1. Ingredients are of utmost importance. In order to qualify as an eco friendly cleaner, the detergent must not contain ingredients harmful to the earth. Phosphates, which can cause massive algal blooms in waterways that mess with ecosystems by robbing the water and aquatic life of all-important oxygen, have all but been removed from laundry detergents. Obviously any eco friendly cleaner worth its weight in dirty clothes will be free of phosphates, chlorine, petroleum chemicals, but as always make sure you check the label.

Unfortunately the burden of finding product ingredients often falls to the consumer as many large companies frequently choose not to list all product ingredients. A more complete list of contents can often be found by calling the toll free information number usually found on the product label.

2. Make sure the eco friendly cleaner you’re contemplating is both septic safe and gray water safe. It should also be 100 percent biodegradable and contain only nonpolluting ingredients, especially the surfactants (agents used for wetting and cleaning and contained in all laundry detergents).

3. A true eco friendly cleaner will have a neutral pH balance. The rating of 7 is generally considered a neutral pH. A neutral pH is generally kinder to sensitive skins.

4. The detergent should be plant-based as well. An eco friendly cleaner derived from plants will contain no hazardous chemicals or petroleum constituents and they are also more friendly to allergy prone people.

5. An eco friendly cleaner is most often available in concentrated form. By removing excess amounts of needless water, the green cleaners reduce the weight and therefore the cost of shipping and packaging. This cost saving can then hopefully be passed along to the consumer.

6. No animal testing or animal ingredients are ever used on an eco friendly cleaner.

But how does an eco friendly cleaner compare to your regular laundry detergent? The answer is, very well. The results of course will vary depending on what your wash requirements are, but some of the earth friendly manufacturers like Seventh Generation and Ecover produce laundry detergents that clean equally if not better than their non-eco friendly cleaner competition.

The industrys direction in recent years has been toward green products, not away and this trend will only help to create better, less expensive, eco friendly cleaners in the future.

Author: Keith King
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: US Dollar credit card

Isn’t that fraud? Well the problem could be that there is not enough oversight or regulation to ensure that they are living up to their claims. All but one of them committed what is called the “six sins of greenwashing”.

A very insightful article was recently published in Fast Company Magazine by David Roberts in which he exposes the reason behind companies “green washing” their products.

When we read a label to find out if it is environmentally friendly, non animal tested, natural or free of chemicals, it’s easy to see a nice little Eco-friendly icon or the recycled logo and assume that because that exists, they must be telling the truth or they wouldn’t be allowed to print it. The truth is, the regulations are few and far between so it’s easy to get away with stating one thing while omitting the deeper darker greenwashing sins.

A good example would be to use the recycled icon on a product and then having employees travel around to market it in automobiles that get 15-20 mpg. So in realty, the product is not so eco-friendly at all. Believe it or not, it’s happening every day. Until the public demands more honesty in marketing eco-friendly go green products, not much is likely to change.

One thing to consider is that our government does not make it profitable for companies to truly go green or become Eco-friendly. The costs involved with companies going green, keep many of them from being able to change the way they produce and market their goods and services.

Governmental incentives for becoming a true Eco-friendly company are not on the top of most politicians lists. It is therefore up to each of us as conservators of the one and only earth we have, to get behind our planet. We must send a loud unanimous voice to our political leaders telling them that unless they make wise tuff decisions that are positive in protecting earth and it’s inhabitants, they won’t stay in office.

So the next time you buy a product and make a conscious decision to select the Eco-friendly green one, take a little time and explore what’s behind that pretty little Eco-friendly or recycled icon. What you find may change the way you shop.

Author: Shelby Wallace
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

Consider the environmental impact of the lifecycle of an item.

• What is it made of? Are these materials natural and renewable? Or are they toxic and from a finite source?
• How is it made? Does the process cause unnecessarily high levels of pollution? Is it tested on animals? Does the company do something to help reduce its environmental impact?
• How is it used? Is it disposable? Is it energy efficient? Does it produce less waste?
• How do you get rid of it? Is it recyclable? Is it biodegradable? Or is it harmful to the environment?

Keeping these thoughts in mind when you buy something will tell you whether or not they are eco friendly products.

Examples of Eco Friendly Products

• Rechargeable Batteries: Everybody has some type of battery operated device. Turn them into more eco friendly products by using rechargeable batteries. They may seem expensive at first, but considering that they are reusable hundreds of times, they will save you a lot of money in the long run. They have an added bonus of reducing landfill toxins.

• Tankless Water Heaters: They don’t waste energy keeping your water hot. They heat the water as it’s needed, and are about 90-100% efficient, depending on the model. They’re eco friendly products with the added bonus of saving you money.

• Digital Thermostat: They’re available with timers and are programmable. That means you can reduce your heating or air conditioning while no one is home or while you are sleeping and save a lot of money. Simply adjusting your thermostat a couple of degrees can save you money, and help the planet. It averages to 3% of your bill per degree of adjustment.

• Geothermal Heat Pump: One of the more attractive eco friendly products, they can keep your house at a constant temperature and will heat your water, all using the natural heat of the earth. They aren’t cheap, but once they are installed they will save you a bunch of money, operating almost without cost, and reduce your impact on the earth.

• Solar and Wind Power: Due to increasing levels of awareness, they are becoming more cost effective, efficient and available. You can get solar or wind power for your home, but also for charging small electronics now.

• Cleaning Supplies: Believe it or not, you don’t need harsh chemicals to clean most things around your home. In fact, it has been recently proven that antibacterial products are bad for you and the environment. Changing to more eco friendly products is a simple and healthy way to go green.

• Furniture: You may not think to go green with your furniture, but it’s available now, usually items made from renewable resources or recycled materials.

• Apparel: Natural and organic renewable fibers instead of petroleum based synthetics are becoming more popular, and just feel better. Think of them as the stylish version of eco friendly products.

• Efficient Lighting: While compact fluorescent lighting saves money, they do contain mercury, which means they have to be disposed of properly. On the plus side, they will outlast several incandescent bulbs and use far less energy. LED lights are truly eco friendly products, lasting decades and using little energy, but are more expensive initially.

No more excuses. It’s becoming easier every day to go green with the widespread availability and development of eco friendly products.

Author: Neece Campione
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty

What is a Green Building? A green building (the noun) is a building that has been specifically designed to save energy, promote healthy indoor air and have much less impact on the environment.

Green building (the verb) is mainly a construction term used to describe whole house system design and techniques that use eco friendly, or green building, materials and components.

The following terms are pretty much interchangeable when talking about houses: eco friendly houses, eco friendly home, eco home, eco house, green house, green building a house, green home designs, or building efficient green homes.

Here are some great examples of using green materials for the home:

1. recycled glass counter tops – stylish and eco friendly

2. bamboo flooring – grows quickly (sustainable) with durability comparable to hardwood

3. eco friendly furniture – made from sustainable or recycled materials, or certified wood

4. tankless water heaters – water is heated on demand, saving energy

5. low flow shower heads and LED faucets that turn on and off automatically

6. energy saving appliances and light fixtures

7. renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power

Why are people building efficient green homes? Why eco friendly houses? As I mentioned, the answer may surprise you. Most people think the number one reason to “go green” is for the environment or to save energy…but, according to a recent survey done by the folks at Building Green TV and RCLCO, the number one reason people are building eco friendly houses is for health reasons! In fact, a full 42% of those surveyed replied that health was the number one reason to build a green home. Only 17% said they would be motivated by energy savings, and only 12% for the environment!

What do eco friendly houses have to do with health? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the list below contains just some of the things that may be causing your family health problems inside your home:

Radon, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Biologicals, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Organic Gases, Respirable Particles, Formaldehyde, Pesticides, Asbestos, Lead, and Chlorine.

In fact, the EPA estimates that the pollution levels inside your home could be 3-70 times the outdoor pollution levels in major cities – yuk!

Makes you want to open a window now, doesn’t it?

Author: Isabella Green
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker