We all know as fall begins to approach the leaves will be changing from green into beautiful hues of red, gold, yellow and amber.  The changing leaves signify the weather is getting ready to change and winter is approaching, it happens all over the country.  One of the least favored activities of fall is raking and bagging those leaves and stacking them at the curb. However, why not

turn those leaves into compost and save energy and space in the local landfill.

According to statistical information from the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowner yard waste is the second biggest trash item, behind paper and comprises about 25% of the whole community trash haul.  Dead leaves are rich in nutrients and minerals that can be used for landscaping and gardening purposes. There are many ways to make a home compost pile and it is one of the easiest ways a person can observe the “going green” trend and help protect the environment.

Leave and yard waste can be beneficial

Compost is a super rich pile of decomposing materials, which contains humus, carbon and nitrogen.  It is very simple to make your own compost heap at home and you can build or purchase a bin from your local hardware store.  If you live in the country, chances are good your compost pile will not be a bother to anyone, but if you are an urbanite, then purchasing a plastic compost container might be the better option to avoid upsetting any neighbors.

Once you have your compost heap container constructed or purchased, place it in a shady location if possible.  To begin your compost pile you should rotate layers of brown material like dried leaves, twigs, straw, weeds and vegetable trimmings and manure.  The next layer should be green and you can use such things as grass clippings and leaves.  It is very important to never use animal or dairy products, pet or human waste, diseased plants or those treated with harmful pesticides.  Water each compost layer as you build the next and ensure each one is saturated well before proceeding to the next layer.

After your compost pile has sat for a week or two, the next thing you want to do is stir the layers up.  Using a pitchfork or rake, mix the layers together, then cover the pile back up again and let it cook and decompose.  Allow time and nature to do the work to turn the compost in a nutrient rich mishmash which will be used to fertilize your garden next summer.  Often it takes 2-3 months for a compost pile to reach full maturation, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time if you plan on using it in the springtime on your flowerbeds or garden.

Almost anything can be used in a compost pile and not only are you cutting down on your trash load, but you are also getting the added benefit of using organic compost in your garden or home landscaping projects.  Composting can become a hobby, passion and for some, even like a religion, but it is a highly enjoyable and productive pastime which many homeowners participate in.  Composting is a great way to clean up the environment and is just one of many ways you can make the most of the “going green” trend.

Learn about Biodegradable Eco Friendly Mattress.

As a consumer of commercial products, you may be wondering what the term “green” consumer means.

In this article, we will show you how to practice eco-friendly shopping with the following five tips which will help you become a savvy consumer and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.  Making conscientious “green” shopping choices can have an impact on our earth’s ecosystem and what you purchase is a tangible representation of societal values, needs and wants.

If people began purchasing “green” mattresses and bedding for example,

it would be incumbent upon the bedding industry to yield to consumer preference.  We, as consumers, have the power to change the world by making eco-friendly purchases and utilizing our consumer dollars to work for us.  One by one, the things we buy and the products we select can improve our quality of life and health, which is why it is so important to be selective and make the right choices.

What is Energy Star?  Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products which originate in the US.  Devices and products which display the Energy Star logo generally use 20-30% less energy than what is allowable or required according to governmental standards.  Upgrading appliances, computers and televisions sets to Energy Star will be more energy-efficient and cut the cost of your utility bills.  This is just one small way of doing your part to conserve energy and is a great way to do your part to “green” your lifestyle a little bit more.

Another way of following the “green” concept is to purchase organically grown and local foods as much as possible.

By purchasing locally grown foods, it cuts down on chemical pesticides and fertilizers which result in upsetting the agricultural environment.  There is no need to transport the foods, which means it is less expensive to grow locally and helps reduce carbon emissions.

By switching to natural fibers for clothing, blankets and bedding, you are making a powerful “green” statement.  To make synthetic clothing, manufacturers must use harsh chemicals and excessive water which means introducing these toxins into the environment.  Very few people realize that using clothes organic cotton, wool, and bamboo, hemp and flax products do not require the use of harmful chemicals to manufacture, which means it is much better for the environment.

Using less energy is another way to go “green,” and because America is one of the biggest users of fossil fuels, every little bit of conservation.  To conserve energy you could pack a lunch, carpool or ride a bike to work, using public transportation, and turning off your lights, televisions, computers and other electrical appliances when not in use to reduce the amount of wasted energy.  Environmentally friendly shopping also extends to vacations and leisure activities; you can go camping, take a float trips and do other activities which do not require wasting precious natural resources.

Going “green” is a life changing choice and it not only benefits the environment, but everyone involved.  When we use less fossil fuel, fewer chemicals and waste less of our resources, and improve the quality of life we have and make the air we breathe cleaner.  If all industries are forced by consumers to adhere to a higher standard and people made conscious choices as to what types of products and services they used, the world would be a cleaner place and we could easily reduce our carbon footprint.

Who’s to blame for people not Buying Green Earth Friendly Furniture?

The Industry as a whole: The furniture retailers, furniture manufacturers, and interior designers must not blame anybody but ourselves. We’re not educating the public and making them aware of products that are available right now items like earth friendly safe mattresses, furniture, and accessories.

Interesting note, most manufacturers aren’t building alternative products. They say it is because retailers, designers, and the consumers are not asking for them. So we are leaving it up to the consumers to be our industry innovators? Really, we as an industry are going to wait for the consumer to ask for something they no nothing about? We are the ones with the means,  industry experience, and industry knowledge to bring these inovative product developments to market to buy.

3 years ago STL Beds took the lead in St. Louis Missouri by offering green alternatives in mattresses, bedding accessories and soon will offer bedroom furniture, with a goal to do it for about the same price as non earth friendly products.

We believe the public’s desire to be educated in the area of home furnishings. This belief has been backed by the Sustainable Furnishing Council’s own study which stated that 75% of the general public cares about indoor air quality to varying degrees. They went on to say that 60-70% of us are already purchasing environmentally safe cleaning products, paper products and energy efficient light bulbs. 25% are buying energy efficient appliances, yet only 8% are buying green home furnishings.

Primary reasons why consumers are not buying green home furnishings is due to consumers lack of awareness. They also believe that some products may not be available in stores to see or concerned their that green goods may be too expensive. This accounts for about 73% of those that would consider purchasing sustainable products.

It essentially all comes down to education. It seems that what we do not know will not hurt us, at least not until it is too late.
A number of things have been made available over recent years to make green furniture environmentally friendly.

•Low VOC finishes, sealers, and glues are safer alternatives such as clay based paints, whey, tung or linseed oil, bee’s wax
•Conserve by reducing waste and conserving materials while saving energy in the process
•Use of reclaimed woods
•Choose woods that are plantations grown, or rapid renewals these species grow to full maturity in approximately 10 years or less
•Consider water based finishes using 50g/L vs. EPA limit of 350. They dry faster and clean up is non toxic.
The removal of formaldehyde from furniture is a major health factor. It is claimed by researchers to be a major cause of childhood asthma by major studies. Minimal exposure can cause eye and skin irritation. Major exposure can cause death. Government is taking major steps to eliminate formaldehyde from furniture and even mattresses, and upholstery fabrics.
•PCB’s contained in many furnishings are a known carcinogen as well as plasticizers which make plastics softer and less brittle.

Simply offering consumers these environmentally and healthier choices instead of shoving the old ways of doing things down their throats will give the them the chance to show their interest by supporting these products with their hard earned dollars. If we educate the consumer in the ways of safe sustainable business practices and manufacturing methods, if we teach them that there are sustainable methods for growth of timber and harvesting textiles the educated public will recognize inflated costs from profiteers who are only green washing. They will choose competitively priced healthier earth friendlier and safe products instead.

Going green is no longer just a catch phrase or passing trend, but more of an important concept that is in all areas of a consumer’s life. Because medical science cannot uncover the hidden reasons behind autism, hyperactivity and asthma and other developmental delays, it is important to explore the toxic chemical environment in which we live and sleep. Chemicals used to control pests, fight germs and grow food leave the air around us compromised and potentially dangerous and can be absorbed into the body.

The most powerful place a consumer can go “green,” is in the bedroom where we spend much of our time relaxing and sleeping. Consider the mattress you sleep on and the bedding you use to cover yourself up with at night. When we sleep, we breathe in and out deeply and this can make us vulnerable to the toxins and chemicals in our bedding and mattress. Particularly infants and small children, the lungs are vulnerable and still developing, which is why it is so highly important to use the safest bedding and mattresses available.
Our bodies come into direct contact with our mattress, for hours at a time and we can possibly absorb toxic chemicals while sleeping. A mattress made of natural fibers and cotton helps “green” our bedroom and makes for safe sleeping. A natural mattress surface helps prevent allergies and gives natural support to the spine and body contour which makes for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

What we use to cover our mattress with is also another component of “greening” the bedroom. The covering of a mattress should be made of organic cotton and wool, in order to pass the new flame retardant standards and to prevent you from coming into contact with toxic gasses released from some of the older synthetic covers. A cotton mattress pad also offers superior qualities of wool which transports moisture and helps regulate body temperature, helps distribute body weight and relieves pressure points and it is also resistant to mold, dust mites and bacteria.

Chemical free bedding is the next step to take when “greening” your bedroom and now it is easy to find 100% organic cotton labeled sheets and comforters. Wrinkle and stain free sheets are not a good choice because they are often treated with chemicals that can include formaldehyde and other toxings. Looking for bedding materials made without bleaching and organic cotton is not only better for the environment, but also health as well.

There is no plausible reason as to why someone must allow questionable chemicals to come into contact with skin, or be used in bedding, sheets or mattresses. Because our bodies are like big sponges, the chemicals given off by synthetic bedding can be toxic and dangerous and the cumulative effects on the health are unpredictable. When “greening” the bedroom you should make sure you are safe and not breathing in any dangerous chemicals while sleeping, for both your health and that of your family, it is important to find comfortable, all natural, organic bedding and mattress materials.

When it comes to doing your part for the environment, more and more people are becoming aware of the going “green” trend. From recycling to using environmentally safe cleaning products, there are minor adjustments which a person can make at home to help protect our planet. The best way to protect the Earth is to cut back on what you consume and recycle products whenever possible, and in the following article, we will discuss…

The top ten tips for going green at home

1. Gardening: Use natural compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Compost provides natural soil organisms and the perfect balance of nutrients your garden needs and healthy soil helps minimize the number of weeds you have. It is easy to grow healthy plants and starting with natural, nutrient rich compost is the first step.
2. Healthier paint: Traditional paint contains harsh solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds which can cause air pollution. Instead check into the low odor low voc paint which is manufactured by most companies today and do your part to reduce levels of harmful toxins in your home.
3. Green up appliances: Get rid of old, broken down appliances and replace them with energy efficient models which can help you save up to 20% on your annual electric bill. If just 1 in 10 homes were to use energy efficient appliances, it would help save 1.7 million trees each year.
4. Watch your temperature: Half of our home’s energy consumption comes from heating and cooling. Turning down the thermostat in cold temperature and keeping it a bit higher in the heat of summer can help save 3-5% on yearly electrical expenses. Installing a programmable thermostat, changing furnace filters and using ceiling fans all help to make you more comfortable and keep the air in the home moving, which directly saves money on power bills.
5. Conserve water: Put an aerator on all the faucets in the household and you may cut your water use by 50%. Install a low flow toilet, turn off running water while brushing teeth and limiting time for showers all directly impacts the costs you spend on your water bill and this is just one simple suggestion which saves countless gallons of potentially wasted water.
6. Use green cleaners: Use natural cleaning products and do not purchase ones which have potentially toxic chemicals which could harm your home, pets or family. Use products that have coconut or plant oil based formulations and use lemon juice, borax, baking soda, plain water and vinegar and save not only the environment, but also money at the same time.
7. Use energy efficient lighting: Newer light bulbs use 66% less energy than the traditional bulbs we are all familiar with. Changing and replacing bulbs with new energy efficient bulbs, saves you money over the lifetime of the bulb.
8. Use less paper: Purchase only “tree-free” 100% post-consumer recycled paper products and you not only save money, but trees as well. Paper with post consumer recycled products uses less virgin pulp and keeps more waste out of the landfills.
9. Bamboo hardwood floors: If you want to invest in a new floor in your home, use bamboo flooring which is considered environmentally friendly. It takes 6-8 years for bamboo to mature versus 50-100 for typical hardwood trees, also be sure to use formaldehyde free glue when installing the flooring to avoid toxic fumes being released into the air.
10. Reduce plastics: Each year, people in the US throw away more than 120 millions plastic bags from grocery stores, trash bags, diapers, soda bottles and sandwich baggies and other plastic products. By recycling products and plastics, we reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and directly impact our environment by not contributing to more consumer waste.

The more things you do naturally and the more you recycle, the better it is for the environment. Being “green” is not only environmentally friendly, but it also saves you money and protects the planet. By incorporating a few or all of the following simple tips into your daily life, you can reduce your carbon footprint and preserve the planet for future generations.