A lady wielding an ugly bottle of cologne attacked me at the mall. She was attempting to lure me into purchasing some awful smelling men’s fragrance. If I really want to saturate myself with cologne at the mall, all I really need to do is visit one of those in-fashion unisex stores that seem to pipe in gallons of it through their air-conditioning vents.

eco-Buyer beware — many fragrances (for both men and women) use scents derived from flowers, plants, and trees that are susceptible to overharvesting. For example, the Brazilian Rosewood tree is a rare find in the wild due to humans harvesting it for just such a purpose.

I decided to conduct my own unscientific poll. I spoke to a sales person at a specialty store. Yes, only one person, but they have observed many folks. They said more people are taking a harder look at the ingredients to ensure the fragrances use sustainably harvested essential oils and botanicals (or are synthetic). Good job people!

Want another nudge towards earth-friendly scents… as much as 95% of the chemicals used to make some cologne and perfume are petroleum based. And, may include some chemicals known to cause cancer, affect nerves, cause allergies, etc. That’s enough for me to steer clear.

While you are taking those steps, also consider purchasing…

• bling-bling that’s not made from turtle shells, coral, or other animals
• furniture or other wood products made from sustainably harvested woods
• house plants/flowers that are grown locally versus those that are wild
• books/magazines printed with sustainable resources and soy ink
• food that is locally grown

Okay, I will stop here. But, I know you can think of a lot more.

I am taking tiny steps to reduce my trips to the local coffee shop to help reduce the need to use gas, save money, help the environment, etc. After all, that is where individuals start to make a difference…tiny actions/steps in the right direction (although bigger steps are nice too).

I am talking about increasing my use of a manual coffee maker, coffee press, or if you really want to sound like you know what you are talking about…a cafetière. I have found that I enjoy coffee made in a press over a traditional pot or pod maker. In my opinion, the press allows more of the coffee’s blend of oils and flavor to come through. On the other hand, my wife would readily say that it makes it smell even more awful than before. I just love the smell and taste of coffee.

Have you ever glanced in the tiny trash bin located near the coffee and tea condiments? You really start to realize what some folks dispose of and waste for their daily cup of Joe.

The benefits of using a coffee press over the traditional coffee pot or trip to the coffee house include:

• Increasing the likelihood that a person will recycle. How many people do you know that are like me and take recyclables home? People are more likely to throw it in their bin at home from a convenience standpoint…do you agree?
• Eliminating the use of paper cups and heat shield sleeves (assuming you don’t use a travel mug or other reusable container).
• Minimizing the need to use electricity.
• Eliminating the use of a paper coffee filters.
• Eliminating the need to use a wood or plastic stir stick.
• Reducing the amount of unnecessary trash.

If using a French Press is not for you…that’s completely respectable. You can still make small changes to help the environment and resources.

• You can buy stainless steel filters for your standard pot.
• Buy large packages of sweetener rather than individual packets.
• Compost the coffee grounds or just dump them in your flowerbed to add some nitrogen back to the soil. Plants love it.

Do you have other ideas?

Air pollution causes millions of deaths each year.  Three of the nastiest contributors of air pollution are Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate Matter, and Sulfur Dioxide.

• Nitrogen Dioxide is a bi-product of mills, factories, and the gasoline-powered engines.
• Particulate Matter are the bits of soot, dust, pollen, etc. that floats around in the atmosphere. The source: organic and inorganic matter made airborne from construction, mills, factories, etc.
• Sulfur Dioxide is a bi-product of coal-powered factories or anything powered by gasoline. Manufactures use it in industrial processes including refrigeration, making chemical compounds and even used in bleaching processes.

See anything that keeps appearing in the description above? Yes, industrial emissions are a huge contributor. It may come as no surprise that many larger cities are some of the problem areas — especially those cities with lots of industrial complexes and those with lots of vehicle traffic. How do we know this? Well, we have the ability to test the air, use satellite imagery, and other technology to accurately measure and identify the largest concentrations of air pollution.

For example, in Beijing (home of this year’s Summer Olympics) the topic of air quality has been part of Olympic related news and highlights almost as soon as the  International Olympic Committee awarded Beijing the 2008 games all the way back in 2001. In fact, Beijing is one of the worst places you can be to compete or even be a spectator.  Some people joke about L.A., California being smoggy, but compare that city to Beijing.

According to the World Bank’s 2007 Pollution statistics, it is clear how Beijing stacks up against L.A. when looking at the “big three”. Beijing has:

• 64% more Nitrogen Dioxide than L.A.
• 161% more Particulate Matter than L.A.
• 900% more Sulfur Dioxide than L.A.

That’s 10 times as much Sulfur Dioxide…wow.  Of course, other factors contribute to air quality including VOCs, changes in temperature, lack of wind, etc.

The China Climate, Energy and Pollution Program and local government collaborated to help minimize pollution during the summer games. Have you seen video shots of the roads and traffic? City officials implemented a ban that decreased the amount of vehicle traffic by as much as 50%. They also shut down certain factories for a time to reduce the impact of the “big three”. Heck, they even have a system in place to induce rain by launching rockets containing silver-oxide to provide a catalyst for showers. Although I am not sure that is very safe, but it helps dissipate air pollution and cuts down on its stinky odor. Kudos for the efforts.

Now if countries like China could put that same momentum into implementing green programs and cleaner operating facilities…hmmm.  I am not knocking the green actions already underway, just pondering the point.

Every month the world gets closer to maximizing efficiency while harnessing the power of the sun and wind to produce electricity. In this posting, we’ll explore some of the common misconceptions associated with Solar Power.

If you can think of a use for Solar Power, there is a strong chance it is in use or being developed. Solar Power is used in every state of the U.S. to warm water, provide power to signs, light walkways at night, provide power to operate homes and businesses, provide energy to pump water from wells, heat/cool the air, and even electrify fences for security — ouch!

Myth #1: Solar Power pollutes. Solar Power is not 100% clean/pure due to the use of some chemicals and toxic materials in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Let’s face it, how many materials made by humans really are perfect in that regard? But, it is a heck of a lot cleaner than fossil fuel sources.

You can sleep well at night knowing there are a number of regulations than monitor the process to maximize safety for all concerned. Companies producing Solar technology partner with independent agencies like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to ensure the products and materials go through rigorous safety testing.

Myth #2: Solar Power is expensive. In many cases, it is one of the more cost-effective choices for power delivery. You can reach a breakeven point with cost/benefit in about 8-10 short years. This also depends on your circumstances. Many folks have even gone “off the grid” and never have to rely on power companies for their electricity. Some even have a surplus and can put it back into the grid to help others. An added bonus…you may qualify for state and U.S. government programs that give you incentives and breaks too.

Myth #3: You have to place Solar Power units on the roof. It is common to place solar technology on rooftops as a logical solution. However, solar technology can be placed anywhere the sun shines. Many buildings even work solar technology into windows, artistic structures that receive sun inside, roofing tiles, awnings, trim, and the building material itself.

Myth #4: Solar Power can’t meet the electrical demands of a large town. It is possible to supply a large portion of the U.S. with Solar Power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Power resource in a 100-mile-square area of Nevada could supply the U.S. with all its electricity (about 800 gigawatts) using modestly efficient (10%) commercial PV modules. Imagine if all communities expanded their reliance on Solar Power.

Myth #5: Solar Power only works in areas that receive sun most of the time. Devices used to capture solar energy can work well in all 50 states. Yes, even on cloudy days solar energy still reaches the earth’s surface.  There are even Solar Energy storage systems that can store Solar Power for up to a month.

Myth #6: Solar Power is the new standard. As an industry, Solar Power is still in its infant stages of being the big power provider on the block. Even though we are decades away from that ticker tape parade, it’s gathering momentum and every year we get closer to that reality.

Myth #7: Solar panels don’t last that long. Manufacturers are always improving the lifecycle of Solar Power technology. Even though solar panels lose a nominal amount of capturing ability each year, they can still last beyond a manufacturer’s warranty (many offer as much as 25 years).

Myth #8: Solar Power is less reliable than conventional energy sources. Extensive research has proved that, in most cases, Solar Power is more reliable. It is not bound by infrastructure or network problems, consumption, or power outages.

Myth #9: Solar Power can’t reduce our carbon footprint. Solar Power emits zero emissions and greenhouse gases. According to the U.S. Department of Energy: if the Solar Industry were to grow 25% each year (as predicted), the U.S. will offset 10 million metric tons of CO2 per year by 2027. That’s equal to the annual increase emitted by U.S. fossil fuel electricity generation. That’s even beyond carbon neutral and it would help the environment recover.

Myth #10: I need a southern exposure to use Solar Power. Solar panels can face south, east, west, and anywhere in between and still capture a decent amount of the sun’s energy.

Solvents, stains, household cleaners, and paints are just a few of the items that contribute to the health problems associated with poor indoor air quality. This article doesn’t focus on the myriad of things you can do to help with air quality. Rather, it gives kudos to no-VOC paint manufactures and a brief account of my experience. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound. It sounds scary…and for good reason.

Indoor air quality is one of the top leading health risks (according to the EPA).

My wife, Laura, decided it was time for a new inspiring color in her den. So we headed over to the local home store to check out paints. One brand stood out to us — The Freshaire Choice. After doing a little research on the web, it looks to be the only no-VOC paint that contains zero VOCs in both the paint and the tint. It was neat to watch the friendly home store’s paint lady mix the paint.  She emptied the corresponding no-VOC powder packet to the base paint to achieve the desired color.

How does it look on the wall? It looks great and even seemed to dry a tad faster than traditional latex paints. It is important to mention that the paint also stayed mixed throughout the entire project. And, with no headaches…literally. Here are some other advantages of purchasing this paint:

• The paint is certified by the GEI (GREENGUARD Environmental Institute). This is a respected organization with the mission: “to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air”.
• The paint chips are made from recycled paper and can be recycled. We brought our samples back to the store and put them back on the shelf.
• 100% of the can is made from recycled material. The bottom of the can we have indicates #5 PP plastic (polypropylene).
• The label is made from 75% recycled fiber and printed with Soy ink.
• It comes with a lifetime warranty…you can’t beat that!

By the way, Laura’s color choice for her office was FA058 — Rushing Stream.