The Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership has added me to their list of Green Power Partners for my purchase of 100% solar renewable energy certificates for my Florida home office.

"Voluntary green power customers like Debra Lynn Dadd are making a real difference environmentally by purchasing green power and supporting the development of new power plants that generate electricity with significantly less air pollution and no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions," said Matt Clouse, U.S. EPA, in a press release.

Well, there's good news and bad news about the upcoming publication of the new, improved, revised, updated edition of Home Safe Home.

First the bad news. The publication date has been moved to this fall, so it's still months away.

The good news is that my publisher has upgrading the status of the book from "reissue" (which gets a limited printing and no publicity) to "new book" which gets a larger printing and sales support. :-)

The amazing news is that my publisher (Tarcher/Penguin, Penguin being the largest publisher in the world) has never changed the status of a book from reissue to new. But apparently they felt there was enough new material to warrant it being sold as a new book. They've given it a full page in their new fall catalog.

I'll let you know the actual publication date just as soon as they tell me.

Microwave ovens are often recommended as being better for the environment because they use much less energy than other methods of cooking. But this is one of those cases where what's better for the environment isn't necessarily best for our health.

If you have any question about the safety of microwave ovens or the health effects of eating microwaved food--or know anyone who still is using a microwave oven, please take a look at this...

Back in the 30 November 2004 issue, I reported a claim that seeds would not sprout in water that had been heated in a microwave oven.

Since there are many studies that show food cooked in microwave ovens negatively affects human health (see story above), it seemed logical to me that seeds would not sprout in microwave ovens. If water will not sprout seeds, it likely will not support life in other ways also.

My husband and I decided to do this experiment and found out it was true--the water we heated in a microwave oven would not sprout seeds. We tested five water samples. We were thrilled to find that the seeds watered with water we drink from our water filter/conditioner sprouted first and were most vibrant. How do you think our tap water fared?

These are just a few of the new links I've added to Debra's List since the last newsletter.

- Green Homes for Sale
A international clearinghouse for the buying and selling of green and healthy homes. Resource lists include homes, builders, real estate agents, and more...

- The Garlic Store
Would you believe almost 50 different varieties of fresh organic garlic delivered to your door? Also organic garlic in many different forms for cooking...

- Sonic Bloom
This plant food and feeding technique is based on the fact that the early morning singing of birds trigger plants to open their stomata and receive life-giving elements. I love how Nature sets up relationships to be mutually beneficial...

There's still time to browse the seed websites before planting time. I've compiled a whole list of sites that sell organic, open-pollinated, and heirloom seeds, and many of these sites have their own lists of links. One has links to 4000 varieties of heirloom tomatoes!

If you've never grown heirloom varieties, you are in for a treat. These are the varieties made by nature and generations of seed savers. They have flavor and fragrance and character and beauty. My heirloom tomatoes I used to grow in California would climb 15 feet up the side of my deck and give more tomatoes than we could eat and give away. And every one was delicious.

Dear Debra ~

The company that services my a/c unit told me that our ducts weren't sealed properly and it caused dust and mold in the attic to get into the ducts. The recommendation is that we absolutely have to get the ducts cleaned with high pressure hot water and sanitized with a liquid antibiotic.

I have read some information about ducts cleaning that it was ineffective and dangerous. Do you have any information you can give on this subject? Any safe alternative to what was recommended? And how would it affect our health if we don't remove the mold from the ducts?

Thanks,

S. L.
Clearwater FL

Having the air ducts cleaned in your central air system is a relatively new service that is being promoted as part of central HVAC maintenance. The EPA concludes most homes probably don't need air duct cleaning and the cleaning may actually worsen indoor air quality.

Dear Debra ~

I've read your literature for years, now, and I'm so grateful for all you do. I recently read that you said that polyester off-gasses formaldehyde. I am wondering if this occurs even after many washings. I am under the impression that these chemicals are washed out when the item is old. That is why I buy almost all of my family's clothes from second-hand shops.

J. L.
Tucson, Arizona

Here's what I say about formaldehyde on polyester in the new edition of Home Safe Home.

Dear Debra ~

Thanks for all the great and helpful information you provide!

Some years ago, you recommended sodium hexametaphosphate for general household use. If you still recommend it, can you tell me where I can purchase it?

Thanks so very much!

S. H.
Mesa, AZ

I no longer recommend sodium hexametaphosphate. Many years ago I was recommending it because at the time there were no alternatives to chlorine bleach. There's nothing wrong with using it, but it is hard to find, difficult to purchase, and today there are a number of chlorine-free bleach products--sold even in supermarkets.

By popular demand, I will continue answer your questions in this newsletter. If you have a question you would like to submit, please send me an email with your question. It may take two to four weeks or longer for your question to appear in the newsletter. Usually I send an immediate short answer to email questions, but then give a more detailed answer in the newsletter.

Want a quick, personal answer to your question? Call me for a paid telephone consultation during normal business hours, Eastern Time.