Source: The Green Guide

Mark your calendars! The theme for for TToG’s next bimonthly meeting on March 27th is Spring Cleaning and Organizing.

We will learn about the difference between toxic and non-toxic cleaners and the effects on your health and home. Plus we will have a professional organizer from Under The Clutter come in and speak about cleaning, de-cluttering and organizing your home. We will also have someone from Got Junk? to help figure out what to with all the stuff you cleaned, organized and de-cluttered!

Let’s get together to learn, meet one another, play some games & win some prizes. TToG will pay for your refillable type beverages only. You may order & buy food if you are hungry. If you are a vegan or a vegetarian Mo’s has a great salad selection. The management is interested in learning more about making a transition to green, so let’s help them out. Remember your first meeting is free.

Transition To Green is a non-profit organization and all dues collected help cover expenses of the meetings.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, see website linked above, or www.meetup.com/Transition-To-Green-Community-Clubs/calendar/ 12659088/

**

The “Transition To Green” Community Club’s mission is to educate and help people to become more aware of all the green alternatives that exist in the marketplace today. To effect real change, we need to effect the supply and demand in favor of eco-friendly products. Our dollar votes going towards those choices will create a demand for manufacturers to switch out their practices and come on board faster. Individual transitions to green can happen over a period of weeks, while businesses and corporations tend to lag behind for years. So the sooner we make the changes in our lives, the sooner the rest of our economy will follow.

Source: Ecopalooza

“The striking new environmentally friendly library in Battery Park City is sure to quickly become a beacon for the community,” said Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library. “At a time when people are depending on libraries more then ever for free resources and job assistance the library is a crucial resource for the neighborhood. We are deeply grateful to our elected officials, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and City Council Member Margaret Chin for their support of the branch’s construction. We also greatly appreciate the generous private funding provided by Goldman Sachs & Co.

Photo: Tim Furzer

With light streaming through broad windows and glimpses of the Hudson River the $6.7 million Battery Park City Library provides a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for the public. The 88th branch of the New York Public Library will anchor the bottom two floors of the city’s greenest residential high-rise to date. Designed by the architecture firm 1100 Architects, the branch includes 24,000 items, 36 public access computers, and separate reading areas for children, young adults, and adults. A multipurpose programming room on the second floor is also featured, as well as two self-checkout machines for public use. The Library was constructed with a focus on environmental sustainability and will be the first GREEN Library in Manhattan. The branch is expected to receive LEED Gold certification from the U. S. Green Building Council. Some of the features contributing to the branch’s environmental efficiency include:
 

• an efficient technologically advanced low-energy heating/cooling system

• low-flow sanitary fixtures which reduce water consumption

• low-energy lighting system

• use of recycled and renewable building materials including a wood floor constructed with off-cuts from window frame manufacture, carpets constructed from old truck tires, millwork made from recycled cardboard composite, and terrazzo with recycled glass and mirror aggregate

• the inclusion of a dedicated area for the collection and storage of all recyclable materials accumulated during the day to day operations of the branch

• use of a large number of the products that are low emitting in order to help the overall indoor air quality.

“Libraries play an important role in communities throughout the city, serving as a place for people to gather, attend readings, access the internet and more,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “The new environmentally-sustainable Battery Park City branch will be a model for future branch designs and an asset for the local community for decades to come.”

“Expanding literacy, arts and education to any neighborhood in New York City is an issue we at the City Council feel is one of the most vital for New Yorkers,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Having access to these materials is essential to the growth of our neighborhoods. Battery Park for so long did not know what it was to have these resources available to them down the street from their homes. Now, residents downtown and throughout the City will be able to enjoy this new branch and the new resources it brings to this beautiful area of our City.”

“The opening of the Battery Park City library is another big step in the continuing progress of the community as one of the great neighborhoods in our city,” said New York State Senator Daniel Squadron. “Public libraries are more important than ever in the 21st century, in which broad, democratic access to information–whether printed or digital–is more important than ever.”

“I am delighted to join Battery Park City residents in welcoming the newest branch of the New York Public Library to the neighborhood,” said United States Congressman Jerrold L. Nadler. “I am proud of this terrific New York institution and believe that it profoundly enriches the lives of those who use it. As a lifelong enthusiastic reader and library patron, I hope that residents will enjoy this library as much as I have always enjoyed my local libraries and read to their hearts’ content.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the New York Public Library and the residents of Battery Park City in opening this beautiful new library,” said Councilmember Margaret Chin. “To have a public facility like this, in a community like Battery Park City, is really wonderful, especially with the construction’s focus on environmental sustainability and what we hope will be a LEED Gold certification. It’s important that we teach our children about the environment as we instill in them a love of reading and learning, while providing a great place for our seniors and others in the community to read and gather. I also want to specifically recognize my predecessor, Councilmember Alan Gerson, without whose work this library simply would not exist, and also the work of Community Board 1 Battery Park City chair Linda Belfer, a tireless champion of all things Battery Park City.”

“As Chair of Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations, I am ecstatic that this library has been finished,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “Any day that a library opens is a very good day for the community it serves. This library will enhance the educational and cultural life of the neighborhood.”

“The new Battery Park City library and the expansion of New York Public Library services means the promotion of literacy, education and technology for local residents,” said New York City Council Member Vincent Gentile. “Public libraries, particularly ones developed in an environmentally friendly way like this one, enrich the neighborhoods in which they’re placed; it’s a joy to see all the benefits that come along with a new public library being introduced to a neighborhood that didn’t have those resources at their fingertips before.”

Library Hours
The Battery Park City Library will be open: Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Grand Opening Celebration

Thursday, March 18, 2010
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free and open to the public
175 North End Avenue

10 a.m.,
Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, with elected officials and special guests.

11 a.m.,
Architect’s tour and overview of environmental features

11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Crafts with Linda DeCresenzo, program for children of all ages.

2:30 p.m.
Poetry Reading

3:30 p.m.
“Birds of Prey”, a program for the whole family that examines such birds of prey as hawks, owls, falcons or other species! Patrons will get to touch raptor artifacts and a lucky volunteer may get to help with some of the demonstrations. Presented by the New Canaan Nature Center.

Source: New York Public Library

There’s no doubt about it: Green is the new black. But the influx of earth-friendly options is no excuse to overhaul your entire wardrobe or your budget.

“Disposing of items before the end of their useful life in order to replace them with organic products is not going to save the world,” says Lynda Grose of the Sustainable Cotton Project, an organization working to pioneer markets for certified organically grown and biologically based cotton.

The most eco-friendly (and economical) approach is to phase in high-quality, long-lasting organic and recycled pieces as your old clothes wear out. Here, a guide to some of our favorites, with choices to fit every budget. You’ll also find three ways to green your wardrobe without going shopping at all.

Eco-Fashion Must-Haves

100 Percent Organic Cotton T-Shirts Did you know that it takes about a third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to produce enough conventionally farmed cotton for a single T-shirt? To guarantee yours are as soft on the planet as they are on your skin, buy 100 percent organic cotton.

For logo—and sweatshop—free organic cotton T-shirts in several colors, check out American Apparel ($17 to $18; americanapparel.net). If you’re in the mood for fun, eco-inspired patterns such as zebras, flamingos, and wind turbines, choose Fuze ($60 to $64; thegreenloop.com). Or spread environmental awareness by sporting Green Label Organic T-shirts that boast bold eco-slogans paired with eye-catching graphics, such as bummer next to an image of a Hummer ($29; greenlabel.com).

“Green” Jeans While many natural choices are expensive, not all the jeans in Levi’s Eco line take a lot of the green from your pocket. Made from 100 percent organic cotton, the jeans feature recycled buttons, rivets, and zippers, and some styles are dyed with natural indigo ($48 to $195; levi.com).

Other eco-fabulous options include Loomstate ($155 to $200; loomstate.org) certified-organic jeans, and Del Forte Denim ($130 to $200; thegreenloop.com), which recently launched Project Rejeaneration, a program that recycles customers’ old Del Forte denim into second-generation garments.

Recycled Active Wear It only makes sense to respect Mother Nature when you purchase the gear you need to enjoy the great outdoors. Leave it to Patagonia, an eco-fashion pioneer, to introduce fleece made from postconsumer recycled soda bottles and, through its Common Threads program, garments made from recycled polyester. Type “recycled” into the search field at patagonia.com to find pieces made from recycled fibers ($20 to $399). Drop your old Patagonia or other Polartec fleeces at any Patagonia store or mail them to the company (address available at patagonia.com) for recycling.

Eco-Sneakers Lighten your environmental footprint without sacrificing comfort or style in a pair of Simple ecoSNEAKS, which are green from heel to toe. Features of the line include hemp uppers, soles made from recycled car and bike tires, foot forms that use postconsumer paper pulp, organic cotton linings, and laces made from recycled plastic bottles ($50 to $80; simpleshoes.com).

A Little “Green” Dress According to Summer Bowen, founder of online boutique Be The Change (BTC) Elements, no Earth-minded fashionista’s wardrobe is complete without a little “green” dress. A BTC best seller is the Girls Night Out Dress, a simple, flattering black tube dress made from a blend of bamboo, organic cotton, and spandex, by Convoy’s Sustainable Collective ($112; btcelements.com).

Earth-Friendly Accessories An easy way to green any outfit is to accessorize with vintage or eco-chic scarves and jewelry. Stephanie Huffaker’s upcycled Plastic Bag Bangles add a splash of color while giving plastic bags a second life ($44; btcelements.com).

No Shopping Required

If you need a little more green in your bank account before you can afford to upgrade your wardrobe, don’t worry. By making the most of what you already own, you can still make a big impact.

Host a Clothing Swap What better excuse to get together with friends and family than to host a clothing swap and potluck party? Evite everyone you know to clean out their closets and bring a dish to share. When guests arrive, give them a “ticket” for each item they bring. Then enjoy an afternoon of chowing down and playing dress up. During dessert, guests can use their tickets to bid on clothing items, which are raffled off. Donate any clothing left over at the end of the swap; everyone wins!

Turn Old Clothes into New Favorites Refashioning the clothes you already own is fun and easy: Crop pants with soiled cuffs into pedal pushers, snip sleeves off old T-shirts to make muscle T’s, transform a crew-neck shirt into a boat neck to show off some shoulder, and turn ties and scarves into belts. “Make friends with your local tailor and cobbler, and use their services to give old clothing new life,” adds Bowen.

Wash in Cold Water “At least 65 percent of the energy used for a cotton garment is in the washing and drying phase,” says Grose. To lighten the load your laundry puts on the planet, “Simply switch your washing machine to cold for most of your loads, and line-dry clothing when possible,” Bowen suggests.

Know the Lingo

100% ORGANIC COTTON To be considered 100% organic, cotton must be “certified by a third party (such as the USDA), following strict guidelines for growing the fiber, using no disallowed synthetic chemicals,” says Lynda Grose of the Sustainable Cotton Project.

BAMBOO A textile made from the pulp of the fast-growing bamboo plant that’s soft, highly water-absorbent, and antibacterial.

FAIR TRADE “Fair-trade companies look at more than just the bottom line,” Summer Bowen, founder of BTC Elements explains. “They look at development as a whole and create more of a partnership with suppliers, which makes for a fairer exchange system where workers get paid fair wages and work under good conditions.”

GREEN Grose warns that the word “green” is vague and overused for marketing purposes: “It has no definite meaning in relation to the ecological impacts of a particular product.”

HEMP A strong fabric sewn from the fibers of the fast-growing cannabis plant (a variety that contains virtually no THC, the active ingredient in marijuana).

RECYCLED/UPCYCLED Material that’s been reprocessed at the end of its life into something new and useful, explains Bowen.

SUSTAINABLE Describes a product created by a process that can continue indefinitely without causing environmental destruction or usurping finite resources.

Fun Fact

Blue jean insulation a new building material made of industrial scraps from denim production is gaining popularity. It’s more environmentally friendly than traditional fiberglass insulation, which contains formaldehyde, a chemical believed to cause asthma and allergies.

Where to Donate Used Clothing

All gently worn clothing: goodwill.org; salvationarmyusa.org

Men’s and women’s professional clothing: wardrobe.org; thewomensalliance.org

Prom and formal dresses: glassslipperproject.org

Bridal gowns: bridesagainstbreastcancer.org

Source: Vegetarian Times by Jolia Sidona Allen

* Sharpen scissors and garden shears: Fold used foil so that it’s six to eight layers thick, then cut thru it a few times with dull scissors to instantly sharpen them.

* Paint and plaster texture: Use crumpled up foil to add interesting texture to painting and plastering projects. Also when you’re painting, old foil is handy for masking doorknobs and other fixtures you don’t want painted, and wrapping your paintbrushes and rollers in during a lunch break.

* Deter pets and other animals: For no apparent reason, our cat started using our fireplace instead of her liter box. We put a couple of sheets of used aluminum foil on the floor of the fireplace — which cats, dogs, and other animals can’t stand — to break her of that bad habit. Hang strips of used foil on strings around the garden to deter birds, deer and other unwanted pests, too.

* Protect young plants: Make a collar out of used foil to fit loosely around the stems of young tomato plants and other plant starts in order to keep cutworms and other insects at bay.
* Make metals shine: Scrub rust off of steel and chrome with a wad of aluminum foil instead of using steel wool — it works even better. You can also use aluminum foil and simple household products like baking soda and salt to clean silver and gold, with the proper know-how.

* Repair stripped threads: People often say that I have a screw loose. When I do have a nut, bolt or screw with stripped threads, I wrap a little aluminum foil around the bolt or screw and try gently tightening it again. A quick temporary fix.

Source: Huffington Post

The “How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb Act” would ban incandescent lightbulbs by 2012 in favor of energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

“Incandescent lightbulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications,” California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine said Tuesday.

“Meanwhile, they remain incredibly inefficient, converting only about 5 percent of the energy they receive into light.”

Levine is expected to introduce the legislation this week, his office said.

If passed, it would be another pioneering environmental effort in California, the most populous U.S. state. It became the first state to mandate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a 25 percent reduction in emissions by 2020.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) use about 25 percent of the energy of conventional lightbulbs.

Many CFLs have a spiral shape, which was introduced in 1980. By 2005, about 100 million CFLs were sold in the United States, or about 5 percent of the 2-billion-lightbulb market, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

That number could more than double this year. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. alone wants to sell 100 million CFLs at its stores by the end of 2007, the world’s biggest retailer said in November.

While it will not give opinion on the possible California law, the EPA recommends CFLs.

“They save money and energy,” EPA spokeswoman Enesta Jones said. “They are more convenient than other alternatives and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture.”

Also, CFLs generate 70 percent less heat than incandescent lights, Jones said.

About a fifth of the average U.S. home’s electricity costs pays for lighting, which means even if CFLs initially cost more than conventional lightbulbs, consumers will save, Jones said.

A 20-watt CFL gives as much light as a 75-watt conventional bulb, and lasts 13 times longer, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit group studying energy issues.

Southern California Edison, an Edison International subsidiary and one of the state’s biggest utilities, runs a program that cuts the cost of a CFL by $1 to $2.50. In the past year, SCE has helped consumers buy 6 million CFLs, it said.

California Energy Commission member Arthur Rosenfeld said an average home in California will save $40 to $50 per year if CFLs replace all incandescent bulbs.

While not commenting specifically on Levine’s likely legislation, Rosenfeld, winner of the Enrico Fermi Presidential Award in 2006, said the switch from incandescent bulbs became feasible about five years ago when CFL performance improved.

“This is clearly an idea whose time has come,” he said.

Levine, a Democrat from Van Nuys in Los Angeles, last year introduced a bill that will become law in July that requires most grocery stores to have plastic bag recycling.

Source: Reuters By Bernie Woodall

American Canyon
Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa
http://gaianapavalleyhotel.com

LEED certified, Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa bills itself as Napa Valley’s “first fully environmentally-sustainable hotel .” Named “Mother Earth” in Greek, the hotel provides waterless urinals, low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads. The emphasis on nature can also be found on their grounds, which consist of native and climate-adaptive plants, as well as a swan and Koi pond that uses only recycled  water.

San Francisco
The Orchard Garden Hotel
http://theorchardgardenhotel.com

Located just three blocks from San Francisco‘s Union Square and all the major department stores, this LEED certified boutique hotel is the sister property of the Orchard Hotel and stands green and proud. Inviting earth-toned rooms (all of which are deluxe) come with all-natural fabrics, ergonomically correct mattresses, feather pillows and 100 percent combed cotton bedding. Rooms have been constructed with low emission paint and carpet, and the hotel utilizes chemical-free cleaning solutions and organic bath products.                                                                                             

Chicago 
Hotel Allegro
http://allegrochicago.com 

The Allegro is part of Kimpton’s EarthCare program, promoting a sustainable planet. This downtown Chicago hotel features towel re-use, water recycling and non-toxic cleaning agents. All materials are printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper, and energy-efficient light bulbs are used. Indulge in a complimentary cup of organic, fair trade coffee in the lobby before heading out to the Chicago theatre scene or the shopping Mecca on Magnificent Mile.

Nantucket
Hotel Green
http://vanessanoelhotelgreen.com

Celebrated shoe designer and hotelier Vanessa Noel’s Hotel Green is Nantucket Island’s first environmentally conscious organic luxury hotel. It boasts nine individually decorated rooms and one two-bedroom suite incorporating high-end environmentally friendly and sustainable products. Frank-Gehry-designed recycled cardboard chairs and coffee tables sit on Gaiam hemp area rugs, which are complemented by natural bamboo window shades. You’ll also find hemp bathrobes and towels in your room as well as a selection of organic beverages and snacks.

Manhattan 
70 Park Avenue Hotel
www.70parkave.com
Another Kimpton property committed to sustainable practices, this boutique hotel even provides in-room spa services and has a yoga TV channel and complimentary yoga accessories. The hotel uses non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services, including in-room recycling bins and non-toxic cleaners. This is a hotel for discerning guests who seek a haven of quiet with the ambience of their very own Park Avenue pied-à-terre.

Washington D.C. 
The Fairmont Washington, D.C.
www.fairmont.com/washington
Did you know that if you park your hybrid car at this hotel in Washington’s fashionable West End, you’ll receive a free dessert? In addition to sweets, this hotel has a green procurement program, including the reduction of pre-packaging, ensuring that supplies, equipment, fixtures and furniture are environmentally sensitive. The hotel also donates soaps, amenities and food from buffet lines to shelters and soup kitchens. Being green never felt so good!

 Source:  www.gayot.com

Enno de Kroon, a Dutch artist, used egg cartons as his canvas, and created something between two and three dimensional paintings in a style that has been refered to as “Egg cubism.”

Korean artist Yong Ho Ji hand carved recycled rubber tires to create his animalistic sculptures.

Gift wrapping has always been one of those things that I have thought to be a waste of the materials used in order to attain a short term goal. The present is wrapped for whoever’s birthday, anniversary, wedding or any number of special occasions for the brief 15 seconds before the decorating papers and ribbons surrounding the actual gift are ripped to shreds. Now there is nothing wrong with wanting to present your gift in an attractive manor, after all you have gone to all the trouble of picking out and purchasing a present, but there must be a greener way.

The effect that all of the pleasantries of gift giving has on the environment is more frightening than you would think. Never mind the damage that we do year round with all of the birthdays and other gift giving holidays, but think about the Christmas Season. In the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holidays. Four million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags. Among friends, family, even though it is nice to have gifts wrapped, think about not wrapping some of your gifts and remembering what positive effect this will have on the environment. So here are some suggestions from Planet Green Discovery on how to still have a great holiday season without hurting the environment.

1. Reused Gift Bags
   Most of us have a stash of gift bags saved from presents we’ve received. Put them to good use and commit to using only gift bags instead of wrapping. Also, if you feel a gift bag isn’t finished without a filler like tissue paper, use a greener option—the shreds from your paper shredder!
2. Paper Grocery Bags
   You can create beautiful gift bags from materials found around the house. Decorate paper grocery bags with markers and crayons, or decoupage them with magazine cut-outs. Use it as wrapping paper or a gift sack. Put on the finishing touch with scrap ribbon from previous projects.
3. Reusable Cloth Bags
   Do you have scrap fabric lying around? Or maybe some old shirts you never wear but that have lovely patterns. Try your hand at some easy-sew cloth bags. Since you’re making them by hand, you can sew them to suit your needs. You can also design them to be practical for the recipient as a shopping bag. Your imagination is the limit.
4. Clay Pots
   Clay pots can make a present look extra interesting, and are a reusable item for the recipientM. Place your gift in the pot, and use the drainage dish as the lid to hide the present from view. Tie it together with a reused ribbon, or strips of scrap fabric. You can also decorate the pot to personalize it using ceramic markers available at craft stores.
5. A Gift in a Gift
   One great way to make a gift extra special is to wrap it in another gift. A hand-knit scarf, a beautiful table cloth or runner, and hand-made purse or similar items are all great things to use for wrapping a gift within a gift.
6. Furoshiki
   This idea might be well combined with the “gift in a gift” suggestion. Furoshiki is a method of folding cloth into beautiful packages. Using a piece of beautifully printed cloth and a few knots in interesting places will create an eye-catching package.
7. A Bucket for Hobbyists
   Does the recipient have a hobby? Use a bucket-like item related to what they love. For the chef, a cooking pot. A watering can for the gardener. A hat box for the fashionista. Showing them you know them inside and out will make the wrapping even better than the gift inside.
8. Paper Waste
   Raiding the paper recycling bin is a great way to get materials for gift wrap. Magazine pages, notes from a class, the crossword puzzle from yesterday’s paper all could become ideal wrapping material for a package with personality.
9. Maps
   Maps, especially road maps, can become obsolete. However, they never loose their visual intrigue. Put them to good use as wrapping for a package that the recipient will turn over and over…and over and over…before opening.
10. Junk Mail
    What to do with junk mail that just keeps landing in your mailbox despite the fact that you signed up for the “do not mail” list? It’s frustrating to see the waste—however, all those offers to win big, or those colorful coupons become humorous wrapping material.
11. Cereal Boxes
    For clothing, accessories, and gifts on the thinner side, a cereal box is a great option for a unique container. Make it funny by adding a gift topper. For instance, if you’re using Cinnamon Toast Crunch, wrap it up with a recycled ribbon and stick a cinnamon stick in the knot of the bow. Or string some dried sliced fruit or berries through the ribbon.
12. Glass Jars
    After using up all the mayo for your world famous potato salad, use the jar as a gift container. Glass jars are versatile. Soak the label and remove it. Then get creative. Use recycled paper to line the interior as reversed wrapping to hide the gift, or leave it transparent for a “so close yet so far” effect. Use found objects to decorate it as a snowman or other winter icon. The options for how to use cloth, ribbon, and lid decorations are endless.

I saw this great article on The Huffington Post and wanted to share it with everyone.  I try to lead a green lifestyle and have been using recycled toilet paper for many years, but when I read this article I thought that even for me this was too much.  The idea is great in a conceptual sense but in reality not so much.  The practical application of reusable toilet paper grosses out even the greenest of people and I can’t blame them, just the thought of it alone makes me grateful for the rough recycled stuff I stock my in my bathroom.  I wish that I could jump on the reusable “family wipe” wagon but I will be sticking with the old fashioned toilet tissue for the time being.

Eco Etiquette: Reusable Toilet Paper – Too Gross For Comfort? By Jennifer Grayson

Yes, people are doing this, though at present the practice of employing reusable cloths in lieu of toilet paper — euphemistically referred to as family wipes or family cloth — seems relegated to what marketing gurus would call the “dark green” consumer. (Though there’s another color I can think of that might be more appropriate in this case.)

I do find it somewhat ironic that new parents using cloth diapers for their baby are usually met with praise: Oh, wow — you guys must be really dedicated to the environment. But transfer the concept of reusable bathroom products to adults, and the response is one of universal horror: You’re going to do what? With what? Even the crunchiest of my granola friends couldn’t stifle a grimace when I asked them if they would consider swapping out disposable toilet paper for the washable kind. I guess the difference is that with cloth diapers, squeamish folks can always employ a diaper service; with family wipes, you’re the one doing the washing.

Which brings me to your next question: Is the whole process of collecting and washing these wipes unsanitary? Not if you employ the method used by most family wipe families, which is to use the cloths for urinating only. (This still helps cut down on paper waste, since the majority of bathroom visits are of the first priority.) Since normal urine is sterile, there’s little chance of encountering nasty bugs like E. coli later in the laundry room. But using family wipes for ahem, your more serious matters can also be perfectly hygienic, provided you separate them from your other laundry (your kitchen towels, for instance) before washing them in hot water and drying them in the dryer. If your kids are still in diapers of the cloth variety, all the better — you can save water by washing the wipes and the diapers together.

So is it really worth the effort, from an environmental standpoint? If you’re contemplating making the switch from the three-ply, quilted, extra-soft fluffy stuff to tree-free TP, then the benefits are clear: At present, more than 98 percent of the toilet paper sold in the United States is made from virgin wood (note: that statistic will improve soon, thanks to last year’s Kimberly-Clark/Greenpeace agreement), which is destroying our forests and contributing to climate change, since forests are the most effective tool we have for sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. And while some may argue that washing cloth toilet wipes wastes water, it’s nothing compared with the pulp and paper business, which is one of the world’s largest industrial consumers of fresh water.

But can’t you eliminate a lot of that waste and pollution by switching to 100 percent recycled toilet paper? Yeah, you can, which is the solution I’ll be sticking with as long as I live in a one-bathroom apartment (no surprises for guests here!) with a community washer/dryer. It’s not a perfect solution, of course; recycled toilet paper still takes energy and resources to produce, not to mention the fuel cost to transport it from factory to store. But perhaps the more compelling case to be made for tossing the TP is an economic one: The average family of four is just flushing away cash, to the tune of $140 a year. A pack of a dozen family wipes from Wallypop will set you back about $11; you can also make your own for free out of old clothing.

If you do decide to take the plunge, mind your Eco Etiquette: Don’t try to green toilet train guests (i.e., put regular — or at least recycled — toilet paper in the guest bathroom); keep your own toilet area neatly organized by designating a basket for clean cloths and a pail with a lid for dirty ones; and retire especially worn wipes to the compost pile, not the trash can (after washing them, of course). Bottoms up!