I found a friend who was using Chinese Miraculous Insecticide Chalk otherwise known as Pretty Baby Chalk and Chinese Chalk.  Tres Pasitos is a Spanish name for this product. The product is illegal and dangerous. The EPA has a warning on it too. We tried it in the past and found that it didn’t really work.

It does kill bugs because it contains toxic chemicals but are hazardous around kids.  The chemicals in the chalk change from batch to batch and have contained chemicals that produce serious health effects, including vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors, coma, and death due to respiratory failure. Serious allergic reactions are also possible. If you see a store selling this, report them to the local health department or agricultural Department.

Green Pesticide Alternatives:

We also use Orange Guard, which is d-Limonene (orange peel extract) based to keep ants away. Spray and leave it for a while to soak.

Check out our green pest control article. Eco friendly pesticide alternatives include Diatomaceous Earth – Info, Baking soda, vinegar, plain old ordinary soap, peppermint, baby powder. Unwanted ant tips.

EcoPCO ACU contact insecticide is another eco-friendly insecticide. It is made from plant essential oils.

We have tried to trace ants back to their source.  We can then caulk holes, foam up areas next to pipes, etc.  Preventing bug access should be the #1 goal.

Powered Green is an environmental startup founded by two former students of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The company was created to provide people with a unique opportunity to support renewable energy sources along with the ability to show their support for a greener future. Through the sale of  products they have raise funds for six different wind farms across the country.

Although they  have expanded to additional products to allow more people to support renewable energy, our main efforts revolve around the Energy SealTM. The Energy Seal is a recycled aluminum sticker, and its purchase represents that renewable energy sources have produced the amount of energy one laptop uses throughout its lifetime, making it carbon neutral.

Since launching in September 2008 Powered Green has empowered a thriving community of over 1,200 individuals dedicated to spreading awareness for renewable energy.  Grassroots efforts thus far have stopped over 1,000 tons of CO2 from reaching the atmosphere, which is equivalent to driving your car 863.6 times across the US or removing 235 acres of forest. All of this is simply from the support of the Powered Green Community.

“There were a lot of students like us on campus that were looking for a way to get involved and make an impact on the environment,” says Brandon Gador, Co-Founder of Powered Green.  “So we set out to create a symbol for renewable energy that the individual can rally behind and show their support for a greener future. Much like what Livestrong did for cancer research, we want to do that for renewable energy.”

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

Is Vitamin Water super water or a virtual soda like drink in disguise? Vitamin Water recently made the news. Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Coca Cola who owns Vitamin water over deceptive and unsubstantiated claims on its VitaminWater line of beverages.

“Coke markets VitaminWater as a healthful alternative to soda by labeling its several flavors with such health buzz words as “defense,” “rescue,” “energy,” and “endurance.” The company makes a wide range of dramatic claims, including that its drinks variously reduce the risk of chronic disease, reduce the risk of eye disease, promote healthy joints, and support optimal immune function.”

“In fact, according to CSPI nutritionists, the 33 grams of sugar in each bottle of VitaminWater do more to promote obesity, diabetes, and other health problems than the vitamins in the drinks do to perform the advertised benefits listed on the bottles.”

Vitamin Water may provide do harm than good because many of the flavors are filled with sugar and caffeine that offsets any possible positive effect of vitamins. One 500ml bottle had 8 teaspoons of sugar, 82ml of caffeine.  “consumers not to drink more than two bottles a day because of the caffeine content (82 milligrams) and [the label] recommends it not be taken by children or pregnant or lactating women.”

How about sticking to plain old water?

Apparently Vitamin Water is listening. In 2010, they introduced a new line of drinks for a weight-conscious market called Vitamin Water zero that has 0 calories per eight-ounce serving. It uses sweeteners from Truvia, a high-purity extract of the stevia leaf.

GAP Stores has a recycle your denim and receive a 30% off coupon event, March 5 through March 14, 2010. They will recycle the denim and turn it into the eco friendly housing insulation.

The city of San Francisco recently started GreenFinanceSF, a financing program that helps to pay for water savings, energy efficiency, and renewable energy projects that you might not have been able to afford.  The repayment obligation is attached to the property, rather than the individual, and is paid back through property taxes over the life of the financing.

Eligible projects include energy audits, upgrading heating systems, upgrading water heaters, installing solar hot water, installing solar electric panels, and conserving hot water. The program has an online application and application processing fee of $300.