Submitted questions will be posted with my response by the following Tuesday or before.
Submitted comments will be moderated and approved within 24 hours.
Sweet butter
Question from LA
Does it matter if the recepie calls for unsweetened butter and i use sweetened instead?
Debra’s Answer
I’m not sure what your recipe actually said, but I’ve never seen a recipe that called for “unsweetened butter” and I’ve never seen such a product.
However…the word “sweet” is used in the labeling of butter, but it has nothing to do with sugar.
Unsalted butter is often labeled “Sweet butter”. “Sweet cream butter” is lightly salted butter.
Also, fresh cream is referred to as “sweet cream” as opposed to “sour cream” which is fermented. Until 1940, all butter was made from sour cream. Today, because of mechanization, butter is made from sweet cream (read more about this in The Case for Butter).
Made in the USA
There have been a lot of posts lately lamenting the environmentally quality of goods made in other countries and a desire to buy American. So I did a little search and found there are a number of websites devoted to cataloging companies who manufacture their goods in the USA. While these are not all green products, if you are looking for something specific–like I know some readers now want to buy bedlinens made in the USA, you could check one of these lists and see if the products you find there are also green.
By virtue of reduced shipping–and the energy use and pollution from transportation–any product made in American would have the green attribute of energy savings (if one lived in America). However, not all products made in America are nontoxic, or made from renewable resources, or have any of the other green attributes. But I wanted to give you these websites as a tool, so you know where to look for products made in America.
Why buy products made in the USA?
- saves American jobs
- keeps American money circulating in America
- less transporation reduces energy use and carbon emissions
- products are made to American standards according to American laws
Here are the websites:
New York Times on Eco-Fashion
There was an article yesterday in the New York Times about eco-fashion. It includes some pros and cons about various textile manufacturing and compares some ecofashions in a slide show, but concludes that there isn’t much benefit to eco-fashions.
I don’t think they picked the best examples.
Also, while there are some cons, it seems to me that they are looking at the situation as “half empty” rather than “half full”. To me, it’s better to support products that are partially green than products that are not green at all. And by doing so, we move the market to be greener and greener.
The article also points out, “the trend [of consumer interest in green products] has advanced so quickly that it becomes difficult to evaluate the claims of products that say they are biodegradable, carbon neutral or made from sustainable materials. In recognition of rapidly expanding consumer interest, the Federal Trade Commission said on Monday that it will quickly re-evaluate its guides for green designations in marketing, last updated in 1998, to determine whether they need to be expanded.” This is good news.
The downside for me of this article was the fashions they chose were outrageously expensive and more couture. I would have preferred showing some of the many green fashions that are more affordable to the general public. It made it look like Barney’s was the only place to buy green clothing. Of course, the greenest clothing I could find is on Debra’s List: Textiles.
They seemed to conclude that green fashion wasn’t really green at all, and there was no point in buying it (at least that was my take). This is what happens to public enthusiasm about green products when there is too much greenwashing…
The Environmental Impact of Pets
Here are links to an interesting 2-part article from the San Francisco Chronicle about the environmental impact of pets.
The 1st part is about the impact itself; the 2nd part is about what we can do.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/11/13/petscol.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/11/27/petscol.DTL
Office Furniture and Equipment
Question from Lyn
Hi Debra,
I am in process of finding an eco-friendly computer and found the website www.GreenMachineShop.com. Are you or any of your readers familiar with this company? I have been debating between a laptop or a pc and the claims that the owner makes regarding computers for those that have chemical sensitivies is quite interesting. Do you have any opinions on this?
I am also looking for an ergonomic office chair and am concerned about the materials used in a new one especially because of my chemical sensitivities. I have looked at the Herman Miller Aeron chair (see www.hermanmiller.com for specs) in a local furniture store and could not detect any fumes. But there were other scents in the store so I can’t be quite sure. The contents of the chair are made up of 62% recycled materials.
Another line of chairs recommended to me is by VITRA, which I haven’t yet tried. I do know that Relax-the-Back had chairs that worked for my body (pre severe chemical sensitivities) but I can barely stay in their store npw for 5 minutes even with a mask on. In addition to chemical sensitivities I have carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes and fibromyalgia.
Thanks in advance for your feeback.
Lyn
Debra’s Answer
I’m not familiar with this computer company and there’s a lot more information on their website than I have time to digest this morning. However, they do have a lot of interesting things to read about the toxic chemicals in computer, so I’ll take a look when I have more time. They seem to be saying they are making a less toxic computer. I need to check that out more thoroughly and welcome any comments from anyone who has experience with them or wants to check it out more.
Re desktop or laptop, what made a difference for me was the flat screen. I have both a laptop and a desktop and both have flat screens.
Re the chairs. Recycled does not mean nontoxic. It’s good you smelled it. Maybe they would let you borrow the chair for a day or two and return it if it doesn’t work for you. Most stores have money-back return policies.
Dry Scalp
Question from vsic4
I don’t if the dandruff question posted earlier applies, but my scalp has been dry, and flakey with white flakes. I was using some shampoos from the natural section of the store but i think it made my scalp more flakey. How can I bring more moisture or oil to my scalp so there’s not a bunch of little white flakes in my hair and my scalp doesn’t feel so dry?
Debra’s Answer
I suggest you try the remedies at Q&A: Dandruff Treatment.
Christmas Tree without Pesticides
Question from Kiyo Jannereth
Most Christmas tree farms spray their trees with pesticides right before the season starts so that the trees are pest free for harvest.
There are numerous articles about migrant workers getting sick from pesticides on tree farms.
Also, some trees (in Florida and from up-north) are sprayed with dye so that they do not turn yellow while sitting in the lot or at home. (I never knew this until a farmer set me aside and told me!)
Before you visit a tree farm, be sure to ask if they spray with pesticides and/or dyes.
The following farm in Dade City, Florida sprays their trees with dye but does not spray with pesticides (the only one that is pesticide free that I could find in Dade City or anywhere near Tampa). Florida Christmas Trees are not as nice as Northern trees, but it is worth the try if you want pesticide free trees.
Lazy Lay Acres
Debra’s Answer
Non plastic travel mug
Question from Kristin
I am looking for a completely non plastic travel mug. I honestly dont know if such a thing even exists, but with knowing everything about plastic that we do, I’d hope it would be out there somewhere.
When I say non plastic I mean 100% plastic free, a plastic handle would be ok, just as long as no plastic touches the liquid, no plastic lids, spouts, inserts, etc. Please let me know of you can help!
Debra’s Answer
Activated Carbon Blankets
Question from HelenK
Hi,
I recently purchased a new mattress for my two year old son. It is a combination of wool and foam and I am concerned about any possible outgassing. I hear that activated carbon blankets can assist with reducing/eliminating toxic odours. Do you know anything about these products? Are they safe to be used on children’s beds?
Debra’s Answer
Another reader also asked about carbon blankets this week. She said, “I’m wondering if anyone has had good experience using this to block off-gassing. I’ve heard about it for use to cover mattresses. I’m thinking about trying it to cover seats, which affect me pretty strongly, and also wondering if it could be useful in cars, which also affect me strongly. ”
Activated carbon blankets are available from Nirvana Safe Haven I’ve never seen one or used one. From the description it sounds like they are felt (no material specified) embedded with carbon.
Anyone have any experience with these?
Water heaters
Question from Betty L
Hi, Ready to buy a new electric hot water heater. Interested in the Marathon, very energy efficient. Very well made. Impressed. Only concern is that the tank is made of polybutene. Any chance
of leaching anything harmful into the water? Polybutylene, maybe another form is listed as a pesticide. I also have a Jacuzzi tub so I will be soaking in the water.
What do you think?
Thanks.
Betty
Debra’s Answer
Maybe someone else can answer this better than I. I actually never thought about what was inside a water heater. Hmmmm.
About polybutylene, there is a lot of information on the web about this plastic and failure of polybutylene pipes. Just type “polybutylene” into your favorite search engine.
Anyone know more about what is standard for the lining of water heaters?
