I just learned that the new revised edition of my book Home Safe Home will be available in stores and on amazon.com on December 16--one week earlier that previously expected. So I will be suspending my special Christmas offer, as you can now order from your local bookstore and receive books in time for holiday gifts.

The new edition is greatly expanded over the previous version and has a lot of new information.

Now everyone can buy renewable energy--solar, wind, and biomass--for a daily cost of a cup of coffee. Just buy "green tags," created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make renewable energy accessible to everyone.

Green tags represent the production and delivery of a specific amount of renewable power (usually one megawatt-hour) into a regional or national energy "grid". This displaces the non-renewable fossil fuels that would have otherwise been used with non-polluting energy from solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable sources. The result is a benefit to the environment that is the same as it would be if you installed solar panels or wind turbines on your own home.

When you purchase green tags, you create demand for renewable energy and support the development of facilities to supply it. When you buy green tags equivalent to the amount of energy you use in your home, you can completely offset the environmental effects of your own energy use, because someone, somewhere along the grid, is using the renewable energy paid for by your certificate.

Do you know how much pollution is created by your personal use of electricity in your home or business? Find out by using the EPA Power Profiler. Purchase of green tags could offset part or even all of that pollution at very little cost, and contribute to the expansion of renewable energy facilities at the same time.

I just purchased enough green tags to offset all the energy I use in my home and business. You can too.

Debra's List has hundreds of links to thousands of nontoxic, natural, and earthwise products, and more links are being added every week. Looking for organic cotton clothing, natural cosmetics, or recycled handmade papers? You'll find all these and more on Debra's List. Here are just a few samples.

Nature's Carpet All-wool carpet made from "wool fibre from sheep raised in isolated organically fertilized fields. Complete absence of chemicals at every stage of manufacture." More...

Casco Bay Wool Works Get ready for winter's chill. High quality, elegant capes and shawls for women, men, and children are made from only the finest cashmere and 100% Merino wool. They are warm enough to withstand the weather on the rocky coast of Maine, where each is individually hand sewn and hand stitched. More...

SafeSource Do you love natural cleaning products but wish they had more cleaning power? SafeSource has industrial-strength cleaning products that are made from nontoxic petrochemical ingredients that are so safe they do not require government hazardous warning labels. In addition to the standard all-purpose, bathroom, and window cleaners, they have cleaners that are harder to find, such as oven cleaner, carpet spot remover and shampoo, drain cleaner, and a VOC-free floor cleaner. More...

Do you know where pesticides go? To find out, take a look at The Pesticide National Synthesis Project website. A part of the U. S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), the Project monitors pesticides in the streams, rivers, and ground water of all across the United States.

But there's more. If you want to know what type of pesticides are used on a particular food and how much ends up in the environment, see their National Totals of Pesticide Use by Crop and Compound. Other files tell the quality of our nation's water, the amount of pesticides in streams and ground water, and amounts of pesticides found in fish.

To get an idea of just how widespread pesticides are in our waterways, look at their that show how many water samples contain different types of pesticides. You'll see at a glance why it's important to support organic agriculture by purchasing organic food.

Hi Debra,

I find myself overwhelmed with choices for an eco kitchen reno. It seems that either solid wood cabinetry or cabinet boxes made of strawboard with solid wood fronts are the only eco options. I've tried re-covering used cabinets from the paper, but they are always in really bad shape.

Further, are granite or soapstone the best environmental options for countertops, and doesn't it depend on the granite's source?

My kitchen is falling apart and I'm afraid to take one step forward!

Thanks for any help you can offer, and I really love your newsletter.

V. L.
Victoria BC Canada

There ARE are lot of choices for eco kitchens, more even than you list.

Green Home Guide has a great article that outlines all the possibilities for countertops, and gives some resources. The best environmental option isn't necessarily granite or soapstone--I once redid my entire kitchen with salvage gray marble slabs at $5 a square foot. Eco-options for countertops include tiles made from various recycled materials, too.

Both your choices for cabinetry sound fine. There are more options--such as metal cabinets, but wood is much more aesthetic. Consider having cabinets custom-built. I know that sounds expensive, but I had a local cabinetmaker build all the cabinets in my California kitchen with solid wood and my choice of finish, and the total cost installed was less than if I had purchased particleboard cabinets from Home Depot. So check around.

There are no single products that are "the best" choice for everyone. In a personal one-on-one phone consultation, I can help you choose the kitchen reno products that are right for you (see below).

Last week a woman called me needing advice on the pros and cons of a wool mattress versus a natural latex mattress. A man called me on his cell phone from a store and I was able to look up the MSDS sheet for a wood finish he was considering.

I'm here for you too. If you have a question, give me a call. I'm here by the phone most days from 10:00am-4:00pm EST and would be happy to speak with you. Call me at 727-466-6812 ($2/minute with 15 minute/$30 minumum charge to major credit card).

"Thank you for always being at the other end of the phone to answer my questions! Your work has had a tremendous positive influence on the health and safety of my family. "
K.J. Atlanta GA