Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

InkSinkErator Kitchen Food Disposer
Did you know that almost 19 million tons of food waste is deposited in landfills every year in the U.S.? Well, waste not, want not. That’s the motto when it comes to making our planet greener, especially for managing food waste.

If you don’t like throwing out food, one choice is to compost, but sometimes that’s not practical for a busy lifestyle or if you’re just overall lazy. Well, thanks to InkSinkErator, there is now an easy way to dispose of your food, all in an eco-friendly way.

Since food waste is already composed of 70 percent water, grinding it up and sending it down your sink drain doesn’t sound horrible, right? Then, you should try InkSinkErator’s food disposers. Here are its eco-benefits:

• Contributes to holistic waste management strategies
• Keeps food scraps out of landfills
• Averages less than 50 cents a year in electricity
• Accounts for 1 percent or less of a household’s total water consumption
• Helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Capable wastewater treatment plants can turn food waste into biosolids and fertilizers

InkSinkErator offers a variety of disposers to help transform your household into an eco-one and help you from sending food to landfills! Be sure to visit InkSinkErator in person at IBS in Booth W4543.

Photo Credit: InkSinkErator

-Alexandra Gyarfas

Turkey, potatoes, apple pie and beef stew are some of the traditional winter meals we all love, offering enough warmth and spice to turn an otherwise cold and bleak season into something special. Considering the origins of these foods, however, we find that they are a recipe for environmental problems.

Tracing winter delicacies like roasted chicken and vegetables back to their roots, researchers pinpoint the methods and philosophies employed in raising and producing these foods as leading contributors to land degradation, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, perhaps the ultimate environmental concern. Just how do these foods cause environmental problems? Here is a list of the top problems our food causes and their key culprits.
1. Land Degradation
Referring to the loss of nutrients in landscapes such as soils, land degradation is a primary result of many of the United States’ agricultural processes. Through poor farming techniques that leave soil susceptible to erosion and overgrazing by livestock, it is estimated that the cost of erosion in the U.S. is $44 billion dollars a year.

Cereals, vegetables and any animal that is fed a crop product including cows, chickens and pigs all affect the rate of land degradation. With U.S. cows eating up to 30 pounds of feed a day, we can get an idea of just how much corn, soybean and other grains are grown to feed them. To keep up with this demand (and government subsidies) many farmers are growing record-breaking amounts of feed– and destroying the land in the process.

2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide , methane and nitrous oxide are released from a variety of sources along the food-processing chain. Between the equipment used on farms to cultivate crops to manage manure and to the machinery used to clean and process meats and other farm products after they leave the farm, our agricultural system is responsible for 6.3percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Beef is one of the most environmentally hazardous foods, contributing 13 times as much carbon dioxide as chicken per pound.* Beef (and dairy) cattle are also responsible for the bulk of methane emissions from agricultural activities. Nitrous oxide emissions hail chiefly from soil management with potatoes bearing some of the heavier costs.

A tool that measures greenhouse gases emitted from the soil. Scientists are developing tools such as these to better measure agriculture's gas emissions.

Aside from the “maximize feed and maximize food” mentality employed on factory farms and feed lots across the U.S., the refrigeration and transportation of food also contributes to the environmental cost of food. In a world where climate change is being taken more seriously worldwide, it might be time for us to look beyond the pounds our foods are measured in– they weigh more than that.

For more information, check out the following government reports and news articles: EPA, Scientific American and Fat Knowledge.

-Alivia Ashenfarb

Photo Credit: Flickr/Just George 2, Flickr/LandLearnNSW, Flickr/CIMMYT

Sometimes celebrities get a bad rap for speaking their minds, and even for just being who they are, instead of what everyone else wants them to be. However, more often than not, celebrities are committed to helping the environment and the people around them. With that in mind we are taking a look at what they are tweeting in relation to their fellow man and the planet. Below, are some select tweets by celebrities who are reaching out to their fans, followers and Mother Earth!

1. Lea Michele

“Glee” starlet Lea Michele is not shy when it comes to sharing her love for the animal community. An avid supporter against horse drawn carriages, the actress gave a shout out through Twitter for her friend and animal sanctuary.

“Everyone please help support my dear friend @southbaygirl with her new organization Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary…”

2. Ben McKenzie

The handsome Ben McKenzie, who is widely known for his role on “Southland,” tweeted this great picture of him and his dog who is taking quite nicely to the Hollywood life!

“Hollywood dog. From the set of “Southland”. http://t.co/NbSDOUAf”

3. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is a huge supporter of our planet, so huge that his environmental foundation partnered with La Colombe Torrefaction to sell a high-end coffee line with all proceeds benefitting eco-charities. The “J. Edgar” actor recognized the great cause through Twitter.

“RT: @LaColombeCoffee On Rainforest Alliance Certified farms farm workers have access to clean water, medical care & education #Lyon”

4. Maggie Q

When actress Maggie Q isn’t kicking ass on “Nikita,” she’s showing love to animals. Always tweeting pictures of her own dogs, this week she posted this video about rescue dogs.

“Um, if you’ve ever rescued a dog, or are thinking about it, please watch this video. It’s so beautiful. http://t.co/2ZJpgipu”

Be sure to check back weekly for these feel good celebrity tweets and what they have to offer in only 140 characters!

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Twitter, Flickr/JJ Duncan, Twitter, Flickr/Colin Chau, Flickr/vernieman

It’s sports fanatics’ favorite time of year . . . the Super Bowl! Well, to help you NFL lovers celebrate, even if you’re team isn’t playing, we’ve gathered some of our favorite organic, vegan, healthy treats for you, your family and friends to enjoy the 46th championship game on Feb. 5, 2012.

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies
Once again, Family Fresh Cooking masters the transformation of turning a traditional recipe into a unique and healthy one. If you want to make your Super Bowl dessert stand out and vary from the norm, try this!

INGREDIENTS:
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) Softened Unsalted Butter
• 1 large Egg
• 1/2 cup Pure Maple Syrup
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Tbs Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
• 2 cups Unbleached All Purpose Flour -or- 2 cups Pastry Flour (or 1 cup of each) I used 100% pastry flour and ended up with a cookie with a very delicate, cakey crumb. All purpose flour has more Gluten so cookies will have a slightly chewier texture. To read more: Pastry vs. All Purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice, or Cinnamon
• 1 Cup Mashed Sweet Potatoes: I baked 2 large sweet potatoes at 400˚F for one hour, until soft. Let them cool a bit and the skin peels right off. You can also buy canned Organic Sweet Potatoes, just make sure the only ingredient in the can is Sweet Potato.
• 12 oz. High Quality Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Optional: Powdered Sugar for dusting
• Makes about 24 good sized cookies.

METHOD:
Combine Butter, Egg, Maple Syrup, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, in medium bowl. I mixed the ingredients with a spatula, you can also mix with electric mixer until well blended.
In a separate bowl mix together dry ingredients: Flour, Salt, Baking Soda, Pumpkin Pie Spice.

Stir 1/2 the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stir in remaining flour mix until well combined.

Stir in sweet potatoes and chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350˚F, lightly grease baking sheets.

Heap large tablespoons of batter onto cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake for about 15 minutes, until cooked through and tops of cookies are golden. (At 10,000 feet in Telluride these cookies took quite a bit longer to cook through, about 19-20 minutes. Use your judgement and taste preference to determine baking time.)

Let cool about 5 minutes and place on cooling racks.

Dust with powdered sugar.

FRESH VARIATIONS:
You can use 1 Cup of Pumpkin instead of Sweet Potato.
Add 1/2 cup of Toasted Nuts: Pecans would be delicious.
Add 1/2 cup of Toasted Coconut.

Marla Meridith is the creator, photographer, stylist and go to gal behind the blog Family Fresh Cooking. She believes in real, whole foods for a happy, healthy, high energy life. She is obsessed with her family, food, travel, and coffee. Look for her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and StumbleUpon too.

Photo Credit: Marla Meridith Photography

Since it’s a new year, we’ve decided to tweak our Eco-Celeb of the Week series. Instead of focusing on just one green celeb, we’re going to post about our favorite eco-friendly celebrity couples for the next month or so. Many famous couples out there contribute all the time to Mother Earth, so we want to honor them and plus you’ll get double the goodness! This week, we focus on Jessica Alba and Cash Warren.

An award-winning actress, Jessica and handsome hubby/producer Cash don’t take a back seat when standing up for they believe in. Proud parents to their two little girls Honor and Haven, they ensure their daughters have a clean, healthy and safe life.

For example, the 30-year-old actress doesn’t stand down when it comes to taking toxins out of the environment. Recently, Jessica cofounded Honest.com with Christopher Gavigan, former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and husband to actress Jessica Capshaw.

At Honest.com, Jessica and Chris provide parents tips on how to transform their world into a toxic-free one for themselves and their children. Non-toxic diapers, natural bath products and safe laundry detergent, to name a few, are offered.

Being a parent is a major part of Jessica’s life, so developing The Honest Company is just one more way to she can benefit herself, other parents and the planet.

“When I became a mom, I finally became the person I am, that I always should have been. It’s the most satisfying job in the world,” she revealed. “But, it can also be overwhelming and confusing. I created The Honest Company to help moms and to give all children a better, safer start.”

Parents can order these great eco-friendly products and have them delivered right to their front door. This is great, since we know how busy moms and dads get!

Another great aspect is every time a product is purchased, a donation is made to Baby2Baby providing for families in need. Be sure to watch Jessica speak about the company and how important it is to take care of your children in a safe, clean atmosphere.

In addition to their children, Cash, 33, and Jessica also go eco-friendly when it comes to their Los Angeles, that they’ve reportedly sold, but that doesn’t matter.

Whether sold or not, the couple uses recycled furniture inside their LA canyon home. In addition, the home includes low VOC paint, artificial grass lawn and a saltwater swimming pool. They even worked closely with eco-designer Kari Whitman, to ensure they had the best green features. Jessica even went as far to find used things on Craigslist! Talk about commitment.

To see pictures click here, and look how the couple doesn’t skimp when it comes to luxury or going green! Their home proves you can be eco-conscious and stylish in one.

It definitely seems as if Cash and Jessica truly respect the environment, themselves and their children to ensure they live the best, healthy life possible.

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Flickr/Mark Sebastian, Twitter, Honest.com

Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

Foremost Bathroom Cabinets
Is your bathroom looking for a makeover? Does it need new cabinets? Well, why not check out Foremost, which provides all your bathroom necessities. From vanities and cabinets to toilets to laundry collections your bath will be transformed into a room right out of a catalog.

A variety of cabinets are supplied with decorative hardware, a wide range of sizes, different stains and most come assembled. Less work the better, right?

The best part about Foremost is its green initiatives. Committed to recycling, some products are crafted from raw materials like saw dust and wood chips. Many of the products are also shipped and packaged with 100 percent recycled materials. Foremost also meets California Air Resource Board standards. To read about all its other sustainable endeavors, click here.

Foremost also offers eco-friendly indoor and outdoor furniture such as home and office décor, patio sets and food service products including refrigerators, griddles and fryers to name a few.

If you want to learn about Foremost in person visit them at IBS in Booth W105.

Photo Credit: Foremost

It’s sports fanatics’ favorite time of year . . . the Super Bowl! Well, to help you NFL lovers celebrate, even if you’re team isn’t playing, we’ve gathered some of our favorite organic, vegan, healthy treats for you, your family and friends to enjoy the 46th championship game on Feb. 5, 2012.

No Bake Brownies
A party isn’t a part without dessert. Julie Morris’ fabulous No Bake Brownies are full of rich chocolate goodness, but are also easy to make. So, if you’re short on time, then this is the perfect choice!

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup medjool dates, pits removed
• 1 cup raw walnut pieces
• ½ cup cacao powder
• pinch sea salt
• 1 Tbsp – ½ cup Navitas Naturals Sweetened Cacao Nibs, or regular raw cacao nibs (use quantity to taste)

METHOD:
Mix: Place walnuts in a food processor and grind for a couple seconds to form a coarse flour. While machine is running, add pitted dates, cacao powder and salt, processing until a moist, crumb-like dough has formed.

Form: Spread into an 8×8 inch pan, sprinkle with cacao nibs, and press firmly into a solid brownie layer. Cut into bite-size squares and serve. Alternately, press and roll brownie dough into small balls to make brownie bites.

Makes about 2 dozen small squares.

HEALTHY BENEFITS:
High antioxidants, magnesium and iron, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free.

To see Julie Morris in action, and to make sure you’re making these treats correctly, watch the video below.

Photo and Video Credit: Julie Morris

Super Bowl XLVI is almost here! The football championship game on Sunday, Feb. 5 will draw millions of viewers to watch the New York Giants and the New England Patriots go head-to-head. To get all you fans pumped up for one of the biggest sports games, we’ve researched how this year’s Super Bowl is going green and found the teams will be playing in an eco-friendly stadium.

This year’s Super Bowl will be held at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium marking the 19th year of incorporating green initiatives. So, here are the top five ways the big event will give back to the planet!

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle are three words that can truly make a difference. Nearly 60 tons of aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard and glass were recycled at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium in 2010. That’s just one year! The stadium also implements “The Enhanced Sports Stadium Recycling Program,” increasing recycling and improving the good deed at all Indianapolis sports stadiums. So, if you’re attending the Super Bowl, be sure to stick with the recycling program, and if you’re at home do so as well!

2. Water Conservation
Another great factor at the Colts stadium is instead of handing out individual plastic water bottles, water stations are provided. How great is that? You can quench your thirst be green. Faucets also contain sensors to help with water conservation, toilets have low flow valves and instead of spraying down parking lots after fans have left, they are swept clean. Yes, it seems like more work, but you have to work for a cleaner environment.

3. Food Freshness & Rescue
The stadium has established partnerships with local farmers, so attendees can enjoy only the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and poultry when it comes to eating. Now, what happens to all the food that isn’t consumed? Well, the food rescue program Second Helpings reclaims all the food after an event is finished and takes it to their kitchen. Local residents can learn from trained chefs how to prepare food, which is then given to homeless shelters and missions throughout Indianapolis.

4. Lighting & Energy Use
The Convention Center does all it can to reduce energy use. A high-efficiency exterior Visionwall® glass is installed to keep energy use low. Another great factor is natural light is used versus electricity in lobby areas; after all isn’t that what the sun should be used for? Exterior lighting is also placed on low-levels when a game, concert or an event isn’t occurring. Many other items are incorporated throughout the center for minimal energy consumption including a retractable roof.

5. Biodegradable Serviceware
Rather than using china and silverware, which is obviously very popular at sporting events, the Lucas Oil Stadium provides an entire line of biodegradable and disposable serviceware products. No need to worry about toxic substances when using the bathroom, as the stadium cleans with Green Seal Certified products. In addition, when eating and washing your hands you get to be close with Mother Earth once again, since paper towel and tissue products are made from 100 percent recycled material.

It’s great to see sports stadiums taking care of the planet, especially when it’s the Super Bowl. Championship games can be extravagant, fun and exciting, all while showing love to the environment.

-Allyson Koerner

Photo Credit: Super Bowl Host Committee, Flickr/Just_Bryan

Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

Schluter Systems Kitchen Counters
If you already have kitchen counters installed, but need that perfect finishing touch, then Schluter Systems probably has what you’re looking for, especially in sustainability.

To make sure your kitchen counters stay protected and look designer sheik, Schluter provides eco-friendly finishing and edge protection profiles for countertops. With at least 10 options provided, your counters will have the best protection possible.

For over 35 years, Schluter has integrated recycled materials into its products, along with recycling scrap and regrinding materials in production. Even its office space benefits the environment through using geothermal technology for heating and cooling systems, which in turn eliminate harmful emissions.

Schluter not only offers finishing’s for countertops, but also for walls. Other products you can purchase include shower systems, edge protection for floors, waterproofing membranes and finishing profiles and gutters for balconies and terraces.

To learn more visit Schluter Systems at IBS in Booth W721, or go to its website at www.schluter.com.

Photo Credit: Schluter Systems