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Donate Your Denim And Make A Difference Today!

When I started putting this blog together I wanted to do something fun like “5 Totally Hot Ways to Ditch Your Denim & Be Green About It…” Yes, that was actually the original title.  But as I researched, I came across something so very cool, that I couldn’t wait to share it with YOU.

I found COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.^® denim drive changing the world one pair of jeans at a time.  In 2006, a grassroots student organization took off educating students about the green and renewable values of denim.  Just one year later 14,556 articles of denim had been collecting, which nearly doubled the initial estimates.  The collected denim was then sent to a leader in the recycling community, Allen Company.  The denim was compacted into 1,000 lbs. bales and then shipped off to JBM Fibers where they would return the denim to its original cotton fiber state.  But, the quest isn’t quite over for the denim.  Finally Bonded Logic Inc. converts the denim into UltraTouch™ Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation.  The insulation is then used in houses built by Habitat for Humanity.

UltraTouch™ is composed of 85% recycled cotton fibers; it is an environmentally safe, itchy-free insulation that doesn’t have carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde or chemical irritants.  It even insulates and absorbs sound up to 30% more than typical fiberglass insulation.  Most importantly, it is one of the ONLY insulation products with an active mold/mildew inhibitor.

The COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.^® denim drive has rendered 270,617 articles of denim; these have produced over 585,000 sq feet of UltraTouch™ Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation and are now warming 540 homes in communities in need.  The denim drive was so successful that the organization has had to temporarily suspend collections.

Since collections have been suspended, start putting your old jeans aside now for when this gets going again.  If ever there was a fabulous and worthy cause that we could use our old clothes for, then this is it!  Donating your old jeans here not only renders a green and eco-friendly product, but it also specifically goes to help human beings build a home to stay safe and protected in.  I truly can not wait to donate my denim to them as soon as possible!

How We Can Make A Difference In A World Water Crisis

I am truly touched and affected when I come across companies and organizations doing something to actually change the world and save lives.  Today I was directed to CSDW.org (of Proctor & Gamble), and I learned some staggering facts as well as some fabulous resolutions.  CSDW (Children’s Safe Drinking Water) is a program designed to bring safer water to a big part of the world.

It took a while to process some of the following information and how terribly dangerous many communities water supplies are.

• More than one billion people do not have access to safe water.
• Diarrhea caused by drinking contaminated water remains a leading cause of illness and death among infants and children in the developing world.
• About 1.8 million children die every year due to diarrheal diseases.
• More children die from diarrheal illnesses like cholera and dysentery than from HIV/AIDS or malaria combined.
• P&G has collaborated with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) since 1995 to develop safe drinking water systems that people can easily use in their homes.
• There is conclusive evidence that simple, low-cost interventions at the community level can dramatically improve the quality of household stored water and greatly reduce the risk of diarrheal disease and death.
• It is well documented that simply providing safe, clean, drinkable water can reduce deadly diarrhea and other devastating diseases by about 50%.

To combat this hazardous situation, the CSDW is distributing the PUR Packet (a product of PUR), to clean up to 10 liters of water at a time.  The PUR Packet is exceptionally more useful in these cultures because a little bit goes a long way; they are also a greener response to this problem by saving on the countless water bottles sent to these struggling cultures. P&G works with organizations like PSI, CARE, World Vision, Aquaya Institute, USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the International Council of Nurses, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Save the Children, Samaritan’s Purse, and Americares; these organizations and the CSDW are over half way to their goal of cleaning 4 billion liters of water before 2012.

If you would like to help this global movement, then don’t wait another minute.  The CSDW accepts PayPal.  Even small contributions can make a huge difference.  One PUR Packet cleans 10 Liters of water, and costs 10¢.  $1.00 will provide one child with clean water for 50 days, $7.50 can provide that same child with clean water for a year, and $30.00 gives one family clean water for a full year.

3 Alternative Energy Sources To Follow

This morning, I found a great article from Fast Company discussing the world’s largest Tidal Turbine; I got really excited about how alternative energy is evolving, and I did some research.  Here are three things cool new developments for alternative energy:

1)      Hydroelectric Power & Tidal Turbines

Hydroelectricity has been around for quite some time; it’s probably best recognized by harnessing the power of rivers through turbines and dames, but in 2008 the first commercial tidal turbine went live in Northern Ireland.  The next big step for hydroelectricity looks like a $7.5 million and 130 ton machine that will immediately generate 1 MW (energy to power 1,000 homes); it’s name: The AK-1000.  By 2020 this machine should generate 700 MW.  Check out the Atlantis Resource Corporation for more details!

2)      Solar Thermal Power

Beyond traditional solar power, solar thermal power plants focus the sun’s energy using parabolic troughs to feed into a steam cycle around 700 ° F.  The steam powers turbine generators that can generate up to 250MW.  Using thermal storage technologies, energy can be stored and released on demand.  If you want to know more about Solar Thermal Energy, a leading US company Solar Trust of America is doing some incredible stuff.

3)      Algae-Based Fuels

Just last week, the New York Times published a blog about a $52 million deal for just one San Francisco based company (Solazyme) to commercialize their algae-based fuel.  Solazyme is also contracted to the US NAVY for 20,000 gallons of fuel for ships while creating and generating new jet fuel.  The University of Tulsa also received $1 million in funding three years ago from San Diego-based Sapphire Energy Inc. along with a $750K federal grant for algae-based fuel research project focusing on energy for automobiles.

Most of these alternative forms of energy have been in development for some time now, but with increasing awareness from the rest of the world due to events like the Gulf Oil Spill we are seeing faster improvements toward a greener future.

Organic Bug strives to provide goods that are eco-friendly and organic as our part to make tomorrow a better place.

8 Clever Green Uses For Beer

You didn’t just think that beers were good for drinking and beer pong did you? Well if you did, you are in for a treat, and also to be proven wrong! Beer can be used for a lot of things, many, however, are unusual. Check it out!

Enrich Soil
Pour a few tablespoons of flat beer into your garden to cultivate the soil. The yeasty soil will help plants grow stronger and help things flourish.

Lighten Hair
Soak you hair in beer and then lay in the sun. It will pull out terrific highlights and let your hair get a buzz as well as yourself.

Polish Wood Furniture
Get a damp microfiber cloth and wet it with your flat beer, then rub gently into your furniture. It will give it a polish and bring back some color.

Stain Removal
Much like club soda, beer will take out the stains in cloth and carpet. Just make sure to rinse with water after will take out the smell.

Soothe Tired Feet
Want to give your feet a nice treatment? Give yourself a beer pedicure. The bubbles actually will make your feet feel soothed and calm.

Polish Gold Jewelry
Drop your rings and other trinkets into a dish of beer, and then remove to polish. It will give a beautiful gloss and shine to your things.

Batter Up
We’ve got a recipe for making beer batter fried zucchini spears that’s just waiting for some leftover beer.

Bath In Beer
Bathing in beer can help soften and soothe skin. Make sure to rinse or you may smell like a human ale

Terrapass: Offsetting Your Personal & Professional Carbon Footprint

All of us leave a carbon footprint, and while some footprints are bigger than others – it’s wonderful to see companies developing ways to help offset some of the eco-damage that we can cause. I recently was turned on to Terapass, and was very impressed with what I saw.

First and foremost, Terapass is a company that allows you to purchase the reduction of your carbon footprint. Here’s how it works: You (as a consumer or a business owner) may calculate an estimate of your carbon emissions, you may then purchase your TerraPass online, the proceeds then go to 10 separate projects (in 2010) in North America that are either Wind Farms, Landfill Gas Capture, or Farm Power (making the best use of animal waste.

Terrapass walks the walk as well as talking the talk. 100% of their carbon offsets are verified annually by broadly accepted standards. They also only sell carbon offsets that are happening in today’s world and do not depend on future developments (for example waiting for the maturation of trees). Finally, they maintain transparency by promoting and making available the sold carbon credits, including the project name, location, type, standard, verifier and the exact quantity of carbon credits that they purchased from each project. This way, you know exactly where your money goes.

If you haven’t checked this out yet, you should! It’s a great way to help save the planet while maintaining responsibility for your own carbon footprint!

5 Easy Steps Toward A Greener You

Whether you’re a bohemian and organic yogini or just a person wanting to be a little more green, there are a few things you can always do to make a difference. Even for the greenest of us, remembering some basics can help to reignite and remind us of simple things to make our lives a bit better.

1) Reduce

Let’s face it: even in tough economic times most people live in somewhat of a state of abundance, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. We also could all use for a little reduction in how we buy and how we consume. Use less paper, print things less often, open the windows, don’t make as much food, actually eat your leftovers, put a timer in your shower, don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth, etc. Look at your life and find at least 3 ways today to reduce your use.

2) Reuse

The best part of reusing anything is in the creative opportunities that can be found. Not only can you get in touch with your inner artisan, but there are also real-life practical ways to reuse household items. Use your old socks as cleaning rags, make a blanket or quilt out of old t-shirts, old bills and junk mail can become crap paper for notes, jars can become flower vases, and more. Next time you go to throw things away, take a moment and get creative before you toss that junk in the garbage

3) Recycle

Many communities offer a diverse recycling program that can keep many things out of our landfills. I recently learned about a service in my community that will even take away old appliances AND provide you with a credit off a utilities bill if a new energy efficient appliance is purchased. Electronics are also in high demand right now for recycling. Check out EPA.gov for more information about local recycling electronics efforts.

4) Shop smarter – Shop greener

Shopping greener doesn’t necessarily mean buying organic goods from your local mega supermarket. So many day-to-day products now offer eco-friendly, safe, and (often) organic alternatives; sometimes these alternatives may be a bit more pricey, but the positive difference they make over heavy chemical brothers and sisters. You can also find green alternative products that have been recognized and approved by various organizations like Green Seal.

5) Power down

Most everybody has fallen asleep with the TV on, or left a light on in the bathroom while leaving the house in a hurry. Mistakes happen, but being conscious and powering down really DO make a difference. Beyond being aware of simple things, there are several little things that we often overlook: don’t leave things on the charger after they have finished, turn off your computer when you are done, take advantage of cooler days and turn off the AC, etc.

There are so many ways to be more green for beginners and veterans! Organic Bug offers tools, goods, gifts, and more to help make your life be a little more green!

2,000 Re-Uses for Beer Boxes!

This morning, a friend sent me a link to what might be the cleverest uses of beer boxes I have ever seen.

Earlier this summer, German architecture students at the University of Applied Science in Detmold designed (website in German), realized, and constructed BOXEL.  The pavilion is constructed in one week by students out of over 2,000 beer boxes that have each been in use for over 10 years donated from a local brewery; the boxes will be recycled when the pavilion is disassembled.

Boxel was conceptualized by Henri Schweynoch in his response to an impromptu competition from Prof. Marco Hemmerling.  The building shape is based on a minimal surface and is organized along free form geometry.  The structure is held together by a series of slats and screws with the additional support of bracings in some of the upper areas.  The three base points of the structure also are concrete lined boxes as load-bearing points.

These students have demonstrated (even unintentionally) great ways to reuse common items.  Organic Bug supports reusing and recycling objects in useful ways.  After 10 years of use, these beer boxes were given one last task before they find themselves recycled – what a great example of being green.

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