Do you worry about what is in that detergent or cleaning product?  How green is it really? What do I do if it gets on my skin? Is it dangerous?

We have often cited Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS in our analysis of cleaning and construction products. What are they?

Newer SDS’s have a structured format and required information that MSDS’s were not required to have.

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Last Update: 2/2/2017

The weed killer Roundup is facing lawsuits over claims that it gave people cancer, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I saw a newspaper article with lawyers looking for more victims.

The lawyers base their cancer lawsuit claims on a 2015 report from the International Agency for Research on cancer, IARC – a division of the WHO. It found Roundup aka glyphosate to be “probably carcinogenic.” The report says glyphosate caused cancer in lab tests on animals and found that the chemical damaged DNA in human cells.

The Scotts Company sells the popular line of pesticides Ortho Home Defense MAX as well as Roundup. They produce everything from bug killers to rodent control products to Scotts Miracle Grow.

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New rebates have been added for 2017.

Utility Company PSE&G or Public Service Electric and Gas has a bunch of programs and incentives to help save energy, go green, and save money.

• New Jersey Clean Energy Program – Receive $50 or $75 for recycling your old, working refrigerator or freezer.
• $50 or $75 rebate on new Energy Star appliances including Clothes washers.
• Up to $400 rebate on furnaces, boilers, water heaters Exp 12/31
• $1200 incentive for solar domestic water heating system.  Exp 12/31
• Up to $500 rebate on Central Air conditioners Exp 12/31
• Up to $500 rebate on Geothermal heat pump, heat pump Exp 12/31
• New Jersey my have a new solar Incentive program based on a rebate and additional Solar Renewable Energy. It is transitioning to a new firm. Certificates or SRECs that you earn by generating solar power, and then sell back to your utility.

Questions, call 1-800-854-4444.

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Swimming pool pumps use a ton of electricity. It is estimated that they use up a shockingly high percentage of all residential power and use almost 1500 kWh of power each year. Spa pumps and heaters use up to 2250 kWh of energy every year. The pool pump uses most of the power, so finding energy efficient pool pumps is very important. It pushes water through filtration units and has not changed in many years. New variable speed pool pumps are now available. They are energy efficient and are quieter by running motors slower, but run for longer periods of time.

Pool Pump Power Usage

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Everyone now knows: The consumption of sugar-sweetened drink is among the world’s strongest risk factors for obesity, some studies showing up to a 60% increased risk of obesity in children, for each daily serving of this poison.

Is Vitamin Water a low calorie nutritious drink or a virtual soda-like drink in disguise? Is it good for you? Vitamin Water made the news recently. Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Coca Cola, who owns Vitamin Water over deceptive and unsubstantiated claims on its  original Vitamin Water line of beverages.

Coke has marketed it as a healthy alternative to drinking soda. Adjectives like “defense,” “rescue,” “energy,” and “endurance.” make it even more appealing to sugary soda. Phrases like: reduce the risk of chronic disease, reduce the risk of eye disease, promote healthy joints, and support optimal immune function, also reinforce this healthy image.

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Did you know that (DECT) 1.9Ghz digital cordless phones emit the same type of pulsed microwave radiation (about 1.8 GHz) as ordinary (GSM) cell phones. Emissions can be about 6 V/m within a metre of the base unit, for as long as it is plugged in. Companies push these phones because they do not interfere with Wifi networks. Many base stations emit their radiation even when the phone is not in use! Microwaves are continuously emitted 24 hours a day as long as they are plugged in. Not good. More Warnings. – “DECT cordless phones work at a fixed power. Mobiles turn their power down to the lowest level possible, so when you are near a base station this can be much lower than a DECT cordless. DECT pulses are far more aggressive than for mobiles.”

3rd Generation DECT

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100 billion pounds of food waste are discarded every year, that is almost 25% of all our food. Additional waste is created at processing plants and farms. Rotting food creates methane, a terrible greenhouse gas. Someday trash dumps will recover all this gas.  Right now, you can turn food scraps into useful matter by composting. Most local recycling programs do not support composting. Most are located in California. If your local sanitation department does not have a composting program, you can do it yourself.

What is Composting?

Composting is utilizing mother nature in turning food scraps and yard trimmings into super nutrient rich soil. It helps reduce waste and produces the best growing soil around.  Backyard composting is good for gardeners and those who have lots of yard trimmings and some produce scraps.

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Leading TVs Hacked Energy Star Test

In September 2016, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that there are flaws in the government’s method for testing the energy use of televisions. 3 major TV manufacturers representing 50% of the U.S. market appear to be exploiting them, which could cost owners of recently purchased models an extra $1.2 billion on their utility bills or $10-$20 a year for each consumer.

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Noticed a couple water delivery trucks on the street and wondered why people would waste money on Water Delivery services.  This is definitely a big business and generates lots of revenue for companies.  We have covered how unnecessary bottled water is in the past.

Water.com even touts how green they are: “And, with reusable recyclable bottles and hybrid vehicles in our delivery fleet, we make it easier for you to be environmentally-friendly.”

They even offer a Water Filtration system. – “If bottled water coolers do not fit your needs, we offer a variety of quality drinking water systems.”

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Are cellphones safe?

May 2016, National Toxicology Program found “low incidences” of 2 types of tumors in male rats that were exposed to the type of radio frequencies that are commonly emitted by the US telecommunications industry. The NTP report said the complete study results would be released by the fall of 2017.

May, 2011, World Health Organization has for the first time stated that there is the possibility that cell phones may cause health problems. They said cellphone radiation was a group 2B possible carcinogen.

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