Lynn's Blog

Cocoa Mulch From Target

Lynn Newcomb (Property & Mortgage Network, Inc.) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:51:36 -0500

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those who do.

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk .. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's website, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that 'It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it.'

This Snopes site gives the following information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called ' Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

Affordable Solar Solution

Lynn Newcomb (Property & Mortgage Network, Inc.) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:38:34 -0500

I am an EcoBroker in Washington state, acutually one of the first in our state.

I have made this my niche and am working to build it slowly. I am always looking for ways to lessen my own footprint on the earth, as well as solutions for my clients, associates and friends.

I recently signed up for solar with a new startup company for solar that I think makes sense. Please visit

http://renu.citizenre.com

for details and information about signing up for this innovative and cost effective solution for solar use in residential settings.

Making The Move From Large To Small

Lynn Newcomb (Property & Mortgage Network, Inc.) — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:01:45 -0500

I finally made the leap and moved from my large GMC Denali to a small Mini Cooper Clubman S. I thought that it was time to practice what I preach and stand for as a Realtor. I did alot of research before making my decision and was very impressed with the gas efficiency and manufacturing standards. I thought I would share some of what I discovered:

All of the Mini-Coopers are manufactured at a plant in Oxford, England.

Customers can order their MINI in a number of colours, but as far as Plant Oxford is concerned the priority is to make it as 'green' as possible.

Car production is generally an energy, material and industrially intensive process. Plant Oxford works to minimise wasteful activities and develops lean manufacturing techniques through a combination of advanced technologies and good housekeeping. Product efficiency and sustainable environmental benefits are at the top of the agenda, alongside product quality.

Rather than use disposable packaging for parts the plant uses around 30,000 specialised re-usable containers to support its supply chain. A dedicated waste management centre also works continuously to improve the scope of recycling across the plant.

The plant recycles over 20 different material types used in the manufacturing of MINI, including metals, such as copper and aluminium, baled cardboard, batteries, glass, steel and various types of plastic.

To lessen the plant's impact on the environment further, a railhead was opened on site in 2001 to take MINIs destined for European markets by purpose-built container trains onto the national rail system; thus eliminating approximately half a million delivery truck road miles each year.

The plant also generates some of its own electricity using three 800kw combined heat and power units, which as well as providing hot water for processes, produce 2.4MWh of electricity, about 10% of the total requirement for the whole planOne example for the importance of environmental issues at Plant Oxford is the Paint Shop. This Paint Shop is one of the most modern in the UK, with state-of-the-art spraying technologies and water-based paints and waxes which have very low solvent content.

In conventional paint facilities only about 20 to 30% of paint attaches to the car body, which is wasteful and environmentally unsound. By charging the paint with static electricity during the spraying process, a much higher proportion of paint is attracted to the steel surface, increasing quality, coverage and minimising environmental emissions.

As part of the baking process, completed after every stage of the paint process, fumes are released as the paint is cured. All exhaust streams from the paint ovens are gathered and burned in a catalytic incinerator.

The new MINI itself represents a major step forward in environmental standards such as reduced emissions and excellent fuel economy - and so do the manufacturing techniques by which it is made.

Since owning my Clubman I have averaged about 40 MPG and the car is not even broken in yet. I am so excited about the fuel savings and would recommend the car to anyone who wants to travel in style while lessening their impact on the environment.

Recycle Your Cell Phone

Lynn Newcomb (Property & Mortgage Network, Inc.) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:50:30 -0500

Did you know that recycling your old cell phone is good for the environment?

There is a voluntary, national program Wireless...The New Recyclable ..to recycle old cell phones and accessories.

It does not matter what wireless carrier you use or what type of phone you have. You can drop them off at any of the participant retail locations and some even have mail in options. They will take the phone, batteries, headsets, chargers, etc.

Once the product is dropped off it is sent to an evaluation center. From there it will be

Reused: If wireless products are in good working order, they are re-used by charities
Refurbished: They may be reconditioned or repaired. They could be put back into service.
Recycled/Recovered: If the phone has reached the end of it's use, it will be sent to a processing facility and recycled.

Why should we all think about this?

When a used wireless phone is recycled, its plastics and metals are used for other products from milk jugs to circuit boards. The rest is disposed of under the US Environmental laws rather than sitting in landfills.

If all of us take small steps like this, we can all make a difference.

Fly The Green Skies

Lynn Newcomb (Property & Mortgage Network, Inc.) — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:05:08 -0500

I think most people realize that flying is one of the most environmentally irresponsible choices the average person can make. The most obvious problem - planes require thousands of gallons of fossil fuels for each flight.

Kudos to Bellevue based online travel company, Expedia. When you buy a flight on Expedia you are given the option to offset the carbon expenditures of your flight for a cost ranging from $5 to $30. While this little bit helps, it is at best, a stopgap measure. Flying is still a huge waste that, until recently, seemed to be a necessary evil.

Boeing is about to change that! They have designed the most environmentally responsible midsize airplane ever, the 787 Dreamliner. This incredible plane will start service next year. The plane is being built right here in Puget Sound.

The Dreamliner will use 20% less fuel than any other similar sized airliner, which on an average flight equals 31 years of daily automobile commuting per passenger! The planes incredible fuel economy is due, in part, to more efficient engines and completely overhauled electrical systems that use 60 miles less copper wiring per plane. The Dreamliner also is 30,000 to 40,000 pounds lighter than comparable planes.

The Dreamliner is built from composite materials. These materials are not subject to corrosion or fatigue. The end result is a plane that puts out 30% less carbon dioxide emissions than todays smaller 767.

The Dreamliner is a industry-changing plane.

Boeing also preplanned the complete life cycle of the plane. They devised a strategy to recycle the plane when it's retired in 30-40 years.

Kudos to Boeing for this innovation that will change the airline industry forever.

What Is An EcoBroker?

Lynn Newcomb (Property & Mortgage Network, Inc.) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:53:00 -0500

I am so excited about my new EcoBroker Designation. I can finally incorporate my passion for the environment into my real estate business and share valuable resources and information with my clients and peers. I have joined the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in homes and buildings.

With national surveys indicating that 80% of consumers consider themselves "green-minded", Realtors such as myself are in a better position to serve the real estate consumer. I'm always looking for the best ways to offer my clients the best value. My EcoBroker training helps me ensure customer satisfaction, my number 1 priority. From windows to moisture control to energy savings, I now have more resources at my disposal to help my buyers and sellers make better real estate decisions. The EcoBroker designation doesn't make me an energy and environmental expert, but it allows me to better understand the issues and to convey this understanding to my buyers and sellers.