Waste from gold and other kinds of mining pollutes the planet. Miners often use arsenic, a toxic metal, to leach gold from rock, creating a nasty slurry that contaminates drinking water and kills wildlife when it’s released into the environment. Anyone who thinks dousing our waterways or landscapes with such toxic pollution deserves to have his or her head […]
Author Archive | Diane
Environmental In-Box: Marmoleum, the Eco-Friendly Flooring
2.3kviewsWhen it comes to choosing flooring for your home, you might not even know eco-friendly options exist. But for over 100 years, Forbo has been manufacturing Marmoleum, an all natural linoleum. Katie Kelleher reports: What is it? Marmoleum is made into flooring sheets or tiles from a compound of linseed oil, rosins, cork flour, limestone and […]
Ford Fusion Hybrid: Good Choice for Family Looking for High MPG
Ford’s 2010 Fusion Hybrid delivers the goods: * It meets my minimum standard for high fuel efficiency for a family car by getting 37 mpg on the highway, 41 in the city, and 39 mpg overall, goals achieved thanks to the car’s gasoline engine boosted by an electric battery. * It’s roomy enough to seat three […]
Stinky or Sweet? Dealing With the Pits
Guys worry just as much as women do about B.O. Surprisingly, far less attention has been paid to “green” and healthy deodorants for the men in our lives than for ourselves. Safe deodorants are important regardless of gender. Parabens, a preservative used to keep some deodorants fresh, increasingly are showing up in breast tumor tissue. Synthetic […]
“Green” Shampoos and Lotions for Guys
729viewsWhen it comes to shampoos and lotions, guys need to pay attention to the same health, safety and environmental issues as we girls do. Personal care products often contain synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens, and antibacterial agents. All have been linked to health problems ranging from increased respiratory illness and reproductive failure to breast cancer and antibiotic […]
Environmental In-Box: Planet Matters Water Filtration Bottle
What’s stopping you from using a reusable water bottle? Worries that tap water isn’t safe to drink? The inconvenience of carrying around a clumsy bottle that doesn’t fit in your purse, briefcase, or cup holder? Concerns about BPA in plastic water bottles? Planet Matters claims it tackles all three issues head on with its water filtration […]
Biodegradable Golf Balls and Tees Offer Best Options – But Don’t Forget to Take Care of the Greens, Too
6.4kviewsGolf seems like such an innocuous sport, but it can have a pretty significant environmental impact. Leaving aside the considerable quantity of pesticides, fertilizers and water used to keep greens green, consider lowly golf balls. These small spheres are practically indestructible so they can withstand the force of a powerfully swung club. They don’t crack […]
Comparing Hybrid Cars, the Honda Civic Came Out on Top for My Dad
Buying a car any time is a big financial outlay. In this era of penny pinching and fuel scarcity, it’s particularly important to consider not just a functional car but one that gets great gas mileage. What choices do you have that won’t break the bank? Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas filed this report: “What’s the most […]