Monday, February 2, 2009

Recipes for all-natural, homemade laundry detergent

Dry Detergent

1 c grated Fels-Naptha bar soap

1/2 c Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda)

1/2 c 20 Mule Team Borax

Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For light loads, use 2 T and for heavy loads, use 3 T.

Liquid Detergent

3 pts water

1/3 bar Fels-Naptha bar soap

1/2 Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 c 20 Mule Team Borax

1 qt of hot water

2 gallon bucket for mixing

Mix soap in a saucepan with the 3 pints of water. Heat on low until dissolved. Stir in the soda and borax, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Put the quart of hot water in the bucket, add the soap mixture and mix well. Fill the bucket with enough additional hot water to make about 1.5 gallons of mixture. Set aside for about 24 hours to allow mixture to thicken. Use 1/2 c of mixture per load.

No perfumes, dyes, etc.

Homemade detergent will not make suds.

Fels-Naptha is pure and makes little to no suds.

This is great for the newer high-efficiency washers as well as older models.

You will notice the need to lessen or stop using softeners all together.

Use up to 1 c of white vinegar in the final rinse to remove all traces of detergent, if so desired.

Conscious News

All people seeking to live green will have to strive every day to live consciously as well, for the earth and its inhabitants are one organism.

From the December 2008 issue of Conscious Choice magazine -

There is an organization called the Theosophical Society in America in Wheaton, IL. They encourage open-minded inquiry into world religions, philosophy, science, and the arts in order to understand the wisdom of the ages, respect the unity of all life, and help people explore spiritual self-transformation. They are located at 1926 North Main Street in Wheaton, IL 60187 or visit their web site at www.theosophical.org.

Help alleviate global poverty. Check out the following web sites:

CARE

Global Alliance for Africa

Local and sustainably-minded businesses: The Enterprising Kitchen (TEK) and Mint.

For the kitchen: Lotus Foods Stainless Steel Rice Cooker and Vegetable Steamer-stainless steel is the only non-reactive cooking surface, does not rust, tarnish, peel or pit and is 100% recyclable. $79.95 at www.lotusfoods.com

A book for those of us who long to be able to meditate, but can't sit in a quiet place without having our minds go into overdrive: Nine Designs for Inner Peace: The Ultimate Guide to Meditating with Color, Shape, and Sound (Destiny Books, 2008) by Sarah Tomlinson. Tomlinson is the founder of the Ayurveda-Yoga Institute of New York. She believes that creating yantras (elaborate geometric patterns designed to help those who draw them cultivate a sense of centeredness, inner awareness and peace) is beneficial for energetic people who have found traditional sitting meditation difficult, or for those people who are seeking a new way of tapping deeper into their creative and spiritual selves.

An American-made breakthrough in the solar energy industry

Arch Solar Command enables the solar energy industry to access cost-effective components that, until now, have not been readily available in the United States.

Arch Solar Command Unleashes the Power of the Sun

Ft. Pierce, Fla. -- (Feb. 2, 2009) -- Arch Aluminum and Glass has found a way to mass-produce its new proprietary mirroring technology for use in solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cells. Arch’s new technology, marketed under the name Arch Solar Command, enables the solar energy industry to access cost-effective components that, until now, have not been readily available in the United States. Arch Solar Command is the only company in the United States to offer solar energy fabricators, coupled with the ability to deliver large-scale orders.

Arch is currently one of the leading producers of mirrors in the US. “We realized several years ago that mirroring technology had huge implications in developing solar power,” said Tony Lawson, director of solar operations for Arch. “After significant investment in research and development, we developed a new way to silver and coat bent glass, which is extremely difficult to do. Our mirrors optically focus sunlight onto a concentrator containing active solar cell materials that convert the intense light into electricity. Once we had the scientific breakthrough, our next step was to make our process repeatable in a manufacturing environment.” To accommodate its new technology, Arch converted a portion of its existing factory to produce the mirrors.

Arch President and CEO Leon Silverstein has long been committed to developing environmentally safe products. Solar Command is no exception. The paint backing for these techniques are lead free, which allows the company to mass produce environmentally friendly lead free mirrors capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. "We’re now positioned to play a role in accelerating the growth of the solar energy industry, while ensuring the sustainability of our products at the same time,” Silverstein stated.

Arch’s success has also helped the company maintain its workforce, and has enabled plant workers to learn sophisticated new technology. “We’re proud that we’ve been able to leverage our expertise in mirroring to help not only our employees, but to keep jobs in our local community,” continued Silverstein. “Our company is family owned, and our employees are our extended family. We intend to keep it that way.”

The company also plans to keep its business “American-made.” “Traditionally, Europe has lead the way in developing solar technology,” says Lawson. Currently, most of the production for solar energy comes from China and other low-wage countries. The Arch Solar Command team plans to keep all research, development and production in the United States, and eventually will use its existing distribution network to transport its solar products throughout the United States. “Many companies entering the solar industry don’t have the ability to deliver goods efficiently and effectively,” says Max Perilstein, vice president of marketing. “Our thirty one years of serving the building industry throughout the country means we have the infrastructure to ensure our customers receive their orders on time and intact.”

Arch Solar Command's efforts have generated interest globally from investors in technologies for solar collectors and concentrators for utility-scale power plants. The Solar Command division sells the solar mirrors directly to manufacturers of solar power generation equipment from its production line in Fort Pierce, Fla. The company is also looking to partner with companies who may want to license the manufacturing.

Arch Solar Command is headquartered in Ft. Pierce, Florida and is a division of Arch Aluminum and Glass, one of the nation’s premier glass and aluminum fabricators. Solar Command continues the legacy of innovation and environmental stewardship at Arch, which since the 1970s has manufactured and fabricated glazing and extruded aluminum systems for buildings while incrementally improving quality and finding cost-effective solutions for its customers. For more information, visit www.archsolarcommand.com or call the Solar Command "Sunshine Line" 1-866-629-ARCH.

Friday, January 30, 2009

President Obama sees a green future for America

This article gives me hope. At a time when so many jobs are being lost, wouldn't it be great if we could create some. And I know the price of oil has plummetted because of the global recession, but it is not always going to be cheap. Plus, global warming is not going to stop just because we are in a recession. Carbon dioxide is still accumulating in the atmosphere. Scientists said on Monday that it would take 1,000 years or more for climate changes already triggered to be reversed. The results of their study are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Natural beauty with just one ingredient

Excerpted from Body + Soul magazine:

Sour cream: It can be used as a moisturizing face mask and gentle exfoliant.

Its lactic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid) helps speed cell turnover, brightening dull complexions. The natural fats restore skin’s moisture.

Smooth 1-2 tablespoons of cool, full-fat sour cream in a thin layer over a clean face and neck with your fingertips. Avoid your eye and lip area. Remove the mask with a wet wash cloth after 7-10 minutes. Then splash with warm water and pat dry.

Chamomile tea: It can be used as a calming compress.

Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory, reducing redness and puffiness around the eyes. It also soothes irritated complexions.

Place a clean washcloth in cool chamomile tea steeped to a golden yellow and let it soak.

Apply it to the skin as a compress. Rest on the area of puffiness for at least 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.

Almond oil: It can be used as a hand moisturizer.

With its light texture and infusion of Vitamin E, almond oil quickly penetrates dry skin and protects hands and nails from environmental damage.

Rub 1 teaspoon of oil into hands and cuticles, then place each hand in an old, clean sock and allow oil to penetrate for at least 5 minutes. Wipe the excess oil off hands, but don’t rinse because the remaining oil will be absorbed over the next few minutes.

Pineapple: It can be used as a foot rub.

Bromelain, an enzyme present in the flesh of the pineapple, breaks down protein bonds and aids with the sloughing of dead skin cells. It is especially good at softening the calloused skin on feet.

Puree 1 cup of fresh pineapple in a blender or food processor until smooth. With feet in a washbasin, massage the puree into soles, heels, and between toes. After 7-10 minutes, rinse feet with warm water and dry.

Kiwi: It can be used as a facial scrub.

Its high Vitamin C levels fight free-radical damage and even out skin texture. When scrubbed on the face, the seeds act as exfoliators, leaving skin smooth.

Peel and slice a ripe kiwi, and mash the flesh thoroughly with a fork. With circular motions, work the paste onto damp, clean face, avoiding lip and eye areas. After 30-60 seconds of scrubbing, rinse skin with warm water and pat dry.

Olive oil: It can be used as hair conditioner.

Rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids, olive oil is great for moisturizing brittle and overstyled hair.

Comb several tablespoons of “light” olive oil through hair, working from roots to ends, before showering. Then cover hair with a shower cap. After showering for 5-7 minutes, remove the cap. Shampoo, rinse, and condition as usual.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Save money and energy with these electronics

If you are considering buying a stereo, don't. An MP3 player is a much greener choice. A stereo uses 120 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, you'll spend $13.20, and using it will put 206 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. An MP3 player, however, has a much smaller footprint. It will only use 6 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, cost you $0.66, and its use will put 10 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
If you are considering cable versus satellite, go with satellite service if it is available to you. Digital cable uses 239 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, will cost you $26.29, and puts 410 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Satellite, on the other hand, uses 124 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $13.64, and will put 213 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
A desktop computer uses 255 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $28.05, and emits 437 pounds of carbon dioxide. A laptop, though, only uses 83 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $9.13, and emits 142 pounds of carbon dioxide.
A cordless, landline phone uses 26 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $2.86, and emits 45 pounds of carbon dioxide. A cellular phone uses 3 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $0.33, and emits 5 pounds of carbon dioxide.
If you are going to break down and get that giant TV that you've been eyeing for a long time, then get an LCD rather than a plasma TV. The plasma TV, on average, uses 441 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $48.51, and emits 756 pounds of carbon dioxide. But an LCD only uses 77 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, costs $8.47, and emits 132 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Remember to recycle all of your old electronics too. Don't just throw them away!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009