We’ve been trying something new for about a month. Publix sells "reusable grocery bags" for around $1 per bag. The same or very similar bags are also sold at Target, Wal-Mart, and Whole Foods and appear to differ only in color and logos.
My wife picked up 10 bags at Publix about a month ago, and I have been pleasantly surprised at the results, in spite of the initial cost.
There are three paths we can follow to a greener country. One of based on the "where have you been?" and "why haven’t you done more?" philosophy. Another follows the path of denial by saying "what problem?" And the third falls somewhere in between.
In many ways, the first two may do more harm than good.
Lately, I have been reading about plastics. More specifically, I have been reading about BPA, PVC, phthalates, and the effects they may or may not have on us. I have not seen any definitive research that settles the question of how poisonous they are, although some countries have labelled them as carcinogens. So, there is a strong argument that continued exposure to plastics and associated chemicals has an effect on human health.
Regardless of the argument, here’s how I feel about these: I do not like the idea of plastic in the food I eat, the drinks I drink, or in the air I breathe. We did not evolve eating plastic. Regardless of how little we ingest from one little plastic item, we handle a hundred every day. Surely the constant exposure accumulates.
So, what to do?
Would you believe that businesses overstate the green-ness of what they sell? And that many of those overstated claims are on products you and I pick up every time we go to the grocery or big box store? What if you found out that 99.9% of products labeled “green” were not?
Vinnie sent me a link today to Sundance Solar. For the most part, it looks like a lot of gadgets without much practical use, which means it went right on the top of my favorites list! I know one of us will try gadgets from Sundance Solar soon, so keep an eye open for a review.
Vinnie’s note did start me thinking about the reasonability of using solar as a power source for a home. (more…)
