VOC Paint

If re-decorating is on your list of to-do's this spring, make sure to choose zero-VOC paints or stains. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are emitted from some products and contribute to indoor pollutants.

Global Green Indigenous Film Festival

If you find yourself in the Santa Fe, NM area the weekend of April 18-20, then don't miss the Global Green Indigenous Film Festival. This festival features shorts about indigenous environmental issues and will be held at the El Museo de Cultural de Santa Fe.

Plastics Guide

Plastic seems to be an inevitable characteristic of many products around us and the National Geographic Green Guide's team put together a helpful list to maneuver the world of plastics - Which is the easiest to recycle, #1, and which transmits the fewest chemicals into your food or beverage, #2, if it's a food container.

Inhabitat: A Green Designer's Perspective

Check out the world of green design at Inhabitat. This chic website keeps an eye on the world of architecture and fashion for green trends.

Coffee and Tea Drinkers

If you just can't remember to bring your travel mug to your favorite coffee shop, try slipping one of these reusable sleeves into your bag instead. You won't need to use a cardboard sleeve or double-cup to save your fingers from burning. Check out Hip Grip Coffee Sleeves or Cup Couture Cupcoats for washable sleeves in a variety of designs for only $12-13.

Marmot's Green Award

And the award goes to... Marmot's DriClime Catalyst Jacket. Backpacker Magazine awarded this coat the "Green" 2008 Award for innovation in material and production.

Eco-Colleges

National Geographic's Green Guide has ranked the top 10 eco-colleges in the U.S. They are striving to have carbon-free imprints, serve locally grown food in their cafeterias and are constructing green buildings. Just waiting to see my alma mater, Bates College, show up in the list next year.

Problems with Bamboo?

While the benefits of bamboo have been shouted from the highest rooftops, there are some potential drawbacks as well that are worth mentioning.

- It can grow up to a foot a day, but if diverse eco-systems are cut down to plant bamboo, then we lose that biodiversity and increase land erosion.
- It needs little water and even fewer pesticides to grow it, but how is it processed into fiber? There is no governing body to implement standards and there is a lot of mystery around the processing - Most of which is done by ONE factory in China.

But don't despair - Bamboo still has a huge lead over nylon, synthetics and especially cotton.

Competitive Green Action

For all the competitive people out there, I've found the green website for you. Carbon Rally posts "challenges" to help you lessen your impact on the environment, asks you to register to show your commitment and then shows you how you've made a difference. You can sign up as an individual or a team of people - Just remember to bring it!

Eco Yoga Mats

You'd never be able to tell the difference between a traditional yoga mat and one of these eco ones - They are PVC-, rubber- and latex-free as well as decomposable. While they tend to wear out faster, they are recyclable.

Bags or Heads?

Next time you cruise through the veggie section of the supermarket, stop at the wall o' bags of lettuce and plastic containers of pre-cut carrots.

Then turn around and marvel instead at the heads of lettuce, pyramids of oranges and bunches of bananas.

Now imagine a time when nobody bought those bags or plastic containers and saved some space in our landfills.

Lifeline Radio

While you can't buy these for personal use yet, they were designed for people in developing countries by Freeplay Energy- The radio can be powered by a solar panel OR a hand crank, so you can always get a station. They are blue to repel tsetse fly and are designed like a handbag to make them easier to carry. An innovative product making a difference in the world.

Eco TV

While TVs are one of the least energy efficient appliances in your home, some manufacturers are trying to change this. One example is the Philips Eco TV - The TV can sense what lighting you have in your room so it dims itself in dark rooms and brightens in light. When it's not on, it only uses .15 of a watt, it contains no lead and it arrives in a recycled box. When it will be available on the market in late March, the price tag will ring in at a steep $1,400.

A Poo Story

Looking for a unique gift that's environmentally friendly? Then check out The Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company - No joke! They take elephant dung, dry it out, clean it up and then use it to create paper products, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting elephant welfare and conservation.

Alt Build 2008

If you happen to be near Santa Monica on April 25-6, be sure to swing by the Alt Build Expo. Featuring products, sustainability practices and green building tours, this free conference is being hosted by the city to promote alternative building design.

Videos on Demand

As technology proliferates, so do the choices around us - Videos on demand exemplifies one of the best benefits of this phenomenon. Save yourself a drive to the video store, and the gasoline to get there, by simply flipping on your TV or computer to watch a movie. This might not seem like it would make a big difference, but if everyone saved one trip a week, imagine the impact then.

Aveda - A Company to Watch

Some companies talk a lot about going green, but don't have much to back up their claims - Similar to tobacco companies who work the PR machine while selling addictive and deadly products under the banner of "choice."
Aveda is NOT one of those companies.

Not only do they run their facilities with 100 percent wind power, but 90 percent of their oils are organic as well as 89 percent of their basic ingredients. They've donated over $8 million to environmental organizations and they use a high percentage of post-consumer recycled ingredients in their packaging. They set the bar high - Here's hoping other companies follow suit.

Dwell on Design - LA 08

If you love modern design and want to learn more about sustainable practices, this is the conference for you. Dwell is hosting hands-one sessions, exhibitions and home tours during this four day event, June 5-8, to promote the newest energy saving techniques and green design products.

Organic Wine from Napa

On a little vineyard in Napa Valley, one four generation family is making organic wine, one bottle at a time. The Madonna Estate is owned and run by the Bartolucci family and they feature a full array of wines - From Chardonnay to Merlot, produced with natural farming techniques.