Naturalpath

Once you make the switch to natural laundry soaps and cold water washing, the need for chlorine bleach may creep into your laundry habits. Yet chlorine bleach is harmful to humans and the environment; the good news is alternatives exist. These alternatives are nontoxic or less toxic and will allow you to keep your whites white with a clear, green conscious.

Although bleach manufacturer Clorox claims bleach does not enter groundwater, the addition of bleach to water can free chlorine that can result in the formation of chloroform. Bleach can also combine with ammonia in septic and drainage systems, thus resulting in monochloramine, which is dangerous to wildlife. Furthermore, bleach is harmful to humans. Bleach off gasses for a period of time. Bleach fumes from sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) can cause pulmonary embolisms in susceptible people. In addition, 25,000 children a year in the United States experience an accident involving bleach, such as ingestion, and it is the most common household chemical involved in poisonings. Despite these risks, many groups find household bleach use to be safe, as paper bleaching, pesticides, and plastics manufactures pose greater threats; however, alternatives do exist.

What would a trip to France be without that symbol of national identity, that beacon of cultural pride, that epitome of paradox, the very quintessence of French – what would your visit be without wine?

Imagine that you could wiggle your nose and magically get a quarter of a million dollars (yes, $250,000), better health, great legs and buns (your own), a sharper mental edge, easy parking everyday and an enjoyable commute, and maybe a couple new friends for good measure.

Teaching our kids the beauty of the natural world starts from day one, and we often use positive reinforcement and encouragement to help instill important values: "When you do well in school, you get a gold star. When you do well for the environment, you get a green one!" That's the founding principle behind San Francisco's Little Green Star line of t-shirts for babies and toddlers. Founded just last year by two women who worked together at a local eco-consulting company, LGS features catchy yet educational images printed with non-toxic, water-based inks on sweatshop-free, 100% organic cotton t-shirts and onesies. "We choose to use organic cotton and water-based ink because the have less impact on the environment than conventional products. By making this choice we are protecting our natural resources and supporting sustainability."

At last week’s Sustainable Business Council event here in LA, the topic was health and wellness. As a cool bonus at the event, the organization brought in Green Bliss, a mobile eco-spa, to provide free treatments. It was then that I realized just how much is going on in this industry.

CHEMICAL FREE TOILETRIES

As part of modern life, we are all being exposed to significantly higher levels of artificial chemicals than at any point in history. Over 300 man-made chemicals are found in the average person. According to international environmental group Friends of the Earth, there is some evidence that the use of chemicals in foods, household cleaning products, paint, baby toiletries and detergents can aggravate conditions such as asthma and dermatitis.

Don't let mosquitos get in the way of your summer outdoor fun. Here are a few tips on keeping you bite free.

Remove standing water sources. This is prime mosquito breeding ground. Dump water from anything in your yard or outdoor area that is collecting it. For things you'd like to keep water in (birdbaths, wading pools, pet water bowls) change it often.

Turn on a fan. Mosquitos prefer still air. A nice breeze will deter them and keep you cool.

There are a lot of small, easy things you can do to get the most out of your AC and lighten the energy load for savings in your energy bill.

Don't touch that thermostat
The magic number is 78 degrees. In most climates this is a comfortable temperature setting. Each degree higher than that will save you 6 to 8 percent in cooling costs. You can also set it a couple degrees higher when you're not home.

Lowering the set temperature won't cool your place any quicker and will only wind up costing you more energy. Keep it at a constant temperature. The AC unit will regulate itself as designed.

Sustainability has become a buzz word in the design industry. Graphic design industry magazines such as HOW and Communication Arts are publishing articles (and even entire issues) devoted to green design regularly. Designers are starting to pay attention and change the way they work.

Myth: Beauty products sold as "natural" and "organic" at health food stores and coops are truly natural and organic.