tal problem with grass. A traditional gas-powered mower, Contact: Natural Products Association, NaturalProductsAs-
notes the Environmental Protection Agency, produces as soc.org; Skin Deep, CosmeticsDatabase.com.
much air pollution as 43 new cars, each driven 12,000
miles; 54 million Americans mow their lawns each week-
Efficient Autos and Going Car-Free
end. One alternative is the electric mower, which produces
The car market has taken a serious hit from the econ-
no exhaust, requires little maintenance and is much quieter
omy, hybrids included. But while even the popular Toyota
and lighter than its gas-guzzling cousin. Models from Black
Prius saw sales drop 44 percent between December 2007
& Decker, Neuton, Sunlawn and other companies come in
and December 2008, environmentally friendly vehicles are
corded and cordless varieties, with charges that can last up
the declared future of the auto industry.
to an hour.
This year’s North American International Auto Show
Even more problematic, a study by Purdue Univer-
in Detroit was all about electric models, from the Cadillac
sity confirms that 30 to 60 percent of all urban freshwater
Converj, a more luxurious version of the Chevy Volt, to
is used for watering lawns, which also entails 67 million
the Toyota FT-EV city car, expected in showrooms in 2012.
pounds of pesticides that end up contaminating water
Hybrid cars combine the gas engine with an electric motor
systems as runoff. Native plants, on the other hand, require
and utilize a car’s braking energy, making them both more
nothing but rainfall to thrive.
fuel efficient and less polluting. In the government’s 2009
Also, more people are turning to rain barrels. Placed
Fuel Economy Guide, the Honda’s Civic Hybrid was cited
under a home’s downspout, these can hold up to 100
as a leader among compact cars, delivering 40 miles per
gallons and have a spigot for attaching a hose. An added
gallon in the city/45 mpg on the highway. Among midsized
benefit of using rainwater is that plants prefer it.
cars, the Prius tops the list with 48/45 mpg; in the SUV
class, Ford’s Escape Hybrid gets a solid 34/31 mpg.
Contact: Clean Air Gardening, CleanAirGardening.com.
Because they can cost $2,000-plus more than gas-
powered cars, hybrids are a tough sell at the moment.
Natural Products
Several federal tax credits designed to ease the transition
The market research firm Packaged Facts reported in to hybrid, electric and other fuel-efficient vehicles, like
July 2009 that the natural health and beauty care mar- diesels, have come and gone, the latest called Cash for
ket, which grew 8 percent in 2008 and is approaching Clunkers—a federal stimulus program that offered up to
$7 billion, is likely to reach sales of $12 billion by 2014. $4,500 to anyone who traded an old gas-guzzler for a new,
“Many Americans fear the health consequences of us- more fuel-efficient car. The discussion has many people
ing chemical-laden deodorant, shampoo, foundation and
other personal care products,” says Tatjana Meerman, the
research publisher. It’s easy to search for the content—and
safety—of preferred brand-name products at the Skin Deep
online database, maintained by the Environmental Work-
ing Group. All of this is good news for the environment,
because the chemicals in personal care products find their
way through bathing and disposal into the soil and water
supplies, where they can negatively impact aquatic life and
potentially, human health.
The same holds true for common household cleaners
and chemical air fresheners, which contribute to indoor
air pollution and can aggravate respiratory illnesses like
asthma. One 2008 study published in the American Jour-
nal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that
households that regularly used cleaning sprays had a 30 to
50 percent increased risk of experiencing asthma.
People are demanding healthier alternatives and the
market is responding. While neither beauty products nor
cleaners generally disclose their harmful ingredients, natu-
ral and organic alternatives from companies like Seventh
Generation offer detailed labels. Conscious shoppers are
reading them as they look for plant-based ingredients and
essential oils, instead of chemicals.
People can even make their own household cleaners,
such as distilled white vinegar and water to clean win-
dows, or baking soda, lemon juice and salt to scrub grout.
These are safe for even the most sensitive family members.
Pr i n t e d o n re c y c l e d Pa P e r t o Pr o t e c t t h e en v i r o n m e n t
October 2009 29
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