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Green Driving Tips

December 14, 2009 in Green Living by donna | No comments

As Keith and I have travelled back and forth to Tennessee to visit his parents over the last 16 years I can see the incremental changes we have made to create a more environmentally conscious trip. In the process, the trip has also become more relaxing and pleasant for us as well. Whether you are commuting to work or driving across the country, these ideas may help you to also have a more pleasant and green road trip as well.

Keep the car in good repair. There is no question that a well-maintained car has better gas mileage and lasts longer.
Do a few last-minute checks on the car including: oil and other fluid levels, and tire pressure. Keith and I travel with a portable air compressor (this would be a good gift for the right person) that works by plugging it into the power outlets in the car.
Use green cleaners inside and outside your car. You will want clean windows for driving but you will also be inhaling the air of your car for the duration of your trip. Please get rid of the traditional ammonia and butyl cellosolve window cleaners and try some Basic H2. If you want a free sample, send me an e-mail with your name and address and I will give you one to try. You will be impressed at how well it works. My e-mail address is: keithdonnnacopeland@sbcglobal.net
Plan ahead for meals. We tend to avoid restaurants on our trips to Tennessee for four purposes: 1) Our dog doesn’t do so well being left in the car by herself. 2) It is more expensive to eat in restaurants. 3) With me being gluten-free and vegetarian it is complicated to try to get a well-balanced and safe meal. 4) Restaurants (especially fast food) have a lot of trash and waste that gets produced. Keith and I will take a cooler of food as well as a bag of snacks (nuts, trail mix, gluten-free crackers, fresh fruit, etc) to keep us going on the trip. If we do stop for a meal we usually choose Chipotle because they have a good vegetarian and gluten-free option while being one of the more environmentally-conscious fast food choices at a reasonable price.
Clean out the fridge. We pay special attention to purchasing perishables and we eat the foods that don’t travel so well. We will also freeze extras that we won’t be able to consume before we go or give the extras to someone who will use them. Once the fridge is empty we put pitchers or bottles of water in the fridge to fill up the empty space because a full fridge uses less electricity and the water will help the fridge to maintain its temperature.
BYOB. Keith and I also travel with our own water from home in reusable water containers. I like to stop for a cup of coffee and I am working on remembering to bring a reusable travel mug. I will also travel with my favorite tea bags and a thermos of hot water which stays remarkably hot for the 12 hour drive.
Watch the speedometer. There is a significant increase in gas mileage when you go over 55 miles per hour. Keith and I have found a comfortable speed limit is right around 60 mph. That way you can stay in the right lane and you rarely need to pass anyone (the trip is much less stressful) yet you aren’t going so super-slow that it feels unsafe.
Bring along cloth napkins, rags, and recyclable wipes. You know there are going to be spills in the car so plan ahead by bringing a few washable napkins and rags and for those things that need a cleaning agent, I love our Basic H wipes because they are so very convenient and great to use in the car. When I get to our destination I put them in a recycling bin.

These are a few tips for you to consider for your next road trip. If you have your own suggestions of what you do to make your road trips more green, I would love to hear them. If you are interested in green driving solutions for more fuel saving tips and strategies, go to: www.GreenDrivingSolutions.com and check out their DVD. Don’t forget to e-mail me if you want that free sample of Basic H2 (please put “free sample of Basic H2″ as the subject line). Drive safely!

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who is paid a commission by Shaklee when people purchase products through her or her website. She enjoys sharing tips and techniques that she has picked up over the years and sharing them to help make other’s lives safer and more enjoyable. You can go to her website (there is a money-back guarantee on all products) at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com Donna is not paid in any way by Green Driving Solutions to endorse their products.

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Tags: reduce car emissions, road trips

Lead in Vitamins

November 9, 2009 in Green Living, Healthy Nutrition by donna | No comments

I’m sure you have heard the big hu-bub about the lead in toys and maybe you have heard about the lead in lipstick and some other cosmetics (and not just by the cheap brands either). Have you heard about lead in vitamins?

Yep, lead in vitamins. Even trusted national brands have been found to have lead in them. Lead doesn’t leave your body when you ingest it. It builds up and becomes even more dangerous over time. The FDA is not overly concerned because they say these vitamins are all at “acceptable levels” but that is something I can’t agree with.

Originally the FDA had a post on their website listing the results. They have since pulled it off and the information cannot be found on their website. The government found lead in all but four of their samples (and they sampled over 300 vitamins!).

You can read a summary of the research at this blog: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/lead-vitamins-082803

I love being part of a company where you can trust they are putting products out iwith integrity. If they can’t get the pure raw ingredient they hold the product until they can. I actually had to wait six months for a particular supplement because they didn’t have the quality they needed. I don’t mind waiting if it means what I am putting in my body is ALWAYS SAFE.

So start by considering what you put in your body (and your children’s bodies). If you need a hand with good vitamins, contact me through my e-mail keithdonnacopeland@sbcglobal.net and I would be happy to lend you a hand navigating the field of nutritional supplements.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who is paid by Shaklee for purchases made through her or her website. You can find more information at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

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Tags: lead in vitamins, natural supplement dangers

Agave Concerns

November 4, 2009 in Green Living, Healthy Nutrition by donna | 2 comments

I have mentioned in previous posts agave nectar as an optional sweetener to use in place of regular sugar. It is supposed to metabolise slower in our bodies and create less of an issue for our pancreas (good news for diabetics AND anyone trying to avoid diabetes…all of us). It also has a delightfully sweet flavor and can be used in everything from coffee to baking.

Having said all of that, recently some things have come to light about agave and how it is produced that is causing me to rethink my own family’s use of agave and I thought you may appreciate the same information. I don’t know how well-founded in fact this information is so before you make your decision, please do some of your own research. Google “Agave” and then do a little digging into articles and see for yourself.

For me, here are my two primary concerns:

Agave plants take 20 years to mature and they are destroyed in the process of creating agave nectar.
Agave syrup is not as natural as it seems to be because of the manufacturing processes it must go through to create it; it may be closer to high fructose corn syrup because of the unnatural nature of this processing.

Let’s address the first one which is pretty straight-forward. If an almond tree took 20 years to mature and then it had to be cut down to harvest the almonds, I would probably stop eating almonds. It is why Keith and I only harvest dead trees for our firewood. I will tell you I have heard this from a couple different sources (although I can’t tell you where and I apologize for that).

Looking at the second consideration gets a lot more into science which is not my strong suit (if you went to school with me, you already know this!). Some people are really anti-corn syrup. I am only anti-high-fructose corn syrup. Regular corn syrup I put in the same category as white sugar or confectioners sugar (to be used sparingly and infrequently because of the major zap it gives our pancreas PLUS the processing it goes through to make it that sweet and white).

The main difference that I understand between high-fructose corn syrup and corn syrup is that to make the syrup “extra” sweet they alter it chemically. I am not a big fan of chemically modified food. Have you ever tasted straight corn syrup? That ought to be plenty sweet enough for anyone! So for me, there are enough concerns about chemically altered food to make me avoid high fructose corn syrup (and yes, I do consume it sometimes because it is in ketchup or when I enjoy the occasional Dr. Pepper); I just think before I eat and I make a conscious choice before consuming.

So my concern with agave is how much chemical modification is it going through to make it that sweet? I think it would be a kick to figure out how to create my own sugar out of sugar cane (which will grow in Tennessee) or with sugar beets (which will grow in Michigan) just to find out how much processing needs to be done to create sugar as we enjoy it.

Don’t you think if everyone needed to make their own sugar we would use a lot less of it?

I still have some agave nectar in my pantry that I purchased before I became more informed. I haven’t used it recently and I will likely continue to hold it in reserve. I’m sure it will get used eventually, some day when I run out of turbinado (a less processed version of sugar that I prefer these days) or honey. In the meantime, please feel free to share any sources you have about agave with me. I appreciate the education and your thoughts on the subject.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who enjoys sharing information she picks up in her research and daily living with you here so you can be healthier and think before you eat. You can visit her Shaklee website and see the diversity of healthy living products available at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com If you make a purchase at Donna’s website she is compensated by Shaklee.

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Tags: agave concerns, agave processing

Local News Reports on Dangerous Household Chemicals

November 2, 2009 in Green Living by donna | No comments

A friend of mine told me yesterday that WXYX, Channel 7 Detroit, was doing a report during the 11 PM news on “Dangerous Household Chemical Mixtures” and I must admit I had pretty low expectations. I expected it would be something like, “Don’t mix bleach and ammonia together because it can create toxic fumes; Mike, back to you.” I was pleasantly surprised when Carolyn Clifford, the health reporter shared several good suggestions, many that don’t often come up.

She shared what she considered to be the most dangerous chemicals in our homes and I’ll give you a brief summary here:

Sodium Hydroxide & Sulfuric Acid: Found in all types of cleaners and sodium hydroxide is also found in many personal care products, they are damaging to skin through contact and by inhalation.
Paint: She refers to the dangers found in household paint but doesn’t say what to do about it. There are many kinds of “Low VOC” paints available where they contain fewer of the toxins found in regular paint (you know that taste in the back of your throat after a day of painting?). They are a bit more expensive, but not much and well worth it for your health.
Dry cleaned clothes: Many people don’t think of their own clothes as putting off chemicals, but they do and some of them are suspected to cause cancer. When you get your clothes, take them out of the plastic and hang them outside to air out (my suggestion to hang them outside, she just says to hang them up but why would you want to have carcinogens floating around your home?). Also, see if you can avoid dry cleaning. I have found with several of my dress pants and blouses that I can clean them just fine in the wash. Be willing to take the risk that something may not work out though!
Carpet: When getting carpeting installed, ask for “formaldehyde-free” adhesives; keep your windows open for a few days to let the house air out and use a fan. I would encourage you to consider other options than carpeting because it isn’t just the adhesives that are in it plus many people with allergies have issues with the dust that carpet collects.
Air fresheners: It is ironic how things that are supposed to make our house smell as good as the outdoors and clean (which should equal healthy) are terrible for us, especially if we have any kind of breathing condition (and even if we don’t). In this short segment the reporter didn’t even scratch the surface on all the dangerous chemicals (including phthalates and formaldehyde) that are found in artificial fragrances that are not listed as ingredients because they are by-products. Use baking soda, open windows, or essential oils (the real ones from the health food store not a scented candle that says “essential oils”).
Pest control: There are a variety of dangers involving chemicals to control rodents and other pests. They are not only dangerous to pets but also to us. Start by making sure your home makes it difficult to let in pests (seal holes and such) and then if you have mice, use traps, not poisons.
Wood cleaners: These can cause headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems. Just because it smells like lemon or orange doesn’t mean there is a drop of citrus oil in there (and if there is, it is likely only a drop designed to mask the chemicals).

You can watch the informative three-minute segment for yourself at: http://www.wxyz.com/content/news/health/default.aspx (the post on Monday, November 2 will be on the right upper corner, after that it will be on the running list, in order of most recent appearance)

In the meantime, consider what you are exposing yourself and your family to by the choices you make. Even if you don’t have any asthma in your family, you can actually be creating lung conditions over time. Especially with windows being closed now, think before you bring chemicals into your home and use them.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who first fell in love with Shaklee’s cleaning products that are non-toxic AND work really well. Her Shaklee website (for more information) is: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com If you go to Donna’s website and make a purchase she will receive compensation from Shaklee.

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Tags: dangerous household chemicals, TV news and toxins report

Lawn Considerations

October 29, 2009 in Green Living by donna | No comments

We Americans invest a lot of effort into our lawn care. There is something so appealing about a broad expanse of lush green lawn that makes you want to take your shoes and socks off, enjoy the tickly softness of it, and play a game of croquet.

Reality check! How much time do you spend on your lawn? Some families really use their lawn space a lot for picnics and games; a place for the kids to play. How many of us have our lawns as a space that is primarily used as landscaping and humans rarely utilize the space? Keith and I actually own a croquet set and badminton racquets which we usually take advantage of at least a few times over the summer. This past summer we didn’t use either, ALL summer.

Now think about what gets done to keep a lawn looking lush and green. Some of these may not apply to you, but they may apply to your neighbor.

Weekly (or more frequent) mowing
Watering
Fertilizing
Pesticides (to kill the creepy crawlies)
Herbicides (to kill the dandelions and crab grass)

You may know where I am going with this. First of all, in my opinion the main reason for having a lawn would be a place to DO something. Mother Nature does not grow lawns naturally. Sure, she has meadows but they are very different from lawns. A lawn is considered a “mono-culture” meaning that only one specie is supposed to live there. That is NOT the way Mother Nature operates; that is one consideration.

Secondly, if the main point of a lawn is to have an open space for activities, what are we putting on our lawns that we might be exposed to? Does anyone else cringe when they see those warning flags from a lawn treatment company warning us to keep humans and pets off the lawn until the chemicals applied dry? Scary stuff. Just because they dry doesn’t mean we don’t track traces of those chemicals into our homes. Think twice before using fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on your lawn or in your garden. If you do, please choose carefully, there are some good organic choices available and only use the suggested amount (or less) to reduce the possibility of run-off into our lakes and streams.

My third point is to consider not watering your lawn. Sure it may be a bit crispy for part of the summer. That creates a stronger root system for your grass. We Americans tend to be a bit cavalier with our use of natural resources but just ask anyone who has lived in an area of the country that has experienced a drought and ask them if it is really important to water a lawn when the entire area’s supply of DRINKING water is threatened.

I have a couple suggestions to consider:

Mow less-this will reduce your carbon emissions (or use a human-powered push mower)
Plant native grasses that are drought resistant-there are some very cool grasses that only grow to a maximum of four inches high (we saw a display at the Arboretum in Ann Arbor a couple years ago)…they never need mowing!!
Landscape with other plants and ground cover to reduce your lawn space-my personal favorite use of land around my home is for growing perennials that will produce food year after year. Put in some fruit or nut trees, berry bushes, or a strawberry patch. Not only will they be pretty and provide you with some fresh, local food, they will also soak up more carbon than a lawn will making the air in your neighborhood even more clean and naturally purified.

Keith and I still mow more lawn than we would like to. We have put day lilies in a large section at the front of our home and nurtured black raspberries in a few sections. There is always room for improvement.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor with a passion for helping others (and herself, of course) to live greener and healthier lives. Our daily choices add up and Donna asks you to consider how your choices will have an impact on your health, the health of your family, and the health of the planet in the days and years to come. You can find more information on her Shaklee business (she is paid a commission by Shaklee for any products purchased through her or her website) at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

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Tags: lawn alternatives, yard maintenance

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Green Driving Tips

Lead in Vitamins

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Local News Reports on Dangerous Household Chemicals

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