Green Options

There’s more than just bamboo when it comes to sustainable flooring. More green alternatives are available now for several types of flooring material. So, whether you’re looking to re-carpet the living room or want to re-do your kitchen, here are a few things to consider when thinking about flooring.

Buy recycled content or renewable materials.

Bamboo and cork are renewable resources, as is wood when it is sustainably harvested.
Look for [...]

We’ve already listed five reasons not to buy bottled water, but when you’re refilling your own here’s a few things to keep in mind about the water and your bottle.

The water. Nearly all municipal water systems in the U.S. provide water that is safe to drink straight from the tap. You can filter your own water at home using a simple activated carbon filter that will get rid of any bad tastes [...]

Magazines are a great source of current information on specific topics. There’s an increasing number of green and environmental magazines hitting the newsstands from general lifestyle information to energy and conservation. Subscribing gets you full access to the print edition online, and it’s usually cheaper than buying each issue off the rack.

Plenty Magazine and E: The Environmental Magazine cover general green issues of the day and include special [...]

All batteries contain heavy metals, which are useful for providing power for our portable devices, but aren’t so great for the environment. When your batteries run out of juice, or just won’t keep their charge anymore, be sure to dispose of them properly.

Many small electronics, like cell phones, iPods, computers and digital cameras use rechargeable batteries. These are often nickel-cadmium, metal-hydride or lithium-ion batteries. Then there are single-use alkaline batteries used for [...]

Fish is a source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but unfortunately because of the pollution in our waters, fish and other seafoods also contain toxins such as mercury and PCBs. Then there’s also the issue of overfishing, and the debate between wild-caught and farm-raised fish to consider. So how do you know what fish choose?

To help you sort out the "good" fish from the "bad" fish, Environmental [...]

Green Options has covered the benefits of natural toothpastes, but what about the toothbrush you’re putting in your mouth? Do you know where that comes from? We’ve listed three dentist-approved toothbrushes that are good for your teeth and good for the planet.

Radius Original Toothbrush. The Radius original toothbrush has been around for 22 years. This non-traditional design (made for righties and lefties) not only helps you [...]

Yeah, yeah. We’ve all heard this one. Change out your incandescents for the more energy efficient CFLs. But how many of you are actually doing it?

Making the switch to CFLs (compact flourescent lamps) will result in noticeable savings in your electricity bill. Plus, they last longer, produce more light, and emit less heat.

Want more good news about CFLs? They come in more than [...]

Moving is a big task and can be a big hassle. Next time you’re getting ready for a big move, try to incorporate a few things that will help you save on waste and transport your things more efficiently.

Getting rid of stuff. Whether you’re moving from a bigger place to a smaller place, or just don’t want to move all of your old junk, moving is great at forcing you to pare down [...]

Conventional clay and silica-based kitty litters are not only burdens on landfills, but they come from strip mines (a very non-ecofriendly practice). Switch your cat over to some natural alternatives. These natural based litters are biodegradable, reduce odor and have less dust, which means less irritation for your cat’s lungs (and your lungs too.)

In her article on greening pets, GO’s Kelli Best-Oliver suggests a wheat based litter [...]

So you want to move your green reading offline, but don’t know where to start? Here’s a few recent titles and some eco-classics to get you started.

The green classics. For the nature loving, conservationists look for notable authors such as Aldo Leopold, and Henry David Thoreau. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, the book that created an awareness of the effects of DDT, could be considered [...]