Sponsor Article Shades of green reflect degrees of environmental friendliness. Of course it is obvious that being eco-friendly is desirable, but there are various degrees to doing so. Are the products you use sustainable? Are the containers and packaging recyclable? What is the carbon footprint to manufacture these products? An underlying aspect of becoming green is keeping jobs in the United States and reducing our dependency on foreign oil. We all should be more environmentally sound in our everyday actions and with regard to the products that we use in all aspects of our lives. Sometimes it is just a matter of knowing what is available, and thanks to organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Internet, “getting the word out” has gotten so much better and faster. Case in point: Did you know there is a company that makes products for the auto, home, and boating industries where all of its products utilize the fatty acids derived from plants and animals grown and raised in the United States? This company offers the first and only American Petroleum Institute-certified bio-based, biodegradable, high-performance motor oil. Yes, motor oil made from American-based oils from plants and animals. Who knew? This company also makes cleaning products that everyone can use for the car, around the house, and at work. The good news is that these products can outperform most of the products that people are currently using, without an increase in price. Yes, you can get greener. In the last few years, there has been a big push to replace your low-efficient, money hungry, heat-producing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs). True, CFLs consume less energy and create less heat, BUT someone forgot to tell you they contain mercury and you are required to dispose of the bulbs in a hazardous materials location that can properly handle them. CFLs also have a bigger manufacturing carbon footprint than the incandescent or LED bulbs. If you have the misfortune to break the tube in a CFL, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a three-page instruction sheet on how to properly clean up and dispose of the pieces. So what do you do? … Well, fortunately, the companies that make LED lights have improved on their performance. The direct replacement LED bulbs have increased the light output and color to match or exceed their old counterparts. The initial cost may seem high, but factoring in the amount of energy you will be saving over its five- to 10-year lifespan and factoring in replacement and maintenance costs saved, with very little heat generated, it becomes the obvious choice. LED usage can save you about 90 percent on your energy cost used for lighting. A lot of the LEDs are dimmable, come in a variety of colors (including green) and can replace most bulb types, including fluorescent tubes. Even greener? How would you like to make pure, fresh, drinking water out of thin air? Well, now you can. No, it’s not magic. It is the Air-to-Water Maker, the latest device to rid ourselves of buying, transporting, or paying for water delivery. No water bottles. No connecting to the water supply system. Just plug in this unit and get both cold and hot drinking water from the moisture in the air. The small unit makes 14 gallons a day. The large unit makes 300 gallons a day at about 16 cents a gallon—enough to supply the needs for a house, condo, or boat. To learn more and to order these and other Super Green Products, visit us at: www.SuperGreenProducts.net.]]>
