The Big Bad Five

Periodically, I receive a little booklet from our local utilities called "Eco @ Home". A cool little publication with hints on conserving energy and reducing our carbon footprint. What I learn most is we can all do our part and teach our children with very little effort. We just need more awareness.

There was a neat article on the worst 5 products we should avoid in our households.

1. PETROLEUM-BASED CLEANERS. We've been bombarded so heavily with antibacterial cleaners that they are believed to being more harmful than good. We're building super bacteria that are becoming impossible to kill. I've used vinegar and baking soda for years. (Gold star for me!)
2. DISPOSABLE BATTERIES. We Americans send 166,000 tons of them yearly to the landfill where the toxic chemicals from them seep into the soil. Buy rechargeable. This is where I fail miserably. I'm always picking up batteries. (Take away my gold star.)
3. INCANDESCENT LIGHTS. I think we're all doing pretty good at this one. Everyone I know uses the CFLs.
4. WATER BOTTLES. Ten years ago, who would of thought drinking water bottles being an environmental problem. The main source of this is only 10 percent gets recycled. The rest are left in the trash, beach or on the side of the road. We use the Brita water filter at home. Taste better, too.
5. STYROFOAM. A petroleum-based plastic made of styrene monomer, a possible human carcinogen. Styrofoam is my arch-enemy. The biggest pain in the world to get rid of, especially the "peanuts" that usually comes with my husband's Ebay purchases. They fly all over the place; and if the garage door is open with a little breeze in the air; nuts, I'm all over the neighborhood chasing them down!

See, these are little changes we all can make.  And "Just say No" to styrofoam.

(By the way, my dogs have nothing to do with this blog. I just wanted to add their picture.)