Learn how to turn your house greener on line.

Great for kids but also for grown up's, these are really good websites that allow you to build a house and then see how eco-friendly it is.
Check them oput and tell us your impressions!
Mysusthouse
Myabodo

Sustainable Gardening

THE HIDDEN IMPACTS OF GARDENS

1. Air Pollution.

Direct impacts:

Lawn and garden equipment:

• 1 hour mowing (gas) = 20 miles in a car.
• Emit 5% of ozone-forming VOCs.
• VOCs linked to health effects/global warming.

Indirect: Transportation, manufacturing.

2. Noise Pollution.

The operating range of most gas-powered landscape equipment operate way over possible hearing loss levels of 85 db upwards.

3. Water Pollution.

Pesticides:

• Homeowners use 10X more per acre than farmers.
• 2/3 users dispose of excess in trash, remainder down drains.
• Detectable limits found in 5-10% of wells.
  

Fertilizers:

• 40-60% of nitrogen surface and groundwater.
• Nitrogen, phosphorus main pollutants in the bay.
  

Pesticides destabilize the natural balance of the eco-system. Food chain breaks and natural defenses are annihilated. Millions of birds are poisoned every year. Some species have developed sterility syndromes and get to become endangered.

Less than 1% of plant and animal species are considered pests. Nevertheless, pesticides target inadvertently all surrounding beneficial species.

Food chain absorbs pollutants at all levels up to humans.

Estimated 3,000,000 cases of related diseases every year in humans worldwide.

4. Erosion, Flood Damage

• Lawns only able to absorb 1/10 rainfall compared to a forest.
• Turf has shallow root system; not able to stabilize stream banks.
• Runoff results in erosion, flooding, aquatic habitat destruction.
  

5. Biodiversity Damage.

• Exotic plants escape and invade.
  

Natural eco-system balance is affected. Species disappear or relocate.

6. Cost and Labor Intensive:

• Estimated $25 billion/year spent on lawn care in the US
• 1 acre lawn costs $400-700/year to maintain
• Average homeowner spends 40 hours/year mowing.
  

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING

Just as nearly all sustainable practices, a green approach of your garden practices is very simple, straight forward, makes sense and will generate great savings in time and money.

1. Choose a Naturalistic Design with Native Plants.

Basically, GoWild!

Benefits:

• Requires less maintenance.
  Less mowing, watering and trimming is needed. You save time and $$
• Reduces environmental harm.
  Less or no pesticides and lower water resources are needed. A knowledgeable assemblage of the right compatible plants (Integrated Pest Management System) or following organic principles will recreate the self protection of the eco-system against pest attacks. Avoid invasive plants.
• Benefits wildlife.
  Your garden will become the host of native sedentary and migrating species.
• Provides seasonal interest.
  Even in the tropics, seasons are noticeable especially with flowers.
• Provides soil stability and moisture.
  Roots hold soil and water.
• Energy conservation.
  Trees can lower your AC bills from 15% to 50%. Air temperature is up to 25% cooler under a tree.
  

2. Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

As mentioned above, a reproduced well balanced eco-system will protect itself from most attacks naturally.

If needed, spray organic and natural recipes.

3. Be careful with Nutrient Application

Use Organic such as compost or slow release fertilizers.

4. Conserve water

• Assess the real need of each plants.
• Use water saving devices.
• Water early during the day to limit evaporation in sun light.
• Use gray or captured rain water if possible.
  

5. Conserve energy

• Use hand tool whenever possible.
• Use electric vs gas tools.
• Prefer 4-cycle engines rather than 2-cycle.
• Consider indirect impacts (packaging trash, transportation, manufacturing).
  

6. Make your own compost with your organic wastes

Save on disposal fees and logistics saving on landfill space and transportation imacts.

“Let the land speak its own language in its own regional accent”

Green Cleaning around the House

Unfortunately, over past decades the ever-expanding arsenal of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous weapons, loaded with strong, artificial colors and fragrances and harsh cleansing agents like bleach, ammonia, caustic soda and more.

These chemicals are a major threat to indoor air quality, off-gassing toxic fumes that can irritate eyes and respiratory systems. Children and pets are most at risk, being smaller and closer to the floor. Many cleaners also contain unnecessary antibacterial compounds, which may lead to antibiotic resistance.

Instead, hearken back to a simpler time, and rediscover the natural cleaners of your grandparents. Even the biggest messes and toughest stains can be attacked effectively with baking soda, vinegar, borax, lemon juice and more. You'll also spend less money and reduce packaging.

1.In the bathroom

Keep your bathrooms and kitchen tile spotless and hygienic without harsh commercial cleaners. Give these natural remedies a try:

• Baking Soda and Water (with kosher salt): Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease.
  
• Lemon Juice or Vinegar: Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.
  
• Disinfectant: Instead of bleach, make your own disinfectant by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. It's easy!
  

2. In the kitchen

The room where food is prepared, stored and often enjoyed requires constant vigilance. Splatters, spills and errant crumbs can build up and collect out of sight, possibly encouraging harmful bacteria. Give your kitchen a thorough going-over this spring.

• Baking Soda and Water: Reclaim counters by sprinkling with baking soda, then scrubbing with a damp cloth or sponge. If you have stains, knead the baking soda and water into a paste and let set for a while before you remove. This method also works great for stainless steel sinks, cutting boards, containers, refrigerators, oven tops and more.
  
• Kosher Salt and Water: If you need a tougher abrasive sprinkle on kosher salt, and scrub with a wet cloth or sponge.
  Natural Disinfectant: To knock out germs without strong products, mix 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. Spray or rub on countertops and other kitchen surfaces.

3. For cristal clear windows

Nobody wants to clean windows when it's cold out, so take advantage of balmy breezes to bring some clarity to your life. Instead of sprays you buy at the store, discover this highly effective, simple solution:

• White Vinegar, Water and Newspaper: Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.
  If you're out of vinegar or don't like its smell, you can substitute undiluted lemon juice or club soda.
  

4. Dusty and stained carpets

Keeping carpets clean is less daunting than you might think, even after a season of tracked-in dirt and salt.

• Beat Those Rugs: Take any removable rugs outside and beat the dust and hair out with a broom.
  
• Club Soda: You've probably heard the old adage that club soda works well on carpet stains. But you have to attack the mess right away. Lift off any solids, then liberally pour on club soda. Blot with an old rag. The soda's carbonation brings the spill to the surface, and the salts in the soda thwart staining.
  
• Cornmeal: For big spills, dump cornmeal on the mess, wait 5 to 15 minutes, and vacuum up the gunk.
  
• Spot Cleaner: Make your own by mixing: 1/4 cup liquid soap or detergent in a blender, with 1/3 cup water. Mix until foamy. Spray on, then rinse with vinegar.
  
• To Deodorize: Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the carpet or rug, using about 1 cup per medium-sized room. Vacuum after 30 minutes.
  
  

5. Hardwood floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful, hygienic, long lasting (but not so renewable as they come from disappearing tropical forests of the globe). They are easy to vacuum, but don't do well with wet mopping. So how do you restore their natural glow without roughing them up?

• Vinegar: Whip up a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 30 ounces of warm water. Put in a recycled spray bottle, then spray on a cotton rag or towel until lightly damp. Then mop your floors, scrubbing away any grime.
  
  

6. The Kitchen Oven

Conventional oven cleaning chemicals are loaded with toxic ingredients, including ethers, ethylene glycol, lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), methylene chloride and petroleum distillates. The products are harmful to skin and eyes, and the fumes are unhealthy. Instead, go natural!

• Baking Soda and Water: Coat the inside of your dirty appliance with a paste made from water and baking soda. Let stand overnight. Then, don gloves and scour off that grime. Make spotless with a moist cloth.
  
  

7. Stopped up sinks

A stopped up sink or tub is a real hassle, but pouring toxic chemicals like Drano on them isn't so wise. Not only will that pollute our waterways, but the products can cause chemical burns and are highly dangerous if ingested. Do you really want that in your home?

• Baking Soda and Boiling Water (vinegar if needed): Feeling plugged up? Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the problem drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. If that isn't doing it for you, chase the baking soda with a 1/2 cup of vinegar and cover tightly, allowing the vigorous fizzing of the chemical reaction to break up the gunk. Then flush that with one gallon of boiling water.
  
  

8. Antique Linens

Whether you have fine family heirloom pieces or something with character you picked up at an estate sale for a song, you're eventually going to have to wash your antique linens. Even with advanced settings on today's washing machines, you still may want to address fragile fabrics by hand.

• Sunlight: What could be easier than sanitizing and removing stains...with sunlight! (Just don't do it too often with fragile pieces, because they can start to breakdown). Simply lay your old lace, curtains and other fine linens on the grass in the sun for a few hours. Dirtier pieces can be dampened first.
  
• Boiling: If that doesn't do the trick, fill a pot with water and bring to a boil on your stovetop. Drop in linens and let steep until stains lift.
  Detergent and Borax: Mix dishwasher detergent and borax together until you get a thick rubbing paste. Rub into soiled linens, then rinse clean.
  
• Peroxide: If you have stubborn stains, try spraying them with peroxide, then rinsing with water.
  

9. Metal polishing

Commercial silver polish contains toxins, and manufacturers recommend you don't leave on skin too long. Do you really want something like that spread over your flatware?

• Silver
  Aluminum Foil, Boiling Water, Baking Soda and Salt: Keep your sterling shined with this seemingly magic method. Line your sink or a bucket with aluminum foil, and drop in tarnished silver. Pour in boiling water, a cup of baking soda and a dash of salt. Let sit for a few minutes. The tarnish will transfer from the silver to the foil.
  Toothpaste: If you can't immerse your items or are otherwise inclined to polish by hand, rub tarnished silver with toothpaste and a soft cloth. Rinse with warm water and dry. Instead of toothpaste you can substitute a concoction made of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
  
• Copper
  Ketchup: To keep your copper pots, pans and accents looking bright and shiny, try rubbing with ketchup.

Green tips to make a difference

1. Buy Green, buy Local, buy in Season

This possibly is the greatest consideration you can possibly integrate into your day to day way of life.

Benefits of buying local and according to seasons are not all tangible such as probable lower costs for instance but involve a wide array of consequences such as lower emissions of carbon dioxide caused by transport, stronger local economy and preservation of local cultures.

Next time you feel like ordering your favorite bottled water from half way across the globe, you may want to think again.

So while around, prefer Vallarta grown, Jalisco made and Mexican designed!

“Also, do not forget making a shopping list so that you make fewer trips!”

2. Implement every time you can energy efficient appliances

• Change traditional light bulbs to CFL’s bulbs or LED now!

Granted, no one will get rich switching light bulbs, but while each bulb costs more, it uses 75% less energy and lasts 10-times longer - yielding a $30 savings over its lifetime.
An average home has 45 light bulbs, so at $5 per bulb, the cost of replacing all of them is $225. The cost-savings over their lifetime is $1,350, for a profit of $1,125 - five times the initial investment.
If you think fluorescent light looks ugly_ Think again! You might not be aware of the newest designs from cutting-edge manufacturers, including a new range of pleasant color temperatures, dimmable CFLs, bug lights, 3-way models, candelabra and flicker tip styles and more.

• Buy FIDE certified (Mex) or Energy Star (USA, CAN) Appliances

Energy Star and FIDE labels were designed to take the guesswork out of appliance buying. Look for these labels, which mean the item is at least 10 to 50 percent more efficient than standard models (depending on the class of product). That means lower energy bills and less pollution, like you'll find with this Asko 'hidden' dishwasher.
More than 18,000 products in 35 different categories are covered in the Energy Star program, and most major manufacturers participate. Energy Star is a fixture in the showrooms of most retailers coast to coast.
A home fully equipped with Energy Star products will use about 30 percent less energy than a typical house, saving $600 a year. But remember, you don't have to rush out and replace every whiz-bang you own tomorrow. Go to energystar.gov to see qualified products and learn more.

• Use Rechargeable Batteries

It may not sound like much at first, but investing in rechargeable batteries can save you some money over time. In general, the less you rely on single-use, disposable items, the less money you'll burn through.

• Buy a Power Strip (or 2 or 3)

Another cheap hidden investment is the humble power strip.
Today's electronics use power even when you're not using them. Cell phone and other chargers left in the socket draw electricity even if they are done charging, or you've walked off with the phone.
This phantom load can be a significant drain on your wallet - around $200, justfor a flat screen plasma TV according to one estimate.
Hooking electronics that get infrequent use into a power strip lets you really turn them off when they're not in use.
A power strip might cost $30, but plugging that TV into it will have it paid off in just seven months. Go one step further and invest in a home energy monitor to see exactly what electronics are using the most electricity, so you can maximize the ROI on your new power strips.

3. Invest in Green Remodeling

It's a rough, uncertain time to be a homeowner. Plunging value, tightening credit and a soft economy mean fewer people have the funds to invest in major home-renovation projects. This trend is reflected in the slumps facing Home Depot, Lowe's and other home-improvement stores.
But there is some (green-tinged) light at the end of this dark tunnel; there are easy ways you can make quick fixes to your abode to boost its property value, without needing to refinance or inherit a fortune from a deceased uncle. Here are some steps that will save you money on those rising home bills, while improving your dwelling.

• Hot water. Go Solar!

Solar passive technology is quite affordable, efficient and works perfectly even with limited sun exposure. It saves incredible quantities of carbon dioxide emissions by being a true 0 level emission technology.
You may need a back up plan for really cloudy days and tink about Installing a tankless water heater. It's probably easier and more affordable than you think.

• Install Low-Flow Showerheads and Toilets

You'd probably rather not spend much time thinking about toilets, but it's a fact that most older models waste large amounts of water. In fact, more than 30 percent of indoor residential water use is flushed down the porcelain throne.
Decades ago, toilets used 5 gallons per flush, but readily available low-flow models use less than a gallon, and work great. American Standard, Toto and Kohler are leaders in the field.
Also save water and money, and still have ample water pressure, with a low-flow showerhead, which can slash bathing-water consumption 50 to 70 percent. The devices are simple to install and start at around $8. Many styles and features are available, including flow-adjusting dials and a pause button.

• Fix Those Water Leaks

A dripping faucet or pipe joint is more than just an auditory annoyance. Besides driving you crazy, it can really add up to substantial water waste. One faulty faucet wastes 3 gallons of water per day, reports the U.S. Geological Survey.
Sometimes a leak is just a matter of a quick tighten, which almost anyone can do with pliers or a pipe wrench. Other times you get befuddled, or have a leak that is too hard to get to. In those cases it is worth calling a plumber, because not only will you see lower water bills over time, but you decrease the risk of mold, which is a serious threat both to home value and indoor air quality.
In Puerto Vallarta, water is abundant and relatively cheap (thanks to government subsidies) and may not represent at first a priority. But just imagine the amounts of energy required to pump, purify and circulate it.
It may be a cliché, but every drop does add up to your environmental footprint

“Turn off the shower or tap when soaping, shaving or brushing your teeth”

• Install a Programmable Thermostat

It may not be the most thrilling piece of electronics you could buy yourself, but a programmable thermostat will pay for itself in one season, and save you time and hassle. By maintaining more constant heating and cooling levels, and always 'remembering' to turn down the heat at night, the average family will save $150 a year, according to the EPA.
That's impressive, considering that programmable thermostats can be picked up from major manufacturers for as little as $50. They don't contain mercury like the olden days, and are available at most home-improvement and hardware stores.
Installing one is usually only a matter of connecting up a few wires in the back once you remove your old one (shut off the power to the area). Generally anyone can do it with a screwdriver and the instructions. But if you have any doubt, it's a quick fix for an electrician or handyman.

• Dodge Drafts and Seal Air Leaks (also valid for warm climates athough..)

Now, in our warm Puerto Vallarta, this recommendation is only valid for those Air Conditioning addicts who just cannot or refuse to acclimate. The best is to of course use AC as little as possible but this is easier said than done, especially if your construction has not been well designed.
Unfortunately architects trends have so far not been considering the local features and prioritized looks vs microclimates. Imagine the amounts of energy required to cool down all these ocean front towers.
Next time you choose your new home design, you may want to ask an arquitect specialized in bio-climatic design. Meanwhile, the following may interest you at least for your other home:
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to save money around the house is to seal off drafts, which can reduce your energy bills 5 to 30 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. With today's heating and cooling prices, that amounts to real money.
Check for window drafts by carefully holding an incense stick up to each frame and watch the smoke to see if there is a leak. (Be sure to remove all curtains first to avoid a fire.) Then use caulking or weather-stripping to seal the cracks. Make sure you cover any pipe outlets or cracks in the foundation. Also roll up an old towel, or buy or make a cute 'draft snake' to put over the crack in the bottom of doors (at the 'sill' or 'saddle').
You'll find that a less drafty house will also win applause from your residents and guests, as no one wants to feel like they're getting a cold shoulder.

4. Control your trash production

Choose re-usable vs disposable

• Fabric shopping bags vs plastic
• Degradable organic vs poisonous synthetic
• Slow food vs fast food
• Seperate your wastes by category, compost*

“Plastic bags, straws mostly end up in the ocean and…KILL”

*Even if local government is not paying much attention to recycling yet, this should not keep us from doing what is rightin our homes

5. Prefer Organic, grow your own

We humans love to play apprentice sorcerer for good and for bad. Growing food and breeding stocks are no exceptions and for the sake of increasing profitability, huge quantities of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics etc… are being used and end up in our plates. All of it cannot be good.
Do you and mother nature good and prefer organic produces every time you can.

6. Consider Green Cleaning Products and Techniques

Science and marketing have greatly pushed backwards and shadowed natural all time ways of doing things and not always has this been a benefit for the environment and our wallets.

Many all time products used before for simple tasks around the house did not need improvement really. Rediscover them in our separate article "Green Cleaning around the House"

7. Drive Smart, get a Fuel-Efficient Car, tune it and check your tires regularly, car pool, stop idling

In an age of high gas prices and economic turmoil, consumers are flocking away from large gas-guzzling SUVs and are snapping up smaller cars in record numbers. There's never been a better time to make the switch.
While next generation vehicles like Honda's Insight hybrid concept car (pictured) and electrics like the Chevy Volt and Tesla Roadster are coming (not to mention fuel cells), you can also do a lot to save fuel today, even with your current ride. For example, take extra junk out of your trunk, drive the speed limit and carpool and/or combine errands. Skip jackrabbit starts and don't idle your savings away.
Until you decide or get a chance to upgrade your car technologies, you may consider these simple details that can save you nearly 20% of your gas bill and car CO2 emissions:
Drive smooth. Use your overdrive. Take it easy. Apart from consuming much less fuel, you will dramatically increase your probabilities of reaching your destination safely or at all!
Did you know a clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%, and can save you 28 cents a gallon? Yet nearly one in four cars needs an air filter replacement.
In addition, poor alignment and badly inflated tires force your engine to work harder (in addition to wearing out your tires), and this can reduce fuel economy by as much as 10%. Get a tune-up and replace that cracked gas cap to save even more.
Stop Idling! Every moment you spend idling your car's engine means needlessly wasting gas, as well as rougher wear on your vehicle. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for startup. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, worth around $78.2 billion.
If your drive to work is 25 miles each way and at least half is in typical stop-and-go traffic, you'll save almost 10 percent of your monthly carbon emissions by carpooling. Not to mention the gas dollars you'll save and the fun you'll have sharing office gossip with your friends.

8. Think out of the box

Think a little outside the box. Consider taking a bus or train, which will save you big over time. The U.S. public transportation system saves 3.4 billion gallons of oil a year. Save even more by walking or biking short distances. Plus, consider moving closer to work, and asking your city for walkable "smart growth."
And think about how much time you can save. While you are not wasting it at the wheel (over two years of your life is being spent in traffic!!!), you can catch up with your e mails, get some work done on your lap top or BlackBerry.

9. Turn Off Your Computer

Save energy and wear and tear on your hardware by shutting down your computer at night. You'll save an average of $90 of electricity a year. The Department of Energy recommends shutting off your monitor if you aren't going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you're not going to use it for more than two hours.
Additionally, set properly the power management settings on your machine, and according to Intel, it can save you over 400-kilowatt hours annually. Depending on what you're shelling out for electricity, that's a savings of about $40 - $80 each year.
Head on down to the "start" menu and give 'er a click. From there, you'll want to click on "settings" and then "control panel." It's now time to double click on "power management." Under where it says "power schemes," choose "always on" from the drop-down list. Below the "settings for always on power scheme" tab, look for two drop-down lists, labeled "turn off monitor" and "turn off hard disks," respectively.
From each list select the amount of time you want your computer to wait before entering energy savings mode.
You may consider to upgrade your monitor. The new LCD monitors are good for about 100 Kwh/year of electricity savings! Ok, so that's not gonna save the whales, but if you're needing a new monitor, it's a good excuse to upgrade.
Oh yeah: Some of you are on Macs. It's even easier (of course) to implement these settings. Just go to the Apple pull-down menu, select "system preferences" and then "energy saver." It's all in there. You're on a Mac; you can figure it out.

10. Turn Down the Thermostat

It definitely pays to give a thought to your thermostat, since most households shell out 50 to 70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling. For every degree you lower the thermostat, you'll save between 1 and 3% of your heating bill. Do the same thing in reverse with air conditioning

11. Wash Your Laundry in Cold Water and line dry

An easy way to clean green is to turn the dial on your washing machine to cold. Most loads don't need hot water, and 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes into heating. The higher the water temperature, the higher the cost to you and the planet.
Indulge yourself by sleeping each night on pillowcases and sheets freshened by sun and breeze, both of which naturally disinfect and lift stains. You'll also save energy, since automatic dryers use 6% of household electricity.

12. Sign Up for Green Energy

This does not work yet for Mexico unless you decide to produce your own energy as the Ultimate Green Home Owner. Back home to USA or Canada though, the choice is yours. More than half of all electricity consumers in the U.S. now have the option of purchasing green power from their utility. Find out how you can buy it by visiting the Department of Energy-s state-by-state list of providers. You can also check with your own utility to see what's available.

13. Visit Your Local Library

Instead of buying small mountains of books, CDs, DVDs and even magazines that you barely use, check materials out of your neighborhood library, or relax inside the quiet halls and browse on site. Over time, you can save a nice pile of cash.

14. Pay Bills Online

Save natural resources - as well as late fees - by enrolling in online bill-paying options. Paperless billing not only saves trees; it also eliminates the fossil fuel needed to get all those billing envelopes from them to you and back again. Plus, you'll save money on stamps.

15. Jettison Junk Mail

Thank god, this plague has not reached us in Mexico but here is something yu might consider to do back home:
Around 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used to send junk mail to Americans every year, according to greendimes.com. You can stop 75% of unsolicited mail by registering on the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association Website (for a fee of $1). Within 90 days, most unsolicited mail will stop.

16. Print on Two Sides

Know what? It's not that hard to print two sides on your computer. But even though most software programs give that option, most of us still print only on one side of the page. Consider this: the U.S. alone uses 4 million tons of copy paper annually, about 27 pounds per person. Save dough and your local landfill. Print 2-sides.

Green on a budget

It's easier to live a green lifestyle if you're saving money as a result of it.

Check www.pennywiseplanet.com for the best deals on everything green. It is a wonderful site worthy to be on your preferred list of shops.

For deals on CFLs, eco-friendly cleaning products for home and office, go to www.letsgogreen.biz and get 20% off everything by using coupon code: CHP20.

Now, remember that one of the greenest things to do when it comes to consuming is to purchase local products.

Not only will you find them to be cheaper, more integrated with your environment, more organic (foods) but also will you greatly incentive the economics of the immediate community providing sustainable future for it and reduce the carbon foot print of logistics to get them to you.

Mexico is a great country that makes almost anything with great quality, design and love. I am sure you know it!

So Remember while in Puerto Vallarta, buy Vallarta grown, Jalisco made and Mexican designed!

7 Smart Uses for Vinegar

Save money, feel better and get clean clothes and a non-toxic home.

Vinegar was probably discovered by accident (most wine drinkers know what happens when you leave a bottle sitting around too long). In fact the word vinegar comes from a French translation for sour wine (vinaigre).

Over the centuries vinegar has been produced from many stocks, including molasses, dates, sorghum, fruits, coconut, honey, beer, maple syrup, potatoes, beets, grains and more. But the principle is the same: you get acetic acid (a.k.a. vinegar) after first fermenting natural sugars to alcohol, and then fermenting again.

Vinegar has been pressed into service for many uses over the centuries. It has been prized as a foodstuff, condiment, preservative and natural remedy.
What's so great about vinegar? Besides being effective, vinegar is cheap and widely available. It is non-toxic and lasts for a very long time without losing strength. It does not pollute land, air or water or combust. It's much safer to have under your sink than bleach, ammonia or other toxic cleaning products.

In the spirit of green cleaning, green thrift and green creativity, we put together this list of alternative uses for vinegar. Add your own in the comments!

1. Clean Windows
Instead of spending money on window cleaning chemicals -- especially ones that include toxic or potentially toxic chemicals -- make your own! Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking. You may use it pure but why waste such golden stuff?

2. Get Spring Fresh Laundry
Got grass stains? No problem, Make a mixture of one-third cup white vinegar and two-thirds cup water. Apply the solution to the stain and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat this process until you've removed as much green as possible, and then launder as usual.
When your big washing day comes around, toss in a capful of white vinegar. Your colors will come out bolder and your whites whiter. If you've recently had an encounter with a skunk, it will take more than a capful.
After washing, get a sharper crease in pants by dipping the cloth in a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. Then wring out the cloth and press the creases. Now you look like Dilbert!
Last but not least, your washing machine will increase dramatically its useful life as vinegar will contribute to maintain all its parts scale free (the same occurs when you use a mix of water and vinegar in your car’s wind screen washing system.

3. Clean Carpets
"Spots in carpets often remove with a simple dilution of one part vinegar, one-sixteenth part lemon juice and eight parts distilled water."

4. Wash Produce
According to some experts, vinegar can help remove bacteria and pesticide residues from fruits and veggies. Mix three parts water to one part white vinegar, and dispense in a spray bottle. Then rinse with water. The site claims the wash kills 98% of bacteria on produce.

5. Break Bad Bonds
Having trouble getting that annoying sticky label residue off a product? Or accidentally glue something together? Vinegar can be used as a solvent to dissolve many common adhesives. Vinegar is also good at cutting grease.

6. Fight Hiccups and Cramps
If you often get foot or leg cramps in the middle of the night, you may want to try boosting your potassium levels. There are a number of great superfoods rich in potassium (way beyond bananas). Some folks have also suggested trying this remedy: Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey and a cup of hot water. Then drink before bed. Yummy!
Some have also said they were able to cure pesky hiccups instantly by swallowing a teaspoon of vinegar. Hey, if the Roman legions drank it, it must be good for you!

Why we need innovation and not insulation (By Bill Gates)

I would like to share with you this interesting reflection from Bill Gates co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

It makes me remember the short minds who have been making controversy regarding solar power technologies arguing that it does not make sense to waste more energy on manufacturing these cells than they will ever produce during their useful life.

Quite logical would one say but that’s without taking account of the enormous power of good will and the growth of demand which motivate constant research and improvements, back bones of progress.

As Bill says, we must not loose the big picture and the greatest of all objectives.

And along the way, let us make the most of any opportunity to make one’s difference. There are no small efforts. One of them is to be the engine of demand for fresh new ideas and technologies.

LH

Why we need innovation and not insulation

Originally published on The Gates Notes

People often present two timeframes that we should have as goals for CO2 reduction -- 30% (off of some baseline) by 2025 and 80% by 2050.

I believe the key one to achieve is 80% by 2050.

But we tend to focus on the first one since it is much more concrete.
We don't distinguish properly between things that put you on a path to making the 80% goal by 2050 and things that don't really help.

To make the 80% goal by 2050 we are going to have to reduce emissions from transportation and electrical production in participating countries down to zero.

You will still have emissions from other activities including domestic animals, making fertilizer, and decay processes.

There will still be countries that are too poor to participate.

If the goal is to get the transportation and electrical sectors down to zero emissions you clearly need innovation that leads to entirely new approaches to generating power.

Should society spend a lot of time trying to insulate houses and telling people to turn off lights or should it spend time on accelerating innovation?
If addressing climate change only requires us to get to the 2025 goal, then efficiency would be the key thing.

But you can never insulate your way to anything close to zero no matter what advocates of resource efficiency say. You can never reduce consumerism to anything close to zero.

Because 2025 is too soon for innovation to be completed and widely deployed, behavior change still matters.

Still, the amount of CO2 avoided by these kinds of modest reduction efforts will not be the key to what happens with climate change in the long run.
In fact it is doubtful that any such efforts in the rich countries will even offset the increase coming from richer lifestyles in places like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, etc.

Innovation in transportation and electricity will be the key factor.
One of the reasons I bring this up is that I hear a lot of climate change experts focus totally on 2025 or talk about how great it is that there is so much low hanging fruit that will make a difference.

This mostly focuses on saving a little bit of energy, which by itself is simply not enough. The need to get to zero emissions in key sectors almost never gets mentioned. The danger is people will think they just need to do a little bit and things will be fine.

If CO2 reduction is important, we need to make it clear to people what really matters -- getting to zero.

With that kind of clarity, people will understand the need to get to zero and begin to grasp the scope and scale of innovation that is needed.

However all the talk about renewable portfolios, efficiency, and cap and trade tends to obscure the specific things that need to be done.

To achieve the kinds of innovations that will be required I think a distributed system of R&D with economic rewards for innovators and strong government encouragement is the key. There just isn't enough work going on today to get us to where we need to go.

The world is distracted from what counts on this issue in a big way.