As the West Nile virus season kicks into high gear (according to the CDC, most cases occur during late summer and early fall), it becomes more important to protect ourselves against mosquito bites. But you may not want to spray yourself with DEET every day either (I know I don’t!)
Founded in 1981, Beyond Pesticides is a non-profit organization devoted to assessing and publicizing the risks of conventional pest management practices and identifying and promoting healthy and environmentally-friendly non-chemical alternatives. Beyond Pesticides provides a wealth of information about pesticides including the Pesticide Gateway, a database of 80+ pesticides, and fact sheets on non-chemical treatments for a range of pests, from ants to rodents to wasps.
The Boston Building Materials Resource Center is a nonprofit dedicated to reusing good-quality used and surplus building materials. They accept donations of everything from used sinks and cabinetry to surplus lumber, and they resell them to the public at low prices. If you are undertaking a home improvement project, check with the resource center before you throw your old stuff away.
Byggmeister is a design/build firm based in Newton, MA that specializes in high performance residential remodeling. Byggmeister is passionate about energy performance and committed to environmental stewardship–not to mention that they offer exceptionally high quality design services and craftsmanship. In addition to remodeling, Byggmeister also provides energy audits and coordinatates energy improvements for homeowners seeking to make energy upgrades to their homes.
Energy Federation Incorporated is a MA-based non-profit that provides products and services to help people conserve energy and water. EFI’s online store sells energy efficient lighting, low-flow showerheads, and other conservation-related products directly to consumers. Many products that EFI sells, like dimmable CFLs, are hard to find at retail stores.
Much of the furniture on the market today is loaded with potential harmful chemicals, including formaledhyde, flame retardants, volatile organic compounds, and stain protectors. Fortunately healthier alternatives are becoming more and more available. Since the mid-1990s, Furnature in Watertown has been a leader in the furniture industry, selling only those products that meet their high sustainability standards.
The Green Home Guide, published by the US Green Building Council, is an amazing resource for anyone undertaking a green home improvement project–whether the project is big or small, whether it’s diy or through a contractor. I particularly like their articles, which are extremely informative and accessible.
Greenscapes provides organic lawn care and irrigation management services to residential customers in the Greater Boston area. If you are considering switching to an organic lawn care provider and/or would like to make sure that you are watering you lawn and garden only when and as much as you need to, Greenscapes is a great company to consider.
The owner, Frank Knoll, is certified by NOFA (Northest Organic Farming Assocation) as organic lanscape professional and by EPA’s Water Sense Program as an irrigation auditor. Frank knows his stuff and is passionately committed to what he does.
Healthy Home Plans is an online resource for people who want to make their homes healthier. For those interested in building a new home, the site sells healthy home plans. For those interested in remodeling and/or improving home health, the site provides a wealth of information about indoor air quality and healthy building materials. I also like their resource section, which contains links to vetted online retailers, service providers and information sources.
There is a new online resource available for consumers who want to know what is in the products they buy. Healthy Stuff has tested over 5000 consumer products for the presence of chemicals associated with a range of health and environmental hazards. Before you panic: Healthy Stuff tests only for the presence of chemicals not exposure. Exposure depends on a variety of factors such as the tendency of a chemical to volatilize, how the product is used, etc. However, given that the government does not require safety testing of chemicals before they go to market, and that neither the government nor manufacturers make information about chemical content available to consumers, Healthy Stuff plays a key role in informing and empowering consumers to make safe, eco-friendly choices.
MassSAVE provides free energy audits to Massachusetts customers of a number of different utility companies including National Grid and NSTAR. Funded by the utility companies, MassSAVE’s mission is to help “save you money, improve the energy performance of your home, and reduce air pollution.”
In my view, an audit is valuable for anyone who wants to save money, conserve energy and improve the comfort of their home. MassSAVE not only provides this service free of charge, they also help homeowners act on their recommendations and provide information about rebates that are available from the utilities.