Guests:

Michael Penny is here from Savvy Rest to talk to us about the benefits of an all natural latex mattress. Made with three 3-inch layers of natural Dunlop or talalay latex, it measures a little less than 10 inches high with its quilted organic cotton and wool casing, and provides a supremely comfortable feel. The casing is made with a strong brass zipper, so it is easy to open and close when you build your mattress. The Organic Serenity mattress can be made to feel very firm, very soft, or any range in between.  For more information call, click, or visit Twin Cities Green. 612-374-4581.

Rebecca Lundberg is the owner of Powerfully Green - a local solar installation company.  She is with us again today to talk to us about this year's Eco House being built at the Eco Experience on the MN State Fairgrounds.  This year's theme is "Net Zero" that means over the course of a year this home will produce as much energy as it uses.  It is a very challenging concept in our climate.  Rebecca talks to us about the solar panels on the roof to generate energy, the conservation methods we are showcasing throughout the home to save energy and the very cool all-electric car and solar power charging station that will be in the carport.  Rebecca also gives us an overview of the great solar rebates for 2009/2010.  Did you know you can save almost 50% on your solar installation due to rebates?  Contact Rebecca to learn more and visit the Eco Experience at the MN State Fair!!!

Green Info and Tips:

Free and green iPhone applications

Whether it’s finding a green restaurant or purchasing carbon offsets, here are free green iPhone applications that you can download to help protect the planet...and your wallet:

1. Clear Standards Carbon Tracker - Measures your annual carbon footprint and even lets you monitor your own progress against personal carbon emission reduction goals.

2. Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper Guide - Perfect app to use when you’re at the grocery store and want to find the greenest tissue, toilet paper, napkins, and paper towels.

3. Green Gas Saver - This green application from Appleseed Software monitors your car’s fuel efficiency and teaches you how to be a better fuel efficient driver.

4. iRecycle - Get access and directions to over 100,000 recycling and disposal locations around the U.S.

5. Mission Zero - This cool application that provides sustainability news feeds from around the world generated over 55,000 downloads in its first month available to the public.

6. Green Card - Instead of wasting paper to make personalized business cards, you can use this green application to share your contact information with digital business cards.

Green Tip #194 - Avoid Bleached Products

What is the difference between sparkling white paper towels and naturally brown paper towels? The white paper is bleached using chlorine – a process that is dangerous to both humans and the environment. When products such as paper towels, toilet paper, coffee filters, tea bags, tampons, menstrual pads and diapers are bleached during manufacturing, dioxins are released into the air. Dioxins are extremely dangerous toxins that accumulate in water and are then taken up by animals and humans. The bleach used in these products may leach into the food that you eat.

Bleach is also widely used in flour and sugar. While the health effects of these products is less well known, you can ensure your health by opting for their unbleached varieties. They should be available in your local market (whole wheat flour is a good bet, and look for “raw” or “unrefined” sugar)

To avoid potential health complications, which include cancer, birth defects and increased risk of diabetes, and to keep the environment clean, buy nonbleached products. If you’re unsure about making a switch, look for low-impact choices, like coffee filters and tea bags, before moving on to paper towels and other care products.

DARK GREEN TIP #3352 - Don't throw away your stale bread!

1. Bring it back to life. You can try reviving stale bread by dipping it in water and baking it in 370 degrees for 12 minutes. But that would just break my great grandmother's heart.


2. Use it to heal wounds. A mixture of stale bread and warm milk wrapped in a towel or bandage has been used for centuries as a poultice to bring boils and abscesses to a head. (Note: After you have successfully applied the poultice and extracted the infection, then you have my permission to finally throw that away!)


3. Bread crumbs. Whisk them in the blender, add some Italian seasonings, and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge.


4. Croutons. Sauté stale bread cubes in plenty of butter and/or olive oil with a little Parmesan cheese for the best croutons you've ever eaten.


5. Bread soups. Use stale bread to thicken sauces, soups, and stews. Bread soups are a popular, delectable, and hardy dinnertime staple in countries around the globe. (Check out this recipe for French onion soup.)


6. Feed the birds. Bread crumbs and crusts will attract many a feathered friend to your backyard bird feeder. While many birds do enjoy bread, it's not the most nutritious meal, so think of it as a treat, rather than as a staple of a healthy diet for native birds.