Last Friday when I finally stopped in to pick up my mail, the Eco Canteen stainless steel water bottles were waiting for me. As soon as I got home I unpacked the box and was thrilled to find two of the full-size water bottles. The lid has a clip attached so the water bottle can be easily transported. The bottles also come with an insulated tote bag that keeps in the moisture and keeps the water colder, longer.

In the past, I’ve talked about the importance of using stainless steel water bottles. In short, plastic water bottles are bad for your health and their bad for the environment. Plastic contains BPA, which can leach and cause health problems. The effects on the environment are even worse. Most people don’t recycle these plastic bottles and they break down incredibly slowly – it can take up to 1,000 years for plastic to break down. That’s not exactly the legacy that you want to leave. Also concerning is the amount of oil that’s used in the production of plastics. According to the Earth Policy Institute, more than 17 million barrels of oil are used each year in order to create the plastic that water is stored in – and that’s not including the cost to transport the water, often overseas.

Alright, back to the Eco Canteen review. In the past, I’ve used Kleen Kanteen’s water bottles, and for the most part, I’ve been pleased with them. However, I’ll gladly make the change to Eco Canteen, for a few key reasons.

First and most important (to me), Eco Canteen is a non-profit organization. That tells me that they are doing this for the right reasons.

Second, the Eco Canteen bottles are about 1/2 the price of any competitor’s bottles. The full size stainless steel water bottles are $9.95 and the kid’s sized bottles are only $8.95 vs. more than $20.00 for the same bottles sold by many competitors.

Third, after using these bottles for a few days, I’ve found the quality of these bottles to be just as good, or better, than that of other water bottles I’ve used. The insulated sleeve that comes with them is basically a free bonus, since the bottles that I’ve ordered in the past did not come with a holder at all.

If I have any complaint at all about the Eco Canteen stainless steel water bottles, it’s that they only come in traditional stainless steel. Now, that’s perfect for me. However, I have daughters who are seven and five and they are really attached to their decorated bottles. However, as I mentioned before, these bottles are half the price and they’re extremely good quality – so my daughters are just going to have to learn to love the stainless steel look!

If you’re still drinking from plastic water bottles, it’s time to make the switch – visit Eco Canteen for more information or to order your own stainless steel water bottles.

Eco Canteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle

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So, I started looking for alternatives. After a lot of research, I decided to buy a hard floor steam cleaner. It works great and they are really green.

Here are just a few reasons why you may want to consider making the switch from whatever you happen to be using now to a hard floor steam cleaner.

1. It’s a one-time cost. Not only does that eventually save you you money, it’s also a green thing to do. You are creating more waste every time that you have to purchase new chemicals for your floor or a new mop head. Most hard floor steam cleaners come with microfiber cleaning cloths which can be washed and used again.

2. No Chemicals Needed! This was the biggest draw for me. Most of the chemicals that we bring in to our homes aren’t things that we really want to be breathing in. They also cost money and create waste in the form of the plastic bottles that they are packaged in.

3. They work really well. The first time I used my new hard floor steam cleaner, I realized that the microfiber pad was really dirty when I was done. That seemed a little odd to me since I had mopped just the day before! What that tells me is that my mop was leaving a lot of dirt behind.

4. They are very easy to use. My 13-year old daughter who despised mopping her floor with a regular mop actually enjoys using the floor steam cleaner. If you met my daughter (or saw her room), you’d know that’s saying a lot!

There are a number of great hard floor steam cleaners on the market and which one that you’ll want depends on how much tile or wood you have in your home and how often you clean it.

For most homes that have tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, a simple model like this one made by Bissell work great.

Bissell Hard Floor Steam Cleaner

I use the Bissell and I’m extremely pleased with it, even though I have a lot of hard floors in my home. However, some people with a lot of tile or hard wood or tile may want to invest in a larger residential or even a commercial steam cleaner. It really depends on how much you’d like to spend and how often you’ll be cleaning your floors.

Do you use a hard floor steam cleaner? What do you think of it? How well does it work? Have you saved a lot of mops and cleaning supplies? We’d love to hear how you are greening your routine with steam!

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Energy 4 Earth

Check out our recent review on Earth 4 Energy, a product that claims to teach you how to make your own solar panels and wind generators. Does it work? Is it work your money? Can you really make a solar panel that will collect energy? We’ve done the legwork and provide you only the pertinent decision. Visit our review here to see whether or not you can make your own solar panels and to see if this product is worth your time and money.

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Spring is here and it’s time to start thinking about your garden. There’s nothing that makes me happier than getting my garden spruced up each spring and I’m always on the lookout for new plants and products to add to what I already have.

I’m also obviously interested in being as eco friendly as I can, so I’m constantly trying to use green products in and around my home. Solar garden lights are one way that I green my garden while also adding beauty and functionality.

As I started my search for new products this year, I was on the lookout for some new high-quality solar garden lights to use outside. I came across these Moonrays 91225 Verona Style Solar Powered Plastic Path Light, Black, 10 Pack
that I am extremely pleased with. Besides wanting green products, I also want to find good deals and I want high quality products. These lights meet all of my criteria and they work great.

If you haven’t yet used any sort of solar light in your yard or garden, you are missing out on great ambiance and a potential way to save some cash on your electric bill. Quite simply, they collect energy during the day, with small solar collectors on the top of the light and then light up after dark. The ones that I purchased, shown above, utilize LED lighting which means that they stay lit longer each night. They are also extremely tolerant of water and can be placed without worrying about rain or irrigation.

I use mine all over the place – I always have them on either side of the path leading to my front door so that the walk to the door is illuminated after dark. I also use them throughout my flower beds to give them some light after the sun goes down.

The type of solar garden lights that you choose is going to be based mostly on your personal taste and style. No matter what style appeals to you, there are a few things that you should look for in your purchase of any solar lighting product.

~ Look for LED lighting. LED light bulbs last the longest, so you’re lights will stay lit longer each night.
~ Look for lighting that is weatherproof so you don’t need to be concerned about rain or irrigation getting on them.
~ Check for easy to access batteries. The batteries are what will hold the charge that is being collected by the solar panel from the sun. They will need to be replaced every once in awhile, so you want to be able to access them easily.
~ Make sure that whatever lights you choose come with quality ground spikes so that you can easily place the solar lighting in your garden.

Amazon has a great selection of these solar lights. Be sure to check them out if you’re looking for ways to spruce up your garden this spring. Here is a highly rated one; Moonrays 91225 Verona Style Solar Powered Plastic Path Light, Black, 10 Pack

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Here’s just a few green cabinet ideas to get you started:

• Consider Using What You Already Have: Yes, I know using what you have sort of defeats the purpose of new kitchen cabinets. However, it is worth considering. If you are basically happy with the layout of your current kitchen and your cabinetry is well-built and high quality, it’s entirely possible that you could reface what you already have. In case you are wondering what makes this more eco friendly than replacing the whole thing – it’s really simple. Refacing what you already have means that you use less materials. Using less material is always a green thing to do.
• Donate Your Old Cabinets: If your current cabinets are in good condition, be eco friendly and a good citizen and donate them to someone who can get additional use out of them.  Habitat for Humanity has a great program called ReStore that accepts all kinds of building materials and used household items, like cabinets. Donations are tax-deductible.
• How About Buying Used: Depending on your needs, the style of your kitchen, and your budget, buying used may be a great alternative and will definitely give you green cabinets – certainly more eco friendly than buying new. Adding new hardware to a set a cabinetry that you like can make it perfect for your kitchen.

If you are absolutely set on purchasing new cabinetry for your home, here are some things that you’ve absolutely got to consider

• Check for FSC Certified Wood: If you are planning to purchase wood cabinetry, look for the use of wood that has been grown in FSC-certified forests. These are managed forests and steps are taken to make sure that trees are replanted for those that are cut down.
• Consider Metal: Metal is a much more renewable product than wood. If you have a contemporary kitchen, metal or stainless steel cabinets might be a perfect option for you.
• Buy Less or Leave Some Open: This goes back to the concept that using less of anything is a green thing to do. Consider reducing the total amount of cabinet space that you install or leaving some of your cabinets open (ie. not installing faces on them)
• Watch Very Closely for VOCs & Urea Formaldeyde: Almost all cabinets are in some way glued together. They also often have a finish added.  This may be one of the most important things that you pay attention to because VOCs and Urea Formaldehyde are a health risk and contribute to poor indoor air quality.  The major problem is that items that contain VOCs continue to emit them for up to 5 years, or longer in some cases.  If you do purchase cabinets with VOCs, make sure that you unpack them outdoors and give them some time to air out before bringing them in your home. They’ll still emit fumes, but the majority of the harmful fumes are emitted within the first hours and days.
• Look for Recycled or Reclaimed Wood: Of course, recycled & reclaimed materials will give you a greener product than using virgin products. They also often have great character and can really give your kitchen a great look and feel.

The bottom line is that you can get a new look in your kitchen while being responsible through the use of green cabinets!

Green Kitchen Cabinets

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