Natural and Low VOC Paints
Paint can be a huge contributor to making our homes much more dangerous to our health that the outdoors. Volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, are often found in paints, lacquers, stains and other cleaning materials and cause our living spaces to be extremely polluted. We must make sure to buy paints with zero or low VOCs or those in which are made from natural materials.
What are VOCs?
Volatile Organic Compounds is a more and more popular term in relation to the green movement, but probably never fully explained to you. They are a very broad range of chemical gases which are carbon-based that are emitted by products like paints and various building materials, but also other products including gasoline, diesel and cigarette smoke. Different countries have different standards for what a VOC is and how they are regulated. Since they are often found in common household products, they can be in concentrations of 2 to 5 times higher in our homes. Extremely high concentrations of VOCs can usually be found in new buildings. That’s scary considering we usually spend the majority of our time indoors.
Health Concerns
There are many health risks associated with being exposed to high levels of VOCs for long periods of time. There is even a sickness known as the sick building syndrome associated with being in a building too long that contains high concentrations of these organic compounds. Symptoms usually are similar to being allergic or asthmatic which can include as minor as eye nose or throat irritation to more dangerous damage to our liver kidney or central nervous systems and possibly even cancer.
Eco-Friendly Paints
Now that we know just how harmful VOCs can be to our body’s, it is especially important that we use paints that are natural or that contain zero or low VOCs. When going to buy paint, make sure to look for the following types of paints.
Natural Paints
These types of paints are made from all natural ingredients and are the safest available. The most popular type of natural paint is a mixture of milk protein, lime known as milk paint. Other varieties of natural paints include ingredients such as clay, soy, plant and fruit oils and other natural minerals. Many of the same companies that make natural paints also have natural water-based wood stains and color pigmants. Some popular brands of these types of paints include:
- Real Milk Paint: One of the top milk paint makers that also makes natural oils and waxes.
- Bioshield: Makes all natural paints, wood stains, color pigments and more.
Check your local green building store or antique stores to find more great natural paints.
Low and Zero VOCs
Be sure to carefully read all paint labels when looking to see what VOC levels it contains. The EPA currently has maximum acceptable levels of VOCs and . If a paint can says Zero-VOC then by EPA regulation it must have less than 5 grams/liter. The current maximum level of interior paint is 150 grams/liter and 250 grams/liter for outdoor paint. There currently is a Green Seal certification that enforces low VOC paints to have less than 50 grams/liter.
When shopping for paints, regardless of whether or not “Low VOCs” is displayed on the label, make sure to find the exact amount. Since there is no government standard on determining whether a paint contains low organic compound levels, it’s extremely important to compare the number with the current maximum levels. If no number is provided, be sure to ask or do some research on your own.
Please share any brands or types of natural or low VOC paint that you have used with great success.
California’s Proposed Pays as you Go Insurance Policy
California’s Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is proposing a usage based auto insurance that could revolutionize the way in which we buy insurance. Though there are seveal challenges in a policy such as this, it allows insurance companies to charge you appropriately for how many miles you are driving. Comments can be made about the proposed policy until July 9th and the new regulations could take effect as early as November.
This type of policy could have numerous benefits beyond just lowering our auto rates. Just imagine the number of people driving less just so that they can save money on their insurance rates. This could dramatically increase the amount of people carpooling to work and keep our roads less congested. It could also help people who have insurance on a vehicle that just sits in their driveways.
Similar policies have been implemented in states and countries have had been able to save drivers money. There are concerns by some that this could be a way for insurers to keep track of where we are at all times. There is also no guarantee that our rates couldn’t actually be higher. At least in California, drivers will be given the option to not have a pay-as-you-go policy. This policy would also not require any insurance company to offer this type of policy, just give them the option.
There are still many kinks in this proposal, but as long as our privacy remains while still reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and saving some money, then I’m all in for it.
Finding Alternative Ways to Produce Bio-Diesel
When most people think of the junk that ends up in a landfill, it is not uncommon to think of things like old televisions or worn out sofas. However, many do not realize that Fruit and Vegetable Waste actually accounts for a large percentage of what is in our landfills.
Fruit and Vegetable waste is commonly disposed of in landfills, because this is the easiest way of dealing with it. Finding a way to recycle and reuse this type of waste is imperative to cleaning up the environment and can actually have a number of important uses. One of the most exciting uses for fruit and vegetable waste is in the creation of bio-diesel.
Advantages of Bio-Diesel
Bio-Diesel offers several very important advantages over traditional petroleum-based diesel.
One of the most exciting aspects of using bio-diesel as an alternative energy source is that it is made from renewable resources that can be grown anywhere. This means that countries will be able to grow their own diesel and will no longer be forced to rely on oil producing countries.
In addition to helping to reduce dependence on foreign oil, bio-diesel has also been shown to offer lower emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons than petroleum based products. It is also non-toxic and biodegradable, unlike petroleum based diesels.
Problems with Manufacturing Bio-Diesel
While Bio-Diesel has a great number of advantages, it has come under criticism by some because manufacturing bio-diesel could potentially divert food products, like corn, from the Worlds food supply.
Even though the validity of this argument is highly debated, it does present an interesting problem: If farmers were able to make much more money growing plants used to create bio-diesel the amount of food produced could be dramatically affected.
Overcoming the Controversies of Bio-Diesel Production
In large part, the problem of food supply versus bio-diesel manufacturing could be overcome by reusing fruit and vegetable oil. these byproducts would otherwise end up in a landfill, but can be used to produce low cost bio-diesel.
One of the most low cost means of creating bio-diesel is by using used cooking oil and in fact there are several companies in the United States that do just this. Currently, however, the collection of these types of materials is rather inadequate and mostly limited to the restaurant industry.
In order to help reduce the cost of bio-diesel and increase its production, everyone must get involved. This means collecting lard, tallow, used vegetable oils, and other potential sources of bio-diesel not only from restaurants, but also from individuals.
Aside from used cooking oils and other cooking materials, there are a number of other potential sources that could be used to make bio-diesel.
For example, when edible oils are created, such as olive oil or cooking oil, soapstock is created as a byproduct. The soapstock is often simply discarded by manufacturers, but because it contains large amounts of fatty acids, it can be used as a low cost source of bio-diesel.
Soapstock is created by industries using soybeans, hazelnuts, olives, coconuts, sunflowers, and many other types of fruits and vegetables. There are many industries all over the world that end up with soapstock as a byproduct of production.
Creating a Greener Tomorrow
Using Bio-Diesel could not only help reduce green house gases, lower fuel costs, and reduce dependency on foreign oil, but it could also help us make better use of our landfills.
Every year, millions of tons of fruit and vegetable waste ends up in our landfills, which could have otherwise been used to create bio-diesel. This not only helps create low cost bio-diesel, but also allows us to avoid taking food off of peoples plates in an effort to manufacture bio-diesel.
About the Author
Tiger is an established writer that runs and maintains several sites that deal with medical issues. At liftchairguide.net, Tiger writes about topics that relate to senior health, including arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Medicare, and lift chairs. Lift Chairs are a type of standing aid that look like recliners, but help the senior to stand without assistance.
If you have any questions about this post, please do not hesitate to ask.
Organic Labeling Comes into Question
The Washington Post published an in depth article about how the Purity of the Organic Label. This article raises many concerns about how the federal program is not sticking to the meaning of ‘Organic’ when allowing companies to use the label. Because of major corporate pressure, the government is allowing more and more products to use the organic label on their products, when it fact they should in no way be allowed to.
The government is only hurting the consumer and helping businesses by allowing the organic label to be abused. When we buy products with the organic label, we expect that all the ingredients were naturally grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. In turn, the prices on these products are usually higher. The realization is that USDA organic products can still contain a small percentage of non-organic materials from a list that is continually growing.
So what does all this mean to us as consumers of these products? With any food product you buy, you should scrutinize the label before making the purchase. Just because the label has a bright ‘Organic’ or ‘Natural’ label, as we can see, means very little. A rule of thumb that I like to use is that if an ingredient on the product looks suspect or I see the keywords natural or artificial flavors, then probably should avoid it. It is also important that we buy less processed foods. The more processing done on a product, the more artificial ingredients it will usually contain.
Let’s hope that the USDA begins to take the ‘Organic’ label a little more seriously and stop letting corporate pressure determine the requirements for it. Until that happens (if it ever does) be careful in what you buy regardless of catchy words the label uses.
Happy Birthday Pays to Live Green
Happy Birthday to Pays to Live Green! My blog is now 1 year old and is running strong. I would like to thank all of my readers for making my blog so successful in its first year. The wealth of information I have learned from doing research for this blog as well as you the readers has been invaluable. I want to continue to spread the message that you don’t have to go broke to live a healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Hopefully Pays to Live Green can reach out to more and more people to make a positive impact in their lives.
Over the next few weeks, I will be hosting contests to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of my blog. I am also in the process of redesigning my blog. Be sure to sign up for my RSS Feed or Email Subscription to keep posted on both of these major updates as well as many more to come.
Make Sure Your Tires are Fully Inflated
One of the most overlooked items to ensuring that your car is running at it’s peak gas mileage are fully inflated car tires. Tires can be inflated at levels lower than you would ever want to be without any noticeable difference to a fully inflated one.
Make sure to use a tire pressure gauge on a regular basis. If you do not own a tire gauge, they are fairly inexpensive, even for digital ones. Otherwise, you can always stop by your local gas station, though they can sometimes not be properly calibrated. To find the recommended amount of pressure, check on the sticker in the driver’s side door jam. It will show you the proper amount of pressure in psi for each of your tires. Do not use the maximum amount of pressure shown on your tires, as that may be way more than your car requires.
The major incentive to keeping your tires inflated is maintaining your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. For each 1 psi drop in pressure on all of your tires, there is 0.3 percent decrease in gas mileage on your car. You can potentially ensure that you are not losing up to 3.3% of your total gas mileage, which equates to about $.07 a gallon. Not too bad for such a simple maintenance measure.
Your safety can also be at risk when your tire levels are low. You increase your risk of having a car accident, the life of your tires is shortened and there is a decrease in road grip. Make sure those tires are always fully inflated so that you are reducing your car’s’ maintenance costs as well as increasing your safety while driving.
Tips to Green Up This 4th of July
Let’s show we care about our country by making this July 4th much more green. The usual 4th consists of spending a day at a parade or festival, barbecuing and celebrating a fireworks display to finish off the evening. We can be more conscious of our environment throughout this day of celebrations in a variety of ways.
Reuse and Recycle
Just as with our day to day activities, reusing and recycling should be an integral part of the day. If going to an event, be sure to recycle anything that can be. This is especially important when it comes to food. Things like soda cans, bottles, aluminum foil and cardboard containers can all be easily recycled. One way to really save money at events is to take your own reusable drinking bottles such as an Otterbottle or Klean Kanteen. You won’t need to buy expensive drinks and you will be preventing another bottle or can to be used. If having a barbecue or going on a picnic, you can get creative by reusing fabrics that you would normally throw out and make them into something useful like napkins or even an entire picnic blanket.
Eco-Friendly Dinnerware
How often do you see plastic utensils and styrofoam plates being used at a typical bbq or picnic? There are so many eco-friendly options on the market with competitive pricing so you don’t have to buy these types of products. Bamboo and corn starch are just a few of the safe and biodegradable materials used to make dinnerware. If you don’t want to go out and buy disposable items, why not just take a chance with some of your own plates, utensils and cups. You may end up with a few less pieces because of clumsy friends, but you will generate much less trash.
Local Foods
Buying local foods should be a must to creating or enjoying fantastic 4th of July meals. Attend local farmer’s markets or farm to get a great selection of produce, meats and dairy products. All will be fresh and tasty. Most local foods are naturally born/grown and will be far healthier for your family and friends. If there are any scraps of food leftover, be sure to send those to the compost bin so that they won’t contribute more waste to our packed landfills. Don’t let any meats or dairy products end up in the compost as that can attract unwanted guests.
Cooking
There is no better way to spend this holiday than outdoors and this means lighting up the grill. Be sure to use a variety of green grilling practices so by cooking with clean natural gases or natural charcoal products. Cleanup can also be green by using homemade or natural cleaning products.
Fireworks
Fireworks can be a huge polluter because of the amount of smoke and chemicals it can put into our environment. To get the color mixtures that we like so much, toxic metals like barium, strontium and antimony are needed. These metals can have dangerous effects on the environment as well as our health. I’m not saying you have to avoid fireworks shows, as there is sometimes no way to avoid them. There are various options of eco-friendly fireworks such as the biodegradable fireworks that Disney uses in their displays every night. As more research is done, the prices will begin to go down on fireworks such as these. Let whoever does you local fireworks show know about these options and they may end up making the switch or are already using them.
How are you going to make this 4th of July a little more green?
