For many of us, practicing green boating in the spring and summer months is an important part of protecting the land and water we enjoy so much.  It’s almost easier to remember to take care of the Earth when we’re surrounded by it’s beauty, soaking up the sun and wind during a great day spent outdoors.  But what about when cold temperatures, snow and ice force us inside for months at a time?

It’s just as important to practice green living during the winter months.  Use these simple tips to do your part all year long.

5 Tips For Green Living In The Winter

Don’t heat an empty house. Use a programmable thermostat or manually turn it down when you leave the house for several hours at a time.

Reduce your household water use. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Teach everyone to shut off the sink when brushing their teeth.  Take showers instead of baths and use timers to limit how long your showers are.

Switch to green cleaning. Indoor air pollutants can be especially troublesome in the winter months when we don’t open the windows.  Avoid using harmful chemicals for everyday cleaning.  Opt for homemade or certified green cleaning products.

Say no to paper and plastic. Get in the habit of using reusable grocery bags instead.  Keep one in your purse or car at all times or purchase new ones at the grocery store when you forget you’re own (that’s a great way to encourage yourself to remember to bring your own).

De-ice with magnesium chloride. Sodium chloride (salt) and calcium chloride de-icers can damage your concrete, car and nearby plants.  Magnesium chloride actually works better, too, melting ice at temperatures as low as minus 17 degrees (salt stops working at 15 degrees above zero).

3 Tips For Green Boat Cleaning

1. Do your boat cleaning & maintenance on shore - whenever possible, do cleaning and repairs on land. Make sure you properly dispose of any chemicals or boat parts.

2. Take your trash back to land - do not leave anything behind in the water. This should include food, cigarette butts and fishing line. Bag it up and bring it to land where it can be sorted and recycled.

3. Use green cleaning products - even when you’re doing your cleaning on land, it’s still important to avoid cleaning products with toxins that can damage the land and water. Remember that any chemicals you use will eventually end up getting into the environment at some point. Organic, phosphate-free, biodegradable soaps have the least amount of negative impact on water, land and animal life.

Using these three simple tips for green boat cleaning will help ensure that future generations can enjoy boating in safe environments.

Photo credit

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that savvy marketers often take advantage of our desire to be eco-friendly in order to sell us their products.  They cover their old products with new labels decorated with pictures of leaves and words that sound good but don’t mean much.  What’s a green-conscious consumer to do?  Learn which words really mean green, and which don’t mean much.

5 Green Buzzwords To Ignore

1. Biodegradable – this word can technically be used to describe anything that will eventually break down in nature, regardless of what form the broken down compounds take or how long it takes to break down.

2. Green - yes, we use it on our own site, but the word green alone isn’t regulated in any way.  A John Deere tractor is green, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for the environment.

3. All Natural – this means nothing.  It’s as informative as the word great.

4. Earth-friendly - this is another word that isn’t regulated and is basically a matter of opinion.  There aren’t any specific rules about how to be “friendly” with the Earth.

5. Non-toxic – basically what this means is that it shouldn’t kill you if you ingest it.  However, that doesn’t mean that a product that is non-toxic is produced or disposed of in a way that isn’t harmful to the environment.  Also, use of the word non-toxic isn’t regulated by any independent agency.

What words should you look for?

Look for products that are certified organic or energy efficient by a third-party.  You can investigate organizations who grant certifications.  The Ecologo and EnergyStar labels are some of the most respected and recognizable.

Anyone who has spent time on or near the water lately has almost certainly come across a plastic bag? Whether they are floating by your stern, dancing down the beach, or wrapped around a tree branch, this junk is everywhere. As if it were not enough that we have to look at this garbage dump we have created, we must also recognize that it will be here in one form or another for countless generations to come.

You see, as cheap and convenient as plastic bags are, they come with a much higher true cost to the environment. Mass produced in the industrial boom of post-World War II, every plastic bag ever created is still out there today, either in its original form, or in smaller pieces. Hailed as a “wonder” product by the marketing gurus, the only thing “wonderful” about disposable plastic is that it exposes how short sighted and selfish mankind has become.

Without getting too technical, the bottom line is that plastic bags never really go away. Created from chemicals, primarily petroleum, the modern plastic bag cannot be broken down into biodegradable compounds.  Just to name a few, all the plastic bags in use today – grocery bags, food storage bags, small and large trash bags, pet waste bags, etc…etc… will persist in the environment forever.

Plastic bags can certainly change form.  Given enough time and sunlight, plastic can “degrade” into smaller and smaller pieces, but the same amount of unnatural material still exists, just in pieces. Bury it in an oxygen free landfall and it might shrink a little, but that’s it. Burn it and plastic turns into a glob of goo, releasing most of its toxic components into the atmosphere.

The only hope that plastic bags will ever disappear lies several hundred thousand years in the future.  By then it is possible bacteria will have evolved capable of consuming this stuff and converting it back into its elemental form.  Anybody really care to wait a few thousand centuries?

Unfortunately, most bags just end up literally floating around. Cruise through any metropolitan marina and plastic is in the water. Running an Internet search on the effects of plastic on marine life will reveal facts and images that even the worst litterbug would be ashamed of.  Casualties of the plastic bag include sea birds, marine mammals, fish, and more. 

One of the greatest victims is the peaceful sea turtle. After making it through the last 100 million years or so just fine, these majestic creatures are on the fast track to extinction these days. To be fair to the plastic merchants, fishermen and egg poachers have done most of the damage to the turtles, but a plastic bag adrift at sea looks remarkably similar to a jelly fish, one of the turtle’s favorite foods. For any skeptics out there, try swallowing a few grocery bags and see how you feel.

The gruesome particulars of the damage done include intestinal blockages, suffocation, and the particularly cruel one- starvation. You see as the belly of sea creatures fill up with non-biodegradable plastic there is less and less room for real food, leading to weakness, sickness, and death.

How did we get here – to this point in our development as a species where we are willing to sacrifice one of the most noble, gentle, and harmless creatures ever created so we can stuff more junk in a sack?

So what are we to do?

It’s simple really, stop using traditional plastic.

Viable alternatives exist.

First, get some reusable shopping bags and use them at the store. Organic cotton, hemp, and other natural fabrics are your best choices, but any fabric is better than plastic.

Here is a link to some examples

http://www.greenboatstuff.com/bagscases.html 

Just avoid polyester or recycled plastic bags if you can. Sure, you can argue that the tough bags made from these synthetics are better than disposable bags, after all they are using recycled materials right? While there is some truth to this argument it doesn’t solve the problem of eliminating disposable synthetics in the first place, it only shuffles them around some.  The only way we can break the cycle is to stop using synthetics in the first place.

To quote someone with tremendous insight –

“In Nature no synthetic substance is synthesized unless there is provision for its degradation; recycling is enforced.” – Barry Commoner

If you must choose between paper or plastic in the checkout line go with paper. Many valid environmental issues surround paper production, but trees grow and paper can biodegrade. As in many green choices there is often a choice between the lesser of two evils. In my opinion paper bags do less harm.

Second, consider biodegradable, vegetable based plastic bags. Yes they do exist now.  Plan on paying more for biobags than you would regular plastic, but when you measure the true cost of both options, biobags are a bargain. Made from corn, biobags will breakdown harmlessly given some oxygen and sunshine, both readily available in any ocean, lake, or river. Available in several sizes, from small to large, and several in between.  

One thing to be wary of are the new plastic bags that advertise themselves as “degradable.” There is quite a difference between biodegradable and degradable. Biodegradable bags break down into natural compounds and return their contents to the Earth. Degradable plastic simply falls apart with time, converting one big piece of eternal plastic into countless smaller pieces.

For more details follow this link

http://www.greenboatstuff.com/bitrba.html

Third, replace your sandwich bags and plastic wrap with bleach free waxed paper bags and food wrap. Renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable, waxed paper is a very green alternative.  

One more link

http://www.greenboatstuff.com/wabothcucofo.html

Once again, green alternatives to damaging products exist, work well, and are affordable too; all it takes is a little effort on all our parts to do the right thing.

Having found this blog, it should come as no surprise that a good part of our discussion will center on the many evils of modern day cleaning products. If there is one element of the green movement that is gaining more momentum than any other it is probably this area alone. That industrial strength clean smell we all grew up with is quite literally poisoning our bodies and destroying our environment.

Listed below are a wide variety of common cleaning products. Along with their name is a brief description of how they harm the environment. If you are really committed to being green you will not be able to scrub your boat again with any of this stuff without a very guilty conscience. Here we go.

All Purpose Cleaners   

How They Harm - Many contain toxins that enter the body when we breathe or through skin contact. May contain synthetic surfactants, which may mimic hormones, possibly leading to gender abnormalities in humans and animals. May contain neurotoxins such as benzene, a known carcinogen.

Ammonia

How It Harms - Found in many cleaning products, this chemical compound easily converts from a liquid to a gas, producing toxic fumes. Highly poisonous to marine life. Can cause eye, skin, and respiratory problems in humans.

Anti-Bacterial Soaps and Lotions

How They Harm - Many are made with pesticides and ammonia. May contribute to the evolution of “super-bugs”, germs that are resistant to modern antibiotics.

Chlorine Bleach

How It Harms - Originally developed for chemical warfare use in World War I, chlorine is one of the most toxic creations of modern science. Deadly to all aquatic life. Even small doses may cause immune, endocrine, and reproductive system damage in all life forms.     

Commercial Carpet Cleaners

How They Harm - Many contain naphthalene, a chemical cousin of the neurotoxin benzene. May be linked to eye, skin, and kidney problems.

Room and Carpet Deodorizers

How They Harm – Many contain formaldehyde and/or napthalene, both known carcionogens. 

Disinfectants

How They Harm – Many contain ammonia, chlorine, cresol, formaldehyde, and phenol, all really nasty stuff. Can damage internal organs and the central nervous system.

Dish-washing Detergents

How They Harm – Many are non-biodegradable and made from petroleum products. Often contain chlorine, surfactants, and phosphates, all substances that cause varying amounts of damage.

Drain Cleaners

How They Harm – One of the most toxic products around. Usually made with lye and hydrochloric and sulphuric acid.

Floor and Furniture Polish

How They Harm - Many contain amyl acetate, benzene, cresol, organic solvents, and petroleum distillates, all highly toxic. Fumes can linger for days, especially in the confines of a boat cabin, causing eye, skin, and nervous system disorders.

Glass Cleaners

How They Harm – Many contain ammonia, methanol, and dioxane, products all believed to cause cancer, skin, lung, immune system and vision disorders, including blindness.

Laundry Detergents

How They Harm -  Many contain synthetic surfactants, which may be linked to genetic disorders and cancer. Many contain non-biodegradable petroleum compounds, along with aggravating artificial colors and fragrances.

Metal Polish

How It Harms – May contain ammonia, diethanolamines, phosphoric acid, and sulphuric acid, all of which are toxic.

Mold and Mildew Removers

How They Harm – Many contain pesticides and chlorine. May cause eye, skin, and respiratory system damage.

Mothballs

How They Harm – Usually contain napthalene and paradichlorobenzene, both highly toxic compounds.

Optical Brighteners

How They Harm - Found in many laundry detergents, these chemicals make fabric look white but do not actually clean anything. Can cause skin rashes. Toxic to fish.

Oven Cleaners

How They Harm – Right up there with drain cleaners for toxicity. Most contain lye, sodium hydroxide and benzene. Can irreparable damage eyes, skin, and internal organs. Deadly to all marine life.

Phosphates

How They Harm - Found in many detergents, these naturally occurring minerals are not terribly toxic on their own. However, as they accumulate in waterways they often lead to the harmful over-growth of algae. These “algae blooms” lead to oxygen depletion in the water and are responsible for massive amounts of fish kill. This growing problem is creating dead zones of increasing size around the world.

Scouring Powders

How They Harm – Many contain crystalline silica and butyl cellosolve – substances linked to kidney, liver, eye, skin, and respiratory damage in animals and humans.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

How They Harm – Many contain chlorine and hydrochloric acid. Fumes are toxic and can easily leak from even closed containers.

Tub, Tile, Sink and Shower Cleaners

How They Harm – Many contain chlorine and phosphoric acid. Can cause endocrine, immune, reproductive, and respiratory system disorders in animals and humans.

             
Had enough?

More, importantly, how did we ever let things get to this point and what do we do about it now?
Without digressing too far, the answer to the first part of this question is as American as apple pie and ice cream. We were sold this stuff.
Before World War II most cleaning products in the United States were homemade recipes of natural ingredients. Baking soda, vinegar, salt, and lemon juice were combined in various forms to make what was needed to keep things spic and span. The industrial buildup during the War led to the development of many of the modern day wonder products we know today.
The post War prosperity presented a perfect marketplace for the chemical companies to continue building their empires. Marketing and advertising did the rest. As housewives were convinced that they needed to make their homes cleaner than ever before they abandoned Grandmother’s mix of common sense and elbow grease for the popular poisons of the day.
The rest is history and here we are.
Now what?
Certainly our elected officials will help us, won’t they?
Unfortunately the same government that seems to regulate every other part of our lives gives the chemical companies a pass when it comes to overseeing most cleaning compounds. Current laws allow manufacturers to claim that the exact ingredients in their products are trade secrets, known only to those at the top. In fact, most cleaning products are not subject to government review before they hit the stores; it is only after consumer complaints are lodged that industry must respond.  Some system, huh?
About all we have to protect us are vague requirements on the packaging of these products that use words like “danger, “ “warning,” and “caution.” In a world where there are more warnings on a hot cup of coffee than on a bottle of cancer causing cleaning fluid we are obviously on our own.
While we may not be able to undo the damage that the chemical industry and the complicit consumer has caused, we can certainly take concrete steps to halt any future harm we might inflict.

Instead of perpetuating the cycle of destruction we are on lets remember Grandma. Mother Nature’s cleaning products’ are still in cheap, plentiful supply, why not use them?
Before you roll your eyes at the idea of whipping up your own baking soda paste, rest easy, you don’t have to anymore. You certainly can make your own cleaning products, but the recent explosion of green products on the market offers many choices Grandma would be proud to use. The budget minded boater can save a ton of money by making their own cleaning products, but those of us who may not be so inclined have options too.
Before we discuss what to look for in a store bought, green cleaning product here is a list of simple concoctions that you might want to try on your boat’s exterior. Like most home remedies, some people swear by these recipes, others not so much. Given how cheap and easy it is to try any of these ideas though, why not?

Abbreviations

BS=Baking Soda
BSP=Baking Soda Paste
ACV=Apple Cider Vinegar
WV= White Vinegar
Gal=Gallon              
Qt=Quart
TBS=Tablespoon
Tsp=Teaspoon

Unless otherwise noted, always rinse with clean water.

Use                                   Recipe                                              Application             

Baking Soda Paste       3 Parts BS/ 1 Part Water             Mix to paste like consistency.

Black Scuff                    Undiluted                                Rub on with a 
Remover -                    lemon                                     clean, dry cloth.
Light Duty                     extract.                                   Rinse.

Black Scuff                   Baking                                      Scrub w/ damp
Remover -                   Soda                                         sponge. Rinse.
Heavy Duty                  Paste
                                                                       

Brass                            1 part water                              Mix to paste, Apply with
Cleaner                         1 part salt                                clean dry rag. Rinse.  
                                   1 part WV                             

Chrome                      Undiluted                                     Rub on with a 
Cleaner                      ACV                                             clean, dry rag.
                                                                                   Rinse w/ water.
Fiberglass                  3TBS WV                                       Rub on with a
Oxidation                  1 Gal water                                    damp sponge.
Stain                                                                             Rinse.
Remover
Frost                           ½ cup WV                                    Rub on with a
Remover                    1 Gal warm water                           damp sponge. 
                                                                                   Buff with a dry cloth. 

Fuel/Oil                       Baking                                        Pour straight BS
Stain                           Soda                                          on stain, wait 15
Cleaner                                                                         minutes, wipe clean. Rinse.
 

Hard                           1Tsp BS                                       Mix to paste.
Water Stain                1Tsp toothpaste                            Scrub with a damp cloth.
Remover                                                                     

Hull                            1 part WV                                     Mix in bucket,
Cleaner                      1 part water                                   apply with scrub
Light                                                                              brush. Rinse.
Duty                                                                            
 

Hull                            1 1/2 cup BS                                  Mix in bucket,
Cleaner                      1 Gal water                                    apply with scrub
Heavy                                                                            brush. Rinse.
Duty  

Hull-Ring                     Baking                                          Apply with damp
Stain                           Soda                                            cloth, scrub,
Remover                     Paste                                            Rinse.
 

Hull                            1/4 cup BS                                     After cleaning,
Brightener                  1 gal water                                      apply to rinse water.
                                                                                   

Inflatable                       WV                                             Apply WV with
Boat                            Baking Soda                                   damp sponge.
Cleaner                                                                           Dust with BS.
                                                                                        Rinse.
 

Metal                          Undiluted                                      Dip sponge in
Polish                         lemon oil                                      oil, apply, rinse.
 

Rust                            BSP                                             Apply with a damp cloth. 
Remover                      Elbow Grease                                Scrub lightly with
                                                                                    aluminum foil. Rinse. Buff dry.

Saltwater                      Baking                                         Scrub with damp
Stain                           Soda                                            cloth. Rinse.
Remover                      Paste              
 

Scouring                      Baking                                          Scrub with damp
Powder                        Soda                                             sponge. Rinse.
 

Stainless                     Baking                                           Rub on with
Steel                           Soda                                            damp cloth.
Polish                         Paste                                             Rinse.
 

Suntan Oil                   Baking                                           Dust with BS,
Stain                           Soda                                             wait 15 minutes.
Remover                                                                         Rinse.
 

Tar                              1 part water                                   Scrub with damp
Remover                      1 part ACV                                    cloth. Rinse.
                                                                                   
Teak                           Baking                                           Rub in BS with
Deodorizer                   Soda                                             damp sponge.
                                                                                      Let sit 15 minutes. 
                                                                                      Rinse.

Vinyl                          Baking                                          Wipe down  
Cleaner                      Soda                                            with damp cloth.
                                 Paste                                           Rinse, buff with
                                                                                    dry cloth.
Window                      1 cup WV                                       Apply with damp cloth.
Cleaner                      1 QT warm water                             Buff dry.
 

One of the most important ingredients in all these recipes is good old-fashioned elbow grease. As consumers we have become conditioned to expect that the better cleaning products can simply be applied and rubbed off ten seconds later. As I hope I have made clear, this is sure possible if you don’t mind exposing yourself to cancer causing acids and all sorts of other terrible stuff. Expect to have to scrub a little more than you may be used to with any homemade cleaners, but also expect to save plenty of money and the Earth at the same time.
For those of you who are more comfortable using store bought cleaning products you have plenty to choose from these days. But be very careful before you buy. The growing popularity of green products has led to the inevitable deceptions and exaggerated claims that unethical manufacturers are more than willing to employ.
The same marketing geniuses that convinced consumers to willingly fill their home with deadly poisons in fancy bottles are at it again. Remember, the chemical giants can play fast and loose with labeling the ingredients they put in their products. Bear this in mind the next time you see a bottle of anything labeled with the common green buzzwords “earth-friendly,” “natural,” or “biodegradable.”
To be fair, many reputable companies use these terms accurately. Unfortunately many more do not. Once again, we consumers are left to navigate the marketplace pretty much on our own. If you look closely at the packaging of many so-called organic products the actual word “organic” is ten times bigger than the qualifiers that say things like “made with” or “contains some, ‘ when referring to the organic ingredients they contain. In many cases a product carrying the word organic on the label has one or two such ingredients combined with other typical chemical compounds.
Study after study has shown that consumer packaging success is all about grabbing the buyers attention just long enough for them to toss the product in a shopping cart. The chemical companies do not want you to take thirty seconds to read a label, they want you to take half a second to spot the word or phrase you need to see to feel good about their product and move on. 
If you are forced to choose among all the buzzwords in use, however, “organic” probably carries more weight than any of the other terms. This is because there are some standards that are necessary for producers to meet in order to receive some of the precious seals of approval that are conveyable by certain watchdog groups. Unfortunately, however, even these standards are put to the test all the time.  If there is a good place to start your search for green commercial cleaning products, however, those labeled “organic” typically have a higher chance of being truly good for the environment than those carrying other descriptions.
Products labeled “natural” or “biodegradable” are much more likely to be chemicals in disguise. Currently there is no legal definition of either term. According to the publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, “there are no specific standards for the biodegradable claim, and no official organization exists to verify the use of the claim.”
Oh the technical definition is clear enough; a substance is biodegradable according to the dictionary if it can be broken down or decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. At first glance this sure sounds pretty green. After all, isn’t Nature all about the circle of life? Soil to grass to cows to people to soil and all that. Well of course it is, but just because a substance can be broken down in Nature does not mean that substance should be broken down by Nature. 

Some things just do not belong in the water. For example, the toxic pesticide DDT biodegrades to the chemical compounds DDE and DDD, both of which are far more dangerous on their own than the original DDT itself.
On the most basic level, every substance we know of, whether found in the ground or made in a lab comes from the Earth. Advertisers love to remind us that this or that product is “ natural.” Well of course it is, but all things natural are not good for you. Arsenic is natural, chlorine is natural, uranium is natural, but sprinkle any of them on your granola and it’s all over.
Once you get past the labeling gauntlet there are some basic ingredient choices you need to make. The first thing to look for is any type of ingredient list at all. Remember, these are trade secrets according to the chemical industry and they do not have to disclose what is in their product. As a simple litmus test, however, it should be obvious that those companies that choose not to disclose what their products contain probably do not want you to know what their products contain. Look at the label on any reputable brand of green cleaner and you will find a clear disclosure of what it contains.
One of my all time favorite soaps, Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Soap tells you on the bottle that their product contains Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Olive oils (w/ retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Organic Mentha Arvensis, Citric Acid and Vitamin E. Go ahead and grab a bottle of any traditional, name-brand all-purpose cleaner at the store and see if they tell you as much about what is in their product. Ask your common sense which company is more interested in you and the environment, those who practice full disclosure or those who do not?
Another choice to make is between soaps and detergents? What is the difference you may ask? Soaps are generally made from materials found in nature that have not been modified, detergents are typically made from synthetic (man made) components, many of which are toxic. The history of these two rivals once again began during World War II when the materials need to make soap were also need for the military. Detergents were developed to fill the need to keep things clean and they evolved from there. Most detergents are made from petroleum products, so if you have any trouble pouring a cup of gasoline in your favorite fishing hole think twice before doing the same when you wash your boat.
There are new plant based detergents on the market that are more Earth friendly than their petroleum cousins, but be careful. As a general rule, however, soaps do much less harm than detergents. The main drawback to soap is that if they are used in hard water it can be difficult to completely rinse their residue away. The resulting soap scum that can build up on hard surfaces and in fabrics is a negative for some people. This problem often comes about simply through over-use of the soap product. Somewhere along the way the marketing gurus trained us to think using more of something was better. Instead of pouring a little soap on a rag and really working it in we pour a bottle of it in a bucket and lather it on. Not only does this cost more money, but in most cases it is completely ineffective in getting a surface any cleaner than a smaller dose of the same substance would. Used sparingly and rinsed well, most of the complaints about soap build up can be easily addressed.
For those boaters who swear by a certain brand they have always used or a method of application they are accustomed to, once again that difficult word, choice, raises its’ ugly head. Would you rather have a bright and shiny toxic toy or a less than dazzling water borne sanctuary you can be proud of? The next time you are lucky enough to cruise through a school of dolphins or simply watch your kids dive off the side in a secluded cove, ask yourself this question.