Green Leaf

Online shopping has made life easier in many ways. But it has created a demand for packing materials to fill the void in shipping boxes. And although some retailers use upcycled corrugated cardboard or air pillows made of recycled materials, you also get your fair share of Styrofoam slabs or packing peanuts. When you complain about how Styrofoam clings to your clothing, floors, and hands, think about how it clings to the earth too. One man has developed a straightforward way to recycle expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is commonly known by the trademarked brand name Styrofoam. The material is notoriously hard to recycle profitably, but distributed mobile technology may be poised to change that. Fewer Storage Buildings, One Recycling Machine “After years in the expanded polystyrene (EPS) industry, I saw firsthand the volume of Styrofoam shipped to landfills,” says Brien Ohnemus, founder of Brohn Tech LLC in Lima, Illinois, and former designer, builder, and developer of packing foam...

A conference on sustainable construction in the Can of Ham is in denial about upfront carbon emissions from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2C0NXvL https://ift.tt/36oBqQU

The 248-square-foot vacation cabin in Iceland lets you sleep under the stars ... while inside. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2PzIvbe https://ift.tt/2C3E14w

That's an alternate name for Halloween, but let's not forget the rest of the year. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2N4IBWT https://ift.tt/2C1UxCo

Enough with the negativity. Let's talk about why this spooky celebration rocks. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2Nwu5WV https://ift.tt/2JBb58v

Henry Grabar writes a really wonderful article that shows how "a better world is possible." from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2C1mFW0 https://ift.tt/2NqV1aw

Our photo of the day comes from Yellowstone National Park. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2N3OYcX https://ift.tt/2C2Dhg0

Can you imagine a world without plastic packaging? Because it is such a versatile material, we find it everywhere from the automotive industry to baby products. The downside is that… The post How bioplastics and biodegradable plastics are transforming packaging appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2BXjyyi https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

It's a conversation most parents don't want to have, but it's necessary. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/36lmiUa https://ift.tt/2PyPS2F

Existing buildings consume between 40 percent and 50 percent of all energy used in North America. Building a new home may be the single largest opportunity you have to reduce your carbon footprint and to do your part in moving towards a sustainable and equitable use of energy for the planet. Passive House design is the world’s leading energy efficiency building standard , reducing energy use by more than 70 percent and reducing the carbon footprint of homes by over 60 percent. Think of the impact we could make if all new homes were built using Passive House design. This is an opportunity to change the way we build: saving energy,  money, and the planet. Principles of Passive House Design The principles of Passive House design are straightforward: Build a super-efficient building envelope (the skin of house) so that you need a fraction of the heating and cooling energy. An efficiently designed building envelope reduces the energy needed to heat or cool the home by as much as 80 t...

Many utilities and state governments collaborate to provide energy efficiency incentives to customers. In this Earth911 Quiz, test your knowledge of energy rebates, where to start when seeking savings, and the products that qualify for incentives. Start your road to savings and more sustainable living with this week’s quiz. Earth911 Quiz #77: Energy Efficiency Programs Challenge   Do you know how to save money on electricity, reduce your CO2 emissions, and reap financial benefits, such as tax credits or rebates? In this Earth911 Quiz, you’ll be challenged to identify common energy efficiency programs and how to act to cut your power bill. How many states have energy efficiency resource standards in place?   How many states have put energy efficiency resource standards into law, creating the basis for incentive programs to encourage less electricity use? What are “peaking power plants”?   “Peaking power plants” are a common feature in the traditional power...

Halloween is one of the best holidays of the year (and certainly the sweetest). The weather finally starts to cool, spooky movies are on replay all over TV, we get to gorge on sugary treats, and we can catch an adrenaline rush on some pretty freaky stuff.  One of the scariest parts of Halloween to us TreePeople is the wasteful side of the holiday.  Costumes that go from the rack to the streets to the trash, landfills full of pumpkins, and streets covered in candy wrappers freak us out more than any haunted house ever will.… Read more >> from TreePeople Blog https://ift.tt/34eyg01 https://ift.tt/2qYCCdw

They keep piling it on Florida's beaches, but they can't keep it up. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2PxgeSF https://ift.tt/2Pyy9Zk

Lead? Aerobic bacteria? Misleading labels? Consumer Reports tested popular brands of the widely used supplements; here's what they found. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2WsrWzn https://ift.tt/2BX7OMA

In California, many people are saying that all the wiring should be underground because of fire risk. It won't happen. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2N208i4 https://ift.tt/32YJPZ2

Researchers look into whether the 'lunar effect' is based on superstition or empirical data. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2q8BvHS https://ift.tt/34jdWeb

Emily Atkin blames the President, but everybody who digs coal is going bankrupt. It's bigger and deeper. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2q1gCOL https://ift.tt/2Py4Zt8

Our photo of the day comes from Yellowstone National Park. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2PxWBd6 https://ift.tt/2PyUZjo

The teenage climate activist said the planet "doesn't need any more awards." from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2BVTdkh https://ift.tt/34c5ZHw

It assumes Halloween is all about the candy, when there's actually far more at play. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2MZR6SS https://ift.tt/2Jxa7K8

Renovating a home is a great opportunity to make a home more functional, improve comfort, and revitalize drab spaces. A green approach to contracting and choosing materials helps reduce waste and makes your home more water and energy-efficient. Apply these green tips during the planning phase of your home renovation project, whether or not you do the work yourself. Repurpose When Possible Begin by exploring what existing materials and fixtures can be repurposed, donated, and recycled before sending them to a landfill. Cabinetry, lighting fixtures, flooring, and plumbing fixtures can sometimes be refinished and repaired for a new look. Consider replacing inefficient appliances and plumbing fixtures to save money and resources in the long run instead of replacing cabinets and counters. Donate Unneeded Materials You can donate items that are still in good condition but don’t suit the needs of your project. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts a variety of appliances, b...

Mom always had a huge Dutch oven on her stove. I used to refer to it as “the cauldron” because it was really heavy and it wasn’t pretty or shiny. In fact, Mom’s old pot was blackened with grease that was baked on from many years of use. Even though Mom made amazing meals in that pot — from Sunday pot roasts to gravies — when she passed away, I didn’t want to leave it for the seniors in her building because it looked so old and burnt. I left them Mom’s nice stuff, and her former neighbors quickly claimed the pots and pans that looked brand new. I forgot about what happened to that pot because we had to clean out Mom’s apartment quickly. That is, I forgot about it until I recently started going through my brother’s things . My brother Dom kept that old pot because he loved it. He appreciated that Mom’s thick-walled pot was great for searing meat or slow simmering a sauce for six or more hours. Maybe the old pot was one of Mom’s secrets, and one reason why we could not exactly ...

Climate change is real and there are many ways to fight it. Some people say that we should drive less, that we should limit the amount of meat we consume,… The post How to make your coffee shop eco-friendly appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2ppC4gi https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Every fall, we here at Earth911 anxiously await our favorite holiday. No, it’s not Halloween or Thanksgiving (although those are pretty great, too) — it’s America Recycles Day, coming up on November 15. America Recycles Day  (ARD) is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. A Keep America Beautiful (KAB) initiative, this annual event started in 1997 to spread the word on the importance of recycling and to educate others on how to recycle correctly. Every year on and around November 15, thousands of local event organizers plan activities to encourage and help people throughout their communities to recycle. Not everyone knows that there is a right and wrong way to recycle, but there is! In fact, one of the biggest barriers to recycling is knowing what items can (and cannot) be recycled . In a 2018 Earth911 survey , 66 percent of respondents indicated that they are somewhat to not at all knowledgeable about how and wh...

I was disappointed to see that Subaru, beloved of TreeHugger types, is on the wrong side of this issue. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2PqGEFH https://ift.tt/2pZRdou

Where distractions are weeded out, focus can take root. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2ppZ2nn https://ift.tt/2Pt0Dn6

What’s the best pumpkin for pumpkin pie? Maybe not a pumpkin at all. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2pYkoZd https://ift.tt/2MW26Az

Cooking for others and eating together bring people together like nothing else. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/31ZN9Sh https://ift.tt/2PsVHPe

Also called "carbon lock-in," it's about time. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2JvL0Yl https://ift.tt/2qUe6u2

Our photo of the day comes from the waters off of California. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2JvKZDL https://ift.tt/34aNzXG

It turns out, there are a lot of chemicals that have to be dealt with before fabrics can be reused. from Latest Items from TreeHugger https://ift.tt/2MWEg87 https://ift.tt/36dblUJ

There is much buzz going on about the effectiveness of CBD oil on a few conditions for humans. Even for your pets, you can use CBD oil to help them… The post CBD Oil Dosage For Dogs: Your Guide To CBD For Dogs appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2pWYUfh https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Despite the proliferation of plastics in the last century, biodegradable organic material is still the largest component of the American waste stream . But for such a ubiquitous material, it’s a challenge for cities to deal with. Some organic materials, like clean paper, can be recycled . Even so, organic materials, including paper products, yard trimmings, and food waste make up 55 percent of municipal solid waste (MSW). Some people keep their organic waste out of the garbage by composting at home. But not everyone has the time or space to compost. And home composting systems can’t always handle all of a household’s organic waste. The word “industrial” has negative connotations in environmental circles but when it comes to composting, there are benefits to scaling up. Thanks to industrial-scale composting facilities, 8.9 percent of America’s organic waste is composted. Some communities, like Seattle, mandate composting . But these cities are in the minority; far more do not even of...

There are many reasons to grow your own food. Avoiding pesticides. Reducing the environmental impact of transporting produce. Improving the nutritional value of the produce you eat. But what if you don’t have room for a garden?  Fortunately, there’s a trendy method of indoor gardening that’s taken off in the last few years: window farms. Window farms, a form of hydroponic gardening, are vertical gardens that you can grow inside a house or apartment. And due to their vertical orientation, they take up very little space. They get light from a nearby window. As a bonus, you can grow plants in your window farms year-round. Most types of plant work for this gardening method — except for root vegetables (such as carrots, potatoes, or parsnips) — which would require much larger containers for the root to grow. How it Works The window farm uses multiple small conical containers set up one above the next. A fluid drip system uses gravity to transfer water and nutrients from the top cont...