As an ongoing effort to figure out ways to kick the plastic out of our house, I’ve been testing other products. It’s hard and it’s always easy to sacrifice another plastic baggy, but with all the bad news about plastic, I’d like to completely eliminate it in 2010.

One option is glass, and we did a review on Pyrex bowls that work well in a lot of situations. Unfortunately, they are also breakable, which isn’t great for my five year-old.

Another option is a new line stainless steel containers from Thermos. They are called
Funtainers and come in different themes for little kids. On the positive side, they are strong and durable and stainless steel is about as safe as it gets. You can use them to store hot or cold foods.

Unfortunately, they are pretty expensive, which will be an obstacle for a lot of cost-conscious parents. Additionally, like a lot of options like this, there is still plastic involved, in this case in the sealed top.The lid for the Funtainer food jar is made from Polypropylene (PP) #5. This material was chosen because it is durable, safe and BPA free. However, it is still plastic and I wish it would have been eliminated in favor of silicon, especially since they will often be used with hot food that will come in contact with the plastic.

Use these and try to keep them upright, minimizing the contact with the food.

GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.

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We’ve been using these

Planet Wise wet bags for about a year to tote wet bathing suits around after every swimming lesson or pool event. The voting is unanimous. My wife, who usually doesn’t like more “stuff” thinks they are great. They are reusable and long lasting, and come in 14 color styles

Since these came out, there are many other companies getting into the game, all with fashion forward colors and designs, which make this item a good gift and accessory. I just got an 11X14 bag from Itzy Ritzy which is big enough to handle my suit and sun shirt.

There are now a lot of manufacturers making these, but these are two we’ve used and they are worth the $12-15 for storing wet suits, diapers, even leaky food items.

Both of these are well-made with PVC-free waterproof liners and locking zippers. I even saw a demo with the Planet Wise filled with water and it didn’t even leak through the zipper.

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We’ve been in France this week and I’ve been chasing my kids around in the house where we’re staying to get them to turn off the lights as they go in and out of rooms. While French kids, like kids everywhere, are lazy about recycling and other conservation moves, for some reason, everyone here treats electricity like a running faucet. They just wouldn’t leave a room without turning the light off. My kids keep all the lights on everywhere as if we were in the middle of a night game at Yankee Stadium.

No amount of haranguing to them, or my wife, seems to make any difference. They just say, “yes, Dad” and move on to the next brilliantly lit room.

Here’s an idea some PR flack sent me this morning though and it’s a good enough idea to pass on, playing as it does on dad’s desire to cut back on costs and energy waste, teach good habits, and involve the kids.

“Moolah Maker” is the name of website with a tool to help you set a family goal for energy savings. By entering your energy bills, the site sets a family goal and creates a contract between you and your kids. Apparently, the kids/parents interface is a little hokey with a lot of “hey dude” lingo, but the idea is a good one since kids always want to earn some cash and this doesn’t take a lot of energy they could be using to swing the Wii controller. This project might make getting the monthly utility bill a family bonding experience.

[From the Energy Circle Moolah Maker website:

Kids are the greatest power source on the planet.
Unleash that force, save the earth and reap some profit. It’s easier than you think, and more important than ever. Together, kids and parents across North America are making a deal to use less and save more. Go ahead, shake on it.

The site lists a bunch of tips for energy savings:

Tips for Saving (and making more $) fast:

   * Get an Electricity Monitor. There’s no better way to save than to see your usage in real time.

   * Use smart strips. Slay the entertainment center and computer vampires. Smart Strips rock.

   * Ditch your incandescent bulbs (say it isn’t so… still have some? Not good.)

   * Hang a clothesline. (big savings, and excellent fodder for neighbors). Dryers eat Benjamins.

   * Use low-flow showerheads. Hot water takes heat. Kids like long showers. Use less.

   * Fill up the dishwasher. (Hallelujah! It uses less hot water than hand-washing)

   * Chill out with fans, not the AC. A little breeze makes it feel 4-8 degrees cooler.

Tips for Going Deeper

   * Figure out your baseload—the stuff that’s on 24/7. Does it all need to be? Find out.

   * Hire a Certified Professional Energy Auditor. And take notes. Find out how to lower energy costs quickly and efficiently.

   * Get programmable thermostats and compromise a degree or two (way easy, double smart)

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Here are some unconventional ideas for the green dad on your list. For some dads, of course, a home improvement gift is a bit like getting a mixer for mom’s day, but, just like a primo Kitchen Aid mixer is a great gift for a baking mom, these gifts can be killer choices for dads who love to tinker and save.

Here’s a cool toy for the energy sleuth on your list:
Kill a Watt Electricity Monitor. Monitoring systems for gauging energy use usually require pro installation, but this small device lets you see the effect of plugging in and unplugging appliances right away. A small LCD screen shows you electricity usage, cost, and projections over weeks, month and year so you can decide if it’s time to upgrade that old fridge.

One thing you might find in your sleuthing is that many “always on” appliances are eating significant amounts of juice. Now there are a number of power strips on the market that turn these off on a Timer. Of course, you don’t want your Tivo or your clock radio off at 3 AM, but maybe your living room receiver or rec room TV. Consider the GE Power Strip Timer. $20 on Amazon.

The Eyemax WB radio receives AM, FM, and the US/Canada Weather Band, and acts as a speaker system for your iPod/MP3 player. It has both a solar panel and the ability to power it yourself when needed. It also includes an integrated LED flashlight. The Eyemax WB 2009 is a radio that you and your family can depend on, anytime, anywhere, any weather. Freeplay Solar Radio Eyemax Weather Band • $80.00 at www.SustainStores.com.

A truly easy, convenient way to compost. Just place your organic waste in the drum, spin every so often, and soon you have amazingly rich and garden-growing compost. A perfect choice for those not interested in an open compost pile–more discreet and no smell. The Envirocycle produces two excellent compost fertilizers, both solid and liquid. Comes with complete instructions. This item ships directly from the manufacturer via Standard Ground Shipping only. Envirocycle Composter • $140There is an additional shipping and handling charge of $30.00 at www.SustainStores.com.

Just let the worms do their work in their Worm Farm inside or outside and at the bottom you’ll get worm tea, perfect for enriching the soil of your garden and create super-growing plants. Use Red Wiggler Worms, which are not included. First fill your Worm Farm with bedding: leaves, shredded paper and dirt, for example. After the worms have moved in, start feeding them you all your organic kitchen waste like coffee grounds, leafy green trimmings and eggshells. Soon you’ll have worm castings (otherwise known as “black gold” for gardens) in the bottom of the bin. Collect, and watch your plants act like they’re on steroids, completely naturally. Lid keeps worms covered, maintaining the dry bedding they thrive in, yet roof is ventilated for worm comfort. High Strength. 4 Trays. Made from recycled material. This item ships directly from the manufacturer via Standard Ground Shipping only. Guasanito 4-Tray Worm Composter • $68.95 at www.SustainStores.com

For other green dad gift ideas, check out www.SustainStores.com. Use discount code “sustain” in the keycode section of the checkout form for a 20% discount off everything (the discount will be confirmed in an email after the order is processed.) This code expires June 21, Father’s Day.

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The Holiday Season is upon us! It’s a time when families and friends get together to enjoy tasty

treats and exchange gifts. Here are some green tips to help you get through this season.

With all the gatherings and parties going on, cleaning is a big concern. Here is a link to a very

practical 4-minute video that demonstrates inexpensive non-toxic household cleaning practices.

Made by Jeanne McLaughlin, a graduate of the Institute for Bau-Biologie in Florida.

http://www.youtube.com/v/hjCtd1qcU9M

If you are seeking BPA- phthlate- and lead-free gifts, check out GoodGuide.com, a BETA-version

website being developed to rank “safe, healthy & green” toys and personal care products.

http://www.goodguide.com/  

For some creative ideas about making your holiday season greener, check out the tips in The

Mommy Files compiled by Amy Graff in her blog.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/index

For San Francisco residents only:

When it’s time to purge the big stuff that cannot be reused or recycled, San Francisco residents can

call SF Recycling / Sunset Scavenger. They offer to collect up to 10 bulky items for free, twice a

year. Broken furniture, appliances, old TVs — check their website for what’s allowed, or give them a

call at 415 331-1300 for details.

http://www.sfrecycling.com/residential/bulkyitems.php?t=r

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There are active ways to go green, and then there are things you can just set up. Growing plants and trees is a good way to help clean the air.

Some plants are excellent at cleaning pollution from indoor air. Which ones do the best job? Dr. Bill Wolverton has published the efforts of his team of researchers at NASA to answer that question. His inexpensive, well-illustrated, and extremely practical book is called “How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office.”
These plants absorb toxic chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene which are commonly used in the production of clothing, furniture, mattresses, carpets, plastics, and printing.
One healthy plant can clean a 100 sq ft room of 87% of these contaminants in 24 hours. (Hint: the Rubber Plant and Peace Lily are star performers.)
Get more context with these links:
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Plants/clean.htm
http://www.zone10.com/tech/NASA/Fyh.htm

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Here is more information on eliminating what appears to be the worst plastic in your drawer: BPA or Bisphenol-A.

BPA is a chemical compound used to make polycarbonate plastic. BPA has been linked to cancer, infertility, obesity, and diabetes. In animal studies, BPA has been found to cause the early onset of puberty and stimulate mammary gland development in females (Richter et al., (2007) Reprod. Tox, Vol 24(2) p. 199).

Common items containing BPA are plastic food containers, reusable water bottles, baby bottles, and the linings of canned foods. These are usually marked with plastic number “7″. The “7″ identifies “other” plastics including all BPA-based items.

How can you reduce exposure to BPA without overly inconveniencing your family life?

1) Avoid microwaving plastic containers, which may cause BPA to break down and leach out more.

2) Avoid washing plastic containers in the dishwasher or with harsh detergents, which can also cause BPA to break down and leach out more. Hand wash them instead with a mild detergent.

3) Switch to BPA-free plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, and water bottles. Look for plastics marked “1″ containing Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) which is considered safe.

4) Use wax paper instead of plastic wrap, especially when microwaving. If you must use plastic wrap,look for brands that are BPA-free such as Ziploc, Glad and Saran.

To learn more about BPA and plastics:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/300/11/1353

http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/03/bpa-questions-answered.htm

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/hiddendangers/a/0108_env_chmcls.htm

Thanks to the French American International School in San Francisco for this information and links.

We’ve been working on trying to throw out as much plastic as we can. We just got this set of Pyrex storage bowls - $29.95 at Amazon to replace all those old tupperware style plastic containers since microwaving and heating plastics appears to be the worst thing you can do. We still have not figured out how to send food to school with our four-year-old since glass will break and everything else will likely get lost within a week. Plastic is disposable and low cost, difficult benefits to give up.

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Something stinks – let’s look at the environmental impact of diapers by Alison Manes

According to disposablediaper.net, 96,090,000 disposable diapers are used every year in the US alone. The third largest single consumer item in landfills, they represent about 4% of solid waste.4 In a household with a child in disposable diapers, disposables comprise of at least 50% of the household waste. The instructions on disposable diaper packages advise depositing all fecal matter in the toilet before discarding the diapers, yet less than one-half of one percent of all waste from single-use diapers goes into an average sewage system.

*The amount of water used to launder cloth diapers at home averages 50 – 70 gallons every two to three days –the same as an adult or child flushing the toilet five/six times daily.

*It is estimated that disposable diapers take 250-500 years to decompose. 1

*Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum & 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby each year. 1

*Once they are used, roughly 92-98% of the 18 billion feces and urine-filled disposable diapers end up in landfills. 2

As parents are more informed about the true cost of so-called “convenient” disposable diapers, they realize there’s much more than money at stake. While cloth diapers add an extra few loads of laundry to households every week, the benefits to your baby’s health, our environment and your wallet are well worth it. Be part of the solution, right from the very beginning.

For more information on cloth diapering visit the Real Diaper Association at http://www.realdiaperassociation.org.

1 Diapers in the Waste Stream: a review of waste management and public policy issues. Lehrburger, Carl. 1988. Sheffield, MA: self published.

2 Consumer Choice-Diaper Dilemma. Stone, Janis and Sternweis, Laura. Iowa State University-University Extension. ID# 1401. 1994

Alison Manes is the mother of six, and the co-founder of Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC. Alison won Tucson’s Business Woman of the Year award from the American Business Women’s Association in 2003 for her marketing work. Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC, manufacturers a new sustainable diapering system using organic and recycled fabrics. Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC, is committed to manufacturing sustainable products made in the USA. You can view LolliDoo® Diapers at www.lollidoo.com. You can also view Alison’s blog at http://earthymommaodyssey.blogspot.com/.

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Families are discovering that the new generation of cloth diapers are easy on our babies, our planet, and our wallets. Having evolved considerably from the days of pins and plastic pants, reusable cloth diapers provide a healthy, economical, and environmentally-friendly alternative. A variety of options now include pocket diapers (an attached diaper inner, skin layer, attached to an outer shell that can be customized with “stuffins” of choice) all in ones (which is exactly as the name implies; it has all of the components needed for diapering in one product, including an absorbent inner and waterproof outer); as well as prefolds and fitted diapers (diapering “inners” that need an outer waterproof cover or wrap).

The cost of diapers are more then the retail price.

In our stagnant economy, it makes sense to use cloth diapers. The initial investment may be a deterrent for some families but when you take a look at the overall savings, cloth diapers are highly cost effective.

* Disposable diapers average $1167/year, $3500/ three years

* A diaper service averages $800/year.

* Purchasing and laundering 20 cloth diapers (3 washes per week) averages $634/one year, $1102/three years.

* Cloth diapers can be passed down, saving upwards of $1500 per child.

Compare the cost of diapering options at http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp

Alison Manes is the mother of six, and the co-founder of Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC. Alison won Tucson’s Business Woman of the Year award from the American Business Women’s Association in 2003 for her marketing work. Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC, manufacturers a new sustainable diapering system using organic and recycled fabrics. Go Green Sustainable Industries, LLC, is committed to manufacturing sustainable products made in the USA. You can view LolliDoo® Diapers at www.lollidoo.com. You can also view Alison’s blog at http://earthymommaodyssey.blogspot.com/.

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There has been a lot of talk about sick houses — houses that actually make you sick because of construction materials, cleaners, paints, solvents and pesticides. It might be hard to change houses, but there are things you can do to to make a house less toxic for you and your kids.

1. Get an air purifier and put new allergy rated filters on your furnace every 6 months. Whole house air filter systems work better than portable units. Ideally, use built-in or window unit air-to-air-heat exchangers in rooms where people spend the most time.

2. Get lots of plants. Experts recommend at least two tropical houseplants for every 12×12 foot area to clean up airborne toxins. Use ferns, spider plants, bamboo, and palms close to breathing zones like next to your bed, or TV chair.

3. Open the windows wide. Turn off heat or A/C and open the windows for 10 minutes each day to help rid the house of indoor pollution. Caveat: your allergist may tell you to keep all windows and doors closed during allergy season.\

4. Keep new pollutants out of the house. Every new TV, appliance, or laminate/particle board-based piece of furniture is a source of new toxins into the house. Environmentalists suggest setting these items in the garage a few days to air them out before bringing them into the house.

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