Photo by Temple of Salce.

Wax and Waning
There are seven candle waxes used to date: beeswax, palm wax, paraffin, soya, synthetic gel, tallow, and vegetable oil.  Tallow, at one time the most widely used wax, is made essentially from animal fat. As you may have guessed, production of tallow-based candles has significantly declined since the industrialization of food, in particular the meat industry so these candles are rare in developed countries. Palm wax, harvested primarily in Southeast Asia, undergoes a refining process prior to being used in a variety of body products including candles. It is not a major candle resource, so there is little research on its impact but it is expected to be small. Vegetable oil has a similar story to palm oil, yet is more readily available locally.

Paraffin is the most common and least expensive wax available. It is a petroleum byproduct, although is more commonly produced synthetically today. It is linked to non-renewable resources and a global supply chain. Studies by the EPA and American Lung Association link these candles to poor indoor air quality and Black Soot Deposition. There are other particulate emissions linked to these candles. Since manufacturers are not required to provide an inclusive ingredient list, it is uncertain whether the carcinogens found in the candle emissions are due to paraffin or other additives. The bottom line is to avoid buying these candles, and if you have some in your household, do not burn several at one time.

The synthetic gel candles, although intriguing to look at and play with, are severely understudied regarding their health and environmental impacts. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has on record several issues with gel candle containers exploding. I use the precautionary principle on this one, if there isn’t enough research to prove that it is safe for me to use, I avoid it. This gel is also non-renewable and typically manufactured in several different locations adding to its overall footprint.

Soy candles have exploded in popularity, yet they are not without their own hazards. Soy candles are considerably better for human health and the environment than paraffin and synthetic gel candles. Yet, as a monoculture that is quickly catching up to corn, it is also not as renewable as it once was. Studies on adverse health effects have proven the candle benign, but there are new studies analyzing “White’ Soot Deposition, so the jury is out on damage to the home.  As for the age old concoction of beeswax, well there is only good news except for the bees. It is believed with a few supporting scientific documents that burning beeswax releases negative ions that improve an individual’s health. As for being renewable, the debate continues as bee populations are in flux. So time will tell if this resource will continue to renew itself.

Here is a wax guide to help you choose:

Wicked Wicks
Lead poisoning is back in a big way when you burn a lead core wick candle for an hour. Lead, zinc, and tin are added to provide support to the wick, but after health studies urged the National Candle Association to voluntarily ban lead from wicks, their use has declined significantly. Unfortunately, a study of a few US candles and the majority of candles from Asia revealed lead core wicks that could be lethal. So perform this simple test on all your candles: rub a piece of paper on the wick and watch for a pencil-like residue. If you see this result, immediately dispose of the candle, otherwise you could be exposing yourself and family to carcinogenic levels of lead poisoning.

Scents
Be aware that there is a difference between fragrances and synthetic scents versus essential oils. Essential oils can be therapeutic, while the others are fillers. There are a few studies conducted that have found adverse health effects from various fragrances. It was unclear whether these were tied to specific cases or overall sensitivities to the fragrances. So if a product advertises calming sensations and the like, check for the use of essential oils. If they are fragrance based it is unlikely to have this effect.

Colorants & Containers
Au natural is best when it comes to colors, although the majority of dyes have been found to be benign. If you are fortunate enough to buy your candles from a local artisan feel free to enquire to learn more. As for containers, beware of plastic containers. The US Consumer Safety Commission has documented several containers melting or imploding due to excessive heat, these studies were typically linked to the container and the synthetic wax.

So what now?

Top Tips
Here is a quick tip list to help you make the season of romance healthy and eco-friendly.
1) Check your Wax
2) Do the lead wick test
3) Do not burn several synthetic candles at one time
4) Check the claims of the company
5) Enjoy your romantic dinner for two!

Sources:

National Candle Association
EPA Candle Report
Palm Wax
Encyclopedia Britannica
Spirit of Change
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Wood Sleds

The classic flyer sled made of sturdy wood and are still on the market.  I remember when I was a kid, I would use an old wood sled that my dad used a kid.  They cost a little more upfront, but these things last for a long time.

They still sell the original Flexible Flyer Sled that is constructed with the same quality as the original. They also sell a new Wood Flyer Sled which is also made of wood, but just flat with a foam base and handles on the sides.

Recycled Plastic

Not all plastic sleds are bad.  There are some on the market that are made from recycled plastic.  Mad River Rocket makes sleds out of recycled plastic yet are some of the top performing sleds on the market.  These sled received great reviews and the only negative was the fact that they are a little heavy.  This is probably attributed to their quality construction.

Make Your Own

Since there doesn’t seem to be a lot of green sleds on the market, you could always make your own custom sled.  What better project to do with your kids than a custom sled?  The most basic type of sled would be a wood sled similar to the flyer mentioned above.  But you can get really creative when making a sled, check out some of these cool sled designs for ideas.

If you have made your own custom sled or bought a sled that is made from eco-friendly materials, please share.

What Makes Marcal Different?

For over 60 years, Marcal has been providing  recycled products.  Though their brand name has changed names over the years, their products have remained as strong and environmentally friendly from the beginning.  I really like their saying:

By purchasing Small Steps by Marcal brand, you are taking a small, easy step to a greener earth.

Marcal separates itself from the normal paper products on the market by providing only post consumer recycled paper in their products.  Many of the major paper companies use virgin paper, with only a small percentage coming from sustainable forests.  There are also no harmful chemicals and have refined their process to make it as environmentally friendly as possible.

The company also is ahead of many of the other paper companies using recycled products.  While there are many products using recycled paper, Marcal uses only a large portion of post consumer recycled paper in all of their products.  There products also are far cheaper and can be found in many local grocery stores around the country.  You may be surprised, but their prices are even cheaper than the major brands.

Want to know how Marcal makes their products, check out the great in-depth look into their manufacturing process or check out this great video:

My Review

My main criteria for paper products many years ago was that it was soft to the touch and held up strong.  After realizing how much of a waste most paper products were, I switched over to recycled products.  The main frustration with many of those products is that they are not durable at all or were almost twice as expensive.  I found Marcal not too long ago and have yet to be disappointed.  Here are the products I have tried and my feeling about each.

Toilet Paper

Marcal’s does a great job with their toilet paper.  Whether it’s one or two ply, they both are great.  They are much softer and more durable than most other brands.

Paper Towels

I always try to use reused clothes to handle most of the cleanup jobs in the kitchen. There are time that I do need to use a paper towel and have found Marcal to be great.  Their paper towels are extremely durable for a recycle paper towel.  They aren’t soft, but who cares when dealing with a paper towel.

Napkins

When it comes to napkins, Marcal feels exactly the same and works just as well as many other napkins on the market.  I can’t even think how other companies justify their napkins not being made from recycled paper when they seem like the same product.  They also have dinner napkins for special occasions or parties.

Tissues

Their tissues don’t contain lotions or are extremely soft, but they get the job done.  If you want a softer product, stick with an old-fashion handkerchief.

Final Thoughts

Marcal has done a great job to make their products as environmentally friendly, yet affordable as possible.  If you are in the market for paper products,  give Marcal a try and you won’t be disappointed.

The manufacture of solar cells now requires the use of saline gas to make anti-reflective coating, that is extremely dangerous as well as expensive.  Silexium does not require silane to be present and could reduce the complexity and money required to make solar cells.  This new coating would also provide more protection over the cells allow for possibly longer life and more power generated.

Sounds like a promising product that could help expand the usage of solar panels.

Photo by cliff1066™.

The Leaf is the first electric vehicle on the market that offers both a fairly long range and affordable price.  Let’s take a look at some of the features of this vehicle:

• Battery: 24 kWh lithium ion battery
• Battery Life: 100 miles per charge
• Speed: Up to 90 miles per hour
• Seating: 5 seat hatchback
• Charge: Quick charge of 30 minutes at 440V / Full charge in standard US home, 8 hours
• Monitor: Dash mounted system monitor
• Cool Feature: Mobile connected to charge battery.
• Cost: $25,000 – $33,000

All these features cover the majority of American drivers today.  It may not be practical yet for a drive across the country, but it would cover most people.  The average driver doesn’t even get close to 90 mph and 100 miles is plenty for the daily commuter.

The Leaf recently won Green Car Journal’s Vision Award because of the practical pricing of this vehicle.  Unlike many of the other electric vehicles in America, it was able to achieve an affordable price, yet still get good speed and range.

There are still two major challenges that electric vehicles still have to face: better battery technology and charging stations.  Battery technology is constantly getting better, so that problem should resolve itself as times passes.  The bigger problem is to get charge stations set up throughout America.  Until that day comes, electric vehicles will not be the car of choice for the average commuter.

For a fully comprehensive look at the Nissan Leaf, check out Autoblog’s in depth look.

In an effort to raise more funds to continue manufacturing its vehicles, Tesla is filing for a $100 million IPO.  The goal is to starting making more Roadsters and having the Model S out by 2012 with the help of a federal loan along with these investment funds.

Their new Model S will cost $50,000 after a federal tax credit and are in the works of making a more practical model in the not so far future.  As with any stock and especially a smaller company like Tesla, there is a chance in losing money.  If  you are interesting in buying stocks, this is one company that looks really promising though.

1) Buy Organic and Fair-Trade Coffees

While organic and fair trade coffees can be much more expensive than traditional brands, it is possible to find more affordable alternatives.  If you have a local coffee roaster in your area, you might give them a look.  Often, local roasters will offer their own fair-trade certified and organic blends that are cheaper than those carried by major chains and grocery stores.  Plus, buying local is always a good idea.  Additionally, some of the larger grocery, natural foods and discount stores even offer generic versions of fair-trade and organic coffees (like Nature’s Place, available at Hannaford Supermarket and Wild Harvest, available at Shaw’s Supermarket.)

2) Roast and Grind Your Own

For a step-by-step guide to roasting your own coffee beans, you can refer to www.breworganic.com/Coffee/HowToRoast.htm. Not only are green (unroasted) beans about half the cost of roasted beans, they last longer when stored.  You can roast your beans on the stovetop, which will use less energy.   Apparently, it is even possible to use an old-fashioned,stovetop popcorn popper to do the job.  You can also roast beans in the oven, but this will use a little more electricity.   Grinding the beans after you roast them is a sure-fire way to brew the freshest coffee imaginable.

3) Buy a French Press

If your household sticks to one or two cups of coffee each morning, then you might want to invest in a French Press, or press pot, as they are sometimes called.  A French Press uses no paper filters or electricity and word has it if you like strong coffee, then nothing beats the taste. While some resources are obviously used to manufacture the French Presses themselves, using one to brew your coffee at home is a greener practice than using an automatic coffee-maker.  Heating the water in the microwave will also use less electricity than heating the water on the stove.  While the French Press does not keep coffee hot after it is brewed, you can avoid this problem by transferring it into a thermal container.

4) Use a Reusable Filter

If you want the convenience of using an automatic coffee maker with a timer, you can use one with a reusable filter to eliminate the need for paper ones, which create more waste.   Or, if you prefer, there are brown paper filters that do not use bleach in the manufacturing process and are also compostable.

5) Use a Thermal Carafe

If you are shopping for an automatic coffee-maker, buy one with a thermal carafe instead of a burner.  This way, when the coffee stops brewing, it will turn off automatically, rather than using electricity to keep the coffee hot.  The down side of these kind of coffee-makers is that the coffee does not always stay super hot.

6) Recycle your Grounds

In addition to composting paper filters, coffee grounds break down quite nicely in a compost bin as well.  Coffee grounds even make an effective compost on their own when placed around your garden plantings.