You go to the market, and you pick up a carton of eggs. They’re marked “Cage Free” or “Free Range”, and they’re surrounded by other organic produce. You figure they’re worth every extra penny they cost beyond the low price of standard eggs, because you’ve ensured that the chickens that made them were able to lead happy lives. Sounds like a grounded, eco-conscious and compassionate plan, non?

In fact, eggs that claim to be “free-range” are more expensive because the production cost is higher, but you don’t necessarily get what you pay for. As I’m sure you expected from the too-good-to-be-true tone, terms like “Cage Free” are more often than not unsubstantiated claims. The American Egg Board’s website  states that free-range eggs are produced by hens that have daily access to the outdoors, yet national standards do not specify the quality of land, amount of time, or amount of space these hens should have access to.

The best choice when buying eggs of any kind is to opt for “pastured eggs”- eggs from hens that are raised with ample farm, often at a local establishment, and are able to feed from pastures as opposed to being confined and fed grains. One landmark article on MotherEarthNews even presents data from a study that proved that these true free-range eggs have higher nutritional values than those from hens who are confined to conventional factory farming methods. In this test, they worked with eggs produced by chickens that lived in pastured flocks all around the country, and definitively proved that their eggs were more nutritious!

If pastured eggs pique your interest, check out websites like www.localharvest.com and www.eatwild.com for more information, and to find out how to buy them at a farm stand near you!

Lately, despite the beautiful autumn weather, I’ve been feeling like what I wanted most was a breath of fresh air.  At first I thought I could get quasi-metaphysical about it, relating my inclinations to a desire for change, but between working in the Big Apple, traversing the subway daily, and living in a century-old home in Queens, I began to concern myself with the quality of the air that I literally breathe. I soon thirsted to know more about the invisible villains that were harming my health.

As it just so happens, there are 6 primary types of unfriendly floaters hangin’ out in our airspace: ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and lead. Each of these creates a staggering number of harmful side effects, but some common problems between them include health complications like chest pain, coughing, and the worsening of pre-existing problems like asthma, and they can damage vegetation and ecosystems, including our food crops. They can also damage cardiovascular health, decrease visibility by creating smog/haze, cause harmful acid rain, and accelerate aesthetic damage to structures and statues. The symptoms and results of any of these physical damages can include coughing, phlegm, chest tightness and shortness of breath. And, needless to say, these conditions generally worsen as the proximity to major cities increases, so those of us who enjoy the grandeur of the big city are also taking quite the toll on our health.

Unfortunately, despite the tree-planting, aerosol-avoiding and carbon-reducing that I may already do, I quickly realized that I can’t immediately control the quality of the air outside. Heck, even Superman would have his hands full. So, resigning myself to the idea that I am not willing to wear a face mask whenever I step outdoors, I turned my sights inward– to my home, that is.

Air filtration is an effective way to improve your indoor environment, the healthful qualities of your airspace and even the freshness (especially as opposed to chemical-ridden room fragrances). The most widely-acclaimed air filter is the High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter, or HEPA, which can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles in your home. HEPA filters are made of randomly arranged fibers which trap dust and harmful particulates more thoroughly than ordinary disposable fiberglass filters. When it comes to their exterior, HEPA machines have always been a bit bulky, and pretty unattractive to boot. However, I recently discovered Alen Paralda’s slim, modern-looking HEPA filter, which utilizes ionized HEPA filters as well as a UV lamp for bacterial control. Even more impressively, it is the first air purifier on the market that meets both Energy Star and RoHS standards for energy efficiency.

But if sleek and new-age isn’t quite your thing, there is a visually striking and unobtrusively alternative way to enliven your airspace: the Himalayan Salt Crystal Lamp. These lamps are made form 250 million year old Himalayan Crystal Salt, having been compressed throughout time by the surrounding mountains to the point that they formed a crystal matrix. The crystal structure, which is one of nature’s ways of storing energy, makes these seemingly innocuous lumps of salt highly charged with energy that can help support and improve our health.

Scientific studies have proven that these lamps can increase the negative ion count in a given area, and negative ions can help eliminate the small particulates in the air like dust, pollen, mold spores and animal dander. They are often accredited with improving mood and alleviating depression and seasonal affective disorder. They can also increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, which improves alertness and decreases drowsiness. These ions are powerful, unsung heros that help improve the quality of the air we breathe, and neutralize the positive ions that are generated by the electrical devices that populate most of our homes. Not to mention, the Himalayan Crystal Salt lamp emits a soft orange glow that creates exceptionally soothing ambiance in any room.

So, if you’re planing out all the little adornments you’ll gather to fill up your space as you mold your home into your own private sanctuary, don’t forget about the most important space of all– your airspace! Keep your air as tidy as your well-decorated abode and you’ll be thanking yourself, and the power of the negative ions, for as long as you live and breathe.

Reusable water bottles, in their own right, have become quite the eco-trend. I’d argue they’re one of the few things even non-Greenophiles have latched on to, saving them time, money, and a trip to the trash can each day. And their popularity has undoubtedly skyrocketed, with stores from Old Navy to Pottery Barn, and everywhere in between, selling their own take on the product.

With this rise in popularity also came the rise in awareness concerning the bottles’ ingredients. And, as certain plastics and harmful metals were pushed into the gutters as harmful, unhealthy and un-friendly prospects, with chemicals leeching out of their pores and into the water inside, one company has always stood tall above the rest: Sigg.

Sigg bottles, now widely sold all across America, are known for their laser-cut, leak-proof threading, unbreakable body and seemingly harmless contents. And, as the brand grew, the aesthetic exterior options became increasingly trendy and appealing to a limitless variety of tastes.

But it was recently revealed, as they debuted their new EcoCare lining, that past versions of the bottle were not purely Green! Could it be, the Angel-child of Green water drinkers had been pulling the cruelty-free wool over our eyes this whole time?

It seems that one year ago, as competitors’ bottles were being tested for levels of BPA (Bisphenol-A, a harmful substance found in many plastics that can cause cancer, among other health issues), the Sigg bottles passed the examinations with ease, showing 0 parts per billion of BPA in the water that had been stored inside of them.

However, with the new lining boasting that it contains absolutely no BPA, consumers began to wonder if the previous version had had them duped! And, as it turns out, Sigg CEO Steve Wasik ‘fessed up to trace amounts of BPA being used in the production of the previous lining.

As he pointed out during an interview with Treehugger.com , the world of BPA safety has changed. When the bottles were being tested, scientists and consumers were only concerned with the amount of BPA they could be consuming in the water that had been sitting inside the Sigg bottle. Now, with heightened alarm about the multifold dangers of BPA, people dont want anything to do with it at all.

Perhaps because they are a decent company after all, Sigg has started a voluntary exchange program, for those of us who would like our water bottles to be sans-BPA. If your Sigg was manufactured before August 2008, it will most likely contain trace amounts of the substance, which they will be glad to exchange for a new version of the same bottle. It has also been rumored that Sigg retailers, including Whole Foods, will be exchanging the bottles in-store for free (as opposed to the consumer having to suck up the cost of inbound shipping, as one does when they use Sigg’s direct exchange program ).

With BPA still being removed from the actual liquid you’re keeping inside your Sigg, it all comes down to a matter of preference. Science’s vote is still out regarding the actual danger of such trace amounts of BPA, so the former liner may not be harmful at all.  Plus, the company still ranks at the top of the charts when it comes to safe, durable and portable Green drinkware, and is dedicated to continued transparency regarding the contents of their products. So if the thought of BPA reaching your lips gives you the heebie-jeebies, trade that old model in for the new and improved Sigg. But if you’re just fine assuming it wont be making its way into your body, then bottoms up, my friend!