The Green Energy Debate

From @TreeHugger's twitter. Apologies for the partisanship.

Eco-Tip 19

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 19

Buy organic, but only when it makes sense. Yes, it is better to buy organic, but it isn't that simple. Sometimes organic foods can travel so far from farm to market that the positive aspects of being organic are entirely negated. There's no clear line or balance to dictate when it's better to buy more locally or organically, but you can generally judge on a case-by-case basis without too much trouble. Organic peaches from New Zealand or inorganic peaches from Delaware? Inorganic from Delaware. Organic apples from Pennsylvania or inorganic apples from New York? Organic from Pennsylvania. It often is really just that easy. And it's understandable if buying organic isn't in your fiscal reach, especially in these unideal economic times. There are a slew of other ways you can help the environment that also save money!

Eco-Tip 18

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 18

Buy local WATER. What are we talking about? Lots of brands of water from all over the world are holding ground in American markets -- some even posing as environmentally conscious products. Don't trust them. We've got nothing against globalization, but seriously, there's no reason to buy water from hot springs from some nearly uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or from glaciers on French mountain tops. Water is water, H2O, there's no reason it can't be from a water fountain or even Poland Spring if you must. I was reminded of this issue the other day at big event where the only beverages available were sodas and Fiji (both ridiculously overpriced since everyone was desperate.) I went with a soda because even if it is made from tap water and dozens of esoteric chemicals in a factory on some NJ highway, it sure didn't travel that far.

And of course I recycled the bottle after I was finished.

Eco-Tip 17

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 17

Get a water filter. There is no excuse today to still be living off of bottled water for home, even bulk packages. You get the same water at the same quality with just your tap water and a purifier (in most cases the filter isn't even necessary.) It's a little-known fact that tap water and bottled water are actually reviewed by two separate government agencies: the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and FDA (Food & Drug Administration), respectively. This is important because the EPA has higher standards than the FDA, which means tap water is really safer to drink in most cases. There's still a paranoia surrounding tap and it's not totally baseless -- bottled water doesn't travel through miles of old rusting pipes. That's what the water filter is for. You just put the water in the dispenser and it takes out all nasty particles automatically. Oh, and it saves a LOT of money. Try a big, trusted brand like Brita.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July everybody! No eco-tip today. Go to a picnic, take a nap and enjoy some fireworks.