Green Options » ecoscraps

The Air in My Basement Flushes My Toilet!

Joe Mohr — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:30:51 +0000

It’s true.
I have a zero-gallon/flush toilet! The air in my basement (collected by my 5-gallon dehumidifier) flushes my toilet.

The 5-gallon reservoir in my dehumidifier fills up daily in the summer (I’m in humid St Louis, MO). Then, gravity lends a hand. I pour the 5 gallons into the toilet to flush the “yellow” that we’ve let “mellow” in the first floor bathroom, at the end of the day (for all you cringers out there, it doesn’t start to smell until day 2 or 3).

#2 is done upstairs and flushed in a normal fashion each time–we’re not barbarians:)

Now, I know that this works (and that it saves water) but I don’t know how it works. For that I looked up an old yahoo answers post which explains the process (for those who want to know).

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons GNU Free Documentation License

Free, Earth-Friendly Weed Killer for Small Yards and Gardens!

Joe Mohr — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:13:16 +0000

With all the news (and common sense) about the harmful effects of various weed killers, I’d like to arm our readers with a free, earth-friendly weed killer.

Scroll

down

to

access

your

free,

earth-

friendly

weed

killer.

Yep, it’s your hands. I am arming you with your own hands. The thumb and index finger can work together to rid most small yards and gardens of all invasive weeds.

If you have kids and/or a partner, then you have more free weed killers at your disposal.

And you don’t have to purchase “green” products to be “green”. As Adam Shake writes at Twilight Earth; “Do Nothing - And Call it Green”. This is a perfect example of this mantra…

Now get pickin’!

Related News

EPA fails to inform public about weed-killer (Atrazine) in drinking water
Green Options Article Archive on “Atrazine”
Report: Genetically Modified (GM) Crops are Harmful to Your Health (good info on the effects of Roundup weed killer. Also, click on the links at the bottom of this article for more info.)

image credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

GOOD Magazine’s Water Issue–A MUST Read!

Joe Mohr — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:21:00 +0000

I once called Blue Planet Run a “must read“, and it is (so read it!). However, GOOD’s latest water issue* is easier to take with you, covers some new topics, and well, some people just prefer magazines.

I’m not sure if magazines can be called ‘must reads’–but if so, then this issue is (so read it!).

*The on-line edition does not have the content in its entirety, so consider buying the hard copy as well.

More on Water

Blue Planet Run
Green Options Articles tagged ‘Water’

image credit: flickr

China’s Next Step in Controlling Population: Sell Hummers

Joe Mohr — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:34:57 +0000

I meant that the added emissions of this notorious gas guzzler may have a negative effect on the health of their citizens. Geez! Get your mind out of the gutter!

(Street) Sign of the Times

Joe Mohr — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:22:43 +0000

Stuck in traffic the other day and surrounded by an army of traffic cameras, I was forced to pay closer attention to the street signs at a busy intersection. It was at this intersection where I saw this sign and thought that it really defines our present situation. “Left Turn” referring to the political/social change in direction that our country has taken. And, “Yield on Green” referring to the fact that we are now stopping (or atleast slowing down) to consider the impact our actions have on our planet.

Just thought I’d share my thoughts…

…oh and, if there were a street sign for the last 8 years it might’ve been:

or…

Michelle Obama How Does your Garden Grow?

mcmilker — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:57:59 +0000

Organically of course. Michelle Obama and local school children broke ground this morning on the first full size vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt maintained a Victory Garden during World War II.

The First Lady plans to use organic farming methods, grow 55 different plants and include a beehive. The harvest will be served in White House meals and given to local soup kitchens.

Photo Credit:sobocaj at Flickr Under Creative Commons License.

The Top Ten ‘Top Ten Lists’ From Green Options Media

Joe Mohr — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:13:49 +0000

10. Top 10 Renewable Tech Gadgets By Michelle Bennett–posted on Cleantechnica, May 5th, 2008

9. Top 10 in Green You Should Follow on Twitter By Maryanne Conlin Milker–posted on Ecopreneurist, February 3rd, 2009

8. My Top Ten Quick, Healthy, Sustainable Snacks by Megan Prusynski–posted on Eat. Drink. Better., June 13th, 2008

7. The top ten office environmental pet peeves and why Xerox went green By Olga Orda–posted on Green Options, July 16, 2008

6. Top 10 Electric Cars Coming to the US in 2009/2010 By Nick Chambers–posted on Gas 2.0, January 15, 2009

5. Ten Ways to Eat Local, Seasonal Food All Year By Bryan Luukinen–posted on Eat. Drink. Better., September 29th, 2008

4. Clean Energy Intro: Top 10 Alternative Solar Uses By Michelle Bennett–posted on Cleantechnica, February 25th, 2008

3. The Nature Conservancy: Top 10 Ways to Help Save Our Oceans By Jonathon D. Colman–posted on Green Options, June 21, 2008

2. Top Ten Water Saving Tips By me–posted on PlanetSave, October 22, 2008

1. Ten Winning Ideas for Change By Becky Striepe–posted on Ecolocalizer, January 17th, 2009

Ten takeaways from this post: conserve water, buy local, drive a green car (if you have to drive at all), eat well, stay informed, stay active, be the change you wish to see, use renewable energy, consume less, and of course, read Green Options Media (which itself has been mentioned in a few lists, such as Environmental Graffiti’s “Top Ten Environmental Blogs“, Webecoist’s “25 of the Greenest Blogs“, and Read Write Web’s “Top 35 Environmental Blogs“)

Alaska to Sue Federal Government Over Beluga Whales

Amy Bell — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:10:19 +0000

Alaska’s governor Sarah Palin has announced that the state of Alaska plans to sue the federal government over its decision to place beluga whales from Anchorage’s Cook Inlet on the Endangered Species List.

Palin is said to be against the decision because of the effects it may have on oil and gas developments and the expansion of the city’s port. (The area happens to be a mature oil-producing basin.)

A Drinking Glass That Could Save the World

Shirley Siluk Gregory — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:14:09 +0000

Ukrainian-born designer Inna Alesina couldn’t have created a more eloquent design to express our overconsumption of the world’s resources, in this particular case, water. As she states on her Website, “The user would have to be careful while filling the glass and cover the hole with his or her thumb while drinking, thus one could put a stop to waste (in the global sense) with one’s own hands.” (Note: You can order these glasses from her online store — cool gift with an eco message, huh?)

Image credit: Inna Alesina’s Website.

A Short History of America by Robert Crumb

Joe Mohr — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:13:29 +0000

Could also be titled: A Short History of Global Warming

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.
I wonder what the next few panels will look like…

Japanese Man Builds Canoe From Used Chopsticks

Jennifer Lance — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:02:11 +0000

Salvaging thousands of used disposable chopsticks from the Koriyama’s city hall cafeteria over two years, Shuhei Ogawara has built a 4-meter (13-ft) long canoe. It took three months for Ogawara to glue 7,382 chopsticks together to form the canoe shell.

Via: Pink Tentacle

Unclaimed Recycling Deposits in California to be Used for Green Jobs

Jennifer Lance — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:59:09 +0000

Californians throw away millions of dollars of unclaimed bottle refunds each year when they place recycling in the garbage.

These unclaimed funds called California Redemption Value (CRV) are now being used to fund recycling projects at no expense to the state’s general fund. California recycles more than any other state in the union.

Via: Environmental News Service

The Coke/Pepsi Challenge: Which Soda Works Best as a Pesticide?

Jennifer Lance — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:41:11 +0000

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

Blast-Proof World Seed Bank Vault Being Built in Norway

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:31:57 +0000

Seed banks help out farmers in times of natural disasters; however, the Global Crop Diversity Trust is preparing for such a disaster on a global scale. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault will store and preserve 4.5 million samples from other seed banks. The vault is located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. Conde Nast explains the purpose of this world seed bank:

There are only two reasons a seed would ever leave this vault: (1) to be replaced by a fresh sample or (2) to reseed a crop that’s been wiped off the earth.

Image and via: Conde Nast Portfolio

Former Mailman in Federal Court Gets Probation for Refusing to Deliver Junk Mail

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:29:20 +0000

Former mailman Steven Padgett received probation in federal court for failing to deliver years worth of junk mail. Although the mailman did not stop delivering junk mail based on the environmental impact of junk mail, which accounts for 30% of all US mail. He did it because he couldn’t keep up with the volume of mail he had to deliver and still maintain a personal relationship with the residents on his route. Even so, environmental groups, such as Forest Ethics, have supported Padgett. The federal court sentenced Padgett to three years probation, a $3,000 fine, and 500 hours of community service.

Via: News & Observer

Image: uzvards on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

85 Pound Sacramento River Chinook Salmon Returned Upriver Because of Ocean Fishery Closure

Jennifer Lance — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:22:35 +0000

Near the town of Anderson, CA, state wildlife officials discovered a four feet long, 85 pound Chinook Salmon, one of the biggest salmon ever found in the Golden State.

The giant Chinook had recently spawned and died in Battle Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River. Due to a canceled commercial fishing season in the Pacific Ocean, this fish was able to live a full life and probably weighed 90 pounds before beginning its journey upriver.

Via: Redding Record Searchlight

Image: California Department of Fish and Game

Obama Wins The Nano Vote Too

Susan Kraemer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:21:04 +0000

We know that 76 Nobel Laureates endorsed Obama.

So much for Big Science.

But what about little science? Very teeny? Elections do have consequences for every interested party in science, from the greatest Nobel Laureates to the humblest specks of nano stuff.

Looks like they went heavily Obama, too.

And no wonder, with the war on science we just survived.

The kind assistant Professor John Hart of the University of Michigan helped these tiny nanovoters in his care add their voice to the science vote for Nanobama.

Via Nanobot
Photo credit: Nanobot

Hiring: CO Wind Turbine Producer Seeks 1,400 Workers

Alex Felsinger — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:00:16 +0000

The green technology boom has already begun. Perhaps the economy will recover faster than we thought.

Vestas, the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, is seeking 1,400 workers, all of which will be full-time positions with benefits. The company is adding facilities in Brighton, Colorado for assembly and blade manufacturing. For applications and more information, visit their job listings website.

Photo: Greenjobsnow under Creative Commons license.

Ebay Ends Sale Of Endangered Species Products Like Ivory

Jerry James Stone — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:23:31 +0000

IFAW Finds Ebay Responsible For Most Elephant Ivory Sales

EBay agreed to a global ban on the sale of all types of ivory products by January 1, 2009, after an investigation by IFAW found more than 4,000 elephant ivory listings on the online auction site.

Letterman on Climate Change: “We Are So Screwed!”

Gavin Hudson — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:37:32 +0000

David Letterman once thought climate change was for “treehuggers” and “kooks.” In this clip from a September episode, the Late Night show host introduces Thomas L Friedman’s new book Hot, Flat, Crowded with an emphatic reversal of this opinion. Despite Letterman’s trademark cynicism, there’s a lot of optimism here. Letterman mentions alternative energy and the crowd goes wild.