Amish Look to the Sun for Power (Pennsylvania, USA)

Mainstream culture has been reluctant to embrace solar energy but it may surprise you that Amish communities welcome the clean technology and energy independence.

Best Sunscreens

The recent report of rising melanoma rates among women ages 19 to 35 sparked speculation that sunscreen use might be harmful because it allows people to stay in the sun longer than they otherwise would, thereby increasing their exposure to harmful UV rays. This study did not examine the causes of the increase in melanoma cases in young women, and there are other possible explanations, including unprotected outdoor tanning and use of indoor tanning beds. It would be unfortunate if these reports discouraged sunscreen use, because most recent research supports using sunscreen to decrease development of precancerous skin growths and many skin cancers and to prevent photoaging -- the accelerated aging changes seen in sun-exposed skin. For both health and beauty reasons, sunscreen use makes sense. However, sunscreen should be regarded as part of an overall strategy to protect the skin from too much UV light, including appropriate clothing (hats, sunglasses, T-shirts) and avoidance of too much sun exposure.

The most effective sunscreens block both UVB and UVA. UVB includes the shorter UV wavelengths that cause sunburn, DNA damage and skin cancer. UVA does not burn skin as quickly, but it penetrates deeper into the skin, damaging deeper structures and probably increasing skin cancer risk. There are many active sunscreen ingredients that effectively block UVB, including zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, octocrylene, homosalate and ensulizole. The level of protection from UVB is reflected in the SPF. The American Academy of Dermatology guidelines recommend an SPF of 15 or greater. I tell my patients to look for an SPF of 30 or more, since most people don't apply enough sunscreen to reach the SPF found on a product label.

Achieving good protection from UVA is a little trickier. Both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide protection against UVA, but zinc oxide provides broader spectrum protection. Avobenzone (which is mixed with other ingredients to prevent it from breaking down in sunlight) and ecamsule (or Mexoryl SX) are also good UVA blockers. Other ingredients that are used in Europe for UVA protection, such as Tinosorb S and Tinosorb M, are currently undergoing the FDA approval process. These products have the advantages of not breaking down in sunlight and not penetrating beyond the upper layers of the skin, minimizing concerns about side effects. Unfortunately, there is still no approved labeling system to describe UVA protection. Although the FDA did propose new labeling guidelines last year, they have not yet been finalized. Therefore, it is important to read labels to make sure that one of these UVA blockers is present in your sunscreen.

Another important issue concerns products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent. There are some studies that suggest that DEET, the most common insect repellent ingredient in these products, decreases the effectiveness of the sunscreen. There is also an issue with reapplication. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied after swimming, excessive sweating or every two hours when in the sun. This is often too frequent for a product that contains DEET, which may require waiting six hours before reapplication. As a result, in order to obtain adequate sun protection, it could be necessary to apply excessive amounts of insect repellent. Rather than this combination, it is better to buy two separate products and use each as needed.

One final note: I recommend creams or lotions rather than sprays. It is certainly easier to spray sunscreen on than to take a little more time to apply cream or lotion. However, it is difficult to apply spray on sunscreens evenly, and it is easy to miss areas. These products also should not be used on the face.

Here are some sunscreens I recommend:
1. Blue Lizard Baby and Sensitive Skin sunscreens SPF 30+,
2. California Baby sunscreen lotion SPF 30+,
3. Vanicream sunscreen Sport SPF 35 and Sensitive Skin SPF 30 ,
4. EltaMD UV physical sunscreen,
5. Olay Complete Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30,
6. Neutrogena Healthy Defense Facial Moisturizer SPF 45,
7. CVS Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide SPF 45.

Toyota to equip Prius with solar panels

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to install a solar power generation system on its Prius hybrid car, when the vehicle goes through a complete makeover as early as next spring, according to a media report Monday.

The move will make Toyota the first major automaker to install a popular model with solar panels. The redesigned Prius will have solar panels on the roof, which will supply part of the two to five kilowatts needed to power the air-conditioning unit, the Nikkei business daily reported.

The Japanese auto giant intends to produce 450,000 units of the Prius in Japan next year, about 60% higher than the vehicle's output in 2007. It also aims to reduce the Prius' weight to improve the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle's fuel efficiency, the report added.

Kindle is currently back in stock at Amazon!!

Watch this video explaining Kindle's main features:



- Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
- Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
- Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your - Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
- Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
- More than 120,000 books available, including more than 98 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.
- New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise. - Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
- Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
- Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
- More than 300 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.
- Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
- Holds over 200 titles.

10 Ways to Save Energy and Money

It's no big surprise that energy costs money, but some people greet their bills each month with shock when they see how much their consumption is costing them. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the average family spends approximately $1,600 per year on utility bills alone. Anything you can do to conserve energy puts some of that money back in your pocket.

Let's take a look at 10 painless ways to reduce consumption and cut your expenses.

1. Use Your Thermostat
Turning up the temperature during the summer and turning it down during the winter are great strategies for putting your thermostat to work for your wallet. The DOE recommends setting the air conditioner at 74 degrees and the furnace at 68 to keep your house comfortable while reducing your energy costs and decreasing the demand on the energy grid. A programmable thermostat lets you make the house hotter or cooler during periods when you aren't home. This reduces the temperature difference between the exterior and interior of your house, which in turn reduces energy loss. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, you can manually adjust your existing unit.

2. Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans in your house, turn them on and use them properly. According to Energy Star, a voluntary labeling program sponsored by the DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ceiling fans should be set to spin counter-clockwise in the summer, which pulls hot air up to the ceiling and away from the living space. In the winter, reverse the setting so the fans blow the hot air down.

3. Energy Star Appliances
Energy Star also identifies energy-efficient appliances, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, computers and more. When you are shopping for new appliances, look for the Energy Star label and you can rest assured that the items you are purchasing will go a long way toward saving you some cash. The point here is to not increase the use of these items just because they are energy savers. This is much the same as concept low-fat food: consuming more defeats the purpose.

4. Home Electronics
Stereos, DVD players, televisions, kitchen appliances, and any other plugged-in appliances draw a small amount of power even when turned off. Large LCD and plasma televisions consume up to 400 watts of energy when in use and about four watts when not in use, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. Use the surge suppressor to turn them completely off when not in use, or unplug these items until you really need them

5. Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
A quick and easy way to reduce your energy use is to replace existing incandescent lights with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights. According to General Electric (NYSE:GE), compact fluorescent bulbs "use two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, and last up to 10-times longer." GE reports that using a 13-watt compact fluorescent in place of a 60-watt incandescent will result in a $30 savings in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Regardless of the bulbs that you use, turn them off when you leave the room. For laundry rooms, garages, basements and other little-used areas, consider the installation of timers that automatically turn off the lights after a preset amount of time - just in case you forget to shut them off.

6. Conserve Water
Low-flow fixtures that conserve water are available for your shower, faucets and toilets. In addition to installing these items, be sure to replace faucets that drip, fix toilets that leak and turn off the spigot when brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes. Every drop of water that you save contributes to conservation of this valuable resource - and we're talking water here, not only money.

7. Seal and Insulate
A well-insulated house reduces the amount of money you will spend on heating and cooling. Start by checking out your attic. If your attic is unfinished, you shouldn't be able to see the floor joists. If you can see them, add more insulation.Also, be sure to fill in and seal any holes in your exterior walls, such as where pipes come into the house and around windows and doors. Wrap your hot water heater and exposed pipes with insulation to help them maintain the proper temperature.

8. Change/Empty Your Filters
Change the filter on your furnace on a frequent basis. Many furnace manufacturers recommend doing it quarterly or even monthly to keep the unit operating at peak efficiency. Similarly, empty the lint filter on your dryer after every use. Even a small amount of lint reduces energy efficiency.

9. Close the Doors and More
Don't waste energy. Close the doors on your refrigerator and house as quickly as possible. Keep fireplace dampers shut when not in use. Close the curtains to cover your windows at night. All of these little efforts help to conserve energy by preventing heat loss.

10. Use Your Surroundings
Strategically placed trees can help to reduce your heating and cooling costs. During the summer, trees provide shade. During the winter, trees provide a windbreak. Positioning large deciduous trees in the right places can reduce cooling costs up to 25%, according to the DOE. These deciduous trees should be planted on the south and west sides of your home and strategically positioned to shade hard surfaces, including driveways and patios, to maximize their impact. Because they lose their leaves in winter, they allow the sun to warm your house. Evergreen trees planted on the north side of your home will help to shield the house from cold winds in every season.

Small Steps Lead to Big SavingsSaving energy conserves valuable resources and saves money. Do your part to make energy conservation a habit; it's a move with positive implications for both the environment and your wallet.

6 ingredients for a green, clean home

You need little more than the following six ingredients—baking soda, borax, lemon juice, salt, olive oil and white vinegar—to clean just about anything in your home. Here are just a few of the many uses for these, well, magical multi-taskers:

1. Baking soda: Acts as a scrub to remove hard water stains; polishes metal; deodorizes pretty much anything it touches (try stashing some in the fridge).


2. Borax: Mixed with three parts water, it makes a paste for cleaning carpet stains; mixed with ¼ part lemon juice, it cleans stainless steel and porcelain. (Note: although borax is a natural substance, you still shouldn’t eat it—and neither should your kids or pets.)


3. Lemon: Deodorizes and cuts grease on counter tops; rubbed on cutting boards, it bleaches stains and disinfects; combined with baking soda, it removes stains from plastic food storage containers.


4. Salt: Another natural scrubber—sprinkle it on cookware or oven surfaces, then rub; add citrus juice to turn it into an effective rust remover.


5. White vinegar: Deodorizes and disinfects; combine with water (and a little liquid soap—I know, it feels like cheating) to clean windows, mirrors, and floors; use at full strength in a spray bottle to fight mold and mildew.


6. Olive Oil: Mix two parts oil with one part lemon juice and use as a natural wood polish. (Save the really good stuff for dinner.)

One added bonus of using natural cleaners: as part of your spring cleaning regimen, you can now clear out all those bottles of specialized (and possibly toxic) potions.