Come slide with us!