Natural and Sustainable

• CFLS: The Philips Soft White CFL comes in a recyclable packaging and according to Philips, they claim that it contains the lowest mercury levels of any CFLs on the market. To find a CFL disposal site near your own home, visit Earth 911

• Local Eating: You can’t get anything better than something that is organic, locally grown and even purchased from your neighborhood farmers’ market. So Support them. Do it for yourself, your family and your local farmer. Find farmers’ markets in your own area by visiting Local Harvest.

• Hybrids: The Toyota Prius (48 mpg city/ 45 mpg hwy) leads for a fifth straight year in a row as the best hybrid purchase anyone can make. The Honda Civic Hybrid (40 mpg city/ 45 mpg hwy) also places high with U.S. News, and CNET.

• Biofuels: Not everyone knows how to make up an alternative fuel in their own garage, but there is help. By going to Biodiesel America you can find someone that can and has. You can start today in converting your own vehicle to take an alternative fuel source.

• Bioplastic: Opt for a durable, reusable carryall like the compact Chicobag or Baggu tote. And some markets now offer their own, like Safeway, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, and even Wal Mart now.

• Bamboo Clothing: Bamboosa and Certaintees are tow of the most environmentally responsible brands that carry the best clothing line from bamboo materials. Their clothing is soft and durable and will last a lifetime if they are taken care of.

• Mineral Makeup: Companies like Larénium Mineral Makeup and Afterglow Cosmetics, they are both free of nano-particles and bismuth oxychloride. Companies like Avon and Mary Kay also have their own line of mineral makeup that is great for your skin. Just be careful when picking a mineral makeup product and read labels.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Save water all the time. Take shorter showers and if it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down, when it comes to your toilet that is.

It might be a great idea to consider an electric or hybrid car since to-date, the gas prices aren’t changing and I have been told by MANY people that the price of gas won’t be dipping below $3.00 ever again. Ever is quite along time, but I am thinking the price of gas will not be changing for a great long while.

Driving electric, hybrid or even a low-gas mileage car helps not only your wallet in these times of gas guzzling craziness, it also helps the environment in a great way. There are several alternatives to gas-needing cars that are currently on the market no and will help with your daily commute and help reflect your values in saving the environment and becoming more conscious of earth-issues.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have very peaceful motors and they don’t release air pollutants like normal cars that use gas would and do. EVs also come in the plug-in variety and are more fuel efficient than existing hybrids on the market. They are 90 percent cleaner than the gas-powered competitor. Here are some of the top EVs to check out.

• AC Propulsion: ebox all-electric car.

• Brammo Enertis: Electric motorcycle.

• Vectrix: low-maintenance maxi scooter.

• Ford Escape: Plug-in hybrid.

• GM Chevy Volt: Plug-in hybrid model.

• Mitsubishi Colt: Electric vehicle.

• Phoenix Motorcars: Electric sport-utility.

• Subaru R1e: Electric micorcar.

• Tesla Roadster: Luxury electric roadster. All 2008 models have already been reserved, but get a jump on the 2009s while you can.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Common drain flushing products on the market are chemical laden and cause corrosion on your water pipes, and eventually may end up in our water system, especially if you are on a well. Instead of using those , why not make your own. Boil about 4 gallons of water on the stove, while that is boiling add baking soda to the drain, about 4 cups. After the baking soda has been added, add 4 cups of white vinegar to the drain and wait for 10 minutes. After time has passed, add the boiling hot water to the drain, be sure and add the entire 4 gallons slowly to the drain. The drain should be unclogged, if not, do the process again.

Hybrid vehicles are no longer the property of a few eco-minded drivers. Data from the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures indicated there are nearly 11.5 million alternative fuel vehicles in use in the United States. Sales data shows an unprecedented 1.5 million such vehicles were sold in 2006, surpassing industry expectations by 50 percent. In the second quarter of 2007, close to 490,000 alternative fuel vehicles were sold, and increase of 27 percent over the same period in 1006. From the first to second quarters of this year, hybrid sales were up 48 percent-from 74,056 to 109, 716 vehicles.

Sixty models of alternative fuel vehicles are now on the market, including hybrid electric, ethanol-capable E-85, and clean diesel to develop more sources of fuel for the ethanol and diesel vehicles. A recent alliance study shows that while more than 74 percent of American consumers are familiar with alternative of fuels. Consumers want to protect the environment and protect the nation’s energy, the study found, and most consumers think the government needs to fund more research and development, as well as provide incentives to purchase alternative vehicles.

For more information, visit these Web sites: Discover Alternatives, and Auto Alliance, which offer more information on alternative fuel technology. (Source: Grit)

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Sign up for online baking to stop receiving paper statements in the mail. The less paper mail you receive at your home, means the less paper was used to give you that paper copy. If you are curious about your account, get a print out every so often instead of having one mailed to you through the mail. Remember, every little bit helps.