Ask Green and Healthy

Ask Green and Healthy

If you have a question about making your life more green and healthy, or a general question about county or city programs, please feel free to ask us! If you have a question, there's a good chance someone else has the same question, so we would like to provide you the information and possibly add the answer to our site too!

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Click here to see answers to some questions we've been asked

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to questions submitted to Ask Green And Healthy

Question:
What is the overall carbon footprint of using paper bags versus plastic bags?

Answer:
Disposable bags pose environmental problems whether they are paper or plastic. Plastic bags generally receive the most environmental criticism because they are made from a non-renewable resource (petroleum), they are not easily recyclable, and they often end up in waterways as a major source of pollution. Paper bags, on the other hand, are much more easily recyclable and, if they come from trees harvested in the United States, are generally from closely monitored tree farms (thus not posing threats of deforestation in the same way as paper products produced in the developing world). At the same time, however, paper bags are much heavier and bulkier than plastic bags, and require much more fossil fuel in their transportation from factories to stores. The production of paper is also very carbon-intensive, and can also cause significant water pollution.

Overall, the production of paper and plastic materials both pose environmental threats, as does the production of nearly anything. The best option is to use reusable bags that aren’t discarded after only a single use, so as to minimize the amount of fossil fuels that are needed to produce bags for our society.

Question: 
Are pollutants, toxins, chemicals, and metals removed when boiling water? Should we filter our water before boiling?

Answer:
Boiling water does not guarantee the removal of all toxins and chemicals, only microorganisms. Near sea level, a vigorous rolling boil for at least one minute is sufficient to kill or deactivate all microorganisms. At high altitudes (greater than two kilometres or 5000 feet) three minutes is recommended.

For chemicals, toxins, and metals, some have higher boiling points than water so they are unaffected. Boiling water may actually increase the concentration the toxin because some of the water evaporates while the toxins remain. The best way to remove toxins and chemicals is with the proper filter.

Tips

Quick Tips / Did you Know / Fun Facts

Quick and simple tips for living green and healthy

Cleaning:

• Vinegar works as a great cleaning product and can replace glass cleaners (which contain ammonia) for most practical cleaning applications.

• Natural vinegar like apple cider vinegar has been around for centuries and is a source of vitamins and a natural health remedy.

• Lemons possess a wonderful, natural flavor and smell that can’t be reproduced artificially. In addition to traditional use in cooking, lemons are also a natural cleaner and are antibacterial due to  high acid content. Lemons are also used in home remedies.

• An advisory committee to the federal Food and Drug Administration has found that household use of antibacterial products provides no benefits over plain soap and water. The American Medical Association recommends against using triclosan in the home because it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Here is a link to Triclosan and a Recipe for DIY Hand Sanitizer

Energy:

• Lighting accounts for nearly 25% of total energy costs in the home or office.

• Home electronics such as computers, TVs and printers use power even when idle. Turn your electronics off when not in use.

• Fluorescent light bulbs consume 75% less electricity, last 4-15 times longer, and generate 74% less heat than incandescent bulbs.

Water:

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a faucet dripping at one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons per year.

Transportation:

• Riding a bike burns around 400-500 calories/hour.

Composting:

• Certain non-recyclable paper products' (such as tissues, napkins, and egg cartons) fibres will aerate compost and help the organisms that encourage decomposition.

DIY

Do It Yourself Projects

•  How to make a reusable bag container

•  How to make a shopping bag out of t-shirts

• How to make a reusable produce bag

Resources

 Green and Healthy Resources

We hope the following resources will help to initiate discussion and thoughts about living a green and healthy lifestyle, as well the importance of understanding the connection between nature, humans, and our everyday lifestyles.

Our City Forest does not necessarily endorse the following resources; they simply provide general information related to or educating about Green and Healthy lifestyles.