Tips for an Eco-friendly Summer
It’s summertime, and we’ve compiled some eco-tips for you to stay healthy and happy this summer.
1. Harness the Power of the Sun: Take advantage of the bright, hot sun and harvest its energy! Solar is the way to go these days, what with processes like fracking polluting the air and drinking water near drilling sites, solar energy is clean and renewable. We’ve recently partnered up with Sungevity, so when you choose to go solar with Sungevity, you’ll be supporting CEH at the same time! Find out how you can go solar here.
With temperatures on the rise, prepare for those formidable heat waves by insulating your windows to better hold in the cold air your air-con is working so hard to generate. And while you’re at it, opt for a programmable AC to maximize energy efficiency.
2. Redecorate Safely: For all you do-it-yourselfers out there, take the summer to redecorate safely. If you are repainting, be sure to use low-VOC paints and look for a paint recycler in your area! Since 2010, California has had a paint recovery program under CalRecycle that requires paint manufacturers to be able to recycle unused or leftover paint. One company, Visions Paint Recycling will recycle and reuse your leftover paint! Also, avoid furniture with flame-retardants because these chemicals are known to cause serious health problems. We recently released a whole slew of important guides to help you find furniture without flame retardants:
- State of the Market: Flame Retardant Chemicals in Furniture and Baby Products: This list shows which companies are making safe furniture (and which companies to avoid).
- Parent and Family Guide to Flame-Retardants in Baby Products: This chart shows all the dirty details on the baby products we tested, revealing which products contain flame retardant chemicals, and which companies label their products.
3. Choose Stylish, but Safe, Summer Clothes: Summer is the perfect time to show-off your bright clothes, but beware of your neon purses, wallets, and shoes because they may contain lead. Lead is a dangerous neurotoxin used to help brighten up your accessories, and is especially harmful to children and women of child-bearing age. Studies have shown that lead exposure in pregnant mothers can have lasting and damaging impacts on the fetus. With these products targeted mainly towards women, it’s worth your while to be careful of what you buy. If you are concerned about a purse or accessory, CEH offers free testing.
4. Stay Hydrated: Sipping from a water bottle is important to staying healthy during the summer months, but it’s also very important to choose the right kind of water bottle. Skip the toxic plastic (which can contain BPA or BPA alternatives, and instead try stainless steel bottles! Be wary of plastic canteens that claim to be BPA-free, like the sippy cups we tested. Even some BPA-free products can contain similar, dangerous chemicals that can wreak havoc on your hormones. So choose safer stainless steel water bottles and sippy cups for your family.