Toilet Paper: Soft but Harmful

Giving up the comfort of ultra soft toilet paper is something Americans are not ready to do. According to research, sales of ultra soft toilet tissue rose 40% in 2008. Additionally, sales of the recycled kind only accounts for 2% here in America, compared to 20% in Europe and Latin America.

Recycled toilet paper is produced at a similar cost as non-recycled, however, without a certain fiber from standing trees, it can not achieve the same level as softness. As a result millions of trees are being used to make the softest toilet tissue.

Greenpeace, an environmental advocacy group, came up with a recycled tissue and toilet paper guide. Factors considered include post consumer product percentage, overall recycled percentage, and the bleaching process. To be recommended by Greenpeace, toilet paper must be 100% recycled content, with 50% of recycled content being post consumer, and bleached without the use of toxic chlorine compounds.

The top choice recommended is Green Forest toilet paper which is a Planet Inc. product. Other very good choices are 365, April Soft, Earth Friendly, Fiesta & Fiesta Green, Natural Value, Seventh Generation, Trader Joe's, CVS Earth Essentials, and Cascades. View the toilet paper guide in full for more information and recommendations.

Sources: Greenpeace
New York Times

Test your WaterSense

If your water and energy bills have been too high for your liking, it might be time to test your WaterSense. The Enviromental Protection Agency sponsors a program called WaterSense which aims to cut back on the use of natural water resources. The program recommends and certifies fixtures that utilize less water than necessary and that help save energy. If you are especially unhappy with your water bills, you may want to look into a more efficient faucet or water saving toilet. Click the Play Now button below to play the EPA WaterSense game at their website. This arcade style game may help you assess how much you really know about the water your household is using.


Source: EPA WaterSense

Bronx Zoo Eco Bathroom

Everyday, Americans flush away around 100 million pounds of waste, using about 32 billion gallons of water. An eco-friendly bathroom at the Bronx Zoo has created a way to preserve some of that wasted water. The Wildlife Conservation Society at the zoo has developed a way to not only save water, but to convert an ordinary public restroom into the energy saving, Eco Bathroom.

The fourteen toilets and four urinals in the restrooms help to save over one million gallons of water per year. The urinals are waterless and the toilets use only 3 ounces of water per flush. This is possible because instead of water, a layer of foam envelops the inside of the toilets when flushed. When flushed, the waste travels not into a sewage system, but into a self contained composting compartment. The compartment has fungi, bacteria, and worms to rid the waste of human pathogens, turning the final product into something similar to top soil.

After using the composting toilets, you can wash your hands at the water saving sinks. The excess water flowing down the sink drain travels through pipes into what the Bronx Zoo calls a grey water garden. The water is not harmful to plants in the garden because it contains no toxic waste and the soap used for hand-washing is biodegradable.

Additionally, the Bronx Zoo Eco Bathroom utilizes natural daylight in its design, high efficiency light bulbs, a radiant heating system within the floor, and a system that harvests rainwater.

Get "Greener" with Paint, not color

Looking to make your house greener without painting it green?

Our customers are asking for ways to “Go Green” in the bathroom and kitchen without looking too modern. I've found a variety of tips to benefit the serious renovators as well as the quick-fixers, from easily implemented and inexpensive energy savers to kitchen altering renovations. Best part, saving energy saves money too. Go green to save green.

The first of my many tips found deals with paint, because, no matter what kind of remodel, renovation or simple update you're doing, it’s inevitable you'll be repainting and resealing walls and floors.

How can adding more chemicals to your walls improve the environment? Even after regular paint is dry, it can off-gas for up to 3.5 years. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in most paints are a major source of indoor air pollution. Look for the Green Seal on paint products to ensure only the lowest VOC paints are used in your home. Low VOC paint uses a water base instead of petroleum-based oil solvents.

AFM Safecoat's is a leader in the green-building industry. They offer a full line of paints in every finish; Matte, Eggshell, All Purpose Exterior Satin, Cabinet & Trim Enamel, and Semi-gloss. Just like regular paint, these are all tintable to virtually any color.

Stains and Seals- OSMO and Velvit Oil stains are good for both wood and concrete, starting as low as $25 a gallon

Not planning on repainting? Stop the off-gas from the current paint with Finishes & Off-Gas Stoppers.

Going "Green" looks better than you think. You'll be surprised of the many other ways to be eco-friendly during your upcoming and even already started projects.

Save Water; Take a Bath with Someone You Love

Encourage your partner to change their lifestyle to globally friendly. The first step to “going green” is water reservation through taking a bath with one another. Announcing this on February 14^th will just be a coincidence, but who is going to say “No” on Valentine’s Day? Make it more romantic by lighting candles

This is an inexpensive and easy Valentine's Day gift that will not disappoint. Best of all, it's appropriate to give to both him or her. Give back to the environment as well as your loved one all at once.

Remind your partner that you want to save water everyday, not just on Valentine’s Day. After all, taking a bath alone gets boring, but taking one with who you love never gets old.

If nothing else works, read off this Top 10 list

Break Your Water Wasting Ways

Daylight savings time may be coming to an end on November 4th, but that doesn’t mean energy savings should end as well. Vintage Tub and Bath wants to invite our customers to help make a difference by "going green" via water conservation. The bonus to saving water is saving both the environment and money. Some states’ water utilities even offer rebates for the purchase of exceptionally efficient electric and water appliances. A quick, one time modification or purchase saves hundreds of gallons a week.

With water running through all our primary products here at Vintage Tub and Bath, we happen to know a thing or two about cutting corners in water usage.

Here’s simple, one time changes that create long-term savings:

1. Place a plastic bottle or bag filled with pebbles and water in the toilet’s water tank. This displaces water and the toilet will use less water with each flush.
2. Re-position the lawn mower blades one level higher. This cuts back on lawn watering through less water evaporation with the longer grass.
3. Plant shrubs and flowers that require less water. Most nurseries should provide a wide selection and assistance.
4. Replace out dated appliances with water efficient appliances meeting these requirements:

· Toilets- The ultra–low flush toilets use less than one and a half gallons to flush compared to the old 5-7 gallon flushers.

· Bathroom Faucets- The maximum flow should not exceed 1.5 gallons per minute.

· Shower Heads- Purchase any that use less than one gallon in 20 seconds.

· Dishwashers- Look for the ENERGY STAR, EnergyGuide, or EnergySense labels. These use half the amount of water as standard dishwashers.

5. FIX the leaky faucets, shower heads, and toilets. Can’t tell if a toilet is leaking? Put a few drops of food coloring in the water tank and see if it bleeds into the bowl without flushing.
6. Can’t afford to replace? Install an aerator on the faucets and shower heads. Low-flow aerators typically cost $5 -$10 for faucets and $8-$50 for shower heads.

See, Going Green isn't so hard after all. It also gives you a reason to remodel.
Breaking our customers' bad water wasting habits is next to concur on Vintage Tub's Green list.