The FTC Cracks Down on Eco-Labels
Fall is in the air, and the FTC is back at it again. The oversaturated “green” market is getting a little bit of a kick from the FTC again after the Bamboo Scandal in February of 2010. The Federal Trade Commission has decided to regulate the terms many big brands have started to use in promoting their products as a green as can be.
Why the Crack Down?
This regulatory body’s efforts to reinforce meaning in the green marketplace has come after a sea of over 300 third-party certifications have been created and big brands can’t market anything without a little eco-twist. The FTC has said that their interest comes from their responsibility to hold companies responsible for the claims that they make on their packaging. A lesson learned by several retailers after the FTC exposed them as selling Rayon in place of Bamboo.
Is it Good or Bad for Consumers?
It is too early to say. As for now, it should be a good transformation from random claims and strategic names of “The Eco Window 2000″ which has nothing to do with being eco-friendly outside of its name. As for the 300+ third-party certifiers, this information may come a little too late. Since the United States government has failed to regulate many products and claims the same way other developed nations have over the past 20 years, third party certifiers emerged as a solution to a growing problem in the US. They provided information and security in eco-claims. Now, the new FTC guidelines may make some of these certifications irrelevant, or they may even conflict with the new guidelines.
Where are these Mysterious Guidelines?
They are listed on the FTC’s website as: Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Campaigns found here. Check them out for yourself.
So the good news is that the US government has belatedly started to regulate environmental claims, and hopefully as third party certifiers with worthy certifications come to understand the new rules, they will work together to solve the discrepancies. It looks as though this may be the first significant step they will make in stopping the greenwashing game through regulation.
What is…Slow Food?
We are starting a new series of “What is…” to help fill out our collective eco-friendly vocabulary. Today we are taking a look at Slow Food, the opposite or counter revolution to Fast Food.
The Slow Food movement is typically accredited to starting in Italy. Italians love their food, and when they heard McDonalds was coming to encroach on their traditions, a Slow Food revolution started in 1989. It is about embracing your food, where it comes from, and the rich culture that surrounds food.
They believe that:
Everyone has a fundamental right to the pleasure of good food and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible.
To date the non-profit organization has over 100,000 members worldwide and growing. If you would like to learn more check out the Slow Food International’s website.
Google Investing in Renewable Energy
Google has made two major investments over the past week that could help more Americans get renewable energy.
West Virginia Geothermal
Researchers from Southern Methodist University discovered that West Virginia could have almost double the amount of geothermal energy than originally thought. If just a fraction of the total potential geothermal energy was used, it could generate more energy than the state is currently producing mostly with coal.
Google made the 1/2 million dollar investment to help produce clean energy for their large number of data centers their currently own. In total, Google has already invested more than $10 million in making an enhanced geothermal system. The final goal is to get the clean energy source to cost cheaper than coal.
Offshore Wind Energy
Google has also decided to make a large investment in an offshore wind energy project that could help bring wind energy to many homes throughout America. The joint project with Good Energies plans to create underwater cables in the Atlantic that would help transport energy from wind farms. The major setback for renewable energy today is our current infrastructure. This move could help dramatically upgrade that infrastructure, while expanding the number of places that can receive wind energy.
Photo from {link:http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/wind-cries-transmission.html}Google.com{/link}.
Though Google has not released the amount they will invest, Google and Good Energies are planning to take on 37.5% of the equity portion of the project. It is estimated that the project could cost a total of $5 billion. A hefty price, but could bring wind energy from offshore projects to cities throughout the Atlantic.
Good Luck to Google with their renewable energy investments and hopefully they continue to make strides so that our country can one day rely more heavily on renewable sources.
Did you Celebrate 10/10/10?
Oh the holiday season is upon us, and one of the most memorable for anyone concerned with cancer, food safety, and agriculture just passed. On October 10th, 2010 Non-GMO Day was celebrated worldwide with success and continues as October has been deemed “GMO-Free Month”. So what exactly was all the celebrating and food fighting about?
GMOs
GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are most often plants that have been injected with genes from other species or synthetically developed strains to create a type of lab-made hybrid. The most famous example is when a tomato plant was given the genes from a fish, making the plant more tolerant. Although fascinating from a scientific prospective, these plants are grown with little research done on their long-term environmental and health impact. The reports don’t look promising for the GMO industry, but unfortunately they have large financial resources that have produced alternative propaganda in place of scientific research. It is often considered one of the most corrupt industries given the monopolies agriculture companies have and their tactics with farmers that work on leased land.
So Why the Celebration?
Many individuals have been determined since the advent of GMO-food to keep it out of their systems. European nations quickly banned it from trade quite some time ago, leaving the US to instead donate its excess of subsidized crops to third world nations. The ethics involved in these donations have been highly questioned. As American citizens, we are not protected from a government standpoint from GMO infiltration into our food, but we are given the option to “opt out’ of it through choosing organic food.
Learn More
Since food, genetics, and agriculture each have their own large respective industries and trade associations, it can be difficult to find information about the risks associated with GMOs. Your best source of information is the Institute for Responsible Technology to learn more about GMOs, what they are, and what issues you should be aware of going forward for your own health. If you are pregnant or have small children, it is highly recommended to review this information as the build-up of toxins and other things being injected into our food are not meant to be digested by our bodies.
A belated cheers to 10.10.10!
Cloth Diapers are back! Why Celebrities are Choosing Cloth
Why would a modern mom or dad chose cloth diapers over the convenience of disposables? Well, cloth diapers are are certainly not the cloth diapers that our mother’s used (that is sooo yesterday) and now come in a variety of cute styles, materials and covers. But besides making a fashion statement, why are more celebrities choosing cloth than ever before?
They’re easy!
With so many great cloth options available, including all-in-one (diapers with a soft inner liner plus an waterproof outer liner) and one-size-fits-all styles, modern cloth diapers are as easy to put on and take off as disposables.
They’re great on baby’s skin!
Cloth diapers are made of soft cotton and other natural fibers that are gentle to a baby’s skin and can even reduce the risk of diaper rash (yay, no more red tushies!)
They’re green!
Can you believe that just one child can go through over 6,000 disposable diapers in their first three years, producing up to 2 tons of waste? Cloth diapers can be used over and over again as they can be washed at home and even passed on to a new sibling or friend (now that’s recycling!) With more celebrities going green, it is no wonder many are choosing to go this route.
They’re great on your budget!
Did you know that the average cost of disposable diapers is around $2400 per child? In contrast, a complete supply of cloth diapers can cost as little as $500.00. While cost of diapers is of little concern to the average celebrity, cloth diapers can sure help us regular folk save a few dollars (think of what you can do with all that extra money in your household budget!)
So, who is using cloth? Word has it that big names like Brooke Shields, Gweneth Paltrow, Tori Spelling and Maggie Gyllenhaal have all used cloth, just to name a few!
Actress Brooke Shields with her two daughters.
Photo from {link:http://www.people.com}People.com{/link}.
Photo courtesy of people.com
About Us
This guest post was written by Sarah Reidy, of Everything Birth, Inc. Owned by Crystal White, Everything Birth has been offering customers an online selection of birth supplies, cloth diapers and organic baby products for over nine years. The company’s new concept, Diaper Parties SM is now taking the country by storm. A Diaper Party SM is an opportunity for a group of moms (and moms-to-be) to come together to try out cloth diapers and other baby products.
To find out more about cloth diapers,Diaper Parties SM as well as a wide variety of practical and adorable cloth diapering options, please visit our websites at:
Bottoms Up!
Golf And The Green Surroundings: 5 Reasons Why Golf Is The Ideal Activity For The Environment
Did you know that golf can be immensely beneficial to the environment? Many people have no idea of this fact today as a result of the number of articles that have previously been published about the negative consequences of poor golf course management. There have been plenty of them over the past decade, many of which discuss poor water management, the use of chemicals and the eradication of natural habitats. However, these articles did far more than raise awareness of these issues. They also revolutionized golf course management itself, which is now far greener than it has ever been. So what can a golf course offer to the environment? Much like effective golf swing tips, enjoying a little green golfing can offer a whole range of benefits including the following:
1. Well Managed Golf Courses Can Rehabilitate Degraded Landscapes
Golf courses used to traditionally be built on cleared land that contained natural habitats for plants and animals. However, this is not the case today. As planning permission will likely not be granted if natural landscapes are to be cleared, many companies submitting plans to build golf courses actually do so on degraded land. This helps the environment no end because it actually recycles the land and improves its environmental viability. It cleanses the land so you can enjoy a few games of golf where nobody would previously have ventured!
2. Golf Courses And The Surrounding Land Can Support Native Plants And Wildlife
Have you ever been to a golf course that has incorporated wildlife sanctuaries and natural areas that are to be undisturbed? If your golf swing means that you stray off the fairway regularly then this will expose you to more of the delights that such environmentally friendly areas have to offer. In many cases, gold courses vow to preserve specific areas, preventing golfers from straying into them, because this helps to guarantee the health of the greens and fairways as well. As such, you contribute to the success of these areas by supporting eco-friendly golf clubs.
3. Golf Courses Can Protect Water Resources
Instead of wasting water, golf courses can actually preserve water resources like lakes, rivers and ponds by maintaining them, protecting the native creatures that live within the water and by adopting green policies that prevent chemicals running off into the water and polluting it. Previously, this would not have been possible but management policies at golf clubs now ensure that it is. They use natural fertilizers and substances to encourage the health of the courses and this in turn encourages the health of the waters. Furthermore, many have irrigation systems in place that capture and use rainwater instead of other water resources to keep the grass healthy.
4. The Air Quality Can Be Improved By The Presence Of A Golf Course
Green areas help to purify the air by removing pollutants from it and filtering the oxygen. A golf course is of course a green area and can serve these functions as well as helping to moderate the temperature in the local area. This is why many golf courses can now be found in urban areas as well as rural ones. Golf courses are ideal for those looking to enjoy a little clean air and a stroll from time to time and if you happen to have a club in your hand then so much the better!
5. Golf Courses Can Increase The level Of Green Landscape In Any Given Area
This is a given really because the creation of a golf course is no easy feat at all. Golf courses, especially full ones, take up acres of space… acres of green space that comes complete with grass, trees, natural vegetation and natural creature habitats. This can seriously enhance the natural environment and improve the overall landscape in terms of the impact it has on the world we live in as well as the beauty that you are able to enjoy when you are taking the time to walk around the golf course. Taking the time to enjoy it can enhance your peace of mind and quality of life.
All of the above adds up to one thing ¨C golf can be one of the activities that help you to reduce your carbon footprint. This is especially important given how degraded the environment has become in recent years.
Now is the time to start playing golf to revolutionize the way you look at the environment, to enjoy it more and to take full advantage of all of the other benefits it has to offer. Now is the time to start learning your optimum golf swing so that you can enjoy the game as well as the environment with no frustration at all. Check out the only resource you will ever need to enjoy everything the game of golf has to offer ¨C online golf hints and tips by Jack Lenon.
About The Author
Jack Lenon, a native Floridian, lives with his wife and two children. Having played the game of golf for more than 20 years, he is knowledgeable on the topic and offers advice on the golf swing that can revolutionize your game. He is passionate about helping other golfers to improve their handicap via his website www.golf-swing-tempo.org. There you will find information about golf swing aids and other useful hints and tips to give players an edge on the green.
Solar Panels Planned For White House
Interesting news just came out on Tuesday that the Obama administration has plans to put solar panels and a solar water heater on the White House. This move is drawing heavy praise from the solar industry.
Rhone Resch, president and chief executive of the Solar Energy Industries Association, had this to say about the move:
Putting solar on the roof of the nation’s most important home is a powerful symbol calling on all Americans to rethink how we create energy
I have to agree completely with this statement and in high support of the move. The White House uses a large amount of energy annually and there is lots of space on the roof to accommodate solar panels. Also, the President will no longer just praising renewable energy without actually using it. The White House will now be running off of clean renewable energy.
What’s even more interesting is that Obama was not the first President to think about Solar Energy for the White House. The history of solar panels on the White House actually dates back to the Carter Administration.
Video by Newsy.
The solar industry is also pushing to have solar panels put on government buildings across the country. The hope is that this move will encourage others to begin thinking about renewable energy or at least support it’s future. Let’s hope that this move can in fact do that and help stimulate the renewable energy market.
