by Alissa Wilson Williams for GreenUpgrader.com
For those of you who want to extend your sustainable practices to your laundry basket, but aren’t into flipping your skivvies inside-out for another go, the Laundry POD should be at the top of your Greener Gadgets wish-list. Compact enough to fit under your kitchen sink, this portable laundering device washes and damp-dries small loads using a minimal amount of water and zero electricity. (more…)
by Alissa Wilson Williams
As you watch your Valentine’s Day flowers wilt and perish over the next week, be jealous of those who received a Princess Lasertron creation from their sweetheart. (more…)
It seems that the tiny little bugs responsible for eradicating millions of acres of forest throughout North America don’t have a taste for tea, or at least a chemical commonly found in it. Research released this month by the National Forest Service suggests that a pheromone used in herbal tea may curtail the mountain pine beetle’s rampage on lodgepole pines. (more…)
by Alissa Wilson Williams
The Purge and Swap event at the Hi-Dive Bar in Denver on Saturday showcased three of my guilty pleasures; clothing, music and alcohol. Amazingly, these indulgences were justified by the charitable and eco-minded undercurrents of the occasion. Open to the female public, guests were urged to purge their closets of unwanted clothing and accessories and haul them down to the popular music venue for a swap. All of the leftover items were then donated a few doors down at the Goodwill. (more…)
i began this blog so i had a place to sell my skills to greenUpgrader.com, a do-it-yourself green blog. previously, i had posted a couple months worth of eco-oriented entries on my (abandoned) myspace blog and needed a public place to display them. so i set up this here blog then cut and pasted all the myspace entries into it on January 28th, so that is why it looks like i went on a manic writing spree on that particular day. if you have an interest in reading about the motivation behind the myspace entries you can check it out here: what started it all.
i halted the myspace blog because my younger brother, adam, kindly informed me that myspace was dying. also, i was taking six classes and planning my wedding; so as much as i enjoyed researching and commenting on my daily green tips, i just had other priorities. regardless, since i now have this blog, i may as well use it. so i guess i will post my greenUpgrader.com articles and any other projects, news or updates i have here. so stay tuned…
Friday, February 29, 2008
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Furniture Alternatives: FSC-Certified “Certifying organizations supported by the Forest Stewardship Council have established forestry management guidelines for growing and harvesting trees responsibly around the globe. Since the creation of the FSC in 1993, more than 280,000 square miles of forests in more than seventy-two countries have received FSC certification – a land size that would encompass every state in New England as well as all of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. An easy way to ensure the eco-integrity of your furniture is to check for the FSC label when purchasing. HENRYBUILT FURNITURE -The Lazy Environmentalist, Monday, February 11, 2008 alissa’s comments: |
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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Pet Accessories Alternatives: Green Products “Being a pet no longer means lounging on a hand-me-down rug, scratching on a cardboard computer box, and nibbling on nutrition-challenged “treats.” Twenty-first-century pets are making waves on eco-fashion runways and leading healthy, green lives. Great Green Pet -The Lazy Environmentalist, Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10, 2008 alissa’s comments: i would be doing my good friend abby a disservice though if i didn’t plug the natural pet food company she works for. Only Natural Pet Store is a web-based natural pet food store offering healthful ‘whole’ nourishment for your little furry friends. Plus they are dedicated to environmental stewardship; this is taken from their website… “Only Natural Pet Store also cares deeply about our environment, and we go to great lengths to be an environmentally friendly and sustainable company. We use 100% wind powered energy. Our packaging aims to reduce waste and conserve valuable resources by reusing boxes and packing materials, and by using only biodegradable, non-toxic packing peanuts made from cornstarch. We participate in a Zero Waste program through a local non-profit called Ecocycle, which aims to recycle, reuse and compost with the ultimate goal of eliminating waste and promoting sustainability.” Check em out: onlynaturalpet.com |
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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WOOD ALTERNATIVES: BAMBOO Turning bamboo into kitchen cabinetry takes quite a bit of engineering. The process involves harvesting bamboo stalks, cross-layering them atop one another, and the n pressing them together into boards that resemble plywood but are stronger and more durable and possess a unique striated surface pattern. Utilizing nontoxic adhesives throughout the production process results in cabinets hat are healthy for humans and for the planet. TERAGREN alissa’s comments: |
Monday, February 18, 2008
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ARCHITECTURE ALTERNATIVES: CRADLE TO CRADLE “A leader of the green architecture movement and one of the most influential architects practicing today, William McDonough is the founding principal, of William McDonough + Partners, Architecture and Community Design. He is also the co-founding principal of McDough Braungart design Chemistry (MBDC), a sustainable product design and certification firm that emphasizes Cradle to Cradle product lifecycle principles. William McDonough alissa’s comments: |
Monday, February 18, 2008
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VEHICULAR INSPIRATION: ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE “For roadside assistance with an environmental twist, consider Better World Club, a company that matches AAA in service without compromising the environment. It’s a good, easy choice for you and the planet. BETTER WORLD CLUB -The Lazy Environmentalist, Wednesday, February 6, 2008. alissa’s comments: |
