GATSBY'S GO GREEN REVIEW

Greening your home

2009-05-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

They’re many simple ways to go green without spending a lot of money in the slow economy. You can lower the impact of consumption with a few helpful tips that will help save the environment and also save money on your energy bill.

• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs
Compact ﬂuorescent light bulbs can be a huge
energy saver by replacing all of your incandes-
cent bulbs with ﬂuorescents and save on reductions in
heat production, energy use and your electric bills.

• Program your thermostat
When you are at home, keep the thermostat at 78˚F or
higher in the summer and 62˚F or lower in the winter.
Programmable thermostats allow you to program the
systems to reduce output when they are not needed.

• Plug air leaks
This simple step can go a long way toward keep-
ing your home at the temperature you desire, saving
money on heating and air conditioning bills.

• Tune up your heating and cooling system
Have a checkup for your HVAC system every 2 years
to make sure it is running efﬁciently. Be sure to clean
the ﬁlter monthly during times of peak usage; a dirty
ﬁlter can signiﬁcantly reduce the efficiency of your
system.

• Switch to green power
Green Power is an optional utility service for custom-
ers who want to help expand the production and
distribution of renewable energy technologies. With
green power, you do not have to change your elec-
tricity provider. Instead, customers choose to pay a
premium on their electricity bill to cover the extra cost
of purchasing clean, sustainable energy. More info on
green power can be found at:
http://www.eere.energy.\gov/greenpower/markets/index.shtml.com

• Choose ENERGY STAR appliances
Energy Star products meet a high level
of energy efficiency, which can translate into savings
on electric bills. When considering the price of a new
appliance, take into account not only the purchase
price, but also the long-term savings associated with
an energy-efﬁcient appliance.

• Reduce water use

• Indoor:
Use less water by adding aerators
to your sink faucets and changing to low-
ﬂow showerheads
• Check leaky faucets
•Limit showers and take less baths
•Using dishwasher over hand wash

The dishwasher uses only half the energy, one-sixth of the water, and less soap. But there is a lot more to it than just faucet and sink and the appliance under your counter. Be aware of what hand washing habits you are using. How do you heat the water in your home? And how often do you do the dishes? How much water do you need to use doing the dishes? Do you fill the dishwater full and use only when needed?

• Outdoor:
Incorporate native plants in your land-
scape plan and minimize high-maintenance
landscaping such as rock, cement or turf grass to conserve water.
• Sprinkler system/ check for time controlled system

• Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection
for your house

This simple step can help you save money on heat-
ing and air conditioning bills while providing beautiful
views around your home.

• Use native plantings

Native plants have been growing and evolving in your
area for thousands of years and, as a result, have
adapted to the local soils and climate. As a result they
are more likely to thrive with minimal care, unlike
exotic plants. That can mean less need for water, fertilizer
and pesticides. Additional info on green landscaping
techniques can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/re-g3esd1/garden/.com

• Use nontoxic gardening techniques
Many gardeners over-apply or improperly apply
pesticides, putting themselves, their families, and pets
at increased health risk. Nearly half of all households
have pesticides stored within reach of children.

• Carpool, use public transportation, walk or bike
when possible
Green transportation means can greatly reduce
your energy expenditures and carbon
emissions from your daily routine

• Buy a high-efﬁciency car

The U.S. Department of Energy’s list offers the most fuel
efﬁcient cars at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best-
worst.shtml
• Use reusable trash bags
• Reusable and recyclable shopping bags for grocery shopping
• Rethink your refrigriater

Buy an Energy Star fridge and you're likely to be dealing with numbers that are roughly half the energy used in older versions depending on size desired. Old fridges are really inefficient compared to their new contemporaries and you don't have to work that hard to cut back the amount a new fridge uses.

• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Line dry laundry

Avoid plastic, recycle and save energy

2009-05-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to help save the environment such as reducing waste, saving on plastic and making small changes that can have a big impact over time.

Choosing to use products that are organic made without toxic chemicals and use sustainable or easily replenished raw materials are also positive measures for supporting the green movement and being eco-friendly.

Catherine Waltrip, who is a member of the Sierra Club, an environmental organization on saving the environment, said that everyone should take the necessary steps in moving forward toward living more green.

“One major change that people should make in becoming more environmentally friendly is switching to biodegradable trash bags and avoid using plastic whenever possible,” Waltrip said.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, in 2007 the United States generated almost 14 million tons of plastics containers in landfills, almost 7 million tons as nondurable goods and about 10 million tons as durable goods.

In the study, the largest category of plastics found are containers and packaging such as soft drink bottles, lids and shampoo bottles. The second largest category is diapers, trash bags, cups and utensils and medical devices.

“Everyone needs to make better choices such as ordering drinks with no lids and no straws. If a store only offers plastic containers for drinks, do not order a drink,” Waltrip said. “For takeout, I carry biodegradable clamshells in my car. I always forego a bag at stores, either bringing my own or, if I've forgotten them, carrying my items into my house in armfuls.”

According to the American Plastics Council, more than 1,800 U.S. businesses handle or reclaim post-consumer plastics. In 1997, APC estimated that roughly one-half of all U.S. communities of about 19,400 collected plastics for recycling, primarily such as soda bottles.

“Every piece of plastic I have not used is a piece of plastic that is not in a landfill or a lake or a forest or an ocean,” Waltrip said.

Other alternatives to plastic are choosing products that are in recycled reusable glass or metal. Also, choosing biodegradable, unbleached wax bags are better than even recyclable plastic that still have chemicals in them. These are available in Whole Foods stores and are compostable. Plants can even be planted in them.

Another step in becoming green is to start learning how to recycle, what items can be recycled and where to go to recycle.

All kinds of paper may be recycled such as envelopes with plastic windows, magazines, newspaper, and cereal boxes. Other items such as eyeglasses and hearing aids can be recycled.

The Salvation Army or the Goodwill is a good source geared towards helping those who need items they do not have and for others to re-use it.

Other items are phone books, cell phones and smoke detectors. Ink cartridges, batteries, magazines, packing foam and foam peanuts can be recycled.

Dell and Apple Products will also recycle old PC’s and computers and they both offer programs to help you earn money for them.

“Recycling is important for many reasons because many items get lost into the storm drains everywhere with gushing bags, cans, bottles, cups and fast food containers and go out to the sea and fed into the ocean releasing toxins into the water,” Waltrip said.

Companies like eco-trash bin rentals is a good source for recycling items or calling your city to make sure you have a bin for recycling is always a good choice in helping recycle.

International Environmental Solution is a company that will turn your waste into energy with their new advanced pyrolyctic system that break down waste materials without using direct heat or oxygen.

Unplugging power tools or chargers is a good way to save on energy. Figure out which cordless tools get the most use, and then unplug the chargers on all the rest. Most cordless tools have nickel cadmium batteries, which will hold some charge for up to a year.

Try consolidating incandescent bulbs with dimmers or three-ways on multiple fixtures in a room. One 100-watt incandescent emits more light than two 60-watt bulbs combined but requires 17 percent less power. The 100-watter also uses the same energy as four 25-watt bulbs, but pumps out twice as much light.

Another tip to saving on energy is slipping a dollar bill between the rubber gasket on your freezer and fridge doors between the frames. Then close the door and tug on it to see if the dollar slips easily back. This trick will test the seal and if it is tight enough. If is not, cold air is probably leaking out, making your fridge work harder to stay cool. Try this on all four sides of the door.

Check your house for any leaky faucets. One drip per second from a leaky faucet or pipe can waste up to 5 gallons of water a day and 1,800 gallons a year.

Use the dishwater instead of washing dishes by hand. Doing a full load in your machine is far more efficient than washing the same number of dishes by hand.

Becoming more environmentally responsible can become easier as tools become more readily available and business become greener in helping save the environment.

In making greener choices there are many websites to help you find an organization, new technology or another alternative to help you live more green and help you find ways to renew it, reuse it, donate it or just completely eliminate it.

Eat, drink organic

2009-04-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Much health conscious Angelinos
have discovered a hot spot

for fresh organic Vietnamese
food hidden away in a strip
mall located in Eagle Rock.

The Blue Hen has been discovered to be one of the most tastiest organic Vietnamese food in Los Angeles and popular for it’s reasonable prices.

Chef-owner Que Dang, who runs the restaurant with her mother, is aware that more restaurants like the Blue Hen are in demand but remain content with their small business, concentrating on being one of the only restaurants in the neighborhood to be organic and unique for their recipes.

“Dang is loyal to making sure that the menu features select dishes with ingredients that are of both organic and purchased from local farmers,” Blue Hen associate, Leona Marrs says. “I think that it is important to have home made recipes for people who want them, even if they have to wait a little longer for them.”

Marrs says that the difference between the Blue Hen and its competitors that the Blue Hen offers not only unique recipes but food is clean and freshly made everyday.”

“We support local farmers and sustainable farming principals which I think is important in a time where clean, organic food is becoming harder to find in restaurants due to contamination and bad work ethics, “ Marrs says.

As you walk into the Blue Hen, a sign with a grade A is in the front window, which proves that this Vietnamese kitchen has superb work ethics and cleanliness.

Although, the Blue Hen does not serve meat, there are many other delicious dishes that are offered such as fresh vegetables, tofu and organic chicken.

The restaurant is also known for it’s huge bowls of tofu and tasty beverages like pulpy orange and lime tonics that consist of freshly squeezed juice, Vietnamese coffee and carbonated water.

You will also find more of an assortment of specials on the colored chalkboard with a list of more desserts and other dishes. Many favorites are the delicious, salty hand cut turmeric fries, caramelized ginger chicken and tofu entrée and specialty soups. They also offer unique grandpas porridge on Friday and Saturday nights. The porridge may be different each week and very popular among the regulars.

Among its hip, modern decor that compares to the small Toi Vietnamese restaurant located in Hollywood, shares the same interior design and understatedly hip décor. But much more peaceful.

The artsy dining area has it’s own character, from the deep red and orange high ceiling paper mache lighting fixtures to the odd paintings on the walls.

The walls are covered with face art drawn on numerous book receipt paper, napkins and plain paper that customers have brought in with them to draw on, which makes the artsy vibe even more appealing.

“Many people do not know about the revolving art show that we like everyone who comes in to participate in,” Marr says. “ Every week we try to make it a different theme from face drawings to people drawing whatever they prefer.”

The Blue Hen provides crayons and paper for children while they wait for their food but many grown-ups and high school students found it just as fun to doodle while they wait and even better when it gets posted on the wall for everyone to see.

Among the artwork on the wall, the service is friendly and warm. Marr says that even though it is calmer during the week with the normal local lunch crowds, she says that weekends can become quite busy.

“Sometimes people will have to wait to be seated on the weekends because we only have 12 tables and many seat only two,” Marr says.

If you are looking for great fresh organic Vietnamese food, fun ambience on the weekends, and love artsy crowds, it is definitely worth checking out and worth the wait.

Just make sure your bring enough paper to draw on, just in case.

Greenopia's guide to eco-friendly services

2009-04-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Greenopia is a new style guide
for environmental and organic
services on where you can eat shop
and live green.

Gay Browne who created the book and list of services when she started building a green home in 1994 and found it difficult to find a list of green eco-friendly services on building materials that were eco-friendly.

Browne decided to hire a consultant to help her with locating theses business and later became more interested in finding other businesses that were available to others in foods, clothes and other businesses that were green. Ten years later she created the guide to help people make more eco-friendly choices in choosing that they do business with.

The first guide she created is for Los Angeles and then later created a guide for San Francisco and New York.

There are over 52 categories of businesses to pet stores, nail salons, restaurants even burial services.

It is an easy-to-understand consumer guide filled with local listings for green retailers, service providers and organizations.

Greenopia contains everything from organic restaurants, grocery stores, dry cleaners, organic pest control services, to sustainable building suppliers, landscapers, interior designers and anything a consumer needs for every day green living.

A Greenopia field assessor assesses the green criteria for the businesses and they research every business to make sure that they are environmentally friendly and up to standards depending on what category they are in.

For example if they are a retailer for produce, the field assessor will make sure that the produce is organic, where it is farmed and are chemically free.
.

Many times the researchers will depend on Zagats, known to do reviews on restaurants and depend on comments from the public in developing their decision on weather or not the business has a good sustainability practices before they are added into the listing.

Greenopia also has a leaf rating system on how green the company is by giving them one to five leafs.

For example, in reviewing the company Apple, the company for computer technology and software, Greenopia gave them one leaf. Greenopia also explains why and how Apple could improve by being more free of toxic chemicals such as LED lit monitors and RoHs compliant computers and has several products that are EPEAT Gold certified.

Apple also has a take-back program for its products, but in order not to be charged for it you must buy a new Apple product.

Greenopia’s review also said that Apple has come under fire from numerous environmental groups for its products’ toxicity and lack of environmental reporting. While it seems to have most of the toxicity concerns addressed, it still does not publish any sort of environmental report.

Even though Apple does not compare to companies like Dell and Sony who are much more forthcoming with their information and Sony even publishes some life cycles so users can see the magnitude of their environmental impact across all areas of the product. Apple also needs to adopt a better take-back program.

Forcing people to buy a new Apple product is ridiculous. Companies should be responsible for the end of life management of their product if it contains hazardous materials and is not easy to recycle.

The Greenopia verdict for Apple was not the most-eco-friendly business and only received one leaf. Sony received 2 leafs and Dell received 3 leafs being more environmentally friendly.

The rating system is not only for name brands but restaurants, beverages, Auto manufacturer, retailers and one to be especially helpful is fast food.

Between the three largest fast food chains among McDonalds, Burger King and and Taco Bell, Mc Donald’s received one leaf.

According to Greenopia the most environmentally green auto manufactures were between mini cooper, the smart car, Honda and Toyota. All of these manufacturers have taken great steps to improve the environmental impact of its packaging and designs in its vehicles from mileage to environmental indicators such as emissions, resource usage, waste and chemicals.

Greenopia is not a paid directory so companies cannot pay to be included. All of the listing must meet strict standards of eco-friendliness.

There are many other resources that Greenopia offers such has suggestion on books on how to green your home, green products, eco kitchen ware and many other suggestions on how to live green.

Everyone should have this guide at their fingertips in making greener choices and providing consumers with the means to make daily decisions that reduce their impact on the environment and ore sustainable life styles.

Harmful personal care products

2009-04-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Your medicine cabinet may contain toxic, harmful,
poisonous and even carcinogenic, cancer-causing
ingredients that may be harmful to you.

Jennifer Palmer, founder of Osea International, a marine based
luxury line said that people don’t think about the products they use on
their bodies.

“It is important to be aware of what goes on your body because it is the same as what goes in to your body. It is not just what you breathe and eat but what is in your personal care products that matter,” Palmer said.

Many personal care products contain potentially harmful ingredients, which are made up of very small molecules that may penetrate the skin, enter the blood stream, and build up in the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and tissues.

Palmer said choosing more natural ingredients can be healing such as a natural lipstick that will hold the color for your lips but also contain natural oils and botanicals that are healing.

According to Palmer many of the cosmetics even simple as
a lipstick in which some woman cannot live without contain some of the most harmful ingredients.

“The campaign for safe cosmetics tested 33 lipsticks randomly and they discovered that 61 percent of those lipsticks contained lead. Suddenly, the phrase “dying to be beautiful” had a new twisted meaning,” Palmer said.

Which are According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website, the Food and Drug Administration used similar delay tactics to bury information about phthalates which are substances added to plastics to add flexibility in personal care products. In July 2002, an independent analysis by members of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that 72 percent of personal care products tested contained phthalates, a set of industrial chemicals linked to reproductive harm.

The website also said that the FDA conducted its own study of phthalates in personal care products in 2003, but did not release the data to the public. The FDA study was finally published three years later in a scientific journal but remained not available for free to the public.  

Many Body care products such as skin lotion, face creams and soaps contain ingredients such as parabens, polypropylene and polyethylene glycols, sodium laurel and laureth sulfates. All of these ingredients have been shown in rigorous tests to likely be harmful to humans.

Most products are packaged in plastic and can release some of the most harmful toxins into the product and then transferred onto your skin.

“ Our products are packaged in glass, which requires less preservatives, is recyclable and has no polycarbons that are released after packaging,” Palmer said.Many labels on products are not obvious and even after asking several sales people about the labeling; it is common that they don’t even know what is in the products.

Most of us assume that when we buy something from Whole foods where other organic products are sold it has passed a threshold of environmental or health inspection by the retailer. But this may not be so.

Gina Costa, sales representative for Planet Blue, a small retailer that specializes in beauty products said that customers are always looking for natural personal care products without all of the added chemicals.

“I think people are definitely paying more attention in choosing to buy more natural and safer personal care products,” They no longer want all of the chemicals in their products and have become allergic to certain creams because of the ingredients that they contain and sometimes do not know what they are or contain. I think we should know what we are putting on our skin.”

The Food and Drug Administration classifies cosmetics and personal care products, but does not regulate them. In 1938, the FDA granted self-regulation to the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association CTFA, the self-appointed industry organization.

According to the FDA the exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA.

What this means is that the industry does not have to account to anyone, not even the FDA. The direct result of industry self-regulation is that many products on the market today that we use constantly are products that we unknowingly use on our children and even babies in the womb are toxic.

The cosmetic manufacturers are not required to submit safety data to the FDA, so we don't really know what sorts of tests they run.

If you have products that contain these ingredients, you may want to look for alternatives. There are safe products available and products that have been tested by third party scientists and are guaranteed as being free from potentially harmful ingredients.

Here are some things that everyone should be cautious of when buying products:

• Check ingredients for any parabans, methleparabens and chemicals.
• Read the labels on your personal care products. You may find ingredients that are harmful or toxic. You may find ingredients that react with others to produce a harmful toxic substance and may become allergic.

• Avoid Phthalates: Phthalates are usually found in synthetic fragrances. Try finding products with essential oil fragrances or unscented products to keep away from phthalates. Products that contain phthalates should be thrown away from your current stash of products because studies have shown that this chemical can cause liver damage, damage to the lungs and even ones kidneys.

• Safe Preservatives: All products must contain a certain amount of preservatives to allow the product to keep its shelf life. In addition, a product without preservatives will prevent bacteria, fungi and most types of yeasts from forming in the products. A healthy alternative to preservatives is sodium benzoate which is a natural preservative found in cinnamon, apples, cranberries and so on.

• Use Cleansing Alternatives: Many products can irritate or cause SLS (a health risk) even for those skin types that are not usually sensitive. There are gentle forms of cleansing and foaming agents so why not take advantage of them. Look for sodium myreth sulfate for body washes, soaps and hair products; sodium lauryl sarcosinate, decyl glucoside, or cocamido propyl hydroxysultaine in shampoos; and sodium cocoyl glutamate in dental products for safe usage.

• Choose glass packaging rather than plastic

There are also some reference guides that are helpful in researching ingrediatnts such as Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary that explains what ingredients contain harmful ingredients and what they do.

If you are looking for more natural alternatives n your personal care products, Recipes for Natural Beauty, 100 Homemade Treatments for Natural Beauty by Katie Spiers, gives you ideas on how you can make your own personal care products from ingredients such as avocados, cucumbers, lemons, honey, and oatmeal.

Some of the recipes call for tinctures and flowers, which can be found in your local health food store.

Many times choosing more natural personal care products that are made with botanicals and essential oils are the only way in having control on what we use on our bodies because we can never be too sure on what is being offered on the shelf.

Toxic Lipstick

2009-04-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

Bamboo Hugs the planet

2009-04-29T01:23:00.000-07:00

A trendy new eco-friendly clothing line created by sound engineer rock ’n‘ roll mom Claudia Night and activist Tracy Hoare is taking their Bamboo line to the next level.

Night, looking for work that would allow her to spend more time with her daughter Lydia, became interested in Bamboo products when she brought home a towel made of Bamboo fabric.

“Lydia used it, she loved it and used nothing else,” Night said.

Night noticed Lydia's sensitive skin was not as irritated as usual and was curious to find more about how it was made. In her research, she discovered all of the benefits of bamboo and was sold.

Although, the products she found had dull colors and she wanted to create something more stylish.

“I just couldn’t get over all the beige in our linen closet,“ Night said. “When I turned 30, I was ready to start a business. The more research I did on bamboo, the more intrigued I became.”

One of the major reasons to wear bamboo clothing is that it can be more ecologically friendly than any cotton except that which is organically grown. Bamboo is grown without the intense use of pesticides that characterizes most cotton cultivation. Even organic cotton demands a lot of water.

Hoare, who is Lydia’s godmother, was intrigued by Night’s idea to create her own bamboo line of clothing and started looking into bamboo herself.

Hoare said that one of the biggest discoveries was learning about cotton and was disgusted on how many chemicals it took to grow cotton, while organic cotton prohibits such pesticides and insecticides.

Altogether, Bamboo is considered still to be environmentally friendly. It’s one of the fastest growing plants on earth, shooting up as much as a yard a day sucking up the planet’s carbon dioxide, turning it into a useful crop. Bamboo matures quickly and can be harvested in as little as four years.

“It was clear that by using bamboo and organic cotton in our bath blankets, that we were making a differencein the environment,” Hoare said

For Night, it was all about style and comfort, and for Hoare, it was about sustainability and safety.

Hoare said it was the perfect combination, the rock and roller and the activist and the yin and yang of bamboo.

A new journey began for the both of them and they came of with a plan to create their own clothing line called Bamboo Hugs in April of 2008. By August, they had received their very first order, with their official debut in January 2009.

Even though, bamboo towels are more expensive than traditional cotton towels, both Hoare and Night said it is not that much of a difference and more about making a difference in the earth.

“You do have to be aware of who you’re getting your fabric from because there can be a big difference among manufacturers and the quality you get,” Hoare said.

Both anticipate that prices will go down as the public is educated and demands more bamboo.

Even though Bamboo has an extensive root network it doesn’t require replanting. It doesn’t need a lot of pesticides, or require a lot of fertilizer or cutting, which usually relies on gas guzzling farm equipment.

Hoare said that the benefit of bamboo is that it is naturally antibacterial because of an agent in the plant called "bamboo Kun."

According to BambroTex.com, scientists say that bamboo owns a unique anti-bacteria and bacteriostatic bio-agent called "bamboo kun". This substance is combined with bamboo cellulose during the process of being manufactured into bamboo fiber. It is a known fact that bamboo can thrive naturally without using any pesticide. It is seldom eaten by pests or infected by pathogens.

“With Bamboos Hugs blend of 70 percent, it can maximize the antibacterial benefit, along with the cashmere-like softness, high absorbency and breathability of the fabric adding 30 percent organic cotton for strength and durability,” Hoare said.

Hoare said that Bamboo is a delicate fabric and a 100 percent can pull easily. The organic cotton mixed with bamboo gives you a superior long lasting product.

Bamboo Hugs feature a double layer, which makes each side of the bath blankets very soft.

Night said that Bamboo absorbs water 3-4 times more than cotton. It also contains the anti-fungal, anti-bacterial agent that it prevents pathogenic infection
Because of this, bamboo can help reduce the transmittal of bacteria and other germs that can be found in car seats, childrens toys and other even the parks.

“Moms have been using our Hugs as liners for strollers and car seats for all those sweaty bums.” Night said. “Bamboo Hugs are also anti-static, hypoallergenic, and easy to wash.”

The bamboo fiber used in all of Bamboo Hugs products is manufactured using a process that is substantially healthier and more eco-friendly, using chemicals that are non-toxic to humans and the chemical manufacturing processes are closed-loop so 99.5 percent of the chemicals used during the processing are captured and recycled to be used again.

“The future of clothing needs to be utilizing sustainable resources and responsibility in production of textiles,” Hoare said. “It is time to stop relying on resources that are not only depleting our earth but cause injury and devastation. There are other options that are better for the environment, for health and are superior in quality and comfort.”

Customers from all over the world have been so happy with Bamboo Hugs and say that the quality, fine details are amazing.

A Los Angeles client said her mother gave her a Bamboo Hugs bath blanket that can be used in the bath and had the hardest time getting her kids out of the the tub with it because it was so soft to wash with.

Hoare and Night said that they did not expect to have so much support from their customers who buy their products.

“We didn't expect this at all,” Hoare said. “The difference is that we are all in this for a greater cause and to improve the earth.”

The support that they have received has them even more motivated to help change the way people buy.

“Bringing style and quality into the green market will also attract more buyers and expand this market”, Hoare said.

"Everyone can use a hug, we just make them out of bamboo," Night said. "Our lines consist of the ‘Smart Hearts,’ giving an ode to love for humanity and the environment; ‘Skulls Don’t Cry,’ which give a shout out to rock ‘n roll; ‘Boo Pets’ give little ones a chance to dress up; and the 'Sweet and Simple' sets compliment any minimalist home."

Bamboo Hugs is continuing to create hip bath blankets, as well as additional products made from organic bamboo and other sustainable resources. They are creating a new unique toddler line of bath friends and a venture called MoMstrosity, which is a line of products using bamboo, recycled polyester, and organic cotton, will be available for expected mother’s.

They are also developing a bamboo line of toiletries that will also be on the market soon.

“We have been handing out samples of bamboo toilet paper at our events such as the Golden Globes gifting suite, Green for Grammy's room, Eco- Fest & Go Green Expo,” Hoare’s said.

The toiletries are just an added bonus to the Bamboo Hugs line in keeping the environment clean especially when it’s obvious it will go into landfill. Especially, toilet paper.

Bamboo Hugs shares a portion of each purchase with charitable organizations supporting children, animals, and the planet. Bamboo Hugs is now available throughout North America and offered worldwide. Bamboo Hugs is expanding everyday and can be purchased on www.BamBooHugs.com, www.GreenAndMore.com and www.OneTinyStep.com

Switching to solar

2009-04-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

Some homeowners searching for ways to save energy are looking for alternative ways without the extra cost.

Douglas Crowe, a homebuilder in California has been researching solar paneling in the last two years to help with the environment and electrical costs.

“ I am still not convinced to install the solar paneling because I think the costs are still too high,” Crowe said.

Last year, the Department for Trade and Industry refused grants for the
installation of household renewable power, making the industry angry, saying that solar
panels were unaffordable to all but the wealthy.

Fred Moore, who is an independent roofing contractor in Apple Valley, said that solar paneling might be more expensive but a smart future investment for homeowners to save money on energy costs and on the environment.

Moore said that the upfront costs for installing solar panels can range from $20,000 to $30,000, which is still a big chunk of money to invest.

“Even though the costs to install solar paneling are still high, it is proven to save you money in the long run, especially on your electrical bill,” Moore said. When you decide to install solar paneling he suggests that you choose a company like SolarCity that specializes in paneling and installation.

“It is important to choose a company that understands the importance of the technology that it provides.” Moore said.

The SolarCity Web site shows how the solar panels are installed on your roof or adjacent structure.
Each job that is set up by SolarCity is composed of solar panels, mounting hardware and associated structural elements and is custom created for each customer.

When you decide to install solar panelling many companies will come to your business to determine the best size, mounting arrangement and present you with a detailed design and installation plan.

The panels that are installed are made up of photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into converter called a direct current. The direct current from the photovoltaic cells is sent to an inverter, where it is converted into an alternating current, or standard household electricity.

The alternating current travels from the inverter to the electrical panel or breaker box. This power is then available to service all of your electrical needs. The utility meter continually measures your electrical supply; when your solar system produces more power than you need, the meter spins backwards, racking up your credits with the utility company?

Most solar companies do give refunds or will sell the power back to you at a rate lower than the utility. Owners can also sell any excess power they generate back to the local utility. But you must go back to those that you bought your solar paneling from.

After your system is installed, you can log in to the SolarCity secured Web site to check your system performance, as reported by the solar guard monitor and find out how much power your system is generating.

SolarCity’s offers a more affordable way to save energy by leasing panels in with no upfront fee. The company still owns the panels when you lease them and you pay a leasing fee, which is usually $100 per month. The plan is to help cut monthly electricity costs by 10 to 15 percent.

Crowe said that the lease option would only apply to those who have really hefty electric bills and suitable for those who are still wealthy.

“It does not make sense for those who pay little to nothing for electric bills,”

Crowe said.” But if your electric bill is more steep then solar may be a good option or
other alternative to saving energy.”

According to Crowe when purchasing solar most companies require up-front investments.

“Even after tax rebates, it takes years for that investment to pay itself back to the homeowner in locally generated electricity,” Crowe said.

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Although, Solar City’s leasing plan is making it possible for homeowners who have larger electric bills to switch to clean, solar power for less money than they currently pay for electricity.

“I would like my next home to have solar panels because I am looking to cut costs effectively, especially if it will cut my electrical bill in half,” Crowe said. “ I am especially interested in increasing the value of my homes with installing solar but hope that a better affordable plan arises so that everyone can afford to install them and not just the wealthy.”

Earth Day Celebration and Events: April 22

2009-04-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It is held annually during both spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere. Here are some events taking place in Los Angeles on Earth Day, April 22, to celebrate our planet.

The Movie: Earth
In theaters on Wednesday April 22
The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate Earth Day 2009 with the debut of "Earth," the first feature-length nature documentary from its new production banner, Disneynature.

Events: Earth Day in LA

Urban Homesteading Presentation
Monday, 4/20, 7 – 9pm
Location: Santa Monica Public Library
601 Santa Monica Library
Free

Jules Dervaes, founder of the Path to Freedom urban homestead in Pasadena, will speak about his and his family's revolutionary journey toward a sustainable, self-sufficient life in the city. The Dervaes family is living a protest against the corporate powers that control the food supply by growing 6,000 pounds of organic produce a year on 1/5 of an acre. Through their adventures in growing and preserving their own food, installing a solar power system, home-brewing biodiesel for fuel, raising backyard farm animals, and learning back-to-basics skills, these modern-day pioneers have revived the old-fashioned spirit of self-reliance and resourcefulness. Presentation includes screening of Homegrown Revolution and Q&A.

Arcadia Association of Realtors Tech & Green Expo 2009
Tuesday, 4/21, 9am – 3pm
Location: SMASH/John Muir
Santa Monica CA

Get the latest eco-info! Save Money and Resources! Lower your Ecological Footprint! Classes meet 1.5 hours per week for 6 weeks. Workshop addresses Planetary Problems then shares Sustainable Solutions. Progress is tracked through a comprehensive Life Style Survey encouraging real sustainable change, making this a true interactive workshop. Suggested Donations: $25 Santa Monica residents/$50 Los Angeles residents. www.sustainableworks.eventbrite.com

Los Angeles National Conversation on Climate Action
Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 7:30am – 7pm
Metro Headquarters Building
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles
Free

Hundreds of Los Angeles County residents will gather together on Earth Day for Awareness. Action. Change. Uniting to Go Green part of the National Conversation on Climate Action. The event is open to the public and will feature several keynote addresses, roundtable discussions and breakout sessions designed to truly engage members of Los Angeles County communities in the County climate and energy plans.Keynote remarks will be delivered by three climate change experts: Michael Crooke, PhD, a strategic consultant and former CEO of Patagonia; Commissioner Michael Peevey, President, California Public Utilities Commission; and Albert Mendoza, CEO and President of Coalition for Clean Air. website: planning.lacounty.gov…

Silverlake Earthday Ball
Wednesday, 4/22, 10am – 4pm
Location:triangle Square at Sunset Junction
3700 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles,CA 90026

Join the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce Green
Committee as we create the Earth Day Ball. On Wednesday, April 22, from 10am - 4pm, as part of our ongoing campaign to make Silver Lake a Bring Your Own Bag neighborhood, we will join together plastic shopping bags collected in Silver Lake creating a giant plastic ball to demonstrate the amount of trash we create and celebrate the businesses who have pledged to eliminate plastic bags from their stores. Inspired by the book "Theo and the Giant Plastic Ball," this event will be an inspiring, empowering opportunity for the community to make an impact on our local environment, the City of Los Angeles and the world. Contact: Cheryl.Revkin@silverlakechamber.com or Leslie.VanKeuren@silverlakechamber.com website: www.silverlakechamber.co

2nd Annual Wilshire Center Earth Day
Car Free
Wednesday, 4/22, 11am – 2pm
Location: 3700 Wilshire Blvd., on the grass lawn between Oxford and Serrano.
Los Angeles
There will be NO street closures. Wilshire Blvd and all adjacent streets will remain open. The entire event will take place at 3700 Wilshie Blvd. on the grass lawn between Oxford and Serrano. FREE Electronic Waste Recycling Bring your old TV, computer, monitors and other electronics to be recycled for FREE! The event will feature musical performances by Suzanne Teng & Mystic Journey, Naked Rhythm, Ballet Folklorico de El Salvador ASOSAL (El Salvadorian dance troupe), Korean Fan Dancing, Drumming, and a face painting artist among others. We will host a farmers market featuring organic and locally grown produce. The Mayor's Million Trees Initiative along with KYCC will be giving out over 200 fruit trees. We are encouraging attendees to purchase lunch from one of the many great local restaurants and then come by and enjoy the free entertainment. www.wilshirecenter.com…

Mother Earth Day Lunch + Learn: What does it mean to our children?
Wednesday, 4/22, 2 – 4pm

Location: O!burger
8593 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069

O!burger, the first 100% organic burger joint in LA is hosting “Mother Earth Day Lunch + Learn: What does it mean to our children?” All are welcome to come + enjoy 15% off your organic meal (drinks too!) and be inspired about the importance of healthy and organic eating. The event is open to the public, so please spread the word to your community and bring your friends! Questions? Call 310-425-6070

"I Heart Earth" LA Green Drinks celebrates Earth Day”- Downtown
Wednesday, 4/22, 7 – 10pm
Location: Pharmaka Gallery
101 West 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
$5 suggested donation

Come learn about all the different Green Social Orgs in LA, Eat Vegan Ice Cream, Drink Organic Alcohol, Bossanova juice and Carpool there with RideAmigos rideamigos.com…. LA Green Drinks is celebrating Earth Day 2009 with “I Heart Earth” at Pharmaka Gallery, Los Angeles’ first eco-friendly gallery. The event brings environmentally-minded people together over an organic beverage through an informal atmosphere, in a space focused on socially relevant art and topics. Plus, come participate in the special “I Heart Earth” group canvas. Suggested donation $5. Street parking is available after 6pm. More parking at Joe's parking lot on Main Street between 4th and 6th streets for $5 charge. LA Green Drinks site: www.lagreendrinks.org. Find us on Facebook as L A Green Drinks.

Book Signing - The Urban Homestead:
Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City
Wednesday, 4/22, 7 – 8pm
Location: Locali Conscious Convenience
5825 Franklin Avenue
Los Angeles 90028

Celebrate Earth Day with Locali. Join us in hosting Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen, Silverlake residents and authors of The Urban Homestead, for a book signing event on April 22nd. Publisher Comments: The Urban Homesteadis the essential handbook for a fast-growing new movement: urbanites are becoming gardeners and farmers. Rejecting both end-times hand wringing and dewy-eyed faith that technology will save us from ourselves, urban homesteaders choose instead to act.

First Annual Green Dot Awards
Wednesday, 4/22, 7 – 9pm
Locatin: Santa Monica Main Library
Santa Monica, CA

Get the latest eco-info! Save Money and Resources! Lower your Ecological Footprint! Classes meet 1.5 hours per week for 6 weeks. Workshop addresses Planetary Problems then shares Sustainable Solutions. Progress is tracked through a comprehensive Life Style Survey encouraging real sustainable change, making this a true interactive workshop. Suggested Donations: $25 Santa Monica residents/$50 Los Angeles residents. www.sustainableworks.eventbrite.com

Remember Earth Day is Everyday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPfEHj4j4P0

Switching to safer cleaning products

2009-03-10T21:00:00.001-07:00

Many household cleaners can be harmful, full of chemicals and contribute to the plastic overload in the environment.
According to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory most of the household cleaners and air fresheners emit toxic pollutants at levels that may lead to health risks.

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Phillip Nzuwah, creator of Kis Clean, a cleaning service offering services and products that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly said that cleaning products are closely related to some health issues and inhaling chemicals that are released into the air are bad for the environment and can cause serious health problems.
“Exposure levels to some of the pollutants can be harmful to your health,” Nzuwah said.
According to the study researchers found that turpentine and formaldehyde in many cleaning solvents can be very dangerous. These chemicals can irritate mucous membranes, eyes, skin and if it is inhaled it can cause headaches.

According to the International Agency for Cancer Research, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that these chemicals cause cancer in humans.
Nzuwah who has been in the cleaning business for six years has spent most of his life learning and educating others about health and the environment. He felt it was important to create a product that was not harmful to others and cleaned even better then chemically charged products.

“ It is just important to have safe products in your house as well as healthy food, a healthy fitness regiment and healthy personal care products,” Nzuwah said.

“Some of my employees were opposed to using some of the products because they did not feel that they would work without the blue coloring and harsh chemical smell that most toxic cleaning products have in them. They were wrong,” Nzuwah said. “They realized that products did not have to have chemicals in them to work and felt healthier and safer using them.”

Kis Clean Products are completely natural and biodegradable. All of the products are formulated in a base of purified water mixed with minerals and enzymes derived from edible and seed bearing plants.

Nzuwah said that Kis Clean products contain no hazardous ingredients such as ammonia, phosphates, or sulphates making them non-flammable, non-caustic and anti-corrosive and that his secret recipe is plant based and environmentally safe.

“ All products are child safe, pet safe, and never tested on animals.” Nzuwah said.

Nzuwah said that more companies should start to improve the quality of their products and make them safer and environmentally friendly to help support the ecosystem and preserve the environment.

“We opened our business with the intention of using nothing but the safest, environmentally sound products we could find,” Nzuwah said.

Nzuwah has have used his products in homes and offices for the past 4 years and has had nothing but positive feedback from employees and clients in helping them understand that products do not need to have chemicals in them to do the toughest jobs.

Trenton Horinek, who is the creator of his own product RE 2, which is electrolyzed alkaline water, said that his products are one of the greenest cleaners on the market.

Horinek said that the electrolyzed alkaline water is produced by applying an electrical current to dilute saltwater solution. It is used as a strong detergent to clean and dissolve grease and destroy bacteria. Alkaline water can also be used to eliminate pesticides from fruits and vegetables.

Horinek discovered electrolyzed alkaline water during a project for his economics class and ran with his plan.

“I came up with a product and marketing plan which later seemed logical and would benefit others," Horinek said.” “It was the perfect solution to greener and safer cleaning products without being toxic.”

Electrolyzed acid water rival chlorine and heat killing E.coli, salmonella and listeria. Electrolyzed water could also be used as a bacteria reducer for combs, salon chairs and other equipment.

“With more demand for green cleaning products and personal care products that are less toxic and are good for the environment, I am hopeful that my business will grow for the better for everyone,” Horinek said. “

Nzuwah is sure that everyone will catch on sooner or later and will soon start to realize that the harmful chemicals that they have been accustomed too have only been killing them over the years.

“ Sometimes it just takes one person to try out product and over time everyone is switching to a non-toxic, less harmful solution,’ Nzuwah said. “They also feel better about the environment.”

Alternative printng

2009-03-10T20:14:00.001-07:00

Many schools and businesses across the U.S have become inspired to go paperless to help the environment. Some are also switching to other alternatives such as more eco-friendly ways to print.

Special education teacher Marie Daily who teaches at Manhattan Beach Middle School said that her students are cutting down on the paper they use to do homework.

“ I am always looking for new ways to help save the environment and educating my students on other products that are more green, organic, recycled and reused,” Daily said.

A new company called Printing Responsibly is an eco-friendly printing company that educates its clients on how important it is to print using green and recycled papers.

Christopher Gravagna, co-owner of Printing Responsibly said that the goal of the company is to push customers in the right direction and give them an education on how the technology works.

“Printing responsibly is not only to promote a different way of thinking, but also a way of printing,” Gravagna said.

The company prints on only recycled paper, which is Forest Stewardship Council certified and chlorine free papers that contain varying levels of post-consumer waste that are manufactured by popular paper mills.

The company prints using a waterless printing press and other Heidelberg presses that eliminates any dependency on chemicals that could be harmful to the health of their employees or the environment.

“We use Soy based ink as opposed to traditional petroleum-based ink,” Gravagna said.

Soy based ink is environmentally and non-toxic; it is also improves the life span of presses and makes it easier to recycle paper. Additionally jobs require less ink to print the same amount of paper compared to petroleum inks. Soy ink has been found to spread approximately 15% farther, reducing ink use and printer cleanup costs.

Studies show that most petroleum-based inks can cause cancer and birth defects. Many printed papers end up in landfills and toxins are released into the air as fresh inks dry.

According to the Printing Responsibly website the cultivation of the soybeans uses only 5 percent of the total energy necessary to produce the ink. Much of that crop requires no irrigation, limited fixed nutrients, and leaves fewer agricultural residues than other crops.
This cost for soy inks is significantly lower than the initial market price, and it is at this point that they become competitive with their petroleum counterparts.

The process of forestry is also important,” Gravagna said.

Recycled Products Cooperative, a non-profit coperatve dedicated to the conservation of natural resources and promoting the use of recycled paper and products, estimates that more than 100 million trees are cut each year to supply fiber for writing and printing papers in the United States.
Consumers can also help the environment by checking their products to see if they have the recycling symbols on the packaging and can check to see what percentage of recycled fiber was used during the manufacturing process.

Important stamps of approval include the emblems of the Forest Stewardship Council and Chlorine Free Product Association For these symbols to appear on products, they must meet specific standards determined by the International Standards Organization.
Some environmentally friendly products may be a bit more expensive than your normal bottle of bleach. It’s important, however, not to view pricing issues as constraints. Instead, think creatively to help balance benefits with costs.

Also combining projects whenever possible is wise. One idea is to print business cards and postcards from the same recycled paper. In the long run your clients may save money and they will also be honoring the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency mandates that federal agencies use uncoated printing and writing papers containing at least 30-percent post-consumer content. Consider using these guidelines when selecting paper for your projects.

Printing Responsibly gives you many alternatives to help you save money and the environment with their products and services. If a client does not want to switch to paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer recycled content, they will find a way to reduce the number of pages used instead. The company has many suggestions on what different types of paper you can use for various different projects. For example, some publications use high-quality coated paper for advertisements, but Printing Responsibly can help you choose an uncoated paper with higher post consumer content that is just as effective.

Even though we are moving into a paperless society, we still need to meet the challenges of what ends up in our landfill and sustaining our forests. If more businesses become more knowledgeable about their products and the chemicals they may contain the environment will be a much better place.

Hydrogen On Demand System

2009-02-20T23:54:00.000-08:00

If you were just thinking of getting the next hybrid on the market, you may want to consider something a little less expensive.

“I just purchased the Toyota Prius,” new hybrid owner Chelsea Lambert said. “It was expensive but I wish I knew about the Hydrogen on Demand otherwise I may have waited to get my car.”

Creator of Hydrogen on Demand Systems, Alex Rivera said that some of the newer energy saving cars is very expensive and the way hydrogen is stored may still not be safe.

“The Hydrogen on Demand system enhances performance and will help you save fuel costs while reducing and eliminating environmental pollution,” Rivera said.

“It will also boost horse power, help save you up to 30 percent increase in engine power which is an average of 20 to 50 percent and will increase in fuel economy,” Rivera said.
“You can also save up to $1000 per year on gas while getting rid of harmful carbon deposits which is  helping contribute to cleaner air.”

The Hydrogen on Demand is a custom made technology, which splits water molecules into a gaseous form to provide additional and more efficient combustion of existing fuel.

“The result is greater power, torque and fewer dollars wasted at the pump but most of all helping save the environment,” Rivera said.

Vehicles that use the resulting gases do not just burn in the combustion chamber by themselves, but also it boosts the efficiency of the fuel combustion, by combining with the fuel vapor, and burning the fuel that we have been wasting out of the tailpipe all of these years, polluting the planet.

Rivera said that business owners in transportation, especially in diesel fuel know exactly how important it is to increase their gas efficiency.

According to the Hydrogen on Demand website you would drastically cut down on greenhouse gases and help reduce global warming by efficiently burning all of the fuel, lessen wear and tear on your car, reduce engine clatter, avoid high engine temperatures and carbon deposits into the air by investing in this system.

The Hydrogen on Demand is a newer system and people are still unaware of how it works.

A vehicle normally burns two gallons of water (found in the atmosphere) per one gallon of gas. That water is in vapor form and is pulled into you engine with the air and is also used in the combustion process. The carburetors or fuel injectors force the fuel also into vapor form, and all this is burned together in the cylinder chambers.

The Hydrogen On Demand System uses an electrolysis process to separate water into Hydrogen and Oxygen (then a gas). It then adds these gasses to the vapors described above and the Hydrogen atoms adhere to the fuel vapors and completely burn all the fuel and the Hydrogen.

This system will do the same and maintain a clean running engine, extending the life of the oil and the engine. This also increases mileage. It's a simple process. You don't change your engine or its computer. A quart-size (95O cc) container is mounted under the hood. You fill it with distilled water and a little bit of baking soda.

Shannon Franklin, who is the public relations manager of Hydrogen on Demand, said that the design is simple, effective and affordable. “The hydrogen on demand starts out at one-thousand dollars which includes installation,” Franklin said.” It works with regular fuel, bio-fuel, hybrids and diesel fuel.

Clients who have had the system installation on their car said they immediately noticed that  the gas saving device was much quieter and smoother.
Rivera said one client who had installed the hydrogen on demand system said after coming too a stop sign she had thought her car had died because she no longer heard the clatter and rumble of the car. She then got out of the car, called the automobile club and they told her the car was still running.
“The hydrogen on demand system not only save you on your cars life span but remove excess carbon deposits from your engine as you drive so it will run better and more efficiently,” Rivera said.
During a test drive, the most noticeable difference that a client may notice is the quietness of the engine and how the car picks up much more power.

Garko, Hydrogen on Demand customer said that Rivera installs a system that is more integrated into your engine, which results in better performance and mileage.

Considering that you qualify for a refund from the IRS under their green car rebate, that you will get better gas mileage and up to 50% or more, and that the financing makes it even more affordable. it is a tremendously strong offer that Rivera provides from how2savefuel.com.

“Personally my 1989 Toyota Corolla has much more giddy-up and has doubled it’s gas mileage and runs really smooth especially by comparison,” Garko said.

After installing this system it will continue to improve and save on gas, give even older models a longer life span and reduce the hazardous emissions into mother earth.

“If we do not think of ways to save mother earth, in the next 20 years, it is only obvious it will get worse,” Rivera said.

Rivera’s vision is to also distribute the hydrogen on demand system internationally.

“Our products are made in the USA and talking with individuals internationally and all over Europe regarding distribution and investing in this technology,” Franklin said.

Rivera’s Hydrogen on Demand is very successful but he is also working on a more advanced system so that even more people can help save on pollution and won’t have to spend a fortune to do it.

“Pure drinking water from the air”

2009-02-20T22:03:00.000-08:00

Have you checked you water lately? It looks clean when you turn on your tap, but it might be what you can't see that has millions worried. Our everyday routine revolves around pure drinking water but it is easy to forget that fresh water is a life-or-death issue in many parts of the world.

Many strategies and new technologies have been created to help boost water supplies but many are wasteful and very expensive.

Recently the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other environmental groups commented on the dangerous state of public water supplies. They have said that the water quality in many of our public water supplies is being degraded by chemical, biological, and physical contaminants.

Fortunately, there is a new technology that offers a remarkable solution to the global water crisis. EcoloBlue Life and Energy has introduced a product line of atmospheric water generators, which utilize a revolutionary patented technology to convert atmospheric water vapor into potable water. The atmospheric water generator produces pure, environmentally safe drinking water out of thin air affordably.

EcoloBlue regional sales director, Manny Lizaso said that the generators capture the moisture from outside air and turns it into the purest, healthiest and highly oxygenated drinking water available to us.

“In the process it removes moisture from outside air, the air is dehumidified and cooled making it ideal air to add into indoor environments,” Lizaso said.

The EcoloBlue atmospheric water generator provides users with ultimate drinking water by producing up to 7 gallons, (28 liters) of pure drinking water per day.

The generator begins making fresh water within 24 hours of plugging it in with no set up.

It requires no water source other than the humidity in the air. Each gallon of water uses, on average, $0.20 cents of electricity to produce.

“That's about $1.00 for every five gallons of water,” Lizaso said.

The generator is powered by electricity and is an extremely versatile product because it produces water from the humidity in the air and it can be used anywhere.

“The generators can be used anywhere such as laboratories, sports clubs, hotels, airport lounges, or commercial stores, to name a few possible implementations,” Lizaso says.

EcoloBlue customer, Richard E. Thomas who is Chief Executive Officer at a surgery center in Hilton Head, South Carolina said that the main benefit of this system is that his employees and customers no longer use water bottles with the polycarbonate plastic that has been known to have potential carcinogenic properties.

“This is a signal to our clients and employees that we care about their well being,’ Thomas says.

Kirk Hyan creator of the website on global water stress “If the Earth Could Speak,” says that the advantage to this approach is that the water taken from the air has already been naturally cleaned, so less energy is consumed to remove any impurities.

Bottled water is much more expensive, per gallon, than tap water. Good filters can remove most chemical contaminants and microbes. Water that originates from a protected ground water source is less likely to contain certain contaminants such as disease-causing microbes, but not all ground water is protected, and no water is guaranteed to be completely free of contaminants.

“This revolutionary technology is helping to meet the growing demand economically and demand for good tasting, quality drinking water even for countries across the world,” Lizaso said.

According to the World Bank, worldwide demand for water is doubling every 21 years and even more in some regions. Water supplies cannot keep pace with demand, as population’s soar and cities grow. The U.N predicts that a worldwide water shortage and supply of fresh ground water will run out by the year 2025.

Also, many of the water shortage problems have been solved in sharing this new technology with other countries especially near more equatorial countries where populations are rising, water is more polluted and have severe water shortages.

Even though it may take longer for the system to generate water in dryer climates, it is very successful in climates that have more moisture in the air and is a start in the right direction in helping the environment.