It has come to my attention that the current economic downturn has resulted in a reduction of global warming gases in the United States.  The recession has led to a smaller economy and less energy consumption, which, in turn, has led to cleaner air.

This is good news to be sure, but I don’t know how much enthusiasm I can work up for it. “Silver linings” are tricky things, and there is sometimes little comfort to be had when a benefit results from a massively gloomy situation.  If I found out that I had only weeks to live, my reaction would not be “Well, at least I don’t have to hear another word about those damn Kardashians,” although that is certainly the bright side of a tragic and untimely death. Similarly, clean air is nice, but can it really make us care less about worldwide financial ruin? I don’t know the answer to that, but in the spirit of glasses being half full, I offer this list of dubious advantages to a really bad economy.

• Pleading poverty is the new get-out-of-jail-free card. Don’t feel like wasting an entire afternoon antiquing with the ladies? Don’t want to go to a fancy restaurant with the most boring couple you’ve ever known? Claiming you can’t afford it is the new way to get out of everything. And no one will dare try to talk you out of it.
• Everything is on sale. Seriously. From cashmere sweaters to cocaine, from condos to Caribbean vacations, everything can be had at a discount.
• The general public has caught up with me and now people everywhere distrust the fashion industry. I am no longer alone in feeling that there isn’t a sheath dress on earth worth $1,700. As more and more women are forced to keep wearing the clothes they purchased in 2007, they are disinclined to slavishly follow style makers who decree that the new fashion “must haves” are bolero jackets, harem pants, and anything chartreuse.
• Comfort food has made a comeback. Belt-tightening has brought depression-era food back in style as consumers lose their taste for extravagantly whimsical restaurant dishes. Fewer and fewer eateries feature main courses that ascend 12-inches into the air, the main components of which are jicama, white truffles, and beef cheeks. Restaurants that want to stay in business have begun re-thinking the appeal of $22.00 appetizers, opting instead for meatloaf, fried chicken and artisanal ring dings.
• In related news: Maitre d’s and hostesses in fine restaurants have become noticeably more polite. Gone are the days when restaurants had unlisted telephone numbers and bad-tempered models worked the reservation desk. Eating out is still expensive, but it is now possible to dine in nice restaurants without sleeping with or giving birth to the chef.
• Due to the obscene expense of taxis, it is far easier to hail a cab in Manhattan. Conversely, it is next to impossible to find a seat on the cross-town bus.
• Plumbers, electricians and painters who would not return your phone calls five years ago now send out holiday greeting cards and call to solicit your business.
• The recession has put a significant and well-documented strain on relationships. On the bright side, it has also raised the value of gold. So your marriage may be breaking up, but you will probably get a really good price if you have to sell your wedding ring for scrap metal.
• In order to make themselves more marketable, and better able to find jobs in a down economy, young people are getting their tattoos removed – as mothers everywhere rejoice.

Editor’s Note: Susan Goldberg is a slightly lapsed treehugger. Although known to overuse paper products, she has the best of intentions – and a really small SUV. Catch her column, The Goldberg Variations, each week here at EcoSalon.

Image: marysecasol.com

The post The Goldberg Variations: The Upside of a Down Economy appeared first on EcoSalon.

I am marrying a man who knows how to work a houseplant. It is, as the Victorians might have termed, an extremely advantageous match. Why? Because I once kept a ficus tree in the same pot for 13 years and possess plant nurturing skills that work like a bottle of Raid on an ant farm. But now I’ve “landed” (now it’s the early 1960s, stay with me) a man with a green thumb. So I can literally breathe easier.

Why? Because as NASA points out, there are plants you can place about your abode that will literally help you breathe – cleaner air, that is. According to a NASA study, “certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome.” Sick building syndrome is when a combination of causes lead to unhealthy air in the workplace.

Some plants are better than others at cleaning the air. As we have already reported, houseplants can contribute to a reduction in eye irritation by 52 percent, respiratory problems by 34 percent and headaches by 24 percent. (Also check out our look at the ten easiest houseplants to grow.) But want to know the best plants to clean the air?

Boston Fern

The Boston Fern is apparently the best plant for removing toxins from the room. It is one of the most efficient air-filtering plants. Plus its prehistoric look will contribute to Fred Flintstone daydreams while you are working.

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisies are not only stylish and pretty – they are one of the most effective plants in removing trichloroethylene concentrations from the air. Trichloroethylene is a “commercial product that has a wide variety of industrial uses. It is used in some printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesives.”

Areca Palm

This plant is also known as the “most efficient air humidifier.” Why? It gives off large amounts of water into the air while removing chemical toxins. A six-foot palm releases up to one liter of water a day. You can leave your humidifier in the closet all winter with a few of these plants.

Green Spider Plant

This is one of the top plants to remove concentrations of formaldehyde in the air, making it a superhero of plants. And formaldehyde is all over your house. It is in “foam insulation, particle board or pressed-wood products. Consumer paper products, including grocery bags, waxed paper, facial tissue and paper towels, are treated with urea formaldehyde resins. Many household cleaning agents contain formaldehyde.”

Peace Lily

Want to remove benzene concentrations from the air? Then peace out with the peace lily. Benzene is a “commonly used solvent in such items as gasoline, inks, oils, paint, plastic and rubber. Furthermore, it is used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals and dyes.”

Dracaena

The Dracaena, also known as the Janet Craig, is sometimes called a clean air machine. It is quick to start working, so it is a good choice if you want clean air fast.

English Ivy

English Ivy is a great choice for someone with allergies. After 12 hours in a room, it can remove up to 78 percent of airborne mold and 94 percent of airborne feces. But it is toxic if ingested, to make sure it is out of reach of pets and kids.

Images:

Yandle, Boston Fern, Gerbera Daisy, Acera Palm , Green Spider Plant , Peace Lily, Dracaena, English Ivy

The post Breathe Cleaner Air With These 7 Houseplants appeared first on EcoSalon.

Why? Because as NASA points out, there are plants you can place about your abode that will literally help you breathe – cleaner air, that is. According to a NASA study, “certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air, helping neutralize the effects of sick building syndrome.” Sick building syndrome is when a combination of causes lead to unhealthy air in the workplace.

Some plants are better than others at cleaning the air. As we have already reported, houseplants can contribute to a reduction in eye irritation by 52 percent, respiratory problems by 34 percent and headaches by 24 percent. (Also check out our look at the ten easiest houseplants to grow.) But want to know the best plants to clean the air?

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1. Boston Fern

The Boston Fern is apparently the best plant for removing toxins from the room. It is one of the most efficient air-filtering plants. Plus its prehistoric look will contribute to Fred Flintstone daydreams while you are working.

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• »

2. Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisies are not only stylish and pretty – they are one of the most effective plants in removing trichloroethylene concentrations from the air. Trichloroethylene is a “commercial product that has a wide variety of industrial uses. It is used in some printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesives.”

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• »

3. Areca Palm

This plant is also known as the “most efficient air humidifier.” Why? It gives off large amounts of water into the air while removing chemical toxins. A six-foot palm releases up to one liter of water a day. You can leave your humidifier in the closet all winter with a few of these plants.

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• »

4. Green Spider Plant

This is one of the top plants to remove concentrations of formaldehyde in the air, making it a superhero of plants. And formaldehyde is all over your house. It is in “foam insulation, particle board or pressed-wood products. Consumer paper products, including grocery bags, waxed paper, facial tissue and paper towels, are treated with urea formaldehyde resins. Many household cleaning agents contain formaldehyde.”

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• »

5. Peace Lily

Want to remove benzene concentrations from the air? Then peace out with the peace lily. Benzene is a “commonly used solvent in such items as gasoline, inks, oils, paint, plastic and rubber. Furthermore, it is used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals and dyes.”

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• »

6. Dracaena

The Dracaena, also known as the Janet Craig, is sometimes called a clean air machine. It is quick to start working, so it is a good choice if you want clean air fast.

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• »

7. English Ivy

English Ivy is a great choice for someone with allergies. After 12 hours in a room, it can remove up to 78 percent of airborne mold and 94 percent of airborne feces. But it is toxic if ingested, to make sure it is out of reach of pets and kids.

Images:

Yandle, Boston Fern, Gerbera Daisy, Acera Palm , Green Spider Plant , Peace Lily, Dracaena, English Ivy

The post Breathe Cleaner Air With These 7 Houseplants appeared first on EcoSalon.

When you come in from working all day on the Farmville, check out Urbanville life in the new online game RETROFITS. Launched by the California software company, Autodesk, it features talking buildings that encourage players to learn the benefits of eco upgrades to our city dwellings.

As the makers see it, “Buildings are the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S,” and we need to make buildings better with sustainable and energy efficient design.

“Don’t just stand there,” they tell us, “Play the game, post your high score, and invite your friends to compete – every little fit helps.”

In other words, follow the Farmville route to creating a cooperative green mentality.

More cooperation is needed on the part of architects, engineers, builders, designers and others in the housing trade. According to ArchDaily, a substantial 8 percent of all carbon emissions in America come from powering our buildings and experts say we can achieve half the goal of cutting down on those emissions 60 to 90 percent by 2050.

Want to get started doing your part? Play the game here and let us know how you like it.

The post Retrofits: New Online Game Launched to Play Up Green Renovation appeared first on EcoSalon.

If you’ve noticed it’s easier to breathe on some days than others, you’re not alone. In fact, this year marks the 10th annual American Lung Association State of the Air report, which has been tracking air quality across the United States for a decade. Just enter your zip code to learn how your area fares and what you can do to help make the air a little cleaner.

After sifting through the Executive Summary, we’ve chosen a few key points to share:

– Six out of ten people (61.7%) in the United States population live in counties that have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution.

– Approximately 4 million children and 10.9 million adults with asthma live in parts of the United States with very high levels of ozone, and over 5.7 million adults and 2.1 million children with asthma live in areas with high levels of short-term particle pollution.

The nations needs to:

Clean up dirty power plants

Coal-fired power plants are among the largest contributors to particulate pollution, ozone, mercury and global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should immediately take action to reduce emissions and expand clean-up requirements for power plants nationwide. The American Lung Association has taken legal action repeatedly to fight to require power plants to clean up.

Clean up the existing fleet of dirty diesel

The good news is that affordable technology exists to virtually eliminate this problem and the economic recovery legislation is investing $300 million at the EPA for the voluntary diesel retrofit program.

Clean up ocean-going vessels

Ocean-going vessels, like cruise ships, container ships and tankers, deliver staggering amounts of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen, particle pollution, sulfur dioxide and heat-trapping carbon dioxide. By 2030, these vessels will produce approximately 45 per cent of the national inventory of mobile source particle pollution emissions, harming health, worsening global warming and creating acid rain. New evidence shows that pollution from these vessels reaches parts of the country far inland from the 40 port cities that have recognized air pollution problems.

What can you do?

Drive less

Combine trips, walk, bike, carpool or vanpool, and use buses, subways or other alternatives to driving. Vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution. Support community plans that provide ways to get around that don’t require a car, such as more sidewalks, bike trails and transit systems.

Don’t burn wood or trash

Check school busses

Make sure your local school system requires clean school buses, which includes replacing or retrofitting old school buses with filters and other equipment to reduce emissions.

Use less electricity

Turn out the lights and use energy-efficient appliances. Generating electricity is one of the biggest sources of pollution, particularly in the eastern United States.

Send a message to decision makers

Send an email or fax to urge Congress to oppose measures that weaken the Clean Air Act.

Take pride if you’ve been listed as one of the cleanest cities:

Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN emerged as the cleanest city in the U.S., the only city to appear on all three lists of cleanest cities. 17 cities appeared on two of the three lists of cleanest cities: Billings, MT; Bismarck, ND; Cheyenne, WY; Colorado Springs, CO; Farmington, NM; Ft. Collins, CO; Honolulu, HI; Lincoln, NE; Midland-Odessa, TX; Port St. Lucie, FL; Pueblo, CO; Redding, CA; Salinas, CA; San Luis Obispo, CA; Santa Fe-Espanola, NM; Sioux Falls, ND; and Tucson, AZ.

Image: Angelrays

The post 10th Annual Air Quality Report: How Does Your City Rate? appeared first on EcoSalon.