Products and services

What Matters Most

Here are the top 5 things you can do that will make the biggest difference in the area of sustainable products:

• Change your incandescent light bulbs to CFL's.
• Don't buy bottled water -- use refillable containers, such as Brita pitchers.
• Move to reuseable bags.
• Use non-toxic, green cleaning products.
• Buy low-VOC paint.

Featured Idea

• For Watt Watchers, a Way to Save Power Without Being There NYT. Jan 19. Here's a clever little device that can help you save energy. It looks like a typical 8-socket power strip, but it comes with a small motion detector with an infrared sensor. If no one is within its 300-sq-ft range for a period of time you can specify, it flips the switch so you won't waste power.
• Tree-Free Greetings Greeting cards made from kenaf (hint: not trees)
• Rooted to Nature A store in Williamsburg, MI (near Traverse City) that deals in "natural clothing for a sustainable future."

Did You Know...

• Sustainable products are those products providing environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health, welfare, and environment over their full commercial cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to final disposition. (from sustainableproducts.com)

Resources

• Green Seal certifies environmentally responsible products and services. Look up an item here.
• Alternative Energy Store
• Huntington Cleaners
• General Organic Services Local organic cleaning services.
• Michigan Green-Safe Store opens at Recycle Here! in downtown Detroit. You can buy those compostable picnic-ware products we've been discussing. Also can buy them at WorldCentric.com
• Michigan Green Safe Products