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The Spring 2006 issue of greenlight magazine will be delivered to your inbox the week of April 17th - look for our delivery notification in your inbox. Please help us spread the word by letting your family & friends know about our free 1 year subscription offer.

The Monthly Newsletter of greenlight magazine
By Kendra Smith, contributing editor

This issue of the greenlight bite will spring you into awareness about eco-friendly (and not so friendly) products coming to market. Use this knowledge to purchase wisely.

More and more hybrid cars are coming on the market all the time. A gas/electric version of the Toyota Camry is expected in May, and Nissan will debut its Altima Hybrid some time this year. For 2007, Hyundai and Kia will release hybrid versions of their sister compact coupes, the Accent and the Rio. While this mini-boom may mean no longer having to sit on a waiting list for the hybrid of your dreams, it does call for a bit of caveat emptor...

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, makes like Dodge, Saturn, GMC, and Chevrolet have been introducing "hybrids" built with lo-fi methods that limit the increase in fuel economy to 1 to 3 miles per gallon (high-tech hybrids can improve fuel economy up to 70 percent).

Even much-lauded Honda released a partial hybrid for 2006, turning its V-4 Accord into a speedy V-6. Though the car uses zero-emissions PZEV technology and was honored best fuel economy in its price category, it gets just 25/34 mpg - nearly the same as the regular V-4 Accord (24/34 mpg)! Fortunately, Honda is rumored to be releasing its inexpensive Fit subcompact as a hybrid in 2007.

For more on making a smart hybrid choice, visit the UCS Hybrid Center.

You probably already have TPE in your life: It's used to make weather stripping, the grips on toothbrushes and sporting goods, even in parts for newer cars. Because it's simple to process and can perform like a variety of other materials, such as PVC plastic and rubber, its popularity with manufacturers is growing. And that's a good thing, because TPE (which stands for thermoplastic elastomers) is nontoxic and easily melts down for reuse (unlike PVC). Although you may not be able to easily choose between the two in your everyday shopping, there is one place where you can buy clearly-labeled TPE products, if you're a yoga-phile: your yoga mat.

TPE foam mats are the latest news, but there are many good alternatives to PVC mats:

Earth Elements Mat - The TPE foam that makes up this mat is soft and sticky for good grip, but it won't have the lifespan of a PVC mat (though this is probably a good thing).

EcoMat - Made of jute fabric to absorb sweat and natural rubber for stickiness, this mat is free of synthetics and biodegradable. Again, the rubber is less durable than PVC.

Mysore Practice Rugs - Traditionally used in India, these rugs are 100 percent cotton. With cold water washing, they last as long as any other cotton rug.

As the weather shifts from winter to spring and back again, consider an alternative for warming up: organic wool. Possibly the original sustainable fabric, wool is a renewable resource that possesses amazing properties. It's naturally wicking, so it keeps dry, warm air near the skin. It also breathes as much as it insulates, keeping your body temperature in an ideal range no matter the temperature outside - can you say that about polyester fleece?

U.S.-grown organic wool is still getting off the ground, but it's something to watch. A new organization, Organic Wool Network, started up last fall to promote raising sheep and processing their wool in a manner that's free of pesticides and other chemicals. Here are a few of the first products from some of OWN's members:

Retro unisex alpinist's sweater from Sahalie

Maggie's Organics crew socks from vineyard-grazed sheep

Sophisticated Ramona coat by Sage

Q: My fiancé and I are in the process of registering for wedding gifts, and when it comes to pans, nearly everything we have to choose from is nonstick. I heard these types of pans aren't good for you. Is that true, and if so, what should we register for? — Denise

A: In February, a group of EPA advisers did recommend that PFOA or perfluorooctanic acid, one of the chemicals used in making nonstick coatings, should be considered a likely carcinogen. But George B. Corcoran, a toxicologist who was on the EPA panel, recently told Forbes magazine that there’s little evidence PFOA causes harm during everyday cooking. Manufacturers do admit that nonstick pans release minute amounts of unhealthy chemicals at high heats, somewhere between 600 and 750 degrees—which isn’t considered normal use. However, according to the Environmental Working Group, it’s the equivalent of preheating the pan over high heat for 2 to 5 minutes. So, while the FDA, EPA, and manufacturers like T-Fal and DuPont say nonstick coatings are safe in the consumer kitchen, some cooking experts suggest using nonstick pans only over lower heat, and only for items that actually stick, like eggs. For alternatives, look to Williams-Sonoma’s selection of Le Creuset enameled cast-iron, or stainless steel pans from brands like All-Clad and Calphalon, available through major department stores like Macy’s and Crate and Barrel.