Cleansing Blog

A new company called Sapphire Energy claims that it has developed a process for turning algae into crude oil, which can then be used to make fuel for automobiles or even jets.

According to Sapphire CEO Jason Pyle, the green-colored crude oil is chemically equivalent to the fossil fuel version and could be processed into fuel at any refinery. Production costs are equivalent to those of extracting the petroleum from oil sands or deep-water reserves. Pyle says that the company has already produced diesel, jet fuel and premium-grade gasoline from its crude.

In addition to algae and sunlight, the oil manufacturing process requires non-potable water and carbon dioxide. Because the process takes carbon dioxide out of the air, this could hypothetically balance out the carbon dioxide that would be emitted when the biofuel is burned. Pyle says that the new fuel could reduce U.S. dependence on foreign petroleum and enable consumption to continue at modern rates even as global oil supplies dwindle. Finally, in contrast with other biofuels, algae does not compete with food crops for land.

Don Anair, vehicles analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, called Sapphire’s project encouraging but refrained from giving it his endorsement until he could see how much greenhouse gas is emitted throughout the entire production-combustion process.

In addition, Anair said, “Changing to this green crude could certainly have very good benefits in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but it may not address some of the traditional tailpipe pollutants that are responsible for smog or ozone.”

According to Pyle, the algae fuel should pollute less than traditional gasoline because it does not contain either nitrogen or sulfur, which combine with oxygen to form common pollutants such as smog. But Anair noted that all fuels are exposed to nitrogen from the air during combustion.

Sapphire hopes to have its fuels commercially available in three years, with full-scale production in five.

going green

A Wyoming Company called KL Process Design Group has branched out from making corn ethanol and has built a small factory to making the fuel from pine waste instead.

“We’re still learning and tweaking, and hoping for a little bit of capital infusion,” said KL Vice President Tom Slunecka.

The company, which aims to begin commercial sales from the factory by the end of the year, is only one of many in the burgeoning biofuel-from-waste industry. Encouraged by high oil prices, government incentives and a flood of venture capital, at least 28 small factories are now in operation, under construction or in advanced planning.

Motor fuels can be made, in theory, from any material that contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Sources now being used vary widely, from plant-based sources such as trees or algae to outright garbage. One company in Nevada, for example, is starting construction this year on a factory that aims to make 10.5 million gallons of ethanol per year from 90,000 tons of municipal waste, while Los Angeles County has approved a plan for a similar factory next to a Lancaster, Calif. landfill. A company in Montreal plans to make fuel out of electric poles contaminated with arsenic.

The incentive is certainly there, with the U.S. government offering subsidies of up to $1 per gallon for non-corn biofuel, and large startup grants to meet a congressional mandate to make 18 billion gallons of biofuel from non-corn sources by 2022.

While some companies say that production is imminent, other observers are skeptical.

“I personally think it’s not there yet,” said Steven Chu, director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “You have to look at starts with a grain of salt, especially starts where they say, ‘It’s around the corner, and by the way, can you pay half the bill?’ “

going green

While green has definitely hit the mainstream, the carefully screened vendors at the Green Festival still generally skew to the hemp-and-earth-tones set. But I’m a hip, urban kind of girl. I like sass with my sustainability. So I was excited to discover some companies this year who both produce my kind of goods and meet Co-op America’s strict standards for social and environmental responsibility. Here were some of my favorites:

Knoend’s Lite2go

Packaging. If there was one thing I could get rid of, it’s all that plastic and styrofoam and even excess cardboard that envelops the things I buy. Knoend’s Lite2go solves that problem: The polypropylene package that the lamp comes in is actually the shade itself, which you unroll and snap together to create your brand-new light source. The only thing to toss is the wraparound paper label — and that can go into the recycling bin. The idea is so brilliant it won a Bronze International Design Excellence Award this year (co-sponsored by BusinessWeek and the Industrial Designers Society of America). Watch this cute video demonstrating the difference in unpacking a traditional lamp and the Lite2go.

Earthlust

First there were the Nalgene water bottles everyone lugged around, as if we were all at one giant campground. Then came the stainless steel bottles with that admittedly cool industrial look. Now, thanks to Allison Tryk at Earthlust, we can get a little style with our agua. Tryk’s stainless steel bottles say goodbye to metallic and hello to a variety of fun colors, from robin’s egg blue, to a rich brick red, to moss green. Plus, they’re decorated with sweet images of birds, feathers, flowers, and (my favorite) artfully rendered trees.

Bionade

Nothing says “Europe” like those giant Cinzano umbrellas clustered along wide Parisian boulevards. Which is how the bold primary-color graphics on Bionade’s bottles caught my attention. Bionade is a Bavarian company which makes organic soft drinks, using a secret fermentation process to produce its elderberry, lychee, herbal, and ginger and orange flavors. The ten-year-old beverages are already a hit in Europe, where they’re served at trendy bars and restaurants as well as at coffee shops and fast-food joints. Bionade is only now starting to make its way into the U.S. Plans to build a first-of-its-kind green production facility in Iowa mean they intend to stay.

Lulu’s Raw Chocolate Alchemy

Stroll among the Green Festival halls, and it won’t take long before someone offers you a tasty chocolate sample. Theo, Green & Black’s, Alter Eco Fair Trade — I love them all (especially Alter Eco’s “Dark Velvet” — thank goodness I had the presence of mind to pick up a couple bars). But what I really loved this year was Lulu’s Raw Chocolate Alchemy. This is no ordinary bar. In fact, it’s not a bar at all. Lulu’s chocolate, which is made with coconut oil, maca root, and agave nectar, comes in a four-ounce jar. Lulu features six flavors: Vanilla Rose, Lavender Blueberry, Velvet, Maca Nib Crunch, Cayenne Kiss, and Western Red Cedar, a surprising flavor that tastes like a bit of the forest right in your chocolate. Move over Ben & Jerry’s. I’ve just met my new scooping pleasure.

Pangea Organics

The seven-year-old southern California maker of personal care products first gained notice for their all-natural ingredients. Then they wowed the green world with their earth-friendly packaging. The boxes the bottles and jars come in are embedded with seeds you can plant in your backyard to grow sweet basil or flowering amaranth. And now their holiday gift boxes will grow you a spruce tree, if you’ve got the room. Pangea scored another green coup when they eliminated an entire layer of waste by skipping the paper and printing product labels directly onto their bottles.

LuLii’s Handwoven Designs

Bags, bags, bags. Some women collect shoes. I collect bags. Bags at the Green Festival are usually of the batik or Guatemalan-weave variety. But I need something sleeker for business meetings and swank dinners. Enter LuLii’s stylish bags. Napa-based Vivian Lyman, who is half Thai, works with a family-owned business in Southeast Asia to produce the shoulder bags from woven rattan in a variety of colors, from cherry red, to mustard yellow, to kaboch-squash orange.

going green

Tired of the old artificial tree vs. real tree debate? Or the reuse the old lights vs. send them to the landfill to make room for LEDs debate? Then…

>> Recycle your old, energy-hogging holiday lights — and get a coupon for 15% off new lights! HolidayLEDs.com’s Christmas Light Recycling program gives you an eco-nomical incentive to recycle. Just remember to ship your old lights as greenly as possible — and to include your email address in your package so HolidayLEDs.com can email you that 15% off coupon without killing trees.

>> Get a Cardboard Christmas Tree. Made of recycled corrugated cardboard, this tree stands 3 feet tall when assembled — and can be painted and decorated either with the assortment of cardboard ornaments that arrive with the tree, or with your own decorations. Cost: $19.95.

>>> Take action by signing up for the No Plastic Holiday Challenge. Organized by Amy Gates, a.k.a. the Crunchy Domestic Goddess, The No Plastic Holiday Challenge is simple: Try to de-plastic your holidays. Start now, and we’ll let slide the little bit of plastic used in the LED string lights.

Image via thecardboardtree.com

going green

’Tis the season for living rooms around the country to be covered in a sea of crumpled paper and tossed-aside bows. Yup, wrapping paper from holiday gifts is largely to blame for a 25 percent spike in waste generation between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the EPA. (And if Grandpa’s just tossing everything into the fireplace, that’s even more harmful. Many inks and foils contain chemicals that are toxic when burned.)

What is the eco-minded gift-giver to do? Here are our favorite ways to give a thoughtfully wrapped present without taking more than your fair share of earth’s many gifts.

» Reusable shopping bags make an ingenious alternative to gift wrap, and these days they come in all manner of styles, from basic to uber-green to glam. The funky recycled Cambodian rice bags from Ecobags.com might be an even bigger hit than the gift inside. Check out the luminous drawstring gift sleeves by at Lyziwraps.com. Or if you’re a whiz with your Singer, whip up your own cloth tote bags or gift bags.

» Let surplus maps lead the way to sustainable wrapping. Reclaimed city maps, subway maps or topographical maps give your package a hip design. Not to mention, they’re educational.

» Add an LED lightbulb instead of a bow. This bright idea will help reduce your gift recipient’s carbon footprint (and electric bill).

» Say “silver bells” without leaving a metallic taste in your mouth. A different twist on recycled paper, recycled aluminum foil adds shiny happiness and closes the loop on recycling. Tie on some colorful raffia or hemp twine or the beguiling recycled silk sari yarn from Nearseanaturals.com to up the festive factor.

» Make the wrapping part of the gift. Containers make great no-frills packaging: A bucket or watering can is easy to fill with gardening supplies, and a mixing bowl or stockpot makes the perfect package for your favorite cook. And don’t forget soft wrapping paper alternatives that are also great gifts, like fair trade scarves, organic cotton baby blankets and beach towels or organic cotton bath towels. It’ll give the giftee a little hint as to what’s inside, but your creative wrapping will get years of use.

» Avoid sticky situations at your recycling facility by wrapping your gifts without conventional — often petroleum-based — tape. Not all curbside programs accept wrapping paper. But if yours does, it should be tape-free. Try opting out of tape by making tightly creased folds as you wrap, securing it by tying up the package tightly (in two directions) with natural twine or wool yarn that can be reused.

» Some of the best decorations for your gifts can be found in backyards, beaches and fields. Sprigs of berries, branches, shells and pinecones are naturally beautiful and don’t require any manufacturing at all… just a short hike. (Check with authorities before taking pinecones or other specimens from state or national forests or parks.)

» Banana fiber paper turns wasted bark from banana production into a decorative eco-wrapping option. Or opt for tree-less sources of paper, such as hemp wrap and 100 percent recycled paper printed with soy-based inks.

»Why spend a dime on wrapping when you already have what you need? Newspaper might have a reputation for saying “cheapskate,” so get a little creative. Use anything from paper bags to leftover wallpaper, and cut out images from magazines, comics, children’s drawings or old greeting cards to give your package artsy oomph.

going green

This holiday season, make the planet merry too. Holiday traditions can take their toll on the Earth (think of all the wrapping paper, ribbons, Styrofoam peanuts, and even discarded trees making their way to the landfill). So go green this year, with these incredibly easy steps that will give everyone something to celebrate.

1. Wrap recycled. Instead of buying shiny, glossy, non-recyclable wrapping paper – which costs a fortune, anyway – be creative. Turn your brown grocery bags into festive and totally original gift wrap with some scissors, tape, and markers, crayons or watercolor paints. Who wouldn’t rather get a gift wrapped with one-of-a-kind paper than some store-bought stuff that anyone could buy? Or try other common household items as gift wrap: newspapers, magazines, outdated road maps…or make a patchwork wrapper out of the holiday gift wrap you saved and put away last year. Make paper ribbons using the same materials – or tie your present with a pair of funky shoelaces that can be put to use afterward.

2. Donate to a good cause. Don’t empty your whole wallet on merchandise. Think how great you’ll feel if you share the love this year by making a donation to an organization that’s helping to make the planet a little better. You can even make a donation in a friend’s name instead of buying them a physical present; nothing gives warm-fuzzies like a letter saying a donation was made in your name. (I know: I recently got one from the local humane society after someone contributed in honor of my beloved dog that died this summer. I cried.) For a truly touching gesure, donate to a local organization in a friend or family member’s neck of the woods. There are hundreds of local wildlife rescue groups, land trusts, conservation organizations, animal shelters, and other local nonprofits that need resources; ask friends or try a Google search.

3. Mulch your tree! Christmas trees can easily be turned into mulch, putting their valuable resources back into the natural system. Many cities now have tree recycling programs, and mulch made from Christmas trees is often given back to local communities (or sold for a small fee). Check with your local trash pickup or sanitation department. Or try a different tree option this year: the San Jose Mercury News ran a story this week about “renting” Christmas trees (the trees are replanted after the holidays as part of urban renewal efforts). Also, check out Ideal Bite’s guide to green holiday trees here.

going green

I’m making my holiday gift list, and I’m checking it twice. Especially since, this year, it is so much easier to find eco-friendly goodies out there to give.

At the same time, I’m trying to wade through the hype to assess whether a potential gift is as eco-friendly as it’s marketed to be.

For example, there are now plenty of organic bath and beauty products that would be perfect for a friend. But often their ingredients sound less than all-natural to me.

I found some gorgeous gift wrap that comes from “sustainable forestry practices.” Should I keep shopping for gift wrap made from recycled paper? Should I use brown paper bags?

I’m not the only one who’s confused by the eco-chatter. A friend mentioned that when he was wandering near some plasma TVs at an electronics store, a salesman told him that it’d be green to get a pre-owned, refurbished plasma screen.

The truth is, my guard has been up since I read an article in The New York Times alerting consumers that green marketing is one of the season’s biggest retail trends, and that the claims often fall short.

A report by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing offers guidelines for shoppers, asking us to be mindful of the Six Sins of Greenwashing. Here are the six marketing ploys to keep in mind:

• The Sin of the Hidden Trade-off (A refurbished plasma TV might reduce the need for materials at first, but plasma screens are energy hogs.)
• The Sin of the No Proof (Can a third party verify claims such as “organic” or “all-natural?)
• The Sin of Vagueness (Beware of products claiming to be chemical-free or all-natural)
• The Sin of Irrelavance (Claims that have no relationship to the product or can be made with any other product in the same category—such as CFC-free shaving gel)
• The Sin of Fibbing (a falsehood that can’t be backed up at all, such as “certified organic” when no such certification exists)
• The Sin of the Lesser of Two Evils (an attempt put a green twist on a product that’s inherently harmful to the environment—e.g., organic cigarettes)

going green

At the risk of sounding a bit Grinch-y, I have seriously mixed feelings about getting a Christmas tree.

I like trimming the tree, and look forward to pulling out dusty ornaments acquired over the years, some dating back to Girl Scout macaroni crafts. I like the perennial colored lights vs. white lights debate, and seeing the lights flicker on. And, of course, I like to see lots of presents piled up under the tree, especially the ones for me.

What I don’t like is the sharp pangs of guilt that hit me at the Christmas tree lot, and again when it comes time to mulch the thing before its dried out needles fall off.

A recent conversation with some friends confirmed that I’m not the only one who experiences tree guilt. Several of them were similarly conflicted about having a tree, real or plastic. In most cases, they weren’t sure which was the better option, and for good reason: There are pros and cons to both.

In general, the eco-consensus is that a real tree is better for our planet (and our homes). Tree farms ensure that millions of trees are planted annually, which supports both farmers and eco-systems. They are a renewable resource. But it’s important to remember that as an agricultural product, most are grown with conventional farming methods, although there are a few organic tree farmers out there.

Fake trees can’t compete on the eco-front, because they aren’t biodegradble and most are grown in factories from petroleum-based (and unsustainable) plastic, PVC, aluminum, or other less-than-green materials.

There’s a more in-depth look at organic Christmas trees as well as the real vs. fake tree debate at Grist. The National Christmas Tree Association, (which, of couse, favors the use of real trees) has an overview on the subject.

Personally, I’ve found a few work-arounds over the years. My favorite is chopping down my own in the nearby mountains; each year the state park service issues permits as part of a controlled forestry plan to minimize the risk of wildfires.

And for years now, I’ve decorated a six-foot tall ficus tree in my living room with ornaments and lights. I also like the idea of ornament trees (like the one pictured) and decking the halls rather than a tree. Besides, I appreciate the trees that I see at the homes of friends and family.

I realize that most people — especially kids — still want to wake up to a traditional tree on Christmas morning. Still, as Charlie Brown showed us, “pitiful” trees have a charm of their own.

going green

Choosing to go green in your home can be as easy as choosing to recycle a can instead of throwing it away or choosing an energy efficient appliance instead of an energy wasting one. But sometimes the greener choice is not so obvious.

Take choosing a soft cloth to use for your dusting and cleaning. Nearly every green source I’ve consulted mentions synthetic microfiber as a green cleaning product. It does such a great job cleaning that it eliminates the need for toxic cleaning products and disposable wipes. It also can hold more dirt, grime and bacteria than other rags so you can use it longer before you have to wash it.

Jack of all cleaning tasks
Dry microfiber makes a great duster because it attracts dust to it instead of scattering it. It also works well for electronics like computer monitors and televisions where using a cleaning solution or a harsher cloth can cause damage. Microfiber can scrub just enough to get rid of spots or dirt without scratching and attract and hold the dust that hides in tight spaces.

With a little water and a dab of non-toxic dish soap, microfiber can match or beat any toxic cleaning solution for tasks such as wiping counters, cleaning bathrooms, washing windows and just about anything. So why wouldn’t everyone want to clean their home with this wondercloth?

The not-so eco-friendly side of microfiber
Microfiber is made from polyester and nylon so it’s a petroleum-based, non-renewable, and non-biodegradable product. The process that produces the petrochemicals that go into making microfiber also produces polluting and globe-warming greenhouse gases. This is bad for the environment and also for the workers who transform the raw materials into cloth and consumer products.

Suddenly microfiber doesn’t look like such a green choice after all. It can be greener than, say, disposable wipes or toxic cleaning solutions, but luckily there are also greener options than microfiber.

Greener cleaning cloths
The greenest choice is to use scraps of t-shirts or other fabrics that you would normally throw away. You keep the fabric out of the landfill and avoid buying a new product. For more effective dusting, spray your rag with a mixture of ¼-cup white distilled vinegar and a few drops of olive or jojoba oil.

Another option comes from the eco-friendly sponge maker Twist in the form of a cleaning cloth made from bamboo and corn. It’s washable and reusable like microfiber, but it also comes from renewable resources and is biodegradable. It does a great job dusting, which means it doesn’t leave its own particles behind and it actually grabs the dust instead of scattering it. These cloths also work great wet to clean the kitchen counter and the bathroom (separate cloths for each of those tasks of course).

So depending on your green priorities, microfiber may really be for the birds. Luckily, Twist is most definitely for the birds — quite literally. The cardboard packaging for the bamboo cloths has instructions on the back to make it into a bird feeder (see photo). I’m not sure how long this reincarnation will keep this bit of paper out of the recycling, but it’s fun while it lasts.

going green

Ghosts may not scare most of us, but phantom loads are a different story.

A phantom load — as you probably know — is the electricity that gets drained away by electronics and appliances, even when they’re in standby mode or switched off.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75 percent of the electric power consumed in the average home comes from appliances — such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances –  that are turned off, but remain plugged into the wall.

In other words, when we leave the VCR or stereo plugged into an outlet, it’s a constant, invisible waste of energy (and money, as most of our electric bills start to skyrocket.) The solution couldn’t be easier. All it requires is pulling the plug or buying a powerstrip and switching it off when its not in use.

So why is it so hard to do?

I’ve long been in the habit of turning off the lights when leaving a room, but it’s not second nature yet to unplug the stereo or TV or phone chargers.

I’m good about powering down rarely used electronics, such as the paper shredder, and fairly good at unpluggging electronics and appliances that I use often (but not daily) like the blender or computer printer.

But I haven’t made the leap to unplugging chargers and other things that stay plugged into the wall for no good reason. I’m not proud of it, but I rarely pull the plug on chargers for my cell phone, laptop and iPod.

Technically-speaking, I know unplugging is easy. In fact, it’s embarrassingly easy. But I’m not in the habit and often forget to do it.

The good news that guilt over-powers my inclination to be lazy and forgetful. Maybe that twinge of guilt will kick in often enough to make unplugging second nature, just like switching off the light when I leave a room.

going green