Goal For The Green

Yes, there are safe and sensible ways to keep your food fresh, while minimizing your exposure to the potentially harmful chemicals found in plastic.

Here are some tips and pointers to help you make the safest choices for your food storage. You may already have some safer options such as corning ware, pyrex, and stainless steel canisters tucked away in your cupboards. Start searching , go to yard sales, and get on with making those changes.

Plastic contains chemical additives known to leach out when exposed to heat. Leaching may increase the risk of birth defects, developmental delays, certain hormonal disfunctions, and even breast and prostate cancers. Several university studies have indicated that leaching occurs when ANY type of plastic containers are used to heat food in the microwave. Another place leaching happens is in the dishwasher.

Rule of thumb is NEVER use ANY plastic, plastic wrap, tupperware, or styrofoam in the microwave. It is also best to wash plastic containers by hand in warm soapy water. This reduces the possibility of chemical leaching. Don’t ever use harsh cleansers or abrasive sponges on plastic. It can cause scratches in the plastic, which then causes chemical migration (leaching) from the plastic. If you have scratches or gouges in your plastic containers – ditch them IMMEDIATELY!

So, in your microwave only use microwave safe glass or ceramic cookware. Don’t use any plastic or plastic wrap. Cover food with paper or paper towel when microwaving.  Don’t use recycled paper towels because they could contain metallic flecks from ground up staples and ink that can be combustable.

In your fridge, use glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or PVC-free plastic wrap. Don’t use any type of plastic container that can leave a residue.  Scouring destroys the integrity of plastic.  Don’t ever store or cover hot food with or in any type of plastic. Always let it cool for at least twenty minutes before storing in your fridge.

For packing lunches choose foil, waxed, or butcher paper for wrapping sandwiches. If you like to use bags, use the ones made from number 4 plastic. For water, glass or stainless steel is best, or pitchers made from number 2 or 5 plastic.  Don’t use pitchers from number 7 (polycarbonate) plastic. For freezing, use foil, freezer paper, or number 4 plastic freezer bags.  Don’t use any glass or plastic containers that are not labeled Freezer Safe. The extreme cold can cause them to crack.  As mentioned before, allow food to cool before storing in the fridge or freezer.  For your pantry storage, glass, stainless steel and aluminum canisters are best or number 5 plastic.  Don’t store food in any plastic containers marked with 3(polyvinyl chloride) 6 PS (polystyrene) or 7 PC (polycarbonate).

Most plastics currently on the market are made from crude oil. There are also biodegradable, recyclable and compostable plastics made from starches such as rice, soy, and corn. These bio-based plastics comprise only 3% of the $280 billion plastic market. Concern has been expressed about the use of fertilizers and pesticides used in the growth of these grains, and then turning them into plastics.  Any bio-based products are better for your health, and are more of an earth and eco-friendly option, than any petroleum based products or counterparts.

Everyday we hear it-gas went up again while we slept. For most of us, our wages don’t increase and our wallets don’t get fatter to accommodate the financial strain.

Can’t afford a hybrid? Maybe you love your vehicle,but you don’t get good gas mileage. What if I told you there was a way to change all of this nonsense and fight back.  You don’t have to put up with high gas prices anymore. You can double, and in some cases even triple your gas mileage. Wouldn’t you love to fight global warming while you drive and do it safely?  You can convert your car to a water hybrid easily,safely, and economically.

This clean burning fuel will add only water and oxygen into the atmosphere instead of harmful pollutants. It will remove carbon deposits and build-up from your engine, allowing it to run at a cooler temperature.  Due to the effect that water has on the combustion cycle inside your engine, you will notice a calmer, quieter and much smoother engine performance. Another benefit is no more smelly gas fumes.  Still another big benefit to making this change, is that you increase your engines life expectancy. The improved running performance will save you from the costly repairs of valves,pistons, rings and bearings later on. Find out more about how you can run your car on water here:

https://goalforthegreen.com/public_html/recommends/run_your_car_on_water/

Here are a few tips you can put into practice right away that take little effort and your wallet will thank-you.

Did you know that Americans idle away approximately 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year?  With the prices going up almost daily, that is almost $80 billion a year in wasted gas. Obviously, the less you have to stop and go the better. It also helps to maintain a steady, rather than fluctuating speed. Also, be sure your tires have the correct amount of air in them.  Just little things, but they make a difference in the air we breathe and in your wallet.

Just by turning off your computer when not in use, you can save about $90 a year. You can also save more by unplugging small appliances when not in use.  Every little bit helps, because even though it doesn’t seem like it, everything that is left plugged in still uses energy.

By signing up for Green Power, you are supporting the future development of renewable resources. Green Power, is electricity from renewable non- polluting resources like wind and solar power, that can be used over and over. Green Power usage does less harm to the environment.  Turning down your thermostat a couple of degrees can save you between 1-3% on your power bill. It might not seem like much, but it can add up considering 50-70% of your electric bill is calculated based on your heating and cooling consumption.  Wash your clothes in cold water.  This also makes a difference in your power bill.

Paying your bills online saves you time, money gas, and stamps.  It also saves on the amount of paper used to send you that bill.  To get rid of junk mail you can sign up ($1.00 fee ) at Mail Preference Service on Direct Market Assistance website. Most junk mail will stop within about 90 days. To stop opt-in offers from cluttering your mailbox, you can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.  Follow the instructions, and you can opt out for 5 years or for life.  Next, it takes a little work with our at home printers but it can save a lot of paper if you print on both sides of the copy paper.  Here in the U.S. we use approximately 4 million tons of copy paper per year, most of which is copied on one side only.  That averages out to about 27-30 lbs. per person per year.

You can keep a lot of dirt, pesticides, and germs from entering your home and causing allergies or illness, just by taking your shoes off outside your door.  Something else to consider is to drink hormone free milk. It’s a healthier alternative. Thank goodness it’s the time of the year to start enjoying the wholesome freshness of the farmers markets for fresh fruits and veggies.  Here’s to your health and your wallet.