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People want safe cleaning products and they ask us all the time for some recommendations.   You’ll see they save money in addition to saving the environment.  All you need are a few basic items which are probably already in your pantry.

First, get a box of biodegradable Borax.   This product is billed as a laundry booster, but without phosphates or chlorine, it is a safe household cleanser when diluted with water.

Borax can also be used as a pot scrubber.  Sprinkle some in the pan, wait a few minutes and then clean with a damp sponge and some muscle.

Another use for borax is eliminating mold.  Sprinkle and scrub borax in moldy areas like the corners of the shower.

For caked on food stains on pots, pans and baking dishes, pour water in the pan, sprinkle borax in the water and simmer for ten minutes.  Once the water is cool, you can scrub the coating away.

Baking soda is another old time product with a variety of modern uses.  Is your shower drain plugged?  Sprinkle one-quarter cup of baking soda onto the drain and add two cups of plain white vinegar.  The mixture will bubble and hiss to create a non-caustic rinse.  Wait ten minutes then run hot water through until the clog is gone.

To scrub your stainless steel sink clean, use a little baking soda.

Vinegar can also be combined with equal parts of olive oil to produce a natural furniture polish and hardwood floor cleaner.

For a handy soap scum cleaner, take a plastic mesh onion bag and ball it up.  Sprinkle with baking soda and scrub away the scum on your shower tile and glass shower door.  Rinse and wipe clean for extra shine.

Other safe cleaning products include a natural air freshener made with simmering orange peel, cloves and ginger on the stove for 15 minutes.

To remove a musty smell, crumble up newspaper and place near the offending odor.   Leave it in place for 24 hours and remove.  The absorbent newspaper should take the smell with it.

To rid the kitchen cutting board of odors, cut a lemon in half and rub the lemon juice back and forth along the surface.  This is better than any strong chemical cleanser in erasing strong odors like onion and garlic.

For carpet stains, sprinkle cornstarch on the stain, dab with some water, and allow to sit for 15 minutes, scrub and vacuum.   If the stain is small, pour some club soda onto the spot, blot and let dry.

Your herb garden is nature’s carpet deodorizer.  Bring in thyme, oregano and lavender, dry on the countertop for 24 hours, then crush the dried leaves and sprinkle throughout the room.  The fragrance will be released when you vacuum.

One note: the bagless vacuums don’t emit the fragrance since the herbs get sealed in the plastic dust vessel.  If you have a vacuum like this, make a potpourri with the herbs instead.  Place the crushed blend into a cotton hankie or napkin, gather up and tie off with a ribbon.  The aroma will last about two weeks.

To clean a flower vase of algae, sprinkle a generous amount of salt into the vase, add hot water and allow to sit for two hours.  Rinse and dry.

Natural cleaning products such as these have many benefits.  They save the environment of harsh chemicals, and they eliminate the clutter in your home of a different cleaning product for different tasks.  With safe cleaning products you are providing a clean eco-friendly environment for your family and the family of man.

People think ecology and the environment are the same thing. They aren’t, but with all the emphasis on saving our planet it is easy to see how these terms can get mixed up.

First of all, ecology is the relationship of animals and plants to their surroundings which includes carbon dioxide, light and heat and the sustenance that comes from the atmosphere.  Another kind of surrounding is biological and this includes the study of the same animal or plant in context with other animals and plants.

So much is demanded of the person who studies this that a host of scientific fields are tapped to get an understanding of ecology.  For example, hydrology, physics, and geology are included in study of the ecology.  Also, climatology, chemistry and soil analysis.  While the word “environment” is often mistaken for ecology, one does have an impact on the other.

Ecology as a term was coined by Ernst Heinrich Haeckel in Germany in 1866.  Its derivatives combine Oikos, or household which has the same root as economics.   The literal translation is economy of nature.

The Evolution Scientist Charles Darwin is the Father of Modern Ecology.  Because he advanced the theory of Survival of the Fittest, he believed natural selection carries forth each species.  The weak give way to the strong, and the strong give way to the stronger and so forth.

Among the students of plant life, Alexander von Humboldt is considered a leader in the study of how vegetation is distributed.  An ecosystem is created by balancing all the forces of nature.  When one aspect is depleted, it sets off a chain reaction of deterioration in other ways.

Consider a drought stricken area.  The vegetation is deprived of moisture content and susceptible to fire.  All it takes is a lightning strike in the woods or a discarded cigarette to set off a chain reaction of disaster.  All the ecosystems are affected.  Trees and brush are burned and destroyed, nests for birds and rodents are displaced.  It seems everything is destroyed permanently.

But within a few months a different ecosystem grabs hold.  Primitive vegetation that has adapted to modern times sprouts up; plants like moss and ferns, life forms dating to prehistoric times.  Animals move in to feed off the new vegetation and the decomposed plant material that burned has fertilized the soil making conditions ripe for explosive new growth and the rebirth of the forest once again.

This is part of what is called biogeochemical cycles, or nutrient cycles.  Plants store the nutrients from decomposing matter in their tissues.   The material comes from a number of sources.  If it isn’t in the static earth material, it is blown in with dust, rain and in weathered rocks.

One of the earliest lessons in ecology comes in the elementary school classroom.  Children learn the necessity of crop rotation.  If the farmer keeps planting corn in the same field year after year, and he expects the corn to grow and yield the same nutrients, he must give the field a break from demanding the nutrients.  At the very least, he must import nutrients in the form of fertilizer.

Other crops get planted that take a different toll on the land, like barley.  Once the soil has recovered from the loss of particular chemical ingredients it can begin to produce vegetables with other nutrients.

One of the threats to nature is acid rain.  Pollution produced in the Midwest is carried with the clouds to produce a sulfuric and nitric acid rainfall over the northeastern states, threatening the fragile ecology and the environment and prompting states to look at their polluting ways.

Please add anything you would care to share with our readers by using the comment tab.

There are a wide variety of natural homemade soaps available on the market place. It all depends on what specific part of the world you are in for what is available. Each part of the world has its own different supply of raw materials. This accounts for the difference in the recipes.

The most unique soap I found marketed was the soap of Jesus. This is a Christian soap that only uses the ingredients found during the life and time of Jesus. The claim is that the recipes are based on homeopathic formulas that not only clean your body but also uplift and inspire your delicate soul.

Then there is French/African soap named Earth Essence. This one combines the deep cleansing power of French green clay with the moisturizing properties from shea butter that comes from the African shea nut.

Aphrodite soap from Greece has the claim of being 80 to 100 % pure extra virgin olive oil with potent Mediterranean herbs from the sunny, unpolluted Greek hills.

From India there is Nag Champa Herbal soap. With a mixture of 21 different plants along with a coconut base and other unnamed oils. This soap has a very strong herbal scent.

France has another contribution with the Cote Bastide or Cotton Soap. The fragrance shifts from the subtlety of cotton flowers to the gentleness of sweet almond. For added gentle exfoliation cottonseeds are added.

No natural soap list would be complete without that good old American Lye soap. All you need is lard, lye and water. What could be more natural? For added cleaning power powdered bleach can be added. No wonder Americans are such thick skinned individuals.

There naturally are more but this just to say that because it is different does not mean it is not natural just from another part of the world.  How about you?  Do you have a homade soap recipe or source for your favorite?

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In the market place today there are three basic types of solar cells. Solar cells are more commonly referred to as photovoltaic modules. The three basic modules are single crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon and thin film.

Single crystal silicon was first created by accident in Bell laboratories in 1954. An experiment using semiconductors had a silicone doped with impurities which showed a sensitivity to light that was greater than ever seen before with other materials.

The efficiency was only at 6% but it was promising. Eventually the efficiency would reach 33% but has leveled off since then without an increase. The major drawback was that each solar panel was just one crystal. If just part of it becomes damaged then the entire cell will not function properly and the costs are extremely high.

In 1981 polycrystalline silicon was developed. This was made out of the same material but poured out into a mold to form the final structure that was wafer thick. They were made square to make a more efficient use of space but upon cooling the crystalline structure would form random crystal boundaries which in turn slightly reduce the efficiency of energy conversion to about 20%. These could be easily placed in conjunction with other cells to form panels. This is the most common of all the solar cells in use today.

The last is thin film panels that are made of the same material as the polycrystalline cells but microscopically thin. These are more flexible than the polycrystalline panels and were finally put into production in 2007. The production costs are lower than polycrystalline cells but they have yet to attain the same efficiency. Of the different types of solar cells the thin layer film is the most promising for higher efficiency.

There is much research being done on improving solar cell efficiency and in how to reduce costs of production.  Refer to earlier articles here on way to go green below.

Check Out the Video of Solar Cells in Action:

DEMONSTRATING SOLAR CELLS

DEMONSTRATING SOLAR CELLS

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Do you consider Wind Power Stocks?  This industry has proven itself and the bugs have mostly been worked out.  Is it time now to see profits soar?

The future of a renewable power resource, wind power, is on the rise. This green, natural source of energy has always been around. In the last seven years the wind industry has grown over 482%. With no end to this rise insight experts expect this renewable power industry to grow another 215% in just the next five years.

The world is becoming more aware of the environment and this is a powerful renewable source of clean energy the world will be able to depend on for years to come.

For business, this is also a source of ever increasing profits. In the year 2008 alone over $30 billion of wind generated revenues were recorded.  Every year this will go up and is expected to reach $90 billion by the year 2018.

The profit potential is as explosive as the great effect on the environment. With Europe planning on one third of all new power plants being from wind power and the United States Department of Energy’s aim of have 20% of this countries power being generated from wind, your investment in wind power stocks could possibly soar.

For those interested look at the stocks of Vestas, Gamesa, Suzlon and Nordex in Europe. In America the major wind turbine manufacturers are General Electric and Siemens. But there are smaller companies that will take off like NACEL.

As with all investments do your homework and make the final decision yourself. But wind power stocks represent a green renewable energy source that will always be around.  The decision is yours to invest in green stocks.

For the American market the hybrid minivan is still elusive. But there is hope. Hyundai presented their newest model at the Paris Auto show. This Korean manufacturer presented the world with a hybrid minivan named the Santa Fe. It will be available in Korea the summer of 2009 with possible expansion to America later in the year.

For those of us that think Green, this little hybrid minivan only produces just over ½ lb of CO2 emissions per mile driven. Reports have the fuel mileage being between 38 and 44 mpg.

This entire savings comes from a 2.4 L conventional engine joined with a 40 horsepower electric motor. The electric motor is capable of 151 pounds of torque. This power train is managed by a six speed automatic transmission with an additional 30 kW electric motor.

Since this is a new hybrid vehicle, the engineers developed it with the latest technology available. This includes the best battery system now in use. The new 270V lithium polymer batteries have an increase in density, which helps them hold a charge longer than the conventional nickel-lead batteries.

To help with the fuel efficiency friction was reduced in all areas of the drive train and cooling system. In addition, just like the GM 2-mode hybrid system, when the car is at idle, only the electric motor is running. The conventional engine is switched off to conserve fuel.

The Santa Fe’s all new features and drive train are packaged in the same body and frame as its conventional counterpart. This can only mean all of the increases in fuel mileage and improvements were engineered into the new systems.

So look for the first hybrid minivan in the American market in late 2009.

Consider the New Hybrid Vehicles, are you going to purchase one?

There are 6 official new hybrid vehicles in the year 2009 for the American market. Five are from domestic manufacturers and one from European origin.  The Toyota Sienna is still being postponed. The list is:

1) The Cadillac Escalade hybrid. This full size SUV is only available in 2-wheel drive and comes standard with a 6L 8-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. A combined fuel mileage of 20 mpg and a suggested retail price of $73,135-$87,435.

2) The Chevrolet Silverado 15 hybrid. This full size truck is available in both 2 and 4 WD. Standard 6L 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission. A combined fuel mileage of 21 mpg for the 2-wheel version and 20 mpg for the 4-wheel version. Suggested retail price of $38,020-$47,305.

3) The Chrysler Aspen HEV. This full size SUV comes standard with a 4.8L 8-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. A combined fuel mileage of 21 mpg and a suggested retail price of $45,270.

4) The Dodge Durango HEV. This full size SUV comes standard with a 4.8L 8-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. A combined fuel mileage of 21 mpg and a suggested retail price of $45,040.

5) The GMC Sierra 15 hybrid. This full size truck is available in both 2 and 4 WD. Standard 6L 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission. A combined fuel mileage of 21 mpg for the 2-wheel version and 20 mpg for the 4-wheel version. Suggested retail price of $38,390-$47,675.

6) The Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid. This medium size SUV comes standard with a 3.5 liter V6 engine that produces 340HP. The fuel mileage is forecast to be 30.5 mpg and the suggested retail price is in the neighborhood of $50,000.

All six new models utilize the same technology that was developed in a cooperative effort of GM and Daimler Chrysler called Two-Mode Hybrid. This hybrid system reduced fuel consumption by supplying some of the energy of the drive train from the battery.

We would love to hear some reports from people that have purchased any of these new hybrid vehicles.  Are they worth the money?  Did you buy one to save money on fuel or just to help the environment?

To properly determine if you are purchasing non-toxic cleaning products you must first know what is toxic. First check the label of the products you use or plan to use. Do you see a warning on the label?

Are the words WARNING, DANGER or CAUTION present?  Is KEEP OUT OF REACH of CHILDREN present? With these words present a clear sign that danger lurks within the product exists.

Toxic substances have short and long term consequences of use and exposure. Products that contain heavy metals and are absorbed through the skin could cause liver damage. If repeatedly exposed permanent liver damage could occur or even death. This is not immediate but a cumulative effect cannot be ignored.

One of the most commonly used toxic substances that might be feared the most is pesticide. These are used in almost every household.  The local government agencies in America even spray whole communities with pesticides in an attempt to control the mosquito population.

Present in those aerosols are chemicals which their sole purpose is to stop nerve cells from communicating. Year after year the accumulative effect could have detrimental effects on your health. Just look at the dead mosquito’s and the danger is clear.

Our environment is the only one we have. It needs to be taken care of and treated with respect. When you decide to only use non toxic cleaners please dispose of the toxic cleaners that are presently in your house properly.

In 2002 the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study of the percentage of contaminants in the streams across our nation. They found that 69% of the streams contained residue from detergents and 66 % had disinfectants present.

We at Way to Go Green suggest the following.  We all need this water to live. Please be responsible with your chemicals. The sooner people switch to non-toxic cleaners, the safer and healthier we all will be.

Check out another article on green cleaning products.

For Commercial or Industrial green cleaning products check out the Janitorial Products Blog.

A natural carpet cleaner is what is advertised by many companies in our country claiming to have such products or services. It is a surprise to see the different approaches.

“Naturell” claims to be powered by nature. This sounds good. They have a patented cleaning product made from sea kelp and only natural occurring processes. The EPA has recognized this completely organic product. Naturell was the recipient of their SDSI Champion Award.

Some of the good points regarding the way Naturell cleans your carpet are encouraging. Their process uses 95% less water than most conventional cleaning companies. All the dirt from your carpet is collected in bonnets with no waste water to dispose of. With no detergents used there would be no sticky residue that would remain on your carpet. The carpet dries in less than thirty minutes.

“Naturalist” is another all natural carpet cleaning service. Their system utilizes the natural cleaning properties of citrus along with oxygen. This company also makes the claim of only cleaning with minimal water, but neglects to state how much. The non-toxic process dries in less than an hour without the use of detergents or soaps.

For the natural carpet cleaner that you can do yourself use good old baking soda and vinegar. A mild soap like dish soap will help with most common stains. Use a damp sponge and scrub. If the stain is stubborn add the baking soda and vinegar and let it bubble.

The combination of these two natural and common household products can do wonders. Most of their cleaning ability comes from the reaction between the two. When the carpet is dry you just vacuum away your dirt. Yes this is a little more work that hiring someone, but you get to control the ingredients and there is no waste water.

There are many other natural carpet cleaners but we believe baking soda and vinegar are the cheapest and eco-friendly to use.

A good hardwood floor cleaner is hard to find if you wish to use all natural ingredients but it is possible.  The first thing to consider is the finish your floor has on it. A polyurethane finished floor or aluminum oxide finished floor should be cleaned differently than a hardwood floor that has been just waxed.

If you are not sure what type of finish you have take the time and run a few tests first. Does it have a glossy finish or a matted finish? For a glossy finish pour little paint cleaner on the floor.  If the finish does not bubble the finish is a water-based polyurethane. If it bubbles it is aluminum oxide.  For a matted finish, see if you can feel the grain of the wood. This could have been finished with a penetrating oil or stain.

Some home made recipes have included the use of warm water and tea.  Tea does contain properties that are capable of mild cleaning. One draw back is that it also stains. There are those that like to use mild dish soap.  If this way is done make sure the soap does not contain dyes or fragrances. This one will cut most grease stains and will not harm most finishes.

One must be sure before adding water or any liquid to the floor is to dust it.  The dirt, grime and sand that accumulate in time can cause scratches.  This should be avoided if the final result is a clean floor that shines.

A mild soap will clean all types as long as there are no petroleum distillates present.  Make your own and be on the safe side.  A natural hardwood floor cleaner is easy to make just take your time and know what you have first on the floor.

Do a search with the little search box here on Way to Go Green for more cleaning information.

For more great Wood Flooring Tips go to the: Seneca Hardwoods website.

How to help the environment is a concern for all inhabitants of this world. For some the issue is more pressing than others. For the islands that make up the Archipelago which is the Maldives Islands, the rising tides are a major concern today. This little country of 1,192 coral islands is located in the Indian Ocean. The highest point on all of the islands is just 4.9 feet or 1.5 meters. This is the lowest country in the world.

In 2004 when the Tsunami hit, 69 of the islands were completely overrun by the wave and another 30 were half consumed by the tidal wave. With the estimated rise in sea level to reach over 7 inches by the end of the century, these islands will become more dangerous to live on with each and every passing storm.

Maldives is the first to face the drastic changes this world is going through. Where will their population go to is still unknown. A sea wall has been erected around the capital but this is not economically feasible for each and every island in the archipelago. Soon there will not be a choice but for this entire country to become the first casualty in the war against climate change. Most other low lying countries are on continents and have higher land like Bangladesh. Their population can move north.

The world has to take notice and change their habits of using the environment as their own personal dumping ground. It is probable too late to save the Maldives islands but if change starts today we could save other land masses. In the United States the state of Florida is only a sand bar and for the most part will also be under water along with large parts of Louisiana.  One activist group that is raising money to create awareness about the Louisiana coastline is  For the Bayou at http://forthebayou.org/blog1/.  Every 30 minutes Louisiana loses one football field of coastal wetlands.

We as people of this great earth need to learn how to help save the environment in order to help save ourselves.  We at WaytoGoGreen.org are in full support of all efforts.  Thank you for your concern.

One of the best ways to help the environment is with a solar power generator.

There is a solar power generator for every possible need in each and every house. Each residential solar power system has to be rated to fit the needs of the consumer. For the individual consumer that has little electrical requirements it is possible to have your energy supply come almost entirely from an inexpensive solar power generator.

For those looking to make small moves toward bringing the use of solar power into their lives, one appliance at a time would work. This approach over time will not only reduce the consumption of energy from the local grid but will also help on your pocket book. One 25 watt solar panel with a small amp charge controller and a sealed battery could be maintained along with a DC to AC converter for less than $400 in today’s market.

This would not run too much but it is a step in the right direction. For those looking to help convince their parents of the money saving side of solar power make it an educational venture for all of the family. If all the savings from just one solar panel is reinvested into another solar panel, the savings will add up.

If just one step at a time is the approach taken, in time your whole house could be supplied by green energy. The best thing is that most solar panels work and produce electricity for 30 years or more. At the end of that time only one panel at a time would need to be changed at to keep your systems’ efficiency up. Best of all after the initial cost of the units, there is no monthly charge from the sun.

A solar power generator uses only clean renewable energy of the sun and should be just one of the ways to help the environment that you can achieve by yourself.

Some company’s talk about the future and some of them embrace it. Coca Cola announced on March 4, 2009 that they would increase their hybrid electric truck fleet by 185 vehicles. This brings the total number of hybrid electric trucks in the Coca Cola fleet to 327.

This is in line with the corporate strategy that Coca Cola has followed. They lead by example of being ecologically responsible and use sustainable practices. There are different areas of focus now employed by Coca Cola to make the company eco-friendly. This includes being environmentally conscious by conserving energy, a packaging/recycling program and being a good water steward.

Conserving energy is where the hybrid electric truck fleet comes into the picture. With 142 delivery vehicles that weigh 16.5 ton gross that have been switched to hybrid electric propulsion, the energy conservation is significant. Each hybrid truck produces a third less emissions and operates solely on electric power at speeds less than 30 mph. The hybrid system is developed and supplied by Eaton Corporation and uses a parallel hybrid system that utilizes both the electric and conventional engines to get the most fuel-efficiency out of them.

This idea was initiated back in 2001. After an extensive testing and evaluation period the fleet grew to 142 by 2008. Now up to 327 across the nation, this hybrid electric truck fleet is reducing emissions and setting an eco friendly corporate standard that should be followed by others.

Coca Cola was awarded the “Orion Energy Systems Environmental Stewardship Award” in early January of this year. I just hope more corporations will follow the example of Coca Cola and introduce a fleet of hybrid electric trucks of their own.

Thanks to Greenhybridelectricvehicle.com for the basis of this story.

Enjoy a drive in a high performance hybrid electric car. For some reason that just does not sound right, but it is true. They are out there and soon to be available to you, if you have the money.

Ferrari has been developing their cars since the beginning of the company. Ferrari has been winning in Formula One consistently starting in 1951. Since that first win there have been 208 more wins with 203 pole positions and 218 fastest laps. All of these are records for any one team. Since Formula One is the most advanced form of racing with the stiffest competition in the world, this all-time leading winner knows how to get the most performance out of a car. Now they are developing systems for hybrid electric cars.

The leak came out early this year from the Geneva Motor Show. The Ferrari 599XX may have some form of the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) system deployed on the car. It is not a surprise since the Ferrari Formula One team is currently developing and using this system on their race cars.

If that was not inspiring enough there was additional news from the Paris Motor Show.
The Peugeot RC Hvmotion4 concept car claims 52.3 mpg from this hybrid electric vehicle. The performance part is 62 mph in 4.4 seconds. This is from a 1.6L conventional engine with 218 hp and 206 lb of torque powering the rear wheels. From the front wheels is a 70 kW electric motor that supplies an additional power of 132 lb-ft of circular motion.

This is all being developed because it helps the cars go faster and perform better. The side effect is that the vehicles produce fewer emissions and use less fossil fuel. So going green is beneficial for performance. I really like this trend. I cannot wait till my hybrid electric car reaches this better level of performance. I hope it will be soon.

When features like KERS start to be used in the racing world you can be sure that commercial developments in this area will be following right along.

Residential wind power has many advantages by not only supplying your home with a green renewable energy source but it will also offset carbon emissions. This is how it will work for your home.  Wind power is collected from a set of blades much like the fans seen on many farms to drive the water pumps. This wind is really kinetic energy that is directly converted to electricity that is compatible with your household needs.

Residential Wind Power

Most residential wind power units are also connected to the local utility grid, which has two purposes. First when the wind is strong and your wind turbine is producing more green energy than your home needs, the excess power is transmitted to the local grid for others to use and you receive an energy credit from the utility company. The second is when the wind is below 7 to 10 mph, your wind turbine does not produce any electricity and you can draw energy from the local grid.

The power savings from a small wind turbine has the possibility of lowering your current electrical bill by as much as 90%, depending literally on how the wind blows. Of course this all depends on your consumption of energy.  There are many methods described here on Way to Go Green that will help you make decisions on how to lessen your own home energy consumption.

To determine the benefits to your home add up your previous 2 years energy consumption in kilowatts. The average for an American household is about 9,500 kilowatt-hours a year. Which translated to a constant need of your home would be in the range of 10 to 15 kW of power generation.

When you use a small wind turbine for residential wind power you will also offset carbon emissions by not requiring commercial power that is manufactured with polluting coal or oil.  This is the offset it would create with the reduction of greenhouse gases that would have been necessary to met your energy needs.

For a small residential wind power turbine about 200 tons of carbon would not be emitted and 1.2 tons of other air pollutants over the life time of your wind power system.  The average lifetime is greater than 30 years with most warranties lasting the same, 30 years.  Residential wind power is a renewable energy power source the whole world can benefit from.