Living In The Green World

On a recent trip to Vietnam, I reluctantly found myself looking for malaria medication in the best "pharmacy" available, a bare room full of unmarked jars of pills down one of Ho Chi Minh City's back alleys. Luckily, neither the pills nor malaria got to me. However, poor planning can pose a threat not only to one's health but also to that of the ecosystems we visit.

Eat Locally—and Wisely

Local cuisines should be savored, but mind food-borne perils, particularly where sanitation is minimal and government oversight meager. Poorly washed raw fruits and vegetables as well as undercooked meats can carry a host of pathogens, such as E. coli, salmonella and noroviruses (common on cruise ships). Most often, the result is nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which can turn travel into a misery.

More exotic foods, however, can mean more exotic diseases and the decimation of endangered species. In West and Central Africa, for example, trade in wild game, or "bushmeat," is the most acute threat to apes, and primates may account for up to 15 percent of the total bushmeat market. The danger to us is real as well: HIV-1, the virus responsible for the global AIDS pandemic, is believed to have leapt to humans through bushmeat hunting. With an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 wild animals eaten annually, "Every year there's a good chance that we could end up with some disease emerging," William Karesh, D.V.M., director of the field veterinary program for the Wildlife Conservation Society, told National Public Radio this March.

What You Can Do

* Stick to cooked foods served hot to your table; only eat street-vendor food prepared in front of you. Avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, undercooked meats and unpasteurized dairy. Wash fruits with boiled, bottled or filtered water and remove peels.

* Be skeptical of unfamiliar meats. "Anytime that you are served something you can't identify, ask questions, and in all cases stay away from eating primates," suggests Natalie Bailey, assistant director of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force.

"If there's one time in their lives when people are motivated to make healthy lifestyle changes, it's when they're about to have a baby," says Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., director of the Center for Children's Health and the Environment at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "As a pediatrician I encourage this, because fetuses and babies, whose systems are rapidly developing, are much more vulnerable to toxic substances than at any other time of life." As certain childhood cancer rates creep upward, childhood asthma incidence has doubled and learning disorders are also on the rise, parents would be wise to limit exposure to household toxins before their babies arrive. "There are many simple things you can do that will significantly reduce both health risks and your worries," says Landrigan, coauthor of Raising Healthy Children In a Toxic World: 101 Smart Solutions for Every Family.

For many parents nowadays, healthy means green. "I don't think you can separate the two," says Cara McCaffrey, a New York City mother. "Our furniture, our skin lotions, the food we eat, reducing and recycling plastics—every decision can have an impact on the air, soil, water and our health," Cara says.

Clean Air, Healthy Home

As her children Birk and Vale built with wooden blocks on a hemp area rug during this reporter's visit, Cara noted that the dark hardwood floor was polished with a no-VOC finish, free of petrochemical volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce the equivalent of indoor smog. She added that, with the help of green-minded decorator Renee Rizzuto, she's reupholstering her old couches and chairs. It's goodbye to the old polyurethane foam, treated with polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) fire retardants, which cause developmental harm in animals and have infiltrated American women's breast milk. The new fillings will be organic cotton batting, natural latex and naturally fire-resistant wool. Organic cotton or hemp covers will be free of water and stain repellants that can emit formaldehyde and whose manufacture releases toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Both McCaffrey children graduated from a custom bassinet fitted with a new wool mattress ("I had them make one for the pram, too," Cara says) to an organic mattress in an all-hardwood crib to twin organic mattresses covered with wool pads. "An organic, untreated crib mattress is the best investment you can make," Cara says, noting that it's much more affordable than an adult mattress, and the baby spends much more time asleep in its crib than grownups do.

I want a green shampoo, not green hair. Yet, I'm an avid swimmer, and every summer the sun and chlorine give me chartreuse streaks. I've tried conventional swimmers' shampoos that claim to remove chlorine, but they contain potentially harmful ingredients such as SLS, DEA, phthalates and parabens, which are on The Green Guide's "Dirty Dozen" list. So I was delighted to discover Aubrey Organics Swimmer's Normalizing Shampoo and Conditioner For Active Lifestyles, which are free of these ingredients and available in 2-oz refillable, recyclable #2 plastic bottles ($3.25/2 oz. and $9.98/11 oz.; www.aubrey-organics.com).

Another great summer shampoo, perfect for the outdoors, is Liggett's Old-Fashioned Bar Shampoo, which comes wrapped in paper, not plastic, and is also "Dirty Dozen" free. Like Aubrey's, Liggett's sidesteps phthalate-spiked synthetic fragrances by using all-natural plant oils such as almond, olive and hemp. It leaves my hair soft and clean without conditioners ($5.95/3.5-oz. bar; www.canarycosmetics.com/personal_care.htm).

Both are sold at Whole Foods Whole Body and other natural product stores.

For more info on chlorine in pools see "Is Chlorine Safe For My Pool?"

For "Dirty Dozen" ingredients to avoid, see Dirty Dozen

A Reader Writes The Green Guide:

I am an avid triathlete, and as such spend a good deal of time on bicycle maintenance. I am concerned about the impact of the products I use, such as chain cleaners and lubricants. Surely they must be toxic, especially given the fact that I have no choice but to use them outside, and they do spill on the ground. Are there any environmentally friendly products for bicycle enthusiasts? If so, is their performance comparable? Thank you in advance for your help!
Sara

The Green Guide Responds:

Annually, approximately 2.5 billion gallons of lubricants are consumed by American industries. Most of these are used in the automotive industry. Over the last 20 years, huge advances have been made in the development of vegetable-based lubricants and fuels. Changes in the logging industry have also lead to more environmentally friendly chain lubricants. Bicycles, motorcycles, chainsaws have chains that require constant lubrication. All three require what's called total-loss lubrication: Whatever is used on the chain will end up in the environment. A chainsaw will expel nearly a quart of lubricant into the environment every hour. To give some indication of the potential impact from a single chainsaw, one liter of petroleum lubricant can contaminate a million liters of water. Needless to say, such facts have led to pressure on the logging industry and subsequent innovation in the development of biodegradable chain lubricants.

Since bicycles already possess great green aspects, bicyclists should have no problem adopting (and adapting) alternatives to petrochemicals lubricants. Because of the relatively small market for bicycle-specific biolubricants, though, bicyclists must piggyback on the products developed for similar applications, such as chainsaw and motorcycle lubricants. Lubricants are by necessity extremely specialized. According to a recent assessment, over 5,000 different kinds of petrochemical lubricants are needed to accommodate their various applications. The significant difference between bicycle and chainsaw chains is the amount of friction and subsequent heat produced during use. Chainsaw and motorcycle lubricants must be optimized to work at sustained high temperatures far beyond the demands of a bicycle. Consequently, these products penetrate well but have higher viscosity and can attract gritty debris when used on a bicycle. The mixture of sand and oil is extremely abrasive and will actually shorten the life of the chain.

As far as how well they work, biolubricants hold their own against conventional petroleum products. Once study done by the Alberta Research Council, concluded that "the performance of the biolubricant in the field of application was very comparable to the petroleum-based oil." However, a general weakness of what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calls "biobased" oil is it's tendency to oxidize more quickly, which leads to an unwanted increase in viscosity even at high temperatures. To counteract the problem, biobased oil usually contains many additives. The USDA considers these products biobased as long as they contain a minimum of 51 percent biomaterial. Further, the problem of oxidization has lead to the creation of genetically modified soybeans (for frying oil), by companies like GM, that have high levels of oleic acid which organically resists oxidization. Genetically-engineered soybean oil has, however, been too expensive for bio-based lubricants so far.

There are now a handful of biolubricants marketed specifically for bicyclists, which claim to be vegetable-based and petroleum-free. It would be more economical to use a product for chainsaws if you can figure out someway of thinning it, though it may be a while before there's a biosolvent that can be mixed with a biolubricant. When using conventional chain oil, bicyclists often use paint thinner to lower viscosity. With regards to a biosolvent that can be used to clean a bicycle chain, you're in luck. Several biodegradable, non-petroleum chain cleaners are available.

Resources

Biodegradable degreasers made from citrus extracts:
Pedro's Oranj Peelz.
16 oz bottle $9.99
www.pedros.com

Citrus Chain Brite
16 oz $5.88
www.branfordbike.com/bikecare/bcare2.html#item1

Finish Line Citrus Degreaser
20 oz $9.88
www.branfordbike.com/bikecare/bcare2.html#item1

Biodegradable detergent degreasers:
available at www.branfordbike.com/bikecare/bcare2.html#item1

Finish Line Ecotech
12 oz $7.88

Bio Chain Brite
16 oz $8.88

Pedro's Bio-Degreaser
$12 oz $6.88

Biodegradable vegetable based lubricants:
SoyClean Penetrant and Lubricant
22 oz spray $6.49
www.soyclean.biz

BioBlend Chain and Cable Lube
www.bioblend.com

Prolab Bio-Chain
1 418-423-7507
www.alibaba.com

As a senior in college, I've learned the hard way that having a car on campus can be more trouble than it's worth. With hundreds of other students also vying for that coveted parking space, you're usually out of luck if you're not on campus by 8 a.m. And once you've finally found a parking space (across campus, nonetheless), you have to hightail it from the parking lot to class just to avoid glaring looks from professors for ducking in late.

Add those inconveniences to rising gas prices and the other environmental costs of driving, who really wants the extra hassle? Erik Schick, a junior at Arizona State University agrees that having a car on a big campus with minimal parking is too big of a pain. "Everyone rides their bikes and skateboards here, which is good because Tempe is already a big city with cars all around releasing emissions. The fewer cars there are on campus, the better for the environment and for our own health."

He's right. Besides cutting your stress level in half, cutting driving out of college life can have a huge impact on reducing your carbon footprint. For every gallon of gas burned, 25.3 pounds of carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere in addition to other harmful vehicle emissions like nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons, which all deplete the ozone. Luckily, there are tons of other ways to get around campus—from rental cars to carpools or shares to trains and buses.

Most universities offer some form of public bus service to help students get to and from classes. Some even operate shuttle buses that run on less-polluting biodiesel and pollution-free hydrogen power. The University of Delaware, University of Colorado at Boulder and SUNY Stony Brook have all adapted cleaner modes of transportation for their students. But what should you do if you actually want to leave campus? Here are a few alternatives if your city or university lacks an effective transportation system:

Car Shares

Car-sharing programs are growing rapidly across the country—good news for the college-aged considering that most car rental companies prohibit people under 21 from renting cars. Zipcar, the largest car-sharing company in the world, has formed partnerships with more than 40 universities, including University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Yale University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program allows students with at least two years of driving experience and a clean driving record to rent a car for as little as $5 per hour plus an annual membership fee of approximately $35. Not only is sharing cheaper than owning, but it benefits the environment as well. Zipcar has found that car-sharing programs reduce driving by nearly 50 percent. "We estimate that Zipcar takes about 20 cars off the road and one car can serve around 50 students," says Adam Brophy, director of business development at Zipcar. To find out if Zipcar serves your university, see www.zipcar.com/universities.

Every year, high school students applying to university (and their parents) lose sleep, time and hair worrying over which college will fulfill their academic, vocational, artistic and other ambitions. And those serious about their environmental concerns will be just as focused on the green credentials of the institution they'll be funding for four years. If they're lucky, they're headed to a school like the University of South Carolina, which is home to one of the world's few LEED-certified green residence halls, the Silver-rated Green West Quad.

Serving double duty as residence hall and educational medium, the Green Quad complex includes three residential buildings, which house around 500 undergrads, and the Learning Center for Sustainable Futures, a research and educational facility focused on environmentalism and community development.

"We wanted to make it like a green bubble for the campus and community," says David Whiteman, faculty principal of the Quad and director of the learning center. But, he says, "We're also trying to look holistically at the entire social economic system that needs to be in place to have a sustainable society," noting that, this fall, they'll start a community garden and host seminars on local food.

The complex is outfitted with features standard to most LEED-certified buildings: solar panels, recycled materials, a green roof and low-VOC paints and finishes. But it also has a few unique aspects, like a changing room to encourage bike commuting and a five-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell that generates a small portion of the complex's energy and is also used as a teaching tool for the university's chemical engineering program.

Green residence halls are slowly but surely spreading across the country, appearing on both coasts at Portland State in Oregon, the University of California-Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. Their rarity, while making them unique, can seem frustrating to college students looking for an eco oasis during those four stressful years.

Fortunately, the idea of a green dorm isn't limited to LEED certification or hydrogen-fuel electricity generators. What's more, you can create your own oasis without spending a ton of money. Just think used. Buying second-hand goods, or helping your parents unload their unwanted stuff (like that beanbag chair your brother wanted so badly but never sat in), is the greenest way to outfit a dorm room. If your family attic and basement come up empty, then frequent web sites like www.craigslist.org or www.freecycle.com where you can barter your way to a greener education.

If all your efforts at seeking used alternatives leave you with holes on your list, buy products like the following that can be reused as long as possible.

Bedding

Conventional cotton is responsible for up to 25 percent of the insecticides used worldwide, so look for 100 percent organic cotton or bamboo sheet sets. West Elm also sells affordable organic cotton sheets, which are colored with low-impact dyes to spruce up your room ($29-119; www.westelm.com), and Bed Bath & Beyond sells a bamboo twill set ($40-80; www.bedbathandbeyond.com). Pair those with an old quilt or blanket from home and a Natura Organic Cotton Comforter (call for discount pricing; www.natural-beds-pillows.com, 800-278-5004) and Greenfeet's recycled polyester-filled Eco-Basics pillow ($18.50; www.greenfeet.com).

Bath

If your dorm room is suite style, chances are you have your own bathroom. PEVA shower curtains by Ikea ($8.99; www.ikea.com) are affordable alternatives to shower curtains made with PVC vinyl, which not only contains hormone-disrupting phthalates but is also the most environmentally damaging plastic, releasing carcinogenic dioxin into the atmosphere during production. PEVA contains no chlorine (the source of dioxin) or phthalates.

You'll also want to keep a pair of shower shoes handy if you share your shower with other people in your room or on your floor. Try Simple Shoes' Toetami, made from rubber and PVC alternative, EVA ($28; www.simpleshoes.com). Before you shower, check out our Dirty Dozen Smart Shopper's Card to make sure the products you're using are free of nasty hormone disrupting and petroleum-based chemicals. Remember to cut that shower down to five minutes and dry off with an organic cotton terry towel set from Pottery Barn ($8-26; www.potterybarn.com).

Decoration

Get thrifty and decorate your room to fit your personality. Shop at local thrift and craft stores for unique frames and artwork, or scour online Web sites, like Wow Imports (www.wow-imports.com) or Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org), for items that are fairly traded. Or make your own wall decorations with pictures from old magazines to create collages! Tack up photos of family and friends and leave yourself reminders on The Container Store's 100 Percent Recycled Rubber Bulletin Board ($25-35; www.thecontainerstore.com). Again, keep your eyes open at home for things you'll want to take to school with you. An old flower pot can make a great pen holder with a fresh coat of paint.

Before plunking down tons of money on a brand new rug that will just end up covered in everything from mud to cookie crumbs, stop by some of the carpet stores in town (or check out Craigslist) and ask if they sell or give away discontinued-carpet samples. You can make a colorful area rug with rescued carpet tiles tacked to the floor with double-sided tape. An added bonus: it's easier to clean one stained tile than an entire rug. Otherwise, Abundant Earth sells affordable hemp area rugs in a variety of colors and sizes ($65.95 and up; www.abundantearth.com).

Electronics

Let's face it—we're a generation raised by technology, so naturally you'll be bringing a TV, DVD player and MP3 player, along with your computer and printer. Plug everything, including your cell phone charger, into power strips that you can turn off when you're gone. For your calculator, use NiMh rechargeable batteries ($7/4 mercury-free Pure Energy brand AAA rechargeable alkaline batteries; www.sundancesolar.com). Finally, to brighten up your room, replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 150 pounds. Try Ikea or Wal-Mart for the lowest prices on CFLs and powerstrips.

If you're looking for a more eco-friendly TV or computer, see "Bigger Isn't Better: Choosing TVs and Computers."

Kitchen

Whether you're just getting back from work at your campus newspaper or a workout at the university's fitness center, nothing beats a good snack. Be sure to stock your Energy-Star-rated three-in-one refrigerator/freezer/microwave from MicroFridge ($389; www.microfridge.com) (which not only saves energy but also resources and less packaging than if you bought them separately) with lots of organic snacks from a local farmer's market. Find one at www.localharvest.org. Microwaves are better than toaster ovens, electric grills and electric frying pans because they concentrate heat, aren't big-time energy suckers and don't pose a fire hazard.

One other caveat: money will be tight, so don't waste it on bottled water when you can get clean, safe drinking water from the tap for free. Refill your SIGG stainless steel reusable water bottle ($20; www.mysigg.com) everywhere you go.

Storage

Lugging all your stuff to school is a pain, not to mention generates tons of waste. Borrow luggage and duffle bags from your family to haul your clothes, and if they'll let you, use them year round to store out-of-season items. If need be, pack in cardboard boxes that can easily be broken down and recycled rather than disposable plastic bags. Since cardboard can attract roaches and silverfish, it's not good for long-term storage, so look for PVC-free bags and containers. Not only is PVC an environmental scourge, it can discolor clothing and linens.

At the end of the year, instead of spewing unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions by renting a van or truck to bring everything back home, consider putting your belongings in a storage facility (check with your university's Residence Life office for a facility near you).

Once you lighten the eco footprint of your dorm room, you can focus your attention on greening the rest of your campus, like getting the administration to serve local, organic food in the dining hall or to switch to sweatshop-free college apparel. And, of course, you'll probably need to study for a few exams while you're at it.

Resources

Eco Checklist 2007: Green Gear for the Back-to-School Blues

Green Home Makeover Series

Energy Star: www.energystar.gov

Center for a New American Dream: www.newdream.org