About Eco-freindly Body Shops
I know we all think of the obvious ways to save on the greenhouse affects we put out there, but have you ever thought the paint you put on your vehicle has an impact? In fact, a shop the size of ours, about average size, saves about roughly 80% of harmful VOC’s (volatile organic compounds)by using the eco-friendly waterborne paint. I have been told, that it’s like taking approximately 12,000 vehicle off the road per year!!!! Can you beleive that? Just from the paint we put on our vehicles! So if you are in need of auto repairs or just auto refinishing, please look for a shop that uses waterborne paint. It does matter. We also recycle things like plastic bumper covers, so they can be repaired back to new and re-used, same with broken headlamps, etc… If you live in the area, check us out! We would be glad to restore your vehcile back to it’s pre-accident condition, restore your piece of mind, and restore our planet…all at the same time.

Article courtesy of: Accurate Collision in Livonia, MI

I made a happy observation at my weekly community yoga session this morning.  Not one person in the group of 20 or so in attendance brought a disposable, plastic water bottle.  I counted about 8 reusable stainless steel water bottles of various shapes, colors and sizes, but not one plastic – an exciting first!!

You may have read this month’s Oprah Magazine, which credits the media for raising public awareness of what they called the “Plastic Problem”  described as the growing concern about the toxic plastic chemicals entering our bodies and disrupting our endocrine systems.  News coverage and information is helping consumers to become more aware of this than ever before.

This may well be true (and of course since it was printed in Oprah, it undoubtedly is), but in the case of my plastic-free by happenstance yoga class, I think there is another factor at work as well.   Yogis, parents, friends of friends and friends of the earth –all of us share a growing concern for the future of the planet.  The fact is, the chemicals used to make plastic are among the most toxic on earth.  And  unfortunately they’re not so easy to “throw away”  –  since it doesn’t biodegrade, almost every bit of plastic ever manufactured is still right here with us.

Healthy and eco-friendly go hand-in-hand beautifully.  Whether you attribute it to media attention, health consciousness or our growing concern for the state of the environment, progressive changes are taking place.  That’s a reason to celebrate!

3 Great Ways to Green your Fitness Practice

1.        Switch to a reusable water bottle.   No surprises here, but more important facts:  regular bottled water users who invest in a reusable bottle and will save an average of $200 per year.  Studies have shown reusable bottled water drinkers consume more water, making this the healthy choice all around.  Worried about the safety or quality of your tap water?  Even though over 90% of municipal water meets EPA standards, those tricky plastic bottle manufacturers have done a good job with scare tactics that leave people uncertain.  Click here for the facts:  http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/faq/faq.html

2.       Use a toxin-free mats and accessories to ensure you’re not breathing the unhealthy fumes which are unfortunately present in 90% of the yoga gear currently on the market.   Start now to make your wellness routine even healthier in 2010! Look for yoga mats and blocks made without use of latex, rubber, BPA, Lead, Phthalates, Dioxins, PVC (which means no ‘new-mat’ chemical smell!), and biologically toxic chemicals.

3.       Carpool or bike to practice.  Find a yoga buddy and set up a carpool schedule.  You’re more likely to stick to your fitness routine if your integrate your participation with of a group of any size.  I’m taking my own advice on this one.  After several unsuccessful attempts to recruit a neighbor to join my class, I’ve posted a ride sharing request on the yoga center community bulletin board.  The bonus – a chance to meet like-minded new friends too!

About the author:

Elizabeth Borelli is the Founder of Nubius Organics, an eco-conscious mom, and an environmental activist. She began www.nubiusorganics.com to bring her knowledge of safe, healthy alternatives to a greater audience, and to share valuable  information, resources, and green solutions with the public and the media

Resources:

Plastic Facts:  Oprah.com:  http://myown.oprah.com/search/index.html?q=plastics

Toxin-Free Reusable Bottles:  Nubius Organics: http://www.nubiusorganics.com/Water-Bottles-C1.aspx

Tap Water Facts: http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/faq/faq.html

Chemical Free Yoga Mats: http://www.nubiusorganics.com/Yoga-Pilates-Safe-Mat–C457.aspx

(January 26, 2010) Santa Cruz, CA - On January 19th, after more than a year of continuous controversy, the FDA has released a statement naming the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) as a safety risk, allocating $30 million for independent research for a first-time, non-industry-funded study  in an effort to learn more about the health risks associated with BPA.  Bisphenol A is especially prevalent in baby bottles, and while consumer pressure and declining sales of BPA plastics have spurred the six largest, plastic baby bottle manufacturers to voluntarily remove BPA from baby bottles sold in the U.S., the chemical is still widely prevalent in consumer food and beverage containers sold around the world.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is one of the world’s highest production-volume chemicals, and has been used for 40 years in plastic items such as baby bottles, food and beverage containers, and dental sealants. Independent studies have shown adverse health effects of BPA occur on the brain and reproductive system, as well as create metabolic diseases in laboratory animals.

In the human body, BPA mimics the estrogen hormone, and studies have tied the BPA compound to reproductive abnormalities and the increased risk of both cancer and diabetes. Infants and children are thought to be particularly vulnerable to the BPA compound because their reproductive organs and ability to metabolize chemicals are not fully formed.  In a statement in 2008, the FDA said BPA was safe in materials that come into contact with food, to which  critics accused the agency of using outdated studies that had been sponsored by the chemical industry, so the new cautionary statement by the FDA is a huge step in the right direction of consumer safety over corporate pressure.

There was considerable media coverage of the BPA baby bottle controversy last year. Scientist and expert Frederick vom Saal explains the situation like this: “The Japanese industry voluntarily removed BPA from can linings 10 years ago and thus, were able to reduce exposure to BPA by 50 percent.  Last year, Congress asked companies in the United States to take similar actions; however, companies have made no move toward compliance.”  In spite of this and tarried by pressure from chemical corporation lobbyists, the FDA still has no official plan to ban BPA from consumer goods.

The new FDA position is consistent with that of the National Toxicology Program made two years ago.  To avoid this health risk all together, choose BPA-free plastics, and avoid putting all plastics into the microwave and dishwasher, where they can release dangerous chemicals when heated, or degrade in the heat and excessive moisture.

Safe plastics that use polyethylene (#1, #2, and #4) and polypropylene (#5) require the use of less toxic additives. They also are non-chlorinated. Avoid choosing products that use polyvinyl chloride (#3), polystyrene (#6), and polycarbonate (#7) which typically contains bisphenol A (BPA) and is found in baby bottles and/or sippy cups.

About the author: Elizabeth Borelli is the Founder of Nubius Organics, an eco-conscious mom, and an environmental activist. She began www.nubiusorganics.com to bring her knowledge of safe, healthy alternatives to a greater audience, and to share valuable  information, resources, and green solutions with the public, the media, and parents to be.

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Trees, Water & People and StoveTec are raising money to deliver clean-burning stoves to Haitians in need!

The two organizations have combined resources to get Rocket stoves to Haiti as soon as possible, with the first shipment of 432 stoves arriving tomorrow. These stoves burn up to 70% cleaner than the open fire, substantially reduce deforestation, and provide a healthier environment for cooks and their families. Since the devastating 7.0 earthquake hit two weeks ago, the need for fuel-efficient stoves in Haiti has elevated dramatically. With these stoves, Haitians will be able to sanitize water and provide hot meals to their families in a safe, efficient and healthy manner.

We are pleased to have the UN World Food Program distributing the first shipment of Rocket stoves for Trees, Water & People tomorrow, but we can’t stop there!

We have begun a joint fundraising drive to send a second shipment of StoveTec’s 2-door Charcoal/Firewood hybrid stoves to Haiti. Our goal is to fill a 20 foot container with 1,344 stoves. For only $20, you can provide a full service solution to a family in need, including the stove, transportation, warehousing, as well as stove placement and tracking. Please join us in this important cause! Please visit www.stovetec.net to learn more about StoveTec’s work. For more information about Trees, Water & People please visit www.treeswaterpeople.org.

TO DONATE: https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=11882

Post courtesy of Trees, Water & People