We have done the research for you.  Please visit SUSTAIN online to see our best-in-class, chemical-free personal care offerings.  

3 = gallons per minute from a faucet

6 =  gallons per toilet flush

7= gallons per minute in a shower

12 = gallons per dishwasher load

40+ = gallons per washing machine load

It isn’t hard to conserve water. It is usually a simple matter of awareness that helps us make better decisions.

• Example 1 — Is it necessary to drown a small spider in two three-gallon buckets of water? Don’t use the toilet if a wastebasket is sufficient = 6 gallons saved water!
• Example 2 — Want a drink of cold water? Keep a jug in the fridge. Next time you are thirsty it is chilled and tasty, no waiting for the faucet to cool down = 3+ gallons of water saved!

P.S. saving water also saves energy; energy needed to heat water and run appliances. 1 good decision = 2 benefits! It just gets better. Make it a game, when competition is involved you will get quite crafty…

Where does one start to make sense of all the articles, research, blog posts, studies, and expert opinions?  Is the sodium polyacrylate used in disposables to absorb actually harmful to babies?  Can a landfill ever be compared to a composting facility, the only place things truly biodegrade?  Should the ability to absorb large volumes of liquid be a selling point for disposables, how about changing that soiled child?

The debates are endless.  Manufacturers need water to grow the cotton to make cloth diapers. Parents need water to launder the diapers. Disposable diapers require more water in manufacturing, but also more trees, energy and fuel. We are left comparing apples to oranges: Is a product that uses more water better than a product that takes up landfill space?

On the face of it, cloth diapers appear to be the best way to avoid additional waste dump in landfills. But laundering cloth diapers does appear to suck up a lot of water, which could present a problem in drought-afflicted areas.

A ray of hope for parents can be found in G Diapers.  G Diapers bridge the gap between cloth and disposable.  They consist of a washable, cotton outer ’little g’ pant and a plastic-free diaper refill. They outer is made of breathable material just like sports clothing, while the refill can be flushed, garden composted [wet ones only], or thrown away.  See the break down for yourself: 

Perhaps the most environmentally friendly option is Infant Potty Training, also called Elimination Communication and Natural Infant Hygiene.  DiaperFreeBaby is a helpful site for explaining the exact particulars and provides resources for those interested in learning more.  Using zero diapers is the best option we can think of.  I have seen it in action and will testify how amazingly it works.   

If your decision on diapering is going to be made solely on cost, check out this comparison chart.

Ingredients: distilled water & essential oil of lavender

Uses: a room spray, a face toner, an after-sun spray, an antiseptic for cuts, a pillow spray for restful nights…the most versatile spray ever!

Retail: $12.00*

This bottle is sitting in my bathroom and gets used about 20 times a day…because it works for  EVERYTHING (even as a dog freshener)! Lavender essential oil is antiseptic and smells great.  I’m glad that Khushi put it in this easy-to-dispense spray form so that everyone can enjoy it. 

*available only in Louisville store

We use energy to light our cities and homes, to power machinery in factories, cook our food, play music, and operate televisions. In a home about 70% of the energy used goes to power the air conditioner & water heater.  

WHY IS ENERGY CONSERVATION IMPORTANT? 

Because of the limited amount of nonrenewable energy sources on Earth, it is important to conserve our current supply or to use renewable sources so that our natural resources will be available for future generations.  Our use of fossil fuels also contributes to air and water pollution.  Possible impacts include a threat to human health, environmental impacts such as rising sea levels that can damage coastal areas, and major changes in vegetation growth patterns that could cause some plant and animal species to become extinct. 

You can help solve these global problems. In the U.S., the average family’s energy use generates over 11,200 pounds of air pollutants each year. Therefore, every unit (or kilowatt) of electricity conserved reduces the environmental impact of energy use.  Monitor your family’s usage with products like the Power Cost Monitor [Left: available at SUSTAIN for $149.99].  It helps pinpoint which areas of your home are consuming the most energy.

Another energy alternative is utilizing solar panels.  The initial cost of solar power systems is significant but the renewable nature of PV technology, low system maintenance, and numerous tax incentives make solar panel systems an attractive investment for powering homes and businesses.

Did you know that even the President’s big White House used to have solar panels?  Check out this video from our friends at YERT

Hey—isn’t somebody out there looking out for our health? Anybody? The FDA, for instance? How can that possibly be that sunscreens don’t necessarily work as promised? And some may even contain ingredients that pose health risks?

The Environmental Working Group, (EWG) a nonprofit research group in Washington DC that conducted this study, found that many of the leading brands of sunscreens do not protect us from the sun’s rays as promised. And some contain chemicals that may be hazardous to your health. (See Top 10 Recommended Brands – below)

How Can That Be?

Here’s how that can be: Apparently sunscreen companies can make any claims they want. Though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is supposed to ensure that all such products are safe and effective, that government agency has not issued any standards that sunscreen producers must meet. And the agency has not approved some ingredients that are used in Europe that could provide better UV radiation protection, according to the EWG.

Basic Tips on ingredients to look for and which to avoid:

Look for — Products containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — they offer good protection.

Avoid – sprays or containing zinc and titanium – they may be dangerous if inhaled

So here, from the EWG is a list of the sunscreens that do work. There are 143 that provide protection and are safe. But you may want to think twice about some of the leading brands you have been using. They may not work as well, last as long, or be as safe as you think.

To read the top 10 Recommended Brands, and the rest of the article click here

For Full List, and more details on safety issues, go to the EWG web site.

We are proud to stay that we offer 3 of the Top 10 Safe & Effective brands:

Keys Soap Solar Rx is both moisturizer and sunblock. It combines the healing soothing properties with an 18.5% concentration of uncoated nano-zinc oxide to provide a physical UVA and UVB blocking to protect against UV triggered Melanoma and Skin Cancer. The nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) is uncoated to provide healing therapies associated with zinc oxide. The uncoated zinc has also proven to be anti-bacterial and antimicrobial and can reduce redness, rosacea, age spots and melasma.

Myth 1: Nobody knows what sustainability really means.

Our current understanding of sustainability was created back in 1987 by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development or the Brundtland Commission. Sustainable development means “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” So, we do in fact have a great understanding of what it actually means to be sustainable – we just may not how to achieve that.

Myth 2: Sustainability is all about the environment

We should know by now that it isn’t just about saving the polar bears and baby seals. It isn’t just about switching to renewable energy, reducing our carbon footprint. Sustainability encompasses so much more than environmental degradation – it also included managing water and natural resources, population, food supplies, money, waste, our economy and our health. True sustainability requires us to efficiently and mindfully manage our whole planet.

Myth 3: “Sustainable” is a synonym for “green”

Something that is “sustainable” is clearly “green,” but the reverse is not true. Green is a loose, vague term that generally means more environmentally friendlier than the other options out there. It is used to describe things that are natural, healthy, eco-friendly, organic, fair-trade, low-impact, or local.  A Prius is green because it gets better fuel efficiency than most cars, but it is still a car, and cars are not sustainable. Be careful how you use these two words, because they are definitely not equals.

Myth 4: It’s all about recycling

Recycling is great and it’s incredibly important to do so, but it’s only part of the answer. To have a lower environmental impact you also have to be aware of what you are buying, how you use it, how your travel or commute, the foods you eat, etc. Absolutely keep recycling, but you won’t get your green citizen patch if that’s all you do.

Myth 5: Sustainability is too expensive

We all think that sustainability and green things cost more and they are just a tad bit more expensive. But as newer technology comes online, consumers demand more and competition increases, prices will drop. There are also lots of ways to save money through energy efficiency, eating local, fuel efficient cars.

Myth 6: Sustainability means lowering our standard of living

Sustainability isn’t about living with less or having to turn down our heat and put a sweater on like Jimmy Carter asked for. Sustainability is about doing more and using less energy, less materials and less resources. It’s about keeping your thermostat at the temperature you want and having a lower environmental impact.

Myth 7: Consumer choices and grassroots activism, not government intervention, offer the fastest, most efficient routes to sustainability

Governments play an important role in state of the environment. Without their intervention, rules and regulations big companies and people would be allowed to do what they please. The government’s job is also to encourage and incentivize products, technologies and ideas that hopefully have a positive impact. Grassroots and local action are the other side of the coin and are equally important though. We can’t disregard either as a vehicle for positive change.

Myth 8: New technology is always the answer

We don’t need to wait for the next generation of batteries to be designed or for more advances in solar power. We have great technology now that can be quickly deployed and used to help us stop climate change. For those who say sustainability isn’t possible until we’ve invented better technology, we say, look around you right now. Energy efficient technology already exists that can save energy and money now, why wait?

Myth 9: Sustainability is ultimately a population problem

The world’s population is projected to increase another 2.6 billion by 2050. Population certainly is part of the sustainability equation, but it is unlikely that we can alter the population increase by any significant amount to make a difference. While we must do our best to educate women and raise the standard of living in third world countries to minimize the increase, we will get the best bang for our buck by focusing on the efficient use of our resources.

Myth 10: Once you understand the concept, living sustainably is a breeze to figure out.

Just because we know what being sustainable means doesn’t mean we know exactly how to do it. Achieving the point where our actions do not negatively impact the planet or others is a worthy goal, but very difficult. There are also tradeoffs that come along with the changes we make along the way. These new and more environmentally friendly options aren’t always as convienant, cheap or easy, but ultimately we know that we’ll be making the right decision. We just have to keep trying and day by day we will lower our environmental impact.

 

On Friday April 3, 2009 Business First had ran a nice article about us: “Going ‘greener’ – Sustain store on Frankfort Avenue expands product offerings”.  Read the full article