Hybrid cars use both a gas engine and electric motor. The energy used by the electric motor is stored in rechargeable batteries. Since hybrid cars partially use electricity, they burn less gasoline than a traditional car and release less emissions, making them more environmentally friendly.
To learn more, go to:
DEET is the active ingredient in many insect repellent products. DEET repels bothersome insects such as ticks, flies and mosquitoes. Approxiamtely 1/3 of the US population is expected to use DEET each year.
The danger in using products containing DEET is that it has possible damaging effects on brain cells. After frequent and long-term exposure, studies performed on rats show that neurons can die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory and concentration.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/chemicals/deet.htm
http://www.quantumhealth.com/news/dangers_of_DEET.html
Humidity is the measure of moisture in the air. The recommended humidity level for humans is 30% to 50%.
High levels of humidity (most often occurring in warm climates) in the home can cause heat stroke, trigger asthma and create an environment in which dust mites and mold can thrive.
Low levels of humidity (most often occurring in cold climates) in the home can cause dryness in the throat and nose (which dries the mucous membranes and can lead to increased vulnerability to colds and the flu) and can cause allergy and asthma complications.
To learn more, go to:
Compost is a soil-like material created by the transformation of organic material (such as food waste and plant matter) through decomposition. Insects, earthworms, bacteria, and fungi help the material break down into compost through the decomposition process.
Composting is a natural form of recycling that can be completed by a household and can eliminate 700lbs of waste per household per year. The nutrients in compost make it a natural and highly effective fertilizer.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.howtocompost.org/info/info_composting.asp
Cradle to Cradle certification is a mark companies can earn for a product from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDG) that indicates it is designed and manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. The evaluation looks at whether they use environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reuse, such as recycling or composting; use renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and institute strategies for social responsibility.
The mark looks like this:
Learn more, including a full list of products certified: http://www.mbdc.com/c2c/
Urea formaldehyde is a chemical used in resins. In homes, it is most often found in wood products like particleboard (shelves, cabinetry), medium density fiberboard (drawer fronts, furniture tops), and hardwood plywood paneling. It was also used heavily in foam insulation during the ’70’s although the use was banned in the 1980’s. Concentrations of Urea Formaldehyde can reduce indoor air quality.
Exposure can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently implemented new laws mandating the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD). ULSD is 97% cleaner and more refined than the previous diesel fuel standard.
ULSD contains less sulphur, which is a natural part of the crude oil from which diesel fuel comes from. Sulphur creates particulates or soot in the exhaust (which is why diesel fumes typically are black) which are then expelled in the diesel exhaust fumes and is one of the main contributors to air pollution.
Previous diesel fuel standard exhaust is a known carcinogen and is especially dangerous to children.
To learn more, go to:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/how-clean-diesel-fuel-works1.htm
http://www.hybridcars.com/related-technologies/clean-diesel.html
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are organic chemicals that may be natural or synthetic and produce vapors. Generally, if you can smell it, it counts as a VOC. VOCs have many uses, including in fuels, solvents, paints, scents, refrigerants, pesticides, and resins. Many VOCs are hazardous air pollutants and regulated. The release of VOC’s into the air is called off-gassing, but you may recognize it more as “new paint or carpet” smell.
The problem is that the release of VOC’s into the indoors of a home causes the concentration of chemicals to be 2-5X that of outdoor air. Depending on the chemical and the concentration, the symptoms could be from watery eyes or mild skin irritations to more serious issues like asthma and the long term effects of VOC exposure could be much more serious. If you’ve heard of Sick Building Syndrome, that’s generally caused by high concentrations of VOCs and a poor ventilation system.
The best way to combat VOC’s is good ventilation and fresh air. The next is to avoid products that off-gas known toxic chemicals, including regular paints, furniture made with foam or fiberboard, synthetic carpet, pesticides, floor finishes, etc. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s made from all-natural materials (wood, wool, natural fibers, etc), the VOCs released are likely to be very low risk.
Learn More: You can find the chemicals in thousands of household products using this website from the US Department of Health & Human Services.
Aluminum Chloride is commonly used in antiperspirants to stop or significantly reduce the moist climate in which bacteria thrive. Aluminum-based complexes react with sweat to plug up the duct of the sweat gland.
The danger in using products containing Aluminum Chloride is that aluminum is known to have a genotoxic profile, which means it is capable of causing DNA alterations and epigenetic effects which could play a role in causing cancers (specifically, breast cancer).
To learn more, go to:
drugs.com
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. A farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but fish, meat, egg and flower shares also exist. Consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
Phthalates are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics more flexible or resilient. Also used in some solvents, phthalates are universally used in modern society and can be found in toys, food packaging, shower curtains, adhesives, detergents, hoses, raincoats, vinyl flooring, nail polish, shampoo, lubricants, and hair spray.
The danger in using products made with phthalates is that phthalates have been found to disrupt the endocrine system, cause reduced sperm counts, abnormalities in the male reproductive systems and cause liver cancer.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/480
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/phthalates.html
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) are compounds containing only carbon, chlorine, and fluorine and are used in household, commercial, and industrial applications. CFC’s are widely used as coolants, aerosol propellants, and foaming agents in the production of foam plastics used for insulation and packing materials. They are very widely used because they are non-toxic, non-reactive with other chemical compounds and are non-flammable.
The danger in using CFC’s is that they play a major part in destroying the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.ausetute.com.au/cfcozone.html
http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/TG/OZ/cfcozn.html
Greenhouse gases are gases that allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely but absorb infrared radiation and traps its heat in the atmosphere when sunlight is re-radiated back toward space. This trapping effect of heat is necessary for life on earth but since the industrial revolution , the amount of greenhouse gases has increased, causing a global warming and climate change.
There are 6 main types of greenhouse gases emitted in the U.S.:
- Carbon Dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrous Oxide
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulfur hexafluoride
To learn more, go to:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=environment_about_ghg
Chloride is a natural poisonous gas that is soluble in water. It exists in nature and in small amounts in our bodies.
Our bodies need some chloride (in the form of the chloride anion) but over the decades, chlorine gas has been used by many water-treatment plants to kill microorganisms in the water. Many scientists are concerned with the high levels of chlorine in drinking water because it is thought to form toxic chemicals and carcinogens when combined with certain organic water pollutants.
To learn more, go to:
A zero energy home uses state-of-the-art, energy-efficient building techniques and renewable energy systems to produce its own energy. A zero energy home produces enough energy to offset the amount purchased from a local electric utility. This offsetting results in a net-zero energy consumption status from the local electric utility and a net-zero annual energy bill.
To learn more (and to see some examples of zero energy homes), go to:
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10360
http://www.toolbase.org/Home-Building-Topics/zero-energy-homes/zero-energy-home-project
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/En/research/buildings/zero_energy/index.htm
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source using heat from within the earth’s core. The heat from the earth’s core is produced by the slow decay of radioactive particles found in all rocks. This heat can be recovered as steam or hot water and can be used to heat buildings or generate electricity.
To learn more, go to:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=geothermal_home-basics
Aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the air. Aerosols are most commonly associated with spray cans containing household cleaning and personal care products. When the can is sprayed, the product is discharged with the help of a compressed inert gas or solvent, such as flourocarbon (FC).
The danger in using aerosol’s containing flourocarbons, is that they may stay in the human body for long periods of time after being inhaled. FC’s have been found to negatively effect reproductive capacity, human lung health and the environment since the gas released is known to contribute to the level of greenhouse gases.
To learn more go to :
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Aerosols/aerosol.php
http://www.ehow.com/about_4567165_aerosols.html
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-governmental, nonprofit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC provides a certification system that offers internationally recognized standards and trademark assurance.
In order for a product to have the FSC label, it guarantees responsible consumption and production of forest products. The labeling system allows consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.fsc.org/
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL’s) are a green alternative to traditional, incandescent light bulbs. CFL’s produce light differently than incandescent bulbs and pay for themselves in about 6 months. CFL’s are more energy efficient because they use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls 
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic (a lightweight and durable plastic used for common household items such as, CD’s, DVD’s, drinking bottles, laptops, milk jugs and baby bottles) and a key element of epoxy resins (which are used as protective coatings on metal cans to maintain the quality of canned food and beverages).
The danger in using products containing BPA is that human exposure to it is widespread and some animal studies report effects in fetuses and newborns exposed to BPA. In 2003-2004 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found detectable levels of BPA in 93% of 2,517 urine samples from people 6 years and older. BPA in food and beverages account for the majority of daily human exposure.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm
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