Author: Lisa Frack
Website: http://www.enviroblog.org/2010/01/rubber-ducky-youre-so-not-…

Special to Enviroblog by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, Co-Authors, Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things

The first question we usually get asked about our book, Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things, is: “What’s up with the unusual title? A rubber duck? Dangerous?”

As any EWG fan will know, the answer to this is, unfortunately, yes.

Perversely, most rubber ducks these days aren’t made of rubber at all. They’re vinyl — a plastic that’s full of potent hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates. Whenever a child handles or chews the soft and squishy toy, the chemical is absorbed and begins wrecking havoc.

The rubber duck, that most beloved of household icons, perfectly symbolizes the new and surprising kind of pollution that threatens our health and environment. Pollution like:

• Stain repellent coatings on sofas and rugs,
• Bisphenol A in containers in the kitchen, and
• Triclosan in anti-bacterial soap (among…

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Author: easy eco blog
Website: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/easyecoblog/~3/Ju-QigmmAO8/

Your Energy Bill arrive and it is way to high. You can start by asking your energy provider to check your meters accuracy, but you will have to do detective work to really save money. Our local utility, PGE, just announced another energy rate increase for 2010. You can go green and save money by [...]

Related posts:

1. Ways to Save Money and be green
2. Energy Efficient TVs
3. Multi-speed Pool Pumps save Energy

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Author: Jean-Paul
Website: http://www.thechicecologist.com/2010/01/destroying-clothes/

It really is quite a dilemma, the question of brand and style management and environmental stewardship has been at the forefront of controversy since the H&M and Walmart clothing destruction and disposal incident. This conjures up a similar dumpster diving topic of food disposal by grocery stores and restaurants, food safety concerns can pose some [...]

Related posts:

1. Organic Colorful Childrens Clothes – Happy Green Bee
2. Buy, Sell, Trade and Get Rid of Stuff – Recycle and Trade Spring Cleaning Treasures
3. Fashionable Outerwear (with function)

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Here are some timber house plans we’re working on for our clients in central Vermont.

Designed with 1750 square feet, the one story home has a walkout basement to accommodate the sloping site. A mudroom attached to the garage has plenty of storage for coats and boots, including gardening gear. The laundry area is conveniently combined with the pantry, which features plenty of storage, a sink, built-in ironing board, and access to the screen porch. The kitchen design makes efficient use of the space and has plenty of room for two people who love to cook.

The kitchen is open to the dining and great room. A requirement for this home design is a first floor Master Bedroom suite. Architect Jeremy Bonin’s design includes a large his and hers walk-in closet with room for a bureau, and both a walk-in shower and whirlpool tub in the Master Bath. Double French doors lead to a private balcony, where the owners can enjoy a cup of morning coffee in their beautiful Vermont surroundings.

The…

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Author: Joe Ascanio
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2010/01/13/indonesia-ecotourism-ge…

Non-profit responsible tourism leader Sustainable Travel International (STI) has partnered with Ecolodges Indonesia (ELI) to address the role that growing consumer awareness plays in turning efforts to go green into long-term business solutions for tourism providers.

ELI, an ecotourism provider, focuses on biodiversity conservation and enhancement of local community livelihoods. It is one of the first to pursue international sustainable tourism certification in Indonesia, and is committed to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals through their ecotourism investments and operations.

The company’s four Ecolodges emphasize wildlife conservation and improving the livelihoods of local communities where the properties are located.

“We are only a small, but growing company with a strong corporate social responsibility agenda, and are excited to become one of STI’s ‘Premium Partners’,” said Dr. Alan Wilson, Chairman of the Board of Ecolodges Indonesia. “Working with STI, we can…

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