Solar Powered Candle Making!

Solar Powered Candle Making

Sunbeam Candles runs off a 3,520W solar electric (aka photovoltaic) system built from sixteen 225W SunPower solar panels and one 3.2kW SunPower grid-tie inverter. This system ties directly to the utility grid–no batteries–and generates roughly 10 kWh per day or 3,750 kWh per year of pollution-free electricity. The panels slow Sunbeam’s electric meter on sunny days when our wax melters are running full-tilt–and stops the meter on sunny days when usage isn’t as high. What electricity we don’t make, we buy from companies producing 100% wind power.  So, all the energy we use at Sunbeam Candles is renewable, guaranteed!

Soy wax contains no petroleum, pesticides or herbicides and is biodegradable and not subject to animal testing.
All of our wicks are free of lead, unbleached and 100% cotton.  Our dyes are non toxic and do not contain hazardous solvents or additives such as naptha or naphthalene.  No ingredients in our dyes are  on the California Prop 65 list of cancer causing ingredients and our dyes are never tested on animals.

Make a wish for a healthy Happy New Year 2013 withe these solar powered candles!

 

                                                

The making of solar powered candles!

Visit our new Vegan Shoe area!

Come to visit us and check our nice selection of Vegan Shoe at Sustainable NYC!

    Cork Sandal from Novacas. 100 % Vegan. Made from all natural cork,  an eco-friendly renewable resource

Olsen Haus produces quality, stylish, cruelty-free vegan shoes and vegan accessories with standards of fair trade and ethical business practices. 100% vegan.

Neuaura Hemp Flats! Comfort Ballerina made of hemp, recycled polyester & cotton canvas lining. Shoes are fold-able so easy to travel with!

                                      

Kalsø® Negative Heel Technology® positions the toes 3.7° higher than the heels to help strengthen and tone the body. Biodegradable Sole, bio foam cushion. Made with recycled materials and water based materials

Hemp T-Strap with Handmade Flax/Jute Upper featuring Coconut Buttons and Wood Buckle on green model, and featuring Recycled Metal Buttons and Buckle on black model
48% Recycled Rubber Outsole. Super Soft Recycled PET Liner.Vegan and Vegetarian

Women's Sandals
Footbed Made From Real Yoga Mat!
Synthetic Leather with Printed Jersey Liner. Vegan and Vegetarian

and Feel Goodz  Flip Flops! 

              All natural rubber & dyes

The Hazards of Showering in Chlorinated Water

The Hazards of Showering in Chlorinated Water

Below are excerpts from some of the best documented information on the subject of chlorinated water in the shower. Just a friendly reminder that New Wave Enviro’s Premium Filter System
removes chlorine from your water, giving your shower a more natural, rainwater feel. With this filter, you will no longer have to worry about chlorine stripping away proteins from your skin and hair or the long-term health consequences of being exposed to the chemical in the shower.
”A long, hot shower can be dangerous. The toxic chemicals are inhaled in high concentrations.”
- Bottom Line – J Andelman, Ph. D.
”We conclude that skin absorption of contaminants in drinking water has been underestimated and that ingestion may not constitute the sole or even primary route of exposure.”
-American Journal of Public Health
”Ironically, even the Chlorine widely used to disinfect water produces Carcinogenic traces. Studies indicate the suspect chemicals can also be inhaled and absorbed through the skin during showering and bathing.”
- U. S. News & World Report – Is your Water Safe – The Dangerous State of Your Water
”Taking showers is a health risk, according to research presented last week in a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Showers – and to a lesser extent baths – lead to a greater exposure to toxic chemicals contained in water supplies than does drinking water. The chemicals evaporate out of the water and are inhaled. They can also spread through the house and be inhaled by others.”
- New Scientist -Ian Anderson
”The steamy air of a shower contains significant amounts of a least two cancer-causing chemicals that evaporate out of water.” – J Andelman, Professor of Water Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh

For more information check our line of products for a safest drinking water.

http://stores.sustainable-nyc.com/-strse-*-Home-cln-%26lt-scln--Waters-Savers-%26-Filters/Categories.bok

Plastic Albatross' Domestic Detox : This is Serious!

Last night I attended a lecture about detoxing our homes. It was hosted by Professor Jenna Spevak of Plastic Albatross. Plastic Albatross is a community-based campaign to educate the public about toxins in plastics and other household products, and how these substances affect the health and fertility of humans. I was surprised to learn exactly how many undisclosed, untested, unregulated, and potentially harmful chemicals are in everyday products. Since World War II, 80,000 synthetic new chemicals were introduced to consumers and only 62,000 of them have been tested! Those that have been tested have been discovered to be carcinogens and neurotoxins. They have also been linked to learning disabilities, asthma, and obesity. Despite this alarming research, manufacturers continue to be allowed to develop and sell products containing these chemicals. Manufacturers police themselves and claim the amount of toxins in their products are too negligible to hurt us. This doesn't take into account what happens when those chemicals in one product interact with those chemicals in other products a consumer uses. Also these chemicals are considered ‘persistent bioaccumulative toxins‘ or PBTs. They don't just enter our bodies, hang out for a few minutes while we use the product, then bounce off to outer space. PBTs accumulate in our bodies, our food and our water.

Our plastics inside an albatross (seagull) chick's belly :-(

 I consider myself pretty savvy about green living. I work at an eco-friendly shop and I recently started a small business offering green residential cleaning. I belong to the Park Slope Food Coop. I like to think of myself as educated enough to make informed "green" consumption decisions, but the lecture highlighted dangers even I wasn't aware of. (Did you know food wrapped in plastic, especially oily food, is bad for our health because the oil of the food absorbs the plastic oil of the packaging? I didn't!) Luckily, Spevak offered healthy alternatives and now I am able to make even smarter choices. Upon arriving home from the lecture, I felt like a veil was lifted. I was surprised to see so many plastic things in my fridge and throughout my home! I am now committed to make a real effort to reduce my plastic consumption beyond not drinking bottled water and accepting plastic bags at stores. The tub of whipped Earth Balance in my fridge will certainly be my last!

Still, I wonder and worry about folks who haven't yet accessed this information. I feel like they need protection. Today, at the suggestion of Plastic Albatross' policy page, I wrote to my government representatives and asked them to sponsor legislation that would create a program to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives wherever a feasible, safer alternative exists. It felt good to participate in democracy, but I know government things like that take a long time to really create change (if they even get passed at all).

In the meanwhile, what about those chemicals used by my building's exterminator and cleaning person? Or those used in public spaces like laundromats, libraries, schools, movie theaters, shops, and restaurants? (I can't tell you how many times I've gagged in restaurants when they used Windex or Fantastic or something equally obnoxious to clean a recently vacated table. Grrr!) The next step is to spread the word about toxins and their alternatives to my neighbors, friends, and family. I plan to download and use Plastic Albatross' slide show to host a lecture here in Prospect Heights, in my old neighborhood Bed-Stuy, and anywhere that'll have me. I'm also going to actually speak to the manager next time I am somewhere where dangerous chemicals are being used right in front of me.

This is serious. The synthetic chemicals we humans are making and consuming will never go away. Ever! It's not even a matter of the fact that the lid on the disposable Starbucks coffee cup you're using right now is slowly killing you. As serious and terrible as that is, what's worse is the choices we make now will affect animals and people who won't be born until centuries from now. Yikes! Why not try to move in the right direction?

The End of the Line? Where to recycle, repurpose, or safely dispose

As you’ve probably noticed, Sustainable NYC is chock-full of fair trade, recyclable, repurposed, and organic products that make green living not only possible, but full of more beauty, fun, and convenience. One of the most rewarding things about connecting conscientious consumers with these fantastic products is to see that you want to be involved beyond consumption. People are constantly coming into our shop asking where to recycle things or where they can send things to be repurposed.

Here’s a little list of where you can send your groovy green products to be recycled, repurposed, or disposed of properly.

Batteries
Alkaline batteries can be placed with your regular household trash, but they can also be sent to private companies for recycling or safe disposal. Check out this NYC WasteLess list of vendors, some of whom will provide pre-paid mailers.

Rechargeable batteries may contain mercury, cadmium, lead and other heavy metals which can be dangerous if not disposed of properly.  It is illegal to discard rechargeable batteries in the trash (or residential recycling containers) in New York City. NY State law requires stores that sell rechargeable batteries (including cell phone batteries) accept them back during normal store hours, no purchase necessary.

More details on proper battery disposal can be found at NYCWasteLess.

CFL Bulbs
CFLs contain mercury and should never go in the trash! Fortunately, there are lots of convenient places to drop off the your CFL bulbs once they cease to shine. The GrowNYC website features a list of collection sites in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Food Scraps
If you don’t have your own wormy compost bin or electric composter, you can still be involved in the compost revolution. Save and store food scraps at home- I save mine in a bag in my freezer- and when you’re ready, drop off the scraps at a collection point. The Lower East Side Ecology Center has a community compost program. They collect food scraps at the Union Square Farmers Market and at their community garden. If that’s not convenient for you, visit your local community garden during open hours. Many community gardens accept donations for their compost pile.

Credit Cards and Gift Cards
The twin sisters at KellyBeth make funky one-of-a-kind earrings and bracelets out of canceled or devalued plastic credit and gift cards. Help a sister out, and help save the planet, by sending your old cards to them at:

Kelly Campbell

3701 W 35^th Ave

Denver, Co  80211

Crayons
Have a bunch of broken crayons? Collect and ship them to the folks at Crazy Crayons  and they’ll make them into marvelous multi-colored marble crayons in fun shapes.

Preserve Recycling Program ( #5 plastics, yogurt cups, Brita filters)
Here at Sustainable NYC we sell Preserve brand toothbrush and razor handles which are made out of recycled plastic, but where do they get that plastic? From you! They collect your #5 plastics (take-out containers, yogurt cups, and Brita filters) at Whole Foods stores. You can also ship these things to them, but they haven’t yet worked out reimbursing folks for shipping costs. (Bummer.) Good news is you can ship back your toothbrush and razors to them for free.

Check out their website for more about their recycling program.

Electronics
Need to get rid of a VCR or television? The Lower East Side Ecology Center has an innovative electronic waste recycling program.  Visit their website for details on their upcoming e-waste collection events hosted throughout the city.

Clothes and other textiles
GrowNYC hosts weekly collection events for the recycling of clothes, towels, blankets, and other fabric at Greenmarkets throughout the city. With help from concerned folks like you, they divert hundreds of thousands pounds of material from entering landfills each year.